Current Pit Stop: Pampanga

I’m currently here in Pampanga for a much needed energy recharge. The daily grind at the office has been raising the stress level in me tenfolds. I’m also supposed to mee a friend tomorrow but I have to beg off because I badly needed this break.

I’ve got nothing to do here but eat,surf the Internet, and shop at the Duty Free shops. And I purposely did not bring my camera becaue I just don’t want my mind to think. I dont want to think about my upcoming blog posts. I just want to let my mind flow freely like a water in the stream. I dont want to think of pressure and all these problems that alerts the headache level in me all the time.

But for now, enjoy. I know I deserve this trip. For once, allow me to shop for chocolates at the duty free shops.

I will be back in Manila on Friday. And oh, remeber the ex-deal that I mentioned in my previous post? the deal might be finalized early next week. I’ll surely let you know if everything’s final.

What keeps me busy lately?

I have been quite busy lately. Invites here, invites there, trips here, trips there. And for once, I had a social life! I recently went to Starbucks Coffee Ayala Avenue, for a quick caffeine fix, then my friend and I decided for a round of booze at Masas in Greenbelt Makati. What was supposed to be a quick caffeine fix actually ended at 5AM!

After 4 hours of sleep, my friends and I meet in Red Kimono, a modern Japanese resto offering an eat-to-your-heart’s-content Japanese foods. Watch out for my Red Kimono feature soon!

After taking our lunch at the Red Kimono, or shall I say, after I wore the red kimono, we all then set out to the Bonifacio High Street for some more camwhoring moments, then head out to Serendra. We stopped over at the Choco-late de Batirol for a quick cold drink, Baguio style.

Last Sunday I also went to the Manila Chinese Cemetery. I can say that this is one of the most beautiful cemeteries that I have been to. I feel like I’m a character from the movie Tomb Raider. Traipsing from one mausoleum to another, from one mound to another, and from one magnate to another.

This Wednesday, I will also be going to Pampanga for a much needed rest. Oh my, I can now smell those Cadbury’s and Hershey’s in Clark Duty Free! Hahaha. And finally….

I guess the best news for this year is just about to break out. I’ll be getting an ex-deal I will never ever decline! I can’t divulge the details on this yet, but I’ll keep you posted on this…

Spices of Life

I took these photo two weeks ago at the Salcedo Saturday Market in Makati City Philippines. One of the items that really caught my fancy was these various kinds of spices all neatly arranged. There’s white pepper, black pepper, oregano, basil, thyme, garlic and a whole lot more.

The Salcedo Saturday Market is usually done early morning at the Tordesillas Street, Salcedo Village Makati City.

The Saucy, Spicy Lumpia

After the press conference I recently attended, my friend and I decided to scour the streets of Quiapo for some interesting finds. We took a bus which sped through the streets of Manila, passbing by the Nagtahan Bridge, and the University of Santo Tomas, the oldest university in Asia.

We then dropped off near the Basilica Minore del Cristo Nazareno. The most famous landmark of Quiapo. My friend then hurried me to this small street steet full of enterprising Pinoys selling everything. From motorcycle helmets, to screwdrivers to fake DVDs. We then entered a small unassuming place, known as Globe Lumpia House.

I’m a C+!, How ’bout you?

I first saw this in boss Yuga’s blog.I find it so cool! coloring the map whre you have actually set foot. After 29 provinces, I’m C+. how about you?

My Lakbayan grade is C+!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at
Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

I’ve got Mail, again!

I was recently surprised to see Mr. Postman ringing our doorbell. He delivered a parcel supposedly coming from….mmmm… FRANCE?!!

Bloggers as members of the Press?

Fellow blogger and friend Ajay has already blogged about this last week. She was true in saying that 2007 is a big year for bloggers. We have already seen several bloggers jumping out of their blogs and joining the media bandwagon. But recently, more and more PR companies recognize the importance of these blogs that they are now invited in events that are once exclusive for the press and the media.

Sweet Chocolate Kiss

My friends from Skyscrapercity and I recently met at the Chocolate Kiss Cafe at the ground floor of the UP Bahay ng Alumni, Diliman, Quezon City. It was my first time to set foot into this hallowed educational institution since 1998.

The Chocolate Kiss Menu