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Author: Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco

  • Book Review: Vegetarianism – Guide to Becoming a Vegetarian Available at Amazon Kindle Store

    Book Review: Vegetarianism – Guide to Becoming a Vegetarian Available at Amazon Kindle Store

    Where to begin, where to begin… Just when you thought that it’s hard to turn yourself into a vegetarian, a book has emerged to help you become the vegetarian that you want to be (hello, there are many types of vegetarians and one of them is vegan :P). Yup, you read that right. Vegetarianism – Guide to Becoming a Vegetarian by Gretchen Wells offers about 20 chapters that get readers right to the point.

    Book Review: Vegetarianism – Guide to Becoming a Vegetarian Available at Amazon Kindle Store

    My favorite parts in the book include the following:

    1. Vegetarian Eating Options During Travels

    Back in the olden times, there were not a lot of vegetarian-friendly restaurants you can find outside. And even if there were a few, food didn’t appear to be tasty. Mock meats are extensively used to substitute for the taste of real meat, and both vegetarians and non-vegetarians didn’t get to appreciate them. So what happens to vegetarians during travels? In this book, Wells has provided an outline of suggestions on how to bring and make vegetarian food with convenience. This section helps travelers be free of worries and then take charge of their health while on the road.

    2. The Best Vegetarian Diet Plan to Lose Weight

    It’s summertime in the Philippines and since it’s still early, you can start preparing for your beach body by practicing strict diet and regular exercise. Following a vegetarian diet can support weight loss through the ingestion of whole grains, leafy green vegetables, nuts, and soy for protein. This chapter tells about more suggestions on how you can take advantage of being vegetarian—that is, only eating food that naturally grows from the Earth, or any plant-based food.

    However, in addition, any vegetarian diet must be followed correctly. Otherwise, you would still run the risk of gaining weight. Be reminded to take off the carbohydrates load; don’t be tempted to eat more buckets of rice, bowls of pasta, slices of pizza and packs of chips. Backed up with researches, Wells endorses here that a vegetarian lifestyle is a surefire way to maintain a fit body.

    3. How to Get Protein from a Vegetarian Diet

    Ah, this is a hot topic. Actually, as a vegetarian myself, I often get questions from people related to the source of protein. Following this, arguments would spike in the conversation. Now I can probably just redirect them to this book. I’m not a nutritionist or dietician and I can’t advise about nutritional information, so I’m grateful that finally there are materials that offer great explanations on how vegetables are great sources of protein as well.

    I have learned that most modern researchers say now that humans are not required to consume a lot of protein from meat and take dairy and soy products. Our bodies can already get all the amino acids (the building blocks of necessary protein) by taking vegetables, grains, beans and fruits. There are also no serious issues of being a fruitarian whose eating plan is more restricted than a vegetarian’s. It’s just that we can be healthier if we take Vitamin B12 supplements of which content is not found in vegetables.

    4. Challenges Faced By Vegetarians

    This book briefly entertains readers by answering the challenges posted to vegetarians. This is composed of a go-to guide to understand the “real deal” about becoming a vegetarian. Succinctly, information-packed chapter is an effective primer and a must-read for anyone contemplating a vegan diet.

    5. How to Encourage People to be Vegetarians

    The growing popularity of the vegetarian diet has parlayed into thousands of publications such as books, online forums, communities, social media, blogs, support groups and more. They aid to motivate individuals by telling the benefits of vegetarianism by doing seminars, camps, and other discussions free to the public. Still, it’s hard to encourage meat-eaters to become vegetarians. This chapter is made up of updated information that inspires readers to share the word.

    Wrap Up

    If you are now considering to go vegetarian but are not sure how to start, I recommend you to get this book from the Amazon store (in this link), as this complete reference guide deserves a spot in your Kindle library. 😀 This book encourages the idea that going vegetarian is doable. It’s best for those who are curious about the vegan lifestyle and those living with members of the family digging for optimal plant-based nutrition.

    What are your thoughts on vegetarianism? Please share your thoughts in the comments below. Thanks for reading! 🙂

    On other news, since Google Reader is dying soon, I have imported all my RSS feeds to BlogLovin and you can follow my blog with BlogLovin here.

  • Review of Sincerity Restaurant (Lucky Chinatown Mall, Binondo)

    Review of Sincerity Restaurant (Lucky Chinatown Mall, Binondo)

    Another week has come and gone, and summer is totally here! Ugh, the heat. Swimsuit season is looming but before then, we have to indulge in one final feast. It was my dad’s birthday last April 13, a memorable day as it was also when *I bought my first car! 😛 I won’t spill the beans further on the latter as details might interrupt this review.

    I hear bloggers and friends say all good things about Sincerity’s chicken. In fact, Sincerity’s chicken has been dubbed as one of the best fried chicken there is even before my mom was born. So we beg the question: How true is it that Sincerity’s chicken is the best tasting fried chicken recipe ever?

    Review of Sincerity Restaurant (Lucky Chinatown Mall, Binondo)

    Ambiance: ★★★☆☆

    Since Sincerity was featured many times on TV and magazines, people from all over the country covet a table at any of their branches. This restaurant has been blown up from its humble beginnings into one of the Philippines’ best.

    Its ambiance in the Lucky Chinatown Mall branch is better compared to the oldest one in Nueva Street (also in Binondo). From the entrance, you could see the large collage of descriptions, pictures and testimonies about the restaurant. The dining area is L-shaped, while the rest completing a square is covered by the kitchen.

    With the small space, it still can squeeze in about 10 groups of people; I would assume that it can fit about 60 headcounts. Not quite so glamorous, but no less worthy of entry in the “modern” category, the vibe here is best suited for casual family dining.

    Service: ★★★☆☆

    Service was okay. Since it was exactly dinnertime, there were many people in queue to eat in the restaurant. The waiter handed us copies of the menu and he took our orders before we were seated. Chairs were provided to the waiting guests. They merged the tables and brought more chairs to fit our group. Food came in fast and our water in glasses were quickly refilled when requested. I notice one thing that’s missing though: their smile. Their wait staff should establish eye contact more, smile and offer a friendly greeting.

    Food: ★★☆☆☆

    My first taste of Sincerity’s chicken (PHp 150 for half and PHp 300 for a whole) was with my office mates. This happened early this year when I toured them around the best places to chow in my hometown, a culinary destination they didn’t mind visiting. And Sincerity Restaurant happened to be one of my recommendations.

    I don’t know why but I think that my initial sampling was better than this recent one :?:. The difference has probably got to do with the cook. While I had a good taste of its chicken in the former branch, this one was in Lucky Chinatown Mall turned me down. It was not only me but my family didn’t like the chicken served as well. It had flavorful, crispy and crunchy-coated skin and tender meat, yet it lacked something undetermined for now.

    Treated as equally main dishes rather than uninspiring accompaniments to the other entrees, vegetables we ordered were Spinach with Garlic (PHp 160) and Polonchay Garlic (PHp 160). Both were tasty however portion of the servings were super small.

    To add longevity of life, noodles cannot be missed when celebrating someone’s birthday. In Chinese, long noodles represent a long, unbroken life. We had fried rice noodles or Chamisua (PHp 140) and Sate Beef Chami (PHp 120), which failed the taste test. Sorry!

    Following them were two pieces of sliced stuffed shrimp or Rellenong Hipon (PHp 50 per piece) and Fried Oyster Cake (PHp 140). Good thing these warm fuzzy sensations didn’t disappoint. The relyenong hipon is best devoured hot, else I don’t think it would be as delicious. The oyster cake (o-chien in Fooken) was done with a perfect golden brown color and sticky texture, filled with oysters, bean sprouts, onions then fried with eggs.

    Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

    While all food here don’t cost an arm and a leg, their prices are considered a little steep to me because of the little amount of serving. Also, I can’t help but think that my mom’s cooking of the fried chicken is by far still the best, no joke. Her version of the vegetables, noodles and the seafood dishes also won against all of Sincerity Restaurant’s offering. So why pay a restaurant this much when their specialty has lost against what we have, right?

    Everyone has an opinion when it comes to the best, so eat here at your own risk! 😛

    [schema type=”review” name=”Sincerity Restaurant at Lucky Chinatown Mall” description=”G/F Reina Regente St. Corner Dela Reina St. Brgy. 293 Zone 28., Binondo, Manila” rev_name=”For inquiries, call 02 5167088″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2013-04-22″ user_review=”11″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

    Main branch: 497 Nueva St. Binondo, Manila
    For inquiries, contact (02) 241-9990

    *Thanks to Uncle Peter for all the help and of course, the dinner treat. 😀

  • Review of Lau Chan Kitchenette & Shabu Shabu Restaurant (Malate, Manila)

    Review of Lau Chan Kitchenette & Shabu Shabu Restaurant (Malate, Manila)

    “Shabu” is a slang term for the drug methamphetamine used in Japan, Hong Kong, Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. Double the word and you get a different meaning altogether. Funny how definitions vary just by adding a few repeating syllables, sometimes. Here is one example.

    Specifically, “shabu-shabu,” a term also introduced by the Japanese, is a dish which traces its roots back to the Chinese’ hot pots. Like sukiyaki in style, this dish is soup-based with all ingredients (meat and vegetables) put and boiled together to form a unique and savory taste.

    It has been quite a while since we’ve last dined in a shabu-shabu restaurant. Last Sunday, my uncle treated us to one of the restaurants he mostly frequents when he’s in Manila: Lau Chan Kitchenette & Shabu Shabu Restaurant.

    Review of Lau Chan Kitchenette & Shabu Shabu Restaurant (Malate, Manila)

    Ambiance: ★★☆☆☆

    At Lau Chan Kitchenette & Shabu-Shabu Restaurant, you can expect to see typical Chinese restaurant styling. What are those? Bright fluorescent lights, paintings and Chinese ornaments hang on the walls, simple chairs and white tables (no tablecloth) that are ready to catch the oils and sauces that inevitably fly as noodles are slurped and slippery slivers of meat and veggies splash into the boiling broth.

    To be exact, the place isn’t visually appealing compared to the elegant digs in restaurants in malls in the city. This is not the perfect venue for a chatty group because sizzles of shabu shabu and conversations from everywhere in the room can be heard.

    The poor ambiance may be a sign that Lau Chan serves to reinforce that diners are there for the FOOD, which gives it all the credit in that section (see below).

    Service: ★★★★☆

    The wait staff was outgoing and very attentive to our needs. Orders came quickly maybe because they were served as raw. We didn’t have designated cooks at the table so everyone just joined forces to make a good meal.

    If it’s your first time attempting to eat shabu shabu and are unfamiliar with the whole shabu-shabu experience, it would be best for the waiter or waitress to explain the process to you. In addition, if you do not know which soup base to choose, staff would have to recommend the safest one for your preference.

    Food: ★★★★☆

    You can order several different ingredients and flavor of the broth for the soup in hot pot to create a hearty combination. If you’re fond of eating meat, then meatballs, slices of beef and pork insides can be your best bets.

    For us seafood lovers and vegetarians, we had two plates of Chinese spinach (polonchay) (PHp 75), watercress (PHp 50) and vermicelli (sotanghon) and a platter of each of the following: lobster balls (PHp 140), Japanese sweet corn (PHp 40), golden enoki mushrooms (PHp 70) and tofu (PHp 35). Additionally, we ordered fresh wanton (PHp 100), sliced chicken meat (PHp 80) and fried rice. For the soup, choices were plain, sate, yuan suey, Chinese medicine and zhi chuan malat teng. What could those other soups taste like? We didn’t want to venture out of our comfort zone so we settled for the one most familiar aside from the plain soup, which was “sate” (PHp 60).

    The vegetables were fresh and crisp, and everything was delicious especially when dipped to sauces that help to balance the taste. The sate was not too salty and not too spicy. We waited only for a few seconds to cook the food through the boiling water on electric stove. It was a pretty standard shabu shabu, but it was good! We left very full and satisfied. 🙂

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    There’s no pomp and only modest circumstances at this small, nondescript restaurant, but foodies on a budget can still get a culinary thrill at Lau Chan. Overall, ingredients for the shabu shabu were tasty and wallet-friendly. They also offer other Chinese dishes (not for shabu shabu) with price ranging from PHp 200 to PHp 400 on the average, for lunch and dinner.

    Note: it’s cash only here, so be sure to bring your billfold.

    Lau Chan Kitchenette & Shabu Shabu
    1204 A. Mabini Street, Malate, Metro Manila, Philippines
    For inquiries, contact +63 (02) 5224699 or +63 (02) 5218800

  • SM Sports Festival Mini-Olympics 2013 – What I Learned From Racing

    SM Sports Festival Mini-Olympics 2013 – What I Learned From Racing

    You may think I lost my marbles when I’ve decided to join our company’s mini-Olympics last week. I received the invitation only about three days before the actual racing competition, while all others have started practicing way ahead. 🙄

    Brief background: Annually, the SM Sports Festival Mini-Olympics is held for all branches (in NCR) to play in the following event categories:

    1. 100m female dash
    2. 100m male dash
    3. 10x50m relay
    4. sack race
    5. queen relay
    6. cheerleading

    The idea of taking part to be one of the representatives of Head Office was somewhat outrageous. Surely, I am NOT be the fastest runner out there, but the team could not qualify if it’s incomplete. No other female department manager wanted to go on in. (Every team must be composed of a mix of rank and file, supervisor, officer and managerial level employees — male and female.) I regularly run to keep fitness but not really for any competition. Nevertheless, I saw “some potential” in myself, as I’ve built a stamina that can endure pain and tiredness for grueling activities and demanding conditions.

    At first, I was asked to be one of the 10 members of the 10×50 relay race. While other employees from different departments had to try out to enter, I was exempted and went straight to practice. :mrgreen: Basically, there had to be 10 runners who would run 500m (50m each) throughout the race. Each runner would have to pass on a stick to the next runner for a turn to count. Directions were easy but running especially with pressure was no joke.

    Our warmups consisted of running around the Rizal Memorial Track Stadium (the national sports stadium located in Malate, Manila) three rounds without stop. FYI, the entire oval measures 400 meters. Whoa, the sweat! 😆 I led some challenging arm, leg, hamstring, knee, feet and calf stretches that were unique from other teams’. We timed how fast each member run to track improvements in performance individually and as a team.

    Later, I was told to shift to the sack race event because they still lack people there. No problem! Again, it was not that I’m an expert in sack racing; rather, it was more of me wanting to test my abilities and have fun in the process. (Note that I also haven’t jumped in a sack or pillow before.)

    In the sack race, players have to place both legs inside the sack that reaches the waist and jump forward from a starting point toward a finish line. Similar to the relay race, the sack race was composed of 10 members, each having to complete 10m to pass on the sack to the next player.

     On the Sports Fest day, together with my Head Office teammates, I left the office to arrive and get ready at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex early at 3:30PM. We wore our uniforms (white shirt with the SM Sports Festival Mini-Olympics 2013 logo), ate snacks and did our usual warm-up exercises side by side with contenders from the branches.

    At 6PM, everyone was geared up for the elimination round. Rizal Stadium has eight lanes, and each lane constituted to one branch. Since there were 18 competing branches (only NCR), the teams were broken into three batches to complete a game.

    The official opening of the mini-Olympics commenced one hour after. Flags were raised; the national anthem was sung; the invocation was delivered; the parading teams were introduced; and each player uttered the oath of sportsmanship.

    What I loved most about the race was the camaraderie and the feeling of belonging. Even though most of our teams were eliminated in 3/5 of the event categories, we were still glad that 2/5 made it to the finals excluding cheerleading.

    SM Sports Festival Mini-Olympics 2013 – What I Learned From Racing

    1. Teamwork matters.

    Running and racing with a team is a far different experience from running alone. Calculation is different. The thrill is different. There’s an urgency to perform better, and this feeling grows further thinking that everyone in the team should perform his/her best.

    2. Losing is not bad as it seems.

    SM North EDSA has been the winner of the Mini-Olympics for the past consecutive years. And it has retained its bragging rights for being the winner this year for the nth time. *clap clap* I saw how their runners really deserve the title. They run SUPER fast (like the Road Runner)! I didn’t see them as employees of SM then but as professional athletes! Anyway, the focus was truly to have a good time in “the journey” than any other I have experienced.

    3. Finishing is what counts the most.

    In relation to the second lesson, what matters most and what truly counts is finishing to the end. While knowing that we were already losing against others in the same batch in the middle of the game, we continued to run to the finish line without being discouraged. Ultimately, this represents an important achievement. Anyone can succeed with a little effort! 😀

    – Head Office Team Members –

    I realized that I am very much in my learning phase of this sports, and I didn’t think before that running could be extra tiring. Additionally, now I know that running can be very useful in real-life scenarios… like going away from zombies, stalkers and robbers! 😛

  • Review of The Puzzle Mansion (Tagaytay City)

    Review of The Puzzle Mansion (Tagaytay City)

    Gone are the days when you have to travel for long hours and inconvenient distances just to get to a heavenly destination away from the noise in the metro. Now, with the comfort of transportation and hype of vacation tours in the Philippines, people are more ingrained to travel and see the beauty of the different parts of their own country. The next question posted thus is WHERE TO GO NEXT? given the bounty selections hither and tither.

    Last week, I didn’t have any agenda set for my weekend other than wushu practice and blogging. So when an invitation to visit a new haven came, I didn’t hesitate to say yes right away.

    Know where we drove to?

    It’s here. Here at The Puzzle Mansion!

    Thanks to Gina Gil-Lacuna, owner of The Puzzle Mansion and also holder of the Guinness World Records certificate of recognition for having the world’s largest jigsaw puzzle collection in shape, size and number, this humble mansion/hotel/resort/museum opened its doors to the public in late 2012.

    Located about five kilometers away from the primary road of Tagaytay, The Puzzle Mansion can be easily found when you’re armed with a map for direction and when your eyes are good enough to follow and track about 10 stand posts with signages left and right guiding the way there. The Puzzle Mansion also offers free shuttle service to fetch guests from the main road of Tagaytay.

    The hotel has 11 rooms now, a museum, outdoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, relaxing massage services and many more facilities.

    May this post serve as my first ever hotel/museum review, with personal recommendations and comments not found in their website. 🙂

    Review of The Puzzle Mansion (Tagaytay City)

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

    Upon entrance, we felt freshness of air going into our nostrils. I could vividly smell the fragrant flowers and herbs sold in the reception area.

    Mommy Gina told us that sellers park at the entrance and do business without having to pay rental space. This is part of the community service she is fulfilling to give back to society. These vendors sell freshly squeezed pineapple juice; fruits like mangosteen, pineapples, etc.; plants in pots like gotu cola, basil, aloe vera, mint, stevia, etc. and other souvenir items.

    From there, we proceeded to the garden to see the wishing well and various types of plants for sale as well. I love plants and being in a solemn garden where I can stay peaceful and take my time without worrying about anything else. So this setting is definitely a winner for me! 🙂

    Out from the kitchen, Mommy Gina called us bloggers and asked us to pronounce our names one by one. Seeing her for the first time, I was a bit struck that the lady talking lively in front of us is already Gina Gil-Lacuna herself!

    She led us to the kitchen where all food are cooked and prepared. The kitchen was indeed spacious, with minimalistic design and clean counters. The view was stunning! We could see the vast plantation also owned by her from inside.

    Next was our puzzle museum tour. Ambiance of the museum plaza can instantly provide visual interest for guests. Each passage and wall was filled with hanged frames of finished puzzles in different sizes and forms. I didn’t know that jigsaw puzzles can take shape not only in the regular flat surface but also in 3D and 4D!

    The Puzzle Museum contains a lot of interesting collectibles and conversation-starter pieces that are realistically designed.

    Most puzzles consist in the paintings of famous artists, pictures of landscapes, famous places all around the world, personal photos converted to puzzles, Coca-cola products, Disney characters and animals. Each indicates the completion time (number of hours it took Mommy Gina to finish), the number of pieces, and the name, dimension and origin of the jigsaw puzzle.

    We didn’t intend to go for an overnight stay, but we were still given a twin room where we can relax and put our belongings. The rooms were charming and homey, with a queen-sized bed, wall-mounted flat-screen TV, chairs and tables, ceiling fan and aircon. Each has a personal toilet which was not miserly in space; it was nearly the same size as my room in Singapore back then. The mattress was soft and bouncy though, which is not exactly my type.

    Service: ★★★★★

    Allow me to divide “service” into three parts: transportation, museum tour and dining.

    Transportation

    We were fetched by Mommy Gina’s company driver and rode in a Ford E-150 from Shangri-la Mall in Shaw to the Puzzle Mansion in Tagaytay at 8AM-10AM without cost. The same driver took us back to Shangri-la afterwards. Everything was well provided!

    Museum Tour

    In normal occasions, there’s a tour guide in the Puzzle Museum who tells mini stories behind each puzzle to the guests. But we were lucky to have Mommy Gina take the lead in touring us. I look up to her as unlike other masters and business owners, she went up ahead and volunteered to provide service with consistent vibrancy and high energy. We can totally feel her presence throughout while she told us anecdotes regarding the origins of the puzzles and reasons why she chose such puzzles to bring into their collection.

    She showed us those puzzles which are highly remarkable like her first ever one, the 5000-piece Disney puzzle she bought for her son 27 years ago. It was her first masterpiece and from then on she thought she could start putting pieces of jigsaw puzzles together.

    Mommy Gina is friendly, very eloquent and gracious. At the age of 61, her memory is still very much alive and intact. She happily shared with us that the Puzzle Mansion has been featured in the Philippine Star and Manila Bulletin, two of the leading broadsheet national newspapers published in Manila. Without the use of a microphone, her voice is loud enough for everyone’s attention to be captured without losing it. 😛

    After the tour, she proudly presented the certificate she received from the Guinness Book of World Records. Her ending statement moved me the most as she introduced herself as a wife, a mother, a friend, a retired business woman (owner of Buntis, retailer of maternity wears), and a high-school graduate. WHOA! 😯 Shocking leh! I am so inspired. Her brief speech was breath-taking. She said if she can do it, then so can we (in aspiring and going for our dreams in life). 😀

    Before lunch time, we were reminded to visit the souvenir shop where puzzles in boxes, Puzzle Mansion memorabilia items such as shirts, caps, and towels, and stuff from Buntis are sold. Mommy Gina gave us a shirt of our choice and a blue/white cap as giveaways. 😛

    Dining

    For late breakfast, the helpers in kitchen sent us plates, utensils and food quickly, as instructed by Mommy Gina. For lunch, we had a self-service encounter with buffet-style food from the kitchen. Desserts were placed at our table later on. And it didn’t end there.

    We were also given snacks (early dinner) before we left the Puzzle Museum. Saying we were pampered would be an understatement. The staff goes above and beyond their call of duty. Their service is everything that you can expect, and more!

    Food: ★★★★☆

    We have been graced with so much food! Let’s start with the highlights, though. The Puzzle Mansions’ fresh pineapple juice and coconut cream pie literally were FRESH and CREAMY. These must-tries deserve the special mention.

    We enjoyed three meals in the Puzzle Mansion:

    1. Late Breakfast – sausages, hotdogs, butter, toasted white bread and THE pineapple juice

    2. Lunch – mung bean (mongo) soup with crispy pork rinds (fried chicharon), mixed adobo chicken and pork, tinolang manok (nilagang manok), rice, mangoes and THE coconut cream pies

    3. Snack – crunchy turon with thinly sliced bananas and jack fruit (langka), pan de carne (recipe from Mommy Gina’s mother) and iced tea

    Flavor-wise, all the dishes were simple, the lutong-bahay type of food. Proportions were big to share, but not large enough to make you question your life choices. 🙂 The ingredients were fresh and divine. Taken from their plantation, some fruits and vegetables used are organic.

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    Prices of the rooms range from PHp 1,500 per person to the most exquisite ones that cost up to PHp 9,880 per night for the whole family, depending on the size of the room. You can check their price list here for more details.

    Yes, they are quite costly, considering that this hotel has not earned any star appended to its title. But maybe the things that count most here are the “matchless-ness” of the hotel’s background (I mean, you can’t find any place like it), the exclusivity of the entire space, the convenience and the quality experience.

    The lunch and dinner buffet would dent your wallet a little, with PHp 450 per head at the least. But that’s enough to make your stomach super full for the day from the appetizers, main courses to desserts.

    Visiting the Puzzle Museum is like a session on record. There’s an entrance fee of PHp 100 pax, by the way, to go touring in the museum. They also have a village horse which you can lease for only PHp 50 to go around the considerably big area.

    To wrap up, the Puzzle Mansion is a good place to spend a company team building event or an excursion with family and friends this summer. It is pure seclusion and relaxation. It can be your go-to place when you want to clear your mind and get away from the hustle and bustle of the busy city.

    – THE BLOGGERS –

    I have more pictures you can view here in my Facebook album.

    The Puzzle Mansion
    Cuadra St. Brgy. Asisan Tagaytay City
    For inquiries, contact 6610019, 09052250229/09178547322
    Facebook

    Operating Hours:
    Monday to Friday: 7AM – 7PM
    Saturday and Sunday: 7AM – 8PM

  • How to Maintain Your Weight, Control Your Diet and Even Lose Some Pounds

    How to Maintain Your Weight, Control Your Diet and Even Lose Some Pounds

    As I can sustain my ideal weight and physical fitness for years now, people usually think that I eat healthfully like 100 percent of the time, or that I do not have a sweet tooth, let alone ever give up to one. But my buddies and family can attest that: I give into sweets consistently — but not as regular as “every single day.” I mean, sure, it’s important to eat healthy 365 or 366 days a year, but you can bend the rule as long as you know the steps to just be right back on track.

    Here are simple strategies I have in my lifestyle. Maybe they can fit into yours?

    How to Maintain Your Weight, How to Control Your Diet and How to Lose Pounds, According to Me 🙂

    1. Eat rice to a minimum – less than a cup, in every meal!

    There are days when I eat rice for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But in each instance, I see to it that I don’t consume more than a regular cup’s content. When you’re out in a restaurant where rice-all-you-can promotion is offered, perhaps you would succumb to the deal to suit your crave. But if you want to be dead-on serious with eating right, don’t go running after it with reckless abandon.

    2. Eat on time.

    Eating at the same time pronto every day teaches the body system to adapt to a “diet clock” or alarm system that helps our metabolism to become faster. Some sites say that this is a myth, but I think it works for me. I don’t skip meals and I can’t afford to do it so. Not eating will only trigger more hunger pangs and that might lead to eating something unhealthful.

    3. Indulge within reason.

    Set a calorie count to limit your indulgence. For example, you can choose to eat a small piece of chocolates every day if you want to. But make sure that you also consume the least number of calories you can take. There are many types and forms of chocolate. You can opt to have a 30-calorie square of dark chocolate instead of a large 300-calorie bar. You can also save one day in a week to indulge (think “binge day”) yet stay conscious of your food choices.

    4. Measure your weight after meals.

    Did you know that your weight varies throughout the day? I have experimented on this idea… I weighed myself upon waking up in the morning without taking breakfast and after breakfast, lunch and dinner. I noticed that there’s about 1-2 pounds of difference.

    For some people, the added weight after meals may extend up to 3 kg. So this technique is only to make yourself feel guilty on taking that much food when you can always try to minimize your food intake.

    5. Don’t be tempted.

    There’s a giant treasure trove of savory treats in every corner of the city. But I’ve trained myself to battle against these temptations over food. When I am not hungry or when I’m full, I won’t eat any filling snack even if I walk into a den of invitations. On these occasions, another way to control your diet is to redirect back to your healthy eating path. There may still be the little devil on your shoulder beating up the angel right next to it. So channel to another voice and become your own cheerleader.

    6. Wear super tight clothes.

    While this may not be a good suggestion for everyone, wearing tighter clothes would pull down your self esteem whenever you see fats oozing out hence push you more to stop overeating and concentrate on being fit. Of course, you will feel bothered about your appearance and you are less likely to reach for that extra cup of rice when your muffin top hanging out quite offensively. And oh, don’t be annoyed when someone poses a nasty remark on you. Just think that while you are doing this for the better, they are going for extra helping of food that would make them put on weight.

    7. Don’t buy lots of food.

    When you buy lots of food, the tendency is for you to think that you should finish them all—maybe worse, in one seating—as there’s the need to make sure you’re “getting the MOST calories per peso (or dollar) spent.” If you do this, you’re done for! So a better way to control the amount of food you eat is to order less. After eating, drink a full glass of water and maybe more. If you still feel hungry, then it’s about time to order another small serving of something—but feel guilty about it. 😛

    8. Exercise

    If you want to shed some pounds and melt your fats, get out and spend time to exercise and incorporate physical activities that build muscle in your daily or weekly schedule. Lean muscle mass will help burn calories. Amongst other positive aspects, exercise gives improved cardiovascular system, improved feelings, faster reflexes and elevated muscle tone. And these are some reasons why I still continue my wushu trainings even when I feel lethargic. 😀

    9. Chew on ice cubes.

    Ice cubes consist of water, so it’s safe to assume that they do not contain heavy calories. To keep your mouth busy all the way and prevent the feeling of hunger, sucking on ice cubes can help. Your taste buds would also be frozen and it won’t be getting much of the tasting from the food you eat. Trust me, your waistline will thank the ice later!

    10. Face a full-length mirror and jump.

    If you can, go in front of a mirror with your undershirt rolled until the chest area and jump! See how much fats have jiggled and shake them vigorously, touch them and feel ashamed of them. This is called the unscientific “fat test” that you can perform every day if you’ve got time. You can also do the same test with your cheeks, arms, thighs, etc.

    Wrap Up

    There you go. These methods may be an arduous task for those who are only starting to maintain their weight and lovable figures. But if you really want to control your diet or lose some pounds, practicing these commandments are easier Instead of sticking to a diet of rabbit food (aka carrots and cabbage) all the time. You can’t escape indulgences but if you form these steps into a habit with discipline and determination, they will be your second nature, easy-breezy!

  • Holy Week 2013: A Trip to Davao City with Family – Exotic South of the Philippines

    Holy Week 2013: A Trip to Davao City with Family – Exotic South of the Philippines

    There are those cities that, when you visit them, it feels less like real life and more like you were dropped into a picturesque set of someone’s fantasy. Davao City is definitely one of those.

    The largest city in the Philippines and the second largest city in the world, Davao City is a sprawling metropolis located in the Southeastern part of Mindanao. With over a million people of population now composed mostly of Filipinos, Chinese and Koreans, this place hosts modernity bustling with life, verve and color.

    Thanks to Cebu Pacific Air’s promo fares to local destinations, we were able to get very affordable flight rates to travel to this premier hub (for the first time). One of my godfathers lives there with his family. As a long-time family friend, he volunteered to be our tour guide and accompanied us with our tripping. 😀

    We need not stay in a luxurious hotel to enjoy the scenery and restaurants Davao has to offer. Because we came there to enjoy the backdrops that greet us “Welcome to paradise,” food and tourist spots, the four of us stayed in a mediocre inn located right smack in the middle of Chinatown – Davao.

    Warning: This is an extremely long post! Please take your time to browse through the details of our trip. 😀

    Our 3D2N Davao Itinerary

    Day 1

    We arrived at the Davao International Airport (or Francisco Bangoy International Airport) at past 3PM, after the two-hour delay in take-off (caused by air traffic) from Manila. There we learned that Davao is a smoke-free city and anyone who is caught smoking in public areas will be penalized (multa of at most PHp 10,000). This campaign has been going on since 2002 per Ordinance No. 043-02.

    We took a cab to B.S. Inn where we checked in at 4:20PM. Service, ambiance and rates were good. We took the matrimonial deluxe room at PHp 1000 per night. The hotel has no extra frills and facilities except for the Chinese restaurant on the fifth floor: the roof garden. Phone inside the room can be used for local calls free of charge. You can also ask the receptionist to store food in the public refrigerator and take it back when you need it conveniently.

    We had our late lunch at Kong Ai Vegetarian Centrum across the inn where we met my godfather with his friend. Kong Ai Vegetarian Centrum serves Asian fusion vegetarian cuisine and sells vegetarian frozen food, including faux ham, nuggets, patties, vegetarian oyster sauce, seasonings and other vegan-friendly food products. Luckily, it was open on a Holy Thursday. 😀 The owner is a Chinese Taoist who was able to easily connect with us because of our common language (Hokkien).

    Cheap on the price? Yes. At only PHp 295, we had five viands and four cups of rice with drinks. But meager on the taste? Certainly not!

    Next, we visited my godfather’s family in their house and together went to Gaisano Mall (or G-MALL) where we continued to talk about life as of late. At 34°C, weather in Davao was hotter than that in Manila. For a bit of refreshment, we got cool drinks from Happy Lemon at The Peak.

    My aunt reserved a table at the Grand Emperor Seafood Palace for dinner. This restaurant is said to be a gem when it comes to Chinese dining in Davao. Their chef is from Macao, and we had a taste of authentic Chinese cuisine yet again.

    Holy smokes! The restaurant was packed and completely full of people. What we had: Birds Nest with Seafood Soup, Fish Fillet with Soy Sauce, Crabmeat Foo Yong, Pancit Canton Seafood, Braised Lo-han Vegetables with Bean Curd, Stir Fried Chicken Chuan Kiong Style and Plain and Vegetable Rice. Food were all not bad and were affordable. In fact, they were cooked and presented nicely and scored five stars according to my standard. 😀

    Some say that a visit to Davao is not complete without eating durians. So we dropped by at Meling’s Quality Fruits shortly and bought durian, marang and mangosteen.

    It was my first time to eat durian in its actual fruit form (not in pastries, moon cake, biscuit, cake, ice cream and the like) and I didn’t like it! Haha sorry to say! *nyuk nyuk nyuk* 😯 At 10PM, we were driven back to the hotel and that concluded Day 1 of our escapade.

    Day 2

    We woke up early at 6AM and had quick breakfast at the nearby McDonald’s. Later, my godfather and his family took us to Eden Nature Park, a sanctuary that is 95% man-made. Located at the foot of Mount Talomo, Toril, this place boasts outstanding ecological spots. At 3,500 feet above sea level, Eden Nature Park is a “wonderful testament to how man’s ingenuity and concern for the environment can create a paradise on earth.”

    My aunt reserved eight headcounts a week before, so we did not encounter any more hassle upon entrance. Along our journey, we saw various animals in the wild and plants in hydrophonic gardens. Aboard Eden’s tour bus, we learned about the different attractions such as the animal sanctuaries, flora and fauna thriving in their natural environment and other spots from our guide and the synced and recorded narration playing through the vehicle’s radio. It was like being in school all over again. ^_^

    We had the famous buffet lunch at the Vista Restaurant. Tourist attractions aren’t normally synonymous with catering perfection, but here, we were served with tantalizingly great food. Expense was reasonable as food cost was already inclusive of the park’s entrance fee at PHp 470 per head. Vegetables and spices are claimed to be harvested from their very own organic gardens.

    With stomachs full again, we only viewed the Skyrider / zipline, horseback-riding, swimming, fishing and trekking areas without attempting to pursue any activity. Nevertheless, we have seen most of Eden (except the resort area) as a spiritual retreat, a cultural excursion, a sensuous feast. 😀

    Not exactly nearby, Malagos Garden Resort was where we found ourselves next. It is a 12-hectare inland Nature Theme Resort with many attractions such as the Malagos Bird Park, where we fed the colorful birds; the Butterfly Sanctuary that we didn’t get to visit because butterflies were small in number that time; the Waling Waling Forest, which reminded us of the beauty of the Waling Waling or “Vanda Sanderiana,” an orchid endemic to the mountains of Mindanao; the Petting Zoo, where we saw and fed donkeys, miniature horses, goats, sheep and other cute farm animals; and the cottages where tourists can stay in overnight.

    Entrance fee was PHp 100 per head and that includes the guided educational tour that led us to experience “a unique blend of art and nature amidst the cool mountain breeze of the highlands of Davao City.”

    Our third nature and wildlife encounter this day was spent in Davao Crocodile Park, a seven-hectare tourism center where we interacted with a collection of animals. Entrance fee per person was PHp 200 and that included everything from viewing the animals in their respective cages, watching the animal shows to taking pictures of ourselves touching them with our bare hands. Most unforgettable moments were when we held the boa constrictor, baby crocodile and the white cockatoo.

    There we met Pangil (or when translated to English, “fangs”), the country’s second largest crocodile at 18 feet long. Part of the show was poking and probing Pangil with a stick by one of the caretakers in its caged pond. We watched how Pangil the giant reptile responded with so much strength. It moved its tail and body, splashing water in the pond to the audiences. Oh, the thrill!

    Aside from those, guests are welcome to visit the souvenir shops, art galleries, tattoo shops, restaurants and food stalls inside.

    To end the day with a bang, my godfather and his family treated us to the elegant Café Marco, an international buffet (eat-all-you-can) restaurant in Marco Polo Hotel. Dishes were varied with Asian and Mediterranean selections. Guests can as well request to have raw seafood, poultry and pork slices to be cooked either grilled or fried. At PHp 888 pax for dinner, everything was perfectly worth its value.

    Day 3

    Our last day in Davao took off in Jollibee where we had breakfast. Opposite was the NCCC Mall (New City Commercial Corporation) where we explored a bit before we were fetched to come round at Adoy Enterprises in Magsaysay Avenue and see their store operations.

    Then we sashayed throughout Abreeza Mall Davao by Ayala Land, Inc. and SM Lanang Premier by SM Prime Holdings. For lunch, we decided to sneak into KFC as we didn’t want to eat meals served in the plane. We reached the airport just in time for our scheduled flight at 2:30PM.

    Wrap Up

    This has been another great encounter of places in the Philippines. If I were to document everything we’ve seen and learned from our vacation, I would have to write a tome. But this post is a nice way to start scratching the surface and good enough to mark my suggestions for other people’s itinerary when they come to visit Davao.

    Are you planning to travel to Davao anytime soon? Feel free to add your itineraries and suggested places and activities in the comments below. If you still have troubles picturing this dazzling and dreamy destination, then plan ahead and go to Davao yourself next time. Ciao! 😀

    References

    B.S. Inn (Business Hotel)
    Gempesaw and Moneteverde Streets, Davao City, Mindanao, Philippines
    Phone: +63 (0) 82 2213980

    Kong Ai Vegetarian Centrum
    Bruno Gempesaw Street, Davao City, Davao del Sur, Davao Region 8000, Philippines
    Phone: +63 (0) 82 2255894

    Gaisano Mall Davao
    J.P. Laurel Avenue, Davao City, Davao Del Sur, Philippines
    Phone: +63 (0) 82 2262244

    Grand Emperor Seafood Palace
    Victoria Plaza Complex, J. P. Laurel Avenue, Bajada, Davao City, Mindanao, Philippines
    Phone: +63 (0) 82 2275785

    Meling’s Quality Fruits
    Madrazo Commercial Complex, Davao City
    Phone: +63 (0) 82 2279552

    Eden Nature Park
    Mount Talomo, Toril, Davao City
    Phone: +63 (0) 82 2991020

    Malagos Garden Resort
    Malagus Baguio Dist., Davao City
    Phone: +63 (0) 82 2211545

    Davao Crocodile Park
    Riverfront, Corporate City, Diversion Highway, Ma-a, Davao City
    Phone: +63 (0) 82 2868883 or +63 (0) 82 2861054

    Marco Polo Hotel – Davao
    C.M. Recto Street, 8000 Davao City
    Phone: +63 (0) 82 2210888

  • Review of Movie Stars Cafe and Restaurant: Dino Buffet (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Review of Movie Stars Cafe and Restaurant: Dino Buffet (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Whoever came up with that saying “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach” is mostly right. (But I’d like to insert “or woman” and “or her” there as it fits rightfully as well for women.) Add fancy entertainment into the mix and you’ve really got it made. This is especially true when you’re with the best people of your life. 😛

    Mom bought vouchers from MetroDeal when Movie Stars Cafe and Restaurant first opened its doors early this year. As for us, we just trusted her smart pick and like always, she’s right. We had a great time having dinner at Movie Stars Cafe last Friday night, when in a moment of weakness, we “acted like kids again,” in awe of characters which starred in different movies.

    There were the likes of Supergirl, Star Wars, Spiderman, Peter Pan, Optimus Prime, BumbleBee, Atom, Super Mario, Snow White, Cinderella, etc. They all came in costume, performed on stage and even served food to the customers’ tables. It’s hard to believe that they dance, sing and act every day from 12NN to past 12AM. (See business hours at the end of the post.) Amazing, I know.

    Review of Movie Stars Cafe and Restaurant: Dino Buffet (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

    As you can see in the picture, Movie Stars Cafe is surrounded with props inspired from blockbuster movies literally everywhere. From the walls, the statues displayed, outside facade and even the restaurant staff, the entire area is surrounded with your favorite movie stars. Customers can even interact with some characters on the flesh. Giant spotlights are positioned to shine on the statues and the sets of performers on the center of the stage. While watching their acts and taking pictures with them, you can also view movies on their four big screens and hundreds of monitors.

    All these imply a strong and unique ambiance for customers to enjoy everything in sight, discouraging them from leaving the place early.

    Service: ★★★★★

    From afar, I could already feel the warm hospitality of waiters and waitresses dressed like actors and actresses around Movie Stars Cafe. They gave me an impression that they were ready to serve and ready to make customers happy while bringing them back to childhood years for hours.

    And yes, service was excellent. Staff in costumes were enthusiastic in serenading and approaching guests to make sure everyone has got a good laugh with them making funny faces and posing gestures of their character. They were proactive in asking if it’s okay to get our used plates and utensils and refill our glasses with water whenever they pass by.

    Food: ★★★☆☆

    Maybe for the “more carnivorous type” of people, the dishes would be rated as “great.” But for me, they were okay. There were lots of choices in Dino Buffet though, most or all of which were of American; namely, Hungarian sausages, grilled burger patties and burger buns, hotdogs and hotdog buns, DIY salad, beef steak, chopped Teriyaki chicken, pasta, fish fillet, potato wedges, veggies, onion rings and bacon. For the desserts, we had pastries, cake and fruits such as pineapple and watermelon.

    The buffet table was U-shaped, with the big dinosaur’s (T-Rex) head draping in the middle section. Behind it stood the kitchen where customers can see chefs and the staff preparing and cooking food.

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    The discount we got from the MetroDeal voucher cut 43% off the original price (from PHp 699, to PHp 399 per head). Basing on the food alone, the cost of the bill wasn’t worth it, for me. However, adding in the one-of-a-kind movie-themed performances, live bands and overall dining-experience-turned-dining-adventure to consideration, the value was very worth the promotional price. 🙂

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/MovieStarsCafe” name=”Movie Stars Cafe and Restaurant (Near Vikings)” description=”Seaside Blvd, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay, Luzon, Philippines” rev_name=”For inquiries, call 0905-277-9999″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2013-03-25″ user_review=”17″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

    Operating hours:
    Mondays to Thursdays – 12PM to 2AM
    Fridays to Saturdays – 12PM to 4AM
    Days before holiday – 12PM to 4AM
    Sundays and holidays – 12PM to 12AM