SHUTTERBABE

Nostalgia Part 2

2012-01-26T08:52:00.000+08:00

As i was browsing the net yet again, i came across another batch of wedding photos. These are some of the most memorable weddings of the past 2 years' where i was a guest.

1. Maryann and Ryu. I blogged about this before and i remember the bride re-posting it causing a flood of readers from Japan and China. I can still here the song Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now - it should be the motto of all couples... hehe!

2. Lawrence and Marianne. I also posted a blog about this. It was a fun out-of-town trip as i have enjoyed Baguio's food and weather - thanks for the accommodation provided to us by Microtel. The party was awesome with awesome performances by the band. And the food!!! I can say this was the wedding that served the best food ever!!! The roasted US sirloin was the sh*t!!! The fun after was another story - drinks and sushi at The Manor and then getting lost in the city at past midnight. :)

3. Carmy and Sherwin. I guess it was fate - these 2 did not have to wait years before they decided to settle down. They met, fell in love, Sherwin had to leave the country to work, they got engaged, had a long distance relationship, but they made it through. I am a sucker for love stories! :) Now they have a beautiful baby girl named Csariah, named after Carms' father, the late Tito Cesar. They are one of the most beautiful couples i have ever met. :)

Oh, weddings! Just now i am itching to pick up my phone and call the boyfie for some roasted sirloin. I can't wait to see Lyndy later to discuss more details of her wedding in July. :)

Mini-Reunion

2012-01-24T17:21:00.001+08:00

Somehow i realized it is never easy to bring people together these days. Work and other commitment schedules ruin friendships! Grrr! This night was supposed to be a dinner/coffee date with ex-Plaza del Norte management and staff. Only 6 of us made it that night; we munched on french fries and double cheeseburger, barbecue and red velvet cake.

Hopefully the others can make time for the team next time. :/

Steak Night with the BFF's

2012-01-23T12:56:00.003+08:00

What are the elements of a great outdoor dinner?

Number 1: A perfect piece of steak
Number 2: Yummy sidings
Number 3: The best friends evuuuurrr
Number 4: A bottle of tequila

and

Number 5: Fireworks

All these were evident last night when Arnel invited our friends over his place for steak. We had filet mignon and ribeye steaks good for grilling. We each had our generous slice of beef that was cooked exactly how we wanted it - i always want my steak medium rare; my filet mignon was perfect! Most of them preferred it to be well done. Either way, the steaks were oh-so-good! :)

my plate

Melissa cooked baguio beans with garlic while Lyndy brought baked potato topped with creamy ham. Aside from setting up the table, i also brought locally grown corn and some potato chips. Our sidings went so well with the steak - we even had to cook a second batch of the veggies! Lyndy's potato dish was so good, too, that we finished all of it in a jiff.

We laughed over old school games from Nintendo, Filipino movie stars of the 90's (and where they are now), unforgettable declamation pieces from grade school, etc. We finished a bottle of silver tequila before shifting to brandy. Since it was the eve before Chinese New Year, we heard fireworks as we stayed out under the stars 'til past midnight.

The highlight of the night for me must be the scene when Lito sang Sukiyaki in Nihonggo. This was probably the first time i heard a tipsy Ilocano man sing in fluent Japanese. ;p

Alone Time

2012-01-21T22:12:00.001+08:00

Finally, some alone time! I got home from work early enough for a movie treat - i only have to decide which one to see tonight. I am in my jammies and my popcorn is waiting for its turn in the microwave. It is cold tonight and all i wanna do is curl up in bed, munch on movie theater butter flavored popcorn and enjoy a film (or two). :)

Is it going to be a feel-good movie about a kid's struggle in the middle school? Or stories about weddings? Or a supernatural horror movie shot in Rome and Budapest? Or an American teen action science film fiction? Or that movie with aliens and cowboys in it?

The joys of solitude and comfort in my own home. The aircon is set to its perfect temperature and i can hear the popping of my snack. :)

Sweets and Good Company

2012-01-20T23:52:00.028+08:00

For the lack of anything interesting to blab about, let me just share with you the sweet little things that made me smile recently:

1. I had a craving for sweets so i got myself a slice of New York Cheesecake and a cup of coffee with my love. Conversations with Arnel are always fun and interesting. I love random coffee nights with this guy; he always cracks me up. I simply love my partner. ;)

2. As beautiful couple Jun and Stella were hanging out at Gerry's Grill i got myself a treat from Jun - a slice of Belgian Cheesecake and a cup of coffee. We laughed so hard when this song entitled "Naaalala Ka" by Rey Valera played on the radio just when Stella was being melodramatic; the timing could not have been better! Hahaha! :)

3. I got this slice of cake from a good friend, Mav. It was so sweet of her to drop off a slice of Mars Deadly Mousse Pie after she hung out with our common friends while i was on duty. Too bad i could not join them then; it would have been better if i was with them as i ate this. The cake was too chocolate-y good - it made me crave for White Chocolate Mousse from Gateau de Manille (my all-time fave).

4. Today, Lyndy, Don, Arnel and i devoured our favorites Tuna Sashimi, Tunaquitos and Buffalo wings at Saramsam. After dinner we had drinks at The Stone House Cafe where i fell in love with their Stone House Mint Twist. It was a starry Friday night and there could not have been a better way of spending this night than with the people whom i really love being with. ;)

sashimi

buffalo wings

5. Lastly, have you tried this brand of ice cream called Creamline? I swear they have the best ice cream ever! :) For only Php12, i enjoyed this bar of Rhum and Raisin. This is the second time this month i had one of these. It is creamy, nutty, not sickeningly sweet and, best of all, it's affordable! I crave for it everyday. :)

In life, the sweetest things happen everywhere, everyday at everytime; it is up to us to search for it and appreciate what's in store. It is basically simple - they come in the form of good company - and i am just so lucky that i am surrounded with beautiful people with beautiful hearts... i am overwhelmed. Good friends are reminders that we don't need to "buy" our way to other people's hearts - we just have to be ourselves. I am everyday thankful to have Arnel, enough money to buy sweets to give me a sugar rush, and friends whom i adore. :)

Life is so sweet... let's all celebrate it! :)

with my Stone House Mint Twist and heart-straw :)

Nostalgia Part 1

2012-01-19T13:46:00.002+08:00

I have 2 more hours to chill before i go to work and i thought i might as well take this opportunity to blog about something that's gotten my head spinning (in a good way, though) for the past couple of weeks. You see, one of my best friends is getting married this July and it is my honor to be part of its planning. From menu to venue, from motif to gown design, from photographer to couturier, and so on. I feel so hands-on; it almost feels like i am planning for my own. :)

As i was browsing the net in search of photos and wedding ideas, i remembered i have photos of the most memorable weddings i have attended and have been a part of. Here are just some of them.

Hanna and Bernard. On this wedding day, i was the event hostess. I loved the green and blue gowns by our good friend, Tina Genteroy. She styled me too and taught me how to put on makeup. For the first time in my life, i did not have to ask anybody to put on my makeup. That night, too, i sang with the band (blame the flowing red wine) until they turned off the mic. Hahaha! Epic night. ;) The reception area was so pretty; it even had a swimming pool overlooking Laoag river. It was beautiful at night. After the program, we stayed by the pool, drank some more, and spent the night with the bride and her entourage. More like a wedding slash girls' night. Under the stars. Pop band. All these elements i can still remember. ;)

i miss hosting!

Carol and Eric. Carol is my bestest best friend. We have known each other since 1st year in college and we have been inseparable since. She, her mom, grandparents, aunts and cousins are like family to me; i am spoiled with good food every time i pay them a visit. She and Tita Estelie are the sweetest mother-daughter tandem that i have ever known. I am so happy that she had met a person as good as Eric to be her husband, and also very happy that she chose me to be her maid of honor. :) The night before their wedding i actually slept next to the bride and somehow "absorbed" the jitters that she was supposed to feel. On the wedding day itself, i was nervous, anxious, excited, elated, almost floating. Seriously - it felt weird! Haha! The wedding, reception, party, etc. were all perfect. And did i mention we all hung out at the couple's room on their wedding night? ;)

Romma and Von. Two of the best dentists and most down-to-earth people i know. My best cousin, Romma, treats me like the sister she never had. We have been there for each other since God-knows-when. I love her dearly. Her wedding is probably the one that had the least preparation time i have encountered! I think in a matter of 2 months all the details have been planned and finalized. Haha! Everything went well, nevertheless. Our friends, relatives were all there to witness the event. Looking back, i realized i was still skinny then; how i wish i can get back into shape again. :( Anyway, i was the maid of honor slash photographer. It was a blast! :)

Tin and JP. Fuchsia and tangerine. Every single guest on this wedding was stunningly beautiful; thanks to the genes of both parties. ;) Other than that, the music they played, the food served, the venue, the host, the souvenirs, down to the smallest details like thank you photocards, etc. I can go on and on about how beautiful the sights, flavors and sounds. Simple yet elegant - very Tin! :) I was asked to say the Psalms at their wedding. From up the altar, all i can see were beautiful creatures in beautiful clothes. I felt the love in the room; the smiles and happy tears were all very sincere. I was very happy for Tin; JP is so lucky to have found a lady who is smart, beautiful, kind and strong at the same time... not to mention a very good cook!

Jasmine and Marlo. I was both a bridesmaid and secondary sponsor at the ceremonies. It was very intimate - i swear there were not even a hundred guests. I guess this is how it goes for couples who want to celebrate their friendship and love with the people who actually know and love them. At the reception, standup comedians graced the show. It was more than a party - it was a riot! :) I loved the food - this is what i remember the most. :) The simplicity of the event, the first dance of the couple (Insomnia by Craig David), the crazy acts by the entertainers, the food, and the intimacy. It was simply beautiful. :)

Oh wow. Now i am even more excited to plan for Lyndy's wedding! Maybe tomorrow i can scour old photos of the weddings i have attended as a guest. :) I just love weddings. Don't we all? :)

Blah

2012-01-18T23:17:00.003+08:00

Have you shopped at 365 Plaza recently? Just sharing this photo. This billboard has been posted during the holidays.

I am too preoccupied to blog. :/

Right now i am looking forward to meeting my friends and grilling our steak at Arnel's place on weekend.

Also, right now i am coordinating with possible vendors for Lyndy's wedding.

And also, right now i am worried about how small the prospect space for our new business is. :(

And again, also, right now i want to finish all the paperwork for the evaluation of my staff.

Lastly, i keep asking myself how i can make more money... every minute of every day. I need to earn for my dream vacation this year. Wish me luck.

Blah blah blah.

Multi-Tasking

2012-01-17T17:20:00.003+08:00

Planning for 2 of my closest friends' weddings.

Business... this i can't get tired of!

My day job at a restaurant.

My mind is spinning every minute.

I have finally discovered the opposite for boredom.

Life is good. ;)

Movie Night

2012-01-13T01:41:00.002+08:00

DVD marathon at 1:40 AM.

Friends with Benefits currently playing.

Later, it's gonna be 3 Idiots.

I wish i did not have to go to work tomorrow. :/

Post-Christmas Gift

2012-01-12T00:02:00.002+08:00

Last Christmas, Arnel and i were too busy to shop for gifts. Actually, we bought gifts for my dad and stepmom a few hours before our family dinner. It was fast - so fast that we shopped at only 1 store, and spent only my 1-hour meal break from work. It was craaazy but not fun at all as i would have enjoyed going around the mall and torturing myself with deciding which items to buy. To me, the walking around, pressure, budgeting and all that, are essential elements to a good shopping experience. Really.

Well, anyway, back to my topic: Post Christmas Gift.

As practical recessionistas, we opted to give each other Gift Certificates. I thought it was a good idea because 1) it gives us freedom to choose what we want to receive, 2) it makes you look for something of how much it's worth and limit yourself to it, and 3) it makes you find something you really like but never realized you did.

And that's exactly what happened to me today. I went to Red Dot, the only posh store in my small city, with my stepmom to look for something to buy with the GC. We tried on tops from Plains and Prints, Havaianas, accessories and Anthology shoes but i did not find anything i really liked and probably would use everyday so i kept searching.

I honestly seldom buy my own fragrances as my friends and relatives abroad would give it to me for free. Last Christmas i got 2 new bottles of EDT and perfume from Sheila (from the US) and Charity (from Saudi), respectively. My Auntie Elma would give me colognes every time she travels abroad. My brother would buy me local brands from time to time. Carol, my best friend, also knows how i love to collect scents. Lately i have been using Anna Sui Secret Wish Magic Romance and the classic Elizabeth Arden Green Tea.

But this time, i have fallen in love with my new EDT from Hayden Fragrances! Really! You know, that line of fragrances by Hayden Kho, a local celebrity who was also my schoolmate at Med School in UST. I was surprised they smelled this good! I chose a scent that's fresh, floral, fruity, romantic.. actually, a little bit of everything i want in a scent. Plus it came in a cute packaging. Pure love! :)

Arnel does not know about this yet but i'm excited to let him know i did not just spend on yet another work top or accessory but on something i never knew i really really really liked until today.

It's been 6 hours since i got this gift - well, technically it's not a "gift" because i was the one who chose and bought it - and i still can't stop smiling. :)

PS.

I think i might have overused the word "really" on this post. What the hell. I really really really love my new scent! :)

Anatomy is More Fun in the Philippines ;)

2012-01-11T13:55:00.003+08:00

On a 3-car convoy, we conquered Batac for about 30mins one-way, to have some of that crunchy, juicy and to-die-for grilled skewered pork intestines (aka bagbagis/silet/isaw ti baboy) at Harvey's. Our group of 9 had a long table at Harvey's by the "Empanadahan ti Batac" and boy, oh boy, we had all the bagbagis we wanted!!!

dried squid

special empanada

lumpianada

We also had some sticks of grilled pork barbecue and balat (pork skin). Some also had special empanada (local turnover/meat pie with ground pork and veggies) with malasado (over-easy) eggs, and lumpianada (a variation of empanada using lumpia wrap). The girls savored the fried dried squid ~~dipped~~ soaked in spicy sukang iloco (local sugarcane vinegar). I had special miki from Janette's miki as well. Oh gosh, i'm drooling again!

Last night was one helluva food/roadtrip! :)

Afterwhich we traveled back to Laoag and bought ourselves cups of cappuccino and Irish Cream at our favorite hang-out place, Ilocostop. We stayed there 'til midnight - talked endlessly, laughed endlessly - 'til we felt the need for some sleep for the next day's work. Life is good! :)

Double Sweet

2012-01-10T09:31:00.002+08:00

I have always been honest about not loving sweets so much (i skip dessert most of the time) until lately when i have been having cravings.

A few days ago i tried this Creamline Rhum and Raisin Cream Bar and i loved it! The next day i had chocolate cake courtesy of our fryman (his birhday treat) and cheese ice cream courtesy of Eugene (also his birthday treat), and after dinner, Arnel and i had a slice of New York Cheesecake at Cheesecake, etc. Last night we were on a double date with Lyndy and Don and before watching Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, i had Turon Split (the Pinoy version of banana split) at Mang Inasal. Oh, sh*t.

turon split

as we wait for the last full show

our ka-double date

Everytime i see halo-halo photos i crave for it. Right now i am imagining brazo de mercedes.

I honestly, honestly don't know how and why i have turned into a sweet tooth. :/

It's More Fun in the Philippines

2012-01-09T15:48:00.003+08:00

I am sure you've heard of DOT's new campaign slogan: It's More Fun in the Philippines. Today i made some contributions to this campaign. I will think of something more but in the meantime, i hope you find these witty enough. :)

50 Filipino Dishes

2012-01-07T09:41:00.000+08:00

Check out this Yummy! article about the 50 Filipino dishes that define the Philippines.

It's only 9:38AM on a Saturday and all i want to do is order some Kare-Kare and Crispy Pata at Gerry's Grill.

Happy weekend of foodtripping, readers! :)

Chippy

2012-01-06T23:56:00.001+08:00

If there was one thing i love about my Arnel, it's the fact that he can handle my babaw (shallow) side. He used to say he was hesitant to date me back then because i seemed high maintenance, then eventually things turned around when he started to see that i am the exact opposite. Here are some examples of how babaw i can get:

1. balut for dinner

2. walking to any point of the city just to save on gas

3. thrift shopping at the ukay-ukay

4. carinderia

5. downloaded movies instead of buying dvd's

6. tinapay and 3-in-1 for merienda

7. sunset watching by the beach - romantic and cheap!

8. isaw and barbecue sa kanto

9. tagalog movie channel

10. chippy and coke for dinner

Right now my legs are resting on his lap while we do number 10. It has been a crazy day at work for both of us; i'm just glad he is not the type who complains about how heavy my legs are and how noisy i am for my neverending stories. He accepts me for babaw things that make me happy, for these are what make me who i am. :)

Chippy, anyone?

Oh, Migraine

2012-01-05T12:11:00.001+08:00

I have such a sweet boyfriend. I called him up last night while at work to say i had a terrible headache and he immediately came to me, bought me meds, took me home, held me.. no words.. and kissed me good night.

When i woke up i still felt the pain. I did not want to get up and go to work. I was in pain and i hated it. He held me; he promised that all the pain will go away. He bought me pandesal and fed me not because i wanted to be fed, but because i had to eat something before taking my Flanax Forte.

I hate migraine attacks.

Right now i am waiting for him as he promised to bring me home. I have to rest because i have to return to work by 6:00 PM. No choice. It's one of the things i unwillingly have to do.

I am thankful thankful thankful for having him to take care of me.

Let this be the last time, Lord, that i go through this pain.

Never Too Old For A Sleepover

2012-01-03T12:11:00.003+08:00

It's one of them moments when my best friends and i would have a million of brilliant ideas and end up, well, choosing whatever is most convenient. What can i say, we are Ilocanos and we won't be known to be kuripot for no reason.

"Let's go to Pagudpud.. overnight!" - Dune

"Yeah, let's do it.. TONIGHT!" - Joem

"Sige, sige!" - Lito

"Uhm, lits, you cannot absent on the first day of your new job." - Mel

"Yeah, let's go!" - Don

"Uhm, don, you have a lot of things to do." - Lyndy

"OK." - Arnel

"OK." - Tricia

Typical. Arnel and i can always find ways to do what we want to do. We are certified pro-fun. :)

Our friends, on the other hand, have businesses that are too taxing to leave, and jobs that are too crucial to postpone. We narrowed down the choices from Pagudpud (too windy this month), to Currimao (hotel suite rates are still at their peak), then to Plaza del Norte (hotel rates are not worth it), and lastly, to Dune's house. So, there. We decided to spend and travel less, and just go somewhere we can all chill without the additional expenses. Ilocanos, indeed!

So Joem and i went shopping for chips, meats for grilling, and breakfast food. Dune handled the beer, and Lyndy the green mangoes. Arnel and i traveled around 30 mins by motorbike to Dingras on convoy with Jom and Dune who drove a car. Lyndy and Donald followed a few hours after.

groceries shopping

grilling at the rooftop

dinner!

green mangoes with bagoong

It felt like high school all over again! We grilled chicken teriyaki and pork barbecue by the rooftop of Dune's 3-storey house; thanks to the amazing cooking skills of my love. The boys played billiards by the game room while the girls stayed out under the starry night for random chismis and ice-cold San Mig Light. When everyone was done with cleaning up, we all went down to the 2nd floor where our room was at; the 6 of us stayed inside one big room. We watched Butterfly Effect 3 on widescreen while eating Double Dutch ice cream. The boys brought more beer inside the room. We were like kids who were partying while our parents were on vacation. Priceless moment.

Don took charge of selecting the movie

bromance

Dune, our host

Lyndy and Don

ice cream!!!

The following day, the boys prepared breakfast. I liked the view outside the house - mountains, rice and corn fields, a quiet neighborhood. In Dingras, the air is at its freshest state. Absolutely no pollution! What a great morning. :)

good morning, Dingras!

mountains

Arnel on his bike

It was one experience that proves that we, in our late 20's and the boys in their 30's are never too old for sleepovers! :)

Lunching with the Crew

2012-01-02T15:31:00.026+08:00

On the second day of the year i met up with my best friends.. again! This time we had lunch at Papa Pau's. Arnel and i recalled talking about the very few good restaurants in Ilocos the other day, and Papa Pau's was one of them. We thought the food was good until this day when we got super small portions of everything and the chopseuy was so carinderia-ish. Oh well, i don't wanna go into detail but bottom line is, we should have just spent our hard-earned money elsewhere.

We scratched it on the list.

After lunch i encouraged them to try the Crazy Monkey at La Preciosa. My sister came by the restaurant as well, it's good to see her after a long time.

crazy monkey

It is during dessert and coffee that we come up with crazy getaway ideas. It is also during this time when i realize i have gained a lot of weight during the holidays. Haha! Now to start the year right, i should start coming up with a 2012 wishlist.

'Til my next blog post! :)

2012: Day One

2012-01-01T23:20:00.000+08:00

The first day of the new year was spent at work and with my best friends. I was so sleepy during my opening shift as i was equipped with only about 3 hours of sleep. As soon as i logged out in the afternoon all i wanted to do was sleep... then i realized i missed my friends.

In all my haggardness, i went to Lyndy's house. Her fiance Donald was at there, too. Melissa, Lito and Arnel soon followed. It felt good to be surrounded by my favorite people on the first day of yet another beautiful year.

bff's

bromance. haha!

ze boys

We had coffee and Conti's Moist Chocolate Cake as we talked about random stuff (as always). I am optimistic that good times like this will last throughout the year. :)

NYE

2011-12-31T23:59:00.027+08:00

My family has been very blessed in 2011 and what better way to kick off the new year than..

GOOD FOOD...

paella stuffed chicken and crema de fruta

maki platter

yummy cake :)

ham

GOOD COMPANY...

AND SOME FIREWORKS!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! :)

Mountain View

2011-12-30T21:28:00.005+08:00

I still could not imagine how the 6 of us fit inside a Honda Jazz. Haha! :)

The crew traveled from Laoag an hour and a half just to have a good lunch by the mountainside in Pagudpud. From Laoag 'til our destination, i had to whisper every single word i had to say as i was suffering from laryngitis. As per doc's advice, i need to be voiceless for at least 3 days. My friends thought it would have been a rowdy trip with my 1 million words per minute; i am just not sure if it was a disappointment or a relief that i was awfully quiet.

Bergblick Tortilla

Fresh Fish Platter

Bergblick Pan

We had lunch at Bergblick (literal translation of "mountain view" in German) where Chef Detlev and wife Tess welcomed us and served us German food. We tried their samplers and dessert, and enjoyed a bottle of red wine.

On our way home we stopped by Bangui view deck for a good view of the windmills, and Burgos Lighthouse. It was a very windy day! Afterwards we made tambay in Laoag for some coffee and siopao.

Bangui Windmills behind us

eating mangga with alamang by the lighthouse

How i have missed getaways with friends! Random road trips are the best! :)

Christmas in Black and White

2011-12-29T09:10:00.003+08:00

My best friends in high school and myself organized a simple dinner get-together. The theme was simple - come in black and white, bring a gift worth Php200, and bring your boyfriend. Haha! :)

we missed Lyndy and Don :(

pictorial outside Saramsam where the lighting was good ;)

Korean-ish pose ;)

the boys

the girls

Christmas would not be complete without a meet-up with good friends. I thank them for being a part of my life in 2011, and i look forward to more good times for this coming year. :)

Oaqui Turns 6

2011-12-28T19:49:00.001+08:00

It's an Angry Birds Theme Party for my little brother who's turned 6 today. The boyfie and i bought this chocolate cake for him and i thought he loved it until he said, "Trish, you forgot the green bird." :/

2-layer chocolate cake

Oaqs and Nikki

Arnel loving the youghurt candy sticks

Oaqs and his friends

as i take a photo of him blowing his candle

Oaqui is 6 and i can't believe how fast he's growing. He now wants to have his own Facebook account. :( Sooner or later he's gonna go out on dates. *faint*

There were balloons, loot bags, good food and Angry birds everywhere! It was fun watching the kids get crazy over the prizes and parlor games. Oaqs was going around the party with his camera and took pictures of his guests. I never get tired of children's parties. :)

Johnny Moon Cafe

2011-12-27T19:18:00.005+08:00

Hmmm.. bagnet on a sandwich?

Sounds interesting!

We just had to try the food at the newest hangout at La Tabacalera Lifestyle Center called Johnny Moon Cafe.

Why Johnny Moon? Remember that event when i posted this blog about Looking for Johnny Moon? Well, like that event, this Ilocano Diner was built in honor of an Ilocano hero, Juan Luna. You see, Johnny is English for Juan; and Moon for Luna. :)

goofing around with the Juan Luna hats on display

took a photo of Arnel by the mural

I got these words from their Facebook Account:

At Johnny Moon Cafe, Ilocano flavor meets western style!

its theme: old-new/Europe-Asia/Paris-Ilocandia

Juan Luna is the first manifestation of the Filipino to the world. Long before Manny Pacquiao, Luna was embraced by all of Europe, in his time the center of world power, because of his sheer brilliance and distinctive style of painting. Preceding Jose Rizal and other more famous heroes, the Ilocano Luna captured the imagination of the European aristocracy.

our bagnet sandwich courtesy of Roma the cook

discover a concoction of local and world flavors inspired by the life and work of the

greatest Filipino painter Juan Luna

I also had a taste of their sweet potato and taro chips with malunggay mayo dip. As i am not a fan of sweets, i just ate the taro chips.

malunggay mayo dip

Johnny Moon is where you can actually taste ART.

I invited my brother and Allen to join our table. They had Bugnay Tea while i tried the Paz tea. My brother loved the Bagnet Sandwich.

my Paz tea

I loved their unique menu! On my next visit i'm gonna try their breakfast dishes, steaks and unique empanadas and desserts. :)

tupig con chocolate

steaks! :)

Joy to the World

2011-12-25T15:51:00.004+08:00

I woke up on Christmas day wanting one, and only one, thing -- Chickenjoy. I was not longing for more gifts to unwrap... i just wanted to dig into that crunchy, yummylicious and juicylicious chicken.

So the obliged boyfie took me to the mall where 3/4 of Ilocos Norte's population was at. We were so fortunate to have got ourselves a table at Jollibee. I enjoyed my 2-piece Chickenjoy (one original and another spicy) with loads of gravy.

Mint Chocolate Muffin

reviewing the mechanics for the photo contest at TriBeca

We both had to go to work in the afternoon but we still made time for a cup of cappuccino (Php75) and a Mint Chocolate Muffin (Php85) at TriBeca. I officially have a Happy Christmas! :)

Christmas at Home :)

2011-12-24T23:58:00.000+08:00

This year, we decided to keep it simple :)

The kids in their Santa outfits..

My brother took charge of the ham and tupig..

My stepmom made some fruit and pasta salad, and pancit..

Arnel and I bought the barbecue and chicken..

We took 2 bottles of wine from dad's collection..

And Chocolate cake..

Oaqui led the prayer before our Noche Buena..

Took photos..

Opened the gifts..

And greeted The Man Himself on this very special day..

Happy birthday, Jesus!

Merry Christmas from my family to yours! :)

Book Shopping at Samtoy

2011-12-23T13:17:00.050+08:00

I was one of the Ilocanos who were looking forward to the opening of this store called Samtoy. This was going to be the first bookshop in the province that sells good books; it also has a reading nook with comfy couches for book lovers like moi.

wrote a note on their guest book

brand new titles and secondhand alike

Lately, i have been buying books by local authors and it was interesting to have found light readings at Samtoy. I bought a copy of a book by a fellow Ilocano and blogger, Herdy La. Yumul called The He(a)rd Mentality (Php150). Luckily on that same day, i bumped into good friend Aian who did the cover of the book so i was able to have it autographed by him. The author dropped by the store a few days after i bought it so i got his autograph as well. :)

Tagalog books by local authors.. love!

Filipiniana section

cover designer, Aian

I also found books for kids! :) Now i finally have a good place to go book shopping for the little ones. :) I bought a copy of Golden Loom (Php325), a collection of 10 Palanca prize-winning stories for children. I gave the book as a gift to Oaqui who turned 6 this December.

kids' books

I am excited to finish the book i bought for myself so i have an excuse to buy some more. Cheers to Samtoy! :)

Burp!

2011-12-22T10:25:00.002+08:00

Tonight was exhausting but fun! I had to make sure the operations were good for 233 guests at Gerry's Grill while being part of my friends' bday parties held there as well.

Manong Raffy celebrated his birthday with 20 guests. He and his wife, Manang Rosey, would insist i join their table. I can only wish i could. :( I got a slice of chocolate dome cake from Cheesecake, etc. I saved it for dessert.

Outside was a table for 12 for Julius' aka Julia's birthday. Again, a slice of yet another chocolate dome. Such sweet customer friends! :) Photowhores we are, we took pictures here and there. He has not tagged me at Facebook yet so the photos will have to follow.

At another long table inside was good friend Arnel's Christmas dinner with his clients. He offered me dinner and i ordered Sizzling Balut with Tofu. He even offered a slice of Cheesecake, etc. but i thought that would make me greedy already. ;)

Who is super spoiled tonight??? ;)

After all the guests left the store, i shared the dinner and cakes with Alona who will soon be promoted as... hmmm... secret! Haha! :) Starting the new year right by being promoted and getting a salary increase is always a good thought. :)

Sharing some photos of this fun night filled with good friends and yummy food. :)

Arnel in Gellicious

2011-12-20T12:43:00.003+08:00

My boyfriend is on National TV again! This time on TV5 in this show called Gellicious, a show about food hosted by Gelli de Belen. Another proud girlfriend moment for me. ;)

Black and Red

2011-12-20T07:04:00.000+08:00

This was the first ever Christmas party of our store and i think it rocked! My staff were in black and red, keeping with the theme "We'd STILL Rather Wear Gerry's!" as these two are the main colors of Gerry's Grill.

We had... OMG... lechon!!!

My dining crew kept with the theme colors. I took several photos with the team as this was a memorable, first-ever Christmas party of the store.

My fave part would have to be the program and games. The dining girls, including myself, did an acrostic number (how gradeschool-ish) while my dining boys did their own version of Bubble Gang's Sex Balls. They were hilarius! Everyone had a blast with the parlor games too. ;)

Sir Cesar was also there to say something about the event. He has been, and will always be, an inspiration to me and to all staff who had undergone training under his supervision for more than a month in Baguio.

Pending

2011-12-19T17:07:00.002+08:00

I have about 83,635 ideas in my head that i want to blog about but unfortunately i have no time as it's peak season at the restaurant this Christmas. In the meantime, let me just share this photo of me taken earlier today at the newly opened Wilcon Depot where i bought my gift for my monita.

It's a rainy Monday. Later i am going to shop at Samtoy, the first decent bookstore in the city, for a gift for my boss, then to a movie date with Arnel, and lastly to a Christmas party. Busy busy busy! :)

mirrors

Im with the Bartender

2011-12-19T11:58:00.001+08:00

The invite said Black and White and we thought this was going to be a cool wedding. We then got a phone call that we were invited not just as guests but as bartenders... that's when we confirmed that it really is going to be super cool! :)

the host, the maid of honor and the bartender

Arnel with future ninong Dr Laennec and surfer friend Mike

with the newlyweds

Arnel and i mixed the cocktails at the wedding reception of Pepot and Jane at Playa Tropical. The guests were spoiled with as much Mojito, Long Island Iced Tea, Zombie, etc. as they wanted. Actually, Arnel was the only bartender that night; i just played a supporting role handing him glasses with ice cubes, tearing up mint leaves and entertaining the guests while they wait for their orders. ;)

hanging out in the hotel room after the feast

This is the first time we did a favor like this to our friends and i have not had that much fun at a wedding before. Add to that the fun in making new friends that night. We did not have that much to drink but listening to Arnel chat with the boys (while they "unintentionally" drove me away from the bar) gave me too much an entertainment. ;)

Crinkles :)

2011-12-18T10:39:00.002+08:00

I received this from my Area Manager today who just arrived from Baguio.

I love chocolate crinkles! :)

Steve at 60

2011-12-17T23:49:00.005+08:00

Talk about being unprepared for a theme party.

We were invited to my uncle Steve's 60th birthday where guests were told to wear their national costumes. My brother went as an American, Arnel as himself (for the lack of any costume), and i as a Japanese girl (also for the lack of a Filipiniana).

My uncle Steve and auntie Elma are 2 of my favorite relatives on Earth. It was so good to see them and have spent time with them on this very special night. :)

we rocked the dance floor

Here are some photos from their official photographer:

Crazy Monkey

2011-12-16T22:42:00.000+08:00

I have tried this cake called Crazy Monkey at La Preciosa.

Banana, whipped cream, chocolate syrup and brewed coffee... i fell in love in an instant! :)

Tuscani Pizza

2011-12-15T22:40:00.002+08:00

Moi, my brother, my cousin and his girlfriend tried this newest addition to Pizza Hut's yummy selections - Tuscani Pizza Lasagna.

We ordered that along with some smoothies, a pasta dish, chicken with rice, and my all-time fave, Mango Shrimp Salad.

I liked the cheese, pasta and everything else on that perfect crust. I am no pizza fanatic but this is one i really liked. ;)

my fave salad :)

our Tuscani Pizza Lasagna

My Boyfriend is on TV!

2011-12-14T23:59:00.000+08:00

Saramsam Ylocano Restaurant and Bar and the boyfriend featured in GMA 7's SAKSI on December 14, 2011. Proud lang. ;)

Cousins' Girls' Night Out

2011-12-14T23:08:00.000+08:00

I took my younger cousins (by "younger", i meant they are barely in their 20's) out to dinner at Gerry's Grill one night. This was scheduled for the girls only. :)

Kim, Jheng, Kish and Beryll

sizzling kangkong

seafood rice

This night is one proof that i am a generous ate. Hehehe! First ever moment for us to bond as all the other times are either at a clan reunion or at some relative's birthday or anniversary party. Good times! :)

Today

2011-12-13T00:42:00.003+08:00

1. I got myself a haircut and haircolor
2. Ate street food - balat and isaw
3. Went jogging for about 3K at sundown
4. Motorbiked with A around the city at night
5. Went malling
6. Had sinanglao and pinakbet
7. Posted photos at Instagram
8. Conceptualized the menus for Christmas and New Year's Eves at home
9. Watched Hung on HBO
10. Blogged

I love lazy days :)))

Christmas Breeze

2011-12-12T13:22:00.001+08:00

I am feeling excited about a lot of things! I love busy days and nights, the kind that leaves me sleepless and restless. This is my kind of lifestyle. :)

Yesterday, i received an invite for my uncle Steve's birthday on Saturday night. On Sunday is the grand opening of Johnny Moon Cafe, a local deli that my friend Roma is going to manage; and Samtoy, a local bookstore that sells brand new and second hand books. How i love books! :) On that same night i am going to attend a friend's wedding where Arnel and i are going to man the open bar. The following day, Monday, is our Christmas Party at work with the theme "We'd STILL rather be at Gerry's!" as we are told to wear only black and red outfits only.

Next week is going to be crazier with more party and dinner invites from friends and relatives! It is definitely Christmas! :)

Grand Opening of Lakasa

2011-12-09T09:59:00.000+08:00

Today was the grand opening of the newest retail shop in Laoag called Lakasa. It is located right behind my store.

Gerry's Grill catered the pica-pica food for invited guests and i was there to make sure they all get a taste of our Calamares, Lumpiang Shanghai and Coco Fish Fingers. I bumped into beautiful friends and relatives (apparently the love for shopping runs in the family), bloggers, fashionistas, media personalities, doctors, politicians and their beautiful wives, etc. It was literally a sea of beautiful people. How i loved the scene!

By late afternoon, cheesecakes were being passed around and boy was that a treat. I took a trip around the store and found some items i wanted to buy like a sheer blue top from Folded and Hung, red Wade pumps, Lakasa accessories and beaded Imelda top, and a deep blue dress from Karimadon. The store manager, Kate Lao, told me each and every item sold at the store were chosen by Gov. Imee herself so that means everything is a reflection of her classy taste.

Have i mentioned the endorser of Lakasa is Madame Imelda Marcos? ;) There is nobody, and i mean nobody, more elegant and regal than the First Lady herself.

As for me, working next to Lakasa only means 2 things:

1. Temptation... which leads to...

2. Gastos!

Well, good luck to me! ;)

cheesecakes from Cheesecake, etc.

the beaded Imelda blouse that i loved

the shop was almost empty after the chaos

one of the cool photos of Madame on display

fashionista friend, Miss Dulce

Sugar Rush

2011-12-07T02:04:00.002+08:00

Working late has its perks - i can stay out as late as i want to (as i don't have to get up early the next day), i can do my laundry in the morning, i can watch Eat Bulaga before going to work, etc. But like any other good thing, it has a downside as well; dinner dates should be scheduled days - or weeks - in advance in anticipation of my next morning shift (the only time when i can go anywhere i desire after 4pm). To my friends i have been invisible in parties, night outs and family affairs. I blame it on my erratic schedule. They blame it on my reckless disregard to the depth of our friendship. :/

We scheduled a meet up today so we can talk about the wedding details of my BFF Lyndy. She has been very busy with the businesses that she runs along with her boyfie, Donald. Delivering truckloads of Pepsi, overseeing a junk shop, growing mangoes in their farms and preping the harvest for export; these along with managing their employees' wages and accounting for their finances put a lot of pressure on them that somehow delay the planning for their wedding in 6 month's time.

This is where Melissa and i come in - we are the shock absorbers and the "last say" in every decision she needs our input on.

Aren't BFF's the best? ;)

We had a meeting of some sort along with cappuccino and slices of Mango Cheesecake and Double Chocolate at Cheesecake, etc. I was only able to meet with them intermittently as i was, at the same time, managing a restaurant right accross the said coffee shop.

By the end of my shift, boyfies Donald and Arnel have arrived with their antiques and jokes only their gender can appreciate. I wished Melissa's boyfie, Lito, was here too as his jokes would have killed the other two's; sad to say he had to stay home as he tutors English to Japanese students online. What a workaholic!

We capped the night with yet another slice of cake called Choco True Fire. It was not spicy as i thought it was; there's just a hint of heat in the throat after melting in your mouth. Nothing special but i liked the idea that it was something different.

After 2 cups of coffee i was feeling hyper and it was getting so late so we bade goodbye.

It has been months since i last spent time with my best friends. It's almost 2 in the morning and i'm still up as i wait for the sugar to wane in my system. Sugar rush. :)

Tonight is yet another proof that my life, surrounded by true friends, is chili chocolatey sweet.

Poor Sick Kid

2011-12-06T12:23:00.002+08:00

So i am officially down with the colds and body malaise. My family has been bringing me food and medicines while Arnel has been tortured with my irritability and random cravings.

"Hey babe, i need a full body massage."

I am a difficult patient to deal with, honestly.

I have confined myself inside my room for 2 straight days treating myself like i would advice a patient - get enough rest, eat, and medicate. By the 2nd day i was crazy to see the outside world so i called the boyfie that we go out for some ice cream; yes, on a chilly night all i wanted was ice cream.

"Hey babe, how about coffee and ice cream?"

I was hoping to see Hershey's flavored ice creams in the store but they had none. Crap. I was too lazy to store-hop so i just settled to Selecta Vanilla Almond. It tasted like nothing. I mean, nothing... literally; it was not even Vanilla-ish. Either i was right or my ever-reliable taste buds have betrayed me tonight as they have teamed up with the virus and destroyed every single possibility of a satisfying sensation in my body. This was just not my night.

As soon as i get back into shape i will indulge on ice cream. On my list are these flavors:

1. Caramel Cheesecake

2. Vanilla Macaroon

3. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

4. Hershey's Kisses

5. Hershey's Milk Chocolate with Almonds

6. Hazelnut Brownie

7. Chocolate Truffles

8. Choco Almond Fudge

9. and my all-time favorite - Baby Ruth!

I don't know if this is just the sick kid in me talking or i am entering a new phase - the ice cream addiction phase. Either way the idea sounds good. :)

Cheesecake, etc.

2011-12-04T17:47:00.003+08:00

There are not much places for good cakes here in Laoag. When sudden cravings attack i would frequent Tribeca for their BTS, La Preciosa for their Carrot Cake, and Saramsam for their Sansrival and Blueberry Cheesecake. Now that Cheesecake, etc. is open in the city and is only a few steps away from work, there is a chance to make everyday a cake day but as i am not a dessert person, maybe once or twice a month would do. My stepmom and i have long been planning to go there but never had the time until an unplanned date happened recently.

Domingo's and Tamayo's

My family met up with relatives from North Carolina for dinner at Gerry's Grill on Friday night. Our menu incuded Chili Cheese Sticks, Sizzling Balut with Tofu, Kilawin Pusit, Inihaw na Pusit, Crispy Tadyang, Kilawin Puso ng Saging, Pork Sisig, Veggie Rice, Seafood Rice, and Buko Pandan for Oaqui. That night the balut, tadyang and kilawin pusit were my favorites. Ohhh kilawin pusit, i love you so much! It is a symphony of sour, spicy, and tangy flavors, and crunchy texture. It is definitely something worth having especially if one is an inartem (pickles) person like me.

I loved all the dishes we ordered at Gerry's Grill and our relatives said they loved everything as well.

After dinner Tita Vee invited my family for dessert at Cheecake, etc. She ordered Raspberry Latte, brewed coffee for me and the uncles, and 3 kinds of cake for everyone to try. Oaqui fell in love with the Christmas Dome, their limited edition this season, while my older brother and i opted for the Belgian and New York Cheesecakes.

my brewed coffee is smiling at me ;)

New York Cheesecake

Belgian Cheesecake

Oaqs and his slice of Christmas Dome

We stayed inside while Dad and the Uncles preferred to sit by the verandah. We tasted a little bit of everything, talked about random stuff, while we breathed the smell of brewed coffee. It was definitely more of a ladies' night, if you ask me. :)

the ladies enjoying their cakes and coffee

my family with Tita Vee and Uncle Edmund

finally! stepmom and i at Cheesecake, etc.

It was a chilly night out so i thought it was the perfect moment to wear my favorite shawl and enjoy my hot cup of coffee with the people i love. An oh, Tita Vee brought me some imported makeup that i can use for work. I am so thankful for kikay pasalubongs! Stepmom and i had finally fulfilled our date plan... i guess God made better a plan for us as we were joined by family and we both did not spend a penny! ;)

Big things come in small packages

2011-12-01T17:05:00.006+08:00

After my shift i was walking to the boyfie's workplace and along the way i stopped by this local bakery to get him a surprise treat. As i am a certified recessionista, i bought 3 slices of egg cake rolls (php6/slice) and anticipated his surprised reaction upon receiving it.

He offered we sit down for coffee and i happily shared the tinapay as a snack. He thought it was sweet and i smiled feeling fulfilled. Then he told me he got something for me too... a box of cakes!

Napahiya tuloy ang tinapay ko!!!

Anyway, this is just a quick post. I'm next to him, drinking my brewed coffee, and enjoying this moment when we surprised each other... and i lost the competition yet again. :)

cake squares: chocolate,carrot, red velvet and brownies

Just Like the Old Times

2011-11-30T23:02:00.002+08:00

I have always been honest about my love for beer and my fascination with its different flavors. The idea that i am going to end a day with a bottle or two excites me every time. Meet-ups with friends include a finale of Super Dry while Arnel and i would drop by our neighborhood tindahan for a round of Red Horse before heading home. On my trip so Singapore i tried 3 brands of beer - Tiger, Pure Blonde and Sol. When i was in the States i enjoyed my Dutch beer, Heineken (as Budweiser was somehow too American... if that makes sense). I am a certified beer lover. I am a real-life female version of Homer Simpson.

tables and chairs outside Tio Padre

Tito Marlon by the window

tables - Spanish tiles

no band nor loud music. just you and your wine/beer ;)

Tio Padre is the newest bar in the province. My friend Ivy, my former partner in Sales and Marketing Department at Plaza del Norte, and i met there today (more than a week before its grand opening) as we were intrigued and we wanted to be one of the first to experience what it is. I personally loved its Spanish theme, the subtle interiors, and lighting. It suits my age and my taste.

cute Spanish steps

In an attempt to talk about our so-called midlife crisis (i guess we have reached that point sooner than expected), we thought there was no other way but alcohol. We had ourselves a bottle of Gordon Biersch Hefeweizen (Php165/bottle) as per recommendation of the bar's owner, Tito Marlon Valdez. It is a wheat beer that is sweet, mild and smooth much like Super Dry, only lighter. No wonder he told us it was "something for the girls" as i did not have that feeling of fullness. The sweetness lingered in my taste buds after every sip.

good choice

other brands displayed in the chiller

the other varieties from Gordon Bierch

There were a number of other brands in the store ranging from Php140 to Php500/bottle. Oh, beer heaven! As we were about to finish our plate of sauteed imported sausage, a surprise came to our table in the form of a slice of Red Velvet Cake from TriBeca Coffeeshop (located right next to Tio Padre). Thanks to its manager, Mackoy, also a former colleague, for the sweet treat.

This moment reminded me of those times when Ivy and I would go out for drinks after work to talk about anything and everything. It was so easy to vent emotions to good friends and i have missed that feeling of being surrounded by people who can relate to what i go through. The only difference is that this time we talk about different people and situations as we don't work for the same company anymore. But the realities of life, its challenges, the changes and hopes are still the same. Midlife crisis indeed.

After beer and cake, we headed to Gerry's Grill Laoag for some Spicy Garlic Fried Chicken, a glass of Long Island Iced Tea for her, and Zombie for me.

As usual, the night out is bitin again as we had to head home to catch up on sleep for tomorrow's early shift. This has got to have a part 2... and 3.... and 4, and so on. Life is good when one still finds time to spend with old friends just like the old times.

Day Off

2011-11-29T23:54:00.001+08:00

It was one of them days when we were both confused as to where and how to spend our day-off. We both wanted to eat out or watch a movie or chase the sunset or all of the above. Deciding where to have a meal has always been the biggest challenge in our dating life, seriously speaking. Today i had the last say (yey!) so we caught ourselves back to where i am at everyday - Gerry's Grill Laoag.

my foody buddy

i am so in love with you, Gerry's Grill! :)

I ordered what i thought was just enough for the 2 of us: Veggie Rice, Bangus Ala Pobre and Sizzling Tokwa con Carne. I have not tried all these dishes yet and i so badly want to try every single dish in the menu. Arnel and i pretty much like the same flavors but to give him a more satisfying lunch, i asked my crew to get us a table near the television and switch the channel to UFC.

Bangus Ala Pobre

Sizzling Tokwa con Carne

Veggie Rice

The food were served perfectly. The sound and smell of the sizzling tofu and sizzling fish were nothing but heavenly. We were impressed as to how these dishes appealed to our taste buds as there was nothing we did not like about the food and the service. What a perfect lunch! Perfectly Gerry's Grill. We ordered too much though as we have never felt this full after a meal in a very long time. ;p

come to momma! :)

good food and UFC for my baby

tabachoy and i don't care.. i'm happy! :)

After lunch i had to attend to a meeting while Arnel had to run some errands. By sunset we were at the Fort Ilocandia beach with a bag of Cheese Curls and a can of Coke. How i have missed the feeling of sand on my feet, the sound of the waves, the fresh air, and the serenity of the place as we talked about silly things and got our minds off of work for a few minutes.

I just feel so lucky to have rejuvenated today! Tomorrow is another work day and i am excited to be with my energetic team again. God is so good. :)

Celebrity Weekend

2011-11-28T23:53:00.003+08:00

This weekend Arnel became an instant celebrity while i somewhat joined several celebrities for dinner. Well, yeah, he got a better deal on this with his TV exposure and all that. The said events are worth documenting as things like these do not happen everyday.

The cast of the show Nasaan ka, Elisa? had dinner at Gerry's Grill last Saturday. Actors Melissa Ricks, Desiree del Valle, Aldred Gatchalian, and Franco Daza came by to the amazement of my guests. Being the anti-local TV that i am, i had no idea who they were and what the show was about. I knew Desiree as she started during my generation but the others were merely beautiful creatures who became popular because they can act.

I took some photos with the cast. They loved the food at Gerry's Grill (who wouldn't?) and i felt good to have had them around. A crowd of fans were outside the store and some guests got distracted by their presence (in a good way though). Ahhh, the local celebrity scene! It is so typically Filipino. :)

with Desiree del Valle

We found her! Melissa Ricks and 2 of my crew

Aldred Gatchalian

The following day Arnel shot for an episode of Gellicious, a lifestyle show about food and restaurants hosted by Gelli de Belen. Being the manager of Saramsam Ylocano Bar and Restaurant, he was asked to be part of a scene where the guests were about to indulge on their Pinakbet Pizza. For about 10minutes he explained the dish and its condiments. He seemed so natural and i have never been so proud of him. Haha! Now i'm afraid the producers were so impressed with his acting that they will offer him a movie. When that day comes i have to prepare myself for a career-shift... as his PA, perhaps?

now there's my celebrity love :)

he's such a natural at this! ;p

him serving condiments for the Pinakbet Pizza

This weekend is a good reminder that we might have a calling for showbiz. Nah, that is too hectic a lifestyle and we might have to decline any future offers. ;p

Cake vs. Tunaquitos

2011-11-24T00:25:00.005+08:00

Alona bought 3 cake slices (about php175 per slice) at Cheesecake, etc. before she took off from work. I envied her so much for having the money and guts to spend a fortune on small slices of cake. I was working on double shift from 7am til 12mn, i was feeling tired, and wanting to treat myself with something sweet. I felt my brain has drained and my entire body has become numb. I looked wasted even. How i wished i got me some cake too. :(

Then i remembered the boyfie promised me some Tunaquitos for late-night snack and i said to myself, in an attempt to mask the envy, that that is my kind of comfort food.

I felt so proud of myself of having resisted the urge to spend. Now here i am at Saramsam and in a little while i'll get my tangy, spicy, yummy fresh tuna with wasabe. Now i remember how much i love that dish.

And oh, they have sansrival and strawberry cheesecake here at only php80 per slice. I might get myself some later.

Cheap thrills are the best! ;)

my tunaquitos have arrived :)

my strawberry cheesecake :)

Double Date

2011-11-22T04:18:00.026+08:00

Alona and I have long been planning for a double date with the boyfies. Shabu-shabu came to her mind and i recalled my friend Dinna did a photoshoot for Pamulinawen Fiesta Restaurant and the shabu-shabu photos looked enticing. The foodie in me wanted to try it but our work schedules did not allow us to meet for dinner until tonight.

photo from Alona's cam

For a very reasonable price of Php600 we had a meal that's good for 4. We were the only ones in the restaurant (funny because i called up early in the morning to make a reservation only to find out the place was empty) so we had one quiet dinner.

The ingredients were not authentic shabu-shabu though. Vermicelli, pechay and prawns were served. They had no ponzu sauce and their sate sauce had an odd taste. They had some shabu-shabu balls but the waiter did not tell us what they were so we guessed these were lobster, squid and meat balls. There's one ball that had corn in a purple thing in it, and another one that i called "the yellow circus ball". Tofu was, and forever will be, my favorite. I was hoping to have corn on the cob and yam but they had none. Oh how i wanted to have Angus or Wagyu beef, fresh oysters and mushrooms with that too. I would have paid paid quadruple my bill for that.

Alona and Puraw

the circus ball

Over all the food was OK but i don't think i will go back for the same menu. Plus the place was a mess and the service was a bit blah as the waiters were invisible most of the time. The music that was playing was not fitting for a restaurant.

After dinner we headed to IlocoStop for coffee. As i have mentioned in my previous blog, they have a coffee dispenser with Cappuccino, Coffee and Hot Choco for only Php10 per cup. We had one of each and ended talking til 1AM when the place was almost empty. We thought it was a good idea to save up on hot drinks as cheap coffee for me tastes pretty much the same as the expensive kind. With the company i had this night, i would prefer this small cup (and loads of stories) over a Venti of Starbucks Caramel Macchiato.

Hot soup and hot coffee on a chilly November night... i cannot wait 'til our next double date. :)

Kalesa

2011-11-19T02:06:00.003+08:00

When the Baguio staff were here, we were all busy working, training staff and adjusting to the new environment. At the end of my shift i would go home and sleep. We would meet up from time to time for drinks and i would hear Mark say he wanted to ride the kalesa. I thought it was so simple and very doable but then, with the 12-hour shift that they had, it was not as easy as it seemed.

On their last working day i surprised Mark with a kalesa ride. We took a 20-minute roadtrip within the city proper. The photos had just been posted in his Facebook account and i can't help but smile as i recall how fun it was to ride a kalesa again. The fun ride is just icing on the cake... what made me feel good today is the thought i was able to give them an experience to remember 'til their next trip to my motherland. :)

Mark :)

Laoag After Midnight

2011-11-16T03:19:00.003+08:00

It's 2:13am and i am blogging in my bed as i wait for the effect of caffeine to wane. For days (or maybe weeks) now i've been working until the store's closing time and i would time out at past midnight. The boyfie and i would buy beer or vodka before heading home as that would help us sleep better and extend our waking time until 10:00am. That habit has become a routine: work, buy breakfast, unwind with booze, sleep.

We have scheduled our day off tomorrow so we needed not to catch up on sleep. Tonight was our chance to break the habit. With our hungry tummies we decided to get us some dinner and breathe some fresh Laoag air after shift. After all, it's been a while since we've last explored the city proper. We drove around and found ourselves heading to Leader (a local carinderia that serves bulalo). The smell of the bulalo reminded me of my workplace and indigestion so we had to leave the place pronto.

The next best option would be that carinderia near para-Vintar. As per rumor, the store operates from midnight 'til dawn only. I've heard about this place a million times before but never had the chance to try their famous crispy dinardaraan (chocolate meat) until tonight. Arnel also ordered bagbagis (pork intestines) and tinuno (grilled pork) with that.

So, the rumors are true as the food had just been cooked when we got there. Their crispy dinardaraan was the sh*t! It was oily but definitely crispy and tasty. No wonder the place was flocked by fellow night owls.

After indulging on all that grease, we checked out another much talked about place - IlocoStop 3. It's the widest convenience store in the city that's Wi-Fi equipped and open 24hrs a day. I found a coffee vendo cleverly called Agcaffeta, a maarte way of saying "let's have coffee" in Ilocano. For Php10 a cup, one can choose from hot choco, coffee and cappuccino. Not bad.

wide space and bright lights

Agcaffetta vendo

not bad for Php10 :)

We stayed there for about an hour while we talked about work, as usual. I was wishing they had cake selections too.

Laoag really lives up to its name - it's still bright after midnight.

Not This Time

2011-11-13T23:50:00.001+08:00

I have never missed a fight of Manny's. My dad would install pay-per-view at home or i'd go some place where i could order beer and pulutan, preferably in a dark hotel function room where i won't be recognized (as loud cheering is so unladylike). This year i chose to watch the fight at Gerry's Grill Laoag where the live telecast was shown for free. Yes, we know how to spoil our guests. :)

Arnel and i found ourselves seated at one of the best tables in the restaurant. I got us some Spicy Garlic Fried Chicken and bottomless sago-gulaman. I wanted a bottle of Super Dry so bad but i unwillingly refused to drink at high noon as that, again, is unladylike. ;p

Half of the store was occupied by doctors while one long table was reserved for Gov. Imee. Thanks to reservations, i've got guaranteed sales on a Sunday morning. And thanks to Manny, the mood is a little more hyper today compared to the previous Sundays. Good vibes... until the fight started.

The crowd seemed ecstatic but Manny's attitude was so-so. Round 1 had passed without a remarkable scene that highlighted his skills. Round 2, 3, 4, and so on yet still i did not feel him. By Round 5 i started seeing things differently - i was becoming a fan of Marquez'! On the 9th Round i kept telling myself that it was a terrible fight for Filipinos because obviously, Marquez prepared for this with all his might.

My eyes were still glued to the screen with high hopes that something will happen eventually. Round 10, 11 and 12 had passed and the show was still about how good Marquez is and yes, i started cursing (to hell with my poise)!

How i've missed the thrill of awaiting the next killer punch, the dripping blood from the opponent's broken nose or severed eyebrow muscles, my amazement with his speed and accuracy, and that sexy husky voice i get after too much screaming. I missed the real showdown that Manny can only deliver (or so i thought). I missed the real Manny.

He won the fight, right, but i was rooting for Marquez as he's shown one impressive drive. For the first time in my life, for a few hours, i hoped i was Mexican, sad to say.

I was disappointed Manny did not give his all. Anticipating that moment when i was so sure i'd get that pride for being Filipino and confidently say, "Pacquiao never fails" was put to waste, so was my time.

Not this time, Manny. Unfortunately. Not this time.

We'd STILL Rather be at Gerry's :)

2011-11-09T21:34:00.003+08:00

Finally, after almost a month of pure work and zero social life, i got myself a day off to spend with my favorite people on Earth!

I took my family to a dinner date at Gerry's Grill Laoag. There were only 7 of us yet we ordered what's good for about 10 people. This was my treat on my first payday as Management Trainee so i thought i might as well give them one helluva meal.

The menu included:

- my (and now my Pop's) favorite Inihaw na Pusit
- Coco Fish Fingers for Joaquin
- Crispy Pancit Canton for Miguel
- Sizzling Pork Sisig for Pop
- Pinaputok na Cream Dory for Mg Dong
- Bangus Ala Pobre for Mg Dong
- Chili Cheese Sticks for Ma'am Jem
- Seafood Rice
- Adobong Puso Rice
- Pork BBQ for Miguel
- Bottomless Sago Gulaman for us
- Gerry's Special Iced Tea for Migs

my boys

Arnel sure is gaining weight. Hehe!

3 of my 5 favorite boys :)

now that's what i call dinner!

a hug for my sweet boy

Migs cannot let go of my phone (this was after his iPod's battery got drained from taking photos)

my man :)

Oaqs taking souvenir photos from his iPod

my Pop swore he had a blast with the grilled items

the 2 eldest brothers :)

wackiness runs in the family :)

oohhh the chargrilled items at Gerry's are a knockout! :)

Thanks to my colleagues i was able to get a discount, free soup and, as expected, the best service.

The whole night my brother Oaqs made sure to have taken photos from his iPod. Sooner or later i'm gonna teach him how to blog so he can practice his writing. Migs, on the other hand, was so moody he was not able to eat well. Other than viewing (and reviewing) the menu and reciting the words he read in there, he and my Pop spent most of their time outside and in the car. Meanwhile, my stepmom Jem, Oaqs, Mg Dong, Arnel and I enjoyed the good mood with the perfect music, lighting and food at Gerry's Grill.

By the way, i wore a dress that Arnel and I bought in Baguio. I paired this ostrich dress with silver peep-toe heels, yellow snake skin clutch (which matches my yellow snake skin iPhone case).

We did not miss the chance to take a souvenir photo of the night as this was the first time that we dined there as a family. :)

Good times!

Semana Ti Ar-Aria: Black Party

2011-11-05T13:38:00.010+08:00

This one's for the rowdy crowd! The street was blocked to accommodate hundreds of people, a huge stage, a ramp and food stalls left and right. The show promised a DJ, a battle of local bands, and free-flowing San Miguel Beer. Man, i wish i was back to being 18 again... that age when being part of loud parties were the "awesomest".

Well, i am waaay past that age so i did not actually attend the party. We got there at almost midnight when everyone had occupied most if not all of the tables and chairs, and 90% of the people there were drunk. We were thinking sooner or later there would be a street fight worth taking a video of and sharing in YouTube. Before that could happen we decided to leave and have a quiet time at Giannis.

So, there. I was definitely back to my solace. Giannis is the place to be for people my age. Haha! Acoustic music, check. Giannis Crispy Strips, check. Grasshopper, check. Good friends, definitely check! :) The place was filled with people in black (who obviously just came from the Black Party) and we enjoyed the night taking photos and having a good laugh. :)

photo from my phone

about to dig in to our Crispy Strips!

Grasshopper, as usual :)

Semana Ti Ar-Aria: Food Strip

2011-11-04T11:22:00.037+08:00

Aside from the parade, movies, and parties during the Halloween season in the province, the group called BRAIN (Bakeries and Restaurant Association of Ilocos Norte) headed by Ms. Pam Aragoza of La Preciosa organized a food festival along the west side of Ilocos Norte Provincial Capitol.

cupcakes by VL Bakeshop

The Baguio girls spotted at the empanadahan

another brilliant idea of the province

i just love cutie cupcakes!!!

The stores served Halloween-themed cookies by my friend Ms. Rosary Lo, cupcakes by my auntie Dr. Mary Anne Luis, photobooth by my adoptive parents at church Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ringpis, PinakBEST products by my former colleague Mr. Romando Figuracion, Ms. Pam Aragoza of La Preciosa, among others.

I bumped into friends Mr. Louie Santarin of Eagles' Nest, got a taste of samples from Giannis, and of course got a free Inkalti courtesy of Mr. Arnel Condeza of Saramsam Ylocano Restaurant and Bar.

just in time to avoid the crowd. by 7PM the place was packed!

they are too good to eat! :)

chocolates from Naomi's Kitchen

the booth of Giannis

spotted this fashionable stall of Gov. Imee by the Heroes Hall (across the Capitol)

i bought 2 pretty necklaces here! *weakness*

The FOOD STRIP was successful as it was crowded! Upbeat music was playing by the street and i felt the enjoyment of everyone who attended. People of all ages enjoyed the treats. I must say i fell in love with the chocolate cupcakes. :)

Semana Ti Ar-Aria: Parada Iloca-locana

2011-11-03T00:23:00.065+08:00

The Crow and a Merman with Gabby the Albino Python

The Halloween season in Laoag has gone to a whole new level this year with the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte's amazing project called Semana Ti Ar-Aria. They launched this week-long celebration of everything creepy and fancy, making it a first in the country.

The event consisted of several parts:
- Horror Movie Film Festival at Robinsons Ilocos Norte from October 25-27 where tickets to classic Filipino horror films were free of charge
- Ilocos Rocks: Black Party held at U-belt on October 29 where a fashion show and battle of local bands were showcased. The best part? Free-flowing San Miguel Beer.
- Beer-Kini Festival held at Plaza del Norte on October 30. Bikini open and beer. Nice!
- Parada Iloca-locana aka Halloween Costume Parade on October 31.

I have gone to the Black Party out of curiosity but i am blogging about the parade first because this is where i had the most fun at. Government officials and employees, heads of the different municipalities, restaurant and hotel owners with their managers and staff, and even Gov. Imee were in costumes. How cool is that? :) The parade started at the cemetery and ended in front of the Capitol.

Ilocanos are so creative! The audience were entertained. I know i was. :)

Most of the costumes were bloody and dark-themed, and i was hoping to see more of anything i have not seen before. Try Lady Gaga, Lichtenstein, or perhaps, Rainbow Brite. Well, maybe next year. :)

Here are some of the photos i took that night:

bumped into the vehicular accident guy

an Army guy who rose from his grave

a float with "aswangs" and zombies

scary bride

"kampanerong kuba"

decaying face

everyone was so game at scaring people! :)

fallen angel, perhaps?

Gov. Imee up the stage awaiting delegates of the parade

evil priests and nuns

another freaky bride

fetus. scary this one!!!

men with torches

I heard these festivities will be done on a yearly basis. Yes, for the first time in the Philippines, people are celebrating the feast of the dead. I am so proud to be an Ilocano! We are the coolest! Hahaha! Now, what to wear next year... :)

Heat

2011-10-19T22:16:00.005+08:00

It's good to finally be with the Baguio staff again! I met up with them as soon as they got to Laoag and man, Mr. Sun heated up like he's never heated before. Sweat was dripping all over their Baguio-weather-conditioned skin. I felt bad for them as they were screaming their need for cold air. After all, Laoag is known as The Sunshine City so they better be prepared to embrace the heat, enjoy the beaches, and get themselves a sunkissed complexion for a souvenir.

On their first day we had a meal at Macy's Diner. They had to rest the entire day that day after a long trip. On the second day, we went out for fishballs by Marcos Stadium. They had a peek of my favorite hangout after 5pm and they were encouraged to take a walk the next day. And yes, today is their third day in Laoag and i went out for a jog with Chini and Donna. They loved it! We thought we would do this everyday. :)

Here are some of the photos. I'm sure we'll be having a lot more as they have not hit the beach, windmills and everything else listed on our itinerary. :)

Home

2011-10-13T16:07:00.003+08:00

Finally, i'm back in motherland! Laoag's humidity felt good on my skin. The overpriced tricycle rate, knowing i am close to my loved ones, and seeing Gerry's Grill almost finished.. it does not get better than this! :)

I just had to meet up with my loves as soon as possible. I found myself chilling at Giannis with Alona and Jun, drowning myself with Grasshopper and munching on Crispy Strips. Ah, the provincial nightlife!

I am scheduling a shoot for TriBeca this week, a coffee and cake date with my baby, Apple, a meeting with Ivy for my article on the next issue of Metro Ilocos, and a movie date with my babe. I'm definitely back to being busy with all things fun and fulfilling! ;)

By Sunday i will be officially working again. I have a few days to take charge of my schedule without the pressure. As of now i am anxious and excited at the same time - looking forward to yet another chapter of my life! :)

Hello, Laoag! How i've missed you and my people. ;)

My Baguio Life

2011-10-12T18:55:00.003+08:00

I am back in motherland after a month's training in Baguio. Up to this day i could not imagine how i managed to survive the lifestyle i had to immerse myself in. One apartment of 17 people with only 1 bathroom, no TV, no internet, no sound system, no washing machine... no nothing. My energy was drained through walking uphill to and from work while braving the cold weather. Too cold that i had to put on a jacket and crunch myself under 2 sheets every night as i imagined hot cocoa, hot soup, a bonfire, like that typical movie scene of a mountain hike camping. Let me just describe the experience that is a mix of horror and fulfillment... well, more of the latter.

Laundry

A kilo of clothes would cost me Php30 and it takes 2 days before i can get them back. In Baguio, clothes take time to dry so laundry services are a lucrative business. I only spend for my uniforms, all else i wash them at the apartment as my pambahay clothes need not be as fragrant as the ones i use at work. They would stink, though. They stink so bad. You know that smell of wet clothes left hanging in the cold for a week? That kind of sh*t.

Towels, they say at the laundry shop, use up much more soap and water than regular clothes so they charge you a more expensive rate for that. Damn.

Work

I had to rotate in all departments so i can get a better grasp of restaurant operations. At first, i was given sample reports to review as these reports are going to be my problem (hehe). Aside from working with the Admin staff, i was also trained how to talk to guests and somewhat get a feel of dealing with complaints. My first week was easy; what can i say, i am good at listening and even better at giving orders. ;) The second week is a totally different story.

By week 2 i was trained as a dining crew. I took orders, suggested menu, delivered food, cleared and wiped dirty tables. It was not easy standing on my feet most of the time. I got my first tip of Php400+ from a group of foreigners who wrote "We like Trish" on the comment card, my first guest complaint when they ordered Frozen Blue Margarita but i gave them the regular kind, and my second and last complaint when i punched in Garlic Adobo Shreds when they actually ordered Garlic Adobo Beef Ribs. You see, THIS is why i never dreamt of becoming a waitress; i am a terrible server and i have deaf ears for people i don't know. :/ I knew i still had a lot of things to learn about the job so i took advantage of the training week. By the end of the stint, i was the best, fastest, most efficient waitress ever. Beat that! ;p

dining crew at the verandah

By week 3 i was scheduled to rotate at the Kitchen (aka Production) area. The Kitchen is divided into 6 areas: dispatch, pantry, saute, fry, stewarding, and grill. I was able to witness the food that need to be prepared before they open the restaurant - sauces, soup stocks, portions of meats, veggies, etc. I did not realize that there was a lot going on! Everything must be according to Gerry's Grill standards. I had the chance to work with the dispatcher as well, making sure that every food that comes out of the kitchen is in accordance to the said standards. This is where i finally got a taste of our specialties. ;)

On the first day of my fourth week i was working with the bartender. I was able to learn about the basic concoctions. I enjoyed being a bartender; it is actually a no-brainer as the skills are very basic. With an adequate supply of mixes and a recipe guide, it is the most fun area. :) On my remaining days i have gone back to being all around, even trying my charm as a receptionist. All went well. :)

by the bar

with Chef Rocky by the bar

with the Admin girls (when i was not getting enough sleep)

with the grill masters

with the dining crew at the verandah

at the reception

bartender :)

Food

Our meals were given for free during duty hours. We would have dinuguan, monggo, sinigang na baboy, etc. with unlimited refills of rice. The kitchen would sometimes provide us with free Bulalo soup especially on rainy days. For hours beyond work, i spent for my own food. We did not have a stove at the apartment so we had to buy food for survival. My favorites include budget meals for breakfast and lunch, and Siopao for dinner. I love Siopao. Before heading home, my roommates and i would drop by along Session Road for some steamed Japanese corn at Php20, siomai at 3 for Php10, fried chicken isaw for Php2/stick, fishballs, tukneneng, pig ears and intestines.

For some weird reason, i converted into a dessert person when i lived in Baguio. I was never a big fan of sweets but the availability of anything and everything around SM tempted me and i gave in wholeheartedly. Cupcakes from Brownies Unltd. was a favorite dessert, as well as ice cream at Snowstorm.

Other than the regular employee's meal i would indulge myself with food that i buy on my own, like sushi and hotdogs. On our last training day we were treated by our Area Manager, sir Cesar with Gerry's Grill's specialties like chili cheese sticks, chichabits, lumpiang shanghai, oriental tuna sashimi, pork sisig, pork bbq, inihaw na pusit, halo-halo, sansrival, and buko pandan. I enjoyed the banquet so much. We had a blast! While enjoying my glass of Black-Coke i repeatedly uttered the words "I love this day!" because i felt so spoiled, that kind of feeling when you suddenly think about starving children in Africa hoping i would feel a hint of guilt but it just did not sink in. I am a bad person. I ate everything.. twice.

smother that with ketchup and mustard

Gerry's Grill inihaw na pusit is to die for

One good thing about training in Gerry's Grill Baguio is the free coffee! I prefer mine black and extra bitter. While everyone else gets their coffee in a regular glass, i get mine in an extra special one. :) Coffee is a staple drink on the job as the weather can be unpredictable. My tolerance level for caffeine increased to about 500% thanks to my supply of at least 3 cups a day.

my special glass :)

On one of our days off, i brought 2 of my housemates to Good Taste for a pig-out. I had a plate of my favorite Steamed Chicken and another plate of Lechon with Tofu. Paulette ordered Fried Rice and a family sized Pork with Ampalaya. Leizel ordered Chopseuy. We were full! That was probably the first and last time i spoiled myself with rice. Good times. :)

Paulette and moi at Good Taste

Cellphone Bill

Everyday i would call my family back home for updates. My dad would send me money (your-daughter-who-thinks-she's-still-a-student-needs-her-allowance mode) and he would continuously ask me about my health. We would talk about the progress of my training and i could definitely feel that on the other line he is proud of me. I am a daddy's girl so i had to make sure he does not worry about my situation. I was happy he is happy for me for how my career is moving forward. My little brothers would talk to me too telling me they love me and miss me already. Oaqui would remind me of the books that he specifically wanted for pasalubong - those that have big letters and pictures.

Arnel and i would call each other anytime of the day. Thanks to Globe's unlimited calls, we were able to catch up every single day. I felt he was just nearby and there's nothing i should worry about. He was very patient and understanding of me and my rantings. Whenever i complained about this and that, he would be the first person i scream at. If i were feeling sad and homesick he would be the first to know about it too. I got very emotional at times, especially with the weather, but with my cellphone next to me and knowing he was just a phone call away, i knew i was all right.

With regards to my cellphone bill for this month, it doubled because of surfing the net while i was at the apartment. Argh!

Books

During break times i would hang out at BookSale. Initially, i got engrossed with novels that i bought some to read at home. We did not have Wi-Fi and TV so books were my refuge. From BookSale i bought a novel by Candace Bushnell and another one by Elizabeth Gilbert. For fun, i got a tagalog book from National Bookstore.

I fell in love with children's books too! They were on sale from php25 to php55 each so i got 5 Time Warp Trio books, 1 Melvin Beederman, and 2 books by Judy Blume. I have read these. I know Oaqui will have a blast reading them too! :) I remember my gradeschool days when i thought R. L. Stine's were way cooler than Sweet Valley High books. By high school i was into Christopher Pike, and in college i was reading Stephen King (and enduring sleepless nights) while everyone else was into Sidney Sheldon. Hopefully my love for books will be rubbed off on my brothers. :)

Weather

We had to brave the storm as the store does not close even under these circumstances. SM did not close on both occasions that Baguio went through signal #3 so we had to operate as well. It was not easy working in a mall that is open where the rain and wind can still get to us. Yes, SM Baguio does not have walls, so you can only imagine the waters on the mall's floors. The escalators were shut down so it was a long way up for stairs.

On certain occasions, the sun would come up only for a few hours but for the most part, it was windy and rainy in Baguio. I am not a fan of rain; i get depressed when the sun is not out. My clothes and shoes were soaked most of the time, hence, the cough and colds. Thankfully i was able to prevent a flu as that could have taken over my physical strength.

hello, Pedring!

Quiel flodding the mall's floors

Friends

My brother's friends Nemi and Dulce dropped by in Gerry's Grill on my first week there. Also, Stephanie who is a supervisor at Texas Instruments and a former schoolmate came for dinner with her family. On my third week i met up with Princess, a high school friend. Arnel holds the record of most number of visits to Baguio - 4 times in 4 weeks! It felt good to have seen familiar faces. :)

I also made good friends during my stay there. I became close to the managers, rank and files, housemates, etc. My friends at home kept in touch, also those friends abroad who would Viber me whenever my phone is connected to SM's free Wi-Fi.

Life

I have learned a lot about life and surviving it. Sure, 1 month sounds short for a retreat, but being away from the people who take care of me made me realize how important it is to learn to be on my own.

Baguio will always have a special place in my heart. Right now, i am just glad to be sleeping on my own bed and eating bagnet with KBL. Also, knowing i can have double double empanada anytime puts a big smile on my fat face. :)

Oh, Orange! Part Deux

2011-10-09T01:24:00.002+08:00

Arnel is back in Baguio! What better way to start our day than 2 plates of Pancakes (php68 each) at my new favorite place, Zola.

We also shared a plate of Combination Breakfast (php98) that has sausage, ham, egg, bacon and rice. Whoah! When in Baguio, brewed coffee is the way to go.

I must say breakfast in Baguio is one that i will miss a lot. With restaurants like Zola which offers a wide selection someone like me, a dinner junkie, will convert to being a breakfast person in a snap. :)

Oh, Orange!

2011-10-07T09:55:00.002+08:00

This is probably the most fun morning i've had in Baguio so far. I woke up early (8:30 is early, right?) to meet with my dear Dona at Zola Resto/Cafe supposedly for pancakes and coffee. How i love brunch dates! :)

Zola is located along Session Rd. and it can be easily seen because of its orange and red colors. It looked interesting to me but none of my friends recommended that i try it until Dona did. Upon entering the place i was amazed at how packed it was and people were drinking vodka! I was in awe until Dona said these guests might have been there late last night and are not done drinking yet. :) It is open 24hrs so i assume we got there a little too late for alcohol and sisig. :)

I wanted to eat pancakes but i remembered Arnel and how he loved pancakes so much that i felt guilty, hence, i got myself a sandwich. My Chili Pepper Sandwich (php95) was good enough for 2! Dona ordered Tapsilog (php80) and Iced Coffee Jelly (php65). Her plate came with brewed coffee (with 1 refill) so that's what i had.

Zola Resto/Cafe has free Wi-Fi. No wonder a lot of tourists, locals and students fill the place. It is also ideal for people who want to breathe and feel cold Baguio air with its wide open windows, displaying a good view of Session Road. Also, it is only a few steps away from SM Baguio so it's ideal for people who want to get away from the usual mall scene.

I loved their pretty lamps! They were all over! Also the couches came in bright orange. They were comfortable and we wanted to stay longer if only we did not have to go to work by lunchtime. There were a lot more stories to tell! Stories about our common traits, family stuff, work, and of course, our loves! :) The time was just not enough for 2 people who enjoy food while chatting so much.

I love my girl Dona who reminds me of my kikay side (yes, i used to have one) and who exudes that bubbly, carefree, free-spirit that reminds me of the my early 20's. This is gonna have a repeat, hopefully soon, but next time in my motherland. :)

50s Diner

2011-10-06T10:16:00.002+08:00

A week ago i bumped into grade school until high school friend Princess who is now based in Baguio. It was refreshing to meet a familiar face and all i wanted to do was spend time with my girls other than my housemates. Today, fresh from my business trip to Manila, i met up with her for a good catching up.

The original plan was to have coffee and dessert at some place cozy but neither of us had dinner yet so we looked around for a good place. She did not like Japanese food so we did not take a seat at Teriyaki Boy. She said she does not feel like eating pasta (because her hubby is a good pasta cook and always cooks for her) so The Old Spaghetti House was also a no-no. We passed by Wood Nymph but she is not into Korean food either. The other food destinations inside SM were blah so we went out and headed to 50's Diner. We dropped by its original store but i was packed so we went to its other branch by Military Cut-Off.

I have read about 50's Diner before but i did not know about its specialty/ies. I knew i wanted something grilled so u got me a plate called Mix Grill (php190). Princess ordered Guys on the Hood (php130). What can i say, both of us were hungry! For drinks i had Shirley Temple (php65) while she had Banana Shake (php50).

They served our food only a few minutes of waiting and our plates came with huge servings of everything! Grilled pork, chicken and beef with french fries, hotdog and veggies. They had to pile these goodies to fit the plate. The sad part is my chicken was dry, beef steak was bland, hotdog and porkchop were both burnt. I love the buttered veggies and french fries though. The servers were not paying attention to their guests, unfortunately, that i had to wave my hands repeatedly for them to notice me.

For dessert we wanted to try their Marshmallow Cobbler (php90) but the waitress said they can't split it into 2 (how hard can it be???) so we had Banana Split (php110) instead. Scoops of strawberry, ube and chocolate ice cream gave me a bit of cough alert but i did not care. Ironic it may sound but ice cream has so far been my favorite dessert Baguio!

Another sad fact is they, unlike most restaurants in Baguio,don't have free Wi-Fi.

It felt good to have spent some quality time with my friend. She foot the bill and offered a place to stay in Baguio whenever i feel like visiting soon. She is so sweet! I love her! ;)

Free Wi-Fi Everywhere

2011-10-04T19:36:00.003+08:00

I did not realize that being involved in the pre-opening of a popular restaurant would be as exhausting as this!

From Baguio i went to Manila and stayed in this ghastly city of Caloocan (sorry to say but that is so true) for 2 longs days to get things done. I had to make sure that the items for the restaurant are in good condition before shipping them to Laoag.

The weather was bipolar so my cough got worse. My feet are too tired from walking around because tricycles can only pass through certain areas in the city. I am dead scared of riding public utility jeeps and buses in unfamiliar areas but i did not have a choice. And oh, i stayed overnight at a cheap motel not because we did not have enough budget but it was the closest place from the warehouse. Yes, you heard me, i was working for 2 days at a warehouse. Somehow my tomboyish nature was put to good use.

Anyways, they had free Wi-Fi at SOGO Hotel. Unfortunately, i cannot grasp a signal on my Globe in my room! I had to go down the building to call the boyfie for an update. They had surprising perks too like adult channels (hahaha this!) and a red light (it was definitely screaming romance). All the while i thought this motel has been bought by a Christian and changed its image into a wholesome place.

Right now i am sitting comfortably inside a Victory Liner bus going back to Baguio. I think it is super cool that this bus is Wi-Fi equipped! Yes, free internet for the next 6hrs or so. Whoever thought of this is a f*in' genius!

Kamikazee

2011-10-01T20:54:00.003+08:00

We bumped into the vocalist of a pinoy band called Kamikazee. I forgot his name already! Hehe! This is not the first time i've met him though as we were in the same flight going to Japan a few years back.

He was too cute! There's something about him that's so adorable. :)

(crush alert. hehehe!)