Davao City: Picobello Ristorante Italiano

Travels - this is one of the reasons why I love working with Digicon. It was Araw ng Dabaw (Davao Day) when we arrived at the southern province, so our usual lunch place - Kusina Selera - was full due to the people eating there while watching the parade in front of them. 

We walked a bit away from our hotel and entered Gaisano South Citimall,  an old, dark, and scary (sorry!) mall. I think it was at the dead end where we rode an elevator going to the 5th floor. There, Picobello Ristorante Italiano welcomed us for our first lunch.

Apparently, Picobello is known in Davao to be an affordable and delicious Italian restaurant. I like that the place is brightly lit (thanks to the natural light, too) and very spacious. There's a glass window back there where we saw the chefs cooking the pizza and pasta.

Lucky we are, Picobello was almost empty that lunch since most people are at the perpendicular street waiting for the celebrities to pass by. Look, it's AJ, Ace, Caren, and Jen seating so comfortably.

And now, we put their food to the test.

While waiting for our real orders, the staff gave us this Bruschetta as an appetizer. Good thing that it wasn't roasted too long, thus the bread not becoming too crunchy. Veering away from the usual Bruschetta with small pieces of tomatoes, cheese and garlic spread, Picobello's version was very simple. It has cold cuts on the left and super fine tomatoes-turned sauce. Simple as it may be, I really like how tasty it is when I paired it together.

Next is the Insalata Di Pomodori E Mozzarella (Php165) or simply tomato and mozzarella salad. Although I'm not much fond of basil, I love how it was mixed with vinaigrette as a thick sauce to the salad. The mozarella wasn't  much of added taste to me, but eating the tomatoes, sauce, and greens altogether makes it a good combination. 

Pictured above is the Rustica Quattro Formaggi (Php350) or simply four cheese pizza. It's a wood-fired pizza mixed with the staple tomato sauce and four cheese - Mozzarella, Gorgonzola, Ricotta, and Parmesan. Since the pizza was freshly cooked, the bread was still soft and chewy. However, in terms of taste, I find it a bit too salty, but still palatable.

Here's Spaghetti Alla Marinara (Php230) with assorted seafoods, garlic, herbs, and rich-flavored tomato concasse (peeled, seeded, and chopped tomatoes). The pasta was just okay, nothing too awesome to remember. Aside from that it seemed like the seafood used has been in the fridge for quite a while, this pasta dish was a tad bit bitter for my taste. However, my friends liked it and in fact ordered another plate to share. Given the price and the serving size, and apart from the tiny bit of bitter taste, I can let it pass.

My favorite dish was their Risotto Al Funghi Ed Erbe Aromatici (Php170). It was just a very simple risotto mixed with mushrooms and herbs, but it was so full of taste, very creamy, and delicious! It was a bit too liquid-ish as compared to the risotto of my friend Jackie, but I love it!

Picobello Ristorante Italiano offers a wide range of Italian choices. They have the following categories and price ranges for each:

• Antipasti e Insalate (Appetizer and Salad) - ranges from Php130 to Php370
• Zuppe e Minestre (Soups) - ranges from Php95 to Php105
• Risotti e Paste (Risotto and Pasta) - ranges from Php170 to Php280
• Secondi Piatti (Main Course) - ranges from Php190 to Php480
• Steaks and Chops - ranges from Php500 to Php995
• Pizze (Pizza) - ranges from Php270 to Php350
• Beverages of soft drinks, juices, beer, coffee, alcohol - ranges from Php40 to Php170

Overall, Picobello is a restaurant I'd gladly go back to again since I haven't tasted a lot of their menu items. However, with the items I've eaten in my recent Davao trip, I can say they offer just average-tasting dishes - nothing extraordinary.

Picobello Ristrorante Italiano
5th Level, Gaisano South Citimall
Ilustre St., Davao, Davao, Philippines
Phone Number: (+63 82) 221-1696

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Graduation Gadgets Gift Ideas

Time flies, it is graduation season again. Whether you’re finishing as a high school student going into the university life or a college graduate moving into the corporate world, graduations are always a perfect time to bug your parents and relatives to buy you the gadgets of your dream. In this edition of gadgets rundown, I list a number of devices that may be suitable for you, or simply arouse your curiosity and interest.

iTwin

This is a plug’n’play USB that connects by plugging one half into an online computer and the other half into any other online computer. Once connected, you can now view, copy, edit, and upload files to and from your remote computer. It has no storage limit and data in transit is protected by robust AES-256 encryption. The data resides on your computer and not in someone else’s cloud server, so losing one half of the iTwin only requires remotely disabling the other half.

Eye-Fi

The card is like a regular SD card with a built-in Wi-Fi. As such, it effortlessly transfers and organizes photos and videos from your camera to phones, tablets, computers, and sharing sites by simply turning it on nearby a wireless internet range. It has endless memory too, since the card automatically makes space once it has completely transferred the content to a separate device.

Sphero

It’s part robot, part ball with multi-colored LED. This first robotic ball can be controlled by tilting, touching or swinging from your smartphone or tablet connecting via Bluetooth. It’s actually just a toy that can be used in various ways, but it really gives a unique mixed-reality experience. Apps are available through iTunes App Store or the Android Marketplace.

EyeTV Mobile

With this small plug-in adapter, you can turn your iPad 2 into a mobile television. The adapter acts as a TV tuner, which allows you to receive TV signals and browse for free channels. It does not require an internet connection, so it’s very much functional when on the road. You can watch, pause, rewind, and record live TV of up to 8 hours on the iPad.

Wacom Inkling

Designed for graphic enthusiasts and creative artists, the Inkling allows you to sketch ideas on standard paper while capturing a digital likeness of your drawings. The receiver that comes with the pen is able to store hundreds of sketches, which can later on be transferred to the computer and exported to various applications for further editing.

Jawbone Up

This wristband is a tracker of things you do – move, sleep, eat, etc. – to help improve the way you live. It has a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 10 days, a vibration motor that intelligently wakes you up, a precision motion sensor that accurately tracks movement and sleep activity, a 3.5mm plug that enables syncing the band with the app on your smartphone, and a sweat-proof and water-resistant body that does not limit actions even while showering or working out.

These items are more likely to be found in one of the stores of V-Mall in Greenhills. I haven't tried asking for them yet, but I heard stocks are sometimes available. Otherwise, we can surely find these gadgets in Hong Kong and Singapore.

This article is my 58^th contribution to Manila Bulletin -- one of the Philippines' leading broadsheets -- published on March 30, 2012 (Friday) in the special quarterly supplement of TechNews entitled 'Digital Generation.' You can view the PDF version here.

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Cars, Exhibitions, and More at the Manila International Auto Show 2012

From the organizers of the successfully held 17th World Building and Construction Exposition, Worldbex Services International (WSI) comes up with another expo -- this time for the car enthusiasts called the 8th Manila International Auto Show (MIAS). It's happening on March 29 to April 1, 2012 (Thursday to Sunday) at the World Trade Center (WTC), from 10am to 10pm.

What's gonna happen?

MIAS 2012 would feature the best concept cars, hybrid cars and many other automotive that will change the way we look at motoring and driving.

With the theme “Motorsports”, MIAS 2012 turns the spotlight on “Life in the Fast Lane” and the current trend of developing new and updated models of sports cars by different car brands, all designed to out ride the competition.

The highlights of this year’s MIAS include the following:

• Russ Swift Precision Driving Stunt Show
• Various car launches
• Motorsports exhibits
• Special demonstrations
• Top Gear exhibit - featuring top of the line car setups, the MD Juan World II re-enactment using Jeep vehicles, and the Philippines’ most powerful car sponsored by Motul
• Amphibian truck by the Philippine Army, Philippine Marines, and the private sector
• Bachelor pads - allowing visitors to watch favorite movies, mingle with the car shows models, and test drive the car of your dreams
• Car of the Year Awards 2012
• Other competitions such as MIAS Classic and Custom Car Competition, as well as photography contest

MIAS merchandise can also be purchased at the venue, with items such as shirts, caps, USB hubs, baller IDs, and other MIAS 2012 novelty items.

Why go to MIAS 2012?

For the past seven years, MIAS has averaged an 85,000 attendees annually. This year is bigger and better with 110 companies occupying the WTC, the Philippine Trade Training Center, the adjoining WTC East Wing and the specially constructed WTC East Wing B, with the total exhibit area now at 30,000 sqm. 

The 8th Manila International Auto Show is important since it aids in effectively boosting local car industry, especially with BPI Family Bank’s Auto Madness, which offers low interest rates for car buyers during the show.

For more information, call (+632) 5316350, 5343615. You may also email: [email protected] or visit www.worldbex.com.

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Let's DrawSomething For Fun!

People, things, food, and actions – these are just some of the categories that can be drawn in the insanely addicting social drawing application called ‘DrawSomething’ developed by OMGPOP.

Reports at Forbes.com says that “since it was released in February 1, 2012, the app has surpassed 30 million downloads (and now adding more than a million users a day).” In fact, “users of the social drawing app have created over 2 billion drawings, and exchanging 2,000 to 3,000 drawings a second with one another.” Good for advertisers, Draw Something’s ads went from zero to 200 million impressions per day.

DrawSomething is basically a digital form of the pre-loved game ‘Pictionary’ with additional features and capabilities. The rules are pretty simple – you are given three words with difficulty levels of easy, medium, hard and each level corresponds to one, two, or three coins.

Once you choose a word, say “medal” you have to illustrate it with a virtual finger painting on your phone or tablet. When you’ve sent the drawing to your friend, he will be able to watch every step of your feeble attempt at art, including your erasures, then tries to guess the word given jumbled letters.

Each correct guess will earn you and your friend coins, which can be accumulated to buy color palettes for drawing aesthetics and bombs for times you can’t understand your friend’s drawing and is absolutely desperate to guess the word.

The game has no time limit. You are allowed to guess the word again and again until you get it right. If and when you give up on a certain round, your winning streak goes directly back to one and you have to continuously play again.

Playing DrawSomething would require internet connection. You can play with either your Facebook friends, with people whose username or email address have been registered or just anybody random that the application chooses for you.

However, you don’t have to be logged in all the time. Simply play with several of your friends by sending your doodles, then you can close the app and do your daily tasks. Once you get back online, your friends’ artworks will be loaded for you to guess and draw-back all you can.

The game is available in both Apple (iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad) and Android devices. Draw Something basic app is free, but an ad-free version would cost $1.99. It’s definitely easier to play this game using a tablet or perhaps a phone with a stylus. Nevertheless, it’s absolutely a time-killer and a laughing machine as you see how your friends would draw “Brad Pitt” or “Jolie” among others. And oh, it will surely drain your battery.

Some updates I would like to see in the newer versions of DrawSomething: (1) timed guessing and drawing option, (2) leaderboard for top scorers feature, and (3) integration to Twitter and Facebook where one can post about the game from the app, just like Temple Run.

Let’s play! Add me – my username is “GlennOng.com”

This article is my 57^th contribution to Manila Bulletin -- one of the Philippines' leading broadsheets -- published on March 26, 2012 (Monday) in the TechNews Section. You can view the PDF version here (lower right portion).

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Globe Telecom Kicks Off Network Modernization Program in Davao City

Globe Telecom has embarked on their most significant investment in the last two decades by launching its $700-million landmark network modernization program. The said program, once completed, brings a radically enhanced network experience to its consumers in the form of reduced incidence of dropped calls (even at peak hours and traffic-heavy occasions), quicker and more continuous call connections, on-time delivery of text messages, and faster 3G surfing, among others. 

What is Network Modernization?

Let me tell you that "network modernization" is NOT the same as just a "network upgrade." For Globe, the modernization is a total transformation of all its infrastructure; thus, bringing a more pervasive 3G coverage, enabling double fiber optics capacity, ensuring 4G and LTE readiness, and providing overall quality and resiliency.

The program also means that Globe is not only thinking about today or the next year, but they are making sure that their services, network, and IT systems are all future-proof for the many years to come. In this way, they get to push their underlying infrastructure capabilities to a much higher level for both consumers and industries alike in new and progressive ways.

Anticipated to set the industry benchmark for the most technologically advanced network in the Philippines, Globe has partnered with Huawei and Alcatel-Lucent. With the partnership of Globe and these two entities, we are assured that they will deliver a superior customer experience for the benefit of the public.

Why did Globe choose Davao City?

Globe Senior Adviser Peter Bithos led the press launch of the network modernization program last March 23 at the Marco Polo Hotel, Davao, where he publicly explained what the whole program is about and why Globe chose Davao as the very first city to experience an improved service quality. 

From the many cities around the Philippines, Globe chose Davao City because  they have identified it as one of their key markets and focus areas. Globe wanted to penetrate more into the lives of Dabawenyos in order to give them a better and improved customer experience in mobile services.

The network change-out in Davao began December 2011 and has already completed Phase 1 of the program. Although Phases 2 and 3 are still in progress, the said completion has resulted in doubled mobile telephony capacity in the area to support growing customer demand and improvements in voice and SMS service quality.

When will changes be for other cities?

Peter Bithos remarked that Davao is just the start of everything big. This March, about 10 separate teams are already starting work in various cities of the Philippines, including Metro Manila. This simply means that improvements are already underway - woohoo!

Although there has been no announcement on the exact month and day of the entire program's completion, Bithos said that Globe is looking to finish everything by the end of this year or early next year, then adding more enhancements within the next five years. Bithos further pleads to everyone to be patient as the program entails a lot of work and won't be finished overnight.

The modernization program is a win-win situation for all. Here's why:

1. Globe will be able to provide a fantastic service and be the most advanced network provider;
2. There will be lesser carbon footprints as modern equipment will no longer have to be stored in very cold locations (lesser electricity power consumption, better for the environment); and,
3. Consumers will NOT be asked to shoulder additional expenses.

The Globe network and IT transformation program is an ambitious and yet necessary undertaking, which will effectively raise the bar of technology and service in the industry to make it at par with the world's most advanced telecom communities and practices. This program will definitely make Globe even more competitive in the fast-moving market.

Is the program effective and true?

A group of bloggers and media men from Manila (including me) and Davao went on an amazing race called "Racing Amplified" (#GlobeAmplified) last March 24 to test how Globe's enhanced network will perform around Davao City.

Grouped in three's, seven teams traveled back and forth to Davao's tourist spots to complete missions before being able to proceed to the next activity. In the pitstops, we were given tasks to perform, which entails using our iPhone to call/text our teammates, surf the internet using Globe's 3G, check in on Foursquare, browse Globe Telecom's Facebook Page, as well as tweet @airphilexpress and @enjoyGlobe.

Globe's network proved strong in most parts of Davao City. Although there were some areas with low or completely without 3G signal, calling wasn't choppy and texting still went through on time.

At the end of the race, team 'Go Lang Nang Go - Blue' composed of Jon Joaquin from Mindanao Daily Mirror, Emmie Abadilla of Manila Bulletin, and yours truly placed second overall. HURRAY!

After three days of comparing the surfing speed and call quality of Manila and Davao, I have concluded that there is indeed a difference. Davao's network modernization program has proven that the signal is stronger and the quality is better, therefore providing an awesome mobile experience to users like me.

Now that I'm back in Manila, I just can't wait for the program to be completed nationwide! Go lang nang go, Globe!

P.S. Check out this Speed Test at Abreeza Mall in Davao, taken March 25, 2012 via an iPhone 4S. Woot! Woot!

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Crunch Time Limits Technology Use

Most of the electronic devices we own today are heavily used for communication and social networking. As such, a big portion of our day-to-day activities go to checking notifications and updates, which then leaves us distracted from the many real tasks we need to accomplish.

Then there’s cramming. I believe there is the crammer in all of us, because we spend so much time tweeting, texting, blogging, and checking Twitter, Facebook statuses. This trend goes down from the professionals to young adults and to students alike.

Our generation is often considered as “heavy multi-taskers” who find it hard to concentrate on one activity at a time. We are always online, always using a bunch of IT devices to communicate, play, and make documents. However, during the last few days or hours before the ‘dead-lines,’ most of us apply the self-styled strategies of limiting down technology.

It’s true and proven in a recent study conducted in University of Washington. They have found out that students have the tendency to veer away from the use of electronics during the final exams week. For them, times of pressure become an encouragement to use less of their gadgets in exchange of being able to study more. For some, though, they use a reward system in the form of allowing themselves to surf every after 15, 30 or 60 minutes of study. Needless to say, there is still control over usage.

But while there are students who cut down on essential technology during crunch time, some are inventive to use what is supposed to be a distraction to something of benefit to them. They basically use social media for coursework and meeting coordination, while some use it for further research to clarify items they don’t understand in either textbooks or classroom instruction.

In addition, a couple of students use their smartphones to record lecture notes and use it as a reference later on. Others also photograph the problem sets from a math book that is too expensive to buy, so they can study the formulas while on the way home. Yet another group uses a website to create flashcards to review thru the smartphone. It really depends on what works for them.

I can really relate to the findings of the research. Often times, I find myself wasting time using all my gadgets and checking all my websites until such time that the deadline is almost near. When it happens, I close my browser and put my mobile phone on silent mode in order to focus on that thing I need to accomplish. You see, the study is also applicable to the working class like us.

Indeed, the means by which all of us are learning and working are fundamentally changing. What always matters is that we recognize technology’s power and learn to control ourselves from having too much dependence on it.

This article is my 56^th contribution to Manila Bulletin -- one of the Philippines' leading broadsheets -- published on February 8, 2012 (Wednesday) in the Tech101 Section. You can view the PDF version here (lower center portion).

Photo Credit: www.brainbasedbusiness.com

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Chicken Lovin' at Big Daddy's Chicken

I was scrolling over my camera's stored photos of last year and was shocked that I haven't written about one of my favorite chicken stalls, Big Daddy's Chicken.

This huge piece of crispy chicken is cooked, chopped, and flavored for only Php85.00. With just a single order, I can easily forget about getting a full meal. I love it's crunchiness and it's taste, which instantly gives me a happy tummy.

Enjoyed by both adults and kids, Big Daddy's Chicken chops are crispy on the outside and yet not dry on the inside. It isn't fully boneless, but the the bones are just minor so I still get my money's worth. According to them, they flavor each piece of chicken with all-natural aromatic spices, then soak it in a special sauce before frying. This is why their chicken chops are really flavorful.

Upon order, the chicken is served fresh from the pan. Once chopped, it was placed in a white paper container. It felt really hot, so I suggest you get a napkin to hold it in between your hands as you make tusok-tusok the chicken chops.

My favorite flavors are Lemon and Plum, but there are several others you can choose from - Original, Chili, Nori, and Wasabi Spice -- all of these have no artificial flavoring or preservatives and are brought in straight from Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia.

Even with a small store, Big Daddy's Chicken has a lot to offer. Just look at the menu and choose what best suits you and your appetite.

Be a fan of Big Daddy's Chicken on Facebook to be updated on the latest news and promos.

Big Daddy's Chicken

G/F Entertainment Hall (across Gong Cha)

SM Mall of Asia

Big Daddy's Chicken

G/F Food Court, Theater Mall

Greenhills Shopping Center

Big Daddy's Chicken
Soon to open in Lucky Chinatown Mall
Binondo

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Fish and Chips from Chicken Charlie

I have blogged about Chicken Charlie several months back and have noted in my tweets that I like their chicken more than Bon Chon's. Seriously!

Last week, I went back to Chicken Charlie in San Juan after a long day at work. I was craving for their grease-less, deep fried, tasty fried chicken, which is somehow my comfort food. In my mind, all I was thinking were wings and drumsticks.  

But voila, they now offer Fish and Chips. So what did I do? I got myself a box of chicken and an order of the Fish and Chips. For Php125, I got myself five (5) fish strips and fries plus a cup of red iced tea. An order would be served in one cylindrical container.

I'm glad that my house isn't too far from Chicken Charlie, so I was able to eat the fries without the saggy texture. After eating one piece to another, I found myself loving the fries. I liked it because the texture was just right, without overly being crunchy and not being saggy at all. As well, it was very much tasty on its own even without the ketchup or honey mustard dip. The amount of salt was just right too. Definitely a far cry from the usual fries the fast food chains sell.

Onto the star of the Fish and Chips - the Fish Strips! I find it more than the average, but a bit short of making me crazily looking for it. Yes, the fish strips were crunchy and not oily, but I needed to pair it with the honey mustard dip in order to fully appreciate each piece. I'm not so sure if it's really how it's supposed to be eaten (maybe yes?). But mind you, upon dipping the fish strips, the taste transforms and becomes very palatable.

Here's a picture of Chicken Charlie's delectable fried chicken. You'd be able to taste the flavor inside and out, plus the meat is tender and juicy. I wasn't able to finish all those, so I was able to bring three more pieces to office the next day. Winner!

If you're craving for chicken, go to your nearest Chicken Charlie! This is their current price list for Wings, Drumsticks, Combo, Sides, etc.

Apart from the usual wings and drumstick combo, Chicken Charlie now offers meals with a minimum of 1 piece drumstick, rice, and iced tea for Php83.00. Wahoo!

As of the moment, they have branches at the following locations (click the link for more details):

• Banawe - link
• Katipunan - link
• Panay Ave corner Timog - link
• Paranque - link
• Malate - link
• San Juan - link
• Davao City - link

********** Good News **********

Chicken Charlie will soon open in Binondo and Fort areas, so be a fan of their Facebook Page to be updated. 

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Am I on 3D?

Last Monday, it was my friend Caren's birthday. We had a cookout night over at her place. When my photographer friend Magic Liwanag arrived, I immediately asked him to make me a 3D picture after seeing another friend's shot previously.

I was grilling some chicken and liempo during this time, so I was holding a thong and a huge chopper.

If you have 3D glasses with you, could you check if I'm on 3D? Sorry for this non-sense post. I suddenly realized that this blog is my personal blog anyway. Cheers!

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BlackBerry Messenger Connected Apps

I've been a BlackBerry smartphone user for a year now. Thanks to the cheaper unlimited rates from my mobile network and the usefulness of the BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), I have found myself extremely in love with my BlackBerry.

For quite some time now, BlackBerry has a number of apps that integrate with BBM. With this, I can interact with my BBM contacts and discover new BBM users around me. In addition, I can also play games, chat, and share experiences with my BBM contacts right from the inside of the app.

Here are some of the BBM-connected apps that we can download for free from the BlackBerry App World.

Attached and pasted below are some BBM-connected apps that you can download for free from BlackBerry App World.

Add to the list the ever fun app, Foursquare. These are not limited to the phones specified on the screenshots, so you can always try .

For more suggestions on cool apps, join www.facebook.com/BlackBerryPH, follow @BlackBerryPH on Twitter, and visit ph.blackberry.com.

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Crumpler Dry Red No.3 Wheeled Travel Luggage

Traveling is so much better whenever I have a good luggage with me. In my recent short trips, I've always carried on a duffel bag, which makes it quite hard to bring once it gets too heavy. As such, I've been on the lookout for a good wheeled luggage, which is not too small nor too big.

The Crumpler Dry Red No.3 is one of the good travel luggage I saw. The whole bag is just plain color black on the outside, with a simple and small Crumpler logo on its front-left side. The luggage is made of Crumpler's signature thick cloth material, assuring buyers of its great quality. It also has two padded grab handles for hand carry, one on top and another one on the right side. The stroller can be pulled up and back down without any problems.

This compact Crumpler Dry Red No. 3 luggage has six storage zones of different sizes. The front zipper is made secured by the two strap belts on the top and bottom right parts. Here, I can actually put my laptop and iPad on the inner pocket, and some more other personal items like folders or towels on the outside.

The luggage comes with a free shoe bag that is also made with quality. Crumpler didn't want to give the impression that simply because it's free, it's quality should suffer. Good job on this!

The main section of the Crumpler Dry Red No.3 has enough space for a 3days/2nights trip. I can fit my towel, my under garments or my flat shoes on the left side, while I put my clothes, pants, and shorts on the right side. There are also two small, elongated pouches at the sides, where I can put some of my toiletries or other small accessories.

My clothes and stuff won't get too disorganized even after turning the luggage back and forth, because of the  elasticised compression straps that are very durable. I can also even hang my keys on those small grayish hooks at the side of the straps. Very useful indeed. 

What I really wish for this bag, though, is to have four 360-degree wheels on it, so that I can easily pull and push it whenever I want to. However, the two anti-jam wheels are good enough, since it is still able to free stand vertically or horizontally. 

Apart from that the Crumpler Dry Red No.3 is water resistant and torture tested, it can also be fully lockable from the zippers built into it.

Overall, the wheeled travel luggage from Crumpler is a good buy. It might be a bit of steep in terms of the price, but you are assured that the luggage can stand the test of time. I think its best for those young folks or young-at-heart, because it really looks stylish amidst its plain look, unlike those boxed designs we usually see outside.

Suggested Retail Price: Php8,950

Available at the following stores:

• Crumpler Bonifacio Highstreet
• Crumpler Trinoma
• Crumpler Megamall
• Crumpler Robinsons Ermita

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Gate Operators

It was a late Sunday afternoon when my friend decided to tag me along to Ortigas Home Depot. He wanted to check out some materials for the construction of his condominium. Eager I was to go out and see what new things I can discover, I hurriedly gave in to the invitation.

As I was strolling, my eyes caught on the products of a door hardware distributor called Doortech System. Their stall carries different types of automated garage doors, sliding and swing gate operators, roll-up shutters and grilles, as well as gate barriers among others.

Apparently, the automated gates we see in movies are made possible through gate operators. Basically, existing bi-folding, swing or sliding gates can be installed with electro-mechanical motors in order to open them automatically through remote control.

Having an automated gate actually has some advantages:

• It allows family members to quickly access the gate through a remote control, each member having separate remote controls at hand;
• It eliminates the hassle of waking up the caretaker or household helper at the wee hours of the night in order to open the gate;
• Lastly, it helps a driver to stay dry and worry-free during the rainy season, since he no long has to alight from the vehicle to open the gate manually.

Talk about what’s new with gate operators, the personnel mentioned that selected gate operator models, such as their Italian brand RIB, also have a Wi-Fi version. Oh great! Just like Internet Wi-Fi? In principle, yes.

Usually, gate operator installation typically requires masonry work on the support columns of gates. The marble or stone columns have to be drilled in order to provide the necessary electrical wiring provision. With the Wi-Fi gate operators, it eliminates the wiring needed to connect the different gate operator components, thereby also eliminating the need for drilling. All parts of the gate controller are controlled by radio signals emitted by the central master unit.

In terms of security, there’s no need to worry about hitting something or someone. Gate operators are packaged with safety sensors. The gate automatically stops the operation, either opening or closing, in case an object suddenly passes through. This security feature is very important when another car or a person suddenly blocks the way of the opening. Now that’s wise!

Although it is easy to install gate operators to existing gates, I was advised that the best time to invest in a gate operator unit is during the structural phase of the construction. By doing so, the engineers can advise the necessary provisions in advance before the gate is even mounted.

Whether you have a small or big gate, a light or heavy one, gate operators are able to support various weights. It can handle gate leaf weights ranging from 200 to 2,200 kilograms. Be ready to spend about Php35,000 and above depending on the engineer’s assessment.

Now I wonder how come not so many houses in Manila have gate operators. Is it because they don’t know about it or they think it’s too expensive? I surely want one! How about you?

This article is my 55^th contribution to Manila Bulletin -- one of the Philippines' leading broadsheets -- published on January 30, 2012 (Monday) in the TechNews Section. You can view the PDF version here (upper center portion).

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