Dinner at Amici

This was taken around three weeks ago when our friend RW was in Manila for a short visit. We were at Amici at the SM Megamall Atrium. I was NIP (not-in-photo) because I was the photographer!

Girls' Christmas Get Together

For this year's get- together, we decided on the new Ayala Triangle Park where there was a Lights and Sounds Show during the holiday season. Dinner was at Kanin Club. Though we started out early, the most popular restaurant, Wee Nam Kee, was already full. Nevermind, we definitely enjoyed our Seafood Kare-Kare, Crispy Dinuguan, Crispy Liempo, and all dishes we ordered at Kanin Club.

Walked to JV and DV's condo for the traditional gift-giving. Merry Christmas and a Joyful New Year, my dear friends!

Christmas Eve Baby

Everyone, please welcome the newest member of the family, Baby A --- first baby of my sister T and BIL JC! She's adorable, isn't she? We gladly spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at the Asian Hospital to welcome her:-) We love you Baby A!

BIL Plays for the US

My Brother-in-Law was invited by his alma mater, the Manhattan School of Music, to play for them and their special guests, and my sister, being his personal assistant had to be there too. Plus, not so coincidentally, my Mom was in New York for her friends' grand reunion. Thus, there they were, enjoying New York on this particular day. BIL also played at the James Madison University in Virginia.

New Life in Toronto

My brother and family are finally settled in Toronto and we're so happy and so proud of them. My brother has found work, my niece S is in school, and my sister-in-law is managing the home so well. We heard that she now makes juicy burgers. Of course, there are some things that haven't changed: going to malls on weekends. Looking forward to visiting next year!

50 Years of Friendship

My Mom and her dear friends had a grand reunion in New York. How's that for celebrating 50 years of friendship? What an inspiration indeed! Would love to have this too, many years from now, with my dearest friends.

Food Trip in Singapore

One of the things we always look forward to on holidays is the opportunity to dine and sample different dishes. This holiday was filled with several dining opportunities as well as meet friends and family based in Singapore:

I always looked forward to the daily breakfast at Triple Three at the Mandarin Orchard, especially smoked salmon and the dimsum:
This was dessert at McCafe with TS and GS after a delicious dinner of tapas at a Spanish restaurant. Forgot to take photos at the restaurant and only remembered when we were having dessert. It was my first time in a McCafe:

This was after-dinner drinks at 313@Somerset, one of Singapore's newest malls:

Afternoon tea with high school friend FB and wife T at The TCC, Millenia Walk. Loved my peppermint coffee!

Lunch at Asian Kitchen, serving Taiwanese street food. This was at Ion Orchard, again one of Singapore's newest malls.
One of the highlights of staying at the Mandarin Orchard was Chatterbox's Chicken Rice, said to be one of the best in Singapore. We also enjoyed their Chicken curry and their prawn noodle dish:

Mandarin Orchard Singapore

We decided to spend the long weekend in Singapore. Since this was the first time we were going out of the country after my retirement, we made it extra special by staying at the Mandarin Orchard. Located right in the middle of Orchard Road and beside Ngee Ann City, it was the best hotel to stay in Singapore. Although so short, the long weekend was so memorable. More pictures later. Am having problems uploading pictures!

The End of An Era

Thanks so much to my Team who thoughtfully planned out a farewell party for me at one of my favorite restaurants Omakase. It was a touching farewell, the highlight of which was a video they prepared chronicling my 20 years in the company and documenting all the kind and generous words my colleagues gave me through their messages. Thank you to all who were part of it. It was indeed a perfect way to end a most memorable life in the first company I worked for. I will surely miss my team mates, and the many friends I made during my stay there.

Girls Reunion 2010

Our dear friends DLL and DS who are both based in the States, came home at the same time. I'm so distracted nowadays that I only remembered to bring my camera once out of the four times we met up! Girls, share your pictures, too! My photos were taken on the first meeting at Cafe Juanita, Burgos Circle at the Fort. DLL wasn't in Manila yet.

We also had dinner at the V home in Makati, Angel's Kitchen in Greenhills and Ye Dang, a Korean Restaurant along Meralco Avenue in Ortigas.

Great to see all of you the past few weeks, Girls. Till the next reunion!

Now I Know What to Say Part 2

Really, do people have to be so rude? So the next time somebody comments, I'll use all of these, most are exactly my sentiments:

http://www.spot.ph/2009/07/29/20-snappy-replies-to-the-comment-uy-tumataba-ka-ata/

Read the comments too, some really good ideas there!

Seriously, if people are going to be that rude, I won't see them anymore. Not worth my time, nor my friendship. Sana lang wag ko sila makasalubong na!

Father's Day 2010

For Father's Day, we treated our Dad at Madison Seafood and Steak House in Greenbelt 5. We also treated the other fathers in the family -- my brother N and my brother-in-law and soon-to-be dad J. Saw our cousin Ate L and her family dining at the restaurant too and just had to take a photo with them. Our pamangkins are taller than us! As usual, I had a difficult time taking a nice picture of Baby S. She only smiled for me when I said that I was gonna bring her to Kidz Station after lunch (does that classify as bribery?).

A Surprise Birthday Party

For our dear friend JDV's birthday, her husband DV surprised her with a party at Sentro. Thanks DV for inviting us to be part of the surprise:-) Happy Birthday again JDV, we wish you happiness always!

Despedida Weekend for my brother's family

Our send-off party to our brother N, his wife S and their daughter Baby S was held 3 weeks before their actual flight to Toronto where they will now be based. For some it might seem a tad early, but the event planner (me!) thought it would be good to have this early when they are not yet stressed out. Am sure that the few days before the actual departure will mean last minute errands for the family. And also, SIL's birthday, along with her twin brother is the following week, so that would be an altogether different event. The week before their departure might be a challenge to organize especially if they have not finished packing, disposing of things they are not bringing and buying things that will be too expensive to buy in Canada.

The event is a weekend in town -- an overnight stay at the condotel BSA Tower (108 Legaspi Street, Makati CBD) right across Greenbelt 5, Baby S's favorite mall. We rented two 2-bedroom suites and 2 studio suites for the C and L families. We had potluck food consisting of Casa Armas' cuchinillo. Conti's prawns thermidore and chicken ala kiev, Cyma's roka salata, Heaven's barbecue, Baliwag's buttered fried chicken, Red Ribbon's pancit palabok and homemade ribs. For dessert, there were several flavors of Gelatissimo's gelato,a Red Ribbon cake. Amber's pichi-pichi with cheese and Paquito Mas' mini cakes. Needless to say, we were stuffed with so much good food!

E cooked breakfast the next morning before everyone went out to enjoy Greenbelt.

I highly recommend balikbayan families to stay at BSA Tower's suites. They let you bring in as much food as you want, they also have cooking equipment such as a stove and a microwave, a full-size refrigerator, a rice cooker and an electric kettle. You can also have food delivered from nearby fast food and fine dining restaurants. Balikbayans can therefore easily entertain guests while they are in Manila. And the location is very,very convenient. You have MiniStop a few steps away, Rustan's and Landmark groceries a 5-minute walk away. Greenbelt's shops and restaurants are right at the doorstep!

Don't believe the bad reviews at Trip Advisor.

To N and family: We will miss you so much, but we look forward to visiting you really soon!