Mang Jimmy's Short Order

Raffy has always mentioned a popular 'sisigan' near Manila Water area in Quezon City that he hasn't tried yet. Some of his officemates have recommended it and vouched for its greatness. So one day on our way to Bulacan, I urged him that we try it once and for all. The place is called "Mang Jimmy's Short Order".

It is located at #3 Carriedo St, Balara Filtration, QC. Right beside Manila Water Office.
It is a simple eatery with pebbles as its flooring and wooden tables and plastic chairs.

 
The price is just right with food good enough for 2 people except for the rice because one order comes with 1 cup of rice. If you will eat in groups, better order 3 viands and you'll enjoy unlimited rice. Check out the menu below.

Mang Jimmy's Menu

We ordered sisig, tapa and sinigang na hipon. I love their tapa! Even my sister-in-law likes it. The sisig and sinigang are good too but their tapa is the runaway winner for me.

Tapa

Sinigang na Hipon

Sisig

Will definitely come back again. So if you're looking for cheap but yummy eats, Mang Jimmy's is surely the right place!

Aracama Filipino Cuisine

Raffy and I went on a date and we decided to have dinner at the new restaurant inside The Fort strip called ARACAMA. They serve filipino cuisine with a modern take.

The staffs are all polite which has always been a big deal for us. The place is almost empty because we dined in on a weekday. According to Raffy, the place gets jam packed on weekends and on holidays so better get a reservation.

Prices are at the mid level. We ordered Mozzarella Malunggay Dip, Gising-gising, Pork Binagoongan, KKK Rice and Watermelon Shake.

We love Mozzarella Malunggay Dip, it's perfectly paired with crunchy bread. I just hope the melted mozzarella was not only placed on top of the malunggay but also at the bottom or at the center so we can eat the rest of the malunggay.

Gising-gising is another great dish made of sigarilyas (winged beans), chili and gata. The spiciness is just right.

Pork Binagoongan is okay. It has a mild bagoong flavor though I prefer it if it's made a
little more salty.

KKK is kalkag kalo kalo with dried baby shrimps and green onions. This is one great rice recipe, we love it.

Overall, Aracama is a nice restaurant to try if you're at the Fort area. Too bad I wasn't able to try their chocnut ice cream. I wasn't aware that it was their signature dessert! Maybe I'll come back to try it out. ;)

I Can Be Body Beautiful At Any Age With Wacoal

At these technology-driven age, there are now a lot of ways to stay beautiful and stay young with the proper price tag. But now all are lucky to afford it including me. I gained a lot of weight after giving birth. I noticed that slimming down has become harder than when I was still single, probably because my metabolism slows down as I age. Though I already lost 30lbs, I'm still above my ideal weight. It affected my confidence and self-esteem. I get sad when I see pictures of me when I was still slim and young.

But I came to realized that my worth as a person is more than the size of my waist line or my arms. I embrace the fact that I have beautiful qualities to be proud of and to celebrate with. I have a family that accepts and loves me for who I am and that's the most important thing. These things helped me bring back my confidence to love myself again. It definitely helps more to wear the proper lingerie like Wacoal.

Wacoal products empower al women regardless of age and size. They believe that every women is beautiful. I'm turning 30 real soon and I'm not afraid because I have wonderful support system including Wacoal. Check out this great pair of women in their 30's!

Thank you Wacoal!

 http://www.wacoal.ph

Kristina's Inutak Premium

I recently discovered a delicious delicacy called Kristina's Inutak Premium. It's like a pie made of fresh coconut cream mixed with sticky rice. It's really yummy.

It comes with different flavors like classic, queso de bola, corn, tablea, macapuno, langka and classic lite. Classic costs P120 (small) and P350 (big) but the rest of the flavors cost P150 for small and P400 for big. Kinda pricey if you ask me especially since the big one is not really that big for its price. But I would still recommend it since the taste will make up for the lack in size.

You can find Kristina's Inutak at the following daily stores:

• GF Bldg A SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City (near El Pollo Loco)
• 2F Main Bldg SM MOA, Pasay City (Food Court)
• 2F Main Bldg SM North Edsa (near SM Department Store entrance)
• 2F Sm Southmall (near Blue Magic)

Weekend Stores

• GF Glorietta 4, Makati (near Armani Exchange)
• GF Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa (Activity Center)
• Mercato Centrale, BGC Taguig 
• 3F The Podium (near Living Well)

Seafood Pasta in Oil

Thanks to Wanda Cooks for this recipe. So simple but delicious. I made this for Mikeila's 2nd birthday and they loved it. :)

Ingredients:
1kg spaghettini or angel's hair (cooked per package instructions)
seafood (shrimp, squid and canned tuna, drained but reserving the oil)
1/2 cup olive oil
2 whole garlic (or more), minced finely
1 tbsp red chili flakes, minced finely
1 cup dried basil
1 cup dried parsley
salt and pepper to taste

How to Cook:

• Warm oil, garlic and red chili flakes in a skillet. Cover and let simmer in low heat for 15 minutes. The oil should barely bubble and make sure the garlic will NOT turn brown.
• Add shrimp and squid and cook in medium-high heat. Add the canned tuna a few minutes after.
• Once cooked, add the basil, parsley and the oil from the canned tuna. Then add salt and pepper to taste. Let simmer for a few minutes
• Pour over pasta and serve.

Passport Processing Now Opens at Malls

Good news to our kababayans who need to apply or renew their Philippine Passport. You may now avoid the long lines at their main office in Aseana by heading over at the mall. DFA has opened 9 mall-based offices to make passport processing accessible and efficient:

• SM Megamall - 7th Floor Building C (checkout their website to set an appointment)
• Robinsons Galleria - (02-6310806)
• SM City Baguio - (074-4221465)
• MarQuee Mall - Angeles, Pampanga
• Robinsons Starmills - San Fernando, Pampanga
• Robinsons Place - Lipa City (043-7220578)
• Pacific Mall - Mandaue City, Cebu
• Robinsons General Santos (083-5538388)
• SM City Davao

These mall-based offices are open from Mondays-Saturdays for both passport processing and releasing and Sundays for passport releasing. You may check out my previous post for the documentary requirements.
I will update this list once new offices are operational.

Newport Ultra Cinema at Resorts World Manila

I recently won two tickets to the advance screening of Resident Evil: Retribution thru Nuffnang's PLDT myDSL Contest. Best thing about it is that the movie premiere will be held at Newport Ultra Cinema at Resorts World Manila. Raffy and I was excited because of the lazy boy chair and unlimited popcorn and drinks!

I like the cinema because it is comfortable and private with only few seats inside the theater. If you need a popcorn and drink refill, just press the button beside the chair for 3 seconds and the butler will be there to serve you. A couple of times they came in late after pressing the button thrice but at least they still came.

There are three pop corn flavors to choose from, cheese, sour cream and barbecue. Personally I like the sour cream. I got two refills, hehe! The cheese flavored popcorn is too salty for me while the barbecue tastes different. I can't really explain it but it has a strong taste.

Unlimited Popcorn

Ticket price costs P500 for a movie at the ultra cinema with unlimited popcorn and drinks. If you're a popcorn person, then I think that price is worth it especially if you can gobble up 2 or 3 refills. Regular cinema costs around P200-270 depending on the movie.

Thank you Nuffnang and PLDT!

Bukomaxx

I recently discovered a new healthy and delicious drink at SM Mall of Asia called Bukomaxx. A friend invited me to try it out. I love buko juice especially Pao Tsin's so I willingly obliged. Bukomaxx can be found at the FX terminal right in front of MOA Hypermarket.

Bukomaxx offered buko juice and buko shakes. We tried the shake. Medium sized drink costs only P39.  The staff will put the shake in a clear plastic bottle like that of a mineral water, put the cap tightly and place it in a puncher to punch the cap where they will place the straw. That makes drinking bukomaxx convenient because you can easily carry it anywhere without the spills.

Bukomaxx shake medium size

The shake is delicious. I like it because you can really taste the milk and the sweetness is just right. You can also add other flavors to your shake like blueberry, just add P6 per flavor. Haven't tried it though but my friend told me buko shake and blueberry is also delish.

Be sure to try Bukomaxx next time you visit SM MOA.

Be Derek's New Anna!

I’m sure you’ve already seen Derek’s Anna Banana Song via PLDT myDSL TVC and youtube. It’s actually cute that he’s brave enough to show his affection for Anna to the public. Watch it here.

After several months, Anna replied with a video dumping Derek! Poor boy! Watch Anna’s rejection video here.

Good thing Derek has a strong support system, his family. His little sister is so sweet, trying to help Derek find his new “Anna” just to cheer him up. 

You too, can help Derek. If you or you know a girl aged 12-16, upload a video of yourself showing how much you like Derek and why you should be his new Anna at  www.dereksnewanna.com. You may also upload your videos at the following on-ground uploading stations:

Robinson’s Ermita – September 1 & 2

SM Megamall – September 8 & 9

Lucky winner will be part of the next PLDT myDSL commercial and will take home a new Samsung Ultrabook!

I’m excited to see how this turns out. So what are you waiting for? Join now.

Mang Larry's Isawan at UP Diliman

While driving home from Bulacan to Makati, my husband suddenly craved for Mang Larry's famous UP Isaw. Having enjoyed the first isaw date we had years before. I willingly obliged. :)

We reached UP Diliman around 5pm and got lucky that we easily located one of Mang Larry's isaw carts. Yes, you read it right. He already had several carts deployed. As a matter of fact, what we found was cart # 11. By the time we were there, several cars are already parked. Parking is free of course, but remember to give a tip to the parking attendant.

There are 2 or 3 isaw carts in that empty lot but Mang Larry's cart stands out because of the number of customers buying plus the fact that it has a banner and LED signage so you don't have to wonder if you are indeed buying from Mang Larry.

Mang Larry's Famous Isaw at UP Diliman

They offer several kinds of "barbecues", I think around 7 (liver, isaw, tenga, etc). Each stick costs only P6. My husband usually orders 2 pcs of each kind in order to taste all. It's really hard to pick a favorite because everything is yummy!

Another bonus is the several ice cream carts parked in the area. Isaw and ice cream goes well together! I swear the dirty ice cream in UP are flavorful. My baby Mikeila likes it too.




Mikeila and I eating ice cream at UP


We'll definitely go back!

Saltimbanco by Cirque Du Soleil

I had a chance to watch Cirque Du Soleil's Saltimbanco for free. Thanks to my boss who got complimentary tickets and shared it with us. :) I was so excited because I've always wanted to see them perform.

Saltimbanco came from the Italian word "saltare in banco" which literally means to jump on a bench. According to the show's website, "Saltimbanco is a Cirque du Soleil signature show inspired by the urban fabric of the metropolis and its colorful inhabitants. Decidedly baroque in its visual vocabulary, the show's eclectic cast of characters draws spectators into a fanciful, dreamlike world, an imaginary city where diversity is a cause for hope."

The show is a delight indeed. The stunts are jaw dropping. You can hear a lot of "whoa" reactions from the audience because of the heart stopping yet beautiful acrobats. The music is excellent. I especially like the fact that they used live band and singers during the entire show. The stage and costumes are colorful and fun. Too bad we couldn't understand their dialogues because they spoke French instead of english. But nevertheless, the acts compensated for it. It's hard to pick a favorite because each performance has something special to offer.

Here are some of the acts performed in Saltimbanco:

Adagio





Chinese Poles





Hand to Hand





Boleadoras

Other amazing acts include juggling, russian swing, duo trapeze and bungees.

The show lasts for 2 hours plus a 20min break after the first hour. Be sure not to use your phones, cameras or other gadgets during the show as the organizers are very strict about it which I understand because the performers need to focus on their acts and flash coming from your cameras may destruct them.

Saltimbanco runs from August 9 to 19, 2012 at SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Kim N' Chi

My husband has a new favorite fast food joint at Glorietta called Kim N' Chi. He raved about it a few months back so I got curious and tried it during one of our movie dates.

Kim N' Chi offers great korean dishes at an affordable price. The servings are huge and that spells the difference. My husband's favorite is the Beef Bulgogi Omu-Rice (P119). It is a heavy meal with its big serving of rice covered in egg plus a hefty serving of beef with noodles. It can actually be shared by two people with small appetite.

My favorite is Chicken Combo which includes a delicious grilled chicken, noodles, vegetables, spicy sweet dilis and egg rolls. And it only costs P119! How sulit is that?

Other great selections are the following:

Try these next time you stop by Glorietta Food Choices. :)

My First IMAX Experience

I've always been curious on the difference of watching a movie thru IMAX but I guess its high ticket price stops me from trying as I'm not sure if it's gonna be worth it. But just recently, my husband and I wanted to try something different on our movie night and so we head over to SM Mall of Asia and purchased two IMAX tickets with our eyes closed  - a single ticket costs P450 each! OUCH! Good thing the movie is The Dark Knight Rises.We have high hopes for this last Batman offering and to watch it in IMAX format just increases the pressure.

If you're planning to try IMAX, make sure to choose the farthest center seat since the screen is HUGE. It takes a few minutes to get used to that big screen. The moment the movie started, I already felt the difference of IMAX from a regular theater. I felt like I'm part of the movie and the size of the screen contributes a lot to it. The surround system is better too. But what I like the most are the aerial shots. I felt like I'm flying or that I'm in a helicopter overlooking Gotham, really cool.

Too bad the movie is just in 2D because I think the experience would be way better had it been in 3D format.

So, is watching in IMAX worth the P450 you're gonna shell out? For this one time, yes. Will I watch another IMAX movie again? Maybe one last time, just to try the 3D format. But it's not practical to watch here regularly. My P450 will already include food and drinks if I watch in a regular cinema.

Coming Home to Mandaue Foam

Mandaue Foam is one of the leading foam manufacturers in the country. It has come along way from its humble start as foam manufacturer in Cebu in 1971 to offering diversified product lines like sofas, dining tables and bed frames among others.

I recently visited its website and found many irresistable items for my wish list. I've rounded it up to top 3:


Veronica - I love its classical and elegant design. I'm sure you will feel regal sitting on it

329 Double Deck - This is ideal especially when my baby Mikeila and her future sibling grows up :)

MG152RB Rectangular Mirror - I've always wanted to have this on our wall to make the room bigger

There you go. Hope this wishlist will soon turn to reality. Mandaue Foam indeed has a lot of great products to offer. Just follow the inner "interior designer" in you and doll up your home. Take it from Mandaue Foam's tag line "Your home, your imagination".

Check out their latest TV commercial here.

My Skincare Regimen

Like most girls, I've encountered skin problems like oily skin, blackheads and pimples. It got worse when I was pregnant with my first baby until almost a year after giving birth. I admit it was frustrating and it affected my self esteem.

I searched high and lows for products that will help me lessen the oiliness and remove my pimples without shelling out a lot of cash. I know derma or facial clinics have helped a lot of people with the same condition but I can't afford it. I'd rather invest my money than spend a lot for my face.

After much research and several trials and errors, I finally found what I needed:

• Wash - Cyleina Black Pearl Soap - It is an organic soap that lightens dark spots caused by sun exposure and pimple scars
. It has Arbutin that gently exfoliates dead skin cells and inhibit melanin production for softer and glowing skin and Licorice that is anti-bacterial and helps lighten complex for clean and fairer skin.  

• Tone - Dickinson's Witch Hazel Toner - 100% natural, Witch Hazel gently removes oils and impurities leaving your skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated without harsh or confusing ingredients contained in other toners. I love this toner. This helped me remove my pimples. It also gives you a feeling that your skin tightens after each use.

• Moisturize - Skinfood Omija Whitening Serum - Yes, I still moisturize even though I already have oily skin. It's a misconception that people with oily skin doesn't need to do so. According to research, one of the reasons why we have oily skin is because our skin lacks moisture. When our skin is dry, oil glands tend to work overtime to produce more oil in order to hydrate our skin, hence the oily face. That's why it is important to drink lots of water and use a good moisturizer after toning. Skinfood Omija Whitening Serum is not heavy on the face and it doesn't add to the oiliness of my skin.

After a few months of doing this regimen, plus a few facial, I noticed that my oiliness were kept at bay and my pimples are beginning to fade away. I'm so happy I found products suitable for my skin type. Although my skin now is still not perfect, it has dramatically improved and I'm happy about it. No need to hide from the camera or spend countless hours editing my pictures before uploading in facebook. :) Here's a pic showing how my skin looks like before and right now. Again, it still needs a lot to improve at but I'm not complaining right now. ;)

CHILI GARLIC POTATOES

Ingredients:

• 1/2 kg baby potatoes
• 1/4 cup butter
• 3tbsp olive oil
• 6-8 cloves of garlic, diced
• 4pcs jalapeno chilis, cut in to rings
• 3tsps balsamic vinegar
• salt to taste

How to Cook:

1. Wash the baby potatoes very carefully. Boil potatoes in their jackets until tender then cut it in half. Be careful not to overcook so that it won't break when we stir fry it later.
2. Heat the butter and olive oil in a skillet. It's important to have both in order to achieve a nice golden-brown crust.
3. Saute garlic and chilis until the garlic turns brown. Add the potatoes. Cook until the potatoes have a golden brown color.
4. Add the balsamic vinegar and salt.

This goes well with pasta or porkchop or roasted chicken. Enjoy!

Online buys: Bag Organizer vs Kangaroo Keeper

I recently bought two bag organizers on ebay to keep all my things in place when I carry them in my bag. This is ideal especially if you have a large bag that doesn't have many compartments like Longchamp. The first one I bought is the "Kangaroo Keeper". This only costs P100 and it already comes in set of 2 (one is bigger than the other). You can place the small one inside the bigger one in order to have more storage space. The fabric is same as the one used in umbrellas. It indeed has a lot of compartments but what I didn't like is that the size of each compartment is too small, it can hardly fit my phone. Because of that, I have a hard time pulling out my things.

So I decided to purchase another one. I found this also on ebay. It didn't have a brand name, the seller simply calls it "Bag Organizer".  It costs higher than KK at P495 but the quality is so much better. The material is sturdy enough to stand on its own. It has 16 compartments and can easily fit two cellphones, tablet, wallet, IDs,  keys, small documents, pens, hand sanitizer, etc! I so love it!

Kangaroo Keeper (Left); Bag Organizer (Right)

Outbreak BGC. Run For Your Life

For running aficionados out there, here's a unique run that you will surely enjoy. Outbreak Manila gives you - "Outbreak BGC". It is unique because you will be chased by scary ZOMBIES! I've seen the news about this when it was held in Nuvali and UP (I think) and it looks like so much fun. They really put "FUN" in the word fun run! Even a non-runner like me wants to try it. :)

Outbreak BGC will be held on July 28, 2012 at Bonifacio Global City. Head on over at selected Toby Sports (Shangri-la, SM North Edsa and Mall of Asia) and Runnr branches (Alabang Town Center and Bonifacio High Street) to register. Registration fee is P800.

See you there!