who am i to complain?

After watching this short clip about Nick Vujicic, I felt that I had no right to complain and be complacent in my life. I am now about to start another chapter in my life (more kuwento next time), and this is just the pep talk that I needed.

vegetarians have better sex*

the controversial PETA ad that was banned by nbc--t'was supposed to be shown on Super Bowl.

hindi ako vegetarian, pero mahilig ako sa gulay :) favorite ko ay okra.

*how true kaya eto?

please send your good vibes...

...to my mom.

She fell down the stairs and fractured her arm. She's now at the Asian Hospital and just finished the operation. The doctors had to put a metal thingie to support the healing.

I kept making kulit my sisters to take care of my mom well etc etc. It's so hard to be away from home when one of your loved ones is sick! I guess this is the hardest part of being away-- knowing someone needs you beside them but you're miles away from them.

I hope I can go back this month or next so I can personally take care of my mom. I believe that healing is faster when one is surrounded by love and care. And of course, prayers.

Hope you can include her in your prayers. Thank you.

Time flies

The last time I saw them was in 2006, when Jun and I went back for our church wedding.

So imagine how awed I was when I went back for New Year. Miguel was so tall na and Nixxie's a little girl na. Sure, I'd see them in photos that my sisters would send but I was still surprised when I finally saw them again!

Question

Would you rather be

a big fish in a small pond

or

a small fish in a big pond?

If These Walls Could Talk (a walking tour of Intramuros led by Carlos Celdran)

Highly Recommended!

I've been hearing and reading raves about Carlos Celdran's tours since last year. Finally, I was able to go on one of them. I am so happy I brainwashed Carlo (and wife Ry) to join me (and treat me hehe) for this tour! It's a great way of rediscovering our beloved Manila. I can't wait to join the other tours (the Imeldific tour, the Escolta/Quiapo tours etc) when I come home again in December (and/or August).

So whether you are a foreigner, a Manileño, a balikbayan or a bum/tambay, go for this tour. This is a theatrical tour, mind you (Carlos Celdran is, apart from being one of the best guides in the Philippines, a performing artist as well). Even if you are not a history enthusiast, you will still find this tour interesting--just keep an open mind and don't leave your brains at home. The tour is fast paced and you need to keep your ears tuned to the many facts and stories you will hear from Carlos.

Don't expect any typical "on your right, you will see bla bla bla" stuff. It's more like going through your history class but in a more colorful, humorous and dramatic way. I promise, there are some controversial stuff in store for you.The things you will learn are things that were mostly left out of our history books. Carlos is one passionate lad who will make this tour fun and informative--he'll make you love and appreciate Manila for all its glory and gory :)

Carlo was the one who booked us for the tour. He just texted the contact number in the site and got a confirmation message that we are booked for the 4 Jan tour session. Celdran tours didn't even ask for a payment. As Carlos said when he started the tour: "Payment will be made after the tour. If you did not like the tour, then don't pay." Everyone paid, everyone finished the tour. No one left at all.

The original site of Ateneo de Manila. T'was mentioned that there are restoration plans going on.

Meeting place for the tour group was in front of Manila Cathedral at 3pm. There were a lot of people in the area, especially since there was a wedding (as usual) that Sunday afternoon. I kept telling Ca that we might miss Carlos. But who would miss a man who is in full costume: he wore a top hat, loose black pants, leather sandals, and an 1800s-inspired white shirt – with an intricate gold tambourine necklace around his neck. He looked like he stepped out of a history book! (I heard that Carlos is always in costume during his tours like he'd wear bell bottoms for his Imeldific tour since it's about Manila in the 70s).

I was spellbounded by his story telling that I wasn't able to shoot many photos. A visit to the crypt gave me the chills. The way Carlos retold the story of how the glory of Manila was destroyed by World War II gave me the goosebumps! But Carlos promised after his spiel: "The tour will be fun again, don't worry."

Carlos had this black folder that contains many intriguing and unique illustrations and photos. All his props are inside that messenger bag. Aliw!



I was planning to write a full account of the tour but I don't want to spoil the fun for you. You must experience it!!! The drama, the intrigues, the darkness, the humour! Please, go and sign up for his tour. I assure you that it's so worth it! Imagine, ME, a person who hates walking, actually loved this WALKING tour and I actually didn't mind it AT ALL!!! I didn't even notice that we walked from Manila Cathedral to Intramuros Walls, to the old Ateneo de Manila Campus to San Agustin to Plaza San Luis.

To know more about Carlos and his tours, visit his blog or click here for the tour descriptions.

Carlos famous line: "I can’t change the way Manila looks, but I can change the way you look at Manila".


He has indeed changed the way I looked at Manila. He will change yours too.

For the nth time, let me just say: Can't wait to go back and go for his other tours.

my newest favorite dish

Since I am still lazy to post pics and tell you about my Manila vacay, let me just share with you my newest favorite dish.

Ate Ella shared with me how to make this very simple dish. It's so simple that you only need two ingredients: enoki mushrooms and bacon (your preferred brand). Teriyaki Boy sells this bacon-wrapped enoki mushrooms. But Ate Ella showed me how simple it is to make. (Note: Ate Ella and I are certified bacon lovers.)

So anyway, look at the picture and you probably know now how to make it. Just cut off the mushrooms from the roots, then wrap them in thinly sliced bacon (tip: use toothpicks to secure them while frying in very little oil). I don't even season with salt or pepper because it's great as it is, especially if you use really good bacon.

It's so yummy! I'm planning to make it my ulam (pde ring fingerfood) everyday for the next two weeks. Hahaha! It's so yummy, that my hubby--who doesn't like bacon at all--found it delicious when I cooked some for him the other day. My family and relatives loved it too when I prepared them during our get together on my last weekend in Manila.

And preparing it here in Singapore is cheap, because a pack of 100g of enoki is just around 50 cents, and there are many varieties of bacon you can choose from, depending on your budget and taste. I'm planning to prepare some for my Muslim friends, but using turkey bacon.

Happy eating :)

Aaawww!!!

Every love story is beautiful and unique in its own way. But there are those that are just so unique and so kilig, they just make you go "aaawww!!!". Here's one:

"True story of my tita. She was so heartbroken because she was pregnant & her boyfriend didn’t marry her. She decided to go to the US to start anew. She kept crying on the plane, & her seatmate helped her not only to get through the flight, but also her life. They’ve been married for more than 40 years now." - from one of C&D's top 10

More to come...antok na ko...

back to lah lah lah land

i'm back from my 15-day vacation in the philippines. it's only been 15 hours since i landed in singapore, but i super miss my family already. especially Miguel. i will post pics soon.

as i type this, hubby is snoring away because he was on nightshift yesterday. i am still on leave today because i didn't want to go back to work straight away. i just had my lunch alone, watched some TV in the living room, then got lonely because no one was with me to watch it, so i went back to the bedroom to type away my homesickness.

back to regular programming, indeed.