A good try =)

Scramble with the girls

A well-spent weekend, that’s the best way to describe it. My brother chose 3 not so well off kids from our neighbourhood and asked me if I can do an apostolate and bring them to the nearest mall. Hmm not a bad idea... Its just that maybe my brother was thinking that I need to do some charity works to make up for my sins funny but that’s a big check!

My day started with a good cup of coffee and breakfast. By 930am, the 3 kids were ready and were on their best get up. I really felt that I was a bit underdressed for the occasion the moment I saw them. You’ll know that they are excited because they got inside ecto1 (my owner-type jeep) right away. On our way to the mall, I was trying to make them feel relax and comfortable with me. At first, they just answered me with giggles but as soon as I crack some jokes they started talking and laughing. It was fun! Believe it, I know exactly how they feel. We were not well off when I was a kid and going to the mall is like saying we’re going to paradise in my ears. I can still remember how we save our allowance just to go to the mall to buy the latest addition to our not so fab miniature collections.

With Jollibee

In the mall: we started the day with the 1^st mall ride that we saw, the carousel. They were running towards the carousel the moment I handed the tickets to them. We took some pictures then we went around the mall. I asked them what they want when we were at the kids section of the department store. The look in their eyes was indeed gratifying. It was a long woooow look hahaha! They got a set of hair accessories and the eldest kid got a new kikay bag. We stopped for scramble then we head for the next mall ride. I’m not sure what they call it but it will sure make you feel that you are falling. (I hate that feeling but I still ride the extremes in Universal Studios, Enchanted and Alton Towers but no way to Oblivion! (an extreme ride in Alton Towers)). I got a bit scared because the kids were about to cry during the ride but it made me laugh because I thought they will kill me as soon as they finish the ride. And for lunch, I met up with my family at Jollibee as requested by my guests. After lunch, they had another request, to have a photo with Jollibee well that was ok but the next request gave me that slurch in my stomach but I did it anyway. They asked me to have a photo with Jollibee tsk! Well, it should be ok if it was the mascot but it was a photo with the life size Jollibee Statue that’s at every entrance of every Jollibee branch.

It was a good experience but I was thinking to do it in a bigger group next time. The feeling was gratifying. Praying, hearing mass and being religious is not enough, one should always extend their hand in helping if not making other people happy by doing some apostolate. I usually over think everything but at that moment I just enjoyed that refreshing feeling. I just hope I can do it again in a bigger group and with my friends so I can share the feeling with them.

                                                           UPSIDE DOWN RESTAURANT

The Pan De Amerikana Bakery and Restaurant is situated along Katipunan Road in Quezon City. The concept of the restaurant is great. Everything is upside down. The entrance was like the window of the attic and there is a Land rover and a bike hanging upside down outside the restaurant. Inside the restaurant were a grand piano and a dining set hanging upside down. A lot of famous reporters featured Pan De Amerikana’s  Upside down restaurant. The ambiance is good except for the mosquitos. I had like 3 to 5 mosquito bites during our stay there. The food is inexpensive. It ranges from 40 to 400 pesos. The taste? Hmm from 1 to 10 (10 being the highest) I’ll give it a 3 though the service is really fast. I guess a great concept and a good endorsement from famous reporters are not enough. The restaurant owners should really concentrate on the food they serve. I also tried the pandesal from their bakery and it was good. If I’ll go back to that restaurant I’d probably just have their pandesal instead of the food inside the restaurant. Peace!

One Fine Weekend

For Lunch

Coconut House

For lunch, my brother wanted to try this restaurant because it was featured by Cheche Lazaro and Korina Sanchez. My brother never fails to recommend a good restaurant so we gave it a try. Coconut House is located at Quezon memorial circle. The restaurant has 6 to 8 tables and well conceptualized. They have a shop inside the restaurant for the coconut by-products (lipsticks, flour, virgin coconut oil, accessories, wine etc.) it was amazing! For the food, we ordered a bit of everything. We tried the following:

shop inside Coconut House

Pancit Buko: this is a must try. It tastes really good. It has buko strips instead of the usual canton noodles. You’ll not know that it was buko strips until you had the after-taste of buko. Amazing!

Coco okoy: The usual okoy made of squash strips with a buko twist. This is also a must try.

For our main course, we tried their binalot style dishes:

Gatadobo: chicken and pork adobo with coconut milk. The taste? So..so..

Kalderetang dagat: Fish Caldereta. It’s like eating a glorified Century tuna mechado flavor

Hipon Puso: Crispy shrimp with puso ng saging in coconut milk. Well I thought the same dish at Jollijeep will taste much better than the one at Coconut House.

Laing BBQ: Laing is my favourite but I got disappointed. The BBQ is not tasty enough and the laing hmmm not so good.

We pay 1,100php for 6 persons. Not bad. I might go back to try the rest of their desserts and light snacks but not for lunch. 

Snacks:

Coffee at Mocha Blends: We tried the Pavillion Cafe Mocha. Cheaper than their regular Mocha Blends Best. Nothing extra ordinary but from 1 to 5 (5 being the highest) I might give it a 1 because I wasn’t able to finish it. My buds for coffee can’t take it.

Floss, Croissant, and pizza slices from Bread Talk:  two thumbs up! Yummy!

For Dinner:

Chicken All You Can at Max’s: I’m grateful that they have that promo again. I never had the chance to try it the first time they launch it. It was 199php from 6pm to 10pm. I suggest that you go there around 6pm so you can have time to relax every after serving so that you can exercise your gluttony haha! I was hoping that I can eat at least 5 pieces of chicken but I stopped on my 4^th.

After that columnar epithelium blasting dinner, we watched Transformers.

Transformers at Greenbelt

I was able to watch the previous films and I’d say that the new Transformer film is just a so...so... nothing‘s new. Just like any other action film I’ve seen where the main character’s situation was redeemed towards the end of the film. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (Victoria secret model) did a good job but I think she'll be better on the ramp than in the film, she is sexy, hot and all but Megan Fox will always be Megan Fox.

One fine weekend then back to work. =)

Helpless

Singapore City Adventure

At the train w the map

This travel blog is not that comprehensive. This is just based on my general observations and experiences but I hope it helps you in any way it can.
Suggestions before travelling to Singapore:

Cigarettes with prices in SG

Travel light
If you’re a smoker, do not consider buying your cigarettes in Singapore. Check the guidelines on how much cigarettes you can bring.
If you have a drinker friend, just buy him a bottle of liquor at duty free. The price is more or less 50% off than the price outside the airport (Allowed: 1 litre per passport)
Check out the Do’s and Don’ts in SG. Yes, Singapore is indeed a fine city. They will fine you for a lot of things.
Check out the SG attractions and plan your days in SG (but it didn’t work for me hehe)

Airport

Arrived at the airport about 2 hours before the flight.
Bad Vibes: Travel tax should be paid upon luggage check in... 1,620php plus 750php terminal fee amf! That’s steep! Customer service at the travel tax counter? Snail-ish. There were less than 10 people on the queue and it took more than 30 mins to pay for the travel tax. And here’s the best part, the cashier at the counter got pissed then he said “Teka naguguluhan na ko sa inyo e” The F!

Anito and the foreigner at the airport

Good Vibes: Things to do at the airport while waiting for the flight:
1.    Observe: Anito and the foreigner.  Check out the picture. I think they’re together. The first thing that hit my mind when I saw them? “So you think you can get away with that huh? You can’t bring that ancient artifact outside the country” (hehe bad melon!)
2.    Classic picture taking by the airplane.
3.    Yummy coffee
In all fairness, Airphil is on time.
Arrival at Changi Airport Terminal 2
Terminal 2 at Changi airport is really nice better than their terminal 3. We bought the EZlink card (12 Dollars) then took the train going to Ang Mo Kio. The best Singapore welcome... thick southern Indian scent inside the train and durian’s smell by the supermarket upon exit of the train.
The map is a must when you want to go around Singapore. The train map reminds me of the London Underground map. I’m lucky to have a Singapore Tourist Guide Book.

Travel tax

S’pore Discovery Center/ Army museum
The travel going to the Discovery center is much better than the travel going to the place where I stayed. The smell at the train is not as olfactory bulb blasting like the night before. You can tell that we are the only tourist on board since we are so busy checking the map. There were like 4 to 6 nationalities in every train cart. I heard the ringtone of a Chinese looking old guy, it was like the ending theme of a classic Chinese movie funny!
Discovery center is really good for school fieldtrips. It is educational and interactive. We were able to watch Sammy’s Adventure (3D). Too bad we missed Kung Fu Panda’s screening time. We met a Filipino waiter. The food inside the Discovery center is expensive, just like in any other tourist spot. We had Sarpino’s Pizza, the pizza is ok but the lasagna arrrrgh! Awful! (50% onions and 50% lasagna and taste like caldereta)
Army museum is just within the Discovery center’s compound. The shooting range is really nice and the show was amazing. There was a real battle tank and helicopter inside the screening room and you will feel like you were in a real combat during the show.

Universal Studios

The best day of our trip is the day when we went to USS. We rode the Sentosa express from Vivo Shopping Center. I opt to ride the cable car but it was too expensive and according to some of my friends, the view up there is not worth the price of the ride. Anyways, the feeling was whoa when we arrived at the Universal Studios. Imagine this, upon entering the theme park, you’ll see the signature orb with the words Universal Studios going around it and the smoke at the bottom of it and the music that compliments the beautiful site. Anyone will surely get excited upon entering the theme park.
We tried the extreme Galactica, the mummy, we watched donkey, shrek etc. I love every bit of that theme park. The best show that we watched was the Waterworld. It was a jaw dropping experience. I really had fun. I also had my precious pictures with the casts of Waterworld, Madagascar, Kung fu Panda, and many more. 
The only bad vibes that day was the food. I needed a heavy meal so we went to Goldilocks inside the Kingdom far far away area and we had chicken. Unfortunately, it was halal and I only had a couple of bites then I stopped eating it. I just had mashed potato for lunch tsk tsk loser!
We went to Sentosa right after and had coffee at Palawan beach then we crossed the hanging bridge to get to a small island which they say was area below the equatorial line. We also went to the Siloso Beach and went up to see the Merlion.

Chinatown

Orchard Road
Overwhelming! That’s the best way to describe it. We watched some super talented people performing at the street, had ice cream, shopped at Cotton On, check out the new releases at Nike and just roam around while waiting for my friends.



Makansutra
The hawker center by the Marina Bay. We had stingray, yang chao, chicken and fried squid. The place is always crowded and that is the area where a lot of Filipinos meet up. I love the sugar cane juice.

Drinking by the street

Drinking area by the Street
I never wanted to stay at fancy restaurant or bar. I felt that to really experience Singapore I need to be on the streets. I had 3 Tiger beers, satay and a good long talk with my closest college friends and Amal.

Makansutra

Marina Bay
Amazing architecture, fancy mall and whatta lighting show. We were not able to get inside the art museum because there is a private red carpet event where some Hollywood stars will be in but unfortunately, we were so tired to go back to the venue by 10pm. There were photo ops around Marina bay, fancy restaurants and Starbucks by the bay, I wanted to have coffee while watching the light show but it was full haist but its fine. I enjoyed it even without coffee anyways.

It was a really good experience. I will definitely go back to Singapore given the opportunity. F1 Race?? We’ll see hehe

Foodtrip!!!

1 SPOON to 5 SPOONS

Yeah I am on a see-food diet. When I see food, I eat! Except for onions, I just really can’t push it down my throat, I’m not sure if this is congenital but I have this talent of removing the littlest onion in my mouth as soon as my tongue sensed it. I hate it but I’m really having trouble eating onions grrr... as my friends always tells me “every other dish has onions in it” well, I don’t care! I may be wearing glasses but I have this microscopic view of onions on my plate. Rubbish! hehe

Lana and the muffin

One fine day in the office food trip:

Christian’s Laing for lunch (Therese’s hubby) and Lana’s Banana Choco Chip muffins. I can’t describe every detail of its taste but let’s just put it this way hmmm I had 2 helpings of rice and I was so full after but I was still able to create some space for the muffins. Who can resist that almost dry meaty spicy laing and that home-made banana Choco chip muffins. Well, I confess I know gluttony is a sin but I just can’t help it. My tummy is the weakest part of my body when I say it is the weakest it means that it is the weakest in every single way that you can think of. It is a refreshing feeling to have an office foodtrip on a very anxious and frustrating day.

Therese and the Laing hehe

One of my teammates, Cindy came back from Cebu and she brought us some Lechon Cebu. The thing is...I dont eat Lechon. The last time I can remember eating lechon was when I was on 3rd grade and I never ate lechon after that, well it was because I thought it was raw but when I had a taste of Cindy's Lechon Cebu, everything changed. It felt like I was born again hahahaha Sarap!!! Can't help but ask for more. By the way, Christian (Therese's hubby) will cook caldereta soon. Yum! Can't wait!

I’m not really a food or restaurant blogger but let me try haha! Let’s do it by number of spoons.

1 SPOON (lowest) and 5 SPOONS (highest). Here’s are some of the restaurants we’ve been:

UCC at G5

UCC cafe:  4 SPOONS (I’m saving the highest score for something else) If I am to compare UCC with Starbucks hmmm well, I can’t live without my Chai Tea latte half soy half 2% no water no foam drink from Starbucks but I fell in love with UCC’s Sumiyaki. It is every coffee drinker caffeine addict migraine patient's dream coffee. I’d love to try their espresso next time, as soon as my tummy permits me to do so. I hate being under meds.

Modern China: 3 spoons I have not much to say about Modern China (Glorietta). The food is a bit oily. They have big servings and I don’t think you can finish the food that you ordered without asking for the dessert in the middle of dinner.

The Reef in Camayam Beach Resort in Subic

The Reef in Camayan Beach Resort: 3 SPOONS Buffet style breakfast. I’d say that the breakfast is almost Cardiff's Holiday inn-like except that everything is Filipino.

Ristorante Delle Mitre

Ristorante Delle Mitre: 4 SPOONS The Filipino Restaurant via CBCP. The food is really good as well as the service. They hired hearing-impaired waiters so there’s some notes on the table on how to call the waiters but not all the waiters at Ristorante Delle Mitre has impairment so you can still do the usual.

Racks: I’ll give it 5 SPOONS for their baby back ribs. Yummy!

Red Crab

The Red Crab: 3 SPOONS. The food taste good but costly. I’m into seafood but I’d rather spend it at a good restaurant at Seaside.

Seaside: 4 SPOONS. Every restaurant in seaside offers the same dish that has the same taste. Funny but it’s good anyways that why I gave it a 4.

Ongpin: All time favourite: we’ve been to several restaurants in Ongpin and they are all good. I just don’t like their idea of displaying dead turtles, cow’s tongue, dead duck etc on every restaurant window. (eeew-ish)

Villa Escudero: 2 SPOONS: The ambiance is really great but the food hmmm typical fiesta food. All meat nothing extra. 

Isdaan: 5 Spoons. The restaurant is situated in Gerona, Tarlac. They serve Filipino cuisine with a twist like the Pinoy style Burrito. They have these big statues of Buddha, monkeys and fishes etc. A nice break from a very long road trip. It is the home of the famous Tacsiyapo wall. A very good stress reliever. The sound of the breaking glass really makes you feel good.

Until my next restaurant blog... =)

Fast 5: Plot Shenanigans' Effects

Fast Five: The best of the Fast and Furious series. The Italian Job, Ocean’s 11 and The Godfather rolled into one perfect film. You would want to stay on your seat to watch the film again after the screening. Fast 5 is notable for bringing back the bulk of its previous main characters and conglomerating them into a single team.

Who would forget these lines from the film?

Hobbs: Alright, listen up. The men we're after are professional runners. We find them, we take them as a team and we bring them back. And above all else, we never ever let them get into cars.

Dominic Toretto: If you're gonna survive, stop thinking like a cop. You're in my world now.

Dominic Toretto: One last job, then we disappear forever.

Roman Pearce: This just went from Mission: Impossible to Mission: In-freaking-sanity.

Dominic Toretto: Chances are sooner or later, we are gonna end up behind bars or buried in a ditch somewhere. But not today.

                                                                           

Brian Oconner: We just went from the middle of the "most wanted" list to the very top.

Tej: [to Giselle] Did he smack that ass, or did he grab it?

Roman Pearce: When are you gonna give Martin Luther King his car back?
Tej: Just as soon as you give Rick James his jacket back.

Roman Pearce: [regarding going into a police station] What? Why me?
Brian Oconner: Out of all of us, you got the biggest mouth. 
 Tej:That is for damn certain.

Roman Pearce: You know, I think I make a better special agent than you ever did.
  Brian OconnerI guess that depends on how you define 'special'.

Roman Pearce: Sexy legs, baby girl. What time do they open?
Gisele: [pulls her gun on Roman] My legs open the same time I pull this trigger. Would you like me to open them?

Hobbs: I'll see you again.
Dominic Toretto: No you won't. 

Who would forget about this Ducati girl Gisele? Gal Gadot in real life. 

Given a chance who will you choose?

Her or her Ducati? hmm.. of course.. THE DUCATI!!! hahaha!
(with her on it? hehe ambisyoso!)

 

Who would also forget Luke Hobbs' and Dominic Toretto's fistfight? The best!

 And of course, who would forget about these eye-popping cars?

2009 Nissan 370Z

Gurkha LAPV

2010 Dodge Challenger

2011 Dodge Charger

Dominic Toretto's 1970 Dodge Charger

1966 Ford GT40

Train Heist Truck

1965 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport

Watching Fast Five is the best way to enjoy your Saturday night.

Don't forget your Chamara White Cheddar Popcorn, 32oz Mug Rootbeer

                                    and Hershey's Ice cream then you're all set!

Suplado tips, the book reflection

Isang malaking influence ang librong suplado tips sa pagsusulat ng post na ito. Pagkatapos ko mabasa ang libro ng genius na si Stanley Chi at ang foreword ni Ramon Bautista, isang malupit na observation at reflection ang nag push sa isip-tambay kong utak para isulat ito.

Suplado is the new sexy, yan ang pinakamalupit na aral ang nakuha ko. Kung meron mga suplado, meron din namang mga “pacool”. Ito ay isang epidemia na kumakalat at mahirap pigilan na parang mga jejemons pero glorified nga lang. (Jejemons? Ni hindi ko kaya pagusapan iresearch nyo nalang kung di nyo alam) Kung nakakausap ka na ng taong wala naman ginagawa sayo pero naiinis ka, more or less “pacool” yan. Karaniwang nakikita ang mga “pacool” sa call centers at sa mga eskwelahan.

Hindi gaya ng mga jejemons medyo mahirap i-classify ang mga pacool kaya pagkatapos ng mahabang research, observation, at pagtatanong nakabuo ako ng mga criteria ng taong pacool:

             1. Habitual use of words that normal people do not usually use in a conversation. (usually taglish)

Example: “Pare, outraged ako nun Sunday nagaway kami ng GF ko e”

                   “Hey, do you want something to munch?”

             2. They habitually break the rules to attract attention

Example: Sa office: Pacool people wears basketball shorts, rubber shoes, and shirt

(para tanungin sya ng mga tao kung bakit ganun ang suot nya at para masabi nya na “galing kasi ako sa gym e”)

The day after the above, super business attire sa office

(para tanungin ulit sya at mapansin at ang usual na sagot nya, “wala lang masuot”)

            3. Excessive use of the word “tanga” when talking to a friend or even in writing.

Example: “tanga mali ka, mas maganda yung dati”

                  “tanga! Ano ka ba? Mas ok yun isang movie”

                 FB Status: To all mongrels please grow a pit (Tanga lang di makaintindi)
4. Histrionic personality type: tries to seduce the interviewer, narcissistic, and always wants to            be the center of attention. Usually gets upset when he is not the topic of conversation or if the topic of conversation did not come from him.

5. Pseudo sense of Humor: usually crack jokes that were from a high-rating comedy show (so malamang alam na ng lahat yun)

            6. Can’t control the urge to give a comment on other people’s conversation.

            7. Excessive use of the words “Dude and tsong” when talking to other people.

            8. Usually asks questions when he already knows the answer or knows how to get the answer.

                          Example: Pacool: yung ano ba inabsorb ng body as what?

                                         Victim: Protein

                Pacool: hindi e. Teka google ko... mali ka! Amino Acid tapos pag nagaggregate  nagiging protein

            9. Thinks highly of himself

Example: crush kita e kaso may gf na ko kaya binigay nalang kita sa friend ko

                   Alam ko di ako gwapo pero yummy ako.

           10.Attention-seeker, papansin, papampam, dapat center of attention but he denies it.

Kung ikaw ay nakarelate sa 7 out of 10 na criteria malamang pacool ka at malamang epal na tingin sayo ng mga officemate mo or isang glorified Jejemon at syempre sablay yan! Pero may treatment pa para dyan. Magbasa ka ng suplado tips.

Eto ang ilan sa mga example ng mga pagkakaiba ng Suplado at Pacool

Suplado	Pacool
Hindi namamansin not unless sya ang una batiin	says hi to everyone sabay “hey dude” Hey tsong
Pag kinausap ng crush kunwari busy at nagmamadali para maintriga ang crush dahil hindi masyado kinakausap.	Hey Crush, do you want something to munch? Bababa kasi ako to buy chips e
Kung may officemate na mayabang, hinahayaan magyabang kasi titigil din naman	hinihintay magkamali yung mayabang para mahiritan at magmukha syang savior ng lahat ng taong badtrip sa binara nya.
Kung may nagparinig: “single pa ako” Suplado hirit: Pag type: “E ano naman ngayon?” Pag hindi type:  “wag kang magtaka kung bakit...”	Pacool hirit: Type man o hindi: “Feeling ko may crush sakin yun. Nagpaparinig e.”

Sana kahit papano nakatulong sayo ang post na ito. Para magkaroon ka na ng rason kung bakit ka inis sa taong nakakairita kahit wala nmang ginawa sayo. At lagi tandaan, cool maging suplado, kasi daig ng suplado ang gwapo at ang pacool lagi talo.