A Year of Backlog

Welcome back!


Almost a year has passed since I stopped blogging. But there was not a part of me regretting that I wasn't able to share them in this personal space. In fact, I was happy that I wasn't able to blog about my life for a while... because I actually started living.

I stayed online for the rest of the year, posting on Facebook mostly, just to keep track of my activities. And boy, there has been a lot of activities for this year, a lot of things happened, and all are pretty noteworthy activities to blog about. Life has been so good to me this year and I couldn't even come close to figuring out why I deserve all the blessings. It has been just a wonderful experience all year long.

Then again, memory is a fading enemy. I can only write so much, so I decided to just have a run down of what happened for 2014 in a yearly wrap up. But I have yet to sort things out in photos and blog about them to the extent of my memory. I hope I could cover the whole year within the span of the holidays before returning to work, because I know, 2015 will be a better and busier year.

And so, please look forward to a year-long backlog, of a wonderful 2014 that was. :D


*This also notes my homecoming as a blogger, as I realized, there are some memories worth writing about... some even more too important to forget.*

Hana: A Titan of Taste

To satisfy our drive for 'trying something new', my best friend and I once again hit the streets. This time, we went Japanese.

I have always wanted to try out this restaurant called Hana down at Pagsanjan Laguna. It's not in the center of public traffic, so you have to go there on purpose. It's quite hidden on the quiet side of Pagsanjan, just along the National Road.

Upon entering, as every Japanese restaurant does, they greet you respectfully with a bow and they proceed to give you the menu. The place isn't that much Japanese per se. It doesn't have the usual Japanese set up for the dining table, though there's this sushi making counter with the big flyer blinds, ones that you see on anime or Jap live action dramas. It's a mix, I guess, of Filipino comfort and Japanese cuisine. There's also a little magazine shelf in the middle of the place that made it quite more charming.

The menu was eye catching. Japanese cuisine is known for their eye-catching visuals that makes eating raw fish enjoyable. We ordered this egg-shaped sweets and a bento containing sweetened beef, salmon in the shape of a rose, crab sticks, some veggies, coleslaw and 4 side dishes that we enjoy very much. We didn't order a lot as our cash is limited, but we did in fact share because, we are so cautious on eating Japanese foods. Both of us hate vegetables and we are tiptoe-ing on certain fish and meat that doesn't taste good.

But our Hana Restaurant experience was delightful. I was never a fan of salmon because it tastes so fishy. But their salmon was quite refreshing. It tastes something like the sea and not the sea with lots of fishies. The crab sticks are divine as well as the meat. But I think we enjoyed the anchovies more and the egg-looking sweet dessert. (heck! I always got the name confused). 

It is a quaint little place. A nice watering hole if you want to try something new and something refreshing for your tastes buds. It's a first, I guess, on this part of the district of Laguna, to have a decent Japanese cuisine-serving restaurant that's really authentic and with genuine service. 

Sweet Magic: Baked in Swirly Goodness

Since I started the Elvensies escapade, I have been seeing my best friend more often. This new tradition for us is a healthy way to keep each other in check and in full. You may know her as Marvy and I galaband around town from time to time. Somehow, we enjoy this leisure time together.

And it's just the beginning of the month, we are sort of running low on cash and that's when we have to devise something. We need a nice new place nearby to eat and take photos with. And so, ding~! Idea. There's a newly opened cupcake shop nearby my house. And it's pink and swirly, and oh, you'll get the idea.

It just recently opened at Taft Street, Pakil, Laguna and I remember the place because mum kept bugging me to try out their cupcakes, and also because it's where she ordered my Doctor Who inspired cupcake cake during my birthday. And so off we went.

It is a small shop. Too small, in fact, you can only fit a couple of tables and chairs. But with nice chandelier lights, frozen glass fridge and swirly painted walls, it is now too cute. Even the outside of the place receives a lot of double takes.

They sell chocolate-based cupcakes with different toppings. Their cupcakes ain't that sweet, so it is just the right amount of moisture and sweetness for me. The flavor of the toppings makes it even more delicious.

We ordered 3 cupcakes, one for each of us and the other, is for to-go, to my other best-friend Daine.

Cafe Alberto: A Delightful Treat

It's highly unlikely that I'll take off and do something risky or anything new. I'm a creature of habit and that leaves me in my own imaginary limited comfort zone. I'm not proud of it though, but that's what works for me.

Now I happen to address that I would be doing something new every month (this was way back in January, and this post is more than long overdue) and so I did.

All it takes is a home-bound bus ride to Laguna. If you know me, I'll get on the terminal and get off at the end terminal, no gist, no surprise, straight to the point routine. But then, I was feeling really hungry and if I wait to have my food, I'd wait for another 30 minutes or so. And that's when I decided to jump off at the first decent restaurant I saw. And ta-da~! Cafe Alberto.

For years, I went back and forth Manila that I saw this little cafe right beside the National Road in Sta. Cruz Laguna, exactly at the center of the Sambat intersection. You can easily miss it because it is right along the lines of those other food stalls. But with its front yard and welcoming ambiance, you might really want to consider stopping by.

It was downtime when I came in. Lots of seats. Mirrored paneled walls, nice comfy rattan seats and even more nice place mats. The place has a modern-rustic feel to it because of their choice of furniture and also because they serve Italian cuisine and luscious array of desserts.

And I, love, no, WORSHIP desserts. It's like a reward for eating a full course meal and being guilty about it, but the dessert says, 'it's alright, you can continue your diet tomorrow.' They have mini Chocolate Cakes, Vanilla Cakes and my favorite... Blueberry Cheesecakes~! Then again, I was contemplating whether to get the cheesecake or the yema cake, which is downright delicious. It's a modern twist to the 'Yema' flavor. Mostly made up of sweetened milk and peanuts. And of course, I also ordered a Carbonara to be guilty with.

I ended up my happy meal of the day with a big bowl, yes, bowl, not cup - bowl, of coffee. They have big servings of coffee and in the exact amounts that you will consume with a solo mini blueberry cheesecake.

And of course, it was a delightful experience, so I had to bug the waitress to take a photo of me and my nice bowl of coffee. A delightful indeed.

Project 365: February 2014

February was quite a surprising month, I have to tell you. It was overall unexpected and just the perfect timing for everything. It started off well with a new obsession - Attack on Titan, followed by an immense craving for peanut butter and jelly almost everyday. Then I finished a couple of books with great reluctance because I really need to brush up on my reading: Gaiman's Coraline and Tolkien's The Hobbit. I also made a website for my uncle and compiled all his press releases that are still available online. I got a photo featured on Vogue, finally with Vonna this time on it. I managed to learn the Game of Thrones theme song on piano. Despite all the nice little things, it suddenly drops, Grandpa had a high-blood pressure and was checked up on the hospital. He also suffers greatly from his arthritis to a point that he could barely stand-up. That was quite the low point of my February. But God answers questions when you least expect it. I got appointed a day before Valentine's day and it was quite a bit emotional for me. I have been waiting for such an opportunity for so long. To prove myself again to myself that I am not a quitter. Then it's Valentine's day wherein I celebrate it Japanese style. Most of the weekend too, I spend it with my Geek League, we sort of have that weekly meet-up where we just hang and eat and play. Then the rest of the month was preparing for my first day of work. paper works, clothes, going back and forth to Manila, medicals, the whole enchalada. Then my first week at work is all the last week of February. It was indeed fun and totally different from working in the private sector. Happy February~! Indeed it was.

Edgy Veggy - Deli, Cafe, Delivery: Frozen Bite

Sometimes, over planning gets you into trouble and you find yourself in the middle of a parking lot at 12 noon pretending to talk to someone on your phone while you wait for more than an hour to be summoned for your interview. In this case, you are obviously me. I started to look suspicious and the guards of the building are giving me the crazy eye. I had to get out of the parking lot somehow and ASAP.

I found my sanctuary in a building at Three Brixton Street in Ortigas, Pasig City. It happens to be adjacent to the company I'm applying for and I really need to sit down because my I've been fake calling myself for the past 15 minutes. 

Edgy Veggy - Deli, Cafe and Delivery is sort of a healthy diet restaurant, to which I guess is borderline vegan. Now, I don't have any intention of having a full course meal, I just need shade and a comfy chair. The smiling waiter greeted me and handed me a menu card. And apparently, my wallet quite did a somersault on the prices, which range to 3-4 digits, an above average price list. But i'm already here, so I ordered the cheapest thing on the menu which is a Chocolate flavored deluxe Ice cream.

And boy, it was deluxe. It was by far, one of the best ice cream flavors I've ever tasted. It's a mix of salty, sweet and nutty all at the same time. Even though the serving was a bit disappointing because it seemed to be serve in a petri dish, the flavor is without a doubt euphoric. 

I did bought time and comfort by eating ice cream at a pricey restaurant, but I did quite enjoy the charm of their little space. They have double height ceilings, so they were able to put a nice little mezzanine on the side. There's also a comfy couch by the entrance and a charming tiled graphic floor, to which I really like.

It's a small enough place to pass by, but that place was by far the restaurant to which I tasted the best ice cream. 

Cafe Kesada: That Little Nook for Amazing Stories

Bamboo foliage drifts lazily overhead. The mural on the opposite wall gave the illusion of a bigger shrubbery on the edge of the gravel yard. We sat on mismatched stone coffee tables and the world faded around us as only the stories being told that time mattered.

It is somewhere along the lines of my impatience that I decided to kidnap my best friend, Daine. The invigorating drive of the new year kept me from returning to my hermit life in the four-poster corner of my bedroom. In a flash, my craving for a decent coffee has brought us to the next town, a rather relaxing place amidst being in the commercial part of Paete, Laguna.

We find ourselves consumed with the artworks exhibited in this cabin-like structure as we are both art aficionados and practicing artists. Beautifully colored paintings, well-barnished sculptures and culturally familiar mix-media art pieces decorated the place in a warmly lit showcase room. As the art circle locally is very small, we came to be familiar with the other artists works and marvel at their new creations. The current installations takes you to the familiar past and holds you in a sense of nostalgia.

We ordered ourselves a cup of Iced Capuccino and Iced Americano. And by our lucky stars, we get to meet the owner of the gallery on a round of Marlboro Black smokes. He is apparently a practicing dentist and a big art aficionado. Mr. Nilo Vandecantos built Cafe Kesada out of passion with 2 years focusing on the construction of his cabin showroom.

"We call this 'The Venue'" said Mr. Vandecantos in between puffs of smoke. "for Paete-bred artists and those who are genuinely passionate in the promotion of tourism. This place has been a watering hole for artists to brainstorm, argue and develop their craft. Sometimes, we got some jam sessions here and just enjoy a night of arts and music."

"Not to brag or anything," Mr. Vandecantos on his second stick of Marlboro, "we get some people in authorities visit the place to check out some paintings. Ambassadors and senators, even. The art world just works like that, connections, I guess."

Mr. Vandecantos has been gracious enough to share us stories about Cafe Kesada. How it slowly gained recognition from local networks and even international ones. How he'll be surprised that bloggers, like me, write about it. And how he always point out that 'The Venue' is always open for people to share stories with.

In between sips of our tasteful coffee and with the sun setting low, we met Mr. Lino Dalay - a Paete-bred artists who had made a living out of making floats for film festivals, props for big local film productions and so much more. He has a shop one stone throw away from Cafe Kesada. He pulled up a chair and the discussions went even more further.

"UFOs" Mr. Dalay chimed in "They say it was UFOs they saw way back then, but there's more to the story than just a regular Saturday Mahjong session on an island of that man-made lake in Caliraya." Mr. Dalay proceed to tell us stories of utter wonder, about treasure hunts, conspiracy theories and fantasy. The afternoon light faded and we hear his stories about rumors and gossips with a hearty laugh from Mr. Vandecantos who seem to delight in his stories as well as we almost finished a couple of packs of Marlboro Blacks.

"It is a good thing that you thought about visiting Kesada." Mr. Lino Dalay said.

"It is the most closest to us which we greatly ignore." I replied sounding ashamed that it is just now that we visited this place. The stone coffee table to which we stayed for almost 2 hours by just sharing puffs of smoke, sips of coffee and exchanging wonderful stories has now became quite a special place for me. Even Daine, who has been mostly silent throughout the time, has a stupid grin on his face, an evidence that he is as well into the stories as I am.

We puffed our last smokes and thank them for their wonderful hospitality to us. Mr. Vandecantos even invited us to join him for an exhibit for Arts Month. We went before we could be any more of a disturbance but not before we took turns of having a nice photo with the both of them. We exchanged numbers but Mr. Dalay has graciously invited us to visit his craft shop. We're honored and obliged and it was just a wonderful experience.

From the outside, his collapsible metal doors was painted by a mural of what it seemed to be a fairy. He opened the heavy locks on his doors and as if it was a movie, gold glowed from the doorway as Mr. Dalay opened the lights. I entered wide-eyed. The inside glowed gold and yellow. Paper Maches of anything and everything that you can think of in all shapes and sizes. The first thing that you will see is a big paper mache of Our Lady of Guadalupe almost 4 times my height that fits in nicely to his craft shop. There's also a Christmas tree decorated with wooden puppets, a big gold mask that resembles the icon of Temple Run and a gold frame painting of Mr. Dalay's mum. There is so much to see and so much look at, that I was over-whelmed with such an invitation from Mr. Dalay. Inside of this place is his life's work. Amidst being a big player for props production in the city, Mr. Dalay chose to settle in the province and work with his fellow Paetenians, to which is very commendable. He showed us his favorite pieces and recounted stories of how his creations were made, sold and even returned.

But the night is getting old and we really should be getting home, we took pictures of his shop and took pictures together. I thank him for wonderful and delightful night. We bade goodbye and walk off a block away. I stopped Daine and puff the last of our Marlboros.

"When's the next time?" asked Daine. And I knew, he really had a good time being kidnapped.