Weekend markets had long existed before our convenience-driven .jpg)
times and continues to evolve to cater to specific communities and commodities. Towns have tiangges where sellers of produce sellers and household ware from nearby municipalities gather near its main market on a specific day to cater to local residents. In Bocaue, Bulacan, vehicles can never pass the main bridge connecting McArthur Highway with the town proper on Wednesday mornings as it becomes the spot for a weekly tiangge.
What is relatively new is the use of the tiangge concept for Christmas shopping at high-end locations and even the more novel outside weekend markets in affluent and expatriate communities where gourmet foods and organic produce are the main commerce.
Young adults, mostly couples, yuppies on a break, hobbyists and pickers on the prowl for wholesome foods, natural essentials and arts and crafts, can have a laid-back Sunday at the newly opened The Attic Sunday Market (TASM, open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.) at The Attic Cafe Gallery on 208i Alabang Zapote Road, Pamplona Dos, Las Pinas City (and a branch located ar Clark International Airport Terminal 3).
There they can can enjoy a variety of choices not available at mall sources and convenience stores offered at the best deals, even garage sale prices!
HER OWN WOMAN FOR OTHERS. Created by entrepreneur Joanna Liza Vocalan, The Attic Café Gallery becomes an indoor market every Sunday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A BS Civil Engineering graduate from the Mapua institute of Technology, Joanna Liza was diagnosed with lymphoma stage 2 after eight years of being in technical sales for an engine power company. Three years ago, she bid goodbye to her engineering-sales career and decided to lessen the stress of life by putting up a business that would help her grow and be empowered. She put up the organic and vegan nail salon, I Love Priti Nails; and an art gallery, The Attic Gallery, which is now with a cafe as The Attic Cafe Gallery in partnership with her best friend, Katherine Guevarra, an OFW from Abu Dhabi. She is also an event stylist and a florist of Shabby Florist by Joannaliza. She is also into business development and engine power consultation.
Initially putting up businesses to earn and double her money as an entrepreneur, Joanna Liza got to know the industry and her team of managers, baristas, artists, staffers and suppliers better. It became a deeper mission.
No longer an “I” as it has become a “we” advocacy, she feels happiest to earn when she knows her team is compensated well. Joanna Liza provides jobs, not charity. A protective mother of three and a passionate romantic partner, she sees herself never getting old and welcoming every day as a new one.
“Do what you love and do it often” is her mantra. A devotee of St. Therese. she prays and forecasts all her business ventures to grow and multiply in five years. That is not so long-term as she never sleeps due to insomia, but when she does, Joanna Liza rests deep and well.
HALO-HALO FOR A CAUSE. Something to enjoy at TASM is the heat-buster of the season — the LSS Halo-halo, chock-full of saging na saba, halayang ube, gabi, leche flan, monggo, sago, nata de coco, kaong, pinipig, macapuno and mais in a burst of stained glass colors.
As if the gourmet appeal were not enough, it has a USP (Unique Selling Proposition): condiments are mostly organic (read: no preservative and pesticide-free) and not commercially available. The macapuno is caramelized and a secret sugar-syrup sweetener.
It goes for just P30 per tall glass, just like your neighborhood vendor.
To satisfy your soul, it even has an advocacy. Liezl Robles, singer/actress wife of Earlnest John Robles, the owner House of Shishawarma, is an empowered woman unafraid to do the humble job of preparing and selling halo-halo to support the advocacy of TASM.
Its Likmuan Program benefits Grade 7 to 10 students of the CAA School whose sculptures made from the wood of old and broken school armchairs are recycled into sculptures since they do not have money to buy materials. Now on exhibit at Gallery 1, proceeds will be donated to buy them new armchairs and purchase art/sculpture materials.
Besides The Attic Gallery/Café and partner House of Shishawarma, other stakeholders are ilovenails, Shabby Florist and friends who collate their preloved treasures to put on garage sales. Other supporters are Caadiang Textiles Trading and House of Breads.
It also serves picture-perfect ice cream and milkshakes in new generation halo-halo presentation.
FUSION OF TWO ARABIC FAVORITES. The innovative House of Shishawarma (open 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.) is a new restaurant developed by Earlnest. It combines two Middle Eastern favorites, the shisha or hubbly-bubbly and the shawarma, the roast meat sandwich. Joanna Liza designed its first full-scale restaurant in Clark.
In partnership with The Attic Cafe Gallery, the House of Shishawarma is owned and founded by Earlnest, an MBA student from Southville International School. He graduated from De La Salle University Manila with a Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies major in European Studies.
The solo son to an OFW mother, Earlnest grew up in Kuwait, which exposed him to Middle Eastern cuisine. This served as the basis for the House of Shishawarma concept. Originally, the idea was to only serve shawarma, but it was through the encouragement of wife Liezl that shisha should be part of the restaurant concept.
The shawarma that it serves follows the traditional Lebanese style. There is the classic chicken and beef variants, with the addition of a mixed meat shawarma wrap. It also serves shawarma rice that uses basmati rice to make it as authentic as possible.
Based from Earlnest’s experiences with Lebanese cuisine, the shawarma platter is served such that the diner has the liberty to create his own shawarma.
Sunday is so sweet when you enjoy it to the max and share with others.