Have you seen this new commercial from Nestle?
I am a HUGE SUCKER for these "stories" especially the oldies part.
<3
Friday, April 8, 2011
Beaches and Soundtracks
While majority of my friends are busy planning beach trips this summer, I am enjoying my first summer in my personal Sabbatical and that means this summer it’s going to be all about: My Summer Job, Old and New Friends, Books and *drum roll please* Writing.
Just because I can’t be on the beach this summer, it doesn’t mean I can’t take (at least) my spirit there so I put on my iPod and reminisce the best summers that I’ve had for the past recent years.
Canyon Cove Beach Resort, in Batangas with my high school friends, BMS+Blacksheep.
Beach Song: Chris Brown’s With You
I need you, boo, I gotta see you, boo
And the hearts all over the world tonight
Said the hearts all over the world tonight
 |
| Canyon Cove, by day |
 |
| Canyon Cove, by early evening |
I think I am the only one who’s aware that this song by Chris Brown is blaring several times a day all over the resort.
This is actually the best beach trip that my high school super friends and I had because it’s all our first time in this awesome resort and got a really great deal thanks to Joy and it’s the first time that Ellis (then based in Japan) and Erna (based in Dubai) came home at the same time.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Pancit with a kick!
This post is divided into two parts and is dedicated to my two friends who got me hooked on this pancit with a kick!
The first part of this post is dedicated to Mother Lito Chan who introduced me to Buddy's Makati years ago while we're Apartment hunting. Scenario goes like this:
Mother Lito: Bakla I'm tired na.
Kea: Ako din Mother.
Mother Lito: Tara Lumafang na tayo dito sa Buddy's masarap dyan.
At the counter
Kea: (to Lito) Mother ano bang masarap dito? Di ko masyado forte ang pancit-pancitan..
Mother Lito: Ay, i-try mo itong pancit lucban!
When we're about to eat the pancit
Mother Lito: Lagyan mo nito ( giving me the vinegar)
Kea: Mother ayoko!
Mother Lito: Gaga, masarap yan! ( Then he just poured the vinegar to my hesitant pancit)
Kea (after tasting the finished vinegar-ed product): Masarap nga!
Sabay lafang ng bonggang bongga.
From time to time I keep on craving for that Buddy's pancit with that weird combination of vinegar and pancit. I should've taken advantage of my location when I was still living in Makati to order the famous Buddy's pancit lucban. I remember we used to have Buddy's pancit delivered to our office and I would most often be the one who's wolfing down the pancit with over the top amount of vinegar til my lips turn light gray. I call it pancit with a kick!
Now the second part of this post is dedicated to my friend Joy Jarumayan who introduced to me the Buddy's Pancit DIY Alternative. We were lounging in their condo's sofa one lazy January Sunday morning when Ate Lil cooked instant pancit canton for us.
Must have:
Tips:
The first part of this post is dedicated to Mother Lito Chan who introduced me to Buddy's Makati years ago while we're Apartment hunting. Scenario goes like this:
Mother Lito: Bakla I'm tired na.
Kea: Ako din Mother.
Mother Lito: Tara Lumafang na tayo dito sa Buddy's masarap dyan.
At the counter
Kea: (to Lito) Mother ano bang masarap dito? Di ko masyado forte ang pancit-pancitan..
Mother Lito: Ay, i-try mo itong pancit lucban!
When we're about to eat the pancit
Mother Lito: Lagyan mo nito ( giving me the vinegar)
Kea: Mother ayoko!
Mother Lito: Gaga, masarap yan! ( Then he just poured the vinegar to my hesitant pancit)
Kea (after tasting the finished vinegar-ed product): Masarap nga!
Sabay lafang ng bonggang bongga.
 |
| Image Source |
Now the second part of this post is dedicated to my friend Joy Jarumayan who introduced to me the Buddy's Pancit DIY Alternative. We were lounging in their condo's sofa one lazy January Sunday morning when Ate Lil cooked instant pancit canton for us.
Must have:
- Pancit canton ( any brand but for us it's Lucky Me Pancit Canton Chili flavored)
- Vinegar ( Del Monte Red Cane Vinegar)
Directions:
- Cook pancit canton according to directions (see pancit canton label pack for detailed instructions).
- Pour 1 to 2 tbsp of Vinegar and mix it with the pancit canton. ( Add more vinegar if you like, in my case I think I had five! )
Voila! Instant Buddy's Pancit Lucban Alternative!
- For best results, use the one recommended.
- Tried with Datu Puti Vinegar and Lucky Me Pancit Canton Calamansi Flavor, the taste was just Blah!
- Add vinegar according to your fancy.
I think there's magic in the merging of the Chili taste and Vinegar that gives this dish a kick.
Enjoy! :D
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Sanctuario de San Pablo
I keep getting inquiries from friends in Manila about where to go in Laguna other than the forever Pansol Swimming Pools and Private Resorts... then I remembered... Sanctuario de San Pablo!
Last year, just around this time of the year, I went straight from work, took a bus and headed to Sanctuario de San Pablo. I met up with my cousins there because my cousin Stewart and his Mom discovered the place because it's en route to our grandma's house.
WARNING: Photos are not intentionally for blogging purposes so I just chose the decent ones that can be acceptable to blogging standards.
Last year, just around this time of the year, I went straight from work, took a bus and headed to Sanctuario de San Pablo. I met up with my cousins there because my cousin Stewart and his Mom discovered the place because it's en route to our grandma's house.
WARNING: Photos are not intentionally for blogging purposes so I just chose the decent ones that can be acceptable to blogging standards.
 |
| The entrance |
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Popopopoker Fez, Popopoker Fez
Background Music: Lady Gaga's Poker Face
I wanna hold em like they do in Texas pleaseLast weekend, I played poker for real with my high school friends. It's actually the first time that I (and my friend Joy) tried playing poker.
Fold em let em hit me raise it baby stay with me, I love it
Luck and intuition play the cards with Spade to start
And after he's been hooked I'll play the one that's on his heart...
Okay, It probably was my second time because the first time someone taught me how to play it, I was hanging out in some guy's apartment with a friend and learning poker was the last thing on my mind. ( Read: May kinikimberly clark ang lola nyo! Chos!) In other words, I had completely forgotten everything about it.
Anyway, last weekend was super fun because our guy friends were painstakingly teaching the neophyte Joy and I the rules of the game. ( After me telling them that there are only three card games that I knew: Ungguyan, 1-2-3 Pass, and Fortune Telling. Yes, I don't know how to play Pusoy Dos or Tong-its. L- for Loser, I know! :D )
How to play Poker? Click Here
 |
| The card patterns that I need to study and memorize, parang objective finals exam lang |
When your Past creates a whole new Future
"Keets, I proposed and now I'm officially engaged! I'm gettin' married!" A text message read.
It was a weekend and I was out drinking with new friends out of town. I know I'm not tipsy and have read it correctly. An ex-boyfriend is gettin' married.
 |
| Image Source |
And I just couldn't contain my happiness for them. He was a really good guy and she's an awesome girl. So I texted him back. Actually I did more than just text, I called him up and congratulated him immediately, non-stop in all my high-pitched voice glory. I remember asking for his fiancé's number so I can personally congratulate her and he did give it to me.
So I did text her. Fiancé and I know each other from way back but we never really became friends, just mere acquaintances. I texted her and she replied:
Several weeks later, the ex told me that his fiancé told him that, out of the first bunch of people that they have shared their good news with, I was the only one she genuinely felt to be super happy and excited about them tying the knot.
I remember the night when he told me and I called him up to congratulate him on the spot, I got off the phone and got weird quizzical looks from the people I was with. They probably got weirded out and I was consistently yakking on the phone in my consistent high-pitched voice. They asked me who that was (the one I was on the phone with) and I told them that an ex boyfriend called me up to tell me the good news that he's going to get hitched. I got my second wave of weirded out looks.
I don't really care if I appear to be quite unbelievable, or not, but yes, it is possible to be genuinely happy for someone who's been a part of your life. If you were to ask me why or how, I'm going to give you a straight forward and genuine answer: Acceptance.
Acceptance that you're way much better off as friends. Acceptance that someone can take care of him better than you do, and acceptance that someone better can take care of you better than he did. And sometimes, things just don't work out. It is acceptance and open heart that makes you at peace and in my case, I got really lucky that it is genuinely mutual.
Fast forward to post-wedding: Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the wedding due to conflict in schedule.
Several months later, I ran into him at a certain shop with his wife and exchanged pleasantries. As we bid each other goodbye, I watched them as they walk over to the counter's line while I stood there from a distance still feeling very happy for them and grateful how well everything turned out and how everything fell right into place in our own and in God's perfect time.
So I did text her. Fiancé and I know each other from way back but we never really became friends, just mere acquaintances. I texted her and she replied:
"Thank you so much! We look forward seeing you on our wedding day!"
Several weeks later, the ex told me that his fiancé told him that, out of the first bunch of people that they have shared their good news with, I was the only one she genuinely felt to be super happy and excited about them tying the knot.
I remember the night when he told me and I called him up to congratulate him on the spot, I got off the phone and got weird quizzical looks from the people I was with. They probably got weirded out and I was consistently yakking on the phone in my consistent high-pitched voice. They asked me who that was (the one I was on the phone with) and I told them that an ex boyfriend called me up to tell me the good news that he's going to get hitched. I got my second wave of weirded out looks.
I don't really care if I appear to be quite unbelievable, or not, but yes, it is possible to be genuinely happy for someone who's been a part of your life. If you were to ask me why or how, I'm going to give you a straight forward and genuine answer: Acceptance.
Acceptance that you're way much better off as friends. Acceptance that someone can take care of him better than you do, and acceptance that someone better can take care of you better than he did. And sometimes, things just don't work out. It is acceptance and open heart that makes you at peace and in my case, I got really lucky that it is genuinely mutual.
Fast forward to post-wedding: Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the wedding due to conflict in schedule.
Several months later, I ran into him at a certain shop with his wife and exchanged pleasantries. As we bid each other goodbye, I watched them as they walk over to the counter's line while I stood there from a distance still feeling very happy for them and grateful how well everything turned out and how everything fell right into place in our own and in God's perfect time.
Your Mother Knows Best
I met your mother just once and she was the type of a woman who will love whom you love.
Your mother knows that I was the one responsible for throwing your last surprise party.
Your mother knows, despite the lack of face-to-face time, how I pulled everyone together. She knows how I befriended your siblings when they barely knew that I even existed.
You didn't tell her but she can tell during the time that we are already falling apart.
We drifted ways but your mother knows that behind the platonic one hundred sixty text characters that I virtually sent you, that was me, juvenile but already had a concrete concept of what love is. And she knows that I have loved you in my tender years that little did you know it was real - at least for me.
Because your mother may not know the rest, but she knew at least once when it was still me, you had me at my best.
 |
| Image Source |
Your mother knows that it is me who came with you one evening and she insisted that I come inside the house for she doesn't want me to sit in that awkward seat in the garden. She called you and asked if I am with you, mentioning my name.
Your mother knows that I was the one responsible for throwing your last surprise party.
Your mother knows, despite the lack of face-to-face time, how I pulled everyone together. She knows how I befriended your siblings when they barely knew that I even existed.
You didn't tell her but she can tell during the time that we are already falling apart.
We drifted ways but your mother knows that behind the platonic one hundred sixty text characters that I virtually sent you, that was me, juvenile but already had a concrete concept of what love is. And she knows that I have loved you in my tender years that little did you know it was real - at least for me.
Because your mother may not know the rest, but she knew at least once when it was still me, you had me at my best.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Los Baños Update Monthly Newspaper
Wow! Los Baños now have this:
 |
| The monthly community newspaper. Pic taken from my camera phone. |
According to those who gave this to me, after the elections ( I am assuming it's the recent elections) this started circulating around, and it's for free. Nice one right? If anyone from Los Baños is reading this, I suggest you get a copy and see things for yourself.
I heard someone reading this say:
"Pictures and updates from our Mayor is all over in this paper, but he's not regularly seen in the Municipal's office where he should be..."
Then during a discussion weeks ago in one subject in my grad school class:
"The reason Los Baños is not as good as before ( When Mayor, now Laguna Vice-Governor, Caesar Perez) is because we no longer have a 'Mayor'. A lot of people have been saying that he's not really in Los Baños."
Two different persons. One (almost) same thought.
I know it sounds so hypocrite of me, since I've only been really living back in Los Baños again for a year, but I do miss our old Mayor, Caesar Perez. Not because he is our family friend, but because he is the only politician I've seen (with my own eyes during the random weekends that I come home for the past years) that is very hands on and acts as the actual traffic enforcer and is not usually chauffeured around. Before, people are even afraid to "jaywalk" and spit on the street, but now, people just do their own thing as long as they don't get caught.
One of the many reasons why many people and (migrants) have grown to love Los Baños community is, not only due to it's laid back lifestyle, because it feels a lot safer than the chaotic city.
We need someone like Vice Governor Caesar Perez back in our Los Baños community. He's not the best Brgy.Captain (Los Baños has ever had) for nothing. Especially now since the issue on peace and order is becoming alarming.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)