weye

Discovery Channel Commercial - Boom De Ah Dah!

2008-07-22T02:19:00.002+08:00

I love this commercial! I always break into a silly smile whenever I see it.

Discovery rocks! Whoops, showing my geeky side yet again :))

A nice reminder that the world is indeed wonderful.

Plurking... Yet another way to while away time...

2008-07-18T16:23:00.002+08:00

You can Plurk.

As if I'm not already a member of almost all networking/self-improvement/diet sites (what is it? social pressure online?), I decided against my better judgement and joined Plurk. Similar to Twitter (I'm a member too, ulk), you can post updates or your status. This is similar to the "what are you doing now" of Facebook and Friendster's shoutout. That's all, you say? Well, you can share links and videos. But it's no Multiply where you can blog entries and photos to your heart's content. It's no Facebook where you can poke, throw a sheep, take quizzes, and add a hundred of apps to your profile. It's no Friendster where you can parade how many (imaginary) friends you have :))

But on Plurk you can (pretend --did I just type that?) tell everyone how busy and interesting you day is/was.

Status/updates are presented on a timeline, making it more visually appealing as compared to Twitter. It's a fun way to keep your friends posted and to see what other people are doing. Like Twitter you can update Plurk via your mobile phone at phPlurk (for Globe and Smart mobiles only, read the FAQ here).

Downside, perfect stalker potion.

Something for the Weekend

2008-06-28T16:06:00.000+08:00

Some interesting reads for the week.

• A review of Wanted from the Salon. They give a positive review on James McAvoy's performance. A certain Mr. Tumnus has the potential to become a world-class assassin.
• A little reminder that perfectionism isn't, er, perfect. Who wants to be slave to success? Isn't that an oxymoron though?
• Seeing the bigger picture of how much it costs to be and stay connected. Cellphone and DSL charges alone will get to you.
• Worth more than a thousand words: Pictures of the Week (and the previous weeks if you keep on clicking next) from Time.
• In case anyone is planning a quick stop at Bangkok. Here's a 36-Hour Guide from New York Times.
• Spice things up. Spices are a dieter's dream. Filling up on flavor is the way to go. It's also worth checking out Time's special section Fit Nation.
• A new rule when it comes to uncluttering and biting more than we can chew: The Pumpkin Rule.
• Lastly, a nice audio visual slide show on the hand bag. Narrated by Bill Cunningham.

This is Love

2008-02-05T03:15:00.000+08:00

Last night while having dinner with friends, the topic strayed to love. Which we figured was strange since most of us there felt that we had little experience on love. I cannot fully remember the discussion but these themes are still floating in my head: love eventually being selfish, why romantic love often outweighs friendship, and reconciling the ideal (which we fall in love with) and reality (which makes us fall out of love sometimes). Maybe, sometime, I'll feel brave enough to delve into this again :) To cap the evening, this message was sent to me:

"We know, for example, where the other's vulnerable heart is situated; and we do not touch it; we leave it intact. This is love."
--Helene Cixous

Off to Tokyo

2007-10-31T00:43:00.001+08:00

Today I'm off to the 'Land of the Rising Sun' (my high school history/memory serves me well). I'm looking forward to major culture shock in Tokyo which lonely planet describes as "An adrenaline-pumping bullet-train ride to a place of deep calm".

Now if only I could figure out this subway map...

On a more personal note, I might not be able to avail of roaming while I'm there so email me and hopefully I can go online from the hotel. I'll be back on the 5th of November.

New iWants

2007-09-06T23:25:00.000+08:00

Woke up today to the announcement of new iPods. All I have is a lowly shuffle (which is probably all I need) but with the new nano and iPod touch, I'm having another iWant phase. Apple is brillant when it comes to this, don't you think?

iPod nano now sports video capabilities and is priced at USD$149. The iPod touch, on the other hand, looks exactly like an iPhone but well, without the, uh, phone. It's going for $299. New colors to choose from too, though the colors seem a little bland for me. I suppose they're going for more classic choices.

Anyone thinking of getting the new iPods?

Sticking Life

2007-08-02T00:57:00.000+08:00

I love Cathy and this strip really struck a nerve... or more likely, a funny bone.

Click on the strip for a closer look.

And this line will surely be stuck in my thoughts: "Which is worse, that life keeps passing me by or that it keeps sticking all over me?"

I Have Two Eggs

2007-07-16T02:20:00.001+08:00

Another slow, Sunday afternoon and I had to work. So it was a welcome break when a good friend asked me to join her for lunch. It was more like brunch, really with my choice of fare. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Cheekily named "I Have Two Eggs", this resto serves typical breakfast fare with (go on, say it with me) two eggs. They have the usual Filipino fare of tapa, bangus, longanisa, etc. and other American breakfast staples such as pancakes and waffles. They also serve a salad and power lunches, though I'm not quite sure they have a siding of two eggs as well.

I had their house specialty, spicy tapa, with garlic rice and crispy egg. You read that right, it's crispy. To get a picture, just imagine leaving your scramble eggs a bit too long in the pan. This curiosity with crispy eggs is a good excuse for the protein and cholesterol overload. Though for a hundred fifty pesos, more than thrice the amount of a regular tapsilog at Aling Nena's (or whoever your carinderya owner is), better save it for special brunch days.

This is the spicy tapsilog (short for tapa, sinangag and itlog --beef, fried rice and egg)

A Closer Shot of that Crispy Egg

2007-07-12T00:13:00.000+08:00

Interesting results I must say. The only question I got stuck with was whether I liked Oprah. I was a bit undecided so I took the took the test twice. Once stating I liked Oprah, with this result...

You're One Hundred Years of Solitude!

by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Lonely and struggling, you've been around for a very long time.
Conflict has filled most of your life and torn apart nearly everyone you know. Yet there
is something majestic and even epic about your presence in the world. You love life all
the more for having seen its decimation. After all, it takes a village.

Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

but if I didn't like Oprah, I'd be...

You're Love in the Time of Cholera!

by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Like Odysseus in a work of Homer, you demonstrate undying loyalty by
sleeping with as many people as you possibly can. But in your heart you never give
consent! This creates a strange quandary of what love really means to you. On the
one hand, you've loved the same person your whole life, but on the other, your actions
barely speak to this fact. Whatever you do, stick to bottled water. The other stuff
could get you killed.

Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Hmm, a GGM fan, perhaps?

Not a Morning Person

2007-07-05T01:02:00.000+08:00

I had a rather long day meeting up with friends for brunch, another set for dessert (which was suppose to be lunch), and yet another old friend for afternoon coffee. Since I'm currently freelancing, I have the liberty of working late into the evening and sleeping out most of the morning. So it's no easy task for me to, well, rise and shine. I rise but I end up drab and with manners of Oscar the Grouch.

I found this comic strip of Calvin and Hobbes to express my sentiment.

Oh, and back in college, I even had a pin stating "I hate mornings". So if you bump into me at 8 in the morning and find me in foul mood, just give me a break.

Settling

2007-06-28T01:03:00.000+08:00

“The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settled for.”
-Maureen Dowd

The Problem with "You Know"

2007-06-13T14:53:00.000+08:00

I have nothing against the slangs and twangs of this generation. Each generation, afterall, has its own. But when the language promotes a certain mediocrity and an even greater sense of apathy, then maybe it's like you know time to change.

For more on Taylor Mali, check www.taylormali.com

Oh, and just a disclaimer, the guy in the video is not Taylor Mali.

Sandali

2007-06-07T01:39:00.000+08:00

Sandali
A moment captured
In a frame
Or in words

Isn't life just a summary of moments? Those we flashbacks we see before we die, like they depict in the movies.

It's easy to take things for granted especially in this world of information overload where we're constantly bombarded with events, emotion and everything in between. And can you blame this generation for being jaded? When a touching moment can be perfectly captured by a Hallmark card or even a 30-second commercial?

To make sense of our life --isn't this what every man who has walked this earth wants? Yet many wander aimlessly, hoping to bump into their destinies, one way or the other. Many of us wait, for that special moment, ang natatanging sandali, that our destiny, or purpose, call it what you want, will be revealed to us --like a ray of shining light while the rest of the world is at a standstill --yet another scene from a movie.

And so we get absorbed in waiting for this perfect moment that we take all other moments for granted.

Post script: This entry was inspired by the poetry of Rofel. Thank you for letting me be part of that wonderful, inspiring weekend.

Certainty of Rain

2007-05-30T15:21:00.000+08:00

i just stare up the sky
and wonder
not if, but when
the rain will start pouring

the sky is not dark
nor gloomy
but the certainty of rain
is constant

certainty
such a confident word
such a confident word

Re-Run

2007-05-21T01:23:00.000+08:00

I finally got myself to start running again, thanks to some stress with work and having some rather persistent thoughts stuck in my head. I went running with only with my shuffle and felt rather liberated from not having my phone and MacBook at my side.

Apart from the health benefits of running, I also love the fact that I'm alone with my thoughts (and hopefully with the right background music to boot). Running gives me a release. A physical release from all the stress pent up from having to hunch in front of a computer the entire day. An emotional release from all the strangely persistent thoughts that keep on popping up in my mind (which keep me from working). And a mental release of having to deal with these thoughts with no distractions.

Now all is left is keep up the motivation.

World on Fire (How Much a Music Video Costs)

2007-05-20T01:44:00.001+08:00

It's so easy to become absorbed in our own little "problems" that we forget to see the big picture.

Singapore Food Finds

2007-05-09T01:48:00.001+08:00

Recently went on a trip to Singapore and had some delicious food finds. The pictures below are proof that Singapore is perfect for food lovers.

Passion Fruit Gelato

Vegetarian Pizza

Singapore's Famous Chicken Rice

Pepper Mint Milk Bubble Tea

Pictures below are from Newton's Circle, Singapore's Famous 24-Hour Hawker Stall

There are too many food pictures to post here. A notable food find would be Strawberry Mousse from Chocz in the Esplanade Mall. I'm raring to find another excuse to head over to Singapore and eat!

My Visual DNA

2007-04-30T00:01:00.000+08:00

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Bag of Beans, Tagaytay

2007-03-07T21:38:00.000+08:00

Had the pleasure of visiting Tagaytay once again and since I'm from QC, a trip down south doesn't happen that often. The drive was leisurely and stress-free. Twas in fact, the perfect lazy Sunday afternoon drive.

I've always seen Tagaytay as a food haven. Personal favorites are Antonio's, Breakfast at Antonio's, Sonya's Garden, and Santuario (before they moved to the Rotonda). I've heard very good reviews about Bag of Beans and decided to break my usual Tagaytay fare by checking it out.

Coffee was good and strong. Had the barako blend and til early in the evening I was still quite giddy from the caffeine. Barako, in my opinion, is best taken black --to get a better feel of the strong, earthy flavor which is muddled when diluted with cream or milk. We also had some of their desserts --chocolate mousse, pineapple pie (which was pleasantly sour. yum!), apple pie, and blueberry cheesecake. But the hands down winner was the cinnamon roll. It was generously packed with cinnamon and the bread was pleasantly soft. I was planning on taking home a dozen but they were sold out by the time we were about to leave. Yes, they're that good.

The only thing I didn't quite like was that service was slow. But then again, if you're in Tagaytay on a slow, Sunday afternoon, what's the hurry?

Forgetfulness - Billy Collins Animated Poetry

2007-03-01T22:35:00.001+08:00

I've rediscovered my love for poetry.

Finger Lickin' Mobile

2007-02-23T17:27:00.000+08:00

To borrow KFC's famous line, this takes the meaning of integrating mobiles to our lives to a whole nw level.

Write from CNet Asia below:

Finger Touching Mobile
23/02/2007
Let your fingers do the talking with this winning entry to 2007's list of iF Design Awards winners. Up under the Consumer Electronics/Telecommunications category is contender Sunman Kwon of Korea's Hong-ik University with the Finger Touching Wearable Mobile Phone concept. For the record, there've been a number of attempts by others to utilize the hand as an interface, from NTT DoCoMo's FingerWhisper handset to the Ring Phone. This one joins the league of extraordinary "hand" phones, with the idea of a wearable mobile glove that slips onto your hand, then like a Stowaway Bluetooth Keyboard, projects a 3 x 4 mobile keypad onto your fingers. Each joint makes up a button. Of course, this totally negates any possibility of handsfree yakking or picking your nose with your phone hand.

Wisdom on a Bar of Soap

2007-02-17T02:50:00.000+08:00

While shopping for my toiletries, I found some Ivory soaps with lovely French quotes on simplifying life.

"Se compliquer la vie, c'est facile. Le genie, c'est de la simplicite."
(Complicating life is easy. The genius is in the simple things.)

"La liberte, c'est vivre dans la simplicite."
(If you want to be free, learn to live simply.)

Damn, why does everything sound so much better in French?

Not Having A Valentine

2007-02-14T02:40:00.001+08:00

Can't help but say "Uh-huh".

Image from PostSecret

Trinkets --fun way to accessorize your summer

2007-02-13T00:34:00.001+08:00

Sometimes we tend to take fashion and accessorizing way too seriously --matching colors, creating themes. Well, not there anything wrong with that and sometimes that's what makes fashion fun. But every once in a while, we should let whimsy take over our fashion senses.

In comes Trinkets. Their accesories can't help but bring me back to the carefree days of my childhood --spending summer on the beach or an entire day playing in the neighborhood park. Designs are simple, fun, colorful --just the way life should be.

Visit Trinkets here.

How Manila was Back Then

2007-02-10T17:51:00.001+08:00

Escolta, Manila
Photo courtest of UDWC

House is Right

2007-02-03T01:00:00.001+08:00

I'm a fan of the television series House M.D., thanks to my mom who is, well, quite fanatical about it. It has actually come to the point where Monday night of watching the series has become a ritual. My mom, cousin, and I are practically glued to our television set --a feat in itself since the three of us are busybodies. So now that Season 2 has come to an end here in the Philippines, it's a welcome to have stumbled upon a House M.D. blog.

Must get House dose *wheeze* Otherwise, will die *choke*

For those interested, point your browsers to House is Right.

When the Night Air Feels Cool

2007-01-30T20:59:00.000+08:00

As I'm writing this entry, I can feel the gentle cool breeze blow thru my open window and it's as if I'm falling into the lull of the night. I've always been a night person. I love the peace and quiet that it brings. It's at night when I do the bulk of my "creative" and even analytical work --I write, I draft my reports, I plan my next couple of days.

During the day, it's all about activity --usually in a flux of movement. But at night I'm allowed to sit still and be alone with my thoughts. I can think freely, without the usual distractions. And with the cool breeze of the night, there's a greater sense of comfort and security, enough of liberate my thoughts all the more.

Here's a little haiku --for the cool night breeze...

I sit still and I can write
Cool air flows through me
Frees my senses, thoughts, and self

Finally Made The Switch

2007-01-22T01:32:00.001+08:00

I finally did it! After months of almost literally turning green with envy and drooling over the MacBook, I've jumped into the bandwagon and signed up for the Steve Jobs fan club. I'm now a Mac user.

Got myself a spankin' new MacBook Core 2 Duo with 2Ghz and 2mb of RAM under its pristine white hood. Yup, this baby is fast.

I spent the last couple of days tinkering with it to no end. I'm still familiarizing myself with Tiger, the Mac OS. I've gotten so far as to using the basic Mac programs such as Safari, Comic Life, iPhoto, iCal, etc. I've also downloaded programs such as Yahoo Messenger and Skype. And as far as installing Palm Desktop and even synching via iSync.

Using a Mac feels familiar, yet different from Windows. While I do agree with the Apple cliche, "It just works", there are times when I'm left stumped on as to what to do next, whether I've pressed the right key, or followed the right procedure. Most operations are quite intuitive (and Apple deserves a lot of credit for that) yet being a Windows user most of my life, I'm still quite getting over the hang ups of my old operating system.

Speaking of which, I've given in and installed Windows XP via Bootcamp. And while I've been a Microsoft minion most of my computing life, there's still something quite surreal about running Windows on Mac hardware.

But so far, I'm loving my MacBook and wouldn't think of looking back.

The Dog Ate My Blog Entires

2007-01-21T01:45:00.000+08:00

I haven't posted for almost a month. My excuse? Well, the dog ate my blog entries. Haha! On a more serious note, the end of 2006 as well as the start of 2007 turned out to be an extremely hectic time for me. I was riddled with work and almost quite literally spent the holidays working. Blogging, naturally, went several notches down my priority list. I found myself moving target deadlines for blog entries almost daily. But I'm hoping that now I'll be able to post again more regularly.

Starting tomorrow ;-P

Obsessing on Making Apple Pie

2006-12-23T00:55:00.002+08:00

Another breather before I post on Batad.

I seriously don't know what's gotten into me but lately I've been doing some serious thinking on food. And not just eating it, mind you (since I do that quite a lot). Now, it's about making it. Yep, cooking and baking have strangely found their way into my normally Martha Stewart-averse mind.

For the more than 20-years of my existence, the only thing I really know how to cook is leche flan --a sweet Filipino custard-like dessert (which I've mastered that I can cook it with my eyes closed). But lately I've been hounded by thoughts of baking and cooking.

And after days of wildly poring over cookbooks, I decide to make an attempt on baking some good ol' apple pie. It seemed perfect for the holiday season afterall.

I was aiming for something easy since I lack the technical know-how on baking. Just a quick background, my 'formal' education in cooking ended in elementary (Home Economics if I remember the subject right) and in high school I opted for the Technology route rather than subject myself to 2 years of cooking & sewing. So, technically speaking, I was more likely to succeed in fixing an electric fan than to bake apple pie.

But surprisingly, the apple pie turned out quite damn good --especially considering I made it all from scratch (pie crust included!). It could've been a bit more moist but my family loved it. And that's what matters.

Then again, what do you expect from the people who consider you pretty? ;-P

Gotta thank my grandma (who bought the ingredients & insisted that a graham crust just wouldn't be right) and aunt (who lit the oven --which I'm strangely afraid of) for guiding me every step of the way. Here's to more baking! Ack!

Take a look at my pie! I'm so damn proud.

In the Mountains Part 2: Banaue

2006-12-17T01:33:00.001+08:00

We finally arrived in Banaue around noon, hungry (I had only instant noodles at a dodgy carinderya in Nueva Viscaya) and eager to strech our legs after the 14-hour bus ride. First on the list was getting a return ticket back to Manila (work sucks). A very close second was finding a place to stay and eating. We were weary and starving!

At the station, you're immediately approached by some friendly Ifugaos offering lodging and/or jeepney rides to Sagada. Our friendly 'guide' was Manang Elizabeth, who owns the souvenir shop at the bus station. Being too tired and dizzy from hunger (as well as being clueless), we couldn't resist the temptation of a room and a decent lunch so we agreed to have a look at Stairway Inn.

A funny side note: We all thought we were headed to Eastern Way. I'd like to blame it on the dialect and accent difference but I'm guessing that the long bus ride and the hunger had impaired our sense of hearing.

Back to the main story. Stairway turned out to be a quaint and clean inn. We bargained with them to bring the room rates down. For 1,200 PHP we got a room with a veranda and a private bathroom with hot water. Good enough for us! Our room was also adjacent to a common living area and a slightly bigger veranda. The best thing about the veranda was that it offered a spectacular view of the sunrise.

So after showering (a cold one at that, since there was no electricity when we arrived... brrr...), we went downstairs to have lunch. Menu wasn't extensive but dishes are familiar to any Pinoy --adobo, fried chicken, chopseuy. Our friend kept on asking for their traditional fare and was quite disappointed since the pinikpikan (a chicken soup dish) had to be ordered in advance. Despite the seemingly conventional food, what set them apart was that their vegetables were fresh and crisp (unlike the waif and battered ones we get in Manila) and that their served local Banaue rice --not quite red rice, but it was fragrant and flavorful.

After lunch, we set our itinenary (as well as haggled the price) of our tours. We got a decent deal --and it helped that one of our companions was Ilocana ;-) Half-day tour of Banaue
Day-tour of Batad with hike to Tappia Falls
Round-trip Banaue and Sagada

Tip: Keep in mind that if you're pressed for time, it's best to rent out a jeepney which is a good deal if you come as a group (the more, the merrier... and more to split the bill with).

The afternoon tour consisted of only 2 places. First was a rather cultural tour where we got to see the traditional houses of the Ifugao (none of which are present in Banaue) as well as their traditional wares and even battle gear. It belonged to their former royal family. Our guide, Winton (yes, without an "S" cause according to him, it's singular), explained that the hari (king) and the elders would sit in a semi-circular fashion, made of stone slabs. Reminds of Arthur with his knights on the (half) round table. Funnily, one of the more noteable parts of the tour was the place where Judy Ann and Piolo (popular Filipino actors) filmed one of their movies. We also had the pleasure of seeing an old Ifugao man dressed in traditional clothing. Though it struck me as a but quite touristy (well, we were tourist), Winton explained that some of the older people preferred wearing their traditional garbs since they found modern clothing quite constricting and itchy.

We were then brought o the famous Banaue Rice Terraces, heralded as the 8th (Natural) Wonder of the World and described as a stairway to heaven. The sheer vastness and height of the rice terraces were awe-inspiring. Winton reminded us that it took hunderds of years to construct these terraces and that it's lanscape continually changes with the ploughing and erosions. An interesting note is that they have a particular plant that acts as a marker to separate each one's rice terraces.

On a sad note, the rice terraces are not as well-defined as they were before --due to erosion and earthworms. Also, the viwepoint is littered with souvenir shops, a constant reminder of the downsides of tourism. The items were quite good though, particularly the woodwork. I wanted to buy a traditional Ifugao chair but didn't want the hassle of lugging it home via public transport. I was tempted though since it costs only about a fourth of the price of those sold in the shops of Manila.

After that we went back to our inn, tried a bit of their local rice wine (tapey, which was quite sweet), played poker with paper balls instead of chips, and rested for our next day adventure in Batad.

Category: Travel Bug

Yey for Tyler and James!!!

2006-12-11T22:04:00.001+08:00

Just a quick filler while I'm writing up the rest of our Banaue-Batad-Sagada travel.

They won! Among the final 3, I was rooting for them. Though originally, I was cheering for the "Cho" Brothers --what can I say, I'm a sucker for nice guys. Hmm, might be some kind of 'model' karma for last season. Congratulations, Tyler and James!

Photo credit goes to teevee.wordpress.com/tag/amazing-race/

In the Mountains Part 1: The Journey

2006-12-10T11:17:00.001+08:00

As in my previous post, I recently came back from a trip to the Cordilleras. Despite being a beach person, I couldn't help but love the crisp, chilly mountain air and amazing scenery. Definitely a trip that I'll always remember.

Our trip started quite badly. What was suppose to be a 9-hour-night-drive-wake-up-in-Banaue turned to be a 14-hour-bus-breakdown nightmare. I should've seen it coming with our bus cruising at barely 40kph on the North Expressway. The engine finally decided to conk out at around 2 in the morning in front of a funeral home. It felt surreal, in a bad sort of way. Like one of those horror B-movies where a bus ride takes a turn for the worst and the next thing you know everyone's being chased by zombies.

Anyway, it took more than an hour for the drivers to figure out what the bruhaha was (clogged gas filter, I think). Then we happily on our way. Or so we thought. Cause then wonder of wonders, our bus broke down again. This time we owed it to a flat tire. Worse, at 5 in the morning, no one in the neighborhood wanted to drag their sleepy asses out of their beds to service us. Call that unlucky? Don't just quite yet cause the bus-breakdown saga continues.

After much pakiusap (a gentler term for begging) and a ridiculously long time of waiting, the drivers were able to find a someone good enough to fix the tire then we were off again to Banaue. But as a folklore goes, bad luck comes in threes. So it was no wonder that after this, we had yet another bus problem. As we started our ascent to the Mountain Province, our bus was again whizzing (from the thinning air perhaps?) and eventually came to a stop.

The bus had overheated. Why weren't we surprised?

By this time, it was already mid-morning and according to the bus drivers, we had lost 5 hours due to all the bus trouble. Some passengers were understandly pissed but most of us were simply resigned.

If anything, this was a sign that our vacation was bound to be interesting. Afterall, the journey is part of the travel.

Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone

2006-12-01T02:14:00.002+08:00

There's a certain high you get from traveling. New sights, new experiences, new found friends... These are the ingredients of stepping out from one's comfort zone and experiencing life in a different light. When we leave our usual context and step out of our comfort zones, we're rewarded with experience that will be forever etched in our memories.

Here are some of mine (from my recent trip to Banaue-Sagada), in no particular order:
1) Meeting new friends and rediscovering old ones you take for granted
2) Rediscovering my muscles --as well as how painful they can get when pushed to their limit (I have Batad to thank for this!)
3) Talking with strangers give you a different perspective on life.
4) Riding on the roof of a jeepney and savoring the view from the top is such a rush. Woohoo!
5) Doing more physical activities give you an intense feeling of accomplishment.
6) Feeling the crisp, cool air on your face can rejuvenate your senses and clear your mind.
7) Appreciating nature upclose and realizing that photos, no matter how gorgeous, can never capture nature's real beauty
8) Trying local wines, such a tapey (rice wine) and bugnay (local berry wine from Sagada), as well as the local coffee and tea really warms the body and soul
9) Riding an "open" jeepney on a dirt road and not really minding being covered with dust because of the gorgeous scenery
10) Learning to play Poker using paper balls and losing badly
11) Getting some first-hand experience on climbing in a cave (and looking like Gollum from LOTR in the process)
12) Climbing and going through rice terraces. Woohoo! What a thrill!
13) Swimming in ice cold waters of Tappia Falls and Sumaging Caves
14) Discovering home-made yoghurt is a lot better than the commercial ones in the supermarket
15) Waking up at 5 in the morning (without much snoozing and complaining) and actually looking forward to a long day of adventure
16) Having your bus break down 3 times (once in front of a funeral home!) is a one-of-a-kind experience I'll never forget
17) Striking loony/silly poses make photos more memorable than perfectly composed ones

The rewards of getting out of that comfort zone definitely outweigh the (false) security! I can't wait for my next travel!!

Just photos

2006-11-29T00:41:00.001+08:00

Got back from my Banaue-Batad-Sagada adventure and while I'm excited to blog about this trip, work has finally caught up with me... Argh! But I'm here are some pictures from the trip. Enjoy!

"Mountain View"

"Batad Rice Terraces"

"Igufao Man"

Sagada, here I come!

2006-11-21T23:16:00.000+08:00

I'm more of a beach-person and naturally, when planning my travels I'm drawn to the sand and sea. Yet there are places that are just too beautiful, too magical that it would be silly to let such a simple bias keep you away. Sagada is such a place. And tomorrow, I'll be on my way to this mystical place!! Woohoo!

Foodie Family + Foodie Friends = Foodie Me?

2006-11-13T16:08:00.000+08:00

One thing I share with all my friends is a passion for good food. I remember telling a a friend recently that unlike many who culminate their get togethers with gimmiks, we commonly plan it around what and where to eat. So the major consideration, apart from the usual "So when are you finally free?", the usual line is "So where are we gonna eat?"

I find this quite ironic since when I was younger I was tagged a picky eater. My diet normally consisted of noodles, vienna sausage, spam, and the usual kiddie favorites such a spaghetti and burgers (Mc Donald's kid through and through here!). A rather unsual childhood staple was yogurt. In those days, I ate only food I liked and refused anything unfamiliar. Having spent a few years in the States, I actually rejected Filipino dishes.

But my foodie personality was bound to surface. I grew up with a family whose gatherings revolved around food. In fact, food marked many of our occassions. White spaghetti (my lola's version of carbonara) and embutido are Christmas staples. While New Year is marked with my other lola's famous canneloni, turkey (with cranberry sauce), and home-made ham. Birthdays, despididas and bienvenidas meant callos, kare-kare, and lengua or dining at our favorite restaurants.

My mom was also a big influence. My lolas were inclined towards Filipino, Chinese, and Spanish cuisine but my mom's "food world" was much, much wider. You could say she introduced me to "other world" cuisines. It was from her that I learned to eat pho, Vietnamese spring rolls (wrapped in lettuce with mint leaves), humus, sushi, and all sort of salads.

It's no surprise then that most of my friends are foodies as well. When meeting up, the main consideration is where we'll eat. In fact, I don't think I've met up with a friend just to hang out and talk. We have to eat and not just anywhere but somewhere that's good. I have one friend who texts (SMS) me whenever she finds a good food find. Another friend works in the food industry and makes it a point to try the newest and best food in town.

I don't even remember meeting up with a friend and not having food involved. I recently met up with one at Sugarhouse, not because it was the most convinient meeting point but because we were both craving for their marjolaine. At a lunch with another friend, it was marked special not only because we had some great catching up on chika, but also because he introduced me to some really good eclaire donuts. I also remember a time when yet another friend and I were met up to talk over some boy trouble. We were comforted not only by each other advice (and similar lovelorn states) but also by the delectable lemon walnut torte we shared. I even had a boss who conspired with me by planning our meetings based on where and what we felt like eating...of course, aside from the work agenda.

But when I think about it, it's not solely the food that made those occassions special. Pardon the psychoanalyzing BS but it's probably also my association of good times with food. This gives a new meaning to comfort food. It is not just the taste, texture, and smell of food that gives comfort but the good memories created while savoring each and every bite.

Categories: Food-loving, Musings

Star Wars Marathon

2006-11-04T15:33:00.000+08:00

It being a holiday and all, I decided to pop in DVDs of Star Wars Trilogy. In a sense, it's a classic and it has been also quite a while since I last watched them.

The entire movie is suppose to be futuristic (with the setting and technology) but watching it circa 2006, it strangely has a rather retro vibe. Maybe that's just nostalgia talking. The settings, of course, are stunning, especially the CGI-ed version. Mr. Lucas' imagination just amazes me, really. To dream of such places, to create such worlds... It's a gift not to be limited by what the world sets before us.

Yet the setting serves only as a backdrop. It is the story that draws us in --that familiarity of the plot in this strange world allows us to connect with the movie. Funny (for the lack of a better term) how the Savior story is so dominant in this futuristic film. It feels like some modern day mythology, where instead of gods and goddesses, we have Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Obi Wan Kenobi and Yoda taking on the roles. Other movies with this savior/the chosen one theme would be Superman, Lord of the Rings, and more recently, the Matrix. The theme remains, only the context changes.

Ambiance does NOTcompensate for substandard food and bad service

2006-10-31T23:52:00.001+08:00

I hate dissing but this time I think I earned my right. This might seem superficial but I generally equate good ambiance with good food and good service. Afterall, why bother sprucing up your restaurant when you plan on irking your customers?

But as with any rule, there are rule-breakers... Bad apples, black sheep, call it what you like. I dined with friends at Moomba and upon arriving the place looked promising with its aesthetically pleasing design and lounge-y atmosphere. Felt like the perfect place for catching up with old friends. But as the cliche goes, looks can be deceiving.

The nightmare started early as soon as our attendant started taking our orders. She was impatient and didn't even assit us while we ordered. It felt as if she just to get it over with & was more intent on getting back to conversing with her co-workers. Add to that a generic and blah-sounding menu that didn't even whet my appetite. Though I must say it certainly reflected their food which tasted just as generic and blah.

I could've overlooked these had they been understaffed or charged cheap. Being understaffed is a more acceptable abeit (literally) cheap excuse for bad service. But there were plenty of servers, none of who seemed to be interested in serving. Also, charging almost 200 pesos for a wilted Caesar salad with anorexic chicken strips is a far cry from cheap.

I left feeling cheated and unsatisfied. We also barely left a tip (they even had the gall to charge for service!)

The only good thing was I was in good company else the evening would've been a complete waste.

Picking up where you left off

2006-10-27T01:47:00.001+08:00

One sign of a good and lasting friendship is that despite long periods of being apart (and even out of touch), you're able to pick up where you left off. Some measure true friendship with constantly being in touch yet for perpetual busy-bodies like me (who settle for quarterly get-togethers with friends), constant communication isn't a prerequistite for a true and long-lasting friendship.

I proved this true, just this weekend, when I met up with an old high-school friend. We hadn't seen each other for months and we're barely in touch, save for a few phone calls & text messages. The irony is that when we were in high school we were constantly together. We were in the same section, ate lunch together, rode the same school bus, and once at home had marathon phone calls.

But last Saturday, it felt as though we just picked up where we left off. No awkward silences or emotional distance. We exchanged kwentos (stories for the non-Filipino speakers), updated each other on what's happened in each of our lives, laughed at each others funny stories… Almost exactly how we did in high school. Of course it was a bit different given that we've both changed over time. But the good thing is that our friendship hasn't.

Quick Beach Getaway: Laiya, San Juan, Batangas

2006-10-25T09:27:00.002+08:00

Almost all Metro Manila beach afficionados are familiar with Laiya. This little town in San Juan, Batangas is a beach bum's quick and little escape from urban humdrum.

Batangas is known for its beautiful dive spots. Most divers flock to Anilao for a quick dive fix. But if you're like me, a non-diver and more of a sun-worshiper, then Laiya is your oasis.

The coastline of this sleepy town is lined with beach resorts. Proof that it indeed is a beach-lover's haven. I usually head over to Balai (Visayan term for house) Laiya since I love the rustic, laid back atmosphere and not to mention the good food. But about a month ago (yes, that long already), we headed over to Kabayan Resort. If I consider Balai rustic, then Kabayan would be quite the opposite. Modern and not lacking in amenities, Kabayan is what others might call "your home away from home". Equipped airconditioning, cable televison, and hot water, Kabayan is perfect for those who seek the usual urban comforts while lounging by the beach. Enough, it's starting to sound like a sales pitch.

But San Juan is not only for beach lovers. For history buffs or cultural afficionados, head over to the town proper of San Juan and check out the old houses' architecture. It's part of the Viaje del Sol, a cultural road trip conceived by Patis Tesoro. I personally have yet to try this 'road less taken' but it has been featured in other blogs. The reviews ( by Anton and Annalyn Jusay/Ajay) are quite interesting and it's already on my to-do/go travel list.

Some more photos taken at Laiya in San Juan Batangas:

"Pampering by the Shore"

"Yin Yang Sand"

"Beach Feet"

Category: Travel Bug

Green Theme

2006-10-14T01:55:00.001+08:00

Tried out a new template. I was getting bored with the old one. Sure, it was "unique" since it had my banner and all but it was starting to get a bit *blah*. So I've switched themes! Yey! Might add some personal touches later on. A new banner perhaps?

Also, I've been browsing thru a lot of home-design magazines and websites. I guess I'm going a 'decorating diva' phase... or something equally crazy. Well, wish me luck!

Photo courtesy of gettyimages.

Lundo

2006-10-08T01:33:00.000+08:00

Sa kamang lundo
Ang tulog ay pangarap
Na di mahuli

Loose English translation:

On a lumpy/soggy bed
Sleep is a dream
That can't be caught

Haiku inspired by a (mis)adventure during a recent travel. Funny how inspiration stems from such a mundane experience.

Category: Musings

Manila is a Different Urban Monster

2006-09-26T01:50:00.000+08:00

I'm an urban girl, having grown up in Quezon City and spending most of my working and recreational time in Ortigas and Makati. I'm used to tight traffic, overcrowded elevators and breathing smog. But somehow, going to Manila is like meeting a different urban monster.

Whenever I'm in Manila, I feel like I've stepped into a time warp. It's a place where the old and new exist in a common time and place. And as the law of matter goes, no two things can occupy the same space. But Manila defies that. Old building and narrow street for kalesa's co-exist (not quite so peacefully) with urban traffic and Made-in-China cheap goods. Vehicular and pedestrian traffic also occupy the same space. So it's best to keep an eye on pedestrians suddenly crossing the road even on a green light. Pop culture commodities such as DVDs and "branded" rubber shoes are sold right next to traditional folklore medicine. And Manila is the only place where 'pamparegla' (folk abortion medicine) or fake diplomas are sold openly.

Least to say, Manila is an 'interesting' city --a place of contradiction, a city that probably best represents our country's culture. The Philippines, afterall, is a big melting pot of indiginous, Spanish, American, Chinese, and heck, even Japanese culture. To liberally paraphrase a cliche, there's no place like Manila.

*Note: Picture above was just emailed by a friend. If anyone knows who I should give credit to, give me a shout.

Categories: Travel Bug, Musings

Step Up Trailer

2006-09-15T13:21:00.000+08:00

I'm not really a dance fan but this caught my eye ;) Reminds me of the Save the Last Dance (Julia Styles) with the classical meet hip-hop theme. But this movie seems worth watching just for this guy's moves. Check the by the car dance in the trailer.

Keeping in Touch

2006-09-06T00:31:00.000+08:00

Whenever things come to an end, we normally punctuate it with "Keep in touch." Sometimes half-heartedly or for mere posterity. Most of the times, well-meant but unfilled.

Just how many times have we acted on such promises? I'm guilty & would probably sentenced if such was a crime. I hate to think of it as an empty promised uttered only out of formality or courtesy. If it is, then it's a pathetic way of tying loose ends --much like a disgruntled lover ending a relationship with the promise to return. (Ha! What a weird simile!)

Isn't it ironic then that with dozens of means to communicate & with technology making it increasingly easy we still fail to keep such promises? What causes us to just go on with life & leave the past forgotten so easily?

Maybe it's just me & I think too much. Still, I hate empty promises.

(Or maybe I'm just reading too much of Daily OM. Hahaha!)

2006-08-26T15:07:00.000+08:00

Biyahe Tayo

Amazing ad promoting local tourism in the country. It's good to see that our artists are supporting this government effort. Now, if we could carry this over to other existing issues.

PS: Post it on your blogs too or email it to your contacts. Let's spread the love for local travel =)

Sony mylo

2006-08-25T14:36:00.000+08:00

Isn't it cute? Wait, cute isn't exactly a word you use when describing gadgets, eh? But with this new Sony aiming at the 18 to 22 year-old market, cute would do very well --along with the usual youth buzz words like hip, trendy, cool.

The Sony mylo stands for "my life online" and is targeted for those who want constant or continuous web presence. It's for keeping in touch with friends, and for this age group, maybe even family. It can do VoIP, instant messaging, email, and web browsing via Opera. But it's not limited to online activities. It can also play mp3s (what gagdet can't nowadays?) and video at "65,536 colors at a crisp 320x240-pixel resolution" according to CNet Asia. Unfortunately, Sony plans to release this only in the US. Boo!

For more info turn to the preview at CNet Asia.

Category: Techi-ness

Fugly Days

2006-08-09T02:25:00.000+08:00

I like that word: fugly. Slang for f*cking ugly & it's downright derogratory but also ironically cute. But I'd like to modify it a bit to something more apt for days a woman just doesn't feel so hot. I think it stands better for Fat & Ugly.

Don't we all have those days? You wake up & you just don't feel good about yourself. Blame it on the weekend pigout. Or sheer laziness. Or even your genes.

These are days your hair refuses to cooperate. You have a huge zit right in the middle of your face. Your skin is patchy. Your thighs feel double their size & your stomach protudes all the more conspicously.

You feel like hiding under your "fat clothes". Black preferrably that reflects your mood & hides those unwanted bulges. You tie your hair in a marmy bun or keep it under a cap. Both of which just spell "bad hair day" . Then you layer on serums, beauty potions, concealer & foundation to hide all your skin's flaws --torn between fear of looking like a kabuki doll & exposing the worst zit of the century.

Days like these just make me want to crawl back in bed & hide under the sheets.

Category: Musings

What Type of Donut Am I? Hmm... I was wondering about that very thing... doh.

2006-08-07T23:09:00.000+08:00

You Are a Caramel Crunch Donut

You're a complex creature, and you're guilty of complicating things for fun.
You've been known to sit around pondering the meaning of life...
Or at times, pondering the meaning of your doughnut.
To frost or not to frost? To fill or not to fill? These are your eternal questions.

What Donut Are You?

Damp is Depressing

2006-08-01T20:36:00.000+08:00

I think I know how it feels to live in London. Manila weather has been less than agreeable lately. It's been gloomy & wet for the past few weeks. Some would think of this as a welcome relief from the usual tropical heat --snuggle-under-the sheets weather. Personally, I find it depressing. The cold, damp weather doesn't agree with my tropically acclimatized persona.

I have nothing against rain. I'm thankful that monsoon season comes, replenishing our fresh water supply (which is a valuable & limited commodity as draught in Africa &, closer to home, flourishing water purification businesses prove). But three weeks of downpour, with only a peek of the sun, is bordering on intolerable.

Even fashion agrees with my woes. Gone are the days of brightly printed shirts, frilly dresses & gay (not the gender, mind you) colors. It has been replaced with a sea of black, gray & neutrals --which reflect the bleakness of the weather. The one thing I welcome is the excuse to layer clothing. A welcome respite to those who need a break from showing (too much?) skin --an excuse to indulge in comfort food without the (anorexic?) compulsion to hit the gym or go on a crash diet.

But I blab only about the lighter & even absurd 'problems' I have with the rain (for godsake, I have the galls to complain about fashion!). What about those experience flooding or worse, lose their homes due to it? I should probably just shut up & be thankful for a strong, sturdy roof over my head.

Category: Musing

So much for Nostalgia

2006-07-28T23:17:00.000+08:00

I popped by UP today to accompany my mom. I was feeling a bit nostalgic from seeing my college building (& probably a bit nauseous from remembering all those papers I had to write) that I decided to grab some coffee. I normally get my caffeine fix at Chocolate Kiss but was strangely drawn to another cafe.

This cafe reminded me a lot of my college days. It was where we had the best &, not to forget, cheap tuna pitas. It was a college food dream come true --good & cheap food that's a welcome break from the usual cafeteria fare. The best part was the ambiance. Nothing fancy but the wooden chairs, the art, the brightly painted walls, and Asian goods & trinkets gave the place a sort of eclectic bohemian feel. The perfect place for philosophical discussions or disecting conversations with the latest college crush.

So in I went, completely taken aback with the changes of the place. And I wish I could say they were for the better. Gone were the paintings & the mismatched furniture replaced with bare walls & plastic chairs. The homey bohemian eclectric atmosphere had been replaced with an empty canteen-style environment. It looked (& felt) completely different. I felt a sense of loss --like a piece of my past had been left to history. Only accessible through memories & with nothing concrete to hold on to. Well, at least the walls are still painted bright. Just don't order their signature burnt-tasted coffee & that soggy apple crumble.

Category: Musings

Fwd: Damp is Depressing

2006-07-26T00:49:00.000+08:00

Category: Musing

Sony Ericsson M600i

2006-07-22T21:48:00.000+08:00

I'm taking a break from all that Europe stuff cause I just have to rave about this Sony Ericsson phone. Isn't she a beauty? I remember seeing it a few days ago while we were having coffee at Figaro in Emerald Avenue. I couldn't help but notice how thin it was and how huge and goergeous its screen looked. I kept on turning my head to get a better view that I think both the owner and my bosses were wondering what I craning to have a better view of. Hmm... I wonder how he got that phone since it's just about to make it debut.

CNet Asia already has a review

Category: Techie-ness

Greece: Athens

2006-07-10T00:52:00.000+08:00

I had always imagined Athens to be full of ancient temples & philosophers. So I was taken aback to see a sprawling city packed with towering apartments, modern building, and cars. Blame it on the textbooks! I was (pleasantly) surprised to find out that Athens is a city teeming with life.

It's all Greek to Me

One hindrance on travelling is language. I usually get about this by keeping a guidebook close by& familiarizing myself with commonly used phrases. Personal favorites are: "How much is this?" "Where is?" The ultimate, "Do you speak English?" and relying on the more visual aspect of language, ie knowing I can at least read. But in Greece, I was quite flustered since they have their own alphabet. So the expression "It's all Greek to me" rang true --literally. Guess I should've paid more attention to those Greek letters in college.

Syntagma Square & Plaka

The heart of Athens is in these 3 areas. Syntagma Square houses the political center. The Acropolis, of course, showcases the ancient center & Plaka is the social center. Sytagma Square was where we started our Athenian exploration. Among the 3 it was the most modern. I don't really recount much about it other than it being our take-off point to exploring Athens.

Upon crossing Syntagma was Plaka. I guess you could say it was the "tourist-y" portion of Athens. It was a melting pot full of souvenir shops, modern boutiques (I remember stopping by Body Shop) & Greek tavernas. Plaka was, to say the least, an interesting mismash of the the ancient & the modern --a sort of gateway to passing to the Acropolis. Right smack in the center is a tiny Greek Orthodox church which felt strangely both out-of-place & so rightly in place. Plaka has a charm that draws you to it. I think it would be fair to say it best captures the Athens of today --full of that Greek warmth & joyous celebration of life yet not quite forgetting the ancient.

Ancient Acropolis & The Agora

What every visitor of Athens seeks is the Acropolis. Towering over Athens, it looms over Athens --a constant reminder of the city grand past. And grand it is. I remember feeling quite small & insignificant upon entering its presence, afterall it was built as temple for the Greek gods. It's the home of Athena, the goddess of wisdom, the protector of the city. The temples overwhelm you at first & there's strange feeling of being in-between worlds, like being in a time warp between the ancient & the current.

The Agora is ancient Athen's market place. If the Acropolis was built for the gods then the Agora was the place for the people. Walking on its ancient path, I couldn't help but imagine ancient Greek philosophers teaching & discussing their philosophies. Just imagine Socrates & Plato stood on these very grounds spreading their wisdom & knowledge. Sorry for seeming like a history buff but even the thought sends chills down my spine --& not in a creepy way.

Juxtaposition of the Ancient & Modern

What caught my eye was how ancient & modern structures seemed to co-exist alongside each other. Like right by the Agora, a metro track runs through. Or how, standing in front of Body Shop, you cast a look upwards & you glimpse the temple of Athena Nike. Surreal to say the least. But I guess that's what makes the city come to life, its ability to respect the past & co-exist with it (& not tear the structures down or let it rot as it often happens here in Manila) while incorporating the modern ways of life.

My next entry will be spent reminscing on Mykonos (the picturesque Greek party isle) & its cousin Delos (the island museum).

Category: Travels

Greece: Patras, Petras & Winding Roads

2006-06-26T21:45:00.000+08:00

Ah, Greece. The land of the mythology where Zeus, Apolo and Hades came to life. The birth place of philosophy where Socrates and Plato conceived their ideas. And where you can taste the best olive oil & feta cheese.

I had been excited about seeing Greece from the moment I knew I would be touring Europe and needless to say, I was not disappointed. Where else can you find a country so rich in ancient history? Or a metro passing alongside ancient ruins? Coming to Greece was like an overdose of history coming to life.

We took a ferry from Italy to Greece & the ride was quite ineventful. arrived in Greece via ferry boat & landed in the port city of Patras. We were met by my mom's long-time friends, Tita Debbie & Tito Dodong. They brought us to a roadside village restaurant named Petras where we had the best Greek salad. Other than good food, Petras had another showcase --an ancient stone wheel, which the owner stressed was authentic.

On the way back to Athens (where we'd be staying with Tita Debbie & Papa Doods), we took a more scenic route passing through the mountains. We even stopped at a mountain village which looked so quaint, it's as if you were in another time. Another interesting experience was having a minor traffic jam since a flock of sheep had to pass through. But by far the highlight of that day was when the sun set & a fog blanketed the road. Visibility was very low & with the winding road in the mountains, one wrong turn meant trouble. We were all quiet in the car. Papa Doods kept his cool though. Strange thing was that whenever we'd find a car behind us, it would speed up & manage to overtake us. That's when I learned that Greeks had a thing for fast (risky too if I might add) driving & that a major cause of death in the country was vehicular accidents. Quite comforting, considering the situation.

Needless to say, we were all relieved when we reached less elevated grounds. All the excitement got to our nerves & we had to stop by a cafe to calm them down. We had light dinner then ended the meal with some Greek (though some would contest that it's actually Turkish) coffee which was bold & rather rough since the beans aren't ground finely. Interestingly, these ground are used for fortune-telling. After drinking the coffee, you're suppose to turn the cup upside down & a psychic/gypsy would tell you your fortune depending on whatever image your grounds formed. No gypsies around that night though I'm not sure I would've felt brave (or foolish?) to have asked for a reading. Not exactly my cup of tea, or coffee in that case.

Next entry will probably be on Athens.

Category: Travels

I Remember Europe

2006-06-21T18:15:00.000+08:00

It's been 3 (and rather long) years since I went on my first European tour and like many of my travels, the memories are still very much intact though a bit dusty. Now don't get any grand and posh ideas in your head just yet. We (with my cousin who's actually more like a sister) went there backpacking and were on a shoe-string budget. Well, not entirely since were lugging around strollers but the shoe-string budget is true to the bone.

It was a graduation gift from my mom. Probably an attempt to inject some 'old world' heritage in my pop culture life. Hey, I was fresh out of college days of partying and cramming!

My first attempt at writing this entry was a European Top 10 (Very cosmo magazine, I know). I was doing fine until the 5th entry but as I reached the 7th I realized that I was running out of space yet still had a dozen or so places I wanted to include. Shortlisting these felt more like short-changing and so I decided to spread it out across several entries focusing on a particular destination or city.

Strangely, what I appeciate about my European trip most was not the splendor of the artwork, grandeur of the architecture or the interesting old-meets-new mash of city scenes. It was the lessons I learned: on who I was, independence, not being afraid to try new things, the importance of being street-smart, the pleasure of discovery & exploration, etc. Afterall, it's not just the destination, it's the journey --the totality of the experience.

Categories: Travel & Musings

Striking that Elusive Balance

2006-06-03T23:55:00.000+08:00

A friend and I met for coffee a couple of days ago and our conversation wandered to being able to "balance" our lives. In this day and age, it is no longer enough to succeed in just one aspect of our lives. A career-woman in the 80s was the epitome of success but is now perceived as a "workaholic". So now to be considered successful one must excel at several (all would make you loony) aspects.

To even complicate things, success now has compounded meanings. So having a good-paying job is not enough. It should be one that gives you fulfillment, the environment should be healthily competitive and challenging, and you should be able to build good personal relationships without letting that affect your work. And it doesn't end with work. You should also have a social circle OUTSIDE work --an active social life, a good number of BFFs plus a group to spend weekends partying with. You also should be fit, have a healthy diet & be up-to-date with the latest trends without compomising your personality. Add to that "me time" and those 'essential' pampering/de-stress sessions. Don't forget quality time with the family or your significant other. Or if you're single, you should have a string of suitors at your beck & call. Then there are the day-to-day stuff like paying your bills, shopping, surviving the rush hour traffic, etc..

Now wonder that crisis has been moved to 25.

Category: Musings

When There's Passion

2006-05-26T21:31:00.000+08:00

I recently watched a good friend's dance recital and realized two things. First, when you're in a hurry mishaps happen (like making a wrong turn and getting stuck in horrid traffic) and second, it is possible to pursue one's passion as a living. I won't dwell on the first since it's sort of a "universal truth". But the second is something worth making a fuss about.

Fresh out of college, a graduate's usual path is find a decent job (preferrably high-paying and hip). And with the lure of good pay, stability & that corner-office-with-a-view, joining the corporate 8-to-sawa world seems like the norm. Work your ass off, impress the higher-ups, get a raise plus a promotion and you're on your way to becoming the next head honcho (or at least that's the plan). But this cookie-cutter formula doesn't apply apply to everyone.

Take my friend P. He graduated from one of the top 3 universities here in the Philippines, has quite a number of extra-curricular achievements, and is very smart (he owes me coffee for this, wait, make that dinner). Yet he's nowhere near the corporate jungle or even near a desk. So what's the recital thing got to do with this?

You got it, he's become a dancer. So while the rest of us sit behind desks, do some number-crunching, and attend endless meetings, P is at the studio practicing his pirouttes and extending graceful arabesques.

I can hear the tsk-tsking just about now. A waste of talent? I quite vehemetly disagree. Many of us (yes, I'm guilty too) leave college and join the 'real' world without really thinking about our passions. We take a job because we get good pay and the promise of a good life, one that's filled with ease, comfort and security. We can pay the bills and even have some cash to spare to fork over and get that new MacBook or those gorgeous pair of shoes (paid in plastic, 0% interest in 6 months, of course). Yet we have this gnawing feeling that life, well, hasn't turned out quite the way we planned it.

How many of us actually take the time and effort to search within ourselves to find out just what it is that we want? Call me an idealist, or even naive, but I believe that each one of us has a passion that's just waiting to be released. For P it was performing in dance and theatre and he's damn lucky to be pursuing it right now while we sit behind our desks and only dream.

I recently rediscovered a quote that kind of puts things in perspective, at least for me:

Work like you don't need the money,
Love like you've never been hurt,
Dance like nobody's watching.
-Author Unknown

Then again you could be some damn lucky *ss whose passion is number-crunching.

Category: Musings

Bizarre Sign

2006-05-21T18:20:00.000+08:00

Manila, and I'm referring to the real city of Manila and not Metro Manila, is a city full of character and contradictions. Once the the political and economic capital of the Philippines, it has now grown "old" and it hasn't been aging, well, graceful. Though there have recent efforts of its current Mayor (Atienza) on "restoring" its former glory.

I'm going off topic. I was on my way to Manila and, of course, had to sit through the horrendous traffic caused mostly by unruly public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers. Obviously, I was in a horrid mood as well but this tiny, almost unnoticeable, sign on a PUV caught my attention.

Here's a closer look. It certainly made that horrible, horrible traffic more bearable and reminded me of how we Pinoys always, always find a way of interjecting life with laughter.

Category: Random Thoughts

Tempted to Bite the Apple (MacBook)

2006-05-20T01:37:00.000+08:00

I want a MacBook!!

It's finally here! Apple has announced the newest member of it's family, the MacBook. To be completely honest, it's nonsensical why I'm flipping out over this bit of news since I've been a PC user most of my life. And I can't be blamed for complying with industry standards, right? Cause the Philippines is most definitely a PC country.

But the Pinoy Mac cult has been growing and add Apple's intense marketing campaign on switching, the Mac is a force you just can't ignore. There are quite a number of websites and user groups that share that love for Mac. And who can forget the iPod phenomenon?

What entices me to buy a Mac are neither the tech specs nor gorgeous form factor but this rather intense love and dedication (dare I say infatuation?) that Mac users exhibit. To them, it seems that their computers are not mere means or tools, but an extension of their life, the personality, their being. It's not only a product but a reflection of themselves. Doesn't that ring louder than a thousand campaign ads? Or I'm just a sucker for their marketing campaign?

Check out the MacBook here.

Categories: Techie-ness & Random Thoughts

Birthday Musings

2006-05-18T23:07:00.000+08:00

The principle is: competing against yourself. It's about self-improvement, about being better than you were the day before.
-Steve Young

I often see my birthday as a chance to re-evalulate my life. This year is particularly important since I just turned 25 and that quarter-life crisis is starting to kick in. Ok, that crisis thing has been present for sometime but now is getting more insistent --like 5-year adolescent boyfriend begging for sex, worse than a 3 year old asking for mommy's attention.

The signs were plastered all over: feeling that 3-year slump at work, continuously looking for something 'new & exciting', a gravitational pull towards self-help books. It was time to face that daunting question: What the hell am I suppose to do with my life?

I've always tried to elude/escape that question. I was never quite the one to draft a five-year plan --my spontaneous nature simply refuses. I never did quite see the merit of tying myself down. But now that I've gotten older (& perhaps wiser), I also see how meaningless it is to just drift thru life without purpose. But finding one's purpose in life is such a magnanimous task. So what's a 20-something who's feeling quite lost to do?..

Mr. Young it seems captured the essence of birthdays, or any day for that matter, to improve yourself and be better than you were the day before. It's practical advice that's much closer to home and easier to follow, since it doesn't necessarily require saving the world. Don't worry though, I haven't given up my superhero dreams. I'll get there someday.

Categories:Musings

Rain, Rain Go Away

2006-05-12T19:57:00.000+08:00

The rain has been pouring since yesterday and while the weather has been much cooler, I can't help but be glum. Sigh.

So why do I dislike (but not hate, got to clarify that) the rain?

1. Everything gets wet! The ground becomes squishy and puddles abound. Walking without getting wet is a feat.

2. Traffic becomes (even more). horrible. Once the sky opens up, the number of cars on the street doubles! Getting from point A to B takes twice as much time and effort.

3. The world looks bleak. The sky's bright blue tint is replaced by a dull gray tint. Sure, it's reminiscent of London --minus the modernity.

4. It's conjusive to sleeping. Waking up and leaving those soft, warm sheets is such a bummer. Not to mention that the world's pace become suddenly sluggish.

5. It marks the end of summer. 'Nuff. said.

And to think that just yesterday I was ranting about the scorching summer heat and now I'm complaining about the seemingly non-stop rainfall. When will I learn to be content?

Category:Random Thoughts

Beat the Heat

2006-05-11T21:35:00.000+08:00

That's Hot.

I wish I was using that as an expression ala Paris Hilton describing the latest runway collection but I'm actually talking about the weather, Metro Manila weather. The heat has been (almost) unbearable lately --with the sun beating down mercilessly without a hint of a cool breeze in the humid air.

Don't get me wrong, I'm no Eskimo. In fact, I'm more of an island girl. I love the sun & even make a pilgrimage to worship it (ie, go to the beach & tan). But being stuck in the city without body of water (no, a glass of ice water doesn't quite make the cut) is torture. So what to do when you're stuck in the concrete jungle?

1) Take a dip. Head to the nearest pool: village clubhouse, sports club, your neighbor's house, wherever. Hell, in this heat, a big enough batya (basin) would do.

2) Take a cold shower. Stop using your water heater. You'll come out refreshed & you'll save on your electric bill.

3) Don resort wear. Take out those tank tops, sleeveless shirts & shorts hibernating in your closet. Put them on & vision yourself walking along Boracay's white shore. Ask any fashion-loving gal (or guy), clothes can alter your perception.

4) Ditch the designer coffee & grab a fruit shake or tea. Much more refreshing to the palette. If you need a caffeine fix, grab an energy drink (I go for Lipovitan Ira Lite --gives me my fix, fruit flavored & most importantly cold!).

And if all else fails...
5) Lock yourself in a room & turn up the airconditioning unit. Pop in a DVD. Listen to some music. Surf the net. Read a book. Cheaper alternative? Head to the nearest mall (like the rest of the city's population). Just make sure you don't end up splurging on those fabulous pair of shoes.

Category: Random Thoughts

Rattan Fruit

2006-05-07T22:02:00.000+08:00

I recently had the chance to taste a rather exotic fruit (well, in my book, that is) that my cousin introduced to me as rattan. Now I didn't know if this was the same as the with the rattan (which is made into furniture) that I was familiar with so I did I quick look-up on Wikipedia. Turns out they are one and the same!

Rattan Fruit in flesh, it's skin is tough and kind of shiny

The fruit had a tart but puckery aftertaste. It reminded me of macopa due to the aftertaste but the rattan fruit had a more "solid" or full texture and had that "bite" from the tartness.

Rattan fruit up close; the fruit inside is split in quarters --here's one

Here's what it looks from the inside

Macopa, on the other hand, was more on sweet and has this rather "cottony", soft texture. Well, both are good.

PS: Rattan's great with prune powder! Any idea if this is available here in Manila?

Category: Food Lovin'

Website: Their Circular Life

2006-05-04T22:22:00.000+08:00

I stumbled on a rather interesting website (thanks to Stumble, a Firefox plug-in) called Their Circular Life. It was intended as a study of human behavior. It presents a particular location and shows how this location looks like at different points in time. It's interesting to observe how a place can look entirely different at a different time. It also shows how locations have different uses at different time. Like the shot in Campo S.Barnaba in Venice, where at early morning it serves a a dock or port to unload goods into the city. Mid-morning to early afternoon, it becomes alive --time for tourists explorations, locals doing their daily rounds. By evening, it's transformed into romantic and quite dramatic Venezian corner.

There are 5 different locations to choose from. All are places in Italy since it was created by two of its nationals: Lorenzo Fonda and Davide Terenzi.

And don't forget the tips:
1) Become the observer --watch life as it goes by
2) You can control you life --go fast or slow, it's up to you
3) Try to stop for a while --be distracted by the small stuff

Pay attention to the tiny details such as sounds and shadows. Also notice how the environment is transformed by the people who are in it and vice-versa (how we are influenced by our enviroment).

Category: Random Thoughts & Travel Bug

Birthday Meme

2006-04-29T16:26:00.000+08:00

I'm taking this weekend easy and this meme is pure fun.

The Wikipedia Birthday Meme
Go to Wikipedia and look up your birthday (excluding the year). List three neat facts, two births and one death in your journal, including the year.

Events
1830 - Ecuador gains its independence.
1950 - First All-time Formula One Grand Prix. It is held at Silverstone Circuit, England
1981 - Mehmet Ali Ağca attempts to assassinate Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square in Rome.

Birthdays
1950 - Stevie Wonder, American singer and musician
1961 - Dennis Rodman, American basketball player and actor

Death
Ekaterina Geladze, mother of Joseph Stalin

Categories: Random Thoughts

Now I Understand what BUSY means

2006-04-28T22:36:00.000+08:00

I've always seen myself as a "busy" person. I'm the type who constantly wants to be doing something and feels strangely unfulfilled when I'm not doing anything productive. I tend to "over-schedule" my calendar and fit in as many "to-do's" as I can. But this week I finally understood what busy really meant. I had to balance a demanding work schedule, a rather unexpected family circumstance, and other self-development activities. I was working like a dog --even bringing home work in the evenings, waking up extra early, and forgoing my dinner/coffee breaks with friends and even working out, to just accommodate EVERYTHING in my schedule. Like the woman on the picture to the left, I felt like I was balancing way too many things but unfortunately I didn't feel like I was doing it as calmly.

Well, as they say, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

Categories: Random Thoughts

I Dream of Panglao (Bohol)

2006-04-24T12:09:00.000+08:00

The bright blue sky and the intense summer heat are constant reminders that summer is indeed here!! It's time to head off to the beach and get a tan! Yeah, I know it's harmful to your skin. Just make sure you layer the SPF. Yet with my work schedule as intense as our tropical climate, it seems that I'll be anywhere but near my 3 favorite S's: Sand, Sea, and Sky. But hey, no one can keep me from dreaming, right?

I was feeling particularly blue one Monday morning (Gad, who doesn't? when I chanced upon an article on the perfect beach get-away --Panglao, Bohol. A gorgeous stretch of sand, bright blue waters, and class A accomodations (with your own private pool to boot!) --what more could you ask for?

Check out their website here to drive away those Monday morning blues and start planning your perfect summer escape!

Category: Travel Bug

TV Hotel Addict

2006-04-23T22:39:00.000+08:00

Disclaimer: Posted are my personal opinions only. They're not meant to offend anyone. So not hate mail please.

I usually just watch 3 programs --CSI, American Idol, and Bones; all shown on foreign cable channels. But sharing a room with someone or staying at an inn's common room allows me the opportunity to get to watch some local channels --something I normally am unable to do while at home. And I feel like sharing, so indulge me.

Program 1: Kim San Soong

A Koreanovela starring a chubby diet-obsessed patisserie chef who falls in-love with her boss. The leading lady is frank to the point of being crude & just always happens to do or say the wrong things. But despite her short-comings, she's not only able to make her boss fall in-love with her but even attracts a filanderer (the other guy is already engaged) thus creating a love triangle. Who would've guessed? Hehehe. It seems that this is the winning formula to a successful telenovela.

Program 2: Jewel in the Palace

This seems to be the current cult favorite. Known for its cooking demonstrations & knowledge, it's set in ancient China (or so I think) & the elaborate costumes are worth noting. The leading lady is a rising chef of the royalty --thus the title. Of course there are kontravidas (the meanies who seem to have not a single good bone in their body) but unlike your typical drama, battles are done in the kitchen & usually poisoning someone with food (a demented version of Iron Chef?). It reminds me of this animé I watched a long time ago, Cooking Master Boy, which incidentally was also set in China. The best Chinese chefs would battle it out in the kitchen. But the lead star was this genius boy cook & his quest was to find legendary cooking tools. Weird, I know, but it was animé! Btw, Jewel in the palace also has a love triangle.

Program 3: Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition

I only got to watch the 'Big Night' & guess who won (admit it, you know!!)... Keanna Reeves! (Keanu's paternal twin? Whoever gave her that name is a twisted marketing genius.) Well, it was certainly an eventful show even for just Rustom's public admission that he's gay. I don't want to call it his coming out since even before that everyone knew he was gay anyway.

Program 4: Ang Mahiwagan Baul

This is a children's program which a fantasy story involving kids who (it seems to me) travels thru different dimensions via this magical baul. This week's story seemed like a rather strange mix of Wizard of Oz & the Bible story Sodom & Gomora. The kids end up in some place called the Kingdom of the Rainbow (Kaharian ng Bahaghari) with a Tin Man & some all powerful being dressed in flowing white Indian-inspired clothes (yes, it was the turban that clued me). They enter the colorful kingdom (reminds me of Emerald City but in technicolor) & come face-to-face with its evil dwellers (Sodom). This incurs the wrath of the Indian-dressed being & he vows to destroy the city. The kids beg that the city be spared & the being agrees only if they find a single good person in the city. So they seek the assitance of the king who apparently was the founder of the city (back to Wizard of Oz). The overlaps get even more confusing as the story goes on but it was a valiant attempt of fusing a popular children's story with a rather gruesome Bible story. I'm not quite sure how the church sees this though.

Etc.

I also saw snippets of other local programs. Notably is Encantadia which impressed me with its gorgeous costumes & the effects -- really good for local tv. I was told that the storyline was quite intricate (after 3 'seasons' I would definitely agree) & that the names ofthe characters & places were 'inspired' by local folklore. While I'm normally wary of Pinoy fantasy programs, I think Encantadia should be recognized for its attempt to 'bring back' local folklore. Especially since our current culture is highly Westernized. It seems like a good attempt to reconnect with our pre-colonization roots (commercialized & as showbiz as it is).

Category:Random Thoughts

Life's Simple Pleasures

2006-04-20T01:09:00.000+08:00

Life sometimes gets overwhelming and (unnecessarily) complicated. When this happens, our primal instinct often tells us to bolt and run to get away from the pressure. Or in my case, have a complain/bitch session with friends over a couple of chai lattes. But this seems to be a better alternative: remembering life's simple pleasures. Here's my top 10:

1. Getting to sleep in cause there's no pressing deadline
2. Hearing a kid's laughter
3. Time to read the morning paper or leaf through your favorite magazine
4. Someone holding the door open for you
5. Good & prompt service at a restaurant
6. Impromptu get-togethers with friends
7. Receiving pasalubong
8. Getting a discount
9. Hearing someone say the magic words 'please' & 'thank you' like they mean it
10. A sincere smile

I got this from Jayvee, thanks. It's a nice reminder that there's still a lot of good in this world. We just sometimes overlook them.

Don't let it end here. What are your top 10 simple pleasures?

Category:Random Thoughts

Ang Alfahor, bow

2006-04-19T21:55:00.000+08:00

My cousin recently came from a trip to Baguio and of course brought home that must-have pasalubong. Baguio is known as the summer capital of the Philippines. Thanks to its cool climate. (Just a side note, Manila is sweltering hot!)

Now any Filipino tourist destination is marked not only with its must-see but also with its must-eats. And Baguio certainly lacks this not. There's Kalinga coffee, fresh strawberries, Good Shepherd ube and the infamous kulangot. But we were recently and rather pleasantly surprised to 'discover' a new one --Alfahor.

The label you have to watch out for

Don't let the rather strange name turn you off cause you'll end up missing a treat. At first glance, it looks like an ordinary cookie.

View from the top

But after biting into one, you know that it's dlfferent. First there's the texture. Crumbly and creamy at the same time, it reminds me of an English biscuit. But the Alfahor is sweet. It's more of a dessert than a sidedish. And further capitalizing on that sweetness, a thin layer of caramel is spread in between two cookies --making it a sort of caramel cookie sandwich. Perfect for those with a sweet tooth!

Check out that crumbly texture and the caramel layer

And the combination of these two characteristics is what sets the Alfahor apart --the delicate yet creamy texture and the sweetness brought by the cookie itself plus the caramel layer. Best paired with some steaming tsokolate or tea. Ummm-ummm...

A closer look

Category:Food Lovin'

Just a greeting

2006-04-16T00:21:00.000+08:00

Happy Easter to all!

Lonely Planet's The Cities Book

2006-04-16T00:00:00.000+08:00

I've always been a city girl and just can't imagine myself living in a rural setting. See, I like that a city has a life of it's own. It has an identity, a culture, that lil' something that gives it an edge. Lonely Planet is now giving the world's most popular cities a bit of a tribute in its featured book: The Cities Book, A Journey Through the Best Cities in the World.

Visit their website by clicking here. There's even a mini-game on their site that will test your knowledge on cities. The game even retains Lonely Planet's tongue-in-cheek remarks. Mistakes are corrected in the most cheeky manner. My favorite was "You're probably good looking anyway." Man, that really got me!

Category: Travel Bug

Titanic Two the Surface

2006-04-15T22:57:00.000+08:00

I was browsing at YouTube's Top Rated (or was it the Most Viewed, can't remember) section and stumbled upon this rather interesting "trailer".

So bad it just can't be real. Hehehe.

Category: Personal Indulgence

Too much free time....?

2006-04-14T22:07:00.000+08:00

Obviously, I have quite some free time on my hands... I took two tests on Blogthings just for kicks. The first test tells me that I'm Brittish! Or at least should be living in London. Guess my dream of marrying Prince William isn't too far off... Hehehe.

You Belong in London

You belong in London, but you belong in many cities... Hong Kong, San Francisco, Sidney. You fit in almost anywhere.
And London is diverse and international enough to satisfy many of your tastes. From curry to Shakespeare, London (almost) has it all!

What European City Do You Belong In?

The other test is about what higher degree I should persue. Quite timely, don't you think? Thinker? Philosopher? Professor? Writer? A bit far from what I'm currently doing.

You Should Get a PhD in Liberal Arts (like political science, literature, or philosophy)

You're a great thinker and a true philosopher.
You'd make a talented professor or writer.

What Advanced Degree Should You Get?

So now, putting the two together... I wonder if this is some kind of sign... Nah.

Category: Personal Indulgence

iblog2

2006-04-14T16:34:00.000+08:00

Go to iBlog 2 , the Philippines’ 2nd Blogging Summit. Attendance is FREE. Register now to save your seat!

I'd love to attend but it's on a weekday and I'm confined to my 8-to-5 job. Oh, well... Maybe next year.

Category: Techie-ness

Art shots taken at the Mall

2006-04-13T19:55:00.000+08:00

I was out shopping yesterday (like the rest of Metro Manila's population --damn, the mall was packed!) and my "inner artist" was calling me to take these shots. All were taken with my camera phone.

Eggs you can light
I thought there were eggs on a tray. Closer inspection revealed they were candles.

Colors of Summer
Taken at a cloth store. The colors were just screaming "Summer na!"

Life Mantra
a nice daily reminder of how we should live life

Category: Personal Indulgence

Holiday Hiatus: Everyone's out for Holy Week (except me!)

2006-04-13T14:26:00.000+08:00

It's been practiced by most Filipinos to spend Holy Week outside the Metro. And who can blame them for wanting to do so? Most establishments are closed. The heat is scorching. There's not much to do except to stay ta home and entertain yourself by watching TV, sufing the net or playing the Sims 2 (yey!).

Most of my friends are out-of-town. One is in Bicol. According to my "sun-allergic" (who wears SPF 70 while at the beach even if she's NOT under the sun), you can easily turn into a nice, dark kamagong-like shade without much effort. She's probably feasting on pili and laing by now. Another one is on her way to Davao and will be staying at the luxe Pearl Farm. And another is in Baguio. Cool --and I mean that literally.

So to try to justify my staying in the Metro I'm making a list of the advantages of staying in Manila for the Holy Week.

1. No traffic. For once, you can actually see the asphalt/cement and not the cars whichs are bumper-to-bumper on top of it. You can run your car like it's meant to be (especially true for those with sports cars. I mean, really, what's their use in Manila traffic except for attention-grabbing?) and not just a measly 20 to 60 kph. And you don't have to leave the house an hour or so before your scheduled appointment even if it's just 15 minutes away.

2. It's quiet. We're constantly bombarded with sounds like blasting stereos, horns tooting, and ceaseless chatter that the quiet offerred by the absence of most of Manila's dwellers is avery much welcomed relief. Like now, I can actually hear some birds chirping in out front yard.

3. You don't feel harassed. No appointments. No to-do list to follow. No must-do activities. Since establisments are closed, activities have to be postponed and we can actually take life leisurely and not in our usualy frentic, in-a-hurry pace.

4. You get to catch up on the entertainment scene. Not the local media scene though. But can pop in DVDs of those movies that your were just too busy to watch. Or maybe play some old-time favorites (American Beauty or Fight Club anyone?).

5. You get to spend time with family. And this time it's no longer becomes an option. Friends are out of town, malls are closed... Must be difficult for those who can't stand their families, hehe.

6. You get to do things (for yourself) that you haven't had time for. Like picking up that book that's been stuck on chapter 4. Or reading those magazine that have been there for half-a-month. Or taking a long, relaxed shower. Or just lying down (I know quite a number of people who just love to laze in bed... Hehe).

7. You get to relax. Relaxation isn't achieved by going to some far-off, gorgeous beach. It's how we spend our time. Sometimes, the utmost relaxation can be done in your very own space (Did that sound pilit? Haha!)

In our world of constant activity, spending Holy Week in Manila offers us an alternative. A time to stay still and not be a slave to "be constantly doing something to feel productive". It gives us time to reflect, take life leisurely, and live life simply (without the frills of designer coffee or excessive shopping).

So how will be making the most of your Holy Week break?

Categories: Random Thoughts

San Fernando, Pampanga Eats

2006-04-08T17:26:00.000+08:00

My primary reason for visiting this city was for work but my personal agenda was really to sample the food of this proclaimed culinary capital of Luzon. In short, I was there to eat.

I've been to Pampanga fairly often but mostly we just passing through. We sometimes stopped by McDonald's at the Dolores Junction for some breakfast. So my familiarity with Kapampangan cuisine was limited to the dishes available in Manila & the popular restaurant, Mangan (which attracted my attention with it's kitchy interiors).

Anyway, armed with my spirit of adventurism & curiosity, some tips from friends, blog reviews, and a good appetite, I was set on having my own gastronomic adventure in San Fernando.

First Impressions

What struck me first was how urban San Fernando was! Call me an ignorant Manileña but I was expecting it to be a quiet, sleepy town. Obviously, I was wrong. It had 2 huge malls (SM Pampanga & Robinson's Starmills --what's with the name btw? Sounds awkward.), wide well-cemented highways & many foreign shops & food joints (Mark's & Spencer, Kenny Roger's, even Yellow Cab Pizza!). Don't take this negatively, I was simply taken aback by the urbanity of San Fernando.

Now on to the food...

My first 2 meals in San Fernando were anything but Kapampangan --breakfast at McDonald's, Dolores Junction (a bit nostalgic perhaps cause it was our first stopover on trips up north when I was younger) then lunch at Sbarro. I blame it on our tight morning schedule & the intense summer heat.

Dinner fare was a bit better with a trip to Jun-Jun's Barbeque & Bibingka. The restaurant's interiors reminded me of a Roman spa with the huge slabs of marble tables & benches (just add some steaming water & you'd be transported to the days of the grandeur of Rome).

Jun-Jun's "Roman Bath"-like interiors

We ordered their specialties --pork & chicken barbeque, sisig, pinakbet & chopseuy. The chicken was rather dry but their sweet-salty sauce was interesting. Sisig, an original Kapampangan dish now more known as pulutan (a dish taken with alcohol) was rich & tasty --expectedly fatty but not overly greasy. It wasn't the original Kapampangan version though which was a bit disappointing. The best dish, strangely, was the chopseuy which was crunchy yet juicy. It also still retained the sweetness of the veggies. It was a refreshing flavor that complimented the grilled & fried "heavy" meat dishes. As for the pinakbet, well, it didn't make it to my side of the table.

Jun-Jun's Sigsig

And what's a meal without dessert? We had to try their other speciality --the bibingka. It was light & fluffy, as if it was melting in your mouth, yet at the same time it was rich in flavor. It had the salty-sweet taste that characterized this dish. Though I wished they had put some itlog na maalat (salted duck egg), to make that salty-sweet tug-o-war a bit more intense.

Day 2: And the food trip continues…

We spent the night at Paskuhan Hotel which was felt rather "old". It was clean though so I attribute it to age. As with most hotels, they provided complimentary breakfast. Since I'm wary of less-than-3-star hotel food, I simply had a blah breakfast of corned beef, toast, & scrambled eggs which was expectedly, well, blah.

My next few meals were anything but blah though. While on field I chanced upon some "dirty" ice cream (for those unfamiliar with it, it's not literally dirty. It's street peddled homemade ice cream; thus the monicker, I guess).

"Dirty" Ice Cream

One of the flavors was mango & it has real mango bits! It also didn't have that yellow-mango color & why does that excite me? No food coloring! This was as close to fresh, homemade mango ice cream as I could get. Just look at the pic below & you'll see what I'm blabbering about. It was creamy & the mango flavor was not too dominant. It cost only 10 pesos on the sugar cone & manong was very generous with his servings. I was so happy I treated our entire team & even had a second serving!!

The closest to homemade mango ice cream on the street

Lunch was another treat at Everybody's Cafe & I'm glad I did my homework before leaving for Pampanga. I read Lori Baltazar's review & was set on eating there.

The claim

We had pako (a local edible fern) salad, murcon & shrimp. The pako salad was fresh & the vinegar dressing & salted eggs complimented the strong green flavor of the pako. The murcon was rich & tasty. It reminded me of my lola's embutido (which is one of my ultimate favorites, so that says a lot) though more on the fatty-juicy side. So for those with high cholesterol I advise you to take it easy. I had 3 huge chunks but I'm young & I promise to burn it off at the gym (Ha!). Needless to say I was happy that we made an effort to eat there (Hell, even the complimentary soup/broth was good!). Special thanks to Lori for the tempting review & my boss for indulging my (almost) obsession. Another word of caution, my boss found the food on the salty side so non-salt-fans should take my raving with a hint of, well, salt.

Pako Salad; edible fern with tomatos, salted duck eggs & vinegar dressing

The famous Murcon

Hipon for some seafood

The dinnerware reminds me of the family feats in the days of my lolas

Pasalubong Shopping

And the perfect way to end a culinary trip (or any Pinoy trip for that matter) is to buy pasalubong. It's the perfect way to express to loved ones that a) a remembered them while you were away, b) you wanna share your amazing food discoveries with them, or c) they missed out on your good eats so shame-on-them-&-next-time-they-should-join-you.

So off we went to Susie's Cuisine to bring home some tibok-tibok & other sweet Kapampangan treats. We arrived a bit past 4 right in time for merienda & the place was packed --usually a good sign when it comes to food. I immediately spotted my other obession --the tibok-tibok (a rich, creamy flan made with carabao's milk topped with latik) & placed my order. The counter was full of other sweet treats & I just couldn't resist picking up a few others. I got some leche flan with macapuno strips, tsokolate e & a slice of carrot cake (mom's favorite). We also got some cassave cake for the office. The tibok-tibok was smooth & creamy --definitely worth the drive. I, however, like things on the rich side so a bit more creaminess would've made it perfect. The other desserts were quite good --nothing to rave about but enough to satisfy your sweet tooth.

The hard-to-find and famous Paning's Dried Melon Seeds (my ticket back to Pampanga)

All in all, my culinary adventure to Pampanga was quite a success. I got to sample most of the food I wanted and probably gained a couple of pounds in the process (worth it though). Except that I wasn't able to buy Paning's butong pakwan (dried & salted watermelon seeds) --much to the frustration of my friend. Then again, I could use that as an excuse to visit Pampanga again soon.

Categories: Travel Bug & Food Lovin'

Back in Manila

2006-04-05T21:47:00.000+08:00

I'm finally back in Manila after almost 2 weeks of work-related travel. I always have mixed emotions when I return to this city. Many think of Metro Manila simply as an urban/business/political center. But I see as more than that. It's my hometown --where I grew up, where I feel that I belong.

But it's also a city that's overpopulated, polluted, and perpetually has bad traffic. Whenever I leave Manila, I'm able to breathe fresh air (gasp!), leave for my destination in the real amount of travel time (& not an hour before), & be able to see wide, open spaces. I even become friendlier. I talk to people I don't know and become much, much nicer (take note of the comparative; ie I'm nice already). I also love seeing new places and discovering new things.

Ironic as this seems, outside Manila I don't feel safe. I'm often reluctant to go out in the evenings --especially when it's so quiet outside. Manila, like New York, is a city that never sleeps. Even in the wee hours of the morning, there's activity (& we have the call centers to thanks for this). There are people working, eating, hanging out, whatever... what matters is there are other people and with that comes reassurance that you're not alone. Add that to familiar surroundings, and Manila feels safe.

I know, I'm wacko.

Categories: Musings

In Kalibo and other Blog updates

2006-04-02T15:13:00.000+08:00

Just a quick update now. I finally found the time to make a quick trip to an internet shop here in Kalibo. I've been here for half a day only and so far I've only visited the mall. I checked in this inn called Beachcomber (though it's anywhere but near the beach). The place is quite small and somewhat run-in --the bed sucks. But it's clean and the manager, Myrna, was a sweet, nice and accomodating woman. Plus, it's quite near the town center and it's cheap.

I've been asking around to find a good place to eat. I had lunch at Greenwich in Gaisano mall so it was kind of blah. But there was a rather decent coffee shop in the mall --Borz Cafe (slang for Boracay, i suppose?) and they served different kinds of coffee. I had my signature drink, the latte and was a bit disappointed since it was more on the milky side and barely had a caffeine kick.

As for my other "adventures" in Pampanga, I'm currently working on them but I'll have to upload once I'm back in Manila since they're on my palm. All for now...

Categories: Travel Bug & Random Thoughts

Palm turns 10 & the Flybook V23i

2006-03-29T13:32:00.000+08:00

I was checking my email when one from CNet caught my eye: Palm turns 10. Quite a surprise, actually. I didn't realize how long I've been using a Palm. First handheld I owned was one of those Casio organizers which allowed you to store appointments, contact numbers, birthdays... It was quite a nifty little gadget with a calculator and a thesaurus.

But it wasn't quite as "geeky" as the Palm IIIx --my first "real" PDA. It had a monocromatic screen, display only 160x160, and gave out this rather ominous green glow when the backlight was switched on. Nevertheless, I was in love! I brought it anywhere and everywhere. I used it to take notes in class, copy journals and textbooks from the library, and of course play games (my favorite then was Kyle's Quest -I was practically addicted to it!!) . It got me through tough college days and it was a very solid PDA. In fact, I saw it lying around my room (collecting dust) a few days ago.

I was quite attached to it but then these colored screen PDA started coming out. First it was the Palm IIIc followed by a whole slew from Handspring and Sony. Though I was still very much attached to my IIIx, gadget lust got the best of me and I switched to a Sony Clie SJ-33G. It was beautiful! The crisp colored screen made reading (and gaming) so much easier. Because of the color, I also fell into this "personalize your palm to suit your personality" craze. I was into customizing themes and even icon. I would change them according to my mood or whatever (crazy, I know). It had a sort of electirc blue color and as expected from any Sony product, quality was superb (it's really sad that they stopped the Clie line).

Inevitably, PDAs became even more powerful and technology "created" all sorts of new "must-haves". In my case, it was bluetooth and Wi-Fi (connectivity is important to me) and so I ended up switching to Palm TX due to its lures of wireless connectivity as well as the bigger screen, the non-volatile memory, and OS5 (which for me just really meant better games).

Hmm... Maybe I should get some sort of loyalty award from Palm...

Anyway, on to the other equally geeky topic the Flybook V23i --which is a gorgeous mobile computer. While gadgets of course have to deliver/perform, it wouldn't hurt if they looked gorgeous while doing so. And that's what the Flybook V23i promises --lightweight mobile computing without sacrificing style.

Categories: Techie-ness & Musings

Pampanga, Iloilo and Kalibo

2006-03-26T13:00:00.000+08:00

I'm off to travel again though this time it isn't entirely for pleasure. But so what? Who says you can't mix business with a bit of fun? (And in case my boss is reading this, please note that I said "a bit of fun".)

I have 3 destinations: Pampanga, Iloilo, and Kalibo. While I have been to the 3 provinces, I haven't really stopped and explored these cities/town. Afterall, they're not your typical tourist destinations. So being a responsible traveller (& also probably due to my profession), I did my research and stumbled on some rather exciting websites.

First of which is The Pinoy Travel Blog. A group of Filipino bloggers posting their personal experience of different travel destinations. It's updated quite often since there are 9 contributing writers --most who are Pinoy blog pioneers. What also makes this special is that unlike most travel reviews, this blog gives a Filipino perspective of local travel destinations.

Iloilo Online Blog. I was pleasantly surprised to find a very comprehensive blog on Iloilo. It contains information on accomodations, tourist attractions, a list of business establishments and tons of pictures. Based on the pictures, Iloilo looked like a modern, bustling business center.

Kalibo Ati-atihan 2006 website. While many simply see Kalibo as a gateway to the powder white beaches of Boracay (I'm guilty as well), it is also the home of the world-famous Ati-atihan Festival. I personally haven't ventured outside the airport so I'm looking forward to discovering this quaint and sleepy-looking town.

Then, of course, there's the culinary/gastonomic side of travel. Pampanga claims to be the culinary capital of Luzon and with my previous experience with Kapampangan food (Mangan and my current near-obsession, the Tibok-Tibok), I did search on what culinary feast was awaiting me. I was pleased to find out that Lori of Dessert Comes First had written not one but 2 reviews of this restaurant called Everybody's Cafe. You can find them here and here. I'm looking forward to the Pako salad and their Murcon. And of course, the Tibok-Tibok --which is the Tagalaog word used for the sound of the heartbeat. With the rich and creamy consistency of this dessert, your heart will really flutter (hello, cholesterol!). Iloilo is known for its seafood and the famous Biscocho House. So far, the only place recommended to me in Kalibo is this cafe called Latte which they said served good cheesecakes.

Categories: Travel Bug & Food Lovin'

Zzzzzssss....

2006-03-23T23:44:00.000+08:00

Oh, hello
Originally uploaded by tinapico.

Perfectly captures how I felt this morning. I only had about 4 hours of sleep since I was tinkering with some new programs on my palm TX. Since I was totally engrossed with it, didn't notice the time spli by and next thing I knew it was 3am!! Gadgets (and books) have a way of making me lose track of time.

So I can imagine that I sort of looked like Tala in this photo when my mom came in forcing me to get my lazy ass out of bed.

Categories: Flickr Inspired

Family Time

2006-03-20T21:04:00.000+08:00

I spent the entire weekend with my family in Los Baños for a little R&R and it was like a trip back in time. Not that I no longer spend time with my family (well, probably not as much as my my mom would want me to). But it was like a trip down in memory lane when family outings meant good food, lively conversation, reminiscing, relaxation, and did I mention good food?

When I was younger (Gad, I never thought I'd be using this phrase!) a huge bunch of our family would head somewhere and just spend the entire weekend eating, talking and having a hell of a good time. We'd go to Baguio, La Union, Vigan or wherever our feet (or cars for that matter) would take us.

What made these family outings so special was the entire tradition it came along with. Our moms, titos & titas would be in charge of finding that perfect setting. It had to be some place everyone would enjoy and with the diversity of our family, it was never easy. It had to be fun for the younger set (which usually meant swimming), the working set (relaxing and quiet), and for the lolas (should have a bit of shopping, preferrably food related). And most important of all, it should be private and with lots of good, traditional food.

If you've noticed, I've mentioned food quite often already and it can't be stressed enough as far as our family is concerned. As with most Filipino families, our get-togethers involve (and probably revolve around) food. Food is a constant in every family get-together and some of our occassions are marked by particular dishes (more on this another time).

So how does this relate to my topic, some of you might be asking? Well, our family outing is not only an "need-to-get-away-and-relax" and "time-to-spend-the-weekends-with-your family" occassion but "all-out-eat-everything" time. Diets are put aside (even my mom left the brown rice) and calories and cholesterol counts are forgotten. Good, traditional Pinoy outing food is abounding. Hello adobo, hipon, inihaw na talong, manggang hilaw and bagoong!!

And while the good food is consumed, the conversation starts. Smiles and laughter fill the air. The kids (and adults too!) have some good ol' fun while swimming or lounging in the pool. The adults "forget" their deadlines at work or the bitchy office worries and start to relax. Conversation picks up covering topics far and wide --politics, career, family chismis... Heck, last time we were talking about a certain cannibal group in Indonesia. Then, inevitably, nostalgia kicks in --remember the time when you were a kid and you... (let's save the embarassing stories for later).

The outing usually ends with a quick trip to the local market for some shopping (where food stocks are replenished and new "must-eats" are discovered). Everyone ends up happy and while all the hulabaloo is happenning, family bonds are made stronger.

Categories: Musings

Reading

2006-03-19T23:21:00.000+08:00

Love to read.
Originally uploaded by skier_abc.

This photo literally and figuratively shows love for reading. Check out the shadows created by the magnifiying glass to see what I'm talking about it.

I remember being a voracious reader esepcially when I was younger. I read almsot everything then --Apple Classics (Little Women, Swiss Family Robinson), Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys, Madeleine L'Engle series (if you enjoyed Harry Potter, you'll also enjoy her books --more reflective/insightful a bit less "visually" entertaining), and even those Sweet Valley High/Teens/Kids series.

Now, it seems that the only non-electronic things I get to read are my magazine and the newspaper. So i guess, thanks, Mom, for subscribing to Time and Reader's Digest. Otherwise, my mind would really be stuck in a rut.

I really, really, really should make more time to read and write (sounds like I'm in pre-school).

Categories: Flickr Inspired

iGeneration

2006-03-19T21:59:00.000+08:00

Almost everywhere you look, you're bound to see someone plugged in and no I'm not referring to electrical sockets. I'm talking about portable media players (popularly referred to as the iPod phenomenon). Teens, twenty-somethings, and technophiles are commonly seen with a cord hanging around their necks and a pair of buds plugged into their ears. You see them everywhere --lounging at cafes, running on the treadmill at the gym, tapping to the beat on the MRT.

The iPod has become a cultural icon of this generation. Though not as widespread as the mobile phone (maybe just not yet), there are few of us who don't have a friend or two who has one. Most of us have certainly heard about it --and unless you've been living in some remote island or space station, you have no excuse.

I own an mp3 player, not an iPod though (yes, it was way of showing non-conformity) and I spend a lot of time with it --plugged in (90%) and updating my music/playlist.
So if you must ask, what are the plus-sides or benefits of having one? Here are a few of mine:

• You can tune out. Ironic isn't it? You plug in to tune out. With the constant barrage of events (which are not so good ones if I might add) and information, you can't help but try to find a place/time/dimension that makes sense.

• You can concentrate. Another irony, I know, but plugging in makes me more productive. I can focus on whatever task in mind. You want proof? Ask my boss.

• You can shut out the unwanted --whatever or whoever they maybe. Be it a nosy officemate, a cat-calling/leering scumbag on the MRT, or yet another politician on the tube pretending to be concerned on the welfare of the country and not their personal gain. Plugging in means you can opt to hear music in your ears and not nonesense.

• Your life has a sound track. You know how it is with movies or TV shows? How when the 2 lead characters eyes meet that lovey-dovey mushy music comes in? Or those MTV moments when characters are doing trivial/routinary tasks that just seem so extrodinary? What can I say, music makes the most mundane moments interesting.

As with anything in life, being plugged in has its downsides. Like missing your stop on the MRT (almost happened to me). Worse, getting hit by a car if you're not paying attention to vehicular traffic (thankfully I've been spared from such). Or suddenly singing your heart out --forgetting you're the only one who can hear the background instrumentals and subjecting total strangers to your, ahem, superb vocal range (I'd rather forget about that incident). Or even worse, being out of touch with life's realities (Now why are there so many people at the EDSA shrine...? I didn't hear about a 3-day sale).

*Also posted this on http://ilikebrown.blogspot.com
Categories: Techie-ness & Musings

Exhausted

2006-03-07T20:36:00.000+08:00

green
Originally uploaded by celinetics.

This is how my keyboard looks like after working hours on the end...

Photo is courtersy of Celine. Taken from her Flickr site.
Categories: Flickr Inspired

Food Mantra

2006-03-07T13:37:00.000+08:00

My Mantra
Originally uploaded by tinapico.

Found this picture (entitled "My Mantra") at Tita Tina's flickr page and really captures the essence of life, hehehe.
Categories: Flickr Inspired

Photos of Tita Tina

2006-02-02T12:54:00.000+08:00

Just a quick update. Check out Tita Tina's photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/tinapico/

She has some wonderful photos of her visit to the Phils post-Christmas. I particularly love the photos of the market --captures the vibrance and cheer of Pinoys.

Categories: Random Thoughts

2005-12-20T17:38:00.000+08:00