My Happy Feet

Ruby Tuesday: A Garden of Red Flowers in Genting

2011-08-01T06:56:00.000-07:00

The sight of of this lovely garden of red flowers is just one of the many spectacular views we saw while riding the caterpillar in Genting Highlands. There wasn't much crowd yet because we got there at dawn which sent chills to our spine. I must have covered myself with layers of clothing that day.

Genting Highlands in Malaysia is a six-hour trip from Singapore. We left Singapore at 10PM and arrived in Genting Highlands at almost 5AM. There are plenty of things to do in Genting Highlands, tourists can stay at the Genting First World Hotel, shop at branded shops and have fun with different amusement rides. This is also where the famous wind tunnel can be found. I would have loved to try it and have a picture with my face distorted as I tumble and spin inside the machine but it's kinda grand for a traveler on a budget like me.

Facade of the colorful Genting First World Hotel.

Ruby Tuesday #7: A red truck of pop corn

2011-07-18T06:29:00.000-07:00

How wonderful it would be if this was a real truck full of popcorn! Well, it is but it's a popcorn store inside the Universal Studio in Singapore. My Universal Studio experience is probably one of the happiest of my recent past. It's great to be able to bring out the inner child in us once again as we watched and guffawed like carefree kids while watching Far, far away and giggling like wide-eyed kids whenever we see Kung Fu Panda or Puss in Boots.

There were a lot of attractions to see but trying to see them all in a day would be too impossible. I hope I'd be able to go there in the future again and I would love to be with real kids because it's such a joy to see kids really happy. See more red here.

This blog's got a new name

2011-06-11T03:21:00.000-07:00

Surprise! I decided to blog again after several attempts to blog again. I got caught so caught up with my desire to lose weight hence blogging took a back seat for almost a year. But now that the weight loss goal's met and I feel that I have been so brain-dead for ages, it's time to stroke the keys again and let my stories be told.

To begin with, I got tired with the old title of this blog so I decided to change its title to "My Happy Feet" to share chronicles of my travels. I am not a very well-traveled person and I have been to few places in my life that I envy people who had been to so many places and have experienced so many cultures. It's a fact that life is so short and we have to make the most out of it and one of the things that one should strive for in this short life is to see as much of the vast beautiful world out there and experience different cultures and weathers of course. I remember as a child, how I wished to be able to see and touch a real snow.

This year proved to be a milestone for me because for the first time, I was able to step outside the Philippine Soil. I know that may sound pathetic but like the twist to the old cliche goes, it's better late than later. It was a very fun and thrilling experience and it revived in me a feeling of wanting to see the world, more of it. And this blog will always remind me of that desire.

Staying glued on TV

2010-08-23T08:26:00.000-07:00

It's a sad day for us with the unfortunate ending of the hostage drama that took place at Quirino Grandstand today. The hostage-taking started at seven in the morning and ended up in a tragic note after more than ten hours. Everyone is glued to their televisions and as for me, this is one of those times when I get to think about getting the best directv deals again so I won't be behind the latest news around the globe.

I have been hearing about directsattv.com for quite some time now. In fact, I have already written about them a couple of times in the past. I checked out their package this time for great deals again and whoa, the premier package with more than 285 channels that includes up to 40 premium movie channels is just so tempting. If that sounds great to you too, you can get a free quote through the directsat tv website right now.

We used to have a cable subscription with one of the leading cable companies here in our country but the service they offer is just so disappointing that we decided to cut it off. For quite a long time, we don't have cable tv and have become contented with the local channels. However, with everything happening so fast around the world, we can't help but feel the need to get more channels so we also get updated. I might just settle with the direct tv deals that they offer now, if the budget permits.

Ruby Tuesday #6

2010-08-02T07:30:00.000-07:00

This is my choice of flight schedule whenever I go to Manila since I don't have to wake too early in the morning or rush to get to the airport on time. It's also perfect for arrival in Manila since there won't be much traffic when I get there. I took this photo while waiting for boarding last June 11 with my Dad.

Davao City Public Safety Command Center is now open

2010-07-28T07:48:00.000-07:00

There's good news when I tuned in to the local TV news today. Apart from our city being the first city in the Philippines to have 911, the Public Safety Coordination Command Center in Davao City was inaugurated today. As part of the city's traffic signalization program, 16 CCTV monitors are housed inside the Command Center. CCTV cameras are now placed in different strategic locations within the city to better monitor the traffic situation and manage crisis as it arise. There's no more escaping for traffic violators as the system is also capable of zooming features. The Public Safety Command Center is located in Sandawa, Matina and is also the new home of 911. The occasion was graced by Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

Ruby Tuesday #5: Lovely Swan

2010-07-26T08:16:00.000-07:00

This is just one of the lovely sights that can be found in our People's park. The red beak on this lovely swan makes it perfect for this week's Ruby Tuesday. It has been almost two years since we last set foot in this park. I heard that there have been new attractions in the place so I am going to schedule another fine weekend for a stroll with my family.

If you are not from Davao City, Our people's park is located right in the very heart of the city. Just within the area, is a strip of hotels and restaurants where you can try delicious Davao delicacies.

Check out more of Ruby Tuesday by clicking on this link.

Shopping can be therapeutic

2010-07-25T07:17:00.000-07:00

I guess most women would agree that shopping can be therapeutic. It can be an excellent way to relieve stress, ease boredom or release unpleasant emotions. This is because I believe that with shopping, you get to feast your eyes on all things nice and beautiful. If there's one thing that I would love to do all day without complaining, it would be shopping. The bad news is, it can be financially draining too but there are ways to shop wisely. Looking at a shopper's buying guide first before throwing those precious dollars would be an excellent idea.

While most women would spend majority of their shopping budget on shoes, bags and clothes, I am more into shopping for sports and other athletic apparels. It's because I am more after comfort and style these days than all those girlie stuff. I guess I have outgrown that phase where all a girl cares about is to look good. I guess, my shopping style has changed too because now that I have discovered online shopping with this great shopping guide at shopwiki.com, I can just shop with ease. Do check them out.

Scenic Sunday #4: Taal Lake

2010-07-24T06:23:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, we drove to Tagaytay together with my long time friends. We took the South Luzon Expressway and arrived in Tagaytay just in time for lunch. It was my first time to go to Tagaytay after our plans didn't push through last month because of Taal's volcanic activities. It was a short visit as we intended to go back to Manila in the afternoon before we get caught in traffic gridlock so we could still have plenty of time to shop at Greenhills.

There's the view of Taal volcano below, the skies were hazy all day so we didn't get to have the perfect snapshot of Taal but this will do. The fact that I've been to Tagaytay is a goal that's met.

Food Trip Friday #4: Chaikofi

2010-07-23T17:44:00.000-07:00

With not much time left, we postponed having lunch to give way for last minute shopping in MOA. We have a flight to catch up at 4:55pm and it's 2:30 in the afternoon which means we have to go to the airport or risk being not able to be in that flight. I had that terrible experience last month that I no longer want it to happen ever again. We were in time when the counters opened for check in but the queue was long, Ada was heaven sent because she directed us to go to the express counter which obviously, only very few knew about. We were able to get the second row seats, how lucky.

We had lunch past 3 o'clock in the afternoon and me being unable to survive without rice insisted that we look for a restaurant that offers rice meal inside the airport. There were only two so we chose to dine at Chaikofi. Whether they're a coffee shop or a thai restaurant, that I no longer cared to find out as my grumbling stomach is waiting to be filled. I ordered Chai dobo, it's pork adobo with a twist. My friend Melon's meal won't be complete without her favorite Blushing Bride, it's a strawberry milkshake.

Chai dobo (Php 150)

Blushing Bride (Php 150)

Mr. Chaikofi

Back from a Vacay

2010-07-19T15:49:00.000-07:00

Just got back from a fun and happy weekend with my best friends from College. We don't get to see each other much, if we do, it happens twice a year so the reunion was a very welcome happening. That trip was a spur of the moment thing when we met last May because Ada came home to Davao for a vacation. She invited us to come over her place in Manila so in an instant, we found ourselves booking a flight for Manila in July. Aahh, these friends can be compared to a precious gold bullion that never loses its value as time goes by but unlike a bullion, a good friend cannot be bought . We opted to go for Cebu Pacific's Go Lite Promo because it's a hundred bucks cheaper but that means we have to travel light too.

Ada's family met us at the airport and we proceeded to MOA to rent a van and then went to Bonifacio High Street to meet my sister who was leaving for a training the next day. Typhoon Basyang had just left the country and coming from a typhoon-free city, we were surprised to see the aftermath of Basyang in Manila. We went to Tagaytay last Saturday but it was sad to see how the place deteriorated through the years. We had lunch at Sonya's Garden but the place wasn't what we expected as well. We then left for Manila and had a shopping spree at Greenhills. It is during these times that we wish we had lots of money to burn. After the shopping was done, our bags felt like we had bricks of gold inside because it was heavy. Speaking of gold, there's a good place to buy bullion for those who are planning to buy gold bullion. They can visit goldcoinsgain.com for more information about gold and buying gold bullion.

The places we visited were not quite impressive but what counts the most is the happy time we spent together. We are all so looking forward to November as we explore Iloilo and Boracay for the first time.

The Infinity Pool at Villa de Mercedes

2010-07-14T06:31:00.000-07:00

In relation to my previous post, Villa de Mercedes: to go or not to go. I didn't have the chance to say no to the opportunity last Saturday as my co-workers already texted me that they were waiting for me outside and that they were willing to wait until I get ready to go. So, I was able to join the fun joint birthday celebration of two dear co-workers.

We arrived there late in the afternoon so I didn't have the chance to capture the scenery during daytime. All of the shots I took were night scenes using my handy point and shoot Sony Cybershot.

This is the kid's pool, notice the nice colorful lights of the pool. It accentuates the pool even more at night time.

For those who don't feel like dipping into the pool, bringing a good book with you is a good idea because you can have a great time lounging in one of those relaxing couches by the poolside.

Blog Updates

2010-07-12T04:43:00.000-07:00

After a week of deafening silence, I am back. A lot of things came up the past week that took a toll on all of us here at home. It was a tough week dealing with sickness in the family with my brother being admitted for a few days and our sweet little puppies not being able to survive the distemper virus that hit them despite efforts by the kind veterinarian who attended to them when they were sick. It was a sad week so that kind of made me not in the mood to work on my blogs.

Tonight, I resolved to make an update but not without some minor distractions from an ad about Texas Movers which made me really curious because the last time I checked on something called swingers which made me thought about swings which we played on as kids turned out be referring to something which is not desirable. After all, I am not that familiar with the ways of the world. Speaking of moving, transferring to a new abode can be a real pain especially when moving long distance so in the case of the people Moving to Texas, there are things they should be really thankful for like some Texas Moving Companies.

By the way, we just did general cleaning around the house and looking at the amount of stuffs that we have, I wonder if these are the kind of stuffs that Texas International Movers have to deal with every day. They must be doing a great job taking care of hassles like moving things. It was so lucky of us that we don't have to move from one house to another.

Signed up for Entrecard

2010-07-02T20:25:00.000-07:00

Yep! I have added this blog at Entrecard. So if you see this wiget, please drop some love. Entrecard helps improve a blog's traffic and you also get to meet and befriend fellow bloggers. My other blog has been with Entrecard for several months now and it has improved its alexa rank and I also got more visitors to my blog.

Villa de Mercedes: to go or not to go

2010-07-02T20:10:00.000-07:00

Our office will be having a weekend pool party this afternoon at Villa de Mercedes for our co-workers belated birthday celebration. Everyone seems to be going to except for a few who have prior commitments this afternoon. Although I have already paid for the pool entrance, I am still having second thoughts about going to the party because there are several things that need to be done at home. The house needs general cleaning badly as we have been infested with pests and I swear I want to have them exterminated as soon as possible. The sofa needs to be vacuumed as bed bugs are having a grand time with their stay in the couch. Plus, dear sister needs a helping hand with the biz cards for their newly-opened shop. I have my hands full these days and I feel like always being on the run.

On the other hand, I am thinking about all the fun that I am going to miss and the opportunity to see the place and take pictures of it. Haay! I'd better start cleaning up right at this very moment so I can see if I'd still have time left to decide whether to party or not. I wish that I would have some me-time left so I can relax and take a deep breath. It's too hectic!

Food Trip Friday #3: Biggest Pizza

2010-07-02T19:53:00.000-07:00

This is probably the world's biggest pizza from Mama Maria's pizzeria. The pizza measures 63 cms. and we had it divided into 20 slices to accommodate 20 people in the office who wants to try out the humongous pizza. A slice is enough to make one full, deliciously good too.

Mama Maria's Pizza
J.P. Laurel Ave., Bajada Davao City
(beside Sychar Hotel)

Scenic Sunday #3: Weekends at the Park

2010-06-28T07:12:00.000-07:00

These are familiar scenes on a weekend at People's Park.

See more scenic views at Scenic Sunday.

Food Trip Friday #2: Birthday Treat

2010-06-25T21:06:00.000-07:00

My favorite treats from Blugre, Davao's first and finest coffee shop. My entry for this week's edition of Food Trip Friday.

On a tight budget

2010-06-25T05:53:00.000-07:00

Time to work doubly hard because here comes difficult times. I am currently doing my Math homework right now because after having been to two different cities this month, I must now watch my spending habits. There's a downside to traveling and that's having to live with a tight budget after because of the dining and shopping we do while traveling. However, despite all the calculations and budgeting that I do, I still end up short due to unaccounted spending that I forgot to list down. Solving mathematical problems back then was easier though we didn't have Free math homework help than having to adhere to a strictly tight budget. So I must work doubly hard to get online work so I could come up with funds for my upcoming travel again.

Speaking of math, it's really nice to see that kids these days get free math tutoring to help them cope up with their math lessons. Back then, we really need to listen to our teachers' explanations carefully and understand what's written in the books.

Wish there were more Wi-fi Spots in Davao

2010-06-24T07:49:00.001-07:00

Internet connection has become a necessity but here in Davao, free internet connections can only be availed when you go to coffee shops or to SM. There is also a free internet access in the airport but you have to wait for your turn in case there's queue of people wanting to use it. I wish there are more wifi spots here in Davao like those you see in Manila. While strolling the Ayala Triangle Gardens, yes! where the Philippine flag inspired flower garden is located, we were surprised to see that Globe has a free Wi-fi service in the area. They also have free internet stations inside malls that shoppers can use when there's something they need to check over the web. How convenient that can be. I wish we have that here.

(The Philippine Flag)

(A closer look at the sun and its eight rays symbolizing the first eight provinces to rise against the Spaniards)

Need to do some cleaning quick!

2010-06-23T08:05:00.000-07:00

Our home is such a ghastly sight these days. The windows are covered with dusts, curtains needed to be changed, some appliances needs repair and the floors has to be scrubbed. My hands are really full these days and I can no longer figure out which should come first. The people at home are taking turns getting sick and this could be because the house is dirty. I easily get a runny nose whenever I clean the room because the dusts accumulate easily because we live near the highway so I am thinking about getting a portable air purifier cheaply so I no longer have to worry about the air that we breathe.

I have been doing overtime work the whole week so I am tired when I get home. I still need to organize my recent travel pictures and the posts that I need to do. I am still confused as to where I have to begin with all of the tasks that are at hand. Sometimes, I wish I could hire help just to get everything running smoothly.

Anyway, I will start with my room tomorrow morning then slowly move to my comfort room then to the kitchen. Hah! just thinking about those things is giving me a headache. I got to go now because I don't want to be late for work tomorrow. See you around.

World Cup 2010 Fever

2010-06-21T08:01:00.000-07:00

June started with the world getting loco over the World Cup 2010 and just like everywhere else, there's also a World Cup Fever at Cupcakes by Sonja. These are cute cupcakes with jerseys of different teams on top of them. Because they're too cute, you won't wanna eat them anymore.

I hope an Asian country wins the World Cup this year. But unlike most European countries, Filipinos are not so into football. The Philippines is famous for having a love affair with basketball. Despite the Filipinos having deficiency in the height department, there is an unexplainable love for basketball. I hope we realize that we have the potential in sports such as football where height is not a requirement.

Don't let the bed bugs bite

2010-06-21T07:23:00.000-07:00

This is usually what I hear from a friend whenever we exchange good nights before going to sleep but a year ago, I realized that we can also take this literally because there was a time when our mattresses were infested with bed bugs. I had no idea what it was until I noticed that I got those rashes and itches from bed bugs as one friend has noticed. Right there and then, we had our mattresses cleansed with a certain pesticide that was meant to kill the nasty bed bugs. But more than that, my sisters and I needed to get an effective bed bug bites cure for ourselves.

Speaking of skin care, my sister and I go to different skin care clinics but she is persuading me to try her clinic since they are giving away membership packages that are really great on savings. However, I am not about ready to give up the convenience I get from my present skin care clinic because of its proximity to my office and to our home. My legs are in bad shape these days because I always get this insect bites from I don't know where, I notice this every time I sit on our couch so I am suspecting that it might be pest-infested again. Now, we know why they are called pests.

Ruby Tuesday #4: Santan

2010-06-21T07:18:00.000-07:00

A Red Santan, this flower can be seen in many backyards here in our country. There are several other different colors of this flower but this photo of a red santan which I captured in Ayala Triangle Gardens is perfect for this week's entry to Ruby Tuesday.

Must lose weight now!

2010-06-20T08:49:00.000-07:00

I got hold of another seven-day diet program shared to us by a co-worker. I have been trying to lose weight for several months now but has been on a yo-yo trend. Whenever I lose weight due to rigid physical activities, I immediately gain back the poundage I lost. Sometimes, it makes me think about getting drastic measures just so I'll get rid of these fats. In about six months, I will be the Maid of Honor in my sister's church wedding. I had my measurement taken last month and was quite happy that I was able to shed off some inches. Though I still have plenty of time to work on it, I sometimes think about doing it the fast way. I wonder if bariatric food will work wonders for me.

After watching the A-team today, I was again reminded of the goal to become fit again when I saw Jessica Biel. Had I known back then that losing weight is this hard, I should have watched what I eat every time. I am afraid of taking those diet pills because they might have side effects later on or we never know our true state of health especially that I experience episodes of palpitation so I guess it's better to stay away from those pills.

So what's the best weight loss program for me? I already know that exercise works best for me but I am too lazy to do it regularly. I have no physical activity for two weeks now and I am worried that I'll gain more weight so I guess I better revive my badminton racket before that happens. Badminton, I haven't played for quite a while now and I missed playing. It reminds me, I need to do a separate post on that too.

Scenic Sunday #2: Happy Father's Day

2010-06-20T08:32:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's day to all dads out there. This scene was taken last weekend at Bonifacio High Street when me, my sister Jenny and our Dad had our afternoon snack at Sonja's Cupcakes. This is a very heartwarming scene, one that's perfect for today's celebration of Father's Day.

More at Scenic Sunday.

Manila after one and a half year

2010-06-18T16:28:00.000-07:00

We spent the long weekend with a short trip to Manila to visit my sister Jenny who works there. That Manila experience was far different from the previous visits that I had, the last time I went there was during our company's badminton competition about one and a half year ago. This time, I was lucky not to experience Manila's exasperating traffic gridlock. It must be because it was a holiday and a weekend.

Though we originally planned to go to Tagaytay, we have to scrap the plan because of Taal's level 2 alert. I haven't been to Tagaytay so I was in a way upset. I have not prepared much for that trip because I was so busy coming from General Santos so I had to prepare my stuffs to bring for that trip six hours before the trip so I ended up sleepy head during the entire flight and as I was in Manila, I realized I forgot to bring a lot of important things, my eyeglasses being the most important. My sister's housemate was heaven-sent because we fortunately have the same grade.

It was a short 3-day trip but I had a lot of fun experiences to share. More about my Manila experience in the coming days!

When one gets drowned in her work

2010-06-18T08:01:00.000-07:00

My working station is an awful mess these days. Due to the several activities I have engaged myself into during the past couple of months plus the mandatory records management activity that takes up a lot of time considering the tons of paperwork that we do everyday, it seemed like my work backlog is growing bigger and bigger each day that I can no longer handle and manage it well. To solve this, I have listed down the tasks that I needed to do and figure out which is urgent and not so urgent and from there, I could make a schedule of things that I need to do. As much as I do not want to render overtime work, I have no choice but to work beyond the eight hours just so I could meet the deadline and to keep my tasks updated. I am itching to get rid of all the mess that sometimes, voracious me only has to grab an endulge bar just so I won't have to bother with a grumbling stomach.

Again, tomorrow I will be working on a Saturday. If I have a song playing in my head right now, it would have to be that song that talks about wishing to be a billionaire so freaking bad! But this is life so let's just live with it .

Food Trip Friday #1: Cake Party

2010-06-18T06:25:00.000-07:00

My immediate supervisor celebrated her 46th birthday last week and since all the presents she got that day were cakes of different sizes and shapes, we ended up having a cake party for our afternoon break. Here are just three of the cakes we binged on that day:

It was indeed a sweet afternoon Food Trip.

Team Pacquiao

2010-06-16T07:34:00.000-07:00

For years, it had been General Santos City = Pacquiao. General Santos City is home to the world's No. 1 Pound for Pound Boxer (take that, Gayweather!) and every time we hear General Santos City, we remember Pacquiao more than we remember tuna. So on our recent trip to the City, we stopped by Robinson's since the Robinson's we have here in Davao City is only the Supermarket. The store that we frequently went to in Robinson's was Team Pacquiao, a clothing store owned by Pacman himself.

In the store, you will find this life sized poster of Manny Pacquiao which was taken during the weigh-in for the Dela Hoya fight. Also displayed in the store are some of Manny's prized possession like the Everlast boxing gloves with Manny's signature in it and the Boxer of the year award that he won. Being a visitor to this city and a huge fan of Pacman even way back when he was still starting out in Blow by Blow, I never left the store without getting a Team Pacquiao shirt with Pacman's signature in it. I then prodded my co-workers to buy a shirt too so we could wear it together on a Friday at work and all of them did. I wish I'd be able to see the man in flesh one day.

Home sweet home

2010-06-07T07:27:00.001-07:00

It's great to be back home! After four days, we returned from General Santos with our mission accomplished. The Southmin group was the over-all champion alongside NCR Housing group for our 2010 National Sportsfest that was held in General Santos City from June 3-5. The contingents from the different regions arrived early morning on June 3 in time for the opening ceremony later in the afternoon which was held at Sarangani Capitol Gym. It was a very long and exhausting four-day stay yet it was also a fun and learning experience too as we immerse ourselves with the culture and way of life of General Santos City.

The first thing that I instantly noticed when we reached General Santos City was its tormenting heat. I guess almost everyone got a darker shade when we returned because some of the activities required us to stay outdoors. I also now understand that General Santos City's main mode of transportation is the pedicab or a tricycle. When we first got there, I immediately looked for a taxi so we can get to our hotel faster but we were informed that taxis there are hired for a special price and there was only about two of them in sight so we had no choice but to ride a pedicab as there was no available office vehicle to accommodate us that afternoon. After several times of riding the pedicab, I have learned to appreciate it because it has a flat rate of 7 pesos no matter how far or near your destination will be unlike the jeepney here in Davao. It could be a pain in the neck though, I mean literally especially if you get into a smaller pedicab which cannot fit the likes of Bonel Balingit.

Another interesting thing is that we were amazed to find out how the 3d movie ticket at Robinson's Movie world would cost at a surprisingly low price of P111 only! Though we really would love to watch Shrek on 3d last Saturday, we cannot squeeze it in to our schedules so we have to forego that one. A 3d movie ticket at SM here in Davao would cost P250 so that's more than double the price at Robinson's in General Santos so I must say we really missed on one great opportunity.

Just across our hotel is the Plaza Heneral Santos so we took time for a walk in the park at night and was pleased to see the nice view of the park and the nearby establishments that we ended up having an instant photo walk that night and had fun taking snapshots of the lights and the beauty of the park.

It wasn't my first time to go to General Santos City but I can say that this time, I was able to experience the city more than during my first visit there and I loved the experience. It is indeed Magandang Gensan!

Taking down my Gensan Notes

2010-06-02T16:12:00.000-07:00

I am here in General Santos City to participate in our company's National Sportsfest which is going to be held in Alabel Saranggani. I arrived yesterday after more than two hours of road trip along with my other co-workers. The heat of General Santos City is incomparable even to the hottest temperature we experience in Davao. The heat is simply exhausting and torturous to the skin. So after a few hours of being exposed outside, I got myself a running nose and a dry and irritating cough.

The sportsfest will open this afternoon at 1:00 pm and I am just so glad that I am not among the players so that would mean I am not required to join the parade under the glaring and scorching heat of the sun. I am only praying that there will be no power outage this afternoon contrary to what we experienced yesterday afternoon while doing our aerodance rehearsals. It was suffocating especially that the committee has covered the windows with cardboard to prevent sunlight from coming in since the gym is airconditioned anyway but it did not prove to be advantageous during power outages.

Since I don't want to be remiss on my blogging duties, I have brought my laptop with me but the hotel's wifi zone is limited to its public areas so that would mean I have to go down every time I need to do something on the net. I was informed by my friend about the latest web host news and so I need to check on that too because switching to a domain has been a long overdue task for me.

Saranggani is known for its beautiful beaches, as one of the descriptions I have read a few days ago, its beaches can be compared to that of Boracay twenty years ago. To find that out for myself, me and some of my friends are planning to see the beaches in Gumasa after our events. I will be blogging more of General Santos later.

Ruby Tuesday #3: In our Garden

2010-05-31T15:46:00.000-07:00

A flowering plant that grows in our small garden. The sight of this and the other blooming flowers in our garden is a wonderful thing to see especially when you see the stages of how it blossoms to become a lovely flower. There is a sense of fulfillment that you get out of the nurturing that you give to these plants everyday. This is my entry for this week's edition of Ruby Tuesday.

Scenic Sunday #1: Reflection

2010-05-29T17:34:00.000-07:00

It is so cute to see a little kid that seems to be in such deep thoughts. We were wondering what Bea was thinking as she looks at the fine white sands of the beach. This was taken during one of our weekend getaways at Paradise Beach Resort.

When old friends meet again

2010-05-29T03:40:00.000-07:00

...expect a lot of binging and never-ending stories about life and its becoming. The same is true when me and my college friends got together again after almost a year of not seeing each other. Our friend who is already living in Manila went home this month for a visit to her family and so it's a must for us to meet and catch up on each others' lives. We decided to meet in the afternoon since one of our friends live in Tagum which is about an hour away from Davao City. Unusually, I was the first to arrive at our meeting place, a coffee shop that my girl friends have learned to love. It's the only coffee shop here that serves frozen yogurt but that's not what we ordered that day.

The service that day was disappointing and in fact, somebody made an awful scene that day to show his disgust about how poor the service of the coffee shop is. The bitter thing is that the foreigner was lambasting the whole Philippines for having a low-class quality of service. Anyway, 'nuff of the unpleasantries, my mocha avalanche was a blast though and we had a great time there unmindful of the people around us.

Through the course of the conversation, somebody suddenly thought of going for a vacation together on July and in a spur of a moment, we were headed to the nearest internet cafe we could find to book our tickets. That's something all of us are really looking forward to in the next couple of months.

Not yet ready to call it a night, we decided to go to Krua Thai, an authentic Thai restaurant to have our dinner. We were lucky to catch their Visakha Bucha Festival which runs from May 15 until June 15.

Thom Yam soup (Php 180)

Seafood Platter (299)

Meat Platter (Php 299)

We went home fully stocked that night and we weren't able to finish everything so I took it home. I am now counting the days until July because I can't wait to be with good friends again. It's actually our first time to travel together and I bet it will be a lot of fun just like how it used to be during college days.

Happy to be part of BC Bloggers 3

2010-05-28T06:54:00.000-07:00

Mommy Diary
Happy Thoughts
Handy Reviews
Paula's Place
WAHM sa Pinas
Dadedidodu
Celebrity Diary
Pinoy Life Abroad
MyLifeStory
Bits and Pieces ....for you and me
Everyday As It Comes
Sharing my Thoughts
Lifestyle Magazine for Moms
Yummy Wahmmy
Attalife
josie's kitchen
josie's window
Momsdrive Dot Com
Food Tripper
Blissful ♥ Queen
Azumi ★ My Kawaii Prinsesa's Story
Fab ♥ Momma
My Life & My Journey Online
Life's Lessons
Kerslyn's Comfort Zone
Life In a Snapshot
Thoughts from Home
Liliput's World
Hubby's Cook
Out of the Box
Totis' Race
A Day In The Life Of This Miss
Christ-Like Mommy
My Photographic Sketch
Embrace Simplicity
Princessblush' Vanity Kit
MTGirl: Magical, Ethereal
M3O: Make More Money Online
Pinkville: Pink and Magic Convergence Zone
Spread the W.O.R.D!
Impulsive Buyer
Couple's Trip
I'm The Man!
Raven Knives
Vivid Meadows
Eldraliz: Great Things!
Daily Love Dose
Jellybelly Talks
Bitz 'n Pieces of My Life
Mouth's Delight
Daily Snippets
Three Little Boys and A Call Center Mommy
The Housemom Journey
MelCole's Life Eperiences and cool hobbies
mikkiaragon ★ ミッキー • アラゴン ★
When Silence Speaks
Inhale Exhale
CDO EXTREME
Just The Tip Of The Iceberg
Dorothy's Vineyard
My Happy Home
Just The Tip Of An Iceberg
Elvz Online
I Luv Giveaways!
Digital Catharsis
Inigo Boy
24x7 Online Diva
Simple Married Life
Random Surprises
Go Wifey
Bukayo
Home Life Notes
Beauty Care Maven
The Chefs Daughter
Zam Travels
Call Center Gal
Nica's Day Out

Ruby Tuesday #2: Conti's

2010-05-24T08:10:00.000-07:00

These are boxes of Conti's cream puffs and food of the Gods which have become our new favorites. Since it's not available in our place, we anticipate getting several boxes of these delicious pastries whenever our sister comes home from Manila for a vacation. I can't wait to go to Manila next month so I could buy a few boxes of their Food of the Gods because they are simply addicting. This is my entry for Ruby Tuesday.

Re-visiting Cafe Andessa

2010-05-24T07:30:00.000-07:00

Although Cafe Andessa is just a few blocks away from our house, we rarely visit the place and if we do, it's only during those times when the family gets together when my sisters come home for a vacation. Our recent visit to this homey restaurant was last May 10 when the Philippines had its historical first automated election. Since it took us a good six hours and more to finally have our turn to cast our vote, we decided to have a hearty lunch in Cafe Andessa since it is just a few steps away from our polling place.

The aesthetic value and the ambient effect of the cafe's interior is what I really like about this place. The music they play never fails to capture myself in reverie. As for the culinary aspect of the visit, we ordered the usual family favorites that were the Kinilaw na Malasugue and the Sinigang na Lapu-lapu but this time, we also tried the specialty of the cafe, but we opted to have it not-so the Bicol Express that they serve because our tongues cannot tolerate spicy food. Papa also wanted to try their Sisig.

Cafe Andessa has been in the business for a three years now and it's nice to see that still, a good number of people are going to this restaurant.

1st Mindanao Toys, Hobbies and Collectibles Convention

2010-05-18T06:53:00.000-07:00

The First Mindanao Toys, Hobbies and Collectibles Convention was held last May 3 until May 10 at Gaisano Mall here in Davao City. Thousands of toys and collector's items were showcased during the event. Hobbyists, kids and older people alike trooped to the week-long event to catch a glimpse of the huge collections of different toys from famous Comics and Movie characters.

It was really amazing to see how some people take toy collection so seriously that most of the items that were on display are very expensive and are hard to find. It's also interesting to note that there's a large collection of various toys and characters that I have not even heard about. I only got to meet them there. The event was culminated by a Cosplay event in the afternoon of May 9. It's nice to see all those lovely teens who look like they got out straight from television with all anime costumes.

There was a large number of people who went to see the toys that were displayed. Most of them took pictures and videos of these prized collections.

Some of the teenage kids who participated in the Cosplay event.

Ruby Tuesday #1: Mother's Day without Mom

2010-05-11T06:52:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday was our first mother's day without mom. It is exactly seven months and three days today since she joined our Lord. We started our day by attending a special memorial mass at San Pedro College which was organized by the San Pedro Hospital Pastoral Team. Those who attended the mass were families of those patients who died in that hospital. It was a very emotional moment since it was like re-living the pain again. It helped though that everyone there share the same sorrows and sadness brought by the passing of a loved one.

In behalf of these families, one doctor thanked the pastoral team for not only taking care of the bodily needs of the patients during their confinement but also taking care of their spiritual needs. As a Catholic, we believe that the souls of those who passed need our prayers and that is the best thing we could do for them.

After the mass, we went to Gaisano Mall to have our lunch and went to buy flowers and cupcake for mom before visiting her grave. If she were alive, she would have been so excited that she'd immediately ask us where we would treat her for lunch or dinner since it is her special day. It's really true that life is so short and the time we spend with our loved ones are never enough. I wish I could spend time with mom even in my dreams. I really miss her and nothing can fill the void within me when she left. I will forever be missing you mommy. I love you always and forever. Happy Mother's day.

This is my first entry for Ruby Tuesday.

Get ready for May 10

2010-05-08T16:48:00.000-07:00

Election doesn't happen often so chances are, our memories may have missed some important things to do before and while casting our vote. Understandably, most people cannot remember their precinct number especially in the case of the elderly people. A few days ago, my dad kept on saying that he cannot remember his precinct number and that all he can recall that his polling precinct was located on the second floor of the public school near our place. To find the answers to his question, we went to COMELEC's website and as expected, they have a precinct finder for those who don't know their precinct number. To find your precinct, just go to http://www.comelec.gov.ph/precinctfinder/precinctfinder.aspx and fill in your personal details. Thanks to technology because we no longer have to go through the tedious process of going over a long list of voters and hopping to another precinct in case you can't find your name in the previous precinct. It saves us time.

To expedite things more, it is best that you prepare your list of candidates before going to the polling place so that you don't have to spend more time there. Only fifteen minutes is allowed for each voter to stay inside the polling precinct therefore you have go in there prepared.

A few things to remember:

Come and vote early.
Cellphones and cameras are not allowed inside the polling precinct.
Make a list before going to the polling place.
Vote according to your conscience and don't be intimidated by surveys.

Pray for a peaceful, honest and orderly election.

What to do on Mother's Day?

2010-05-07T20:56:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow will be the first time that we will be celebrating Mother's day without the special woman for whom the special day is dedicated to. The past Mother's days were celebrated with either a family lunch or dinner as our treat to Mommy. Tomorrow, we will be attending a special memorial mass sponsored by San Pedro Hospital which coincides with Mother's day. Mom's last days were spent in her hospital bed.

This afternoon, we will be buying fresh flowers so we could visit mom early in the morning tomorrow to greet her a happy Mother's day. I feel guilty as I feel that I could have done more to make her feel that she is special and that I appreciate her and all the things that she did for me. I miss you mommy and I hope to see you again someday.

Sunny gives us a break

2010-05-02T20:04:00.000-07:00

I woke up to an unusual summer day that's free from the glaring heat of the sun. I'm usually awaken by the painful rays of the sun that directly hits right through my windows which could really be uncomfortable to my half-sleepy eyes. Today was different because it was a nice morning to wake up to. The sky is cloudy, the sun is nowhere in sight yet it doesn't seem like it's going to rain today. Perfect for going outdoors.

I have been wanting eat pizza for weeks now but haven't found the perfect time to buy my favorite pizza. The coffee shop that sells it is just too far from where we live. I love this pepperoni and spinach pizza from Cafe Firrenzo. Others find the spinach weird but I just love the taste of crunchy spinach.

Here, take a closer look.

update: There's drizzle outside. It turns out that I'm not that good with weather forecasts. I am praying that it would go away soon because I need to dry my clothes.

Feels like having a heat stroke

2010-05-01T08:12:00.000-07:00

The heat was just so intolerable this afternoon. I rode a taxi to get to where we are going to have our dance practice this afternoon because I cannot stand being under the heat of the sun even for a minute. It's that hot!

Thirty minutes into our dance practice, I was already gasping for air since it was so freaking hot. I must have gobbled two liters of water. Fortunately, by the time we ended our practice, it was late afternoon and there was much air to refresh us but I wasn't feeling good by then. It feels like there's heat that's trapped inside my whole body. I am feeling feverish until now but I am sweaty at the same time. I have turned on the air conditioning unit the moment I stepped inside the house and I took more water just for the feeling to go away. So now, while seating here in front of the laptop, I can't stop thinking about a cone of delicious ice cream. Nom nom nom...

BC Bloggers 3 is now open

2010-04-30T20:27:00.000-07:00

I have known BC Bloggers since its inception a couple of months ago and I was interested to join this new bloggers' group but because there was a limited slot back then, I didn't make it. I am glad to know through my new blogger-friend, Vernz that BC Bloggers 3 is now re-opening its doors for interested applicants.

BC Bloggers is perfect for bloggers who want to build their links easily and build friendship with fellow-bloggers as well. This is the brainchild of mommy blogger Paula. Thanks to her for this great idea that will surely make our blogging life easier. Interested? Just click on the links below and follow the instructions.

Calling all bloggers who want to gain friends in the blogosphere and build links at the same time – BC Bloggers 3 is now open. To join just visit Mommy Diary, read the requirements, and fill out the Application Form

No Work on May 3

2010-04-28T15:48:00.000-07:00

May 1 which is a legal holiday here in the Philippines because we celebrate Labor's Day as we honor the hardworking Filipino. This year, May 1 falls on a Saturday and was not among the legal holidays that were moved to the nearest Monday. However, it was declared yesterday by Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo that May 3, Monday, is going to be a regular holiday.

Like everyone else in the office, I rejoice with the declaration because that means more time to rest. I badly need rest as I can no longer keep up with the exhaustion caused by our dancing practice every night after a stressful day's work.

Labor Day Job Fair

2010-04-25T08:14:00.000-07:00

It seemed like only yesterday when we greeted 2010 with a bang and now, nearly four months have passed. A lot of things are so special about May not only for me but for the Filipinos in general. It is considered to be the month of Santacruzan and fiestas. Come May 1, we will be celebrating Labor's Day in honor of the hardworking Filipino.

In Davao City, a Job Fair for both local and overseas applicants is going to be held at the atrium of Gaisano Mall of Davao on April 29 and April 30. So if you are among those who are diligently looking for a job here or abroad, this might be your chance. Just a word of advice, based on previous personal experiences, it is better that you come early because there's high chances for you to get accommodated first. Of course, it's needless to say, be at your best. Good luck.

Happy Earth Day

2010-04-22T08:38:00.000-07:00

I would have totally forgotten had I not seen this one on Google's search engine tonight. Let's go green because green is cool. It's getting way too hot and hotter so we better do something in our own little ways to help save Mother Earth.

Reuse. Reduce. Recycle.

Happy Earth Day y'all!

Got promo fares at last!

2010-04-18T04:09:00.000-07:00

After a year of being confined within Davao City, I will finally be flying off to other places again. My life's getting more toxic than it already is so I figured it will be good to take some break before I suffer from burnout. Thanks to the promo fares that Cebu Pacific runs every now and then. I was able to book for two separate trips, one is a domestic trip while the other will be my first out-of-the-country trip, the trip to Manila though was a treat from my sister. I thank God for wonderful sisters!

Anyway, I believe there's still a promo right now at Cebu Pacific for domestic travels so if you like to travel within the country, this is the best opportunity for you, go hurry and good luck.

Power Outage Schedule

2010-04-14T06:06:00.000-07:00

I am beginning to see this whole power interruption thing as very crippling and at times, it drives people out of their wits. Take for instance the scenario that transpired in the office earlier this afternoon, an office mate said that there is a scheduled power interruption in our area at 3:30pm. Thinking that she verified the said news, everyone was keeping themselves busy to take advantage of the time left to work with computers and do printing jobs. Everyone was expecting and anticipating the power outage but 5:00pm came and there was no brownout. Now, the ones scheduled to man the counter tomorrow is now worried that it's highly likely that there's going to be power outage tomorrow.

So when I arrived home, I made it a point to check Davao Light and Power Co.'s website, our power distributor here in Davao City and looked for the power interruption schedule. I found their advisory very helpful because if there's one consolation we can get out of this power shortage, it's being able to, at least, know when to expect power outage so we can plan our activities ahead.

I learned that our area's source of power is from Victoria feeder 1 and that we belong to group B. Feeders area are grouped into three and each group will rotate in all three brownout schedules in one week. So based on their table, our office should expect power outages somewhere around 9:am til 1:00pm on Fridays and somewhere around 1:00pm to 5:00pm on Mondays and Tuesdays. Too bad, I am scheduled to do front line job this Friday and it's the most dreaded thing when people coming to the office to pay their bills tend to ask so many questions yet you can't provide the details.

So if you are from Davao City and would like to know your power interruption schedule, click this.

And by the way, thank God our bill's lesser by 30% for two months now. Thank God I live in Davao and that we have Davao Light and not Meralco.

Rain, finally

2010-04-12T07:04:00.000-07:00

Thank God, it's raining. We experienced another two-hour power outage in the office this afternoon and as usual, it's freaking hot! no power, no aircon, no electric fan, no room for air and lots of people in the area, a recipe for another bout of migraine headache. Good thing, I have my good, old, reliable Spanish fan.

Albeit the sporadic rainfalls, the weather's still crazy. Even as it's raining right now, I am sweating! I need an antidote to this, else, I will be going berserk. The weather's driving me nuts. Here's what I am obsessing right now, drool!

Coffee Cat meets Chicco di Cafe

Fun with nature at Eden

2010-04-10T17:39:00.000-07:00

One thing about me is that I prefer the cool breeze in a mountain resort than bask under the heat of the sun in the beach. The heat these days are really getting crazy that I no longer want to get out during day time. Thank God our field work is over because the last time we were immersed under the scorching heat was a curse. My head feels hot until the next day even after a few showers. We really should save our trees.

One of Davao's favorite weekend getaway spots is Eden Nature Park and Resort in Toril, Davao City. It's a refreshing escape especially on a hot summer and a serene retreat to some place of peace and quiet. A lot of activities can be done at Eden Nature Park that both kids and grown-ups will both enjoy. There's the fishing village and swimming pool for the kids to enjoy. They also have a zip line called the sky rider for thrill seekers at a fee of P120.00. I have tried it myself but it took me 48 years to finally decide to jump, I really pissed the guide that time because I took a lot of their time while the queue is growing longer wehehe... Of course, it's my life we're talking about here. Do I get a second life in case your harness fails? After some time, he slowly pushed me and I could no longer back out because I was in the air screaming my lungs out. The next ride was easier than the first one, the spirits must have awaken that time.

We booked for their day package that comes with a buffet lunch for a price of P450.00. If you are on a tight budget, you can opt for the day package that comes with a plate of snack for only P180.00. Better yet, head on to their website for more info about them. It was a fun day of nature-tripping and adventure, I got wind burns though as I forgot to put sunblock.

A day of Pizza, Pasta and Fun

2010-04-09T02:43:00.000-07:00

I love weekends and who does not? It's something to look forward to after a long week of traffic, workloads, deadlines and yes, stress. It's a time to bond with the whole family and any bonding moments will not be complete without food to go with it.

Last Easter Sunday, we were all excited to go to the mall after the long Holy Week. After our feet went sore from all the walking and strolling we did, our tummies went grumbling so we head on to Shakey's Pizza at Gaisano Mall. Since I wanted pizza while my sister wanted to have spaghetti, we settled for Spaghetti Platter meal instead since it comes with a family-sized thin crust pizza, a basket of savory garlic bread and a pitcher of iced tea all for the price of only P548.

We went home with a satisfied palate, a full stomach and loads of great fun last weekend. I wish that there would be more moolahs to come so we could dine as often as we would like.

Power outage again

2010-04-05T07:07:00.000-07:00

Just when I was rejoicing about the fact that we have not experienced power outage the entire week last week, it turned out to be premature because just this afternoon, we experienced another close to a three-hour brownout. The lack of ventilation in our office building made the experience much more like that of a death sentence. Thank God 5:00pm came too soon so we could get out to bask in the open air with delight. It is really one of those moments when you see the value of fresh air. Ahh, feels like heaven.

But my taste of comfort would be short-lived because just as I was about to step into our humble abode, the lights and sounds suddenly turned off. Oh no, it's our place's turn for another two hour rotating brownout. Nah, so I lounged on the sofa for the entire two and a half hours pounding on my cellphone keys while hoping that there will power soon. I pray dear God that there will be more rain soon.

My Disclosure Policy

2010-04-05T06:36:00.000-07:00

This policy is valid from 05 April 2010

This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation.

This blog abides by word of mouth marketing standards. We believe in honesty of relationship, opinion and identity. The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post will be clearly identified as paid or sponsored content.

The owner(s) of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.
This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.

To get your own policy, go to http://www.disclosurepolicy.org

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T15:51:00.000-07:00

The long vacation has just ended so it means that we're back to reality and on with the daily grind. I expect traffic to be worse today as it is a Monday day and the first working day after a long weekend.

I love this photo as it gives a feeling of control over something that's huge. We climbed all the way to the rooftop of our building just to get a great view of Davao below. The structure in this photo is the Lando Pacific Building located at J.P. Laurel Avenue, no I don't work there but it's the building across our office. So if you are from Davao, you probably have an idea where I go to work everyday.

So much for the chat, it's five minutes before seven o'clock so I better put an end to this post else I will be running late during the first day of work. Ciao! Have a great week ahead.

Surprise!

2010-04-03T22:21:00.000-07:00

Surprise! this is it. I am currently working on this blog. I am glad to have finally obtained four followers, thank you so much to all of for taking time to visit my blog despite the absence of updates. I truly appreciate all of you, to my two ka-blog links, Nanay belen and Tita Beng too for being very kind to accept my request for link exchange.

There's not much changes with this blog as this remains to be a blog about Davao, its people, places and events though every now and then, I will be writing some things that might not be connected to Davao at all but will equally be of interest to all you readers. I have already made a line-up of the next posts that I will be doing for this blog. Before I forget, Happy Easter everyone!

Lasang Pinoy #3:I Saw the Food Sign

2009-07-11T22:23:00.000-07:00

I can't find of any other suitable entry for this week so I guess this one will do. You have to squint a little though to be able to read the food sign of Shakey's, one of my favorites but not for their pizza though. I love mojo potatoes and whenever I crave for it, I go to Shakey's Pizza. Needless to say, this one's taken in February as red hearts are all over. My favorite combo meal to order is this, Bunch of Lunch.

Makes me go hungry again. Check out more yummy entries at Lasang Pinoy.

Lasang Pinoy #2: Succulent

2009-07-05T05:50:00.000-07:00

What could be more succulent than the rich juices we get to taste from fruits? Whenever I get to hear the word succulent, it makes me think about something that is juicy and refreshing. So for this week's Lasang Pinoy Sundays, I am posting a snapshot of fresh fruits that served as our dessert for our lunch during last May's office outing at Eden Nature Park.

The set above is a trio of pineapple, ripe mango and watermelon which I believed most Filipinos will agree, is a constant fixture in the buffet table. It can be eaten as it is or if you have a sweet tooth, you can add up a mixture of cream and condensed milk and voila you have an instant fruit salad. This is my entry for this week's theme of Lasang Pinoy. Feast on more succulent treats at their website.

Happy Firsts: LaPiS turns One and my first entry

2009-06-20T19:12:00.000-07:00

Lasang Pinoy is a weekly food event where participating bloggers showcase food and the Filipino taste through food photography based on a given theme every Sundays. Incidentally, I learned that Lasang Pinoy Sunday Edition turns one today as I decided to check out their website to see how I may join this weekly event.

This is my first entry for Lasang Pinoy because every birthday is not complete without a birthday cake. Happy Birthday and wishing you more years to spice up every Sundays.

Davao Notes Revived and Refurbished

2009-06-11T22:46:00.000-07:00

Whoa! Davao Notes and Snapshots is still alive. After much hiatus, I finally took time to refurbish and improve this blog. I am a proud daughter of Davao and it would be simply pleasurable to share my place of abode with you. There are so many things that I love about Davao that it would just be utterly impossible for me to stop talking about it to let people know how lovely this part of the world is. I am definitely back and blogging!

Meantime, enjoy the new look and feel.

Chicco di Cafe

2009-06-04T05:42:00.000-07:00

I finally discovered the best and by far the most addicting Rocky Road Brownies I have ever tasted only at Chicco di Cafe.

Last month, my sister went home for a week-long vacation as a much-needed work break. Undisputably, caffeine runs through our genes (I guess being coffee-holic is genetic or so I thought) we treated her to Chicco di Cafe, an ambiant coffee shop located in Roxas Avenue in Davao City. All of us haven't been to Chicco di Cafe so the vote was unanimous and so off, we go.

We just had our dinner at home so we decided to have small samplings of the cakes and coffee of course. We ordered Rocky Road Brownies and Moist Choco Cake, for our dose of coffee rush, we took Cafe au lait and Capuccino while I ordered Nutty Caramel Latte. The most unforgettable was the Rocky Road Brownies which tasted like sweet heaven.

We also brought our laptops with us so we can chat with our sissy who's working abroad. The wifi connection was pretty fast than what I expected and it's free. I noticed that most of the customers were students who are busy with their laptops which is not a surprise because there are several dormitories and boarding houses around the area. I also liked the idea that customers can choose their seats depending on the degree of comfort. There are sofas, cofee table for two or those who want do have their coffee al fresco can do so. I love the furniture and artistic pieces they use to accentuate the place.

As of late, there have been several new coffee shops that have been sprouting all over the city. The others like Tata Benito's have opened up a few more branches and this could mean that coffee shops are doing well in the city. Now, we can really say that Davaoenos really loved the laid-back lifestyle.

Butterfly

2009-02-21T21:20:00.000-08:00

A butterfly with broken wings can no longer fly. This one landed on our table at a friend's wedding. The poor creature tried several times to flap its wings but was too weak. I wondered then if its wings would grow back so he could fly again or if it'll just stay that way until it loses its life.

It was the newly-wed couples' turn to have their first dance and as we watched them, my thoughts on the poor creature suddenly shifted to the merriment we were witnessing. When I looked back to where the butterfly was resting, it was no longer there. I just hope that it flew safely back to its refuge.

L-O-V-E

2009-02-17T07:01:00.000-08:00

This is the current attraction at the Atrium of Gaisano Mall to spruce up the place in time for the love month. The gigantic L-O-V-E structure draws shoppers who stop by to have their snapshots taken.

Chowking Halo-halo

2008-11-13T07:06:00.000-08:00

There's no denying that the instant you rest your eyes on this, you felt the urge to have one. Picture-perfect, mouth-watering halo-halo from chowking. I bet every filipino craves for a halo-halo once in a while although there are those who are simply crazy about it even during seasons when it's highly unthinkable to be craving for one, count me in.

Definitely, halo-halo is chowking's signature item. Their halo-halo is one of the best most of us have tasted and it is obviously because of the ingredients that made it halo-halo in the first place (siyempre!). Personally, the major items that make halo-halo a heavenly experience for me are: the scoop of ice cream, leche flan and ube plus I am fascinated with the colors I am seeing so the more color, the more irresistible it is.

Cafe Andessa

2008-11-08T22:45:00.000-08:00

If you happen to pass by Cabantian Road in Buhangin, look for this yellow sign and stop by to have a taste of their gastronomic samplings.

My sister went home last weekend and as I promised her, I will be treating her to some of the newer restaurants that she hasn't been to since she left the city to work in Makati.

Obviously missing filipino cooking as she's used to eating fast food already, we ordered for the usual favorites like their kinilaw andessa, this one I recommend for those who loves kinilaw. It's probably one of the best kinilaw na malasugue that I've tasted around here. The Kalye Salad is also a must-try. It's a mixture of green mangoes, okra, salted egg and bagoong. I noticed that this recipe has improved compared to the first time I tried it which is very salty because of the salted eggs and bagoong mixed together. The chicken lollipop was okey.

The place is perfect for those who loves to dine in a quiet and peaceful place. I love the interiors of this place, the ambience is perfect for a quiet, romantic dinner.

Fagioli

2008-11-01T08:31:00.000-07:00

It's raining today but strangely, I am craving for Fagioli's ice-blended Caramel Machiatto. The Last time I went there was after the Bloggers networking night at the Grand Regal Hotel. My friends Shieryl and Mam Tes were still in high spirits then after the event. So, even if it's late at night and there's work the day after, we decided to drop by Fagioli. I ordered for a Caramel Macchiato since I have resolved to lessen my caffeine intake. Shieryl was curious about how their cheesecake tastes so she ordered for one.

It wasn't my first time to go to Fagioli and if there is one thing about it that I would immediately remember, it would probably be the spacious and beautifully designed comfort room that they have. It's a trend for coffee shops to have just one common comfort room for men and women alike but even so, I believe that a poorly maintained comfort room is one of the major turn offs for customers. Anyway, it's not something so nice to associate with food so let's drop the topic. I suggest you try checking them out at Lanang, Davao City beside the Kia Showroom.

Veggie Rice at Gerry's Grill

2008-10-03T19:01:00.000-07:00

This one can go with or without viand. Gerry's Grill is just right for those who loves Filipino dishes and dining in a nice atmosphere. Prices are very affordable compared to other restaurants. Although they are more known for their sisig, there are other items on the menu that are worth trying like the bulad rice and the adobong kangkong. Just blogging about is mouth-watering. The next time you drop by Gaisano Mall, try to check out Gerry's Grill beside Chowking.

Kangaroo Coffee Shop

2008-10-01T05:08:00.000-07:00

I have been to this charming coffee shop a couple of times and I am only taken by the place. This is not your usual coffee shop. They have choices of seats for customers to take the ones that will make them perfectly comfortable (me and my friends would always take the booth type). They also have a bookshelf of of good reads.

My favorite food to order here is the pasta penne. I'm not a cheese lover but this one just suits me well. It's really tasty and worth trying. For first-timers who doesn't know the way to Kangaroo, it's located at Tionko cor V. Mapa Sts. Happy food hunting!