Paradiso Terrestre's Via Romana: Spanish-Filipino Fusion Cuisine

I am giving away 3 PHP1,000 gift certificates to Paradiso Terrestre's Via Romana!

Just follow @wheninmanila and @sisasaid on twitter. Don't forget!

and Retweet this:

"Win 1k GC at Via Romana &experience this http://ow.ly/bRyKT ! Just RT this, follow @wheninmanila & @sisasaid  #wheninmanila #ViaRomana "

Results to be announced via @sisasaid twitter next Wednesday.

Paradiso Terrestre's newly renovated restaurant Via Romana. Here's a peek at what you could be having:

 Paradiso House Salad

 Feta Cheese and Aubergine in Filo Salad

 Oyster Trio Sauces

  Crispy Kare Kare

Turon de Paradiso

It was a great experience thanks to the wonderful people from Paradiso Terrestre.

For a more detailed article on my Via Romana visit my WIM article here.

Happy Birthday, Jassie!

 We love you! 

Sky Flakes with my Father

My father was worried this morning. “How will I get inside the house later?”, he asks. On a Wednesday morning, the conversation continues like this as I rush out to catch my 8 a.m. class. Honestly, I had no time for the chit chat as I hit the snooze button one too many times this morning, but I welcome the morning chatter. The house has become lonely, it has only been me and Tatay this whole week.

An old candid shot of Tatay.

 It’s funny because my father refuses to bring house keys. Literally, he needs someone to open the doors for him. Since my mother, who usually opens the doors for us, has been away for most of this week, our lives have continued on in this confused peaceful fashion. Whether or not we are having the defrosted adobo for the nth time as supper is a  detail that we now have concerned ourselves with. The talk ends with me saying “Yes, Tatay. I will be here by the time you get home, don’t worry.”

It’s not that he’s not capable, no, on the contrary! My father is a very capable man. An accomplished lawyer, a loving husband, and a wonderful father– my family lives this comfortable life because he built it for us. He has done great and wondrous things in his personal and professional life. 

But, he never makes himself dinner. I once came home to him munching away on Sky Flakes at 9:30 p.m. because no one was there to make him dinner.

With good reason, I suppose. When we were younger he insisted he was going to cook us the best shrimp meal ever. What he served would get you drunk in one bite– the ‘Nilasing na Hipon’ was really ‘lasing’. Looking back, it was probably the first time I believed that less alcohol would've made for a better decision. We laughed it off.

Another of his attempts at feeding his then young kids ended with a melted tupperware inside a microwave, and a mini fire scare. Again, we laughed it off. Yes, I guess he really doesn’t cook for reasons that are very clear now. 

My mother told me that he made breakfast for himself the other day. Toasted pandesal, she said. A feat considering that this morning, I left him with a breakfast of Sky Flakes with cream cheese.

Its funny and I crack these jokes, but I am my father’s daughter. It is 8 p.m., also, I have not had dinner. Hand me those Sky Flakes!

Sometimes I worry. What do we do when the adobo runs out? 

Simple. Call Nanay, we will always have Nanay. 

But really, even if she isn’t around, I would cook for my father. Always, and any time he’d need me to.

He gets grumpy when he’s hungry.

Tatay, please laugh that last comment off.

Mom and Tina's Bakery Cafe, Katipunan

Last Sunday,  our usual Katipunan stop to bring Anton to his condo brought us Mom and Tina's Bakery Cafe. Tired of the usual fast-food  choices we opted for this quaint looking restaurant on the FDRC Building along E. Rodriguez.

DIY Sponge Manicure: Gradient Two-tone Nails

Like I've previously posted, been going gaga over polish– again. Going crazy from inhaling the polish fumes, the price I pay for nail art.

I finally tried the gradient sponge manicure I've been seeing a lot online. A worthy first try, I think, but the colors remind me too much of marshmallow came icing (thus the recurring dreams about eating cake).

When In Manila Meetup at the Scarlet Wine Lounge

When in Manila, our community is expanding! Vince of WIM arranged a get together for all the writers, would be writers, and friends of the website.

DIY Tape Manicure: Simple diagonal

I've been seeing so much pretty nail art lately! My Pinterest is overflowing with nail art inspiration (oh so many pretty manicure photos!). I had to try one of them– so here you go, my DIY Tape manicure.

Decided to go for this design, it seemed classy, simple, and easy enough. Really cute, don't you think?

DIY Feather Ear cuff

Handmade feather ear cuffs! So I am so obviously not over the feather trend. Made with wire, chains, feathers, and love.

This cuff will go to a friend for her birthday. Yay for the festivities!

Thinking of selling these babies. If interested you could go visit Neon Jewelry on Facebook.

Gunslinging at the Commander Shooting Range

Hold the stance, hold the gun tightly, anxious and unsure. Aim and concentrate, wonder if you’ll hit the center of the target. Wonder if you’ll hit the target paper at all. Hope that you don’t shoot anybody. Hold your breath as you squeeze that trigger. A big bang. It all happens so fast. A hole on the target and the smell of gun powder in the room. Aim again, be more relaxed. Taste the gunpowder. Hold the gun confidently now. Pull the trigger. And again, and again.

Want more. Decide to hang the target paper in your room. Decide you want to be a sniper when you grow up. Shoot anyone who laughs at the dream.

Visited the Commander Shooting Center last Saturday. Read more on that here.

"Pabili po"

Bri, Jayce, Ian, and I visited the shooting range today. Such a cool experience, but that's for another time.

After shooting, Ian wanted to buy something to drink. He got us Cokes from a small store across the street.

Said store had very interesting personnel.

Red Pirates Bar, Boracay

Boracay is a very fun place– parties and events here and there, something you definitely have to experience when you visit.

There are, however, times when you just want to relax by the beach with only the sound of the wind and the waves in the background. The busy island life in the island's tourist center can be too much traffic for a vacationer craving peace and quiet.

It's all in the past.

I know her. Without you telling me, I know. I saw her through your eyes and met her through your words. I know who she is and how the intricate web of your story with her was spun and broken.

I feel like I’ve met her because she was part of you somehow, because we've touched the same places and held the same hand.

I recognize that face, I know what she did then and then after.

A silent bond remains because between me and her, there is you.

Sights from Boracay

As continuation of that previous Boracay post (Today we left the island), here are a few other photographs of the vacation we had. 

We flew to Aklan and spent the night there. A bus ride about an hour and 45 minutes long gets you to Caticlan. We were brought to this lovely waiting area before we took the speedboat to Boracay. 

On the speedboat, I took this photo of other ships docked on the beach. We were nearing paradise. 

Walking around the d'Mall/ d'Talipapa area, we spotted the most amusing thing. Ahh, I can only imagine the trademark violations.

A spacious Boracay tricycle. Fit my whole family of 5, Nanay and Tatay already on in this photo.

Interesting finds from a store we passed on the beach side. They had croc skulls and monkey skulls, and that crazy witch doctor staff Bri wanted. Their Facebook page here: MariItArtworks

And more colorful souvenir shops! I think my mom got one of these colorful masks.

The view from Station 3's Calypso Dive Center.

A quiet spot in Station 2, Mango Ray's beachfront bar.

Artwork in Red Pirates, a secluded bar in Station 3. Away from the hustle bustle of the island. Such a nice spot to relax in. Will be posting more photos on this place later.

The view from our hotel's pool side. Boracay Gardens took care of everything for us, from the Kalibo transfers to our breakfast and dinner buffets. Though not a beachfront hotel, Gardens was as good as that– there was a walkway from the hotel that leads directly to the beach, a mere 5 minute walk. 

I regret not having taken photos of the hotel room. This was because I was too busy lying on their really comfy hotel bed.

Of course, the white sands of Boracay. 

And, here I am underwater and scared out of my mind.

DIY Dip dyed cut out shirts in action

Remember these DIY dip dyed cut out shirts?

Here they are in action!

And at other angles...

Pretty nifty for something that got cut out of old oversized t-shirts, huh?

Have a go at them too, and please do send me photos of your creations! :)

(Photos courtesy of Camille and Bri)

ANTM models in Boracay!

Because it's not everyday that you find America's Next Top models frolicking about. 

Allison Harvard (ANTM cycle 12 runner up) and Dominique Reighard (ANTM cycle 10)!

Xanga days are over

Back in those days, I mistook being sad and somber for being different.

I felt like an individual. I painted my nails black. I wrote and cried to my xanga. I screamed and cried more. I shut the world out and listened to angry lyrics. I created friction with silence and miscommunication.

And then things were better, but it left my xanga empty. I couldn’t find my words because those words usually came from feelings– dark and heavy things that welled up in my eyes. I feared for who I am and who I defined myself to be, who I was and who I may end up becoming.

I wanted back into the typhoon of emotions I wallowed in. The tumultuous, familiar sting of madness.

I thought I was being different.

In retrospect, I’ve realized that being sad does not make you different, it makes you sad.

Jammers: Great burgers in Boracay

If it weren't for my unappeasable hunger, I wouldn't have wandered into Jammers. Brian, being a more frequent Boracay guest, suggested we try the place on the first night but we felt that we weren't supposed to be having burgers by the beach. Wrong, how very wrong.

Right beside Boracay's Epic, Jammers is perfect for midnight snacks and after drinking binge out sessions.

That last night I walked into Jammers at around after midnight, hungry even after a buffet breakfast and dinner. For 135 bucks, I had the best burger I've had in a while.

I had to come back the next day to get more. 

Yummy Mango-bananna fruit shake!

Their burgers don't look like much, but good God, they are a must try!

That afternoon, we left the beach. But, I also left with three other burgers (not including this one) because I couldn't get enough!

(I am not even exaggerating one bit as I write this post. I am craving for another burger now. )