Why I love this place

This has been my second time in Baguio and I must say I fell inlove with it. Alot of people has been asking why do we keep on coming back there considering the amount of time spent on travelling -- a dreading 16-hour trip to and from Metro Manila excluding the flight. So I made a list of why I love this place alot!

• FOOD. Not only it is affordable but almost my favorite food is very accessible. There's like a little resto every corner that specializes on either coffee, cakes, pasta, pizza and, if you are lucky, to all of these! Here are a few of my favorites and some I have tried so far:



Strawberry Latte at Vizcos along Session Road



Light pasta (still from Vizcos). Spaghetti and Salad topped with chicken strips. Truly a must-try at only 99php.



Carlo's Pizza's version of bunch-of-lunch. Not bad though.



 

But this one should topped my list. Volante along session. Truly Italian at a very affordable price.

 

The Bulalo at Solibao Filipino Cuisine is good after an afternoon walk. The hot soup and tender meat is perfect.





The steak at Sizzling Plate Baguio. Can you believe that their Australian porterhouse is only 260php a serving?





Strawberry shortcakes are to-die for! This one is from a bazaar along Session Road. Loved the ones at Vizcos.



The Coffee with Vanilla ice cream at Volante is perfect company while reading a book or just staring at the busy traffic along Session Road. Its about 50-60php only.





The streetfood at Burnham. I tried the kwek-kwek, tempura, fishball except for that fried balut. I dont know how they call it. I can't take eating a chick as little as that its just like the size of a quail's egg!

 

These oranges from Sagada province are as huge as pomelo. I couldn't believe it when I first saw it.

 



Yeah I know its just Kalamay but they named Sundot Kulangot. Haha



I've come back to the market for this -- ube and leche flan at 3 for 100php. Perfect for my sweet tooth.


 

• WEATHER. Definitely a perfect excuse to chug coffee every now and then, or just burry yourself in the sheets and feel lazy, or play dress-up and score that japorms look without having to sweat it all off. ;)

• FLOWERS. I mean they are just almost everywhere and comes in different colors , forms and sizes.

 

• LOCATION. I love it that nature is just a walk in the park or if you wanted more peace you can take a taxi and pay roughly around 50php.You can have a quiet dinner at CCJ and hear the crickets outside while having wine.

• PEOPLE. The people I have to say are very courteous and their taxi drivers are the most honest ones so far. They won't even complain and take note, they give you back your change up to last peso.

Till next year Baguio City. We'll see you next Panagbenga ;)

Finally!

Been dying to take a snapshot of the Moon. Although I dont aim for a NASA-like picture, at least I wanted it to be decent enough. By that I meant, something worth uploading. You see we go to work at night when the sun has just set on the west and we only get at least 2 nights out of the 52 weeks to do it. Added to that, the weather, sometimes, do not coordinate either and may I add that (according to Wikipedia) we only have at least  12.37 full moons in a year. So many odds indeed. So when we got a bigger lens last Christmas I couldnt wait to try it but due to a series of unfortunate events I eventually forgot about it.


Then earlier this evening when Iris was leaving for work she called me up saying to wake up as this might be one of the rare oppurtunity we could get a snapshot of the moon. So half-awake I went to the rooftop with a tripod on hand. I couldnt count how may photos I have taken just to get the shot I wanted. The guidelines I have read in the past no longer matter as it really didnt work at all! The moon looked like a lightbulb instead. What made it worst is that I have misplaced my glasses making it harder for me to see. I almost gave up but afer further tweaking I fiinally go it! So here it is my best shot of Luna so far.

Not my usual Valentine

I hate it when work comes in between my personal life. Hey don't get me wrong. Of course I love my job but there are just times when it comes in between some things -- laundry, house chores, watching TV, sleeping, reading a book, meet-up with pals, night out, out of town trips, family gatherings, birthdays. But of my three years on this job, I have learned that you really can't have it all. I must say that when I started working I lost my social life. Thank God, He gave us free will to decide or an option to settle for something better (if we cant have the best). Like a win-win situation so to say. Like celebrating an occassion the day before or a few hours before it hits 12 midnight. Or celebrating it in just a few hours instead of the whole day. What matters most is that you celebrate it rather than not at all. Right?

So anyways, this year's Valentines Day (unluckily) falls on a Monday. So workweek. Iris and I both have to work at 8 and 7pm respectively and we have accepted the fact that a Valentine dinner is really impossible even if I suggested we can take our "lunch" then. Hello? I can't imagine hurrying up to finish an intimate dinner. So we thought of a back-up plan that luckily worked last Valentine.

A pre-Valentine lunch at Bigby's Ayala on the 13th.

Grilled pork belly with cranberry sauce for me.

This is supposedly Strawberry Banana but to my horror it had Basil on it. They should have named this Iced Basil.

and Tapa Bai for Iris

 



I envied Iris choice - Choco Locco. hmp!

Since Iris have to work the night before, we have to cut the celebration short and headed home. We spent time catching up unseen episodes of Gossip Girl. Yeah infuenced by me. xOxO.  So she went off to work at 8:30 and had to keep myself busy at home. I started to check on my backlogged readings but I got bored so I decided to watch James Franco on 127 Hours.

 A bag of chips and mudpack on my face kept me company till 12 midnight. I decided to doze off then setting the alarm to 5:50. I was not hoping that Iris will be out early on the 14th. Couldnt believe my luck when she called me before the alarm and asked me to get up and meet her downstairs. So we drove away to Ayala just before the clock hit six. We were hoping they'd be open but Manong Guard told it will be till 7am. We killed time by doing a couple of things. Namely:

Iris daring me to climb on top of her car. I managed to reach just the hood. I was just so scare I might break the windshield.

A quick driving lesson and some maneuvers. I'm still scared to death! (no pictures though)

A couple of poses around the terraces. Hahaha. We will never have our pictures taken on ordinary days but since Ayala was desserted at that time we both took advantage!



The breakfast at Pancake House was awesome. I had country breakfast

While Iris just had pancakes(?) I was hoping to try their chocolate pancakes but after the meal I got so full.

Or so I thought because I managed to take in a cup of yogurt. ;D

And before I forgot, I got white roses and a bar of my favorite chocolate (minus the walnut)

So I guess the bottom line is that no matter how bad the situation there will always be a better way to get out of it. Just make sure to stay focused ;D

Where was I?

Last day plus payday is my favorite day since I started working 3 years ago especially when the salary scheme changed. For the last 12 months, I had, more or less, 26 happy days. On that day, something in the office is different -- people are nicer, customers are more friendly and of course not an angry customer can spoil my day. But of course we have this Law of Diminishing returns (please excuse my nerdy brain!) that had started to creep on my nerves lately. So I thought I need some inspiration to do better (or at least meet standards).

Then I remember this one poem from my Literature class way back in college. I used to look forward to Lit class because aside from the subject itself, the teacher is one of my favorite teacher. I remember getting out of her 9am class feeling refreshed and full of positivity. A very inspiring discussion would always transpire on every meeting. She was like the female version of Paulo Coelho (but alot easier to understand). I almost forgot mentioning her name -- Professor Merle Valbuena. ;)

Anyways, I'd like to share this poem written by Gumer Rafanan and won a Palanca Award in 2005. Its actually in Cebuano so I can relate to it more.

DIIN KA MAN SA PAGPANGLUNHAW SA MGA BALILI


Kay maoy may imong gisud-ong
Mga dahon nga nangapulak,
Inay mga bulak nga naugalimyon…

Kay maoy imong gilantaw
Naglugiton nga dag-om,
Inay mga bidlisiw sa kabuntagon…

Kay maoy imong gitan-aw
Mga nawong nga nagping-it,
Inay mga dagway nga mapahiyomon…

Maong wa mo makita ang pagpanglunhaw sa mga balili
Ni madungog honi sa mga langgam,
Ni masingo kahumot sa mga bulak,
Ni mabati hapuhap sa huyohoy.

Nganong gipunayan mog ihap mga adlaw
Sa imong kinabuhi?
Unsay naa sa kompyuter nga giutasan
Mo man ug lili?
Imong mga palad hugot mong gilumkom,
Nganong mobukhad lang kon dunay dawaton?

Unya… sa pagkaamgo mo pa
Sa imong hitaligam-an,
Diay “umadtoay ka na”
Ug di na makalingi,
Di na makabalik,

Aron pagpaminaw sa honi
Sa mga langgam,
Aron paghanggap sa kahumot
Sa mga bulak,
Aron pagtagamtam sa hapuhap
Sa huyohoy,
Ug aron pagsakal sa pagpanglunghaw
Sa mga balili


Gumer M. Rafanan


I guess the bottom line is that I just have to enjoy life and to relax and stop worrying too much. So Prof. Valbuena once asked us to translate the poem in English and we couldnt agree on the title. The word "Pagpanglunhaw" is just too strong. What do you think? ;)




Could not find a more accurate pic for this entry so I chose this one.



Catchin' up!

The late part of 2010 and the early part of 2011 has been a roller coaster ride for me and Iris. Lemme start with the unexpected operation that Iris had. A simple laparoscospy (or so we thought) that turned to a 9-hour special procedure and required her to stay in the hospital for almost 2 weeks plus an off from work for a month. clearly, that changed alot.

We ended up spending both Christmas and New Year in the hospital, lessen our trips, cancel alot of things, prioritized eating healthy meals, postponed my readings, spending more time at home. Added to that, a new job description was given to me. Which means I have to handle more stress than usual. I have to say it wasnt easy at all. Coming home to the hospital on a holiday season seeing the person you love lying in the hospital bed plus having to deal with other twenty strangers at work coupled with some personal and family issues, at one point I thought it was all a dream. That this would soon be over but it didnt end.

Luckily things have start to change by the time Sinulog came. Got the chance to go out and we even dared going to the mall a week before that. Thank God wheelchairs were invented!

Of course, we have to thank her generous mom for the stay in Crown Regency during Sinulog.

 
 

 
And I, even got the chance to join the photo contest though I didnt manage to pass any entry.

Iris even made it to the streets last Sinulog. Thanks to her cane and our friend Alex who helped us thru the rowdy crowd.

Left Iris on this bleachers intended for our company's employees.







After our lunch. We managed to eat or take-out meal on the curb.



The rain started to pur after lunch. Iris, with Alex, is on her way back to the hotel.

And before I knew it, Iris could then manage to drive after checking out in Crown Regency.

So to celebrate her new found "freedom", we tried this new restaurant at The Walk. Its called Blue Elephant.

Three weeks after she got out from the hospital friends came in and we huddled for a little potluck dinner that served as a Thanksgiving party. It was a night of great food, great talk and amazing people.



We all shared a toast.



And I am hoping to send these Christmas gifts back home by next week.

Iris will be back to work 2 days from now. We would soon be back to our normal life and I hope I no longer have to make another catch-up entry in the future. ;D