Tera's Haven

Balai I locos

2016-08-27T14:05:00.001+08:00

Romulo cafe revisited

2016-08-09T19:35:00.005+08:00

I Love Romulo Cafe. Aside from their simple yet elegant interiors the crew are helpful and very attentive. The food never disappoint me.

Be mad

2015-01-05T08:28:00.003+08:00

Some people don't know that when they hurt you, they take away a piece of you that you can't get back. Not all people around you will understand it unless they have felt the same pain or they have given the same things you gave. Even that, the pain wont still be the same. So when your hurt, its okay to be mad, to say things to let some pain get out of your chest. Do not apologize for it, for people surely doesn't know all the pain you've been through. Be mad and be okay with it.

I am..

2013-12-18T16:04:00.001+08:00

"I'm unpredictable, I never know where I'm going until I get there, I'm so random, I'm always growing, learning, changing, I'm never the same person twice. But one thing you can be sure of about me; is I will always do exactly what I want to do.

2013-11-22T14:41:00.001+08:00

If there is any way to ‘know’ love – any sort of way to describe or define it – this is highly subjective. Love, at least to me, is selfless yet completely selfish. . This selfless love is something quite gradual that grows as I get to know you better and catch glimpses of your innate, immutable qualities – your kindness, your integrity, your character. While human beings are continuously mutating creatures, I do believe that there are things in us that are tested by life and time, yet do not change. This is the foundation of a human being, maybe it’s the soul, I don’t know – but these are the very things that I see in you every day. Selfless love leads to selfish love. I also love you for my own sake – for how you improve my life by driving me to be kinder and more understanding; changing the way I see myself and the world; making me question and even strengthen my beliefs and values. Yet it’s also just as simple as the fact that you make me feel wonderful and help me enjoy life just a little more than I would without you. T :)

Handle with care

2013-11-11T10:34:00.001+08:00

“It was one thing to make a mistake; it was another thing to keep making it. I knew what happened when you let yourself get close to someone, when you started to believe they loved you: you'd be disappointed. Depend on someone, and you might as well admit you're going to be crushed, because when you really needed them, they wouldn't be there. Either that, or you'd confide in them and you added to their problems. All you ever really had was yourself, and that sort of sucked if you were less than reliable.”
― Jodi Picoult, Handle With Care

her thoughts

2013-10-23T21:26:00.001+08:00

"… I’m not completely sure of what i want with my life actually, and I still feel that emptiness sometimes but what I know now is that , this life right now is what i want, this is what I decided to be, this life that I’m living right now, the person that I am, the place where I live, the people I am with, the job I have and everything that I achieved and total of all that is happening in my life right now…this is it! this I what I want with my life. I want to accept it as it is. there maybe something more that I desire or need but i will deal with it everyday, and work for it. i was blinded to look too much about what i want with my life, without realizing that I have so much more to be thankful for, that my life is the life that I want to be. And right now whatever comes my way I am okay with it:)"

Is your love true?

2013-10-21T09:24:00.001+08:00

I know I'm difficult to love but who isn't? We are raised differently. We differs in a whole lot of way and that where compatibility comes in. We don't have to really be alike. We don't need to like the same type of music. We don't need to walk in sync. We don't need to have the same views in life, We just need to respect each other. We don't need to delegate task to one another. We don't need to wake up at the same time, We just need to show love to one another.. and sometimes we need to agree to disagree. I don't need you to cook for me, we can always eat out or we can always call delivery. I just want you to show me you love me and when I push or try to walk away from you. I just want you to prove me your love is true.

Free

2013-09-09T14:21:00.000+08:00

“I cannot move forward if I continue to hold on to what’s behind me. It’s time to let go so that I will have both hands open to grab a hold on the future “

“ To let go is to be thankful for the experiences that made you laugh, made you cry, and made you grow. It’s about all that you have. All that you had, and all that you will soon gain again. Letting go is having the courage to accept change, and the strength to keep moving. Letting go is growing up. To let go is to open a door, and to clear a path and set yourself free.”

A BROKEN WOMAN IS DIFFICULT TO LOVE

2013-07-29T11:06:00.000+08:00

from: http://adoripoetry.wordpress.com/

Writing, to me, is like stripping naked on the highway and hoping someone will whistle at your round thighs (well dimply brown ones in my case) and youthful body. You bare your soul on a piece of paper that really didn’t know what you had coming until ink filled with emotions came dripping onto it. . .Just like the tears shed in truth and lies.
Truth is a funny thing you know. Often we think we want everyone to be honest with us, tell us the truth ALL THE TIME, bare their souls every waking moment of their lives. And God forbid they leave out a detail or two, ALL HELL shall break lose and the warm feeling love gives you will turn into a burning feeling of bubbling magma rising from your toes up straight to your heart.
Lies. . . oh, the beginning of the end. Ever felt so angry you could feel your own heart pumping within its nest? You know. . like you could hear it beat; angrily pumping pure vile into your veins, your voice even trembled as your spoke, the right words came at the wrong time and the wrong ones just couldn’t stop rumbling out at that time? Pure poison. . Anger of that magnitude is pure poison. It poisons your heart, your head and your life.
So today I felt like I was around a situation that aroused lies. Women have a powerful 6th sense (no ladies, partial insanity when you leave 25 missed calls and 5 abusive texts doesn’t count when you feel insecure). I must admit, I have gone the whole 9 yards when it comes to insanity (but I’d rather call my case immaturity coupled with a severe case of insecurity). Ever since I managed to walk away from a situation that provoked only negativity when the word “Trust” was mentioned I spent a while being my own private eye.
Let me explain, to all the women out there who have ever snooped (and don’t pretend you all have never glanced or went the whole 19 yards and saved numbers of suspicious names like “Girl from Skylux” or “Florida” or “Big Ass”) whenever we went searching, we always found something! Often we become those “women” we bitch about even without realizing. And you know what. . . it all began with that ONE (or one too many) lies (and TRUTHS).
Anyway, two things I have observed is that a woman is not broken easily and that very rarely do relationships end over infidelity.
Infidelity is such a touchy subject. Whether emotionally or physically we may have delved into those quagmire of haves and have-nots and halves. Yes cheating sometimes can be so innocent we almost believe we are justified and it can be so betraying that the pain of leaving seams worse than staying with the stray (the partner that snuck their hand in the forbidden cookie jar). But many times, despite the infidelity that may be uncovered or strongly suspected we stay. Why?
Now, onto the woman’s strength – I am not going to preach like a civil rights leader trying to get some Act approved. No I will not. But a woman’s strength is something to write home about. A woman is nature’s reflection of God. She will satisfy her man in more ways than she knew how, she will protect her man like she will protect her womb, she will be his support and cheerleader even when she hates his smelly socks. A woman can do all that, even after she knows that her man is shared.
Every passing day friends may tell her to leave, to walk away but she stays and no body understands why or how she does it. A woman’s heart can endure the cold of winter and the heat of the equator, it can be as bitter as her youth or as rich as the salt of years. But a woman’s heart can break. It can break under that toil of overcoming daily disappointment without any daily dose of genuine love. It can break like porcelain. And a broken woman is difficult to love.
A broken woman will be snide and bitter, with jokes that burn to the soul of her audience. She has lost faith in her worth and can only seek to destroy others through spite and gossip. A broken woman has no self respect and will remain other men’s number 2’s because even to herself she is not number one. She will appear fierce and confident but only has faith in superficial things like the appearance of her body and not the authenticity of her soul. A broken woman is difficult to love. Because she will only attract broken men.
So think before you remain in a relationship that breaks the very core of you. And if you choose to remain with the man who has betrayed you, let it be because of the good he is done and not because you choose to sweep his lies under the blanket cover of “ I am sorry” . Funny how misleading three words can be.. “I love you” too, might not be true.
Do not pick and choose what to believe, pick and choose when to leave.

Tough thing...

2013-07-29T10:41:00.001+08:00

The tough thing about following you heart is that people forget to mention that sometimes the heart takes you to places you shouldn't be. Places that are scary as they are exciting and as dangerous as they are alluring. Sometimes your heart cannot take you to places that lead to happy ending. That's not even the difficult part; the difficult part is when you follow your heart, you leave normal; you go into the unknown and once you do you can never go back.

Relationships are complicated and difficult

2012-10-10T15:16:00.000+08:00

Relationships are complicated and difficult. Both people have to be on the same page. Both people have to be at the same point in their lives, wanting the same things. Or if not one should be willingly give way for the other wants and likes. One should be willing to sacrifice. Both can't have any doubts or reservations. Do something too early, and you can taint it. Jump in too quick, you can screw things up whichever way it would be difficult. There are so many other factors besides who the person is..you have to consider who they are now, who they will be in the future. Would you still want or love that same person after all the changes? if you have the potential as a couple ..are you on the same page and will you continue to be?

Sunrise Cove Calatagan Batangas

2012-08-06T18:58:00.002+08:00

For the love of eating the authentic: Our Ilocos Trip;Vigan

2012-03-31T23:44:00.000+08:00

We took Partas bus in going to Vigan from Laoag. It was a 2-hour travel. From Partas bus station in Vigan, we rode a tricycle that transported us to Calle Crisollogo. Since we have no hotel booking we strolled around the area and looked for a good hotel with a not-so-expensive rate. A lot of hotels and inns are within the area. Your choice would only be dependent on your budget. I personally like Grandpa’s Inn. The interiors and the ambiance of the inn makes you feel like you are transported back in time. It was creepy but exciting. The only available room when we checked are the rooms with common bathroom it is cheap but we don’t want to share a bathroom with the other tourists. We checked in Cordillera Inn. It was an old hotel with an old bed frame. It was a little bit scary but it was manageable.

Calle Crisologo

The street brings you back to an era of old Spanish house, where women wears baro’t saya and filipiniana. I love walking on this street. It’s amusing and relaxing at the same time. I can even sit there for eternity. The place is so enticing and fascinating.

Baluarte

It’s a zoo with a much more variety of animals. The place is owned by Chavit Singson. Good thing that Chavit doesn’t ask for any entrance fee. The area is huge that I think can house more animals.

St. Augustine Church

This church is located in Bantay Ilocos Sur. The structure is simply beautiful. It is made of bricks which make it look more interesting. The church was restored couple of times because it was destroyed during the revolt and world war.

St. Augustine Church Bell Tower

The bell tower is located at a hill a few meters away from the church. Just like the church the bell tower is made of bricks.

St. Paul's Metropolitan Cathedral or Vigan Cathedral

According to my research this church is the third version of the Vigan Cathedral.The first Vigan Cathedral was ordered and built in 1574. Another version of the church was again constructed in 1641 but was destroyed by an earthquake. A reconstructed church was caught with fire in 1739. The current church was constructed in 1790 and was finished in 1800.

Vigan Cathedral Bell Tower

The bell tower of Vigan Cathedral is just few meters away from the church it stands near Plaza Burgos.

Plaza Burgos

This plaza is right besides Vigan Cathedral. The place is famous for its empanadahan and street foods. If you want to taste authentic and cheap Ilocano dishes from sinanglao, poqui poqui, dinakdakan and the likes this is definitely the place to be. There are also fast food around the area like Max’s and McDonalds.

Dinakdakan

Sinanglaw

Burnay Making

Burnay or Pottry Making is an old tradition of the people of Laoag. It is commonly used as storage for water. It was my first time to see how is it being done so I didn’t miss my chance to try it.

For the love of eating the authentic: Our Ilocos Trip;Laoag

2012-03-30T01:39:00.000+08:00

Before we travel I carefully set an itinerary for all the things we are going to do. I even search for well known restaurants and food to try. I list down places to visit and make a budget for each. For our Ilocos trip, I had 6 revisions of the plan before it became definitive. The original arrangement was to include Pagudpud in our trip but since we have limited time we decided to skip Pagudpud and just visit Laoag and Vigan.

We rode Partas bus in going to Laoag. The bus departed Cubao at around 12:00am. The bus ride was comfortable, though it felt very cold at dawn. I thought we will reach Laoag around 9: 00am for I was expecting a 9-hour bus ride. We arrived in Partas Bus Station

La Elliana hotel

We got a very cheap air-conditioned hotel room. Considering the very affordable price of the hotel one would not expect it to be presentable. To my surprise the room was huge. It has a clean bathroom with hot and cold water a T.V. and even telephone. The linens were also clean. The staffs are friendly and courteous.

The hotel is also across the famous La Preciousa Restaurant and a block away from Saramsam Restaurant. The hotel is located at Rizal Street cor Ablan Ave., LaoagCity

Marcos Mansion or Malacanang of the North
After breakfast and freshening up our first stop is the Marcos Mansion. You have to pay for a small amount of money before you can enter the mansion. The place is said to be donated by the Marcos family and is being maintained by the local government. I love how the whole house is made. The huge doors, windows and rooms are so lovely to look at. The numerous tables and chairs give you information that this house was once frequented with so many visitors. The wood flooring is so relaxing and homey. The back yard with the view of Paoay Lake is simply breath taking. I could imagine the Marcoses having party in that backyard. in Laoag at around 7am. At first we don’t know where to go. We just decided to keep on walking and looked for the hotel that I saw in the internet. BTW, I printed a map of Laoag in case we get lost. The first hotel we looked at is an average hotel which is according to the internet reviews has a good accommodation. It was okay for me but I wasn’t satisfied. We finally went back to the first hotel we saw. La Elliana hotel, after looking at the room we made a decision to stay.

Paoay Church and Bell Tower

Paoay Church, also known as the St. Augustine Church in Paoay, is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. The structure is simply amazing because it is made of bricks and corals. I love old churches it may be creepy at first but I love the feeling of getting to see a part of our history.

Cafe Herencia

We are still full when we visited Cafe Herencia but the side of me who wanted to try everything insisted that we should taste the Pinakbet Pizza, which is according to the reviews that I’ve read are insanely delicious. We only ordered the pizza and yes it is insanely delicious. I didn’t regret eating there even if I felt bloated after.

Marcos mausoleum

The Mausoleum is where the glass-entombed, preserved corpse of the deposed president Ferdinand Marcos is found. Security is tight so we weren’t able to take any photos.

Marcos museum is where the memorabilia of the late president are stored, from his stint in the Armed Forces up to his presidency. The pictures and the documents show how amazing and intelligent person Ferdinand Marcos is. The things he did when he was still the president were all beautifully captured.

St. William’s Cathedral

St. William's Cathedral is older than Paoay Church, it was first built in the 1590’s by the Augustinians. The church was originally built using lime mixed with molasses, huge stones, gravel and sand. The church suffered and survived damages caused by a hurricane in 1640, an earthquake in 1706, and fire in 1843.

St. William’s Cathedral Singking Bell Tower

The Cathedral is also known for its sinking Bell tower and is said to be the tallest tower in the Philippines. Every year it sinks an inch because of its weight. The hot weather in Laoag also makes the tower sink. Stories have it that years before, a man riding a horse can easily go through its gate but now all I see are the tower’s windows.

Tobacco Monopoly Monument

The tall yet graceful monument is located right at the centre of Laoag City plaza. The people of Ilocos erected the Tobacco Monopoly Monument as a thanksgiving to the Crown of Spain for recognizing the struggles of the Ilocano people against the Monopoly.

Laoag Museum

A very interesting Museum, a lot of old stuffs are here which is very nice to look at.

Boodle Fight

We do not know if there was any occasion during that day but when we went out of the hotel on our first night a boodle fight is happening.

Saramsam Restaurant

This restaurant is so famous that even if we are not hungry we still need to eat here.

Poqui Poqui . Sounds weird for the green-minded, it is a sautéed grilled eggplant in onion, tomato and egg. It is a breakfast dish in Ilocos region.

Bagnet from Ilocos Norte is locally known as chicharon or deep-fried pork meat.

Laoag Empanada

This is just so good, even without the ketchup and vinegar.