purple grass

sale alert!

2009-10-27T14:27:00.005+08:00

friends! the toy kingdom annual warehouse sale is almost here again! this year i'll be wiser and bring somebody to line up for me...

sale venue will be at the megatrade hall, megamall

november 6,7, & 8, 2009

happy shopping!

25 Mushrooms Kitchen

2009-10-16T14:03:00.002+08:00

have you heard of a school for househelps? there is one in valle verde called 25 Mushrooms Kitchen. recently, our maid went in training and have already finished the basic course... the main topic of the said training is cooking... with minor lessons in table setting, serving, food preservation etc...

the basic course is offered at Php4000 for 4 whole days (stretched in a month's time)... each day focusing on a particular cuisine...thai, italian, japanese and filipino...

so far, i am quite impressed with the result of my maid's cooking...

for more details:

Sari Jorge

25 Mushrooms Kitchen

0917-8119797 or 6314822

o'sonho

2009-04-21T18:36:00.005+08:00

after one routine check up with our ob... we went to try the new portuguese restaurant along jupiter street in makati.

gambas was good! prawns were a little huge for my standard but the taste was great...
Php240 ... first round of roti was free

tenderloin steak Php620
wrapped with honey bacon...
the sweetness of the plum sauce gave it a unique taste...
fish & chips Php260
this dish was ok... nothing spectacular about it...

seafood paella Php340
this was really good... but i think it would be better if they serve it on a hot plate para may tutong!

our simot table

Unit 1 C Valdeleon Bldg., 20 Jupiter St.
Makati City, Metro Manila
(02) 896-3289

dave was on mel & joey

2009-04-21T17:20:00.010+08:00

it's been awhile since my last post... have been hooked with facebook ever since it was introduced to me by a friend...

anyway, dave was on tv last month...

he was interviewed for his guitar collection... mostly vintage...

meanwhile, he just got back from seoul last week for his two latest addition...

bearing these guitars made him one super happy chap

orlina glass

2009-02-27T21:58:00.006+08:00

it was such a privilege to be able to visit the workshop/gallery of one of the most respectable filipino artist... mr ramon orlina! thanks to mr ivan co who made the visit possible...

i learned that he is married to a malay-chinese lady, who was so kind and hospitable during our visit. she showed us how the glass sculptures are meticulously being made. here are some of my favorites:

this is the mother & child

the martial arts men

our purchase: the angel

i would love to have that giant ring behind... sadly its not for sale!

no pen needed

2008-12-12T15:26:00.009+08:00

by year 2010, your green philippine passport will no longer be acknowledged even if its not yet expired. so for those who are planning to get a US or Schengen visa (which is usually valid for many years) you may want to have your passports renewed first.

the new passport looks like this

its now machine-readable and the data are NOT anymore handwritten

applying for the new passport is easy. just go to passport direct website and follow the instructions. you may opt to use their door to door pick-up and delivery service for a hassle free procedure. it will only cost you Php1,300. however, you will still be required to make a personal appearance at DFA once your papers are ready. don't worry, once you applied through the door to door policy, your exact schedule will be announced and you will save a lot of time from waiting in line.

last wednesday, the whole family was scheduled to appear at the DFA office. since i was still bed resting, i was not able to go... anyway, dave came home with a teeny weeny rant.

before entering the DFA compound, a vendor approached and told them that they will be needing pens inside. since they did not bring any, the happy vendor was able to make business with them: one pen each. so they went inside, waited for their turn, signed some papers, print their thumb marks and done... the ballpen was not used at all! the funny thing was the ballpen transactions happened in front of a posh-looking guard (those wearing barongs instead of the regular uniforms). that manong gurad did not even bother to shoo-away the vendors and let them fool the people. i bet part of the profit goes to this manong guard. i know its just a pen but the thought of blatantly deceiving other people for money disturbs me. so people, you DO NOT NEED to buy a pen for your appearance.

SALE Alert!

2008-12-05T13:18:00.005+08:00

warehouse sale from Thursday, 11 December 2008 to Sunday, 21 December 2008

at the Agility Center (Ninoy Aquino Avenue, Paranaque City)

Christmas Kidz Kraze 2008

Up to 80% Off on Branded Toys, Clothes & Shoes

Warehouse Sale @ Libis

Date: November 14-15, 21-22, 28-30, and December 5-7, 12-14, and 19-23, 2008

Time: 9AM to 6PM (Saturday & Sunday), 1pm to 6pm (Weekdays)

Cash Basis Only

Telephone Number: +632 743 1658

Creative Trade Center Compound

#6 Calle Industria St. Bagumbayan, Quezon City

Natori Factory Sale plus bit of Luxury Sale

15 Comet, Bel Air 2, Makati City

Friday, 12 December 2008

2pm to 8pm

Saturday, 13 December 2008 and Sunday, 14 December 2008

10am to 8pm

Shop for: Cocktail Dresses, Lingerie, Evening wear, Bejeweled bags, Leather bags, Reasort wear, Casual wear, Sports wear, Active wear, Shoes, Accessories

Available brands: NATORI, BCBGMax Azaria, Marc Jacobs, Chloe, Diane Von Furstenberg, Max Mara, Miu Miu, Bebe, Burburry, Missoni, Dior, Blu Marine Herve Leger Gucci, Kate Spade Tory Burch, Manolo Blahnik, Prada, Bamboo Path Loungewear, Juicy Couture, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Balenciaga, Valentino and more.

You can contact Carissa for more information at the following numbers, 0917 8588905 / 8443396.

BOOKSALE!!!

2008-12-03T23:22:00.003+08:00

Dec. 5-8, 2008. Scholastic Book Fairs Warehouse, #70 C. Raymundo Ave., Rosario, Pasig City.

Dec. 2-5, 2008. Scholastic-Grolier Head Office, 27F Pacific Star Bldg., Makati Ave. cor. G. Puyat Ave. Makati City

2 Crabs for 2 Years

2008-12-03T17:30:00.008+08:00

last week, dave & i celebrated our 2nd year wedding anniversary... since i was still feeling a little sick, we decided to have a simple celebration... we headed to rockwell for crustasia and ordered crabs to our delight! we had 2 crabs, 1 kilo each....

the new roasted garlic crab

our all time fave singaporean black pepper crab

our simot table

Ground Level, R1

Power Plant Mall

Rockwell Drive cor. Estrella St.

Makati, Metro Manila

Phone Number: (63 2) 728-5463, (63 2) 631-3857

after our overeating, we saw twilight...such a great movie! now i really want to read the book!

the suite life of zack & cody

2008-11-26T11:05:00.009+08:00

i've been under the weather since last weekend... braving the frequent manila drizzle made it worst. i thought having the flu shot will keep me safe but it was not enough. i still need to be careful so i won't catch the virus. anyway, it did not stop me from getting around last weekend.

dave & i had lunch at pancake house last saturday for zack's christening reception. dining there made me remember how good their tacos are. the shells are crispy but smooth, not the kind that may bruise your gums, and the fillings are refreshing.

while i still don't have copies of pictures of the christening, here is a picture of the proud kuya/ahya, cody.

i find the names of cody & zack cute... it was inspired by disney's the suite life of zack & cody. i do not know how popular it is here in manila but i am one of their avid viewers. i like that it's light and funny.

the suite life of zack & cody aires at disney channel, daily at 10pm asia.

wanders

2008-11-16T10:31:00.006+08:00

after camping at cardinal santos yesterday, dave & i went to pagcor to watch wanders. we did not buy tickets, we were invited to see it by doc dave's grateful patient. thank you marichu! we're glad we went to see it. the show was awesome!

taking of photos were absolutely a no-no

so i went to pagcor's website and lifted some of the official photos...

Every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday

at PAGCOR Grand Theater

Airport Casino

Parañaque City, Metro Manila

Philippines

Ticket prices: Php3000 , Php2500 , Php2000 , Php1500 , Php1200

Tickets are available at: Ticket World

Ticket Hotline: 891-9999

http://www.ticketworld.com.ph

Presented by: PAGCOR Casino Filipino

Produced by: Cirque Asia International

i'm going to the rihanna & chris brown concert after all

2008-11-16T09:11:00.006+08:00

charchar, who's going with me, is currently having a crash course ... hahahaha

ya-ta!

2008-11-12T20:54:00.007+08:00

follow the tv series heroes. one of the things that amuse me with this show is the character of hiro nakamura, portrayed by masi oka. he happens to remind me of my friend jeff...

if anyone has old pictures of jeff, pls post it here... i think they look more alike when jeff was still wearing his glasses and when he was chubbier...

along came sony ...

2008-11-12T18:44:00.009+08:00

jeff came today... with him is his new toy-- a sony cybershot T77. it works like magic! we tried to take tiny mushrooms sprouting from my lawn ...

i was so amazed at how sharp the image turned out. can you imagine the actual size of this?

macro mode

we got carried away so we clicked away ...

we took pictures of my garden which was designed by my childhood friend, jeff. he graduated with a botany major in ust but is a practicing banker. his sidelines include landscaping gardens, painting, and now, photography.

phaleonopsis orchid

grill or be grilled

2008-11-10T22:19:00.012+08:00

my weekend was packed but fruitful...

11.07.08, friday... father's day at ylc. the kids brought their dads along saw a movie at promenade, greenhills cinema. it was the school's way of getting the kids & their dads bond. we had to be at the cinema at 10am to catch the first showing. going to the movie house at mid-morning made me feel nostalgic. dave & i would catch a movie instead of going home when classes get suspended during my early college days... now, we hardly have the energy to hit the movie house at an early time... anyway, we went to see madagascar 2. while we were watching it, i realized the school should've screened the film first before letting it become our official father's day movie. there were many scenes there when the animals would hit an old lady. stealing was also made as a way to solve a problem (i will not mention how and why). it did not look very nice. in fact i think it was rude... i like the 1st madagascar movie...

after the movie, val, joe & i had another trip to pepper steak. this time, joe's sizzling chicken looked like it just went on a diet! meanwhile, i had an ok experience with my peppered beef steak...

after stuffing ourselves, joe & i headed to the warehouse sale of toy kingdom. we were surprised with the amount of people that were shopping. backing out was not on my mind since i was stuffed and i was really determined to finish my toy shopping that day (i started my toy shopping last month!). since there were so much people as determined as us, we had to use large toy boxes (balikbayan sized) as our carts because they ran out! we got so tensed when we saw the marked down prices. i felt like getting all the toys i see & put it all in out cart-ton... how come i never heard of this sale before? the toy kingdom warehouse sale started last year and will continue to run once a year.

loooooooooooong lines

despite being in line for almost 2 hours... i left megamall terrifically happy with my purchases...

before going home, i stopped by dave's clinic at makati... picked him up, & went to joel torre's... again! i noticed they have new dimmed lights and lanterns therefore, making the place appear more cozy and less of a carinderia. as usual, the place was packed, their chicken cooked just right!

11.08.08, saturday... had some time for my gardening before it started raining. after lunch, i had our christmas decors out already and put up our tree.... decors are not all up yet but i am getting there...

dave & i went to greenbelt to attend the anticipated mass. after receiving communion, i saw tisha silang of the amazing race asia season 3. being an avid fan of the tv show, i so wanted to ask her who won the race (there are 4 teams left now), and if they went out of asia like last year's race. i noticed they have not gone far this time. they have only been to taiwan, thailand, cambodia, idia, and hk-macau so far.... anyway, i was not able to talk to her as i had christ in my mouth that time... waiting for her at the end of the celebration would be too showbiz so there, i controlled myself. hahaha!

thinking that there might be a lot of people watching movies that night (it's a saturday!) we rushed to the ticket counter to get our 007 tickets.... as expected, lines were long... we were lucky, we were able to get the last 2 seats available which were in the front row!!

having our insurance to get in the show later that night, we headed for dinner. when we got to 2nd floor greenblet, we got cofused because we could not find cascada. i did not realized marciano's replaced it. i liked eating at cascada. i was already thinking of getting their beef tenderloin skewer! now i can't have it anymore... huhuhu .... we ended up at oody's. we had seafood tom yum noodle soup, chicken satay and the crab rice. nothing was spectacular except for my thai iced tea.

11.09.08, sunday ... went to my mom's house. since i was coming, they prepared a crustacean lunch menu. yum! i like going home ... i miss home... i miss my parents...

my family & i spent some time malling in the afternoon... my sister & her husband joined us too. since they are expecting anytime soon, we went looking for what else can be bought for the baby. then i saw some toys i bought at the toy sale being sold at it's regular price at rustan's. yipee!

dinner was fun because it's been years since i went to sakura yakiniku, arnaiz ave. i still have the same qualms about this place. they need to fix the interiors! they also need to change their shabby tables and chairs. if it's not because of the fact that they serve the best yakiniku, i would have put this restaurant in my black list.... seriously, their meat is so tender and it did help me forget about the ambiance. they have set meals for 3 people that includes soup, japanese rice, beef, and dessert. i had the US prime beef set at Php1,700++. the price may be high but i promise you will go to cloud 9 after an experience with their super tender beef. my dad & i were so intense with the grilling that we did not realize we finished the meat for 3 persons! it's that good you may forget to share!! make sure you're also ready to smell like the steak you just had after dinner!

Sakura Yakiniku,

02-844-4489,

1020 Pasay Road,

Makati City

YAKU at the Podium

2008-11-05T19:35:00.006+08:00

sometime last month, i visited the podium & met with two of my teacher friends. i rarely go there but it was the venue for the painting exhibit of my 2 tutees, Joaquin & Miguel, who are 7 & 5 years old respectively. so there goes my excuse for my little expedition.

i find it interesting to view paintings made by kids. they are almost always pleasant to the eyes, mostly with innocent inspirations...

6 paintings by Joaquin & Miguel

after viewing the exhibits, we went to YAKU japanese grill. it's our first time to try this restaurant and it was pretty ok. when we first entered the restaurant, we got the expensive vibe because of the dark, cozy ambiance and the wood-y interior. but when we saw their menu, prices were very reasonable. our total bill did not even reach Php1000! the specialty YAKU is the yakitori... but since i got an upset stomach that afternoon, i did not bother to eat anything oily.

the place was pretty packed on a thursday night.

caramelized dilis for appetizer...

we also had japanese veggie salad... it was not cam worthy so we skipped photographing it. the portion was too little and it had a very plain look. i did not like it.

anyway, a japanese dinner will never be complete without having california maki. i thought it was good. the tobiko were very crunchy. i love it when they use mango instead of avocado... very philipinized...veryy refreshing!

we only had 2 main entree:

tofu steak- we all agreed that i was a little too buttery

yakiniku beef-it was actually good! the meat was tender, not much litid

happy customers

substitute for white castle

2008-11-03T19:01:00.006+08:00

argh! i'm craving for white castle cheeseburgers!!!

meanwhile, i remember going to the movies at G4 and having mini burgers just like white castle's. it's called slammers. it's probably been around for a long time already but i never get to notice them until a recent visit at the food choices.

the burgers aren't fab but it's ok... don't forget to ask the vendor not to put the pickles and mustard if you're not a fan -- like me.

on pepper lunch & pepper steak

2008-11-03T15:54:00.007+08:00

i finally got to try pepper steak at promenade last week. it was good and cheap. i wanted to refrain from eating rice but my friend who brought me there said that their rice is the best. so i had to try it. she was not lying when she said its good. the rice was topped with generous bits of corn, some special sauce and pepper. it goes really well with their sizzling meat...

hamburger steak rages from Php140-Php160 only

check out anton's flickr for more pix and prices.

although i had a good time and was really satisfied with the food at pepper steak, i think the portions and the meat are more premium at the pepper lunch in rockwell.

it's a bit on the pricey side for a self service resto but it's worth your money!

a trip to the hospital

2008-11-03T13:12:00.008+08:00

last friday, i accompanied my sister to cardinal santos hospital in greenhills. she has to go to her ob-gyne on a weekly basis now because her pregnancy is already at full term. meaning she may already give birth anytime soon.

after her routine check-up, we decided to probe the lamaze room which she will be admitted to once she is in labor. i was really excited because the doctor seemed to have described it to be so pretty & special (she even stressed that only in that room you will have a comfortable rocking chair... ). so off we went to the delivery section of the hospital... upon reaching the restricted doors to the delivery room, a friendly nurse greeted us. we asked if it's possible to see the lamaze room... she was very eager to help and requested us to stay put as she went to ask permission. she came back with a pretty smile on her face. she apologized because we had to put on sterile scrubs, slippers and hair caps to enter the premises. i didn't expect the probing would be so complicated! but the nurse was very pleasant and i had to give it to her for accommodating us in spite the extra work that she needed to do for us.

i got more excited after i put on the outfit. as we were walking the aisle of the delivery section, i noticed how clean it was. it looks like it's newly painted but without the smell.

first stop of our mini field trip was the pink individual labor rooms where you can opt to stay if you're not getting the lamaze room. it's a little cramped but hey, they have tv sets on each room. most of all, it's clean. across the labor rooms is the recovery room. i noticed it had many beds but only one is occupied. many did not want to deliver on halloween eve, i thought. so, that means, you have to share the room with many other mommies just in case it's a "ho-dit" to give birth.

the next room we saw was the lamaze room. ok, this is going to be the first rant of the trip... i was not impressed. maybe the doc exaggerated on how special the room was... or my imagination just gone wild... i expected it to be "baby roomish" with all the fancy stuff but it was not. the room was huge though, clean but very spartan. it has its own toilet, a gym ball, a tv set and the rocking chair... made of wood and is very plain... no cushion or any soft fabric... when you're at labor, you might want to sit comfortably right?! or a mother would not want to sit on a rocking chair at that time anymore... hmmm...i guess they know better! anyway, in the lamaze room is a special bed also. it can be adjusted so the mother-to-be can deliver right there and then whenever the need arises. she does not have to be transfered to the delivery room anymore. i'd say that's very convenient!

after seeing the lamaze room, we were joined by another friendly nurse. who enthusiastically told us whichever rooms we choose, nurses like them will be around at all time to assist the mommies. that cordial service will be given regardless of the room. being so emotional, i had to tell them how nice of them to be so friendly and accommodating. with all those warm people in the hospital, i am sure to get well in no time.

back on the mini tour, we then went to see 2 delivery rooms. one was scary enough for me because of the huge round lights on top of the bed and the other one looks more petrifying. it still has those 2 huge spaceship looking lights on top of the bed but has a lot of machines and wirings near the bed. the nurses said the second delivery room is used for complicated birthing and or CS delivery. i sure don't want to be in that terrifying room...

our tour ended pleasantly. i learned quite a number of things:

cardinal santos hospital has very clean facilities.
cardinal santos hospital has very very accommodating and friendly people at service.
you can have anesthesia even at lamaze room.
cardinal santos has stylish toilets (surprisingly better than those of the malls).

just when i thought mine was the best

2008-10-30T10:52:00.009+08:00

waaah! the new macbook is now out in the market! it looks so delicious-o! there's a lot of new features and the new design looks really cool. it is made of alloy and is surprisingly lighter. i am lusting for it now! ...

coming to my senses, i don't need a new one.... my macbook just had an upgrade a few months ago and i thought that it's functioning great until i saw their website... argh! now my mac looks kawawa next to the new one.

furthermore, i just read from chuvaness about this...

SPAM

2008-10-28T18:15:00.007+08:00

ahhh... who doesn't love SPAM?! as a child, i remember having it if i don't like our ulam at home. we made sure we had stocks in the pantry all the time just in case we need some rescuing from the eeky sibut that mom would put in our soup... hehehe

anyway, spam has evolved and has more variety than ever ...

credits to royce william for this spam collection image

SPAMJAM, a manila-based cafe/diner, was once opened (i remember eating there at glorietta 4) they served all sorts of spam -- spam burger, spam spaghetti, spam nuggets, spam salad... but it closed not long after they opened... i think it was too pricey for something that can be created at home.

photo from chotda / K Santos

for those who do not know, cafe bola is also serving spam. they call it the spamwich. i tried to copy it at home by adding honey to my regular spam but i can only come close, still not exactly the same... they must have a secret ingredient i cannot seem to guess...

happy spamming!

INTERESTING FACT: spam.budwin.net has reviews of how all of these different SPAM® types taste!

http://www.spam.com/

din tai fung

2008-10-24T13:03:00.008+08:00

my friends are going to taipei. the only thing that i advised them to do is to eat at din tai fung. my earliest recollection of eating good xiao long pao would be from this place.

this place is so popular that it is always packed with a lot of curious tourists and locals alike.

when dining here, don't forget to try their red bean buns as well. i tried it the first time early this year at seoul and it was delightful. when i had my first bite, i had to keep quiet. i had to savour its yummy taste. i felt like i had to be alone with the taste for awhile... hay! arls bring home some of these for me pls!

branches all over the world includes: taipei, seoul, beijing, shenzhen, HK, shanghai, tianjin, tokyo, nagoya, kyoto, osaka, singapore, jakarta, KL, sydney, and even LA.

when will someone bring this to manila???

kiehl's sale

2008-10-24T10:38:00.004+08:00

you should try their ultimate strength hand salve

it works perfectly for me since i do a lot of gardening stuff without wearing gloves... but even if you don't do gardening, you will still enjoy using this product since it does make your hands soft and smooth...

enjoy shopping!

nights in rodanthe

2008-10-24T09:30:00.004+08:00

dave & i had a movie date yesterday for my bday... we saw nights in rodanthe. i was excited because it's going to be another nicholas sparks novel turned movie. he has always been very effective and moving when it comes to narrating love stories...

so we went to powerplant thinking that they still offer discounts on tickets with movies starting before 5pm during weekdays... but it was not like that anymore, at least for yesterday, because our ticket for the 3:45pm showing was on a regular tag. anyway, it didn't bother me paying more because powerplant movie houses have the most comfortable chairs, at least for me...

going back to the movie, dave expected me to weep during the movie, & i surely didn't let him down. hihi! i was trying to control it but i just couldn't keep my tears from falling. i actually went out of the movie still having a heavy heart. it's like my chest wanted to burst. it's really a nice love movie. it reminded me of how it was to feel in love the first time. the "kilig" moments... it's not that i don't feel loved anymore, i do! it's just it's really different when the feeling was new...

i enjoyed the story, it was very simple but very real and up to date (even when the book was written many years ago). so to those who have not yet seen the movie, go out and see it. let me remind you though, it's not going to be a feel good movie. in fact it has a tragic ending, (it's nicholas sparks' signature... so i am not spoiling anything here...)but i am sure that you will enjoy the movie.

french kiss

2008-10-20T23:38:00.003+08:00

i highly recommend french kiss pastries for your cake needs... look at this adorable cake bop made for my sister's baby shower yesterday... isn't it lovely?

click here for more pix

contact bop at 09178321516

camp-out 2008

2008-10-20T00:27:00.017+08:00

We just culminated the first semester of the school year with our annual trick or treat & camp-out. this is one of my favorite event in school. i always look forward to who has the most creative costumes.

check out this yaya wearing funny glasses

do you already have a costume??

Funny Shoes VS Knock-out Shoes

2008-10-16T11:11:00.006+08:00

I find it hard to buy myself a pair of nice shoes. It's not that I am picky but I need to be really comfortable with it (I am almost flat footed!). Another factor is that I am not keen on buying expensive pairs because I just don't see it as an investment (unlike bags). That is why I need extraaaa time to prepare for an event, in case I need a new pair.

some interesting pairs I found...

feel like a dutch with this clogs by Melissa

since Melissa is made of plastic, it is perfect for the rainy season! hehehe

would you wear this if you have a daughter??

they call it the father-daughter dancing shoes...

these may be by Manolo Blahnik but whoever thinks these are flattering is lying... these actually reminds me of cows!

inspired by Marimekko patterns, spring/summer 2008 collection

by Belgian, Martin Margiela

honestly... I'm not so sure where my stand is with these Chloe boots

Dior gladiator shoes

as much as I so want this pair, I don't think I can last long with those heels...

I like these too! I think they are comfy!

Chanel Spring 2006

by Marni, Spring 2008 ... I hope these are comfy because I am so loving it!!!

Sale Alert!

2008-10-16T10:36:00.004+08:00

it's another weekend packed with sssssale!

Megamall is having their 3-day sale starting tom... SM advantage card holders get additional 10% when you pay between 10am-12nn... additional 5% when you pay using your bdo credit card. isn't that a bargain?!

enjoy shopping!!

jealousy can drive you nuts!

2008-10-11T13:44:00.005+08:00

i was going to check my mail when i saw this featured news from yahoo.com. the title went: "cambodian couple saw house in half in divorce". it got me seriously curious because of the photo. it says in the article that the couple was married for 18 years until husband accused wife to be having an affair, which the later denies. she said her husband, with the help of his relatives brought saws to cut their house in half. she now owns the remaining half of the house.

very strange! only a mad person is capable of doing this. i wonder what he was thinking while he was cutting his house... & what were the relatives thinking?! or were they thinking?

would you be willing to this for a friend?

would you do this to your pet?

2008-10-10T15:30:00.008+08:00

halloween is fast approaching and i am already panicking on what to wear... in my quest to find ideas from the net, i saw these interesting pictures.

i don't own any pet.

i cannot understand why any owner would want to dress them this way. (although i think it's funny, but kawawa naman.)

royce is coming!

2008-10-10T12:13:00.002+08:00

today i learned that Royce is opening at Rockwell next month! i feel manila is so blessed now! last night i heard on the radio that prices of milk, flour, and rice are also going down in time for christmas.... whoever is behind this, you're doing the Lord's work! Kudos!!

meanwhile, i am going to start doing my christmas list... i hope to finish shopping before december approaches.

The Top Ten Reasons Why Dark Chocolate Is Good For You

2008-10-08T13:17:00.002+08:00

1. Dark Chocolate at least 70% Coco is much better for you than originally suggested, it's full of antioxidants.

2. Dark chocolate, taken in moderation, 2 squares a day can help with keeping your bowels moving regularly.

3. If taken in moderate amounts, dark chocolate has been said to help with insomnia.

4. Chocolate is also said to be a mood enhancer. It can act as a mild anti-depressant.

5. Chocolate is also said to be an aphrodisiac.

6. It can also be a confidence booster.

7. Mild and white chocolate can be considered as a form of calcium.

8. Soldiers use chocolate as a slow release food when they are out in combat.

9. It's used as an antidote for weakness and exhaustion.

10. Coco butter can be used as a dressing for wounds.

Source: The Top Ten Site

I found this interesting article about dark chocolates... I had to find justification for my undying love for it. Most people give me the look whenever I choose dark over any sweeter chocolate variety... precisely my point!!

I am happy because dark chocolates are now more accessible because of its popularity as an antioxidant. I used to feel like i'm in some sort of a treasure hunt in our local groceries before. But now, there are a lot of brands to choose from. Let me make some suggestions:

I once brought a box of this to school... Everyone loved it! I'm sure you will too!

number one on my list is Royce' Chocolate in Bitter flavor. No need to fly to Japan, HK or Singapore anymore. It's now available in Konbini Store along Connecticut St. Greenhills. No chocolate comes even near to the experience in eating these wonderful treat. These little blocks of chocolate literally melts in your mouth like a snowflake while you enjoy the burst of heavenly cocoa flavor. At Php620 per box, it is a lot more expensive compared to the prices abroad. But it will spare you the travel fare & time.

Next on the list is the ever dependable Godiva Chocolatier.

These are really a treat! The combination is really a genius. The real cherries will make you feel like there's a little tinge of liquor to your usual dark chocolate. Once you start munching these tiny pieces, you will surely find it hard to stop. Each box will cost you HK$52.

There are a lot of good reviews about the Godiva Dark Chocolate truffles but I have not tasted them... anyone willing to send some to me??

Some people say that Meiji Black is for the newb because it's not cocoa percentage is not as high as the other dark chocolates. But it does not really bother me to say that I like it. It's taste is simple but still very pleasant -- sweet for a dark bar yet bitter for a milk bar... getz? These are easily available at the local grocery stores and are very cheap. A bar should not go beyond Php50!!!

Another sweet dark chocolate is from Dove. Despite the fact that it's not pure dark, I still love it. Once you put it in your mouth, you will feel it's smoothness and creaminess while it melts in your mouth. Unlike any other chocolates, it has no aftertaste. Great for ending a nice tasty meal. Also available in miniatures at Duty Free.

the best tonkatsu

2008-10-03T16:10:00.006+08:00

ever heard of Saboten? it's a tokyo based restaurant that specializes in serving the best tonkatsu ever... crispy on the outside, tender & juicy inside.

i had the chance to dine in here with my in laws when we visited ahya in south korea.

after odering, we were given these:

a cup of tea and sesame seeds that came with an interesting stick

not knowing what to do, we discreetly looked at the other tables & see what they were doing with their tools. everybody seemed to be mushing the seeds with their stick. and so we joined the rest of the koreans with the grinding business...

here's ahya seriously doing his little chore... but not knowing what for...

later we found out, the seeds were to be put with the tonkatsu sauce. the ground sesame gave a kick to the aroma of the sauce.

my dish came out with salad, miso soup & rice. i thought it was quite heavy and we weren't that hungry from our late lunch so i shared with my mom in law...

here's what we had:

fried shrimps & the famous pork cutlet

Saboten Restaurant is in Shinsegae Department Store, Gangnam

THE HILLS ARE ALIVE...

2008-10-02T18:21:00.004+08:00

it's almost christmas once again. chances are, the movie the sound of music will appear on tv again. do you ever wonder what happened to the von trapp family? where they are now? sure julie andrews is still visible once in a while but what about the children? and the captain? did they land on any hollywood movie after their sound of music stint?

i did thought about the von trapp children sometimes but never made the effort to really find out what had happened to them. today, i received an email from my friend, lora, & this is what i found out about the von trapp children...

They were having a reunion after 40 years

and all were looking healthy and amazingly well...

i think friedrich looks very good... isn't he a head turner? (number 2)
to find out more about them click here

"Ben's Burjer"

2008-10-01T14:22:00.007+08:00

I just heard that Ben's Burjer opened another branch in mandaluyong (outside wack wack).... If you kept track of the ZTE scandal, i bet you're familiar with the "burjer".

The diner was made famous after former COMELEC chair, Ben Abalos (who apparently denies his involvement in the scandal), referred to his burger as "the burjer worth dying for". He is said that Mr. Jun Lozada frequent Wack Wack Golf & Country Club and ordered his burger.

Ben's Burjer

Barangka Drive, Mandaluyong City

(next to McDonald's)

Hamburjer : P50.00

Cheeseburjer : P60.00

Double Burjer : P90.00

Double Burjer with Jeese, este, Cheese : P110.00

another reason to go to powerplant mall....

2008-09-30T22:56:00.004+08:00

did you know that chicken inasal originated from this place??

moreover, i think they will also sell napoleones during the fair.

i learned about this wonderful pastry from my bacolod based roommate during my stint in beijing. this sugar glazed croissant-like cream puff is definitely friendly to the palate. i am not a big fan of pinoy dessert, but this one is something i really enjoy having. especially when its fresh from bacolod.

Proclamation 1625

2008-09-25T00:46:00.006+08:00

Non-Working Holiday (October 1, 2008)

Per Proclamation 1625: October 1, 2008(Wednesday) is declared a Regular Holiday throughout the country in observance of Eid'l Fitr (Feast of Ramadhan)

Yey! now there's a reason to get out of your house & explore! see a movie, try a new resto, start christmas shopping!

did you like west side story?

2008-09-24T13:37:00.005+08:00

i learned that it was an adaptation from a film a very loooong time ago. i did not see that. i know not much of it (only the song "i feel pretty" was from it). it was my first time to see west side story... on stage.

i was excited because christian bautista plays the lead role. he is good looking, by the way. anyway, since i did not know much what to expect, i went to consult mr google. there i saw a lot of reviews about the manila cast. they said christian (playing tony) and karylle's (as maria) singing was not so good but it gets better towards the end... hmmm ano yun?!

from my point of view, the cast can still improve. christian's voice was ok but still lacks that oomph factor. karylle's singing on the other hand was good (contrary to the reviews)! except that sometimes she forgets the puerto rican accent.

so whose performance caught my attention? i like anita... she's got real talent! the words are clear whenever she sings. not to mention that her acting was also believable...

overall, it was a mediocre show -- good to see but nothing really great about it.

20 yummiest (commercially baked) cakes

2008-09-21T14:27:00.009+08:00

recently, i found this inquirer page tucked somewhere in my brother-in-law's room. the pictures looked really very tempting.

as i was reading, i got very pleased to find one of my top fave cheesecake in the list. it's the one from jack's loft. it'd very soft, rich and the sweetness is just right.

i'm sure many of you have seen this in the inquirer butfor those of you who missed it, i hope this will suffice... enjoy!

By Vangie Baga-Reyes

Philippine Daily Inquirer

As we promised, after giving you the city’s yummiest privately baked cakes, here’s another lip-smacking list of the best-tasting commercial cakes available around town.

The list is based on recommendations of some of Manila’s noted food experts, food writers, foodies and cake enthusiasts.

While there are a lot more cakes that could be included on the list, Inquirer Lifestyle had to trim it down to the more popular and accessible.

So, take your pick and get a delicious visual kick from these calorie-laden cakes.

1. Tarta de Santa Teresa

What: A tempting dessert of sponge cake with light yema filling topped with yema balls and shaved almonds. Sweet but unbelievably light.

Price: P695/whole; P120/slice. One day advance order.

Where: Alba’s Restaurant, 38 Polaris St., Bel Air, Makati, tel. 8966950; One Luna Lifestyle Center, Eastwood, Libis, QC, tel. 6312216; and Tomas Morato corner Scout Lozano, QC, tel. 9251912.

2. NY Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake

What: Baked cheesecake made with premium cream cheese and covered with chocolate chip cookies. Here’s the real treat: the crust is also made of choco chip cookies.

Price: P308 for a slice. Whole cake available by special order for P1,400. Order at least a day in advance. For pick-up only.

Where: Chelsea Market and Café, Serendra, Bonifacio Global City, tel. 9097011. Open: 12 nn-11 pm

3. King Oscar Cake

What: A luscious cross between sans rival and brazo de mercedes, cloaked with crunchy almond flakes and decked with sweet strawberries.

Price: P846/whole. Order a day in advance. The cake can also be customized according to your desired size, including for weddings.

Where: The Peninsula Boutique, Manila Peninsula Hotel, Makati, tel. 8875747 and 8872888 loc. 6771/6769

4. Mango Torte

What: Inlaid with generous fresh mango balls laced with light syrup, this perfectly sweet and chilled dessert is a heavenly experience. It has thick layers of sweetened whipped cream on a chewy-crunchy walnut crust.

Price: P900/large (14-inch round); P760/small (11-inch round). Available daily.

Where: Paz Reyes-Cuerva Bakeshop, 2/F Petron, Dasmariñas Village Edsa corner Arnaiz Avenue, Makati, tels. 8440966 and 8448278; 26 Hidalgo St., San Lorenzo Village, Makati, tels. 8170200 and 8176286. Orders may also be picked up at Ayala Alabang Village with tel. 8509182 and 8425532.

5. Baked Cheesecake

What: Classic New York-style baked cheesecake that tastes delightfully rich and creamy, but light in consistency. It’s dusted with a thick layer of Bianca powdered sugar.

Price: P750/whole; P75/slice.

Where: Ilustrado Restaurant, 744 Calle Real del Palacio, Intramuros, tel. 5272345; Cluster Bldg A-1 Central Precinct Westgate, Alabang, Muntinlupa, tel. 7711276; MetCafe by Ilustrado, 1/F Metropolitan Museum, Roxas Blvd., Manila, tel. 5361566; Café Ilustrado 4/F SM Makati, tel. 8186760; and Pasteleria Ilustrado Bakeshop at Alabang Town Center, Festival Mall, Gateway Araneta Center, SM Mall of Asia, and California Garden Square in Mandaluyong.

6. Tiramisu

What: Layers of sponge cake drenched with Kahlua liqueur, filled with mascarpone cream and dusted with cocoa powder.

Price: P1,200/large; P850/mini; P145/slice

Where: Goodies N’ Sweets, 108 Carpark Bldg., Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan, tel. 7228740; 4/F Shangri-La Plaza, Edsa, Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong, tel. 6830411; and 4/L Rustans Makati, Ayala Avenue., Makati, tel. 8133739 loc. 250.

7. Rustic Apple Pie with Butterscotch Sauce

What: Baked fresh every day, this rich and full-flavored apple pie has a nice pecan crust that compliments the sweet filling. The sugary crust comes with a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg and is studded with pecan nuts, then drizzled with butterscotch sauce.

Price: P1,250/whole; P158/slice. Whole cake should be ordered a day in advance. Open 10:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m.

Where: Angels’ Kitchen, 57 Connecticut St., North East Greenhills, San Juan, tel. 7218822 or 7441018

8. Torta de los Reyes

What: Awaken your desire for chocolate with this choco-sans rival cake. It has six layers of wafers sealed with chocolate ganache and buttercream.

Price: P690/big (8x6); P460/small (8x4); P160/petite (4x4); P85/slice. Available every day.

Where: Aristocrat Bakeshop, 432 San Andres, Malate, Manila, tel 5247671; 146 Jupiter corner Saturn Sts., Bel-Air Village, Makati, tel. 8995035; No. 70 Pinoy Shopper Mall Scout Gadica corner Tomas Morato and Scout De Guia Sts., QC, tel. 3711040; Level 4 Robinsons Place Manila, Ermita, tel. 5233923; 2/F SM City, San Lazaro F. Huerta corner A.H. Lacson Sts., Sta. Cruz, Manila, tel. 7862664.

9. Flourless Chocolate Cake

What: Melt-in-your-mouth Belgian choco cake that’s rich and dense and glazed with premium Valhrona chocolate, an ideal way to cap a hearty meal.

Price: P1,600/large; P905/medium; and P265/small. Order two days in advance

Where: Sinfully Circles, Makati Shangri-La Hotel, Makati, tel. 8138888 ext. 7566

10. Cashew Dome Cake

What: A dome like no other! Cashew nuts and chocolate chips in Amaretto cream encased in a cashew nut cake covered with white chocolate ganache.

Price: P895/whole; P150/slice

Where: Cheesecake Etc. G1B Citywalk Eastwood Cyberpark, Libis, QC, tel. 9139194; The Podium, tel. 6873646; SM Megamall, tel. 6830704; Tomas Morato, QC, tel. 9290725; Banawe, QC, tel. 7408588; Mall of Asia, tel. 5560766; Bluewave, Macapagal Ave., Pasay, tel. 8331916; Glorietta 4, tel. 7528211; and Robinson’s Place, Ermita, tel. 4042229.

11. Sansrival

What: Sink your teeth into this delectable dessert made of crunchy layers of not-too-sweet meringue with rich butter cream filling, studded with just the right amount of cashew nuts.

Price: P475/whole

Where: The Purple Oven, 63 Saint Peter St., Oranbo, Pasig, tel. 6314221, 9101363 and 9101364

12. Cashew Toffee

What: Chocolate chiffon cake filled with creamy chocolate mousse, iced with buttercream and adorned with cashew toffee bits and chopped cashew nuts.

Price: P675 for a nine-inch cake. Petite at P250

Where: Sugarhouse Bakeshop, 2nd Level Veranda, Bldg. A, SM Megamall, tel. 634-0610; Perea, G/F Mayfair Mansion, 116 Perea St. Legaspi Village, Makati, tel. 818-8996; Level P-1 Powerplant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati, tel. 898-1321; and 2nd floor Glorietta 3, Ayala Center, Makati, tel. 840-1074.

13. Banoffee Pie

What: Surprise your palate with this sweet banana slices and chocolate ganache under a mound of whipped cream on a crust made of Graham crackers. It’s worth every calorie.

Price: P500/whole

Where: The Purple Oven, 63 Saint Peter St., Oranbo, Pasig, tel. 6314221, 9101363 and 9101364

14. Polly’s Chocolate Cake

What: Rich, intense chocolate resonates in every bite of this delightful creation. An old-fashioned confection—moist chocolate cake with sticky chocolate fudge icing that’s smooth and not cloyingly sweet.

Price: P500 for 8x12 cake; P560 with caramel filling

Where: Polly’s Specialty Cakes and Desserts, Shell Select Magallanes, tel. 8527903; and Pick-up point for Makati is at 8826 Sampaloc Avenue, San Antonio Village, Makati, tel. 8247612 and 4014588

15. Calamansi Torte

What: Layers of crisp nut meringue discs with tart calamansi curd, finished with crème chantilly icing.

Price: P1,000/whole; P120/slice. Whole cake should be ordered two days in advance.

Where: Bagoong Club Restaurant, 122 Scout Dr. Lazcano, Sacred Heart, QC, 9290544 and 9295450

16. Mucha Leche

What: Meaning “lots of milk,” this sponge cake tastes like pastillas de leche, but made special with white chocolate and buttercream.

Price: P475

17. Strawberry Cheesecake

What: Made with premium cream cheese that promises not to leave you too full, this smooth and dense cheesecake gives you a choice of strawberry, blueberry or mango toppings.

Price: P2,010/whole; P168/slice

Where: Jack’s Loft F1 Bldg. Eastwood City, Citywalk, Libis, QC, tel. 4212048; 204 Wilson St., Greenhills, San Juan, tel. 7263582; East Wing, Robinsons Galleria, Ortigas, tel. 6372825; Level 3 The Block, SM North Edsa, 4420134; Level 2 Robinson’s Place, Midtown Malate Manila, tel. 5672023; and Trinoma Mall, Edsa, QC, tel. 9166300.

18. Chocolate Moist Cake

What: A super-moist dark, smooth chocolate sponge cake covered with rich chocolate ganache. It’s enough to give you a sugar rush!

Price: P360 for 6-inch round cake; P550 for 8-inch round cake; P70/slice

Where: Lobby Café, The Richmonde Hotel, 21 San Miguel Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig, tel. 6387777

19. Chocolate Cheesecake

What: A rather heavy sweet ending to a meal, this creamy cheesecake is crowned with a dark, solid chocolate layer dusted with cocoa powder and decorated with chocolate curls, edible gold leaf and apricot.

Price: P1,015/whole; P135/slice.

Where: Dusit Gourmet, Dusit Thani Manila, Ayala Center, Makati, tel. 8673333

20. Chocolate Sansrival Cake

What: Layers of crisp cashew meringue wafers alternately filled with rich mousseline butter cream and chocolate ganache filling. This delightful version of the traditional favorite is covered with the same velvety chocolate ganache generously covered with toasted cashew nuts.

Price: P440

Where: Goldilocks Bakeshops nationwide

Marciano's

2008-09-17T17:16:00.010+08:00

went to marciano's at greenblet last week. i had a great time! too bad i was not able to bring my cam so i just used my low-tech phone ....

the ambiance appears confident, expensive, classy & edgy. we were seated at the couch where you can have a little privacy with the anna sui-esque side curtains. it is pretty!

the staff are so so, some are eager and friendly but there was one waitress who rarely smiles... according to my husband, she looks a lot like jackie foster, pretty face, well-endowed both on the north and the south. she has that starlet quality! ... anyway, we ordered...

we had asparagus soup -- i loved the taste, the creaminess except that with my soup were those strands of fibers from the fresh veggie... other than that the soup was great.

for the main entree, we had thin crusted meat pizza and the very interesting lasagna. the tomato-ey sauce was good. complemented by a herby taste -- just like my pasta! (yabang! haha) i like the fact that they used mozzarella cheese in it... moreover, i was fascinated by the meat filling. instead of using ground beef, my wild guess is that they used corned beef. for those on a diet, this will be very sinful, but for those who do not care, this entree is something to try. you will not be disappointed at all!

lastly, we ordered the dark chocolate ice cream with orange and hazelnuts -- heavenly!

with all of those, we only spent a little less than a thousand!

apparently, this american-italian restaurant is owned by no other than mr. marvin agustin nanaman!! this is his 7th restaurant already. he plans to put up more!

rocky marciano, marvin's fave athlete

fried siopao anyone?!

2008-09-16T21:33:00.004+08:00

darn! i miss eating fried siopao!

look at those white buns.... actually, it does not look very appetizing.... but i assure you it is really good... it's like eating pan-fried dumplings... but this is siopao -- gets?

i saw this pix from the blog of real living. it appears that they went on a little field trip to chinatown and discovered this excellent merienda. i used to have this often as a child. (my grandparents lived in ongpin) ... now i want to go to chinatown & have a little resto hopping! hee!

photo from real living blog

Hey Jude!

2008-09-16T16:59:00.003+08:00

i got so amazed by this little korean boy... if i have a son like him, i would have sent him to the tv stations already for vtr and start earning! hahaha bad mama! anyway, i hope you'll enjoy his video too

CANON SALE!!!

2008-09-14T01:31:00.001+08:00

getting more crabby

2008-09-13T14:17:00.015+08:00

i am craving for crabs again... but this time, i am missing two crab places that are not in manila....

no signboard seafood restaurant in sg and chili crab under the bridge in hk.

let me tell you about the crab of no signboard first ...

they cook their huge sri-lankan crabs with loads of white pepper, spring onions and some garlic... you will have to eat this with rice or a refreshing drink because it can get really spicy, in a good way. this place is a must for every tourist and local alike... i went to this place each time i visited singapore. i just had to have their crabs... other must try in this resto is their deep-fried crayfish. they fry it with some milky cereal. its really good to combine the two dishes as this second entree is on the sweet side and can moderate the chiliness of the crab. i remember eating even the crumbs that are stuck on the skin. it is that good.

i recently learned that no signboard opened their newest branch at the venetian, macau. now there are two places to eat at when in macau! i'll tell you about the other one next time...

moving on to the next crab place....

this place is currently listed on Hong Kong's Best Restaurants under cheap eats (it's not actually cheap! approximately HK$380 for the smallest crab).

anyway, if you're looking for a nice, fancy place to eat, this is not for you. but if you don't mind sharing your table to some strangers, you will survive here. this tiny restaurant is almost always packed, therefore, it's better to be there really early or super late (the place can be cramped until daybreak. opening hours: 5pm-5am).

crabs are from vietnam. unless specified, their king crabs are australian. they are really really huge!! and yummy too! but the australian crabs can get a little more pricy than that of their vietnamese. your choice! another decision to make is the level of spiciness that you can take. mild, medium, strong, very spicy & so on...

their crabs are known for swimming in those fried chili and garlic. i actually eat it with my other dishes. i've always wondered how they make it.. its so good!

this is also a must try dish. steamed scallop on shell with mushrooms & vermicelli.

around HK$40 each

another best thing about this place is the stir fried clams with black bean. i'm not a fan of black beans but this i really love. the sauce goes very well with their plain pan-fried thin noodles.

now i am hungry! darn!

my only best bet now would be my fave crabs here in manila....

No Signboard Seafood Restaurant

#01-14/16, 8 Raffles Avenue,

Esplanade Mall

Singapore 039802

Tel:63369959

Spicy Crab Under the Bridge

405 Lockhart Rd.,

Causeway Bay,

Hong Kong.

Tel: 2893-1289

Another Boracay Getaway Promo

2008-09-12T19:17:00.001+08:00

Dane Cook hates his new movie poster

2008-09-12T18:16:00.004+08:00

at first glance, i thought, what is wrong here? (aside from the fact that alec baldwin is missing) in fact it kind of look fresh to me.... but after reading his views on it... i saw the flaws.

The entire text below was lifted from Dane's Blog at myspace dated august 13.

Before the downpour let me just say that my new movie, "My Best Friends Girl," is the best / funniest film I've done yet. It's got a terrific cast. Kate Hudson, Alec Baldwin, Jason Biggs, and myself really kicked the funny around. This movie showcases our talents accordingly as it expands on them. It's a fun R-rated flick. An edgy comedy with a dash of romance.

That being said, let me address the fact that although I'm not a marketing major, I have a bit of a trusted reputation after 18 years self promoting. I'd like to inform you I had no say in this marketing campaign, but if I did, things would be different since it is obvious that this poster is boring / odd and has zero to do with the movie I performed in.

Here are a few things that truly blow about my upcoming movie poster to promote the release of the film opening on September 19th:

1. Graphics:

Whoever photoshopped our poster must have done so at taser point with

3 minutes to fulfill their hostage takers deranged obligations. They should have called Donnie Hoyle and had him give a tutorial using "You Suck at Photoshop" templates. This is so glossy it makes Entertainment Weekly look wooden.

2. My head:

The left side of my face seems to be melting off of my skull. I guess I am looking directly into the Ark of the Covenant? Are they going for the bells palsy thing here? My left side looks like Britney Spears' vagina.

3. The Stare.

My character apparently has fallen in love with a strand of Kate Hudsons hair. Kate's mannequin is desperately in love with the inside of my right ear while Jason is half stunned, half corsage.

4. Lips:

It looks like I'm wearing Maybelline Water Shine Diamonds Liquid Lipstick. My characters name is now Winter Solstice and I'm a hooker with a heart of gold. Jason is my floral carrying pimp, while Kate is my first trick!

5. Fashion:

My character is sporting a very high collar. I mean damn they should be snow capped at that altitude. It's going for the vampire lurking in the castle basement vibe. An Olympic pole vaulter would have a tough go clearing that collar. I'm also able to turn my head comfortably 360 degrees, because I was raised in an abandoned barn by a family of owls.

6. Flesh:

It's no secret that I'm more rugged facially due to a drunken visit by the teen acne fairy, but according to this poster I've got perfect porcelain flesh. I look like the fuckin' bathroom floor at Caesars Palace. One of Marie Osmond's dolls would look at me and say "shit ... that guys got flawless skin!"

7. Hair:

It's actually a close up shot of Tom Sellecks Magnum P.I. mustache they photo-slapped on my noggin'.

8. The set:

Pick one. This entire film takes place:

A. on Gattaca

B. at the Fortress of Solitude

C. inside a crystal wind chime

9. The cast:

Alec Baldwin is so fucking funny in this movie! Is he on the poster? I think so. He plays the wise talking plant Jason is clutching.

10. Final thoughts:

I set out to make a movie like the men and women, that you and I respect, are making. My generation of comedians, actors, directors and producers that I wish to collaborate with as I build a solid body of work.

Granted, one poster stinking up the joint isn't the end of the world. Yet it sends the wrong message about our movie and I just wanted you to know, that I feel the pain. I really love the film and I know from past missteps marketing wise that the wrong poster sends the wrong audience into the theater.

Thanks again for all of your support. If you have not seen the red band trailer (which is excellent and represents the flick accordingly) watch it below! Just click of the mute button and your rolling!

PS - "Its funny what love can make you do." I just threw up all over this awful poster.

Wow, wait ... it looks better.

Hey ... I love my new movie. Jeez ... it IS funny what love can make you do.

Cookbook Kitchen

2008-09-12T12:14:00.005+08:00

i am missing our weekly hang out at the cookbook kitchen! we, ylc teachers, would go there just to unwind, do semestral reports and yearbooks or simply just chitchat and chill. the owners are always very nice and generous to us... free wine... etc ... please don't think that they give out freebies to all of their patrons, this is only possible because one of us, zenia capati, is the daughter in law of the owners... she must have paid for those freebies... we don't know! she won't tell... although dad, Mr. Capati, is always very happy to entertain us.

i'm sad because i don't get to join my colleagues as often anymore because i live veeeery far now. i'm sure i am missing a lot of chismis already! i only get bits and pieces of those chikas in school... anyway, i'd like to share their good food... do visit cookbook kitchen at 8 Socorro Fernandez St. cor. Luna Mencias St. Mandaluyong City (Tel: 724-3595).

Check out the menu that i made for them:

Must Try: CBK Greens -- i love the taste of dried mangoes with the greens, Parmesan Crusted White Fish -- their bestseller, Pork Steak -- filling, Pasta Adobo (not in the menu) -- it's so good i had 3!!! servings of this at zenia's bday buffet, Pasta with Sausage -- if you like a little kick of spice, Scarlet Cake -- simply divine!

click here to see more of the mouth-watering dishes that they offer.

The Big Garment Sale

2008-09-11T20:22:00.003+08:00

This happens two to three times a year in Meycauayan, Bulacan. its the most anticipated sale because its the only place where you can buy the cheapest branded clothes and shoes (a/x Php350+, mng Php100+, paul smith Php500+, antik, miss sixty, true religion jeans Php550+)!! i have been meaning to go to this sale since i found out about it from anton's blog. no that it's here again, i still don;t know if i am going. the reason is that i can't drive alone--that far! & no one is willing to go with me... anyone willing to tag me along?

Their complete address is : Acefree Street, Sterling Industrial Park, Meycauayan, Bulacan. Just take NLEX and get off Meycauayan exit, and turn towards Iba (there is a sign), and you should be by the gate of Sterling 2kms after Caltex.

Manila International Book Fair

2008-09-11T19:52:00.004+08:00

i went to powerbooks makati this afternoon. i didn't realize that my powercard is already expired... i found this out when i was paying. so while i was filling up the renewal form, the saleslady gladly told me that they will be having a book fair starting tomorrow. i got more excited when i found an e-mail from powerbooks with this ad:

i hope there will be discounts and freebies like they used to have....

Twilight

2008-09-09T17:25:00.004+08:00

have you heard of the twilight series? its just last week when i first heard about it. i got very curious because they say its "the new harry potter". i heard twilight is a love story between a vampire & a human. how can it be so special? isn't this very common? is it that good to be anticipated by many readers?

anyway, as i was browsing the net to find info about the stephanie meyer books, i found out that they have already made a movie based on the book! here is what i found:

the story will go about when the vampire finally finding his soulmate, after many decades, in a human being.

out in theaters by nov 20,2008!

harry potter & the half blood prince on the other hand is moved from nov 21,2008 to july 17, 2009

SPAS Reunion

2008-09-08T21:55:00.006+08:00

i received this email from spasalumni...

Hop on board and get ready to...

Blast Off!

All St. Peter the Apostle School Alumni

are invited to send 3 to 5 representatives per batch

to the Alumni Association kick-off party!

Expect a night of good food, fun games, raffle prizes and a lot more!

Be at

St. Peter's Hall of Hope

on Saturday, Sept. 27,

6:30 PM.

All SPAS Batches,

send your representatives now!

To confirm your attendance, contact President Paul Cheng '04 at

mobile number -- 0917-525-2986 or

email address -- paulcheng29@ yahoo.com.

i wonder if there will be a lot going... i won't be able to... it's debbie's wedding... are you going?

Rockwell Tent Bazaars

2008-09-07T13:36:00.006+08:00

There will be a series of Rockwell Bazaar going on once a month from september to december 2008. its happening on sept 12-14,

october 24-26,

nov 28-30

december 12-14

at the Rockwell Tent...

moreover, there will be a shopping soiree on october 30-31

this will feature top local and foreign designer stuff for the shoppers' delight!

click here for more details.

so mark your calendar now.

powerplant events

2008-09-06T02:45:00.006+08:00

just found out that rockewell's baker's dozen is back!!! all weekends of september - december! whee!

on my way home, i saw a new sign posted by power plant mall. they will be holding a series of urban bazaars this september!! i can't quite remember the exact dates though... i'll find out tom and post it asap!

ladies, get ready to shop!

time to doze off! zzzzzzzzzzzzz

Calbee Chips

2008-09-05T16:32:00.001+08:00

its my husband's top favorite chips. whenever we travel to hk, we will have to bring home a box of it! last year, we discovered that they have already released a jumbo pack. this made my dave very happy! as you can see in the photo...

i heard it is already available in our local grocery stores but i have not seen it yet... not this flavor. besides, according to my source, calbee chips here are sold around Php80 per bag. but in hk, it would be like half of the local price tag.

calbee hot & spicy potato chips are very tasty while its very hot... some chips tend to lose their flavor when it gets too spicy. not this one...

Croc-o-Dial by Crocs

2008-09-05T11:50:00.004+08:00

crocs has a new product for your cellphones, MP3 players and digicams... it's a universal case, made with the same material of those clogs. it is designed as a protection from getting scratches... these can be accessorized with jibbitz as well... i know charchar will be very disappointed with this news because she thinks that the crocs are just too ugly! ... i am a fan of crocs footwear but i am not sure about these items...

Amazing Race Asia Season 3

2008-09-04T17:19:00.004+08:00

starts tonight on axn!

team philippines will be represented by couple geoff rodriguez and tisia silang. will we have a chance this time? find out more about the racers tonight... actual race episodes will start on september 11, 9pm.

i'm excited!!

SM Manila Grand Sale

2008-09-04T16:14:00.003+08:00

it's the weekend sale at SM manila. go there tomorrow morning (from 10am-12noon only) and get 10% additional discount when you present your SM advantage card. slash 5% more if you use bdo credit card...

Ajisen Alabang

2008-09-03T23:14:00.008+08:00

i promised to write a blog about my recent experience at our local branch of ajisen...

the menu was a little different from the ones in hk. at first i got confused because i cannot find my favorite noodle soup. yun pala, you will have to add around Php75 to make your basic soup creamy... not bad ... as long as i get to taste my ultimate favorite... my sukiyaki beef noodles in creamy curry soup was served in a huge bowl! i though i will not be able to finish it... but i did! ... because it was as good as hk's. dave's bowl on the other hand was so so and tiny ...

overall, you get a value for money meal at ajisen ... simple and no frills. definately going back!

OKTOBERFEST 2008

2008-09-03T17:06:00.005+08:00

third eye blind coming to manila to grace the san miguel oktoberfest 2008. dashboard confessional was supposed to come to open the longest bar... dream come true pa naman sana si oliver! hahaha ...

along with third eye blind, rivermaya, itchy worms, parokya ni edgar, rico blanco, sugarfree ... and a whole lot more are performing that night...

anyway, oktoberfest 2008 is early this year... kick off party will be on sept5 at san miguel ortigas center. this party will aim to break 2 of the guiness world record: to have the longest bar and the most number of people toasting beer!

spa at your home

2008-09-03T00:28:00.004+08:00

i miss having spa at my home... with the gas price going up, its pretty wise to have your spa at the privacy of your own home...

since we moved to our new home at pque, we never had a chance to experience spa at our house anymore... yes you read it right! the spaholic brings the whole spa set-up to your place so that you won't need to leave your house anymore. (they provide the bed, linen, candles, oils...) all they need is a 220v socket for their little stereo. they play some nature themed sounds to help make the ambiance appear more spa-ish. ain't that fabulous?! to top it all, they also bring tea to offer after the every massage!

ok.... so why can't i have the same service anymore? its because they can't come to my place... they only cater to homes in makati, san juan, qc, alabang and bf homes pque... but i am just a few blocks away from bf! i hope they will reconsider my request soon... i'm still making kulit! ...

check their very reasonable prices:

Spaholic Massage (P500 an hour) combination of Swedish, hilot and Hawaiian massages

Sui Thai Massage (P500 an hour)

Bentosa (P650 an hour) an ancient cupping treatment

Hot-Stone Massage (P650 an hour)

Dagdagay Foot Therapy (P500 an hour)

Javanese Lulur with Yoghurt Wrap (P700 an hour)

Salt Glow Body Scrub (P700 an hour)

how would you like to have a spa party? they do offer packages for special occasions too...

Spaholics Home Spa

0917-5313531 or 6335880

spaholics_homespa@yahoo.com

20 yummiest (privately baked) cakes

2008-09-01T00:27:00.003+08:00

By Vangie Baga-Reyes
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 07/02/2008

MANILA, Philippines—For the first time, Inquirer Lifestyle is coming out with the 20 yummiest cakes in town. The selection is based on the recommendations of some of Manila’s top food experts, food writers, foodies and cake lovers.

Specialty cakes prepared exclusively by home-based bakers or hobbyists from various gated villages are on this list. (We’ll have a different list of the yummiest cakes sold at commercial outlets soon.)

These specialty cakes range from the super-rich chocolate creation with perfectly piped fudge icing, to the cool, creamy frozen confections garnished with seasonal fruits.

So, feast your eyes on these pages and take pleasure in these decadent all-occasion cakes. Actually, they’re just a phone call away.

1. Concorde
Come-on: Layers of crisp chocolate meringue and velvety chocolate fudge blend into one divine dessert.
Cost: P750. Order two days in advance. For pick-up only
Creator: Delize by Jill Sandique
Call: 7217022 and 4978811; mobile: 09052522517 and 09228262673. Address: No. 33 Sunrise Drive, Cubao Q.C.

2. Pistachio Symphony
Come-on: Two layers of soft-as-pillow chiffon cake with chopped pistachio nuts suspended in the cake. Creamy custard is sandwiched between layers. A generous amount of cream covers the cake with more pistachios on the side and a medley of fruits on top as its crowning glory.
Cost: P850 for an eight-inch cake. To ensure freshness, two days advance notice is requested. For pick-up only.
Creator: Dorothy Ferreria
Call: 706-3541 and 0919-566-9977.

3. Dulce de Leche Cheesecake
Come-on: A refreshing calories-rich Dulce de Leche-flavored cheesecake on a pre-baked cookie crust and iced with freshly whipped cream and caramel sauce swirls.
Cost: P725. Available every day.
Creator: Forget Me Not specialty cakes by Pixie Sevilla-Santos
Call: 7232776. Address: No. 60 Broadway Street, QC.

4. Pistachio Sans Rival
Come-on: Buttery and rich four-layered oval-shaped sans rival has thin, crispy meringue that really holds up well without crumbling. The silky butter cream filling is studded with chopped California pistachio nuts that give the cake a nice green color and sweetish, nutty flavor.
Cost: P875. Order two days in advance. For pick-up only.
Creator: Delize by Jill Sandique
Call: 7217022 and 4978811; mobile: 09052522517 and 09228262673. Address: No. 33 Sunrise Drive, Cubao Q.C.

5. Turtle Pie
Come-on: Hard-to-resist chocolate confection with chocolate chips and chopped almond filling under thick Oreo crust. It’s topped with caramel sauce and tastes like chocolate ice cream cake. It really melts in your mouth.
Cost: P950. Order in advance
Creator: Baby Yulo
Call: 8108078 and 8124961. Address: 19 Kawayan Street, North Forbes, Makati.

6. Caramel Cake
Come-on: To lust for, this melting, light chiffon cake under a blanket of glossy caramel is charmingly adorned with butter cream flowers in lovely colors. Makes for a pretty centerpiece.
Cost: P550 for an 8-inch round cake with caramel filling and P500 without filling. Order two days in advance.
Creator: Estrel’s
Call: 3722965 or 3717938. Address: 54 Scout Tobias St. corner Scout Limbaga. Bgy. Laging Handa, Q.C.

7. Mocha Nelusco
Come-on: Tender mocha chiffon cake iced with smooth mocha butter cream and topped with crunchy cashew praline. This stunner is well worth every calorie.
Cost: P750 for an 8-inch round cake. Order a day in advance. For pick-up only.
Creator: Costa Brava by Judah Liu
Call: 8961267, 8966872 and 09178340815. Address: 12 Polaris Street Bel-Air 1, Makati City.

8. Claycakes with Chocolate Sauce
Come-on: This custom-made birthday cake is made with finest ingredients but with much love and patience as well. Sink your teeth into this confectionery creation and be surprised to savor the wicked richness of dark, moist chocolate underneath the beautiful gummy icing. This cool cake that tastes as good as it looks brightens and completes every festive table.
Cost: P4,000 and still depends on your choice of art cakes. Order two weeks in advance.
Creator: Claycakes by Karla Lapira-Magbanua
Call: 6461739, 6761733 and 0917-9246032. Or visit www.claycakes.com.

9. Mango Madness
Come-on: A delightful pairing of sweet cream and alternate layers of fresh mangoes in crunchy crust. The oval-shaped cake is utterly elegant (and almost too pretty to eat)!
Cost: P1,000. To ensure freshness, two days’ advanced notice is requested.
Creator: Park Avenue Desserts by Chef Buddy Trinidad
Call: 8346636 or e-mail parkavenuedesserts@yahoo.com.ph.

10. Frozen Brazo de Mercedez
Come-on: Also known as Brazo Mantecado, it’s a cool concoction of brazo made out of gooey, chewy “yema,” layered with ice cream, topped with meringue on Graham crust. It brings any meal to a memorable close.
Cost: P600 for a 9"x9"-cake.
Creator: Dimpy Camara
Call: 8438086 and 8439021.

11. Mango Charlotte
Come-on: This is the ultimate mango indulgence! This frozen confection is generously cloaked with Chantilly cream, vanilla-flavored whipped cream all over and daintily designed with spiral of mango slices on top.
For every bite, you get to taste the gentle crunchiness of cashew-flavored crust, the sweetness of mangoes and silky whipped cream.
Cost: P950. Available for delivery and pick-up.
Creator: Sweet Bella by Cristina Santiago Rivera
Call: 8440680 and 8449905. Address: 1730 Banyan Street, Dasmariñas Village, Makati.

12. Strawberry Charlotte
Come-on: Inlaid with generous fresh strawberries, this frozen cake is a temptation that will magically melt all resistance. Layers of cashew meringue with Chantilly cream topped with fresh strawberries and capped with pretty white chocolate butterflies, the creator’s signature touch.
Cost: P1,450. Available for delivery and pick-up.
Creator: Sweet Bella by Cristina Santiago Rivera
Call: 8440680, 8449905 and 0928-5025027.

13. Pastillas de Leche Cheesecake
Come-on: Undeniably very Filipino, this not-so-sweet and densely baked cheesecake comes with generous topping of pastillas from Pampanga. It’s served with thick caramel on the side.
Cost: P1,000 for a 9-inch round cake. Available by special order.
Creator: Uppercrust by Doren Tayag
Call: (045) 8883357 and 09175312712. Address: 35-3ST. 2 Carmenville Subdivision Angeles City.

14. Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Crunch
Come-on: This super dark chocolate confection certainly brings the ooohs and aaahs to the table, charming and exciting everyone. It has a yummy combo of hazelnut crunch with crème brulee and caramel cream. A real showstopper!
Cost: P1,200. Order two days in advance.
Creator: Park Avenue Desserts by Chef Buddy Trinidad
Call: 8346636 or e-mail parkavenuedesserts@yahoo.com.ph.

15. Red Velvet Cake
Come-on: Surprise your palate with this dramatic-looking chocolate cake with its unusual bright red color that is sharply contrasted by cream cheese with white chocolate curls on top.
Cost: P500 for 8-inch round cake. For pick-up and delivery within major financial districts
Creator: Karen’s Kitchen by Karen Young
Call: 8982280, 8982880 and 09175252004. Address: 428 Adalia Street, Palm Village, Makati City.

16. Chocolate Ganache
Come-on: Any self-respecting chocoholic can tell at first taste that this is rich, moist and really flavorful. This lets you get your chocolate fix any day, anytime. Enjoy the dark milk chocolate goodness.
Cost: P650 for 8-inch round cake. For pick up and delivery within major financial districts
Creator: Karen’s Kitchen by Karen Young
Call: 8982280, 8982880 and 09175252004. Address: 428 Adalia Street, Palm Village, Makati City.

17. Pandan Cake
Come-on: Pandan-flavored chiffon cake with pandan-flavored butter cream with chocolate shavings on top.
So good it will be hard to resist a second slice.
Cost: P650 for an 8-inch round cake. Order a day in advance. For pick-up only.
Creator: Costa Brava by Judah Liu
Call: 8961267, 8966872 and 09178340815. Address: 12 Polaris Street Bel-Air 1, Makati City.

18. Good Ol’ Fashioned Chocolate Cake
Come-on: Every time you crave for chocolate cake, grab a slice of this decadent sweet thing with sinful fudge frosting and thickened custard filling. Sweet but unbelievably scrumptious.
Cost: P1,050. Order in advance.
Creator: Homemade by Roshan by Roshan Samtani
Call: 6317786 and 09178336286.

19. English Sticky Toffee Pudding
Come-on: For those who are tired of cakes covered with whipped cream or butter cream, here’s a perfect alternative that’s prepared with lots of dates. It’s called pudding. However, this is a moist cake with caramel topping (the sticky part). It’s plain and simple but flavorful. It comes with extra butterscotch sauce.
Cost: P450 for 7-inch cake. P900 for 9x12 cake. P300 for a loaf (minimum of two). Order two days in advance. For pick-up and delivery.
Creator: Katey Q’s Cakes by Olive Isidro-Cruz
Call: 6477636, 6477632 and 09178191808. Address: No. 1 Hillside Lane Blue Ridge, QC.

20. Strawberry Shortcake
Come-on: Freshly baked three-layered chiffon cake spread heavily with glorious whipped cream and strawberry flecks. It’s topped with imported strawberries.
Cost: P1,400 (round cake) and P1,500 (rectangular). Order two days in advance.
Creator: Baby Yulo
Call: 8108078 and 8124961.

THE CRAB REVIEW

2008-08-30T13:05:00.013+08:00

doc dave & i have been hopping from one crab place to another... in search for the yummiest crab there is in the city ...

crab no.1: THE RED CRAB , CRUSTASIA and CLAW DADDY

we love their crab maritess, szechuan crab and best of all, their singaporean black pepper crab.

the first time we had the black pepper was at 2kilo! it was really huge! until now, i can't stop thinking about how satisfied we were with that meal. it's definitely one of the best crab i've ever tasted...

male medium sized (500-650g) is priced Php99/100g

male king sized (750g and up) is priced at Php120/100g

prices are a little steep but you will surely get your money's worth! one cannot buy happiness!

crustasia have branches in: alabang town center, power plant, the podium and trinoma

while red crab branches include: remedios st. in malate, greenbelt 2, tomas morato, clark field

claw daddy branches in: shangri-la mall, bonifacio high street

crab no.2 EMERALD GARDEN

emerald has one of the cheapest but really delicious crab there is! the salt and pepper fried crab is really a must try in this place. i always hurt my tongue whenever i have crabs here bec i eat even the crumbs that are stuck on the shell. make sure you get at least a kilo sized crab to avoid getting bitin! i promise you will go home feeling like you won the lottery!

the price tag: Php 95/100g

the restaurant is almost always packed and does not accept reservations unless you're having lauriat or an event... so it's good to go early and have your crab reserved right away.

emerald garden is located at 1170 roxas blvd.

tel: 632 5238510, 5238515

crab no.3 KING CRAB

the return of this restaurant made us giddy because they opened near our place! we went to check out their crab even during their soft opening... the king crab rice was highly recommended so we had to try it... when they said king crab rice, i reckon it will be fried rice like. with all the ingredients in it -- halo halo style... but the dish came out with the huge king crab on top of the seemingly malagkit rice. upon tasting it....it's like there was a burst of flavor! really delicious tasting dish.

crab price is at Php120/100g

the new king crab restaurant is at sucat road, near duty free philippines

i am not sure if they are connected with the king crab at p guevarra....

so far these are the crab places that is worth going to while in manila ...

ultimate crab places i've been to outside of manila would be: Spicy Crab Under the Bridge in HK and No Signboard Seafood Restaurant in Singapore... hay!

Obagi Nu-Derm Healthy Skin Protection SPF 35: Broad-Spectrum UVA/UVB Sunscreen.

2008-08-30T10:57:00.004+08:00

this sunscreen does not leave a greasy feeling... it is best to prevent premature aging ...

Php 950

DermHealth Clinic

Doc Dave

09175260077

Sale Alert!

2008-08-29T15:15:00.003+08:00

white castle burgers in manila

2008-08-29T14:03:00.005+08:00

white castle microwavable cheeseburgers are now available at duty free and sometimes at S&R grocery. yes its frozen but this is the nearest we can get to taste the famous burger that i associate with harold & kumar.

according to the instruction, put the burgers in the microwave for reheating... but i was afraid the buns might get stone hard when its not hot anymore.... so i steam them... yum!

white castle burgers are famous for its small squarish burgers, thus making it easy to eat... a lot more than you should.

Cebu Pacific vs. Philippine Airline

2008-08-27T20:13:00.005+08:00

cebu pacific's promo is back!! take your chances now!

cebu pacific has been the first choice of many travelers now because of their affordable rates. this move is good for the consumers because now, PAL has lowered their rates as well. at last!

check out their promos

BAWAI'S

2008-08-27T13:16:00.007+08:00

went to tagaytay for the long weekend ... thanks to GMA for juggling the real dates. i love her for that.

anyway, we got to visit bawai's again. but since it was a long weekend, we were not able to get a lunch reservation. we went for early dinner instead (because we wanted to get back in time to see the closing ceremony of the beijing olympics).

i must say that daytime visit to this place is a lot better. the dark ambiance made the food look warm instead of refreshing... so...

this time around, we weren't that amazed anymore.... still refreshing to the taste but now i think it's overrated... or we ordered too much...i felt so stuffed.

we still loved this shrimp roll with sugarcane stick ... this dish is a must try!

the fresh vietnamese roll was still a winner ... dave didn't enjoy it though....
the fried lumpia was so so ... nothing really special about this dish ...
this salad came with the dory fish... refreshing but then again, nothing special ...
here's the dory fish paul recommended ... it's very tasty and herb-y ...

moreover, we had fresh shrimp salad in cold vietnamese noodles, pork noodles and beef noodles ...

the vietnamese sausage was not available... too bad because that was one of the dishes we during our 1st visit....

overall, it was still a nice experience...

here's paul's number 09209722924 for reservations ... he is also the chef of this restaurant. he is half viet and half pinoy.

thanks to diana for the the pictures!

Protection from getting Cervical Cancer

2008-08-27T11:15:00.006+08:00

If you are under 27, you may be eligible to receive the HPV vaccine, which prevents high risk strains of HPV in women. The HPV vaccine, Gardasil, was approved by the FDA to give to young girls as young as 9.

GARDASIL is the only cervical cancer vaccine that helps protect against 4 types of human papillomavirus (HPV): 2 types that cause 70% of cervical cancer cases, and 2 more types that cause 90% of genital warts cases.

Get it from doc dave at only Php5,500!!
09175260077
DermHealth Clinic
2/F Jupiter Place Bldg.,
Jupiter St., Bel-Air Makati City

Confessions of a Shopaholic

2008-08-26T00:00:00.008+08:00

sophie kinsella fans must be excited to see the movie. it is scheduled to be released on february of next year in the US. isla fisher will bring to life the character of becky bloomwood... hugh dancy will be luke brandon ... he's the prince charming of ella the enchanted... joan cusack and john goodman will be there too...

i am not sure if i'm going to like the outfits ...

i am also sadden by the fact that the setting of the movie will be in new york instead of london... i do not know what else was changed in the movie but i read from sophie's site that she was consulted so i guess the movie will still give the book justice.... still, i can't wait to see it!

Paul Potts Video

2008-08-23T11:12:00.005+08:00

you've probably seen this on etc because they have been airing it for advertisement of his concert here in manila... yes he is coming!

ajisen ramen

2008-08-23T00:27:00.013+08:00

one of my favorite places to eat in hk is ajisen... nothing fancy just good curry based noodle! yum!!! each time i go to hk, i just have to visit a branch... i remember hanging out at their airport branch while waiting for my connecting flight back to manila...

yummy gyoza

beef teppanyaki

enoki mushroom wrapped with sukiyaki beef

my ultimate fave, curry based sukiyaki beef noodle

happy customers

just last week, dave & i decided to try going to alabang town center since we live near na... before our scheduled movie date, we had time walk around and check out possible places where we can have our dinner... guess what i saw!

i spotted ajisen!!! ... in manila!! we just had to eat there! ... i'll save my review for next time...

gay marriages

2008-08-22T16:10:00.000+08:00

when california supreme court lifted the ban on gay marriages last may, ellen and portia decided to tie the knot...

true enough, last weekend, they did dress up and became legally a couple...

the two looked pretty in their wedding outfits... i just didn't realize it's possible for such relationship to end in marriage... i have nothing against gay people... i even think they're fun... it's just hard to believe that love in this kind of relationships lasts...

well, enlighten me please ...

flashback 90210

2008-08-20T20:44:00.004+08:00

did anyone miss this show during the 90's? i remember it to be such a hit... anyway, the reason i am blogging this is because i chanced upon this site showing the recent pictures of shannen doherty and jennie garth... they look so mature now... or i am feeling so old...

the show had so much fashion influences to the teens way back then... remember how bad you needed to tease you bangs and spray loads of aqua net? .... how about tucking your shirt in a high waisted acid washed jeans? ... and those floral dresses you wear with dr. martens boots... hahaha totally baduy but it was so in...

didn't your barkada imitate this pose? or at least it entered your mind to do so...and this too?

now, a spin-off is scheduled to run on air starting september 2... i wonder if they will create that same great impact as the original...

my love for cheetos

2008-08-13T14:19:00.000+08:00

ever since val introduced me to cheddar jalapeno cheetos, i can't stop nibbling it. dave & i can easily finish 1 bag in one sitting...

although it has hints of jalapeno pepper, its not as spicy as you may think it is. its nothing compared to the spiciness of cheetos flamin' hot cheetos. i'm sure you won't stop too when you try it! enjoy!

take a peek at my stock ...

chicken inasal

2008-08-13T13:01:00.001+08:00

my hubby has a great appetite for chicken inasal. we have been to different inasal places just to find the best there is in town, at least for his delicate taste...

so far, his top choice is JT's Manukan at Granada St.

this resto is not only famous for its chicken inasal but their version of bulalo is really very interesting and is something that i would love to have during the rainy season... its somewhat sinigang-ish but you still know its bulalo ... gets?

although we enjoy JT's Manukan food, the ambiance is on the low side. imagine dining al fresco style along the polluted st of ortigas/granada ...

but i read from anton's blog that they have opened a new branch in bel-air. from his pictures, it looks more presentable. here's the link to anton's.

i love yakult

2008-08-10T17:18:00.000+08:00

who doesn't?!

i discovered a place where you can order yakult in a glass! there's no more room for getting bitin with its tiny original container. what's more is that different flavors are available to suit one's taste.

i'm sure everyone's is already familiar with the japanese resto that mr marvin agustin opened in greenbelt 5... this is where you can have the flavored yakult...

i personally love the orange flavored...