TRAVEL | Kamayan sa Palaisdaan, Tayabas Quezon

Kamayan sa Palaisdaan, Tayabas Quezon

Celebrating the Christmas season with my friends back in the countryside we decided to hit a native restaurant located in Tayabas Quezon Province. The place is called KAMAYAN SA PALAISDAAN. I've been visiting this place ever since I was a child. My parents and I used to frequent this place and even back then, I've very good memories of this place. Before, we can even fish here for fun. The "Tilapia" (St. Peter's fish) is simply infamous in this place and I would definitely recommend this place to all who wants to experience honest to goodness Tilapia. I bring my foreign friends here once in a while and they are satisfied.

TRAVEL | Starbucks, TechnoHub Philcoa; Don Antonio, and Convergy's

Starbucks, TechnoHub Philcoa; Don Antonio, and Convergy's

So here comes 2011, and I'm wordless. Funny I'll be sitting in front of my computer at a time like this when I'm supposed to be out and having fun. But then again, I am better off without me spending too much since I have to save money for this rainy days to come (figuratively!).

Last night though, me and my colleagues dropped by STARBUCKS TECHNOHUB PHILCOA QUEZON CITY to have some coffee at 2am. It was rather late but since we have nothing to do the following day so it was pretty fine.

Starbucks Philcoa is the place to hang out if you're in the UP Diliman area. Actually, there aren't many cafes in this area so if you just feel like sipping that much deserved cup of coffee/chocolate then you can visit this branch.

As far as I know, there are two other Starbucks in Commonwealth. One is located near Don Antonio. Personally I prefer staying here since not many people come here. Very quiet, except when some stupid-insensitive customers start chatting in their higher trhan normal voices. The toilet is spacious and near so you need not worry about leaving your laptop since you can come back for it quickly. The staff in this place are also very accommodating. I like the fact that the staff here are courteous and helpful. You can always ask for an extra shot of soya milk if you're dissatisfied with your serving. The guard's really nice too. You can always ask him to safelock your laptop if you choose.

The other place is located near St. Peter's parish (the same building with Convergy's). Although I won't recommend this branch since it's usually crowded with call center agents and Koreans studying inside.

JOURNAL | To Write More

To Write More

I've been thinking really hard how I can write more efficiently in my blogs. Lately I've been so busy with all the work here in the office I couldn't find time to sit back and write. Of course I know that writing should not be taken for granted.

LIFESTYLE | I Just Had Sex

I Just Had Sex

Couldn't help but laugh when I watched this vid. Wahahaha.. I wish sex was this simple not minding STD and HIV, whew that would have been perfect. But of course in reality these are things we have to think about. Anyway the ending was hilarious... I wonder what Katty Perry would be thinking...

LIFESTYLE | A Story of Growing Old

A Story of Growing Old

This video surely made me cry when I saw it. Somehow it touched me and made me think how my wonderful my future will be if I grow old with someone whom I can really just talk to, and have fun. Hope you enjoy this video as much as I did.

LIFESTYLE | Extreme Fitness Gym

Extreme Fitness Gym

This has been long overdue. I have started going to the gym since August and I only felt the urge to write this about the gym I go to.

JOURNAL | Intraspection Again

Intraspection Again

I'm not really sure what to write for now. My mind's so blank from all the important things I have to finish this week. Well today I was able to finish my recommendation letters and that's something that made me happy despite the fact that I wasn't able to attend to my job interview. These days sleep has become so important to me that sometimes I wish I can just stay in bed as much as I want- which I can't do of course.

JOURNAL | Upside Down Cup

Upside Down Cup

Last night, I dreamt about a cup. My cousin was asking for her cup which I cannot understand why because I saw in my dream that it was exactly where the cup was supposed to be.

The dream changed into something that I was so nervous about being late for some sort of appointment (which for some reason I felt was regarding a test/exam or interview). Due to time constraint, I wore my clothes clumsily and that's how my father told me to "improve" (this was the exact word he used) myself.

JOURNAL | Been a while

Been a while

First of all , let me thank the people who are reading this blogsite.
I am really honored by your positive comments and inspired by the negative ones.
It's been really a while since I posted anything from my blog.
I think I've been very caught up with my job that I couldn't find time to write my "fearless" revelations as one of the visitors would say (hahaha, love that thought, maybe I should be bolder in this site).

Anyhow, there are many things to write about for this month and some of these include my trip in China and people I met there, and many more. So better watch out for the release of my new posts.

Thanks a million to my supporters again.

ARTICLE | Pinoy Kasi

Pinoy Kasi 

I found this very interesting article on Filipino language, and it got me into thinking WHAT IF the national language was Bisaya and not Tagalog? Would Tagalog's status in the country be like what the status of the Bisaya? Well, I can never know that but it's really interesting to ponder on  these thoughts.


The author of this article by the way is one of the professors in my university who I often see in the student cafeteria. He writes for the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

LIFESTYLE | Bekimon

Bekimon

Recently, I have started watching the videos of this guy making all the BEKIMON videos. Bekimon by the way is the updated term for gay lingo. As explained, it came from the word "Beki" meaning gay (in Tagalog, the term for gay is "bakla" thus beki).

FOOD | Ling Nam

Ling Nam 

As you have guessed, I was not so delighted by the eating experience.

Yesterday I craved something new to eat. I was deciding between Korean and Vietnamese, and I ended up in a Chinese dimsum house. The place is LING NAM, located alongside Shop Wise Don Antonio. I've been passing by the place for quite a time now and I thought of trying their food. It was a dimsum house so their main specialty is noodle. I ordered Beef Wanton Noodle (P155) and Siopao Asado (P60). If you ask me, the same order of wanton noodle and siopao can be bought cheaper from Chowking and would taste better.

TRAVEL | What Places To Visit in Tagaytay?

For the last weekend of August, my colleagues and I decided to take our good friend J. to Tagaytay to have a change of atmosphere. I have only been to Tagaytay once. Not until this visit did I realize that Tagaytay was a part of Cavite and not Laguna. I can still remember the pineapple in Palace in the Sky- which we deliberately avoided since there is nothing special there anymore with all the vandalisms done in the place. We decided to proceed immediately to Picnic Grove. On the way, I saw the Taal Lake. 

The view was simply majestic. I felt that surge of awe with what I have seen. I never imagined Tagaytay to be this beautiful. Back on my first visit, I never really appreciated Tagaytay as much as I have now. With the clear skies I saw the lake and the infamous volcano. It was just like what they say, a lake within a lake. I’m so proud of this piece of treasure the Philippines has. It’s not difficult to say that our country is such a gifted one.

TIP:

You need to leave Manila or anywhere early so you can see the beauty of the Taal Lake in the morning when the sun is still shining. The sun in the afternoon is quite high and doesn’t foster basking under it. Tagaytay’s weather for the most part is hot. Traffic’s bad in the afternoon to early evening so better go back home before rush hour (4pm – 5pm) or after rush hour (9pm – 10pm).

LIFESTYLE | PNP Picture Taking at Quirino Grandstand Bus Hostage Taking

PNP Picture Taking at Quirino Grandstand Bus Hostage Taking

Sense of respect is universal, 
but some people just didn't learn this value while growing up.

Is it cultural difference that could explain how some Filipinos can be so insensitive in the face of a serious international setback. The policemen could have forgotten how their action can affect the families of those who perished in this senseless bloodshed. Or maybe their brains have already been so busted from all the pressure they're facing now.

LIFESTYLE | Quirino Grandstand Bus Hostage Taking

Quirino Grandstand Bus Hostage Taking

I'm not ashamed to be a Filipino. I'm ashamed that one Rolando Mendoza happened to be a Filipino- one quote I read from Facebook.

LIFESTYLE | Venus Raj in a "major-major" way

Venus Raj in a "major-major" way

If only she had maintained her composure and cool, she could have nailed this one. She was this close!

I'm not really sure if I'm going to be happy about the Philippines winning 4th place in the recently concluded Miss Universe 2010 (well to begin with I never expected the Philippines to win anyway except perhaps for the Miss Photogenic award which was won this year by Miss Thailand). Yes it's true that the Philippines (Venus Raj, 22) proved her beauty to the world but the thought of almost being crowned just a few intellectual answers away is really killing me.

Who's she kidding when she answered William Baldwin's question, "What is your major mistake and how did you correct it?" Her answer:

You know what sir, in my 22 years of existence I can say that there is nothing major-major problem that I have done in my life because I am very confident with my family, with the love that they are giving to me so thank you so much that I am here. Thank you thank you so much!

Gosh, the answer didn't even hit the question. So during the coronation, i just hoped that the judges would have considered the tragic hostage taking that took place the night before and somehow give the Philippines a chance to be cast in a better light.

Make no mistake about it. I am proud of what the Philippines has achieved in this pageant. I'm just bitter at the thought that we could have done better. In any case, I salute Venus. You are such a blessing to this country.

JOURNAL | Confused

Confused

Deciding where to go this Saturday evening, I'm halted between going to a spa and Starbucks.

LIFESTYLE | EXAM TIME

EXAM TIME

Can you answer any of these mind-boggling questions???

JOURNAL | At 1am

Almost 1 am.

I am forcing myself to write something though there's really nothing to write about. But yeah there's one thing that keeps bothering me, "HOW IN THE WORLD CAN JESSICA ZAFRA SLEEP 8 HOURS A DAY?"

JOURNAL | Sleepy

Sleepy

It's very difficult to start writing in the morning without my daily dose of coffee. I'm starting to think that it is the coffee that is talking and not me. It's definitely like intoxication. So I better head to the kitchen now.

JOURNAL | Superpowers

Superpowers

Dream Sequence:

The location was in a familiar village in my childhood. If I am not mistaken, it was a combination of Zaballero, Tagkawayan and Maryhill College.

MOVIE REVIEW | PISAY

PISAY

Just can't help but write this review as thoughts from this movie kept running in my head the entire night.

SPA REVIEW | (Defunct) City Lifestyle Spa and Fitness Center Review

(Defunct) City Lifestyle Spa and Fitness Center Review

As of November 17, 2011, this Spa has closed down. I have only visited this spa once, and as you will read in this review, the place was already on its brink of closure which actually did. Equipment was already dilapidated and cheaper spa's have emerged over the years. Most of the masseuses and masseurs have been transferred to some nearby Spa's.

JOURNAL | I dreamt of an "apple on a tree"

I dreamt of an "apple on a tree"

Depending on the context of the dream, an Apple can signify love (if the apple is fresh and given to someone), guilt (only if one associates eating an apple with the biblical reference to the garden of Eden). In prophetic dreams the apple is considered to be a very good omen, but the interpretation depends primarily on what the details are. If the apples are ripe there is a promise of financial rewards but if the apples were green, bitter, or tainted in some way then you are in danger of losing something through mistake or foolishness that you would have otherwise gained.

LIFESTYLE | Alejandro addict

Alejandro addict

I just couldn'tget this out of mind. This is just too addicting. I love Lady Gaga very much. Of course I don't agree with everything I see from Gaga, but you just gotta hand it to her. She's proven herself a pop icon of our generation.

LIFESTYLE | Be careful of what you wish for

Be careful of what you wish for

A married couple in their early 60s was out celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary in a quiet, romantic little restaurant. Suddenly, a tiny yet beautiful fairy appeared on their table and said, "For being such an exemplary married couple and for being faithful to each other for all this time, I will grant you each a wish." "Oh, I want to travel around the world with my darling husband" said the wife. The fairy waved her magic wand and -- pouf! -- two tickets for the Queen Mary II luxury liner appeared in her hands. Then it was the husband's turn. He thought for a moment and said: "Well, this is all very romantic,but an opportunity like this will never come again. I'm sorry my love, but my wish is to have a wife 30 years younger than me."The wife, and the fairy, were deeply disappointed, but a wish is a wish..."So the fairy waved her magic wand and -- pouf! -- the husband became 92 years old.

The moral of the story:
Men who are ungrateful idiots should remember fairies are female.

CORPORATE | Punctuality Says a Lot About You

Punctuality Says a Lot About You

Just got this from one of my emails. No infringement intended. I do not own this material. Just felt like sharing it to the world. Alicia Smith (AliciaSmith. com) says punctuality says a lot about you.

LIFESTYLE | Blonde Mortician

Blonde Mortician

A man who just died is delivered to a local mortuary wearing an expensive, expertly tailored black suit. The female blonde mortician asks the deceased's wife how she would like the body dressed.

She points out that the man does look good in the black suit he is already wearing. The widow, however, says that she always thought her husband looked his best in blue, and that she wants him in a blue suit.

She gives the Blonde mortician a blank check and says, 'I don't care what it costs, but please have my husband in a blue suit for the viewing.'

JOURNAL | Dying

How does one die?

This is the question that keeps haunting me for the longest time. There are nights like this one that I wake up in the wee hours of the morning trying to figure out what if I die. Or what if I indeed am already dead. What if the things that I do are just repeated actions I do when I was still living. What if this blogging had been done before and I just felt doing it again. Finally what if what I feel is just an imagination?

JOURNAL | Finally, posted the slideshow

Finally, posted the slideshow

Whew, after some time I've finally posted the slideshow in my site. One reason why I won't make a good web designer is because I just don't have enough patience. But here it goes, at least something to jazz up my site. Enjoy.

JOURNAL | Instrospection

Instrospection

I tend to dwell on the past, and whenever I try to write something I always find myself introspecting. Perhaps this is a manifestation of the suppressed identity inside me, the one who longs to be in the world; the one who wants to enjoy all that life has to offer. But it is exactly for these reasons that the person inside me just can't go out (or at least wouldn't come out) simply because it is too hedonistic, only seeking pleasure while the "real" me is working hard to make both ends meet. 

JOURNAL | Just before breakfast

Just before breakfast I've thought of some things about my life-

About how my life could have been different if I were in another country, England perhaps. Would I be more hardworking and independent? All my life I've always wanted to support myself and enjoy life knowing that I am working hard enough to do the things I want to do.

JOURNAL | What to do?

What to do?

Finally, I can call myself a proud graduate of UP. I should be celebrating but things just don't give me reason to do just that. Being a graduate me realize that since I don't have any reason to not be professional then I am expected to act accordingly and meet all my deadlines in my work. No more 'I'm-studying-so-spare-me' excuses and that's something I have been so used to for years. And now that I am a graduate, what to do? So confusing.

JOURNAL | Better days

Better days

It's 1am but I just couldn't find it in my heart to sleep, perhaps worried that I may not do whatever it is that I feel like doing tonight. There's really nothing to do (unlike those days when I had to burn the midnight oil), except listen to some soft music on jango.com.

JOURNAL | What Teachers Make

What Teachers Make

This excerpt was taken from my email. I apologize for not citing the real authors of these inspiring stories. I don't own these stories. No infringement meant. If you know the authors of these stories, please do tell me and I'll make the necessary revisions. I just want the netizens to be inspired the way I did.

JOURNAL | The Quality of Life

The Quality of Life

The story below made me realize that life is but simple. It only becomes too complicated because people want so many things in life when in fact our goal is to be happy. Well, happiness doesn't require much.

TRAVEL | Climbing Mt. Banahaw

Climbing Mt. Banahaw

I'm quite thrilled about this Saturday's climb in Banahaw Volcano. It is my first time to visit the place and I don't really know what to expect. I'm going there with my friend Mellany who also celebrated her birthday this February.

FOOD | BELLISSIMO RISTORANTE

BELLISSIMO RISTORANTE

Food/Price (Rate: 4/10) 
Food was moderately okay but I seriously think that they could use some improvement. They pose as an Italian restaurant so I think they have to live with the name. I am not an expert on food but I think the food was not of quality standards. The pizza also was lacking something, but I cannot explain what as I am not familiar with pizzas. As for the price, considering the quality of the food we ate, I think was not worth it. One order of pasta costs 300-400; pizza is 300-400; appetizers 300-400.

JOURNAL | My Funny Valentines

My Funny Valentines

My post Valentine entry.
It’s not exactly the kind of funny you’ll end up laughing but I must say that I had quite a nice Valentines despite the bitter feeling I have toward this occasion. 

JOURNAL | Valentines Day Blues

Valentines Day Blues

Red should be the color of this occasion but I think blue suits me better. I don't have anyone to spend this Valentines with, hahaha (sarcastic tone). But it's really not my concern right now. I'm going to Tomas Morato tonight to have some dinner with my loves, my friends that is. We're having Italian for tonight and I'm going to report later what's going to happen.

CORPORATE | The not so much of an interview at Citibank

The not so much of an interview at Citibank

I'm not really so keen on getting back to Citibank's jstressful arms, but this one interview I had to attend today really made my eyebrows raise with all that has happened.

JOURNAL | Random thoughts

Random thoughts

Well, here I go again with my random thoughts. I'm supposed to work on some office files but I'm not yet in the mood. I just wantt o relax and jot down these thoughts... what thoughts? I don't really think I have much right now but there are some things that are really bothering me now. 

JOURNAL | Keeping my cool

Keeping my cool

I have been through worse and this small problem won't get me down. It's actually pretty simple, just sacrifice a little for what remains the little of the paper. I have roughly about 12 hours to labor the paper and I can do this, there's really no other way. My mind is starting to feel slowed down now but this is just not a reason to just give up. I know I can do this, I can do this.

JOURNAL | Transcription

Transcription

Whenever I'm in Starbucks, all the cells in my brain start running like crazy that I can finish all the important deadlines I have, the catch is, it's very expensive to study in Starbucks plus the coffee makes me want to puke already. 

JOURNAL | Bad day

Bad day

"Traffic jam, when you're already late."

JOURNAL | Ephiphany of the Lord

Ephiphany of the Lord

According to some, there were actually six kings who were supposed to visit Jesus on His birthday. However, one king got lost, went to the USA and built Burger King. The other went to China, and built Chowking, and one to the Philippines and built, guess what- Tapa King.

JOURNAL | New Year’s Resolutions 2010

New Year’s Resolutions 2010

Start of the year 2010, year of the white tiger, definitely my year and I can feel that to my bones. I know this will be a good year for me. So to start off this new year, I have come up with a list of my resolutions in order of their importance.