A not-so merry Christmas

A family member seriously ill, savings gone, an amazing trip denied - how could one even think of being merry this season?

I feel like screaming and just forget everything. To wake up one day without having to think of anything - no responsibilities, no nothing.

Wouldn't it be nice just like that?

Let the Hunger Games begin

I think I just reached my threshold in compulsive eating. I hope.

Which means I'm reduced to eating fiber and nuts from now on.

Huh! Good luck!

Eating my emotions away

Sayonara Japan

I feel so disappointed right now. So uninspired.

I hate myself.

Butter Pecan Rogue Sundae

I had the chance trying Bono gelato last Saturday and I must say that it is really good. I look forward to trying their other offerings despite the heavy price tag.

Galaxy love

I am so digging my phone, the galaxy grand. There's just so much I can do with it. The camera is excellent.  In fact, I'm seriously thinking if I should still buy a separate digital camera as this one is doing such a great job already. Coupled with an unlisurf plan, I can download all the apps I can get, hampered only by the storage size which can easily be resolved by using mounting an SD card for extension.

Just look at all the photos I managed to take and play around with. Aren't they just amazing? It's magic!

Hankering for some Hot Noodles

What better way to enjoy cold, stormy weather than a bowl of hot, steamy noodles with a rich broth, in this case, of pork ribs, hence the name - noodle pork ribs. Nothing could be more straightforward.

I heart Sunday brunches

And i enjoy it best at BreadTalk, my favorite spot. This should be over coffee, specifically barako, and one (no two) of their special breads. This time I had kick-kick and something like egg tart, boat tart, egg tart on a boat. Ah! Whatever.

Missing the BGC

It's been a while since I've last been to the BGC and boy how much has changed. I feel like I'm in a first world country. There's also a new mall that opened which rivals the old one, where I had my wonderful dinner and had a breathtaking view of the surrounding area. Perfect spot to try out my new phone's camera. There's a skypark where you can find dancing fountains. It's a good place to relax and unwind.

Okono Pizza

Look! It's an okonomiyaki. No, it's a pizza. No, it's an okono pizza.

The purveyors actually call it Exotic Quadro, but ours has a better ring to it - much exotic than the purveyor's more straightforward approach. Try this for something different.

Let's build a rainbow. Nips, nips...

Nips is experiencing a revival, it seems. I remember eating a lot of it when I was a kid. It now comes in white chocolate and has revamped its packaging. Everyone in the workplace seems to have jumped  into the bandwagon.

Battle of the Barako's

These two purveyors are feeding my addiction for caffeine. One I like for the taste (BreadTalk), especially when coupled with condensed milk. The other (Bibingkinitan) I like for a much stronger brew - and cheaper at that.

Best Caldereta Ever

I'm sure there are others out there that equally merit the same, if not more, praise. But in my scheme of things, this is at the top of the list, at least for now, until another one comes along. Extra points for the umami taste and affordability.

Fish Katsu

by karate kid

Oyakodon

by yasu

Literally "parent-and-child donburi", is a donburi, or Japanese rice bowl dish, in which chicken, egg, sliced scallion (or sometimes regular onions), and other ingredients are all simmered together in a sauce and then served on top of a large bowl of rice. The name of the dish is a poetic reflection of the fact that both chicken and egg are used in the dish. - wikipedia

"Bantayan sa Hari" - a Rough Translation

I found this marker in the port of San Isidro, about a certain watchtower. Here's a rough translation courtesy of google translate.

"Built this guard the king in 1820. because the residents of villages kanhiog (this was the name before becoming San Isidro) agreed to see them a place where they observe and monitor their sakyanon the Moros called "armful" before it makadunggo beside the village of kanhiog understand that they make two new group a group to go to church is to string the bell when the Moros adunoy mobonggo to the coast."

Go figure.

Camotes Island, Cebu

Camotes is definitely off the beaten track. It is at least 3 hours travel from the nearest major city, Cebu - 1 hour by land, 2 hours by sea. One can only imagine how difficult and time-consuming visiting the island must have been in years past, before the advent of modern transport. Until a few years ago, there is no other alternative but to travel by pump boat. Now there is RORO (short for Roll On, Roll Off), where not only passengers can be transported but also heavy machineries, trucks, cars, etc.

Times are definitely changing. With the introduction of these modern modes of transport, travel time is being cut in half and the island is becoming more accessible.

my first RORO ride

If I would have it my way however, I would still prefer Camotes to retain its raw appeal - its sleepy, old town vibe. Too much development, as is often the case with unregulated economy, mars the environment, changing the landscape beyond recognition.

a typical scene of the countryside

I'm lucky to have visited the island before tourists start flocking. Camotes is one of the islands in the country touted to be the next big thing.

The challenge for the locals is how to develop sustainably - balancing modernization with zero or minimal impact to the environment.

It is interesting to note that Camotes earned accolades for spearheading sustainable initiatives, such as community-based industries sourcing local materials. It is also number one in the entire country to have implemented strict solid waste management, effectively imposing proper waste disposal measures, segregation and recycling. The island is also a model in disaster risk management for LGU's, and was recognized by the United Nations for its efforts, awarding it the campaign champion in that field. See related story here.

Here are snapshots of some of the landscape, concentrated mainly in the SanFran (San Francisco) area - the island's main town, among its 4 sub-divisions.

I thought it important to take these images as it may not be the same a few years from now.

A weary city-dweller's idea of a perfect R&R - pristine beaches, fresh air, lush greeneries, peace & quiet - can all be found here. That is why I am so keen for the island to preserve its character.

kaoaling/kawaling keeps guard of the once bustling 
port of san isidro, by the bantayan sa hari

little Champ inside the "Bantayan sa Hari" (watchtower)

my nephew Champ

Oh, and before I forget, one of the things I love is that the food here is the freshest, not to mention cheap. There's a row of restaurants by the San Isidro beach where you can sample fresh produce, and be eaten SuToKil-style, as what the locals call it:

Su-gba (for grill),
To-wa (short for tinola or broth with vegetables), and
Kil-aw (kilawin, raw meat pickled in vinegar).

I am yet to try the famous coconut crab that my ig-agaw or agaw (cousin) has been raving about (well, technically he's my uncle, but about 2 or 3 years younger). I'm sure to sample that on my next trip here.

Canapé Okay

courtesy of zee trainer from NL

How the Hamburglar Got Hired - A Re-Post

photo courtesy of pepper.ph

Smarting-up my Phone

Nope, I don't mean switching to the other network. I just meant smarting it up further with newer, advanced features, hoping it would create better pictures and better internet connectivity.

I plan on getting Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini, as offered free by my network provider, to the upgraded plan I am thinking of switching to. I am kind of torn as to which color to get, though - white or blue

Help, anyone?

photo courtesy of reviews.cnet.com

Love at First Bite Revisited

Although it seems like they're losing their edge in terms of variety and innovation, serving the same product over and over, I kept on coming back still. I think it's the kapeng barako. I couldn't seem to find the same taste anywhere else.

This time I paired it with a bread with a funny-sounding name, called "kick-kick".

Stuck in the Rain... again

What better food to take to wee away the time, especially in this stormy weather, than a hearty bowl of hot goto.

This almost cost me my attendance record, by the way.

The Japan Challenge

photo courtesy of lovely-pics.com

"I will never be late and absent again"
"I will never be late and absent again"
"I will never be late and absent again"
... and so on and so forth
(unless it's an emergency, of course)

You might be wondering why the words, as if being disciplined in class for being naughty. Yes, this is my new mantra, at least for the next 9-10 months. Some mind-over-matter sh#!*.

This is one of the conditions in order to be able to join the group who would be visiting Japan next year, in time for sakura (spring). I surmise it's gonna be Fukuoka, and I could not afford not to join. I will be damned if I don't, I swear.

Paging the universe. Please give me the strength to be committed and show your providence to make things work to my advantage. Please, please, please, I beg you....

A Feast of Seafood

A "Last Hoorah" dinner (for former and current shops crew). The former tribe is changing citizenship and so the parting of ways. A bittersweet moment indeed.

And yes, it was a feast of seafood, though there is also pork meat served. But still, it's an overwhelming 5:1 ratio. Not included in the photos are sinigang sa miso, grilled tuna, calamares and grilled pork.

all courtesy of zee former boss
clockwise from left: baked oysters, buttered shrimps, sweet chili crabs, and scallops

Good to Know Chopsticks Taboos

I'm guilty of the last item (I think). But is it not hard to do if you are dipping dumplings, or sushi, in soy sauce, for example?

photo courtesy of pepper.ph

The Wolverine Movie Poster

Ain't this cool?

Love Somebody by Maroon 5 - mp3

Because I couldn't get enough of Maroon 5

photo courtesy of wikipedia

Maroon 5 - Love Somebody

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Love Somebody by Maroon 5

Making Good to a Promise

going blue for diabetes

It's the Rainy Season Once More

And in this country, it's almost certainly followed by heavy floods. So, what does one do when stranded due to a heavy downpour?

Luckily for me, I'm at the mall, and as you might have guessed by now (this is such a no-brainer for people who know me), I would indulge in my favorite past time - food!

What better excuse one could have, huh?

Tara! Let's eat.

Island Called Boracay by Ferns Tosco

I love the cool, reggae-ish vibe of this song. Very refreshing to the ears. Ferns is an amazing talent.

Some Kind of Shake, huh?

photo courtesy of pepper.ph