Pagod pero busog!

Been very busy lately. Lots of things to do in the office, career fairs here and there, sponsor activations galore, meetings meetings MEETINGS!!! Tiring, but I’m very grateful for productivity! Nakakamiss lang magtamad-tamaran minsan. :p Yung chill lang, nakatulala sa kisame habang kumakain ng popcorn. :p

Or better yet, ‘yung nakababad ang mata sa tv watching a nice film. Loved Midnight in Paris, the last movie I watched. Haven’t had the time yet to watch Sherlock Holmes 2! Gah! Anyway, is it any good? Or i-dvd ko na lang rin?

Another thing I am grateful for is my constant lamon sessions with friends. Baka masiraan na ako ng bait ‘pag puro trabaho na lang, di’ba? All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes Iya thin. All nomnom and tunganga makes Iya fat. Eh nababalanse, so sexy ako. Chos!

Dinner at Omakase Ayala Triangle

Coffee and kaya at Kopi Roti Columns

Dinner at Hawker 101 near Makati Med

Dinner at Bagnet something-something number near my place :p

Besides eating, other things that keep me happy now are online games for android and ebooks. I\ve been enjoying building my own resto and cafe. If you’re using android and play Restaurant Story and Bakery Story, add me up: iyaiyayow. Yes, pati sa games, puro pagkain pa rin. Hah!

As for ebooks, I’ve started to read 1Q84 by Murakami and I think it’s best for me to pause and read another story of his. Kafka, maybe. Or maybe I can just go back to reading Facebook and Twitter updates. Hehe. I’m glad that my besties and my exbf (akalain mo yun) sent me lots of ebooks. I promise to finish reading all of  ‘em before the year (or world bwahahaha) ends.

Ok, back to work now. Wait. I’m hungry. :\

Will write about Hawker, Bagnet and Omakase next week. Oh, oh, oh! And my 1st year anniv with VCF! That should be a good (and dramatic) read.

Take care everyone!

Toodles!

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listening to: Calvin Harris – Flashback

Everyone is the age of their heart.

My colleague RJ asked me what it feels like to be 30. I’ve been getting the same question since December 20 of last year. That, my friends, was when I entered my third decade. Hrrrmmm… being 30 feels like being 29. Or 25. I don’t know if I’ll still feel the same when I turn 31. Nonetheless, it’s a positive feeling and I guess I owe it to the wonderful people around me, my renewed faith in God and a balanced diet. :p

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The pictures from Mike’s camera were sent to me by Joko yesterday and I am overwhelmed by gratitude that I have reached this age with lovely memories outweighing the bad ones and possibilities that seem more opportune than fearsome.

I’m 30 and I am young. I’m 30 and I am mature. I’m 30 and I am happy. I’m 30 and I’m bound to grow older and happier.

Cheers!

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listening to: Taylor Swift – Safe & Sound

Of soup and pearls

I woke up this morning wanting to call in sick but I couldn’t because there were a lot of things I had to do in the office. I remembered him when a long time ago, I told him I was sick and couldn’t go to work and he offered to bring me soup and take care of me until I feel better. I told him, “Adik ka ba?” I didn’t want him to visit me because I didn’t want my parents to meet him. He met my parents after a couple of months in a very very embarrassing situation. No, my parents didn’t walk in on us while you-know-what. Anyway, we ended up going out and watching a movie albeit me being sick. I didn’t want to kiss him, but he risked getting the virus. True enough, he had cough and colds a few days after. I sent him an sms saying “Get well”. He replied, “Soup?” and I said, “You have helpers. Go ask one of them to make you some.” No wonder he didn’t become my boyfriend. But hey, I wanted to be there but I wasn’t prepared to meet his mom and dad.

I was stuck with that memory this morning and I could help but remember the story of “The Fake Pearl” that my friend Ralph shared with me last night. I almost bawled while walking out of Glorietta when I told him I already knew how the story’s gonna end, “Waaaah!!! I have a fake pearl! Pucha. I have a lot of fake pearls!!!” How can God give me the true pearl when I can’t let go of the fake? How can God show me Mr.Right if my heart and mind cannot move on? What if he’s already in my life but I’m too stupid to notice him because all I see is the one I want to be with but should not be with?

It’s scary. I did not expect that my feelings are still this strong for this guy. Just mid last year I claimed that I was in love with another man boy. This other boy even asked me before why after this guy who wanted to bring me soup, I was not able to love again. I can’t remember what I answered but I knew I answered what I believed was true that time. And what I believed true was I didn’t have feelings for him anymore and that I was just waiting for the right one to come along. Couldn’t be more wrong. Few months after I was asked that question, I was with the soup-guy (haha lame codename I know, so tempted to put his initials but I won’t) and some of my friends and I thought it was just one of those regular drinking sessions where I was chatty because of the alcohol buzz. My friends told me right after that night that they’ve never seen me that happy. Not even with the guy I claimed I was in love with. That scared me because I didn’t want to fall all over again. But I guess I set myself up for trouble. And I fell. Harder than before. I believe the word they used to describe me when I was with soup-guy was effervescent. Lively. Sparkling.

Wow. :,(

I put on my work clothes and put on makeup. I went out of the house and walked to the elevator. I walked back to the house and went in my room and removed all the pictures of us. Just recently, I had our favorite pictures printed because resisting him wasn’t working so I thought, maybe filling my world with his memories might make me sick of him. I kept the pictures underneath a stack of old books that I don’t plan reading. The dust made me sneeze.

I deleted his name from my phonebook.

Hopefully, This is the last time I’m going to write about him.

My body is sick. My heart is hopeful. Real pearl, come to me.

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listening to: nothing

Saturday Musings

I’m testing if I can blog with ease using my Galaxy W + the WordPress desktop. I’m not a big fan of the android app. I only like it for managing comments and checking stats.

Anyhoo, it’s Saturday and I don’t know what I want to do. Today and for the coming days. I know my must-do’s but I haven’t figured out how long I should keep on doing these things.

It’s a new year and I was bent on making a long post qbout the things I learned from the past year and there are a lot. I just changed my mind because I know it will be inevitably filled with drama and I’ve been trying to avoid drama since I read Rhonda Byrne’s The Power.

I don’t know where this post is leading. Damn. I don’t know a shitload of stuff! Like an hour ago, I checked out makeup tutorial videos in youtube. I think I will try the Kim Kardashian inspired look later. That is if I get lazy and decide not to leave the house today. I will post my attempt to color my face here whether I turn out looking like Kim or Kiray.

I’ll leave you with this walang-pakialaman-kung-saan-ko-gustong-umupo photo taken at the Amcor Football Field in Fort Bonifacio. This shot is a good representative of my current disposition. What it is? Take a guess. It’s not so hard to get it right.

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listening to: Pinoy Henyo

First Food Post of The Year: Hao Hong Kong Diner

Wednesday night, Joko invited me to attend the MSA (Manila Surfers Association) dinner at Hao Hong Kong Diner. Being the (plate)surfer that I am, of course I said yes! I love being with our surfer friends (lifestyling!) and I love trying out new restos. At shempre, alam naman ng nakakarami na matakaw ako.

I had no idea that Hao is just in Jupiter St. Very near my office. I googled Hao and found it odd that it’s been around since the last quarter of 2011 and I only found a couple of posts about it. The diner certainly deserves a blogpost. We were there last night and we all loved the place!

There are maybe 6 or 7 tables inside. The smoking area is almost as big as the non-smoking section. It’s tastefully decorated and the feel is very chill. Ideal for a casual date or a quiet dinner with friends. But with friends like mine, ewan ko lang yung quiet part. The place closes at 2am on weekdays and 3am on weekends.

The meals are affordable and there are a lot of choices. The servings are not that big though, but it’s okay because most of the food we had were really good. The waitstaff was also friendly and helpful. There is also free wi-fi. You can check out their menu here, here, here and here. :p

Shani enjoyed the crispy pork hoisin rice topping (148php) and century egg (58php). At dahil Chinese siya, naniwala ako sa kanya. I tried the egg and it was good indeed. I also liked the pechay rice (68php), dumplings (68php) and fried tofu (68php). I chose the special soy sauce. I think I would have liked it more if I paired it with the spicy mandarin.

The hot and sour soup became Joko’s instant favorite. I also ordered it because inggitera ako. It was served piping hot and tasted quite spicy. I ate it with the lobster balls (68php). Good combo! The only food I didn’t dare touch was the Chinese chorizo pao because I do not like chorizo. It’s still part of my food hatelist, which also includes curry, macaroons and rootbeer. ^_^

Dessert was Kefir scoop with glazed pao (108php). Delish pao but the kefir was a bit disappointing. Aside from the desserts in their menu, there are also jars that have “sari-sari store” sweets like Stork, Hawhaw Milk Candy, gold coins, jelly and Flat Tops. I love that the bottles of liquor are just right behind it. Treats for the young and young at heart! )

They have quite a selction of alcoholic beverages and I’m disappointed I only found out about this place yesterday. Had I known about Hao early December, I would have celebrated my birthday here! Our other friends arrived and I did not take note of what they ate because I was too busy Facebook-ing. :p

Lastly, I noticed all of the prices end in 8. Lucky number!!! Advance Happy Chinese New Year to all! I am very sure that I will go to Hao again. I hope to see you guys there. But I warn you, what happens in Hao never happened! Haha, this is just me quoting one of items from Hao’s Rules. You can find it on every table.

Thanks for reading my very 1st food post this 2012! Or as they say in Mandarin… xie xie!

HAO HONG KONG DINER
27 Canopus St cor Jupiter St, Makati City
(02) 478-3927

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listening to: Calvin Harris – Feels So Close

Holiday Break 2011

This is my first post for the year and I’d like to talk about the last week of 2011.

I’m still hungover from my loooong vacation in Bataan. I spent 9 days with my family and that length is already a huge deal for me because I don’t get to be home every month.

My Christmas break was spent eating (a lot), sleeping (a lot), joking with my parents, visiting the beach with my cousins, reading The Power by Rhonda Byrne, and thanking God for the numerous blessings He has been showering me and my loved ones.

Here are some of the pictures from my simple yet meaningful stay in Morong from December 24 to January 2.

The Nuestra Señora del Pilar church of Poblacion, Morong, Bataan. This is where we went for mass on Christmas Eve and New Year’s morn.

Elmer, Ate Bel, Therese and I in front of the belen. Yes, eh baket? sa gusto naming mag-pose sa harap.

With Father Gerry Jorge, parish priest. He spearheaded the Angel Tree Project with the goal of giving gift baskets to the 100 less fortunate families of our town.

With my goddaughter/niece Reese and her brother Sean. They visited me Christmas morning. The traditional “pangluluhod” aka aguinaldo time.

My cousin Gerald celebrated his 19th birthday the day before Christmas. I loved the pansit bihon and barbecue. I also got one of the flowers from the cake. Hehehe.

After eating, we watched Praybeyt Benjamin. Naglabas ng projector at screen si Gerald. Ayos, di’ba? :p

Daddy celebrated his 62nd birthday on the 29th. Thank you God for giving me a pogi, loving and superkind Daddy.

After lunch, we watched Enteng ng Ina Mo because it’s our yearly tradition to watch at least one MMFF entry. Then we went to the newly opened SM Olongapo and the jampacked Royal Duty Free.

Media Noche consisted of spicy tuna pasta, 14 fruits, red wine, ham, special macaroni soup, veggie stirfry, rice, lotus cream buchi, sapin-sapin, suman and bread with balsamic vinegar. And also our new favorite dulce de leche ice cream. Busog!!!

I went back to Manila carrying lots of pictures and happy memories from my Christmas vacation. =)

Happy New Year! I wish all your prayers get answered this year!

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listening to: Rock Sugar – Shook Me Like a Prayer

Last Post for 2011

Been busy having a buhay-baboy time here in Bataan. :p My Christmas was simple and happy. I hope yours was also filled with joy. We celebrated Daddy’s 62nd birthday the other day and I just feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family.

Actually, I’m just taking a break from preparing media noche to update this blog. So, okay. I have to go back to cooking my veggie stirfry.

Happy 2012! Cheers to a more fantastic year!

Will post holiday pics mid next week.

*We exceeded 12 fruits this time, hahaha and we also have torotot! Mwehehe!

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listening to: The Jose and Wally Show Starring Vic Sotto

XXX

So it finally happened. I turned 30.

A lot of people have been asking me how it feels like to be 30 and then I tell them I fucking hate it and wait for them to turn pale and try to change the topic. Then I say I’m just kidding and 30 feels like I just became more awesome. Doesn’t sound possible but I don’t know. FEELING NGA EH. :p

(see 29th, 28th, 27th, 26th birthdays)

My 1st 3oth birthday cake (with 29 candles lang na nasindihan hahaha) AND with Peewee na may sign dapat na I <3 Carla (thanks for the roses!)

I’d like to thank the 483 people who remembered my special day and greeted me. Oh yes. I counted. Para sa mga alam kong nakaalala pero nang-deadma lang, mga pakkshet kayo, may araw rin kayo sa akin. >:) Not that stepping into 30′s made me unforgiving. I just realized that I should not take bullshit from ANYONE. Even if the person is hot. Harhar.

 

Posing with my 2nd birthday cake with a ? candle mwehehe AND me declaring my age or I could just be doing a W-O.

Extra special thanks to the friends I was with at Whistlestop for my salubong. Good mix of girls and boys from my teen life and my early (?)  adult years.  I got the simple get-together I wanted. NO BOYS, NO DRAMA. I’m glad I did not invite he-who-must-not-not-be-named. Birthday sex wasn’t part of my wishlist. ) NO FRILLS, NO PROGRAM. Haha, but I liked the Iya Trivia questions that Joko and Donnie prepared.

The Iya Trivia questions AND some of my guests … lovelovelovelovelove ‘em both! FYI, mas mahal ko si Christian bale kaysa kay Jericho Rosales.

Birthday proper, had dinner at Cafe Breton. I loved the fresh mango smoothie and Crepe Excalibur! Name pa lang, love ko na. :p Then we went to Bistro 121 for quiz and dinner, well… my 2nd dinner- of mushroom soup, chicken kebab and 3rd birthday cake.

 

Feeling dainty sa Breton enjoying the crepe i chose because of the name AND kumo-construction worker appetite sa 121.

We owned the 80′s OPM category- thanks to The Vlad! Dinner and quiz was a good choice for my first night as a 30 year old. I was well-fed and quite entertained. Cheers to more days of eating out and non-partying! LOL Thirty na nga talaga ako. :p

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listening to: Rihanna – We Found Love

Tis the season to be jolly!

Holiday parties here and there! Dresses bought in the last minute, killer heels endured for hours, alcohol consumption doubled, diets broken, merrymaking galore!

Our company, Eperformax celebrated our Christmas party in SMX last December 4. The attendance was amazing considering it rained the entire day. We came in our  Hollywood glam ensemble. or at least, we tried! :p Food was provided by Bizu. There was unlimited wine and beer. Gadgets and gift certificates were given away, as usual I did not win anything. :p The different departments gave us spectacular performances. And our teammate, Mommy Riz won in the singing contest! Congrats, Mommy! We had a jolly good time!

Ali, Mommy Riz, Terry, Eumir, Me, RJ

my maton pose- aylavet!

I had a jollier time in Team Recruitment‘s Christmas party in Joya, Rockwell. It’s a BIG improvement compared to last year’s (and last last pa pala) venue. As in, from slums to shala! :p

There were also lots of grub, lots of booze, prizes and of course… photo op! :p Loved that we had a cartoon theme. I went as Tiger Lily. Meron ding Tarzan, Pocahontas and Peter Pan! Mabuhay ang mga taong gubat! And of course, mabuhay ang Team Recruitment! I sooo love being a part of this talented team.

Team Recruitment!

Tiger Lily with the Team’s official pgotographer, my babest Homer :p

I hope that you are all also having an awesome time this holiday season! The next party I am look forward to is the most important for me– my 30th! My Picture Perfect 30th birthday salubong! Aaaaaaahhhhhh! I can hardly wait for Monday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy weekend everyone!

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listening to: Timbaland – Marching On

Midnight Snacking @ Soderno

image source

I was so excited to visit the South last Saturday because of 2 things– to attend my inaanak Caitlin’s 2nd birthday party and to visit Soderno, the newest happy foodie place in Alabang. I spent 16 years of my life living in the South and I still consider it home. I’m happy that there are a lot of new places to go to like Soderno, the new wing of ATC and Dampa in Daang Hari. Maybe if those were already there when I was still living in BF, I would have become obese!

Anyway, enough with my senti moment. On with the kwentong pagkain!

We were still full from Cait’s handa (teriyaki, lumpia, fish fillet, paella, lechon and a lot more!!!) that we decided to just go to Soderno for dessert.

We shared a dozen Taclings. Mini tacos served in eggtrays! The beef ones were delish! Crunchy, savory and a bit spicy… I didn’t like the tuna, the ones with green shells. I think it was only Kassy the flexitarian who enjoyed it. Haha!

Joko got Fried Chocolates and Fried Oreos from Wicked Bites. Both were sinfully delicious and made my heart (and pancreas) scream for help. LOL :p  I expect their Apple Fries with Caramel Syrup to be just as good. That’s what I’ll get next time. I don’t remember how much the fried sweets cost. Joko said less than a hundred each. Anyone?

The BEST part of the Soderno experience was experiencing The Lollicake Factory goodies! The Chocolate and Red Velvet little dessert balls had perfect sweet coatings and rich moist cake underneath! I recommend the lollicakes as party giveaways or aguinaldo for your inaanaks this Christmas. Not bad at all for 40php a piece. Or, you can also get 30 lollicakes and form ‘em into a multi-tiered cake and put a HAPPY BIRTHDAY, IYA! :p

The Lollicakes in the picture above are chocolate, buttercream, dulce de leche and peanut butter methinks. Carla bought a whole box to bring to Cebu. Joko was the only one who got to eat the cheesecake lollicake and she couldn’t stop saying how good it was. As in paalis ng Soderno, paghatid kay Kassy, paghatid kina Carla, sa biyahe namin papuntang Laguna, pati sa sleepover ko sa kanila, she even sleeptalked about it!!! ) Oo na, masarap na!

Btw, the amazing person behind The Lollicakes Factory is no other than LJ Moreno-Alapag. Carla and I know her as Lari Jean Ricafort. She was our classmate in Bene high. Had I known that she’d grow up making fantastic desserts, super binefriend ko sana siya noon! Hehe! Congrats, LJ! Cupcakes, take a backseat! Mabuhay ang mga lollicakes! :p

Congratulations too to Mr. Anton Diaz and Mr. RJ Ledesma for the success of Soderno. I hope I’ll be able to see some of the Soderno fyummies in Distrito! Bawais, please!

Soderno @ Molito schedule:

Soderno Nights – Fridays and Saturdays at 6:00pm to 3:00am

Lifestyle Market – Saturdays at 7:00am to 4:00pm

Organic Market – Sundays at 7:00am to 4:00pm

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listening to: Kids of 88 – Just A Little Bit