Atlantic City Adventure

We were so lucky to celebrate Aunt S' birthday with the S family in Atlantic City. We stayed at the luxurious Tropicana, one of the biggest casino hotels in the city. We tried our luck several times, and ended up shelling out USD30 and losing to Tropicana's slot machines. On hindsight, that could have bought me 1 pair of jeans or 2 hoodies...

But no regrets, because our Atlantic City holiday proved to be a very unique experience-- E learning poker on slots, outlet shopping and scoring a USD15 hoodie from H&M, walking along the Boardwalk in freezing cold and being in the middle of the festive holiday season in Atlantic City. It was great!

Lunch at the Tropicana Coffee Shop

The Christmas Tree inside Tropicana Marketplace with our niece and nephew.
Walking along the Boardwalk

Dinner at Hooters

The Boardwalk outside the Tropicana Marketplace

1st Day in the US: Bargain Shopping Na!

We arrived in New Jersey early morning of December 26, and we all know what December 26 is: Boxing Day! We started our day with a trip to the nearest Kohl's and snapped our favorite Levi's jeans. For me, 5 pairs worth USD136, not bad! Also scored a hoodie in today's hottest color, purple for only USD12. I'm in the best place to shop for clothes: New Jersey, where there is NO TAX on clothes.

Philippine Airlines and San Francisco International Airport

For our 2nd US trip, E and I decided to try Philippine Airlines to take advantage of their promotional rates (around USD650 for RT tickets exclusive of taxes and other surcharges, total amounted to about USD1,000, still cheaper than other airlines). Our travel time to New Jersey was cut to almost half compared to our last US Trip (20 hours this year vs 37 hours last year). We missed Singapore Airlines' inflight entertainment but the non-stop flight to San Francisco made up for it.

It was very cold when we got there, we had to wear scarves, gloves and jackets inside the airport. We spent around 4 hours waiting for our flight to New Jersey that's why I was disappointed that the San Francisco airport did not have free internet access.

I insisted on a photo by the Ghirardelli store (one of my favorite chocolate stores)
No free internet!

Reality Bites

After about 22 glorious days in the US, we are now back in Manila. We arrived at around 5AM yesterday, January 17 and I was on my way to school to teach at around 8:30 AM. Yup, I went straight to work. But no regrets whatsoever... I work hard, and I play hard:)

Happy 12th Anniversary To Us!

Pasko Na Nga!

Starting yesterday, my days will be filled with Christmas parties and other social events. Yesterday, I had a Christmas lunch with DP, a good friend who is based in Hongkong and another friend GD, at Cafe Metro in Shangri-la Plaza and TWO Christmas parties in the evening. Today, the school had its party for the Faculty and Staff. Tomorrow is our department Christmas party. Saturday is the Christmas outreach of the company's senior executives and brunch after that , and a Christmas party hosted by E's friend BT in the afternoon. I'm hoping for an anniversary dinner with family, but we'll see how the schedule is like. On Sunday, Christmas lunch with my college barkada and Christmas dinner with E's barkada, both to be held in our home. On Monday is the Farewell party of our CFO of which I am the event coordinator. I still have so many things pending like songs to be used for the video presentation,songs to be sung by guest singers, the backdrop of the stage, finalizing the speakers, etc. The only thing I have done is the food arrangements. Tuesday is the Christmas party for senior executives, where I will be in the dance presentation. And lastly, on Wednesday, the 24th, the Christmas party in our office. Pasko na, and really, no time to shop. I can actually just give IOUs and say that their presents will be New Year presents from the US:)

Galileo Enoteca

Most of you know that E and I LOVE Galileo Enoteca. We decided to try the Pasong Tamo branch , and we had such a great time. We finished a bottle of white wine, 2 glasses each of red wine, a cheese and cold cuts platter, and another cheese platter.

When you feel like you need time alone with your partner, bring him/her to Galileo Pasong Tamo. It is such a romantic, quiet and cozy place.

A Birthday Party at Manila Oceanarium

The newest pamangkin of my college barkada, Stephen, celebrated his 2nd Birthday at the Manila Oceanarium. The proud parents JV and DV spared nothing to give him a memorable party. (Apologies for the blurred pictures, still figuring out how my Nokia E71 can take better pictures. I again, forgot my camera. Senior moments??)


Stephen with proud parents (sorry JV and DV, ang labo!)



At least Stephen's amazed face is captured in this photo, pero malabo pa rin!

Look at all the balloons! Wow!

The barkada except for JV, who was very busy...

Finally caught up with proud mom JV.

La Nuovo Pasteleria

Spinach and Mushroom Appetizer and Seafood Salad Seafood Pasta in Olive Oil and Garlic

La Nuovo's food never fails to impress us. We love the spinach and mushroom appetizer, although it may have been a bit sinful with that creamy truffle sauce. The seafood pasta was overflowing with prawns. Yummy! (Located in front of Sanctuario San Antonio, Forbes Park)

'Tis the Season...

I know that we are already in the middle of the Christmas season when my day started with a gift-giving activity for pre-schoolers at a Gawad Kalinga site in Trece Martires and ended with a classy party hosted by an international bank at the Manila Polo Club:) I'm really so fortunate to experience the best of both worlds.

15 Terms!... And Counting

Another school term has gone, my 15th! Let's see, that would be equivalent to 5 years of teaching. And yet, there's still so much to learn...

Classical Music at Ilustrado

Here's an idea for a unique evening. Cocktails with overflowing wine at Ilustrado's romantic courtyard (I still remember JV and DV's wedding reception held here more than 10 years ago) and then classical piano music by world-renowned pianist, my BIL Jovianney Emmanuel Cruz, at Ilustrado's chamber room. Jovianney introduced the mini-concert by saying that this was how it was done centuries ago, a group of people gather in homes to watch and listen to artists perform. There will be more evenings such as this, watch this space for further announcements.

Dinner with Office Friends at The Heat

The "Powerless" group went out for dinner at The Heat in Edsa Shangri-la Hotel. Sad to say, the Buffet was not as good as how we remember it, Seven Corners was definitely better. There were no oysters,smoked salmon and uni sashimi in the buffet that night. Good thing, the company was great, so we still had a super fun evening.

Dad's Treat at Fely J's

Some of the food we had: lamb kaldereta, paco salad and rice similar to arroz ala cubana ( i forgot what it's called)
My two-year old niece eating by herself. She's so independent!

Dad shared his blessings with us by treating us for lunch at Fely J's Kitchen in Greenbelt 5. We tried the exotic cricket appetizer, which was quite interesting. We also had sisig, crispy pata which was so good because it was cooked with garlic, lamb kaldereta, pork binangoongan, char kway teow and rice. My niece had the chocolate cake for dessert. Thanks Dad, for the wonderful meal. May you continue to receive countless blessings!

Happy Birthday, Dear Friends!

Our dear friends SC and LBF just had their "Big _0th Birthday" and we celebrated with a dinner at JV's condo. SC and LBF prepared a sumptuous buffet of smoked salmon salad, spaghetti carbonara, chicken pastel and salpicao from Conti's, home-made breaded fish and shrimp, and barbecue. MS brought the birthday cakes, blueberry cheesecake and chocolate cake, and other desserts such as pichi-pichi (with cheese, yum) and sapin-sapin. Our dear friend DL and husband RL, who are based in New York, joined us through Skype:)