Genial Air

I Shop. We Eat. They Marry.

2010-11-28T20:39:00.004+08:00

Shopping is something I don't enjoy. Not even shopping for something to wear to a friend's wedding. I'm a "pants and T-shirt"/ "pambahay" type so finding something formal to wear is hard. I'd rather climb-up a mountain than go to the mall to find something dressy. Not going to the wedding was not an option, so I went to 168 Mall in Divisoria to find something cheap and nice. I found a store selling "all bangkok made" women's apparel. Prices were not as cheap as I have expected but they have my size and a wide variety of nice blouses, skirts and pants to choose from. Another plus is that they have a comfortable fitting room. I bought a beige chiffon blouse and a dark brown slacks. I so love the brown slacks I can even wear it everyday! hahaha...

Photo by Cerise

It is always much fun seeing friends you haven't seen for the longest time in such a happy occasion! The "kwentuhan" was a blast and was fueled by Ibarra's Catering (Ibarra's Garden) The food was really good!

Watching Tin so drowned with joy and happiness in one of her life's best moments was priceless!

Reception: Casa Manila Patio, Intramuros, Manila

To Tin,

We haven't talked for a long time but I'm glad that we remain as friends. That dinner/coffee date a week before the wedding really meant so much.

GOLD

2010-11-22T07:26:00.006+08:00

I know it's so ewww and yucky of me photographing myself like this. I live alone. I'm a snob. So don't you dare expect me to call on a stranger inside my room and have my picture taken. Besides, this is my first attempt so please let me get away with this one.

That pair of gold loop earrings is a present from a friend. I felt that it would be an injustice wearing it and heading to Powerbooks without any make-up on. Or maybe It's just me making an excuse to go back to my old self! Haha..I've been home-based (tambay lang sa bahay) for over a year now now, and I am just too lazy to even get my hair cut or my nails polished. I could go to the mall wearing my pambahay and my hair....i don't really care about it. My only ritual is putting on my oil-free facial moisturizer every night (or day) after shower, before I go to sleep. It is my belief that a good moisturizer can really take some years off from an aging face. How I wish to find a wonder moisturizer that can magically take off at least 19 years off my body! I desperately need an 18-year old body for all the things I wanted to do at this age!

If it wasn't for Tintin's wedding, I wouldn't bother looking for my make-up set. (Will post photos from Tin and Eric's wedding soon)

To the "gifter": Thanks for the earrings and the wonder it brings! Hope to see you before the year ends.

RED DAY!

2010-11-22T05:42:00.001+08:00

November 18, 2010

My Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Day

My 2011 Starbucks Planner.

My Caramel Macchiato

My Corn Beef Pandesal

Deathly Hallows

2010-11-18T23:56:00.004+08:00

As early as 6:00AM today, I was wide wake and recharged with an 8-hour of sleep. With Happy thoughts and good vibes wrestling me in bed this morning, I know that the rest of my November 18, 2010 would all be good.

I went to Starbucks in Robinson’s Midtown for a corn beef pandesal and a Venti Soy Caramel Machiatto to complete my 17-sticker quest for the 2011 planner. Got the red one….or is it maroon? I don’t really care as long as it looks red to me, plus I love its velvety feel!

I was inside Starbucks while I was writing this entry and waiting for the 11AM Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 screening. I was sensing Magic inside the already jam-packed store! My guess is that 90% of the people inside the store are all “Witches and Wizards” who woke so early for the same reason that I have, while the 10% are just Muggles enjoying their morning coffee.

I enjoyed the film! I was sad at some point but laughing at some parts too. The girl seated beside me was crying almost the entire film and that what started me crying too. I have been waiting for HP7 so long and the waiting was a torture. The worst was the last 30 days before the premier! It was the same pain and excitement combined while reading the HP7 book.

For those WITCHES and WIZARDS (pure blood or half blood) who haven’t watched it yet, please do. And so what if you are a Muggle or a Squib…go watch the film too!

Of course, you need to be an HP fan to really appreciate the film!

Free Passes for Mom Expo Bazaar

2010-11-17T02:51:00.002+08:00

I've got 3 Entrance Passes for Expo Mom Bazaar.

You can get yours too for FREE!!!

Entrance Passes are Priced at P25 each but youl'll get free in this link:

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AND HAVE YOUR PASSES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX!

>>>Limit of 3 vouchers per person

>>>1 day shopping Event at Expo Mom Bazaar on November 20, 2010, Saturday at 10am - 8pm
>>>Voucher is transferable and may give as gift

Registration is fast and easy! Plus you'll get access to great PROMOS in the Metro!

Lechon,Kape at Ang Layang Bilanggo

2010-11-15T10:57:00.004+08:00

Bej texted at around 7:00AM yesterday. She wanted me to jump out bed to meet her and Precy in Legaspi Sunday (Organic) Market. Yawning, I asked myself...di ba 7am is too early to be in a crowded place on a supposed to be lazy Sunday morning?"Not at all… if the reward includes a mouthwatering lechon for breakfast" was the prompt reply of those voices inside my head. Please understand that I do not have control or influence over them. They're just too many and so i was easily outnumbered!

Bej and Precy both have Fresh Chinese Lumpia while I was salivating over my lechon meal! Ahaha. Takaw!

My Sunday breakfast

Gerry Villena’s Z.E.N. (Zestful, Energetic,Natural) is a usual stop when I am in Legaspi Sunday Market. It’s my source of all organic personal care products. I bought some organic soap for my friend Cassandra. I have been using organic soaps, moisturizer, body scrubs and shampoo since Cassandra introduced ZEN to me a couple of years ago. Unlike Lush products with very overpowering scents ( nakakahikang bango) ZEN’s are mildly scented.

Phtoto is from http://youwerewatched.livejournal.com

After breakfast, we went to Shangri-La Mall to catch the 11:30 screening of Layang Bilanggo which is another entry to Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival. I wish Metro’s everyday traffic would be as light as yesterday’s….thanks to Pacquiao vs Margarito!

I had my "I belong" moment yesterday...inside the cab!

We arrived at Shang with a just a few people inside the mall. We went to Starbucks for coffee (and stickers) while waiting for the film screening. No one was in Starbucks! I mean there was a few...but isn’t it an unusual sight on a family day morning. I would normally see bunch of parents reading the morning paper with their favorite lattes and kids with their frappes! Thanks to the Pacquiao vs Margarito fight we didn’t have any trouble finding a good area to seat!

Bej and Precy

I wasn’t expecting much from Layang Bilanggo. I wanted to watch the film merely because Pen Medina is the main lead. And Miriam Quimbao being one of the lead stars is just an extravagant bonus.

Layang Bilanggo is a must-see film! Everyone was great down to the support roles. This is how Pinoy movie should be. The lines were fantastically natural, something that we hear in real life. Intense drama with no hysterics and no flooding of tears is such a winner. As the story unfolds with loads of human drama, you will be amazed to get a good laugh along the way!

Here’s the screening schedule: festival will end tomorrow, Tuesday (11-16-20100

15 November, 2010 (Monday)

11:30 - Astro Mayabang

01:30 - Dagim

03:30 - Layang Bilanggo

05:30 - Ang Damgo

07:30 - Tsardyer

09:30 - Ishmael

16 November, 2010 (Tuesday)

12:00 - Layang Bilanggo

02:00 - Ang Damgo

04:00 - Third World Happy

06:00 - Tsardyer

08:00 - Dagim

10:00 - Astro Mayabang

Ishmael at Tsardyer

2010-11-14T08:53:00.004+08:00

I went to Shang last Friday for the 2pm screening of Dagim which is one of the entries in Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival. Before heading to Ortigas, I have to meet a nice Jedi in Enterprise Bldg in Ayala as we both are watching the film. I did insist that we catch a few ORIGINALS films, saying “let’s go Pinoy this time!” Unfortunately, the traffic was awfully bad! We got there past 3PM. We waited for the 5PM screening for the next film Ishmael.

If am an expert then maybe I can elaborately write on how good or how bad the movie was but then I am not, and so I am not going that way. What was very evident to me was the bad audio from time to time. We enjoyed the film and the Actors were all good! How can you be disappointed when you have Ronnie Lazaro, Mark Gil and Pen Medina in one film? The brutal and bloody scenes towards the end was strangely good.

After Ishmael we had Bibingkinitan , Starbucks Coffee (3 more stickers for the planner!) and juicy stories to feed us. We both decided to watch the next film, Tsardyer which lucky for us was having the gala premier. Here are some celebs we saw in the cinema lobby: Tsardyer lead stars Dimples Romana and Mon Confiado, Jennica Garcia was there to watch the film too, “hey that face looks familiar, taga GMA ba yan? “, “kilala ko yan eh…di ko lang matandaan pangalan…pero lumalabas sa TV yan”and sino nga ba yan..galing Starstruck yan diba?” were all there to support the film. I apologize to have such limited knowledge on local celebs as I don’t have TV so long now. And the only time I watch Pinoy movies in theater is during the December Filmfest and it’s always Bong Revilla’s entry and Vic Sotto’s Enteng movie! And why not? Vic’s Enteng is so corny it makes me laugh. Bong Revilla spend so much money doing better films and that’s enough reason for me to support his filmfest entry. Jedi and I, we don’t really have the urge to take pictures of celebs or have our picture taken with them. Unless it’s with Johnny Depp for Jedi and it’s with Jude law and Morgan Freeman for me then we will gladly strike a pose! Oppss..I should be talking about Tsardyer right? Let me just sum up our Tsardyer experience with one simple word courtesy of Jedi: Headache.

I may watch another one today and it’s a choice between Layang Bilanggo, starring Pen Medina, Miriam Quiambao, Jaime Fabregas, Sue Prado and Archie Adamos at 11:30AM or Dagim with stars Martin Del Rosario, Samuel Quintana, Bembol Roco, Rita Iringan, and Marc Abaya 9:30PM.

Screening Schedule is here.

Did I mentioned that all of the films working budget was just 1M?

I know a friend who is submitting an entry for next year’s festival. Congratulations to you my friend for the courage. Goodluck!

This November 18.... It's a Battle Between Potterhead Gail and the Dark Lord!

2010-11-12T11:12:00.012+08:00

Got my Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Ticket for the Nov.18 play date. Screening time is at 11:00AM (Robinson's Movieworld-(Midtown)

As you can see here, am watching the film alone. Well,not really alone as I'm expecting HP die-hard fans -Potterheads-to be flooding at the cinema lobby hours before the opening. My movie buddy will be off to Cebu for a business trip. I have this feeling that there is something out there...some dark forces conspiring against us, making sure that we don't get to Watch HP movies together on its first day of showing. This is what happened during HP6 and it is happening again now! To the Sith Lord (a.k.a. KP), please stop it! This ain't funny you know... I know, the last time wasn't your fault but still I am putting all the blame on you!

I am so excited to watch the film! So excited I almost cried holding the ticket. I've started making plans on how start my HP day. A nice bacon-egg-coffee breakfast is on the list. Why? Because I love bacon..been craving for it for a couple days now and there is no perfect time for a BEC breakfast than HP day. A 2011 Starbucks Planner should make the day fabulously magical! And I'm bringing my HP limited edition bookmark that I got for being the first customer to claim the HP6 book at my suking NBS Ermita on the day of its release. Not sleeping the night before the release of the book really paid off so well for me!

A re-watch with a Jedi after the the business trip should be as special.

Cravings Buffet

2010-11-11T10:22:00.003+08:00

I crave for Biko.

I crave for Puto Manapla

I crave for someone’s mom’s home-made puto.

I crave for really good green pasta.

I crave for sapin-sapin, it should be as colorful as it should be.

I crave for pansit bihon guisado with lots of veggie toppings.

I crave for Durian Ice Cream

I crave for dried biya…fried to perfection!

I crave for Amber’s sapin-sapin ( cheese).

I crave for Vietnamese spring rolls in Cappuccino (HCMC).

I crave for my chicken pork adobo with pineapple tidbits and quail eggs

~~I crave for P ty’s company, P ty’s presence in my bed. Haha!~~

I crave for Palawan’s cashew nut.

I crave for crispy bacon with the perfect crisp.

I crave for Yellow Cab’s Charlie Chan pasta.

I crave for fresh talaba.

I crave Tiananmen’s Chinese Lumpia.

I crave for butterscotch from my hometown.

I crave for a really good green mango shake.

What

you

C R A V E

for?

Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival

2010-11-10T07:18:00.006+08:00

After the blockbuster Korean horror Movie Film Festival here comes another one! It’s the 2010 Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival. This will run starting today, November 10 up until November 16, 2010.

Now, unlike the previous international film festivals in Shangri-La Mall’s Cineplex, we DON’T get to watch pinoy films for FREE . Tickets are priced at Php150.00 each. Would this mean that it will be a yey-konti-pila-may bayad-kasi festival moment?

Awards Night will be held on November 14 at ABS-CBN's Dolphy Theater.It will surely be a tight competition between the 7 finalists selected out from over 100 entries.

ISHMAEL

Written and Directed by Richard Somes
Starring Ronnie Lazaro, Mark Gil, Pen Medina, and Ria Garcia
The Gist: An ex-convict returns to his hometown seeking peace, but gets drawn in a battle for justice that will have him drawing from his violent past.

ANG DAMGO NI ELEUTERIA KIRCHBAUM Directed by Remton Siega Zuasola
Written by Maria Victoria Beltran
Starring Donna Gimeno, Suzette Ranillo and Alex Uypuanco
The Gist: A young Cebuana, envious of her cousin’s fortunes after marrying a foreigner, signs up to become a mail-order bride.

DAGIM Directed by Joaquin Pedro Valdes
Written by Jheremy Sandico and Joaquin Pedro Valdes
Starring Martin Del Rosario, Samuel Quintana, Bembol Roco, Rita Iringan, and Marc Abaya
The Gist: Two brothers looking for their father discover a seemingly idyllic tribal community hiding a dark secret.

LAYANG BILANGGO Directed by Michael Angelo Dagñalan
Written by Ma-an Asuncion, Michael Angelo Dagñalan, and Melchor Escarcha
Starring Pen Medina, Miriam Quiambao, Jaime Fabregas, Sue Prado and Archie Adamos
The Gist: An aging hitman tries to get close to a daughter he abandoned years ago. But his past isn’t easy to shake.

ASTRO MAYABANG Written and Directed by Jason Paul Laxamana
Starring Aaron Villaflor, Megan Young, John Lapus, Marco Morales, Hermes Bautista and Crystal Herrera
The Gist: A young man who flaunts his supposed patriotism is made to see the irony in his ways.

TSARDYER Written and Directed by Siegfried Barros-Sanchez
Starring Martin delos Santos, Neil Ryan Sese, Dimples Romana, Pipo Alfad III and Mon Confiado
The Gist: A woman journalist is kidnapped by a rebel group, and she befriends a young boy whose job is to keep the rebels’ cellphones charged.

THIRD WORLD HAPPY Written and Directed by EJ Salcedo
Starring Sam Milby, Jodi Sta. Maria, Richard Quan, Melissa Mendez and Archie Adamos
The Gist: An artist who has lived most of his life abroad returns home for a funeral and slowly rediscovers a connection to his home.

We also get to watch these films from the previous years' festival!

*Jerrold Tarog’s postmodern political satire Confessional,

*Richard Somes’ aswang family drama Yanggaw,

*Richard Legaspi’s romantic comedy set in the world of the hearing-impaired Paano Ko Sasabihin,

*Ray Gibraltar’s grim black comedy Wanted: Border.

*Ron Bryant’s excellent documentary The Cinema of Celso Ad Castillo.

Screening Schedule:

10 November, 2010 (Wednesday)

12:00 - Wanted:Border

02:00 - Paano Ko Sasabihin

04:00 - The Cinema of Celso Ad Castillo

07:00 - Confessional

09:00 - Ishmael

11 November, 2010 (Thursday)

12:00 - Ishmael

02:00 - The Cinema of Celso Ad Castillo

04:00 - Yanggaw

07:00 - Third World Happy

09:00 - Dagim

12 November, 2010 (Friday)

12:00 - Third World Happy

02:00 - Dagim

04:00 - Ishmael

07:00 - Astro Mayabang

09:00 - Tsardyer

13 November, 2010 (Saturday)

12:00 - Astro Mayabang

02:00 - Tsardyer

04:00 - Ishmael

06:00 - Third World Happy

08:00 - Layang Bilanggo

10:00 - Ang Damgo

14 November, 2010 (Sunday)

11:30 - Layang Bilanggo

01:30 - Ang Damgo

03:30 - Third World Happy

05:30 - Astro Mayabang

07:30 - Tsardyer

09:30 - Dagim

15 November, 2010 (Monday)

11:30 - Astro Mayabang

01:30 - Dagim

03:30 - Layang Bilanggo

05:30 - Ang Damgo

07:30 - Tsardyer

09:30 - Ishmael

16 November, 2010 (Tuesday)

12:00 - Layang Bilanggo

02:00 - Ang Damgo

04:00 - Third World Happy

06:00 - Tsardyer

08:00 - Dagim

10:00 - Astro Mayabang

See you at the movies!

Be A Stalker NOW!

2010-11-09T04:13:00.002+08:00

If you want a stress-free Adventure then Plan Ahead!

Do your research!

Get to know the place you are going to by reading travel blogs/site. You may have friends who've been to the place! Invite them for coffee, ask for travel tips... get to know their personal experience.

Pack light! Bring what's only essential. This will make your travel very convenient!

Write down every useful information you have gathered...from Hotel infos, restaurants, taxi companies, tourist information center and must-see places, where to shop and where to eat and bring it with you as this will come handy.

CHECK your flight details and be sure you remember it right! I have a really crazy experience 'bout this one. I booked a flight to Vietnam 3 months ahead and was pretty sure that I remembered my departure date by heart, October 10, 2010. Comes Oct 06...(4 days before my departure). I have to meet a friend in Glorietta and while waiting for him, I took advantage of the free wi-fi to make my hotel reservation online. I checked my email for my flight details. SURPRISE! My flight is leaving Oct 6! Then what am I doing in Glorietta? PANIC! I wasn't ready.. and I still need to get my clothes at the laundry shop. How about money? Not a single dollar! I have to rush home...to the laundry..to the bank.. pack my bag, print my e-ticket...go to Jedi's house...take a shower...eat...arghhh! And to do all these, I have to beat the traffic in Ayala going to Jedi's place and then my place.

Be an airline promo stalker! If you're still not one, then the right time to be one is now! Believe me...stalking these airlines can be very inspiring! Niknok was able to book a round trip flight from Manila to Boracay for less than P200! Isn't that a sweet deal?

People have been to many great distinations mostly because of Cebu Pacific‘s Promo Fare! Want to be the first to know about CEBUPAC promo? Subscribe to Seat Sale Alert!

For Air Philippines Promo subscribe here!

And to know about the latest news and promos via Email or SMS from Zest Air sign-up here!

Though PAL is not as generous as Cebu Pacific when it comes to fare promos, you'll never...they might just surprise us big time! Here's PAL's website.

Having been able to fly with Air Asia during our Kota Kinabalu-Kuala Lumpur trip, I make sure that I am always updated with their Free Seats Promo.

I want so see more of Malaysia via Air Asia! >>>>sigh<<<<

They have an on going Free Seats Promo!
From Diosdado Macapagal Airport- Kota Kinabalu- Php 490
-Luala Lumpur Php 790.00
Check their website for more !

"Softest and Moistest Bibingka" at Libreng Sine Sa Shangri-La!

2010-11-06T08:30:00.002+08:00

I love going to Shangri-La Mall in Ortigas!

It’s worth P20.00 for a one-way bus ride from where I live or P100.00, give or take a few, if I take a cab. It is totally easy, convenient and cheap!

Another reason is my addiction to Bibingkinitan!-Freshly baked Mini Bibingka. And true to what is printed outside of its take-away box, it’s the Softest and Moistest Bibingka. Oh yeah... I get to eat mini bibingkas at Shang’s foodcourt! I can easily finish a box with 6 mini bibingkas in one sitting. Their kiosk also serve brewed coffee. There is no better marriage than between coffee and bibingka. It is like how good tuyo is with your champorado or bagoong with your green mangoes. In my case there’s no substitute for soy sauce to go with my singkamas and sweetened condensed milk with my Vietnam coffee. Sadly though, bibingkinitan’s brewed coffee is “not my cup of coffee”. But of course that doesn’t stop me from buying those little Bs. Their Calamsi Juice with Honey can be a healthy substitute.

Shangri-La Mall’s Cineplex being home to almost all of the international film festivals in the Metro is another reason why I like this mall. Another BIG Plus is the FREE ADMISSION to many great films in those festivals.

My cousin Daryl

The recently concluded 2010 Korean Horror Movie Festival (Oct. 26-November 4) was such a big hit!

Daryl, Christian and Mon

And before the festival has ended, I was able to convince my two cousins to line-up for like 4 hours for the complimentary movie tickets. I am glad they enjoyed the film and the experience.


My cousin Mon

Some of my Teka Teka friends (and friends of friends) from Aegis PeopleSupport were there too for the Korean horror experience! Mostly came from from their graveyard shifts.

My Misfortune with Kiat-Kiat

2010-11-04T04:03:00.000+08:00

I am not feeling well since yesterday and all the while I thought I’d be down with flu. I have to ask Niknok to attend a briefing for the Climb Against Cancer on my behalf. Well, he wasn’t able to attend either. He overslept!

I was having difficulty breathing and was bothered by a lot of smelly stuffs: the shirt I was wearing, my shampoo, my lipstick, my pillows, my room, my pressed powder, my lotion, my moisturizer, the pork barbeque I was about to eat and so on. Hika! Hinihika ako! So, here comes my asthma meds!

Suddenly I wanted to go to Divisoria to buy Kiat-kiat to soothe my sore throat. Salabat with Honey is doing wonders to my inflamed throat but I kept thinking about Kiat-kiat! Been thinking how juicy this little orange fruit is. Easy to peel too! I know someone who’s an expert peeler, unfortunately…I am not.

photo is from: http://youwerewatched.livejournal.com

It was already late to go to Divi so I went to a grocery near my place hoping to find Kiat-kiat there. This is the second Ber month and I am sure it won’t be hard to find this tiny orange fruit in the grocery store or sidewalks this time of the year. I was wrong. No Kiat-kiat in the grocery store! Bakit ganon? Dapat lahat ng tindahan may tindang kiat-kiat! Even the suking tindahan sa mga kanto!

Malamang maraming hinihika kasi ulan-init ang panahon! At lahat ng may hika eh gusto ng kiat-kiat! Too bad for me...naubusan ako.....tsk tsk tsk

Isn't this fruit suppose to bring good fortune to people? ----sigh---

My Starbucks Burlap Tumbler

2010-11-03T08:01:00.000+08:00

My very own Burlap Tumbler!

Been collecting Starbucks Tumbler for quite some time now. Here's the newest addition to my continuously growing collection courtesy of a Jedi! She got me this cool tumbler from her recent trip in Tampa,FL.

Look how nice and "organic" that burlap in there! Oh yeah... that's a burlap coffee sack given a new life.

Another GREEN idea from Starbucks!

No two burlap bags are alike!

No two Starbucks Burlap Tumblers are alike

Climb Against Cancer

2010-11-02T06:54:00.000+08:00

Climb Against Cancer is a nationwide simultaneous climb of different mountaineering groups in the Philippines. The beneficiary of this project is the Pediatric Ward of the Philippine General Hospital.

Mountaineers will commit to donate P300 each for the fight against cancer and P150 for the t-shirt if one would wish to have.

For more details you may contact:

Nini Andrada-Sacro
Store Manager/Co-Owner of HABAGAT OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT - Recto
Contact Number: 0916-438-8781
Email: nsacro@habagat.com

Interested individuals or montaineering groups may also check Climb Against Cancer Pilipinas Facebook Page for more updates.

Teka Teka will be joining this worthy cause!