When you're an Experimental Psychology student like me, there's a huge probability that you'll be…read morespending most of your time in the library checking out books, looking for journals to cite in your final paper, and using the computers to cram one of your class requirements. With the New Rizal Library in Ateneo, you can do all of this in the nick of time. The New Rizal Library is home to a wide collection of books and journals for your cognitive needs. The library has five floors that you can explore. The first floor is where Ateneo graduates can research materials and information for their further studies. The second floor is the multimedia resource center which can be used for media equipment. They also have rooms that you can reserve for your psychological experiments or film viewing. The third and fourth floor house a wide collection of books, journals, and magazines for research purposes, while the fifth floor, which is the most crowded area of the library, has the study hall where can students meet-up for group projects and discussions. If you're already done studying for all of your classes, you can go to the library to sleep or to make palamig.

Need to do some research? No place better than here!…read more Arguably the most comprehensive, full-service academic library in the Philippines today, the Rizal Library serves as a study, teaching, and research support facility to the university community and researchers from the outside. The new library has 5 floors that houses the circulation and reserve sections, information commons with ample seating and open-access computers, a multimedia center, and technical services facilities among others. Most conveniently, they have online international database access terminals like Euromonitor (a magic tool for business students where they can get FREE research studies on consumer markets for reference) and JStore, a vast interdisciplinary academic journal archive, along with sooo many others! The library also has collections of rare Filipiniana materials including a Jose Rizal exhibit of his own memorabilia, personal donations of Filipino historians, writers, scientists, and other distinguished scholars in the Pardo de Tavera Collection, a microform center, a library of women's writings, an American historical collection, and others. It's a pretty complete library and they hold regular site visits, seminars, and training sessions for librarian groups in and outside of Manila to develop library science and services in the country. They frequently tie up with other top university libraries for projects as well. It's open to outsiders too, so students from nearby universities like to come visit and use the facilities to aid their own work. Personally, I love the Rizal library for its modern yet scholarly atmosphere, making it such a good place to study, do work, or y'know... sleep. Haha! It's super comfortable, albeit a little cold inside, but nothing a snuggly jacket won't fix! The roof deck is mainly an open study area with group tables, but it sometimes transforms to a temporary event space... like when there's a big NBA or UAAP game on. It's not all stuffy school stuff at the Rizal Lib. ;)

Now famous as the usual date spot for the two main characters in the local film 'English Only…read morePlease,' Cool Beans brings together book and coffee lovers alike. The place is really small, nothing really impressive with the interiors, except for the shelves full of books. They have a good selection including the classics to poetry books to mainstream. I also appreciated that there was a lot of local authors up there. It isn't a library, of course, but it's a satisfying collection. I wouldn't say I would go back for their food. Some of the items I sampled weren't bad but a bit forgettable, like the butterscotch bar and the iced mocha. But I suppose the rest of their coffee, like the brewed ones from Sagada which they take pride in, are must-try's. (Disclaimer: I'm not a big caffeine person, so you should probably try them out and see for yourself.) The restroom had a funny sign reprimanding users from doing "Number 2" because the toilet clogs. It was amusing, but if you think about it, what if you absolutely had to? Unsurprisingly, they also didn't have WiFi. If you're a bystander waiting to pass time or just looking for a nice quiet afternoon with a book and cup of coffee, this place offers exactly that.

Among the many Maginhawa must-go establishments is Cool Beans Café, a cozy coffee spot that also…read morehappens to be a library. Cool Beans is heaven for anyone looking for a great place to work, write, contemplate on life or whatever. First off, with a name like Cool Beans, you'd look for great tasting coffee. Aside from your usual syrup-coated blended drinks and universal lattes and mochas, Cool Beans specializes in roasted highland coffee - strong and smokey, with honest coffee that doesn't need the help of sugar. (Or milk either! This coffee is best served as is.) My favorite is the Kalinga iced coffee, but they also serve Sagada and Benguet roasts. As for food, not to worry. Their menu consists of breakfast sets, omelets, sandwiches, pasta selections, rice meals, and a variety of small desserts. I confess that I haven't really explored their menu. :/ Their coffee grabs my attention too much. Another thing that makes Cool Beans cool - it's a library. This means books, books, books - and a great selection at that! From the classic literature to graphic novels to old fashioned newspapers in the age of technology, there's something for every bookworm on their shelves. I'm a huge bookworm, and I just love that as a library, they encourage their clientele to keep their voices down, promoting a peaceful but productive and creative atmosphere. All in all, this café is a breath of fresh air from the usual mainstream coffee shops filled with people on the go. This place actually makes you want to stay with your cup of coffee, grab a book and a comfy couch, and just read the afternoon away!

Our daughter attended for a semester abroad and had a great experience. She was able to get the…read moreclasses she wanted and the housing she needed. She lived in shared housing with 5-6 other girls. Each had their own small bedroom and bathroom with a shared kitchen. The campus is pretty, and easy to get to from the student housing. Also, much nightlife is a short grab ride away. The classes and instructors were good however there were many times class was cancelled, often due to weather (rain storm) and sometimes for no apparent reason. She, like most students on a study abroad, was able to schedule her classes all Monday-Wednesday to allow for more days to travel. And travel she did. Pretty much every weekend. Cheap flights, cheap food, and hostels. She had a great experience studying and traveling all over the Philippines and Southeast Asia when not in class.

Ateneo was my #1 choice because majority of my father's side of the family studied there (who had…read morenothing but great things to say about their college life) and most importantly - it was only Ateneo that offered the course that I wanted to pursue at the time. The campus feels like you are not in the city because you are surrounded by trees and an abundance of plants. Safety of students and staff is top priority; there are CCTV cameras present in buildings and security guards who always roam around to stop suspicious looking individuals from remaining inside the campus. The facilities within the campus are well-maintained and top-notch. There are several areas that are conducive for learning as well as releasing stress, studying and interacting such as the Rizal library and Matteo Ricci Hall. The number one thing I enjoyed the most about Ateneo is the people. Not only was I able meet a wonderful circle of well-rounded individuals, but I gained long-lasting connections and friendships that have helped me become the person I am today. If you are a graduate from ADMU, more often than not, your aim is to be part of the biggest companies in the country or to run and own your own business. With the ADMU education and culture, graduates are able to establish a strong network of promising individuals who end up in different industries and careers, but are of great help to each other throughout. Lastly, I spent the happiest years of my life in Ateneo de Manila University. Every now and then, I am able to go back to campus. Each visit feels like... I am home. :)

One might wonder why it's called the "Old Lib", but that's simply because there's a newer Rizal Lib…read moreavailable in the Ateneo campus that was opened last 2009. That doesn't mean the old library isn't used anymore, far from it! Many things are housed in over there, such as the older book collections that require extra care, or the microfilm section where you can view old newspapers all the way up to the early 20th century. There's also the American Collections section, and there's always a collection of art featuring artists such as Fernando Zobel. There are also exhibits featuring a wide range of topics such as Ancient Chinese Maps in relation to the Spratly Islands to the superstitious beliefs of Philippine culture. From a student's point of view, the old lib is a great place to catch a snooze in between classes, or even cram that paper that's due in an hour. I love holing up in the Filipiniana section to escape the noisy cafeteria and study halls.

Sad to say all your contact numbers are just ringing, WALA PONG SUMASAGOT SA LAHAT NG PUBLSIHED…read moreNUBERS NYO EXCEPT BARANGAY PROGRESO...I need to follow up payment for training conducted last week of October...sabi sa Treasury ...a SJ City Ha ll me employee gave a number which again sad to say...WALA PON NASAGOT! hope your improve this aspect of your service

I have had too many bad experiences in different city halls (QC, Makati and Mandaluyong, to be…read morespecific) so I was extremely surprised when I arrived at the San Juan City Hall. The city hall can easily been seen from Pinaglabanan Street. It is also not difficult to park here since there is ample space provided for vehicles. Since they had just moved to this location, everything looks clean and new. The facade alone already looks welcoming and inviting. Upon entering, there is a reception desk with 2-3 employees ready to assist those who approach them. The lady I spoke to quickly directed me to the windows I needed to go to. I love how the building is well-lit and airy. It did not feel cramped or dirty like other city halls. They also have specific windows with proper numbers and labels for specific needs (i.e. a specific window for getting your cedula, another window for property tax, another window for barangay clearance, etc.). Another plus is that you can pay for what you need at that specific window. No need to go to a centralized cashier and go back to the previous window. This saved me so much time! I went there to get my cedula (CTC) and to pay property tax and I was out of there in 15 minutes! Their staff were efficient and did not dare ask for any money beyond what I had to pay for. (BIG disapointment in other city halls!!!) Another big plus for them was their well-kept restrooms. I have never been to a government office with an extremely clean restroom. ;) Kudos to their janitors who maintain them! I was so thrilled with my experience here that I no longer dread having to go back after a year for my annual errands. I really hope they maintain this and act as a model for other city halls as well.

I couldn't count the number of times that the UP College of Education's library saved my sorry butt…read morefrom failing a class because of a missed paper, especially those that require bibliographical annotations from *print* sources (Nope, you can't use Wikipedia. Not even if you click the links under References). PROS: For students and educators, Educ Lib's books are the most comprehensive and detailed. They update their selections as often as they can as well, so you can be assured of getting your hands on the newest edition; If you need to get a copy of your required readings, but don't really have the budget and you just need a few pages anyway, you could just go straight down the hall and have it photocopied. CONS: It's located on the third floor but there aren't any provisions for people who may have difficulties climbing flights of stairs. What's ironic is it's right in front of the Special Ed department. So much for people in wheelchairs; It's not air conditioned. They have electric fans, though. TL;DR: If you're a student or a professional in the education field, this is the best library for you to enrich your content mastery and teaching methods.

While this is the administration building of UP Diliman, where the UP officials hold their offices,…read morethis is so much more. First, this is the beautiful iconic building with stately pillars that greets the student or guest coming in UP. And of course, there's the Oblation statue in front that is characteristic of all UP campuses. Behind the hall is a field of green grass and an ampitheater where people hang out and play. It is relaxing to just sit on the ampitheater and take in the view, especially close to sunset. It is quiet here. Sometimes, you can buy from roving UP vendors like the magtataho as you take in the view. The sunset in Quezon Hall is particularly dramatic, especially with the Oblation statue in the frame. On the green grass behind the hall is also where my university graduation was held. This is in fact the perfect and symbolic venue for the university graduation if the weather is perfect.

When you enter UP-Diliman from the University Highway, you are greeted by the enormous structure…read morethat is Quezon Hall, the iconic building that can singularly represent the whole campus. PROS: The Oblation is found right in front of the building. It is the unequivocal symbol of the University of the Philippines. Plus, you can never go wrong with a statue of a naked, muscular guy. (Trivia time: The REAL Oblation's really found inside the University Library. So that one's a copy.); The architecture can be described as a massive, iconic structure of grandeur; You can find most of the administrative offices here. And from my one or two visits to the Chancellor's office (don't ask why), you could say that the interiors are really classy and splendid. CONS: It looks a little distant and empty from afar, maybe because barely any student activity happens in the building. Except the occasional protests and the yearly commencement exercises. TL;DR: Like a Filipino of stature, it is huge and powerful and classy but equally as distant and unapproachable. Maybe except to take pictures with.

Run. Cross the bridge. Enter Intermatrix. Get a card with a number and wait for your turn. Pay the…read morefees. Place a sheaf of papers in a bag and run like hell back to campus to meet that 4:30 PM deadline. By some miracle, you make it! You're never going to cram a paper ever again! Hahahahaha! Oh yes. Just a harried day in the life of a college student with printing services right across campus. Rinse and repeat for the rest of college life. I am eternally indebted to Intermatrix because their printing services are quite good, albeit a bit more expensive than other printing places near University of the Philippines. But when my campus library's printers are down for some reason, or the entire school is experiencing a blackout, I'm okay with handing over a few more pesos for the convenient location of Intermatrix. Although I only need to print documents most of the time, Intermatrix also provides quality design jobs. Just inform them in advance if you have a complicated request for graphics, because having the staff layout a poster on the spot makes the wait longer for all of us and YOU WILL FACE OUR WRATH.

"Old habits die hard." The saying applies to me and my school work as a graduate student. Just like…read morethe old college or even high school days, my submissions always seem to be a photo finish. Not sure if it's the procrastinator in me, or I'm simply swamped with all sorts of work since I do have a day job. Regardless of what it really is, I'm just thankful that there's the convenience of having Intermatrix right across my campus along Katipunan Avenue. Count on the establishment's professional and patient staff to get whatever you want, done. I've always appreciated how well the staff communicates with customers, making sure that each specification is met. Compared to other printing service shops, Intermatrix might seem to be pricier; however, I at least can say that they do back it up with fast service and the quality of whatever they produce.