Around the Center

On my way back from a quick trip to Shopwise for something sweet, i got to pass by where a band plays each weekend night. The stage is set beside Italianis at the Gateway mall building next to the Coliseum. Im not sure if its the same band all weekend but tonight, Cadio and his band was playing. I got to meet him while he was taking a break from singing. They band was playing a lively jazz tune that was nice to hear after a long week of work. Apparently, he is the vocalist, songwriter and the music arranger for the group. I can hear him right now while im typing this up. They are pretty good if you like jazz. I got his card so those interested in checking them out or hiring them, either visit next week or email me for his contact info. Thats him in the picture sitting on the side while watching his band do all the work

This i really have to share with you. Well, it is actually the first thing i’m sharing with you. Hidden in the second floor of Shop Wise Cubao is a small cubicle with the sign, Blind Masseurs. Behind the wooden panel usually sits Mang Rudy and his wife (dang it, i cant remember her name). Anyway, they are both blind and they give great back massages. You dont have to take your clothes off or anything like that. They charge 100 pesos for 30 minutes of upper body massage and 120 for lower body. 200 pesos if you want both halves of your body massage. All i can say is that it is more than worth the 100 for a good back massage. They dont count the time either so it can range from 30 to 45 minutes for the upper body massage.

Mang Rudy is a gold medalist for weight lifting in the Special Olympics so if you want it really hard, just ask. I was amazed at how easily he lifted me at my 190 lbs. His wife, although i havent really tried a massage with her, is said to be just as competent. I did see her make a nice purse made of sewn together beads complete with a nice simple design of a different colored set of beads. The things people do despite the lack of sight really amazes me.

Anyway, if you happen to have half an hour and you feel the desire for a good back rub, go visit. He’s there in the afternoon to about 9 or 10 depending on the demand.

Perhaps the very beginning isn’t the best way to start since it would mean that we begin when the area is just a field of grass that you pass from the mountains of Antipolo on your way to old Manila. I guess i will begin by a brief introduction.

Im Super Perez. This domain, AranetaCenter.com, was originally registered in March 2002. Why is it that i got this domain? We’ll i grew up in Araneta Center and our main branch for Perez Optical is in it. I once asked the Araneta Center administration if they wanted to register the domain in 1999 but, being the way they are, they declined and said that they would rather stick to the Fernandina88 website that they built. Can you imagine that?! They wanted the entire Araneta Center to be part of Fernandina88.com. I figured that since they didn’t want it then and i did have a right to use it since we are in the center, i registered it for US$100 for the first year. A year or so after that, they contacted me and wanted the domain name. They offered a whopping …$100 for me to give the domain to them. This was after i started developing the domain name as a means to promote the businesses in the area, particularly ours. One very ignorant staff member tried threatening me for the domain. The thing is, they don’t know what they were talking about. I told them to try and sue for cybersquatting. Little did they know that i made sure that i was breaking no rules and i was legitimately capable of being the registrant for the domain. Later, they offered more money but the guy who was handling the deal got sick and they didn’t follow up with me so i guess they stopped being interested.

I’m going to start telling you all about the places, people and events here in Araneta Center. This blog, to give credit where credit is due, was inspired by Mr. Harry of Angeles City.

With that, let the adventure begin!