Thumbs Up: Kodanda Archery Range at SM Mall of Asia

As best friends for more than 13 years now, we thought we've done everything together -- watch a movie, go to the beach, attend a baptism, get drunk, dance in a concert, name it.

My high school best friends

But shoot arrows together? No, that's not in our Black Book of Things to Do As a Squad. We thought that archery is for the more soshal or sporty group of friends.

Being 'from the South', we're completely fine with just meeting up at 7pm in a new food spot in BF, have a few drinks when someone's heartbroken, or chill in a coffee shop afterwards when were feeling 'Tita.'

In one of our Tita dinners, we've talked about giving archery a try. I tried it last year with a friend, and boy, did we love it. I wrote about my one time, big time experience in Kodanda Archery Range in Makati Park Square here. Coincidentally, my friend Guamela found my blog online when she searched about Kodanda.

She shared the link to our Messenger chat group, and we immediately planned to visit the BF branch. Yes, we're South girls and we thought that should stay here forever. But I found out that there's a newer branch in SM Mall of Asia, and thought that it wouldn't hurt if we get out of Parañaque even for just one, big time.

Thus, last Sunday, Xiju went to Kodanda. Xiju is the name of our high school barkada. It's a short version of XiJuPiaNiGuaMa, which stands for our names -- Sheena, Judy, Sophia, Janine, Guamela, and Marivic. We've been girlfriends since high school and we've been through a lot. We've been through deaths, baptisms, birthdays, anniversaries, breakups, and someday, weddings.

We're the "Girls At the Back," the girls your parents warned you about, the girls whom you don't want to mess with at school. We know each other so well that I was a bit nervous when I brought them to Kodanda.

Getting There

We chose the 11am slot so we can have lunch right after. We met up at the venue and as usual, someone's late. The Kodanda Archery Range in SM Mall of Asia is located at the MoA Arena Annex, or what they call as MAAX. It's this weird looking building in Coral Way, just behind the MoA Arena.

That weird building is MAAX

Once you're at MAAX, at the Ground Floor you will see a pathway between Coffee Bean and Yellow Cab to the parking lot. Kodanda is at the immediate right side.

Kodanda at Mall of Asia Arena Annex

Warming up

When everyone has arrived, we read the archery guidelines on the wall. Basically, no horseplaying (good luck to us), no slippers, and tie your hair up. My crazy friends then started to braid each other's hair. Haha.

How to be Katniss 101

Rules and etiquette

Gearing up

After braiding and taking selfies, Jasmine, the Kodanda staff then helped us gear up. We found out that she's not just an archer and a member of the Philippine team. Moreover, she's an Olympian. Wow.

Learning the Basics

As newbies to archery, we were taught of the basics of shooting. As the only leftie in the group, I was facing on the other side. Another important rule is to respect the other archers and to shut up when shooting (we broke the rule, sorry).

#squadgoals

Shooting arrows

We were given a bow each, taught the right stance, learned the whistle signals, and then we're sent off to the Hunger Games. Even as a second-timer, I needed a refresher. Mental note: I must do this more often.

Pia

Janine

Meng

Mavic

And me

Hitting the target

Well, luckily, I was able to shoot better than them, but they were all good as first-timers. Although there were times when the arrow bounces back or fails to release, we were all just laughing and enjoying our time. For a one-hour sesh, we were able to finish a couple of rounds and even correct our stance.

Taking photos

During breaks (or not), we asked the staff to have our photos taken. We even have a video releasing our arrows simultaneously! Squad goals, indeed, was the proper hashtag for our photos on social media.

Yay!

Resting our bows

We took home our targets and thought of framing them and hanging them on our walls. Our first archery experience in Kodanda is definitely one for the books!

Ke gaganda in Kodanda :P

It was tiring and challenging (especially it requires discipline and focus, which the lack of had us sent out of our classrooms). Yet we enjoyed it a lot because it was something out of our comfort zone, it's something different, yet we succeeded in our first try.

The Kodanda experience made us think of other ways to bond -- try escape room games like Breakout or Mystery Manila's, or other sports like ice skating. 

After being humans surviving in a zombie apocalypse, we turned into zombies hungry for humans. We had a great lunch and an even a greater dinner with Sheena -- who is seriously a South girl and must stay there. Lol.

What a Sunday with my favorite people on earth. Thanks to Kodanda for giving us an experience that I know for sure we'll discuss in our Tita dates forever.

Xiju forever!

Kodanda Archery Range is located at 111A Mall of Asia Arena Annex (MAAX) Building,

Coral Way cor. J.W. Diokno Blvd., Pasay City.

Open Monday to Sunday, from 10:00 am - 10:00 pm.

Php 580.00/person for a one-hour session

JMCS

Onli in Da Peysbuk!

Isang araw, nagmamasid ako sa aking Facebook news feed, napansin ko, medyo nakakarami na 'tong mga taong 'to ah. Dumadami sila, in fairness! Eto yung 25 taong nakakatuwa (or nakakatawa), onli in da Peysbuk!

Yung mga taong...

1. Magpopost ng medyo vague na status tapos pag may nagcomment ng "ano yan?" or "bakit?" ang sagot, "secret."

2. Magcocomment sa status na wala namang connect, like, "te, pasahan mo ko ng load."

3. Nagcocomment sa picture ng baby na parang yung baby yung kinakausap. "Kamusta ka, baby boy?"

4. Magpapahayag ng opinyon about politics, current events in English pa, wrong grammar naman.

5. Magpopost ng picture kahit blurred or against the light.

6. Magpapalit ng profile picture tapos isa-isang pasasalamatan lahat ng nag-Like para umangat sa news feed.

7. Hindi nagrereply sa birthday greetings, kahit yung ineffortan.

8. Yung mga nagpapaka-creative na gumagawa ng collage, tapos ang liliit naman nung photos individually. Langkwents.

9. Araw-araw naguupload ng picture ng baby niya, tulog, gising, umiiyak, tumatawa, kumakain. Photo album ang solusyon dyan or scrapbook.

10. Magpopost ng "off to SM" pero selfie or OOTD lang naman talaga ang pakay.

11. Pinapangalandakan na religious siya, sa Facebook nagsusulat ng prayers. I-tag mo rin kaya si Lord.

12. Nagchecheck-in lang pag nasa lugar na pangmayaman.

13. Nang-aakit ng masasamang loob sa pamamagitan ng pagpopost ng "home alone" or pagchecheck-in sa "Lot 1, Blk 2 Chever st. Zone 3, Sitio 4, Brgy. 918, Diliman, Quezon City." Lagyan mo kaya ng kulay ng gate.

14. Sabik magkaron ng kakambal, doble doble pa yung picture, isa lang naman itsura. Kinaganda mo yan?!

15. Nagsa-status ng all caps na manloloko yung jowa niya tapos maya-maya mahal na mahal na niya ulit. Tapos bukas with pic na naka-kiss.

16. Hindi pa nakakaalis sa sumpa ng mga apps na "God wants you to know" at "Photo of the Day."

17. Akala mo walang pinagsamahan, kung maka-greet ng "happy birthday," "HBD" lang.

18. Di mo alam saan pinagkukukuha yung mga pinapang-comment na images.

19. Nagpopost ng mga picture ng sugat, tissue sa ilong, bandaid na may design. Gamutin mo, te! Di kami mahahawa kahit anung post mo nyan!

20. Naguupload ng isang album 174 photos sa iisang lugar lang with two other friends na panigurado may isang picture na ang posing ay "Bulag, Pipi, Bingi."

21. Muntik na lumampas sa character limit ng Facebook kasi wagas makakwento ng encounter niya with a masamang-loob. Ipa-blotter mo kaya.

22. Lakas maka-brightness tsaka Camera 360 sa picture pero sa personal...

23. Sini-screen shot pa yung mga sweet text messages or video call nilang magjowa. Tapos magugulat (worse, magagalit) yung boylet kasi di niya alam na inupload. Well, part of the surprise yun. Sweet diba?

24. Lahat na hinashtag! Best in Hashtag! I-push mo yan!

25. Nagtthrowback ng picture na siya lang yung maganda. HAHAHA.

And finally!

26. Ipi-PM ka pa talaga para ipa-Like yung picture nila ng jowa niya! Kalokah!

Talaga naman! Onli in da Peysbuk! :)

Guilty or not guilty? You can invoke your right against self-incrimination. LOL.

Peace! :)

J.S.

Bad Trip: Most stressful bus experience so far

Imagine being judged by someone who doesn't know you; badmouthed to almost 30 passengers inside the bus with you... at freaking 6 in the freaking morning.

Location: on a red Admiral Transport Bus (Nova-Baclaran route)
Time: 09/19/2013 06:21AM
Characters: Me as "Me;" Lady Conductor as "Ati"

Me: (abot bayad) Ignacia po.
Ati: Hindi ko na bibilangin to ah.
Me: 13 po yan.
Ati: (uses her fare computer, shows screen) 15 eh.
Me: Ha? Timog po yan eh. Ignacia lang po ako.
Ati: Eh pag pinipindot ko yung 13 kilometers, eto yung lumalabas eh.
Me: Araw-araw ako sumasakay 13 lang bayad ko.
Ati: Eh anung magagawa ko yan yung lumalabas.
Me: Timog kasi yan, eh hindi naman Timog ang Quezon Ave. in the first place.
Ati: (galit) Eh di wag nalang.
Me: (gets 2 pesos from wallet) Eto na, baka singilin ka pa eh.
Ati: Alangan namang ako pa mag-abono para sayo no! Baka singilin... Minamaliit mo ba pagkatao ko? Hindi porket konduktor lang ako, maayos ang trabaho ko. Blah blah blah... (continues saying bad, judgmental words about me while she's getting payments of other passengers)
Me: -_-

Come Mother Ignacia...
Me: Ignacia lang po ako.
Ati: Dito ka lang?
Me: Opo.
Ati: (hesitates for 3 seconds) Dito lang daw.
Me: (goes down 500 meters away from the real bus stop) -_-

Bad trip lang. Ako na nga agrabyado, ako pa pinagmukang mata pobre at mayabang sa harap ng maraming tao. People who claim that they are poor para makuha ang simpatya ng iba, saying, "kahit konduktor ako, hindi ako katulad mo na nangmamata ng ibang tao," OMG.

And Ati, you're watching too much teledrama. Gasgas na yang script mo. At pasensya na, hindi ako mayaman gaya ng iniisip mo. Eh di sana hindi ako sumasakay ng ordinary bus. Eh di sana hindi ko pinagdamot yung dalawang piso. Mukha lang akong mayaman, pero parehas lang tayong may kumakalansing na barya sa bulsa. Gusto ko lang naman ipaglaban yung tama at yung karapatan ko.

Oh well, the pains of being a commuter. Not to mention the "painful" people you meet everyday.

P.S.

Photo and video of "Ati" to follow.

J.S.

Thumbs Up: McSpicy Chicken Burger

Today, Twitter helped me decide what to eat for lunch. I saw that #McSpicy is trending on Twitter locally, and being a self-confessed spicy hot chick that I am (LOL), I gave it a try. Apparently, the McSpicy Chicken Burger just arrived today, and I'm guessing I'm one of the first 100 people who will write a review about it.

The New McSpicy Chicken Burger

How much is it?

I bought the McSpicy Chicken Burger a la carte for only Php 80. I decided to just cook my own fries at home. Btw, a regular McSpicy Chicken Burger value meal costs Php 115, while a large one will cost you Php 135. It's definitely expensive for a burger, but is it worth it?

The New McSpicy Chicken Burger with homemade fries

Is it big?

The size of McSpicy Chicken Burger is just like your regular Burger McDo, but the chicken patty is relatively bigger. As you can see, it's not the typical round shape patty but more like a medium-sized chicken fillet.

The New McSpicy Chicken Burger

The New McSpicy Chicken Burger beside a Nikon lens cap for size comparison

What's in it?

The McSpicy Chicken Burger is composed of a medium-sized chicken fillet, McDonald's special mayo dressing, lettuce, and some chopped onions. I think it would taste better with a slice of tomato.

Inside the New McSpicy Chicken Burger 

Is it spicy?

Well, the box of the McSpicy Chicken Burger has a disclaimer that says "Chicken spiced right" and "With just the right amount of spice." If you are expecting a Tabasco hot sauce-level of spicy, then you'll be disappointed with it.  As a spicy-food enthusiast (WOW), I can say that the McSpicy Chicken Burger just tickled my taste buds a little. But it didn't make me long for a drink because the "spiciness" is barely there. So if you're not that into spicy food, you can definitely enjoy this McSpicy Chicken Burger. But for "extremists" like me, it's kinda boring and tasteless, so to speak.

The New McSpicy Chicken Burger disclaimer

Is it worth buying again?

Yeah, sure, somehow the McSpicy Chicken Burger satisfied my hunger, but its taste isn't something that you would really crave for. In a nutshell, it's your ordinary chicken burger with a hint of spice.

I didn't really find McSpicy Chicken Burger as something unforgettable or exceptional, though I still recommend that you try the McSpicy Chicken Burger for the sake of trying it. :)

Still, thumbs up, McSpicy Chicken Burger. Burp!


McDonalds

Like them on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/McDo.ph
Follow them on Twitter: https://twitter.com/McDo_PH
Dial 8-MCDO (6236)
Visit their website to order online: http://www.mcdonalds.com.ph/

Thumbs Down: SM Aura Premier

DISCLAIMER: The author acknowledges her accountability and responsibility for this post. 

I am writing this post for those people who have never set foot inside the infamous, newly-opened SM Aura Premier at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. As for me, I have visited the place once, and that was yesterday, so everything about SM's so-called "high-end" mall is still fresh in my memory. Here's my one time, big time experience at SM Aura:

Here's what it looks like from the outside:

SM Aura Premier (Exterior)

As you can see, it's shape is not like the usual SM malls that we know of. The building behind it is connected to the mall. It's still under construction, though. I think it will serve as an office space or a hotel of some sort in the future; I'm just not quite sure.

Now here's what you'll see when you come inside:

SM Aura Premier (Interior)

SM Aura Premier (Interior)

The interior of the mall is indeed very spacious. Maybe because some stores are not yet opened, or simply because there's no crowd. One thing I noticed with Aura is the absence of kiosks or stalls on the center aisles of the mall. So if you're craving for a Zagu drink or a waffle, then you better forget about Aura. 

Forever 21 at SM Aura Premier 

This Forever 21 store is the first thing that you will see as you enter the Aura. As you can see, it has two floors, and the store has its own escalator. The first level, however, is not that big. I wasn't able to check the second level but I think it's just of the same size. I think SM Makati and SM North EDSA's Forever 21 stores are bigger than Aura's two levels of combined. A two-level Uniqlo store is just beside Forever 21, btw.

Chatime at SM Aura Premier

For milk-tea lovers or just thirsty people, Chatime is open to serve you. A Happy Lemon store will soon be opened in the 5th level, I think.

But if you are hungry, don't you dare go to Aura. Its version of the typical SM Foodcourt is called Food on Four. However, there are only three to five food concessionaires that are already open. My sisters and I actually came to Aura to have dinner, but we ended up eating somewhere else. Not because we cannot afford the food in Aura, but because there is just no place to eat to begin with.

Jollibee at SM Aura Premier

This particular store somehow breaks the high-end feel of the mall. But it's one of the most visited stores in the mall since, I'm guessing, SM failed to bring the right crowd to Aura. This Jollibee right here is the refuge of those who wanted to see the mall, went around, and got hungry. 

SM Supermarket at SM Aura Premier

Here are just some SM affiliate stores that are staple to the SM malls that we know. The Supermarket is basically the same; just note that standee on the far right is a virtual customer service assistant attempting to be high-end.

Cinema at SM Aura Premier

Nothing quite interesting about Aura's Cinema, except from the fact that it sells movie tickets for a higher price than those at regular SM malls. I haven't been inside the cinema so I can't judge. Btw, Aura has a Director's Club cinema if you can afford it.

SM Business Services at SM Aura Premier

But good news to those who hate long lines when paying their bills or transacting government services like NSO, PAG-IBIG, SSS, and the like. SM Aura's Business Services booth is not that crowded.

If you think you have no place inside the Aura because the stores look alien to you, you can always go to the 5th level of the mall--the Skypark. Here, you can sit on one of those plant boxes and just appreciate the beautiful sunset.. if you can see it behind the condominiums, that is.

Aside from the stores that are yet to open in the near future, that sums up the entirety of the famed SM Aura. I don't think SM did a great job by opening a store that is not even half-finished. Another thing is, I don't think SM was able to cascade the right message that the Aura mall is exclusive for the high-end crowd. Which is why wrong people troop to the wrong mall with the wrong expectations. I was also surprised to know that an SM Aura was being built right in the Ayala-owned BGC. Everyone was just surprised why Sarah Jessica Parker is here (and who is she, really). 

Just some notes on SM Aura:

1) The exterior of the building is not really impressive. It screams, "Hey, I'm still a work in progress, but SM needs to make money right now so here you go. Take it, or leave it."

2) It seems out of place in the BGC.

3) I don't think the real high-end people the mall was built for will really dig it. It seems like a mall for not-so-rich people to feel rich even just for a short while--a place where they can stroll, but they will leave the mall empty-handed.

4) It's a waste of time and space. My sister and I were looking for a simple Toy Story lunch box for my nephew, but to our dismay, the Department store offered few selections and too much spaces. 

5) It's just not worth traveling for.
6) So long as the two letters S and M are part of the mall's name, it will never achieve the Greenbelt 5-level of being "high-end." SM has been a brand of comfort to all Filipinos, so as long as its SM, it will never be exclusive to a certain crowd only. It will always be for everyone.

For now, thumbs down for SM Aura Premier. 

Thumbs Down: Timezone TriNoma Arena

You know, the least I could ever do for something terrible that I've experienced is to share it with people. That is why I am taking to my blog the terrible experience Kevin and I had last night at Timezone arcade in the TriNoma mall in Quezon City. We've been valued customers (or players) in that particular branch of Timezone until last night when the supposedly place to enjoy turned into a stress-inducing hell.

Timezone Arena in TriNoma QC

 

Smaller Timezone Area Closed

 

Whenever Kevin and I need to kill time, we head directly to this particular "hidden" Timezone branch on TriNoma's 4th level. There were no crowds there, and the games were ~okay. However, last night, to our surprise, the said branch was closed. I don't know if it's just under renovation or it's gone forever. So we headed back to the main Timezone arcade, where we never thought hell would break loose.

 

The Rise of the Defective Machines

 

Since it's a Saturday and there were many people playing in the arcade, Kevin and I looked for vacant arcade games where we can finally de-stress. We just came from his basketball game, and we were kinda tired from the overcrowded MRT train ride. The least that were expecting to happen in Timezone is to swipe our card to a defective drop-the-ball extreme machine. Imagine all the hassle of finding a personnel who could assist you to reimburse your credits.

So I went to the cashier and surprisingly, we're not the only ones who's been troubled by a defective machine. I gave my card to the cashier, and she did some swiping and typing and returned the card to me saying, "wag niyo nalang ulit gamitin dun." And in my mind I was like, "sure, I'm not that stupid to not know that." But I was cool, and I just went back to Kevin and looked for other games. We were looking for racing or shooting games, but unfortunately, they are all unavailable.

 

The Rise of the Defective Machines: The Remake

 

I found this Sharp Shooting game and Kevin was able to play. We were somehow smiling until we swiped our Timezone card in a seemingly new drop-the-ball game near the entrance. After we swiped our card and the button started to flash, we were very excited to push the button to get the jackpot prize. To our dismay, the ball never dropped. The button did not work. Another defective machine over here.

I found myself looking for a personnel again. She came to us fast, but she said she needs to get the keys to operate the machine. I approached the cashier, thinking maybe she'll just reimburse the credits again, but the cashier told me to ask the girl who is assisting someone else. So we just waited for the first personnel we approached to come back with the keys. Apparently, the keys never appeared. She asked us to move to the machine beside the defective one to just try there using her card, but unfortunately, the machine was also unavailable.

 

The Rise of the Defective Machines: Forever

 

Remember, we waited for like five minutes for her to come back with the keys she was ogling about. She told us to just transfer to another game somewhere else. She swiped her card and asked me to like, press the button so she could see if the machine works. In my mind, I was like "congrats, Miss. You just defeated the purpose of enjoying the game." I felt like I was forced to press the button just so she'll go away. Anyway, I had no choice so I hit it (take note: without the feeling of excitement). I won three tickets in that game, but unfortunately, the machine did not dispense the three measly tickets I won.

Apparently, the machine doesn't have anymore tickets, so an operator came to refill it. And I was like, "Kuya, nanalo po ako ng three tickets ha." I couldn't believe I just said that like I was begging for those tickets. The operator even said, "Naglaro po kayo, Ma'am?" And in my mind I was like, "Hinde kuya, gusto lang kitang kupitan." Like seriously, Kuya! Would I even bother to ask for three freaking tickets if I didn't play?!? (insert Tagalog translation of son of a b*tch here). Again, those were only in my mind.

 

The Unprofessional Manager

 

That particular moment triggered the The-Customer-Is-Always-Right part of Kevin's brain. He told me that he wants to get a feedback form just so we can voice out our horrendous experience with the defective machines in Timezone. Kevin has a point and he made it clear to the personnel we talked with: if your machines are defective, you better shut it down or indicate that it is unavailable. But I told him to just shake it off and we'll just find another game somewhere. Or not.

He insisted and went to the cashier. He courteously asked for a feedback form where he could write down his suggestions for the store to improve its service and minimize the hassle defective machines give to customers. The cashier asked the manager to face us, after some minutes of waiting. The store manager named Marilyn de Ocampo faced him, and Kevin told her his sentiments. He was just asking for a feedback form but the manager doesn't seem to know where to get one or what to do.

 

The Clueless Guy

 

The manager went to their office, I suppose, to get the feedback form. A male personnel nevertheless came back holding a piece of newsprint, with no clue of what that is for and where should he give it. He asked the cashier who needs the paper. The cashier pointed to us, and he was about to hand it to Kevin. But Kevin did not accept it, saying, "what would I do with this piece of paper?" So the guy came back to the office, scratching his head to get a pen.

The manager came back with the pen and paper. She again asked Kevin what his sentiments are so she could write it down. Kevin enumerated, "poor customer service, defective machines." Kevin added that the manager was unprofessional to ask someone to bring the pen and paper when in fact he's talking to her. Among the manager's excuses was, she was just transferred to the branch recently. And in our minds, we were like, WHO CARES?!

 

Not Fun at All 

 

And so we left the manager with that piece of newsprint with the certainty that the manager will just crumple that in front of the cashiers and personnel, coupled with an evil laugh. Where that piece of paper with Kevin's sentiments on behalf of all the disappointed customers go? We don't know. That's why I am writing this post for the benefit of everyone. Timezone should really take action on this matter. Your slogan says, "Time for Fun!" We say, it's not really fun at all.

Timezone Arena
4/F TriNoma, Quezon City
May 18, 2013 at around 7PM