Coca-cola strikes again! As part of the #WishUponACoke campaign, the generous and genius Coke team surprised select boarding passengers at the Dubai International Airport – passengers who were worrying not able to carry all of their presents for the holidays because they exceeded the baggage limit.
The passengers are travelling to the Philippines, India and other South Asian countries.
Coke agents approached the passengers at the Excess Baggage area handling them 500ml bottles with the special red labels. The labels, peeled, double as an excess baggage tag, allowing them to carry extra 5 kilos of ‘pasalubong,‘ of happiness.
There’s this one very unpleasant observation many of us commonly receive when returning home and meeting old friends and families, “Tumaba ka ah!”
The assumption that many Filipinos in Dubai go back home with “extra baggage” has become common. Well, it probably shows. But the growing popularity of recent running events in the emirates could prove this notion wrong.
Last month at the #WeRunDXB 10K race, Filipinos formed a huge chunk of the eight thousand strong crowd. Running, apparently, is also a big hit as it is back home.
The primary reason I joined the run is to introduce a sustainable physical activity and to bring balance to my otherwise, very hectic lifestyle. The discipline, the values I gain from training inspire me to do the same in other aspects of my life.
The beginner in me has quickly discovered great things about running. In addition to the obvious health and fitness benefits, I feel an improvement in my well-being as a whole. Unlike before where stress beats me up, running relieves me from it. My mind feels very refreshed and relaxed.
A few friends discouraged to join the run as it is not my field and it might be bad for my knees and worsen the pain in my joints. Well, it didn’t! It may not be easy in the beginning but eventually the body pains went away and I feel conditioned.
I’m happy to see thousands of people running with the same motivation. New Year’s resolutions are always full of wishes to get fitter and healthier. If you’re one of the hopefuls, you might as well try running. It’s not costly and you can do it at a park near you. And best of all, your competition is yourself.
Participating in a running event is fun and friendly too. You’d be surprised at what you can achieve. I will be joining the Dubai Marathon again this month. So see you at the start!
So, hopefully, the next time you go home, your friends will then say, “Wow sexy mo na!“
In a crab shell or, a nutshell, Benjarong’s first offering of their Crab Craze goes beyond your traditional crab festival. This promotion boasts of 6 appetizing crab dishes prepared with a touch of subtle royalty.
I came prepared to crack shells and clippers. I expected to get my hands busy and messy, but actually it’s not. No hammering, no cracking throughout the night – not in this Crab Craze. The dishes were served out of the shell or partially cracked and ready to eat. Very suitable for a low light yet elegant ambiance of the restaurant.
Benjarong is an award-wining restaurant situated at the 24th floor of Dusit Thani Hotel. It offers gorgeous views of the Sheikh Zayed Road skyline, the Burj Khalilfa at the Downtown side and the Financial District, whilst serving the unforgettable flavors of Royal Thai cuisine. The restaurant’s majestic interior resembles the royal dining halls of King Rama IV, and the gentle sounds of classically trained Thai musicians add to the authenticity of this unique dining experience.
With the elegance, you may be thinking this must be pricey. Well, not really. The prices only range from AED 35 to AED 75 and are already inclusive of municipality fees and service charges.
Pu-Ja
Pu-Ja is a deep-fried crab meat and minced chicken in a crab shell with sweet chili sauce. This reminds me of a lean ‘embutido‘ stuffed in a shell. The concoction of chicken and crab with select Thai herbs makes it heavenly. It was an instant favorite. Price: AED 35
Som Tum Punim
Som Tum Punim is made of spicy green papaya salad with crispy soft shell crab. I thought it could be compared to ‘atsara,’ but the green papaya shreds are really spicy for me. Mix it up with the fried soft shell crab and we have a good combo. Price: AED 45
Gaeng Som Puma Normai Dong
Gaeng Som Puma Normai Dong is a hot and sour curry with blue crab and sour bamboo shoot. I’m not much a fan of hot and sour soups but this one goes well with the white rice – lots of white rice that is. I should’ve paused after that spicy papaya shreds before having a mouthful of another spicy bite. Price: AED 70
Pu Pad Prig Gaeng
Pu Pad Prig Gaeng is a stir-fried Alaska King Crab with red curry paste, string beans and sweet basil. Another dish I like with lots of white rice. I think the flavor of its paste/gravy comes out very well with rice. Price: AED 75
Sen Jun Pad Pun
Sen Jun Pad Pu is a fried rice noodles with crab meat. Its flat noodles suggest that it has resemblance with Pad Thai. No. It doesn’t have a strong saucy flavor, but the crab on top of the noodles fits well for the overall. Price: AED 55
Lon Pu-Kem
Lon Pu-Kem is a salted crab in coconut cream dip served with vegetables. Looking at the presentation though, it’s like the other way around – a veg salad platter with it as a dip. Price: AED 65
Indeed a classic line-up of Thai cuisine specials, great for crab lovers!
Thanks to renowned Chef Narue Mol Poolkuan, who has been personally serving many royal Thai families until today, for generously introducing every dish she prepared for us that night.
Miang Kham
Oh, before the crabs, we had a taste of a traditional Thai street snack, an appetizer called Miang Kham. The name means, “eating many things in one bite.” Ground nuts, some little dried veggies (or fruits?) and roasted coco shreds were on top of the leaf. Rolled it and finished in 3 bites.
Green Curry Chicken
We were also served with Green Curry Chicken. A bonus I must say. Who could resist Thai green curry?
Did I say I finally had a taste of an authentic and fresh coconut juice? Yes indeed! Welcome to Thailand in Dubai!
Always a favorite (don’t call it Buco juice, they don’t know that)
The ending? Oh well, Mango and Sticky Rice lang naman. This was one of the best sticky rice I’ve ever tasted, and the mango was fresh and sweet! Perfecto!
The hospitality of the staff adds warmth to the experience. We were welcomed with wai – the traditional Thai greeting wherein they slightly bow and join their palms together like in a prayer. They did it again when we were leaving, apparently to express gratitude. The servers, chef, the management… they were all smiles from start to finish.
Traditional Thai music and performances also in the house
Note! The Crab Craze ends on 31st January so you better do your reservations and never let this experience pass.
It is available lunch time 12 – 3pm, and dinner, 7 -11pm, again, until 31 JANUARY 2015 only.
You won’t go wrong with Benjarong, so book it at Dusit!
Follow them on Facebook and Instagram to learn more of this and their future offerings.
with Sheila, Chef Narue Mol, Carla, Doc Gelo and Kenneth
I had a magnificent time with fellow bloggers so please do check their reviews as well:
Latest update (29-Jan) – Side-A, Aiza Seguerra and K Brosas are not showing up for Pinoy Fiesta 2015. The show will go on with Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino – follow the event page on Facebook to learn more. —————————-
What do we get when stars from drama, romance, comedy and renowned musical acts come together in one show?
F I E S T A!
An official event of the 20th anniversary of Dubai Shopping Festival, Pinoy Fiesta 2015 promises a variety of fun and quality musical entertainment show as Kim Chiu, Paulo Avelino, Aiza Seguerra, K Brosas and Side A prepare a grand treat for the Filipino community in UAE.
Pinoy Fiesta happens on Friday, 30th January 2015 at Zabeel Park Amphitheatre. In addition to the stellar line-up, there will be side events that all ages could enjoy. Kids below 7 years old enter free.
If you’ve been living in the Emirates for so long, this event would reconnect you to our brand of entertainment. So shall we meet the stars?
Kim Chiu is busy with her TV and film projects as usual. One of the most significant development for her young career happened recently when her childhood dream becomes a reality. She will be part of an upcoming Disney project in Southeast Asia this year. Her recent photo shoot in a Mulan costume hints that she will play the role.
Here she is inviting us to the event. How sweeter could an invitation be?
Paulo Avelino‘s elimination from Starstruck did not stop him from pursuing his dreams. After playing supporting roles in GMA, he transferred to ABS-CBN where his popularity soared higher. He has been leaving indelible marks to millions of viewers of his latest TV soaps. He is now one of the most versatile actors in this generation.
Side A is no doubt an icon of longevity in the music industry. The band will surely bring us back in time when we had our first love, first heart break, first of everything and moments of moving on. Admit it, there will always be at least one Side-A hit that always strikes you when you hear it. How about a live reminiscence huh?
Aiza Seguerra as we all know never fail to create masterful acoustic songs. Look back ten years ago, you might have told yourself “pagdating ng panahon baka ikaw din at ako…” to someone. She is also doing great in her recent acting gigs on TV. Flexible indeed! Here’s her invitation:
I call K Brosas the “ambassador of the homesick.” Man, when she starts, she don’t just own the stage, she could own the whole arena! One of the most viral comedy videos in social media are hers. I’m pretty sure you have stumbled upon many of them and had laughed out loud. I can’t wait to watch her perform live. Yes, this comedy diva can belt out too!
What else to expect at the Fiesta?
Kid Zone by Etisalat promises fun for the little ones with face painting, balloon bending, jugglers games and prizes. There will also be basketball shoot-out competitions courtesy of Anta.
For tickets, call 052-873-0015, or see the poster above for more options.
VVIP – AED 300 (with meet and greet for the first 300 buyers)
The NLEX Road Warriors represents the Philippines in this year’s Dubai International Basketball Championship. We talked to the team ahead of their opening game tonight.
Asi shared how he keeps himself in tip-top shape especially with the challenge of the upcoming PBA Commissioner’s Cup where he sees himself playing against bigger imports. The team is doing good and the players, coaching staff and management appreciate the efforts of their NBA veteran import, Al Thornton – the results are getting better and better each day.
In addition to preparing for the next PBA conference, Asi assures that this Dubai tilt will be fun. They’re targeting to finish the eliminations in the top 2 for a better road to the playoffs, and eventually win the crown.
Al Thornton was drafted 14th overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2007 NBA Draft. He averaged 12.7 points per game in his first season in the league. He was selected in the All-NBA Rookie First Team,
After 3 seasons with the Clippers, Thornton moved to Washington Wizards (2010-2011) and the Golden State Warriors (2011).
The following years saw him playing for China Zhejiang Lions and Puerto Rico Guayama Wizards. NLEX Road Warriors will be his 3rd international stop.
Here’s the full video of my interview with the ageless, The Rock himself, Asi Taulava:
Captain Hook, Mac Cardona invites Filipinos to come to Al Ahli Stadium. He’s 100% fit and ready to compete.
KG Canaleta stressed out that one of the main purpose of their participation in this tournament is to further build-up the team chemistry. The jelling of the team, on and off the court would be a great factor to develop, especially with the new import and a bunch of rookies.
Rookie and former NCAA scoring machine, Juneric Baloria is proud to see himself playing in the PBA where the level of competition is definitely higher and more physical than the collegiate league.
Here’s the schedule of NLEX in the elimination round (updated 17th Jan):
Friday 16th January 9:00PM
NLEX Philippines vs Al Ittihad Libya Result: W (PHI 81 – 71 LIB) (report)
SUNDAY 18th January 7:00PM
NLEX Philippines vs Al Riyadi Lebanon
Monday 19th January 9:00PM
NLEX Philippines vs UAE
Tuesday 20th January 9:00PM
NLEX vs El Zamalek Egypt
The Road Warriors is in Group A along with the UAE National Team, Al Riyadi (Lebanon), Zamalek (Egypt), and Ittihad (Libya).
Group B has Sagesse (Lebanon), Al Shabab (UAE), Sale and And1 (USA).
The top 4 teams in each group play in the crossover quarterfinals on Thursday, 22nd January. Semis will be played on Friday, and Finals on Saturday.
All games will be at Al Ahli Stadium. Tickets to the elimination games cost AED25 and available at the gates.
It’s very rare that a toddler would enjoy brunches as much as parents would. I’m not actually keen of dining out these days as our 2-year old daughter wouldn’t just settle quietly in her baby chair – she’d roam around the restaurant and would touch everything – and we have to switch turns in eating and running after our doll.
Not the case when we’re at Liwan Restaurant‘s Waiting for Santa brunch though.
Upon seeing the play area, Aya ran quickly to it and found other kids playing. There are bouncy castles, soft balls, toys, coloring books and a popcorn maker. There are also balloon bending and face painting.
She enjoyed the kitchen play set the most. There’s also food for them little ones inside like chicken nuggets and stir-fried noodles.
The restaurant, especially the lounge was well decorated. There’s a huge Christmas tree and shiny Christmas balls around the deck. There were candy canes, whirl pops and other Christmas sweet treats on the counters as well.
The Little Chef’s corner was the highlight of the afternoon. The kids got to wear a complete set of chef’s uniform as they get their hands on decorating their own gingerbread cookie. And the mom definitely enjoyed the experience teaching the very little one how to do it.
They received an adorable Little Chef Diploma after the 5-10 minute session.
Winnie the Pooh had an appearance for the kids. Santa came and sat beside the Christmas tree and gave every kid (even the naughty ones) a present – yeah, the naughty ones – the reason why Aya has no proper photo with Santa.
Food is great! It’s the traditional Arabic and international buffet. We were just so busy watching our Aya having fun with the activities and the cookies she decorated.
Now known as Little Chef’s Family Brunch, Liwan Restaurant continues to give quality time for families while dining. In lieu of the gingerbread decoration session, the kids get to cook up their own meals this time. They can still enjoy the recreational play area throughout the brunch with a supervision of a watchful staff.
Certainly, Liwan knows how to do a family brunch.
The brunch costs AED125 per person. Children between the ages of five and ten dine at half price. For reservations, call 04 293 3000.
Thousands come together around Downtown Dubai to witness one of the world’s, if not the world’s best New Year’s Eve fireworks display in recent times. The obvious surprises thrilled even those that witness the spectacle from far away, including those that are only watching Youtube’s livestreaming.
This video of the Burj Khalifa view will continue the rest of this amazing story. Jump to the 27:00 minute mark for the countdown, and the start of the LED show and fireworks.
The show also paid tribute to the country’s leadership, its Expo 2020 hosting, and it’s neighboring countries, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait which ironically not having any fireworks show to celebrate the new year.
The 12-minute spectacular show ended with the flag of UAE on the facade and some gliterry and luminous showers from the roaming helicopters above.
We haven’t seen Burj Al Arab and Atlantis’ fireworks yet, but pretty sure Dubai stunned the world again! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
SCHEDULE OF NLEX ROAD WARRIORS GAMES – UAE TIME (updated as of 17th Jan)
Friday 16th January 9:00PM NLEX Philippines vs Al Ittihad Libya
SUNDAY 18th January 7:00PM NLEX Philippines vs Al Riyadi Lebanon
Monday 19th January 9:00PM NLEX Philippines vs UAE
Tuesday 20th January 9:00PM NLEX vs El Zamalek Egypt
Venue: Al Ahli Stadium
Tickets to the elimination games cost AED25 and available at the gates. _____________________
Asi Taulava and his NLEX Road Warriors side will be competing against perennial Middle East ball clubs in the invitational Dubai International Basketball Championship 2015. The tournament is scheduled from 14th to 25th January.
The Road Warriors will be bringing in NBA veteran Al Thornton who will also be their import in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
“It’s an invitation from the PBA. Parang international league yan. Invitational tournament, which sasalian nang ibang teams from other countries,” said coach Boyet Fernandez to Rappler.
Current NLEX roster also includes KG Canaleta, Mac Cardona, Enrico Villanueva and Aldrech Ramos and the promising rookies Juneric Baloria and Harold Arboleda among others.
This is a year when many “Filipino thingy” happened in Dubai. Here’s rounding up the highlights of the activities, events and everything about 2014 for the community: Foods #KainanNa
Boodle fight dining is a winner this year in terms of Pinoy cravings.
There’s this good news at the start of 2014 that the number one and real Jollibee food chain franchise will be opening stores in Dubai this year. Whatever happened to that? Well I asked Jollibee about it and they assured that I’ll know it once concrete details become available. #PR
Many of us craved and eventually went to have boodle fight style dining.
Seafood in a Bucket was a big hit this year.
Juice World proved to be an unsung Dubai wonder as many of us became tourists of its unique and fruity store decorations (in addition to buying liters of avocado shake). Sports #LabanPilipinas #Puso
We cheered our hearts out at the Al Ahli Stadium for a week to support the underdog Batang Gilas Pilipinas team as they compete against the world’s best young basketball talent in the FIBA Under 17 World Championships.
We participated in various running events, fun run such as The Color Run and marathons like Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, Dubai Women’s run and recently, the Nike #WeRunDXB. Huge chunk of the participants are Pinoys.
Pinoy Pride 27 boxing event in Dubai World Trade Centre allowed us to witness triple Filipino victories in Genesis “Azukal” Servania, Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista, and “King” Arthur Villanueva against their foes.
Negotiations about the dream bout between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather being held in Dubai were rumored to have started this year. #RUMOR
Manila Mavericks participated in the inaugural International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) which had its final leg in Dubai. The Mavericks were led by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Daniel Nestor and Kirsten Flipkens. Maria Sharapova and Andy Murray played for the Philippine team in the Manila leg.
Social Media #PinoyNetizens
We had our share of the Ice Bucket Challenge. We gave support to the studies being done to discover cure for ALS.
We had fun in Make-up Transformation memes.
Flappy Bird got us frustrated when we cannot advance further.
Gadget #SelfiePod Our servers and waiters couldn’t be happier as they need not to take our photos anymore. Thanks to the trendy selfie pods! This year, you have at least one friend who bought a selfie pod. Entertainment and Media #PinoyConcerts
ASAP gave us a super treat with 2 full shows at the beginning of 2014
Return of the Pinoy Rock – Bamboo returned and rocked Dubai as he always do. Rivermaya, Kamikazee and Gloc-9’s were also huge.
Sarah G closed the big concerts this year with her Perfect 10 Tour.
Another Filipino publication, The Filipino Times, launched their free print version.
Entrepreneurship #CakeBusiness
This beautiful cake was baked and decorated by our good friend Jennifer Ann Nepomuceno.
We know at least one housewife from our circle of friends who have started her cake / cupcake business this year.
Others #BuhayOFW
Online OEC application was launched. The consulate has also greatly encouraged us this year to apply for OEC in the Philippines.
Let’s bring more cheers, more celebrations and a consistent positive mindset on to 2015. More “very Filipino” things promise to come our way next year.
____________
Did I miss anything? Appreciate if you could put it in the comment below.
From a serial blogger to a perspective storyteller and thought leader in the digital influence media
Ion Gonzaga is a no-nonsense authority blogger and storyteller in Dubai. One of the pioneer bloggers in the UAE, Boy Dubai instantly became a household name because of its catchy name attributing to its connection to the Filipino slang prefix, “boy“ – which means a master of something.
He started BoyDubai.com in 2011 with a simple desire to share his personal experiences about living in Dubai – what to eat, where to go, and what’s happening. Little did he know that his stories quickly became very relevant to many OFWs.
10 times to Kish, Qesh, Oman
He came to Dubai in 2006 and had a horrendous experience of being locked in a room by his first boss. He also did 10 exasperating visa runs to Kish, Qeshm Island, and Oman before eventually finding better employment. There were a couple of nights when he was forced to sleep on a bug-infested carpet in a cheap hotel because there were no more rooms available. All that just to avoid staying outside in the scorching summer heat while waiting for his visa.
He had terrifying harassment encounters with vulgar and groping cab drivers. He experienced horror one night when he was chased by a group of men with a metal tube in a small street in Jumeirah.
He experienced delayed salaries for up to 3 months. Twice he went to the Ministry of Labor and won off-court settlements with his non-paying employers.
He experienced being scammed and being jobless for a long period of time.
These are just some of the Side-B stories, that people don’t see in my blog posts.
Sampaguita Vendor’s Dream
Ion, who has very humbling childhood experiences of selling used bottles, old newspapers, and cartons for pennies, being a Sampaguita flower vendor on the sidewalks of Sta. Cruz, Laguna, fish ball and ice candy vendor in San Pedro, a delivery boy of bread and native delicacies in Mindoro, grew up with a desire to work in the media so he could share his life story to inspire people. He is a frustrated broadcaster.
He did not study mass communications. The lack of opportunity led to him creating his own opportunity through the blog. He didn’t have formal training in writing yet he pursued doing what he loved to do. The people he met along the way, fellow bloggers and mentors, the books and blogs he read, and the videos and podcasts he listened to were instrumental in developing his blogging skills.
His early experiences of living away from his family are what encouraged Ion to create Boy Dubai. He was left in Mindoro in his last year in grade school. He was also not staying with his family in his last year in high school.
Opening of Doors
Eventually, the blog opened a lot of doors. He was invited to become a monthly contributor to Illustrado, one of the emerging lifestyle magazines in the UAE. Because of the blog, he was hired as a freelancer to write commercial scripts for TAG 91.1, the first Filipino radio station in Dubai.
One of his biggest breaks was when he represented Dubai in the World Bloggers Day Celebration. He has been a resource speaker for many blog and social media-related talks, one of them being the Geekfest Conference where he delivered a talk about the power and influence of blogging. He was also once a representative of the UAE for Blog Action Day.
His activities lead him to meet top personalities and inspiring celebrities he looks up to – whom he never imagined he’d be able to talk to one day. Some of the notable ones were Kobe Bryant, Don Moen, Nick Vujicic, and recently our very own Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach.
Vlogging
Today, he does a weekly vlog called, “Walk-in with Boy Dubai” where he shares an inspiring conversation with a guest about a topic so close to the Filipino expat’s heart. He aims to give encouragement to people by highlighting stories that are typically untapped, yet have the elements to empower his viewers.
He still blogs about life, surviving Dubai, struggles and successes in the workplace, challenges of being away from home, and some bits on health, fitness, events principles, and wisdom to live by.
Recognition
The UK-based restaurant Ping Pong Dim Sum first took him as an ambassador in 2011. He’s also chosen as an ambassador for Samsung Galaxy Tab, LG 3D mobile, and Huawei P8.
He was named into the 100 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf for 3 consecutive years – 2015, 2016, and 2017.
In 2017, Boy Dubai was recognized inside the Top 100 Dubai Blogs, and Top 50 Dubai Lifestyle Blogs. This year, it is listed within the Top 10 Dubai Lifestyle Blog category.
Boy Dubai was nominated for du Social Media Awards 2013 and Ahlan Awards 2015.
Boy Dubai, on Influence
Ion believes that “our influence must make sense.”
He cannot and will never brag about his number of followers, but he believes that no matter how many followers you have, as long as your content creates an impact on even one life, that makes a huge difference already. You’ll never know how much that ‘one life’ can reach and eventually pass the lessons gained.
For Ion, accountability to his readers and followers is very important. There must be a significant reason why people follow people, so it is just right to consistently provide substantial content aligned with what the followers are expecting.
Personal
Ion is a husband to Raqz Gonzaga, and a father to Aya (6) and Savin (newborn).
He works as a Digital Transformation Consultant (UX) in a global digital agency. Previously, he worked as a Senior Software Engineer at Emirates Airline for 4 years.
He is also a social entrepreneur. Their e-commerce business, Eternitee provides customers the opportunity to inspire and encourage people by wearing stylish shirts with wisdom-filled messages printed on them.
Above everything, Ion believes that this platform is his avenue to keep sharing stories about the goodness and kindness and the loving grace of God in his life.
Contact Boy Dubai
Do you think we can work together? Please send me an email to stories@boydubai.com. WhatsApp 0565494470
