CARAMEL CAKE BY BECKY'S KITCHEN

Let them eat cake!

Among the many cakes in my college barkada's New Year reunion (aka Cake Party), I loved the Caramel Cake from Becky's Kitchen the most. It was E & A's contribution.

We all agreed it's better than Estrel's. Becky's is less sweet so hindi ako mabilis naumay. For me, mas balanced yung flavors nito. Nothing overwhelming. Every bite just made me want more. Anyway, I just learned that we're not alone in proclaiming it as the best caramel cake in Manila. It's among the Top Desserts (2010) in the website of the leading local food magazine, Yummy. (Do I hear 'confeeermed'? Lol.)

I'm craving for a slice as I write this piece. Torture.

CARAMEL-COATED DREAM
Caramel Cake from Becky's Kitchen
(My shot: center kung center! Sorry.)

Among Manila's Top Desserts as per Yummy.Ph
Photo credit: www.yummy.ph

Info from Yummy: Php455 for 9-inch cake

2 branches: 

• Community Center, Suha Street, Valle Verde I, Pasig City
• 1601 P.Ocampo corner Bautista Streets, Singalong, Manila

Telephone Numbers: 

• 671-7606 
• 525-1648

WHY IT'S MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES

We started the New Year right by taking a short trip to Manila. Yes, I love that it's only three and a half hours away from SG. Yey!

Mandaluyong, Philippines. January 2012.
View from our condo unit's balcony via Instagram.
New Year Must Do: mag-"general cleaning." (That term is so Pinoy!)

With the non-stop reunions (aka kainan), it really is more fun in the Philippines!

Banapple lunch with my brother's family.
 Beef stew, crispy bangus, some yummy cheesy pasta,
blueberry pancakes and blueberry cheesecake.

Made it to our UP Barkada's annual reunion!
E to Me: "Thanks for flying thousands of miles
to be with us."

Cake Party (cakes not in photo)
at M & C's brand new home.
Plus salad, tacos, lechon manok, liempo, white rice.

Foggy or Smoggy? Tagaytay or Baguio?
View from M's balcony. Guess where.

Recipes dinner with my dear cousins and nieces.
Kare-kare, gising-gising, General's Chicken,
General's fried tofu, lechon kawali and kangkong, lotsa rice!

Cafe Breton.
Hubby and I love Breton's Tarzan
so we ordered one each, for the first time!
Miss na miss? We usually share lang. LOL.

More than the country's breathtaking natural wonders (Palawan, Boracay, Sagada, Batanes...) and good food (Hubby and I ate too much Max's crispy pata and Lapid's chicharon during this trip), we enjoy coming home to chika time with family and friends.

PRECIOUS MANILA VACATION

And just like that Manila equals Vacation! OFW point-of-view na talaga ako, hehe.

Hubby and I made a quick trip to Manila to spend time with our families. Balikbayans from the USA and KSA were home for a month-long reunion. We were able to spend only a few days with them (yung last week nila sa Manila). And those few days were PRECIOUS! So glad umabot pa kami.

Family before personal ambition. That's me. Thanks to CebuPac's cheap fares, the fact that Manila's only three and a half hours away from Singapore, and a prospective employee allowed me to choose my very own interview sked (Yes, ako nag-set ng sarili kong job interview! So pro-active. So First World.) the biglaang trip was made possible. God knows what's in my heart. I prayed - if coming home to Manila to be with my family meant losing a job opportunity then the job's not really for me. The good news: no rejection notices (Yes, they send those.) and while we were in Manila, we continued receiving interview email invites from Singapore (Bongga!).

Best memories from our short Manila trip:

1. Meals with my family. Complete kami for breakfast, lunch, merienda, dinner. Precious!
2. Mama cooked my favorite pork binagoongan. Simot!
3. Went to church with the family. Love!
4. We slept in one room, sa house ng parents ko. Siksikan. Just to be all together. Aliw!
5. Reunion parties with the clan.
6. The sight of my sis, nieces and nephew playing. Super cute!
7. Held my Mama's hand in the O.R., during a procedure. The great news: Doc declared her lump clear, on-the-spot! THANK YOU, GOD!
8. My Mama's operation was free! We're blessed with generous, kind-hearted, loving people talaga.
9. Hubby and I appreciated the privacy of our cozy condo in a whole new level. Being home alone, just the two of us, was a welcome break from living with housemates here in SG, hehe.
10. Abe, Serendra branch. Hope you can open a branch here in SG.
11. Manila's cheap massage services. We're happy with Holistic Circle, 5F Megamall.
12. Our "Christmas Bonuses"! *wink*
13. A surprise gift from my dear Tita B. I'm not worthy. Lol.

Love my family!

With my dearest Mama and Sis

My brother's beautiful family.
Look at my naughty niece making funny faces!

My iPad is now filled with family photos and videos, the perfect baon as we continue on our SG Adventure.

We're so blessed! Thank you, God, for loving us the way you do. 

DESPEDIDA DINNER

My brother, sis-in-law and cousins threw a despedida dinner for us two days before our flight. Over pizza, pancit, lumpia, chicken, and chocolate cake, we reminisced over childhood memories and planned for future SG reunions. 

Thanks for making time, everyone. Thanks to G and C for allowing us to invade their home. Thanks for all the well wishes. *Hugs*

Almost every year, one of us flies out to other parts of the world. Unti-unti na nga raw nalalagas ang magpipinsan sa Manila. What comforts us is the fact that wherever we are, we all know we'll forever be a family (and there's always Facebook and Skype for chika! LOL). 

We'll miss all of you! Love you.

Every one got excited over C's potluck contribution -- the gigantic pizza from Caldag's. Kaya maraming photos with it. Lol.

CELEBRATIONS AT CAFE PROVENCAL

There was so much to celebrate. Not even Typhoon Quiel could stop us. 

Last Saturday, my college barkada met up at Cafe Provencal, Shangrila Mall for M's baby shower, M's new home, J's birthday and my despedida.

Original plan was to have it in Antipolo, in M & C's brand new home. But with F so praning about the storm, we changed location -- sa Metro Manila na lang, in a mall resto.

The buntis had the privilege of choosing the resto. Hindi Pinoy food, we could have our own corner, pwede mag-ingay. Check, check, check.

After finishing our soups, salads, sausage & cheese platters, pastas, pizzas, red wine, iced teas and sodas, we had games (yes, may games!), thanks to Game Master L who was so prepared. Karir! With props and prizes pa! We're so impressed.

We played Pinoy Henyo (Theme: Singapore); Charades (Theme: Having a Baby); and Guess The Baby's Name. Super fun! We were super gulo and super ingay. We were noisier than the kids at the carousel (na katabi namin). LOL. While Hubby was in National Bookstore (right below Cafe Provencal), he could hear us laughing, at ako raw ang stand-out. Every one close to me knows how loud I laugh. (One time, a cousin found her way to me, in a crowded, huge office floor, by tracing saan galing ang malakas na tawa.). LOL.

I'll miss you, Friends.

Thank you for the years of friendship (happy to have grown-up with all of you!), all the gifts (kasyang-kasya sa luggage!), the tips, leads, SG connections, the inspiring words, prayers...

My beloved UP-CMC Supremes.
We call us that because we all graduated with honors.
But beyond the 'magna cum laude' and 'cum laude' titles,
these people are THE BEST in friendship!

Have a safe delivery M!
Congratulations on your new home M & C!
Happy birthday J!

Looking forward to more life celebrations with all of you!


PS
Where's Hubby? Taga-picture. He loves taking photos. Hates being photographed. LOL

N's BDAY TREAT

Over vegetable kare-kare, crispy pata, crispy tilapia and loads of rice (Oh, I'll miss Pinoy food), we celebrated my dear friend N's birthday in advance. As usual, mas busog kami sa kuwentuhan. 

The night's surprise: Hindi lang si N ang may gift. Ako rin! They got me items from my birthday wish list. Thanks, Friends! That was so thoughtful of you. 

True Friends J, N, M. And me.
Taken at Finio's, Tomas Morato.

Their despedida gift for me. Thank you!

Hindi naman ako masyadong masaya.
Look at that BIG smile! LOL

PS
Where's Hubby? He took all the photos above.

BONCHON CHICKEN AT THE SHANGRILA MALL

BonChon Chicken's Shangrila Mall branch is now open. It's located at the basement (food court floor), between Jollibee and KFC, near the Rustan's grocery.

Their claim: BonChon's the "Best Chicken in America," as declared by The New York Times, GQ and Esquire.

We've tried the Ayala Triangle and Megamall branches. We're celebrating because this one's so much nearer our home. Yey!

Hubby's flavor of choice: Hot & Spicy  

Mine: Soy-Garlic

With BonChon so near, I'll stop doing home-made buffalo wings na muna. LOL.

Last night's BonChon Take Out

MASSAGE DATES

Two massage dates this week. Ahhhh, love it!

Monday: Ton Ton Massage, along Shaw Blvd. 

Only Php250 for a full body Thai Massage if you go between 12nn and 6pm.

We so needed this in the middle of all the errands, packing and never-ending To Dos. 

I'll surely miss Manila's cheap spa treats. We've tried the massage services in SG's Chinatown and Bugis areas. They're also good. Their forte: reflexology. But nothing is as cheap as Manila's Php250 (approx USD5) one hour, full body service. 

We'll definitely go back to TonTon before flying out. Cheap lang naman eh. *wink*

Wednesday: The Spa, Trinoma, QC

This was part of Tito C's never-ending birthday celebration. He treated every one -- there were eight of us -- to a massage of our choice. Happy bday!

Hubby and I chose the Combination Massage -- Swedish on our backs, Shiatsu everywhere else (oil only on our backs, dry on the rest of our bodies). 

We missed The Spa. Since saving up for The SG Dream, we've gone only to the more affordable spas (Holistic Circle at Megamall and TonTon). Wednesday's massage reminded us that The Spa's treats are worth every peso. Yes, you do pay for more. But you'll see and feel the difference. Alam mo kung saan napupunta ang pera mo. Love it there. (Highly-recommended: Traditional Hilot at The Spa.)

We all felt so relaxed after our massages. Too relaxed and too happy that we pigged out at Abe's Trinoma -- crispy pata, sisig, laing, gising-gising, pinaputok na pla-pla, sinigang na bangus sa bayabas, loads of rice. Hala!

Tito C's never-ending bday celebration!
Photo taken by Hubby.

CINE EUROPA 14

The plan was to see at least half of this year's Cine Europa films. We're on vacation and we're neighbors with the Shangrila Mall so that should be attainable, right? Wrong. We got to see only two (Austria's "Little Robbers" and Sweden's "Mammoth") out of the seventeen titles. Our "to-dos" are never ending kasi. Hehe.

The free tickets are released
30 minutes before each screening.

The child actors from "Little Robbers" stole our hearts. They were so adorable! The film was so funny -- the comedy's fresh (dahil sa mga bagets), the story was single-minded (its simplicity worked), the timing and pacing just right. 

Siblings Robby and Louise attempt to rob a bank that
forcibly banished their parents from their apartment
after their father lost his job (from PEP.ph)

Mammoth: parang MMK! As in Maalaala Mo Kaya. In more ways than one. (1) A Pinay Nanny working in New York takes really good care of her ward habang nangungulila sa ina ang mga anak niya sa Pilipinas. (2) There were a lot of scenes shot in the Philippines to show the struggle of the Pinay Nanny's family. (3) The dramatic storytelling style is so familiar. Was someone from Star Cinema or ABS-CBN part of the production team? LOL.

The quiet life of a couple changes
after the husband faces unlikely encounters
during his travels. (from PEP.ph)

Pinay actress Marife Necesito who played the role of Nanny Gloria in Mammoth was present during the September 16 Cine Europa screening. Had my photo taken with her, see below. Hubby and I watched this with my college friends L and M.

Watched Mammoth because I'm a fan of Gael Garcia Bernal.
Photos taken from my lowly Nokia E63, sorry.

CAFE PROVENCAL's CHICKEN

We love Cafe Provencal's Garlic Roasted Chicken! It's so very flavorful! As in. For all chicken lovers out there, this one's a must-try! If chicken can melt in your mouth, ito yun. 

Cafe Provencal is located at the 2F of Shangrila Mall, beside Steve Madden, near the carousel. 

Half chicken marinated in rosemary, garlic, olive oil,
served with fettucine alio olio,
roasted garlic heads garlic roast potatoes and red wine gravy

We had this with pumpkin soup (Php155) and the Caesar salad (Php295). The chicken is less than Php600. 

Happy, hearty dinner to you all! Good night. 

PS

We said less eating out, not naman 'no more eating out.' Hehe. 

P.S. ON OUR OFW ERRANDS

Post Script on my OFW Errands blog entry...

Tatlong oras din yun ha!

Was telling J -- We must be in a really happy disposition to consider the three-hour-wait at the Pag-Ibig Office "fast and efficient." Ganyan kami kasaya. LOL.

This career break seems to be bringing out the best in us.

OFW ERRANDS

We're in the thick of our OFW errands.

So happy to share that yesterday's first string of "To Dos" has been a breeze. I'm impressed with the efficient, fast and friendly service of SSS Diliman and Pag-Ibig Kamias. Mabuhay ang mga government employees na aming nakasalamuha!


First stop: Social Security System Diliman 

How to get there: It's along East Avenue. From EDSA Northbound, turn right at East Avenue. The SSS Membership Assistance Center (MAC) is located after V.Luna Road, before the East Avenue Hospital.

Errand: We need to change our membership from employee to voluntary.

We got there 10am. Proceeded to the SSS MAC Booth 1 for forms. We lined up for less than thirty seconds (Yes, that quick!). The lady gave us Form RS-5, the SSS Voluntary Contribution Table (see sample here), the SSS Voluntary Contribution Schedule. Your voluntary contribution will be based on your monthly income. And your deadline is based on the last digit of your SSS number.

We plan to advance our contributions until end of 2012, para wala ng aberya. The lines in SSS for payments are too long so hindi na doon, sa mall na lang. The SM Business Center in Megamall (5F), a 10-minute walk from our condo, is often empty so dun na lang. The banks are always puno so ayaw ko rin. Representatives may pay on your behalf, they should know lang your SSS number (Yey!).

The SSS MAC Booth 1 lady patiently answered our questions. We were out of there in less than twenty minutes! Wow.

We had all the time for early lunch. Yahoo!


Next stop: Pag-Ibig Kamias 

Address: 795 EDSA. Very near GMA Network. It's right beside the condo (Victoria Condo?) adjacent to the GMA-Kamuning MRT station.

We arrived 11am. Got a number for the change of membership -- again, from employee to OCW (That's Pag-Ibig's term. SSS uses OFW.).

Our number was called one hour and twenty minutes later. But we didn't mind the waiting. We were prepared for the worst. (We thought nga sa SSS lang kami makakapunta that day.) There were enough seats for every one, the office is air-conditioned and there were TVs tuned in to Eat Bulaga. There's also a Mini-Stop nearby in case you need a quick bite. I had my magazine and iPad. Hubby had his iPod games. It was a pretty comfortable wait.

When our number was finally called, they made us fill-up forms, asked for photocopies of our passports, and made us pay for our contributions. Yung pila sa cashier mahaba, we waited for another hour. Marami kasing tao. We decided to pay up to December 2011. For the next contributions, there's a Pag-Ibig Office at the Lucky Plaza, along Orchard Road, in SG. Yey!

We decided to get our Pag-Ibig IDs na rin, andun na kami eh. The guards led us to a lady officer at the 2nd Floor. She just asked for valid I.D.s and ang bilis, nahanap na niya ang files namin. The entire thing took less than five minutes.

We were out of there before 2pm. No one was masungit. No one was mabagal. Every one was very accommodating. At maayos ang pila sa lahat ng counters. There are a lot of people lang talaga. So just patiently wait for your turn.


Errand in between errands: Coop

While waiting for our turn at the Pag-Ibig cashier, we decided to drop by the Coop (a mere 5-minute walk from Pag-Ibig) to sign some documents. O diba? We were able to squeeze in errand #3 pa! Bongga!

WAITING GAME
Brought a mag and my iPad.
Devoured my Preview September issue
at the Pag-Ibig office.

Today, we tried to get our NBI Clearances at the Mandaluyong City Hall Satellite Office. We were there 9am. But we were informed the Application Forms for the day are ubos na. Nauubos pala yun?! Arg. We'll just go back next week. We'll make sure we're there 6am (6am!), that's when they start distributing forms daw kasi.

What else do we have to work on? Ah, our PhilHealth memberships. Good thing their office is located along Shaw Boulevard. Same street as our condo. Yey!

Hope we're not missing anything.

Would you know of more Bagong Bayani must-dos?

THE PHILIPPINES DESERVES A VISIT FROM THE WORLD

I'm supporting Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez's call to promote the country any which way we can. Because, yes, I agree, "we deserve a visit from the world."


I'm re-posting an entry from November 2010, My Top Picks for the Philippines...

...I know there are more than three must-sees in our country. But for now, allow me to talk about my Top Three.

#1 Palawan

I've been to Palawan thrice. First with college friends right after graduation, then with J to celebrate our First Wedding Anniversary, then with my family months ago. I've only seen parts of Puerto Princesa, Sabang and Port Barton. I know there's so much more to explore. My impression: If you love the beach, minus the parties, this is where you should go. One of my life dreams is to have a family vacation home in Palawan. But the more immediate goal is to see Coron soon.

Above, Clockwise:

Fallen tree by the beach;

Off to the Monkey Trail

(Most people go to the Underground River via a 20-minute boat ride.

We chose to take the 2-hour trek);

Me, floating on water (haha);

Us on a duyan (a cradle);

rock formation in Port Barton;

baby crocs at the Crocodile Farm;

hard hats as anti-bat pee/poo gear;

exiting the Underground River;

Bulol swimming at the Star Fish Island.

A bit from our date: I remember us taking a 2-hour jeepney ride from our overnight stay in Port Barton back to Puerto Princesa. I was seated inside the jeep, together with most of the commuters while J was on the vehicle's roof (yes, top ride!), together with three squealing pigs and a couple of other locals. My husband's fearless. Sometimes, his adventurous spirit could give me a heart attack! Needless to say, I was frantic the entire trip (couldn't sit still, was worried sick about him, especially on the zigzag roads!). Why did I allow him to take the top ride? He's a pro. As a mountaineer, he's done it a gazillion times. And I didn't want to be a kill-joy so I agreed. Thank God we got to our destination safe and sound.

LONELY PLANET: "Palawan is one of the real treasures of the Philippines...Due in equal parts to its rugged topography, its small population and its distance from other islands in the archipelago, Palawan has managed to stay largely pristine.

Palawan's world-class diving, snorkelling and jungle trekking make it a must-see destination for nature lovers and adventure-sports fans. The fantastic seascapes of the Bacuit Archipelago, the wrecks around Coron Town and the magical lakes of Coron Island should rank high on any visitor's list. You could spend a lifetimediscovering new islands, beaches and reefs, particularly around northern Palawanand Busuanga Island.

With convenient and quick plane and ferry connections from Luzon, Palawan is easy to get to. With few paved roads, however, it can be time consuming to travel overland around Palawan. But the views along the way are usually worth the time and effort. Of course, in the wet season, which usually runs here from June to September, road travel can be difficult in the days following a heavy rain. But, it is possible to travel in Palawan during the wet season, and many people enjoy the brilliant sunsets that come with the clouds.

All told, we consider Palawan to be one of the most rewarding outdoor-sports destinations not just in the Philippines, but in all of Southeast Asia."

#2 Sagada

I'm proud to have survived the adventures of Sagada! It was J's nth visit, my first. We were there to celebrate our Second Wedding Anniversary. Considering my limited outdoors experience and skills, it was my roughest but most rewarding travel experience so far! As for J, walang-wala sa kanya (it was peanuts), haha.

Above, Clockwise:

The rickety mini bus we rode from Baguio to Sagada

(Glad the hell ride was worth it!);

Bulol by the Sagada Bell;

Echo Mountain;

Take a peek inside the Sagada Church;

Bulol by the Pine Trees;

J hanging off the cliff! (Told you he's fearless.);

Locals dancing in the dap-ayan;

gorgeous rock formations;

hanging coffins;

Bulol by the lamp, inside the Sumaging Cave;

we went trekking;

a cow guarding one of the tomb stones at the local cemetery;

Center: That's us inside the adventure-filled Sumaging Cave

(expect to trek, rapel, walk through ice-cold, neck-deep water,

crawl through holes)

I'm a Sagada Survivor!

A bit from our date: My favorite moment was napping one afternoon in the Sagada park (near the Church), engulfed by the scent of pine trees, with the locals singing and dancing one-hundred feet away, while J watched over me. It remains to be one of the most relaxing moments of my life.

LONELY PLANET: "The absence of noise and pollution are probably the first things you'll appreciate about Sagada, a tranquil mountaintop town where you can walk down the middle of the road and only occasionally be disturbed by a passing vehicle. Backpackers have been flocking here for years to enjoy the incredible mountain scenery, cheap dope and companionship of like-minded travellers.

Sagada fills up quickly in the March-to-May high season. But despite its popularity it manages to stave off changes that would detract from its appeal as an 'ecotourism' destination - there are no massive hotels or blaring discos, and videoke is conspicuously absent. For many Sagadans, the traditional way of life remains intact. During harvest celebrations, women wear tapis while older men don G-strings and gather in the dap-ay; chickens are sacrificed, gongs are played and general merriment ensues.

Sagadans are of Applai (Northern Kankanay) ancestry and their native language is Kankanay although, as in the rest of the Cordilleras, Ilocano and English are widely spoken.

It can get chilly at night, especially from December to February, when temperatures can drop as low as 4°C. From March to May, temperatures rise as high as 30°C during the day. The rest of the year is the wet season, when the normal pattern is a sunny, pleasant morning followed by a heavy, long afternoon shower."

#3 Batanes (though we've never been here)

"Taming the wind and the waters in the northernmost Philippine frontier, the relatively isolated islands of the Batanes, the home of the resilient and welcoming Ivatans, with its rolling hills, subtropical climate, ancient cultures, windswept traditional stone houses and breathtaking landscapes and seascapes which perhaps make it one of the prettiest corners of the world." -- http://tourism-philippines.com/batanes/

Photo: philecotourism.wordpress.com

If J and I could see only one more Pinas Spot, we'd both choose Batanes. I always hear about travelers being taken back in time, as if they're transported to a totally different world.

Just how untouched is Batanes? Read about the Honesty Cafe. I wonder if there's something like it anywhere else in the world. Only in the Philippines!

SISIG DATE

Among the many things I'll miss when we fly out: sizzling sisig (Wikipedia: Sisig is a Filipino dish made from parts of pig's head and liver, usually seasoned with calamansi and chili peppers).

So today, for lunch, I suggested we eat at Trellis (Matalino Street, Teachers Village, Quezon City), our favorite sisig place. When we lived in the neighborhood, we were Trellis regulars. As in pwede na raw kaming stock holders, hehe.

Our sisig style: Well-done. With calamansi. With rice and Coke.

Me: With lots of Knorr seasoning and hot sauce.

SARAP!

What's your sisig style?

PAELLA CRAVING

After seeing a Spanish cuisine-themed cooking episode on TV, I found myself craving for paella. Pumatol naman si Hubby. He really loves me. *big smile*

Above:

Dulcinea's Paella Valenciana

Good for two, less than Php500

Waiting time: 30 mins

Since it was too biglaan to have the paella delivered (according to the internet, the best ones are home-based, for delivery or pick-up), we decided to walk to the nearest Spanish resto, Dulcinea. We know it's not among the best paellas in town, but it was good enough for a hungry wife. We had it with a pitcher of fresh fruit shake, with mushroom soup (comes free with the paella), and churros for a happy ending.

What have you been craving for lately? Did you give in?

Buen apetito!

OPENING NIGHT

Barely six months into "serious" photography, hubby's first (group) photo exhibit is up! Claps and snaps! *very proud wife* Could this be proof that anyone may excel in anything he puts his mind and heart into?

Sharing the highlights from opening night...

J: Tilak Hettige's Dawn to Dusk 2 photo exhibit opened Monday, with National artist Benedicto "Bencab" Cabrera cutting the ceremonial ribbon. Premiere wedding photographer Patrick Uy, along with other members of the prestigious Camera Club of the Philippines, also graced the occasion. But putting one over everyone else is surprise guest, Hayden Kho! Who would've known he's into photography. Isn't he into videography? :)

Above, clockwise:

My writer-photographer-creative director-

martial artist-mountaineer-fencer-medical miracle

Hubby with one of his photos;

Us;

with photography enthusiast Hayden Kho;

ribbon cutting ceremony with hubby's mentor Tilak Hettige,

National Artist BenCab and premiere photographer Patrick Uy.

A: All the photos on display were taken at the BenCab Museum, Baguio City (where I ate and read while their group was at work). The exhibit will run until July 10 (with possibility of being extended according to Tilak) at the Camera Club of the Philippines, Makati City. It's open Monday to Sunday, 10am-7pm. Thanks to every one who've taken the time to drop by (special mention to our friend E who came on opening night). I'll try to post hubby's photos here after the exhibit.

Love on Display

Picture Perfect

Mr. & Mrs. M

MY TOP RAINY DAY SOUPS

Finally, a dry day (but still a gloomy one) for Manila.

All those rainy days and nights made me crave for sabaw (But even on a sunny day, I'm such a soup person, so like my Papa).

My favorites, in random order (excluding my Mama's masasarap na sabaw na malapit ko nang matikman uli!):

• Leslie's bulalo. Sinful. But always enough reason to drive to Tagaytay.
• Via Mare's sinigang na baka. Perfect ang timpla ng asim! And the beef's so tender.
• Recipe's bird's nest. Generous serving (I think it's good for five people so when hubby and I order this, ang dami talaga!). Has always been among my comfort food.
• Sizzling Seafood's sinigang na ulo ng salmon. Salmon's among my top seafood favorites. This one's so affordable, only Php135, good for two (but because hubby's not into salmon, I have it all to myself)!
• Max's hototay soup. Best way to start your fried chicken fest, hehe.
• Pho Hoa's seafood noodle. Tastes so healthy. Love it more with loads of their hot sauce.

Above: Pho Hoa's seafood noodle

Above: Pho Hoa's hot sauce

What's your rainy day soup for the soul?

PROUD WIFE MOMENT

You're all invited to my hubby J's first (group) photo exhibit, "Tilak Hettige's Dawn to Dusk 2," opening on Monday, June 27, at the Camera Club of the Philippines, Chino Roces Ave., Makati City.

National Artist Benedicto "Bencab" Cabrera will open the exhibit. Taray! *proud wife moment*