I'm Awake

Was on hibernate mode for over a month. I stopped tweeting and uploading facebook photos. I'm kinda back but I have gotten over Cityville and my other FB games. It was taking over my life.

I still have lots of unread books and magazines which means my hibernation wasn't as productive as I hoped it would be.

I've got lots to tell. Still thinking if I should abandon blogger and start posting through Tumblr. I'm starting a new life soon. Maybe I'll use Tumblr when my new life starts!

Lonely Boy

Today I realized how hard it is to be a new comer in the US. All this time, I thought that my friend is really happy now that he is reunited with his wife in California.

I am always invisible in YM. I changed my status to available and got to chat with Jover.

He may be posting photos of where he has been but he is very lonely. While his wife is at work, he has nothing to do and nowhere to go. No friends or relatives to hang out with, no one to help him look for a job. Its just him and his laptop in a big house.

If my relatives weren't 5 hours away from him, I'd have them pick him up so that he won't be alone.

I am happy that my family abroad have each other. I have an entire village of relatives in California. And even if Rambi goes away to Alaska or Kyrgyzstan, he has friends and a troop to keep him occupied.

Levitow

I was going to tag our mother in this photo but there seems to be a problem with Facebook. I'll blog about it instead.

I was wondering who John L. Levitow was because my brother just received the John L. Levitow award in Airman Leadership School.

After a few seconds googling it, Wikipedia says:

John Levitow Award - The highest award presented at Airman Leadership School, it is the pinnacle of success in ALS and Enlisted PME. The Levitow award is presented to the student that demonstrated the most outstanding leadership and scholastic qualities. Selection for the Levitow award is based on academic performance and assignment of points by peers and instructors (although it is unclear what weight each category carries in determining winner).

My younger brother has always been an achiever so this should not surprise me but I am always amazed at his accomplishments.

Proud of you bro!

New Blog

I am not abandoning Peanut Butter Corner. I would like to focus on one topic. I'll be in my other blog for a journey.

First Time

This is a blog worthy entry because I cook around 6 times a year. And when I cook, I only cook spaghetti or carbonara.

Having a growing kid has pressured me to learn my family's Sinigang recipe. Our helper can only fry and my mom is out today, so I took on the brave task of preparing Denver and Ippo's favorite ulam.

I don't like Sinigang, but like I said, I'm learning this for them.

Our family has a different way of preparing Sinigang. Well, everyone's different and this is how we like it.

This was supposed to be our lunch but because of some "issues," I completed the dish at 3:07PM.

Ate Jhoanne mistakenly thawed pork steak in the morning, so at 12NN we were still pulling out a slab of meat from the freezer. I boiled the pork for a long time. Promise.

After watching the pot for over an hour, I sauteed garlic, onions and tomatoes, then added the pork in the saute. I know Sinigang should have other veggies, but since Denver and Ippo just like the kangkong, I didn't bother with the other good stuff. I seasoned the saute with patis, added the labanos, and then the kangkong.

From time to time I was adding some broth. The final act is to pour my saute in the broth, and then add the sampaloc mix. Last in are the chilis.

Ippo calls this dish magic sabaw. He just finished his first serving and now asking for seconds.

For Thirty Five Pesos

At breakfast yesterday, my eyes were on the telly.

Then I heard Ippo getting my attention as usual.

Ippo: Mommy, mommy!

Me: (Turning my head to him) Yes Ippo?

Ippo: Mommy I love you because you gave me a Lightning McQueen DVD.

Its wonderful how a thirty five peso pirated DVD can bring so much joy to my son and so much love into my heart.

Sometimes I want to freeze moments in my life.

I Miss Heels

Last weekend, I had some time to try on shoes at the Shang while Ippo and his Ate Joanne were at a classmate's birthday party at St Francis Towers.

These are from Payless.

I think I can kill someone with these shoes. Denver would absolutely hate them.

I miss wearing heels. I would love to buy these shoes but I'm afraid I'm too heavy for them.

Pamilya Tamad

Denver: Your son is so lazy.

Bebot: I wonder where he gets that.

Denver (to Ippo): Ippo can you get the remote control? (remote control is 1 step away from Denver)

Bebot (to Denver): Dad, can you plug the AC adapter? (socket around 2 steps away from me)

Denver (to Ippo): Ippo can you turn on the TV? (this is after he asks for the remote control)

Were a lazy family.

Snapshots of Puerto Princesa

Last week, my old team ran away from BPO stress and headed to Puerto Princesa. None of us had been there, which made the trip more exciting. Tamad as I am, I purposely left my camera in Manila, plus I knew for sure that my companions could easily take a thousand pictures!

And here are some of our photos.

Check in was already closed at 11:45am. I didn't realize that our flight had been moved from 12:30PM to 12:15PM. He let us in anyway. Thanks Mr. Airphil!

Turns out the plane hadn't even landed yet. Our flight was delayed.

Welcome to Puerto Princesa!

First time I'm loving my hair on my face. Haha.

Famished but we still posed by our tricycle before heading to Balinsasayaw for a super late lunch!

Balinsasayaw

Veggies, Calamares, Balinsasayaw Rice, Garlic Shrimp, Lechon Kawali

Croc farm (Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Park)

Behind us - skin and skeleton of a large croc that ate a local fisherman. Bad croc!

Nothing special here but I love our pose.

Mitra Ranch

Lady tricycle driver

Honda Bay Tour

Pambato Reef

Lunch at Snake Island

Inihaw na liempo, Hilabos na hipon, Itlog na maalat, Inihaw na Isda, Talong, Manggang hilaw and Bagoong, Bananas

Shirley, Jhoey and Carla fooling around with bread for our fishy friends.

Here fishy fishy.

Isla Pandan

After a relaxing massage, I had the best halo-halo. Its the best because milk and ice were refillable. Gotta love that!

White Beach

Dinner at Bilao and Palayok

Candidates of Binibining Underground River

Getting ready to leave the Subterranean National River Park

Sheridan Sabang

Kalui Art

Fish Cordon Bleu

Puerto Princesa must be a great place to live in. The cleanest and greenest and just a couple of hours away from sand, water and reef. Seafood is cheap and people are friendly. Because of Palawan, I'm already thinking about my future retirement.

Another memorable 4 days with my team - people I've grown to love. Can't wait for our next escape from Manila.

All photos swiped from Facebook accounts of Jack, Lyn and Jhoey

Pedicure Date

On Friday night, Det and I agreed to meet the following day so I could personally deliver her brand new Le Pliage. We met at Starbucks Eastwood after my shift and had nothing to do after coffee. We ended up having our nails done at the House of Glitz Nail Studio.

I had a pedicure for P185 (or was it P195?). Pedicure included a foot soak so that its not all dried up when they start working on your toes. I think I just had to add P30 because my polish color choice was from Opi.

Love the smell inside fancy salons. I fell asleep during the pedicure. Det had to wake me. Then I had sugaring on my upper lip. I just had to avail of that because they only charged P90. My person was very efficient. But I think I'll stay away from sugaring or wax. My upper lip is peeling now and I absolutely hate how it looks and feels.

I don't mind going back to this place although I wish they had more services.

Sunday at St. Pio Chapel

It's been a while since my last visit to St. Pio Chapel in Libis. After a tiring week at work, I told Denver I would like to rest for a bit in the office after my Saturday night shift. I realized it was Sunday and decided to hear 10:00 AM mass at St. Pio Chapel instead of snoozing at the lounge for a couple of hours.

I love St. Pio Chapel because of many reasons.

It's small and I can understand what the priest is saying. I guess they have a good sound system. When I hear mass in other places, it becomes a challenge for me to understand the speakers.

I don't know the name of the priest in St. Pio but I love listening to his sermon. I can always relate to what he's saying.

Oh, and I have to mention that the chapel is air conditioned. You have to be early though, or else you'll have to settle for the chairs outdoors.

Lastly, St. Pio is just a beautiful chapel. Its obvious that they are continuously making enhancements in the place.

I took photos of the improvements they made since my last visit.

Roughing It Out

I spent my weekend in Zambales with the latest of my Team Bebot. Yes, we are no longer Team Afterburn. Its just Team Bebot. It seems that team names are not uso (the fad) in XPS SMB.

I was a bit scared to go because I have not camped out in a very long time, but I'm always game so off I went!

Denver seeing me off here

On Saturday morning, our van driver and guide picked up all thirteen of us at 7-11 Eastwood. We left at around 11am and by 1pm we were already in Subic.

We made a short stop over at a Jollibee (in Zambales I think) before heading to Pundakit where we were to hop on our boats.

The boat ride from Pundakit to Anawangin was very splashy! I think it took us around thirty minutes to get to the cove. I am lucky to have picked "Raymond." He was the fastest boat. All the boys wanted to ride "Raymond" the following day.

As soon as we got to Anawangin, the first thing we noticed were the trees.

Its pretty amazing to see pine trees in sand. This is probably one of the things that make this cove really special.

I think Jack made a great deal for us. The P1600 budget per head included all transportation - van from Manila to Pundakit, boat from Pundakit to Anawangin, boat from Anawangin to Capones to Pundakit, van from Pundakit to Subic to Manila, tents for thirteen people, plus our guides also provided our drinking water, ice and meat for our inihaw.

Our guide Bong and the rest of his entourage were busy setting up everything - our tents, the ihawan, and later on, our bonfire.

I was one of those who did nothing. I just plopped my stuff inside my assigned tent and went straight to the beach. Thank goodness we had an entourage and team members who are natural boy scouts.

Cocktails (Ginebra with Sprite and calamansi) were served by Ron as we (more like they) prepared dinner. Our feast - inihaw na liempo care of our minero Mangski, salted egg with tomatoes and onions (expertly chopped by Ron) and Shirley's binagoongan all the way from Manila.

Bong started the bonfire where the team had more gin and Sprite (I had to avoid alcohol because of the lack of a proper toilet). It was also at the bonfire where we discovered that all we had to roast were Charlie's marshmallows. I guess we were all too excited to think of hotdogs while we were on our way to Anawangin. Bonfire was followed by stargazing. It was my little piece of heaven. If there is one thing I would have loved to capture during the entire trip, it would have been the night sky. I caught myself falling asleep twice as I laid on the beach, so I left the team to check out the planktons.

I purposely waited until late at night before going to the poso to wash the salt water and sand off my hair and skin. I walked barefoot in the dark of night and ended up getting bit by ants. I decided to hit the tent early but I happily listened to everyone else outside - drinking, sharing stories and laughing.

By the way, the effort to prevent sand from entering the tent is futile. Zheena (my roomie for this trip) attempted to make our tent sand free in the afternoon - she proudly used her jeans to get rid of it. At midnight, she was drunk and managed to get more sand inside as she entered.

After breakfast, most of the team went trekking with Bong. I passed off on this opportunity because I was too tired from just walking along the beach in search for 3 in 1 coffee.

Here are pictures from our morning walk (Ska, Charlie, Ron and I).

The sign on the tree says PRIVATE PROPERTY.

Ron commented that this photo looks like an album cover.

I agree.

Here are pictures from their trek.

We left Anawangin after lunch and headed to Capones island. In Capones, I was glad I didn't join the morning trek. The climb up the hill and to the lighthouse was more than I could take. I was so tempted to just wait for everyone else at the foot of the hill. Jhoey gave us a little asthma scare before we reached the lighthouse.

As expected, the scene from above the hill and the lighthouse was breathtaking. I'm proud that Jhoey and I made it. You won't be able to tell from our pictures how difficult our climb was. We were thinking of facebook everytime cameras clicked.

I rode "Raymond" again and of course we were the champs going to Capones and back to Pundakit.

In Pundakit, Bong allowed the team to have a short videoke session. Bong and the driver were nice enough to take us to Royal Subic for a little shopping before heading back to Manila.

My body still hurts from our Anawangin, Capones, Pundakit experience but it was all worth it. Yes, even not having a proper toilet and bath is worth it.

At the end of the day though, its not really the places you go to but the people you spend it with that make the trip worth remembering.

All photos swiped from the facebook accounts of James Michael Mendez, Zheena Razon, Lyn Dequilla, Jack Dionisio and Jhoey Reyes.