Aling Lucing's Sisig!

I have been a "suki" of Landmark grocery and food court ever since I started working in Makati. The grocery is well stocked and has very, very competitive prices to offer. Though, there's nothing much going on at the food court. Just your usual spread of fast food varieties.

That's until I spotted Aling Lucing's Sisig! Hailed as the mother of sisigs, I was surprised that I haven't set eyes on this store despite my countless trips to Landmark.  I am a fan of sisig and have been craving for the "authentic" one. I'll definitely try this one out on my next visit.

See you then, my sisig!

Cravings!

I was just supposed to do my errands quickly without any sidetrips, but I ended up dining out and ordering a calorific greenwich meal.

I've been having cravings for pizza for weeks now. The reason being is that it causes my migraine attacks. Of all the food, why does it have to be pizza?!

Annyhow, I gave in and ordered myself a big time lunch meal.  It's a combo of a pizza slice, lasagna, fries, and cola. 

Who cares if I am weak? Who cares if I have bouts of migraine after?  :)

The Burning Bush.

The sun was out and it was truly a fine day to go swimming. Since my niece likes to waddle much in water, we decided to bring her to club manila east for a swim.

We spent the entire day under the sun and had tons of fun.  It was almost half past five when we reached home. I immediately noticed the thick smoke coming from the back of the houses across ours.  Judging from the thick smoke, I knew right away that it was not the usual "siga."  I tried the guardhouse phone but no one's answering.  It was then that I decided to call the nearest fire station.

True enough, the blaze continued to rise and had engulfed everything on its path. My neighbors living across were in panic state and there was little I can do to appease them. 

At long last, we heard sirens blaring! There were three fire trucks which came to our aid.  It was only when the blaze was finally put out that my neighbors calmed down and stopped crying. 

No one was able to give a clear recount of how the fire started.  They claimed that they saw a man lighting up the dried grass and thought that it was just our other neighbor clearing up the vacant lot.  Later did we find out that the neighbor they thought who was clearing the lot was out the entire day.  The true “culprit” will forever remain a mystery to us all.

I am proud of how my sister and I reacted to the incident.  Our quick thinking has probably saved us all and properties from being gutted down by the fire. 

A Deep Sense of Deja Vu.

It's scorching hot outside. Summer has indeed arrived.  I would prefer to be indoors at this weather but I have to be somewhere else. 

On my way to my destination, I saw a group of three going down the flights of stairs at the ayala-buendia underpass.  Their gait looks familiar because the girl's companions were hanging on either side of her shoulders.  Even at about 30ft from where I stand, I know that the girl's companions are visually impaired.  when we were about to pass by each other, I smiled fondly at the girl because I suddenly saw myself in her, protectively  holding on and guiding my late father's steps. 

Yes, my late father had lost most of his eyesight when I was 10 years old and had relied on my siblings when his condition worsened.

I was once like the girl I saw and was never, ever embarrassed nor felt inconvenienced by my father's condition. I was proud to hold the hands of a very loving man and very grateful to have been given the chance to do so.

Our Own Cross to Bear.

I just learned that my 3-month old nephew (by my kuya - a first cousin) will undergo eye surgery. He was born pre-maturely and was in incubator for about a month.

We thought that he has gone past the critical stage when we saw him gaining weight.  But my uncle noticed that my nephew was not responding to sounds nor was not giving out signs that he can make out the figures placed before his eyes.

A trip to the pediatrician confirmed that our little boy has impaired vision. 

I can feel for my nephew's family because my late father had been visually impaired.  It takes a lot of courage and unwavering faith to accept the Lord's wishes.

Our prayers and fervent hopes remain with my nephew and his family in this trying times.

Holy Week.

My family and I have been preparing for the week-long observance of Christ's passion.  I personally feel that every Christian should take this opportunity to contemplate and assess oneself.

I was asked by my colleague where I'm headed for because I took time off from 18-20April.  She was suprised when I replied nowehere.  We never went out of town during the Holy week.  Probably because my relatives stayed with us during this time.

Nevertheless, I am looking forward to the coming week of repentive silence and enriching experience as I observe the holy week with my family.

A Case of Bad Headache.

Anxiety is getting the better of me since yesterday.  The persistent headache I have been having for sometime now has led to me to consult with a neurologist.  Fortunately, work was a bit down yesterday so I was able to leave early for Makati Medical Center.

The neurologist was very thorough with the preliminary examinations and was very patient in answering my questions.  She noticed though, that my right hearing is not as sharp as my left.  I was advised to have a MRI to rule out the possibilities of a stroke.  My genetic make up is not that ideal, with hypertension and brain stroke in the list.

The MRI procedure itself was not uncomfortable, save for the IV inserted at the back of my elbow.  I was even expecting worst, since most of my colleagues who have undergone MRI were telling me that the machine made them claustrophobic and the level of noise—seemingly endless banging of hard objects, was unbearable.  Fortunately, it was the opposite for me.

I think what’s more taxing is the time I’ll spent thinking (and worrying) over the result of my MRI.

I am hopeful that the results will be favorable.  Nothing can come between me and my faith.

Comedy of Errors.

i woke up late this morning because i dreamt that it’s a saturday. i was somewhere between consciousness and dreamland when the insistent ringing of my three alarms finally roused me from slumber.  lo and behold! it was already 5:45 am! there’s nothing much i can do about my showering time so i ended by rushing through dressing up and fixing my things.

i woke my sister up and asked for her help in packing up my lunch bag.  i was out of the house five minutes after and still arrived at work thirty minutes early.

i couldn’t help but be thankful because i really dread being late for work.  but reality set in when i opened my lunch bag and saw that all i had inside was an empty lunch box! :-( apparently, my sister thought that my lunch bag was ready-to-go.  good thing i had leftover from yesterday’s lunch.

lesson learned:  check your lunch bag before heading out the door! lol!

Summer-sarap is Here!!!

i know for sure that summer is finally here because i dreamt of eating my favorite summer treat--halo-halo!!!

halo-halo is summer. they must always come together, one never without the other.

a satisfying tub of halo-halo is filled with sweetened sago, saging saba, roasted pinipig, langka, nata de coco, gulaman, finely-shaved ice, topped with ube and leche flan, and drizzled with gracious servings of creamy, creamy evaporated milk!

i find digman, razon, and milky way's halo-halo the best by far. the waiting and craving will soon be over, for i'll be officially ushering in the summer season with my first tub of halo-halo this coming week.

(photo grabbed from Google)

Datu Puti…Mukhasim Talaga!!!!

walang mas katakam-takam at nakagagana para sa akin, kung di ang tamang-tamang timpla ng suka,pa-anghang, at paalat.

para sa isang pihikan kumain na tulad ko, walang mas sasarap pa kungdi ang meron sawsawan na suka na kasa-kasama ng kahit anong ulam.

kaya perfect gift ang 2 bote ng datu puti, pinoy kurat na nakuha ko kahapon! nag-iisip na tuloy ako kung anu-ano ang pede ko kainin at isawsaw sa aking mahal na datu puti suka! pritong isda, porkchop, inihaw na pusit, hilabos na hipon, alimasag, fish crackers, chicharon, chippy...hay! ang saraaaappp!!!!

simpleng buhay pero naguumapaw na sarap dahil sa maasim at malinamnam na suka!

Your Taxes are Working for You!

after seeing many hilarious posters and one-of-a-kind food stall yesterday, i didn’t expect that i will see one again today.

there we were, riding a tricycle on our way to the market, when we saw this signage.  we even caused further traffic and delay when we stalled a bit because i was aiming for a good shot. 

no pun intended, just pure, unadulterated fun. :-D

When I Grow up, I Want to be A……..

among the few passengers inside the jeepney i was riding last friday afternoon, my interest was piqued by two newly graduates.  the first one, a young girl with the iron-curled hair was busy staring at herself at the mirror, while the other one, a young boy, who i have learned later on to be her cousin, was telling their grandmother about his filling out a bio-data.

i was shocked to hear that neither of them was planning on pursuing college! the boy wanted to start job hunting right away but cannot be persuaded by his grandmother to take on the job offer to tend a vegetable stall in the far town of tanay. the pay’s little and the place too far from their home, he said.  he would rather work somewhere nearby and be home everyday.  i was waiting for the girl to say something about her plans but all i heard after was about the “inuman” to take place at their home that night.

this made me pensive on the rest of the ride home.  i was really being too idealistic to think that every high school graduate wants to pursue college.  life was also tough when me and my siblings went to school but it never crossed our minds to ever stop and abandon school, altogether.  are these kids speaking their parents’ minds as well?  is it really their wish to start working and ditch college or is it their parents’?

i do hope that they will also be blessed and presented with the same opportunities me and my siblings had.  i hope that they may not suffer the same fate as those who ended up having families at an early age.  life is hard and even harsh, at times.  but to those who are prepared to give a good fight, life seems to be not that difficult after all.

Happy April Fool’s Day!!! (Part 4)

The gags and antics of this world are just so infinite that my sister and I ended having a laughing trip while we were waiting inside the flower shop across the street.

The question is, would you dare?

I wonder what services they are offer…Upholstery? Putty filling? Asphalt laying?

Happy April Fool’s Day!!!! (Part 3)

i literally took a second glance when i saw this after getting off the jeep.  though i was deep in thought, i can’t help but take out my cellphone and take a shot of this eye-catching mini poster:

it took me a while before i got the perfect shot because the man overseeing the table took advantage of my sudden interest in his flyer. or flyers? lol!!

i was really even tempted to record our conversation, which lasted for a minute or two, because it was so hilarious but i felt that it would be too much.  i’ll just hold the memory dearly to myself.  i doubt if it will ever fade. or fades? lol!!!

Happy April Fool’s Day!!! (part 1)

on rare occasions that i’m late for work, i always email my boss as a sign of courtesy and respect.  on this april fool’s day, i sent him a message because i was running late due to an early-morning errand. he replied that it’s okay and he thanked me for letting him know.  but this witty boss of mine last remark was if i was just pulling  his leg because it’s april 1! lol!

the day went on smoothly with no jokes until i set out of the office and headed home.  i took of at the ever gotesco-ortigas (yeah, i’m that cool!) because i was craving for kikiam, but only to find out that they pulled out the food stall weeks ago!  i was so devastated and was aimlessly prowling the food court when i spotted this stall!  skewers at their finest! 

i thought of giving it a try but decided against it after circling the stall thrice.  i mean, where’s the fun in eating isaw that’s sooo clean?! it’s like bruno without mars!

Happy April Fool’s Day!!! (part 2)

the next photo may not fall exactly under the craziness of this day, but it sure is, as far as i’m concerned.

i do not know how to play chess (God knows how hard i tried to learn this sport) and for the love of me, when i saw these huge pieces, i felt that i am again the object of my own ridicule and persecution.  i wonder if the men surrounding the board really knew how to play chess or were just pretending to look intellectuals while i was busy clicking the shutters away.

 Mate!!!

pronounced as ma-te! noy-ping, noy-pi!