Sunday, January 31, 2016

Family Sunday Roadtrip: Rodolfos Cuisine and Mon's Grill

On the second Sunday of the new year, we had our first family getaway!  The quickest we managed, off to Pagadian and Mahayag we went just to eat!

 First stop, Rodolfos Cuisine at F.S. Pajares Ave, Pagadian City.  It was Papa who recommended the place for he already tried it out with friends and he wanted to eat their tinola again.  Yeah, right.  Fish tinola again and again.  No matter where we are, it's the tinola he always wants to eat.  In contrary, the rest of us had an over indulgence of pork.  We had pork Bicol express, pork sinuglaw, liempo, and chicharong bulaklak.  Gosh!  It was like, cholesterol check don't care.  Haha!  We just didn't realize that what we ordered were all pork until the food came in to our table.  But we enjoyed every bit of 'em!  It was like "fiesta!" as Rio often says fondly of.  Hehe.....

 On our way home, we dropped by at the fruit stands to get a load of sweet melons.  Price check, cheaper than what we have in our market.  Quality check, ripened in its own time.  Just so fresh from the farm!  

Then we hit Mon's Grill at Mahayag for their now getting famous halo-halo!  Word of mouth has it!  Perfect perfect halo-halo all worth the long drive!  It's not that grand as what other halo-halos are but it's just a quite simple mix of "a little of everything", as Auntie Bebot quipped.  It has langka, ube, macapuno, sweetened banana, leche flan, sago, garbanzos, gulaman, etc.  Topped with cereals, a scoop of ice cream, and grated cheese, well, well, well, it is just so mouth-watering!  This reminds me of the halo-halo I had in Naga a long, long time ago which I considered as the best halo-halo ever!  Now it's a great thing Mahayag has a version of it already.  I've tasted it once again!  Additionally, the crushed ice is really fine that you'll not have a hard time chewing it which also adds to the tempting taste of the halo-halo.  And the secret ingredient is so so secret because it is there at the bottom.  Maybe it's the condensed milk which gives it sweet consistency or maybe it's the all-purpose cream which makes it creamy.  I really don't know.  So we just ate up to our mouth and stomach's delight!     
Hay, unplanned family outing like this is just as sweet as halo-halo.  Visit Mon's Grill just along the highway to Mahayag's bus terminal/market.  You can barely see or notice the place for it's just a humble grill house but mind you, plenty of cars park outside 'coz they are now renowned to be visited by customers from far-flung places just to have a taste of their halo-halo.  So here's how the outside of the resto looks like for you to be guided.

Stay tuned for other local eats adventures only here on The Other Side of Mae!  #tosomtravels #tosomeats   
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Thursday, January 28, 2016

On Being Destined to Be a Teacher


This was our board at the MatSci Department yesterday.  I was not there when these words were written.  I wasn't there to contribute any of these sentiments and realizations.  I wasn't there to pour my heart out but these were more than my very own hugot lines!  Because first and foremost, I did NOT choose to become a teacher.  I never ever wanted to be one!  However, I already had this gut feeling when I was still in high school that God wants me to become a teacher.  So I left Ozamiz, studied in MSU-IIT, took up Chemical Engineering, became a licensed Chemical Engineer, landed an engineering job in Manila, and had another in an industrial plant in Cebu.  I wandered far and long from the will of God.  I tried everything just to keep away from what He wants me to do.  Long story short, I never felt at home in all those places I went to.  My ending, went back home and did nothing for 7 months!

Then I still didn't want to become a teacher.  I did data-entry encoding, call center, secretary, online writing, and entrepreneur wannabe (now wannabe no more).  I tried all jobs not related to my field, kulang nalang was to apply as a domestic helper.  Promise, I was also willing to be one if only I had my own money to pay for the placement agency at that time.  Kaloka talaga my tambay days back then!  Until came such a time that I suddenly went to MUHS and applied as a secondary science teacher.  So I did become a teacher!

Teacher, teacher, teacher!  I was already a teacher but I didn't act like a teacher.  I just did the profession out of necessity so I've got something to do because at that time, I didn't care if I have money or not.  I'd rather not have money than do things I hate.  But I had nothing else to do and I also didn't want to forget what I've learned in college.  Blood, sweat, and tears lang naman ang ipinuhonan sa IIT, noh!  So I also wanted to share whatever knowledge I have.

Then off I went from school to school!  From MUHS, Medina College, to La Salle University.  OMG!  I just realized!  I am now on my 7th teaching year!  On my first job, I only spent 10 days.  Second job, 11 months.  And now, it already took me years in this teaching job?!  Oh, what a surprise!  Isn't it obvious that this is where I should be?  In 7 years, quota na ako!  Well actually, when a high school batchmate visited me at the store last Monday and asked me why am I settling for less here in Ozamiz 'coz she knows my potential earnings when I do a chemical engineering job abroad, it was my very first time to finally give an answer!  With conviction, I told her that this is where I'm meant to be!  First time ever, through my words I've come to realize that I had already accepted that I am a TEACHER!  This is my fate.  This is my calling.  This is my vocation.  This is my mission.  Though it took me 7 years to understand, I now have the heart for teaching!

Anyway, you might be getting me wrong in this.  I am not only saying this because my energy is still too high from yesterday's celebration of Catholic Teachers' Day.  I'm not only saying this because I was super happy during the celebration and super delighted with my students' surprises.  But I am saying this to officially decide to myself that I'll keep teaching until there are students who are willing to be taught.  When momentum gives way to gravity, I fall!  Fall in love with the teaching profession because I am destined to become a teacher!

The Day Started with This
And This
And This
Then Ended Up Like This!
The friendship I have with the MatSci Department keeps me going through these years!          
Once again, thank you so much to the Supreme Student Council for the very bongga Catholic Teachers' Day celebration!  And to my Physics majors who never fail me all this time!  Thank you so much, guys for the effort, hard work, thoughtfulness, and love.  Your love notes truly inspires me to continue being a "mother" not only to you but also to all my other students as well.  As always, it is my students who are my dear inspiration!  :)    

Balloons by Fascino

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Thursday, January 21, 2016

Yammynamnam at Yammy's Seafood Grill


Up for anything seafood?  Yammy's Seafood Grill has been here in Ozamiz for quite some time now and it was only last month that we got to visit the place.  Since it was December, we had enough of lechon and other pork dishes from parties here, there, and everywhere.  So to get rid of the over satiated taste and the cholesterol, we longed for seafood and tried Yammy's!

 The first time we hit the place was before doing our groceries for our family reunion gift-giving.  As a tinola-lover, Papa ordered the fish kitong which was really really good!  The fish was so fresh and I rank this next to the tinola we fell in love with at The Original AA BBQ in Cebu.  We also ordered sizzling mixed seafood and sizzling squid which have almost the same flavor and tasted super yummylicious!  In fact and in truth, we ordered three extra cups of rice just for this lunch which is already a kalabisan in our case and it was the first time that my tummy went really full despite of all the parties I've been to.  So with this, we had the energy to get on to our mission for the day!    


 Since we were satisfied with our first visit, we came back for more, bringing the whole troop!  This time, we already hinted to order unlimited rice for we already know that mapapasubo ulit kami sa sarap!  Ella came next to Papa in her love for tinola but it is the chicken tinola she loves most.  Yammy's also serve native chicken tinola and I really wonder how they make the bisayang manok so tender.  It is even more tender than Alnetivs' bisayang manok inasal in Pagadian.

 Aside from the tinola, Ep2x ordered her fave sinigang na hipon which was asim-kilig or was it only Jezreel who made her kilig?  I wonder!  Haha!  Anyway, what I loved best in our table was the seafood bicol express!!!!!  Oh, how I truly miss Albay!  I've always loved gata, sili, and when combined, it is just super dooper perfect!  Yammy's seafood bicol express is not that hot and spicy for me so anyone who's not a fan of anything spicy, this is just right for your "hotness" level.  Hehe.....  And oops, for the calamares, Mama loved it all the way!     
!
Sinigang na Hipon and Fish Tinola
Sizzling Mixed Seafood and Sizzling Squid
Calamares and Seafood Bicol Express
Native Chicken Tinola and Sizzling Mixed Seafood Platter
Then we were not dismayed!  Our seafood craving was satisfied to the max!  The secret to yummylicious seafood is to cook it fresh and Yammy's didn't fail 'coz they really do cook it fresh!  With that, it's gonna be more than a two thumbs-up for Yammy's Seafood Grill!  Visit, visit, visit them now at Gaizano Southwing, Ozamiz City!  They also have merienda sets of lomi + sliced bread, pancit canton + sliced bread, and bihon guisado + sliced bread that is so affordable good for 4-5 persons.  So come and enjoy Yammy's yammynamnam dishes!  



 Thank you to the very kind staff of Yammy's Seafood Grill!  We really enjoyed our lunches here and many more lunches to come!  :)  #tosomeats #tosomendorses

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Monday, January 11, 2016

JuChoRi Craft Café


New, new, new hang-out in the big OZ!  Here's now a version of Café Noriter and Café Tiala Princess Room of Cebu in Ozamiz - the JuChoRi Craft Café.  At first, you might think that the name is something Korean but it's not.  It's actually a combination of names of the three children of Sir Warren Tan's business partner.  Ju for Julian, Cho for Jericho, and Ri for Jomari.  A unique name beautifully crafted for a unique hang-out.  Finally, we now have a dainty, pretty, and charming big doll house here in our city where we can play and make pretend that we are Barbie dolls or Precious Moments dolls.
  

JuChoRi Craft Café is located just a few meters away from our store which is along Gomez Street, still the same building of Sir Warren's former Warben Photolab and Honeybee Chick and Ribs Grill House (Oh, how I miss the baby back ribs!).  When we got stressed one very busy afternoon last December at Fascino, we checked into the café as a breather before going home.  Truly, we were relieved with the cozy ambiance of the place.  The pastel colors all over relaxed our minds and artsy things are also strewn around bringing in delight to our eyes.  


Since they were still in their soft opening last December, we only had their specialty of the house which is the burger and the fried chicken in barbecue sauce.  The burger is so delectable with its savory sauce and the patty is really thick.  I just suggest that they'll also have some fries alongside with it for these two are always a perfect tandem.  Anyway, the chicken is also delish but the serving is quiet small.  I hope that they can get bigger cuts in the market for customers' greater satisfaction.  In addition, the coolers are also good and mason jars or taller glasses for these can do the trick for more IG hearts.  Again, they were still in soft opening at the time so I guess the next time I'll visit the place, it's gonna be at par with cafés in big cities.  'Coz the food is already good as is that'll keep you coming back.  So not just our eyes got busog but also our tummies!

On the other hand, the place is two-story so it's also a nice venue for little parties, get-togethers, or after-parties.  I'm actually eyeing the place for a dream blog launching or book reading if I'm already capable or fit to be a true blue blogger or writer.  Wahaha!!!!  Sarap mangarap!  Though I haven't realized one dream yet which is hosting an afternoon tea party for my friends, still I'm having another dream this big.  Haha!!!  That's just how I fell in love with the interiors of JuChoRi that inspires me to dream again.  Photos here might not give justice to the place so I promise to bring a real camera the next time I'll visit.
   

 So for a feast for the eyes and feast for the stomach, visit JuChoRi Craft Café and get a wow to your afternoon! #tosomeats  

    
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Saturday, January 09, 2016

2015 Was a Blast!

A little bit late for this year-in-review post but still worth reminiscing and sharing (took too much time in scavenging the pics)!  Here's how I had a blast in 2015!

 The Heartbreak
Jan. 2, 2015, Store
The Escape
Jan. 10, 2015, Lifestyle District, CDO
The False Hope

The Outburst
Jan. 18, 2015, Mango Square, Cebu
The Lesson
Feb. 5, 2015, Atomic Shell
The Deliverance
Feb. 25, 2015, Iligan City

 The Acceptance
Mar. 2, 2015
The Sunshine
Summer 2015, Camiguin, Oslob, Makati, Vietnam
The Rainbow
Parties, events, and laags left and right kept me busy and sane in 2015!
The Silver Lining
Attended more than 4 weddings in a year!  In this collage, Alvite's, Reloufe's, Daisy's, and Annalyn's 
The Outlet
Back into cooking in 2015!
The Blessings
Fascino Scents and Balloons
The Joker
Dec. 2014 - Dec. 2015

 More Sunshine
Checked-in Cebu thrice and CDO twice this year!
More Blessings

Became second mom to three!  Babies Kim Noah, Paul Jess, and Shairah <3
The Closure

My 2015 started very bad.  As in, very very bad!  Cried buckets of tears for weeks, posted really bitter FB and IG posts, stopped living and just existed - these and just these that I did!  I wallowed in misery, depression.  Yeah, yeah, depression!  I didn't bother to get myself back together however, it is fate that did.  Because in all those dealings, I had my friends picking me up.  

 Thanks to my little store friend, Hanah for coming right away (even without her knowing of what just happened).  To Ruth for immediately coming to the rescue right then and there, to Cherry Ann and Sandy for the company right after.  To MM and Atsi Ann who are always a text away, Pen2x for opening up my mind, Ruth again for taking care of me in CDO, Cherry Ann again in Cebu, and Cathy in Iligan.  To Arbie, Glendale, Toti, and Mimi for consoling me through their pm's, to Quennie, Will, and ex-friend Gino for lighting up my days through our now dead group chat, Pineapple Juice.  And of course to Kring2x for giving me the Dear Alex book, an instrument for me to let go and move on.  Thank you so so much, guys for always being there for me.  Thank you for listening to my very shallow concerns.  I'm sorry that sometimes I may like be a clanging cymbal, very noisy with my little issues but still, you're all there giving me attention.  With that, I am indebted to you.  Thank you for helping me survive my darkest days in 2015!

 Now, enough with the drama!  After the dark days, bright and even brighter days followed!  2015 gave me more than what I expected in terms of places to see, parties to enjoy, people to hang-out with, food to eat, material things to invest, and new adventures to experience!  I also noticed that after every heartbreak, financial blessings flow abundantly.  I guess love and career never go hand in hand.  We cannot have both at the same time and as of the moment, it is the career that's working well in my life.  So for the boys out there, come and break my heart for I now know the aftermath of it and am willing to receive the overflowing blessings that result from it!  Bwahaha!!!  Still single as is, still waiting, waiting, waiting, and waiting.....

 And in a nice note, 2015 indeed was the year of God's favor in my life!  Though the year started bad, it ended up really really good!  So if I was beyond blessed in 2014 and if I desired to be blessed to be a blessing in 2015, I will be anointed to be a blessing in 2016!  

 Grateful, grateful, grateful!  I am just wonderfully grateful!  :)
2015 was such a blast!  Bring on 2016! :)
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Monday, January 04, 2016

Bountiful New Year 2016


Welcoming new years must be celebrated with a bang!  There must be food, wine, fire crackers, hornpipes, noise, and coins.  It must be festive to bring in good vibes for the upcoming year!  But above all, there must also be our loved ones to share everything with.  And we're super happy this year that sissy Ep2x and cuzzy Cang2x went home for the holidays.  Additionally, we also had guests so we've become plenty to welcome another bountiful year!
Thank you for celebrating with us, Kuya Boots and Bambi! :)
As what we do every year, we had our devotional first being led by Papa to thank God for all the favors and blessings the whole year through.  We offered songs of praise and prayers before eating our sumptuous media noche.


Then the kulitan started especially when the clock struck exactly 12 midnight when Mama and Papa showered the house with coins!  As usual, it was cuzzy Rio who got the most number of coins!


And the kulitan continued with Rio's video karaoke.  Song after song they went with Bambi that we ended the party at 3 AM!


'Twas our celebration of thanksgiving for 2015 and welcoming 2016!  Though plenty didn't get the polka dots memo, we still look good in pictures because it is the essence of unity in the family that matters.  Have a prosperous new year 2016, everyone! :)

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Sunday, January 03, 2016

Media Noche Through the Years

Recipe after recipe, art after art.  Table after table, outfit after outfit.  Preparing media noche every year is always a masterpiece to me.  Thank God for the gift and passion in cooking, thank you Lord for Thy great blessings!  A decade of cooking for my family always brings joy to my heart especially when there are no leftovers.  Cheers to 2016, everyone! :)  
  



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