The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 4,600 times in 2011. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 4 trips to carry that many people.
Click here to see the complete report.
My Lakbayan grade is C-!
How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!
Created by Eugene Villar.
Finally, the training is done. I had to train 18 sales people for the past three days. It was tiring but I really enjoyed it. It was a new experience for me and I realized I can be a trainer in the future. It can be a good career when I retire.
APL Trainings are incomplete without good food. This I can assure. When I was trained in Kuala Lumpur, I really enjoyed the meals.
The culmination of our three-day training in Manila happened at Vikings. It is a new buffet restaurant in the SM Mall of Asia Complex.
We have gone to various buffets such as Yakimix, DADS and Spiral (Sofitel). So we were not expecting much from Vikings. We just wanted to try it out. But, we were surprised in a good way. The dining hall is splendid and classy. And above all, the choices of food are superb! When my officemate described it, she said, “Think of any food you like and it’s there!” Literally!
Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, American, Spanish, Italian, Kebabs name it… Vikings got it!. And did I mention it’s drink all you can and dessert all you can at Php 888! What can be greater than that!
I will definitely go back here with my family soon!
Pasta is love!
Don't get confused...these are just appetizers. There are more!Dimsum fest!Sushi dreamland!under the sea!
Dimsum fest!
Sushi dreamland!
Press Release: Extraordinary Online Video Contest Awarding & Bloggers Fest At Thunderbird Resorts Rizal
On April 16, 2011, Thunderbird Resorts awards the winning Extraordinary Video to bag the much-coveted P100k cash prize and Vacation Getaway. The awarding proper takes place at Thunderbird Resorts Rizal’s newly-opened Event Center.
“What Makes You Extraordinary?” was the question posted in the contest, wherein participants must answer by submitting a video best explaining their reasons. By the end of February 2011, a total of 58 video entries were received which were then posted online for the voting period that ran from March 1to 25 2011.
The Grand Prize Winner is determined by a panel of judges that includes Anton Diaz of OurAwesomePlanet.com, videographer Bob Nicolas, Prof. Patrick Campos of the UP Film Institute and Thunderbird Resorts Chief Sales & Marketing Officer Felbin Soto. While the Five Consolation Prizes of P10k Thunderbird Resorts GC, P5k Cash Prize and Enjoy Philippines card is based on the Five Most Voted Videos. An Apple iPad also awaits the Favorite Video shot at Thunderbird Resorts.
Happening on the same day, Thunderbird Resorts is also the host of this year’s Bloggers Fest – an activity-filled day that includes seminars and workshops with expected attendees of about 200 bloggers from various categories. Azrael Coladilla explains on manilabloggers.blogspot.com, “The objective of the event is to have a venue for free mentorship on blogging and as well as networking with Filipino bloggers and participating companies.”
“Inspired from last year’s Bloggers Fiesta Manila, the Bloggers Fest features co-bloggers to serve as speakers on different topics and to share their experiences and give tutorials on how to have a successful blog site,” Coladilla added.
Thunderbird Resorts’ thrust is to create extraordinary experiences for its guests, giving them a luxurious vacation lifestyle with each stay. It holds two world-class properties here in the Philippines catering to leisure, sports, recreation and entertainment activities. One is located in the highland oasis of Binangonan, Rizal; the other Mediterranean-inspired property is in the peninsula of Poro Point in San Fernando, La Union. Through the online video contest and bloggers event, Thunderbird Resorts shares this Extraordinary experience and more.
Special thanks to Zest Air as the event’s major sponsor and in partnership with Travelbook.ph, Nuffnang, Enjoy Philippines, Baicapture, SolidHosting.PH, Dependable Printing, Perfect Renders and Manila Bloggers Network.
For more information, visit www.thunderbird-asia.com.
I experimented on another recipe using cassava. It’s called Cassava Nuggets.
Ingredients:
¾ cassava (2-3 medium sized cassava), peeled and grated
2 eggs
Salt and pepper, to taste
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbps cornstarch
1 cup Vegetable/Canola oil
Nuggets sauce:
½ cup grated cassava
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups water
1 tbsp cornstarch
Salt and pepper to taste
1 clove garlic, minced
Procedure:
1. Beat eggs and add cornstarch, salt, pepper and garlic.
2. Add grated cassava. Mix well.
3. Scoop a spoonful of mixture and deep fry until golden brown.
4. Drain and serve.
For the sauce:
1. Dissolve cornstarch in water.
2. Saute garlic until light brown
3. On low fire, add dissolved cornstarch, sugar, salt and pepper and cassava. Mix until it thickens. Sauce should give a sweet salty taste and coffee brown in color.
this is how the nuggets should look like...
Last Sunday, my friends and I went crazy over cassava and experimented on two cassava recipes: Okoy Cassava and Cassava Cake.
Okoy Cassava Ingredients:
1 kilo Cassava (3-4 pcs medium sized cassava), peeled and grated
1 green papaya (small size), peeled and cut into strips
2 eggs
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlice, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
½ cup Vegetable/Canola Oil
Procedure:
1. Combine cassava, papaya, onion and garlic. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside for 30 mins – 1 hour to allow ingredients to mix.
2. Beat eggs and fold into mixture.
3. Heat pan and oil.
4. Create small patties and deep fry into oil until golden brown.
5. Serve with chili-vinegar on the sides.
Cassava Cake Ingredients:
1 ½ kilo Cassava (5-6 pcs medium sized cassava), peeled and grated
2 cups coconut milk
1 can evaporated filled milk
1 can condensed milk
½ kilo brown sugar
½ cup margarine/butter
Procedure:
1. Dissolve sugar in coconut milk. Add condensed milk and evaporated filled milk.
2. Add grated cassava to the mixture. Mix well.
3. Using Chefel pan, fill ¾ of the pan with the cassava batter.
4. Let it steam for about 15 minutes. Flip pan and add butter on top.
5. Cook again for another 15 minutes. Flip pan again and add butter.
6. Serve.
We weren’t able to get actual photos of the whole activity because we got busy cooking and checking on the cake. It ended up well and everyone enjoyed the meal. Next time, we will try making homemade churros and cassava patties.
Visiting Baler, Aurora is becoming a kick-off activity for my friends and I. Ever since our first trip last January 2009, we always find ourselves going back to this beautiful surfing spot.
Going to Baler usually takes about 8 hours. Aside from the long drive, you have to endure about 2 hours of rough road. And I really mean a rough and bumpy road. It’s better to leave Manila at midnight so you will arrive in Baler at 8 am or earlier.
We left Manila last Friday, February 12 around 11 pm. We reached Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija at around 2:30 am, Saturday, February 13. From there, we travelled the next 4 hours through rough and bumpy road until we arrive in Baler.
Believe that you will forget the long drive the moment you see and hear the waves.
Bart, the organizer, usually books the group at Bay’s Inn Resort. The resort has eight classroom-type rooms and a three-storey guest house. Before, we got one of the classroom-type on the ground floor. But for this trip, Bart gave us a corner room on the second floor. We loved our room assignment plus the fact that we have our own balcony. I think Bart is being nice to us because this has been my second trip and third for Zha and Jo. We are regulars already. Hahaha
We ate our breakfast before we start our activities for the day. We ate traditional Filipino breakfasts but it seems like everything tastes so good when you eat by the beachfront.
Right after breakfast, we changed and communed with the waves. Then, we watched the first batch of surfers as they get their drills and start their lessons. Zha and I decided to pass surfing for this trip. Jo, on the other hand, decided to take the Sunday morning class.
Saturday afternoon went quiet cause Zha and I slept after lunch while Jo stayed up to read and stroll. At 5pm, Jo and I went back to the beach to watch some surfers and play with the waves. After tiring ourselves, Jo and I went back to our room to change and get ready for dinner.
There was a beach party at Bay’s Inn. Our trip coincided with the 4th Aurora Cup Championship. Surfers from La Union, Daet, CamSur, Siargao and Zambales were there.
By 10pm, we were already tired and sleepy. And so, we called it a night and retreated to our rooms.
Come Sunday morning, Jo woke up to watch the sunrise. Zha joined her and I followed them at around 6am. Unfortunately, the sun did not showed itself because there was a thick fog. We had our breakfast and Jo got ready for her surfing lessons. Our new found friends, Grace and Marie joined for the morning lessons.
It was another great weekend spent in Baler. As usual, I have compiled some quotable quotes from this trip.
“You shall be blessed!” – Cheng
“Want to know something, askcheng.com” – Zha
“Choice ko ‘to eh” – Grace
“Interrupting animals” – Jo
My friends and I dream of covering as much of the Philippine Islands as possible. Next in our destination is the famous Boracay Island. I know that WOW Philippines Travel Agency offers great Boracay Packages! . Visit Seair Philippines for more details!
I believe that this shot is very postcard material! (*.*)
Chocolate is a universal favorite. I always wonder how something so small can bring so much happiness. They say it’s psychological that you feel happy after eating chocolate. Others say that chocolate has certain chemicals that stimulate the brain.
Whatever the reasons are, I love chocolates and it never fails to make me happy.
For me, I have specific chocolates depending on my mood. And there are chocolates I eat on pure indulgence. But the latter is very seasonal because these chocolates are quite expensive.
Ok, so what kinds of chocolates do I eat on specific times?
When I am working on graphs, reports and powerpoint presentations, I always make sure that I have a pack of M&M’s within reach. I munch this little chocolate candies until I finish my work. It has become a habit since I started working. It gives me a feeling that I can finish the work as soon as I finish the candies. And it works all the time!
When I feel that I need a quick sugar rush while on the go, I always get a bar of Snickers from the nearest store. I share the love for this candy bar with my Mom.
When I was a little girl, my dad used to work overseas and brought home tons of chocolates. So every summer, I would look forward to Toblerone, Cadbury and Lindt! Up until now, these are the chocolates I would buy for my siblings and parents whenever I get a bonus or when I come home from my trips in Clark and Subic.
And then, there’s what I call payday chocolates. Every payday, I treat myself with Ritter Sport or Meiji Macadamia.
Ferrero Rocher is my love chocolate. This is the chocolate I buy when I feel “kilig”.
And local chocolates never go unnoticed. Every time I attend our weekly Christian meetings, I also get a dose of Ricoa Flat Tops. I used to enjoy Serg’s Chocolate but they were gone in the late 1990s.
And finally, there are gourmet chocolates that I get to eat on pure indulgence. Leonidas pure Belgian chocolate is the first one I tried in 2005/6. Then came Royce’s Nama Chocolate. Now, there’s a new one in the market, Patchi Chocolates. I have to save up to try this one.
When you love, you smile, cry, laugh, get mad, dream and fail. These various emotions are essential and only after mustering the courage to embrace all these can you fully appreciate the beauty of love. No matter what, you have each other.
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Every falling leaf is waiting for a garden to blossom
Thus hand in hand, they braved through the rain and storm
Every butterfly is waiting to take to the sky and dance
Thus, they have to weave a cocoon first
The most scenic sea coast is often very winding
Only then would one reminisce about its beauty
If you were not further away than the sky and out of reach
How would my courage ever appear
When you finally came right in front of me
The picture is thus completed
Even if I had to taste the bitter sweetness before this
Now only happiness will remain
Only I can understand this feeling of bliss
The beauty is worth giving everything I have, in pursue
To be able to meet you, know you, like you and love you
I am grateful for every tear that I shed
Only you can understand how precious I am
Please continue to be gentle, in exchange for my bright smiles, day after day
Till eternity it will be for us.
Mom and Dad celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary through a dinner at Max’s Restaurant. It was a close family affair. Just the five of us – Mom, Dad, Myslef, Deng and Janelle.
happy 28th anniversary!
We usually celebrate their anniversary at home and invite family and friends to come over to enjoy family favorites prepared by my mom. These favorites include but not limited to: roasted herb chicken, inihaw na bangus, kare-kare, lechon kawali, sinigang na hipon, beef steak, sisig, lumpiang shanghai, Mom’s pancit canton and our all-time favorite buko pandan.
This year, we decided to give Mom a rest from all the cooking. So we opted for Max’s to serve our favorite dishes.
As I had to come from work, we decided to meet up at 7:00 pm. Deng arrived an hour and a half earlier to set up our little surprise.
Max’s is a family favorite. It’s the second restaurant I memorized right after Jollibee. We loved the way they fry the chicken and I personally love the caramel bar. It’s best to eat with coffee or peppermint tea.
The family dinner started with a prayer to thank God for my parents’ good health and their strong relationship. My dad used to work abroad, thus, Deng and I practically grew up without him around. It was different with Janelle’s because she was born when my dad retired from work. I could see how my dad treated my youngest sister and in a way, I knew it would have been like that for Deng and me. Since my dad’s retirement, I saw my parents’ relationship grew every year. It’s funny how they would have little disagreements and I would find myself torn in between. Being the eldest daughter in the family, I get to hear each side’s argument. I know that they know what they are doing but it feels good to be trusted by them.
The food was served after half an hour and we enjoyed our favorite fried chicken, boneless bangus, sinigang na hipon and kare-kare.
Just before dessert was served, the service crew brought in our surprise – a bouquet of flowers! I think I saw tears in my mom’s eyes but she held them firmly. She smiled and I knew she enjoyed the gesture. Plus the fact that other diners were probably looking at us and admiring her bouquet. She surely enjoyed the moment.
We shared the cake and each had buko pandan. Although Mom’s version is still unbeatable!
Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad! Stay Dolce!
