Shades of the Sun.

As for me, this is more than enough proof that God exists and that He wants "sunshine" in our lives.

Keeping It Simple and Sincere on Father's Day

Dad's recent recurring regular indigestion and mom's cholesterol report did not allow our plans to go buffet at Seven Corners or go Gasthoff and food trip some more at A. Venue Mall in Makati.

I would have really wanted them to try Contempo Asia Restaurant as their soy cheesecake is really smooth, simple, creamy and delightful. They have scrumptious main entrees as well, like the pepper crusted shrimp on this special rice pilaf which I've tried in their booth at the Market at the Hills.

So, after they picked me up at Eastwood, we wanted a hassle-free and easy yet quality lunch which would be enjoyable for my folks who can't eat on quantity, like the usual.

Since my brother had just got his first paycheck, he offered to treat the four of us. But of course, trusting the foodie in me, he let me do the picking of the resto but reiterating he did not want to spend much.

Coming from the East side, I usually pass by C5 when heading to Fort. For quite a few times the past month, after getting passed Tiendesitas and the Valles, I see this huge sign of Kopi Tiam at Green Valley Bowling and Billiards Center.

For the longest time, I wanted to try Kopi Tiam after hearing a couple of friends from New Manila say that it is a place to scrimp yet enjoy scrumptious. Well, Kopi Tiam being a brainchild of Raffy Soon, the man behind North Park, Tianamen and Next Door, I felt more than confident to entice my family to try Kopi Tiam despite it being located in a non-commercial, seemingly exclusive venue.

So after having a hard time deciding because of their venue extensive menu, we finally ordered...

We were first served our Chap Chee (or Japche), a Korean specialty which I've tried before in Seoul Barbeque, World Topps and Cho Sun. So far, this is at par with Seoul Barbeque's which was then on top of my list. A plate good enough to share amongst the four of us costs 140 pesos.

A little later, our Shanghai Seafood Rice (150 pesos) was served, which my mom said, was filling and tasty enough even without a viand.

Not long after, our Stuffed Eggplant in Tausi (190 pesos) was served along with our half-order of China Chicken (195 pesos). Boy, a slice of the eggplant with a bit of sauce is filling and flavorful enough to serve as ulam for your entire plate of rice!

As we uttered our order items, I thought we did not have much especially when mom said half-chicken... But with their serving, we had more than I expected...

The entrees were full of flavor but a bit on the salty side for me. Maybe because I've been recently enjoying much of some bland greens and broth from my favorite Vietnamese restaurants (Zao and Pho Hoa). But for my brother, salty taste was good enough for him. Maybe the viands I ate were best with plain rice. Yeah, definitely. Or maybe, next time, I'll ask for lesser salt sprinkle on our orders....

A little later, we ordered dessert... Dad's tummy was still not very stable and bro had to finish all the food on the serving plates which we can no longer touch... Hence, only mom and I ordered...

She had Vanilla Black Gulaman Jelly (65 pesos), which we all tried ( a sip). We all agreed that it tastes really good. It really is... Mom does not have sweet tooth and for many times, I've made her try my favorite desserts, with only a fair reception. So for her to really enjoy this thing, this is definitely a must-try...

... But the best treat of all for a sweet tooth and chocoholic (Moi), is the Warm Chocolate Tablea Cake (95 pesos). This upstaged my Warm Choco Lava Cake favorite from Agave and Zuzuni's Chocolate Sin. With some sprinkle of almonds, some creamy white strip of filling inside along with the gooey chocolate oozing from every slice, I am reminded of my favorite Ferrero Rocher. This is my new to-die-for warm chocolate cake. For a cheap 830 pesos, we had a simple and surprisingly enjoyable Father's Day lunch. Initially, I thought I'd fail them because we entered a rather plain and very basic Bowling Center on the way to the restaurant. When we went inside, there was also nobody else dining, so initially, I was feeling I had a loser choice. Although, the interiors were not really disappointing... It had a feel of a cantina upon entering. But as soon as we got settled on the soft couches by the view of the pool side, we actually found the place cozy. It's not a dinner-date place, but a casual dining after work place or a bonding with family and friends place. Well, a little later after we were seated, big families came in. The family of Chef Amelia Ann Alba (the woman behind the famous Barbara's Catering, with a restaurant venue in Malate) and Chef Joshua delos Reyes (who owns Cake Gallery) also came in for lunch (So, I was thinking, if these chefs who really cook good food patronize Kopi Tiam, then it must be good). The Philippine Bowling Team was there to enjoy Father's Day as well. About three more tables also got occupied while we were starting our lunch, so the aura got festive.

For less than a thousand, we truly enjoyed because it was an unsophisticated, simple, sincerely intimate and scrumptious lunch treat for the man of the house.

On our way home, we passed by a cake shop, bought lola her favorite crema de fruta and celebrated with her (in her house), my cousin Eleiza and my Tita Nancy, "Father's Day." We also had lolo (in our thoughts) with us over the simple merienda. It was a time for talk and boisterous laughing about stupid and simple things about our lives.

Nothing grand. All simple. But the experience was heart-warming and comforting enough like a good hug and a perfect cup of coffee on a rainy day.

A Quickie at Galera

A payday weekend prompted some colleagues and I to brave Galera setting aside the usual mindset of June as end of summer.

Despite being still up at 1130pm in the spa the Friday before our 3 a.m. call time at the bus stop at Cubao, I headed to treat myself for a "quickie" over the weekend (quick getaway) unmindful of the pile of work on my desk and resume of master's classes on Monday.

Admittedly, this was my first time in Puerto Galera and in fact, my first time to go to an out-of-town trip commuting. Hence, I was unstoppable despite the fact that some part of me still felt kind of numb after my 11pm Brazilian Wax at the spa (I was just hoping for a bikini wax... Unfortunately, I mistakenly told the spa lady I wanted a Brazilian, not knowing it meant taking of every hair in every crevice of that thing down me... Hence, it took longer time and was more painful than my last wax which at least left some hair....)

After I found out that a bus trip from Cubao to Batangas Port costs 180 pesos, I snoozed off the dreamland. The time I awoke, my butt was sore due to my immobility the entire two and a half hour trip. Anyway, I was still all smiles while waiting to be boarded to our lancha headed to White Beach, Oriental Mindoro a.k.a. Puerto Galera.

Except for the fact that the one hour waiting time sucked, the boat trip was relatively okay. We had a smooth sail good enough that it was able to cradle me to sleep until we were 30 minutes away to the destination.

By the time we reached White Beach which was around 930am, we were badly starving (most of us did not have breakfast) hence after a ten-minute bed stretching in our humble but very comfortable accommodation at the White Beach Hotel (for 1,500 pesos), we had lunch. We chose Buena Lynne's because of the recommendation of our very own Buenafe.

For about 1,500 pesos, very hungry guys and girls were filled and satisfied. We had liempo galore, sinigang, chopsuey, pinakbet and fried tilapia.

After napping, a little after the normal lunch time, we headed to try the infamous Mindoro Sling at Mikko's while alternately cooling ourselves at the beach. If you are able to befriend one of their staff - "Mia" a.k.a. your friendly gay in the neighborhood, corkage may probably be waived for the "items" you bring along their "al fresco" seats. I had green mango-all-I-can with Feathers.

(Mikko's in the morning... Near the Villa Natividad ticket booth)
A little later, we were crazy enough do our crazy poses...

A little later... I was experimenting with black and white... and then, with the different "shades of the sun" (check out my next post).

In the evening, those who did not get knocked out over the afternoon went to Paul's Place... No alcohol drinking... just good and cheap beach food and some lengthy conversations... With Kebabs, Liempo, really big prawns, fish and ensaladang talong (our bill was around a thousand pesos only).

Since I was really just looking for some change in scenery and a quickie getaway to break my daily routine, I headed to the girls' room, watched TV, had some kwentuhan and dozed off to sleep. Two room mates were adventurous enough to get alcohol overdose. I was happy with the comfort of my soft-stiff bed, blanket and cool air-conditioning. With the usual hectic week I have, being boring and quiet in an out-of-town trip was actually exciting and relaxing.

I woke up early in the morning to try the boldly advertised Eat-All-You-Can Foodtrip sa Galera (located almost beside Villa Natividad ticket booth). They also caught my eye because of their jet ski tables by the shore.

My 90 peso breakfast was so-so, but somehow worth the price if I was able to take advantage of the eat-all-you-can-rice. Their most expensive item on their menu was a Fried Tilapia meal with eat-all-you-can-rice, tomato and salted egg priced at 120 pesos.

Given that it was early morning, my stomach was not ready enough to go rice hoarding, so I settled with a plain beef tapa meal and a cheap, aromatic and very flavorful Kapeng Batangas Barako for 35 pesos a cup. It was so good, it would pass as a Starbucks' coffee of the day. Since it was on plain styro, I didn't take a picture of it as its presentation would not give justice to its taste.

Since we bought our back to Batangas ticket Saturday afternoon, we were booked at the 7am trip. By 12 noon, we (Well, for the two of us who did not go drink-all-you-can) were back to Manila to celebrate Father's day.

My total expenses, with little pasalubong included, did not exceed one thousand pesos. For those who think that the long travel time for an overnight Puerto Galera trip is not worth it, think twice. Unlike Boracay, there's not much to do in Puerto Galera, unless you spend on island- hopping, diving and snorkling... Hence, it's really just perfect for an overnight trip.

But the "luxury of slow time by the shore" is a treasure. Many times, I've proven, time is slow in provinces. I had several good naps during the trip but I still had some good long time to eat, swim, chat and bond with friends. (I actually think going to Galera is an equally good alternative to an overnight in Tagaytay.)

Most importantly, I was able to commune with nature and myself. Priceless....

Hong Kong in Manila

The smell of the creek excluded, Ongpin reminds me of the streets of Hong Kong, especially those streets where stalls just suddenly appear in the evening for the night market.

Hence, for some good half a day, my colleagues and I surveyed 168 Mall at Binondo, bought nothing...and headed instead to Ongpin's famous "Sincerity Chicken" and some pasalubong-hopping at the home of the famous "Eng Bee Tin."

Sincerity is a humble restaurant located at this mid-part of this street to the right of this volunteer fireman's cafe a few steps from the bridge.

No bold sign would welcome you to the much-raved about restaurant, hence, an attentive eye geared toward your right side (coming from that corner street with the cafe), would be needed to locate this store. Their chicken is said to be their specialty and while I personally don't find it spectacular, it's fairly good and it definitely tastes nothing like your ordinary chicken.

For nine very hungry ladies and a gentleman, we ordered their recommended dishes like the fried chicken, this Chinese kangkong, fried kikiam, fried rice and pork asado and cans and cans of soft drinks (boy, were we thirsty!).

What I was hoping to eat as an appetizer, was served after I had finish one full plate, so I had no choice but to eat my eight treasure suman for dessert. It was filling and heavy, so I did not enjoy it for dessert. Maybe, if I would have it for a quick brunch or early dinner, I would appreciate it, but that time, I found it too flavorful and thick, hence not appetizing.

For the price of 1,600 pesos for nine starving persons, it was worth it. I would go here again if there's no traffic-issue and parking difficulty. Otherwise, Kopi Tiam's Asian delights would be a better bet.

I loved the new chocnut hopia from Eng Bee Tin better for dessert, though.

Cheap thrills.

A week before payday, I have less than a thousand bucks inside my wallet. Of course, I still have a passbook and some reserve money, supposedly set aside to pay for my future credit card bills. But the point is, whatever I have in my wallet should be the only money left to spend for the coming week... Otherwise, I won't be able to save enough for my planned trips.

I attended church at Victory Fort, specifically their 11am service as I was due to have a business meeting in the same area by 230pm. So, after attending church, I had to take lunch before the meeting. Torn between dining in a blog-worthy restaurant(Zhu at 32nd and 5th) and the fact that I have no money to splurge (actually, not even enough for regular spending for the week), I decided to challenge myself to go on a cheap thrill.

While many have written about their exquisite Serendra Fort experience, not much have written about their "jologs" Fort experience. So here it goes...

We were dismissed from church at exactly 1230pm so I decided to head straight to Market Market. Having met Mr. Jerry Lazuriaga, the owner of a Sta.Rosa-original Bugong Roast Chicken, weeks ago, on top of my food items to try is his MSG-free, healthy roasted Bugong chicken.

So while I was tempted to just pick a cheap fast-food inside Market Market, I went to their open-air food court and searched for Bugong Roast Chicken's stall. While dressed in a crisp polo top, fitted jeans and matching red flats and red bag, I was walking amidst a crowd which looked at me as if I'm an alien in their territory. Before finding Bugong's stall though, I got passed this Camiguin native products booth and was not able to resist buying a dozen of the famous pastel.

So before I got compelled to spend more, I blindly passed by the other native delicacies booths and surveyed the cooked-food stalls instead.

At the end corner stall near the seemingly new "comfort room lounge" of Market Market, I found Bugong Roast Chicken. I remembered Mr. Jerry mentioning about their newly added menu item in their list - Kimchi rice, so I ordered this in lieu of a plain rice, along with my other "budget meal" items namely a quarter piece of roast chicken and a side dish (I chose Mexican salsa). I added a bottle of water a viola, I had a full meal for 100 pesos!


I can eat a bit of kimchi but I would never crave for it. Even after being exposed to many Korean acquaintances in church, I was never converted into being a kimchi-lover. But Mr. Jerry being so proud of it, made me say I had to try this rice...
It had the tinge of sour taste (like Kimchi) and a dash of spicy taste which was tolerable but spicy enough to make me not feel vommity even if I eat a lot of the juicy chicken (tanggal "umay" as they say). Of course, I've tasted other "special rice" variants, my favorites being those of Zao Vietnamese Bistro. This "kimchi rice" cannot be at par. But boy, for its price, it's so good to qualify to be called "gourmet rice" already.

The chicken was tender, roasted well with no tinge of bloody parts and without any "dry part." Unlike other chicken recipes, the chicken meat tends to be juicy at the outer layers, but once you get closer the bone, it tends to be dry. Bugong Chicken's tenderness was just right (not soggy or overly flaky) and its being juicy was not "oily juicy." It was tasty but not salty. And yes, it tastes healthy. (Yes, you can taste healthy... proven when you've eaten in Cyma or Zao, Pho Hoa or Bawai's).

For dessert, I ate two pieces of the famous pastel which is this very soft bread with yema filling inside. I first tried this on a trip in Camiguin when I was in high school. This one selling in Market Market tastes like the one I had in Camiguin, originally. A dozen costs 160 pesos.

I would eat at Bugong Chicken again when on-a-budget. But of course, my taste would always crave for sophistication. Haha! Bugong Chicken branches I know of are in Valero St. and this one in Market Market.

Then again, even if I already spent time taking pictures before eating (which made the roving guard, really puzzled), I still had time to kill before the meeting. So I went to search for my Genki umbrella.

As per Anton of Our Awesome Planet, Mini Stop stores have them. I did not find one in their Market Market branch though. Thinking it was a "Japanese product", I headed to Japan Home Center instead to try my luck. To no avail.

I ended up frolicking in the nearby Clipper store instead which is full of cheap knick-knacks and cutesy collectibles and useful work and school items. I know for a fact that these items would cost way cheaper in Divisoria, but heck, less than a hundred pesos in an air-conditioned set-up is cheap enough for me.

I came across this "I'm not a plastic bag" tote which I've been meaning to buy since I first saw it last year on sale at "Philosophy" in Serendra. It was supposedly sold at a discounted price already, but even as it is made of sturdy material than this one I bought, I wasn't convinced then to buy a 400+ fancy bag. I saw another one in Boracay's D' Mall, made of the same material as this one I recently bought. It was sold at 150 pesos and I told myself I'll buy it the morning before I leave. I got pressed with time though since I unknowingly spent two hours on my supposed "last few moments" at the beach. Anyway, for 80 something pesos, I finally got this "fancy bag" where I was able to place by "box of pastel" instead of it being carried in a lousy plastic bag.

Just before I left the store, my attention was caught by nice magnetic bookmarks which are essential for a book hoarder like me. Since I love dogs (and even if I hadn't gotten over Pao Pao or Paolo yet, my beagle) I was enticed to buy the set of magnetic bookmarks with dog designs.

Thank God, they just opened, hence, their credit card facility was still not available. Otherwise, I would have bought their "cloth-made" stuff organizers, big soda can-like CD racks and their lots and lots of ball pens. It's a cool store, good enough to amuse me as long as a regular movie run-time. It's not too spacious though that if many people were there all at the same time, you'll scream for help.

After my window-shopping turned compulsive buying, I did my meeting at Numa. This time, I tried their Fruit Paradise Tea. It is still enticingly aromatic like the other teas I've tried but I still like the Blueberry Green Tea or the Gingko Biloba Tea better. Being a frequenter of the place, I was given the chance to try a new "special cup" to enjoy my tea. Amusing...

Price would not be the best determiner for amusement, I've learned today. As expensive things usually come in small packages, amusing things usually come in cheap tags.

Life.

Since mom is a Sharonian, and since I haven't had much time to bond with her lately, I thought that hanging-out in the mall and watching the movie of the only TV personality she wastes time on (oh yeah, Vilma Santos too), was a good idea.

I wanted to see her cry because "her crying over flicks" is something to tease her of and laugh about after. The ending - she didn't shed a single tear. I bawled.

You know, my heart is really tugged with scenes involving death of helpless folks or when I am immersed in the picture of loneliness of the life of old men. I feel really sad each time I see once men of stature succumb to the call of physical incapacity and death.

I remember my lolo and my life as his "caregiver" during the last year of his life. I cringe with the thought of men robbed of poise and pride, as if they are withered flowers with no value anymore.

But maybe, like it was said in the movie (by Mr. Morgan), my lolo would probably tell me now - "Carry on." So I will....

Instead of dwelling on the loneliness of geriatric life, let's see the beauty of life for those starting to live it.... Baby Marcus and Tita Bam, Baby Sasa Joy with "Niece" Bam (yes, she's my youngest aunt) and Baby Venice with Tita Bam.... Babies are adorable. Their glow exudes toward me.

So what's the life-lesson of all this blabbing? Nothing really. A conclusion though - I look good posing with babies. Maybe, it would be nice to have one.