jE's AnAtOmY

Coron Day 2 (Island Tour Part 4): Coral Garden

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt abenoja-andrade) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:45:00 +0000

If compared to having exercise, our bodies were just warmed up after going to Siete Pecados and Kayangan Lake. Fortunately, I ate a lot during lunch in preparation for a strenuous battle.

With the scorching heat of the sun, our boat stopped in the middle of the sea. Then, our tour guides suddenly jumped out of the boat. Surprised with what was happening, I asked Kuya Chris if we should also go into the water. He said that it was the farthest that the boat could get because the area is protected. The boat’s anchor and propeller might destroy the corals.

Just like soldiers who are about to face the battle, I prepared my battle gears.

That's me testing the waters, literally!

Kuya Chris and Kuya Arvin were both swimming without their life vests. Kuya Chris took out his vest and asked us to hold into it while he was holding the other end. Kuya Arvin also did the same for Jeff and Joie.

Jeff with Kuya Arvin

The current was so strong! I admire our tour guides for courageously facing the strong current and putting our safety on top of their priority. Each time I pull the belt of our guide’s vest to signal that I need a break, he would stop and make sure that everything’s fine. There were instances that I needed to adjust my vest, wipe my goggles or fix my snorkeling gear. Snorkeling in the Coral Garden was absolutely hard. But the underwater experience was surreal! Thanks to Joie for the underwater shots.

After a few minutes, Kuya Chris spotted something and caught everyone’s attention. It was a lobster, the very first one I saw other than those being cooked in the Lifestyle Network shows. I was a little bothered when Kuya Chris took it out of the water. I told him that he might disturb the ecosystem. Haha! But he assured me that the lobster was already dead when he got it.

Hubby with THE LOBSTER

It was very tiring to swim non-stop. I was really scared of two things – the strong current and the sun! Heller! Ang itim ko na kaya! But I’m glad I faced my fears. It was definitely worth it!

Coron Day 2 (Island Tour Part 3): Atuwayan Beach and Banol Beach

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt abenoja-andrade) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:00:00 +0000

We went back to our boat after our Kayangan Lake adventure. After a few minutes, Kuya Chris took out a can of Century Tuna, put it in a bowl and mixed a sachet of mayonnaise in it. He handed the spread to us along with a pack of sliced bread. “Ma’am, Sir, appetizer po muna kayo,” Kuya Chris said. I initially thought that it would already be our food for lunch! Haha! I never imagined myself feeling heavenly after eating bread with tuna spread! If you’ve experienced non-stop boat ride, hiking and swimming, you’ll definitely grab and munch anything edible.

A few minutes passed and we arrived at Atuwayan beach. Our boatman initially had a hard time finding a spot to park our boat. The beach was a bit crowded when we arrived but it didn’t stop us from enjoying the serenity of the place.

All the cottages were already occupied when we arrived so we were forced to sit on the sand. Fortunately, it didn’t hinder us from enjoying the feast prepared by Centro Coron. Our tour guides brought a large basket which housed our food and a cooler where they stored our cold beverages. We were so amazed each time they take out something. They brought water, ice and soda. They served shrimps, grilled liempo and fish. I told Kuya Chris, “Ang sarap ng liempo sa toyo’t kalamansi na may sili!” “Don’t worry Ma’am,” he said as he started slicing the kalamansi and mixed it with soy sauce and chili. Anong sinabi ng boy scouts?!

And yes, we didn't eat using paper plates and plastic cups!

Our feast didn’t end at that. Kuya Chris took out a plastic bag containing something that looks really familiar. He cleaned it, placed it on a plate along with the sliced red onions and tomatoes. I said, “Wow, arorosep!” Kuya Chris was bedazzled because the seaweeds is known to them as lato and not arorosep.

I saw the disgust on the faces of Boyet and Joie. I asked Jeff if he eats the slimy green seaweeds. He gave me a smile and started digging into the plate. Suffice to say, Jeff and I enjoyed it!

We were encouraging our guides to join us for lunch but they begged off. They insist on having theirs after we’re done. So after our sumptuous lunch, there was nothing left to do but to enjoy the calming view and the crystal clear water.

Joie

with Joie

with Hubby

Joie and Jeff

Hahaha!

Huh?!

After a few minutes of resting, our tour guides told us that we were off to our next destination.

Banol beach was quieter than Atuwayan, well at least when we were there. There was nothing much to do other than swimming and taking pictures.

Banol beach photos courtesy of Joie

We were so eager to continue with our water adventures but Kuya Chris told us to take advantage of our break. He advised us to recharge because we’d definitely need our energy for our next stops. I later found out that he wasn't lying!

Until my next post! :)

Have a Little Faith

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt abenoja-andrade) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

I hate Mitch Albom yet I also envy him at the same time. I hate him because he’s making it extremely hard for me to put down his book once I start reading it. I envy him for having the chance to meet Morrie (Tuesdays with Morrie) and having an intimate and meaningful relationship with his church leader Albert Lewis as he narrated in Have a Little Faith.

Photo taken from mitchalbom.com

In the beginning of the book, Albom provided a disclaimer saying that HaLF is not a how-to-guide for any particular belief. I was a little hesitant that I may not appreciate the book given that I am a devout Catholic. But reading it turned out to be an amazing experience as I learn to value my faith and respect others’ religious beliefs.

Albom described himself as a man who used to run away from God. I bet a lot of people can relate to him. With the help of people like Albert Lewis and Henry Covington, his journey of faith became fruitful. And through his writing, his journey will surely teach us valuable lessons about our faith as well. Most of his questions about faith are same as mine. And surprisingly, even Albert Lewis admitted that he also wonders the same things but cannot answer everything.

I love how the journey of two men from different beliefs can transform the life of Albom. And I have to admit that it has changed mine too. Let me share with you some of the important lessons I got after reading HaLF.

1. A person is not, and should never be defined by his past. Despite the very dark past of Henry Covington and his constant running away from God, he received His grace and turned out to be a pastor who later on cared for the homeless and the distressed.

2. We don’t do good things to get a reward because doing good is what we are really supposed to do.

3. Albom refers to Lewis as a man of God. Lewis said that everybody is a man of God.

4. “Faith is about doing. You are how you act, not just how you believe.”

5. “When you come to the end, that’s where God begins.”

6. When Lewis and Albom discussed about people who don’t believe in God, Lewis said, “It is far more comforting to think that God listened and said no, than to think that nobody’s out there.”

7. Lewis not only respects other religious beliefs. He is also unbiased. Unlike other religious leaders who claim that their belief is better, that others are wrong or that God’s grace is only exclusive for the members of their church, Lewis was far from that. When Albom questioned him about it, he said, “Look. I know what I believe. It’s in my soul. But I constantly tell our people: you should be convinced of the authenticity of what you have, but you must also be humble enough to say that we don’t know everything, we must accept that another person may believe something else.” If the whole world could only live through these words, a number of meaningless wars will be eliminated.

8. When asked how he managed to overcome the death of his four-year old daughter without diminishing his faith, he asked, “Is it not better to have known Rinah, my daughter, for four years, than not to have known her at all?”

9. A man buried his wife and told Lewis how he loved her so much, and that he ALMOST told her once. Lewis told Albom, “Nothing haunts us like the things we don’t say.”

10. Faith is like the salesman from the proverb that Lewis told Albom – a salesman who patiently and tirelessly knocks on the door every single day who gets spit in the face by a fed up customer. Instead of giving up, he smiled and said, “It must be raining!”

My list goes on. I can blog about the whole book but I want those who haven't read it yet to go through the same experience I had while reading. I am still amazed how the very simple storytelling style of Albom can change someone’s life. It made me smile and occasionally made me cry. But more than anything else, it gave me hope – a hope that though my journey will not be easy, my faith will surely aid me in my struggles.

28

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt abenoja-andrade) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:40:00 +0000

I woke up this morning imitating the prayer I learned from Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom. “Thank you, Lord, for returning my soul to me.” According to that book, when you start that way, the rest of the day is just a bonus.

I just realized today that I enjoy my birthday more as I get older unlike other people who disregard theirs as they age. Lavish parties and extravagant gifts don’t appeal to me. An intimate dinner with my family, new Chucks from hubby, tons of greetings from friends, sincerest “I Miss You” messages from Navi BFFs, a simple celebration with my TW colleagues, a humble blog which serves as a canvass for my wired brain, a loving family, a husband who thinks that doing household chores with me is cool, are just few of the many things that I’m grateful for.

Days ago, I just found myself crying in the hospital. It’s as if battling asthma and anemia all my life were not enough. Then I realized that I am not dying and a lot more people are probably suffering more than whatever I’m going through. Endless hugs from my husband, encouraging words from my mother and heartfelt messages from my close friends somehow made it more bearable.

Now, I’m happy. I learned that what makes other people happy may not make me happy. The more I compare my happiness with someone else’s, the more I end up being empty and lonely. Happiness is not only a choice. It’s also an acceptance that life’s glitches are God’s gifts in disguise. The best way to achieve happiness is not with the possession of material things, but rather with the way we nourish our personal relationship with God and with other people. So to those who have been a part of my 28 years, thank you!

Photo taken from here

Cheers to happiness!

Coron Day 2 (Island Tour Part 2): Kayangan Lake

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt abenoja-andrade) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:40:00 +0000

After Siete Pecados, our island adventure continued as we head to Kayangan Lake. I read from forums that insect repellent is a must-have if Kayangan Lake is part of your Coron itinerary. Because of this, I asked Jeff to bring Off lotion for us. Boss na boss ako! :p

Our tour guide advised us not to remove our life vests, thus the explanation for the following photos. My husband breaks all the rules so he stands out in all the pictures.

After our tour guide paid the entrance fees, we started traversing the very steep path to the Kayangan Lake. It’s so steep that you need to give way to the other tourists coming from the opposite direction. In short, bawal ang siga!

My legs were still recuperating from the very exhausting hike to Mt. Tapyas. Fortunately, the hike to the lake was just a piece of cake. We were then brought to a scenic view where we had the chance to sit in a giant rock and have our pictures taken with a picturesque background.

I envy my friends who were able to take decent photos of this spot. Our actions were very limited preventing us from getting a nice shot. Next to the fact that we couldn’t move freely because there’s no room to do so, there were other tourists behind us and the family before us brought a small kid who were throwing tantrums and would not let go of his spot at the rock. Argh!

After our short-lived photo op session, we went down to yet another steep path. People may think that it is one’s way to hell. On the contrary, it’s the gateway to paradise. I know that my photos can’t give justice to my previous statement. But you have to believe me. I froze for a couple of minutes after seeing the place. Years ago, I was only watching it through the Living Asia Channel as I die out of envy while tourists dive into the turquoise water.

Kuya Chris and Kuya Arvin

Teeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetttttthhhhhhh!!!

Dipping into the lake was very relaxing. The view was breathtaking. I would love to spend hours in the lake as my body floats and my worries get washed away.

Water shots from Joie's camera

Coron Day 2 (Island Tour Part 1): Siete Pecados

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt abenoja-andrade) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:15:00 +0000

The emotional roller coaster of quitting my six-year job and getting out of my comfort zone added delay to my blogging habits. My travel time also increased since I now work at Taguig. But then again, I would also like to blame my constant laziness in blogging. :p

I was planning to make one long post for our Coron island tour. But I was overwhelmed when I looked at the tons of photos that I needed to work on. We went to Coron last November and I am still in part 1 of our island tour. Only God knows how many parts this will be. For now, please bear with my installment style of blogging.

With our legs aching after our Mt. Tapyas adventure, we reserved all the strength left in our body because we knew that our second day would be doubly tiring. Our island tour was included in our worry-free package courtesy of Centro Coron. It was a jam-packed day.

Aside from Kuya Chris, we were also accompanied by another tour guide (Kuya Arvin) and two very funny boatmen. Kuya Chris kept on teasing one of the boatmen since he looks like Vandolph! Parang sila yung magbabarkada na nag-tour tapos sabit lang kami! Nyaha!

Since our itinerary was already provided by Centro Coron, I intentionally didn’t research about the places that we were scheduled to go to. It would not only lower my expectations but it would also surprise me. I have the tendency to overthink and compare my experiences with the way I imagined them. So with our Coron trip, I simply let go and went with the flow.

Because of my traumatic experience the first time I tried snorkeling, I was a bit scared. I would anxiously check, double-check and triple check my vest. My hubby probably noticed it so he made sure that my vest was properly strapped and would not loosen up. He asked me to try if I’d float and made sure that I was already comfortable with how it fits to my body. And then whoala! I turned carefree in the water.

With Joie

It was the first time that Jeff and Joie used their new underwater camera. But no matter how good your camera or how great the pictures turn out, nothing beats personally seeing the underwater creatures. The anxiety was replaced by enthusiasm and fear turned into bliss. And it was only our first stop, so watch out for my future posts! :)

Nabulabog ang mga fish!

Last Day Blues

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt abenoja-andrade) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 07:30:00 +0000

Yesterday, I bid goodbye to my second home for the past six years. Everything happened so fast but I believe that the timing is perfect. If I left years ago when I was still rebellious and immature, I would have left the company with a vengeful heart. I would have not met the wonderful people who later on became my best friends. The beautiful friendships I built are far more important than the skills I acquired over the years. I'd like to think that God led me to this direction for a purpose, a purpose that I have yet to unravel.

People kept on asking me if I’m sad. Good thing they didn’t see me while I was composing my farewell email. :p Of course I am sad. I am actually happy that I am sad. For it means that I am letting go of something precious. Imagine if I’m not sad. It only means that my life for the past six years was just put to waste. :)

I am not only taking home great friendships. I’m also bringing with me beautiful gifts! ^_^

My Christmas wish list includes three books. I got Something Borrowed along with a cute book mark during our team’s Christmas party courtesy of my teammate Allan. Jeff and Joie gave me A Child Called ‘It’ last Christmas with some brownies which Joie baked herself.

And as my team’s farewell gift, they gave me The Wedding. Are you wondering why there are two copies? After my lunch treat, I went back to my seat. My seatmate handed me another copy of The Wedding. Thanks James and Youmi! Lalo kong ma-mi-miss si James! :'(

Anyway, let’s just consider this as an intel mix-up. But still, big thanks to all of you, guys! I can’t promise that I’ll read both, though. Hihi!

I asked my lunch buddies if we could have dinner on my last day. Kriska missed it since it was also his brother’s birthday. But Jeff, Joie, Gretz, Chod and Me-Anne came. Before the food was served, they handed me a picture frame. I knew they were going to give it to me but I was so surprised with the twist that I wasn’t anticipating! Haha!

The above picture was taken on one of our company’s year-end parties. The next day was Mike’s last day in Navitaire. So when Kriska and Tang left the company together more than two years ago, I made this photo collage for them. Marwin left, Chod and Me-Anne joined our group, and then Kriska came back. Sobrang dami kong tawa! Sayang wala si Renrick para may paglihian ako in the future! :p

I thought that was the end of it. But I realized that there was still something inside the plastic bag. I opened it and almost jumped out of my seat after seeing it!

A book lamp has been on my wish list for years! I don’t know whether I’m just lazy or too busy to buy it for myself. Now, I can finally read while my husband is sleeping! Woot woot! Thanks, guys!

Though my heart is filled with sadness, it’s also filled with hope. As I begin a new journey tomorrow, I am confident that strong friendships can never be torn down by distance. When I got home, Me-Anne sent me a message through FB saying that her only wish is that we don’t drift apart even if we don’t see each other everyday. So cheers to future dinner dates and out-of-town trips together! And yes, I promise we’ll NEVER drift apart.

To all the strangers who became my buddies, all the seat mates who became my close friends, all the lunch mates who became my best friends, all the managers who became my life mentors, thank you for making my six-year journey in Navitaire as one of the best rides I’ve ever had. :)

A Breeze of Good Deeds # 27: Manong Payong

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt abenoja-andrade) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:30:00 +0000

What do you usually do with broken umbrellas? Do you simply throw them away? For some people, fixing a broken umbrella is their only means of stopping a growling stomach. Let me share a story with you. And at the end of it, you’ll understand why it’s worth sharing.

Photo taken from here

I called in sick last Thursday. The dizziness and palpitations increased because of the medications I’m taking. I was having lunch with my parents when I noticed a man wandering in front of our house. It went on for a couple of minutes so I stood up to check. I peeked outside and saw a very old man sitting in front of our neighbor’s house. The man is probably more than seventy years old. He has a worn out backpack and lots of wrecked umbrellas. I told my mom that it was just a man fixing broken umbrellas. So she got off her seat and took out our old ones. She told my father that she’d just give those to the old man thinking that he could still salvage and reuse some parts.

She went out of the house and said, “Tatang o, sa iyo na lang itong mga ito.” The old man smiled and said, “Baka may sira kayo dyan, igagawa kita kahit kape na lang ibayad nyo.”

Just days after our encounter with Boy Lobo, I saw the same twinkle in my mother’s eyes when he saw Manong Payong. His wrinkled dark skin was proof enough that he’s out in the streets to make a living. Looking at how slow he walks, I told myself that people his age should already be retired and reaping the fruits of their labor. But there he was, asking some stranger for a cup of coffee.

My mom prepared the coffee and asked my father to give the old man a piece of bread with corned beef. He was supposed to dip the bread into his hot coffee when my dad told him, “Tatang, huwag mo ng isawsaw. May palaman na yan e. Ang sosyal mo nga Tang e, corned beef yan!” Manong Payong gave us a big smile in return. :)

I watched him as he meticulously fix the umbrellas. Once in a while, he would smile without any reason and utter some random words. My heart melted. People like Manong Payong keeps me inspired to work harder because I don’t want my parents to experience a hard life when they get older.

So you're probably wondering why I'm telling this...

My dad and I always tease my mom that I didn’t get anything good from her genes – asthma, thyroid problems, irregular menstrual cycle, a big nose and my kasupladahan all came from my mom’s DNA! Haha! But that day, I somehow realized that she did pass on something good to me. And that is charity. Genetics may not have a hand on it. But she has somehow showed it to me over the years. On that special day, I somehow felt how it’s like to have a kid who is graduating with honors. In other words, I was extremely proud of her.

But wait, there’s more!

I fell asleep. And when I woke up, I immediately asked my mom what happened. She was laughing while telling me that Manong Payong was giving her a shirt when she paid him fifty pesos. Apparently, he received 3 BINAY shirts from somebody. So Manong Payong offered her one. The old man told her, “E aanhin ko naman po ito? Ang dami dami e!” My mom declined the offer thinking that he needs it more than we do.

Generosity is not only limited for the rich people. I’ve heard the lamest excuse from people who say that charity is only for the rich and the famous. We’re not rich. But I hope that our simple gesture made a difference to the old man. Sometimes, we need to go the extra mile.

And Manong Payong offering us his shirt was truly a humbling experience. He’s traveling with an old and worn out backpack which is probably the only possession he has, but he didn’t hesitate to give us something as a sign of his gratitude.

A lot of times, we neglect to even say “Thank You” to someone who did us a favor. And those two words are just free. So imagine how more difficult it is to let go of our material possessions and share it to other people.

God is just so good! I was sick that day. But He gave me an eye-opener. He taught me to appreciate my parents more. He showed me the purest meaning of generosity. And to top it all, we now have a lot of usable umbrellas! :)

Coron Day 1: Mt. Tapyas and Maquinit Hot Spring

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt abenoja-andrade) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 09:00:00 +0000

Aside from being delayed, our Cebu Pacific flight was probably the roughest I ever had. I almost felt my intestines and my lungs exchanging places the moment the plane landed. I was still half asleep, then my head started to ache and my heart could not stop pounding. We were joking around that it was probably the pilot’s first time to fly a plane. Sakit sa skull, promise!

After that horrible landing, I wasn't in the mood to pose for a picture!

I seriously felt like I was about to vomit. I kept on inhaling my ever-reliable White Flower and started eating candies. It wasn’t the best way to start a much-needed vacation.

The sumptuous lunch and the very warm welcome by the people from Centro Coron made me feel a little better. While waiting for our 4 p.m. call time, I took a nap while hubby watched Mulan. (Yes! Mulan!) Ang macho macho ng asawa ko!

A knock on the door woke me up. I felt more refreshed than ever after a relaxing nap. I washed my face, brushed my teeth, combed my hair and put on some cologne. We all went to the lobby to meet Kuya Chris, our tour guide. After giving us an overview, he led us to the tricycle which would bring us at the foot of Mt. Tapyas.

Kuya Chris started asking whether we have allergies, asthma or heart problems. It was actually the first time that a tour guide made me feel secure.

Kuya Chris

I thought he was just going to bring us to the starting point. But he told us that he would come with us. With a first aid kit on his one hand and bottled water on the other, he had everything we need to survive the 720 steps of Mt. Tapyas. He even offered to carry our bags.

1-2-3-4-5…78-79-80. Then I lost count. I found out that counting while catching my breath was not easy.

Pawisang mag-jowa :p

My knees were trembling and my feet started to hurt. I told myself, “That thing up there must better be worth it!”

I breathe a sigh of relief by the time my foot made its last step. The relief was then replaced with awe. I was standing in front of a humongous cross. I felt like a midget (although I am already one even without that huge cross) as I came closer. It was a humbling experience. It somehow reminded me that I do have a BIG God, bigger than my worries, bigger than my problems, and definitely way bigger than anybody else.

I initially thought that it was the end of it. Then Kuya Chris led us to a very steep path. Notice the green hut in the photo below. That was our destination.

It was the best spot to capture the beautiful sunset in Coron. God’s creations are just so magnificent! It was undoubtedly a very relaxing view.

The next problem was how to go back. I asked Kuya Chris if there are other ways other than walking back to our starting point. He laughed and said, “Wala pong zipline dito!” Boyet suggested that it is a brilliant idea to have a zipline with one end on top of Mt. Tapyas and the people will land directly on the Maquinit Hot Spring! Hahaha!

After an exhausting walk down the Mt. Tapyas, the road to the hot spring was even worse. We had to pass through a very creepy, bumpy and dark road. It was a perfect setting for a horror movie. Paranoia started to sink in and I thought of a masked man holding an axe coming out of nowhere and killing all of us. Of course it was just an exaggeration but you’ll know what I mean when you experience it. The only light we had was the headlight of the tricycle. And then I asked myself, “Where do my taxes go?”

After a strenuous hiking and a backbreaking ride, a dip on the hot spring pool was AWESOME! Kuya Chris told us that the water temperature is 40 degrees. It was really hot at first but I felt really relaxed as my body got used to the heat.

Hot spring photos from Joie's cam

I was mistaken when I thought that our day’s adventure was already over by the time we left the hot spring. The tricycle’s headlight started to flicker and the driver kept on banging it to keep it turned on! Hahaha!

I advise you to be very careful if you plan to go to the hot spring because some parts are really slippery. Algae are everywhere. As a matter of fact, the first thing I did when I reached the inn was wash my shorts. It took me almost an hour to take off all those slimy green organisms.

A refreshing bath and delicious dinner courtesy of Centro Coron officially ended our first day. :)

A Breeze of Good Deeds # 26: Boy Lobo

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt abenoja-andrade) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

It was New Year’s Eve - the day of the year when I’m so excited yet very scared at the same time. I mostly stay at the first floor of our house because I’m so paranoid that a stray bullet could kill me. Of course, going outside was definitely out of the equation. So I went berserk when my mother told me that we needed to claim our Jollibee freebies courtesy of our BPI credit cards. Next to my worry that I’d end up with an asthma attack at the first day of the year, I was more petrified at the thought that I’d end up losing a part of my body because I stepped on a firecracker or somebody threw it my way. But I had no choice so I blindly followed my mom’s request while frowning and dragging my feet on our way to Jollibee.

After waiting for a few minutes, our freebies arrived. We signed some forms and left. I didn’t notice it. My mother mumbled something I couldn’t understand. Then she said something again. I asked what she was saying. Then she replied, “Kawawa naman yung bata.” I asked who it was. She pointed to a certain direction. I anxiously wanted to leave the place right away so my focus was clouded. It took me almost half a minute to spot the boy holding the balloons.

Photo taken from here

My mother then told me that she wants to buy a balloon. She said that she’d give it to Zoe, my seven-month old niece. I told her that it’s not a good idea. I was rushing her but she insisted. I told her to buy one and give it to Ashley instead.

I saw a dark-skinned boy who is probably twelve years old. He looks like he’s bored as he was sitting in front of Jollibee. He was holding more than twenty colorful balloons. He was staring blankly at the frantic people who are doing some last minute preparations for the New Year. He was probably thinking how long he needs to stay outside. He was probably wishing that he’s playing just like the other kids his age. He was probably wondering whether the next year would be better for him.

My mom approached and asked how much a balloon costs. He said, “Forty pesos po.” My mom asked me to choose. If it was for me, I’d pick the Angry Birds balloon. But I settled with Snow White. The boy’s face lightened up with heartfelt happiness as my mom gave him forty pesos. My mom said, "Ayan, para naman may benta ka."

And then we went away, with plastic bags full of Jollibee freebies and a colorful Snow White balloon.

So what is special about my story?

My mom is a very workaholic person. She has very high respect for people who work hard for a living. If the child was asking for alms, my mom (and even I) would think twice. There are times when I think that my job is too boring, or that I’m doing something that wasn’t my real calling. But each time I see someone like Boy Lobo, I realize that I’m taking a lot of God’s blessings for granted.

We should all learn from the story of Boy Lobo.

We live a very fast-paced life. We follow schedules. We meet deadlines. And since we’re always in a hurry, we don’t have the time to look beyond our needs. We neglect to notice that somebody might need our help.

Other than always being on the go, our fears and cynicism also get in the way. I know that the bible says, “Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.” But there are times when we choose to help those people who only pass our standards of being kawawa. There are also times when we hold back at helping others for fear that they may take advantage of our generosity.

I’m not a hypocrite. I admit that I’m guilty of all of these. That’s why I’m still a work in progress. :)

So when you go out today, why don’t you slow down and try making a random act of kindness? Hold the door for an office mate. Offer your bus seat to an old lady. Reach out to a sick neighbor. Your options are limitless!

Game?! :)

Centro Coron Bed and Breakfast

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt abenoja-andrade) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 02:00:00 +0000

We decided to book a flight to Coron on the spur of the moment. Joie and I were just discussing about wanting to go out of town and Coron came up. I went online to check the Cebu Pacific flights and booked the cheapest they got. It wasn’t even a promo fare! Nyaha!

Finding a place to stay is the most crucial part of all out of town trips. We would sometimes spend our lunch breaks reading online forums to spot the most affordable yet decent places to stay in Coron. We narrowed down our choices to two. One took days to respond to our queries and the other was fully-booked on one of the days of our stay. They offered to transfer us to a nearby inn to compensate for that day. We were just a couple of weeks away from our vacation and we were about to settle with option #2. Fortunately, my ex-office mate’s girlfriend and fellow blogger suggested Centro Coron. Thanks Becky! :)

Centro Coron offered the most comprehensive and most affordable worry-free tour package. I think we only paid PHP4300 (more or less) per person. It’s already inclusive of 3d/2n accommodation, airport transfer, food, and city and island tours.

Our flight c/o Cebu Pacific was delayed (again) so the designated driver and guide patiently waited for us at the airport. We were greeted by Kuya Chris who served as our tour guide during our entire stay. While inside the car, he handed us Centro Coron’s menu board and listed our orders. Prior to that, he sent us an SMS asking whether we’d have a late lunch or merienda.

After roughly a half hour ride, we arrived at Centro Coron. We were greeted and warmly welcomed by very friendly and accommodating crew members. They initially showed us a room that’s good for 4-6 people. Since we requested to have separate rooms, we opted to change. It wasn’t a busy day for Centro Coron so they asked us to choose among the three vacant rooms. They told us that two of us could settle in the smaller room and the other two could still stay in the bigger room. Humbled and flattered with their generosity, we chose the two smaller rooms. We were thinking that a bigger group might check in the next day. ;-)

After freshening up, Kuya JR (I think he’s the head waiter) personally went to our rooms to tell us that lunch is already served. With the absence of high-tech phones, a knock on the door from the staff is a very nice personal touch.

We went back to our rooms after a sumptuous lunch and took a nap before heading to our city tour. I’ll allot a separate post for that.

Their rooms are very basic. Don’t expect something extravagant. An air-conditioned room with a comfortable bed, cable TV and restroom were all they got. It wasn’t included in my list of best-looking hotel rooms. It was a bed and breakfast after all. It definitely served its purpose.

The lack of glamor in their rooms was overshadowed because they compensated it with their impeccable service! If I can sum up the experience we had during our stay, it’s like staying in a bed and breakfast with the service of a five-star hotel! :)

They are all proactive and very sensitive to our needs. They check us once in a while to make sure that we have everything we need. We really felt like we were VIPs during our 3-day stay.

Kuya Chris is very funny! It didn’t feel like we were traveling with a tour guide. It was just as if we were with a close friend. Parang kabarkada lang namin siya! To top it all, our safety was his priority. Watch out for my next posts for the (interesting) stories! Haha!

Kuya JR is Centro Coron’s all-around guy! He serves our food. He goes to our room to tell us that food is already served or that the tour is about to start. He carries our bags. He gives us directions on where to get the best pasalubong. He answers all our questions. And he laughs with our silliness!

Sir Kim, Centro Coron’s owner, was very hands-on. When we were about to leave for our island tour, he demanded the chef to cook lumpiang shanghai to add to our already overflowing food. We were always surprised to see the amount of food being served to us. With the price we paid, we were expecting to just have decent meals. But they gave us feasts! To give you an idea, here is a photo of what they served us on our last dinner.

Other guests kept on looking at our table. They were probably telling themselves, “Ang takaw naman ng mga ‘to!” Centro Coron served us not one, not two, definitely not three, but four dishes! Our jaws kept on dropping each time a server came to our table with a plate of food. They definitely gave us a buhay baboy kind of vacation. :p

Guests and non-guests go to their restaurant and coffee shop

We enjoyed our stay in Coron greatly because of the kind of treatment we got from Centro Coron. On our way home, everybody argued whether they earned something from our stay. Parang nalugi yata sila sa amin! Haha!

CENTRO CORON BED AND BREAKFAST
National Higway Barangay 4, Coron Palawan
Email Add: centrocoron@yahoo.com

A Breeze of Good Deeds # 25: Christmas with TamTam

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt abenoja-andrade) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 07:30:00 +0000

My husband and I woke up at 4 in the morning to catch the last dawn mass before Christmas. I knew the night before that it was going to be a big and busy day. After hearing mass, Boyet and I grabbed some breakfast and prepped for our "project". I was in a good mood because my younger brother got out of his bed way earlier than his usual 9ish wake up time.

Since it was Christmas eve and everybody wanted to go home early, it was decided to have the call time at 7 in the morning. We arrived at Ayala at 7:03 only to find out that Kriska, who lives in Antipolo came earlier than us! But the biggest surprise was that the person who requested for the 7 a.m. call time arrived at 7:40! (Blind item: GDL :p)

I fell asleep for a few minutes and just woke up over a commotion in the car. Apparently, we’re lost! After a few calls to my cousin, we arrived at their house at 10 a.m.

We already saw TamTam while we were inside the car. Joie even said that he looked refreshed; his face is much different than what we saw in the picture that my cousin gave me. I noticed that most of my friends were stunned. I couldn’t blame them. How many people have actually seen a young man with no limbs? It was surreal. I pity him yet my admiration towards him grew stronger. I knew that my glances would probably make him feel awkward, or probably unfortunate. So I decided to go straight inside my aunt’s house and just went outside after a couple of minutes.

He started sharing bits and pieces of his twenty years of existence. Sobrang daldal nya! He told us how his parents disowned him, how his father sold him to a perya for PHP3,000, how somebody promised him a better life here in Manila, how he lives in the street and now in a house with no electricity and water supply and how people have been bullying him. Despite his misfortunes, he still took time to tell us how he fell in love with a girl and how their relationship ended. All his stories were too heavy to handle. That’s why I was so relieved when he decided to take a bath. It gave us time to recover from all his sad stories. It gave me time to realize that I am extremely blessed! Ang dami 'kong na-realize sa sobrang tagal nyang maligo! Hahaha!!!

His stories continued after he took a bath. He answered all our questions. And then we decided to give him our gifts. We brought him some grocery items, new clothes, a new baseball cap, vitamins and an old ball. He told us that he inserts half of his body to a ball which then serves as his legs and platform. We also brought him some candies, towels, handkerchiefs and other things which he could use to start up a small business. We also provided him a loading business kit.

He was sooooo appreciative! He kept on thanking us each time we hand him something. Since he told us that he is losing some of his possessions in the room he’s renting, he agreed for my aunt to take care of our gifts and just give some to him little by little.

We would have wanted to spend the whole day getting to know him. But it wasn’t possible. And before we left, he gave in to our request – Teach Me How to Dougie! Oh my! Great talent comes in small packages, literally! He grooves like there’s no tomorrow!

Photo courtesy of Hazel

You may think that we gave TamTam an unforgettable Christmas. But the truth is he was the one who gave us one. There wasn’t a single instance that he asked for help. We were always ready to assist him but he showed us how independent he is.

To tell you honestly, I was ashamed. I was sad because I didn’t have time to shop for a new pair of shoes while TamTam never experienced wearing one. It’s ironic how I whine on long walks while TamTam does it effortlessly. I complain how tiring my work is; he battles bullies everyday. I have a loving family; his turned their backs on him.

We all wish to help him more because TamTam is more than just a “Christmas Project” to us. We still want to fulfill his dream of finding a better home. We all hope to find him an affordable yet decent place to live in within Pamplona or Cavite. Let's all pray for TamTam! :(

Many thanks to Tita Flory, Hazel, Kuya Lloyd, Kuya Tatit, Kriska, Mark, Gener, Me-Anne, Joie, Jeff, Erlie, Aubrey, Chod, Rissa, Ruth, Abes and Boyet! None of these would be possible without you. :)

A Breeze of Good Deeds # 24: Christmas for a Boy with No Limbs

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt abenoja-andrade) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:30:00 +0000

As early as November, my friends have started asking me if I already had plans for a Christmas project. Actually, I didn’t have a plan. That alone made me a little guilty. I was anticipating a letter from World Vision asking for my Noche Buena donation for my scholar. I thought that was already enough. But I realized that with the blessings that I am continuously getting and the number of people who needs help, my efforts will NEVER be enough. And besides, I am surrounded by compassionate friends who have the same urge to extend a helping hand to those in need. :)

I talked to some friends to check out if they are willing to join us for the same project which Boyet, Erlie and I did a couple of years ago. We were almost set for it. But just last week, I got a message from my cousin asking if we could consider helping out someone. After seeing his photo and hearing some stories from my cousin, I knew at that moment that we need to help him.

His name is Tommy. But most people fondly call him TamTam. I don’t know why he doesn’t have limbs but I’m assuming it’s inborn. What’s more painful than his disability is the fact that his family abandoned him. His father cold-heartedly sold him to a perya. My cousin asked if he has any relatives. He answered sadly, “Meron po pero ayaw nila akong angkinin e.” That made me think how some people can do such a horrible thing. Sorry for the lack of description pero umuurong ang jebs ko pag naiisip ko yung mga kamag-anak ni TamTam!

Anyway, my aunt and my cousin had the chance to meet him and both could attest how kind TamTam is. He does not ask for alms. He just stays in one corner and waits for people to notice him. My aunt’s co-workers and other people from the nearby establishments would sometimes give him food. And in return, he’d courteously say “Thank you po!”

For a while, he was homeless. But judging by the fact that he is paying a 600/month rent to a house with no electricity and water supply only proves that he is striving to have a normal life. And those people who have already met him know that he wants to be self-sufficient. Yesterday, my aunt asked him if he already has food. He smiled and said, “Meron na po.” It only shows that he is not abusing the kindness of the people around him.

Currently, TamTam is relying on the help of some strangers and my aunt’s co-workers who now treat him as if he’s a part of their families. Mang Nestor helps him in commuting since both of them live in Cavite. Suffice to say, he found a father in him.

My father asked me why we’re doing something as big as this for only one person. I kept quiet not because I don't have anything to say to him but because a lot of people have that kind of mentality. Everybody wants to be a superhero. Everybody wants to save the whole world. When in fact, the only way to change the world is to save one person at a time. Maybe when my friends and I become as big as Oprah, then we can do something bigger.

With our busy schedules, I honestly thought we could not be able to pull it off. It was really frustrating at first. But I must have done something really good to deserve such kindhearted friends. Boyet and I bought some groceries last weekend. Aubrey is in-charge in buying his clothes while Erlie took charge of the things that he need for a small business that he can probably start. Gener volunteered to buy our “special gift” for TamTam. Kriska promised that she’ll drive us when we meet TamTam. And my cousin Hazel visited TamTam last Saturday and took charge of buying his vitamins. Together with Me-Anne, Chod, Jeff, Joie and my brother Abes, we will rock TamTam’s Christmas! And if you want to be a part of it, you’re very much welcome!

If you just spend your day whining about how our government is not doing its job, nothing will happen. If you are always waiting to do something big, you may run out of chances. If you just believe that charity is only for the charitable institutions, you’re definitely mistaken. If you think that you cannot do something for people like TamTam, let our small group be an example that nothing is impossible.

We are hoping to transfer TamTam to a more decent and secure home. Other than the lack of electricity and water supply, he also told us that he is losing some of his possessions. We want TamTam to be as self-sufficient as possible. We want him to live a normal life. If you want to be a part of this change in TamTam’s life, come and join us! Shoot me an email (jerelltabenoja@gmail.com) or leave a comment in this post and I’ll get in touch with you. We are planning to meet him on Christmas eve. Thank you in advance! ;-)

An Early Christmas Gift

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt abenoja-andrade) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

I woke up this morning feeling under the weather. I’ve been battling dizziness and headaches for weeks now. And people speculating (and most of them wishing) that I’m pregnant is not helping at all. The iron supplement prescribed to me is making me extremely sleepy even at high noon. It also stimulates my already big appetite. Having a quarter life crisis which is now ongoing for years, I’m starting to question the decisions I made and those that I’m about to make.

In the middle of all the big things happening in my life, I woke up to something great this morning. I scanned our mails and noticed a very familiar envelope. I got a mail from World Vision. My "kid" wrote a letter at the back of this cute handcrafted paper lantern.

There are times when I wish that I should be doing more for other people. There are times when I think that my efforts are not enough. But small things like this are God’s assurance that I’m on the right track.

Merry Christmas! ^_^

Supplier Review: Passion Cooks Catering

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt abenoja-andrade) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 13:30:00 +0000

Seatmate: Nasarapan ka ba sa food noong _ _ _ _ ?
Me: Hmmm… Hindi masyado. Pero ok lang.
Seatmate: Hay naku! Mas masarap pa yung pumpkin soup noong kasal mo!
Me: Hahahahahaha!

It’s really flattering that almost six months after our wedding, our guests still say that it is one of the most memorable weddings they’ve ever attended. And yes, they still talk about the food! Next to our heartwarming yet funny speeches during the wedding reception, the next most talked-about thing about our wedding is the food.

All the food served were a product of four menu changes, three food-tasting, a lot of criticisms from my pinatasera mother, and Maja's unending patience. While we were eating, Camille of Fab Occasions approached and told us that she could hear the guests saying that they are enjoying the food. And according to Camille, every plate on every table has been wiped clean!

Being a food blogger and coming from a family of good cooks, I couldn’t afford to hear any negative comments about the food. That’s why I am more than thankful to Passion Cooks for making our guests go home with happy tummies.

Ironically, I don’t have photos of the food from our wedding reception. I didn’t have the time to take pictures of my plate! Nyaha! Fortunately, our photographers were able to take photos of our humongous cream puff tower. Other than the photobooth pictures and the bookmarks, the cream puffs were also distributed to our guests. Hitting two birds with one stone, it also served as our wedding cake. I gave a thumbs up to Maja during the cake-cutting ceremony because the cream puff is so yummy!

I immediately fell in love with the Chicken and Ham Crepe when Maja gave me some the first time we met. I was in the US during the first food-tasting so my mom suggested that we get the Cream of Pumpkin Soup and Three Mushrooms Pasta. I decided to deviate from the usual Caesar Salad so we settled for the refreshing Oriental Salad.

Maja made sure that there’s balance in our menu. When we told her that we like the Baked Prawns Thermidor and the Shepherd’s Pie, she told us that we might want to consider letting go one of the two because both have white sauce and cheese. The Grilled Pork with Herbed Cream Cheese was Maja’s suggestion as replacement for the Shepherd’s Pie. I was hesitant at first because I couldn’t imagine pork, cream cheese and apple together. But surprisingly, it’s a very good combination!

The Beef Salpicao was a last-minute choice. The very tender beef and loads of toasted garlic made this the best salpicao I’ve ever tasted. And of course, the dining experience is not complete without the desserts bar. Our contract says we’ll only have three desserts but Passion Cooks was so generous and made it four!

Other than the very delicious food, Maja also made sure to transform RMC from a simple hall that looks like a perfect setting for a graduation ceremony into a simple yet elegant venue. She discouraged me when I asked if they’ll be putting tables outside for the cocktails. She said that it gets really windy and the setup might probably get ruined. So I was very surprised when I saw tall tables with floral arrangements outside the venue. I was peeking from the bridal car and saw that our guests were having a good time.

Before the reception, I asked my maids of honor and bridesmaids how the venue looks like.

“Simple lang pero astig!”
“Ang ganda!”
“Ang galing ni Maja!”

I only told Maja that I want to see some books and flowers on the tables. All the other details are her ideas! I trusted her so much because I knew that she’d do a great job with the setup. She infused all the elements that we want for our book-themed, pink and black wedding. Paired with the equally talented Rejectkrew, our venue was awesome!

The pink, black and white drapes totally dressed up RMC’s bare ceiling. To make it more personalized, Maja hung some of my books and the pink bookmarks with our monogram. I looked at the ceiling and I realized that all the sleepless nights we spent making and cutting the bookmarks finally paid off.

The table setup was just as gorgeous. Maja requested for lots of glossy magazines. I first saw her plan during the mock setup. But it was doubly beautiful on our wedding day as it matched the drapes and the table cloths. It’s quite genius, isn’t it?

Photos courtesy of Ian Santillan Photography

You’ll probably think that my praises will stop with the good food and fabulous venue styling. But their service is just so impeccable to be ignored. The waiters are very attentive and friendly. Most importantly, Maja was there. Seeing her made us feel secure that nothing will ever go wrong. She was going around the venue. She even personally cut and distributed the cream puffs to our guests.

She told me that she wasn’t able to take some pictures of the food and the venue because RMC didn’t allow them to enter the venue earlier. She said that because of this, they finished the setup only a few minutes before the reception. Maja, the output you gave us didn’t show that you were in a hurry at all! :)

Other caterers are in the wedding industry for business. They accept tons of weddings a day making them lose the personal touch that couples need. Aside from the scrumptious food, the stunning venue styling and the perfect service, there is another thing that sets Passion Cooks apart from the other caterers in the market. Living by their name, passion is very much evident in the way they uniquely deliver every wedding reception.

Passion Cooks Catering
Rating: 5+++++/5 <-- Yes! Seriously! :)

Hainanese Delights

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt abenoja-andrade) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:30:00 +0000

After hearing mass with Boyet and my IPL session, I only realized that it was way past lunch time when my stomach started growling. We seriously need to transfer to another mall because we’re already running out of ideas on where to eat at Robinsons Manila. I was mentally scanning the whole mall trying to figure out where to have lunch when I suddenly remembered a restaurant that we haven’t tried yet. The place was almost empty but people started piling up after we placed our orders.

After a couple of minutes on our seats, a waitress approached us holding a thermos. I initially thought that she was serving us tea. She then placed two bowls with pieces of leeks and started pouring the hot soup. I immediately disagreed when Boyet said that the soup is salty. It actually made me feel like I'm at home. My mom usually boils leftover bones for hours which result into a mouthwatering soup.

Complimentary Soup

We would have skipped Classic Dumplings if we only knew that they serve complimentary soup. Six pieces of dumplings, lettuce, egg and toasted onion rings made an ordinary stock tastier.

Classic Dumplings PHP80

I decided to get Hainanese Delights. Bearing the restaurant’s name, I figured this must be their bestseller. I never really liked Hainanese chicken. I get this feeling that I’m like eating raw chicken if its color is not brown or red. But my misconception suddenly disappeared the moment I had my first bite. It goes very well with the mixture of chili and ginger oil.

Hainanese Delights PHP120

The aroma and taste of their rice remind me so much of our native suman. The best thing about Hainanese Delights is the unlimited rice. Yehba! :p

Boyet decided to skip chicken and had beef instead. Unfortunately, it was forgettable. Bring in the Beef was just so-so. The Hainanese chicken definitely overshadowed it.

Bring in the Beef PHP120

Hainanese Delights
Level 1 Pedro Gil Wing
Robinsons Place Manila

The Best of Me

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt abenoja-andrade) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 06:58:00 +0000

Although Nicholas Sparks was the one responsible for transforming me from a Sweet Valley High reader to a mature bookworm, I took a very long break from reading his books. But when the news broke that he was coming to Manila, my best friend and I made sure to be there by hook or by crook. During his interview, he gave us a glimpse of what to expect in the book. That alone made more intrigued about the storyline. As soon as my husband got the book covered, I started reading and so the roller coaster of emotions began.

I had the same feeling when I met Nicholas Sparks and after reading The Best of Me. I was overwhelmed.

Dawson and Amanda were from two different ends of the world. They fell in love, the kind of love that broke all the rules, the kind of love that was meant to last forever. But because of some twists of fate, they broke apart not knowing that their unfinished businesses left their lives empty and lonely.

I loved how Sparks described their very young love - rebellious yet pure. Sparks made sure that he built all the other characters well enough since each of them played a very important part of how the story would end. While the conflict builds, I couldn’t help but feel the intensity of the characters’ emotions and the effects of the choices they’ve made along the way. I was having a hard time thinking how it would end. The ending, though not as realistic as I expected it to be, was somehow fitting. Having a quite controversial plot, it’s either you’ll love or hate this book.

You may find the use of a “ghost” irrelevant. But I realized that every person has a ghost. And unless we find the courage to face our haunting past, we cannot move forward and serve our purpose in life.

You may find the infidelity immoral. But I realized that all our actions and all our choices have consequences. All the opportunities that we missed will most likely never be offered to us again. And every chance of happiness that we let go will probably leave us wondering whether we’ll have the same chance again.

The Best of Me didn’t make me cry as much as I did with The Notebook. All the pages are still intact unlike my copy of A Walk to Remember which are almost torn out because of all the tears that it absorbed. But reading the book has left me choked up. It was as if I was battling with Amanda. It was as if I was trying to help her make the right choice. I felt the degree sadness brought by her regrets. But I was also grateful. I am thankful that I am living a life free from the “what if’s” of life.

If you’ve already read the book, I know that you’ll agree with me when I say that Chapter 15 is the most moving part of it.

“Being together isn’t about a honeymoon. It’s about the real you and me. I want to wake up with you beside me in the mornings, I want to spend my evenings looking at you across the dinner table. I want to share every mundane detail of my day with you and hear every detail of yours. I want to laugh with you and fall asleep with you in my arms. Because you aren’t just someone I loved back then. You were my best friend, my best self, and I can’t imagine giving that up again… You might not understand, but I gave you the best of me, and after you left, nothing was ever the same.”
- Dawson Cole

Supplier Review: Rejectkrew

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt abenoja-andrade) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 06:00:00 +0000

Nearly half a year after our wedding, I’m so embarrassed to admit that I’m still not yet done with my supplier reviews. Talk about extreme laziness! I’m still working on the photos from our last vacation so I’ll continue first with my reviews. :)

I almost forgot that there is a need for us to book a lights and sound supplier. There isn’t a lot in the market so we only talked to two suppliers. It was very hard to take hold of Elmer of Rejectkrew so we decided to talk to somebody else. I was so turned off when Supplier X refused to meet us without a down payment. Hellllerrr! Asa ka!

That same week, Boyet received a message from Elmer confirming their meeting. Ironically, Boyet’s ATM was captured the day that he was supposed to meet Elmer to pay our reservation fee. Without hesitation, Elmer signed the contract and agreed that we could just settle everything on our wedding day. The very few tasks that I entrusted him to do for our wedding was to pay the reservation fee for Rejectkrew and he wasn’t able to carry it out. Ooohh boys! :p

As I was so embarrassed with what happened, I insisted to go to a wedding fair where Rejectkrew was participating. Elmer even said that we didn’t have to go through the hassles since he already agreed that we could settle the payment on our wedding day. Even with the delayed reservation fee, he even agreed to personally be present on our wedding day and not let his other team handle the event.

Photo courtesy of Ian Santillan Photography

There was no dead air in the reception. All the songs that we requested were granted. And the lights setup definitely enhanced the romantic mood. Suffice to say, Rejectkrew is the best and the most affordable in the industry. ;)

Rejectkrew
Rating: 4.5/5

My Hiatus is (ALMOST) Over

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt abenoja-andrade) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 13:30:00 +0000

I know I haven’t been updating this blog as often as I used to before. Most of my posts are sitting in the drafts section. I’m such a lazy person!

I’d like to think that I have very well adjusted to being married but there are days when I cannot juggle the things that I am supposed to do and the things that I WANT to do. Most of the time, I tend up sacrificing some things, and writing is one them. After a very mentally exhausting eight-hour work, I don’t even have the energy to turn on my laptop and write. There are also days when I am ready to let out all my creative juices but the thought that nobody is reading my blog makes me extremely lazy and disheartened. And then a couple of weeks ago, the sudden passing away of my aunt left almost the entire family emotionally drained.

Fortunately, my husband and I along with two friends were able to experience a much-needed and well-deserved vacation. We were in a place where the water is clearer, people are nicer and life is much simpler.

So now, I will stop making excuses. Whether I have ten or a hundred readers, I will continue to write. I cannot promise that I will never be lazy again, though. :p

Yoshi's Teppanyaki Ice Cream

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt abenoja-andrade) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 13:30:00 +0000

After Boyet and I tried Healthy Shabu-Shabu for the first time, I wanted my parents to have the same blissful experience so I convinced them to try it. I was really full after our heavy lunch but my husband kept on mumbling that he wanted something to cleanse his palate. He wanted to go to Starbucks then he suddenly changed his mind. I told him that we haven’t tried Yoshi’s Ice Cream and I persuaded him to give it a go.

I’ve passed by this charming ice cream shop a lot of times but I wasn’t keen at trying it. Their all-violet setup was charming though the pretty girl in kimono with a bell on her hand was more inviting. She told us their bestsellers and gave us a few suggestions. She even energetically answered all my questions, one of which is why it’s called teppanyaki ice cream. While explaining it to me, she put the ice cream in the griddle, crushed the graham crackers along with the Reese's peanut butter cup and mixed them all together. That is why! :)

Sorry about the photo, I just used my mobile phone :)

We went back to our seat and waited for our sweet treat. After a few minutes, a cup of the teppanyaki ice cream arrived at our table. It was topped with half of the Reese’s cup, graham crackers and chocolate wafer sticks. A drizzle of chocolate syrup and colorful candy sprinkles made it more eye-catching.

I was like a kid again as I dig into the cup. What makes it more special is the extra detail that they put in it. Have you noticed the small pink flag? It says, “I’ve learned that being kind is more important than being right.” ^_^

Yoshi’s Teppanyaki Ice Cream may not be the best I’ve tasted. But I have to say that the twenty minutes I spent eating their ice cream is one of the most idyllic experiences I ever had.

Yoshi's Teppanyaki Ice Cream
Level 3 Midtown Wing
Robinsons Place Manila

Father-Daughter Dance: I Loved Her First

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt abenoja-andrade) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 05:30:00 +0000

He is a hands-on father. He used to bring my lunch to school since I was in 5th grade until I finished high school. Together with my mom, he would help me with my school assignments. He is a very cool yet strict father, who lets his children experience both the beauty and bitterness of life. I experienced a balance of spanking and non-stop lecturing. He talks about sports, politics and even the most sensitive issues that fathers don’t dare to discuss with their daughters. He is a good cook but he is very messy in the kitchen. He sings well, the one thing in his genes that he forgot to pass on to me.

I used to hate him for being so meticulous and opinionated. And as I age, I realize that I hate him because I am beginning to be just like him. Now, I am more meticulous and opinionated than him.

My father and I danced Wind Beneath My Wings on my 18th birthday. I am really close to my dad and that song sums up my relationship with him. I was planning to use the same song for our father-daughter dance. But I felt that it wasn’t the right one. Months before our wedding, I stumbled upon I Loved Her First. Though not a fan, I have always been fascinated with country music. Country song is not really a popular choice for wedding receptions. But the moment I heard it, I knew that it was going to be “the” song.

My dad was really bubbly and had kept his cool during the wedding. A lot of guests said that my dad’s antics made them laugh and kept them entertained. He was far from the usual fathers who are emotional and anxious in giving their daughters away. Most of them said that they now know where I got my sense of humor and my hidden mischievous side. Even during the father-daughter dance, he couldn’t conceal his playfulness.

The animated bride that I portrayed during the wedding preparations and the ceremony proper suddenly disappeared. And just like when I delivered our personal vows and my message to my parents, my tears were flowing endlessly while I was dancing with my father.

Photos courtesy of Ian Santillan Photography

He started to whisper that Boyet and I should never forget to pray, and that we ask God to bless us with healthy kids. I don’t remember saying anything to him. Other than a few nods in between his words, only sobbing was what I could do. I actually listened to the song countless of times thinking that my heart would be numb by the time the song is played on our wedding. I was mistaken.

Look at the two of you dancing that way
Lost in the moment and each other's face
So much in love, you're alone in this place
Like there's nobody else in the world

I was enough for her not long ago
I was her number one, she told me so
And she still means the world to me, just so you know
So be careful when you hold my girl

Time changes everything, life must go on
And I'm not gonna stand in your way

But I loved her first, I held her first
And a place in my heart will always be hers
From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me
I knew the love of a father runs deep

And I prayed that she'd find you someday
But it's still hard to give her away
I loved her first

How could that beautiful woman with you
Be the same freckle face kid that I knew
The one that I read all those fairytales to
And tucked into bed all those nights

And I knew the first time I saw you with her
It was only a matter of time

I loved her first, I held her first
And a place in my heart will always be hers
From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me
I knew the love of a father runs deep

And I prayed that she'd find you someday
But it's still hard to give her away
I loved her first

From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me
I knew the love of a father runs deep

Someday you might know what I'm going through
When a miracle smiles up at you
I loved her first
Lyrics from elyrics.net

SumoSam

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt abenoja-andrade) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Though my heart was filled with both happiness and amazement after meeting Nicholas Sparks, I couldn’t deny the fact that I was really hungry. Waiting for more than five hours with only a bottle of water and a pack of crackers which Aubrey and I shared, my stomach reached its limit. As soon as we got hold of the signed books, we rushed out of Powerbooks to have our lunch.

We went to the second level of Greenbelt 3 but none of the restaurants appealed to us. Being with Aubrey, who claims to be on a diet made it more difficult for us. We went to the third level and spotted SumoSam. She said that she would have either salad or maki. Boyet was again craving for soup so without further discussion, we went inside the restaurant.

Service was really fast. The Gyoza Soup arrived first on our table. I was screaming a lot during the event so the hot soup which has a hint of sweetness was very soothing for my tired throat.

Gyoza Soup PHP89

My husband enjoying his first sip

There is something different with SumoSam’s Chahan. It’s definitely not oily. Fried rice from other restaurants makes you look like you applied some lip gloss after eating it. In addition to that, SumoSam’s Chahan is savory but not overpowering which made me enjoy the flavors of the other dishes.

Chahan Bowl PHP178

Being a fan of tofu, I opted to try their Tofu Steak. I was also trying to be a supportive best friend that’s why I chose it knowing that it’s good for Aubrey. It was a very wise choice indeed. Aside from being a good option for health buffs, it’s also friendly to the taste buds. The sauce was so yummy. We ended up scraping the sizzling plate just to savor the sauce until its last drop.

Tofu Steak PHP178

Aubrey wanted to get their Squid Head rice meal. But Boyet insisted to just share the Chahan bowl among the three of us and order the Squid Head minus the rice. We all ended up scratching our heads out of confusion why someone who’s on a diet would choose fried food. Haha!

Though not my favorite, this dish is still ok. The texture of the squid was just right. It wasn’t crunchy but it wasn’t chewy either.

Squid Head PHP168

I was intrigued when I saw it on their menu that’s why I decided to order Osuyaki Beef Rolls. A bunch of juicy mushroom strips with thinly-sliced beef wrapping around it perfectly matched the tangy dip. I tried eating one roll in one bite and I could feel the bursting of flavors into my mouth. For me, this was the star of the day.

Osuyaki Beef Rolls PHP238

I don’t know why it took us this long to try SumoSam. We’re definitely coming back! :)

SumoSam
Level 3 Greenbelt 3
Ayala Center
Makati

Supplier Review: Dulce Amor Fortunado

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt abenoja-andrade) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Deciding who to host our wedding reception was crucial. Getting Dulce to do the job was a gamble for us. The online reviews were quite limited so we based our decision from what we felt during our initial meeting. After her day job, she braved the heavy traffic from Roxas Blvd. to Greenbelt for our meeting. But she still managed to talk non-stop during our two-hour dinner. One thing’s for sure, I told myself. I can’t deny Dulce’s stamina when it comes to talking. The most important thing of course is she talks with sense. A nice addition is the fact that she makes us laugh. I was also paying close attention to her diction. It’s very clear and she converses well both in English and Filipino. Right then and there, we booked her.

I almost forgot that we were supposed to meet her a couple of weeks before our wedding day. She was actually the one who reminded me that we need to brainstorm for the program. On our second meeting (over some Chrysanthemum tea :p), we did not worry a single thing because all of her suggestions suit our taste. The program she had in mind was funny yet I was confident that she would not turn our wedding reception into a comedy bar. It was light but she managed to inject some heart-warmers. Reading our messages to our parents was one of her many brilliant ideas.

On the day itself, her spontaneity was evident. My mom said that most of our guests were already tired but everybody was brought to life the moment she opened her mouth. Everybody kept on laughing each time she calls Boyet PROM KING because he was wearing a black suit with pink tie. I was also worried that our friends would not participate in the singles’ games but she managed to get everybody off their seats.

Our closest friends commend her for being bubbly and articulate. The sleepyheads were kept awake. The killjoys were convinced to graciously participate. And most importantly, she was able to make our parents kiss in front of more than a hundred people! Nyaha!

Photos courtesy of Ian Santillan Photography

Dulce Amor Fortunado
Rating: 5/5

The Bookworms Meet Nicholas Sparks

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt abenoja-andrade) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 05:15:00 +0000

As soon as the news broke out that Nicholas Sparks was coming to Manila, the geek in me wished and endlessly prayed that I’d get this once in a lifetime chance to meet him. I remember buying A Walk to Remember 11 years ago after saving off my allowance. And after reading Message in a Bottle and The Notebook, I told myself that it’s about time that I stop reading Sweet Valley High. So it is an understatement to say that Nicholas Sparks turned me into a full blown bookworm.

Aubrey can claim all she wants that she is also a fan but she can’t deny the fact that I was the culprit who turned her into one. She was one of the very first people who I encouraged to read A Walk to Remember. This was way before Mandy Moore. So the perfect person to be my partner in this experience is none other than a fellow Nicholas Sparks fan.

Imagine our dismay a couple of weeks ago when we found out that his only stop was at The Podium and it happened to be on a Friday afternoon. We couldn’t risk skipping work knowing that there is only a 50% chance that we’d get the signed book. You may think that it’s an exaggeration but Aubrey and I were both depressed, thinking endlessly how we could find a way to be in two places at the same time.

Now here is the irony. I read from the Facebook fan page of Powerbooks that Nicholas Sparks was having another book signing at Powerbooks in Greenbelt 4 on October 29 at 11 am. I thought that it’s nearer in my office but it still means that I need to take a leave from work. I didn’t realize that it was a Saturday until Aubrey tweeted me. It was definitely an answered prayer.

Though not an avid book reader, my very supportive husband agreed to accompany us. Aubrey told me that she’d come as early as 7 a.m. I told her that I wasn’t feeling well so I’d probably come a little later. On the contrary, I came earlier than her. She said that she didn’t want to look stupid coming there all by herself that early. Then I told her that the earliest bird was at the venue as early as 3 a.m. Nyaha!

After waiting outside the store for more than three hours, we got a glimpse of the venue. I keep on telling Aubrey that I wouldn’t be doing what I just did for any actor, not even for Derek Ramsay! I endured falling in line only for Nicholas Sparks. She couldn’t agree more.

The seats were very limited and people were continuously pouring. But I needed to go to the restroom so I asked Aubrey to save our seats. We were lucky to be seated on the third row!

We waited for another hour. And then, the moment has finally arrived. The crowd went wild when the host announced the arrival of Nicholas Sparks. I got quite emotional as I felt a tear fall from my eye. I’m serious! I was ecstatic knowing that I am only a few minutes away from meeting the author who made me fall in love with books, the author who inspired me to write.

Nicholas Sparks was very funny, making the audience laugh countless of times. He was wearing a shirt with a Philippine map. He was very pleasant and there wasn’t an indication that he was tired after signing almost a thousand books the day before.

Powerbooks initially announced that Nicholas Sparks would only be signing 200 books. I think we were 62nd on the line but my book would be the 104th that he’d sign which means that other people bought more than one book. Some of the early birds were also present in the book signing at The Podium. I felt really sorry for the other people who were also there but could not be accommodated. Then, the host announced that Mr. Sparks graciously agreed to sign 400 books! Yey!

The earliest bird who came at 3 a.m. said that she has been a fan since 2002. Then Aubrey said, “Nauna tayo sa kanya!” That’s actually true. She may have woken up earlier than us that day but we have been a fan since 2000! Yehhh!!! \m/

Aubrey

Little Miss Bookworm ^_^

The moment Aubrey and I have been waiting for finally arrived! Guests were called by batches of 30. I would have wanted to shake his hand and chat some more, talk about how he inspired me to read more and write more. But it wasn’t possible.

I waited for more than five hours but my close encounter with Nicholas Sparks lasted for less than a minute. Hihi! I didn’t realize that he was saying "Hi" to me because the people from Powerbooks kept on instructing me to look at the camera. But then again, I think I was starstruck! I set my DLSR camera and tested the settings countless of times so I was really disappointed when I saw that our pictures were blurry. Boooo!!! But who cares?! I was five inches away from Nicholas Sparks!!! Woot woot!!!

Meeting Nicholas Sparks wasn’t just a dream that came true. Meeting him made me cross out wish #13. :)

Nicholas Sparks talked about his books, his fans and upcoming movie adaptations. He gave us a glimpse of what it’s like to be THE Nicholas Sparks. I personally loved when he said that he usually spends 7 minutes typing in full speed and spends the remaining 53 minutes evaluating and editing the 7 minutes he just wrote. I could relate to what he said. I thought that I was the only one in this world who writes like that which made me doubt my writing skills. A bestseller author saying that gave me the assurance that I am on the right track.

I didn’t know that my husband was taking these videos. Sorry for the poor quality though. Know more about Nicholas Sparks in these video clips. :)

Patterson, Brown, Cabot, Ahern, Myers, Albom and Coelho, you must thank Nicholas Sparks. You won’t gain another follower if not for this man who turned me into a bookworm. ^_^

Healthy Shabu – Shabu

noreply@blogger.com (jerellt abenoja-andrade) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 12:30:00 +0000

We’ve been to Robinsons Place Manila countless of times. We’ve tried almost all restaurants. But each time we pass by Healthy Shabu – Shabu, we simply scan the menu board outside and walk away. We had a connotation that shabu – shabu is expensive but not filling. But since Boyet wasn’t feeling well and was craving for hot soup, we decided to give it a shot.

I got to try shabu – shabu for the first time last year. My companion at that time did all the cooking so all I did was just eat. Since it was Boyet’s first time, we were like two puppies lost in a big jungle. We know that we were just supposed to put everything on the pot but we still missed a few things despite our attempts to discreetly look at what the diners from other tables are doing. It took us a while to realize that the dark brown liquid on a small bowl that was served to us was the sauce. I initially thought it was tea then I changed my mind and told myself that it’s soup. Bwahaha!

Then after reading Joie’s experience in Healthy Shabu – Shabu, I found out that the egg yolk must be mixed with the sauce and the egg white must be added to the pot. Instead, we put everything in the pot thinking that preparing shabu – shabu is the same as cooking an instant noodle soup. Hihi! ^_^

We decided to get the Beef Tenderloin with Seafood set. We put the beef first followed by a little bit of everything. We added lots of garlic and seasoned it with the paste. Boyet asked the server if the set meal is already good for two people. She said that it’s only good for one. She was lying! Haha! We enjoyed sipping the hot and flavorful shabu – shabu. But we were almost ready to raise the white flag because we got so full!

Beef Tenderloin Set A PHP675

Fearing that the shabu – shabu is not enough for us because of what the server said, we decided to get a rice bowl meal. Even if our tummies are about to burst, we still munched on the Chicken Breast Rice Meal. Teriyaki sauce is mixed with the rice and the very tender chicken strips. Boyet and I agreed that the teriyaki sauce isn’t too sweet which made it more enjoyable for both of us.

Chicken Breast Rice PHP195

We had a blast eating shabu – shabu together for the first time. We’re definitely coming back! :)

Healthy Shabu – Shabu
Level 3 Midtown Wing
Robinson Place Manila