Oatmeal and Buttermilk Muffins

Super yummy and healthy for breakfast. You can even prepare it a day or two in advance and pop it in the oven on a busy morning before going to work. I gave some to Glenn's mom and she liked it. :-)

Makes 12 muffins:

1 cup rolled oats

1 cup buttermilk (if you can't find buttermilk, you can substitute this with 1 cup milk and 1 tbsp vinegar or lemon juice and let stand for 10 minutes)

1/2 cup butter at room temperature

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed firmly

1 egg

1 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

pinch of salt

1/4 cup walnuts or raisins (optional)

1. In a bowl, combine the oats and buttermilk and leave to soak for 1 hour (I leave mine for 45 minutes)

2. Grease a 12 cup muffin pan

3. Preheat the oven 400F

4. With an electric mixer cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy

5. Beat in the egg

6. In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt

7. Stir into the butter mixture, alternate with the oat mixture. Fold in the raisins/ walnuts. Do not overmix.

8. Flll the prepared cups 2/3 full.

9. Bake until a cake tester inserted in the centre comes out clean, around 20 to 25 minutes.

10. Transfer to a rack to cool.

For more recipes, you can go to http://lyshrecipes.blogspot.com.

Is Relationship Bliss = Weight Gain?

At a start of every relationship, the courtship stage is the most exciting. Dinners in different restaurants, movies, dates in different places, all these end up in different restaurants and eating places. Wanting to spend a lot of time together (unless your dates are in a gym everyday), you somehow give up working out time.... Both hands raised and shouting GUILTY!

Yes, I am guilty of not being able to work out the past couple of months... ok, ok.... I blame it on relationship bliss but... but... but... who would not want to cozily watch a movie with popcorn on a Lazy boy with the air con unit on full blast.... oh, and add that you are being cuddled by an adorable man? :-)

Ok... so I have just admitted to gaining a few pounds but I would always choose this over a heartbreak. The pounds, though hard to shed is easy to lose as long as you have someone who can make you smile, laugh and does not care if you have a few cellulites showing on your thighs.

So Relationship bliss do not always equate to weight gain but if it does, I don't mind gaining a bit (coz with diet and exercise, I can go back to my 5 lbs lighter self) because with every happiness that I feel, I know that all the tears (and the weight) I lost in the past is all worth it. :-)

First Philippine Game Development Festival

I had this chance to help organize the First Philippine Game Development Festival on September 14-18, 2010 in UP Diliman.

Its crazy being part of this group but knowing that you can help a lot of people who wants to get into our fun industry is a fantastic feeling.

As I always say, there are still so many things that we need to do to grow the Game Development Industry in this country but hopefully, if we all work together, this will become a reality. I hope that somehow, I am helping in growing the seeds planted by the founders of this group. Its not easy filling in their footsteps but I hope that I can at least do my share.

I may not have been in this industry for a long time but I know that I can help create jobs for young people and that's my strongest driver to make this industry grow.

For more information about this event, please go to www.gdap.org.ph.

See you there on Saturday, September 18 for the Summit for Professionals.

Venus Raj - Ms. Universe 2010 4th Runner Up

Just what the Philippines needed today!!!

After the Philippines went to bed after a nightmare hostage crisis, we wake up to beautiful news... Our very own Venus Raj has made the country smile and hope as she makes the Top 5 of the 2010 Miss Universe Pageant.

I was screaming my lungs out when I heard her name called in the Top 10... That for me was enough to lift up my spirits... and then Top 5. Wow! That made me scream a little bit more (I think my noisy condo neighbors were wondering why I was screaming! :-)).

We may have not won the Miss Universe Pageant, we have not even solved the big problem that is the PNP or changed the image that we have now in the international scene, but for one morning, for one day, Ms. Venus Raj made me hope again and reminded me of my love for my country.

Thank you, Venus... not only for winning the 4th runner up slot in that pageant but for making the Filipinos flash the sunny smiles and making us believe in our fellow country men again.

A Heartbreaking Scene For Our Country

Woke up this morning and felt weak... Food poisoning has hit me bad but that does not even come close to how badly I felt when I turned on the television at around 5 pm. I caught a glimpse of the hostage drama around 2 pm but I didn't think it would end this way.

Around 6 pm, wanting to watch the news, I got glued to the events that were happening live. A man was sitting on the floor crying to police officers not to take him... relatives hanging on to him so that the police won't get to him. I don't blame him one bit for fearing for his life... the PNP's reputation does not even come close to what they are supposed to be doing... saving and protecting our lives.

With all bits and pieces of what I hear in the news, the details of the case is still not clear, but my heart broke seeing that man crying and hold on to dear life, not wanting the police to take him. I feared that he might have a stroke. I cried because if he was a relative or a friend, I will not want to see him in that situation. My heart bled for him... whether or not he has something to do with this, I fear for his life too. You never know what the PNP can do to him and that saddens me.

Watching the different torture videos and the abuse of power that the PNP does, I find it difficult right now to give them the respect that we should give to uniformed officials. There's so many changes that need to be done to fix the system.

With all that has happened, I have so many questions which may or may not be answered truthfully since you'll never know whether you get an unbiased information.

1. Why did the SPO2 Mendoza's dismissal happened when he does not have a copy of the ombudsman's decision?

2. How can a man with numerous medals of honors have a measly Php19,000 ($400)/ month salary? -- Now I understand why he wants reinstatement since he needs his benefits after retirement. He doesn't have enough for himself and his family.

3. Why does media need to exploit the father of SPO2 Mendoza? He's old and frail. He should not be exposed in such a vulnerable state.

4. Why did the PNP arrest his brother that way? I'm pretty sure they know that they cannot agitate the hostage takers?

5. How can you regulate the media in situations like these?

6. Why are Pinoys such usiseros that they need to be in a scene where they are in direct harm's way?

I will sleep tonight with fear and sadness in my heart. There's so much to be fixed in the system. I don't know how they will begin but hopefully the PNP works on their system so things like this won't happen again.

Here's a video of the suspect's brother being forced by PNP to be taken into custody.

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

Life Did Move On... Thank God!

Life did move on. The tears have dried and the smiles become more real as time passed.

Its been more than a year and what a year it has been. When I look back at 2009 and half of 2010, I cannot be more thankful for the experiences I have had. Friends have moved to another country, moved back to the Philippines, got married, got engaged, broke up with their boyfriends and got new ones. All in one year....

As we get older, the hope is we get wiser. Maybe that's what happened. Maybe that's what has helped me cope and ensured that I came out of the dark more radiant than I've ever been. Ok... that's self-flattery right there. :-) I gotta give myself a pat in the back though... I did pretty well.

Now, I understand why heartbreaks happen. It is not to intentionally hurt another but to give each other a chance to be with someone who can make the wrong things right. It is a chance to re-assess and re-align the direction of their lives because somehow, they know that the direction they are taking together is headed towards a lifetime of unhappiness. I guess at a certain point, you do become thankful that one or (both of you) was brave enough to admit that you can't move one step more. That doing so will just prolong the agony.

It is true too that time made me somehow forget the pain, not the experiences I went through, but the pain has gone and it has been replaced by gratitude and excitement for what the future holds. What felt like the end of the world is such a thing of the past.

We must never forget though the learnings along the way. The learning that no matter how painful, hope will help you get out of bed when you feel like the day is not your friend. The learning that your friends will never ever leave your side and you should do the same. The learning that your family is the best support system you can find. The learning that when your tears dry up, a man you never thought would make you laugh again has brought the sunshine back with the rainbow in hand.

It is not to say though, that one should just wait for the sunshine to come back. Its a lot of work to smile again, but when you see that new someone smiling back at you... you know that God has blessed your dark knights with another ray of sunshine. Hoping that this light will never leave you again even through the cloudy and gloomy periods of your life.

Yes, I feel blessed to be in love with one of my closest friends. Yes, I am blessed that life hasn't stopped surprising me one bit. Yes, I am showered with blessings because everyday is an adventure... maybe because God knows I don't like to get bored... and so, the journey continues.

New experiences! :-)

I was thrown a curve ball but I am still managing to play the game really well. :-)

When memories don't make you smile yet, you create new ones with people who love you and who you love dearly, new friends and old friends who make your life always fun and interesting.

One sunny and windy afternoon in July, my friends and I wanted to visit Ocean Park but Bayani Fernando's birthday (which means they closed the whole place for him) put a stop to our planned afternoon. Blessing in disguise is what I say coz we chose to do something more fun.... We hung out by Luneta and flew a kite! YES!!! I have officially flown a kite. I've never flown a kite my whole life and experiencing it with my friends was a fantastic experience.

We even managed to go around Luneta Park which was a pleasant surprise. The place is a far cry from the dirty and unsafe place that we were afraid of. :-) The night was capped with a shabu-shabu dinner at Golden Fortune on T.M. Kalaw. Super yummy! 50% off on all shabu-shabu items after 9 pm. :-)

From flying kites to shooting guns... yes! :-) I have learned to shoot a gun and it is very empowering. The first time in the range was scary. Holding the gun for the first time was scary but it was very empowering! It is addictive I must admit. :-) Watch out! :-)

Life is pretty amazing. So many twists and turns. How can I not believe that there's a wonderful surprise waiting for me just around the corner.

Single once more

The transition from being in a relationship to singlehood is tough. No doubt about that. Tears happen all the time. The intense emotional pain actually manifests in a nagging pain all over the body. I guess that's a sign that you really did love the person. It's hard to just let go. No regrets there. We loved... no ifs no buts... just because.

When something that painful catches you by surprise, the ordinary tasks in life feels like a big chore. From waking up in the morning, to taking a shower, to going home, to errands in the grocery... everything, and I mean everything, is just way too painful to do.

So, you have to work hard... make sure that your heart and mind are connected in trying to get up and live again. It's just a bump on the road. You will love again and this time maybe that man will love you back they way you deserve to be loved. But from now til then, you have to trust in yourself that you will get through this. Trust that time will make the pain heal. Have faith that God has something wonderful in store for you and nothing can get in the way of that.

In the meantime, enjoy the gift of the present moment. Learn more about yourself. Get into activities that will enrich you as a person. Meet new friends and spend time with your family and the people who love you. It's a choice between making the most of this character-building time and experience OR have the pain eat you up and make you miserable for the rest of your life.

I choose to smile and enjoy my life even if I am in pain. I choose to do things that will make me a better person. I choose to love again even if I got hurt undeservingly. I choose to enrich my life with new experiences. . I choose to love myself and not let any past experiences get in the way. I choose to allow myself to be loved because I deserve nothing less.

Break - Up Guide - Things to do after a break-up

Break-ups suck! BIG TIME! It does not only make breathing hard and getting out of bed difficult, it also creates a physical pain that makes you realize that it is possible to get your heart and guts ripped to a million little pieces. OK! so I might be exaggerating a bit. The truth is, whether you are the "break-up-er" or the "break-up-ee", the pain of losing a relationship is just the PITS!

So, I just thought that I would try to help ease the pain a bit by my list of what can help. This is based from these three months of heartbreak pain and experience. Remember, as painful as it is, you are now on your own... So you have to find the strength in yourself to stand up and take care of yourself.

What to do?

a. Go out of the country or out of town immediately (of course this is if you have enough funds to do so). Meet up with friends there or bring really good friends along with you. Make sure that these are friends who will listen, let you cry and make you see the silver lining in all of these.

b. Buy books that will help you get through these times. Something to read that will make you get through by learning about yourself, giving you the boost and the energy to move on.SUGGESTION: Get the book "It's Called A Break-Up Because It's Broken". It's a witty book that will help you going through these times. :-) I enjoyed it very much.

c. DO NOT CALL HIM, TEXT HIM or EMAIL HIM! As difficult as it may seem because you're so used to calling him while driving, or telling him how your day went or just asking him what he's doing or if he has eaten... or whatever... DO NOT CALL HIM! If he misses you or wants to talk to you, he will call you. Believe me, if you think he's thinking of you, he's not... so don't call him! Especially if he breaks up with you, he's been thinking about it breaking up with you for sometime already. Thus, he has had a headstart in pulling away from you emotionally. Thus, he is relieved that he's out of that relationship. So, let him be!

Talking to him will just make you miss him and your life together. And then after you talk to him, he will still not want to get back together, it will make you more miserable... BELIEVE ME!

D. DO NOT GO TO PLACES THAT YOU GUYS FREQUENTED. Chances of bumping into him is so much higher if you go back to places that you used to go to a lot. You wouldn't want to bump into him looking like a drab! And, I don't think you would like to be seen breaking down at these places.

AND DO NOT PLAN AN "ACCIDENTAL" BUMPING INTO HIM! It makes you look needy! Even if you look foxy... the main point is, he broke up with you because there's a reason! So even if you look like the hottest thing on earth, there's no reason to go back to a guy or a relationship that's not making you feel good or made you feel like crap and stepped on your self-esteem big time.

E. Exercise... Run or do yoga.... Whatever it is, just get your ass into shape. It gives you a reason to get out of the house and fill up your time. Of course, it helps that you look great when you see yourself in the mirror. Poor guy, he lost a foxy girl in you but more than that, you feel GREAT and look GREAT!

F. CRY! CRY! CRY if you have to... but after a while, get out of bed and make yourself busy. Give yourself time to cry but don't make it more than three weeks. Geez! can you imagine how your eyes will look like?

According to the book and experience, you can choose to grieve for a prolonged time or you can face it now so that it does not prolong the agony. Do you know people who have been pinning about his/ her broken heart for years now? GEEZ! Don't they sound pathetic and like a broken record already? Of course, you don't want to be like them right? So just let it all out now than hiding it and before you know it, 5 years has gone by. OUCH! Besides, you don't want to develop cancer!

G. Have a positive thought first thing in the morning. Waking up in the morning is the toughest part! After opening your eyes, the most painful part is the feeling that there's a void in your heart. The best thing to do is to put a positive thought in your head. The Empowerment Cards of Louis L. Hay helped me a lot. Reading one card in the morning helps me through the day.

H. POST ITs everywhere. My friend Melody started this. She started posting different lines and thoughts all around my condo. From, "Its time for a new Life" on my bathroom mirror to "Ang ganda natin! (we are beautiful)" on my wall... it helps to be reinforced about yourself.

I. Create a vision board! This helped me big time...I thought that I will die after we broke up since my dreams will not come to fruition anymore... but after I finished my vision board, I realized that there are so many things that I want to do and being in this relationship will not bring me there. It does not make my partner a bad person... it just makes our relationship not the most ideal one for me.

J. Be with friends and family. This is the time you have to admit to yourself that you need people to help get back on your feet. They will be more than glad to be by your side. I have a couple of friends who stayed with me overnight to check up on me every hour to make sure I'm ok.

K. Go back to old hobbies and create new ones. List down all the things that you gave up while you were together. It is your time now to make it happen! Start doing them! From painting to volunteering teach under privileged children. The list goes on and on.

L. Change your look... Chang your hair... Take care of yourself. This way when you look in the mirror, you are always reminded that you are a new and better version of you! Or... you are still you but just Hotter! :-)

It's really painful but it's just a matter of helping yourself help your brain to think that this will bring a better you and will just open more doors for you. Give extra attention to your thoughts. If you think good thoughts, your actions will follow.

Remember that the break up happened because there's something wrong in your relationship. You might be two great people but just not together forever. The reason why you were in that relationship has been fulfilled. Move on! Who knows, the new guy that you're supposed to meet might just be waiting for you to get out of the past relationship.

Also, it is time to prepare and take care of yourself so that your next relationship will be better. :-)


Items that have helped:
a. Empowerment cards from Louis L. Hay
b. You Can Change Your Life - Louis L. Hay
c. Stillness Speaks - Eckhart Tolle
d. Moving on Songs
- Details in the Fabric - Jason Mraz
- Someone that I Used To Love
- Better Days - Juice
- Love in on My Way - D' Sound

Heavenly Sagada

Another adventure for Meme, Lysh and Jacky. After traveling the world the past few years, we decided to have a spur of the moment trip to the Northern part of the country. Yes, we braved the 24 hour bus and jeepney rides to get to the Heavenly Sagada!



We were there for 2 full days and its enough to go around the place but if we had enough time, I would spend another day in Sagada to relax and enjoy the cold weather. And then, spend another 1 to 2 days in Baguio on the way back.

Our adventure started on a Thursday night. We took Cable Tours which will bring us to Bontoc. We took this route to have a chance to see the Banaue Rice Terraces. It was actually a really good choice since that route allowed us to see the beautiful orange sky while the sun was rising. There was also a stop over in Banaue to see the rice terraces.


FROM MANILA TO BONTOC

The bus of Cable tours from Manila to Bontoc takes about 8 hours (probably less since we had to stop twice to change tires). Buses everyday leave at 8:30 pm and arrives in Bontoc at 8:30 am. Make sure that you have reservations though because the bus gets full. Make sure that you call them since they don't respond to texts well. Melody sent them SMS a number of times but they did not reply. Their number is +632 774-1290.

Cable Tours' terminal is very easy to miss. It is on E. Rodriguez in front of Shakey's. Shakey's is beside Trinity College and St. Lukes Hospital. The terminal is beside Garcia's supermarket.

Their buses is a bigger version of a coaster. Enough leg room for an asian but taller people might have a hard time. Have a jacket handy. It gets cold in the bus. They show movies all through out and there is piped in music. Do not expect Hollywood movies though. We watched Dolphy and Robin Padilla and it was fun to watch them! :-) You will be sleeping for 12 hours so make sure that you are comfortable in clothing and bring a travel pillow... the one you can put on the chair as a seat pad because your butt will surely hurt! BELIEVE ME!

There are about 2 to 3 stops along the way. I'm not sure how many really because I was asleep most of the way. Bathrooms are not clean so bring alcogel and tissue paper. Also have coins ready in case you need to pay.

FROM BONTOC TO SAGADA

Cable tours will ask you if you want to take the same bus from Bontoc to Sagada for P100. This will make the trip easier since you don't have to move your stuff. BUT... then again, you will miss out on the whole SAGADA JEEPNEY EXPERIENCE! My suggestion, skip the bus and take the jeep! You're there for the adventure anyway.


The jeep costs less and you will have to wait til about 9:15 am before it leaves Bontoc but the whole dusty and bumpy ride is a different experience! :-) You might even want to ride the roof of the jeep if you feel like it. Just make sure that you hold on tight since the roads are not paved and you can fall of the cliff! GOOD LUCK!

Once you get off the Cable tours Cafe stop in Bontoc, walk two blocks down (you will pass Western Union). The jeepney station is in front of a police station or a hall.

WHEN IN SAGADA

First two things to do... register in the visitors information area and check in the hotel.

We checked in George's Guesthouse. PENTHOUSE BABY! :-) The room is clean and big (its for 8 people at Php1000) for its price. It also has a nice view of rice terraces.. and more importantly... they have hot water! :-) Check out this site for more info http://sagadagenuineguides.blogs


First Day:
After checking in and registering, we rested for a few minutes and asked the receptionist in George's guesthouse for a guide. After a few minutes, Jordan arrived! :-) You can choose to get a car to go around but we opted to walk it. Everything is so near and the weather is perfect so there's no point wasting it in a vehicle.

LUMIANG CAVE
20 minutes walk from George Guesthouse is the Lumiang Cave where there are hanging coffins. You will see some hanging coffins along the way but its too far for you to actually see it. Lumiang Cave will let you see the coffins up close.

SUMAGING CAVE

Another 20 minutes walk, you will get to Sumaging Cave. This is a must-see! Do not ever leave Sagada without going here! Your guide will lead you to a cave that is pitch black except for a kerosene lamp. You will have to go up and down slippery rocks so use footwear that will help you keep your balance and feet stable. Bring a flashlight too that you can put around your neck coz your hands should be free.

After about 10 to 20 minutes of going down rocks, hearing bats, being scared of the dark and holding on to rocks with bat poop, you will see beautiful limestone formations. Wade in the cold waters of the underground river. Expect to get wet from the knee down... you can choose to go further the cave where you will get wet from the waist down.


Second Day:

SATURDAY MARKET

I love the absence of a mall in Sagada. Everyone converges in their Saturday market where they have all the produce available. Go around streets to find anything and everything (and I mean EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN THINK OF) that you will need at a really cheap price.

Enjoy the Sagada city life by walking with the locals. :-)


TOWN FIESTA

We were so lucky to have scheduled our trip on the weekend of their town fiesta. There was a parade on Saturday morning which showcased the culture of Sagada and the Mountain Province. It was an amazing feeling to be part of their tradition. We joined the festivities by walking with them around the church area and eating the street food that they were selling. We had my childhood popcorn and dirty ice cream, P10.00 each! YUMMY!

ECHO VALLEY

This is a trek that we kinda did on our own but a boy named Jason helped us to get there. I suggest that you get a map just to know the different places that you need to go to. Guides are available all the over the place... especially kids. We gave Jason P100 for helping us get to Echo Valley.

To get to Echo Valley, go through the St. Mary's church. At the back of the church is a cemetary. Cross that and walk the trail for a few more minutes. You will reach a place where you can shout your name and the echo will shout it back. Pretty cool but nothing much to do here.

There will also be some hanging coffins that you will see. If you want, you can go to the sacred burial site. Pretty steep climb but doable.

UNDERGROUND RIVER

Beside the vulcanizing shop is a small pathway that leads to the underground river. I didn't get to go to the underground river but Jacky and Melody followed the trail. Not much to see they said so maybe you can skip this.

BOKONG FALLS

Also tagged as the small falls, this is falls is situated pretty near one of the many rice terraces in Sagada. I did not enjoy the falls much but the view of the rice terraces is priceless. Also, you get to walk on the side of the terraces which is an amazing feeling... being in the middle of a fantastic creation by our ancestors. Unbelievable.

You will pass by a small house on the way to the falls. There are benches there where you can just sit and relax for a while. Don't rush... just stay there for a few minutes. Enjoy the laid back Sagada life! :-)

RESTAURANT GUIDE:

Of course my blog will not be complete if I don't write about the best places to eat at in Sagada. :-)

Yoghurt House

We ate 4 out of 5 meals in this place. I must admit that there was only one dish that I loved here but their yogurt is really good. I wish we had a place like that here in Manila.

We tried the following dishes and I wasn't impressed. Vegetable curry, fried rice with vegetable and egg, mushroom and cheese pasta. They were all so, so. What I really enjoyed were the roasted eggplant and basil pasta AND the Farmhouse sandwich. Of course the banana and granola yogurt! Super yummy!

Average price of meal: P180
Yogurt: P75

Masfere Inn

I liked the food here better than Yoghurt House. This is the place where the photos of Masfere, the father of Philippine photography, is displayed. He chronicled the life in the Cordilleras through his photos.

We ordered the chopsuey and the pancit canton and bihon. We also tried the vegetable fried rice which was very tasty also.

Average price of meal: P180

Lemon House

This place only offers Lemon Pie, Egg pie, Carrot cake and Banana Cake. All for P15 to P20 a slice. They only serve breakfast and these cakes. The breakfast served is also dependent on the cook if he/ she is not part of the fiesta. :-)

The pies are ok. Not too tasty but good enough.

NOTE: The restaurants close at 730 pm. If you want to have dinner in these restaurants, make sure that you are there by 6 pm. Remember, this is not a city. People will not stay up late just to serve food.

While there, order Mountain tea or Lemongrass tea. Oh... and the local coffee brewed fresh! Yummy!

Also, you might want to eat at the Log Cabin. They said that its good but you need advanced reservations. It gets really full so better reserve before leaving for Sagada. Meal costs about P350/head.

Third Day:

SAGADA to BAGUIO
Bus trip of Lizardo bus from Sagada to Baguio leaves every hour from 5 am to 1 pm. We woke up at 330 am to catch the 5 am bus it arrived at 530 and left at a little after 6:00 am. I actually prefer this than leaving earlier since it was still pretty dark at that time.

The roads to Baguio are zig zagged almost all the way. The trip took 6 hours but the view is breath-taking. The clouds below us and the sunrise made the 6 hour trip bearable. There were about 3 to 4 stops along the way.

I love it that we were able to buy broccoli and cauliflower at P20/kilo.

BAGUIO to MANILA

From the Lizardo bus station in Baguio, take a cab to the Victory Liner bus station. Cab ride is about P37 to P45.00. The ticketing office of Victory Liner is on the second floor. A bus to Manila (Pasay/ Cubao) leaves every 20 minutes. This costs about P450.00. This trip takes about 7 hours with 3 stops. There are also stops to pick up and drop off passengers along the way.

There is also a non-stop bus from Baguio to Manila. This takes about 5 hours, costs about P700.

These buses show movies that makes the trip bearable. Of course the buses are airconditioned.

What to bring:
a. Sweater
b. Flash light
c. Comfortable shoes for walking
d. Trekking sandals for inside the cave
e. Comfortable clothing

** Note: The locals are very laid back... no need for make up and fancy clothing. There will be lots of walking and trekking, better be as simple and comfortable as possible.

Cost:
A. Manila to Bontoc - P650
B. Bontoc to Sagada Jeep - P45
C. Rooms - 1000/ night (P333.33/person/ night)*2 = P700 for 2 nights
D. Guide - 500 for 1-4 people (Php500/3) = P170/ person
E. Sagada to Baguio - P220
F. Baguio to Manila (Victory Liner) - P450
G. Food - P1000 (or less)
H. Water - P35/ big bottle

Average spending: P3,000 - P4,000 (could be lesser if you find a cheaper place to stay and not to eat out)

Clay Pot Bean Curd

Got this recipe from the book Egg and Bean Curd. There are a number of really good recipes in this book and I've been trying each and everyone of them. One thing that I really enjoy about Chinese cooking is that you can easily modify the recipe to your liking and it still will give you your desired flavor.

For this recipe, make sure that you have a clay pot ready. It's amazing how cooking with this pot actually enhances the flavor of the dish!

Ingredients:
1 pack of fried bean curd (for Phil. residents, I was able to get this from SM Makati) or 1 long bean curd fried til golden brown
3 dried shitake mushrooms
1/2 carrot (I sometimes take this out... not really our favorite veggie)
4 pcs. chicken
2 stalks spring onion
4 pcs. dried oyster mushrooms
1/4 cup button mushrooms


Marinade:
1 tsp soy sauce
1/2 tbsp of corn starch dissolved in 1/2 tbsp of water

Seasoning:
2 tbsps oyster sauce
1 tsp sugar
pinch of pepper
1 cup chicken stock
1/2 tbsp of corn starch dissolved in 1/2 tbsp of water

1. Marinade chicken using the marinade mix for 30 minutes.
2. Soak shitake and oyster mushrooms until soft. Remove stem.
3. Boil carrot until done and slice.
4. Section spring onion
5. Heat 2 tbsps of oil. Stir fry shitake, oyster and button mushrooms. Add the chicken until it turns whittish. You can sprinkle some salt and pepper if you wish.
6. Add in carrot and Seasoning mixture.
7. Return bean curd to the wok and cook until the flavor of the sauce us absorbed.
8. When the sauce is reduced by half, pour the food into a claypot, add sectioned spring onion.
9. Reboil and serve with freshly cooked rice.

Note: You can also add vermicelli noodles but make sure there are double the amount of sauce. The noodles will absorb the sauce and will make the dish dry.

ENJOY!

Deep Fried Bean Curd with Savoury Sauce

Just cooked this tonight and was a big hit with Edgar! The ginger and sesame oil makes this dish so tasty. Try it!

Ingredients:
4 pcs. bean curd
1/8 kg. ground beef
2 small stalk spring onion
1/4 cup ginger
2 dried shitake mushrooms
2 oyster mushrooms
1/2 cup corn starch

Marinade:
1/2 tbsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. sesame oil

Seasoning:
1/2 cup stock
1 tbsp. sugar
2 tbsps. soy sauce
1 tbsp oyster sauce

1. Cut bean curd into 4 thin layers. Dry with paper towels.
2. Soak mushrooms.
3. Using the marinade mixture, marinade the ground beef for 20 minutes
3. Mince the ginger, spring onions and mushrooms
4. Combine minced ingredients with ground beef.
5. Coat bean curd with corn starch.
6. With 4 tbsp. oil, fry the beef mixture until brown.
7. Fry bean curd until both sides are golden brown in the same pan you fried the beef.
8. Remove bean curd from pan and put the beef mixture on top
9. Return the bean curd with beef to the same pan. Add Seasoning and bring to a boil.
10. Dish up and serve.

3 Amazing days in Bohol

Bohol - Alona beach area, has a certain charm that not a lot of beaches have. It's quiet and a chilled, laid back kind of fun.

Ed and I spent a weekend in Alona Vida resort along the Alona Beach area. We took the 8:00 am flight out of Manila via Cebu Pacific so we got there on time at 9:15 am. I must say that we did not encounter any problems in our flight to Tagbilaran and since we opted not to check-in anything (also it takes off P200 from your airfrare if you don't have any check-in luggage), we breezed through the check-in counter and was by the gate in 20 to 25 minutes of arriving at the airport. We had a lot of time to buy some breakfast at the food stalls at the departure area. They have Jamaican Patties, Delifrance, Cinnabon and a couple of other coffee shops there.

The flight going back to Manila was delayed for about 20 minutes which is not so bad but if you are flying for business I suggest taking a more reliable airline.

NAIA Terminal 3 has the makings of a nice presentable airport for Manila. It's sad though that some parts of it is obviously unfinished. I hope that the government can get its act together and complete this project. Since the airports are the first area the foreign visitors see, it leaves quite a big impression on them.

Since we booked a pick-up from Alona Vida, our driver, Ronnie, was waiting for us already by the exit of the Tagbilaran airport. The 35 minute drive from the airport to Alona Beach was a breeze since the car is well-maintained and the aircondition of the car was working perfectly well. I suggest that you book an airport pick-up with your resort since there are no (or rare) cabs that go all the way from the city to the beach area.


ALONA VIDA RESORT
Boy, am I glad that we chose this resort and this area. It's situated in the middle of a row of resorts fronting the beach. The fine white sand greeted us as we checked in to our hotel. Alona Vida's room is cozy and perfect for a couple of nights stay. They have a bar, diving school, swimming pool and a restaurant that serves good food.


The beds are wide and the bathrooms are clean. They provide for towels but not soap or shampoo so bring your own. They have hot/ cold water for showering and cable tv. The water pressure is also strong so you can wash off the sand from your body pretty well.


The staff was great too... except that there was a glitch in their credit card payment system as we checked out and Rachel was not able to provide a better alternative for us. (On a side note, I think this is one of the weakness of filipino service... for the staff to be more proactive in providing their clients options when its their system that does not work.) The people in the restaurant were all friendly and corteous. If you want to have a good person to coordinate with in that resort, look for Fatima. She's fantastic!

ALONA BEACH DIVING HAVEN

Alona Beach is a haven for divers but since I did not dive on this trip, I enjoyed the quiet mornings just lounging around and enjoying the sun. If I had one more day though, I would have sneaked in a dive to Balicasag. I actually felt a little sad leaving Alona Beach on our second day to tour the city. Hahaha! That's how badly I wanted to just lounge around.

BOHOL CITY TOUR

The city tour was nice but not something I would want to do the second time around. Ronnie offered us his service of touring us around the city. The tour includes 7 spots but if you don't want to hit some of the spots, its fine too. The areas are:

a. The Blood Compact Shrine- This is a monument where the ritual sealing the friendship of Sikatuna and Legaspi.
b. Baclayon church - One of the oldest churches in Asia with coral stoned walls run by Jesuits. It was started in the 1500's so the old feel is so prominent. It's interesting too how they are able to preserve the walls.

c. Man-made Forest - This is Edgar's favorite area. This you should not miss! It's on the way to Chocolate Hills so you really won't miss it. Make sure though that you go out of the car and feel the cool and crisp air that these trees create. This project was started during the Marcos administration where they planted mahogany trees to 300 hectares of land spanning a couple of baranggays in the area. Great idea, Mr. Marcos! I hope there are more of these done in every area of the Philippines.

d. Chocolate Hills - Not to be missed since we've been studying this since we were in grade 3. You have to climb about 50 steps to get to the top but the view is worth it. There will also be camera men offering their services for souvenir photos.


e. Loboc River Cruise lunch - Honestly, I would've skipped this since the food was just ok (compared to the food in Alona restos) and the cruise is nothing great but it was a new thing so might as well. The most popular of the floating restos is the Riverwatch. I loved their puto so if you go on the buffet, please get more than 1. I was surprised that everything was gone when I wanted to go for the second round. You eat on the boat and they take you on a breezy 20 minute cruise and stopping for a few minutes for a show prepared by the locals. It was nice to see the lolos and the lolas dancing their traditional dances. All the river cruises costs P300/ per person including lunch and entrance at the Tarsier Farm.


f. Tarsier Farm - These creatures are so cute I want to bring them home. Don't touch them, ok? They get suicidal when stressed. We also saw flying lemurs on a mango tree. I was surprised though that it was only a small farm. I thought it was bigger but the few minutes with the tarsiers was a nice experience.

g. Hanging Bridge - We were too anxious to go back to the beach that we didn't go to this spot anymore.

You can rent a car for P2,000 for the tour. They said that you might be able to find cheaper ones being offered around but they are not part of a cooperative which can provide assistance just in case your car breaks down in the middle of the tour.

There are also tours being offered by the resort but they are often more expensive at P1,800 per person.

DINING ON ALONA BEACH

Now comes the part that I enjoy talking about. THE FOOD EXPERIENCE!!! :-)

We didn't get to eat at the city where they say the food is cheap and good... but I was so satisfied with my gastronomical experience on Alona Beach that I did not mind.

There are a number of restaurants by the beach to choose from! When its not raining, the restaurants set up tables and chairs closer to the water for a more relaxing and beach-like dining experience. Here are some of the restos that we've tried and loved. Most of these are recommendations of our friends Melody and Bing who went there a couple of weeks before us.

A. Coco Vida in Alona Vida Resort - What to order:
- Try their Banana choco shake - its good and refreshing! - P110.00
- Mixed fruits pancake - they serve two huge pieces so its really good to share
- Garlic rice - They use fresh garlic!!! - between P35- P50.00
- Pancit Canton - Its tasty but oily...
- Omelette - This is also good for two.
- Chopsuey - they used fresh vegetables and is also good for two people
Just like most of the restos in the area, they offer freshly grilled seafood at night. We liked their variety best and we ordered freshly caught tangigue which was served with a nice presentation.

B. Hayahay Pizza - We had a snack here ordering Margherita pizza with extra garlic. Boy! They did not scrimp on the garlic at all! The whole pizza was filled with toppings from the side to the center! YUMMY! - P230

C. ISIS Restaurant - THE BEST SEAFOOD TOM YUM SOUP!!!
Melody was right. If only for the Seafood Tom Yum Soup with big noodles, I would go back to Bohol!!! This is the tastiest Seafood Tom Yum Soup I have ever had! Be careful with the lemon grass and herbs though since there a lot which makes the soup really good. This dish is meant to be shared. Big serving.

We also tried their Egg in Tamarind Sauce which for me is another to die for dish!!!



The chef is Thai so no wonder their food is delicous and tastes authentic thai!!! :-)

Also one thing I noticed in this resto is they have nice dishes and serving plates. Not the plastic types that you normally see in beach restos. Interesting!

D. Pyramid - This restaurant is about two restaurants away from Alona Vida. They serve the yummiest Bam-i!!! Its so good and plenty that I brought them back to Manila and had them for lunch at the office!

What we kept on going back to is their Split-up Banana with Ice Cream. The first night we went there they served it with Chippy all around. I loved it but Ed didn't so the next time we went, we requested to have it topped in cereals. It was heavenly! The warm banana with cold ice cream topping... Fantastic!!!

Break down of costs:

1. Airfare - Cebu Pacific P1.00 promo, bought two seats and insurance - Total cost: P3,150.00 roundtrip
2. Hotel - Alona Vida (they just increased their rates) - P3,200 per night
3. Airport pick-up and drop-off - P500 one way- Total of P1,000 per car
4. City Tour - P2,000 a day for 7 spots
5. Loboc River Cruise - P300/ person with lunch
6. Food - P2,000/ head for 3D/ 2N - that's if you're super matakaw :-)

We were sorry to leave Bohol but we know we will be back! If you have questions on Bohol, feel free to email me at lyshiel@yahoo.com.

Hope this helps!!

Turning 32 with friends!!!

On the night of my birthday, I was in for a treat. We had a special dinner with Bing and Melody in this new restaurant in A. Venue call Artina Gallery Cafe. The food is delicous. I tried the mushroom risotto and really enjoyed it. They really did not scrimp on the truffle oil which is great! :-) It's taste is too rich though so you might want to have a side dish.

The owner of the restaurant was so gracious that he even gave us wine. Fantastic birthday dinner!

We are (for sure) going back to Artina Gallery and Cafe. There are a few more items in the menu worth trying. The ambiance is somewhat fine dining but not stiff which is a good venue to have a quiet dinner with friends. The food is delicious and the price is reasonable for the food that they serve.

Pam also followed after dinner which was great! :-) Her birthday gift to me is priceless! Thank you, Pammy! You'll see it on my wall pretty soon!

Location: Ground Floor, A. Venue Mall, Makati Ave.
Price Range: P400 to P600 per person

2008 Birthday Trip - Bohol

Yes, yes, one more year! Yes, yes, a year older! I hope a year wiser too! :-) This year, I didn't join my friends in their trip to Italy. Made me a bit sad that I can't be with them but we're meeting up in Hong Kong anyway so that makes it less sad for me. :-)

I have two trips for my birthday that I'm looking forward to. The first is my Bohol trip with my Edgar :-), the second one, a week with Melody and Jacky in HK and Macau. :-)

It's my first time to go to Bohol so I'm really excited. It's also the first time I'm riding the plane with Edgar. Should be very interesting. :-) We're staying in this resort called Alona Vida. My friends Bing and Melody went there two weeks ago and they loved the place. We've also been given a list of places to eat at. I'm looking forward to eating the Tom Yum soup with flat noodles in Isys. Melody's been raving about it.

Anyway, I'll let you know about my Cebu Pacific experience and the whole Bohol trip with costs, reviews and contact numbers when I get back.

Twilight - a 32 year old View

As the craze of the movie premiere has begun, I have succumbed to the fad and started listening to the audiobook of Twilight. I suddenly saw myself wanting to walk to the office every morning rather than taking a cab (my car's in the shop). It gave me more time to listen to the story of Eduard and Bella. Yes, the story is cheesy... yes, it actually is for teens and tweens but who can resist the soft and enchanting voice of Ilyana Kadushin. You should listen to her when she reads the time in the forest and while they were doing question and answer in Bella's room. Too enchanting... to0 breath taking...

I find Eduard's looks and description too unreal, too beautiful that I am not sure if any human being can actually portray his character. I can imagine the "kilig" of Bella everytime she would look at Eduard but its so "teenish". I'm not against it and I don't think it changes the whole experience of listening to Twilight for me though.

I'm only on chapter 15 as I write this but I can't wait to listen and finish this audiobook. I wonder if the movie can depict the sultriness of Ilyana Kadushin's reading.

I might be too old for the cheesiness of the story but the enchantment of the vampire world has definitely bit me.

Mushroom Patties

Since I have not eaten a burger for a year now, I've been wanting to make my own mushroom patty so I have searched the web for a recipe that will suit my liking. Unfortunately, nothing came close. So, I've decided to make my own and I'm loving it... of course Edgar loved it too. :-) It's healthy and yummy! What more can you ask for?

Ingredients:
3 cups of different kinds of mushrooms (shitake, oysters and button mushrooms) chopped
1/4 cup butter
3 tsps mushroom seasoning
1 medium sized carrots diced to small pieces
3 tbsps spring onions chopped
1 medium sized onions chopped
8 cloves of garlic diced
1 cup of spinach leaves
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
3 tsps of soy sauce
2 large eggs
1 cup of breadcrumbs
salt and pepper


Procedure:
1. Saute the chopped mushrooms in melted butter until tender. Add mushroom seasoning for flavor.
2. Remove from fire and let cool.
3. Combine carrots, onions, spring onions, garlic, spinach and parmesan cheese in one bowl. Mix well.
4. Pour in the mushrooms to your carrots mixture.
4. Add in the soy sauce, eggs and bread crumbs. Season with salt and pepper. Mix until the mixture is thick enough to be made into a patty.
5. Form into burger patties. Fry or grill and enjoy with your favorite hamburger buns. :-)

I made a lot already so I can just put them in the freezer and grill or fry as I want them.

My life... NOW! :-)

Two months ago, I was on a crossroad. I had to make a decision that would affect a number of things in my life. In my 31 years in this world, this is one of the pain staking decisions I had to make.

When I realized that I was not happy and that means, I will make the people around me miserable, I had to do something to re-align my life. I had to find a deeper meaning and reason in everything that I am doing.

Now, two months have passed and admittedly, I still have not found the deeper meaning I am looking. I still am trying to find my passion in life but I have come to accept that its ok not to know... It's fine to be in this situation... for "Now". In this present moment, life is teaching me something and I have to be open to. I'm trying not to fight it. I really am. It's not easy but I feel I'm learning a lot of things at this moment.

I am an eager beaver. When I want something, I want it now. That works well for some parts of my life but not always. If I ask God that I want to find a deeper meaning in what I do, I don't think He will give it to me as soon as I close my eyes and go into prayer. I accept it more than ever that this is a journey I have to take.

I'm so blessed to have this time to be by myself and enjoy the free time. I have a hard time just staying put and not planning my activities but now, I am learning to be in the "Now". When I am at home and just reading a book, I enjoy it. When I am just sitting down and watching tv, I feel the breeze or the surroundings that I have and i love it. Everyday is a different experience, not the type that I am accustomed to but I need to accept this, before I move on the next chapter of my life. I have to go through it with acceptance and the openness to learn.

People who know me would wonder why I have not lined up my days one activity, class or event after the other. That's who I am. I don't like idleness but being alone and spending time with my family is enough for me for now. I will have time again for all of those but now I am happy spending time alone and in my parents' house.

This free time is not forever! I will miss these times very much when I start working again but I think God knew what I needed at this time in my life and He gave it to me... the purpose, passion and meaning will come as long as I have once again regain and reminded of who I am inside.

Eat Pray Love

I've put off buying an ipod until now. I didn't think I needed it. I was in the office all the time and I can use my computer anyway to listen to music. But now, I don't think I can leave the house alone without it.

Yes, the music keeps me company but what I found as my new companions are the audiobooks! I love reading books but I can't seem find the time to sit down and read. Now, where ever I go, I read (or listen!) as the case maybe.

My walking companion these past few days is Elizabeth Gilbert. In her new book Eat, Pray, Love, she narrates her year of travel all around Italy, India and Indonesia. Her voice is so soothing that I get sucked into the experience that she's telling me about. The way she described the pizza she ate in Naples, Italy made me melt into pieces and wished I was there eating the double cheese margherita pizza with fresh tomato sauce on a thin but gooey crust that just melts in your mouth. Ohhhhh.... That's heaven in a pan!

Her journey from being an unhappy wife to self-discovery enchants me. Her depression and sadness was described beautifully but I still can't fathom how such pain, feeling and thoughts can happen to one person... I get bits and pieces of it from experience but I really am praying I don't experience that much helplessness. I love her adventures though and how she's trying to get out of that rut.

Some of my favorite lines from the book:
SO LOVE HIM. SO MISS HIM.
Stop putting your wishbone where you backbone ought to be.
** I understand this as accepting how you feel at the moment. You don't have to act on everything that you feel but you can acknowledge them.

There are so many more that I can't remember right now but this book is something I would keep on my ipod and keep listening to over and over again.

Ed and Johann's birthday dinner

After listening to The Five Love Languages for Singles, I realized that one of my love languages is Time. Yes, time spent with my loved ones. No matter what we are doing. I really do appreciate the time and effort they extend in spending time with me and the people I love. Now that puts all my feelings into perspective. hahaha! I was confused for a while.

Last Saturday, our friends took time to buy Ed and Johann's gifts all the way in Marikina and they gave them a really fun, nice and memorable dinner in Amalia's Magallanes (yes! They have opened a branch there!).

The food was good... we ordered all three kinds of paella and finished them all. :-)

After dinner, we had dessert as Ms. Melody treated us to everything that we saw in the ref! Hahaha! Too bad there was no Banofee Pie that night. I guess that's why we ordered every cake that we saw. It was one of those nights when the laughter just won't die down, at least for Ed, Johann and Meggy. hahaha!

Pam was there too... She was tired and sleepy after staying out all night in Capone's and going to work early the next day... Despite that, she spent time with us and I appreciate that very much. Drinks followed in Kublai's that night... Relaxed drinking but fun!

Thanks, guys! I know it wasn't my birthday but that night was fun! Thank you!