Thursday, June 15, 2017
Passion for cooking and baking is what makes Dinah Grace Miro stand out from the rest. What started out as a stall in Mercato Centrale became the start of a bigger venture. Ms. Dinah Grace Miro showed interest in food at an early age where she would serve friends and visitors her home cooked meal or baked goodies.
Getting a stall approved in Mercato Centrale isn't simple and easy. You have to offer something unique and delicious. It turns out, the crowd loved it and became one of the top choices for the "Ultimate Taste Test". What exactly did she offer?
What would follow is another stint at CCF Tiendesitas. She opened a stall in a restaurant which comes with a bigger seating capacity.
Fast forward to this day. Dinah ran out of names for her new endeavor since the good ones have been taken. Just as she was about to give up, she prayed and had an epiphany. Since sharing comes naturally for her, she figured the name "5 loaves and 2 fish" would fit. Brilliant, if I may say.
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| High Five Salad credits: chasingcuriousalice.com |
Her hubby's favorite! Salad is a great appetizer. This one's got lettuce, guava puree, balsamic vinegar, candied nuts, diced guava, sundried tomatoes and parmesan cheese.
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| Balayan Salad |
A fresh addition to the menu. Not your usual salad. Composed of crunchy lettuce, fresh tomatoes, parmesan cheese which gives a fruity nutty taste, and tinapa flakes. Also, it has kesong puti. The tasty tinapa will linger on your taste buds.
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| Salmon with Four kinds of Cheese |
This would be the variant of pizza with four cheese. It's melted cheese covering the Salmon fillet which is on top of mashed potatoes.
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| Pasta with Clam |
Spaghetti dressed in extra-virgin olive oil, with garlic, parsley, a slice of lemon and little neck clams. Perfect for seafood lovers.
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| Lengua with olives |
Beef tongue in creamy mushroom sauce sprinkled with parsley and green olives to give it a bit of sour flavour.
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| Pork Ribs Barbecue |
Extra tender meat due to four to six hours preparation. It comes with marinated sauce.
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| Beef Salpicao |
Cubed beef tenderloin with lots of minced garlic, seasoning sauce, and chilies to give it that extra spice. Super tender and a must-try!
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| Tablea Cake |
Natural sweetness derived from organic Cacao. Got sweet tooth?
Wide selection of cakes to choose from ranging from P145 to P180 per slice
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| Grand launch of 5 Loaves & 2 Fish |
Address: The Rock Lifestyle Hub, Holy Spirit Drive , Don Antonio Heights Subdivision, Quezon City
How to get there: If coming from the south side, Ride an AUV, PUB or PUJ passing Commonwealth avenue, get off at Ever Gotesco Commonwealth, cross the foot bridge, take a tricycle ride which costs P9 per head or P30 for a special trip.
Hours of Operation: Monday to Thursday 11:00am to 10:00pm, Friday to Sunday 11:00am to 11:00pm
Please contact: 0920-9170167 / 366-5375
Visit their site at: http://www.5loaves2fish.com.ph/ and follow them on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/5loaves2fish.cafe/
Visit their site at: http://www.5loaves2fish.com.ph/ and follow them on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/5loaves2fish.cafe/
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
iDrive
PH Driving Academy was born last May 29, 2017. The company slogan is
“Promoting
Responsible Driving”
This serves as the platform
for all their modules and guidelines in order to help rid the
country’s roads with reckless and uneducated drivers.
“iDrive
PH Driving Academy Inc. is one of the newest and freshest driving
institutions in the industry. We take pride on our highly-trained,
seasoned, professional Driving Instructors that provides excellent
service to all our students. With lower rates compared to other
institutions, we make sure we provide the best learning experience to
our students and the best working environment to our employees.”
Says Gus Villa – President and CEO of the Institution.
The
Academy’s primary commitment is to instill in each of our students
the importance of being a responsible driver. This includes strict
monitoring of their performances on the road, as well as their
traffic rules knowledge. We are also passionate to take time to
rebuild confidence of people who lost their faith in driving due to
previous failures and unfortunate events. This way, we are sure to
produce well-trained, well-mannered, and responsible drivers.
Our
Vision is to be one of the contributors to the country’s quest for
safe and peaceful roads. All our modules are designed and created to
teach new skills, strengthen existing driving skills, and inculcate
the vitality of the driver’s attitude in operating their vehicles.
We
offer basic to extensive courses, refresher courses, Defensive
Driving Seminars, licensing assistance and pick-up – Drop- off
services.
“With
our combination of experienced and fresh blood personnel that add up
to our company’s dynamic approach and standards, I am sure that
iDrive PH Driving Academy will surely break the boundaries of
ordinary Driving Institutions. “ – Gus Villa
For
details and inquiries please visit:
0917.1378495,
0921.4741145, (02) 824.7431
With what's happening in our country today. It would take a seriously good flick to drift our minds away from all the stress. For a title that sounds depressing, Patay na si Hesus is quite the contrary. If I would watch it again, I would still laugh out loud even if I know the story and the punchlines. There's just no dull moment. This is a must-see film, it will not disappoint you.
The film is directed by Victor Villanueva and written by Raymond Lee and Fatrick Tabada. It casts Chai Fonacier, Melde Montanex and Vincent Viado and the award winning actress Jaclyn Jose. A colorful cast which represents a usual Filipino family.
It is a combination of a great cast and storyline, a plot that most people can relate to. It is realistic and doesn't need much analyzing. Patay na si Hesus is fast paced and is a feel good movie. The casting is brilliant, all of them are worthy of praise.
The movie is a journey of loss, breakup, loyalty, and family ties that mostly occured inside a multicab. I'll be keeping my review short for readers to find out what the story is all about and judge its worth for themselves.
No wonder indie films are overshadowing the mainstream ones, it's well thought of, the dialogues are more spontaneous, the setup is on point, and the freedom of artistic expression is not hindered.
Watching this movie deserves to be on your bucket list.
The film is directed by Victor Villanueva and written by Raymond Lee and Fatrick Tabada. It casts Chai Fonacier, Melde Montanex and Vincent Viado and the award winning actress Jaclyn Jose. A colorful cast which represents a usual Filipino family.
It is a combination of a great cast and storyline, a plot that most people can relate to. It is realistic and doesn't need much analyzing. Patay na si Hesus is fast paced and is a feel good movie. The casting is brilliant, all of them are worthy of praise.
The movie is a journey of loss, breakup, loyalty, and family ties that mostly occured inside a multicab. I'll be keeping my review short for readers to find out what the story is all about and judge its worth for themselves.
No wonder indie films are overshadowing the mainstream ones, it's well thought of, the dialogues are more spontaneous, the setup is on point, and the freedom of artistic expression is not hindered.
Watching this movie deserves to be on your bucket list.
"We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us."
We all have our own reasons for travelling and it would be a good idea to travel while we're still young. Two hours away from Makati, the town of Angono Rizal can easily be reached. Unknown to many, the town of Angono probably has the greatest number of artists in the country. In fact, the whole town is dubbed as the country's largest Art museum.
Over the weekend, my fellow bloggers and I were invited to a tour by the Municipal Tourism, Culture and Arts Office of Angono. Our coaster ride made me feel like I'm in a school field trip. Below are five must-see places to visit when in Angono.
Angono Petroglyphs
Petroglyphs are drawings or carvings on rock, made by prehistoric people. It may be a coincidence but I am not surprised to find out that the oldest known work of art in the Philppines is in Angono considering that it is the art capital of the Philippines.
Before reaching the site, we went through a man-made tunnel. Then we were educated about the Petroglyphs. The carvings are located in a shallow rock shelter. One hundred twenty seven of the inscriptions are found on the rockwall and fifty-one of those are clearly recognizable. These figures are dated to be carved in the late Neolithic period. Erosions may have caused the figures to be indistinguishable. The visible incriptions show human figures, lizards and frogs, among other designs and that the style of the drawings does not seem to belong to one individual only.
It was in 1973 when it was declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines.
It was my first time to see such a thing and the child in me just couldn't help but be amazed! I used to see these carvings only in books but it was a totally different experience to see the actual thing. A place like this suits adults and kids alike.
Carlos Francisco's residence and street murals
The street where Carlos "Botong" Francisco resides is filled with murals. Botong's house is no exception: the exterior, garden, walkway, door, living room, work area, and almost every corner of his house are filled with murals, paintings, carvings and memorabilia. Interesting things to see are useful items such as chairs, tables, and bed which are all designed by him and part of the display. His personal items including sets of brush he used are also shown. His son's works are also hung on the walls. He clearly has a style of his own which I find quite modern.
It is said that the late President Ferdinand Marcos and the first lady is fond of his works that his paintings can be seen in Malacanang and government establishments like the Manila City hall. In addition, his works of art are also used in publications that's why seeing his pieces of art work gives you the feeling of familiarity. Botong was declared National Artist for Painting in 1973. His work is characterized by accurate depiction of the folk values of the townspeople in Angono.
I appreciated the bright colorful paintings on display. Pride in Filipino culture emanates from his works. His talent was not limited to painting, it extends to carvings and practical designs for the home.
Blanco Family Museum
The most popular family in Angono is the Blancos. The parents "Pitok" and "Loring" up to the youngest child in the family are all painters. Their work is distinguished by its realism and how closely it resembles the Filipino skin color and features. Most of their subjects are each other. Even without proper schooling in the arts, Pitok and Loring's children exhibited exceptional skills in painting. They learned their father's style of painting but in my discerning eye, Pitok's art works stand out. My jaw literally dropped upon seeing the patriarch's works especially the painting with the size as huge as a wall. There were also paintings from the grandchildren which I find amusing.
In case you're wondering why there's a figure of an upside down fish in front of the museum, it would be best to visit the museum and find out for yourself. Jose "Pitok" Blanco used earthly colors to depict his art. People appreciated his works since it clearly shows love for country and traditions.
Each member of the family has a designated area in the museum and everything's arranged according to the age when they created their work. The children from the eldest to the youngest are Glenn, Noel, Michael, Joy, John, Kaye, and Peter Paul. The youngest has been the favorite subject for most artwork. The family's works have been exposed to different countries: China (1986) Singapore (1990), San Francisco, USA (1991), Seville, Spain (1992), and New York, USA (1999 and 2005). Recently, some of their work are displayed in the recent Art MOD fair at SM Megamall held on the 9th-11th of June this year.
Balaw Balaw Specialty Restaurant
Balaw Balaw is located at the Manila East Road/ Angono highway. It is an old home turned into an art gallery and restaurant. It has a rustic and festive ambiance. While waiting for food to be served, we went around the place to marvel at the sculpture and paintings, and Higantes masks made of paper maches by Perdigon Vocalan and other artists. Aside from traditional Filipino food, Balaw Balaw boasts of exotic dishes such as Crocodile sisig, Ants soup, snails, soup no. 5, frog, crickets, snakes, wasps, and duck which is a must-try for balikbayans and foreign guests. The availability of the exotic dishes are seasonal except for the Crocodile sisig.The place is kind of dim and is perfect for a romantic setting. Balaw Balaw is definitely unique, interesting and offers quality food. It displays art from the first up to the third floor for your eyes to feast on and food to satisfy your taste buds.
The interiors live up to the reputation of Angono as the art capital. Minaluto, Sinigang na Kanduli, Fried Itik, Pochero, Adobong Itik in Balaw Balaw, Crispy Alagaw leaves are some of the dishes we tried and I find it truly satisfying.
Pinto Art Museum
Still in Rizal is a favorite destination among Millenials. Word about the museum got around in social media quite quickly which made me want to visit ASAP. Words can't describe how I felt when I heard that our itinerary changed from Angono Lakeside park to Pinto Art museum. Entering the door of Pinto Art museum will take you to another dimension.
The facade of the museum is unassuming. You'll be surprised about what it has inside. Try as you may, listening to the tour guide will be useless since the sceneries will distract you as you take your first steps inside. Going in further you'll see the variety of visual treats. The contemporary pieces of artwork ranges from paintings, sculptures, carvings, and architecture to motorcycle and automobile. When you get tired, you can sip a cup of your favorite beverage from the cafe while enjoying the surroundings and the sound of the caged birds.
The landscaping is fascinating and Instagram-worthy. You'll find yourself in awe with the seemingly antique and Greek style of the buildings. It gives you that "Santorini" ambiance. Every corner is picturesque. I suggest you follow the viewing order of galleries and you'll find yourself amazed at each turn. The whole day might not be enough to appreciate the place so be sure to get there early. By the way, a particular place in the museum inspired by Jose Rizal lets you write a letter to your loved one. Write that unsent letter of yours, who knows, that person might just read it!
It was the last stop for our trip. Pinto Art Museum is highly recommended while the rest of the places we visited left me breathless and inspired. Have you visited Angono? Share your experience in the comments section below.
Monday, June 12, 2017
If you're a wise spender, you know the right place to shop is Divisoria and when you're looking for a more convenient, air-conditioned mall in the area, Tutuban Center mall is the place to go. I have been there only a few times because I was discouraged by the distance from my place which is Novaliches. It was also due to the fact that I find it uncomfortable shopping in that area.
What encouraged me to do my shopping in Tutuban? It's because the mall is renovated, cheap prices which you can still bargain, I found out it's easy to access by LRT, and most importantly is the P1000 back-to-school challenge that I signed up for. Who wouldn't want free shopping money? :)
We arrived at around 10:30am, had breakfast, were given the tasks and off we go! The mechanics are simple.
- Find back-to-school items
- Buy at least 1 rainy day item
- Look for OOTD-worthy pieces
- Search for super sulit buys
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| Looking for superhero costumes? |
Shopping is tiring but it can be easier and more enjoyable. Here are tips when shopping:
- Make sure you have a list of things you need to buy. Since I am going to back to school this June, I made sure that I will buy only the things I need and not want.
- Wear comfortable clothes, especially shoes coz you'll be doing a lot of walking.
- Have a shopping buddy. You may scout the place before buying anything. Tutuban Center mall is huge so splitting up to look for the things to buy is easier.
- Ask for directions. It's free and it will save you time.
- Haggle. With the P1000 I got, I can stretch its value if I know how to bargain.
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Cellphone accessories can also be found here
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For the first hour, I scouted the place so I'll know where to get the cheap items. Lunch was at Classic Savory. Childhood memories came back as soon as I took my first bite
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| credits: heyitschel.com |
Half-day shopping is not just enough when you find lots of cheap items. It was 3pm and I got to spend all of the money given for the tasks.
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| Goofing around with my buddies |
For the back to school item, I got a stack of pencils from a Caritas shop for only P20. I figured buying from them can double the value for my money. Also, I purchased a pair of full-metal scissors, the kind of scissors that will never break and it was for P50 at a school supplies store. For the rainy day item, I got myself an umbrella worth P70 from the store Orignamura. Good job with the store name! And you know what, they're like SM coz they got it (almost) all for you!
I spent most of my time looking for OOTD items and found them at Rufino at the ground and second level. Ukay-ukay (surplus) is the place-to-be if you need trendy but cheap clothes. I scored a plaid long-sleeved shirt, a striped light colored long-sleeved shirt and a white polo shirt with Green stripes (P55+P55+155).
Last is the sulit buys and I made sure to buy what I can really use for next semester since I'm planning to take up a course related to film. I bought a tripod for P550 which I bargained for P500. Oh and there was a P20 original and sealed DVD from the Caritas shop. Lastly, I returned to Orignamura for the multi-jack thingamajig which costs P75. That's the jack you use to charge multiple devices at once.
I spent most of my time looking for OOTD items and found them at Rufino at the ground and second level. Ukay-ukay (surplus) is the place-to-be if you need trendy but cheap clothes. I scored a plaid long-sleeved shirt, a striped light colored long-sleeved shirt and a white polo shirt with Green stripes (P55+P55+155).
Last is the sulit buys and I made sure to buy what I can really use for next semester since I'm planning to take up a course related to film. I bought a tripod for P550 which I bargained for P500. Oh and there was a P20 original and sealed DVD from the Caritas shop. Lastly, I returned to Orignamura for the multi-jack thingamajig which costs P75. That's the jack you use to charge multiple devices at once.
P20+P50+P70+P55+P55+P155+P500+P20+P75 = P1000
Here are some of the looks I came up with using what I bought.
The Plaid long sleeved shirt can be worn with jeans or slacks. Pairing it with a black or brown belt and leather bag completes the attire.
The White polo shirt I got from the surplus store is perfect for casual wear. Layering it with a any colored jacket will do. The green strapped Lacoste watch accentuates the green stripes of the shirt and an old-fashioned or modern cap can be a great addition.
The same White short-sleeved polo shirt with green stripes paired with jeans is suitable for everyday campus wear. Adding the colorful interchangeable aluminum time piece from Your Own Time satisfies the visual senses
Light colored long sleeved polo shirt is great for presentations or semi-formal days. To jazz it up, I paired it with my pink or violet necktie. Black leather belt, black leather shoes and silver metal Swatch plus a funky pair of eye glasses goes for a serious tone.
Directions for going to Tutuban Center Mall:
From LRT 2 Recto station or Taft Avenue, Avenida and Recto, ride a jeepney that can take you straight to Divisoria for a minimum fare. Get off at Tutuban Center Mall. Bonifacio monument is the landmark.
Sunday, June 11, 2017
Nothing beats Filipino cuisine. We do not need to go far, our motherland has the best food the world has to offer. Right in Quezon City is a place where you can find the most sought after Filipino dishes.
Last June 9, 2016, Salu, The Filipino Restaurant owned by the celebrity couple, Romnick Sarmenta and Harlene Bautista, opened its doors to the hungry Manilenos to provide authentic treats from different parts of Philippines. After one year, they thrive and is ready to offer more delectable and unique surprises for customers who deserve more when it comes to Pinoy food trip.
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The restaurant opened their anniversary month with a blockbuster promo of buy take 1 take 1 of their famous ‘BLK’ (Binagoongang Lechon Kare-kare). A Piso for Brazo de Kalabasa shall also be enjoyed by the first 100 guests for every purchase of Php500.00 on June 11, 2017. Both of these promos were made to give thanks to all Ka-Salu/s who have dined and craved for the best of Salu plates this past year. “Masarap at nakakataba ng puso ang aming unang taon. So we thought, why not give thanks and extend to our customers those blessings that we earned because of their trust through these simple promos. These two dishes, BLK and Brazo De Kalabasa, are our top moving dish and desert on our first year. So its fitting to grant a ‘one’ of a kind treat with buy ‘one’ take ‘one’ and a ‘one’ peso dessert, as we turn ‘one”, shared by Mr. Sarmenta.
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| Credits: https://www.facebook.com/Saluresto/ |
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| Taho cheesecake |
On its second year, Salu also unveils their campaign #SarapMabuhay. This showcases not just the exciting flavors that this country has to offer but also highlights the abundance of fresh ingredients that can make any kitchen push for magic. It also refers to the kind of people that you dine with which ranges from family, friends and even strangers and the overall experience of ‘salu-salo’ in the Philippines which has always been distinct. The campaign would still highlight the adventures of the owners as they search for the next utlimate plates to bring back home to Salu, to be made available for all who wants to discover more. Exciting products and experiences are also up for grabs for all diners. The Pilipinas Platter, their version of a group feast, gives customers an opportunity to taste all the specialities in different parts of the Philippines. All the cuisines are creatively plated on a special carved Pilipinas wooden plate. Luto Ni Nanay gives moms a chance to cook with the talented chefs of Salu as they learn to prepare one of a kind dishes for the family. All these plus and addition to their already exciting range of pinoy to pinoy fused dishes called Likhang Salu will be served and made available this June!
The culinary authority stands still even stronger on its second year with so much offering to its customers. Visit them for a one of a Pilipinas Food Trip at Sct. Torillo, Cor. Sct. Fernandez, Barangay Sacred Heart, Quezon City. For reservations, questions and queries, you may call Salu’s hotline 02-282-15-12, or contact them through their facebook fan page.
The Manuel L. Quezon University (MLQU) gave one (1) million cash reward to Mr. Archimedes Martinez as a token of recognition and appreciation for ranking Top 8 in the recent nationwide professional licensing exam for Civil Engineers at Success the MLQU Way event held at the Victoria Sports Tower Station 2, last June 6, 2017.
Martinez is the only graduate from MLQU to make it to the top 10. Out of 6,998 examinees, only 2,514 passed the exam conducted simultaneously in 12 cities in the country.
The said event is a celebration of the success and achievements of MLQU graduates who have exhibited exemplary performance during the recent Board and Bar Examinations. Together with Mr. Martinez, Mr. Raphael Pedroso was also awarded fifty thousand pesos for having a total average score of 93.25% in the recent nationwide professional licensing exam for Civil Engineers.
This is MLQU’s way to motivate its aspiring students to be committed and to continue to strive for excellence.
During the early years of MLQU, the university is known to produce high caliber graduates, some of which are bar topnotchers who are now experts and pillars in various industries. And as the years passed, MLQU had its fair share of trials and challenges that it had to surpass to keep its notable reputation. In 2014, the New San Jose Builders Inc. acquired MLQU which ignited a vision of getting back on track and building the culture of excellence and legacy of becoming an outstanding academic institution. Since then MLQU, under the new management, has been very committed in regaining its glory.
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| Dr. Isagani German, MLQU President |
MLQU will continue to hone individuals who are capable of producing exemplary and notable works.
MLQU is continuously beefing up its roster of faculty members and deans who are known practitioners from their respective industry. Adding to the list of MLQU notable deans are former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, Regent & Dean Emeritus College of Law; former Supreme Court Associate Justice Jose Perez, Dean School of Law; Professor Eric Soriano, Dean School of Accountancy, Business and Real Estate Management; and DPWH Undersecretary Raul Asis and former UP Dean of Architecture Danilo Silvestre, special lecturers to name a few.
Visit MLQU SPACE for more information and inquiries about the latest courses and certification offerings or contact 09566755232 or (02) 994-5133. Visit the website at mlqu.edu.ph or its Facebook page at mlquofficial.
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