Baguio Souvenirs at Woodcarver's Village

If you want to bring home woodcarving souvenirs from Baguio City, visit the Wood Carver's Village. Along the way going to Asin is a village selling beautiful and intricate handmade woodcarvings, big and small, at very low prices - these items are 3 times expensinve at downtown Baguio City. It is interesting to watch how the woodcarvings are made with patience by the people in the village.

Art and Culture at Tam-Awan Village

When you go to Baguio City, visit Tam-Awan Village and discover the art and culture of the Cordillera people. The village has seven ifugao huts and two Kalinga houses constructed using the original materials and design of traditional Cordillera villages. Each hut or house has a specific purpose - Bugnay hut is for a middle size family, the Fertility hut is where a married couple stays after one year of inability to produce a child, the Binayon is a dwelling for a rich family in Southern Kalinga, the Dap-ay is strictly for men only in the Mt. Province. I think it is possible to stay overnight in these huts or houses. To see these houses, you will follow an eco-trail (it was slippery when we went there because it rained the day before, so better wear rubber shoes). Along the trail, we observed ethnic sculptures and designs representing their culture inlcuding phallic symbols representing fertility.

Tam-awan Village is also a venue for art exhibits. There were exhibits of solar drawings - these are pictures where a magnifying glass was used to burn pattern from the rays of the sun. The drawings are awesome, very detailed - a product of patience and creativity. The cost of the pictures ranges from P5,000 to PP25,000 depending on the size.

There is also portrait sketching for the visitors. You pay P100.00 and the artists (not only one but about five) will draw your portrait. Geof and Julia had a portrait sketching session - two artists drew Julia while three artists drew Geof's portrait. We got four sketches - one for each. Some of the sketches, though, did not resemble our kids. But "art is not reality" as they say - so artists interpret reality differently.

We tried also the wine produced from different ingredients like rice, coffee, bugnay and yakun. A separate blog will be written about this.

By the way, another venue for learning about the life and culture of the people of Mt. Province and Baguio is the Baguio - Mt. Province Museum located near Burnham Park.

Choco-Late' de Batirol at iba pa

We had breakfast at Choco-Late' de Batirol at Camp John Hay, Baguio City. The resto is owned by my high school classmate, Jojo Castro. According to him, they just moved to this new place at Igorot Garden two weeks ago. "The moment you enter our rainforest you are hooked, and you will keep coming back to savor the aphrodisiac goodness of our concoction..", he told me and that's what his website also states. Choco-Late' de Batirol, according to him, revives the tradition of preparing the hot choco made of cacao beans. Our breakfast of tocinong baboy, kalabaw and boneless bangus was served with the popular hot chocolate. Hmmm Yummy. Dining at Choco-Late' de Batirol is very relaxing and refreshing - you commune with the sorrounding trees and flowers.

Aside from running the resto, Jojo Castro also advocates the preservation of the environment through his Adopt-A-Seedling project in cooperation with the DENR. We visited the project's site and he showed us the seedlings and the vegetables that they have grown. He told my son, Geof, "I am just a caretaker of this property." He invites schools, private compannies, NGOs and green loving citizens to plant a tree. They have pine seedlings, cacao seedlings and many other plant species available and ready for planting.

Dining in Baguio

What can we say about dining in Baguio City? Most of the restaurants and cafe we've visited were along Session Road (Baguio City's most popular road) except for O' Mai Khan. Here is a summary and assesment of our dining experience in Baguio City. (Over-all Rating for food, ambience, price and service: **** Excellent and Definitely worth visitng again, *** Good, ** Satisfactory, * Poor and forget about it)



Pizza Volante



Sizzling Plate



Zola Cafe

Solibao

Jack's ****: We ordered chicken and chopsuey. The servings were big - a half chicken was more than enough for us. The vegetables of the chop suey were fresh. The taste was good and the price reasonable.

Pizza Volante **: We ordered Minestrone, Pasta and Pizza. The pasta was soggy and we didn't like it at all (although the sauce is ok, but the pasta was really ... bleeh). The minestrone and pizza taste ok too, although not to die for. The price is a little high considering the quality and taste of food.

Zola Cafe **: The taal rice was new to us so we ordered it - it was basically adobo rice with tinapa and salty egg. The serving was generous and tastes actually nice. The porkchop with gravy was delicious, but the chicken cordon bleu was disappointing. The breading was toooooo thick that you hardly taste the chicken (actually, we couldn't find the chicken!!) We also had pancake - it was cheap, really (P50 for 2 big, round pancakes), but taste exactly that - cheap. It taste like flour mixed with egg, sugar, and water. There's no creaminess that one gets only when butter or milk is added. The run-by-the-mill pancakes of McDo or even Jollibee are way better.

Zola is also a wifi zone. But the big let-down is the overpowering smell of cigarette smoke. The whole resto is actually a smoking zone so one will really feast with second-hand smoke while inside. For those looking for lung cancer, this is the place to go. I had a terrible head ache after eating there. Hence, despite the tastiness of its food and reasonableness of their price, I'm not setting foot there again unless they do something with the smoke!

Mandarin *: This is the biggest dissapointment. Andy was actually feeling nostalgic, saying that he remembers eating good food at Mandarin. So we scheduled a visit there. The place looks way too old-fashioned, but we were there for the food so it doesn't matter. The wanton noodles came first - it taste good and the service was generous. So we were anticipating to be awed some more. And then our food came ... First was the camaron - the shrimps were too small and too few, they look pitiful to eat. Then the mixed veggies. My goodness, eating them made me feel I'm back in ... the college cafeteria! The veggies were old, over-cooked, and the taste matches the looks of the place - depressingly bad. And the bigger catch? The price is not commensurate with the taste of the food we had (well, maybe except for the noodles).

Sizzling Plate ***: I told Andy that Sizzling Plate is among my favorites in Baguio. It's a good thing that the resto didn't dissappoint. The beef slices they used for their steaks were juicy and were marinated just right. Geof who was then craving for arrozcaldo and siomai ordered just that. And that's one major lesson he learned that day - if you're in a steak house, never, never order siomai or arrozcaldo or anything that the cooks are not experts on. The arrozcaldo was waayyy too yellow, it looks like it contracted hepatitis. And the siomai? Let's put it this way - Geof is gaga over siomai, but this is the first time he didn't finish an order. The dumpling was falling all over the place when you bite them. But that notwithstanding, the steaks were more than enough to compensate for the arrozcaldo-siomai debacle and we look forward eating there again.

O'Mai Khan ***: We had a mongolian plate, hot pot, shrimp tempura, and ice cream. The veggies were fresh! Yes!! It was our last night and we were still craving for more fresh veggies. O'Mai Khan offered just that. The taste of the soup was good and the ingredients were abundant. The shrimp tempura, on the other hand taste more like a camaron rebusado (it even looks like a stick shaped camaron) . It's nowhere near the Japanese tempura. But then again, maybe this is the Mongolian version of tempura....?

For the mongolian grill - well, mongolian meal is known to be a do-it-yourself mixing of ingredients and sauces, and the resto will just do the cooking. In other words, depending on how savvy you are with this style, you'll end up with either a bowlful of yummy treat, or a bowlful of something that even a streetdog would pass. It was a good thing I am familiar with this style, but it would have been better for the resto if they post a 'recipe' as regards the right amount of sauces to mix (e.g. for szechuan style, mix 1 scoop of chili water, 1 scoop of soy sauce ... etc; for sweet and spicy, mix 1 scoop of sugar, 1 scoop of garlic water .... etc)

We also had meals/ snacks and/or coffee in other restos but they are not memorable to even occupy a space here -- except the resto where we had halo-halo with crushed ice as hard as a rock. I called the waiter to show him how impossible it was to eat the halo-halo with Mt Everest blocking the spoon. He was good natured enough to crush the ice for us (and realized how hard it really was when he tried to pick the ice). If only restos offering halo-halo would get a shaving device that would produce shaved ice like that in Razon's.... For myself, I ordered coffee, thinking that maybe it would redeem the resto if they offer good coffee. Alas, the brewed coffee was too mild (malabnaw) that a 3-in-1 instant coffee actually taste better. Not going back in that resto again.

Solibao ****: For brunch on our last day, we ordered crispy hito fillet, adobo, and fried egg. While Solibao looks unassuming outside, their food really taste good. The hito was crispy and the adobo was really delicious. And the fresh tomatoes - wow - they were wonderfully big, fresh, and plump, my mouth waters just thinking about them. The price was good, too.

Since Baguio is abound with fresh vegetables and fruits, we were expecting the restaurants to emphasize their greens - salads, vegetable dishes and soups, etc. Thus far, however, in almost all eating places we've visited (except Jack's) , the fresh vegetables seem to be a luxury. Most restos offer sizzlings or grilled meat. This is a pity considering that Baguio is awashed with veggies coming from the farmlands of Benguet. Local and foreign tourists, I'm sure, will patronize "green" or vegetarian dishes. In Tagaytay (e.g. Sonia's Garden), they promote vegetarian food.

By the way, we also had breakfast at Camp John Hay's Choco-late de Batirol. It's one of the saving grace of our Baguio trip - but Batirol deserves a separate blog entry all to itself.

Baguio's Old & Rustic Burnham Hotel

During our trip to Baguio City, we stayed at Burnham Hotelalong Calderon St. The main reason why we booked in this hotel is because of the location - it's a stone's throw away from Burnham Park and Session Road.

The hotel is more than 20 years old - it has a rustic ambience, the carpets are old and desperately need to be replaced, the bedside lamp looks fragile due to old age, and the dim room lights don't contribute a bit in making the place a little more appealing. The cielings are old but newly painted. The old electrical wire connections and flourescent lamps, however, appear to be fire hazards.

Despite the seemingly deteriorated appearance, the hotel is clean and the service (room cleaning, change of towels, hot water available) is satisfactory. It's location was really convenient - the restaurants including McDo and Jollibee along Session Road are nearby, the ukay-ukay malls are just opposite the hotel building and the night ukay-ukay are sprawled along the roads near the hotel. In general, our stay at the hotel was comfortable. And we have no complaints.

Staying in Burnham Hotel is like going back to history as you view the old photos of Baguio City and the antique equipment displayed in the hotel (which maybe one of its attractions especailly to foreigners - yes we noticed foreigners booked at the hotel). Furthermore, the ethnic decorations add a little "arrive" (a.k.a. character) to the hotel. Still, the building needs a general renovation if it wants to compete with the other nearby hotels. We noticed hotels nearby such as Baden Powell Inn, Microtel Suites, Hotel Veniz and Prime Hotel - but we don't really know about the service and facilities of these hotels. Choosing a comfortable hotel which is strategically located near restos, parks, markets and other attractions is the key to enjoying your stay in Baguio City.

Deluxe Buses and City Travel in Baguio City

Travelling from Manila to Baguio City used to be very uncomfortable and tiring - imagine sitting inside a bus or a car for about seven hours while going through traffic and the winding roads. However, when we tried Victory Liner's De Luxe Buses, I realized going to Baguio City and back to Manila is now very convenient. A Deluxe Bus has a comfort room (CR) and a bus stewardess. There is free water and cake and video showing. Travel time is about five hours since the buses pass the SCTEX and there is no stop-over. The fare is P700.00. There is another type of Deluxe bus but with no CR - it has one stop-over and travel time is also about five hours and the fare is P650.00. The regular aircon bus has a fare which is less than P500.00 but it takes about seven hours travel time because of the many stop-overs. Riding a De Luxe Bus is more expensive than the regular aircon bus but it is more comfortable (the seats are wider and there is ample space between passengers and you can even raise and stretch your legs) and travel time is less. Actually, it is also more comfortable than driving your own car - imagine the stress in going through the traffic for more than five hours. The only stressful experience is the long queue in buying the ticket at the Cubao Station. I hope Victory Liner has an online reservation for De Luxe Buses.

When you are in Baguio City, going around using public transport especially the taxi is cheap and convenient. The taxi drivers are honest - they return the exact change. Driving your own car in Baguio City, if you are not familair with the roads, is not advisable - I am sure you will get lost.

Baguio City: Revisited

After about ten years, we visited Baguio City again this time with our two kids, Geof and Julia last May 3-6, 2009. We want to share this photo diary of our short vacation at Baguio City. We will feature our Baguio experience regarding travel, lodging, food and attractions in future blogs. Watch-out for them in the coming days.

Hooked on the The 39 CLUES

After reading The 39 Clues (Book 1) The Maze of Bones - read the review of Book 1 in this blogsite - Geof, Daddy and I got hooked on the adventure book. Photo: Father and son may not agree on the team to cheer during the UAAP Basketball games between Ateneo and La Salle, but they agree that The 39 Clues is an engaging and exciting book to read.

In these books, Amy and Dan Cahill, and their au pair, Nellie and the other teams (all related to the Cahill's) are in search of 39 clues to become the "richest, most important people in history." The 39 Clues (Book 2) - One False Note brings the readers to Vienna, Austria and Venice, Italy to unravel a clue related to a music composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. In The 39 Clues (Book 3) - The Sword Thief , the Cahills track the life of one of the world's most fearsome warriors in Tokyo, Japan and were led to Korea to find the 3rd clue.

The 39 Clues is so popular that they are out of stock in local bookstores. We had to ask our friends to buy a copy of Book 3 in Malaysia during their tour there (and the copy they bought was the last copy in the bookstore in Malaysia - The 39 clues is really popular everywhere).

ROC: A New Resto at UP Diliman

Another restaurant was born at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. ROC restaurant is located at the left side, ground floor of the UP Bahay ng Alumni near the Veteran's Bank just below the second floor branch of Chocolate Kiss, another resto which serves delicious cakes, honey sweetened iced tea and good dishes.

ROC's menu consists of fusion Filipino dishes. We ordered lechon kawali with kangkong and gata sauce, Dory fish wrapped in creamy spinach and garlic chicken fillet. Dishes at ROC's are prepared ala French style, the only difference is the taste and ingredients - their sauce use ingredients like gata and the vegetable side dishes are pumpkins, carrots and green beans. In general, we enjoyed the unique and tasty food we ordered. However, when we tried one of their chocolate cakes, we think the cakes from Chocolate Kiss are better. ROC's was still in its soft opening stage when we went there last April 2009. So expect new recipes and changes in their menu as they recieve feedback from their costumers. We are looking forward to try their other food choices.

J-Drama "Shiroi Kyoto": Power, Politics & Ethics in the Medical Profession

As earlier declared in this blog, we are Japanese drama-addicts. Recently, we followed a very engaging Japanese medical series, "Shiroi Kyoto" or The Great White Tower at DramaCrazy.net. The story revolves around Zaizen Goro, a highly-skilled and ambitious surgeon specializing in cancer-removal, and his alter-ego Dr. Shuji Satomi. Both characters are into cancer treatment - Zaizen is a brilliant surgeon while Satomi is physician devoted to reseach, but their methods, ethics, and goals are poles apart. Yet, typical of an oriental drama, the yin-yang philosophy was the unmistakable undercurrent in the story. Zaizen and Satomi, while very different from each other (Zaizen is a realist while Satomi is an idealist), are drawn to each other like forever-quarreling brothers that have umblical cords that can't be separated.

The plot thickens when Zaizen, driven by ambition, moved mountains to get the professorship position in the Surgery Dept. of the Naniwa Medical School. He used all kinds of tactics and strategies, most of which are ethically questionable, to achive his goal. The story allows the viewers to peak into the politics and power-play of doctors, stripping them of the usual bright-eyed nobility associated with the profession. It also tackled the controversial issue of medical malpractice and how doctors close-ranks to protect their own.

The beauty of the drama is that it was able to develop the context and motivation of each character that one cannot villify a character for his/her action(s). No episode was dull as each draws and engages viewers as the story unfolds. Shiroi Kyoto was awarded as the best drama, best director and best screenplay at the 40th TV Drama Awards 2003 in Japan.

All You Can Eat & Drink at BIGOLI

By accident we discovered Bigoli, an Italian fastfood, while looking for a still open resto one evening at Trinoma, QC (4th Level). It was well lit and has an inviting ambiance (or maybe we were just hungry :-). They repertoire consists of pasta, pizza and soup dishes. We ordered fetuccini with white sauce and a "set-menu" that consists of veggie salad, minestrone soup, and rolled pizza. When our order came, the attendant gave us a twirled bread stick to go with the pasta. We didn't pay much attention to it until, when the breadstick was gone, the attendant approached us again to offer new ones. Yes, they offer unlimited breadsticks when you order a pasta or soup dish! Then there's the drinks - it's a self-service style where they only give you the glass when you order (P50) and you can choose any soda, iced tea, or juice - it's drink 'til you drop, baby!

We were satisfied with the food and price that we visited it again. It was on this visit that we learned about their "great pizza challenge." For P199.00, they challenge you to an all-you-can- eat-pizza for the record. Last time we were there, the holder was a nursing / medical student who consumed 25 slices of pizza (beat that, anyone?)

Their pasta dishes, priced between P150 - P300 (usually for a set), are within the same price range as other pizza-pasta resto, except that Bigoli offers big servings, free bread sticks and unlimited drinks. You really will go home with a filled tummy - we did!

Tasty Cantonese Food at Luk Foo

Chine restos abound in Manila, but Luk Foo Cantonese Kitchen is among our favorites. The food tastes good and the service is great. Our favorite dishes include yang chow rice, wanton soup. spinach soup, pancit canton, Japanese noodles, fish fillet tausi, brocolli with seafood, squid and vegetable cake. The vegetables like brocolli or pechay are alway fresh when served. The shrimps in the vegetable dishes are relatively large and tasty. The service is excellent - the manager, waiter or waitress is always on the look-out to take your order or to provide for your needs. In general, Luk Foo's dishes are better as compared to other Chinese restos we have visited. Price range is from P150 - P300.00. Luk Foo can be found in almost Pure Gold Supermarket establishments like in Commonwealth ave or Araneta ave.

A Relaxing Day at Ace Water Spa

During Holy Week, we usually stay in Manila to avoid the traffic and jampacked resorts. Last Holy Wednesday, our family enjoyed the hydrotherapy massage at ACE Water Spa along Del Monte Ave., Quezon City. Kids, adults and senior citizens will enjoy about 20 different types of hydro massages utilizing aquatic jets aimed to relax and soothe tired and aching muscles at the lower and upper parts of the body, foot, head and buttocks. You can dip in the hot herbally scented pools with varying temperatures (36, 38 and 40 degrees C) for a few minutes and then soak in ice cold water (wow!). There is also a sauna. Kids will enjoy floating around a lazy river using floaters. After four hours of hydrotherapy massage for a fee of P550.00 for adults and P250.00 for kids (less than 4 ft), you will feel rejunevated and relaxed. You will also feel hungry and a good meal is something that you will enjoy looking forward to.

Manila International Auto Show 2009

We visited the Manila International Auto Show 2009 at the World Trade Center last April 4, 2009. We noticed a lot of new cars from China - Foton, Lifan, Peri, Chana Starlight including REVAi's electric car. Subaru, Nissan, Dodge, Chryler, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Mistubishi, BMW, Land Rover, Jaguar, Mazda, Chevrolet, Honda were represented in the show. Toyota cars were missing in this show. There was also a custom classic car competition which features customized and restored vehicles - among them was a VW Beetle limousine. The photographers were busy taking pictures not of the cars but of the pretty and sexy models posing infront of the expensive sedans and automobiles.

Our Survey says ...Pizza Hut, BK, Jollibee, KFC & Max's are Favorites

We conducted a survey recently about fastfoods for "pizza & pasta", "burger & fries" and "chicken." The survey ran for more than two months. Here is the verdict from our readers. You may view the results at the left side of this blog site.

Which "Burger and Fries" fastfood is your favorite? No. 1 Answer: BURGER KING (with 13 votes out of 32 or 40%). McDonald's is 2nd (with 11 votes or 34%). It's really a very stiff competition between the two restos. Jollibee came 3rd with only 5 votes or 15%.

Which "Pizza & Pasta" fastfood is your favorite? No. 1 Answer: PIZZA HUT (with 12 votes out of 31 or 38%). There is a siginificant number of 7 votes for "none of the above" or 22%. There seems to be alternatives to the three choices: Greenwich, Shakey's and Pizza Hut. I thought of possible fastfood alternatives and the list of italian restos includes Yellow Cab, Amici, Old Spaghetti House, California Pizza Kitchen, Chef d'Angelo, Don Henrico's, A Venetto Pizzeria, Sbarro .. the list seems endless. There is a very tough competition in this area.

If you want to eat chicken, where will you go? Top 3 Answers: JOLLIBEE, MAX's and KFC.

The 3 restos were tied with 10 votes out of 22 or 45%. The top 3 restos have their own unique way of serving their fried chicken. Jollibee is wellknown for the crispy chickenjoy and the gravy. KFC, of course, has its own preparation of its original fried chicken (not crispy) but soft and tasty especially when eaten with its gravy. While Max's "sarap to the bones" fried chicken is best eaten with ketchup and worcestershire sauce.

The Relevance of Jose "Pepe" Diokno

You may be wondering what's this post about Jose "Pepe" Diokno, senator, nationalist, public servant, human rights lawyer, educator and scholar doing in this blog? Well, we believe that "Living the Good Life" encompasses ones social, political and economic activities. Our daily living is very much affected by the kind of government and politicians we have. Jose Diokno's speeches and writings which can be found in his book "A Nation for Our Children" are very much relevant in our country's present condition. His words can serve as inspiration to the present generation and admonishment to the current breed of politicians.

When it comes to "living a goodlife", he says: "Why be honest, when it pays to become dishonest? Why fight for others when they won’t fight with you? – or even for themselves? … the answer lies in what life means to you. If life means having a good time, money, fame, power, security – then you don’t need principles; all you need are techniques. On the other hand, if happiness counts more than a good time, respect more than fame, right more than power and peace of soul more than security; if death doesn’t end life but transforms it, then you must be true to yourself and to God …”

Jose Diokno is a peacemaker and a nonviolent freedom fighter. “If resort to violence is natural in man, so are attempts to control it. Man wants to live, but he also wants to live well. Life is not worth living, if he must live under the constant lash of fear. Violence is a part of life, yes. But to tame violence is to civilize life.”

To him, addressing the problems of discontent and insurgency in the country can be found in our fundamental, basic human rights - “Food and freedom, jobs and justice – these are the keys to peace." Sadly, Diokno lamented, many people are not aware of their basic human rights and freedoms much less of ways to enforce them. “If we do not struggle with all that we have and do all that we can to vindicate our rights, we do not only condemn our rights to death; we also condemn our hopes and our dreams, our present, and our children’s future.” Diokno has an alternative view on how to measure development. For him, development means " developing a better people – people with a conscience, people with a heart, people with the guts to stand up and defend their rights."

A Nation for Our Children — a collection of Jose W. Diokno’s essays and speeches on human rights, nationalism, and Philippine sovereignty — was published in 1987 by the Diokno Foundation. http://www.diokno.org/a-nation-for-our-children/. (Maybe it's useful to give our politicians a copy of this book to remind them that nobility lies in genuinely serving the people -not lining their pockets.)

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Jose Diokno: A Nation for our Children from andyoreta.

Our Favorites at Lola Idang's

Kare-kare, pritong tilapia, lumpiang sariwa, pritong hito, pancit canton. These are our all time favorites everytime we go to Lola Idang's, a small restaurant along Visayas Avenue. The kare-kare has a thick yellow-orange peanut paste, with chunks of beef (meat and "twalya" or the intestine linings) , veggies and accompanied by bagoong (shrimp paste). While we wish the veggies are more generous, we couldn't really complain given the very low-price they charge for each serving. The taste is what we're after.

The pritong tilapia and hito are crunchy and tasty, and Geof's (predictable) order. The fresh lumpia is made of "ubod" and topped with thick, brown sauce with peanuts. The pancit canton is also good. They also have pancit-malabon sa bilao for big groups or to-go for those who wish to serve them at home.

They serve their food in plates covered with banana-leaves for that 'homey' feel. The interiors are simple and pleasing, too - the inside wall is covered with drawings ala Larry Alcala's, depicting a regular day along Proj. 6-Visayas Ave, with "Lola Idang's" store at the hub.

In general, we've never been dissapointed with all the food that we order in this resto, making this among our favorites.

The price range of the food at Lola Idang's is from PhP 55 to PhP 200.00 - really affordable by today's standards. With 3 adults and 2 kids, and side orders of shing-a-ling (crispy-fried noodles) and pastillas de leche, my P500 even has a few coins for change.

Lola Idang's is near the Shell Gasoline station and beside the South Star Drug along Visayas Ave.

Adarna, a time-warp with food and history

Slide Album: Adarna Fodd & Culture

We had lunch today at a place called "Adarna - Food and Culture" along Kalayaan Ave., Quezon City - just a short walk from Trellis and opposite Kamay-Kainan.

The walls of the place were designed with wooden window covers, those with a checkered pattern with flat capiz placed in each small square. When we got inside, it was like a mini-museum of everything old. There are old newspapers, old pictures, posters, old money, old home-pieces (like a 100-yr old piano that's still working), a manual flat-iron (where burning charcoal is placed inside for heat), a very old wooden clock that's still working, big glass jars (the same jar containers for the 3-for-5 centavos texas gums and the red bubble gum in the corner sari-sari store of "Mang Inong" when I was 7).

In their function rooms, there was an old black and white TV (the one with the wooden cover and with a dial to change channels), an old phonograph, and a film-projector. There were also pictures of actors and actresses when they were still young - Susan Roces, Vilma Santos, Rogelio dela Rosa, Edgar Mortiz, Nida Blanca, Nora Aunor, Tirso Cruz III, Nestor de Villa .... the experience of looking at all these was like being in a time-warp. It brought me back to my younger years, when I was tugging along my Nanay Ching as she watches her favorite TV shows.

The dining experience. The tables and chairs are solid-wood, those we usually see in old houses, with intricate wood carvings. The table-cloth and the dish used really reminded me of the old house of my lola (bless her soul). The dish were old china and the glass coasters were crochetted.

The food menu - with their description - was reminiscent of the late Doreen Fernandez and her penchance for ascertaining the original recipe and origin of each dish. Adarna offers specialty dishes from different parts of the country, boasting of preparing each dish to its old/original preparation. Some of the food I find interesting are Pancit musiko (Ilocano noodle soup), Sigarillas salad, Lumpia Freska Kabitenya, Pamplina (that allegedly dates back to the Galleon Trade), Tagalog Pochero, Pancit 1913, Pancit Anamita 1930, Pancit Tondo 1800, Kesong puti and Langka fry, Plantanillos con Manga (Pinoy's version of crepe), Felicidad (cold drink of eggs, cream, milk, rhum, vanilla).

We ordered crispy dilis and Tokwa (tofu) rebosado with fresh tomato salsa as appetizers The tokwa was delicious, even my 9-year old son Geof who's not a fan of tofu ate them with gusto. For our entree, we ordered Piassok, a dish of beef chunks "cooked slowly in smoked coconut cream and ten spices until tender." This dish, according to the menu, hails from Sulu. The sauce taste like a mix of curry, coconut, and cumin. It's good, and I bet even better when eaten with beer or wine, as suggested by the chef. Next we had the camaron rebosado. Geof and Julia enjoyed this, but I find this dish a little too common. (Price range of entree is between P160 to P400). The resto also offers Batanes yellow rice which we also tried. The serving is generous (P65 per serving). The plain rice is also cheap (P12/ serving) with a very nice texture - like the rice you buy/ eat when you're in Nueva Ecija or Pampanga - the grains are small and a little sticky.

For our drinks, Geof ordered mango shake and they gave us a very thick and rich shake. When I ordered Barako coffee, it was served in a very elegant and feminine cup and saucer (the attendant corfirmed first who will have the coffee before serving - I guess the dish they use for coffee are gender-specific). Over-all, the dining experience creates a feeling of being a rich or well-off ilustrado of the old days. The ambiance, the food, the dish used, the music - it was like we were brought back in time.

For big groups or functions, Adarna also has rooms that can seat 15-20 (if bigger, the rooms can be 'combined' by removing the divider ). The rate for room use is P5000, all consumable, for 4 hours. We recommend this place especially to those who have balikbayan or foreign visitors , or even to those who, like us, enjoy being reminded of the good-old-days. Adarna - Food and Culture is located at 119 Kalayaan Avenue, Diliman Quezon City. TeleFax (+632) 926 8712 and email adarnafoodandculture@yahoo.com

Mushroomburger's Pancit Canton

Mushroomburger used to be associated only with Tagaytay. Not anymore. It has a branch along West Avenue where you can also buy dried and fresh mushrooms. I am not too hot about their burger, although they are indeed tasty. I am more excited with their pancit canton. Yes, mushroomburger offers pancit canton that's generously topped with different kinds of mushroom!

I served Mushroomburger's pancit canton in a party at home and our visitors enjoyed it. I brought it during our college reunion pot-luck party, and my college classmates (24 years ago, aargh, I'm that ... young ?) also loved the pancit. What makes this pancit different is the generous serving of mushroom on top, and the thick mushroom sauce that blends well with the noodles. It's not expensive too! You can see the price of the pancit canton in the photo above.

Mushroomburger is located near Ersao at West Ave., Quezon City. Free delivery (Tel. 375-1290) is also available.

Toys for Creative Minds

If you want to develop children's creativity, patience and imagination, give them a Lego or MegaBloks. Lego or MegaBloks consist of colorful interlocking plastic bricks, beams, axles and minifigures which can be assembled and connected in many ways to contstruct various types of objects such as vehicles, buildings and even working robots. Anything constructed can then be taken apart again, and the pieces used to make other objects. Lego and MegaBloks pieces are compatible.

My two kids especially my son, Geof enjoy creating objects using Lego and MegaBloks bricks. Geof designed his own Lego twin tower almost similar to the Petronas twin towers with perfect symmetry in design and colors. He creates cars, airplanes and buildings. He usually watches Lego creations in You Tube and gets inspiration from these movies. When inspired, he will diligently and painstakingly assemble the structure from his imagination. My daughter, Julia (4 yrs old), also creates her own cars and structures. Watch this slide show showing some of the kids' creations.

Slide Album: Geof & Julia Play LEGO

Our Favorite Halo-Halo!

The scorching summer heat is here again. It's the best time to eat the Pinoy's favorite dessert - the Halo-Halo. Halo-Halo (Halo means "mix") usually consists of a blend of fruits - banana, camote, beans, macapuno, ube, corn, langka and preserved ingredients like nata de coco, sago, gulaman, ube, kaong, leche flan and ice cream. Shaved ice, milk and sugar complete the delicious halo-halo. There is really no specific ingredient for the halo-halo. You may simply mix any ingredient as you desire. I remember when I was in Japan, my friends and I only used sweet corn and beans in our halo-halo. The secret to a satisfying and delicious halo-halo is not only the mixed ingredients but also the shaved ice. Don't serve ice that hardens like an iceberg - you won't be able to mix the ice with the fillings. We were served once in Tagaytay with this kind of halo-halo and we ended up eating only the fillings and throwing the block of ice (I realized now, I should have thrown the solidified ice to the owner...ooops! Just kidding :-).

Each restaurant concocts its own formula for its halo-halo. In Pampanga, there are three popular halo-halo restos- Razon's of Guagua, Corazon of Angeles City and Kabigting of Arayat. Each of this halo-halo has its own unique taste and special ingredient. (You may read an article about these 3 halo-halos). One of our favorites is Razon's halo-halo. Razon's halo-halo consists only of three basic ingredients - banana (saging na saba), shredded macapuno, and leche plan - mixed with finely shaved ice, evaporated milk, sugar and a tinge of dayap. The mixture is so simple yet it's so tasty - the sweetness is just right. In Pampanga, the halo-halo costs maybe about P50.00 (since my last visit maybe a year ago), however here in Metro Manila, it is P72.00 (at Razon's, Timog Ave., QC). Its price in Metro Manila really has soared high, but at least you don't have to travel to Pampanga to taste the halo-halo. Razon's halo-halo can now be found in several malls like Trinoma and the Mall of Asia.

Our Floating Book Fair Experience

Filipinos really love books and discounts. Despite the scorching heat last Sunday of March 8, 2009, old and young book lovers queued to the Doulos Floating Book Fair 2009 at South Harbor Manila Pier 13.

We arrived a few minutes before 2pm but were not allowed inside the south harbor until 2pm. There were a lot of people outside waiting for the opening, too. At exactly 2pm, we were allowed in. It was realllllly hot and I really pity those who brought their kids but failed to bring an umbrella. The line was long and it took us about 15 to 20 mins under the sun (I can't say enough about the heat but it was really terrible for the kids).

When we finally got on-board, the bookstore was big but was really crowded. The entrance was small, and the aisle between bookshelves were tight. It actualy reminded me of my "rally/ mass action-days" in the 80's - hot, crowded, with everyone sweaty. You cannot spend time to browse books for long because you will be literally pushed forward by the crowd who are just coming in. The price of books? Almost the same as in our regular bookstore - although I think there was a 15% discount that Sunday for some who hold a coupon (how to get the coupon, I have no idea) - that probably explains the crowd, too.

I think our mistake was to go there at 2 pm (too excited!) - it's actually a nice bookstore and just the experience of being in a ship-bookstore is something else, much more if you learn about the history of the ship (it was built in 1914, just 2 years after the Titanic). It has travelled in all corners of the world, and just that idea - that you're in a ship that has visited so many areas, and that you are looking at the same books and in the same ship just as the thousand others from different countries who also visited Doulos - is already monumental. Further, the dedication of the young volunteers from different parts of the world who run Doulos is also something that inspires.

I guess the best time to go to this bookstore is in the evening - then you can really appreciate the ambiance of being in a ship and surrounded by all sorts of books.

We got books for the kids. Geof is eager to watch the CD about MV Doulos history, and Julia has opened all her books. For me and Andy? Our best buy is the "Buy 3 books for P200.00" at a special section of the fair and you get a free Doulos bag. The 3 books we bought were Relic Quest and Ark Fever by Robert Cornuke - these are two story accounts of one man's pursuit of the lost ark of the covenant and Noah's ark. The third book is Jake Thoene's Shaton's Fire, a book about waging war on terror.

The Doulos Book Fair runs in Manila on March 5-31, 2009. Ship Location: Gate 1, South Harbor, Manila Pier 13 (Near Manila Hotel). Learn more about the ship MV Doulos at the website and try the virtual tour.

Ready to (H)EAT Pizza

If you and your kids love pizza, you can instantly prepare the ready-to-heat Jimini pizza. Here is a short review by our our son, Geof:

"Chicago style pizzas are thick crusted medium-sized pizzas with mozzarrella and toppings on it. They come in 3 flavors and they are delicious. My favorite flavor is the one shown in the picture. "

The three flavors are burger joe, superoni (pepperoni) and the dynamic duo (beef & pepperoni). One box has three whole pizzas and costs about P178.00 at Landmark. So each pizza is about p60.00.

Oishii (Delicious) Proposal !

We watched another Japanese food comedy drama – Oishii Proposal. The plot centers on the relationship between Shiraishi Suzuko, a beautiful and strong-minded female chef of a small Italian restaurant in Tokyo and Koide Keisuke, a rich and handsome businessman whose father wants to take-over the restaurant. The movie has wonderful characters who have their own interesting roles to play – the restaurant manager, the sous chef, the waitress, the father, the businessman’s assistant, the rich daughter of a business partner, who is infatuated with Keisuke….everybody contributes to this movie which is full of comedy, romance and conflict.

Will Suzuko sacrifice the restaurant business and her chef job for love? Will Keisuke obey his father’s orders to take-over the restaurant of the lady chef to whom he is falling in love? Will Keisuke marry the rich girl so that their business will prosper or will he choose the lady chef instead? Will Suzuko accept the bribe given by the father so that she cuts-off her relationship with Keisuke? Watch it at http://www.mysoju.com/oishii-proposal/ or http://www.tv-links.cc/asian/oishii-proposal.htm and find out the twist at the final episode. It’s really a tasty (especially if you love Italian food like pasta) and enjoyable movie!

Muang Thai Resto - Thai food at its best

Andy and I went on a date at Muang Thai last February 27. We ordered catfish-mango salad, chicken curry, squid, and tom yum soup. What can I say but their food is absolutely delicious.

First, the catfish salad: We have, thus far, tried catfish salad in at least three restos, but the version of Muang Thai is sumptuously different. It is overflowing with crispy catfish that tops the few strands of semi-ripe mango- the sourness of the mango was just right to complement the saltiness of the fish. Next, the chicken curry - it was rich and spicy and had lots of chicken for a change (unlike in other restos where the chicken strips were very few). We had tom yum soup, but made a mistake of ordering the one without the coconut milk. It was tasty and spicy (whew!) but I would have preferred the one with coconut. And finally, the squid. It was sauteed in garlic, a little soy sauce, and chilli but the preparation was not spicy at all. I like the sauce since it blends well with the squid, and was actually a good alternative to the usual grilled or stuffed squid we are so used to.

Muang Thai Restaurant is located at 138 Malakas St.,, Brgy. Central, Quezon City at the back of McDonald's near QC Hall. Tel. 632) 426-4123 , (632) 927-4305. The price ranges between P200-P300 per dish.