Waterproof, soundproof, snowproof, rustproof, and shockproof — the Altec Lansing Life Jacket and the Mini H2O are proven to withstand the rigors of the outside world.

MANILA — October 19, 2015 — Altec Lansing Philippines announced its newest series of breakthrough outdoor speakers: the Life Jacket and Mini H2O. Altec Lansing has long been known for its superior expertise in sound quality, and this new line of outdoor speakers takes the brand to the next level. Quality meets unparalleled durability as these speakers are IP67 Waterproof/Dustproof/Shockproof rated, and even float on water. Dubbed “Everything Proof,” the Life Jacket and Mini H2O are surely built to last. 

Life Jacket 

The Life Jacket Bluetooth Wireless Speaker features great sound, voice confirmation, and an onboard microphone for clear, hands-free communication. It is packed with power features such as speaker phone with caller ID, voice confirmation and commands, easy Bluetooth pairing, and NFC compatibility. With 16 hours of battery life and power bank capability, you can remotely charge your smartphone anywhere and rock out all day long. 

Mini H2O

The Mini H2O Bluetooth Wireless Speaker features an ultra compact design, voice confirmation, and an onboard microphone for clear, hands-free communication. With 6 hours of battery life, aux in, and an integrated carabineer, the Mini H2O lets you bring and enjoy music wherever you want to go.

The New Collection

Altec Lansing also unveiled a range of wireless Bluetooth speakers, each designed to perfectly suit your unique lifestyle: 

The Mini Life Jacket features a rugged compact design, voice confirmation, and an onboard microphone for clear, hands-free communication. With 10 hours of battery life, aux in, and an integrated carabineer, the Mini Life Jacket can keep up with your action-packed adventures. It has a suggested retail price of P4,850. 

The Jacket H2O features a sleek, compact design, and comes with voice confirmation and an onboard microphone for clear, hands-free communication. With 8 hours of battery life and an aux in port, the Jacket H2O is perfect for any outdoor fun, even for water activities. It has a suggested retail price of P3,995.

The Orbit is one of the most impressive power packed ultraportable Bluetooth speaker on the market today. This device delivers high quality sound rarely found in such a small, affordably priced speaker. Great audio performance plus an onboard microphone for clear hands free communication, voice confirmation, aux in jack and up to 6 hours of battery life. The Orbit is the compact music companion for travelers. It has a suggested retail price of P1,425. 

Pricing and availability

• The Life Jacket comes at a suggested retail price of P7,250. 
• The Mini H20 also comes in 5 color options: black, white, red, orange, and blue at a friendlier SRP of P1,995.
• All new Altec Lansing models will be available in selected branches of SM Appliance Centers, Astro Vision, Astro Plus, Anson’s, and other gadget retailers nationwide. 

Join our community

We’d highly appreciate if you can help bring more music-lovers to our community:

Facebook — facebook.com/alteclansingphilippines

About Altec Lansing 

For more than 80 years, Altec Lansing has been shaping the history of audio delivery by producing superior speakers for music-loving consumers and audiophiles alike. Throughout generations, Altec Lansing continues to be a first choice for people who seek quality audio without any compromise. In the Philippines, Altec Lansing is exclusively distributed by Banbros Commercial Inc. 

I don't know about you but after having fresh pasta, I get cravings now and then. What's worse is that it isn't satiated by those noodles you get from the supermarkets that you dip in boiling water to reconstitute it.

Mama Lou's is one of the restaurants I come back to if I want homemade pasta with simple recipes but become amazing because of the fresh ingredients and are cooked well.

After asking my friend about how to take care of a beagle for a couple of days, I asked her if she had any recommendations for a restaurant to try. She said that the last restaurant she came to where she was 'pleasantly surprised' was Mama Lou's. Apparently, she couldn't get over the Risotto.

You'll feel right at home here!

The Ambiance 

Mama Lous has several branches in the Metro, the one I am nearest to is in UP Town Center along Katipunan Avenue. Once you've arrived, you will notice the decor is inspired by houses from Italian villages like the one in 'the Godfather' where Michael was exiled in. 

Vintage-style chandeliers!

You will feel right at home with its warm and family oriented touches like the green wooden window blinds and the vintage-style chandeliers. It feels like you're going back in time. I love it. Although at around 12 noon, people started to flock the place and got a little too noisy. It was bearable but should be noted if you want a place to stay, relax and talk with your family and/or friends.

Carpaccio Di Manzo!

The Food

We were given the menus and we decided to get a dish from each pasta category. For appetisers we picked the carpaccio. For my main course, I've developed a habit wherein I either pick the best sellers of the establishment or the most unique, eye catching dish I could find. In this case I got the Japaleno of the category Barilla Pasta - Diavalo. (Diablo) From context, I gathered it was spicy which furthered my resolve.

Jalapeno Barilla Diavolo Pasta!

The Jalapeno was interesting because I've never had garlic, Jalapeno and pine nuts in pasta before and they go so well together! The flavors from the Jalapeno blend well with the pine nuts where the spicy kick is balanced by the volume of olive oil. 

The other Olive oil based pasta we had was the spaghetti seafood olio (The banner picture of the article) which is a simple garlic sautéed with assorted seafood but had this saltiness to it that was addicting. 

What really surprised me about the dishes the generous serving of olive oil and yet I never felt overpowered or felt sick of it. I wanted its generous oiliness as oppose to other oils.

This lasagna melts in your mouth like cake!

My brother decided to have the Lasagna, which I argued that we could have anywhere else. He was firm though and I am glad he was. When I took my first bite, I was blown away because during those few seconds the flavors from the red sauce mixing with the flavors of the cheeses and the the pasta itself exploded in my mouth. What surprised me the most is the overall consistency of the Lasagna which was like a cake, the layers quickly melted as it touched my mouth! I had to have another bite!

We also had the Spaghetti Pomodoro Basilico which basically the classic red sauce Spaghetti with Mama Lou's delicious pomodoro with basil! It had the same flavors as the lasagna just with a different experience because of the texture and shape of the pasta. It's good, it's just it isn't anything new.

Creamy Risotto!

The risotto's thick cream reminded me of a strong flavored carbonara's white sauce cooked with full rice grains which is pleasantly tamed by the saltiness of the cheese and the consistency of the mushrooms. It's absolutely wonderful, with the only gripe is how easily you can get 'umay' because of all the starch that comes from the rice and cream. I tried countering this by having some pizza and more pasta. I ended up eating the whole plate!

The Pizza Bianca!

There were dishes that weren't as impressive as the best dishes which means it was decent because it was cooked well but just didn't have anything remarkable. Most of the pizzas are a pretty good example of this. The crust is thin and crunchy while the sticky cheeses have hints of saltiness that go well with the bacon and mushrooms. I couldn't put my finger on it, it just felt that it was missing that X-factor but in any case they are still worth trying!

I never really got to use these because the dishes almost never needed them!

The Service

We arrived and were immediately led to our table and were then given the menus. The Waiter was patient and answered promptly the questions we threw at him about the dishes. Waiting time was around a little over fifteen minutes where all the dishes were given in quick succession. Whenever we would have special requests like extra tissue or to refill our glasses with water was all met quickly and efficiently. Thank you!

The Price

Their dishes start at Php 160.00 for the poutine and get up to Php 495.00 for the big Cheese/Sausage platters! The price to serving ratio is basically what I would expect for the price and quality!

The Verdict

What We LIKED:

• most dishes are simple recipes but are amazing because they were cooked well!
• the lasagna that melts in your mouth like cake!
• jalapeno Pasta is unique and worth the try!
• the warm and homey ambiance!

What We Almost LIKED:

• risotto is amazing but can be troubling to eat on its own.
• pizza is decent but is overshadowed by the great other dishes!
• can get noisy and crowded at peak hours!

#Spaghetti #seafood #olio from @mama_lous! Moist, flavorful with a hint of saltiness that leaves you breatheless! #foodporn #pasta #whatneilwritesabout #mamalous

A photo posted by What Neil Writes About (@whatneilwritesabout) on Oct 13, 2015 at 3:49am PDT

Do you want to Contact 'Mama Lous?'

Address: UP Town Center, Katipunan Ave., Quezon City
Address: B1 Tropical Ave., corner Palace st. BF International Village, Las Pinas
Address: UP Town Center, Katipunan Ave., Quezon City
Telephone number: 
UP Town Center: (02) 958 - 5563
BF International Village Las Pinas: (02) 519 -1977
Instagram: @Mama_Lous
Operating Hours: 
UP Town Center: Mon-Sun: 11AM to 10PM
BF International Village: Mon-Sun: 11AM to 12MN

With the rising number of Ramen establishments in the Metro, it is becoming difficult to find a unique experience that captures your own preference. I am aware that each province in Japan has their own style that resulted into thousands of variations which makes it difficult to find time to try them all.

I am fortunate enough to find a Ramen Place that is near to where I reside and is unique enough to warrant a visit every now and then. We write about Oyasumi Ramen in San Juan!

The Signage is a little hard to find when driving from Wilson street.

The Ambiance

I googled the address of Oyasumi and I invited my siblings to come with. When we arrived we were surprised at how simple the modern aesthetics Oyasumi has erected. It's all the details, minimalism at its finest. Brushed concrete Walls and ceiling with steel and wooden made furnishings.

Simple Steel and Wooden Furnishings!

As you open the door to the entrance you get a peak at the kitchen itself which is in front of the bar for those who just want to have ramen and go. There are long tables at the second floor for those looking to be in a group and want to stay a while. To our surprise when we found our seats at the second floor, they were screening via projector a Japanese film. (I'll give you a hint: 'Hiten Mitsurigi-Ryu')

The fusion of two classics from Filipino and Japanese Cuisines, the La Paz Ramen!

The Food

What separates Oyasumi from the rest is their unique Ramen offerings like the Tomato Ramen(the banner picture and the La Paz Ramen above. The tomato added a different depth of flavor combination that I think feels off where sourness of the tomatoes was conflicting with the rest of dish. The La Paz Ramen however was amazing, the natural thick Ramen base blends wonderfully with the saltiness of the pork rinds (chicharon) shavings of the La Paz Batchoy that gives you that satisfying warm feeling in your belly. When eaten with the noodles and liver chops it becomes heavenly as the liver serves to contrast the saltiness and the umami perfectly. What takes the cake is that it never feels oily. I wanted more but I was full.

What I found constant in all their dishes is how perfectly cooked the eggs are. The outside is firm enough to keep it together but soft enough to be opened with a chop stick. When you do open it, you will see how from the firm outer surface, it softens to a fluffy consistency as you get deeper in to the liquid core. Once you've popped the eggs it usually adds another layer of flavor, may it be the pepper ramen, the ikei, the tomato or the La Paz Ramen.

Intense seasoning that pulls out the flavors of each ingredient!

The Pepper Ramen in contrast was intense, the peppers really brought out the flavors of the base, miso, vegetables and the pork slices that explode in your mouth. It was the type of intensity that I had to keep devouring a scoop non stop. My only regret is that oral cavities couldn't take the irritation from the pepper even though I wanted more of it.

I encourage you to come to Oyasumi and take the Ramen strangest to you. They let you pick which noodles you can have like black ink noodles, matcha noodles or even curry noodles.

The Iekei rooted from the classic Yokohama traditional Ramen!

 The Service

When we arrived at the door we were greeted warmly by the signature 'Irasshaimase!' and were asked if we had a reservation. We said that we reserved a table for five and promptly lead to our table. They gave us our menu and recommended their best dishes while serving us tea.

The dishes we ordered came ten (10) minutes afterwards. We dug in and they stood their and did their job to wait and see if we need any special service. They really pay attention whenever our drinks run out and they fill it up again.

Their service is the standard polite and customer centric Japanese signature hospitality. Up until now, I have no complaints.

Downstairs is where the bar and kitchen resides

The Price

Ramen starts at Php 350.00 while the Cha Soba starts at Php 170.00. Additional ingredients like eggs or chashus can go from Php 30.00 up to Php 120.00. They also have an option to turn your left over soup into a cheesy risotto that sets you back Php 60.00. In general the prices for their dishes are on the more affordable side as compared to the Ramen establishments in Malls.

The Verdict

What We LIKED:

• We can watch Japanese movies while eating!
• The Eggs are absolutely wonderful!
• Unique Ramen Variations!
• Option to turn left over soup into a Cheesy Risotto (It depends on your personal preference)

What We Almost LIKED:

• Flavored Noodles are a hit or a miss
• The Pepper from the Pepper ramen brings out wonderful flavors from the dish but can irritate the insides of your mouth
• Parking can be a problem

Do you want to Contact 'Oyasumi Ramen?'

Address: 308 P. Guevarra st. corner Seaview St. San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines
Telephone number: (02) 275-0309
Facebook: Oyasumi Ramen Facebook Page
Instagram: @OyasumiRamen
Operating Hours: Mon-Sun: 11AM to 10PM

When the arrival of craft coffee, craft ice cream or anything craft for that matter came, it was only a matter of time did I question when would some craft or at least new creative sandwiches would arrive in the metro. Lo and behold when I heard that an establishment was cooking some good hotdogs and burgers that uses BACON fat, well you could say I was intrigued. 

Enough Said

Lazy Bastard is located at the corner of Galaxy and Jupiter St. Bel Air Makati which is surprisingly where one of my favorite Ramen, and one of my favorite Japanese Bakery is located. (Mitsuyado and Yamato Bakery) It is conveniently located at the basement with the entrance at the back side of the building. The parking is one of the problems that I have encountered here.

Hidden entrance at the back of the Building!

The Ambiance

The Facade is hidden because it is at the back of the building, but you won't miss the huge sign that says 'Bacon and Burgers this way ->' As you walk down the stairway you notice the prominence of British subway inspiration.

As you open the door you see a hallway with a couple of tables on the right and a bar with stools on the left. At the end of the hallway is where you order and pay.

It feels like a hole on the floor restaurant which I think is the best thing for this kind of place which is an eat and go place. It isn't that big so you're encouraged to enjoy your food at a faster pace but not to the point of rushing that it makes you gag.

The Kimchi Dog!

The Food

They are very proud of their creations that I can't help but praise them. What you will notice in all their items is that they use bacon fat when they cook some of the ingredients, and they use potato bread that is softer than the normal buns but have this light sweetness that really compliments the salty bacon or the peppery burger patty.

As you receive your dish and for some reason you added bacon, you will notice how generous their serving is. In fact, If you look closely at the burger picture you will see that they didn't separate the strips of bacon, it was a batch of it. I however found the bacon to be a little saltier to my preference but that wonderful crunch is still there!

The Bacon Cheeseburger with that generous serving of bacon!

The burger's buns and condiments are as fresh as they can be, and when you take that first bite you immediately notice the light sweetness of the soft buns blending with the vegetables, the condiments and the peppered patty. They advertise that their patties are a little on the peppery side, and I think it is a matter of preference but I found it intense enough for me to want a little less of it.

What really blew me away was their Sloppy Joes! So far it is the best one I've ever had in the Metro and I highly recommend you try it.

Nearly half a paper bag full of fries!

They also have add-ons so you can add an extra patty, extra cheese, extra jalapeno or etc. for your preference. They also have a promotion where in you just add Php 90.00 and you get to choose from French fries, Onion Rings and taters and pair it with your dishes with your chosen beverage.

When it comes to french fries, McDonalds is the standard and I am happy to tell you that I think their fries is a little bit better than McDonalds and their serving is quite generous where I got nearly half a paper bags worth of it.

The onion rings on the other hand was good. The outer layer was well season and crispy while the inner onion ring was still fresh but with hints of caramelisation and no sign of getting burnt.

Those Crispy Onion Rings!

The Service

The people were kind are always ready to listen to your requests and suggestions. The lady at the cashier made it so easy to pick which dish I wanted as she was wonderful at explaining the differences between each dish.

I did find their cooking time inconsistent. There were times where it would be done in ten minutes but there were times where I waited for twenty minutes until I got my order.

Some people may also find the place a little small, and I think this place is just for when you want to just eat your food and go, not the place you would like to sit down and have a long conversation.

The Breakfast Sandwich!

The Price

The sandwiches starts at Php 150.00 on wards! The Sloppy Joes with the Php 90.00 combo is the best deal for me. I would also add some Jalapeno and damn. It roughly cost around Php 300.00, and I will not regret it. 

 The Verdict

What We LIKED:

• Ambiance is for I just need to eat good food and be on my way
• The Buns are soft and flavorful
• Bacon Serving is generous
• Condiments are fresh
• Arguably one of the best Sloppy Joes in the Metro!

What We Almost LIKED:

• Those who are looking to sit down, eat and talk for a while won't like it. (They can move to the secret bar right next door
• Burger Patty was to my preference too peppery while the bacon was generous but was a little too salty
• Inconsistent serving time. Can vary between 10 to 20 minutes.

Do you want to Contact 'Lazy Bastard PH?'

Address: Basement Floor, 22 Jupiter St. Corner Galazy St. Bel Air, Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines
Telephone number: (02) 832-5330
Facebook: Lazy Bastard's Facebook Page

Website: www.lazybastard.ph

Instagram: @lazybastardph

Operating Hours: Mon-Sun: 11AM to 3AM

Are you looking to find the best of the latest food business in Metro? UP Economics Society in partnership with Barangay Teachers Village East who are celebrating their Fortieth Year presents 'FOODGASM GOES TO MAGINHAWA!'  

A foodie's dream event on Saturday, October 17th. There will be four main attractions: A food tasting competition, an eating contest, a bazaar and a concert! It will be day to remember! We will be there so why don't you eat with us and tell us what you think!

You can contact us via social media and tell us what you think:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatneilwritesabout

Instagram: https://instagram.com/whatneilwritesabout/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/whatneilwrites

Reserve your tickets now for the food-tasting segment of Foodgasm Goes to Maginhawa on October 17, 2015 and get a chance to be a food critic for a day! Each ticket entitles you the chance to taste food entries of a given set (there will be 2 sets of around 20-25 food businesses).

The specific set your ticket would entitle you would be determined in a first-come first served basis. Nevertheless, all ticket holders would be ensured that they would have a set, only in determining if it would be set A or B would first-come first serve basis apply.

The respective dishes and food establishments per set would be released online before the actual event.

The mechanics for reserving are all in the form.

RESERVE HERE: tinyurl.com/FoodgasmTickets

LIMITED TICKETS would be released so make sure to get yours now by clicking on the link below!

For questions please message us in our page or contact 09273138714.

So what are you waiting for? Block out October 17th and get your foodie on!

The Schedule and Prices for the tickets are located below:

FOOD TASTING COMPETITION

Pre-Selling: P200

Door Price: P250

Reserve your tickets at tinyurl.com/FoodgasmTickets

EATING CONTEST

Before Oct 17: P100/person

Day itself: P120/person

*Come in groups of 4

Contact: Gel Clemente 0917 804 0924

CONCERT

8PM onwards

Alcoholic beverages will be served

Free for all!

BAZAAR

9AM til 12MN

Again if you haven't already, you can hit us up during the event via social media links below, See you there!:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatneilwritesabout

Instagram: https://instagram.com/whatneilwritesabout/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/whatneilwrites

The great thing about San Juan is the proximity to different cities like Manila, Quezon City, Mandaluyong and Pasig. Manila is also beside the edge of Makati specifically the Chino Roces Side. When I found out that a several coffee shops will be opening there I was thrilled! 

The first of the two is Restock Curiosities which is from the geniuses of Magnum Opus and several partners. The second one, is Habitual Coffee which I will be writing about soon! 

Restock can be found along Guijo street that intersects Kamagong. It is right across from the famous 12/10 restaurant. 

The Ambiance

As you walk along Guijo, you will see a building painted in dark blue with some plants infront of a huge window with the sign 'RESTOCK.' The entrance is a pair of thick wooden doors with small windows and thick pipe handlebars. 

Once inside you will be greeted by a collection of art in many forms. Furniture, knick knacks, paintings, drawings, craft bags and the like which mostly are made in the Philippines. Yes, feel good for patriotism!

The feeling of creativity exudes from every corner which truly gives you a wonderful relaxed feeling. If you need to work but need to think of Ideas, Restock is one of those place you should go to. 

Warm and inviting!

From the door, to your left is the bar. It isn't the most complex and expanded bar you will find but that the magic that happens here is just as amazing as any long bar you'll find around.

What I love about this place is that you are free to walk around and check what items that have been curated by the partners. They are priced reasonably well and I will bet you that you will find something you like.

The Coffee-Tonic is a great unique way to have your Coffee!

The Coffee, The Beverages and The Service

The bean blend they use are sourced from the finest sources that is delivered fresh every week. I encourage you to taste each one and find what you like! When you do find the blend that you love, the hard part comes next because would you take your coffee the classic way or a creative way?

That is the appeal to the beverages of Restock. There are the usual latte, espresso, mocha and etc., but there are also the bipolar, the flight and the coffee tonic.

The Malagos Mocha of Restock!

I personally love the Coffee-Tonic and the Malagos Chocolate Mocha because of the unique characteristics of the tonic and Malagos that perfectly blend with the beans! 

The Coffee-Tonic was interesting because the contrasting flavors of the beans and the earthy ingredients of the Tonic blend so well but are really distinct to the characteristics of the beans.

The Bipolar! Have your Coffee two ways!

They also offer Pizzadillas which is an interesting partner to the coffee when you're hungry or when you're with your friends.

They offer products from the Lost Nomad, Magnetic Poetry, Where to Next post cards, Satchmi Vinyls and a lot more. I encourage you to visit and see for yourself.

The staff are open and kind. They willingly, and happily assist you whether it be about the beverages or the curated merchandise. In fact at one point I just decided to come up and talk to them about random topics and the story of how the place came to be. It was a nice little change of pace!

The Facade! Restock Curiosities

 The Price

The coffee starts at Php 100 and can go up to Php 300+ for the flight! The Bags, Postcards and the rest of the curated merchandise vary depending on the item. It is best to come over and try and feel them for yourself.

Do you want to Contact 'Restock'

Address: 7635 Guijo St, San Antonio Village, Makati City, Philippines
Telephone number: (+63) 917-663-1011

Instagram: @restock

 Operating Hours: Mon-Sun: 12NN to 10PM