Choco-late de Batirol

What is a trip to Baguio without the ubiquitous trip to Camp John Hay?

Some people go for the shopping, I go for the food. It's a good thing that Baguio is much cooler than Manila, especially in summer - so you can best enjoy hot chocolate and other goodies such as suman and bibingka. I had this as a mid-morning snack after the long drive up, and it's the perfect pick me-up to start sight-seeing.

Different sets were available, and what we got came with their signature batirol hot chocolate, suman and bibingka. For those who don't know, a batirol, batidor or molinillo is a wooden implement used to whisk the hot chocolate. This version, while frothy also contains a lot of "grit" which gives it a nice texture as well as flavor. Note that this hot chocolate is not as sweet or as creamy as your standard Starbucks hot chocolate. It does not overwhelm the tongue, which pairs it well with both the bibingka and the suman. The serving of hot chocolate is generous, but the food was not enough for our hungry tummies - we had to order another serving of delicious bibingka.

Suman (F), Choco-late de Batirol (M) and Bibinka (B) at Choco-late de Batirol

It is possible to order a concentrate of the product at their store. However, included instructions were a bit too complicated for me right now. Maybe in the future, or at one of their other branches.

Choco-late de Batirol
Camp John Hay
Baguio City, Philippines

Halo Halo de iloko

Halo Halo de Iloko is a great place to try Filipino dishes. The decor includes bits of old furniture and framed comments of famous (I think) people who've been there.

Out of the dishes we tried, the Sisig Iloko was the best. We tried the okoy, which was also very popular, but liked the sisig best.

Sisig Iloko

We also tried their halo-halo. The deep fried halo-halo is a must try. Though it's delicious, I think a bit more ice cream would have been preferred.

Fried Halo-halo

There were two other halo-halos on their menu, one served in a coconut and one in a glass. By the time we ate, there was no longer any of the former so we had the classic one instead. It did not disappoint.

Fiesta Halo-halo

I wish I got to try the Buko Halo-halo, but we did not have time to return; the restaurant only has a set amount of Buko Halo-halo per day. The night we came (dinner time) was very busy, and there was a waiting time of around 30 minutes before we could get a table. Since it was also very busy, the food took a while to come.

I would suggest going a bit earlier in the day, to best savor the icy coldness of the halo-halo.

Halo-halo de Iloko
San Fernando, La Union

How to Remain Young at Heart: The Musical

Weeks ago I saw a poster promoted by the Foundation for Lay Education on Heart Disease (FLEHD) for a production of “How to Remain Young at Heart: The Musical.”   Though I had my doubts as to how entertaining it would be with education on heart disease as a topic, with three magic words –musical, free admission- I decided to attend. Yesterday, May 5, 2014, I watched something at Meralco Theater which I did not expect, to say the least.

First of all, I thought that the musical’s target audience would be lay people. To my surprise, the majority of attendees were doctors, and I felt very out of place. The songs included terms such as “ventricular fibrillation” and “suboptimal intrauterine conditions” among other things. I think this show was targeted at health workers in general, and doctors in particular.

On a minor note, I felt peevish in the beginning because the performance started on a sung prayer which we had to stand for. I will not go further into this topic.

Secondly, it was not a musical. It probably would have been better to say that it was a musical experience. I first had my doubts when I saw that the orchestra was on stage. Though there was a plot, there were no actual characters performing, and one of the first ballet performances had no connection with the lyrics being sung. It was a good thing that three screens were provided on which the libretto was flashed, or else it would have been impossible to follow. However, as I let go of the expectation of a true musical, I began to enjoy myself further.

The show was divided into 6 acts: While the music, some of which reminded me of other works, and lyrics weren’t connected, I did enjoy it in varying degrees. I learned a bit of information in Act I – it was definitely the most educational part of the night. I must say I did not truly enjoy myself until the end of it. The last song, “Haw Haw Hee,” was in Cebuano and was probably the only song targeted to actual lay persons.

Acts II and III were definitely the most enjoyable part of the evening with the bulk of the performances. On the other hand, I did not read anything – and therefore, learn anything – during that period. Why? With the choice of the ballet and the libretto, I chose the former. For one thing, Lisa Macuja – Elizalde. For another, an unknown hot guy from Ballet Philippines did a number wearing a fedora and suspender, sans shirt! Girls, zero percent body fat and muscles in all the places…

Acts IV to VI were not memorable. I left after curtain call – 2 hours after the start of the program. It was only as I got home that I realized that there were a few more songs to go.

It was an interesting night. One I would not like to repeat, but do not regret nonetheless.

Cafe Mary Grace

I've always thought of Cafe Mary Grace as a dessert place, with its yummy hot chocolate, lemon squares and ensaymada. However, I'd never eaten anything truly substantial there before. Apparently, their pasta is also decent in size and flavor. It's not exactly a heavy meal, but it's not a light one either.

While their cream pastas are ok (specifically, the mushroom cream and salmon and cream), my friends and I agree that the sardines and olives pasta (P264, service charge not included) was the most delicious of the three we ordered. 

Sardines and Olives Pasta

Service is decent, with very accomodating servers, though we were a bit neglected with our plentiful requests for water - maybe due to our position outdoors. Still, the decor is very pretty and it's, for me, especially nice once the lights are on.

Nasi Lemak at Robinsons Galleria

I may not be able to go to Singapore, but I sure can eat some Singaporean food this summer!

Nasi Lemak Singapore Laksa

 I've been here a few times and I really liked their salad (the one with shrimp bits), along with their laksa. There were some other dishes I liked but I can't remember their names. While I did learn how to eat hainanese chicken here (more chicken, less rice rendering rice-all-you-can hainanese chicken places filling but inappropriate), it's not something I'm crazy about. I also liked their service: they use a buzzer system so you need never raise your arms :)) and they're very friendly.

Dishes are good for sharing.

Nasi Lemak Lava Cake

Not so much the lava cake though. Nice presentation (one of the drops looks almost like a heart), warm but lacking in consistency (more like a warm brownie or a dry cake) and lava.

I'd recommend this place for their entrees but I'd go for dessert elsewhere.

Summertime Sun Suggestions: FTU

Alright, another short summer post! This time, it's for everyone's benefit....

A lot of reminders have been going up about wearing sunscreen or sunblock; the amount of SPF and PA it has to have; and how often to apply it - so i'm not going to go into that unless pressed. However, what I often fail to see is advice as to the amount of product you're supposed to use. I hear the term a shot glass full a little bit, but it's very hard to figure out how much you're really supposed to use.

So, I'd like to promote the idea of the Finger-Tip-Unit (FTU) for daily use.

An FTU is a straight line of product from the tip of one finger to the first crease/joint. It would help to do a basic google image source since there are pictures and tables easily available depending on one's age group. An FTU is usually used when dealing with topical corticosteroids, but work quite as well for your choice of sun protection since good coverage is required for both.

For the average adult:

Face and neck: 2.5 FTUs
Chest: 7 FTUs
Back: 7 FTUs
Arm: 3 FTUs
Hand: 1 FTU
Leg: 6 FTUs
Foot: 2 FTU

Note that this is the minimum amount you should use. If ever, err on the side of caution and add more if you feel like you need to.

Stay safe!

Summertime Self Suggestions

With one of the hottest days ever just a few days ago, it's tempting to just stay home and nap, or bathe a billion times. While I'm very tempted to do that (and probably will on some days) this summer, I will do my best to improve both my body and my mind.

While I can't disclose the details, it does mean that I should log at least (and I hope, even more than) 1 hour a day for the improvement of my mind.

For the former, it's to go back to my body of 2 years ago at worst (or 4 years ago, at best) - in the healthiest way possible:

I will try for 30 minutes a day devoted to exercise.

Reduce my intake to either 1 brewed or 2 instants coffees a day.

Minimize junk food for healthier snacks.

And also, to do the other duties given to me.

I am writing these here as a reminder to myself. These past years, I've been sliding down and making some new bad habits, or breaking my old good ones.

It's time to clean house.

Wish me luck!!!

My Mug Omelette

Those who know me would know that I'm not one for cooking - when I do eat at home, I tend to use the microwave to just heat things up. Recently, I've been experimenting with mug omelettes. Here's how I do it:

Requirements:

• microwave
• microwaveable mug
• fork

Ingredients:

• 1 medium egg
• 1 thick slice cheddar cheese
• milk, around 2 tablespoons
• salt, a pinch

I don't use measuring utensils, so I usually add how much I feel like putting (some days require more cheese than others).

Directions:

Place the milk, eggs and salt together and lightly whisk. Use your hands to crumble the cheese to smaller pieces. Heat in the microwave for 30 secs then crumble with a fork. Heat again for another 30 to 40 seconds.

Here's how mine turned out:

Basic Mug Omelette

You can actually make multiple servings at a time depending on the size of the cup. Mine can take 2 eggs at the most. Also you can add other ingredients and nuke them before hand, but I just like a basic egg omelette so this is how it turned out. The egg tends to separate from the side of the cup, so you can actually serve it to other people on a plate with a little help from the fork:

Mug Omelette: Single Serving

 So many decorating possibilities...

Inside the Mug Omelette

But I think I'd rather just eat it. Above is a pic, partially eaten. XD

Aquafresh Whitening Toothpaste

Aquafresh Whitening Toothpaste Directions and Ingredients

I'm in search of a good toothpaste and so far, I haven't met my HG toothpaste yet. In the meantime, one toothpaste i've tried is  Aquafresh Whitening. It has a nice minty taste and with a Fluoride content of 1450, it isn't bad at all. However, it really doesn't whiten my coffee-loving teeth (or even prevent darkening with 2x a day brushing) so I guess this one is kind of meh. I'm actively trying to cut down my coffee consumption but I do want a toothpaste that can keep up and improve my teeth without damaging it.

I'm starting to think I'm probably going to need to have 2 on hand: a specialized toothpaste to remove stains which is harsh on the teeth (and should not be used long term) and a standard whitening toothpaste.

One semi-good thing about this toothpaste is that it has a twist-cap which prevents toothpaste spillage/exposure which I'm very picky about. I took points of because of something you can see in the picture below:

Aquafresh Whitening Toothpaste Cap

While it's fine while there's a lot of toothpaste inside the tube, something happens once you start using it - there's a gap between the cap and tube and some parts of the inside are exposed :(

I don't think I'll be buying this again, even as a standard toothpaste, because I have mixed feelings about the cap.... HG toothpaste, where are you?

Seoul Garden Hotpot

Last weekend, I was at Robinsons Galleria where Seoul Garden Hotpot was having a promo. A set meal for 2 for P499 with an optional dessert to share for an additional P39.

I'm not a big fan of Korean food but I liked the generosity of their serving (to share!).

Free Appetizers

I was already hungry so I already ate some.

Bulgogi

Lettuce

 As you can see, it had a lot of oil but the beans and lettuce (and onion option) balanced it out. It's very messy to eat since you have to wrap it yourself. Definitely not first date food.

Bibimbap

Raspberry Peach Iced Tea

 I love iced tea, and this had a peach slice already. It would have ended the meal well but...

Vanilla Mango Ice Cream

I've been craving ice cream, even now.

I think the promo lasts until the end of February. I might eat there again before the month ends.


Seoul Garden Hotpot is at the 4th floor of Robinson's Galleria.

Kose Softymo W Hyaluronic Acid Facial Wash

Kose Softymo W Hyaluronic Acid Facial Wash

After a billion years, I've finally managed to reach the 90% mark of this tube! I'm trying to finish all the stuff I have before buying new things (which is why I probably won't get to try anything new for a while), and I'm really happy about my success at sticking to a product :))

Anyway, this is a basic cream cleanser that I got 2 years ago in Japan when my skin was drying out. It helped then, but here in the Philippines, it hasn't exactly been my problem - so even if I could repurchase this product, I probably wouldn't.

How to use: apply a small amount on damp hands and rub together to get a creamy lather. Massage it into an equally damp face. Wash of immediately.

No frills. No fuss.

10% to go!

Kolours Caravan: Oriental Ruby

I am a bit of a redhead again. How did this happen? Well, I was shopping around Robinsons craving sugar when I saw a Kolours caravan smack dab in the center of the mall. I was hesitant to try it but friend S encouraged me to try Oriental Ruby, their newest, reddest shade ever.

Process:
1. Buy the dye. One box was P250, I was vacillating between 1 and 2 boxes for my long hair. I finally decided on 1 box since I didn't know how it was going to turn up and it could be made to fit.
2. Fill up an info sheet and waiver. Theoretically, you should go for a patch test 48 hours before the actual event EVERYTIME you try a dye on. I was banking on the fact that I used to use this brand a few years ago without any adverse effects (my hair didn't color well though, which is why I gave up on it years back). Also, on a side note, how come no box dyes ever come with a patch for patch testing?
3. Application. Mine had to be done in 2 steps since my roots weren't dyed but my ends were. Cling wrap and a blow dryer were used. Since I didn't have a watch, I have no idea how much time I spent there.
4. Shampoo, condition and blowdry. Not a relaxing experience, but worth it to see my new hair for the first time!
5. Tip. Always tip, guys :)

Yays

• Inexpensive: salon applications are way more expensive.
• Good application: You can still see the junction between virgin and treated hair  up close but it blends relatively well
• Red! (not like the picture, but with red-copper tones) It's a big difference from Kolours' usual rich browns.

Nays

• Needed a blowdryer for the color to show (not for stubborn hair like mine, if it's for home use unless you're very patient or very experienced: I would never get this result on my own).

I'm very satisfied with it. Since red hair is hard to maintain, I won't feel too bad once it starts fading (though I might change my mind if it turns orange). I wouldn't buy this if I had to put it on my own because it's way too much effort for my hair type (it needs a lot of peroxide for a color to show up properly). However, I might be tempted to buy again if I were not the one doing the application (2 boxes will probably be needed next time). I'd actually recommend this product to those with hair that dyes easily and don't want to spend on a bubble dye (I've tried a few of their other shades and was particularly fond of Zen Auburn years back).

I'll see how this color holds up in a few weeks.

Tea Rock at UP Town Center

Tea Rock is probably the only place at the UP Town Center where you can hang out and study - most of the places there are actually for eating. I originally wanted to go somewhere else (to try a certain girardelli drink), but it was full to the brim.

Tea Rock

Tea Rock has a giant menu, including dinner items. It's very difficult to read it from the wall, but the prices are standard milk tea shop prices (unlike most shops in that area, which I find cray-cray for something with UP in it).

It doesn't use the more common (nowadays) coaster buzzer.

 A drink each for my friend and I. Tiramisu M (P90) on the left and Raspberry Cocoa L (P100) for me. It tasted fine, not spectacular, but not bad either. The pearls were chewy in a good way but were relatively tasteless, so it's kind of meh.

Physically, the store was well lit and decorated, but the music was a bit loud (tea ROCK?) so it wasn't a great study spot. However, this is probably one of the best places for students to hang out (since most other places here aren't really student friendly).

I probably wouldn't go back here soon simply because both traffic and parking at this area is insane. :(