15 September 2011

Today was foodtrip day!

Aj and I went to Binondo to find some of the delicious foods there. We ate fried siopao at an unknown store (a fujifilm sign hung outside the store though). It was delicious! It was my first time to eat fried siopao. Goood thing the first time was not disappointing. We drank sugar cane juice afterwards. Both the sugar cane juice and fried siopao cost 15pesos. Yuuuuum!

Next stop, Masuki! We ordered Original Beef Wonton Mami and Chicken Mami. They're both delicious, definitey better than Chowking (duh?!). The chicken and beef broth was the most authentic broth I've tasted. Also the serving was big. We were full and satisfied with the food. One order costs almost 150php. Suliiit!

We then went to Eng Bee Tin. Aj bought a moon cake. I bought some ube and mongo hopia. We then walked the perimeter of the place so that our food will settle down our stomachs. I thank God that we were safe during our Binondo foodtrip. Truly, I enjoyed walking around Manila. ;)))

We went to Greenhills to try Happy Lemon. I ordered Green Tea Rock Salt and Cheese. It tastes awesome! I cannot believe that green tea and cheese and rocksalt perfectly go together. Then we visited the tiangge...but only a few were open. They're shuffling, we guessed so. We went to a stall owned by a money collector. I saw different kinds of Philippne money! Many of them looked like US dollars. It was so amazing. ;) We also looked for a dress that I can buy later on for ate Faye's wedding. We found a few potential dresses..ahaha.

We went to Banapplel-Greenhills afterwards. As usual, the food was satisfying. ;)

This is one day I will never forget!! Thanks Aj for the treat. Happy birthday to you!

14 September 2011

First Day High!


Last Saturday and Sunday was a day of firsts for me. Let me list them down for all the world to see. :)) *See the pictures below :D

SATURDAY


Commute to FEBIAS! After my teaching harang, I went straight to SM North to meet Ate Hazel, Jaz, Mia, and Tita Mascle. I was glad they waited for me. I thought I'd be going there by myself. We boarded a taxi and went into every eskinita available just to avoid the heavy traffic. I thought we're going to be lost! Good thing we got there safe and sound.

The first? The taxi driver was actually thrilled by our stories while we travel. Well, I think that's just how we do it. We talk about anything under the sun! ;)

Ian can DRAW! And I can say he's very good in it. I saw a paper on a pew and I exclaimed, "Sino nag-drawing nito? Galing a!" Ate Hazel told me that it was Ian himself who drew the design of his recital stage. AWESOMENESS.

Tuna Pesto Madness! Due to my very busy schedule, I never had the chance to cook for the family until recently. Since Mama volunteered to provide merienda for the CCBC Choir during our General Rehearsal, I willingly offered my help. I suggested to not cook tomato-based pasta since it might not be good for eating later that day. So we decided to settle for Pesto. We made so many considerations in cooking this dish. We remembered Nanay Gin's rheumatism, Tatay Ric's body pains, Kuya Boyet's and Tita Mascle's high blood, and so on...in other words, consideration for the "mature in wisdom". HAHA. We ended up buying ingredients for Tuna Pesto...which includes Olive Oil! :D

I've been with the choir for almost 4 years, I already knew that the choir loves good food and coffee. So it was a challenge to cook again after my dormant cooking years. Good thing Mama was there to help me! I was indeed happy that the choir loved the pasta along with the cheese bread Mama ordered at the bakery near our house. Jaziel and Mia sure had their share of those cheese bread hang-overs. It was such a blessing to bless others through the labor sprinkled flooded with LOVE.

So what's the "first" here? It's that the food I made with Mama was able to feed some hungry, haggard, but willing-to-give-their-all people of God. :)

SUNDAY


Christian Apilar's recital! It's my first time to sing in a recital of someone who is not a college-mate of mine. It was really exciting to know that the choir started to broaden its horizon of ministry. I really missed performances such as this because, this sem, I was somehow detached from my college because of my GE and Educ subjects. Still, I enjoy singing in a mixed-age choir with a united heart to serve God alone than to sing in a crowd full of excellent skill but do not understand who they're even singing to and what they're singing about. Also, Ian was confident during the performance. It was the grace and peace of God that filled his heart and even us, his choir. Though I was sweating like the sun was glaring down at me at 7PM, I still praised God for His goodness and mercy. I enjoy singing with His people!

High Heels Galore. OUCH! Imagine wearing 4-inch heels for almost 3 hours? Great thing I didn't faint or tripped somewhere. I was really REALLY tempted to take off my shoes and go barefoot on stage on the 3rd part. I decided not to do so. Hey, I was able to endure it! But after the closing prayer and taking some shots of the choir, I CAN"T TAKE IT ANYMORE! I took of my shoes on stage. And so did many others. I promise I'll wear flats for 1 month unless ordered. HAHA And yeah, it was my first time to wear heels that high for so long!

The Performance Hangover. Have you ever experienced being so tired during your way home from a performance...then the minute you got home, your eyes begin to open wide and your brain cells began working like it's daytime again? I always experience that. The first here was, this time, it's with totally different people I'm "high" with. Imagine texting with Ate Hazel, Ate Nikki, Ian, etc., at 2AM? Yeah, Ate Hazel's and Ate Nikki's job description is "vampires". Imagine me being one of them! Hahahaha. Never mind. I'd rather go to sleep. :)))

First!!!
BLITZ! Congratulations on your graduation recital! I knew that the Lord will graciously endow you the confidence you needed to perform well, all for His glory! Thank you sa masarap na pagkain! :P
CCBC peeps! Thank you for coming!

Run through. Dugyot pa si Ian. Nag-ayos pa ng stage!

Judge Lily playing the violin during the first intermission

Couple of the Year! HAHA Tatay Ric and Nanay Gin :)

Looking good :)

Kuya Rein playing the guitar for the 2nd intermission

Ian and the CCBC Choir in action!

3 IDIOTS. hehehe

SEE? WE'RE BAREFOOT!

Isa paaaa!

Amidst all of the pain our feet experienced, we still took this opportunity to have a jump shot! HAHAHA

Sad face :(

Thank you Mia for my eye make-up! Winner!

Meet the Choir! :))

Isa pa!

Tenors and Altos

Pa-singkit from right to left. HAHA Me, Jaz, Mia
Caught in the act! Pastor Iggy and Papa..and me! HAHA :P
The breaking of the Cheese bread :))
2nd round ng pesto and cheese bread :))))

08 September 2011

A Worm According to the Book

I am a self-confessed book lover, "book worm". Reading books is one of my favorite pastimes. I have a wide collection that ranges from classics to reference books to sci-fi. In the future, when I have my own crib, I will have my own library. I do set aside some of my allowance for me to be able to buy some books. Some are given to me as birthday or Christmas gifts. Now you know what to give me. ^_^

But yesterday, I began to realize that I'm missing the best book ever to be printed. Yesterday, we studied about I Samuel 9-10 in church. I was very much amazed about the turn of events in the life of the Israelites. The author of the book is very excellent in taking into consideration the details. To make such narration requires such great skill. I began to take interest in reading and learning about the Old Testament. I would like to know how God's hand of providence worked in the lives of His people. Ultimately, I would like to see how everything pointed to the redemptive work of Christ. How I've been a worm ready to be devoured by the eagle, but saved by my Creator in the nick of time!

Now, I won't worry of not having anything to read anymore! :) Hope you find the Bible, especially the Old Testament, not only an interesting read but a way that God will let you know His will for YOU! :)

____________________
08sept 2011
late post. sorry! :D
-ara.janelle

01 September 2011

I need a reminder..

Today has been a very “impossible” day for me. I had 2 midterm exams which was very tiring (believe me! lots of hours for memorizing terms and names are just DRAINING!). And all I was mumbling the whole day was “Di ko kaya! (I can't do it!)” I was uttering prayers to God as every minute passed by and as I encountered a question and the answer just slipped out of my mind.

After my last class at 5:30pm, I can't believe that my day in school was finished. And I was pretty confident that I will pass my exams. Thanks be to God in whom my confidence is placed upon.

I thanked my family for their continuous prayers and support by cooking pasta for them. I'm so glad they liked it because this was one of my few attempts to cook pasta. :)

As the day ended, this day became full of possibilities. So instead of complaining and ranting, I'll just trust the Lord with all my heart, soul, and mind. In other words, with my EVERYTHING!

I SHALL GRADUATE THIS SEMESTER! :)