Go Healthy with Wabi-Sabi

(This article was published in WMN.ph last December 28, 2010)

You don’t necessarily have to be a vegetarian to enjoy vegetarian food. Sometimes it’s nice to take a break from eating all the heavy stuff and go for light food fare instead. During your occasional healthy cravings, you might want to check out a hole-in-the-wall vegetarian noodle house called Wabi Sabi.

Food: Wabi-Sabi’s menu is very simple, much like the actual restaurant. To warm up your stomach, you should order a bowl of either the shoyu ramen (P95) or the viet pho (P95), which are the specialties in this place. The restaurant even has a tribute to these two bestsellers that are pitted against each other. The pho lovers have pictures in the “Fernando Pho Jr.” wall, while those who rave about the ramen are featured in the “Ramen Padilla” wall. You can pass the time identifying each person in the photo while waiting for your order to arrive.

<To view the complete article, visit WMN.ph>

CDO: A Weekend Warrior in Cagayan de Oro

This is an excerpt from my article “A Weekend Warrior in Cagayan de Oro,” which was published in OfficiallyPhilippines.com last September 23, 2010)

The promise of white water rafting was the main reason for my trip to Cagayan de Oro (CDO), which is touted as the “City of Golden Friendship.” CDO is one of the top destinations of this water sport for both local and foreign travelers, and it has been on my wish list ever since I was able to travel on my own.
My journey to this northern part of Mindanao starts with a plane ride from Manila. The one-hour-and-fifteen-minute flight took me directly to the Lumbia airport, which is located along the outskirts of the city proper. You can avail of a taxi from the airport to take you to the town center and the travel time will take about fifteen to twenty minutes only, but since I have relatives there, I was able to conveniently get a ride from them. The great thing about knowing locals is that they know where to take you around. Though I did not have any time to rest since we went on to explore the area as soon as I arrived there.

First stop: CDO town proper

It’s pretty easy to get around the city, as there are plenty of public transportation—from jeepneys to taxis, and even the local motorela (a bigger version of the tricycle). Taking a cab is the most convenient way to get around, but it would cost you at least Php 30 (USD 0.60), which is the flag down rate. For a more affordable ride, you can take the motorela for a mere Php 5 (USD 0.10). I was fortunate enough to be able to get around in a chauffer-driven vehicle, courtesy of my relatives there. We went to the heart of the city where the St. Agustine Cathedral was located. It was just right across the City Hall, and the sidewalk near the church was lined with stall vendors who offer flowers, candles, and other religious objects.

Outside the church, stands a wooden cross relic that looks very old. It is said to be originally part of the church, as well as the century-old preserved stained glass windows inside the cathedral. The artworks in the windows show religious scenes with Jesus Christ as the superstar. After making the customary three wishes every time I visit a new church, we headed to our next destination, which is the Divine Mercy Hills.

<To view the complete article, visit OfficiallyPhilippines.com>

Hot Home Bakers this Holiday Season

(This excerpt was taken from my article, “Hot Home Bakers this Holiday Season,” which was published in ClicktheCity.com last November 17, 2010)

Forget your diet this December, as this is the time to indulge and be merry. As Christmas draws near, expect more Christmas party invites and sweet treats to come your way. Cookies, cupcakes, chocolates, candies, and other sugary stuff are common gifts during the holiday season. If you plan to give some away to your family, friends or officemates, consider ordering some from home bakers instead of getting it in commercial establishments.

Home bakers tend to put more love into what they make, as their passion oozes off into their creations. Here are just some up-and-coming home bakers that create mouth-watering treats, which are perfect for the holiday season.

Twinkle Legaspi of Dessert Barn

Twinkle got into baking three years ago when her best friend gave her a red velvet cake that she fell absolutely in love with. Since then, she has created her own version in cupcake form and called it “iloveu” (P576, 1 dozen cupcakes). Her classic red velvet cupcake that is smothered with cream cheese frosting and topped with a single red rose bud is one of her signature items.

Having the experience of supplying to an international coffee chain, Twinkle is always inspired and challenged to come up with new creations. After several tries, she has finally perfected the recipe for her chocolate cake called“amnesia” (P958, 8-inch; P480, 6-inch), which is actually four layers of moist chocolate cake, alternate with three layers of chocolate filling, topped with dark chocolate fudge, and finally covered in an Oreo crust. It is a must-try for chocolate lovers.

Her cranberry-walnut bananalicious cake (P580, 9-inch; P380, 6-inch) is another delightful dessert. It is a moist banana cake that is decorated with an elegant snow glaze and sprinkled with bits of cranberries and walnuts. It is a very festive-looking cake that is perfect for gift giving.

<To view the complete article, visit ClicktheCity.com>

Gastronomic Pleasures in Pamana

(This is an excerpt from my article “Gastronomic Pleasures in Pamana,” which was published in ClicktheCity.com last November 26, 2010)

The landscape of Tagaytay City is slowly changing as this scenic place continues to welcome new establishments—one of which is Pamana, a restaurant that specializes in traditional Filipino cuisine. Pamana is part of the Happy Concept Group, which includes The Boutique Bed and Breakfast, Hawaiian Bar-B-Que, and World Topps, among others. If those names do not sound familiar at all, maybe Barrio Fiesta will, and it happens to be its sister company.

I heard about Pamana through my relatives who have been gushing about its good food and who told me that this is their new favorite restaurant in Tagaytay. But they warned me that the place could be packed during weekends and holidays so it would be best to go there on other days. Luckily, my mom and my sister decided to have lunch there during my downtime and I was able to take part in this latest food trip. We traveled for about an hour to reach this highly recommended restaurant.

A new discovery

Pamana’s façade seems like a modern-looking building but its interiors are just the opposite. There’s a homey feel to this place even if the first thing one notices is the mini-grocery store upon entering. A round table welcomed us near the entrance and it was full of knick-knacks and Chef Happy’s homemade specialties on sale.

I saw some bottled products such as taba ng talangka (crab fat), waykurat (sweet and spicy vinegar made from natural coconut sap), and tawilis (small freshwater fish) from Taal in corn oil. As my eyes roamed around the room, I noticed the elegant hanging chandelier, gilted mirrors adorning the walls, and ivory-colored shelves with items on display. I thought that it would be nice to look around after we order our meal first.

As we all headed upstairs, we took our time going up each step to check out the collection of framed photos on the wall. The whole wall was filled with pictures of sepia and black and white tones. Some of the faces were recognizable, as I have seen them on local TV several times. I could get lost trying to place each face with a name but the food was calling us, so we continued to look for a table and finally settled on the one along the terrace to get a better view of the Taal Lake. We went there on a weekday and practically had the whole place to ourselves.

<To view the complete article, please visit ClicktheCity.com>

Christmas Shopping Discoveries in Dapitan

(This excerpt was taken from my article, “Christmas Shopping Discoveries in Dapitan,” which was published in ClicktheCity.com last November 17, 2010)

The days are shorter, the nights are longer, and there’s a certain chill in the air. It could only mean one thing—Christmas is coming. The Philippines is known for having the longest Christmas celebration and it would not come as a surprise to hear Christmas carols on the radio and see people begin to bring out their holiday décors at the onset of the ‘-ber’ months.

Being the practical person I am, I do my best every year to start my Christmas shopping early so I can avoid the holiday rush and crowd. Aside from going to the usual mall, I scout for other nice shopping haunts in the hope of coming across good buys. Recently, my sisters, my mom, and I decided to check out Dapitan where one can find all things Christmas and more.

A treasure trove of holiday décor

You’ll know you’re in Dapitan Street already when you see a row of stalls with Christmas goodies on display. It is the perfect place to purchase Santa Claus figurines, Christmas tree ornaments, Capiz shell lanterns, and other festive decorations. You’ll find all of these along the street stalls and inside the Dapitan Arcade.

Although it is mid-November already, it is not too late to start adorning your house with Christmas décors or add more to it. When we went there, we didn’t expect that we’ll buy so much, but we fell in love with the cool items and their affordable prices. My sister was able to purchase a three-foot Santa figurine for P2,400. It is of good quality, lightweight, and it comes in other designs and sizes. There’s a cute Santa on a parachute, a Santa going up a ladder, a life-size Santa, and other creative concepts. I’m pretty sure there’s one that will suit your style and budget.

We saw even more eye-catching goodies when we went inside the Dapitan Arcade. There’s a stall that has a whole wall of miniature houses on display and I could just imagine how it would look like if everything were lighted, but at that time, only one was and it was still pretty.

<To view the complete article, visit ClicktheCity.com.>

Unveiling The Room Upstairs

(This is an excerpt from my article “The Room Upstairs,” which was published in ClicktheCity.com last November 8, 2010)

The proliferation of coffee shops in the metro makes it difficult for one to stand out among all the others, especially the cafés with the big, green umbrellas dominating the scene. One has to be really special to be noticeable. Such is the case of The Room Upstairs, which is an all-in-one design-retail-coffee shop—probably the only one in the whole city.

This idea came about with the merging of two passions. The husband and wife team of Ari and Pinky Peralta combined their interests in food, as well as furniture and interior design, respectively. I had a chance of setting foot on the store recently, thanks to the generous lunch invitation from the couple, and the store’s marketing head Karla Licuanan. Even if The Room Upstairs has been around since 2006, it was my first time to check it out and to try their café specialties.

The design space

At first glance, the store’s interior might look intimidating with its fine furniture pieces and home accessories. But as I stepped inside, I noticed that some people were seated at the dining sets that were on display. Apparently, the store uses some of the sets for its café customers and furniture clients. It’s not the typical furniture store where most of the items have a sign that says “For display only”; people can actually touch and feel the display items in The Room Upstairs. I chose a table that was near the café counter and settled there so I can get an almost full view of the space.

While I settled down and waited for my hosts to join me for lunch, I glanced around the room and observed the pieces on display. I saw a couple of elegant chandeliers, classy living room and dining sets, lovely lamps, magnificent mirrors, and other modern-looking décor that would make any home fashionable. I thought that it was a really nice setting for my lunch that day.

<To view the complete article, please visit ClicktheCity.com>

Nuts Over Peanut Butter!

(This is an excerpt from my write-up in WMN.ph, which was published November 4, 2010)

Peanut butter and jelly is a classic combination. Peanut butter with banana is somewhat an acquired taste. But chicken sandwich with peanut butter? Spaghetti with peanut butter? Such concoctions may seem more suitable for the adventurous palate, but they surprisingly work. Peanut Butter Company (PB Co.) has proven that this timeless spread can go along with just about anything. Don’t say “no” until you’ve tried it. Your palate may actually be pleasantly surprised!

Food: At first, I was hesitant to try the savory dishes with peanut butter simply because I’ve always thought that peanut butter is a sweet treat. But I encouraged myself to take a risk and taste new things. I’m happy that I did because I enjoyed the Classic Spaghetti that has peanut butter with sun-dried tomatoes. The tomato meat sauce really blended well with the peanut butter, which had no overwhelming taste at all. In fact, it made the dish creamier and more mouthwatering.

If pasta is not your thing, I suggest you try their bestselling sandwiches such as the PB Burger, Chili Fried Chicken Sandwich, or Elvis, The King Sandwich. The PB is an all-time favorite that has sesame-flavored peanut butter. The chicken sandwich has chili-flavored peanut butter in it and creamed corn-a hot combination! While the Elvis sandwich has a crunchy peanut butter spread on top of a layer of bacon and banana slices. Most of the food have peanut butter except for the side dishes of creamed corn and box of chips.

<To view the complete article, visit WMN.ph>

Skitzo: A Place to Play Dress Up

(Here’s an excerpt of my article that was published in ClicktheCity.com last October 19, 2010)

Gone are the days when witches and devils with pitchforks were a dime a dozen during the 31st of October. Now it is more common to see celebrity look-alikes and other recognizable icons during Halloween. Ever dream of becoming a Disney princess for a day? How about putting on an outfit like that of a pirate from the Caribbean? Wish to become Harry Potter or dare to wear a Darth Vader disguise? If you want to turn into a celebrity for a day, or simply play dress up, then head on to Skitzo.

Located at the heart of The Collective in Malugay, Skitzo offers a lot of options for people to decide whoever they want to be. Even before I entered the retail shop, I saw a couple of interesting costumes in the display window that piqued my curiosity. It definitely made me want to go inside and check out their merchandise some more, as Halloween is just around the corner after all.

Surprisingly, the small space is filled with knick-knacks that you could never have imagined existed. I first headed to the counter where I spied some funky shades, masks, wigs, and feather boas of all shapes and sizes. I picked up a pair of pink shades and try it on for size. The person behind the cash register tells me that their sunglasses are one of their bestsellers. At only P245 a pair, I would expect so since it’s an affordable way to spice up any outfit or add more color to a plain costume.

READ MORE HERE.

Highlife Magazine – Taste: raw food

(This is an excerpt from my article “Taste: raw food,” which was published in BusinessWorld’s Highlife Magazine October-November 2010 issue; page 12)

Health is almost always the major reason most people decide to shun meat and become vegetarians. Some, like Cheloy Ignacio, even take it further and advocate something closer to nature: raw food.

In her quest for good health, Cheloy Ignacio gave up her successful pasty business and built another food business with raw food on the center stage. Thus the birth of Rawvolution, a raw food and vegetarian restaurant.

Rawvolution redefines the way one looks at raw food. This restaurant serves a wide variety of raw food and vegetarian cuisine. Being a certified vegan chef, health coach, and a raw food enthusiast herself, Cheloy Ignacio ia very passionate about promoting raw food lifestyle. The restaurant very much reflects her way of life: clean, simple and no frills.

<Grab a copy of the magazine to see the complete article.>

Captivating Capiz

(Here are excerpts from my article “Captivating Capiz,” which was published in Clickthecity.com last October 15, 2010)

The first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions Capiz is aswang—the infamous mythical creature of Philippine folklore. Aswang is the general term for creatures such as the kapre (a giant troll that lives on trees and smokes cigars), the tikbalang (half-man and half-horse), and the shape-shifter (person who transforms into an animal), among others. Capiz, along with its neighboring provinces like Dingras in Iloilo, are somehow known for being home to such creatures.

Funny though, I’ve been going there yearly ever since I was a baby and I haven’t seen a single aswang. Although I must confess, I’ve heard a lot of scary stories from the local folk but those are all hearsay. Being my mom’s province, I get to travel there every year but I never had any sightings, which makes me wonder why people still have that impression of Capiz. Instead of being preoccupied with such folklore, I make sure that I enjoy my trip to our province by feeling like a tourist even if I go there regularly.

Here’s a list of my top experiences in Capiz:

Sunset in the Baybay

Have a feast at the Baybay

Just a five-minute drive from the Roxas City airport is the Baybay (local term for beach) where one can hangout along the shore, eat by the beach, or swim in its calm waters. It’s especially nice to enjoy eating the freshest seafood while feeling the cool air and refreshing breeze on your face.

You can never go wrong with ordering a seafood dish whether it be buttered shrimps, squid adobo, fresh oysters, or grilled fish. Roxas is the seafood capital of the Philippines after all. Check out the numerous resorts and restaurants that line the shore.

Sample the food at RML Manokan Haus, which is just near the boardwalk. It’s a simple and very casual eatery that also specializes in inasal (grilled) chicken meals aside from seafood dishes.

Read more here.