IT'S today's business fashion, and
you think you can only find it in
Manila or you've seen them all.
The glass door leads to a 500-square-meter expanse of green,
orange and black. At once, you breathe world beat, alternative
or jazz music, the spirits of literature, the genius of technology,
and the aroma of brewed coffee.
At first, Silvercup on Mt. Apo Street in Davao City appears to
be middle-class territory. It's actually a haven for just about any
kind of person or persuasion.
No, there's not a single silver cup on the shelves of books and
magazines or on the shelves beneath the coffee bar.
Fifteen computers are spread around, some like small caucuses
and a few like solitary beings. They provide internet access and
gaming joys to cyber hobbyists.
Interesting varieties of coffee, tea, juice, cake, pastry and pasta
are served in country-style china, ceramic mugs and juice
glasses.
Since Silvercup opened on July 21, a growing number of
students and professionals have already discovered the shop's
many surprises.
Coffee names
Coffee names are a particular joy. Cold cups of coffee with
spirits are called Tchaikovsky, Bagong Lumad, Santana, Noa
and Pavarotti. Hot brews are called Shamanic Journey,
Insomnia, Celtic, Van Gogh, Pinoy Funk and Mafiosi's Delight.
The Page Corner at the mezzanine harbors a modest wealth of
books lent by friends and relatives of the owners. There's an
interesting sci-fi collection, psychology and literature resources,
''new age'' books, women's literature, an exciting series of
children's learning books, and national bestsellers among a
sprinkle of other hard-to-find wonders.
The place is so huge that some artists are thinking of setting up
cocktail theater performances or poetry reading sessions.
The function room in the basement (The Private Room) can
accommodate meetings for up to 25 people. Already, the
Internet Cafe Association of Davao and the Information
Technology Society of Davao hold meetings there.
Club benefits
Membership in Silvercup is an entire event. People can join the
Silverhoods, Silverkada, Silverpagers and Silvercuppers.
Apart from the regular discounts offered by the clubs, members
get privileges in net gaming tournaments (Silverhoods) and in
Eyeball parties (Silverkada), and personalized mugs and perhaps
more coffee than they can handle (Silvercuppers).
The Silverpagers participate in monthly book selection
meetings.
Silvercup, with its highly creative and technical staff, also offers
software development services, graphic design, desktop
publishing and web design.
Behind its ingenuity and uniqueness flowing from a wellspring
of human talents is Pido Ayala, who has been doing software
development since the Age of Typewriters.
He is backed up by Paul Montecino, his closest friend, who has
been working since the time when information technology
seemed to be an underground matter.
The author is their artistic counterpart, doing the graphics,
layout and web design.
Tonex Bajo ensures that the cafi's earnings go straight to the
bank and helps out occasionally in artistic work (he designed
the Silvercup logo).
LandArts Corp., composed of the Ayalas (Joe, Tita, Joey,
Cynthia, Monica and Bopeep), provided most of the material
resources and emotional concern on which the cafe was built.
Silver Cup, indeed, is a metaphor for abundance of knowledge,
talent, technology and coffee. You'll never know what it's like
until you drink from it.
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