That's A Good Boy

Strange not to have him by my feet when I wake up in the morning, or peep out groggily from under the table as we all troop out for the day.

A bipolar, insecure but lovable dog who made sure his presence was felt in whatever it was we were doing, the house is eerily quiet without him. No more crazy barking when someone is at the gate or exuberant energy every time you (he) wanted to go out.

While I would love to walk you, honk your nose, pull your ears, or call you over so you can nose-dive into my side one last time, I take comfort knowing that you are  happily bounding around doggie heaven chasing rats and basketballs without a care in the world.

You will be fondly missed old lady.

simple serendipity: crunchy chocolate milk

I used to mix up powdered milk with Milo and snack on that dry. But as powdered milk is no longer a food staple at home, Milo is now taken by itself.

Other chocolate milk mixes like Swiss Miss I love hot.. but Milo? Milo I take cold. I love how the Milo clumps on top and leaves a layer of crunch for you to spoon up or catch while your jugging it down.

Try it! It's good stuff I tell you.

10 years ago...

Before I get lost in my 28th year - thought I'd take the opportunity to look back and see where I was 10 years ago.

10 years ago...

...I was 18! First minute into my birthday began with a surprise bedroom visitor who came bearing 18 roses. The day ended with a surprise party thrown by my friends at home. Birthdays have been mellower over the last few years, but they have been, and still are, celebrated with the people I love most.

...I was a high school senior: studying, theater, central student government, and the school paper. Very much ontop of my sh*t. Life got a little more challenging after. Lol.

... I was being chauffeured around by a driver, in the loveliest of cars. Circumstances have changed since then. I am now a MASTER commuter!

... I spoke a drop of Tagalog. Now I speak a drizzle of Tagalog, a shower of bastardized Taglish & a deluge of gayspeak.

...I became a college freshman at the Ateneo.. & experienced the biggest culture shock of my life. First two classes? Women's Ping Pong & Filipino. Oh lordy.

... I 'moved out' - began renting an apartment facing school and experienced living by myself for the first time ever.

...I began what is now a life-long love affair with the ACGC. 'Nuf said.

...I got over one love &  re-fell in love with whom I thought was my one true love - oh boy. *insert rolling eyes emoticon*. Really glad that long and dragging chapter is over and done with.

... my little sisters were 15 & 10, and I towered over them. Now they tower over me.

... I got my driver's license! And still haven't driven since :D

... I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do with my life. And after 4 years in college, 5 years as an entrepreneur, a few months as a project manager, HR consultant and now a design manager, I still don't know. But finally enjoying trying to figure it out.

I thought by now I would've ruled the world - become a famous stage actress, or a high powered corporate robot or a respected media mogul. Then again, I thought I'd be "there" by 25, wherever that there was. Things haven't really turned out that way, but you know what's, that's ok. My life has been blessed and for that I'm grateful.

It's been a week into my 28th year and so far, so good. Great actually! Should be a kick-ass year.

Chomping Through Cebu

It's a well known fact that Cebu is one of many great foodie havens in the Philippines. Had the chance to go taste so for myself recently and it surely did not disappoint. Affordable and delicious- you really can't beat that combination :)

Cebu Lechon

I would've been a food to have gone to Cebu and not try their lechon. It is the quintessential must-try when you go. I would've wanted to try other "brands" but didn't feel it was fair to all the other great restaurants out there (or to my cholesterol level!). The meat was tender, full of flavor and yes, best enjoyed WITHOUT Mang Tomas! Lol. After "the best pig ever", I don't know how I'll ever go back to "regular" lechon.

Puso (hanging rice)

Was excited to try this but wasn't too thrilled with what I had. I'm thinking it tastes different when it's super fresh and hot (if it's ever served hot?!). It was a little hard and cold for my taste. But I totally love the presentation and it did go quite well with the lechon.

Chicharon Bulaklak

Generally not a fan of this pulutan. I find it too greasy and sometimes too gamey. But this one was REALLY delicious. Not gamey at all. And even though it was definitely crispy, it didn't feel greasy. I don't think that means though that it has less cholesterol. Lol.

Chicken Inato

Skewered bbq chicken. Another classic dish. White meat was tender and juicy and skin was tangy sweet and crispy. Yum yum yum.

Monggo Soup

Another personal favorite of mine, both from this trip and in general. This particular dish was thick and full of shrimp, veggies and all sorts of another yummy bits. It tasted a little different from how it traditionally tastes. My girlfriends and I assume that it was mixed with gata. I'd fly back just for this soup. Drool.

Turon with Latik

Classic turon (with the bananas & lankga) and drizzled with latik. Ingenious combination. I wanted to ask for a side of latik so I could dip my turon into it instead!

Yema Brownie ala Mode

This was actually the dessert my friend ordered. I took a bite and fell in love. I think I would've preferred a chocolate drizzle on top though! Good stuff I tell you!

Baby Back Ribs

Classic ribs for a steal! Tangy tangy tangy with meat that falls off the bone. Perfect with mash potatoes and what I like to call freezer veggies. We ordered one full slab to share between 3 girls. It was so freaking good (and so damn cheap) that we ordered another one :)

Shublig with Jambalaya

Not the best execution but was I satisfied anyway. I love sausages (EW! Behave!), and it went really well with what was marketed as jambalaya, but what tasted like java rice instead. Lol.

" "

Lol, ya sorry, forgot what the name was but it's basically chorizo that they opened up and fried. Easy stuff to do by yourself if you have the right kind of chorizo. Can you imagine what this tastes like as a "-silog" dish?! Eep! Yum!

Fried Leche Flan with (not pictured) Caramel Sauce

I love leche flan! The leche flan was not too eggy nor too creamy & sweet. While I prefer the latter, this particular timpla was PERFECT for this treat. Think turon wrapper stuffed with firm smooth leche flan with a dark thick caramel.

Tuna Kilawin / Kinilaw

Another personal favorite! This particular dish I ate kicked it up several notches for me as they prepared it with gata.. which I've never had before. I could eat this all day. The BEST i've tasted to date.

Baked Scallops

Trays and trays of this kept whizzing by me so I had to try some. Love love scallops but this is the first time I've had it straight of the shell prepared just like baked tahong. The butter topping they baked it with was to die for- it was sweet and buttery with a hint of garlic. Another top ranker on my list.

Adobo Hash (Adobo-silog)

Nothing out of this world but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I would've preferred my "hash" a little crispier, perhaps bordering close to adobo flakes. But it still hit the spot. You really gotta love Filipino breakfasts :)

Midnight Snack

Pictured above is a yummy grilled mashed banana & peanut butter sandwich my sister grilled (in butter! eep!) for me recently as a midnight snack. Yum :)

(kippy hungry for a midnight snack too.. then again.. kippy's always hungry for a snack)

I know you aren't supposed to eat 3 hours before going to sleep, but midnight snacks are such a staple! Whether it be with family, friends, or even by yourself, who doesn't like scrounging around the ref for some ingredients to rustle up into something comforting to the tummy and soul?

First memory I have of a midnight snack was during the summers we'd spend in the Philippines with my grandparents. My lola and I would have toasted bread with butter and liver spread with some Milo & Nido to smack on as a "beverage".

There are too many favorite comfort midnight snack foods to even begin to list here.. top of mind though? Hmmm....

• Grilled cheese sandwich (variations include small grilled cheese & garlic sandwich, grilled ham & cheese sandwich)
  
• Indomie's Supermie (Indonesian instant noodles. The freaking BOMB. Grew up eating this as an after school snack along with a cheese omelet)
• Hot chocolate (Nestle's Quik, Milo, Swiss Miss, Tablea.. or our own concoction of milk, sugar, cinnamon and cocoa powder)
• Glass of milk and whatever cold cake fortunate enough to have lasted its first day in our household

Fellow foodies, what's yours?

Packaging Love

Purchased some items from VMV Hypoallergenics recently. I'm still testing out this particular line of products, so I have yet to see it through to give it my ultimate thumbs up or down. I did though, fall immediately in love with their shopping bag!

Made of great, thick board in an elegant light creme with wonderfully sturdy handles. I love that the branding on the handles and the bag (though it can't be seen here) is very simple - for the most part, it bugs me when brands garishly scream their brand by pasting it on every square inch of merchandise they own.

What I love the most about this bag is how they keep the mouth of the bag from opening up. Many staple (ick) their bags shut. The VMV bag handles are dual purpose; they act both as carrying handles as well as drawstrings that are secured at the base with a regular bow. Because of the thickness of the bag itself, the mouth doesn't flap open when being swung around (like you do with all shopping bags right? lol).

I ADORE great packaging.

The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band

Some of the best movies I've seen I watched growing up. I don't know why that is- maybe the simple appreciation of seeing wondrous things through the eyes of a child? Maybe movie's really WERE better back in the day? Or well.. here's my favorite.. because anything retro triggers with it a deluge of warm and fuzzy feelings and memories?


I blogged first about watching an old favorite here. I recently decided to watch on youtube "The One and Only, Genuine, Original, Family Band" - another personal oldie but goodie.


The movie apparently didn't do so well, but I love it regardless. I think it maybe the first movie I watched with choreographed song & dance numbers. Plus for the longest time, I was very much into stories of the American Midwest that took place in the late 19th century, thanks to things like Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House" books (love love love this - should purchase these books and read them again!) and "Oregon Trail", an old Macintosh computer game we used to play in school.


I must have been 8 the last time I saw this movie- that's a helluva long time ago! Yet I found myself singing along with ALL the songs as I watched it on youtube! I think i was smiling throughout the entire thing.


Here's one of my favorite scenes- looks like dancing show downs in movies have been around for some time! Love the song & dance number (calling JONELSKI), and the costumes of the girls with their petticoats, long undies and slim boots (for a lack of anything better to call them, lol). Plus John Davidson's so dashing with his dimples. I don't think you see Kurt Russel in this clip, but look for Goldie Hawn - she plays a giggly dancing girl with a pretty major dance role towards the end of the dance off.


The movie also stars Walter Brennan who plays a grandpa both in this movie and in another old favorite, The Gnome-Mobile with the two kids from Mary Poppins; Disney seems to love recycling their tried and tested stars. Lol.


I haven't watched too many old movies come to think of it. But I love the very few I've seen. Maybe I ought to spend some time catching up on classics. Any suggestions?

(photo credits: http://www.ultimatedisney.com & http://moviegoods.com)

Chocolate Vs. Lemon

I adore chocolate, but a great lemon dessert can turn me into a traitor at the snap of its zingy zesty fingers.
Particularly, these rich spongy lemon cupcakes and buttery tangy lemon squares. Gah.

Speaking of lemons, A kalamansi / lemonade slushy would really hit the spot right about now.

Back On Stage!

So it's all set; jumping last minute into a show next month.

Was excited to see my script. I love getting a new script- reading it over for the first time, getting to know my character for the first time.. even highlighting my lines is such a joy for me.

It's a short skit (about 15 minutes long apparently) and an ensemble piece. The past shows I've done with them were either monologues or two-person plays, so this will be something different!

Curious about who the other cast members are. They've had a few more rehearsal together so I'm hoping I have immediate rapport with them off and on stage.

Exciting!

2009: A Review (Part I)

2009 was a year of transition, like the start of a vibrant new life where it almost feels like I relearned how to do everything. Sometimes I still do feel like I'm groping my way about, but having so much more fun doing it this time around.

Before letting myself loose into the new decade, thought it best to review the year that just past.

I realized I got to do a whole lot of traveling this year. And not just physical trips mind you! But let me being with that...

There were a lot of TRIPS, both local and abroad...

(Tokyo, Japan in January for THREE; first time here!)

(Tali, Batanagas in February)

(Cagayan de Oro for a quick 24 hours with the ACS; photo c/o J.Galindo)

(Cruise of Palawan in May, a first for me! Both on a cruise and to the places we visited)

(Pandan Island in Mindoro Oriental in May; another first!)

(Taipei, Taiwan in August for a festival)

(San Francisco, California in August to visit friends)

(Chicago, Illinois in August to be a ninang at a confirmation and to visit newly wed friends)

(Boston, Massachusetts in August to visit friends and to sing for a memorial mass)

(NYC & NJ in August to visit friends and be MOH at a friend's wedding!)

(Boracay in November to celebrate a friend's birthday)

I EXPLORED a lot of Manila as well, where I learned to embrace (albeit sometimes a strangled embrace..) commuting and see OLD PLACES WITH NEW EYES...

(Taguig)


(Divisoria)

(Ateneo)


(Metropolitan Museum of Art)

(Even my own village!)

I EXPLORED MORE by visiting NEW places (well, at least in my eyes) around the metropolis, learning more about the city that has been my home for the last 13 years...

(Bangkal)

(Salcedo Market)

(Ayala Museum)

(Manila Ocean Park)

And as much as I was able to explore the external world around me, I spent a lot of time this year doing a lot of searching and growing within as well.

Wow my corniness is starting to make me gag..

Lol, but seriously, I kid you not! What would a year of experiences be without some more insight into yourself right? But more about that in the next installment.