Downtown Manila is a place I never venture much these days. True, it’s a big part of my childhood, but somewhere in between, I ended up in the semi-suburb; living as I am now near a place with airplanes hovering above me, instead of jeepneys buzzing to death beside me.
Manila, it’s either you love it or leave it - the dirt,the smell, the sidewalks overflowing with goods from underground stalls,the noise and a thousand what-nots which make it one big,rough city.
Still, visiting the Alveo Land development Celadon Manila recently,you’d think twice about your impressions of Manila as an “ugly” place. I still can’t believe this is what they made of the former San Lazaro Race Track.
SM San Lazaro is the mall nearby. Good thing am not anymore house-hunting or I would have ogled the the prices. The Celadon Manila units we went to were priced somewhere between P9 million to P12 million for a three-bedroom affair with cathedral ceilings and an attic. Just like any other city, real estate in the center of Manila must be g-o-l-d 
Living Room, Model Unit @ Celadon Manila
Still, the perks of being in a place like this is that everything you need’s near you. Like schools, the SM Mall and even the LRT station.There will be a cluster of retail shops inside the village too. To give the public a preview of its development, Celadon Manila has launched its lifestyle market called PICK Manila which will be ongoing till the remaining weekends of September,namely Sept. 21 to 28.
This market may not be as full as the Salcedo and Lung Center Markets. Still, there’s something about weekend markets which just make you want to sample all the goodies and visit them all!
Cafe Amadeo booth
Thanks to GeiserMaclang for giving us this directory of exhibitors:
FOOD
1. Divine Treasures offers freshly cooked puto and puto pao made from high quality rice. To ensure the freshness of their products they only take limited order and cook only as you order. Aside from original puto, they also offer other delicacies such as yema cake slices and chicken and pork empanada.
2. All About Corn’s name says it all as it offers everything from sweet corn to corn on a cob for every foodie to munch on.
3. Kukziboz serves all-time Pinoy favorite native dishes like Tinolang Manok, Adobong Pusit and Bistek with a homemade style appeal that’s sure to remind you of your mom’s cooking.
4. Dalisay Sweets is one of the leading food manufacturing companies in the industry that manufactures and exports tropical fruit and vegetable preserves, purees, juices, concentrates, condiments, nuts and confectionaries.
5. LCRV offers sweet leche flan, yummy banana cake and delectable cassava cake.
6. Chevis Churros Corner offers a sweet taste of Spain for those who have a sweet tooth with its crunchy bread churros in three different flavors butterscotch, chocolate and caramel.
7. Big Hit Marketing’s variety of snacks ranging from french fries to siopao that will surely satisfy one’s hunger.
8. Penco Incorporated’s sweet success comes from powdered sugar and bakery products as well as natural dried mangoes and mango juice.
9. Duco Enterprise satisfies your sweet tooth with its wide range of confectionery from creamy peanut butter to honey bee syrup as well as an asssortment of bakery ingredients.
10. Thai Sticks & Steaks serves authentic Thai dishes like Bagoong rice special, Chicken Pandan, Catfish Mango Salad and Phad Thai with herbs and spices together with hefty servings of Batangas T-bone and ribeye.
11. Ivy’s Catering’s delectable Japanese fares like sushi, California Maki and Sashimi makes for the perfect Bento.
12. Cafe Amadeo aside from producing, promoting and marketing coffee beans, roasted coffee and brewed coffee is also part of the municipality of Amadeo which has been dubbed as the Coffee Capital of the Philippines on 2002 by Her excellency PGMA.
13. Fudge Cookies serves different varieties of your all time favorite cookies like oatmeal choco dip, choco chip, chunky domino, and brownies that’s sure to turn you back into a kid again.
14. Fresh Place is your springboard to good health with its selection of meat alternatives such as vegemeat, vegenoodles and tofu chips.
15. Kaunkit has the best Samar has to offer like its balayan, Bagoong na isda, binagol and pinyato, but for the more adventurous there is also one-of-a-kind Tahong crackers for you to try.
16. Villa Manaog Food lets you enjoy your favorite meat or seafood the healthier way by grilling.
17. Sweet Thoughts
18. Goldnest belives that chicken eggs are the centerpiece of a wide range of food and have always been a universal symbol of rebirth, medicine, omen and mystery giving a whole new way of looking at chicken eggs.
GO ORGANIC
19. Fresh Sugarcane serves fresh and clean extracted sugarcane juice that is a great preventive and healing source for sore throat, cold and flu. It also refreshes and energizes the body instantly as it is rich in carbohydrates.
20. Good Health Good Life lets you discover the amazing health benefits of VCO products like lotion, coco wine, sugar and vinegar.
21. Agri-Aqua Network International (AANI) is a duly registered corporation owned, operated and managed by established Filipino businessmen, professionals and practitioners that offers fresh produce such as fruits, vegetables, fish and seafood.
22. Herbal Momma has everything you need to work your way towards a healthy lifestyle from supplemental vitamins made from real herbs to tasty herbal cookies.
23. Mister Herbs is a haven for enthusiasts of alternative medicine, offering indigenous herbal plants like the popular Lagundi and Pansit-Pansitan.
24. All Organics offers Milea Bath and Body Products made from all-natural ingredients soothes and relaxes you after a long day’s work.
FASHION
25. Pangarap Foundation started in 1989 by the Sons of Mary, Ina-anak Inc. and the Ladies of Charity of Pasay – a gospel-based integrated ministry for children in need of special protection and their families by teaching them to make decorative candles and bracelet rosaries.
26. Fix and Focus offers a variety of lucky bamboo plants which in Feng Shui is believed to bring its owner luck by bringing together natural elements of water, fire, earth, wood and metal into balance.
27. Accessorize It / Asia Embroidery has the right accent pieces from glass photo frames, decorative glass boxes, candle holders, baskets, lampshades and other beaded works to decorate your home.
28. Casa Belle Enterprise will give your home that Asian tropical touch with its hand painted fans, weaved bags and baskets as well as fashionable hats for display which they offer in wholesale and retail.
29. HBA Marketing offers an assortment of shawls, table runners, turban and pillow case that can turn your living room, den or bedroom into a plush sanctuary.
30. Unique Novelties and Toys Corporation gives its customers a slice of China with Chinese inspired novelty items like wall scrolls, oriental copper bells, trays, coffee and tea cups, glass paper weights and other souvenirs.
