Travel 2017: Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines

One of the resolutions to ought to make for this New Year is to be able to continuously update my blogs. :) And with that, I chose to write about the places I have gone and will be going to this 2017.

First stop, Tacloban, Leyte.

I went to Tacloban last December 30, 2016 to spend the holidays and celebrate the New Year with my family.

To maximize my short stay in Tacloban, my family made sure that I will be able to see some beautiful places in our hometown. Places I’ve never been to. And that excludes the historical places in our province because this time, they took me to different food spots in the city. :)

SurpRice

While accompanying my cousin with her shopping ecklavu, she decided to treat me lunch (which I actually deserve noh! Hehe.) This cute restaurant is located Gomez Street, offers different viands of rice toppings. Here, we tried one of their best sellers, the Chilli Chicken.

At first, I thought it wasn’t that spicy, but the more I eat, the more it gets really hot in my mouth! Whooh! :) Ranging from 100-150 pesos, customers can leave the place really full.


SAMSAM Bistro

After taking some rest upon my arrival in Tacloban, my family took me to one of their favourite restaurants in the downtown area. In SamSam Bistro, they presented us different types of pinoy foods such as sinigang, inihaw, pancit and Filipino desserts. We opted to order their combo of inihaw na manok, inihaw na baboy, sinigang na hipon and their version of halo-halo. Their service was good but it took them almost 20 minutes to serve our food. Overall, everything was delicious! :)


HIGHSIDE

Sunday, after attending the New Year’s Holy Mass, my family and I had our dinner. We decided to try the one the newest resto at the Robinson’s Place Tacloban, the Highside. 

This motorcycle themed restaurant offered some western type of food such as burgers, grilled pork in rosemary sauce, creamy beef and mushroom, chicken in tomato sauce and many more.



The food was good and delicious. But their service… sadly, we had a bad experience with their service. Our food was served after about 30-40 minutes after we ordered. Of course we would kinda understand if the food would take some time be served, but for a burger to take about 30 minutes??? And what’s even worse, customers who just came in and who seemed to be familiar to them were served first and were fully accommodated. We couldn’t help but complain. Good thing, their staffs were sincerely apologetic. Sigh.

SunZiBar

Having been unable to see each other for a long time, my college buddy residing in Samar, island next to Leyte, took some of his time and came to Tacloban to catch up with me. He took me to another restaurant in the downtown area, SunZiBar. This food spot offers steaks, pastas and salads. Jude, my friend who is much more acquainted with the place, ordered their bestseller, Diablo. It is a 2 piece thinly sliced steak served in hot and spicy sauce on top of rice and vegie side dish. Apart from their good service, I totally enjoyed the food! The spice was enough to compliment the steak and was perfectly cooked that I couldn’t resist finishing the whole plate! Haha! Thanks to my friend. :)

HQ Food Park

Who would have thought that food parks do not only dominate Metro Manila but also, Tacloban?!? Yes! This Yolanda-devastated-city in the Eastern Visayas region has moved on and has a lot of growing businesses. And I was just glad to see much improvement since my 2015 visit in Tacloban. Now, to see a food park in this city is such a delight!

January 2, my last night in Tacloban, my cousins invited me to hang out and chill. Since it was a Monday, not all stalls were open. There, we only had a few bottles of beer, nachos and fish balls! :)

My family and I also visited the San Rafael farm in Babatngon, Leyte. It is a lovely place just outside Tacloban which I will feature in my next blog entry. After a 4-day trip, I can say, I truly had a gastronomic stay in Tacloban which I definitely enjoyed.  :)

 

TRAIN TO BUSAN: A Movie Full of Different Emotions

  

At first, I never really had a plan watching this movie. But it was like, everyone (my colleagues, friends and on social media) has been raving about this korean film. And so last Saturday, I gave in and watched it.

Train to Busan, a Zombie thriller film that stars Gong Yoo, Jung Yu-mi and Ma Dong-seok, has been breaking box office from all over the world since its premier last May. The movie has that close similarity to that of Hollywood's World War Z where the lead actor tries to stay alive along with his daughter after being under attacked by Zombies. The difference is... a lot. In this Korean Film, story focuses on the characters aboard a train fighting for their lives against a number of zombie infected passengers. 

As I watch the movie, there were scenes that made me laugh, hated a character, cried a tear, but most of the time, I almost screamed and shout (but had to control it coz screaming is not my thing, hehe). At the end of it, I felt so tired because I felt every inch of emotion the movie tries to make its viewers feel. It made me feel like running whenever zombies are approaching and it has a very good shock factor that kept my nerves so alive. The struggle of the characters in order to survive looked so real that it made me want to kill those zombies. :)

I applaud the cinematography, the musical background, and the technology they used. The texture of the film so smooth and clean. I loved the fact that they were able to combine all those emotions in a thriller movie which we rarely see in some Hollywood film with same genre. Having to pull off a comedy scene plus drama, action and horror in one is so commendable. The ending is a little sad, and there were questions popping out in my mind after like, how, when, where it all started and was the ending really just like that? But overall, it was like a hyperventilating roller coaster ride in a train movie and I liked it a lot. Clap! Clap! Clap!

x's:

According to reports, there is a prequel to Train to Busan that explains how it all started, an animated film titled, "Seoul Station".

World Street Food Congress 2016

Started last 2013 in Singapore, the World Street Food Congress that promotes food culture, has now finally arrived here in Manila. The said event is participated by several chefs and food enthusiasts from all over the world, where they would showcase the best street food of the country they represent.

As food lover, I felt so excited to attend and catch this event. So last April 21, 2016, I went there and witnessed the latest food happenings in the Metro. :)

The World Street Food Congress held at the Bonifacio High Street Global City.

Admission is Free and Upon entering, you will find this 10 Jamboree Commandments.

As I go around, I found interestingly, deliciously-looking foods and the noticed how the foods were prepared.

How the Filipino Spicy Lechon is described :)

On top of every food stall, it shows the food's description and from which country it originated.

Some of the delish foods I found in the Jamboree :)

The only food I tried to eat was... Churros form the USA. 

How the Churros Locos started 

This Picture shows how it is done

 Churros Locos was the crowd favorite that is why i chose to have a taste of it... because that day, my teeth was not in a good condition ... too bad. :(

CHURROS :)

The huge crowd of food lovers at the event. 

This Food event is complete with a live band. 

Too bad I just got my braces on that day which didn't permit me to get to taste every food in that feast :(

The World Street Food Congress lasted from April 20-24, 2016. Hoping that in the coming years, they will get to organize this event again here in Manila. :)

Everyday is a New Beginning

 “When you’re dreaming with a broken heart, the waking up is the hardest part”

-John Meyer

Ever had that feeling when you wake up in the morning and you don’t feel like getting up? When you just feel so depressed and thought that sleeping is better than waking up, that dreams are better than reality? That moment when you had to ask yourself, “Para saan pa ba ang pagbangon ko?”

I believe we all had that moment in our lives. After a tragic incident, ending a relationship, after losing someone so dear to us, or whatever it was that made us feel so down. It is when we felt like our world collapsed and we are broken into pieces that we would thought of just sleeping the whole day and wish we don’t have to wake up anymore. But then, it won’t simply happen. As the morning comes, we would open our eyes, face the reality that what used to be there and we used to have is already gone, and go through another day of enduring that pain in our hearts until we get to sleep again. As each day  would pass by, we have to breathe and make a living. Even if we want to go back to sleep, we will get up from our bed, go to work or school, and we would continue living our everyday life, everyday routine.

Yes. It was like, there’s no life anymore. . . 

Not until we learn to let go of that hurt we have been carrying in our hearts.

After living a life full of pain for quite some time, there comes a point where we have to let it go, and detach from it. We  have to stop holding on to something that is not already there, to stop waiting for nothing and to feel unhurt. It may take some time, surely it will. Facing each day bearing such pain wouldn’t be that easy, but keep in mind that it will all heal. As they say, all wounds heal as time goes by. It may leave a scar, but that scar is there only to remind us of the lesson we learned from the experience not to dwell on our loss or grief. As the morning comes, open your eyes, wake up, get up and try to think of positive thoughts. It may be hard at first, but remember, everyday is a new beginning. Everyday is another chance for us to fight that sadness in our hearts. Everyday is another chance for us to do good, to be better and be stronger than ever. Each morning is always another fresh beginning for us to live again... To start over again. =)

Tula 06-24 Part 1

Araw araw, oras oras, aking pinipilit

Ang kalimutan ka gaya ng iyong iginigiit

Oo, totoo, lagi kong pinipilit

Upang sakali mawala ang lahat ng sakit

Minsan, madalas gusto ko sayo ay magalit

Para sa pagkakataon na iyong ipinagkait

Para sa pagbitaw mo habang ako’y nakakapit

Para sa pangako ng pagmamahal mo na hindi ko nakamit

Sadya nga yatang ang tadhana ay kay lupit

Pinadama ang saya sa piling mo na tila ay humahagupit

Kahit ang bawat panahon na kasama ka ay parang kinukupit

Ang saya na ngayon ay natapos na at hapdi ang ipinalit

Araw araw, oras oras, lagi kong pinipilit

Ang kalimutan ka gaya ng iyong iginigiit

Upang mapalitan ng tamis ang lahat ng pait

Upang maalis ang sama ng loob na aking bitbit

Gusto ko nang sayo ay magalit

Para mapalitan na ang nararamdamang sakit

Na dulot ng aking mga hinanakit

Sa paglisan mo at maiwan ako sa aking sinapit

Gabi gabi ay nakatingala sa langit

Minamasdan ang mga bituin na para bang mukha mo ay iginuhit

Kinakausap ang buwan at tinanong kung bakit

Bakit? Bakit? Bakit?

Gaya ng iyong iginigiit

Kakalimutan kitang pilit

Kahit ang lahat ng alaala mo sa puso ko’y nakadikit

Kahit pa laging kang nakikita hanggang sa mga mata’y pumikit

Gusto kong sa iyo ay magalit

Ipadama sa’yo ang ibinigay na pasakit

Ngunit ang puso ko’y iba ang inaawit

“Mahal kita” ang katagang patuloy pa ring isinasambit

Dreams: Premonition, the Subconscious and other Theories

Exactly four (4) years ago, September 17, I had a dream that I can not forget. I was standing in a very bright, all white place. Then I saw my grandfather. He held me close to him then he smiled at me. Suddenly, he turned around and walked away without saying anything. He slowly faded away and my vision was just all white and became even brighter. Then I woke up with tears in my eyes.

At that time, my grandfather was in a vegetative state due to complications because he was already suffering from stage 4 prostate cancer. Later that day, we went to the hospital to visit lolo. It was just like a regular, ordinary visiting day. We came there to see him, said "Hi", "kamusta", and even if he was unable to respond, we know he heard us. We had no idea that it was the last day that we are going to see him breathing. We went on doing our usual stuff, had dinner beside him and when we were about to go home, he had cardiac arrest. He was revived, vital signs became normal again and then we left. While we were still on the road, we were called up from the hospital because my grandfather had another arrest. So we went back. The moment we, the family, were already complete to see him, he breathed his last. My lolo left us to be with our God in heaven. Just like what happened in my dream earlier that day.

 I don't know whether that incident, my grandfather's death, is related to my dream or it was just a coincidence. Did lolo bid me goodbye in that dream? Did it suggest anything that is going to happen later that day? Was it a premonition? There are psychic studies that tells us that we can acquire information of an upcoming or future event through our dreams even before that event happens. If this is right, then maybe I had a premonition of my grandfather's death? Maybe.

Sometimes, no matter how good or bad our dream is, it would leave us wondering what that dream means. I remember during our psychology class, we were taught that our dreams is the product of what lies in our subconscious mind. According to Sigmund Freud, "dreams are the manifestations of urges and desires that we keep suppressed in the realm of our subconscious... our subconscious desires include those that we don't want to admit..." If this theory is correct, therefore, we dream of the things or events we deny in our conscious mind.

Oftentimes, there would be someone who keep appearing in our dreams. Does seeing someone in our

dreams mean he/she is someone we deny in our conscious mind? Is he or she the desire we keep in our subconscious mind? Hmm. I recall someone told me that the person we see in our dreams is the person who misses us. She said, it was according to the Reader's Digest. I went over the internet searching about this. I read somewhere that it must be true if they are soulmates. The minds of the dreamer and person in his/her dream had a connection through that dream. Wow. Could it be possible that the one we dreamed of is missing us? I hope so.

I believe that there are a lot of theories regarding dreams. And if I study dreams further, it would really be mind boggling for me.

Again, today, September 17, marks the 4th Death Anniversary of our Lolo Tony. And we, we all miss him.

Review: Ex With Benefits

Pain. It is the unpleasant feeling caused by an injury or disease. We would often use drugs, medicines, 

pain killers particularly, just to be free from pain even just for a while. That is for physical pain. How about

for the emotional pain, which is usually caused by sadness, loss or frustration? Is there any pain reliever

that can actually suppress that emotional pain we sometimes feel? Is there any drug that can at least

alleviate the pain in our hearts which we can take every four (4) hours or round the clock or as needed?

If there’s any, I’m quite sure a lot of people would flock the drugstores to avail this medicine. Well,

whether it is physical or emotional pain, we all go through it, we would all feel it. According to the movie

Ex With Benefits, pain is what makes us human. And the best way to recover from pain, is to endure it, because then and only then, can we heal.

Endure it because... Pain demands to be felt. And so I heard that line again. But this time in another film,as it

was just quoted in the latest movie offering by Star Cinema, Ex With Benefits. Starring Derek Ramsay as the most successful and renowned Dr. Adam Castrences, and Coleen Garcia as Arkishia Aragon, a Medical Representative who happens to be on top of her field. The story is about the ex lovers, Adam and

Arki, whose paths crossed after the break up that took place ten (10) years ago.

What I liked about the film

1.  The Story. It has a good take on a modern day love story which includes sex and everything. I also liked how what was supposed to be a light sexy movie turned to have a deep background story especially on Arki's life after the break up.

2. Derek Ramsay. We've seen countless Derek Ramsay movies where he would surely strip and show off his body then do love scenes. Here, I've noticed how careful he was to Coleen but still, his hotness didn't make any less. And for his acting, he is effective but still the same Derek in his previous films. 

3. Coleen Garcia. She was really pretty and sexy. I did not expect much from her since this is just her first lead role in a movie, but, she nailed it. And I guess she was a good choice. She's fresh and seems like, has more to offer in her coming films.

4. The Characters. Adam Castrences as the best doctor who has a broken heart. It just goes to show that even the people in the health and medical field are having problems with healing their own heart. Arki Aragon as the person who would do anything to get on top and anything for the ones she loves.

5. Music. There were no slow, nostalgic, mushy love songs played as background music in the movie. New.

6. Health and Medical terms. As a health care provider, I find it amusing to hear medical terms in a sexy film such as, placebo, fungi, congenital disease, tetralogy of fallot, duty, drug names, and etc.

There were flaws, i think it was the editing problems and rushed scene but definitely, the story wasn't affected at all. In addition, I loved how attraction levels were discussed during the first part of the movie. Informative. However, what I really loved the most was how the movie taught us about pain... on how pain can make or break a person and all the struggles one would through because of pain. Cry, Get drunk, be sober, endure the pain, until such time, we get healed... eventually. Ex With Benefits, a film on love, relationship, lost love, pain and healing gets, 4 out of 5 stars from me! :)