Dejavu's Blog

My Boracay adventure

serendipity79 — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 05:50:24 +0000

Here are some pics I took while I was in Bora. The island is amazing, the food, the nightlife, the parties and the water adventures.

Monaco suites

Bracelets and anklets made of Puka shells

Shangri-La

Gigantic serving of halo-halo at Halowich at D’Mall

Boracay has a lot to offer to all kinds of travellers. It’s amazing how an island this small can give you mind boggling decisions on where to sleep, what to eat and what to do. For those who have the luxury to splurge, stay at Station 1, where you can find luxury accommodations like Discovery Shores, Pearl of the Pacific, Friday’s and Seawind resorts. Station 2 is where D’Mall is centrally located and I strongly suggest you book your room in one of the many resorts in this area. This is really where the “happenings” take place. Plus the assortment of restaurants in this area is unbelievable. Big Mouth at the D’Mall has the best java rice, then set off to Valhalla for a hedonistic party. You can drop by Bambooze if you want a low-key party atmosphere. Alfy’s eat-all you can is a must try — seafoods, seafoods and more seafoods. And the chef is very accommodating, especially if he knows you’re from Negros hehe. Then of course after a night of partying, you can wile away on the white beach. It doesn’t matter if you’re too drunk to go back to your hotel room. Even if you’ll just lie down, arms and legs stretched under the glittering Bora sky, nobody will mind. Don’t forget to drop by Jonah’s afterwards to refresh that alcohol-filled brain of yours. They serve the best shakes in town. For those who want a taste of water adventures Bora style, don’t forget to haggle. There’s a different quotation for foreigners and locals. And you will be amazed with the difference. But then again, nobody goes to Boracay to be bored. So while you’re here, try everything — snorkeling, helmet diving, jet skiing, banana boating, parasailing. Don’t forget to bring some souvenirs when you get home and practice your haggling skills. There are a lot of shops along the 4 km stretch of white beach, not counting the ones at D’Mall so it pays to visit one shop after the other. By the way, Boracay is not all about luxury. There are plenty of places where you can stay and dine for a minimal cost. The ones in Station 3 are affordable and there are restaurants along the main road, in the town center, that are easy on your pocket. Well, it’s not about how much money you spend that counts. The most rewarding feeling is when you get to do a lot of things on what little money you have.

Bad Hair Day

serendipity79 — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:29:17 +0000

Have you ever experienced that particular day of the year when everything seemed to have turned out wrong? I had, several times. There’s that time when I was running late so I took a taxi, hoping it will speed up my arrival to the office, only to realize that the cab is taking the exact regular route of the jeepneys. Argh! I ended up late, and wasted money. Then there was a time when the weather seemed a bit gloomy. I told myself, nah it’s not gonna rain and I still have time to be at the office before the rain pours. Then just about 500 meters from my workplace, the inevitable happened, a downpour! I had no coat, and I was on a “power dress up”. It was a miracle I was able to run fast enough to escape getting drenched. Then to top it off, when I arrived at the office (partially wet lol), I almost bumped into someone that I had a big crush on. Urgh! Just when I thought I was careful enough to be at my best, then on my very unguarded moment, I was caught almost at my worst! Then there was this one time on my way to work, and as usual, I’m all dressed up, smelling really good (since I sprayed cologned to almost every part of my body that time lol) when a foul-smelling, shabbily dressed construction worker sat beside me inside the jeepney. It was crowded and hot. I know it’s a bit shallow of me but I scooted myself away from him as best as I could (even when “away” meant mere inches), fearing that my neatly pressed shirt and trousers will get dirty. I asked myself, can I be in a worse situation? It turned out there was. Because when I arrived at the office, I was greeted with infraction and reprimand from my supervisor. Maybe I got karma(ed), haha. But can you blame me if I just wanted to arrive at my workplace looking reputable? One time I decided to buy something from a nearby market. So since the item that I was looking for was not available, I headed to the mall. For some, that was just a normal day. But not for me. I was wearing only my plain shirt, shorts and a pair of slippers. And of course I remembered I wasn’t able to take a shower then since I thought the market was just near, no need to fuss over. I silently prayed that I won’t bump into someone that I knew. But then again fate has its way of playing with us. I did bump into several of my acquaintances, looking like a dirtbag. I wish that time that the earth is gonna swallow me whole. Maybe I’m exaggerating but oh well, I really felt embarrassed to the nth power. Well, these are just some of my misadventures in my every struggle to survive the urban jungle. Which actually makes me think and ask myself, is there really such a thing as a bad hair day? That time of your life when the universe seemed to have forgotten that you exist, that bad luck happens in succession and that no matter how optimistic you tried to be, you can’t just ignore the silent whispers in your head about the worst that’s yet to happen. When you’re prompted with a situation when everything seemed to be at its worst timing, do you confront it? Or do you escape the reality? Do you move on and learn from the experience, or do you allow the negativity to surround you and sulk around?

The Bar

serendipity79 — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 17:50:49 +0000

Have you ever been to bar alone? Like alone as in “alone”? No friends, no date, no acquaintance around. Just yourself only. I had. And it’s not that fun. Unless of course you’re this eternal flirt, that you don’t mind making passes on just about anybody. It’s really rare for me to go on a night out by myself. I consider myself a social person, I enjoy more in the company of others. I can savor the beer or vodka more if there are people whom I can talk to, share some stories to while we make fun of each other or the people around us. There’s this one occasion when I got so thirsty for beer, and almost everyone on earth has an alibi to not go with me. Well, I told myself, whether I have company or not, I need a dose of those precious alcohol haha. So I went to this bar, and of course when I arrived there, I knew no one. Well, for me it really didn’t matter since all I want was some bottles of beer. It dawned on me afterwards that it can be lonely wiling the time away with no company but some empty bottles of beer. And I also thought, do we really need to have company when we go to bars? Can we not enjoy the night alone? Maybe, if we wanna do something stupid so we won’t risk embarrassing our friends haha. Well there are perks to drinking the night away alone. You get to leave whenever you want to, you get to pay for your own tab only, and if you wanna get hitched, you don’t need to worry about making up an alibi on how to get rid of your companion. A lot of things can happen in a bar. You can get drunk, you can flirt, you can get laid with someone whose face you won’t remember the next morning, you can lost your sanity for one night, you can do things that you won’t have any recollection the following day and you can do things that you won’t normally do when you’re sober. That leaves me wondering, does it make us attractive to go drinking in a bar alone? Or does it just magnify the fact that we’re all by ourselves?

The Domestic Tourist

serendipity79 — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 19:02:27 +0000

I’ve been scanning some of my travel pictures when it struck me that I’ve saved a lot of photos from those travels and I have shared stories about the places I’ve been to but I haven’t been able to write a feature story about my beloved city, Bacolod. I can say that I’m a true-blooded Bacoleño, that I can memorize the city’s lay-out like the back of my palm hehe. I’ve always wanted to write a travel story about my illustrious city and I guess now is the time. Bacolod has always been and always will be a city of proud people. We are proud of our history, our culture, our never-say-never attitude and most of all, our capacity to weather the odds. This, most often, is attributed to arrogance, which also oftentimes receives disdain from the neighboring islands. But the fact of the matter is, Bacoleños are just used to the “hacienda culture”, where one aims for the best. No matter how urban Bacolod has become, a part of the city retained its rural soul. Something that’s both unique and endearing. Below are some information on Bacolod’s tourism activities, accommodations, shopping and places to eat.

Tourism Calendar:

Bacolaodiat (celebrated every Chinese Lunar New Year, sometime in mid February)

Bacolod’s version of Chinese New Year. Although a relatively new event in the city, it has gained popularity in the recent years due to the increased festival activities, concerts and food festivals. Very festive and this reminds me of the streets in Shanghai.

Panaad sa Negros (normally after Holy Week)

Panaad, which means promise in English, is being tagged as the mother of all festivals. The event is hosted in the Panaad Park and Stadium. Every single town and city of the province has its own pavilion showcasing their products and culture. It’s a week-long celebration of food, concerts, culture, and pageantry. I personally believe that this is one of the biggest festivals in the country. For those of you who like to be in a company of a huge throng of people, this is the place to be. This is the only festival where you can basically “tour” the whole province, from eating oysters (talaba) in Ilog to shopping for dried fish (uga) in Cadiz.

Masskara (held every 3rd week of October, coinciding with the city’s Charter Day celebration)

Well what can I say about this festival? Masskara has grown to a huge event that its name precedes its reputation. It’s one of the most notable festival events in the country and is often anticipated not only by the locals but nationally as well. As much as I revere our country’s religious festivals since they reflect our culture, our nation as Catholics, I can’t help but be awed by our very own Masskara. Why? Simply because it was created not to honor any saint or patron, but to give recognition to the undying spirit of the Bacoleños to survive against all odds. The idea of wearing masks is to hide pain and sorrows that our people suffered, to enjoy life after all its hardships. But I guess nowadays, we can dance through the streets of the city without the facade of masks since we have after all weathered the onslaught of our problems. The event is the city’s biggest ever. There are the usual food fests, cultural shows, firework displays, concerts, beauty pageants and street parties. This event basically rocks! Where in the Philippines can you dance in the middle of the street, in a crowd of people? Only in Bacolod. And nobody will care if you’re dancing with both left feet. You can party through the entire stretch of Lacson, eat from one restaurant to another, bring along your bottle of beer with you while you strut the street with your friends and nobody will mind.

Accommodations:

L’ Fisher Hotel – one of the region’s best. It has an annex, The Chalet. The infinity pool on the 4th floor of Chalet commands a breathtaking view of the sea. Price starts from 1,200 pesos. Contact them at 433-3731 or visit their website www.lfisherhotelbacolod.com

Luxor Place (formerly Bacolod Convention Plaza) — a part of the hotel houses a BPO company, food is good. Phone number 434-4551. Price starts at 1,000 pesos.

Hotel Pagcor – swanked right in the heart of Goldenfields Complex, Bacolod’s nightlife center. There’s a 24-hour casino, an international coffee shop (the only Gloria Jean’s in the region). Quorom disco and videoke is beside the hotel, as well the a bowling alley. You can virtually wile away the night. Price starts at 2,000. Phone# 434-8901.

Kundutel – still in the Goldenfields area, this hotel is a cheaper version of Hotel Pagcor. Directly in front of MO2 bar and restaurant. The hotel itself has its own steak house, a must try. Price starts at 1,1oo pesos. Phone# 433-7202.

Plaza Centro Bacolod – one of the newer hotels in the city. The hotel’s architecture is reminiscent of a grand hacienda manor. The hotel’s facade is just amazing, especially at night. Beside it is the Metrodome, a complex of restaurants, gaming zones, and a spa center. Nearby is the lechon country, so if you want to indulge yourself with that crunchy and delicious cholesterol heaven, just drop by any of the stalls along the road. Phone# 468-0400. Price starts at 1,700 pesos.

Business Inn – the sister hotel of Plaza Centro, located along the southern end of Lacson. The food here is to die for. Actually the cafe is a popular watering hole. The rooms are a bit small though but clean enough. Price starts at 1,200 pesos. Phone# 433-8877.

Sugarland Hotel – one of the grand dames of the city. The hotel is a favorite among the locals, favorite gathering place for debuts, weddings, seminars. Located near Goldenfields as well. The rooms were just refurbished. The food here is nice. Price starts at 1,400 pesos. Phone# 433-2645.

Grand Regal Hotel — situated right in front of a large mall, the Gaisano Mall. This hotel is a favorite among travelers. Price starts at 2,000 pesos. Phone# 708-5888.

Sylvia Manor – the hotel’s slogan as the only boutique hotel in the city lives up to its reputation. Although a relatively newcomer, it has always been able to meet the demands of discriminating travelers. The food here is nice as well, especially during breakfast. Price starts at 2,000 pesos. Phone# 434-9833.

You can also try booking on these hotels; Westown Hotel-San Juan, Eastpoint Hotel, MO2 Westown, Circle Inn. For the budget conscious, there are a lot of pension houses that dot the city. By the way prices on the mentioned hotels above are subject to change. Bacolod’s area code is 34.

Dine:

Asian-Japanese: Mushu, Hoshi, Kaisei, Inaka

Continental: Pepe’s, Louise, Humo, Bar 21, Pendy’s, Bascon Cafe

Mediterranean: Adham’s, Jacopo

Seafood-Filipino: Resto Grill sa Baybay, 18th St. Pala-pala, Imay’s, Ting-tings, Entings

Italian: Trattoria Uma, Italia

Coffee shops (with wifi) — Starbucks, Kuppa, Bob’s, Pietro @SM

A must try: Lord Byron’s. Their baby back ribs is just heaven. You will be addicted to it and will crave for it over and over. Just hail a cab and for sure the driver knows exactly where to go.

Don’t ever, ever forget to eat at Manokan Country for the best chicken inasal in town. You haven’t been to Bacolod if you didn’t drop by this icon of a city. Also, you can try the original Pala-pala, where you need to buy fresh seafoods and have them cooked in whatever way you want, be it sinugba, tula, kilaw, prito. Stroll along the famed Shopping district, the city’s Chinatown, for authentic Chinese foods and 2 of the city’s best cansihan — Sharyn’s and Connies.

Shopping:

Bacolod has its share of supermalls in the country — SM, Robinson’s, Gaisano City, 888. You can also shop for souvenirs and pasalubongs at Bongbong’s, Virgie’s, Mercy’s.

Roaming around the city is basically simple and efficient. The roads are well paved. Bacolod is a busy city, bustling with activities, whether it’s day or night. Make sure to bring along light clothes. Most disco bars don’t allow men who wear slippers on weekends so make sure you bring a pair of your comfy sneakers. Night life can be exciting, from live bands that are mainstays in the city’s many bars, to discotheques like Sibeeria and MO2 Ice, which can sweat the life out of you.

My Sipalay getaway

serendipity79 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 15:47:19 +0000

Here are some photos I took during my Sipalay adventure. The waters are so pristine, the sand so relaxing and the fresh, cool air is like a perfume to my weary soul.

To my friends who are…

serendipity79 — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 03:42:52 +0000

Courtesy of a friend of mine who posted this entry in his Facebook notes. Thanks Teph for letting me share it.

1. To My Friends Who Are………..SINGLE

Love is like a butterfly . The more you chase it , the more it eludes you. But if you just let it fly, it will come to you when you least expect it. Love can make you happy but often it hurts , but love’s only special when you give it to someone who is really worth it. So take your time and choose the best.

2.To My Friends Who Are…………NOT SO SINGLE

Love isn’t about becoming somebody else’s “perfect person.” It’s about finding someone who helps you become the best person you can be.

3.To My Friends Who Are…………PLAYBOY/GIRL TYPE

Never say “I love you” if you don’t care. Never talk about feelings if they aren’t there. Never touch a life if you mean to break a heart . Never look in the eye when all you do is lie. The cruellest thing a guy can do to a girl is to let her fall in love when he doesn’t intend to catch her fall and it works both ways…

4.To My Friends Who Are…………MARRIED

Love is not about “it’s your fault”, but “I’m sorry.” Not “where are you”, but “I’m right here.” Not “how could you”, but “I understand.” Not “I wish you were”, but “! I’m thankful you are.”

5.To My Friends Who Are…………ENGAGED

The true measure of compatibility is not the years spent together but how good you are for each other.

6.To My Friends Who Are…………HEARTBROKEN

Heartbreaks last as long as you want and cut as deep as you allow them to go. The challenge is not how to survive heartbreaks but to learn from them .

7.To My Friends Who Are…………NAIVE

How to be in love: Fall but don’t stumble, be consistent but not too persistent, share and never be unfair, understand and try not to demand, and get hurt but never keep the pain.

8.To My Friends Who Are…………POSSESSIVE

It breaks your heart to see the one you love happy with someone else but it’s more painful to know that the one you love is unhappy with you.

9.To My Friends Who Are…………AFRAID TO CONFESS

Love hurts when you break up with someone. It hurts even more when someone breaks up with you. But love hurts the most when the person you love has no idea how you feel.

10.To My Friends Who Are…………STILL HOLDING ON

A sad thing about life is when you meet someone and fall in love, only to find out in the end that it was never meant to be and that you have wasted years on someone who wasn’t worth it. If he isn’t worth it now he’s not going to be worth it a year or 10 years from now. Let go…..

11.TO ALL MY FRIENDS…….

My wish for you is a man/women whose love is honest, strong, mature , never-changing, uplifting, protective, encouraging, rewarding and unselfish. You’d need all the luck you can get! !

Some good things never last

serendipity79 — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 19:11:56 +0000

Sometimes change can be overwhelming, especially when you least expect it. No matter how dismal the prospects are, no matter how disappointing some events turn out, no matter how scary it is sometimes to leave your comfort zone, life is still beautiful. Strive to be happy. That’s the thought that I’ve been trying to say to myself over and over. Well goodbyes are always not easy. As one song says, “we reach for the future, we learn from the past”. I’m writing this blog because I’m a bit sad that the friends and co-workers that I’m used to being around with, are gonna be transferred to a different team. I know it’s just normal. Life after all in a contact center is about change, everyone, including me should have known that. But sometimes even when we know for a fact that there are things that we have no control of, we still linger on that thought about how-I-wish-things-are-different. I now have to let the idea sink in that the good old times are somehow tucked in the past. Another chapter in my life’s book was finished and another is about to be created, time to move on. Somehow, we come across with people who help us to be better, individuals who show us our weaknesses and strengths, thereby making us wiser and more mature. Sad might be an understatement but we need to look forward to a better future. Let’s look forward to meeting new friends who will create colorful entries in the next chapters of our lives. Yeah, life might be a bit different when the things or people that you’re familiar with are no longer around. But hey, life is about taking risks. And if you wanna succeed in life, risk into the unknown. Friends come and go. But true friends are always gonna be around. My closest friends, whom I’ve known since 16 or so years ago are still keeping in contact with me. For me, true friends are valued. It’s rare to find those people nowadays. So here’s to friendship — one for the road, *winks*.

The Murphy’s Law

serendipity79 — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 12:53:10 +0000

Things are not really doing well at the office right now. I guess we’re not exactly delivering the numbers expected from us by the clients. It’s like when it rains, it pours. It’s been good news lately that, come the bad news, everyone seems to have been taken aback. I don’t know but it seems we’re kinda worn out. Months of hard work and pressure, trying to meet the targets are slowly taking its toll on us. Or maybe we’re just being lax? Maybe there’s that uncalled for confidence that we didn’t reckon being blindsided by poor performances. No matter how hard we try to be positive and focus on meeting our targets, those targets seem to evade us. Sometimes it can be frustrating but I guess if we want something so badly, there’s nothing that can stop us from getting it. Have you ever been on that situation when no matter how hard you strive, things just don’t go the way you want them to be. One disappointment after another. Sometimes the weight of negativity that surrounds you can be overwhelming, that the prospect of having the worst is way beyond care. Anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Que sera sera — whatever will be will be. Do we lose hope when the future seems bleak? Will we not care at all since everything is not doing well at the moment, that we think things are not gonna improve no matter what we do anyway? Or do we remain optimistic to the end, and dwell in our own not-so-realistic world where nothing can go wrong. Well, it’s just how the universe works. You can’t be always on top all the time, sometimes you need to go down so you can appreciate the view from below. Anything that’s bound to go wrong will always go wrong, and you can’t stop it, otherwise you’ll just change the course of your fate.

Summer skin care problems and health tips

serendipity79 — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:56:05 +0000

Summer is fast approaching and the sweltering heat is making most us stay under the shelter of our homes. If we have to go out and get our skin exposed to the unforgiving sun, make sure we protect our skin properly. Below are some skin problems normally encountered during the hot and humid summertime. Also included are tips on how we can avoid them.

Back and Chest Acne

Sometimes called “bacne”, unsightly back and chest breakouts can make you want to cover up instead of wearing a halter-top. What to do:

· If you`re acne prone, use a product containing salicylic acid or benzoil peroxide on your chest and back area once a day.

· Be sure to wash your back and chest after exercising or heavy perspiring.

· Avoid wearing clothing that might irritate “backne” or chest acne, such as synthetic fibers.

· If your back or chest is going to be exposed to the sun, wear an oil-free sunscreen.

Hyperpigmentation and Sun Spots

If you spend a lot of time outdoors this summer, you might start to see increased hyperpigmentation on your skin. Tanning is the most immediate result of this process, but individual spots may also occur. Hyperpigmentaiton and the darkening of existing pigmentation are most common in darker skin types. Keep in mind that medications like birth control pills, hormonal supplements and antibiotics increase photosensitivity and have been linked to increased pigmentation. What to do:

· Minimizing your sun exposure during peak sun hours ( 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

· When you are exposed to the sun`s rays, wear a hat, sunglasses and a broad spectrum SPF sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15.

· Pay attention to your diet and supplement intake. consuming anit-inflammatories and antioxidants will help your body fight off free-radical damage.

Rosacea

Rosacea is a common, but misunderstood skin disease. In its early stages, it can be mistaken for a mild irritation or a sunburn. It usually begins with a “flushed” look on the cheeks, nose, forehead and chin. Over time, the redness stays and causes visible blood vessels all over the face. As Rosacea progresses, red acne-like bumps appear. There is currently no cure for Rosacea. However, certain prescriptions and lifestyle modifications have been shown to curtail it. What to do:

· Try and avoid peak sun exposure.

· Use a non-irritating sunscreen religiously. Many Rosaceans find Zinc sunblocks to be the least irritating.

· Since heat triggers Rosacea, utilize air conditioning and take cool, rather than hot, showers and baths.

· Schedule an appointment with your dermatologist for a medication check.

· Know your triggers: Rosaceans have different triggers. Know yours and do your best to avoid them.

Rashes

The hot humid weather of summer encourages rashes. One common one is Tinea Versicolor, or “Summer Rash.” This fungal rash caused by an overgrowth of yeast and causes uneven skin color and scaling on various parts of the body. Because Summer Rash leads to problems with the normal pigmentation process, discolored spots often occur. What to do:

· Keep all body parts clean and dry. Clean your hair with a dandruff shampoo.

· Keep skin folds and the area between your toes as dry as possible.

· Wear loose fitting, natural fibers and wear fresh undergarments and socks.

* article courtesy of http://www.carefair.com/Skincare/Summer-and-Sun/Potential_Summer_Skin_Problems_and_Solutions_353.html

Spaghetti Bolognese

serendipity79 — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:24:55 +0000

Just wanna share my easy to cook recipe *winks*

Ingredients:

* 400g Spaghetti, cooked al dente

* 400g spaghetti meat sauce

* 200g cream

* 200g ground pork

* 150g canned mushrooms, chopped and drained

* 2 cloves of garlic, minced

* 1 large onion, minced

* 1 tbsp. vegetable or canola oil

* salt

* pepper

* grated cheese for topping

Procedure:

* Heat oil in a sauce pan and saute onion and garlic

* Add the ground meat, saute until golden brown

* Add the drained mushrooms

* Pour spaghetti meat sauce and simmer for about 10 minutes

* Add the cream and simmer for another 5 minutes

* Season with salt and pepper to taste (I don’t measure, for me it makes cooking less fun, measuring makes me feel like I’m in a science lab hehe)

* Add the drained al dente pasta

* Mix the sauce and spaghetti well

* Transfer the cooked Spaghetti Bolognese to a serving platter and top with grated cheese

Bon Appetit!