Cebu Part 1: The Cebu Pacific fiasco, NS Royal Pensione, Casa Verde and Tops

Yey! Part 1 of the BFF diaries in CEBU: The Queen City of the South! :)We've had this trip booked early this year and it's one of the most awaited trip of the year for me. Too bad it was just me and BFF Trency, so we promised BFF Amanda that we'd make bawi and have another trip and to make it BONGGA! :)) And oh pardon this long post, this is going to highlight DAY 1 in Cebu City. :p

Mom wanted to see me off, so we first drove to Rockwell where I'd be leaving my car. Then it was breakfast over at Grams where we had a lovely breakfast of U.S. Tapa, fluffy eggs, and garlic rice, and of course COFFEE. Oh they call it Patriotic Breakfast. So good!


After a short breakfast with the Mother, I had to take a cab that would take me to NAIA Terminal 3, the assigned terminal for Cebu Pacific Air. We went early because the day before we left, a fellow blogger, Trip Or Treats and Carlos Celdran were cursing Cebu Pacific for their delay. We got scared we'd end up missing our flight, so it was better to be early.

Check-in went by smoothly, but Cebu Pacific's ground stewards were really MASUNGIT! Seriously, you guys have no right to be all grouchy at customers who are also really pissed off with your awful service! I wish I took note of the name of that girl who was super masungit. We get that you're tired and all, but it's your freaking job. If you want to be angry at the world, either you wait until after your shift ends or get the hell out of that job.

After surviving check-in, we had so much free time at our hands, Trency and I crammed research on Bantayan Island, our destination this summer. Thank God for Illy's free wi-fi, although it was on and off (well mostly off).

After having coffee, we decided to go to the departure lounge to wait for our boarding time. Since it was past 12NN, we had lunch at Let's Chow, a super cheap-ass Chinese stall. Trency had sharksfin siomai and I had wanton noodle soup. Really good! And for Php90 NOT BAD AT ALL! :)



Since our departure time was 1.55PM we went to our gate early. Our hearts sank when we heard the announcement that said our flight was going to be delayed. We were so pissed! It was my longest-ever stay at an airport! The stupid Cebu Pacific plane arrived past 2PM, and we got to board at around 2.30PM. And to top of our unlucky Friday the 13th stint, we were stuck on the runway for a good 20 minutes due to a congested runway. We were finally up in the air at around 3.30PM, our supposed time of arrival at Mactan International Airport.



Finally at almost 5PM, we had arrived in Cebu City. We quickly forgot about that harrowing airport fiasco and put on our vacation game faces ON! We were finally here! And no we weren't going to let anything get in the way!

We were to stay overnight in the city, so we only had a few precious hours. We checked-in at NS Royal Pensione, the hotel we stayed in when we were in Cebu last year for my cousin's wedding.



It's funny because the room they assigned to us was the same room we got when we stayed there. So there was that knowing feeling already. Plus the hotel's really cozy, and the staff, really friendly. It's a really modest hotel, but it has got the most basic necessities.




We were on our toes since we wanted to make the most out of our stay in the city. We freshened up a little then went to dinner at the famous CASA VERDE. Luckily it was within walking distance from our hotel.

Since it was payday Friday, families and barkadas filled the place up. Casa Verde has 3 branches, the one we went to was a house in a subdivision. It really is a HOUSE, with the restaurant on the ground floor and the living quarters on the 2nd floor.


We ordered the famous Brian's Ribs, which I must say must be one of the best ribs I've ever tasted. They served it to us hot, with the meat almost falling off the bones. I suddenly remembered why Mom loves meat that sticks to the bone. She says it's very TASTY, and I think these ribs are a true testament to that fact. The meat was very, very tender. However, Trency wanted more sauce.

Trency also wanted seafood, so we ordered this filleted shrimp dish. It was soooo good! It had 8 pieces, and we inhaled it! Forget about your diet when you eat at Casa Verde.

Then as if we weren't full, we ordered dessert: Lauren's Lava. We both loved how the warm chocolate syrup mixed with the cold vanilla ice cream on top. Plus it wasn't THAT sweet, so it was just perfect!

After dinner, we walked back to our hotel to decide on our next step. Trency's friend suggested we go up to Tops, the highest point in Cebu. So from our hotel we hailed a cab, please note that you have to talk to the driver. You'd have to ask them to wait for you. Luckily, we had a very accommodating driver, and for Php800 took us to Tops.

Tops is situated at the top of Busay Hills and is about 2,000 feet above sea level, and it offers a good view of both Mactan and Cebu. I must say, the view was absolutely breathtaking!





Even at almost 10PM a lot of people were coming up to Tops that night. It's open 24 hours and has a cafe and a bar. It's the perfect place to just lounge around and enjoy the cool, night air. Trency and I drank here, too.

After Tops, we went back to our hotel to rest up.

Stay tuned for our BANTAYAN ISLAND ADVENTURES. I'm gonna make it more of a photoblog, so you guys won't get bored with my narration. :)

CASA VERDE
#69 Lim Tian Teng St., Cebu City
Tel Nos. (032) 2536472, (032) 2538234, (032) 2536472

NS ROYAL PENSIONE
Juana Osmeña Street, Cebu City
Tel Nos. 032 254 5358
Website: http://www.nspensione.com/about_us.html

Food Trip: Legaspi and Salcedo Weekend Markets

I am not a big fan of markets AND waking up early to go to the market. It's my Mom's frustration for me to start learning the ways. But thanks to these cool concepts, your market-ing can be really fun and really sosyal. Makes waking up early totally worth it!

I've been delaying my posts on these two popular early morning weekend markets, but after a so-so visit to Mercato Centrale with 2 friends last week, I think it deserves a good blog entry.

The Salcedo weekend market happens every Saturday morning at the Jaime Velasquez car park. As early as 6am 'til 2pm the weekend market serves a variety of stuff - from fresh produce, flowers, plants, organic stuff, to ready-to-eat-FOOD! It's the place where your vendors are either foreigners or girls who speak in straight English. It's almost funny! And the folks who live in the condos around Salcedo Village troop down to the park to buy their stuff.

Mom and I love the barbecue stall, Mang Ineng's. Since we have to leave our house early, we have our power breakfast here. Sometimes the food choosing in this place can drive you insane. There's so much food! Anyway here are some snap shots I took from the Salcedo Weekend Market.



This is going to be the only place in the Metrowhere eating dirty ice cream would actually LOOK COOL! :p


Last year, Mom burned her forearm because of this. They make small pancake-like stuff here, haven't gotten the chance to taste it. But it brings bad memories for Mom haha!

I really love this French guy! He makes really good crepes, too! :D




Then on Sunday mornings, it's time for the Legaspi Weekend Market. Also in a carpark right beside the Legaspi Active Park, it's just like the one at Salcedo. But before there used to be fewer concessionaires. But I've noticed that this year, there are more who offer other products.

The Legaspi market also has a wide variety of food to choose from, although compared to the Salcedo market, this one has more concessionaires who sell other trinkets such as paintings, dresses, furniture, organic stuff, shoes, and bags. It's a bit more diverse, but of course they also have the fresh produce.

But food trippin' is actually fun-ner here. They already have Chef Laudico's BFast and Pampanga's renowned, Everybody's Cafe here. Then you also have the good ole barbecue stalls and other home-cooked meals. You just have to patiently go around, twice or thrice, to pinpoint that one thing you want to have.

So here are some photos I took of the Legaspi Weekend Market!










I've noticed huge families and groups of friends come here to eat and just hang out. It's actually really fun, if you don't mind the heat. In Salcedo, I see a lot of call center people coming down to have breakfast. It's that much of a hit! So if you want to hit the MARKET IN STYLE, I totally suggest you come and check this place out. It'll give a new twist to your usual, boring trip to the market. Then again, don't be too shocked with the difference in prices. It is more cheaper in Nepa-Q Mart or something, but at least your feet won't get dirty (hehe)!

To My Mother

This may not be her best picture, hehe, but it's the only photo I have of her as of this writing! :p

It's a day after Mother's Day, and I just wanted to pay a little tribute to my Mom. In an entry last year, I treated Mom to a FOTHER's DAY dinner and said that there's a little story to that part. It wasn't a typo error on my part, but really, my Mom is both my dad and my mom. Nope I didn't lose a dad at a young age, nor am I Mom's love child.

I AM ADOPTED! :)

A lot of my friends know about this and I am not embarrassed. Mom told me about my being adopted when I was around 5 or 6 years old in an aunt's beach house in Batangas. Being chosen is the first blessing I have ever received in my life. Mom gave me a chance at a better life the moment she took me in as her daughter. I may not come from her womb, but I may as well have. She would tell me stories of how she gave up A LOT when she adopted me, like how she used to go on trips on short notice in her past job and buying expensive stuff. It was a big leap for her, and yes, she was honest enough to tell me that she didn't really have plans on becoming a mother. But she did, and it's every reason why I am indebted to her until the day I breathe my last.

Whatever I am right now is because of her. I was able to go to good schools, travel, have most of my whims, because she burns the night oil every single night. The whole world is asleep but there she is typing away on her computer. Being a single mother is no joke, and she's doing such a great job. In a typical/ideal world where both mom and the dad raise kids, Mom did everything all by herself. She never complained and she never gave up.

I know that there have been lots of times I've disappointed her, but she made sure I learned from all those mistakes. And she never left my side. Sure she'd say things that sometimes I don't want to hear, but yes they are true and they are the only things a mother could tell her child. Now that I'm older and wiser, I am trying as much as I could do please her and repay her in my own way.

I wrote in my Facebook status yesterday, "Happy Mother's Day to the most beautiful Mother who single-handedly raised me and gave me a chance at a better life when she CHOSE me to be her daughter. Happy Mother's Day, Mom! I love you!:))".

My cousins all agree, my friends agree, and I AGREE.

She's my hero, and I love her. :)

Slurping Goodness @ Ramen Bar

Two Fridays ago, on the day Prince William and Kate Middleton got hitched, Mom and I went to Eastwood for lunch. I was down with horrible colds and cough (which made me miss an awesome Mt. Pinatubo trek with Kim), so I really craved for something hot. Finally, I had an excuse to go eat at the Ramen Bar, which a lot of people raved about.

I've been reading Cecile van Straten's Chuvaness for quite some time and have been enlightened on everything Japanese because of it. The moment I stepped inside, I thought how very MUJI of the Ramen Bar (see Cecile's MUJI entry here). It just made the entire restaurant, it being small, look so vibrant! Plus the anime drawings on the wall are really cute.

Of course we came here for the ramen, and I ordered SPICY KARAAGE RAMEN.

I wanted my ramen to be spicy to help ease the nasal blockage. It helped a lot, I might say. It was really good, the spicy oil gave it a good kick without damaging your taste buds! Generous servings of both noodles and karaage (bonesless chicken), too. People who LOVE spicy would be totally diggin' this!

Mom on the other hand got the SAPPORO MISO RAMEN.

She just had the butter and cream removed from this dish. Had a little taste of it, and it was good, though I wouldn't order since I'm not a huge fan of miso soup. Mom on the other hand, has this addiction to miso soup, and went as far as buying packs and packs of it from the Japanese grocery store. Like my ramen, they were also very generous with their servings.

But this was the absolute winner KAKUNI BUNS.

They're siopao buns with either pork or fish inside, but instead of the huge bun, they're cut up in small pieces. Perfect for pika-pika! We went for the fish, and it was love at first bite! We were given this mayonnaise type of dip, and it just gave it extra flavor! Mom and I had two each, and even if we were so full from the our ramen, we inhaled this. Super good! Don't go to the Ramen Bar without getting these, you won't be sorry!

Suffice to say this may be the closest I could get to having authentic Japanese ramen! Sorry to my favorite Teriyaki Boy Chicken Ramen, but Ramen Bar emerges as the winner (haha!). I'd love to try their other big bowls, they've got other unique stuff that look really enticing.

Eastwood Mall
Ground Level, Eastwood Mall
Eastwood Ave. & Orchard Road, Bagumbayan
Quezon City
Tel. No. 570-9457

Bloggers United: Shopping with a Cause

High school buddy and fashion blogger, Ana Gonzales of The Fashion Commuter, asked for writers on her Facebook page to write short feature articles on their co-presenters for this their event happening really SOON! Missin' my writing days, I couldn't resist the urge to volunteer, and to help out a high school bud! :)

So now let me, in turn, help her and her friends, Melai Entuna and Aisa Ipac, promote BLOGGERS UNITED. If we foodies have our restaurants and our weekend markets like Midnight Mercato, fashionistas have Bloggers United. It's going to be a place where both ladies and gentlemen could share tips in fashion and get updated on the latest trends. It's going to be the first bloggers bazaar, so I'm sure it's going to be EXCITING!

Also, the hottest names in the fashion blogosphere would also be selling their much-loved shoes, tops, and accessories. So if you want to dress ala-Joanna Ladrido, you should not dare miss this event. I'm 100% sure their clothes are going to sell like hotcakes, so come early and get the good deals! I'm also sure you wouldn't want to miss the chance to meet your fashion idols, Camille Co, Tricia Gosingtian, and Kryz Uy.

Plus you also get to help their chosen charity, K.I.D.S. Foundation. So you don't only get to shop for yourself, you also get to help out. I suddenly remembered this quote from a girl interviewed in one of our events covered by the ETC team, "Fashion can be charitable and charity can be fashionable". We thought it funny and a bit pilit at that time, but suffice to say, that quote can sum up this interactive fashion bazaar.

So what are you waiting for? Come to Bloggers United happening on May 27, 2011 at the 32nd to 33rd floor of the Malayan Plaza Hotel in Pasig City. It's going to be a bloggers event with a whole lot of flair and a whole lot of heart! :)

For more information you may also visit these websites:
Bloggers United - Blogspot
Blogges United - Facebook page
Bloggers United - Official Website

Midnight Mercato: The Highs and The Lows

Two entries in one day is unusual for me, but hey, there's always a first time for everything right? :D

So last Saturday, after officially becoming a godparent to this unknowing child, Mariko, Hazel and I drove from Paseo de Magallanes to The Fort in Taguig. Our agenda: to hit Midnight Mercato, the brainchild of foodie Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet.

We had a bitch of a time looking for it, I didn't know they transferred spots. So now, they're located behind the Starbucks with the drive-thru right beside MC Home Depot. Cars were lined up just to get to the parking lot. It was THAT BUSY! Plus some people cut the line, so it took us more than 15 minutes to actually get in!

But when we finally got in, we thought we were all going to go crazy! THE FOOD WAS ABUNDANT!! There were so much food choices, we had to go around the place 5 times before we got decide.





Since we came from Racks that afternoon, we were still sort of stuffed. So we only got to eat Nachos with Cheese and Beef from Mexicanto and the Hungarian Sausage. Both were really good! Nice and light..perfect for a close-to-midnight snack.


Mariko also decided to buy cakes from one of the stalls. They were a disappointment. This first one was a Chocolate-caramel cake. Although not too sweet, it's not your typical moist chocolate cake. It was dry and had a rough texture to it.

The really sad attempt at a Red Velvet Cake. Again, it was dry and the cream cheese was HARD.

This was much better, cake with walnuts on top. I liked it because it wasn't too sweet, plus there were nuts all over the cake.

Lastly, this was a strawberry cake. Again, not too sweet, but it was better than the chocolate and the red velvet cakes.

You really have to look around first before buying your food. There's so many stalls, but only a handful of them really serve good food. It's best to get the food that gets cooked right in front of you, at least you're assured of the quality once it's served! :)

Anton, if you get to read this, as a fan of yours, please:
1. FIX THE BATHROOM SITUATON! 2 portalets is not enough. Plus make sure nobody drops a bomb in there. It sucks that there are only 2 cubicles (one for the men and the other for the female) and one of them can't be used because of some inconsiderate dumbie! It's a bit of a hassle to go all the way to Starbucks or to MC Home Depot just to take a leak.
2. PARKING. Maybe you could just organize one entry point for the entrance and exit. It took us 15 minutes to get inside the parking lot because some moronic drivers cut the line.
3. FOOD SITUATION. As a foodie, maybe you should also get to screen the quality of the food being sold. We bought Sago't Gulaman that tasted like water, cakes that were dry and tasteless. And also the hygiene of the sellers were a bit questionable. We saw this stall with a "chef" preparing food with his bare hands. Come on, it's supposed to cater to the conyo crowd, how do you expect people to buy food when they see someone using their hands while preparing their food.
4. SITTING SITUATION. Hope you guys can get to add more seats, a lot of people had been scouring the entire area for seats. Plus most of the people there go by barkadas or one entire family. So most of them take up an entire table.
5. Getting to draw in hoards of people is really key, but as a foodie, you also know what gets you to come back to a certain restaurant. Most of the time it's quality and the cleanliness. Seriously Anton, cleanliness is a bit of an issue here. The food is not really exceptional, so maybe you can make the place spic and span, starting with the RESTROOMS. That part was really frustrating.

These are just some friendly suggestions to help improve the place. I think some aspects of the food market was neglected because it already had a NAME. In all fairness to the weekend markets at Salcedo and Legaspi Villages, they've been really successful because they took note of the minute things that people who come to them really need.

But don't get me wrong, before you throw and hurl boulders of hate at me, we really loved the place ok! Mariko, Hazel, and I had to make like 5 rounds just to decide on what to eat hahaha it really is a foodie heaven. But all things need improvement, and I guess Midnight Mercato isn't exempted from it! :)

Midnight Mercato
34th Street and 8th Avenue (across MC Home Depot), The Fort, Taguig
Operating Hours: Friday and Saturday, 10PM to 3AM
Website: http://www.midnightmercato.com

Proud Ninang to Baby Aron

I never really thought of myself as a Ninang (godmother) figure. I kind of think I'm still a kid myself, so playing second parent to a child can be a bit daunting. But if asked, then I'm all good! :) Besides, this kid is like my 4th or 5th inaanak (godchild) so I guess they saw something cool in me hahaha!

Such was the opportunity when my "cousin" Mitch asked me to be the ninang of her first born, Aron Miguel. I was thrilled, as it was unexpected, and in the first place how could you say no right? :)

So last April 30, Saturday, I trooped down to the Shrine of Jesus: The Way, The Truth, and The Light at Pasay City right beside the SM Mall of Asia. The BAPTISTRY is located at the left wing of the Church. It was so pretty, I loved the huge painting in the middle of the room of John the Baptist baptizing Jesus in the River Jordan.

The ceremony, officiated by Fr. Bong Lopez, was quick and very simple. We, the godparents, joined the parents - Mitch and Efren - in welcoming Aron to the Christian world.




Welcome to the Christian world, Aron. Be a good boy to Mommy and Daddy. I wish you the best of health, a good head on your shoulders, and a good heart. Make Mommy, Daddy, and us your godparents, PROUD! :) I'm sure you're gonna be a good kid! :)

P.S. The reception was held at Racks, Paseo de Magallanes. Wasn't able to take photos, got issued a ticket by stupid Pasay traffic enforcers, so I was in a sour mood! But the food was REALLY GOOD! :D Ribs galore! Oh and their Caesar Salad was yum-o! :)