Aryty Blog

I finally got my trip booked to visit the Philippines over Memorial Day. I only have a few days so I’ll just be in Manila.

Even though there are no beautiful beaches or mountains in Manila there’s still lots to see and do. Shopping at Greenbelt, hanging out at The Fort, sushi at Kai and Embassy on Friday night are just a few things I’m going to try and squeeze in between working.

I made my hotel reservation at the Renaissance Makati City Hotel (New World) in Makati and if you’re planning to visit the Philippines you may want to check it out. The location is prime with Greenbelt across the street, the staff is great and you can’t beat the pool!

View of the Hotel Pool and Greenbelt Mall

Getting to spend time in the Philippines is one of the best things about being part of the Aryty team. Talagang gusto kung pumunta!

Book Your Room at the Renaissance Makati City Hotel

I could make a long list of things of I miss in the Philippines but let me start with an easy one.

Jollibee (@-@) mmm sarap!

Get Your Chickenjoy HERE

Eleksyon results from the Philippines continue to tumble in with Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay being proclaimed as the latest winning ticket. Check out the GMA Eleksyon 2007 Photo Essay to get a look at what you missed out on!

Inquirer.net also has some great coverage with the latest results posted online here.

Daniel and Rimon were in deep thought today on Aryty’s next feature release for June. Even our maid got in on the action.

Sending load is hard work for us but we always try and make it easy for you! So login to Aryty and send some Globe or SmartBuddy Philippine load today. Salamat po.

Many Filipino’s living in New York City and Jersey City take advantage of the Filipino cultural events in the region. The opportunities to attend Filipino activities in the area range include art shows at the Philippine Consulate General, beauty pageants, Filipino theater and annual fiestas!

The Romance of Magno Rubio will be playing at the Ma-Yi Theater Company in New York City after having recently toured throughout the U.S. and the Philippines. The show is opening on May 19th and runs through the 17th of June at the Ma-Yi Theatre.

Based on a Short Story by Carlos Bulosan

The play tells the tale of Magno, a short Filipino migrant worker who longs for love. Set in the central valleys of California in the 1930′s, the play follows Magno’s long-distance relationship via love letters exchanged with his pen pal Clarabelle, a woman from Arkansas whom Magno discovers through a lonely-hearts ad. Believing he has found the woman of his dreams, the young man fantasizes about their life together, only to soon realize that reality and dreams do not always align.

The show is directed by Loy Arcenas and is starring Arthur Acuna, Bernardo Bernado, Ramon De Ocampo JoJo Gonazalez and Paolo Montalban. If you start to miss your loved one or Filipina after you watch it feel free to send them a load and let them know.

Buy Tickets for The Romance of Magno Rubio Here

Ma-Yi Theater Company
520 Eighth Avenue
S. 309
New York, NY 10018

Mother’s Day is the biggest long distance calling day of the year. This Mother’s Day when you call your mom or loved one in the Philippines make sure you try Gorilla Mobile. Gorilla Mobile allows anyone in the U.S. to call the Philippines from their mobile or home phone without having to switch carriers or pay a monthly fee for a plan. You can call to the Philippines from your mobile phone for only $0.14 per minute and there is even a free trial that gives you up to $5 of free calls!

Save up to 85% on International Calls with Gorilla Mobile!

So why not save some money when your calling Mom and take advantage of the Gorilla Mobile Free Trial. And make sure to send a Globe, Smart or Sun Cellular load using Aryty while you’re at it. Happy Mother’s Day!

Try Gorilla Mobile Free

Apo Hiking Society will be in Las Vegas May 13th for a special Mother’s Day performance. If you live in Vegas make sure to check them out!

Apo Hiking Society at the House of Blues this Mother’s Day.

The Apo Hiking Society Tour has delighted Filipinos nationwide and is a perfect way to treat your mom this Sunday.

Buy Apo Hiking Society Tickets Here

Just a few blocks from where I live in Soho is an amazing Filipino restaurant called Cendrillon. Amy Besa and Romy Dorotan, the owners are also the authors of Memories of Philippine Kitchens.

This Mother’s Day Cendrillon will be offering a special brunch and dinner menu with everything from beef shortrib sinigang to duck adobo cuapo. If you live in New York or New Jersey and you should definately try eating there. Sarap!

Cendrillon, 45 Mercer Street NYC

Cendrillon is located at 45 Mercer Street between Broome and Grand Street in Soho. They can be reached at (212) 343-9012. Hope to see you there!

Buy Memories of Philippine Kitchens
More on Cendrillon

Cendrillon

This year I’ve taken lots of flights from New York to the West Coast promoting Aryty in Filipino communities like Daly City. Most of them have been on JetBlue.

Choosing to fly on JetBlue is easy. The price is good, the planes are great with color tv and leather seats and the staff is always upbeat and friendly. It’s one of the few companies today that I would go out of my way to recommend to someone. Their service is truly “viral.”

Today the founder of JetBlue, David Neeleman stepped down as CEO. Neeleman lived and breathed JetBlue. He’s always on flights interacting with customers, motivating the team and driving his vision of what flying should be like. Apparently lots of other people like that vision because JetBlue is one of the most successful carriers in the U.S.

I admire Mr. Neeleman and the company he built. Making flying pleasant is no easy task. I hope JetBlue won’t turn into just another average airline now that he’s gone. Daly City is too far to travel like that.

May 14th is election day in the Philippines. Election time in the Philippines always gets a bit crazy as 14 of the 45 million anticipated votes are believed to be up for possible manipulation. As a result, there are many rules in place such as no free rides to or from polling precincts from candidates. This is also a time when violence increases and so far almost 100 people have been killed half of which are politicians or candidates.

Text messaging plays a big part in Philippine elections as rumors and propaganda fly. In 2001 a lightening campaign rallied hundreds of thousands into the streets of Manila resulting in an uprising that forced President Estrada to leave office. This year things have already started up with one group blasting 250,000 text per day in a smear campaign against top senatorial candidate Loren Legarda.

Every Surface Is Covered With Candidates Faces!

There will probably be more than 1 billion text sent on Monday when Filipinos cast their votes. At the cost of 1 peso per text thats a lot of load. Make sure your loved one has plenty of load for their Globe, Smart or Sun phone so they can keep up with the turn of events and stay in touch with you!