mercato centrale

beer battered dory with chips and garlic mayo (with probiotic mango banana smoothie!)


us beef tapa with scrambled eggs and rice


jasmine rice, garlic potatoes and creamy chicken with kalamansi green tea


bread pudding with 3 little spoons (heehee)


let's go back! :)

nesting - part 2

how beautiful is my bodega?

everything in labelled, clear plastic boxes.

*things that make me happy*

postcards

i know you have a thing for postcards... and i don't blame you.

there's something about them that's so sweet and nostalgic...

the web, though paperless and quick, just doesn't seem to give the same feel -- and future memories.

here was one in 1977 for the hub...

same name

can you believe it?

we visited a dear friend & artist a few days back...

and guess who we met too? their dog, bellucci!

what are the chances?

nesting - part 1

as you know, i am nesting... as are you and everyone else in the family, it seems.

anyway, just wanted to share with you the beginnings of my wonderful, OC, organizing journey...

indulge me...

2 big boxes of memorabilia...

5 drawers of christmas ornaments...

and one christmas tree...

all packed up and organized.

*bliss*

i'll keep you posted.

beehive building

eyed this building in the sm mall of asia complex... absolutely love it!

could it be sm's? if yes, hard-to-believe but great nonetheless.

it reminds me of this building i love in the single man. can't seem to find a photo/clip of it though.

yun lang :)

a very long engagement

another great work by jean pierre jeunet, director of amelie

is this movie i just saw...

absolutely loved it... it had the quirkiness of amelie, but it had just a li'l more depth and complexity to it.

you would have loved the set design as well -- the color scheme and look is different, but it has that surreal and dream-like feel like amelie does.

here's the trailer...

speaking of great set designs, i've been catching some episodes of this on hbo.

absolutely love the set and costume design... not since mad men have a seen such great effort in the details. you'll love it.

the introduction even has a magritte feel to it.

try to catch it :)

Orosman at Zafira

i met this guy the other day who was involved with this production.

it's a modern take of one of balagtas' stories... of course the only one we know is the then-tedious-but-probably-brilliant florante't laura.

written in the 1850's, the story is ahead of its time with undertones on religious tolerance and the empowerment of women.

here's a teaser:

it's a modern take on a filipino classic... so think style of leo and claire's romeo & juliet.

read more about it here.

let's watch!!!

this one's for twinpophub

you'll like him even more :)

cow and chicken

I had a very different new year's celebration this year walking through the mountains for six days where I witnessed these, front row, for the very first time.....

the pinikpikan chicken:

I watched as the chicken was brought in by a young girl from outside their house, its neck got slit privately in the next room, feathers plucked and burned in the fire we were sitting around, the chicken "roasted" by hand, cleaned, chopped up and boiled in a pot.

And then a few days later....the cow, slaughtered for an entire village for a thanksgiving celebration:


the cow's heart was stabbed then it was cut open so they could take all the guts and parts out



the parts were carried down and thrown straight into the pot for cooking



and a few hours later, the meat was served in bowls on the ground where everyone sat in organized rows to eat


the head was given to the owner (and was eaten the next day by some of the villagers as well).


Eenteresting, to say the least. Though I had to turn away discreetly a few times, and I silently said a prayer for the animals as I watched, the experience didn't make me want to turn vegetarian for the new year, as I thought it would. It actually made me appreciate the simplicity of "taking only what life requires and nothing more", as a friend so aptly put it.

Spending new year's eve far far away from the indulgence we've grown accustomed to is an amazing experience I will take with me for the rest of the year. HNY!

happy new year!

happy new year!

we started 2011 very quiet... this is the first time i've ever spent it away from family (but with the hub of course).

the view from the top was fascinating -- fireworks all over... of course photos don't do justice.

rockwell also had an incredible display at the stroke of midnight... my camera couldn't quite capture the awesome-ness of it all!

so here's to another year that passed...

and to being thankful for all that has been.

to all that has come to be...

and to all that will be!

cheers!