Mommy Pehpot, Author at Mommy Pehpot

Closer Look: Meralco Power Lab

because Meralco is just a bus away and the event is very interesting.. so even if I said I won’t attend events this week, I just have to see what Meralco Power Lab has to offer.

Meralco Chairman Manny Pangilinan together with Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jericho Petilla and Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) chairman Zenaida Ducut opened the Meralco Power Lab to the public.

*look Sigmans! Pi Sigma represent!

The Meralco Power Lab is a 3 faceted energy lab that aims to inform consumers about power consumption and energy efficient technologies.

A two story building that showcases appliances from Samsung, solar panel installations from Ben’s Green Housing Inc and home area network automation systems from One Commerce.

You can find the Equipment Testing Area and the Demo area at the first floor. The Equipment testing area verifies the energy consumption of each appliances. The area is re configurable to accommodate air- conditioners, refrigerators & freezers, washers & dryers, entertainment systems, kitchen and other household appliances testing.

The Demo Area is where you should bring your partner to convince them why you need that Samsung curve TV!! (ay sorry nadala ako!)

In this area, different technologies of appliances are side by side and their energy consumption are compared. So yeah, think of LED TV vs LCD vs CRT TV. This area justifies the need to buy a curve TV (ayan na naman yang curve na yan! sorry!). Basically, knowing which appliances is more energy efficient gives us the power to make an informed choice. Still on TV, in demo area, one can also see how adjusting the brightness (and/or volume) of TV can affect the energy consumption of the appliances.

Air- conditioner and refrigerators that use conventional and inverter technologies and other kitchen appliances are also featured in the demo area.

Located at the 2nd floor of Meralco Power Lab is the Intelligent Living Space. As you can see on the photo, it’s like a real residential room. The set up allows the demonstration of innovative and energy efficient technologies for the future home. Scifi movie hello! This is the kind of home my husband likes! Everything can be monitored using a single gadget!

See for yourself, the Meralco Power Lab is a big help specially if you’re planning to reduce your electricity consumption (and the BILL!). Located inside Meralco Compound in Ortigas Center, the lab is open for scheduled visit but entrance is free!

Will you visit a facility like this one to help you in saving energy? What are your energy saving tips? Share it with us!

Venus Parkview Hotel Baguio Review

We love Baguio.. I have said that more than a hundred times. Fur us, Baguio will always be the sweetest and homiest place we could ever be. So when an opportunity to spend 3 nights at Baguio was presented to us, we can’t say no, even though we’re short on budget. And by short, I mean a budget of 7500 PhP for 3 nights at a hotel and 500 PhP per meal (good for 2 adults and 4 kids). Venus Parkview Hotel Baguio Review

First option was to rent a house and just cook.. but I realized we tend to over spend with the ingredients so it would not be wise to do so. Option 2 is to look for a cheap hotel that offers free breakfast! We end up booking at Venus Parkview Hotel because our first ever Baguio trip was spent at this hotel.. and because the location of Venus Parkview is strategic…~~and because, my two older boys will be checked in at this hotel for their PAPRISA Leadership training~~

When I checked Venus Parkview Hotel website for rates, Executive Twin without Balcony fits right on our budget and our bed needs. When I called the hotel, without balcony is fully booked. We end up with Executive Twin with Balcony, good thing, we were able to avail a 20% discount, our budget is still on track! yay! But if budget was out of the question (and if the two older boys would be sleeping with us), I’d book a suite because it’s big! And it’s really cheap!

I was a bit surprised when I saw the rooms from the website.. I thought I was looking at the wrong hotel. It was far from what I remembered it to be! MAJOR RENOVATION ON GOING!

Venus Parkview Hotel Baguio Review

This is the facade of the building where we checked in. This is also the part where the temporary reception area is located. Niel, Venus Parkview Hotel’s concierge, told me that the hotel’s new look will be unveiled on February, in time for Panagbenga. Most rooms will look like the one we stayed in and they will fix the cranky elevator soon!

Complimentary drinks were given to us upon arrival…and we were greeted by a room which looks exactly like the one in their website. I have to be honest, I was expecting less as I have mentioned, we stayed here a few years ago and the look was different. The look may be different, but the staff are all the same.. very warm and accommodating!

Check out my review from 2007!

Venus Parkview Hotel Baguio Review

And here’s our room:

I paid 2k+ for this kind of room?!? What a steal! I’m glad we got the one with balcony. I can imagine us spending a New Year’s Eve here, watching the fireworks display right in this room or a weekend during Christmas break. I heard SM Baguio have fireworks display every weekend of December.

Venus Parkview Hotel Baguio Review

The view from our room! Those trees is Burnham Park and as I mentioned in my review years ago, entrance to the playground is just across the hotel. Another reason why I am glad we booked this hotel is I was able to continue my jogging routine without hassle. Burnham Park is very conducive to physical fitness activities. In fact, every 6 AM there are groups of people who are dancing, some groups are doing aerobics, some are doing tai chi. If I am not mistaken, you can join this activities for free, just bring your towel and bottles of water.

Venus Parkview Hotel Baguio Review

Since our two older boys can only join us on our 3rd day, we spend most of our stay tucked in bed or enjoying the view from our room.. and eating salad and strawberries, because that’s what you’re supposed to eat in Baguio right? haha

Venus Parkview Hotel Baguio Review more about the room..

Door. They provide card key, but they only provide one, no big deal for me since we’re travelling as family. For those travelling as a group, this could be a problem.

Condiments area. Good job for the kettle, with that weather, we need our coffee every now and then!

The room we had has no ref or microwave but their Junior Executive Suite room has a ref and a microwave. Considering the rate of the room we booked, I am not expecting for a ref or a microwave.

The bathroom. Clean though small, I never had an issue with the space. Both shower and sink dispense hot and cold water.

I wish they can install a rack or a small mounting inside the shower for the toiletries. They provide a set of toiletries for two people which includes 2 shampoo, 2 lotion, 2 soaps, 2 dental care essentials and 2 sets of cotton buds. I find the containers really cute! Last for the bathroom>> the door can be a pain at times.. so I hope they could fix that soon.

The bed. The size of the bed is perfect for us minus the 2 boys. On our last night, it became a bit crowded with the boys joining us. Note to self>> soon you need to book 2 rooms! The pillows are just right..but the comforter is very comforting! With the weather that time, the comforter did a good job making us comfy!

Dresser/ Table. With a room of this price, I was not expecting that it has an extra space and chair for my needs (and his).

Venus Parkview Hotel Baguio Review

This area serves us really well. Since this trip is a budgeted one, I spent most of the times (aside from sleeping LOL) computing and adjusting our budget.. and this area is my fave place. I can write, compute, have coffee and clean my face. Don’t ask me about make up.. of all the things I can forget, I forgot to pack my make up kit!!

We had flat screen TV with cable. And the room has aircon.

The Food. Free breakfast was included on our room. We had buffet breakfast that includes 3 to 4 breakfast dishes, garlic rice, waffle, fruits, juice and coffee. Nothing special on the food but our tummy were satisfied.

We’ll definitely go back in Baguio and will check again at Venus Parkview Hotel. Maybe next time, we’ll have enough budget for a suite!

More room photos:

Aside from Executive Rooms they offer (2,450PHP without balcony, 2,750PHP with balcony) , Venus Parkview Hotel also offers the following type of accommodations:

Executive King With Balcony

one King Bed
good for 2
Toilet and Bathroom
3,750PHP

Junior Executive Suite

Twin Beds
Living Room with Sofa and Work Desk
42” LED cable TV in Living Room
32” LED cable TV in both Master and Guest rooms
2 Toilet and Bathrooms
Free WiFi with Dedicated Access Point
6,850PHP

Premier Executive Suite

1 King-sized Bed in Master Bedroom
Twin Beds in Guest Room
Living Room with Sofa and Work Desk
42” LED cable TV in Living Room
32” LED cable TV in both Master and Guest rooms
3 Toilet and Bathrooms
Free WiFi with Dedicated Access Point
8,250PHP

The Premier Executive Suite is really spacious, I highly recommend this room for big families. All rooms comes with breakfast, bottled water and free wifi.

Looking for Baguio Hotel for Panagbenga ? (check Venus Parkview Hotel Facebook Page for Panagbenga 2015 schedule)? Check availability of the hotel here>>> Venus Parkview Hotel Reservation

Here’s our priceless photo from our room!

Pork Steak with Mushroom Bits Recipe From GMA’s Sarap Diva with Regine Velasquez-Alcasid

As promised, here is the Pork Steak with Mushroom Bits Recipe prepared by Regine Velasquez-Alcasid from GMA’s Sarap Diva episode.

PORK STEAK WITH MUSHROOM BITS

INGREDIENTS:

1 kg pork steak, cut into small cubes
1/2 cup soy sauce
salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp ground paprika
2 tbsps Jolly Canola Oil
2-3 tbsps chopped garlic
2 cans Jolly Button Mushroom Whole, cut in half
1/2 cup red wine
2 tbsps butter
garnish with some toasted garlic and chopped parsley
PROCEDURE:

Season pork steak in soy sauce, salt and pepper, set aside.
Preheat a pan with some Jolly Canola Oil and cookthe pork cubes until slightly brown in color.
Remove from pan. Toss in the chopped garlic and Jolly Button Mushrooms. Saute then season with some salt, pepper and ground paprika.
Deglaze with the red wine then simmer until sauce is slightly thick.
Mix in the cooked pork and cold butter.
Transfer to a plate then garnish with some toasted garlic and chopped parsley.

Now that everyone is trying to get back in shape after the holidays, the easiest way to start is to be mindful of how daily dishes are prepared. Start the year right by using Heart Mate Jolly Canola Oil that’s “Better for the Heart, and Better for the Budget!”

Jolly Heart Mate Canola Oil is exclusively distributed by Fly Ace Corporation. It is available in all major supermarkets nationwide. Learn more about Jolly Heart Mate Canola Oil at www.flyacecorp.com.

Fly Ace Corporation is one of the leading food and beverage consumer goods companies in the country today. Propelling limitless multiple-category growth by bringing the best of the world closer to Filipino homes, Fly Ace Corporation’s portfolio of food and beverage products includes house brands and exclusively distributed brands. Learn more at www.flyacecorp.com.

Who loves mushroom on their dishes? Share your favorite mushroom dish! Will you give recipe a try?