Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Papa's 47th Birthday: Manila Foodshoppe Food Hunt

Today is my Papa's birthday. Unfortunately, he is not here to spend his birthday with us. We just sent him our birthday greetings, and he told us to celebrate. He told us to cook pancit for long life and to buy ice cream. He knows how much we crave for ice cream. But, we opted to eat outside the house. Manila Foodshoppe was the restaurant of choice. I haven't tried their food, yet, and I heard that Papa loves their food, so we went for it.
pancit canton

beef steak

honey pork spareribs

We ordered a pitcher of ice tea, plain rice, pancit canton, beef steak, and honey pork spareribs. Manila Foodshoppe's service was a bit slow. Straight to the point, I was not satisfied with their food either. The pancit canton was delicious, though. Big serving but we almost finished it. For the honey pork spareribs, it took me a while to realize that it was yummy. I could not taste the honey, it tastes like curry, instead. But, it was delicious. The beef steak, I'm sorry to say the word, but the beef steak sucks. It lacks flavor. It was seasoned, but the flavor was just blank. I felt like I was munching paper, a hard paper. It was not tender, it was not tasty. I would never order their beef steak ever again. NEVER! It was that bad. I was almost at a point of calling out their chef and telling him how bad his beef steak tastes. I'm not that rude, though.
--Manila Foodshoppe, Gaisano Mactan Island Mall, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu--

cousin Hinah

sissy Ira

yours truly with so much blemishes. boo!

Anyhoo, this post is not all about the Manila Foodhsoppe food review, this is about my Papa's birthday. After dinner, we went to Virgen dela Regla National Shrine and lit some candles there. Papa told us to. It's also our family's tradition to light candles whenever a family member's birthday comes. Especially Papa, of course, we had to pray. I just pray that God will always protect and bless my Papa; that God will give him good health; that God will make him realize. I love my Papa so much. My Papa and Mama are the main reason why I still continue to exist, why I still continue to believe, why I still continue to live my life the way I live it. Lord, thank you so much for prolonging my Papa's life, despite all the tragic incidents. Lord, I believe. Everything is gonna be alright, maybe not today, but eventually. Everything is gonna be alright, I believe.

P.S. Mama went to Mindanao to attend our aunt's birthday/retirement party.
Kent arrived late and ended up eating at home because he's a dumb and stubborn brother.

HAPPY 47th BIRTHDAY, PAPA!
WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

Love, 
your kids

Monday, November 28, 2011

Shoe Sneeze


Yes, I have this great love for shoes. I mean, what kind of girl doesn't? However, I am not the type who purchase five shoes in a span of four weeks. First of all, I am poor. Geez. I don't have the money to satisfy my shoe cravings. More than that, I'm not the type who lobby my parents to provide me for my insignificant wants (considering the needs of the people in absolute poverty). I feel ashamed of myself when I ask my parents some money to be just splurged on shoes, when I know I have some pairs that I can still use, at least. Thus, me buying five shoes in just a month is not normal. Definitely not. The above photo shows my recent shoe buys, except the white flats with big black ribbons. That's my Mama's Primadonna shoes.

I broke my bank. I suck all the pennies out from my piggy's anus, and don't take me literally. My compulsive shoe purchases started in Manila. I bought a pair of brown boots from NAVA at Php1390. I love NAVA to bits. They sell the most crafty, awesome, creative items. I love Danika Navarro! I hope there's a branch of NAVA here in Cebu. By the way, I even wanted to buy a pair of Doc Martens when a store in Greenhills sold them at 50% off. They were only sold at Php2999. That's a great deal! Sadly, the available colors were only black and white. I want red or purple.

Then, I had to buy school shoes. My black shoe hunt was so frustrating, but my sister found these cool Parisian flats at Php699. The flats are so comfortable. Plus, they don't look like school shoes, so I can abuse them when I go out to the mall or the church. I bought another flats the same day when I bought the pair of Parisian flats. The Solemate floral flats caught my attention with a big price tag of Php299.99. I immediately bought it because first, it was cheap. Second, the floral design. Lastly, it is super comfortable.

Finally, I bought two pairs of shoes from Forever 21 during its opening in Cebu last November 18. I love the blue booties and the magenta sneakers. I love Forever 21!

NAVA boots 
(sorry for the dirty look, already used it for a couple of times)


Parisian flats


Solemate flats


the second appearance of my Forever 21 booties


the second appearance of my Forever 21 sneakers


special appearance of my Mama's Primadonna shoes


P.S. This post is not in any way a form of boasting or bragging. I am just following the fashion bloggers' posts about their recent shoe purchases. Again, the same with my WHAT'S IN MY BAG post, I have all the right to post my recent shoe purchases. Besides, this is my blog. Moreover, the prices are provided for information and convenience to whoever stumbles upon my blog and decides to buy new shoes. As a reader of fashion blogs, I always wonder how much their stuff cost. Sadly, they don't provide the prices in their posts, but of course, the readers can ask them through comments.

~too lazy to post-process the photos~

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Sick and Tired

I am sick.
I have colds and cough.
I have runny nose.
I always sneeze.
I keep having headaches.
I have muscle cramps.
My body is dead tired.
Lord, heal me.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Second Time: Mandarin Tea Garden

After our Forever 21 shopping yesterday, we hit Mandarin Tea Garden for our snacks. Their Cold Milk Tea with sago is pulling me towards the restaurant, and Sissy Ira wanted to try it.

Mama, Sissy Ira, and I ordered milk tea for our drinks. For solid food, I ordered Asado Siopao, ate ordered Buchi, while Mama ordered fried radish cake.

the cold milk tea with sago

asado siopao

buchi

fried radish cake

VERDICT: Not satisfied, unlike the first time. Well, I was satisfied with the cold milk tea with sago. I love it too much I wanted to drink more. It's really delicious. It was the main reason why I went back to Mandarin Tea Garden. I can't get enough of it. However, the asado in the siopao looks and tastes fake. It doesn't taste and look like real meat. I did not like the fried radish cake as well. Mama and ate loved it. It was delicious for them. Guess we don't have the same taste buds after all. It's their best-seller, but I don't like it. I can't take it's gross smell. Perhaps the reason why I did not like it is because I have sensitive sense of smell. Mama and ate had no problem with the smell, but I did. Radishes are naturally bad-odored. Good news comes late this time. The buchi was delicious! I never really eat buchi, I only eat the red monggo bean paste inside. I was amazed how tasty their buchi are. It was perfectly crunchy outside, but perfectly soft inside. The red bean paste was also tasty.

A few other comments. Their food presentation is not good. Look at that. They are using a plain resto tissue to catch and dry up the oil from the food. There are particular tissue papers for that. I see them in cooking shows all the time. They should use those kind of tissue paper. Another is that some of their waiters and waitresses are sleeping and resting on the seats at the back part of the restaurant. It is okay for them to rest and sleep but they are soooooo visible by the customers eating. Plus, they do it on the seats and tables for the customers. It is so unsanitary. They definitely don't know how to present well and please the eyes.

Even though my second visit to Mandarin Tea Garden was a bit down, I think I would still go back. Haven't tasted the other food they offer, yet. I'm rooting for their patatim. Till next time, Mandarin Tea Garden. :)

Friday, November 18, 2011

Forever 21 opens in Cebu Today

I had waited for months for the opening of Forever 21 in SM City Cebu. Before the opening, I only had one F21 object. That was the connector ring from Star. Sissy Ira only had two - two pairs of shoes from Mommy Tel, and Sissy Lovely only had one - a pair of shoes from Fashion LP. Niña, my F21 shopping date, had two - two shades from F21 Japan.

Just imagine the excitement and thrill gushing through our veins when F21 finally opened. I was totally overwhelmed with everything. I wanna buy every single item! Unfortunately, I don't have the purchasing power. I'm not a rich ass kid. So I went for the cheaper items. Practicality is a must for a middle class like me. Guess I'll just load this post with photos. No time to edit them, though. Too tired from the shopping.




excuse the primadonna inserter

These are what I bought.
 comfy sneakers at Php295 w/c was originally Php795

cute horse-printed ribbon hair clips at Php95, Vice Ganda inspired lang

lovely blue booties for only Php855


These are what Sissy Ira and Mama bought.
three pairs of jeans for only Php545 each
earrings... the whole set is just Php175
A BIG THANK YOU TO FOREVER 21 FOR OPENING HERE IN CEBU.
WE HAVE WAITED LONG ENOUGH, FINALLY!
F21, SALE PLEASE!

*must save and earn money. must shop more*

P.S. Sad that the brand ambassadors, my favorite fashion bloggers, were not there. Oh well. The whole time I was at F21, seeing all those clothes and stuff reminded me of them. :]

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Best in Late Celebration Awardees

If there's a plaque of gold awarding Best in Late Celebration, I would never hesitate to grab and accept that award. Not because of the award, but because of the gold. I'd sell that in pawnshops and I'd get fat ass rich. Abnormal thinking aside, this post is dedicated to Injeliah, Injel, Inj, JEL.

Her 19th birthday was on November 4, but she wasn't here in Cebu at that time. I was, but that was a bad, bad day. Sucks, right? Since we're on to blabbing, I might as well spill the juice on our surprise plans for her. We were supposed to surprise her last Friday. HAHA. But she was soooo busy, so we postponed it. FINALLY! We were able to surprise her yesterday at Hukad, Ayala, Terraces. Her treat! We did not go for the traditional and usual surprise style. No cakes, no balloons. We opted for party hats, torotots, bubbles, and a tiara for her. Hukad waiters also sang a joyful and lively birthday greetings for her. We asked them to. I hope she's happy with our little efforts.

the birthday celebrator - JEL!


Tombs Society minus Star and Chrisia plus Bianca. So happy that Bianca's with us. Miss her much. 
Big Bang Acefeelers!


Hukad waiters singing her a happy birthday song. LOL. They're all looking at the camera (phone).
Hi, Robin! He's our waiter for that day. The one holding the jingle bell instrument. Thank you for the service.


Banana Booth! Laveeet!

As I promised, I don't wanna give serious and touching messages on birthdays, because it's a time of joyous, happy celebration. Thus, I digress from that. However, I just wanna say this. Honestly, Jel puts a really big and wide smile on our faces. She's the person who we tease all day, everyday. She's so fun to be with. We apologize for that, Jel, but you're so violent. HAHA. We love you, Jel!! Thank you for errrthing!!! Happy 19th birthday!!!!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

The Provisional New 7 Wonders of Nature

Remember my post about New 7 Wonders of Nature promoting Puerto Princesa Underground River (Philippines represent, baby!) and Halong Bay? If you do, then I'm bringing good news! Both are included in the provisional New 7 Wonders of Nature.

All the Filipinos must rejoice! Thank you to those who voted. I know this is not final, yet. They are just provisional, but I believe and hope that Puerto Princesa Underground River will be in the Final New 7 Wonders of Nature. Please, Lord God. Help.

AMAZONHALONG BAYIGUAZU FALLSJEJU ISLANDKOMODOPUERTO PRINCESA UNDERGROUND RIVERTABLE MOUNTAIN
The above are the provisional New7Wonders of Nature based on the first count of vote results on 11/11/11.
It is possible that there will be changes between the above provisional winners and the eventual finally confirmed winners.
The above provisional New7Wonders of Nature are listed in alphabetical order, not in any position or ranking.
The voting calculation is now being checked, validated and independently verified, and the confirmed winners will be announced starting early 2012 during the Official Inauguration ceremonies.

Filipinos all over the world, let's keep our fingers crossed and pray. BELIEVE.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

What's in my bag

Celebs and fashion bloggers have been asked what's in their bag, I'm no celeb nor a fashion blogger, but I have all the right to post what's in my bag. This is an entirely different version, though. Remember that bad, bad day when the taxi driver drove away/stole our baggage? Well, I'm gonna spill out what's in the bag, dudes!

Going to start off with my bro's bag.

Yup, bro had his N73 phone in his bag, a panda cap from Baguio (my pasalubong from the tour), and mostly Mossimo shirts, plus underwear. Another pasalubong in the bag is the Tagaytay shirt, which is supposed to be for my Papa but too tight. :(


Reminiscing what's in my maleta.

            

Okay, I got some random specifics. In my bag are:
The printed photos we had in Enchanted Kingdom (not the whole Enchanted Kingdom).
My Guess and Mossimo tees. Haven't used the Mossimo tee yet, since Mama just bought it for me. Sad. Two Island Souvenir HEART shirts (Mars HEART Cebu and G-Dragon HEART Mars).
Benetton and Zara clothes and other shirts which we just received from a package from my uncle. Never been used. Sadder.
My Tommy Hilfiger skirt which I haven't used for soooo long.
Havaianas slippers.
An orange dream catcher necklace and wooden key chains from Baguio.
Clean and Clear Essentials Moisturizer and Dove Deo Roll on. Randomly weird, I know.
Also, my DIY cut offs, and thrifted clothes and shorts.
Plus, my underwear! GASP!

I'm honestly starting to accept the sad reality that we can't have them all back; that we can't have them back at all. Mad world. Definitely a mad world. No literal walking dead, but people walking with dead hearts. Heartless thieves! How could you be so heartless? Okay, LSS-ing two songs now, Mad World and Heartless. Anyway, just be alert and vigilant. I don't want this to happen to anyone. God bless!


Credits to whoever owns the photos. Just googled them, so sorry I can't link all of them to their sources.