All posts for the month December, 2011

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!

—–

listening to: The Jose and Wally Show Starring Vic Sotto

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by Iya Santos on December 31, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by Iya Santos on December 31, 2011

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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 ❤ 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

—–

listening to: Rihanna – We Found Love

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by Iya Santos on December 22, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by Iya Santos on December 22, 2011

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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!

—–

listening to: Timbaland – Marching On

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by Iya Santos on December 16, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by Iya Santos on December 16, 2011

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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

—–

listening to: Kids of 88 – Just A Little Bit

5 Comments
by Iya Santos on December 14, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by Iya Santos on December 14, 2011

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My 30th Birthday Wishlist

I’m turning 30 in a week and I’m excited, anxious, happy and scared all at the same time. Oo,  nababaliw ako na magte-trenta na ako! :))

Been think of crazy things to do before I hit the big 3-0 and I have thought of a few. Not gonna share ’em until I accomplish everything though. That is if I get enough courage to do those things! Pero sabi ko nga lagi, there are things that will look stupid if done in one’s 30’s. Pero sinabi ko rin ‘yan nung 19 ako a couple of days before I hit 20. :p

Anyhoodles, here are the things that will make me VERY happy on my 30th. =)

Behold my 30th birthday wishywishlist!

SMALL CAKE (with candles!)

FLOWERS (pink, yellow, peach white roses or tulips)

ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE (I’m VERY serious.)

NECKLACE (with thin long strand/s)

OTTERBOX case for a Samsung Galaxy W

SHAWLS (black, purple, pink, green… plain is ok, if not, make it floral)

CARDIGANS (mustard, dark pink, green, lavender, royal blue)

HOODIE! (black, pink or red)

NAIL POLISH (dark red, dark gray)

BELTS (red, black, cream BUT preferably brown, and braided)

BAGS (handbag with long strap or big bags, dark pink, red, brown/cream or floral)

EYELASH CURLER

MAKE UP (bronzer, blush, eye liner)
 

WATCH (black)

FOREVER 21/CONTI’S/SM/AYALA GC’s or the likes hehe

YOU CAN GIVE ME THE GIFTS…
on December 19, 10pm-godknowswhen at Whistlestop, Jupiter Street. That’s where my birthday salubong will take place. If you know I don’t wanna see you, be faaaaarrrr away from that area. Like a region away.

or send ’em to my office (Recruitment Office, BPI Buendia Center) on December 19 any time from 9am to 5pm. :p

And nah, I don’t have a Christmas wishlist. MY BIRTHDAY is my special holiday. =)

—–

listening to: Britney Spears – I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman

 

5 Comments
by Iya Santos on December 12, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by Iya Santos on December 12, 2011

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Happy With Happy Feet 2

Synopsis: A second skid round the rink with Mumble (Elijah Wood), Gloria (Alecia “Pink” Moore), their offspring Erik (Ava Acres) and their singing, stomping emperor penguin colony. This time, an ice block crashes into their Antarctic home, blocking the penguins from the sea and leaving the Glee-style troupe with only their love of 80s pop-funk for sustenance. But the real fun’s under the ice, where Brad Pitt and Matt Damon yuk it up as Will and Bill the krill. Will, though – determined to be “one in a krillion” – is treated shabbily by Happy Feet Two, which preaches acceptance but requires assimilation. You dance or you die. Join the party, swim with the swarm.

Source: The Guardian

—–

This will be quick.

Here are the 5 reasons why I liked this movie.

1. Eric is sooooooo cute!!! He’s cuter than Mumble imho. :p He’s also got better talent hahaha! Won’t say what ‘coz it will just spoil the movie for you. 🙂

2. The baby elephant seals are sooooo cuuuuuute too!

Yep, I’m a sucker for cuteness. And baby animals!

3. I love Robin Williams! He’s back for the dual birdy roles of Ramon and Lovelace. His love story with Carmen (Sofia Vergara) is hilarious. Sample:

Carmen: You are beautiful, Ramon!
Ramon: But only on the outside.

And this is Ramon.

Sorry, didn’t like P!nk so much as Brittany Murphy’s replacement. Huhuhu, Brit, why’d you have to die? 😦 Wala ako paki kay Elijah Wood, but I liked some cheesy lines of Mumble to his son.

4. Feel good OST! We are the champions my frieeeennnnndddd! And I don’t know ’bout you but I like the song Papa Oom Mow Mow! And Mighty Sven, the penguin/puffin danced to this. At sumayaw rin ako sa upuan ko.

5. The Brad Pitt and Matt Damon bromance. I don’t think this needs an explanation.

If you haven’t seen this yet, go find time to watch with your kids or nephews or nieces! Or your friends that are kids at heart. 🙂

—–

listening to: P!nk – Bridge of Light

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by Iya Santos on December 5, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by Iya Santos on December 5, 2011

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Beer! Beer! Beer! Glorious Beer!!!

I’m the kind of alcoholic alcohol enthusiast that doesn’t really care much about what kind of beer I drink as long as it’s cold. I mean, I know how to appreciate good beer when I taste one, but that doesn’t happen often because I don’t believe in paying for 200-300php for just one freaking bottle.

Turned out, I just didn’t know where to drink! Offbeat Cafe now serves imported beers. Germany, US and Belgium are just some of the countries that their beers are from. I got to taste 8 from Offbeat’s Beer Gallery and here’s how I found each and every one of ’em:

Astra (4.9% ABV- alcohol by volume, bitch! Hehe! 80php) – has notes of sweetness with a slight bitter bite at the end. Light taste. The feel of this German Pilsener is comparable to SML.

Bitburger (4.8% ABV, 90php) – has malty notes followed by a slightly minty and bitter finish. Taste similar to Astra. This is also a German Pilsener.

Oettinger (4.9% ABVl, 100php) – bready, sorta smells like bananas, has a little sweetness with a slight bitter finish. This according to the resident beergeek of Offbeat Cafe, Mr. Francis Panuncialman is the #1 selling beer in Germany aka the beer of and for the masses. And guess what, this is the beer that I liked the most. And no, that does not make me a lasenggera like what my friend Kevin concluded. :p

Konig Ludwig Weissbier (5.5% ABV, 160php) – has a caramel flavor (because of the roasted malts according to Francis, he’s like the Sheldon of beergeekery!), has more body than the 1st three beers, tastes like a biscuit! Yum! This is the favorite beer of Chef Mickey Wieneke, owner of Offbeat. I understand why this is his favorite but my heart liver still favors Oettinger. ❤

Gordon Biersch Blonde Bock (7% ABV, 130php) – has a light floral aroma, tastes fruity. This is my least favorite because well, I don’t like fruits. And the smell reminds me of jasmine. And I don’t like jasmine. The boys seemed to have liked this brew though! I wonder why! :))

Leffe Brune (6.5% ABV, 140php) – the caramel taste is more pronounced than the Konig. Francis said that Belgian beers are sweet because they add caramel sugar to the brew. I remember when I smelled it I thought of th arnibal that goes with taho. One of the boys said that this reminded him of Hoegaarden.

Boont Amber Ale (5.8% ABV, 150php) – I am no beergeek and I might sound pretentious for saying this but I will anyway… I liked the smell and the body of this beer and the color is gorgeous. As for the taste, it tastes a bit citrus-y and a bit caramel-y. Mwehehehe. :p

Summer Solstice (5.6% ABV 120php) – smooth, malty and lightly sweet. And it has a sort of vanilla aftertaste. One said it’s like cream soda! This American ale is my 2nd fave among all 8.

Other things I learned from this beer tasting session:

The history of beer is as exciting and as complex as the history of wine. There is a study supporting that drinking beer moderately can help one lose weight (OMG yaaaay!!!). Wine is too acidic for cheese, therefore pair cheese with beer! Hahaha! AND beer is normally reviewed considering its aroma, appearance, body/texture, aftertaste and overall impression. I guess I did pretty ok for a first timer in beer tasting then! Ang umangal, babasagan ko ng bote ng beer sa ulo! >:)

If you want to try these beers, visit Offbeat Cafe at The Collective in Malugay St, San Antonio Village, Makati. You don’t have to go to bars in The Fort or Jupiter and pay exorbitant amounts to drink. I suggest you pair these beers with Offbeat’s Bacon Fries and of course, their sinfully delicious Krispy Kreme Cheeseburger. Drink and eat while playing Monopoly Deal. I sucked at this game that night but I think I’ll be lucky when I’m un-sober. :p

Cheers! 😉

—–

listening to: The Beatles – Hey Jude

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by Iya Santos on December 2, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Food and Drinks, Good Finds
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Posted by Iya Santos on December 2, 2011

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The Malasimbo Music & Arts Festival

I haven’t been to Puerto Galera in years. I haven’t had a reason to go back until I learned about the Malasimbo Music & Arts Festival.

Foreign and Filipino artists such as Cynthia Alexander, Caliph8, Nyko Maca, Christina “Badkiss” Bartges, Japan’s DJ Krush and South Korea’s Gong Myoung performed their hits at Mt Malasimbo to a crowd of 1,500 last February 18. Part of the proceeds from the ticket sales were used to plant trees around Puerto Galera and for the installation of solar energy for the Iraya Mangyan community’s barangay hall. Moreover, the Department of Tourism has included this as one of its 2012 eco-cultural plans.

The 2011 Malasimbo Music & Arts Festival 2011 was a total success that it left the crowd wanting more. Volume Unit Entertainment, the company behind Malasimbo promised that the 2012 festival would be even better. Next year’s festival will have more musical and visual artists, including the 69 year old Joe Bataan, the African-American-Filipino king of Latin soul from NYC. He’s also the creator of Salsoul Records, one of the most prominent disco labels.

The Malasimbo Music & Arts Festival will be from March 2 to 4.  Tickets may be reserved by emailing info@malasimbofestival.com. For more info, please visit www.malasimbofestival.com. 

I don’t know about you but I’m going to ask my college friends to go back to Galera with me for the Malasimbo fest.  I think it will be fun to party again in a place that I used to frequent almost 10 years ago. :p YOU! You should invite your friends too! See you there! 😉

—–

listening to: Cynthia Alexander – Motorbykle

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by Iya Santos on December 2, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by Iya Santos on December 2, 2011

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Ospital, Sisig, Concierto at Deciembre

DECEMBER— my favorite month (and? but?) also the month that gives me the most stress. Christmas should be about love and joy and giving but for the past few years it just means GASTOS to me. Add to the fact that it’s also my birth month. My stress levels have doubled because I’m turning 30 this year and I still don’t have a party plan. Arrrrgggghhh! What is birthday blues? :\

ANYWAY. I trust that things will fall into place and God will not allow me to celebrate my special day and His special day in agony. 😀 In fact, He gave me a good end of November and a great start of December.

What what? Here here. :p

Yesterday, after my shift in our Career Cafe 2 Go booth in Trinoma (Eperformax, Level 3… go visit!) I went to UST. One of my closest boybud’s Tita has been sick and we visited her in the UST Hospital. At first I didn’t want to go because hospitals freak me out but for me and my family, there’s something special about the UST hospital.

You see, the last time I was there was when I was 6 or 7 years old. My mom was sick. She had benign cancer (one teeny bit away from becoming malignant) and the trips there when I was young were, of course, worrisome. Being there after 20something years just made me realize that there really is hope and that I love the UST hospital because my mom was cured! Without the very able UST doctors, I wouldn’t have my mommy now! :,) Therefore, I trust that they will also make my friend’s Tita okay. Well, with the help of St. Thomas, I guess. :p Please God, make my friend’s Tita healthy!!! Please, please, please!!! :,)

After the hospital visit, we went to Almer’s in Dapitan.

How I missed their sisig! When I was still teaching in University of Perpetual Help, my students would always bring me to Almer’s and we’d go back to school still smelling like sisig! Hehe! Asenso na ang Almer’s. Their gravy is now in aluminum pitchers and they have new stuff on their menu, like JERK CHICKEN.

I swear, I know a jerk who loves chicken. This is what I call douchebag food. Harhar! But wait. Let’s rewind a bit. Gravy, you ask? Yes, in Almer’s, chili-toyomansi is not the cool thing to have with sisig. It’s gravy. The more, the better. Drown your sisig in gravy. Drown your rice in gravy. Go. I dare you. You will like it. Joko did! 😀

I actually drowned my rice in lomi. Good lomi. It’s just 55php. The sisig’s 50php, I think. Sorry, I didn’t have time to take a good picture of the sisig because we were too hungry and too excited to eat. We had to go back to the campus to catch the UST Symphony Orchestra.

But we didn’t leave without having dessert first. Shempre kelangan sosyal na sosyal rin ang dessert para lumevel sa Almer’s dinner namin! Mwehehehehe! Ano pa nga ba? Eh di chocnut! 😀 Only 1.50php at the nearby sari-sari store!

After our awesome dinner in Dapitan, we headed back to Uste. To the Santisimo Rosario Parish. There, we witnessed a good number of the university’s Conservatory of Music alumni sing English and Tagalog Christmas songs. My favorite (and the crowd’s, too) was when they got a little boy to sing with them. And the little boy reminded me of Happy Feet 2’s Eric! Super cute and super talented kid! Btw, I will blog about Happy Feet tomorrow or next week. 😀 Going back,  another crowd favorite was the number of the soprano, Miss Rachelle Gerodias. She’s a-maaaa-ziiiiing!

After the concert, we went to our friend’s house for a couple of bottles of Tanduay Ice and SML, sugar-free cafe latte ice cream and kwento. We talked about the friendzone, costumes for the bookclub and company Christmas parties, life, sickness, gratitude, family solidarity, love, hearts in a jar, douchebag exes and a whole lot more. We finished around 12:30am, December 1. I’m grateful that I was able to welcome December in the company of great friends in a 1920’s house in a city far from home. Not how I expected this month would start, but grateful that it’s how it came to be.

And before I end this entry, I want to share my like a boss pose at my friend’s ancestral house’s sala.

Happy December, everyone! Eat great food, love your family and friends, sing Christmas carols and continue to hope and pray for the best! 🙂

—–

listening to: Kampana ng Simbahan

6 Comments
by Iya Santos on December 1, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Drama, Food and Drinks, Friends, Places
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Posted by Iya Santos on December 1, 2011

https://psychosomaticaddictinsane.wordpress.com/2011/12/01/ust_day/

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