It's GROW time!

My childhood dream was to be a doctor. My teenage dream was to be an actor. My ideal job was to be an engineer like my dad. It did not happen. I am a teacher becoming a facilitator.

The last trainer's training I participated was in 2011 in YMCA Manila. The last seminar workshop I organized and facilitated was The First Bicol Social Media Workshop in 2011 and The First Bicol Street Style Photography Workshop in 2012. For the succeeding years, I let my students organize seminars as their project. I was a speaker at times also. 

Now, I am a Program Facilitator for the Getting Ready and Organized for Work (GROW) of Children's International Philippines- Legazpi. I conducted the trainer's training for GROW Youth Volunteers last April 26 and 27, 2014. I was very busy for two weeks organizing the event. 

The day before the event, Ms. Weng Brizuela, went inside our office with a cup of coffee and sat beside my desk. We were talking about GROW and I suddenly thought of inviting her to be a speaker. She accepted the invitation.

Also, the night before the event, I met Grace Imperial at Albay Viejo for the writer's meeting for The Procession of Faith Coffee Table Book Project. I immediately invited her to speak also for the trainer's training happening the next day. Despite the short notice, she too accepted to be part of my first ever Train the Trainer! 

From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank every one who was part of another historical first. You know who you are! It's GROW time! 

Sa Bicol, Sa Bigg's!

I was in third year high school when Bigg’s oldest branch opened in 1997 at the corner of Fr. J.L. Bates St. (formerly Ma. Clara St.) and Rizal St. Old Albay Legazpi City. My classmates and I would spend our extra allowance on Bigg’s Classic Burger and Rock n’ Roll Iced Tea, which is a secret blend of sugar, lemon and real brewed iced tea. Some of my classmates even became part of Bigg’s television commercial aired on the local news.

With my St. Agnes' Academy High School friends
again in 2009.

Bigg's Goto for Five High School Friends.

After high school, I would always order my favorite meal, Cordon Bleu, before I take the bus back to Manila to start another semester in college. Sometimes I order it to go and make Bigg’s Cordon Bleu as my baon. Bigg’s is the first restaurant in the Bicol region to serve Cordon Bleu.


Every time I am home in Albay for semestral break, Christmas and Summer vacation, I would always catch-up with family and friends from high school over Bigg’s Goto especially after a night of drinking. Bigg’s Goto was a landmark of Nald’s, a previous Pinoy fast-food concept which was later fused with another concept of  fast casual restaurant selling pizza and western dishes renamed to Carl’s Diner. Carl’s is a common name among the sons of the three founders, Nena Bichara, Nienie Buenaflor and Maricar Manjon. From its original name, Mang Donald’s to Carl’s Diner, it is now known as Bigg’s Diner, the first successful local restaurant concept to receive international recognition in Asiaweek.

Mom and my cousin from Manila at Biggs - Pacific Mall 2010

With Korean Students at Bigg's Embarcadero - 2010

Korean ready to order at Bigg's Embarcadero - 2010

Back then there were only two Bigg’s in Albay – Bigg’s Old Albay and Bigg’s Bichara Mall.  To date, Bigg’s Diner have four branches in Albay  - Bigg’s Daraga, Bigg’s Embarcadero, Bigg’s Pacific Mall and Bigg’s Old Albay, which is open for twenty four hours. It has 12 branches across Bicol and 2 in Calabarzon – Lipa and Batangas. The first Bigg’s franchise was Bigg’s Goa. The youngest Bigg’s store is Bigg’s diner Sorsogon which opened last May 2012.

#BiggerBetterBiggs at Bigg's Diner Pacific Mall Legazpi

After a month‘s hiatus, Bigg’s Diner – Pacific Mall Legazpi opened its door once more last March 5, 2014. Located at the first floor, it set itself apart from other quick-service restaurant through the fusion of American cuisine and Bicol influence. Those who remember its traditional American Diner look will be happy to see that the new Bigg’s Diner still maintains its classic ambiance. Its industrial interior with a vintage flair makes your every day dining experience – from hearty breakfast, power lunches, midday snacks to romantic dinners - suit your current mood. It continues to attract more and more Albayanos, local and foreign tourists to eat good food. It also features a function room where you can hold fabulous parties, seminars and other events. 

Image by Karen Hobi-Wong

At its grand launch and blessing last April 4, 2014, guests could not get over the absolute marvelous modern vintage concept. Bigg’s Diner has synergized the classic with contemporary sensibilities. I enjoyed having conversation with the creative team, Mr. Ben Nasayao and Ms. Rica Buenaflor as we were seating on the high wooden stool matched with an elevated wooden table. I found out from them that lofty tables make your mind more active. So expect a lively conversation when you take a seat at Bigg’s Diner combined with lights from Edison bulbs that hang over the dining area.

With the creative team of BiggerBetterBiggs during the
Grand Opening.

Bigg’s Diner menu is composed of tempting choices. An eighteen inches giant burger with a thickness of two and a half inch was the main attraction during the grand launch and blessing. For starters, the Bigg’s Crispy Chicken is a must try. It is served with a side dish and gravy. It is MAS MALAKI and MAS MASARAP.

Having been eaten in Bigg’s Diner for years now, their right mix of space and food is taking over Bicol. Bigg’s Diner has indeed proven the testimonial that “You have never been to Bicol, if you have never been to Biggs” is definitely true.  Sa Bicol, Sa Biggs!

Eat, Drink and Be Magayon at The Oriental!

The Daragang Magayon Festival 2014 had arrived in The Oriental Legazpi!

As the grounds of Legazpi City got wet in the rain, an exciting and exclusive Daragang Magayon Festival Night of Fashion, Culture and Tradition was held for the first time at the hotel lobby last March 24, 2014 graced by local government officials, employees, bloggers, JCI Legazpi and Daraga, Philippine Military Academy 2014 Class Siklab Diwa from Albay, and contingents from Masbate. It marked the opening celebration of the Daragang Magayon Festival 2014 which is one of the country's top five festivals.

The five-star hotel introduced the in-cocktails such as Vodka Fizz, Garden of Eden and The Oriental Cocktail. The food, from appetizers to deserts were simply too good to pass up. No one left without tasting the chicken and mango canape, fish fritter, pasta tinapa, mini barbecue and pizza, pili panna cotta, buffalo wings and many more. The food and drinks were served with live lounge music and a special performance from the Albay Volcano Choir.

The "Pustura" Collection of Gary Rodriguez Roces, a Quezon-based designer was showcased in the hotel lobby. His roots came from the Bicol Region through his grandfather Oscar Lomibao Roces who is a local of Legazpi City. His six Filipiniana designs made of indigenous materials like abaca and buri can be seen until the end of April 2014. He also transformed the buffet table with his Sarimanok native centerpiece.

Image from The Oriental Legazpi

The Oriental Legazpi is home to local and foreign tourists as Albay is now considered as the new tourism giant in Luzon. According to Mark Queano, Assistant Operations Manager, the Governor Suite was booked for a month by a New Yorker. They are preparing for international conventions as well  like the World Trade Organization (WTO) Meeting.  The Oriental Legazpi will also be the venue for some events for the month-long celebration of Daragang Magayon like the Torch Parade of Hale'a where the fire queen, Ms, Rachel Lobangco was a special guest.

Indeed, The Oriental Legazpi have a notable decadent hotel bar and restaurant as it continues to give the best culinary treats and festive experiences. Eat, Drink and Be Magayon at The Oriental Legazpi!

For inquiries and reservations, contact us reservations@theorientalhotels.com or call us at (02) 9945644 [Manila] and (52) 435 3333 / 5555 [Legazpi].

~Josh Acuna