Bahay ni Juana

Wi-Fi Means Will Find (a network!)

2014-12-19T11:14:00.000+08:00

I'm so pissed off with the WiFi services here. Where I am, the two giant networks sometimes work, and sometimes don't. We have them both because there are times when one will work and the other won't and on other days, the other works and the other won't. To think that we actually have them on unlimited usage. So, yes, we spend so much for just probably haf the usage of each.

There are times when you desperately need to use the internet and both won't work. Like when I had to register for this event but couldn't. It's good that a day prior to the deadline, I was "allowed" to use my service by the great Telecoms who I pay for providing me such crap.

Is there really no way to improve these services in the Philippines? Terrible I tell you Care to share some of your experiences?

Nuvali - A Healthy Way to Live

2014-12-11T09:35:00.003+08:00

I cannot overemphasize that there are many factors leading a healthy life. Food, of course is one consideration. But so is the place of residence.

Living in the province is ideal where there is fresh air, fresh food, and the surrounding is green. But most of us need to work and earn a living. It may difficult to be commuting (and consequently become unhealthy) living in the province. Well, that is not so if we live in Nuvali.

Nuvali is currently Ayala's biggest development in Southern Luzon. Found in the province of Laguna, it is quite accessible to go to Metromanila as it only takes about 20 minutes to travel from Pasay to this regional growth center of the south. It is close to vital centers such as schools (Miriam College and Xavier School are both found in Nuvali while Don Bosco, La Salle and St. Scholastica are just about 5 km away), malls (the Solenad malls are in Nuvali, while the Paseo de Sta. Rosa is a stone's throw away), Churches (St. Benedict, Don Bosco and now even Xavier School has a chapel). Businesses and offices are sprouting here and there. Currently, IBM and Convergys can already be found in Nuvali, KGB is found just about 200 meters away. The presence of Seda Hotel in the area serves the guests who are here for both pleasure and business.

Nuvali is a mixed use development. This means residential areas are built to coexist with commercial areas. House and Lots in villages such as HillCrest Estates, Avida Southfield Settings, Lumira are currently up for sale. Condo units are still up for grabs (but are quickly running out) at the Amaia Scapes. As for leisure, Nuvali offers activities such as it's now popular wakeboarding at the Wake Park located on a hill. Camp N, the bird sanctuary and the greens and patches are also maintained for the less adventurous crowd. There are factory outlets found in Solenad where shopgoers can search for signature brands at a lesser cost. There will be other commercial areas that will be built as the some 2,200 hectares of land is being developed. Nuvali in itself is

Yet, despite all those, Nuvali is our own sanctuary. Here, I have time and again found birds, bees and butterflies in my garden. Children are still able to play without unnecessary danger exposure. The guards at our village are all over and their presence is felt by everyone. The air is clean because there are many trees and the park is relaxingly green. It is a place of solitude who like the peace and quiet yet vibrant when you go to the commercial centers.

Yes, it contributes to maintaining health and wellness because it has everything you need and more.

If this has sparked your interest and would like to invest, ask me about properties in Nuvali. Anyone can invest in the growth and development of Nuvali. This is the perfect time to do so.

*For inquiries, call or text me at +63 999 6126686 or email me at yoggiestation@gmail.com.

Everything On It - A Holistic Approach to Health and Wellness

2014-12-09T12:41:00.001+08:00

Don't you ever wonder why, despite their effort to eat right, some people still get sick?
Here's the thing about staying healthy - everything contributes to it. You know, not just your food. It's your lifestyle - your food, your job, your residence, your activities, your relationships, your soap, your makeup, etc. etc. etc.

Yup. You heard it right. Why do I say this? Because it is the truth. The decisions you make determine your health. Thus to me, health is a matter of choice. Decisions are done every single minute of your life. When you eat, you decide what to eat, what time to eat, where to eat, who to eat with, to clean the dishes right after or not. When you walk, you decide to go left or right, go up the stairs or ride the elevator, go to the park or to the mall. When you work, you decide whether to call someone first or write an memo, to type for the boss or remind him of his next appointment;, for artists, to draw a dribble line or dribble; for nurses, to give this guy his meds or to check on the vital signs of another. When you go home, will you ride the bus or a taxi? Will you go straight home and buy Junior's school supplies at a nearby store, or buy them before you go home? Those are but a few choices we make each day.

For a healthy lifestyle, I constantly remind myself (and bug my family with it) everytime:

1. Diet - low fat (except for kefir and yogurt), low salt, moderate sugar, high fiber, all natural. But, I take soda once a month and indulge in some dessert that I love every 2 weeks. Otherwise, a bite or two of anything sweet will be enough for me in a day. I take a dose each of garlic, papaya and herbalberry capsules every single day 15 minutes before breakfast. Of course, I take my milk kefir. 2 cups at least a day. when I don't feel well, I take an additional 2 cups.

2. Exercise - a few minutes of dancing to my favorite music specially the ones that my zumba instructor plays, house chores, walking the dog,

3. Work and relations - I choose to make and deliver yogurt and kefir where I get to meet other people. I feel good when I am able to help others. When I want to cry, I do. Crying releases the endorphins which ultimately lessens stress. The trick is to choose to do what you enjoy doing.

4. Hygiene and beauty regimen- the daily bath, kefir on face and body, use of all natural soap, shampoo, feminine wash, body scrub and honeymilk lotion are part of what I do. I use my daughter's lip gloss. She makes them with vit. E, beeswax, virgin coconut oil and non-toxic crayons. The chemicals you get yourself in contact with will definitely end up in some part of your body which will most likely give you a not so pleasant reaction.

5. Home - we recently transferred to a place that has lots of trees, minimal air and nose pollution, with a friendly neighborhood. How does this affect health? Well, it's stress free living in a clean environment.

6. Leisure - watch a movie or go to the beach or just a nice walk uphill with family is what I love doing. It's is fun and not stressful. When some people cause me stress, I shut them out for a while and deal with them at a later time when they are calm. This way, it is less stressful to both of us.

7. Rest and relaxation - note to self: you need a lot of rest. You see I am the energetic type of person. My day starts early and ends late. Lately though I feel tired and sluggish. I realized it is because I don't sleep enough. sleep allows the cells to repair, rebuild and regenerate. I write my blogs when I have the urge to. These make me think but they don't stress me out.

8. Music - I love to hear jazz, mellow, classical, broadway and nature sounds. Those relax me. When I want to dance though I love the upbeat ones. But then I revert back to the ones that keep me calm.

9. Aromatherapy - the scent that we use at home are eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint and green tea or tea tree. Those according to some have calming effects.

Even the switch I made with my wifi connection is part of it. Lesser stress means lesser chance of getting ill.

Now you know my secret. Mind you I haven't gotten ill for the longest time. Just a few hours of cold or cough. But that's about it. And I'm fifty. Lol. How about you?

Hormone Beater

2013-06-02T00:30:00.000+08:00

I used to suffer from irregular menses. Amazingly though, now that I'm almost at the end of the 4th decade of my life, I seem to have regulated it myself thanks to diet. So if you're like me who's been told it's the dam hormone that's causing your acne, weight gain, hair loss, etc, etc, here's help for ya:

There's a link for the leptin too so don't miss it.

Anyway, personally what I am doing now drink Carica's Herbal berry which is rich in co-enzyme q10. I also am currently going back to swimming. I have yet to retrain myself to sleep early. But then maybe not. It's when most people are asleep that I'm able to work. And my body clock's changed anyway so I guess it isn't that bad...

Who Wants the Big C? - Cancer Prevention

2013-06-01T12:02:00.001+08:00

Always, always I get this urge to spread things I learn about cancer. But always, I find them to be the same stuff I preach about - a balanced natural diet, daily exercise, and ample rest. So now I find this article from naturalnews.com about the same thing but sharing it with you anyway: (note: the red text are my comments)

"(NaturalNews) The statement "everything causes cancer" has become a popular hyperbole, and one that some people use as rhetorical fodder to excuse their own dietary and lifestyle failures, particularly as they pertain to cancer risk. But the truth of the matter is that many common food items have, indeed, been scientifically shown to increase cancer risk, and some of them substantially. Here are 10 of the most unhealthy, cancer-causing foods that you should never eat again:

1) Genetically-modified organisms (GMOs). It goes without saying that GMOs have no legitimate place in any cancer-free diet, especially now that both GMOs and the chemicals used to grow them have been shown to cause rapid tumor growth. But GMOs are everywhere, including in most food derivatives made from conventional corn, soybeans, and canola. However, you can avoid them by sticking with certified organic, certified non-GMO verified, and locally-grown foods that are produced naturally without biotechnology (http://www.naturalnews.com).

2) Processed meats. Most processed meat products, including lunch meats, bacon, sausage, and hot dogs, contain chemical preservatives that make them appear fresh and appealing, but that can also cause cancer. Both sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate have been linked to significantly increasing the risk of colon and other forms of cancer, so be sure to choose only uncured meat products made without nitrates, and preferably from grass-fed sources (http://www.organicconsumers.org/foodsafety/processedmeat050305.cfm). - use meat from organically grown or grass fed animals.

3) Microwave popcorn. They might be convenient, but those bags of microwave popcorn are lined with chemicals that are linked to causing not only infertility but also liver, testicular, and pancreatic cancers. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes the perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in microwave popcorn bag linings as "likely" carcinogenic, and several independent studies have linked the chemical to causing tumors. Similarly, the diacetyl chemical used in the popcorn itself is linked to causing both lung damage and cancer (http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400701/Microwave-Popcorn-Threat.html).

4) Soda pop. Like processed meats, soda pop has been shown to cause cancer as well. Loaded with sugar, food chemicals, and colorings, soda pop acidifies the body and literally feeds cancer cells. Common soda pop chemicals like caramel color and its derivative 4-methylimidazole (4-MI) have also specifically been linked to causing cancer (http://www.naturalnews.com/031383_caramel_coloring_cola.html).

5) 'Diet' foods, beverages. Even worse than conventional sugar-sweetened soda pop, though, is "diet" soda pop and various other diet beverages and foods. A recent scientific review issued by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) of more than 20 separate research studies found that aspartame, one of the most common artificial sweeteners, causes a range of illnesses including birth defects and cancer. Sucralose (Splenda), saccharin and various other artificial sweeteners have also been linked to causing cancer (http://www.dailymail.co.uk).

6) Refined 'white' flours. Refined flour is a common ingredient in processed foods, but its excess carbohydrate content is a serious cause for concern. A study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Mile Markers, and Prevention found that regular consumption of refined carbohydrates was linked to a 220 percent increase in breast cancer among women. High-glycemic foods in general have also been shown to rapidly raise blood sugar levels in the body, which directly feeds cancer cell growth and spread (http://www.naturalnews.com/001812_cancer_prevention.html). - I use brown, unpolished organic rice.

7) Refined sugars. The same goes for refined sugars, which tend to rapidly spike insulin levels and feed the growth of cancer cells. Fructose-rich sweeteners like high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) are particularly offensive, as cancer cells have been shown to quickly and easily metabolize them in order to proliferate. And since cookies, cakes, pies, sodas, juices, sauces, cereals, and many other popular, mostly processed, food items are loaded with HFCS and other refined sugars, this helps explain why cancer rates are on the rise these days (http://www.naturalnews.com/038071_cancer_sugar_sweets.html). - better to use muscovado or even molasses. the other options are to use stevia, coconut sugar and honey.

8) Conventional apples, grapes, and other 'dirty' fruits. Many people think they are eating healthy when they buy apples, grapes, or strawberries from the store. But unless these fruits are organic or verified to be pesticide-free, they could be a major cancer risk. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that up to 98 percent of all conventional produce, and particularly the type found on its "dirty" fruits list, is contaminated with cancer-causing pesticides (http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/list/).

9) Farmed salmon. Farmed salmon is another high-risk cancer food, according to Dr. David Carpenter, Director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University of Albany. According to his assessment, farmed salmon not only lacks vitamin D, but it is often contaminated with carcinogenic chemicals, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), flame retardants, pesticides, and antibiotics (http://www.albany.edu/ihe/salmonstudy/pressrelease.html).

10) Hydrogenated oils. They are commonly used to preserve processed foods and keep them shelf-stable. But hydrogenated oils alter the structure and flexibility of cell membranes throughout the body, which can lead to a host of debilitating diseases such as cancer. Some manufacturers are phasing out the use of hydrogenated oils and replacing them with palm oil and other safer alternatives, but trans fats are still widely used in processed foods (http://www.naturalnews.com/010095_hydrogenated_oils_unhealthy.html).

Thus, by avoiding the above, adding kefir, malunggay, wheat grass, exercising regularly and getting 6 to 8 hours rest we help our body overcome any illness. You see our body is perfectly made by the Creator. The cells are able to repair, rebuild and regenerate. It is when we abuse or not use it that makes it ill.

List of Philippine Cellular Phone Prefixes (Area Code)

2013-01-15T14:37:00.000+08:00

If you're like me who always wonders which company a particular cellphone number belongs to, then here's help for you - a list that you can copy to an excel spread sheet or MS Word or any other similar application. The thing is this. You can use it as it is but if you find you want to access it by company or something else, then you can just sort it. Simply copy to Excel, select all, then sort by column. If by number, choose column A. If by company, choose column B. It's that easy. I have added it to my Lumia cell so I can access it anytime without going online. Hope this helps.

0813	Smart
0817	Globe
0905	Globe or Touch Mobile
0906	Globe or Touch Mobile
0907	Smart or Talk N Text
0908	Smart or Talk N Text
0909	Smart or Talk N Text
0910	Smart or Talk N Text
0912	Smart or Talk n Text
0915	Globe or Touch Mobile
0916	Globe or Touch Mobile
0917	Globe
09178	Globe postpaid
0918	Smart
0919	Smart or Talk n Text
0920	Smart, Talk N Text, Addict Mobile
0921	Smart or Talk N Text
0922	Sun Cellular
0923	Sun Cellular
0925	Sun Cellular
0926	Globe or Touch Mobile
0927	Globe or Touch Mobile
0928	Smart or Talk N Text
0929	Smart or Talk N Text
0930	Smart, Talk N Text, Red Mobile
0932	Sun Cellular
0933	Sun Cellular
0934	Sun Cellular
0935	Globe or Touch Mobile
0936	Globe or Touch Mobile
0937	Globe or Touch Mobile
0938	Smart, Talk N Text, Red Mobile
0939	Smart, Talk N Text, Red Mobile
0942	Sun Cellular
0943	Sun Cellular
0946	Talk N Text
0947	Smart
0948	Smart or Talk N Text
0949	Smart or Talk N Text
0973	Extelcom
0974	Extelcom
0977	Next Mobile
0979	Next Mobile
0989	Smart or Talk N Text
0994	Globe
0996	Globe or Touch Mobile
0997	Globe or Touch Mobile
0998	Smart
0999	Smart

Oh by the way, I have copied this list en toto from Txtbuff news . Thanks to them. It's great!

Jane

Apple Cider Elixir

2013-01-09T22:27:00.000+08:00

I'm so into raw food and natural medicine. It's just that I have come to make pharmaceutical preparations a last option because I know what it does to my body. One of my home remedy is that of apple cider vinegar, honey and garlic. However, it is so tedious to do that when I'm in a hurry I more often than not skip this whole thing. Here's a better way to prepare it and have it for a month.

Apple Cider Elixir

1 cup apple cider vinegar

1 cup raw honey

8 cloves garlic

Mix all on low speed (the lowest that you can use). Keep in a glass or non-toxic plastic container . Seal and leave in the refrigerator for five days. Normal dosage is a tbsp. in a glass of water or fruit juice, grape or orange juice three times daily. Always keep your solution away from sunlight. It can be kept in the refrigerator for about a month. After that, discard and make another batch.

I would like to try it with my slow juicer. I and my family attest to its efficacy and we drink it at the onset of a cold or flu. It would be good to have it everyday though.

Oh, the apple cider vinegar has to be raw. One such is Bragg but I couldn't find it in the grocery lately. So, I'm going to make my own instead. Would love to try making some with my water kefir. Currently, we use the other brands. Any suggestions?

Photography Practice

2012-12-31T16:48:00.001+08:00

I need to write about something here so I thought of showing you how I am progressing with my photography hobby. These pics I took from our family road trip to the north. I hope you like them.

Not quite sunset yet. I know I know I need to make the horizon straight. hahahaha

fast shutter speed

slow shutter speed but same subject

Our Sunday lunch: Tuna Panga and Ensaladang Labanos

2012-09-02T15:01:00.001+08:00

Beginning today, I'll attempt to write about some of the food I serve on special days. This will include sundays when I prepare something nice for the family.

Today I thought of serving something special. I had bought two packs of Tuna Panga (jaw) from Hypermarket last week and since I want to have nice food every weekend when Ikee is home, I thought of cooking those for lunch. However, I still needed to serve it with something really healthy. Instead of the usual labanos ensalada (radish salad) but with yakon and sugar beets to make it really nutritious. To some thinly sliced radish, I added some fresh coriander leaves, julienned green pears and yakon. To make the dressing I blended sugar beets, apple cider vinegar, water kefir, a bit of sugar, freshly ground pepper and sesame oil. tossed the dressing into the mixed salad. For dessert, we had kefir ice cream with mango toppings. Here are some pics. So what did you have today?

Note: if you're in the Philippines, you can buy kefir ice cream from Yoggie's Yogurt Station.

Pasig Shutterbugs Celebrates Its 2nd Year and We're Celebrating!

2012-05-07T14:21:00.001+08:00

ATTENTION PHOTOGRAPHERS AND PHOTO ENTHUSIASTS!!!

The Pasig Shutterbugs is celebrating its 2nd Anniversary. Everyone is invited to join us during the celebration. It will be held at the *Tanghalang Pasigueno, on May 20 from 2 to 6 pm. There will be Model Shoot, Swap meet, Inter-Photo Club Eyeball, Games and other fun activities! Admission is for FREE! Potluck is welcome.

So come on, pack your camera and celebrate with us.

Note : If you want to sell/trade your used or new photography related items, please PM any of the Administrators at the Pasig Shutterbugs Facebook account.

*Tanghalang Pasigueno is located at the Pasig City hall complex.

God Friday Dish

2012-04-08T03:04:00.001+08:00

I always find it a challenge every Good Friday to serve something that does not have any pork, beef or chicken in it. In the Philippines, For most Catholics, Good Friday is a no-meat day. I'm not Catholic but my husband and daughter are. Thus, I need to prepare food that they may eat on that day.

This year, (2012), I prepared Fish and Chips the usual way with the addition of breaded okra and tzatziki sauce. My Fish fillet recipe was made from Cream Dory, along with some sliced okra which I had dipped in the same batter as the fish. The chips were just fresh potatoes that I julienned and fried to a golden brown. The tzatziki sauce is the same sauce that is sold on www.yogurtstation.blogspot.com, prepared with fresh greek yogurt, cucumber, garlic, mayonnaise and some dill.

At night we had some fresh vegetarian lumpia with a twist. I did the usual lumpia but instead of putting peanuts, I used garlic flavored cashew and had made some fresh egg wrappers. They really tasted good mind you.

So, what did you have?

Debut Preparations

2012-02-15T21:11:00.000+08:00

It's just a few months till my daughter's debut. How time flies and I feel ambivalent. Just the same, the feeling should be put aside first because there are things to be done for her party which we had wanted years ago. Of course my husband is not as excited as we are or if he is he's doing a good job at keeping his excitement hidden.

We are currently working on a budget which my husband and I had determined. So far, we started with the theme and the motiff of the party. It will be a masquerade. Since Ikee likes the Phantom of the Opera which film we had watched several times already, we agreed to have that for her theme but will allow a mixture of Parisian and Venetian designs. Her motiff will be, of course, black, white and red which are the colors of the Phantom.

Next off, we drew up the guest list - most of them relatives. Some of Ikee's friends are invited of course. We've been fortunate that some of her friends from the university she goes to will attend. However, we promised to provide them with overnight accommodations with a warning though that it wouldn't be first class as that would be expensive.

I wrote the program already but that will remain a secret for now. Suffice it to say that I want it to be a unique and memorable party. We have also so far chosen a suitable venue for the occasion - the Intramuros in the City of Manila. Along with the venue, we've started to scout for a caterer, lights and sound provider and photo and video service.

The more exciting part for me is that I have started to think of the decor and invitations. We do want a beautiful party but we don't want to spend too much either. This is why I'm doing some of the things that I can do. I will make the invitation cards myself which will be a scroll with a tassel to hold it in place. So far, I have bought pre-decorated masks that I will use to add to each table centerpiece just to set the mood. I have also bought 3 blank full masks to decorate the stairway with. I've opted to do this instead of buying 1 big mask. The big ones cost thrice as much as the three small masks do.

In summary, here's the list of what has been done so far:

* Determined budget
* Theme and motiff
* Guest List
* Program
* Reserved Venue
* Canvassed caterer, photovideo and lights & sound providers

* Started with decor (masks)
* Prototype of invitation card

Any other suggestions? I shall update you a on the progress we make each time.

Chilli Cheese Fries - Carl's Comfort Food

2011-11-10T20:57:00.001+08:00

What do you do with leftover food?

I had some mechado and some beef from my beef taco in the refrigerator. Obviously, I didn't want to eat any more of those but I didn't want to throw them away ("there are millions in the world who go hungry" as my mom would always say). So, as my friend Carl had mentioned, I turned them into Chili Cheese Fries. I combined the two dishes, chopped the big chunk of beef from the mechado, added some chopped tomatoes, cumin, and bell peppers. Then I simmered the dish until all the fresh ingredients became tender. Anyway, here's how:

Ingredients:

Chili Beef
Potatoes
Salt and pepper
1 tsp Vegetable oil
Cheese Sauce

Procedure:

Julienne some potatoes by cutting them into 1/2 inch thick strips. sprinkle some salt and pepper and add the oil. Toss the potatoes. Take a baking sheet or baking pan and line with a wax paper. lay the potatoes on this sheet in a single layer and bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Turn over and bake for another 10 minutes or until potatoes are cooked.

Pile the potatoes on a heat proof plate and top with Chili beef and Cheese Sauce (or plain quickmelt cheese) and bake for another 5 mins.

Turned out to be sooo good. Thanks Carl.

A Celebration of Friendship – USC Barkada Reunion Day 2 at the Plantation Bay

2011-10-27T13:36:00.001+08:00

August 19, 2011

The phone rang. It was 6:00 in the morning and we had a late night prior. I and Jasmin were at Radisson Blu Hotel where she was checked in and where I had spent most of my time too. She was in a deep slumber like a baby while Paolo, her nephew, was silently snoring on the couch. I had wanted to ignore the sound but it just kept bugging me. Plus, the sound was all too familiar. It was my phone. I picked it up and on the other end, a male voice in a high tone said “Gising na kayo?”

Grrrrrrr! It was my cousin Bong who was flying in from Manila. I had wanted to put down the thing and go back to dreamland but he was persistent. He said “you guys will have to talk to me.”

I said “why? It’s too early.”

“Exactly. I might fall asleep and if I do, I’ll miss my plane. If I miss my plane, it will be your fault and I won’t be able to go there for the reunion.”

I wanted to throw a fit because I was dizzy from lack of sleep but I chuckled heartily. How on earth can you get mad at someone who’s just so excited and ecstatic at seeing you? So, what happened in the next 5 hours was that we had to bear with Bong by almost throwing the phone at each one. I talked to him till about 8 am. When Jasmin woke up, I gave her the phone to talk to the poor guy while I took a bath. Then, the phone was back to me because Jasmin had to go to the bathroom too to prepare. We dressed up, did our hair, put on our make up and he was just there chatting. And yes, you read it right, 5 long hours. Actually more but there were a few minutes break in between. He was at the airport at 6 but his flight didn’t leave till 1 pm and he had nothing else to do but sit or sulk. Not a good idea to sulk on a good day.

Tata arrived. Divine and Joy had joined us while Bong was still on the phone. He had purchased an unlimited phone call service and he planned on using it all up on us. Unlimited! He had 2 phones I guess and charged one while he used the other. It was clever. We, on the other hand, had to take turns charging our phones as he would call another phone when one died out on him. Pathetic and funny altogether – something only Bong could muster.

Breakfast for Jasmin, Tata and myself was at the buffet in the hotel. Divine and Joy were to pick us up and go to the resort together. We checked out of the Radisson at 11 am since we were booked at the Plantation Bay Resort on Mactan Island. It was just about 45 minutes away from the City. However, we were not allowed to go to our room right away as check in time was really at 2 pm anyway. We So, we just brought in our bags, waited for Bong to arrive and took off to a nearby resto to have lunch. Finally, our ordeal with Bong ended. Ha ha! You know, it was such a joyful and hair-raising sight to see how exuberant we all were to be together. There were hugs and unending laughter, tearful recounts of past events, and unlimited stories told. 25 years could not have been enough to tell in 3 days! But, we were all happy.

In the afternoon, we were joined at Plantation Bay by Limuel and his family. The boys were the group’s funny bones and just as before, we were laughed hard such that I had to constantly remind ourselves that we would had to tone down our voices lest we be told by the front office to do so. We were in our mid 40’s and such an act would be degrading but we felt like we were in our 20’s that time because we were in that age where we left off. At maybe 8 pm, we decided to go out to dinner. First we decided to eat at a resto inside the hotel where they served the food al fresco with an Arabian nights show. However, it was too expensive and there were over 20 of us that time. Also, most of us wanted food that was Cebuano so we decided to go to another place. I told Joy I would go to the powder room but when I went out they had gone off. Apparently, Joy forgot about what I said since they were preoccupied when her sister joined us and boarded the tram that took them to the front office. Tata soon looked for me and they had realized I was left at the resto that she came to fetch me. All of them tried to call me – Bong, Joy, Jasmin, Divine and Limuel. We all laughed at that. Some comic moment was bound to happen and that was it. LOL

After dinner, we drove back to the hotel, passing by for some balut and penoy and, over a couple of drinks, told stories of each one’s own life the past decades. We thank facebook and Tata for bringing us together - Tata who diligently and persistently searched for all of us and brought us all back together. It was a pity that some of our friends were not able to join then – Boy Beduya, Jun Pascua, Onie Torres. Anyway, there’s always a next time.

Continued…

Day 1

Day 3

Day 4

A Celebration of Friendship - USC Barkada Reunion Day 1

2011-10-24T23:38:00.001+08:00

It had been over 20 years since our barkada last got together. After a year of planning, this year we went back to Cebu to get together. My friends Joy, Jasmin and Divine had come home for the reunion. Jasmin came from Japan and Divine came all the way from from L.A. Joy, however, was here a month prior. She had come home from Austria where she and her family now resides and had extended her stay to join us. The rest of us had come from different parts of the country - Tata, my bff, came from Dumaguete, Limuel from Surigao,while I and Bong from Manila.

On our first day, however, there were only the girls and some of the young ones my friends are related to - Joy's children, Divine's son and 2 of her siblings, and Jasmin's nephew. I took an early flight while Tata was there early too. We both went straight to the Radisson Blu Hotel where the rest of the pack was waiting for us. As expected, the ladies were almost hysterical to see each other after such a long while. Some of us, yes us, grew bigger (sideways) while the others had maintained their built. Nonetheless, despite the years, the wrinkles and the inches, the friendship had never been stronger as the bond that tie us is rather long and deep.

We had originally planned to go to Bohol but, because of the weather, opted not to go. Instead we went to Simala where we had visited a famous church on a hill. It is said that the place was miraculous and thus a church was built on the very ground where the miracles happened. It was Divine's idea to go and thank the Good Lord for the time we had together. Everyone else just had to agree with her. It took about 3 hours to get there.

On our way back from Simala, we stopped by a store in Carcar to buy some chicharon which the place is known for. I had bought a few packs to bring home to Manila. A pack of about 200 grams cost 50 pesos. Of course we had a few pieces to eat inside the van. Sssshhh. That's supposed to be a secret because we are now in our mid 40's and chicharon should not be on our list of things to eat. For those who do not know what the chicharon of Carcar is, it is pork crackling made of skin and fat. Anyway, a few pieces wouldn't really hurt, right Vine?

While there, we saw a girl vendor who had some banana que with her. Of course our friends who live abroad couldn't resist the temptation of buying some. We all had a stick of the sugar-coated plaintain banans and a can of soft drink. Whew! talk about rising blood sugar. Tata, though, had a coke zero because she's diabetic. The rest of us, well, had a high glucose tolerance.

After the pitstop at Carcar, we went on our way but stopped once more in Carcar to buy some slippers and shoes. It turned out that the place is also known for footwear and there's a place there where they sell them cheap. The ladies bought an average of 2 pairs. Jasmin had about half a dozen more. Cheaper by the dozen so it seems.

We went on our way after that back to the Radisson where Joy had her pretty daughters swim at the pool. Jasmin had gone off to a business meeting, while we went to SM to eat dinner. For a night cap, we went to a videoke bar and sang our hearts out till about 3 am. Boy, that day was tiresome, exhausting but very well spent.

continued...

Day 2
Day 3

Choose A Good Dorm - It's A Parent's Responsibility

2011-10-19T12:46:00.000+08:00

Beware of the thieves!

I actually mean those people who run a dorm and promise something without fulfilling them or who charge rates that you did not agree on. Yesterday my daughter and I along with my mother-in-law transferred her stuff from her old dorm to the new one. It was time to move to a new place because the old dorm near the raymundo gate is dirty, noisy and is run by a woman who gives false promises and charges exorbitant rates for nil or poor service. The one thing I hate the most is how she expects the occupants of the dorm to clean the common area. The reason it is a dorm and not an apartment is so that people will only want to occupy a room - actually, a space in a room for those who stay in those rooms for 2 or more people. Thus, they should be responsible for the area that they are occupying. Nothing else. The kitchen, dining room, toilet, sala and even the ref should be cleaned and maintained by the owners or the caretakers.

But no. This dorm has dirty white tiles in the toilet – it used to be white but is now very dirty – plus the toilet bowl is a mixture of brown and dirty white because of the grime. The ref was never cleaned for the whole time my daughter was there and there was a time that it smelled like poop in the whole house when the ice melted during a black out. Until yesterday the sink still had that turbid filthy brownish water near the wall just under the faucet which. I dread to think what microorganisms can be cultured there. Salmonella, pseudomonas? Gosh! Those can cause disease or even death to the kids. So, be careful when you choose your child’s dorm especially for the first time.

Here’re some tips to keep away from those types of dorms (a lesson I should have learned beforehand):

Check with the local government. At UPLB, you can actually just go to the Batong Malake Barangay hall and check with them whether the dorm in has incidents or cases filed against them.
Check for recommendations over the internet. I’m not saying that you believe everything on the net. But if there are a lot of people saying that one place is good, then it probably is.
Check for recommendations from the college or university.
Of course if you have friends or relatives, ask them too for recommendations or suggestions.

The following are recommended dorms at the UPLB area:

For the area near the Math Building:

St. Therese Parish
Ilag Dorm
One Silangan

For the area near the BioSci building:

Raymundo Gate dorms – butterfly ladies’ dorm, Lola, and a pink dorm at Pearl St., near F.O. Santos. I will post a phone number soon. Just please check back again. The Westbrook dorm is a very nice, clean and well-kept dorm. However, the area going there gets really dark at night.

For the area near the forestry, try the dorms of UP. For the VetBuilding and CEAT areas, the YMCA or the dorms at the Silangan are probably the nearest ones.

UPLB conducts a freshman orientation. You can inquire then which dorms are recommended.

The Dukan Diet with Tips for Filipinos

2011-10-06T00:21:00.000+08:00

If you’re Filipino and you’re into the Dukan Diet, chances are that you would be scrambling about town to find the food that you can eat. Here is how to do the Dukan Diet and the places to get the ingredients and food that you can consume while you’re on it.

Dukan Diet Attack Phase (Phase 1)

The Dukan diet Attack Phase is the most simple to remember but it is also the most difficult to adhere to. However, it is in this phase that the most rapid weight loss occurs. It is done anywhere from 2 to 10 days. Dieters lose 5 to 7 pounds in 5 days. Someone I know (Doc Mercy, this is you!) lost 10 lbs in 7 days. Just don’t overdo it. It is not a balanced diet and most dieters tend to become constipated. It’s good that fat-free yogurt is allowed during this phase and will help address the problem of constipation. Milk Kefir is also allowed as long as it is fat free. I would suggest you take both. Personally, I have lost weight just taking these two products with my regular meals. In the Philippines, you can buy fat free, sugar free natural yogurt from Yoggie’s Yogurt Station. Our yogurt do not have any emulsifier or other known stabilizers so you get a product that is purely made from milk and milk solids.
The daily intake for this phase recommends the unlimited consumption of only lean protein from pork, beef, fish and eggs along with 1.5 tablespoons of oat bran and 1.5 liters of water daily. However, in the US, tenderloin pork is allowed.

Attack Phase Food List
These are mostly what you can eat during this phase:
•    Seafood – any as long as it does not have carbs (e.g. breadcrumbs, flour, etc), or oil or in a sauce that has oil or fat.

•    Meat - lean cuts of beef, veal or venison, low fat slices of ham with all rind and fat removed, lean bacon, calves liver and kidneys, rabbit or hare. The US version of the Diet also allows pork tenderloin.   Lean cuts of chicken, turkey, ostrich and other birds without any limitations as long as they are devoid of all fat including the skin. You are also allowed to eat chicken livers. I found some ostrich meat at Rustan’s Grocery.

•    Dairy Products and Eggs – virtually any fat-free, sugar-free dairy products such as skim milk, quark, fromage frais, kefir or yoghurt can be eaten. Yogurt is specially important to prevent constipation which is the usual complaints of Dukan dieters. If you can find fat free ricotta and cream cheese, those are allowable too. At Yoggie’s Yogurt Station, you can buy your yogurt, kefir, ricotta.
Sugars from fruits are not allowed. The consumption of up to 2 eggs a day in the attack phase. I suggest you get the organic eggs which has very little cholesterol. I found some cheap organic eggs are available at the organic stall at the fresh produce at Market Market. Tofu and soy products are allowed.

•    Herbs and Spices - You can use any herb or spice in any phase of the diet. However, they should be used sparingly – only to give some flavour to your food. There ’s a wide selection that I found at the SM Megamall grocery. Also, there’s a store at Market Market that sells unusual herbs and spices. It is located across serendra right beside Fiorgelato. The name eludes me this time.
Even salt is allowed. Just try not to be tempted to put too much of it as the proteins will be taxing on the kidneys already.

•    Vinegar - All vinegars are allowed in all phases. Some lemons can be used too for flavouring.

•    Sweeteners - Aspartame, Stevia, Splenda(sucralose) and Xylitol are allowed. I suggest you go for stevia instead. You can buy the plant and use the leaves. They’re available at the Manila Seedling Bank. However, if you prefer the dried and readymade ones, I believe they’re available at the AANI stalls at Quezon City Memorial Circle. Healthy Options has them too but those are a bit pricey.
Chewing gum can be used to freshen your breath. It also helps you get rid of the hunger pangs.

•    Drinks - You can drink skim milk, coffee, diet soda (as long as it is under 1 calorie per glass), green tea or fruit teas.

•    Goji Berries - A tolerated item according to the official site. Yoggie’s has this too.

•    Brewer’s Yeast and Multivitamin Supplements
I will write about these in another blog tomorrow:
Dukan diet Cruise Phase (Phase 2)
Dukan diet Consolidation Phase (Phase 3)
Dukan diet Stabilization Phase (Phase 4)

The No Poo Shampoo Method - A Natural Way to Clean Hair

2011-10-05T12:12:00.000+08:00

Commercial shampoos have chemicals that may cause cancer. This is according to what I have found over the internet. So, the herbalist, naturalist and "organicist" (???) that I am, I tried to search for an alternative to it. I found the "no poo" method which are now being sold. However, why buy when I can actually make it at home with very little cost. Here's how I do it:

Mix 1 tbsp baking soda in 1 cup of water in a dipper. In another dipper, mix the juice of1/4 dalandan or navel orange with 1 cup of water. Wet hair thoroughly. Pour the soda water solution through out the hair and scalp. Massage scalp for a few seconds. Rinse with tap water. Pour in and massage through your hair the orange-water mixture. leave on for about 5 minutes. The longer it stays on hair, the softer the hair is. The nice

At the start, my hair became greasy but as it went on, I find that it smelled good and is really cleaner. The orange was also good for my tresses as it became softer and more manageable. plus my locks smell refreshingly nice with the essence of orange. I used GIGA's Scalp Treatment which is made from virgin coconut oil and ginger to stop my falling hair. It seems like the regimen is working for me. It's cheap and it really works. Why don't you try it and find out?

Yogurt and the Dukan Diet

2011-10-04T18:14:00.000+08:00

I had a lady doctor come over today to buy some fat-free natural yogurt. In the Philippines, there are but a few who make yogurt and most are either whole milk or low-fat. Thus far, this lady said I'm the only yogurt maker with fat free yogurt that she found on the internet.

Anyway, it turned out that she is on the attack phase (the very first phase) of the dukan diet and had very little choices for food variety that she wants to add yogurt or fat free dairy to her list. So, she tried to ask me and while I do not have fat free yogurt in my product list, I do give in to some client requests such as this. She contacted me yesterday, and today, she came over to pick it up.

So what's the Dukan Diet all about? As I understand it, it is a diet formulated by a certain Dr. Pierre Dukan who is a French medical doctor. The diet has 4 phases and the very first one, the attack phase, involves ingesting only protein. Some people claim to have lost 10 pounds in 3 days. This lady doctor said she has so far lost 10 pounds in 7 days. Not bad. perhaps I'll give it a shot. Anyone care to try?

For fresh yogurt in manila and other dairy and probiotic needs, visit www.yogurtstation.blogspot.com.

Metrosouth Executive Village Cavite

2011-09-11T22:40:00.000+08:00

Here are the pictures of the Metrosouth lot we are selling:

This is the entrance to the village.

The two pools - adult and kiddie.

Another view of the entrance. This is the same entrance to Eagle Ridge.

The lot - it is by a curb of the road.

There are houses nearby already.

The view across the lot.

The village is a project of Sta. Lucia Realty, one of the Philippines' trusted owner/developers of subdivisions. It has guards at every village and the overhead watertanks are interconnected so that when one is down, the others can still supply water to the village whose tank is not working. There is a commercial area about 500 meters away from the village's entrance. There, one can find department stores, supermarkets, restaurants, and others. There are universities, colleges and schools within a kilometer or two away the nearest of which are the Lyceum of the Philippines and the De La Salle Health Science School. There are hospitals and churches and a market nearby.

Our lot is 153 square meters and is located right beside an open space intended as a park. It is elevated thus making it flood free. For details and a map, please see my sulit.com advertisement.

More Greenwoods Phase 8D Lot Pictures

2011-09-08T17:53:00.000+08:00

here're more pictures: (check my sulit account for details)

These are pics of the clubhouse and some amenities.

Greenwoods Executive Village Lot

2011-09-08T15:59:00.010+08:00

I would like to share these photos for my customers. Here's the property in Greenwoods Pasig. (for details, please check my sulit account and this post for other pics)

Here's the road from the entrance gate, Taytay side. The gate is about 1 minute to C6 highway that runs all the way to Bicutan.

This photo is at the corner of the street, 3 lots away from ours.

These are among the houses near the lot.

There you go. hope you like it.

Tell Them You Love Them

2011-07-30T12:40:00.000+08:00

Sometimes it's hard to imagine that you can actually lose someone you hold dear.

I was at a wake 2 nights ago. It was Mama Beth's. She was a widow, a woman in her late 60's who suffered from a stroke and had cerebral hemorrhage in the process. Her daughter works for me and has been doing so for the past 8 years. Before she came, it was her sister who was with us. Thus, the whole family has become so close and familiar to us that we had established close ties with them and even treated them as members of our own family. We gather every Christmas eve at my house to party - their family and mine.

Lately, though, their family have been having some trouble. Some of Mama Beth's children had marital problems while others lost their jobs. As a mother, she felt their pain - the pain of not being able to feed your family, the pain of leaving home and losing a partner, the pain of not seeing one's children - all these piled up on Mama Beth's shoulders as she went from one home to the other to counsel and console her children. Needless to say, she did all those without expecting anything in return. She told me all those too so I know how she felt.

The one thing that struck me so much was that one of her daughters cried while telling me about how she suffered at the hospital. But she cried the hardest when I asked if she had told her how much she loved her mother. She said "No, Ate, I did not. I was not even able to thank her for her love too.". It all happened so fast.

When someone dies or is dying, there's nothing much that we can do for them. Not us nurses, not the doctors. Noone can really help. But, the best thing that we can do for them is to assure them of how much we love them and that we would be in good hands when they finally leave us.

Rest in peace Mama Beth. I shall forever cherish your friendship and your love.

A Yummy Mayo - DIY

2011-07-13T23:50:00.004+08:00

I had earlier made some sardine out of the barracuda that my dad brought from Palawan. One of the many ways I enjoy it is making gourmet sandwiches out of the fresh sardine dish. However, I realized I had run out of mayonnaise because I made some dip for my duaghter to bring to her boarding house. So, because I still wanted to have my sandwich, I got out some fresh organic eggs and made mayo myself. It turned out that the one I made is close to the taste of the commercial brand I normally buy. You may want to try it too. Here's my recipe:

1 organic egg
half a calamansi (I usually use lemon but ran out of it too)
1/4 teaspoon salt
some freshly ground pepper
1/4 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp sesame oil
1 cup virgin coconut oil

Procedure:
In a blender, put in the egg, calamansi, salt, pepper and sugar. Switch on the blender to the fastest setting. Add in half of all the oils a drop per minute starting with the sesame oil. Then add in the rest of the canola oil in a thin steady stream.

Note that some oil maybe left because the amount of oil depends on how large the egg is. Also, once you have started to put in the oils, do not stop until you feel the solution can no longer take in any more oil.

Eggs can be sources of salmonella so I use organic eggs. Not that it is a sure way to avoid the bacteria but there's a lesser chance of those eggs being contaminated. If you can get hold of pasteurized eggs, those will be better. We don't have them in the Philippines. Too bad.

Everyday Items Cause Cancer - Going Green

2011-07-08T11:50:00.010+08:00

I'm back with a vengeance! LOL
Been busy with my daughter's transfer to the university and her moving out of the house too. But that will be for another blog. I have so much to write about.

Anyway, on days when I was rather lonely at home, I do some research on cancer and guess what I found - even baby shampoos contain chemicals that cause the ailment. Shampoos, soaps, hair dye, baby wash, processed food, etc. all contribute to the risk of having the disease. Here are some things you can use instead of these items:

No poo instead of shampoo - Baking Soda and Lemon

Dissolve about half teaspoon of Baking Soda in half cup of water. Apply to wet hair and scalp as you would your shampoo. Rinse and condition with freshly squeezed Lemon (or orange for dry hair). Your hair will be rid of smell from chemical build up and will be smooth too.

Henna and Chamomile For Hair Dye

Henna is the most natural way to dye your hair. My daughter lightened her black hair with chamomile tea before she used red henna.

To use chamomile tea, simply take about 3 to 4 bags of chamomile and steep in 1 cup of boiling water. Do this at least 3 times then dye your hair with henna.

To prepare henna, simply make a thick paste with your henna powder and add some lemon to it. Then apply to hair. Leave on till it dries. That should take about half a day. Leaving henna on your hair makes it soft and manageable anyway.

Apple cider vinegar for Female Vaginal Wash
add about half tsp of apple cider vinegar about a liter of water and use it to wash vaginal area.

Fruits to lighten the skin
Use fresh papaya, lemon, or calamansi, directly onto skin. Leave for about 5 minutes and rinse. Using these twice a day is good but once will be enough too.

Parsley for Mouthwash
Make a tea by steeping parsley in hot water to make mouth wash. Simply boil some water. When in a rolling boil, turn off heat and quickly add to a glass with a handful of parsley and cover for 5 minutes.

Vinegar for Underarm deodorant
Just dab some vinegar directly to underarm and dry it first before wearing any clothes. The smell of vinegar will go away when it dries.

So there your are. All of the above tips have been tried and tested (by me and my family of course) to be safe for us. However, if you are allergic to any of the components, do not try to use it. It's better safe than sorry.

Let's be green and healthy.