Independence, More Fun in the Philippines!

Why is that so? read along to find out.

Independence is something that is celebrated in my country, and when there is merry making there is always abundance of - FOOD (and maybe karaoke). 

In time for the Independence day fever, from June 7 - 16, 2013 The Marco Polo Plaza Cebu holds a culinary journey by celebrating the Filipino palate and featuring the best of Philippine Cuisine in Cocina del Siglo.

Read More

Don’t be afraid to leave situations, places and people
who don’t welcome you; who don’t cherish you. Don’t
stay where you’re not wanted. Leave and let go. You
can’t force anyone to love you or want you in life.

Matthew 10: 14

Lately, I’ve been helping a friend come to terms that sometimes things just don’t work out no matter how you gave it your all. It’s entirely not your fault, it just happens. It hurts, definitely but eventually it will go away. And depends on how you take it, it can make you a better, happier person.

Watching Sunshine Montano’s Good times with Mo podcast guesting and watching her saying it aloud that for 13 years she has endured all the extra curricular relationships of her husband with different women, she finally came to terms that she’s not the one that can me him happy or feel contented. That must have hurt, the process leading up that moment. But when you see her say those words without pain or regret, you know she’s a stronger, happier woman now.

What I’m saying is, no matter how we try to protect ourselves from being hurt, we need it. We need it to be a better individual. To be stronger. To be wiser. I guess everyone knows this. We need people that makes us feel shit, the kind that drill a big empty hole in our hearts, those that make us cry a river, those that make us go mad and insane. We need them. We should learn to forgive them. And then thank them for being part of the processes of making us a better man.

And if people decide to leave, if you decide to leave there’s no better way of doing but doing it and by learning to live with it and move on. 

My prayer for tonight.

I pray for strength. Strength to love. To love those who continuously hurt me with their judgement and with their negativeness. I pray for forgiveness. Actually the strength to forgive myself, the strength to ask forgiveness to those who I have hurt because I was hurting. To be mad, mad with passion for what I do and for the people I love. To be understanding towards others. For appreciation. Appreciation for those surrounding me, for those protecting me in their own ways. For those defending me from my unseen enemies. Appreciation towards life. for a new day to be great and to be someone for others. To be grateful for the blessings and even with the trials that I’m going through right now. Both of these will make me a better person than I am today. For peace. for it to take over me and for it to protect me from a part of me that wants to destroy me. For control. not towards others but for myself, that I may say No to things that I know wouldn’t be good for me. For love. For love to take over. For love to fill me so I will no longer feel the void   within me. 

Goodnight.

Te Quiero? La Lagrima Taqueria

Payday is always the day when I get to try new restaurants around the Metro. With a handful of new restaurants and eats to try, I already have a checklist of which to try first based on the tweets, instagram photos and facebook testimonials of foodie friends. And after weeks of hearing how good the tacos are in La Lagrima Taqueria, I texted by favorite dinner partner Jorine for some Mexican dindin.

La Lagrima is located in Banilad, right before you turn right to Eldorado Subdivision. The building is under the Banilad-AS Fortuna flyover and steps from Banilad Town Centre (BTC.).  There was no fancy signage, just a tarpaulin that says the name of the restaurant. Interiors were straight and simple, walls were decorated with posters that serve as their menu. The Mexican (I assumed because of his foreign language) owner manned the register and had a lady assistant that helped served the meals.  The place was nothing fancy.

Read More

Take A Moment…

shaymitchblog:

The right ones will come to you…

Singapore has been stung by Philippines’ happy bee as it declares Jolibee’s Chicken Joy as the best tasting friend chicken in the country. 

According to this article, the famous crispylicios, juicylicious Chicken Joy won over international brands Popeyes, Texas, 4 Fingers and KFC as having the best tasting friend chicken. 

What’s even more crazier was that KFC didn’t get any vote from the taste-testers. Looks like KFC’s finger lickin’ good friend chicken recipe didn’t get any lovin’ from the judges. 

So what’s your favorite Fried Chicken?

I was not assigned to travel anywhere for work this holy week, so I took advantage of the long vacation to go back to the place close to my heart. It was also a good timing to go to the island because I wanted to leave an emotional baggage behind, and like what I always do, I escape to the beautiful beach of Sta. Fe and leave all my worries behind going back to the city renewed and emotionally rejuvenated. 

Every time I’m in Bantayan I travel with different set of friends, this year I’m going with Blanchers, Dodot, Ezra and Nats.

 We didn’t have concrete plans, no place to stay (almost every resort are either fully booked or overly expensive), we were going as we went along. 

Read More

The inner chismosa in me was intrigued when Marco Polo Plaza Cebu posted teasers online about its next Cafe Marco Culinary Journey. For years it has always been featuring dishes from countries around the world, but this time the public was titillated with red silhouettes. So my question turned from What’s cooking in Cafe Marco’s kitchen? to Who’s cooking up a storm in Cafe Marco’s kitchen?

Read More

A friend is competing for one of the BB. Pilipinas crown tonight, and I hope she makes it to the very end. All of the girls are deserving but it would really be awesome if she’s able to snag a title because I know how hardworking yet grounded she is. She will make the country proud.

Brad, before you get all more popular, win or lose you know you are an amazing woman. I wish I was there to cheer you on (like what I promised)  and watch you live as you wow the crowd and win the judges over. Can’t wait till we go back to our old ways of eating without ever thinking of the calories we will gain afterwards. 

And although yellow is really not my color, I’ll wear one tonight.