Author: ajay

Thinking of ways to cheer somebody up this Christmas? It’s easy, especially if you’re in front of your computer. Use the time to help and/or surprise others, instead of aimlessly surfing.

Nutrilite, the world leader in dietary supplements, has launched the initiative “Every Click Counts.” By logging on to this site, internet users can contribute $ 0.15 to the Amway One by One campaign, a project that promotes children’s welfare worldwide. In the Philippines, the money will go to the promotion of literacy among Filipino kids. The program is also tied up to the Goal-by-Goal campaign made by Nutrilite in partnership with international soccer superstar Ronaldinho. Pass the word and get kickin’! Joining means you get an email from Ronaldinho too

Delifrance’s My Secret Santa, the biggest Kris Kringle celebration in the Philippines, has been extended until December 19. That means a few more days to give your friends and loved ones gift coupons which they can redeem at Delifrance cafes in Metro Manila, for free! I’ve received my gift from Santa and the good thing about this is that I can continue the cycle, forward the gifts to others and they can do the same too! We adored the almond-star cookies and what’s in store now is the equally exquisite Chocolate Chip Almond Biscotti. They’re right, it’s perfect with my favorite brewed coffee.

When claiming your gift, check the website for participating cafes.

What makes you eksayted?

Eksayted ako kapag mayroon akong regalong natanggap at hindi ko alam kung ano ang nasa loob nun.

Eksayted ako kapag nakakakita ako ng long-lost friends. (Lalo na pag may nagsabing “pumayat ka!”)

Eksayted ako kapag pumupunta sa lugar na hindi ko pa nararating. Siyempre, gusto kong subukan lahat ng pagkain at tanawin doon.

Eksayted ako sa nalalapit naming pagkikita ng aking Irog. <3

Eksayted ako kasi Pasko na!

Ngayong taong ito ay medyo kinarir ko ang Pasko kasi ito ang unang Pasko namin ng mga anak ko sa sarili naming bahay. Kaya may I buy ako ng bagong Christmas tree at kahit walang panahon ay pinilit kong disenyohan ito! Ayan, shades of gold and orange over green. Bumili rin ako ng Santa’s stockings, gingerbread house at iba pang palamuti. Nakakainggit kasi ang mga nagkikislapang dekorasyon ng mga kapitbahay. Magastos nga pero ang saya ng pakiramdam kasi parang bumabalik ka sa iyong pagkabata. Showcase ng COD Department Store pa ang pinapanood namin noon.

Eksayted ako, bow. Happy holidays to all!

Since I have enough Flickr pics to show for it, here’s my little lowdown on Filipino desserts. Mind you, this is not complete yet. Am craving for guinataang halo-halo right now, and I don’t have a photo to show for it. Kudos to the new breed of Pinoy restaurants, even the so-called fusion ones, for giving new twists to old favorites. Our sweet tooth craveth

Palitaw with Chocnut (P75) at La Mesa Grill, Mall of Asia. The well-loved local delicacy called palitaw (made of rice flour) is given a different interpretation by adding crushed bits of Choc-Nut instead of grated coconut. The result is equally glorious. The humble Choc-Nut must be in a pedestal greater than Hershey’s if our chefs are making frappes and cheesecakes out of it. The greater question is: why not? I had already taken a picture of this palitaw at Chocnut, without knowing that beneath the fold is a scoop of yummy vanilla ice cream. Whatta treat!

Leche flan, Kanin Club- Alabang (P120) . One of the most popular Filipino desserts of all time is undoubtedly Spanish in origin. MY son can’t resist this treat too. Kanin Club’s version is topped with macapuno preserves, delicious on its own as a dessert or heaped on a tall glass of halo-halo.

Biko Barako (P95), C2 Classic Cuisine Robinson’s Midtown. The traditional rice cake (just made creamier) takes on a new form with a generous filling of native chocolate and shavings of latik. Simply gotta have a cup of coffee with this, shown below with a piece of polvoron.

Turon with Langka (sweetened jackfruit), Breakfast at Antonio’s, Tagaytay. You say bananas are so common? Thank God, we’ll never get tired of turon (wrapped caramelized bananas).Nowadays, the filling you get from the turon is as varied as your imagination. All those who get to taste it love the Kanin Club version with ube haleya, macapuno and every halo-halo ingredient thrown in.

Halo-halo, the way they really serve it at Razon’s original stall in Angeles City, Pampanga. Simply refreshing!

HalfMoon Bibingcrepe, Tomas Morato, Quezon City. Bibingka, the traditional rice cake which is particularly popular during the Christmas season and the Simbang Gabi, is given a different interpretation by slicing in half and putting a variety of fillings. We like chocolate, as always. The bibingcrepe actually reminds me of the Indonesian martabak.

Camote cue, the sweetheart’s favorite (and mine too!) Whew, I almost forgot this one, an ordinary fare that packs a lotta punch The best things in life cost ten pesos!

Word Sell. Inc. has an ongoing group blogging project on Cellphone Users and Abusers. Since the topic is interesting, I now give my two cents’ worth on it. It helps that am in the Philippines, the so-called “texting capital of the world.” This way I get to see cellphone mania in action. Here goes my Top 3 Cellphone Peeves:

1. Texting when it’s not safe.

An example of this is using/not turning off the cellphone in the airplane, before take-off or even upon landing. Am afraid of flying so I get paranoid when somebody insists on texting, as we all know that wireless signals can interfere with the aircraft’s navigation/communication device. There’s such a thing as an Offline Mode, all right, but most airlines still prohibit cellphone use at crucial points, or until the plane has skidded to a complete stop.

Texting while driving … this is self-explanatory really. I just know that somebody’s doing it when am on the road and the car in front of me is moving real slow. Too bad that the law on using cellphones in the road is not fully enforced in the country, in the same way as the seatbelt rule. But yes, you do imagine how disastrous the consequences are using the cellphone while driving in a busy highway? Funny, but am sure some people still insist on doing it.

Oh, I would follow the rule too against using cellphones while inside the banks. With the ever-present possibility of bank or money-related robberies in these parts, there must a reason why security personnel implement the “no cellphone rule.” It’s for our own good.

2. Not using the cellphone’s Silent Mode.

Wonder why even the most educated people are guilty of this, or don’t spare us the ignominy of their ring tones. Yes, there’s such a thing s a Silent Mode when you’re in a meeting, funeral, concert, moviehouse, etc. Nuff said

3. Using far-from-literate text lingo.

Yes it’s true, in the texting capital of the world, text lingo has evolved into a life of its own, one that will put Uncle Webster to shame.

“Wer na u? W8 me u d2 sa Country Style, 8s nir Bayo.” DUH.

I dread the day when my kids write in text lingo and think it’s the right way to communicate. Am just lucky that the boyfriend texts me with “we’re” and “you’re,” as necessary, not UR or WER Makes me feel that everything’s normal with the world.

Last word: there’s life after cellphones!

Nung bumisita kami ni WhizHeart sa Batanes ay nakuha ang atensyon ko ng batang pintor na ito. Patuloy lang sya sa paggawa ng kanyang obra maestra ng walang pakialam sa mundo. Kung ikaw ay mahilig sa sining na tulad ko, kamangha-mangha talagang pagmasdan ang gawain ng mga artists. Wag na nating bilangin si Michaelangelo. Hinahangaan ko ang mga artists dahil kaya nilang gumawa ng mga magagandang bagay sa mga pinagtagpi-tagping papel, bubog ng baso, basura at iba pang ordinaryo sa ating paningin.

Kahit man ako ay nagpapasalamat na makatapos ng mga blog post o artikulo. Matagal na rin akong nagsusulat pero di dapat ipagpawalang-bahala ito. Habang may buhay at ang tao ay malusog, isang pagwawagi ang makapag-isip at makalikha kaya ipagpasalamat at ipagdiwang ito!

Ito ang aking lahok sa tema ng Litratong Pinoy sa linggong ito