SPOT BLOGGERS' FOOD TOUR - SERENDRA

SPOT Pass Card 1


SPOT Pass Card 2


Polu Kai Grill ***


Polu Kai Grill


Fu **


Texas Roadhouse Grill ****


Roadhouse pasta marinara and skewered shrimp n salmon


Starbucks ***


more cakes, cupcakes, pastries at Starbucks


Krispy Kreme's cookies and cream donut ***


KK chocolate and almond donut


Portico


Portico's interior **


Cuillere (French resto) **


suman & mango with hot choco by Choco-late de Batirol


Mezzaluna's resto/bar appetizers


Mezzaluna's interior


Cupcakes by Sonja **


raspberries and cream cupcakes


MAMOU *****


roast pork and chicken - the specialty


iced tea (not the typical one)


prime ribeye steak with side dishes


grilled vegetable salad


Mamou's choco sansrival


Miss Desserts **




more desserts


cheesecake and choco decadent cake


New Orleans ****


the bar


resto interior




banana foster


New Orleans pigeon blackened ribs


T.G.I.Fridays ***


wall decor


spicy shrimp pasta


TGIF ceasar salad


Kabisera ng Dencio's ****


kabisera's adobong pusit rice with pinakbet salad


more pinoy food




Kabisera's interior


Kabisera's wall paintings


sin-turon (sinful turon with ice cream)


ube palitaw (Kabisera)


Italiannis chicken (Italiannis ****)


fish fingers (fillet)


classic carbonara


bloggers taking pics and getting Italiannis prepared food


Italiannis panacota (this is a must-try)


Italiannis tv monitor airing the sports channel


Xocolat ***


Xocolat chicken croquettas, brownie, hot choco

Yesterday, we (me, Julie and Cookie) were lucky enough to make it to the first 100 registrants to the first-ever SPOT Bloggers Tour, a food trip around the finest restaurants in Serendra. Our generous sponsor is the newest website about dining, drinking and going around Manila, the SPOT.ph.

We were given a SPOT kit which includes ID bracelets, location map, spot pass, notepads & pencils and the SPOT card with the list of participating restos/shops. The resto managers should sign our SPOT card before or after we had sampled their special dish/viands, drinks or desserts, for we would receive another gift if we complete the tour. Nice of them huh, they would let us eat for free to our hearts delight and then give us a gift after. I wonder what the gift would be. I still have my card with me, we're supposed to get our gift at the Summit office in Ortigas. And I would be doubly-delighted if this is a visit to the spa...ha ha ha.

Going back, having tried the buffet (all-you-can eat) offerings of Manila's five star hotels and some fine dining restaurants around, I wasn't prepared to go around 19 restos in one day. This is just too much. And I'm thankful to Spot.ph for the experience and the following restaurants/coffee shops (the * represents my rating on the food, interior, rates and service):

Krispy Kreme ***

Starbucks ***

Italiannis ****

Kabisera ng Dencio's ****

Texas Roadhouse Grill ****

T.G.I.F. ***

New Orleans ****

Chelsea

Choco-late de Batirol **

Cuillere **

Cupcakes by Sonja **

Fu by Hei Shin Lou **

Kape Isla **

Mamou *****

Mezzaluna ***

Miss Desserts **

The Polu Kai Grill ***

Portico **

Xocolat ***

There hope you get to choose your next eating destination...

Nicole's 11th Birthday

Today, my eldest child, Nicole is celebrating her 11th birthday. To you my loving daughter, Happy Happy Birthday. We wish you excellent health, sound mind, more blessings and I hope all your wishes come true. You give me so much happiness my child. I'm so lucky to have you and I'm so proud of all your accomplishments in school.

We love you...

The Day I Started Blogging...

My daily morning ritual would begin with a cup of coffee then have my full heavy breakfast, read The Philippine Star and Philippine Daily Inquirer, check my mails and surf more. One day while reading the paper, I came across the name of Sassy Lawyer. Got curious, I started going to her site. Oh boy, she's really one sassy lawyer, writes so well and a very loving wife and mother. From then on, my day wouldn't be complete if I don't read her blog. I tried to leave some comments, followed the instructions and actually saw them printed right away in her post. This is exciting especially when I see her reply to my comment right away. Feels great...Way back, I refer to her post as an article, her blog as a website. I still didn't know what a blog is...I admit I'm a technology-challenged individual. We don't have computer classes in high school neither in college. The first time I actually spent some time on the computer was when I encoded and printed our group thesis at home a month before our college graduation.

Going back, I was really enjoying my time reading, commenting in the Sassy Lawyer's blog. Then I tried to click innocently on the names of some people who leave their comments on each post/topic/article. Suddenly, I was in another website. I remembered it was Teacher Julie's site. Now my blog reading addiction has grown from Sassy Lawyer to Teacher Julie. Instantly, I felt connected to Julie who happens to know some of hubby's nephews. We exchanged emails and eventually became friends. Prior to that, while on the course of my readings, I started clicking on the names on Julie's blog roll. There, I've discovered so many wonderful blogs, so many great writers, fascinating life stories and lots of good natured people who share the same passion in writing. It all happened last summer. Before I've discovered the blogosphere, topics in our home ranged from my kids' studies, politics, some showbiz stuff, business, movies, sports, weekly schedules and errands. From then on, I can't help tell my hubby about the posts/blogs I've read from Heart of Rachel, Occupation: SAHM, Touched by An Angel, Imomonline, Ode to Old, The D Spot, Scrooch Chronicles, The Shadow of Abaniko, Homeworked, HipnCoolMomma, Avocado-Express, Greymom, An Apple A Day, Kwentong Walang Kwenta, Wifely Steps, Alone-In-My-Thoughts, Gypsy's Haven, Sassy Mom's Corner, Under the Canopy, Beyond Normal, Preacher in Blue Jeans, Skin Diving, My Hideaway, Simply Belle and so many fascinating blogs. For the links to the mentioned blog, please click on my blog roll.

Thereafter, I decided to make my own blog, went to Google and followed the step by step instructions. Voila! I have my own personal journal, my blog. Newly-found friends Rachel and Julie helped me so much in improving my blog. Dine even gave me some writing tips early on. My blogger-friends have grown so with my blog roll. This brought me so much joy, excitement and happiness just when some of my closed friends have left the country, or been busy with their families and careers, I've gained new friendships.

As a bonus to my overwhelming joy on this new hobby, some well-meaning bloggers encouraged me also to try sponsored posts and I'm thankful I've found another source of income while doing the things I love, reading and writing. Now, the blogging bug has bitten my sisters who are into blogging also, my cousins and even some college classmates. Not only that, now I never run out of stories (from the blogs I've read) to tell during meal time, interrupted once in awhile to issues on the current global food crisis, the U.S. primaries, political bickerings here, stories of Hannah Montana, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Dora the Explorer...and sometimes of Shaun the Sheep, ha ha...

No guys, this is not my anniversary post, not yet. Wait 'til next month, I'll celebrate it for sure. Some friends are asking how and why I started blogging, that's why I wrote this post. And my sisters' colleagues would like to start their blogs too. And to all of you my blogger-friends, Happy Blogging!

Dial-A-Movie

For movie buffs like me, this is a must in my wallet or cellphone directory. All numbers are landline contacts, choose your fave cinema and you can add it in your cell phonebook or click here for the current movie schedules.

SM MEGAMALL - 6331901

SM NORTH EDSA - 9295452

SM FAIRVIEW - 9350749

SM STA.MESA - 7161416

SM BICUTAN - 7763055

SM SAN LAZARO - 7862488

SM MANILA - 5239240

SM SOUTHMALL - 8066888

SM VALENZUELA - 2933917

SM SUCAT - 8294975

SM BAGUIO - 074-6197838

SM DASMARINAS - 046-4323201

SM STA.ROSA - 9012025

SM LIPA - 043-7840354

THE PODIUM CINEMA - 6389781

IMAX - 5564629

MALL OF ASIA - 5560104/05

Ayala Malls Cinemas, Glorietta 4 - 7527880/83

Alabang Town Center Cinema - 8508931, 842-2289

Market!Market! Cinema - 8867515, 8867516

Trinoma Cinemas - 9013695, 9013596

Greenbelt 1 - 7504180

Greenbelt 3 - 7573860/61

Shangri-la Plaza Cineplex - 6332227 or 6337851

Chocolate Chip Cookies For Summer

Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is such an easy chocolate chip cookie. No special equipment, no creaming -- a perfect cookie to do with kids. We love how versatile this dough is, too. It makes an awesome rocky road bar cookie.

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 (12-ounce) bag semisweet chocolate chips, or chunks
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon fine salt

Evenly position 2 racks in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F. (on convection setting if you have it.) Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone sheets. (If you only have 1 baking sheet, let it cool completely between batches.)

Put the butter in a microwave safe bowl, cover and microwave on medium power until melted. (Alternatively melt in a small saucepan.) Cool slightly. Whisk the sugars, eggs, butter and vanilla in a large bowl until smooth.

Whisk the flour, baking soda and salt in another bowl. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients with a wooden spoon; take care not to over mix. Stir in the chocolate chips or chunks.

Scoop heaping tablespoons of the dough onto the prepared pans. Wet hands slightly and roll the dough into balls. Space the cookies about 2-inches apart on the pans. Bake, until golden, but still soft in the center, 12 to 16 minutes, depending on how chewy or crunchy you like your cookies. Transfer hot cookies with a spatula to a rack to cool. Serve.

Store cookies in a tightly sealed container for up to 5 days.

For a Rocky Road Bar:

Lightly butter a 9 by 13-inch baking pan. Make the batter as per cookie recipe and fold in 1 cup chopped walnuts along with the chocolate chips. Spread batter in prepared pan. Bake until the edges are light brown and the batter sets, about 45 minutes. Cool slightly and cover surface with 4 cups marshmallows and 1 cup chocolate chips. Broil at least 8 inches from the heat until marshmallows turn golden brown, about 2 minutes. (Keep an eye on the marshmallows, and turn the pan frequently--they go from golden to char in a wink.) Cool, cut and serve.

Source: Food Network

A More Perfect Union

My bet, Senator Barack Obama...




Senator Barack Obama's speech delivered last March 18. Please check this out...

A Touching Story

When I've read this article, I know I just have to post this in my blog. It's really a touching story involving a near-death experience, of giving time to our precious kids, that we all have a mission in this life and that indeed, there's life after death with our Creator.

God’s message to my patient
MIND YOUR BODY By Willie T. Ong, MD
Tuesday, April 8, 2008- Philippine Star

As a doctor, you never know who will come next to your clinic. Each patient has a unique story to tell and I take the time to get to know the person well. And so, when Joaquin came to my office some time ago, I wasn’t quite ready for what I was about to hear.

Joaquin said he came for a checkup because his heart had stopped.
“Uh, what do you mean ‘stopped’?” I inquired.

He explained,“I underwent a routine gallbladder operation and my doctors said that my blood pressure suddenly dropped for unknown reasons. I died and was clinically dead for a few minutes before my doctors revived me.”

“Ooohh, another near-death experience,” I thought to myself as I recalled other patients I’ve seen with near-death experiences or so-called NDEs.

Before I became a doctor, I had read voraciously on the subject, starting with the seminal book by Dr. Raymond Moody in the ’70s, to several New Age books in the ’80s, up to the definitive near-death experience by best-selling author Betty J. Eadie in the ’90s.

As the first one to popularize NDE, Dr. Moody had interviewed hundreds of patients who died but were revived. Curiously, the events are similar: First, it’s dying and leaving the physical body. Then you may spend some time hovering over your body, watching the doctors frantically work on you. Next, you find yourself being drawn into a long dark tunnel, moving at high speed. You hear a rushing sound and after some time, you see a glimmering light at the end of the tunnel. You move closer to the light, and it becomes brighter and brighter. The light warms you, soothes you, and comforts you unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. And suddenly, you are with a great being of light. You are overwhelmed and then you know you are in the presence of God.

“You know, Doc, it’s very confusing for me,” Joaquin interrupted my thoughts. “I still don’t know what to make of it. You see, during the operation, I knew something was wrong. Then I felt I had left my body and went through a dark place, like a tunnel. And then, I met this being. He was shining..,” Joaquin paused.

“So, who was he?” I asked as I sat at the edge of my seat.

“I don’t know who he was. I’m not a religious person, but he was a being of light and he was very kind and loving. What I do know is that this person told me that my death was premature. That it was not my time yet to die. He said I had a mission to fulfill in this life.”

Joaquin’s voice raised a pitch as he continued, “So, I asked this being what kind of mission I could possibly have. I had been an ordinary hotel waiter on Roxas Boulevard for 20 years. I could barely support my wife and kids. At 46 years old and just a high school graduate, there was no hope I could ever find a better job. My work did not exactly qualify as the ‘world-saving’ type.”

From his words, I gathered that Joaquin, like so many others with NDE, had wanted to be with this being of light in that heavenly place. He could not see the meaning of his apparently meaningless existence.

Then, the being of light revealed to Joaquin his true purpose: Your mission on earth is to take care of your two children, to raise them, and be a good father to them.”

Joaquin’s words struck me like a bolt of lightning. Here I was, a doctor, sometimes wondering about my existence, about my purpose in life. And I was suddenly aware of my own guilt of not giving enough time to the most important persons in my life, my two daughters.

Joaquin’s revelation almost made me cry. Here was the Supreme Being not asking for earth-shattering discoveries or sacrifices, but to simply care for your children, like the loving Father that He is.

An hour had passed and my other patients were frantic and couldn’t wait. God’s message doesn’t come too often. I told Joaquin that I would like to help him in his mission. And since I knew he was hard up, I said I promised to treat him and his family for free as long as he needed me.

Joaquin smiled, but his mind was in another world. He wasn’t listening to me because he asked how much my fee was. “No, no, nothing,” I stammered, “You have paid me already. You have paid me more than you can imagine.”

Joaquin’s experience echoes the messages of inspirational books, both old and new: No matter how ordinary your job is, there is a God-given purpose for your work and you must do it well.

Spend time to improve family relationships, especially with your parents, children, and relatives. Loving the family and healing broken relationships are part of our purpose in this life.

Have faith. A big kind of faith. No matter how bad our situation may look like, there is always reason to hope. As Joaquin found out, God is constantly working in ways we can’t see. He’s in control and His immense love and compassion will see us through.

Going Up Day/ Pio's Graduation Day

My only son Pio Miguel, had his graduation from Prep last March 28 at the Catholic Filipino Academy (CFA), a home school provider. The Catholic Filipino Academy is duly recognized and accredited by DECS. It is being managed by Brother Bo Sanchez, a well known-Catholic preacher/ writer/ publisher. While my two girls, Nicole and Gabbie both received silver medals (one point short of getting the gold) in their school's Recognition Day last March 27. My kids told me a day before my birthday that these awards are their gifts for me. Of course these awards/medals are the best gifts I've ever received. All CFA pictures courtesy of Teacher Julie. Thanks Julie.


Pio with the other graduates and Brother Bo Sanchez



getting his medal, a character award


Pio receiving his certificate as Best in Science


Pio's grad march


Nicole and Gabbie received silver medals on their Recognition Day