My cousin never fails to discover the best finds within my hometown. She has been my reliable source whenever I needed hometown recommendations. A few days ago, she has been telling me to visit this local shoe shop and factory. On one weekend, I agreed to visit after accomplishing an errand. I was hoping to purchase a pair of black mules. I underestimated everything. I was brought to a heaven of ballet flats. 

• May 27, 2019
• flat shoes

Hometown Hits! Pelina Shoes: Cheapest Ballet Flats in Marikina City

My cousin never fails to discover the best finds within my hometown. She has been my reliable source whenever I needed hometown recommendations. A few days ago, she has been telling me to visit this local shoe shop and factory. On one weekend, I agreed to visit after accomplishing an errand. I was hoping to purchase a pair of black mules. I underestimated everything. I was brought to a heaven of ballet flats. 

Read More

Blame all the Korean drama series I watched. I cannot anymore remember when my addiction to samyeopsal started. Years ago, finding a Korean restaurant in Manila is quite a challenge. Thankful to all the brave and innovative entrepreneurs, having a Korean meal became accessible and affordable to Filipinos. Every now and then, a Korean grill restaurant is sprouting in the city.

• February 25, 2019
• Food

DIY Samgyeopsal: The Filipino Way and how much it costs

Blame all the Korean drama series I watched. I cannot anymore remember when my addiction to samyeopsal started. Years ago, finding a Korean restaurant in Manila is quite a challenge. Thankful to all the brave and innovative entrepreneurs, having a Korean meal became accessible and affordable to Filipinos. Every now and then, a Korean grill restaurant is sprouting in the city.

Read More

Define tiredness. I underestimated my plans for the weekend. I met a freelance client on Saturday morning. Our meeting place was quite far from home. Took the MRT and it was one of the biggest mistakes I made. Hahahaha The crowd was no longer tolerable, given that it was already a Saturday. Added to this, the airconditioning system of the train malfunctioned. Welcome to the gates of hell! I alighted way ahead from my destination and took a taxi cab instead. I cannot arrive looking so haggard and harassed. I owe it to my client, added to this, our meeting place was in Greenbelt. I have to look at least half decent. Hahaha

I wouldn't mind taking this passageway several times. This is one thing I love about Greenbelt, although the shops and people around never fail to intimidate me. Haha

I had an intense discussion from late morning until after lunch. Since I rarely visit the Makati Area, I took the chance to explore Landmark and Glorietta. I spent so much time in Landmark's Home Section (of all places). This is probably the effect of gaining so much weight and aging. Clothes and all those prettifying stuff no longer interest me that much. I fell in love with a few furniture pieces, treasure boxes, and the bird cage inspired lamps and decor. I was able to control my shopaholic hormones so I ended buying the much needed bed sheets for our home. I had a great shopping deal only to forget that I'm traveling on my own. I didn't realize how heavy were the paperbags. I wanted to explore SM Makati but the paperbags were punishing me. I made another mistake of taking the pathway to the MRT. I was already too tired so I gave in. I was hoping that the train will be better. I made another stupid decision. I had a repeat experience and by the time I alighted from the rain the heavy paperbags were suddenly ruined. Award for the most embarrassing moment of the year! If only I look as good as Rebecca Bloomwood, I wouldn't mind. Hahaha Perspiration and oiliness to the highest level!  I walked, carried the paperbags and lined up in the supermarket for my saving grace... the cheapest eco. bag to salvage the heavy bed sheets. I ended having early dinner in a fully airconditioned restaurant (another mistake) because by the time I got home, it felt like my head will explode because of the worst headache. 

Meanwhile, here are a few of the many things that caught my attention in Landmark's Home Section. I never purchased any of these. The bird cage inspired decors and lamps are love! Although I know another place where to get this cheaper. Hehehe  I love the chair although the people around me doesn't see any inch of beauty. All the more when they learned the price tag, whooping Php 20,000!!

Patio de Conchita - The last photo from the right was taken from one of famous restaurants in Intramuros. This reminds me, I have to take decent photos and prepare a separate blog post for this beautiful  place. 

You can never go wrong with your favorite cake :) I was feeling down the entire week. To console myself, I gave in to these sinful treats. Oreo cheesecake at the workplace and a few slices from Mary Grace.

Tamarind Juice Drink - Sounds weird, indeed. Discovered this from 7-11 and out of sheer curiosity, I gave it a try. It really tastes tamarind!!! 

Cheese Bokki - This cheese flavored noodles caught my attention. Although expensive at Php 60, it has become my new favorite. Cheese soup! It felt like a dream come true for the "CHEESE-iest" person in me. 

These shabby chic lamps! - I dragged my friend A to Lucky Chinatown Mall only because I wanted to vent out my frustrations over a plate of Thai meal. Hahaha The mall never fails to impress me with their decors. I love the humongous shabby chic lamps hanging from the mall's highest ceiling.

Araneta Center Cubao - The place has really transformed. If you haven't seen the place over the last 5 years, you will be surprised with all the changes. The place is now dominated by high rise residential buildings, a hotel, and buildings rented by different BPO companies. I shot this photo from the Gateway Tower while enjoying my Taco Bell dinner. :)

I took a sudden leave from work for 2 days. To wake up with a decent sunrise is something I've been deprived over the last 11 years?! Haha I have an overflowing pool of leave credits. I realized that it's not so bad to pause for a while especially when everything seems to turn out so worse.

Vikings with Fun Fab Fam - Thanks to my cousin M for the birthday treat. :) 

Postcards  - Dear Marieken, All your letters arrived before the week ended. I love the green envelope. 

Photography from Marieken -  The favorite photo deserves a separate photo. I admire your eye for photography Marieken. 

I'm typing this a few hours before Sunday ends. I still have some examination papers to check. Truth to be told, the past week did not turn out good. There were tears and swollen eyes in the middle of the week. Friday felt bit better and continued on the entire weekend. There were little treats and surprises along the way. I'm thankful. :) 

• August 16, 2015
• Beautiful Sunday

Beautiful Sunday # 173 - Weekend Treats and Surprises

Define tiredness. I underestimated my plans for the weekend. I met a freelance client on Saturday morning. Our meeting place was quite far from home. Took the MRT and it was one of the biggest mistakes I made. Hahahaha The crowd was no longer tolerable, given that it was already a Saturday. Added to this, the airconditioning system of the train malfunctioned. Welcome to the gates of hell! I alighted way ahead from my destination and took a taxi cab instead. I cannot arrive looking so haggard and harassed. I owe it to my client, added to this, our meeting place was in Greenbelt. I have to look at least half decent. Hahaha

I wouldn't mind taking this passageway several times. This is one thing I love about Greenbelt, although the shops and people around never fail to intimidate me. Haha

I had an intense discussion from late morning until after lunch. Since I rarely visit the Makati Area, I took the chance to explore Landmark and Glorietta. I spent so much time in Landmark's Home Section (of all places). This is probably the effect of gaining so much weight and aging. Clothes and all those prettifying stuff no longer interest me that much. I fell in love with a few furniture pieces, treasure boxes, and the bird cage inspired lamps and decor. I was able to control my shopaholic hormones so I ended buying the much needed bed sheets for our home. I had a great shopping deal only to forget that I'm traveling on my own. I didn't realize how heavy were the paperbags. I wanted to explore SM Makati but the paperbags were punishing me. I made another mistake of taking the pathway to the MRT. I was already too tired so I gave in. I was hoping that the train will be better. I made another stupid decision. I had a repeat experience and by the time I alighted from the rain the heavy paperbags were suddenly ruined. Award for the most embarrassing moment of the year! If only I look as good as Rebecca Bloomwood, I wouldn't mind. Hahaha Perspiration and oiliness to the highest level!  I walked, carried the paperbags and lined up in the supermarket for my saving grace... the cheapest eco. bag to salvage the heavy bed sheets. I ended having early dinner in a fully airconditioned restaurant (another mistake) because by the time I got home, it felt like my head will explode because of the worst headache. 

Meanwhile, here are a few of the many things that caught my attention in Landmark's Home Section. I never purchased any of these. The bird cage inspired decors and lamps are love! Although I know another place where to get this cheaper. Hehehe  I love the chair although the people around me doesn't see any inch of beauty. All the more when they learned the price tag, whooping Php 20,000!!

Patio de Conchita - The last photo from the right was taken from one of famous restaurants in Intramuros. This reminds me, I have to take decent photos and prepare a separate blog post for this beautiful  place. 

You can never go wrong with your favorite cake :) I was feeling down the entire week. To console myself, I gave in to these sinful treats. Oreo cheesecake at the workplace and a few slices from Mary Grace.

Tamarind Juice Drink - Sounds weird, indeed. Discovered this from 7-11 and out of sheer curiosity, I gave it a try. It really tastes tamarind!!! 

Cheese Bokki - This cheese flavored noodles caught my attention. Although expensive at Php 60, it has become my new favorite. Cheese soup! It felt like a dream come true for the "CHEESE-iest" person in me. 

These shabby chic lamps! - I dragged my friend A to Lucky Chinatown Mall only because I wanted to vent out my frustrations over a plate of Thai meal. Hahaha The mall never fails to impress me with their decors. I love the humongous shabby chic lamps hanging from the mall's highest ceiling.

Araneta Center Cubao - The place has really transformed. If you haven't seen the place over the last 5 years, you will be surprised with all the changes. The place is now dominated by high rise residential buildings, a hotel, and buildings rented by different BPO companies. I shot this photo from the Gateway Tower while enjoying my Taco Bell dinner. :)

I took a sudden leave from work for 2 days. To wake up with a decent sunrise is something I've been deprived over the last 11 years?! Haha I have an overflowing pool of leave credits. I realized that it's not so bad to pause for a while especially when everything seems to turn out so worse.

Vikings with Fun Fab Fam - Thanks to my cousin M for the birthday treat. :) 

Postcards  - Dear Marieken, All your letters arrived before the week ended. I love the green envelope. 

Photography from Marieken -  The favorite photo deserves a separate photo. I admire your eye for photography Marieken. 

I'm typing this a few hours before Sunday ends. I still have some examination papers to check. Truth to be told, the past week did not turn out good. There were tears and swollen eyes in the middle of the week. Friday felt bit better and continued on the entire weekend. There were little treats and surprises along the way. I'm thankful. :) 

Read More

Before the school year started, I decided to clean my room and throw away those papers, magazines, reference materials and other books I have not been using. It took me almost a day to sort out and finish everything. Ironically, I have a small room yet I always allow myself to accommodate a lot of unnecessary things. As I browsed the few magazines I have, I saw this

At least for my friends, they know me as the last person who would ever purchase this kind of magazine. I don't know what forces and spirits made me bought a Singaporean based home and lifestyle magazine. Perhaps, I just wanted to display something in our living room back when I purchased this. I admit that of the years I had this magazine, I never had the chance to browse and read the entire contents.

I checked the magazine and look what I found 

How unique and innovative!

This in effect made me google more ways to repurpose a typical ladder.

Photo Source here

Shabby chic!

Photo Source here

Photo Source here

Photo Source here

Photo Source here

 Versatility!

Photo Source here

Imagination at its finest :)

 In your room

Photo Source here

Photo Source here

I was amazed of these simple creativity and imagination. If destiny will allow me build my own place, repurposed ladders will surely be included in my home pieces.

Linking this post to Kim of Savvy Southern Style's 70th Wow Us Wednesday

• June 11, 2012
• home

Repurposing ladders

Before the school year started, I decided to clean my room and throw away those papers, magazines, reference materials and other books I have not been using. It took me almost a day to sort out and finish everything. Ironically, I have a small room yet I always allow myself to accommodate a lot of unnecessary things. As I browsed the few magazines I have, I saw this

At least for my friends, they know me as the last person who would ever purchase this kind of magazine. I don't know what forces and spirits made me bought a Singaporean based home and lifestyle magazine. Perhaps, I just wanted to display something in our living room back when I purchased this. I admit that of the years I had this magazine, I never had the chance to browse and read the entire contents.

I checked the magazine and look what I found 

How unique and innovative!

This in effect made me google more ways to repurpose a typical ladder.

Photo Source here

Shabby chic!

Photo Source here

Photo Source here

Photo Source here

Photo Source here

 Versatility!

Photo Source here

Imagination at its finest :)

 In your room

Photo Source here

Photo Source here

I was amazed of these simple creativity and imagination. If destiny will allow me build my own place, repurposed ladders will surely be included in my home pieces.

Linking this post to Kim of Savvy Southern Style's 70th Wow Us Wednesday

Read More

I'm still savoring the rare week long holiday we experience in observance of the Holy Week. During Good Friday, my family has this tradition of visiting my maternal relatives in the province. We just arrived home, tired, sleepy yet happy of what we had today.  I was able to see my cousins, nephews and nieces who never failed to make me smile.

Aside from the great company of my family, food is one of the many things that complete us. As we shared some delectable sea foods, my mother never forgets to provide our needed vegetable intake. Most of the younger members of my family are meat lovers. Though meat is tastier and we know that our body needs vegetables, we still couldn't get enough of meat dishes. Making everyone eat and appreciate vegetables may not be that difficult with the right imagination and creativity. The rise of cooking shows and some food bloggers made me discover some creative and "deceiving" vegetable recipes. Eating vegetables may not appear as a supreme sacrifice with recipes that make vegetables as delectable with that of meat dishes.

One vegetable recipe that I learned to love is the Kang Kong Chips. Kang Kong is the Filipino term for Water Spinach or Swamp Cabbage. Kang Kong usually thrives in Asian countries such as Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and Philippines.

Photo from Wikipedia

Kang Kong is used as an ingredient in most Filipino dishes. Instead of using it as a mere ingredient, I told my mother to make it as an appetizer. I've read a number of food bloggers turned the Kang Kong leaves as chips.

Making Kang Kong chips is easy. All you need are the following
Cooking oil
Beaten eggs
Corn starch
Salt and pepper to taste

How to cook?

1. Clean the Kang Kong leaves.
2. Combine the beaten eggs and corn starch. Depending on your taste, you can add salt and pepper.
3. Dip the Kang Kong leaves to to the mixture.
4. Deep fry the coated Kang Kong leaves.

You have your Kang Kong chips

Kang Kong Chips

The only thing that makes the Kang Kong Chips unhealthy is the excessive oil brought about by the fact that it's deep fried.

There you have it! To my few and valued readers, don't worry I'm far from turning to a cooking blog :) .

• April 07, 2012
• Food

Another recipe attempt :)

I'm still savoring the rare week long holiday we experience in observance of the Holy Week. During Good Friday, my family has this tradition of visiting my maternal relatives in the province. We just arrived home, tired, sleepy yet happy of what we had today.  I was able to see my cousins, nephews and nieces who never failed to make me smile.

Aside from the great company of my family, food is one of the many things that complete us. As we shared some delectable sea foods, my mother never forgets to provide our needed vegetable intake. Most of the younger members of my family are meat lovers. Though meat is tastier and we know that our body needs vegetables, we still couldn't get enough of meat dishes. Making everyone eat and appreciate vegetables may not be that difficult with the right imagination and creativity. The rise of cooking shows and some food bloggers made me discover some creative and "deceiving" vegetable recipes. Eating vegetables may not appear as a supreme sacrifice with recipes that make vegetables as delectable with that of meat dishes.

One vegetable recipe that I learned to love is the Kang Kong Chips. Kang Kong is the Filipino term for Water Spinach or Swamp Cabbage. Kang Kong usually thrives in Asian countries such as Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and Philippines.

Photo from Wikipedia

Kang Kong is used as an ingredient in most Filipino dishes. Instead of using it as a mere ingredient, I told my mother to make it as an appetizer. I've read a number of food bloggers turned the Kang Kong leaves as chips.

Making Kang Kong chips is easy. All you need are the following
Cooking oil
Beaten eggs
Corn starch
Salt and pepper to taste

How to cook?

1. Clean the Kang Kong leaves.
2. Combine the beaten eggs and corn starch. Depending on your taste, you can add salt and pepper.
3. Dip the Kang Kong leaves to to the mixture.
4. Deep fry the coated Kang Kong leaves.

You have your Kang Kong chips

Kang Kong Chips

The only thing that makes the Kang Kong Chips unhealthy is the excessive oil brought about by the fact that it's deep fried.

There you have it! To my few and valued readers, don't worry I'm far from turning to a cooking blog :) .

Read More

Woke up this morning with this

a closer look would show this

Manila and its nearby regions are stricken by typhoon, Pedring.

Classes and work are suspended and I would normally rejoice whenever these happen. However, our experience with typhoon Ondoy two years ago brought a lot of changes in my family.

It was a typical rainy Saturday morning. We were aware of the typhoon's existence but everything went the same for the family. We were complacent because our place never had a history of flooding. I woke up late, had late breakfast, lunch with my family and lounged for a DVD marathon. We ignored the continuous rain because we felt we were safe. Afternoon came and flood started appearing outside our house. Flood came so fast and when evening came, the level of flood inside our house was already as high as my waist. 

That evening made the longest hours of my life. My entire family didn't sleep. We waited until the flood subsided. Thank God for not prolonging our misery. At around 2 am, the flood was gone. We were left with the aftermath of flood. Stained walls, soiled floors, garbage, damaged furniture were the common surroundings in our community.

Ondoy changed my family. There were a lot of lessons learned from the typhoon.

As I woke up this morning, part of me was praying that typhoon Pedring is not another Ondoy. It's 6:22 pm and while I am checking my students' papers and nursing a cold :-( , my entire family is glued to the news. Weather reports say that the typhoon will soon depart Manila....Hopefully, the weather will be better tomorrow.

• September 27, 2011
• family

At home yet restless

Woke up this morning with this

a closer look would show this

Manila and its nearby regions are stricken by typhoon, Pedring.

Classes and work are suspended and I would normally rejoice whenever these happen. However, our experience with typhoon Ondoy two years ago brought a lot of changes in my family.

It was a typical rainy Saturday morning. We were aware of the typhoon's existence but everything went the same for the family. We were complacent because our place never had a history of flooding. I woke up late, had late breakfast, lunch with my family and lounged for a DVD marathon. We ignored the continuous rain because we felt we were safe. Afternoon came and flood started appearing outside our house. Flood came so fast and when evening came, the level of flood inside our house was already as high as my waist. 

That evening made the longest hours of my life. My entire family didn't sleep. We waited until the flood subsided. Thank God for not prolonging our misery. At around 2 am, the flood was gone. We were left with the aftermath of flood. Stained walls, soiled floors, garbage, damaged furniture were the common surroundings in our community.

Ondoy changed my family. There were a lot of lessons learned from the typhoon.

As I woke up this morning, part of me was praying that typhoon Pedring is not another Ondoy. It's 6:22 pm and while I am checking my students' papers and nursing a cold :-( , my entire family is glued to the news. Weather reports say that the typhoon will soon depart Manila....Hopefully, the weather will be better tomorrow.

Read More

My followers and viewing statistics relate that my readership is concentrated on other countries. My few local readers usually include my friends, cousins and colleagues. I care about my few and humbled readers so I try my best to write things that would interest them.

In my almost a year of blogging, I have also noticed that I receive a lot of positive comments and hits whenever I write about my country. Topics about my country which include places, food, and traditions were my most appreciated posts. Since I value my readers, I promised myself that I would regularly write things that would interest them. Topics about my country will now be a regular content of my posts. I hope this makes my readers happy. :) In one way or another, this could also serve as my contribution in promoting the tourism industry of the Philippines. Despite all the negativities, I want to prove to everyone that my country is beautiful and worth to pay a visit.

The only people who can recognize this place are my cousins and friends who are residing in Marikina City. I hope they really do. ;-)

I was born and raised in Marikina City. This city is my home and cliche as I may sound, I would never exchange Marikina for any other place in the Philippines. Marikina is a suburban area and mostly comprised of small residential communities. High rise buildings and all those hustle and bustle of the city are things you cannot experience in Marikina. We have enough businesses, supermarkets, and a department store to supply your basic needs. Other than that, Marikina is simply a quiet and livable place.

Though we are a small city, Marikina is very rich in history. The shoe industry in the Philippines started and proliferated in my hometown. The shoe industry in Marikina started when the Philippines was still colonized by the Spanish government. A Filipino named Don Laureano Guevarra, aka Kapitan Moy, is considered as the father of the Marikina shoe industry. He started the idea of producing local shoes.

The picture above is the house of Kapitan Moy. This house is where the first local pair of shoes in the Philippines was produced. The shoemaking business in the Philippines formally started in 1887 in this house. More or less, this house is around 200 years old.

Some historical materials even relate that Kapitan Moy opened his home to the needy Filipinos. He gave employment opportunities to his fellowmen.

After the Spanish colonization, the Americans used this house for their tribunal. During the 1940s, the Japanese colonized the Philippines and this house became their army headquarters.

Today, Kapitan Moy's place remains as a historical site. The house can be rented as a venue for wedding receptions and other events. I just hope that the local government will continue its efforts in preserving this piece of history.

Did I just bore you? ;-) I hope you enjoyed my little historical post. Have a great week to everyone!

Sources of Information
Noypi.ph
Proud Marikenya

• September 25, 2011
• home

A Historic House in the City

My followers and viewing statistics relate that my readership is concentrated on other countries. My few local readers usually include my friends, cousins and colleagues. I care about my few and humbled readers so I try my best to write things that would interest them.

In my almost a year of blogging, I have also noticed that I receive a lot of positive comments and hits whenever I write about my country. Topics about my country which include places, food, and traditions were my most appreciated posts. Since I value my readers, I promised myself that I would regularly write things that would interest them. Topics about my country will now be a regular content of my posts. I hope this makes my readers happy. :) In one way or another, this could also serve as my contribution in promoting the tourism industry of the Philippines. Despite all the negativities, I want to prove to everyone that my country is beautiful and worth to pay a visit.

The only people who can recognize this place are my cousins and friends who are residing in Marikina City. I hope they really do. ;-)

I was born and raised in Marikina City. This city is my home and cliche as I may sound, I would never exchange Marikina for any other place in the Philippines. Marikina is a suburban area and mostly comprised of small residential communities. High rise buildings and all those hustle and bustle of the city are things you cannot experience in Marikina. We have enough businesses, supermarkets, and a department store to supply your basic needs. Other than that, Marikina is simply a quiet and livable place.

Though we are a small city, Marikina is very rich in history. The shoe industry in the Philippines started and proliferated in my hometown. The shoe industry in Marikina started when the Philippines was still colonized by the Spanish government. A Filipino named Don Laureano Guevarra, aka Kapitan Moy, is considered as the father of the Marikina shoe industry. He started the idea of producing local shoes.

The picture above is the house of Kapitan Moy. This house is where the first local pair of shoes in the Philippines was produced. The shoemaking business in the Philippines formally started in 1887 in this house. More or less, this house is around 200 years old.

Some historical materials even relate that Kapitan Moy opened his home to the needy Filipinos. He gave employment opportunities to his fellowmen.

After the Spanish colonization, the Americans used this house for their tribunal. During the 1940s, the Japanese colonized the Philippines and this house became their army headquarters.

Today, Kapitan Moy's place remains as a historical site. The house can be rented as a venue for wedding receptions and other events. I just hope that the local government will continue its efforts in preserving this piece of history.

Did I just bore you? ;-) I hope you enjoyed my little historical post. Have a great week to everyone!

Sources of Information
Noypi.ph
Proud Marikenya

Read More