Happy Intelligent Progressive Parenting

Please check out HIPP’s November issue. I have to say, not that I’m biased or anything, but this has got to be my favorite issue so far. I love how all the articles are socially relevant and how this month’s cover story on Karen Davila is given a more journalistic treatment and is not as “glam” as our past ones. This issue really makes me proud of the job I’ve done with this publication. My almost-one year stint here has been an incredible experience. I’ve learned a lot and I’d like to think I’d grown up quite a bit too! hehe

Check out my articles in this issue: “Mastering Passion” features Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, which has been an inspiration of mine and it has been really overwhelming to have written about her; “Green Day” which features ways to ‘green’ your home; “Homegrown flavors” presents three restaurants that are at the forefront of Filipino cuisine; and “New Family Favorites,” which features recipes by Cocina Juan’s Thomas Adviento. I had fun this month. I think this is the issue I’ve had the most fun making, so please go buy it.

Yes, this is a shameless plug. Just go grab a copy please. Ika nga ni Kris Aquino sa SNN: “Now na!”

The trouble with Mediterranean food

It makes you really sleep right after. 0_O

F & I went to PDIC this morning and we had lunch at Cafe Mediterranean before heading back to the office.

I’ve been on a series of Mediterranean food trips lately and I think I’ve figured out (finally) what restaurant serves the best Hummus.

I’m torn between Cafe Med’s and Cyma. But hands down, Cyma when it comes to Melitzano-something. The eggplant version of Hummus.

Cafe Med’s a cheaper alternative to Cyma’s exorbitant dishes—it isn’t exactly cheap but the servings are large so if you want Greek, this is already the “cheaper” place to go.

Today I had the Grilled Chicken Kebabs with Buttered Rice. Also known as “Carbo in Excess.”

I like the branch in Greenbelt—it’s smack inside the mall but when you step into the restaurant, you feel like you’re in a cozy cafe.

I love the porcelain decor. I don’t know if it’s real, but it does the trick. Made me think that if I had my own house, I’d want my kitchen to have a Mediterranean theme. It just makes you want to make really good food!

COMELEC

I went with my cousin and his friend and his mom to register at the COMELEC’s Paranaque branch.

We were in line from 7 a.m. to a little before lunch—the line was incredibly long and our only consolation was the fact that being early meant we wouldn’t have to wait as long as the others.

The line went as far back as a couple of blocks! It was not the best time to leave your iPod at home. It was a good thing I had my camera with me—I was able to distract myself for a few hours.

Finally!

Z got me a box of Royce Chocolates!

I nearly died. It was as gooood as I expected.

Before that, we had dinner at Banana Leaf. Ordered yummy roti with curry sauce. It’s my staple appetizer.

Nasi Goreng Nenas.

Chicken Satay.

And a dish—Beef Penang (?)—which is now part of my what NOT to order list. It’s dry and a tad too salty.

But overall, it was a pretty good meal. And we are both happy campers.

G10 at play :D

Played with my G10’s white balance options last Sunday.

I especially loved this photo of Z doing parkour—well, trying anyway.

500 Days of Summer

Any movie with a disclaimer like this is bound to be interesting:

The following is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

Especially you Jenny Beckman.

Bitch.

Watched 500 Days of Summer with Z at Mall of Asia’s Director’s Club (loved the lazy boys!) this afternoon. I absolutely loved the movie. It’s a boy-meets-girl romantic comedy that stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel.

It’s not really a love story, but it IS a story about love. You’ll know what I mean when you see it.

It’s sort of like a movie about the one who got away. You see the line between expectations/hope and reality. I love how it is treated similarly to Juno. WHICH, if not for anything, has a killer soundtrack—which this movie does also. I think one of the reasons why it’s a hit is the musical score. Galeng galeng.

Definitely a movie I’d want to watch again—one movie I’d gladly buy an original DVD of, even. Ehehe.

Go watch it!

—

Speaking of shows to watch, Pinoy Big Brother just took an interesting turn. Princess left the house voluntarily—that, I didn’t expect at all. I actually liked her—she’s one of the more vocal housemates. A little catty, but at least she speaks up when she feels she ought to and when she does, she makes sense. I liked how she stood up to Delio. That is (cheesy but) girl power right there.

Unlike Carol. Who speaks up, yes, but everytime she does, it only serves to annoy me. I swear, probably part of the reason why the house she’s staying in has been on a losing  streak is because of the bad vibes she turned on when she went cuckoo!

And she was being such a self-righteous biatch to the girls (she thought they were the ones who nominated her) when it turns out it was mostly the guys and Kat who did. And the way she used Hermes as a punching bag…so pacute it almost gave me hives. (but maybe I’m just selos because the guy is cute—even Z has a man-crush on him. But don’t tell him I said that. Hehe.)

Okay, I think I’ve tempted karma enough. Hehe. Time to sleep—I have a crazy next few weeks (until Palawan) ahead!

Help me Jeebus.

Oreo boy Enzo

My youngest littlest cousin Enzo. Halloween baby yan. Hahahaha

ANG KYOOOOOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rockin’ set of threads

I miss Broadway. I’d wear something like this the next time I go there. Hehe

Wala akong masabi

Bwahaha. Miss you, you stalker you!

Santorini meets MMDA

Isn’t it pretty? Greece has got to be one of my ultimate must-see-before-I-die destinations.

But Palawan is good enough for now. hehe.

Speaking of death (and near-death experiences), I almost had a heart attack last night. A figurative one, FYI.

I took a cab home from work and we were speedily coasting along Roxas Avenue when a few meters away from the Heritage Hotel flyover, three pedestrians were quickly crossing the highway (illegally I might add). My taxi driver exclaimed, “Ay patay,” and had the good sense to slow down upon seeing the three make their way across.

A split-second later, a motorcycle hit one of the pedestrians right smack in the gut. He literally flew from the ground and landed with a thud.

Needless to say, one of us freaked out.

It happened two meters in front of our cab and if the driver didn’t see the three coming, we would’ve probably run over the guy after he got hit by the bike. Those are sights and sounds I wouldn’t want permanently etched in my memory.

We had to stop (I really wanted to just get out of there) because the driver went to check the state of the two. Curious bystanders immediately came to the place and there was instant traffic. But it only lasted for five minutes because the officials came—one even had the gall to accuse my driver until a witness told him the taxi didn’t hit a thing. Thankfully, both rider and pedestrian were okay. The taxi driver later told me that the bike rider slowed down just in time to lessen the impact.

I was really shaken up by the event—called up the boyfriend right after the collision (he told me to stay put) and I think I might have sounded a bit hysterical (he told me to stop freaking out). Did I mention I don’t deal with accidents well? Accidents push my panic button the most. Later after I managed to, uh, cry it out (I just had to!), I got a bit infuriated.

There is a reason why overpasses were built over highways and why the MMDA puts up these ridiculous-looking “Walang Tawiran; Nakamamatay” signs. And it isn’t just a waste of public property. An overpass was located a few meters away from the scene of the accident. If the three blockheads (yes, that includes the pedestrian who got hit by the bike because he brought this upon himself) had the sense and patience to go up a flight of stairs to cross Roxas, this wouldn’t have happened.

I mean, seriously. It’s just an extra five minutes of your time. What’s that compared to the rest of your life?

Next time, use the friggin overpass. That way it wouldn’t be a waste of government money too.

Even if it is painted PINK and is such an eyesore.