The Bird in the Cage

"Her life, she realized, had all the charms of a steel trap."

Have you ever felt so pressure with things?

Felt so trap like a bird in the cage?

Felt like a damn marionette controlled by life marionettist?

Felt like you carry life's burden on your shoulders?

SAYING GOODBYE: easy said than done

"It's not the GOODBYE that hurts, but the FLASHBACKS that follows."

I always ask myself why do we have to say GOODBYE to people we love and we care? Why not they just stay by our side forever and have a happily ever after? Wouldn't the world be happy a place to live in if this happens?

Hwang Kung Restaurant

We don't remember days,
We remember MOMENTS.

- Cesare Pavese

Today I had another Korean food escapade in Hwang Kung Restaurant. It's a restaurant located at the outskirt of IT Park, Lahug. It's at the left-hand side of Citi Church if your facing in front of it.

My journey as an ESL Teacher :)

Journal No. 4

"I am not what happened to me,

I am what I choose to become."

- Carl Gustav Jung

Why am I here?

Why did I become an ESL teacher?

MATURE? ME?

Journal No. 3

"Sometimes LIFE makes you GROW UP EARLY"

"Just last year you look like a girl, now you really did matured and became a woman."

MOOON CAFE

"As long as we're under the same MOON, I'll feel close to you."

Why MOOON Cafe and not MOON Cafe? The three O's represent the three original artist-owners of the restaurant.

Mexican cuisine is primarily a fusion of indigenous Mesoamerican cooking with European, especially Spanish. It is created mostly with ingredients native in Mexico such as tomatoes, squashes, avocados, cocoa and vanilla. - Wikipedia

Mooon Cafe is a mexican-inspired restaurant firstly opened in an unassuming neighborhood in Guadalupe, Cebu City. Last Saturday two of my girlfriends and I went there to explore the sumptuous meal Moon Cafe could offer.

Pressure IN LOVE

Journal No.2

Love has killed more than any other disease.

 - Rumpelsliltskin

Yet, many still want to be a victim.

This past few days, I feel like being cooked inside a pressure cooker. I'm not stating about the weather but I wish I could, it's about the people who pressure me be in love instantly. To have a magical fairy tale like everyone else in the family. I'm not in a hurry, I believe someone is meant for me and one day without even realizing he'll just stand in front me loving me passionately. Hopeless romantic am I? Yeah, I know right. But these pressures their putting me into is sometimes getting its toll. Recently, their matchmaking me with people I dont know playing cupid and stuff. Isn't it annoying?

Afternoon Taxi Issues

Journal No.1

How would you feel when your own fellow countrymen did bamboozled acts?

Defensive?

Angry?

Or perhaps dissappointed?

PINO Restaurant

"Don't expect life to serve you what you expect. Just enjoy the buffet."

- Manoj Vaz

PINO restaurant at Wilson Street, Lahug

Pino is an adjective used to express admiration. "Pino" may refer as a pleasing personality as in "pinong ugali" (fine or refined manners); impressive craftmanship as in "pinong burda" (fine embroidery); or impeccable preference as in "pinong panlasa" (fine or delicate taste buds).

If you're looking for a fine dining experience of Filipino dishes at the city - then Pino restaurant is what you're looking for. The restaurant has a nice Hispanic ambiance that would make you feel like dining during the colonial period. From the interior design to its intricate facade and beautiful chandeliers suspended on the ceiling; all screams style and elegance. Wait till you taste the wide array of sumptuous Filipino foods and your dining will be complete.

LARSIAN Cebu

"When it's brown it's cooking; when it's black it's done."

- BARBECUE

HUNGRY in CEBU? Grab a stick of barbecue at Larsian.

Larsian is a barbecue square-type strip with numerous stalls located at Fuente Osmeña. It is a bazaar of eateries that is a perfect place to experience Cebu's best barbecues. It's not a fancy restaurant that most foreigners would think about but are stalls of barbecue lined up around the perimeter of the place. Since it's located at Fuente Osmeña Circle, it's really accessible to jeepneys and taxis. 

LARSIAN on peak hours. DAMING TAO!!

BARIKATA Ramen Bar

Do noodles end their prayers with "RAMEN"?

BARIKATA at I.T Park Lahug

BARIKATA means "very hard" in English. This is use to state that you want your ramen noodles to be "very hard" in solidity, therefore the noodle was only boiled under a number of seconds to achieve the correct hardness. Hence, the name of the restaurant was taken from.

RAMEN 101:

Ramen is a noodle in soup dish which was originally made in China into Japan when the country open its border to Meiji Restoration. The word "Ra" means pulled (into) while "Men" means noodles. That's how the noodles were made in the old days, a single lump of dough was manually stretched and folded a dozens of times till it formed a bunch of thin noodles.

Ramen has mainly four types according to the broths being used; tonkotsu (pork bone), shoyu (soy sauce), shio (salt) and miso (fermented bean paste). Barikata is on tonkotsu based ramen.

BON ODORI FESTIVAL 2015

過去は未来によって変えられる。

"The past can be changed by the future."

 -Yoshiki Hayashi

Japan and Philippines had come a long way in the history. From the time Japan conquered Philippines to Second World War up until our friendship with Japan now. Indeed Yoshiki-san is right "The past can be changed by the future". Even if we have negative encounters with Japan before it didn't become a hindrance to make amends and become friends today and hopefully until the near future. 

One way of continuing the friendship and connection we have with Japan. Bon Odori Festival in Cebu was made. It started last year and successfully it continued this year. This festival aims to let both Filipino and Japanese people experience the cultural exchange between these two countries.

Bon Odori, simply means Bon dance; a style of dancing performed during Obon. Originally a Nenbutsu folk dance to welcome the spirits of the dead, the style of celebration varies in many aspects from region to region. Each region has a local dance, as well as different music. The music can be songs specifically pertinent to the spiritual message to Obon, or local min'yo folk songs. Consequently, the Bon dance will look and sound different from region to region. The way in which the dance is performed is also different in each region, though the typical Bon dance involves people lining up in a circle around a high wooden scaffold made especially for the festival called a yagura. -Bon Odori; Wikipedia

Dalaguete, Cebu: Osmeña Peak

"It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves."

-Edmund Hillary

NOTE: Sorry to tell you in advance but this trip of mine happened years ago. Even though the gap years is a bit big I still want to share my experience there while I'm still blogging. Hope you like it.

The geography:

Osmeña Peak is located in the Municipality of Dalaguete in the province of Cebu. The peak is approximately 1,000 meters above sea level making it the highest peak in the island of Cebu.

The peak is part of the Mantalungon mountain ranges, which is unique from other mountain ranges in the Philippines because of its multiple jagged hills grouped together that overlook and stretch as far as the Badian shorelines. The highest of these hills is the Osmeña Peak named in honor of the famous Osmeña clan in Cebu. 

The visual appearance of the Mantalungon range is almost similar in form to the Chocolate Hills of Bohol but the peaks of the ranges are thinner, sharper-pointed and rocky. Unlike the Chocolate Hills, the peaks of the Mantalungon ranges cluster are quite near to each other and give the impression of being formed from rocks that have survived through time.

The Travel Journey:

BADIAN, KAWASAN FALLS

Go with the flow.

Roar with excitement.

Let you cares fall away.

- Take this advice from a waterfalls.

 

                        Cebu is not only own for this famous festivals and foods but also for this beautiful nature trippings. One of this is the Kawasan Falls which is found in Badian, Cebu. Just 130 kilometers southwest of Cebu City and about three hours bus ride. Kawasan Falls is located inside the mountains of Barangay Matutinao, Badian.

To start my trip to Kawasan Falls with my friends we went to Southbus Terminal and got on a bus going to Badian. (If your travelling by bus during midnight I suggest you bring a jacket with you because it will be really cold when the bus starts moving which by mistake I didn't do with left me hugging myself.) The bus fare is just 126php per person. (Not bad) For about three hours of travelling in midnight you don't have the choice but to sleep. At around 6 in the morning we arrived at our stop and had to walk uphill for about 1.5 kilometers to get to the first waterfalls. (NOTE: If it's your first time going there and you're afraid to get lost in the walking, don't worry a tour guide will be waiting for you at the entrance to guide you all the way. Though you have to pay a minimum of 150php for that.) Along the way to the first waterfalls we passed by the river, small streams and a small hydro generator which is also a good site while walking.

P.S. I Still Loved You

"So much of LOVE is CHANCE. There's something scary and wonderful about that."

- P.S. I Still Love You

P.S I Still Love You is the sequel of the Jenny Han's New York Times bestseller book To All the Boys I Loved Before. Lara Jean and Peter K's love story continues as Lara Jean didn't expect to really fall for Peter. She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren't. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever. When another boy from the past returns to her life, Lara Jean's feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?

To All The Boys I've Loved Before

"Do you know what it's like to like someone so much you can't stand it and know that they'll feel the same way?"

- To All the Boys I've Loved Before

Do you still remember the first time you fell in love? Are you the kind to confess your love to someone or do you just keep it inside yourself like Lara Jean? 

To All the Boys I've Loved Before is story of Lara Jean, who never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.

I really like this book. When I saw it, I was first attracted by the title then the cover and then I got so curious I bought it. Reading the book, I was transported back when I was in high school when all the crushes with boys bloom. I remembered how I met my first love and what crazy things I did for him (that was quite embrassing, I tell you) just so he would noticed me. I can also relate to Lara Jean, how I used to write short letters or notes for him but then I never had the courage to give it. He was a popular guy at that time and I'm just a wallflower in a pilot section (in short, nobody). I got three crushes back then but I already forgot the other two. This book really got the soft side of me. Teenage love, innocence, curiousity, risk of being in love, family, sister's relationships and friendships; Jenny Han really hit all of these right on bull's eye. It gives you this tender feeling, joys and smiles you don't know your having or even doing when your reading it. Even the settings complements to the theme, which let you easily imagine each scenes without too much difficulty. I also like how she associates her own culture in her book. I love Korean culture, so when I read it I also got to learn more about it. It is really a must read book. Now that the sequel it out, I am reading it all over again but even if it's the second time it still have the same effect like I was reading it for the first time. 

These are my favorite lines from the book.

"Love is scary: it changes; it can go away. That's the part of the risk. I don't want to be scared."

"Life doesn't have to be planned. Just roll with it and let it happen."

"I want to say yes, but I don't want to be with a boy whose heart belongs to somebody else. Just once, I want to be somebody else's first choice."

"What must it be like, to have a boy likes you so much he cries for you?"

"It wouldn't kill you to get out of your comfort zone a little bit."

Thank you for reading my blog. I hope you like it. The sequel P.S. I Still Love You will shortly come after this. 

THE ONE: The Selection Series Book Three

"This isn't happily ever after. It's so much more than that."

- THE ONE

The One is the 3rd book of The Selection Series. It was published last May 6, 2014. At the beginning of the book The Selection changed the lives of thirty-five girls forever. It comes down to four in The Elite and now, the time has come for one winner to be chosen - THE ONE. 

The Selection changed America Singer's life in ways she never could have imagined. Since she entered the competition to become the next princess of Illea, America has struggled with her feelings for her first love, Aspen - and her growing attraction to Prince Maxon. Now she's made her choice. She never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown - or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the competition approaches its end and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose - and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants. 


The One  is my favorite book of the Selection Series. Well, you can't blame me for feeling like a little girl who believes in happy ever after. Here, America will finally have her happy ever after with Prince Maxon. This book thought me how you have to sacrifice for the one you love and let them go to make them fully happy even if in the process of doing so you might get hurt and left heartbroken. The One is proves that happy ever after do exist and not just a mere fairytale that our grandmas told us. 

If you dont believe in happy endings this might sound cliche but love can really beat all odds. It may be a long, hard, rocky process with ups and down of a roller coaster but in the end, while facing your other half; you can really say it's all worth it. I may not find my other half now but I do believe that I have my own fairytale to share when the moment is right. And as I wait I'll have America and Prince Maxon's love story to moon about. 

These are my favorite lines in The One:

"Break my heart. Break it a thousand times if you like. It was only ever yours to break anyway." - Prince Maxon

"This isn't happily ever after. It's so much more than that." - America Singer

"The best people all have some kind of scar." - America Singer

"When I'm with hime I feel like I'm America. I'm not a caste or a project. He's just him, and I'm just me." - America Singer

But as I approach the end of the book, I find myself wanting more. I have question that keeps on popping in my mind. How will America rule the kingdom of Illea? How would she act as queen to her people? What will happen to the caste system? How do America and  Prince Maxon's own family would look like? These questions will be answer on The Heir - the fourth book of the Selection Series. Check out the fourth book of the Selection Series. Happy reading.


Synopsis credits to: The Selection Wiki / theselection.wikia.com

THE ELITE: The Selection Series Book Two

"LOVE is a BEAUTIFUL FEAR"

- THE ELITE

The Elite is the second Book in The Selection Series, preceded by The Selection.  It was published last April 23, 2013. With the second book, the thirty-five girls was slowly diminishing until only six remains to compete in the Selection. Out of these six girls only one will marry Prince Maxon and will be crowned princess of Illea. America still isn't sure where her heart belongs to. When she's with Maxon, she's swept up in their new and breathless romance. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, she is overcome with memories of life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over - and time is running out for America to decide.
Just when America is sure she has made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she's struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.


The Book 2 of the Selection Series helds different emotions. I got so frustrated with America for he can't easily choose between the two men. I'm Maxon's avid fan, so sometimes I can't help but be bias if scene about Aspen came up. I can feel the love flowing and hearts popping out of the book when America and Maxon are together so why be straight forward to admit her feeling and to let poor Aspen let go, right? I also want to point out how the characters change in Book 2. They got mature to think the things that surrounds them. Even America got so fearless to act out her emotions which the readers (for sure; like me) got so affected by it. Though emotions are overflowing in this book it still held the serenity it started from Book 1.

Compared with The Selection Book 1, The Elite is not so appealing to me. I kind of feel deja vu with every page because the scenes are quite repetitive. Attacks from the rebel, hiding in the basement, America turn between Maxon and Aspen, other girls seducing Maxon, Aspen trying to win America back and the cycle repeats again. When I read it, I just want to finish every page not because I'm so eager to know what's next but because I already expected what will happen. The element of suprise is kind of gone and what is left for me is to skim which part of the book is exciting. Nevertheless, I still find part which I like that motivates me to read futher. It's quite an informative book that will lead you to understand certain things in Book 3.

These are my faovrite lines from THE ELITE:

"You've changed me forever. And I will never forget you." - Maxon Schreave

"Sometimes I feel like a knot; too tangled to be taken apart." - America Singer

"I want it to be as easy as breathing for you to say YES." -  Maxon Schreave

I may not super like Book 2 but still I'm going to give it a passing rate for being such a nice source of emotional wreck on me. It holds that impression of continuity with Book 1 though I really see the effort of holding back events to be part of Book 3 which was a good job. So what are you waiting for, finish up Book 1 The Selection so can get started with The Elite. Don't forget to prepare a tissue with you because it will make the waterfall effect broke.


Synopsis credits to: The Selection Wiki / theselection.wikia.com

Pangan-an Island

"Travelling feels good. Doing good feels better. Doing both feels great."

Ever since I was young I am already into charity work. I was fascinated by this activity when I was in high school and I was able to pursue it when I reach college since my scholarship is into charity works. At that time I really felt amazing helping people that are in need. It gives a warm feeling that's difficult to explain when you I see people smile and thinking you're one of reasons behind those smiles make it better. When I graduated college I thought I would never have the opportunity to help and serve again but luck is on my side when I met Miki-san and Tamo-san in my current work place. They are the one who established a charity tour in Pangan-an Island. It's an island-barangay that belongs to Lapu-Lapu City. It is situated east of Mactan and right next to Olango. To go there is quite a long journey. From I.T Park, Lahug to Marigondon, we rent a van which would take 45 minutes to 1 hour travel depending on the traffic. As we reach the shore of Marigondon a boat was waiting for us that will send us Pangan-an Island. Travelling by boat would take another 45 minutes or so.

   

La Vie Parisienne

Feel like in Paris with La Vie Parisienne

France? Never been there but I got a glimpse of what its like with its food. 

Last August 2014, my friends and I went to this newly built french restaurant in Gorordo Ave in Lahug. It's so popular because of this cherry blossom lights at night, sumptuous breads and sandwiches and their infamous wine cellar which held a collection of wine from various part of the world. With its lights at night I doubt if no one would ever be curious of what this restaurant could offer. Like my previous posts here in my blog its my first time here in a French restaurant especially in La Vie. When we went there is kind of late at night and they are almost closing at 2 am but still they were able to entertain us. At first we don't know what to choose since they only have a few breads left but the staff were kind enough to guide us to French food 101. Indeed they serve us a delightful meal though some of my friends find it foreign their taste, I find it interesting. We pair our meal with some hot chocolate and soda since not all of my friends drink alcoholic beverages. If the fancy facade and interior of the restaurant wont give you a hint of its price range, I'll tell you now it's way above average. I even got self-conscious when we went there because most people that are left dining seems a part of alta sociedad, riding with their individual four wheels and drink buckets of alcoholic drinks and bottles of wine. Though we're a bit intimidated, these things didn't stop us to explore what La Vie could offer. Too bad, we weren't able to go the wine cellar due to time constraint. Nevertheless, our first French cuisine experience was worth the try.

La Vie Wine Cellar

New La Vie Parisienne interior

La Vie Bakeshop