Mamibeka's Grill

Mamibeka's Grill is home of authentic Filipino cuisines, serving grilled meats among other favorite dishes. Located at 38 Mayaman Street UP Village, Quezon City, it is open Mon-Thurs from 12nn to 10pm and on Fridays and Saturdays, until 11pm. You can visit their Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/mamibekasgrill/ and Instagram account at @mamibekasgrill. But better if you can visit their place at UP Village and have a taste of some comfort food.

With office friends having lunch

One of their hit offerings is the unlimited rice for every meal, which ranges in price from P149 to P179. Each serving of the grilled liempo meal is large, which may be enough for two light eaters. One of them just have to purchase the additional rice. The meats are delicious, and go well with the lumpiang gulay which is at P25 per piece.

Showing interiors of the restaurant

The place can accommodate around 20 diners at a time inside, with a couple more tables outside. It is air-conditioned inside and quite cramped, but it's okay if you're having a nice time with friends as you get to be physically closer with each other.

This restaurant is a startup business of four female college students from UST. Mamibeka stands for each of their initial syllable.

We kept coming back there

Human Nature as a Social Enterprise

In the overwhelming selection of products of any kind that constantly seek attention of consumers through different media, one is hardly bothered to sort which brands stand up for more goodness. 

We often make our shortlist or choice of products based on popularity, affordability, effectiveness, and sometimes captivating advertisements. We don't normally seek out brands that are more socially responsible, environment-friendly, or not cruel to animals. 






For the more conscious, reading the label prevents being tricked by misleading advertisements and endorsements. Sometimes a brand would highlight one or few natural ingredients although its amount is negligible in the actual product or it has other synthetic chemicals mixed with the natural ones.


SOCIAL BUSINESS

And then there are businesses that primarily have social objectives where the poor and marginalized are the primary stakeholders. The social enterprise sector is growing in the country, with some providing livelihood training, supporting local producers at fair trade, while others are producing goods.

They are the so-called social enterprise. This is more than just being committed in the corporate social responsibility program. Social enterprises are mission-driven, managing the business towards creating wealth and its equitable distribution.

I believe our country's economy will drastically grow when we process our own raw materials rather than exporting them for other countries to develop into products. Sometimes, they employ our fellow countrymen as laborers and we are also the consumers. The Philippines is rich in natural resources and have talented people to make quality finished goods. That can and should make us prosperous, right?

Human Nature is one such social enterprise, which is able to support several farms and communities across the nation. As much as possible, it uses ingredients that can be grown in the country and include other ingredients only if there are no local alternatives. They also prioritize Filipino suppliers.


PRO-FILIPINO

The organization has been able to help farmers learn beyond planting rice and other crops as food. Considering there is demand for supplies for a wide variety of products, there are endless possibilities to what we can offer the world. Human Nature is able to harness local talents they employ from laboratories, production, merchandising, and everything involved in the enterprise.

To be able to commit to fair trade and dignified wages while maintaining low prices of quality products, the owners had to reduce their own profit. They reinvest profits to further expand and develop their partner farming communities.

It is able to make the most of our good soil and the plants that can grow abundantly from it, like citronella and lemongrass. They keep discovering excellent ingredients from our own backyard which are effective for different uses in their products. That is why they are confident in proclaiming that made in the Philippines can mean world-class! It is good for many more of us be confident in that, too, and to take pride and contribute as well.


WELL-ROUNDED SUSTAINABILITY

Not only is Human Nature pro-Philippines and pro-poor being a social enterprise, they are pro-environment by making products without any harmful chemicals and by processes that do not harm the environment.

As their website described it: "ingredients are more than inspired by nature - they are nature itself, carefully selected, deftly distilled and perfectly blended".
So, amidst the loads of products out there, it helps to stand up for those that we know have higher advocacy. The little we can do can mean so much when it can start a change in the mindset towards making a better choice -- of seeing value beyond the superficial. We can be more conscious in our own purchases or in what we promote or endorse to other people. Maybe we can be involved or start our own enterprise, too.

For home and personal care, Human Nature is one such brand we can support or peg as a model for business. It's good for the economy. As a consumer and advocate, I attest that not only are its products good for our own skin, they feel great for the heart as well.

Beautiful Chapel Inside Trinoma - Mary Mother of Hope

The Mary Mother of Hope Chapel inside Trinoma is located on the 4th level of Landmark Complex. It was inaugurated on September 8, 2017, blessed by Most Reverend Honesto F. Ongtioco, D.D., Bishop of Cubao.

Schedule of Masses are:

Monday to Saturday: 11:30 A.M. and 5:30 P.M.

Sunday: 11:30 A.M., 3:00 P.M., 4:30 P.M., and 6:00 P.M.

Prior to its inauguration, the masses in Landmark were held in another huge location, adjacent to the department store and over the supermarket section.

This new chapel can hold more than 2,000 sitting people, including the Children's Room that can accommodate around 400 seated pax.

There are several overhead video projectors inside the main chapel and in the children's room which does not have a direct view of the altar. One can always have a closer look at the altar, which helps in focusing on the ceremony and the message being delivered. These projectors were also present in the previous location.

Staff of Landmark serve in the mass, as have been in previous location.

This is a view of from the 4th Level, across where the mass is being held. You can see the holding area for next mass-goers on the 3rd Level, and the shopping areas on 2nd and 1st Levels.

The floor layout of the main chapel is L-shaped, such that there is a view towards the altar from the left at the front.

There is an Adoration Chapel a hall away from the main chapel. Schedule for adoration is 1:00 P.M. to 6:30 P.M.

A view inside the Adoration Chapel of Mary Mother of Hope Chapel which is open from 1:00 to 6:30 P.M.

The Children's Room which can accommodate around 400 pax, is connected to the main chapel, but separated by glass to keep the noise inside. There are video projectors inside as well and of course, with audio system.

These are the confessionals. It looks to me that in these rooms there can be two simultaneously confessions. 

There are elevators that have access to the 4th Level.

The Administrative Office, adjacent to the Adoration Chapel.

Inside the chapel when there was no mass. It is open for the faithfuls to go inside.

The pews have cushioning.

In Trinoma, there is another smaller place of worship - the Chapel of St. Michael the Archangel, located on level 2 Garden Restaurants side, which holds masses daily at 6 P.M. (anticipated mass on a Saturday), and Sunday masses at 10:30 A.M., 4:00 P.M., and 6:00 P.M. On Saturdays 1:30 to 3:30 P.M., The Feast QC Trinoma holds session with holy mass, live worship and inspirational talk.