Another Busy Weekend

March 19-20, 2011

Believe me, this ain't my typical weekend. Weekends prior to our vow to togetherness (there goes the silly word again!) were always spent at home doing DVD marathon etc. Laid-back, slow weekends are the best so when I uploaded these pictures, I suddenly miss the art of doing nothing. But for now, I suddenly miss this native pancit from the north. Oh yes, before we proceed to our home improvement project, we must abide with rule # 1 - eat breakfast!

We had breakfast at the weekend market at the QC Circle early in the morning. I therefore conclude that alarm clock is one of mankind's greatest contributions to productivity.

 

My first time to eat this pancit...

That's why I took extra effort to take a picture of this...

 

... and this. Now I know.

Super special pancit batil-patung with chorizo, beef, liver, lechon kawali and egg! Looks and tastes yummy!

 

Sidekicks: chopped onions & calamansi (soy sauce & vinegar joined the mix later) and the soup (not necessary, IMO)

Just when I was about to give up walking along the entire food section of this weekend market, we found shrimp okoy! This was my favorite circa HS days.

Shrimp okoy for breakfast? Why not?

 

So crispy and so oily (which translates to unhealthy?)

And that ends our breakfast/food trip. So off to home improvement project we went. 

Home improvement thingies

 

Trying hard to decipher the closest shade to the granite counter top we already had

Then the part where my ear drums almost gave up because of too much noise.

The noisy

the noisier

and the noisiest!

 

Fiance didn't mind the noise.

 

So, Toonie & I went outside of the room to escape the noise...

... and celebrate life

while drinking Coke to escape the scorching heat and noise (the reason I stepped out of the room, right?).

Etcetera, etcetera...

Ain't it funny?

Waiting for one whole month ain't funny. But to have the most durable furniture in the land, I wouldn't mind waiting.

Somewhere in Commonwealth

Say hello to the "national" seat!

 

Too common design. That's why we didn't get this. LOL

Home Improvement + Food Trip + Wedding Expo = Helluva Busy Weekend!

March 12-13, 2011

While writing this entry, my leg muscles are certainly painful as a result of a lot of walking and more walking. And yes, I am also certain that this is just the beginning of helluva busy weekends ahead. My fiance and I are really active participants of this journey to - pardon the silliness - togetherness. So, we started this togetherness by making the necessary improvements in our future abode. And this is where I truly internalized that I am indeed an adult! Bye singlehood, hello marriage! 

On the eve of our first busiest weekend ever, I took a picture of my fiance who bought some food for the workers. My heart goes out to blue-collar workers of this godforsaken country.

 

A Leyteño-Samarnon will always make sure that his fellow Leyteño-Samarnons are properly fed. Hahaha!

March 12, 2011, Saturday

Flourishing Villa (invented by yours truly)

We arrived at the Flourishing Villa at 7: 30 in the morning. I refused to let my migraine ruin the day. Waking up very early sometimes gives me migraine.

 

 

So we waited until the admin office opened. Decaf coffee didn't help AT ALL.

Home improvement permit and the workers' IDs are all ready. No choice but to follow THE rules.

 

Then we walked to some hardware store to get the ceramic tiles we ordered a couple of days ago. Hello morning sun and jeepney and bus fumes! Argh.

Instead of complaining, I looked around for some amusement. In a hardware store, yes!

 

I don't know with you people, but I really find this sign funny. Dear owner, we can't speak Chinese so say it in Filipino.

 

Ceramic tile installation 101, you just enlightened me.

And because we're not superheroes and fiance is no Samson also, we hired the deluxe transport called...

 

... tricycle! Hahaha!

Manong driver of trike # 313 is our Samson that day! 425+ kilos imagine that.

 To counteract further sleepiness, we had our first meal of the day at the nearby Puregold Supermarket. I didn't mind the excess grease since I was really hungry.

 That's the home improvement permit up there. Okay, you're now permitted to improve your home.

 

Bye vinyl, hello ceramic!

 

Wiping off the excess cement (the foreman is barking orders like a drill sergeant)

 See?

And because I can't tolerate the smell of newly-painted cluster stairs, I went down to the clubhouse of this community. Let's welcome the scorching heat.

 

These kids didn't mind the midday heat at all. Amazing. My migraine's killing me at this point.

Green, green grass of (future) home... Ready to go home at last!

March 13, 2011, Sunday

SM MOA

Wedding Expo Philippines

We got complimentary tickets for this wedding fair. But before heading to the area, we got stranded at Onesimus for a while.

 

Uh-oh, someone's so excited for 062411.

And someone's getting hungry from all the walking and walking. Next stop: Karate Kid.

 

Beef gyudon for me and me alone. Fiance's got his own bowl. 

 

To support my healthy food campaign, I had tofu furai (fried tofu) as side kick, er, side dish.

 

And he's always partial to california maki.

Japanese cheesecake as dessert. Yum.

Wedding fair time!

 

Not as crowded as we thought, yey!

 

I fell in love with the wedding gown in the middle. Again, I fell in love with the design and not with the hefty price tag. Honor thy budget.

Taking pictures inside the area is prohibited as it violates the intellectual property rights of the exhibitors, unless one is a member of the press. Good thing no one caught me violating the rules with the wedding gown above. Bum. Mer. So we walked and walked and walked around the whole wedding fair area in search of good deals and bright ideas. When we could walk no more, we decided to exit (duh) and only to find out that we walked out with our pockets intact. What a relief! Hahaha!

 

Honor thy souvenir freak (that would be me). Keep the name tags & the free loot bag full of colorful ideas.

Lastly, honor thy sweet tooth. Have some hot fudge sundaes before going home.

I'm looking forward to more busy weekends like this one. And that's the adult in me speaking.

Trip to Davao, Day 1

January 8, 2011

Davao City

They say that patience is a virtue. That saying perfectly describes my first out-of-town trip in the Year of the Metal Rabbit. We bought the tickets last June 2010 through Cebu Pacific's piso fare promo. Mind you, we only spent Php 497 for our roundtrip tickets. It was indeed a very, very excellent deal considering that there are five (moi, Ma & Pa, fiance and nephew) of us in this trip.

So, the first photo is my way of showing my gratitude to Mr. Lance Gokongwei's business.

 

An obligatory airport shot for our piso flight

Did you know that Davao International Airport collects Php 200 as terminal fee? I learned that when we took our flight back to Manila. It's quite expensive, if you ask me. Anyway, we checked in at the Bagobo House Hotel located in Governor Duterte Street, downtown area. Because it's brunch time when we landed, we searched for comfort food and we found it at Penong's.

 

I literally burped after our delicious meal at Penong's.

Now, it's time to pay the touristy spots a visit.

 

We visited Pag-asa, the famous Philippine eagle, at the Philippine Eagle Center. Is there hope to see Pag-asa up close? I hope so.

 

A loner croc at Davao Crocodile Park

 

I got fascinated with this replica of a native house at the Tribu K' Mindanawan Cultural Village. Reminds me of Tam-awan Village in Baguio City.

After taking pictures and more pictures until I get satisfied, we rewarded ourselves with a heavy meal at Pard's Restaurant, just beside Penong's. We initially wanted Penong's but it was so jampacked with hungry diners. Since we're not that patient people when it comes to food, we dined at Pard's. Quick service, tasty food and very affordable.

  

My ultimate favorite: fresh kinilaw tuna from Pacman's territory

Overall, my trip to Davao has been very educational and a bit nostalgic in a strange way. It's where my folks met and fell in love and decided to make me their firstborn. Although I don't have a vivid memory of the place anymore, I really felt that every cell of my body originated in this friendly city. I hope to be back for the ubiquitous durian!