Tuesday, May 12, 2009

How to get to Libis or Eastwood City Cyberpark?

How to Commute to Libis

From Makati
Take MRT / Metro Transit ride to Ortigas Station and walk towards Robinson's Galleria mall. There is a shuttle service going directly to Eastwood Cyberpark between 7am to 9:30am. Or ride the jeepney going to IPI, get down at IPI then take the Cubao Jeep northbound and then get down at Eastwood City. You are at Eastwood City when you see the Citibank building.

From North Edsa or Quezon City
Take MRT / Metro Transit ride to Cubao Station. Walk towards the street in between McDonalds & Fiesta Carnival past Gateway Mall. Ride the jeep going to Rosario, St. Joseph or De Castro. Or ride the FX going to St. Joseph, the FX terminal is near Cinema 21. Get Down at Eastwood City.

From Shaw Boulevard
From Shaw Blvd, ride a jeepney going to Antipolo or Binangonan, make sure it will pass by IPI. Tell the driver to drop you off at IPI then ride a jeepney going to Cubao (northbound). Go down to Eastwood City (Citibank).

From Antipolo, Cainta, Angono
Ride jeep/FX and get down at Ever Ortigas then take the Cubao Jeep/FX route, get down at Eastwood City.

How do you know you're near Eastwood City?
When the traffic starts to bottle neck.

Also in riding the jeepney at this particular route, do not tap on the jeepney's ceiling or scream at the driver. Be courteous and pull the string in front of you. This is to signal to the driver that this is your stop. (This is only for jeepneys in this side of town, some jeepneys do not have this bell installed).

For a very-detailed map of Libis, you may visit this site. They also have good directions for those driving or going via car to Libis.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Where Can I Find a Tailor in the Philippines to make me a Barong, Tux or Suit?

Tailors in the Philippines are superb so you can easily find one that can make a suit or formal wear for you.

A Barong can look good on Expats who want to attend pinoy formal events and local business functions. A good example would be Hollywoood's resident auteur Quentin Tarantino, he looks very dashing in a hand-embroidered piƱa Barong by Tesoros.

In fact, every true-blooded pinoy male should have one ready in his closet with the white comfy undershirt.

Wearing a white undershirt or sando is a must to avoid "bactung" or bakat utung which means your nipples are erect and showing through the barong - a common fashion faux pas when wearing the barong.

You may try known tailoring masters like Arthur's.

Arthur's Tailoring & Cut-Rite

• Diamond Finance Building 603 Edsa Cubao 1100 Quezon City Metro Manila |Phone: +63(2)7264837

• G/F Arthurs Building 2203 Taft Avenue Malate 1000 Manila Metro Manila | Phone: +63(2)5835343

• Arthurs Building 850 J.P. Rizal Avenue 1200 Makati Metro Manila | Phone: +63(2)8997937

• 816 Pres Quirino Avenue 1000 Manila Metro Manila | Phone: +63(2)5230053

For Barongs (customary Filipino formal wear or suit) you can have one custom made by any Filipino tailor, haberdashery or wedding couturier. There are such tailor shops at the malls that cater for the Barong demand such as King Philip Tailors and Kingsmen.

Where to find the Tailors in Manila:
King Philip Tailors
Ayala Avenue, Glorietta 1, Ayala Center, Makati City, Manila, 1224

Kingsmen Custom Tailors
Address: Century Plaza Bldg., 120 Perea Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City, Philippines

King George Men's Boutique & Custom Tailor
1008-D Arnaiz Avenue, Makati City, Philippines

Daneche Tailor Shop
Robinson's Galleria, 112 Park Ave., Edsa cor. Ortigas Ave., Pasig City, Philippines

Other Tailors throughout Manila:

Rich & Famous Men's Clothing
Rm. 204 2/F Pension Virginia Building Pasay Road, San Lorenzo Village 1200 Makati Metro Manila
Phone: +63(2)8436990

Manila Barong Center
Plaza Nuestra Senora De Guia 410 Plaza Ferguson Ermita 1000 Manila Metro Manila
Phone: +63(2)5257543

Lord Jeson Originals
800 Quirino Avenue 1004 Manila Metro Manila
Phone: +63(2)5210834

Van Rowin Tailoring & Haberdashery
Consolacion Building 1 Gen. Santos Street Cubao 1100 Quezon City Metro Manila
Phone: +63(2)9110892

RM Manlapat Tailoring
85 Timog Avenue South Triangle 1100 Quezon City Metro Manila
Phone: +63(2)9251461

Prince Albert Tailoring
17-A Gilmore Avenue Quezon City Metro Manila
Phone: +63(2)7213397
Barong Tagalog-Retail, Boutique, Designers-Apparel

Or buy one ready-made at the department stores like SM or Robinsons.

Where can I have my Pants or Clothes repaired or adjusted in the Philippines?

Are your pant's zippers jammed?


Need to have something sewn? Need to have that sleeve adjusted to a half an inch? Is that dress shirt too big? Denims too long?

The Philippines has a lot of tailors, colloquially we call them sastre, 'sewers' (saw- wehrs) or modistas within the little barangays or neighborhoods. You can ask for referrals where to find the local tailoring shops.

An average repair service would cost P30-P75 ($1-$3) in a residential area. This service would include zipper repair, pants alterations, size adjustments, getting some rip seams done. Just walk around the area and I'm sure you will find one. If you're such a cheapskate, bring your own new zipper or buttons for the replacement and that can be deducted from your final bill. You may opt to pay up front or later when you finally pick up your garment.

If you want a sure bet, the malls have many like Alterations Plus with thirteen branches located at:
• Rockwell
• Glorietta 4
• Trinoma
• Shangrila Mall
• Gateway, Mall of Asia
• Podium
• Alabang Town Center
• Greenbelt
• Gateway
• Alabang Town Center
• Robinsons Place Ermita
• Rustan’s Makati

They charge around the P180-P400 range. Check out their extensive price list here.

Another shop is AlterStation which services include:
• Pants Length adjustments
• Re-size Waist / Hips
• Fix Zipper, Buttons, Snaps
• Adjust Sleeve Width / Length
• Regular Cut, Blind Hem, even Back to Original look!
• Repair Coats, Barongs, Jackets
You may also find them in major malls like Mall of Asia, Rockwell and SM MegaMall.