MAFBEX 2008 - I came, I saw, I conquered.
In my previous post, I think I’ve shown how badly I wanted to go attend the MAFBEX 2008 (Manila Food and Beverage Expo) which started on June 18th and lasted until yesterday (though I do not know if many people went there yesterday because storm signal number three named Frank was pretty worked up) and I was seriously set on going to it no matter what. So last Saturday, I finally dragged my Mom to go see the expo even if it was raining hard. Armed with an umbrella, a large shoulder bag and an old battered ATM, we commuted from our home in Batangas towards Buendia/LRT. The bus was so cold because it was raining heavily outside, and the movie that was being aired didn’t help the cranky passengers at all. Imagine watching Final Destination 2 inside a bus on a cold wet day, with a huge bus traveling over a slippery highway filled with lots of other vehicles going to Manila. Final Destination 2 is not a great movie to watch en route to Manila or any place that requires traveling on highways or expressways or any long roads for that matter. Period.
Getting back to my story, I was only carrying P500 in cash when we rode the bus so when we arrived in Buendia, I only had P300 left in my poor wallet. Can you believe how expensive bus fares are now? Before the recent increase, I only paid P84 from Tanauan to Buendia (single trip) which was still kind to a commuting student’s measly budget. Now it costs P98.50 per person for a single trip. I’d have to go get a dorm when I go back to school since it would be cheaper that way. Since that freaky movie, freezing AC and painful rise in the bus fare, I felt a bit famished. I told Mom it would be better if we grab a bit of lunch before we looked for an ATM machine and head to World Trade Center (WTC). We stopped by the nearest fast food chain we can find after getting off the bus because it was raining again, so we ended up eating in Chowking. After grabbing some rice, soup and dumplings, we were ready to take the tiresome trek towards the ATM machine on the other side of the road. After finally getting a few cash on hand, we hailed a cab and got to WTC.
We paid P100 (P50 for mom and another P50 for me) for our entrance ticket and we entered the expo. I was like a kid in a candy store. I’ve just started baking, so baking supplies and ingredients is what makes my skirt go up these days not that I wear skirts or anything resembling one. So I made a decent game plan telling Mom we should go start from the one corner then work our way to the other end of the room and so on. I seriously scolded myself for not withdrawing all of the cash I had in my ATM before going there. There was really no ATM near WTC so I couldn’t get more dough to splurge on all the baking stuff I wanted. I rarely splurge but when were talking about baking stuff, I just can’t resist. If I had known there were so many things I’d love in the expo (and if I had a job, haha) I would’ve seriously availed of a cash advance from these people just so I can satiate my baking desires. That’s how much I’m into baking right now. I wondered in awe at all those baking pans, trays, moulds and shelves. Those silicone supplies, cake decorating supplies and other baking paraphernalia (somehow paraphernalia sounds too much like drugs for me, haha). The mouth watering almonds, chocolates (fondue..yummy), pastries and a whole lot of goodies. If I just had withdrawn enough cash…ugh.
So after going around in circles I finally managed to squeeze in my successfully bought list:
These are the stuff I had been having a hard time finding here in SM and Robinsons. So I was really grateful I finally got them. At least I can do some baking until I run out of the again which would mean I’ll be off to Unimart (since Peotraco said they had their complete line there) to get a lot of my baking supplies. I was bummed that I forgot to get the cooling rack I found earlier since I didn’t have one still. I guess I’d have to look for one next time I go to MOA since the malls here in Lipa provide inadequate baking stuff for anyone needing them. I was also bummed that I had to limit my pastry sheet and muffin pan to one each because I ran out of cash. I was actually planning on getting a cab to MOA (leaving Mom in WTC to chek out something there and withdraw from my ATM too) but it was raining outside and I didn’t feel like getting wet. I get sick easily when I get rained upon. Good thing the people looking after the baking pan booth that we stayed in told us that there would be another expo this coming August that would be showing more of baking materials and other food industry equipments. So I can still save up for that one and get all the other stuff I missed out on this expo. Wheeeee!
I’ll try to post the photos I was able to take here when I get more time. I need some shuteye since its still raining here. 
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2 Responses to “MAFBEX 2008 - I came, I saw, I conquered.”
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Hi Nikka. Saw your blog. Hope you don’t mind my asking — where else can I buy caster sugar her in Metro Manila? I really need it.
Hope you email me back. Thanks!
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Nika Catbagan reply on July 3rd, 2008:
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