Ice Cream Time at Svenson's!

It was first time at Svenson's yesterday, and I'm only too glad to have finally tried it :) I love ice cream because who in the world doesn't? I ordered their American Tower at Php140, with green tea and vanilla scoops. 

While the vanilla ice cream wasn't bad, I would have ordered for 2 scoops of green tea ice cream and will do so if ever I'll eat there again :)

GK Tabora

I went to the GK site in Tabora In Tandang Sora QC earlier today. It was not a build, but a recreational activity for the existing community's kids. It was quite tiring, but very fulfilling :) 

I'm amazed at how GK is transforming the Philippines one community at a time :) It's now easier to dream and imagine our country without poverty, and where the people live with dignity. We can all dream, right?

Loving Bvlgari Omnia Crystalline :)

Personality is to a man what a perfume is to a flower.

Charles M. Schwab

I think every girl should have her own signature scent, one that lets her stand out. And just as I was looking for that one that can take care of the job, comes in Bvlgari's Omnia Crystalline. Utterly feminine, Bvlgari's Omnia Crystalline is inspired by a crystal's perfection and captures the delicate scent of a lotus blossom. With an interesting packaging, it was just too easy to get interested with Omnia Crystalline.

I love how the Omnia Crystalline can take me from day to night. It's not too strong that I cannot wear it in the office, and in the same manner, it's not too faint that I cannot wear it on a night out. I love how the scent is not too overpowering, yet leaves off that delicious trail; it easily gives me a confidence boost and I can easily imagine how it can leave others interested :)

Japanese Food is <3

My favorite Scorpion Maki from Omakase:

Ginza Bairin

Service was top-notch, but I'd still go for Yabu anytime :)

Unexpectedly Falling In Love with Silay City

We arrived really early morning in Negros Occidental for our Bacolod trip. The airport is in Silay, and this is what greeted us when we arrived:

As we will really be passing by Silay City on our way to Bacolod, I decided to devote our first morning to explore Silay. I was pleasantly surprised at what Silay had to offer. Idyllic is what comes to my mind every time I will remember my short stroll in Silay. It will remind you of simpler times, of simpler living. Compared to Bacolod, which is more progressive by conventional definition, Silay is far more laid-back and its people chooses to keep its old ways, where its unique charm comes from.

We had to ride a shuttle from the airport which would pass by a field, giving an instant probinsya feel. Upon arriving at the Silay town proper, we first heard mass at the San Diego Pro-Cathedral to give our thanks and ask for guidance for our trip. 

Silay's set up is typical of Colonial town setting where the Church is at the town center, and then the plaza is right in front, and surrounding the plaza is the municipal hall, the school and the shops. It was a thursday morning so there were kids going to school, and at the town plaza, there was an exercise class of some sort. It was a typical day where people were just going about their usual business.

I made sure I made a pitstop to El Ideal, a famous food shop identified with the town. We even had breakfast there like what I wrote previously.

We walked around further into the town to visit the colonial homes which have been turned into museums. I originally wanted to go to Balay Negresense, sadly though it was still close around that time, and was due to open in another hour or so.

The caretaker told us to go down the street, which was interestingly called Cinco de Noviembre, where another house/museum might already be opened. So we did just that, and along the way we saw the town supermarket with interesting details. It was still close at that time though.

We then arrived at our destination - Hofilena Museum. It was a very interesting house, with lots and lots of details reflecting bygone days. I'm contemplating writing up another post on this house with all the things we discovered inside, so I will just post this picture of the house for the meantime.

After a tour of the house, we walked some further more around town until it's time to go to Bacolod. It was a morning well-spent and reminded me so much why I love travelling. Every new town you visit gives you a glimpse of the lives people led elsewhere in the world, and elsewhere in time. This will always leave me the desire to travel more places, and learn more about people because really, it's a huge, huge world out there.

Top of the Citi

...on a friday night.

#tbt

We were all cute once :)

Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

I have encountered this passage twice last week, and as a believer/fanatic of signs, I felt God was telling me something through this.

I have been struggling with certain petitions, and in my mind and in my timeline, I feel I am delayed. I am taking this as God reminding me that His plans are greater than how I could ever imagine, dream of or plan for.

Closing this post with my takeout from last sunday's mass:

If it gets delayed, wait for it. It will surely come, it will not be late.

<3

Sana Dati

I love reading spoiler reviews. I guess I like the certainty it brings when I start watching the actual movie or tv show. There is certain comfort in knowing what will happen next, and what will happen in the end.

But for the first time, I regret reading a spoiler review. Sana Dati's charm lies in its uncertainty. It set the stage for a suspenseful build up as to what will happen next, and how will the characters decide on their lives. I hated myself for knowing what will the characters choose to do in the end.

It's a romantic movie, not one I'm used to, especially not one from a locally-produced movie. Life and love are both uncertain, but as the movie showed, it goes on. People come and go, but the ones left behind will have to continue, because life goes on.

It's poignant, sweet and heart-wrenching. A tearjerker, yet in all of its trajedies, you find hope. And you hold on to it. "Maraming hindi sigurado sa gabing ito. Pero sigurado akong mahal kita."

Pretty much like life and love, eh?

You will never go hungry in Bacolod :)

If there is one thing I've learned from my Bacolod trip is that it's simply impossible to get hungry in that place.

Here's a rundown of what I ate in Bacolod when I came to visit a couple of months ago:

The first one's actually not in Bacolod but in Silay City. Our plane landed at around 6 AM, and as the airport is in Silay, we explored Silay City first. We had breakfast at El Ideal; Daddy had Molo soup and I had Porksilog. Both were not bad but not exactly memorable, but it filled our tummy nonetheless for an adventure-packed day :)

Apple Pie, Php75

White Chocolate Cheesecake, Php85

Hot Chocolate, Php50

I honestly think Calea deserves a separate post altogether, but let's reserve that for when I go back? :) Everyone I talked to about Bacolod insisted I should visit Calea, and so I did just that the moment I stepped down on Bacolod soil from the jeepney ride from Silay City. The facade with its blue doors were inviting, and the interiors were basking in natural sunlight. An overwhelming display of refrigerated cakes welcomed us once inside, and I just couldn't pick which ones we'll get; everything looked divine and delicious. In the end, I had my eyes set on White Chocolate cheesecake for decadence and Apple pie for something healthier or so I'd like to believe. Calea's cakes are rich but not overpowering; they're not too sweet that you easily get tired from them as some desserts usually go. Oh no, definitely not. I think their cakes are straightforward delicious, unpretentious and you can't help but simply fall in love with them. And I don't think you can ever get that quality of cakes at their price range here in Manila. In a way, I agree that they never branched out of Bacolod because now I will always have a reason to go back.

Next pitstop is another Bacolod institution, Pendy's. Considering that our bill reached more than 500 pesos for 2 persons, I was quite underwhelmed with Pendy's. The ribs I ordered were tender, and not bad but it was nothing to rave home about. I was really more disappointed with the desserts. All three we ordered, the napoleones, half-moon and brazo de mercedes, were too sweet for my liking.

After Pendy's, we headed straight to The Ruins. After reveling in the beauty of the structure and the amazing stories behind the majestic mansion, I roamed the grounds and was pleased to find a pizzeria. However, I found it weird to have found an Italian restaurant in a local tourist site. Oh well. Since I was still stuffed with all the food we ate at Pendy's, I opted for a light olive oil-based  salad. It was good and just perfectly light,  and exactly what I needed :) 

And of course, I think it's sacrilege not to eat inasal when you're in Bacolod. We headed off to Manukan Country in front of SM Bacolod for our inasal fix. I've had my fair share of inasal elsewhere and in all fairness, Bacolod's version is quite a standout. Tasty, tender and cooked up until it's a little burnt - just the way I like it. Such a pity we were already in a rush when I went to Manukan Country. I'll make more time the next chance I'm back.

Hahaha, I reviewed my article and I realize I made a couple of vows to go back. And I guess I really will :) I love Bacolod's food and laid-back vibe, and I'll definitely won't mind to go back for more :)

Nuvali Art

I think I really am a Cacnio fan :)

Gumamela?

And the best artwork of all...

Kitkat Time!