 | Category: | Restaurants | | Cuisine: | Desserts | | Location: | Eastwood |
You can never go wrong with creamy yoghurt and different other yummy treats to top it with. The concept of being able to choose your topping on your dessert is not really new, but Red Mango boasts of making its customers enjoy this delight with less guilt by sticking with a variety of nuts, cereals and fruits. Their yoghurt also has a very light taste – not too creamy, too sweet nor too tangy – which makes it perfect for all types of tasty toppings. It’s a little bit pricey, though. A small-sized tub of original yoghurt costs PhP 80. Adding one type of topping – + PhP 20; two toppings – + PhP 30; and three toppings – +PhP 40.
What keep me coming back to Red Mango, though, are the waffles. Fluffy and light, the heart-shaped waffles have become my comfort food lately when I need cheering up. They currently offer two variants – Blueberries and Cream, and Banana and Almond. Kung ganito ang agahan ko araw-araw, I wouldn’t skip it for the world.
 Link: http://celinecats.wordpress.com/I am currently building a blog site outside multiply. Lorie has suggested this a long time ago, and well, I just wanted to try it out. :)
While my multiply site is mostly personal, I plan to dwell on places, sights and food in my wordpress site. Something to enact my pledge in akomismo.org. :)
So far, I have only reposted some of my entries in multiply, but with additional pics and/or info. Hopefully, if my time permits it, I can expound and add some more never-before posted tidbits in my travels and walks around Manila. :)
So come visit, ok? :) They are very stupid. And I mean really stupid. And it seems that they are also making everyone else in this country stupid.
I am talking about the uproar by book lovers and bloggers over a mandate issued by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to collect importation taxes on books.
Why is this stupid?
As Mr. Hemley narrates in his blog, Dispatch 6: THE GREAT BOOK BLOCKADE OF 2009, and in other blogs as well, the Philippines was a party in the signing of the Florence Agreement in 1952, a UN Treaty that facilitates the "free flow of "educational, scientific and cultural" materials between countries."
A statement in the Agreement reads, " tax- and duty-free importation of books or raw materials to be used in book publishing." For the past 50 years, all the signatories of the said treaty have interpreted this in the same way - that books, being educational, scientific and cultural materials, are to be exempt from importation taxes. In an epiphany, BOC officials realized this grave mistake and interpreted the phrase in another light - that only books that are needed in publishing are to be exempted from importation tax. So, as Filipina soul writes in her blog, if you import books on "How to print books on banana leaves", then you get exempted from the customs tax. All else are subject to it. Where the f*** is the logic in that interpretation?
So how does this affect us?
Books definitely will become more inaccesible to Filipinos, which is a sad, sad thing.
I have been a book lover since I was really, really young. My mother would read to us every night, mostly stories from the Lives of Saints and Our Daily Bread. I learned how to read by myself when I was about 4 years old, and I never put down a book after that. As early as Grade 2, I have been a constant borrower from our library; I devoured all the Nancy Drew books that I could borrow. About that same year, I have started my own book collection with small classics like Mark Twain.
I believe that I have developed my love of words from my early exposure to books. I know that I have mastered my grammar and spelling from reading these little books. I have a wider range of vocabulary also because of them. My diction was also greatly practiced by reading books aloud. These things I have been taught in school, yes. But I have learned them from reading books.
What I'm trying to say is, books in essence are educational. They cannot ever argue that non-textbooks such as novels are not educational nor scientific (and believe me, in interviews, these officials do), because the mere reading of them inculcates someting in the minds of the readers. This something can be English grammar, or it can even be a way to broaden someone's imagination.
If we want to have a better-equipped country, we need to encourage people, especially the youth, to read. From what I see, the government is not doing its part to make sure of this.
* Food photography after the meal, hehe.
*Pesto spaghetti at Friuli Trattoria, Maginhawa St. ()taken Feb 2009)
 
I first saw their ad during the Pacquiao-Hatton fight yesterday, and my first reaction was, "Uy, ang ganda ng dog tag! Gusto ko nun!".
Thinking about it now, though, more than the dog tag, I do love the message that this campaign stands for. No more complaints. No more finger-pointing. Lahat tayo mayroong magagawa. Lahat ng gawin - gagawin/ginawa/ginagawa - natin may epekto sa lipunan, maliit man o malaki.
Maaring sabihin ng marami na "eh ano namang magagawa nyan?". Baka nga wala. It may be a bunch of empty words. A group of people who are simply riding on the bandwagon, and probably joining just for the dog tag. Siguro nga.
Pero gusto kong isipin na sa bawat pagsilip ng mga tao sa website/TV ad nila, unti-unting namumulat ang mga mata nila. Gusto kong maniwala na sa bawat pledge na ilahok nila, may kaunting paniniwala sa kanilang mga isipan na kaya nga nilang panindigan ito at na mayroon nga silang magagawa.
Kaya ako, bukod sa pledge ko na nakalagay sa taas, sabi ko:
I had been so busy the past months, I wasn't able to plan anything for the week-long (H oly week) vacation. No, let me correct that. By the time that I had the time to plan something for the vacation, all prices (boat fare, air fare, bus fare, tour packages) had gone up and/or all slots have already been filled. So what to do when you're as bored as I am but are stuck in the Metro? Ride the LRT with no destination in mind. Seriously. I have been wanting to do that for the past year! Ride the LRT and just go down every stop, and explore. Ang daming pwedeng magawa sa Manila! However, there were many things that I did consider that hindered my plan: (1) It takes a lot of time and money (kahit papano); (2) I had no sense of direction (believe me, when you're travelling, this does hinder you a lot) ; (3) I couldn't find someone w ho'd want to do that with me; and (4) In lieu of the previous reason, I am a little bit scared to do this alone (for obvious reasons).  But due to boredom and peer pressure, I did convince Jolits to ride the LRT for no apparent reason, get down at a particular stop and see what we can do. It was exciting! I have never done that before. :)  We ended up in Vito Cruz, rode the orange thingies to CCP, and voila, we found the Harbor Square just across it. As it turns out, this is where you can book the Cruises going to Corregidor. In addition, this is the boarding area of Prestige Cruises which offer Manila Bay cruises with set meals (PhP 495 each). There are also many restaurants and bars where you can just chill by the bay.  We, on the other hand, were already contented with walking along the Bay (well, with me taking pictures and with Jolits following me around, hehe) towards the Manila Yacht Club. The famous Manila Bay sunset is worth waiting for in this area. It was breathtaking. Unfortunately, I was too engrossed taking pictures beforehand, that by the time the sun started to set, my camera was already dead. Zero battery. Gusto kong magwala sa inis!!! So, we just sat by the ledge near the bay and watched the sun set. The best things in life are truly free. :)   | Category: | Restaurants | | Cuisine: | Other | | Location: | Westgate Alabang |
Commuting all the way to Alabang in the sweltering heat of the summer just to eat lunch? We must be insane, you might say! And, honestly, we were thinking the same thing on the way to our destination. We didn't even know how to get there! But, after taking a bite into Kanin Club's signature dishes, all of our rants simply slipped away... Hailed by the Miele Guide as one of Asia's finest, this quaint Filipino cuisine-restaurant is truly worth travelling for. My personal favorite is the Turon KC which is halo-halo served turon-style. Yummy! :) So far, they only have two branches: one in Westgate and the original one in Paseo de Sta. Rosa, so you really have to travel just to get a taste of it. The good news is, they are opening a new branch in UP-Ayala Technohub real soon. I hope the food is as good as the original! :) Here are the other Filipino restaurants that made it to Miele's Guide in 2008: Bellini’s, Sonya’s Garden, Chateau 1771, Lolo Dad’s Cafe, Le Souffle, Abe, El Cirkulo, People’s Palace, and Highland Steakhouse. (from: http://pinoyfood.nimrodel.net/2009/01/09/the-miele-guide-to-asias-finest-restaurants/) I personally think, though, that there are more sulit restaurants around here that deserve to be included in the list. We just have to explore! :) Good food = happy life :D 
My Lakbayan grade is C+! How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan! Created by Eugene Villar.tsk, tsk. C+ pa rin after a year. Need to gear up! Who's with me?  ** It was the best concert that I've ever been to! As a true - blue Eheads fan since I was 8, it was euphoric to watch them reunite for the second time (yup, andun din ako sa 1st. adik talaga, haha). We were surprised, and yet very grateful, that they played songs that were not really released as singles because these songs are as beautiful and timeless as the famous ones. Tsaka favorite ko kasi ang Cuttepillow album eh. :D This time, nag-uusap na sila at ina-acknowledge na nila ang isa't-isa, which made fans feel that " maybe, just maybe, the Eraserheads were actually back as a Group and, just like the fans, they didn't want the night to end."From inquirer.net: http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view/20090314-194061/10-greatest-moments-of-Eraserheads-Final-Set 10 greatest moments of Eraserheads’ Final Set By Pam Pastor Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 00:49:00 03/14/2009 IT WASN’T a group hug but it was pretty damn close. After failed attempts by the audience to cajole the members of Eraserheads into doing an embrace (Ely Buendia told the crowd, “Kayo muna!”), Ely, Raymund Marasigan, Marcus Adoro and Buddy Zabala (and the Itchyworms’ Jazz Nicolas) walked to the front of the stage, put their arms around one another, and took a bow. It was just one of the great moments of the Erasherheads concert last Saturday.
The others: 9 Souvenirs for the crowd. Many fans went home with souvenirs. The boys threw all sorts of stuff at their captive audience—water bottles, picks, drumsticks, even Ely’s shoes. (He was poised to throw his socks, which made everyone laugh. He didn’t.) Ely also gave away his jacket which, to the horror of countless fans online, was eventually cut up by the six people who caught it, so each of them could take home a piece. One crew member joined the fun—after the concert, he hurled at the crowd the container of lighter fluid Ely used when he lit up the piano. And people actually caught it. 8 Marcus singing a reggae version of “Huwag Mo Nang Itanong,” to the delight of the crowd. Raymund letting Jazz take over the drums so he could sing “Slo Mo,” “Alkohol” and “Insomnya.” It was funny to watch the crowd react every time Raymund teasingly approached Ely (of course, the whole world knows why). Buddy finally giving in to the crowd’s requests to take over the mic too, by singing two lines from “Fine Time”— “I don’t care if we sleep all day/Basta kayakap ka ay okay.” The ’Heads were more playful this time—it became clear they were more relaxed in this concert than in the previous reunion. They were actually having fun.
It’s always been said that the Eraserheads aren’t big on connecting with the audience and talking to the crowd, but not this time. 7 The sala set. After the first break, the boys emerged onstage in a more intimate setup, with Ely sitting on a couch and the others wielding acoustic instruments. That part of the concert felt so intimate—strange, given the crowd that numbered a hundred thousand. That brief moment, it didn’t feel like we were in a huge concert venue; it felt like we were in a small bar watching our favorite band. Ely deadpanned, “If you have any requests, pakibigay sa waiter.” 6 Ely singing the word “t---ina” when they played Pare Ko. I don’t think a cuss word has received that much applause, ever. When a guy shouted, “I love you, Ely!” Ely replied, “I love you too, pare,” without missing a beat. 5 The insane fireworks of “Overdrive.” They came as such a surprise that some people in front actually ducked. 4 The crowd singing “Ang Huling El Bimbo” while waiting for the Eraserheads to go onstage again. That was a goosebump-moment. 3 The tribute to Francis M. On the day of the concert, people were still trying to come to grips with the news of Francis Magalona’s death. He had been due to perform in the concert. The Eraserheads prepared a tribute instead— “Sumigaw tayo para kay Francis!” Ely said. The crowd broke into a deafening chant, “Francis! Francis!” Raymund held up a sign that read, “Rock Ed Salutes The Man From Manila.” The band played “Superproxy” and “Kaleidoscope World,” with Ely rapping, instead of Francis. Many people online have written that the teleprompter set up in front of the stage must have been a big help when Ely had to rap “Superproxy.” Truth is, the lyrics of the rap were not on the teleprompter. Yes, Ely knows them by heart. 2 The burning of the piano. There was a confetti storm when the Eraserheads finally played “Ang Huling El Bimbo” but there was a bigger thing happening onstage. Before a shocked audience, Ely set the “Sticker Happy”piano on fire. It was Ely’s old piano which had been at ’70s Bistro for a long time, the piano featured on the “Sticker Happy” album cover. “We actually wanted to use the piano pero sira na ’yun. I don’t know if it was too expensive to repair or we just didn’t have enough time,” Raymund said. Did he know Ely would burn it? “He kinda mentioned it as a joke. He really wanted the piano onstage. But I guess he knew he’d do it; he had lighter fluid.” 1 Three for the road. The Eraserheads had done an encore, the show was over, or so everyone thought. People started to spill out of the concert grounds, the crew took over the stage and started packing up. But then, Raymund returned and said, “Gusto ninyo pa ba?” The crowd went wild. “Tawagin niyo si Ely!” “Tawagin ninyo si Marcus!” Soon, the four were back onstage, standing in a circle. Ely asked the crowd, “Kaya ninyo pa ba?” Everyone was still going wild. “Okay. Three for the road,” he said. They played “Ligaya,” “Sembreak” and “Toyang.” Ely finally left his comfort zone behind the mic stand and actually went down to the crowd, making people sing parts of Toyang. Asked later why they decided to play more songs, Raymund said, “Sobrang bitin pa kami ni Buddy! Gusto ko pa nga ng sampu eh!” The extra songs may have been unplanned (and unrehearsed) but they did not come as a surprise.
Apparently, in the last rehearsals, Ely said, “’Pag hindi tayo tinigilan, dire-diretso lang tayo.” This part of the show resonated so much with the crowd not just because they played three well-loved songs, but also because it gave fans hope that maybe, just maybe, like the fans, the Eraserheads didn’t want the night to end. | | After the Anawangin day trip, we were not quite ready to hit the sack yet. Pundaquit itself is also a beauty. Ang ganda ng sunset! As we landed on the shore, we headed to "the Nook" to take in the view. And talk. And laugh (a lot). And drink. Way before sunset. Hahahaha. Love it. :D
The next day, we went to Capones Island to take pictures of the light house and lounge at the beach. Nakakainis lang kasi dun kami pinadaan ni Kuya sa mahirap na daan. Sobrang mabato, hirap maglakad. It took us about 40 minutes to get to the light house from the beach. Yun naman pala may stairs sa kabilang side, kainis. But in any case, the walk, though tiresome, was nice because of the view. Di naman sya mahirap masyado dapat, dakilang lampa lang ako. Hehe.
The light house area is a sight to see. Ang sarap kumuha ng pictures! Parang Old meets new world. Sobrang luma kasi ng light house area pero yung lights mismo, solar-powered. Hehe.
Afterwards, went to Camara island to eat lunch and supposedly to swim. Ang lakas ng alon, grabe! Some of us tried to get to the other side of the island (kasi sabi nung mga foreigners na nakasalubong namin maganda daw). Sobrang lakas nga lang ng alon, nakakatakot! Jolits and I were literally swept by the waves towards the boulders. Buti na lang hindi kami masyadong nauntog. He lost his glasses, though. :( Will come back on this island siguro pag low tide na lang, hehe. :)
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| | I've been wanting to go to Anawangin for more than 2 years, but I never had the chance (or the companions) to go. So when my friend Marj asked me a week earlier if I wanted to go with her and her boss' friends, I couldn't pass it up! Kahit may thing ako na scheduled on that day. Kahit ma-OP ako dahil wala akong kilala. Wala akong paki! haha. And besides, I promised myself to make this year as my year of making friends. :)
Anawangin is such a beautiful place! Nestled by mountains and surrounded by clear calm waters, the island is truly magical. Just by the white shore are pine-like trees, making you feel like you're in another world (or at least country). Beyond the trees/ camp site, meron ding river na pinapalibutan ng pine-like trees at bundok. Unique talaga!
Ang gusto ko sa Anawangin, kahit maraming tao na nagccamp, hindi maingay. It is as if people understand and respect the serenity of the place, and would like to maintain it. Sobrang makaka-relax ka pa rin. :)
Will definitely come back. :) When I do, will camp for the night. Para hindi bitin. :)
(The rest of our Zambales adventures are posted in another entry, :D )
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Celebrating Marj's ice cream cheat day, we scoured SM North and Trinoma last Saturday in search for the best ice cream in town.
1) Sebastian's ice cream (3rd floor, SM The Block)
There is something comforting about Sebastian's. It might be the soft, comfortable couches beside the stall that makes me want to curl up as I eat and watch the people go by. Or probably the creamy goodness and varied tastes of their ice cream. Whatever it is, I am glad to be able to discover this treat.
2) Theobroma Belgian ice cream (ground floor, SM North Main building)
I initially fell in love with Theobroma's moist chocolate cakes made from bittersweet Belgian chocolate. (Hindi na nga lang ganun kasarap ngayon). Aside from cakes, this quaint and seemingly unnoticeable stall also offers a variety of nicely packed chocolate sticks, truffles small Belgian choco bites, and of course probably the best Bittersweet chocolate ice cream youll ever find in this part of town. (Php 65/scoop)
3) Cold Rock (Trinoma top floor)
With the freedom to mix different flavors of sumptuous Australian ice cream and match them with your favorite add-ons and syrups, you can never go wrong with Cold Rock. Ang daming choices for toppings! I opted to mix Nuts about Macadamia with Chocolate Indulgence, topped with White Rocky Road, fresh strawberries and Hershey's chocolate syrup. Pure ice cream delight!
Ang mahal lang eh. Be ready to shell out at least 250 bucks for a regular-sized cup.
By the time we finished our Cold Rock delights, our brains were freezing as ice, and our bodies were just too giddy with the sugar rush, that we had to end our ice cream day.
But for the sake of comparison, here are other ice cream options that you might want to try:
4) Amici (Tomas Morato)
Really nice Italian resto for the family. We just can't get enough of their gelato, which are very cheap at P45/cup.
5) Gelatone (Greenbelt 3)
6) Five Cows Trinoma
 *photo taken by moi from the 2008 UP lantern parade fireworks display  The annual flying exhibition is coming soon! This event is really worth going to as it is splendidly participated by hot air balloonists from different countries, the Philippine air force (paratroopers, air exhibitionists, etc), kite fliers, and other enthusiasts.
Slated on the 12th to the 15th of February. This is a whole day event which starts from around 5:30 am. Don't forget your sunblock, visors and shades as the midday sun will truly fry your skin into a crisp golden brown color (ano ba yan, pagkain na nman..).
Oh, and the night glow is really worth the wait. 
For more info:
Sino gustong sumama? 
... I love the whole world.. it's such a brilliant place! :)
Download this and other original video files with Multiply Premium. | | If you are looking for a different kind of vacation, this is it. Nestled by mountains and a whole lot of pine trees, Sagada is the perfect place to chill (literally) and /or tire yourself away while on a vacation. Before coming here, I had never understood why a lot of people consider the town to be their favorite getaway place. Now, I am very willing to endure 12 hours of bus ride (from Manila) just to embrace its beauty once again. Most of the sites, though, take at least an hour and a half of walking/hiking from the town proper, so you better get your comfy shoes and leg muscles ready. |
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| Cats! Bon Voyage! Ingat sa Japan! |
 | Thanks, Cats! Hahaha, inuman talaga ah! :p |
 | hoi francesca happee bday!! |
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