The Mandala Park Weekend Market At Shaw Blvd, Mandaluyong
September 23, 2015
I so love joining weekend markets. I got this habit of mine when I used to work in Makati, every Sunday I pass in this busy street of Salcedo. Back then I don't know anything about a small gathering of booths that encourage a healthy lifestyle by showcasing the best organic products in town. Actually one of the things that I kind of hate living in the city is the limited options of products that promote healthy mind and body. All we have are canned foods and fast - food chains which I am guilty of eating often.
Now that I don't live there anymore and has moved to Mandaluyong where I have spent the last 4 years of my life here in Manila, I rarely get a chance to see it. Good thing there is one that just opened right in the city where I live for now!
God knows how I am terribly busy I am preparing for my out of the country trip and all that writing stuff but I knew it is going to be worth it so I tagged along two of my brothers who are visiting over, Ronnie and Vincent. Guess what Ronnie, won a Php 1, 000 worth of voucher in a British restaurant that offers London dishes. I cannot wait for us to eat there soon!
I roamed around and literally loved everything they got there especially the calamansi and pili flavored Fog City Creamery ice cream. Gosh I can eat a dozen of this! Also a bunch of vegetable gyoza by Edgy Veggy which I know personally because I often see this joining a lot of events about green living and also ate a few times in their store in Brixton Street, Pasig. My brothers love the cold-pressed juice from Fruit Magic’s Pure Nectar Fresh Juice line. They liked it that they were asking me if they have one inside the nearest mall near us when we got home. Too bad I forgot to ask the ladies who served me this. I also met a lady who who introduced herself as a foodie and came all the way from the nearby town to just see what she can eat here. She also shared she just came from Phnom Penh, Cambodia few months ago so we chatted and exchanged travel tips of this city I am about to visit in a week from now.
Pardone me for not having a photo of Basti Artadi, one of my favorite local singers because I was busy (obviosly) to chatting to this woman about Cambodia and also humming the songs that he and the other girl singing. But hands up to them, for that great night of singing and eating!
More details about the first ever Mandala Park Weekend Market below:
Good Food, Great Music, One Smooth Weekend Spent at Mandala Park September 19, 2015 – De-stressing from a tiring work week entails basking in wholesome experiences. A weekend market meant to do such now opens as part of the unveiling of a new community of wellness that reinstates Liberty Center as MandalaPark, the first and only integrated in-city living and wellness district located on the other side of Mandaluyong.
The Mandala Park weekend market unravels the enclave’s vision of bringing sustainable living for everyone to embrace. With good food, soulful music, and relaxing moments spent in the company of family and friends, neighboring people can now gain a holistic sense of well-being espoused by the community in Mandala Park.
Green Living in the Urban Setting
As weekend markets advance from trend to norm, so does its quality. Much like green space, weekend markets help promote engagement in the community as well as the betterment of one’s well-being.1 The Mandala Park weekend market seeks to set a new standard where people experience accessible wellness.
A study says that city dwellers tend to have sunnier dispositions when their community has a green space, a place where they can escape the hustle and bustle without having to leave it the city.2 This paved the way for green living to slowly make its way to the forefront of everyone’s minds, over the last couple of years. As evidenced by the growing influence of fitness and everything organic and sustainable, Filipinos, too, have become more conscious of what they consume as well as the activities they participate in, often making sure that they are not negatively impacting the environment around them.
In terms of food, Filipinos have become more discerning, choosing products that are locally sourced or uses organically grown ingredients. In terms of activities, they are more inclined to choose ones that offer more substance; examples of which include nature hikes, the growing cycling culture, and even weekend markets.
An Elevated Taste of Wellness
The first installment of the Mandala Park weekend market series lines up some of the Metro’s newest and most innovative pop-up restos and one-offs that offer new food experiences. Curated by Pinoy Eats World founder, JJ Yulo, the Mandala Park weekend market features preservative-free ice cream from Fog City Creamery, cold-pressed juice from Fruit Magic’s Pure Nectar Fresh Juice line, craft cookies and milk made fresh by Scout’s Honor, Out of the Box’s Bulletproof coffee made with Brain Octane Oil and grass-fed unsalted butter, citrusy ginger ale freshly brewed by Stanford & Shaw, healthy and homegrown non-alcoholic beverages from Orich, and organic locally sourced vegetable dishes from Edgy Veggy.
When asked about his choice of merchants, Yulo had this to say, “I am always on the lookout for food entrepreneurs who have something of high quality. All of them are passionate about their products and are enthusiastic to show them off.” The weekend market will also sell healthy whole food snacks from Take Root, accessible and delicious perfectly smoked barbeque provided by Ribs Manila, hearty ramen from Iroha, customized burgers courtesy of The Burger Project, personalized bibimbap bowls from IAmKim, and flavorful Mexican food from the B&T Mexican Kitchen.
Furthermore, Basti Artadi will be bringing chill vibes through jazz performances with his band. With JJ Yulo hand-picking the merchants, Basti Artadi providing the entertainment and Mandala Park developing the community, the weekend market serves as the first of the many events that help elevate the place into a regentrified epicenter of wellness.
Hope to see you guys in the coming weekends at Mandala Park, Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong.
