Maya Banana

Talisay

2024-11-13T14:46:00.002+08:00

Napaka emosyonal ko habang pinapanood yung pag lagas ng dahon at pagbali ng mga sanga tuwing hahampas ng malakas na hangin yung puno ng Talisay sa tapat namin.

Siguro ang nakakadurog ng puso ay walang ibang magagawa yung puno kundi harapin ang bagyo. Sana isa na lang syang Ent, para pwede syang magtago sa mas ligtas na lugar o kaya ay makakakapit ng husto para wag tangayin ng hangin.

Pano pa yung mga alagang hayop na makakasilong sana o makakalikas sana sa mas ligtas na lugar pero di nila magawa kasi iniwan silang nakatali o nakakulong?

Pano pa yung mga may sakit o kapansanan na hindi kayang kumilos mag isa?

Pano pa yung mga magulang na mag isa lang at kailangang iligtas ang sarili at mga anak nya?

Pano pa yung mga walang pupuntahan? Walang ikalawang baitang ang bahay? Yung kahoy at pawid lang ang bahay? Yung walang bahay?

Pano pa yung mga walang paraan para makahingi ng tulong? Yung hindi madaling marating ng tulong? Pano yung walang cellphone?

Masakit sa puso panoorin yung puno ng Talisay mula sa bintana at wala kang magawa. Masakit sa puso mapanood sa balita yung mga apektado ng kalamidad.

Kada bagyo na lang ganito tayo. Nakakataba ng puso yung malasakit at bayanihan pero mas nakakagalit na imbes na mapunta sa mga proyekto para sana maiwasan ang mga ganitong sakuna, para matulungan ang talagang nangangailangan, para wala nang makaranas ng kaba tuwing mabigat ang patak ng ulan, sa bulsa ng mga sakim napupunta.

Siguro wala namang pakiramdam yung Talisay at malalampasan nya ang maraming bagyo na parating tulad ng mga dumaan na. Pero sana hindi na kailangan magtiis at mag hirap ng Talisay.

White Airy Glass House in Tagaytay

2019-04-21T21:53:00.000+08:00

or Silang? I was convinced we were in Tagaytay the whole time.

It's the quarterly ganap of our group and boy we all needed to get out of the city.

So lucky of us to snag a beautiful home! Again. Some of my favorites about it are:

very spacious
light and airy
enough bathrooms
enough utensils, dinnerware, and cookware
Karaoke!
everyone had a space to comfortably sleep in
dining area was able to accommodate all of us
huge garden!
super IG worthy

Here are some photos if you'd like to see.

One of the things I loved about this place is the dining area. Since we're a big group, it's nice when the dining can seat all of us.

My favorite girls and our new recruit.

I super love the natural light!

Stove at the back. Fridge wasn't big enough, good thing I brought a big cooler for the ice.

The spacious veranda (or balcony? I don't know what to call these areas) was perfect for day drinking!

Obligatory group photo of course

Grill fest it is for our March celebrants and Ms. Techie's despedida

Good food and good folks

We absolutely had a great time here and I personally recommend it for groups like us.

Found this gem in Airbnb, link here.

B. I. G. Day 4: Island Hopping in Guimaras

2017-09-16T18:38:00.000+08:00

I was quite worried that it was too cloudy and that it might rain! Good thing the weather turned out to be nice the entire time we were island hopping, a little too cloudy but bright and sunny.

I absolutely did not have high expectations about it. I purposely did not search for wherever we were going, so my head just wanted to explode with delight the moment the boat started moving. It was just blue sea, sky, and lush greens around us. I think I was drooling the entire time.

Our first stop was Natago Beach.

That house can be rented out for 5k, good for 15 pax according to our boat captain.

I wasn't able to take photos of the entrance to the beach after going down the rocky path. We all kind of just dove in the water after securing our things.

Next stop was at Lamorawan. It was a shrine of some sort where you can see smaller islands.

This is absolutely more amazing in person. Getting out of the boat and hopping on the island is a bitch though.

We couldn't go to the caves cause our boat wouldn't fit, so we just went to Ave Maria which is also our last stop.

Ave Maria

We spent the the rest of the morning here. From where your boat will dock, you'll have to swim a little further to see fish. Life vests will be provided but make sure to bring your own snorkeling stuff cause they don't have any. BRING FISH FOOD! Bread will do. No corals but the fish at this spot are awesome.

With heavy hearts, we had to go back at around 11am to pack, check-out, have lunch, and head to Ilo-ilo. Upon reaching the resort, we went out to this seafood place called JM's Seafood, just right outside the resort. We ordered food right away so they'll be cooking while we're getting ready to check-out.

After packing our stuff, getting ready, and paying for the boat and van, we left our luggage and had lunch at JM's.

Sweet chili crabs anyone?

We got a kilo of crabs, a kilo of shrimps, pork belly, chopseuy, and lots of rice. I could only chow on the pork belly since I am allergic to seafood. Total damage was around 2,000 pesos. Not the best seafood fest I've had but I'm guessing it wasn't too bad either.

After lunch, we hauled our stuff and dropped by the Guisi Lighthouse.

Awesome people

Forgot the name of this beach

After visiting this spot, we went straight to the port, rode a ferry (I'm not sure what it was), and reached Ilo-ilo in no time. From there, we hired a cab to take us to the airport and make pasalubong stops along the way. We stopped by Margec’s Cream Horn, Original Biscocho Haus, Ramboy's, and Tinukib.

Since our flight back to Manila was a little late, we had enough time to waste at the airport. We were able to grab some la paz batchoy and charge our phones.

Anyway, here's the damage for day 4:

Not enough time to explore Guimaras. Best to spend at least two days to make the most out of the islands and beaches. Slather on lots of sunscreen, bring your own gears, don't forget your cameras, and invest in a good beach towel and small cooler.

We'll definitely be back here.

B. I. G. Day 3: Alubihod, Guimaras

2017-09-09T18:45:00.000+08:00

Day 3 was a mix of the good and the bad. Good that we found a willing multicab to take us directly to the port where we'll ride a roro. Bad that it was one rust away from falling apart. Good that we got to the port early, around 10am. Bad that the next trip was at 1PM. Bad that the tricycle ride from the port to the resort is 18 kilometers long. Good that the view was UH-MAZING!

At first we were hesitant to take their deal, 600 per tricycle for 4 pax, but upon learning that it's about an hour so of travel and there isn't really any other option, we agreed.

As you can see from the photos, it wasn't a comfortable ride but man the view made up for our sore butts. I mean, nothing really breathtaking but it was just plush greens all the way to our destination and there weren't a lot of cars and buildings.

We spent the night at Raymen. It wasn't my kind of accommodation but since we'll only sleep there, it was okay. The rooms were cheap anyway. The room had the basic stuff you need: bed, bathroom (hot and cold shower), towels, a TV with cable, AC, a shelf, a small table, and a chair. The bathroom was rigid, the mattress and pillows were thin but alright, sheets were really suspicious looking, and the entire room was so small. The room wasn't to my liking but we just used it for keeping our stuff, sleeping, and showering anyway.

Anyway, after dumping our stuff in our rooms, we headed to the resort's restaurant right away for some late lunch/early dinner. Too bad I wasn't able to take any photos of our food 'cause we're too hungry to bother. We super loved the grilled liempo, I think we ordered three servings! Food was reasonably priced and servings were pretty hefty (an order is good for two or three).

After dinner, we checked out the beach and dang. These are not filtered by the way. Photos were taken with an iPhone 6s.

The beach was awesome: clear water, not overly salty, sand was powdery, and there weren't a lot of people which I super love! We had the beach to ourselves later that night.

The boys got busy playing with the sand while some of us took a dip then later had beer by the beach. Perfect way to end the day.

Tomorrow is for island hopping!

Oh by the way, here's Day 3's total damage:

B. I. G. Day 2: Lakawon Island Resort and Spa | Bacolod City

2017-09-08T19:04:00.000+08:00

We had to wake up early the next day to make the most of the time we have left before we check-out. First order of business after getting ready to head out was of course breakfast!

Tocilog (with coffee or hot choco) for 200 pesos
I asked the lady at the cashier if the serving is good for two and she said it's good for only one. Nope, this was good for two and I'm an ulam person. Share it with someone then just order extra rice (15 pesos).

The rest of the day in Lakawon was spent roaming around, taking pictures, napping, taking a dip, more napping, and an hour or two in Taw Hai, the floating bar!

So nice to have bean bags by the shore!

Undeniably my favorite spot!

Under the bridge

First deck of the floating bar (Grabbed this photo from their website)

Super chill place! This floating bar is such a cool idea if the 250 entrance fee came with free drinks! We should've spent the evening here.

You can tell that I'm so in love with being an island girl. You can walk around without any pants, not brush your hair, not wear make-up, and be lazy!

We had to get back from the floating bar around 11 A.M. and get our stuff ready for check-out.

After Lakawon Island, we went to The Hostelry in Bacolod and spent the night there. From Lakawon, boat to the port, then tricycle to the terminal, then bus to Bacolod, then a cab to the hostel. Please insist on following the meter when riding the cab there.

Our room at The Hostelry

What joy to have your own bathroom!

Upon checking in, we just left our stuff in our rooms and went to the cafe right away for late lunch. Food was pretty decent.

Cafe's pride, chicken sandwich. It was okay. Don't wanna brag but I can make a better one than this.

Quiapo halo-halo special. Ask for sugar and milk. Good for two or three.

After lunch, we decided to go to a nearby drugstore for some antacid and antihistamine and on our way back to the hostel we met Nelson!

Yeah I was creepy and all the moment I saw this humongous doggo! Good thing the human he was with was friendly and patient too just like him. We followed him and asked for a photo upon reaching McDonald's. Nelson was just so cool! I wanted to follow him some more but they started running shortly after this photo was taken.

When we got back, I took a nap while charging my phone. Later that night, I met up with some old colleagues at Lion's Grill for dinner. It was a short meeting and I also couldn't stay too late. I'm not sure what the others did but I think they went to Calea for some cakes. They initially wanted to go out and experience Bacolod's night life but we were all exhausted from the traveling I guess that we just called it a night before 12mn.

Anyway, here's what day 2 cost us:

Cab fee was good for 4 and the dinner at Lion's Grill was good for 6.

Guimaras tomorrow!

B. I. G. Day 1: Lakawon Island Resort and Spa

2017-09-08T18:44:00.001+08:00

I had the pleasure of spending a four-day vacation with new friends last weekend. First out of town vacation I had nothing to do with, was not involved in the planning, arrangement, etc. Of course that made me anxious but it was also refreshing to be just a part of the crew.

Anyway, I'd like to share some of the details of this trip in the hopes of putting more content to this blog and help out those who are interested to travel to these places.

Transportation:
We rode almost all kinds I could think of, except for 2-wheeled vehicles! Here's the breakdown of our transpo:

Upon landing, we took a van going to Ceres bus terminal. Apparently there's a north and a south terminal. We were dropped off at the south terminal so we had to take a cab to go to the right one. Good thing a one-stop bus was about to leave for Cadiz when we arrived, we didn't have to wait too long. As for the cost of the boat ride, the entrance fee to the resort was included. We left Manila a little after 6:35 AM and we arrived at the resort before 11:30 AM I think.

All in all, the travel wasn't that much of a hassle. We traveled comfortably even in the tricycle.

Lakawon Island Resort and Spa:
It was absolutely beautiful. The sand was dominantly powder-like and the water was clear. The facilities and infrastructures were a different story though.

We booked the Pearl rooms, which can fit 4. It's a 5 or 10 minute walk from the restaurant. The second floor of the building was still undergoing construction when we arrived. The room had the basic necessities but it didn't have its own bathroom. The common bathrooms are at the far end of the building.

There was a lot of construction going on and many areas were still being developed. We didn't really mind. We still enjoyed the resort. The island's undeniably beautiful. I also liked that there weren't a lot of people during our stay so it wasn't crowded.

Food:
The food and drinks were a hit and miss. We absolutely loved the liempo and the others say the fried chicken was delicious. Serving portions were generous, good enough for two. Price was a little steep for the taste. I was hoping to be wowed.

You can't mess up grilled liempo.

Do not order the lumpiang shanghai. The meat tasted like it was cooked from yesterday.

Do not order the scallops as well. Itsy bitsy scallops, 10 pieces for 200 pesos! Not only were they tiny, the taste was too bland as well.

And of course, rice. Not bad for 15 pesos a cup but I don't mind paying a little more for better quality. Also, for a resort that boasts of good experience, their dining wares need improvement. I know it's petty but it's just a lot better to eat at a well prepared dining table outside of your home.

Cost of Day 1:
We didn't do a lot, we pretty much spent most of the time traveling and lazing around. I took a long nap after lunch, roamed around the island, took another nap, had dinner, then lazed by the beach.

Yup, that's how much day 1 cost.

More photos of the place on Day 2.

Bebots at Hillcrest House, Tali Beach Nasugbu Batangas

2017-08-22T13:21:00.000+08:00

I shouldn't really blog anymore. I'm lazy.

Anyway, the girls and I have been planning on going out of town for a looooooong time. We initially planned on going to Caramoan but since Jamie's vacation here in the Philippines was postponed, we changed our plans to going to La Union instead. Then it became Bolinao, then Batangas, then back to La Union, then long story short, we ended up in Nasugbu, Batangas.

Cliff diving spot

Nella found this wonderful house on Facebook, we instantly loved the clean and old feel to it! The house was spacious, had large windows (capiz windows, btw), three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a spacious kitchen, a dipping pool, grilling area, and car port for two cars.

Here are some snaps of the place if you'd like to see.

I couldn't find the photo of the third bedroom but it has a four-post bed, a nice chair, and its own bathroom.

What I loved about the place:

Spacious living area on the first floor and 2nd floor (we never stayed on the 2nd floor though). Perfect for the drinking sesh later in the evening.
The beds were super comfortable.
Kitchen was fully functioning.
The white paint versus the brown furniture was a fresh combo. The house's vibe was so chill and fresh.
Decor and furniture were on point. Super love the details in most of the accents.
The caretaker was very nice and helpful. He was very friendly and he attended to all of our concerns.

What could be improved:

The faucet in the kitchen was broken. It fell off when we turned the knob on. Good thing the boys were very helpful in fixing it.
Not enough comfy blankets. We had to scour the house for blankets. I used a fitted sheet as a blanket, not comfy at all.
The extra pillows smelled kinda moldy.
The dining area is small, there were not enough chairs for all of us.
There were no spoons, coffee mugs and not enough drinking glasses.
Power failure for a couple of hours in the evening. We cooked dinner in the dark, ate dinner and drank in candlelight which was pretty cool. It's just that we couldn't take proper photos during the night! It wasn't so much of an issue, at least for me, since it was not hot and there were no mosquitoes.
Paying was such a hassle. Payment can only be made through UCPB and there weren't a lot of branches around. I had to go back to UCPB thrice to complete the payment. First payment was for the down payment, half of the total. Second was for the remaining balance, two days before our arrival. The third was a day before, I didn't know we have to pay for our driver. I asked if I could just hand over the payment when we arrive but they insisted I have to make the payment via the bank.

All in all, despite the minor setbacks, we still had a great time at Hillcrest. We were able to finally spend time together! We went to the beach in the afternoon and in the morning the next day (not all of us, we preferred to sleep in a little more) then dropped by Calaruega on our way home.

Forever slay girls! | Cliff diving spot

This was the third bedroom on the first floor.

Awwwwww..

Pre-nup? That root beer though. Lol.

Learned my lesson, be more careful with what you pack if Angel's coming.

Brownout happened! And yeah, this was taken by Din of course it's blurry.

At Marina Beach

My favorite shot of us at Calaruega.

For more info, you can find Hillcrest House in Facebook or Airbnb.

CDT at Casa Del Sol Amadeo Tagaytay

2017-07-19T18:19:00.000+08:00

Last year, I wasn't officially part of the team yet but somehow managed to tag along and spend a nice weekend in Balai Celina (Day 1 and Day 2). This year, there was no official outing because of so many things I would rather not go into so we just decided to arrange something on our own.

We initially planned on going to Zambales and spend a weekend on the beach. However, some felt the long drive will be a waste of time and so and so. We agreed on Batangas or Tagaytay instead. I came across Casa Del Sol in Airbnb and Facebook and we just kind of fell in love with the place right away.

What are posted on the pages looked exactly what the place is in person. The place has two floors and it looks like a glass house. Here are some of my snaps of the house if you're interested:

Shot from the TV area

Videoke area

From the entrance

Living area

Living area / entertainment area

Living area across the kitchen

Super nice dining

Small bar right under the stairs, just beside the dining

My favorite part of the house, the fully equipped kitchen!

Different pots and pans, lots of plates and utensils, 5 burner stove, fridge, humongous rice cooker, etc!

Serving plates, bowls, plates.

Balcony? Lanai? Terrace?

The glass house has one massive bedroom on the 2nd floor and it's the only bedroom in the place.

There are three bathrooms: one on each floor and one outside, near the pool.

What I loved about the place:

It looked exactly as advertised on Airbnb and Facebook.
Spacious! There's a spot for everyone.
The kitchen was fully equipped. Oh what joy that there were awesome pots and pans. They even have a pressure cooker!
The dining was very inviting (well everything about the house was) and we didn't run out of plates and utensils.
The area was quiet.
Karaoke with superb sound system.
Super love the rustic vibe.
Microfiber towels. Say wutt???

A few issues:

I have no idea why it was so hot during the day. Lahat ng singit ko talaga pinagpawisan. Of course this isn't the venue's fault but maybe it would be a great idea to put stronger fans.
Water pressure was awful. I was taking a shower upstairs, my head was full of shampoo and the water suddenly stopped. It started running again after a few seconds though.
Mobile network was pretty bad for data connection. Well Globe sucks naman lage.

The place has pretty much everything you need but we highly suggest that you bring supplies (charcoal, ICE, dish washing soap and sponge, trash bag) to avoid any hassle. We didn't see any stores nearby (walking distance).

Also, the caretakers were very helpful and accommodating. They didn't make us feel like we were bothering them. We forgot to buy charcoal and when I asked where we can buy some, they offered to buy for us. Lastly, making the reservation and paying for our stay was a breeze.

We really had a great time and we all wished we could stay for another day or two. Check out their Facebook page for more info! The backyard turns into a magical bohemian/rustic inspired place that's perfect for celebrations.

P.S. Some photos of our team if you wanna see.

Love this team!

Not in the photo: Batchie (was upstairs taking a shower) and Me (was taking the photo)

Super behaved group!

Julian at 10

2017-07-17T18:54:00.000+08:00

May 2017:

Julian: I'M SO EXCITEEEEEEEED!

Me: About what???

Julian: It's my birthday soooooooon!

Me: Ha? It's only May! Your birthday is in July pa!

Julian: Yeah I know! Ang lapit naaaaaaaaaa!

Jusko May pa lang eh ang lapit na daw ng birthday nya. Nakakaloka. So medyo ang hirap nya pakalmahin. I was never one to spoil Julian pero pag kasi napaka inosente ng excitement nya, ang hirap naman wag ibigay lalo na if kaya naman and he deserves it. So agreement namin, he bags two gold medals then may party sya. Eh ayun nga, nag gold ang magaling na bata so pa-party ang mayora at mga kapatid.

Effort kame talaga sa pagbili ng mga pang decor na yan sa Divisoria ha! Simple lang naman talaga ang plano pero I really wanted a dessert/snack bar kasi nga mga bagets. Parang lahat yan sa Divisoria namin binili. Naka magkano din ako ha! Budget ko 1k lang dapat, eh well lampas lampas kasi ang dami kong nakita. Pero keri, tuwang tuwa naman si Julian.

Our DIY snack/dessert bar. Yung Hany talaga nagdala. Lol.

Cake and cupcakes courtesy of Chicha Whale!

Excited pa yung mga bags sa loot bag. Lol. Eh kung ano lang naman laman nyan. Bought the yellow paper bags sa Divisoria then nag print na lang ako nung logo.

Mga walang pagod at sawa sa tubig.

Mga walking pasas pag balik sa room.

Wag palinlang. Ilang beses may nagsapakan dyan.

Ang mga bisita eh mga kasama sa judo and family. So early that day, swimming na agad mga bagets. Pizza muna at kulitan sa may living area. Maya-maya nagdatingan mga medyo mas mga may edad. Swimming lang ng swimming. Baba pag nagutom tapos swimming ulit.

Best decision na kumuha ng room na may pool. Unang una, may pool nga. Sunod, hindi ko kailangan maimbeyj na ang kalat o basa! Decor lang kame pag dating tapos food, tapos yun na. Before 10pm ata eh nanonood na kame ng Wonder Woman. Ganon kaaga. Kinabukasan eh Spiderman naman sa ATC.

We love Parque. Bukod sa Alabang area, ang spacious ng rooms and affordable! Etong room nga lang namin eh for some reason lakas maka pang jowa ng lights. Super dim! Kaya lahat ng photos eh padiliman din. All in all we loved our stay. Super comfy ng bed, eh number one na requirement ko yan sa place.

Maraming salamat sa lahat ng pumunta. Sa makukulit na mga bata na gusto ko ibitin patiwarik. Sa mga nanay na hilong-hilo sa mga bitbit nila. Maraming salamat Chong, ikaw talaga nag pa-bertdey eh. Inabuso ko yung pizza and chicken! Sa bonggang pa-cake and cupcake ni Chicha Whale, salamat! Salamat din sa pag-tour natin sa Binondo and Divisoria.

Mga after 10 years ulit ang pa-bertdey ko sa batang to, nawiwili eh. Happy birthday Julian! We love you so much. Napakasarap mo naman i-spoil sa totoo lang kasi super galing mo maka-appreciate. Aba, ako na daw da best mommy. Anak, wala ka lang choice talaga.

Agreeable Family Baguio Suites Review

2017-07-14T15:52:00.000+08:00

I can't believe I didn't make a post about this place! We went to Baguio years ago and stayed at this place. I found it on Agoda. When I saw the photos of the kitchen and dining, I was sold.

I believe it costed us six thousand pesos for a night. There were six of us that stayed there but the place could easily fit 10-12 people. It has two bedrooms, one bedroom has two semi-double beds and the other large room has three beds. There are also two bathrooms, one bathroom is shared by the two bedrooms. It has a kitchen, dining room, living room, and spacious front yard.

Large bedroom with three beds. One queen size bed, a semi double, and a single bed.

Super comfy bed and beddings.

Our friend slept here instead.

Super beautiful yard.

Right outside our unit.

Dining room.

Living room and bedroom are elevated.

Beautiful kitchen and fully equipped with the essentials.

We stayed here for two nights and of course we would've stayed if we could. The house was well kept, everything was in order, it was spotless, it was well furnished, it was spacious and well lit, and most importantly, the beds were so comfortable!

Hard for me to say if the location was ideal, since it's near a main road. I believe it was very near the groto. Traffic in Baguio is so screwed up in the evening though, so beware.

We did the usual activities: strawberry farm, breakfast at Cafe by the Ruins, Burnham Park, and Ukay-ukay!

Didn't try the strawberry taho though.

Had to try Cafe by the Ruins

Wood all over.

Superb bacon!

I am so sorry but I did not like the hot choco. I ordered the best seller and it tasted weird for me. The cinnamon bun was not as sticky as I expect it to be.

Anyway, got to visit again in 2015 with colleagues from work and the traffic still sucked. It's still a fun place to visit but it's too crowded. Really hoping they save this place from breaking apart.

Julian at Bro. Ceci Cup 2017

2017-02-18T21:02:00.000+08:00

We spent the weekend at De La Salle Zobel because 1.) Julian participated in the Bro. Ceci Cup 2017 and 2.) my sister's team participated, too. It's the first tournament of the year and the first tournament after the new scoring system was established where you either get an ippon and the match ends or you get more wazaris than your opponent until the time ends. So it's either the matches end right away or the whole time is used up (or somewhere in between). Add that to the 350 participants and other setbacks the tournament experienced so it ended at 11:00 PM!

Anyway! It was thrilling to see the venue filled with participants, staff, spectators, and parents. There were teams from the UAAP schools, different LGUS, I think the Davao and Baguio teams also joined, and of course Jagsport of Singapore was there.

Julian placed third. I know he got upset when he lost his first match but he easily changed his mood when he won his second with a full point. He was ecstatic! As if he won a match in the Olympics! I couldn't be any prouder. He was full of energy and enthusiasm that it didn't matter what his medal was. I'm so proud of this boy! Keep on fighting Julian!

Yeah, look at that cheek!

He lost in this match.

He felt so tired daw.

Akala mo nag gold eh.

Julian look here!

"Mommy naka-ippon ako!"

Our players' number one fans. Thank you parents for the undying support! Next competition ulit.

Don't ever tell me to "just move on."

2016-12-02T16:45:00.001+08:00

If I tell you why it’s hard to move on, would you stop telling me “Just move on. You deserve better.”?

It’s hard because you have to stop picking up your phone every minute and hoping a new message from him will pop up when you were very clear when you told him that you don’t want to hear from him ever again.

You have to stop staying up late every single night waiting for that familiar engine sound or that soft knock on the door that only he makes when he arrives.

You have to stop wishing the new email is from him.

You have to stop looking at your phone all day, every day hoping he’d call.

You have to accept that you’re not getting that heartfelt apology.

You have to stop crying like an idiot because his karaoke piece played on the radio.

You have to stop sobbing to death because you saw the thousands of pictures and videos you have of each other.

You have to stop thinking about what he’d say or do in a particular situation.

You have to stop worrying if he had taken his medicine at this hour.

You have to stop caring if he’s dating someone else.

You have to stop blaming yourself for being not enough.

You have to convince yourself that you did all you could.

You have to do many things alone.

You have to stop coming up with ways to get his attention, make it look like you had nothing do with it and that fate is finding ways to make you cross paths.

You have to sleep without him by your side, he won’t cuddle till you fall asleep, he won’t kiss your forehead every minute while you’re tucked at his side, he won’t whisper “I love you so much” when he thinks you’re already asleep.

You have to forget about those messages he sends you every day that make you feel loved and secure.

You have to stop longing for his kiss.

You have to stop crying yourself to sleep.

You have to stop thinking about what went wrong, what you could’ve done differently.

You have to remove him from a life you built together.

You have to stop comparing everyone you meet to him.

You have to stop wondering why you fell apart.

You have to stop wishing that everything is just a bad dream and you’ll soon wake up. He’d be there, he’ll hug you tight, kiss you, and say that everything’s alright.

It’s hard because despite the horrible shit you’re feeling, you still love that person immensely.

You have to do all of those while he’s in arms reach, while he's lying on the other side of the bed, while you’re watching a movie together, while deciding on what dog to get, while you’re celebrating your anniversary, while he’s telling you that you’re the love of his life.

So don’t fucking tell me to “just move on.”

She knew.

2016-11-25T20:33:00.001+08:00

She knew it wasn't love.

She knew the moment he talked unabashedly about his past relationships on the first day they met. She took his boldness differently. Somehow, he was able to make the stories of his infidelity colorful and majestic, like there's nothing wrong with screwing up the people who love or like you, like it's the most natural thing to do when you're able to charm your way out of anything.

She knew it wasn't love.

She knew when he never took everything she said seriously. Like that one time her whole world fell apart when she found out that his sweet words were not hers alone. She told him that it crushed her. He asked for forgiveness like he meant it. He looked into her eyes and said sorry. She believed him, took him in again. She asked him to not hurt her again, but he did. Again and again and again.

She knew it wasn't love.

She knew when he'd always come back to her. He never leaves and yet he comes back from somewhere. He never leaves but he'd be gone for sometime. Then he'll come back because it never worked out with the others. They'd move on without him so he'd come back to her. He'd come back because they left him.

She knew it wasn't love.

He knows she loves him like nobody else can. He was broken in all ways possible and yet she took him in. She knew it was only a matter of time before she cuts herself loving someone like him. He needed someone to soothe the ragged edges. He needed someone who wanted to bleed. She would caress her wounds like they're some sort of badge of honor. He needed someone to make him love himself. He knew he was a monster and he needed her to tell him that he's not.

She knew it wasn't love.

She was preparing him for the next girl. She was teaching him how to take care of the next person. She was doing all she could to make him a better man, so the next person who comes along wouldn't have to try so hard.

She knew it wasn't love but she loved him anyway. She knew that he was lying through his teeth when he said that she's the only one. She knew he'd leave the instant he finds someone else. She knew he'd railroad her again just so he can get his fix. She knew he would never keep his word or honor her love. She knew he wouldn't let her go even if it kills her that he's with someone else. She knew he'd never change. She knew that no amount of love will ever make him love her as she loves him.

And she'll be okay. Not now, not soon, but she'll be okay. The universe has its way of healing those who love more than they could and should. At least that's what she tells herself anyway.

Quick getaway to Thunderbird Resort in Rizal

2016-11-21T11:23:00.000+08:00

Do you remember what the world was like before Waze or Google Maps? We surely wouldn't have been able to explore many places if navigation relied solely on reading printed maps and using a compass.

Anyway, we had a quick getaway to Thunderbird Resort which is in the highest part of Binangonan, Rizal I believe. We were having some second thoughts on how great this trip will be since none of us or anyone we know has ever been there. Reviews we've read and pictures we saw revealed that maybe it's as good as advertised so what the heck, right? Oh we're all glad we went, would've been nicer if we were able to stay for another night though.

What we loved about Thunderbird Resort:

Two-hour drive from Manila. Easy to reach because Waze and Google Maps didn't screw us up.
Isolated. We loved and hated that it was far up the mountains. It was far from where people, vehicles, and buildings dwell. Air is fresh and clean.
Rooms were spacious and neat.
THERE'S A TUB IN THE BATHROOM.
The bed's my absolute favorite. You kind of just melt into it but you don't get the drowning feeling. There were lots of equally yummy pillows, too.
Breakfast was plated, unlike the usual buffet style we're used to, but the serving was hefty.

View going in to the resort. Took this before six in the morning.

Seriously thought this was an infinity pool.

Super relaxing view.

Bakit kaya Thunderbird?

Lobby area

We didn't explore this area. Those stairs are supposed to lead to the Casino.

View from my room.

High in the sky.

Spacious room!

All rooms have a small receiving area.

One of the comfiest bed I've ever slept in.

Receiving area of other room.

Two people can sleep comfortably in those beds.

Small area for coffee and fridge.

TV's pretty small though compared to the size of the room.

Shampoo, toothbrush and toothpaste, and shower gel are provided.

One of my favorite spots in the room.

Some issues you might have during your stay:

They provide shuttle service if you need to go "down" but you'll have to wait for the schedule.
Food choices are limited but we super loved their grilled liempo (pork belly) and crepe.
Minor issues in the rooms include: hot water in the shower was not working, broken shelf doors, no floor mats in the bathroom. When I called the reception about the shower, they sent someone in immediately and it took them 15 minutes to get it running properly.

We super loved our stay! If you're into activities and exciting stuff, you might want check what they have to offer on weekends because there's really nothing going on during weekdays. We didn't get any chance to check out the casino and the spa so maybe all the fun is in those areas.

Should you stay here? If you want to breathe in some fresh air and just chill without going too far away, then this place is for you.

Jada's 3rd birthday party at The Round Table

2016-10-24T18:41:00.003+08:00

I seriously considered this restaurant when we were looking for a place for Julian's 9th birthday. I read from somewhere that it's a pretty decent for a buffet so the kuripot me automatically liked it. We didn't push through because it's in Kapitolyo and the familia is in Alabang. We opted for Neil's Kitchen instead.

Anyway, we were finally able to eat here when we were invited to attend a birthday party and I'm glad we showed up.

View from the inside to entrace

View from entrance door (dining area)
Yes, kame pinakaunang bisita.

Cute Jack-o Lantern planters

Up close

I wonder if they personalized this

Buffet area
I super love the chandelier

Buffet table

Dessert table

What I loved about this place:

Cozy. Best for a quiet lunch with the family.
Buffet area set-up was pretty.
The roast beef was delicious.
Affordable for a buffet.
They have WiFi but I didn't check if it was fast or what.
Nice interiors, tidy, clean, and well lit.
Daily theme for the food; there's variety every day but I think the roast beef is a staple.

Setbacks:

Not a lot a room for movement, so not recommended for entertaining or for kids (or adults) who can't stay put.
Food selection is limited.
Parking can be very challenging. If you've been to Kapitolyo, you should be familiar with the parking situation.

Ugh. Most annoying smile.

Super pretty rainbow cake.

This baby loves to dance.

The star of the event lived up to her name. She's the perfect hostess. She made sure everybody had her attention. She went from table to table, charmed everybody with her smile and danced and sang!

The cutest way to blow out a candle ever is to blow air between your teeth, saliva and all.

"Selfie!"

Can't wait to open her gifts!

Happy birthday Jadapot! You're easily the sweetest baby girl in town. We hope you grow up to be a nice and smart girl. Make your momma proud. Thank you for inviting us!

What they don't tell you about getting a (non-pro) license at LTO Las Pinas

2016-10-05T18:02:00.000+08:00

First, yey to me because I finally have a non-pro license. Resibo nga lang kasi wala pang cards. Te-text na lang daw pag ready na.

Anyway, sana makatulong ang post na to sa mga may balak kumuha sa LTO Las Pinas. Di ko naman kasi alam kung pare-pareho ba ang process and chorva across all branches and offices.

If you're like me na Google muna before anything, eh di nakita mo na requirements and table of fees sa LTO site and ibang nag-blog about getting a license.

Aside from what's already written somewhere else, here's what else you should be ready for:

1. EXTRA FEES

Medical: 200 pesos. More on visual exam. Syempre obvious naman kung may kulang kang limbs. Ganito din ginawa nung kumuha ako ng student's license. Parehong-pareho naman ang form and price. Pareho din ng chineck.

Sabi sa gov.ph:

Syempre may sense talaga yung eye check. Pero weird na walang drug testing. Hindi din naman ako hiningan ng kahit anong certificate na negative ako sa use of abused substances.

May nag try na bang gumamit ng health certificate na hindi galing sa doctor na andun sa LTO branch? Anyare? I didn't try to find out kasi wala akong oras.

Dapat nga may psychological exam sa totoo lang.

Medical Exam: 200 pesos

Practical exam car rental: 250 para sa kotse and 150 para sa motor. Pag kuripot na tulad ko syempre kung san pwede makatipid, don di ba? Eh may dala naman namin si Oli that time. So I asked if pwedeng yung kotse na lang namin. Aba 250 pesos din yun! Hindi daw pwede kasi walang break pads dun sa passenger side. Di na ko pumalag. Ang kashungaan ko lang eh hindi ko tinignan if may existing na break pads nga dun. Tapos wala pa atang 2 mins tapos na! Okay na din kasi nerbyos to the max ako.

Car rental: 250 pesos

Ang published sa website ng LTO eh 585.26 lang total. Pero ang totoo:

Medical: 200
Car rental: 250
Application fee: 167.63
License fee: 417.63
TOTAL: 1035.26

2. BANYO: Wala akong issue sa pagbabayad as long as you get your money's worth. Kailangan mo magbayad ng 5 pesos kada gamit ng banyo. Okay lang kahit 20 pesos ba bayad. Jusko ang dumi, maamoy, wala pang lock ang cubicle, at ang basa ng sahig (delikado sa dulas).

3. OTHERS: Para sa banana cue, chichirya, at tubig. Kasi nakakaumay talaga maghintay at nakakaengganyo yung bagong luto na banana cue!

Zesto: 10
Nova: 35
Banana cue: 15

Overall, it wasn't as bad as I thought. Ready na ko mag stay dun ng buong araw. Kung dumating kame ng mas maaga, we were there ng 8am-ish, baka mas maaga kame natapos. Siguro natapos kame before 1pm, nakapag lunch na kame non.

Pumunta ng maaga, mag-charge ng phone, magdala ng powerbank, magdala ng kasama para may kachikahan ka, magbaon ng tubig, magdala ng pasensya, magbaon ng kutkutin, etc.

Hindi ko pala inabutan yung 5 years ek-ek. Hindi din ako nagtanong pero ang chika nung mga nasa harap ko eh Oct. 10 this year daw yun mag start. Saya no? Kaso masasakal na ko ng boss ko pag nag leave pa ko. Oh well.

I hope nakatulong naman ako ng slight. Ang sakin lang eh sana i-post nila ang totoong gagastusin mo pag andun ka na. Pano pala kung wala kang extra? Eh di balik ka nanaman? Hassle ha! At isa pa, hindi ba dapat naman eh may sasakyan silang pang practical exam talaga don? At sana push ang drug test, psychological exam, at mas matinding lecture sa road safety and correct driving. Araw-araw nakaka-highblood yung mga shunga na yan. Kainis.

Ayun lang! Good luck sa pagkuha ng license.

Good luck Futaba a.k.a. Micaela

2016-09-20T18:49:00.001+08:00

Eh yung payat pa kame lahat dito.

On her first day at work, absent ako. Nung dumating naman ako RD nya o absent ata sya. Sabi lang sakin ng mga tao na may bago daw. Kulot ang hair, full make-up, naka falsies, at ang baba ng boses. Kebs lang. Di ako excited sa mga bagong tao. Lalo na nung panahon na yun eh lukaret ako (kaya nga ako absent ng ilang araw).

Yan ang pinaka una naming pic na magkasama. Hindi ko pa sya masyado kilala pero wa pakels sa pag share ng maaksyon kong buhay that time. Parang medyo na-shock ko nga ata yung iba kasi parang di ako namimili ng kekwentuhan.

Dahil sabay kame magsiuwi, ayun na. Hindi na impossible maging friends lalo na pareho pala kayong abnoy. Ang liit lang naman kasi ng grupo namin so everybody knew everybody. Tapos napunta pa sya sa team ko.

Sakit ng ulo ko sa bwisit na to. Hindi ko na maaalala ilang beses kame nagtatalo, nagkakapikunan, at nagsesermunan dalawa. Lalo na yung ilang beses ko na pinaplano pano ko sya ibibitin patiwarik.

Tapos di ko na alam ano pang mga nangyari in between kain, inom, inom at kain, yosi, kain, chismisan, gaguhan, inom, dogs, trivias, kain at inom, issues sa work, eksena sa love life, at more gaguhan. Basta palage na lang kame magkakadikit.

Bebots!

Mga 80% ng usap namin eh kagaguhan, paninira ng buhay ng iba, pag evaluate ng poor choices ng ibang tao, mga nakahalubilo sa jeep, baon na food, pinanood ng gabi, tmi tungkol sa mga partner, chismis and more chismis.

20% lang ang matino, mga pangarap sa buhay, life lessons, advice, mga nuggets of wisdom, life experience ma may kwenta PERO nauuwi din sa sumusunod:

Pagkain
Lalake
Kadirian (bot flies, pimple popper, etc.)
At kalandian (Yep, bastos pinag uusapan ng mga babae pag nag usap usap)

Hindi ko na alam anong status ng baga ko sa kakasama sa yosihan. Di naman ako nagyoyosi. Issue kasi pag di ka sumama. At malamang eh ikaw pag uusapan, kasi wala ka.

Ano na nga ba tungkol kay Micah! Nawala na ko. Wala naman akong masabing maganda sa hayop na to. Hindi ko nga alam bakit friends pa kame eh sa isang araw mas madami pang mura inaabot nya sakin kesa sa yosi nya maghapon. Hindi pa kasama dyan yung mga hindi naman mura pero same effect. Lalo na at number one kontrabida ko sa mga sinasabi nya. Minsan gusto ko talaga sya advise ng maganda pero madalas gusto ko lang kumontra.

Naging kawawa din atay at kidney ko dahil sa kanya. Lahat ng pinagdadaanan namin sa buhay ay isa lang ang solution for her: inom. Ako naman eh kaladkrin at uto utong tunay. Naniwala naman ako. Kaya naging semi regular na kame sa Pards at Bojangles. Kailangan din pag uminom hindi pabebe. Kailangan gagapang pauwi. Nung lukaret days ko eh uminom kame sa kanila ni Jamie. May natuklasan daw sya, melon juice at Empi. Nasira ang chan namin dahil sa maligamgam na juice. Pumasok sya, si Jamie eh absent, ako nag half day kasi sakit talaga sa chan. Punyeta na-suspend ako ng tatlong araw sa trabaho. Nung tinanong kasi sya kung uminom kame nung gabi, umoo naman si kumag! Galing eh.

Isang beses sabi ko sandali lang kame kasi going through a rough time pa, I wanna rest. Ayun 4am kame nakauwi, naging tropa yung may ari ng bar. Umuwi kame na may bitbit syang dalawang choco shake ng Jollibee. Lasing to ha take note.

Kung panong di pa kame napahamak sa mga pinag gagawa namin eh isang milagro. Isang beses sa Pards, inabot nanaman kame ng madaling araw, pina-table nya samen yung isang waitress. Upo naman si Ate. Ayun kwentuhan sila. Nabad trip yung bading sa isang table kasi ang tagal ng ice nila. So ang ginawa nito ni Micah eh sya nag serve dun sa mesa. Naki-table din samen yung isang girl sa kabilang table. Galing eh.

Ang dami pa. Aabutin ng pasko kung sulat ko lahat.

Si Ate Sol parang kinakatay sa kakatili!!!

Aside sa baga, atay, at kidneys, ang pinaka nakaramdam ng impact ng presence ni Micah eh ang aking timbang. Pagdating na pagdating nya, isa sa pinaka una nyang gagawin eh mag aya na kumain. Syempre mag time in muna yan, message sa mga tao, mag he-hello sa constituents nya, tapos ayun mag aaya na. Ako naman i-close ko na lahat ng ginagawa ko at pupunta na sa station. Tapos high blood nanaman ako kasi minadali ng bwisit pag dating mo eh nag me-message pa pala sya sa mga tao tapos paghihintayin ako ng mga 5 mins. So mga ilang mura yun bago kame makakain.

Hindi pa kame tapos mag lunch eh ise-set na nya kung anong oras kame mag meryenda. Yes, ngumunguya pa kame eh pagkain ulit ang agenda. Tapos yosi, then after two hours, yosi ulit.

Ganyan routine namin madalas. Pwera na lang kung absent sya. O kung ako wala.

Pag nag suggest din sya ng pupuntahan namin, walang naniniwala sa kanya. Last outing namin eh sa God forsaken resort na Villa Lim. Hindi ko maipaliwanag yung bwisit ko sa lugar na yun. Syempre masaya pa din kasi magkakasama kame. Pero shet talaga!

So dahil hindi na nagmumukhang pugay tong post na to eh titigil ko na. Good luck sa mga klase. Sana top 1 ka na sa susunod mong kwento. See you soon. May red wine pa ko sa ref nyo.

Bento-ing Julian's lunchbox

2016-09-14T09:44:00.003+08:00

Due to some changes at work, my shift now starts at 9am. That may not be a life changing thing for many but for someone who's not a morning person, it turned everything upside down! So I reported to work with only a couple of hours of sleep for several weeks. Anyway, one good thing I liked about it is that I get to prepare our baon.

It's laborious, most of the time expensive, and time-consuming, if you're a newbie without a plan. Like in bookstores, I can wander in a grocery store and Japan Home or Daiso for hours and buy nothing. I love looking at all the pretty stuff I would've bought if I weren't so cheap and picky. So my first few weeks as a bento momma weren't efficient. Basically, I lacked proper planning so I ended up with heaps of stuff I didn't really need or food that went in the trash because I completely forgot about them.

First thing I knew I needed to sort out was the menu for the week and it really changed the game. The menu didn't only make sure no two items were the same, but it helped me iron out my grocery list, too. I was able to track if I was buying too much, too soon, or too few items. Imagine the money this list saved me. Making a menu isn't exactly a walk in the park. If you have no idea what to stuff in your kid's lunchbox, Pinterest is the perfect place to go. You'll get tons of ideas there. See some samples here or here.

Making the menu is one thing, sticking to it is another. I shop at different places so sometimes this store won't have what I'm looking for. Other times, Julian would ask his Mama Baby to make him snacks from my stash or drink all our Dutchmill in one go. Or I would just completely forget what I'm supposed to be making for a particular day. Last is if Julian makes certain requests so the menu gets jumbled up several times in a week.

Oh don't get me started on the tools like lunchboxes, cutters, molds, assorted picks, and utensils. I now have a big box of bento tools, which I'm proud to say I'm able to really use when preparing Julian's baon. For several weeks, we've settled with placing items in separate containers but I'm slowly becoming more brave in using one box with dividers and placing smaller containers inside. There have been hits and misses but it's still fun to collect bento stuff. I'll share my stash next time.

Anyway, here are some of what we've done so far if you're interested:

Grilled cheese hotdog sandwich and chips + apples	Fried chicken with mushroom gravy + apples + Stick-O	Creamy tomato pasta + Garlic cheese bread + Revel Bar
Tocilog + donut + apples	Homemade cheeseburger + potato chips + apples	Creamy ham carbonara + chicken nuggests + apples
Creamy sausage pasta + apples + Kitkat + yogurt drink	Mini pancakes with maple syrup + Cheesedogs + apples	Egg salad sandwich + chicken popcorn + apples

It takes me about 30 to 60 minutes every morning to prep, cook, and assemble. I know I could make them ahead but I'm still not so sold on the idea of preparing everything on weekends

I still sometimes pack too much but Julian has no problem eating all of them. The number one critic said he loves all his baon. They're pretty and delicious he said. He'd tell me his favorites and make requests ("Momsh 2 cups of rice with the chicken okay?"). Aside from his usual compliments like, "This is excellent!" or "You're the best chef!", he'd tell me how his classmates would comment on his baon and how envious they are ("Julian sana may mommy akong katulad mo"). Fills my heart to the brim with pride and happiness! Sarap maging nanay ng batang to.

My almost carpool trip with Wunder

2016-09-07T22:15:00.001+08:00

I can't recall when I downloaded the Wunder app and when I requested for rides so I was surprised when I got a notification that someone accepted my request! I didn't even know my requests were still active.

When I clicked on the notification, the app showed me a map of where the car was coming from, our route, the time, fare price, name of the driver, and a big red cancel button at the bottom part of the map. I only had three choices: (1) send the driver a message, (2) cancel the ride, or (3) hit the 'back' button, which actually closes the app.

I don't know if it was also just out of habit but I immediately sent the driver my pick up point and my mobile number, which were already indicated in my travel details and profile respectively.

After clocking out at exactly 7pm, I dashed to the lobby and explored the app meticulously while waiting. I looked for the driver's contact info but there was none. The map didn't show the driver's progress which was no biggie since this is a common issue even with Uber and Grab. I didn't flood him messages cause he might be driving so I just waited.

A few minutes passed then a notification from the app asked me to rate the fare price, or something like that. I only had two options, confirm the price or hit 'back'. Since hitting the 'back' button only closes the app, I hit 'confirm'. Then I was asked to rate the ride. I hit the 'back' button again; the app closed. I re-opened the app through the notification bar and menu, same result. I closed it again and restarted my phone, same result. So I rated the ride and briefly narrated what happened.

While waiting, I got an email saying that the driver left me a message. I checked the app but I could only view my messages. After a few more minutes, I saw that he was asking for my exact location. I felt relieved knowing that I answered that before I even read his question; he must've read my reply.

7:30pm and he's still not messaging me. I checked the app again and I can longer view the map showing where he is. After emailing Wunder about what happened, I booked for an Uber.

I was already on my way home when he sent a message asking where I was. So I told him that I had already left and got an Uber instead.

He was very apologetic. I told him that I thought the trip wasn't pushing through since it was already almost 8pm.

I'm writing this not to diss Wunder or the driver. I'm sure he wanted to be there at the soonest he could but he had issues with the app, like me. I'm just sharing my experience with the app. It's not user friendly that's all. That's coming from someone who knows her way through apps, gadgets, and online stuff. I hope they make improvements soon.

Will I try to use it again? Carpooling would be very practical for me, so why not. The driver made sure he has my mobile number so we can probably try again next week if we'll agree on the time.

While I'm at it, any Wunder riders out here? How was your experience with Wunder? Share it with us, would love to hear some feedback.

Rib Shack (Pilar Village)

2016-08-08T20:05:00.001+08:00

We decided to to go out every other Friday. Eating out usually involved alcohol, but since none of us is getting any younger or healthier, we've skipped drinking!

Pam and Jeric recommended this place. I didn't need a lot of convincing, "ribs" and "affordable" got me right away. It was a stone's away from our office in Alabang.

Rib Shack!

The place was pretty spacious but cozy at the same time. Is that weird?

I love that there's bbq sauce and hot sauce for every table

Industrial look

I can't even describe how famished I was that night. I kept checking on my clock every minute! Hoping the ribs would arrive really sooooon.

Lighting's perfect in this spot

Had to transfer since the love birds reserved a table for us pala

"Ngiting tagumpay!"

"Single"

I ordered some nachos since our food took forever to arrive, or at least that's how it felt. Apparently, our food was sent to our "old" table. Jeesas!

Nachos

My plate and long island tea

Most of us had the "Single"

Din's. I think.

Surprisingly. This is not mine.

Chocolate coins for dessert! And they're free!

We've had better ribs but this one's not bad. If you're around the area, give the place a visit. Besides, I don't think there are lots of ribs place nearby. Anyway, food's pretty good for the price, ambiance is warm and not intimidating at all, staff were snappy, and serving's more than enough for one. Well I could've easily eaten the "In a Relationship" since I love ribs. I didn't get to check out the parking space and comfort room though.

A guide to being a sore loser: How NOT to move on

2016-07-21T12:23:00.000+08:00

I'm sure this post is going to be relatable to those who love fiercely.

Keep his or her contact info. Memorize his number, email address, url, etc.
Do not delete him or un-friend him on Facebook or whatever social networking site you are both subscribed to. Then, constantly view his profile. Make sure you don't miss on any of his status updates, photos, or tags. While you're at it, keep sending him messages, cheesy-sappy ones.
Spray his perfume on your pillow and blanket.
Keep one of his old t-shirts, one that he's worn. Don't wash it. Wear it to sleep.
Let him know where you are, whether you're having fun with others or if you're being self-destructive. Hope that he'll care. Wish that he'd follow you. Cry when he doesn't.
Come running to him when he needs you. Let him know that all your time is his and nothing to spare for others. Don't let him wait, even a minute.
Don't meet other people. Stay alone and mope all day, all night. Never let him see you with other people. Never give him the slightest idea you're doing fine because of other people.
Search for quotes or sayings about love, relationships, pain, break-up, or heartache. Feel like every single one of them's written just for you.
Fill your playlist with every heart wrenching song you can find. Make sure you play them when you wake up, during the day, while you're asleep, while you're taking a bath, while you're cleaning the room you once shared with him and cry when songs like "One Last Cry" or "Let Me In" starts playing. Cry every single time because each song describes your miserable existence.
Watch romance movies.
Read his letters or messages while you were still dating (preferably while you're playing those songs on your playlist).
Never delete your photos with him. Look at them every time.
Be extra nice to his family. Let them be nice to you.
Greet him on your anniversary or monthsary date.
Go to all the places you used to go to with him or her.
Be the extra pair of hands he needs.
Throw him surprises. Bring him food, for example.
Talk about him on your blog.
Constantly hope that you're good enough for him to come back to. Never stop dreaming that he still wants you despite all the pain you went through because of him.
Lose confidence that you are worthy of a good life and believe that you deserve being miserable.

Did I miss anything? There you have it! Enjoy being a sorry loser. I'm having ice cream later. That's as good as letting someone go.

Neil's Kitchen

2016-07-19T15:50:00.000+08:00

Since Julian's birthday was on a Wednesday, we had to have something on the weekend so the family will be complete. Alas, life still happened and there were many who couldn't join the lunch date.

From the several restos we looked into, Neil's Kitchen was the final choice and I'm so glad we chose to dine here.

First and foremost, Ms. Cynthia, who I assume was the person I was chatting with on their FB account, was very accommodating! I told her that it was Julian's birthday and asked if they had cake so there's something we can stick a candle into and she went out of her way to order one for me with no extra charge. The cake was delish and Julian got giddy when the staff started singing a happy birthday song for him. There's always someone on standby in case you need something. They were prompt and courteous. No one was masungit and suplada.

Next, the ambiance was warm and enticing. As you can see from the photos, the interiors and design are so unique. Every space has something interesting on it. The place was well lit and decorated.

I loved the decals. Couldn't take photos of the others posted upstairs since the place was full when we went there, might have been rude to the other diners to snap photos.

Lastly, the food was awesome. I believe that good food satisfies many senses: it has to smell good, taste good, texture should vary, and nice to look at.

Binagoongan paella and kare-kare for mother (395)
Ayaw pa nya nito nung una. Kare-kare lang daw bet nya. Tapos tikman eh walang tigil kakasabi na ang sarap!

Bbq pork belly with java rice for Beks and Mamang (395)
Perfect for Beks because of the portion. Perfect for Mamang because the meat was tender.

Boneless chicken inasal with hainanese rice for me (395)
I like everything about this dish! I wish the vinegar dip was spicier though. Even the salad was a winner. Had a hard time finishing this off.

Alabang Fried chicken with gravy rice for the birthday boy (395)
This is probably good for two. Julian wasn't even able to finish half of it. About the gravy, "Mommy parang KFC na gravy."

Sinigang paella with grilled pork belly for Mami Chit (350)
Didn't get to taste but all who did said that the rice was sour. Sinigang nga eh! Definitely a nice take on the usual sinigang.

Julian's nth cake! He super loved it!

Hello Julian!

Suplada si Mamang

Si Tetet at ang kanyang paboritong anak na lalake.
That's my green mango shake (120)

We loved everything about the dining experience. The only thing I'm complaining about, because I'm kuripot, is the price. Well not really, not bad because the servings are hefty for one (but may be not enough for two, know what I'm saying?).

We'll definitely go back and try their other dishes.

Again, thank you Neil's Kitchen for the wonderful lunch for me and my family. Until next time!

BAI CDT goes to Balay Celina (day 2)

2016-07-19T14:22:00.000+08:00

Ang pinaka love ko sa outing na to eh hindi obligado gumising ng sobrang aga! Ang aga ko na natulog, last pa kame nagising. Yung mga natulog ng 5am eh gising na ng 7am para mag swimming!

Note: Photos were unedited, no filter na tunay.

So ganito sya pag umaga at may araw! So beautiful.

Bonggang bonggang breakfast! Fried rice + Paco omellete + longganisa + tulingan and tomato salad + liempo + brewed coffee + dips (c/o Ms. A) and bread

Freedom Boys (Grabbed from Ms. Techie)

The girls of CDT. Ate Sol's there in the background o. (Grabbed from Ms. Techie)

Pagmulat ng mata, songbook ang hanap. (Grabbed from Ms. Techie)

Mga nakaligo na! Ready na magpalengke. (Grabbed from Ms. Techie)

The whole gang. (Grabbed from Ms. Techie)

Huge flower.

I wonder anong tawag dito. Ang ganda nya at ang laki. Tapos nagkalat sya sa buong place.

Pretty plawers.

May statue pala sa gitna

Mukhang sili. Hehehehe..

Going to the pool

Chill na chill lang.

GANDA!

Parang di pwedeng uminit ulo mo sa ganitong scene.

Pool and cabana

Summer forever

Hardin

Ano bang tawag sa ganitong shot?

Lobby. View from the other side.

Left corner from the main entrance

Right corner from the main entrance

Bedrooms sa right side from main entrance

View of the lobby from the other bedroom sa right side from the main entrance

Busy lang kame ni Ms. A mag picture

Wala na pala yung tubig sa pond.

Nothing beats natural light.

Going to the kitchen and common banyo

Birds of Paradise

Part ng bedroom ng girls

Entrance

Left and right wing: bedrooms
Center: lobby and entrance

After kumain ang mag picture, the bagets continued with their games and pagkanta, kame namang mga tita eh nagpalengke! Nag park kame sa may simbahan tapos lakad na sa mga tindahan. As you know, sikat ang liliw sa mga sandals and shoes. Isang strip na puro stores ng footwear!

St. John the Baptist church daw

Ang daming mga lumang bahay. Eto lang yung nag stand out sa mata ko kasi puting-puti and restaurant kasi sya talaga.

I wonder kung masarap dito.

After magstroll sa palengke at mamili sa sangkaterbang sapatos, may mapusuan naman ako. Tapos ilang pasalubong din. Tapos balik na kame para mag ayos ng stuff and lunch!

Lakas maka Birkinstock no? 240 a pair. Basta sakto ang fit sayo, comfy sya.

Ready to go! Ms. Bella, Ms. Kay, and Ms. Arlyn.

I think this is us na. Some left kasi ng super aga.
From bottom left: Kay, Bella, Arlyn, Anggi, Techie, Jhen, Zhea, Me, Jian, Ken, Batchie, Karen, Sol, Mark, Daile, Jeric, and Elmar
Not in photo: Lhars, Joey, Sir Mark

Ansabe ng posing ni Bella?

Ang ganda lang ng Balay Celina. Perfect for relaxing! Bukod kasi sa ang daming halaman talaga, simple but ang daming details ng lugar. Naka-set up na ang sound system tapos wala na kayong ibang iintindihin. Sobrang sarap pa ng food. Sumusuko na kame sa kabusugan. Wala ata akong narinig na reklamo kahit na more ulan and bagyo nung day 1.

Kung may ganap kayo for a small group, I highly recommend na dito kayo sa Balay Celina.

For reservations or inquiries:
JP - 09178395114
Marlyn - 09178133731
Balay Celina - Liliw Laguna

BAI-CDT goes to Balay Celina (day 1)

2016-07-19T13:12:00.000+08:00

"Maya sama ka next Friday. Puntang Liliw Laguna", sabi ni Ms. Bella. Being the kaladkarin girl that I am, "Okay." Naawa sila sakin kasi mag-isa na lang daw ako sa department ko.

So Friday, July 8 eh bagyong bagyo! Suspended ang classes nga eh. So ako naman chill lang at naghihintay na may magsabing cancelled na, pero no, push!

After makipag chikahan ng light, kumain, at mag games ng konti, nakatulog na agad ang kaluluwa ko. Liliw na kame agad pag gising ko.

Sa website palang ng resort, nagandahan na ko pero hindi ko inexpect na bongga sya in person!

Here are the photos of the place pagdating namin. Fresh pa from ulan. Couldn't get any photos upon landing. Yung from the gate up to the house. Because ulan and putik.

Note: None of the photos were edited. I used my phone to take the photos (Z1 Xperia compact).

Entrance to the main house

Pretty details sa door o.

Pagpasok, may mini pond na may mga bonggang halaman and borloloys.

Once corner in the lobby

Left side of the lobby

Another corner

Going to the girls' rooms

Very spacious room! Maybe 10 can fit here

Large windows too. I love the lalagyan ng unan sa gilid.

Entrance to the bedroom. Kasya isa o dalawang mattresses pa dito.

High ceiling. Perfect.

Super luwag di ba???

View from our room's door

View from the outdoor dining. Unedited yan, no filter! Going to the pool and boys' cabana.

Outdoor dining space.

Pool!

Looks scary and parang matutumba any time but it's pretty nice. Luwag sobra sa loob. Ewan ko lang pano ka aakyat pag lasing ka na.

From the pool

Chill by the pool

Ninja lang eh Ms. Bella!

Ms. Bella, Ms. Sol, and me!

Shot from the cabana. Hello ladies!

So madaming picture taking ang naganap and pag explore ng place. It's relatively small pero ang saya to be surrounded with lots of plants lang. After magharutan at mag picture, swimming, harutan, activities and games na.

This is my only photo ng activities nung may araw pa. Busing-busy din ako sa pakikinig. Level up ang 2 truths and a lie! Naka ppt na, may audio pa. It was nice to learn more about these peeps. All are relatively new, from my end ha? Ilang piraso na lang ang kilala ko from way back. They're fun people and ang be-behave!

After ng games and activities, naglaro na ang mga bagets while ang mga 'tita' eh nag chikahan na lang kasi ang lamig ng tubig para makisama sa swimming nila and basically we're too exhausted to move. Napag tripan na lang namin ang shrimp crackers habang nag hihintay ng dinner. Chikahan and more picture taking!

Intermittent yung ulan. Buhos kung buhos. This is the view after umulan ng bongga and medyo dumidilim na.

Inside the lobby nung gabi na. Ganda ng lighting sa loob.

One corner

Here's the left side from the main entrance

Usapang trabaho pa din sila. Ms. Arlyn and Ms. A arrived late kasi fresh from Palawan pa si Ms. A.

Ang mga titas. Ms. Kay, Ms. Bella, and Ms. Sol.

Mainggit talaga kayo sa dinner. This is one of the best I've had in my life. Nung una medyo in doubt pa ko kasi hindi ako kumakain ng okoy (shrimp), bagoong (talong with bagoong), at lalong hindi ako kumakain ng weird na gulay (paco salad). But boy I was so wrong. ANG SARAP! Ang naging issue ko eh pano ko kakain ng marami. Liempo is masarap, given na yun. Kahit ano pang luto ng liempo. The okoy was crispy na hindi ka matutusok ng kung anong laman nya. Hindi din malansa at perfect yung suka. I love talong pero hindi yung may bagoong, pero ang sarap ng pagka gisa. May red bell peppers pa at ang sarap sa kanin nung oil nya. Lastly, ang paco salad. It's paco, with tomatoes, may onions din ata, salted egg, then may vinegar dressing. Perfect with the crispy okoy or liempo. At ang kanin! Kahit gano kasarap ang ulam, pag loser ang kanin, walang kwenta ang kain. Ewan kung anong bigas yun pero close to Jasmine rice sya, mabango, maputi, medyo sticky, and fluffy.

Liempo, okoy, talong with bagoong, paco salad, and minatamis na saging

Gutom na gutom na talaga ko in fairness

Gusto na kumain.

Can you tell na puno ang bibig ko ng food?

After dinner eh more games: marshmallow tower, pinoy henyo, and ang aking peyborit HEP HEP HOORAY!

Team 1 in action

Team 2 in action

Sir Mark and Ms. Techie's team in action

Ms. A: Ayusin nyo ha?

The winning tower

Humabol ngunit kulang.

Walang kamatayang Pinoy Henyo.

Pinoy Henyo

Huhulaan: NORTH KOREA
Sir Mark: Is it in SEA?
Ms. Techie: YES
Ayun na.

At ang galing pala kumanta ni Batchie!

Freedom Boys planning their attack.

King of the 7 kingdoms daw. Pero ang totoo concert king.

Pero alam nating lahat sino ang tunay na namayani sa videoke. Hello Ma'am Yay. Eto po si Bella.

Busyng busy naman ako sa pag host ng games, so wala akong pictures o videos. Sakit ng chan ko sa hep hep hooray. Revelation talaga tong team building na to.

After ng mga ganap eh, guess what? Humiga na ko after ko mag wash up. Sa lamig (dahil nga sa ulan maghapon), hindi kailangan mag bukas ng AC. Nagpaka lola na ko at nag chill na sa kwarto habang more videoke sila sa labas. Well of course nag concert din si yours truly pero mga ilang kanta eh give up na ko. Borlogs na habang inumaga ang mga bagets sa kakakanta!

Ang haba ng ng post na to. Day 2 here.

Julianwebe! Julian turned 9 years old

2016-07-15T13:05:00.000+08:00

There's so many things about motherhood I still do not get. Though I'm strong physically, emotionally, and mentally, motherhood knocked me out good. It's November 25, 2016 and I don't remember the last time I wasn't tired ever since I became a mother.

I'm exhausted but I've also never been this happy since Julian was born. This boy came along and changed our lives, especially mine, forever. I certainly became better because of him. I practically had no choice but to step up my game because Julian deserves nothing but the best from me. Aside from him being my kid, he's the sweetest, most loving person that came into my life.

Months before July, he'd do a birthday countdown! While I want to give him a lavish party, I know it would be unwise to do so. I love this kid so much but I would never spoil him. So the plan was to greet him with a cake, take him to school, pick him up then go swimming, then have dinner.

Chocolate caramel cake from Aggy's. Super yummy!

He was all smiles when he went up and saw his first cake on the table.

Picking him up from school is so fun 'cause he'd be so happy to see me.

His favorite thing to do, swim!

Waiting for our turn. He said he just wanted to eat at McDo but immediately changed his mind when he saw what's inside Viking's.

Super gutom.

Of course his plate was full of bbq!
Me: O eto 200, mag-McDo ka na.
Julian: Eeeeeehhhhh.. I love it here! Where's the fried chicken at?

One of my faves!

Our favorite spot

I loved the fudge and pudding best.

This makes everything right in the world tbh!

Super pagod from swimming, then super busog with dinner, ayan bagsak!

We really hope he had a good time. We're celebrating again, this time with the whole family, this coming weekend at Neil's Kitchen. Hopefully, we'll be able to throw a big party next year since it's his 10th. I'm sure he'd love it if he can invite his friends and classmates to a party. What's a good theme???

Happy ninth birthday Julian. We are all so lucky to have you. I feel so relieved, so proud, and so happy that you are my son. You'll always be my rock and my guiding star. Thank you very much for everything you do for me kiddo. I love you to the moon and back pudgy. Happy birthday!