Volante…

 brewed coffee is what made me love this place so much..and coupled with their truly satisfying dishes..bam!! it hits a spot! if there is one place that speaks of a true Baguio experience, then Volante it is.. its location has an interesting history in itself since it was once a cool place to be seen then, the Session Theatre..which boasted of digital surround sound back in my college days..a good movie was only whats shown in Session theatre before. thay have done a great job in transforming it into what Volante is right now, while one enjoys the yummy pizza and pastas, one can bask in the glory of Session Road, sip your coffee while watching traffic and enjoying a good book in one of its nooks.

What keeps me coming back? there’s a warmth to it that truly makes one feel how it is to be in Baguio, not the crowd and noise of the hovering mall atop the road.. thus i think it was just right for Volante to close up shop in the mall, better for it to have it’s own place and identity..it didn’t need the image of the mall to attract crowds, just its attitude and flavor is more than enough for people to come looking for them…

my Christmas story…

reality bites!!! and when it does, it really is a pain in the ass! the last post was two months ago on this blog…and for that period a lot of things happened in my life which gave me feelings of ” could’ve beens”….haayyy..you know..having regrets and always saying sayang.. but in the end, there always comes the acceptance part..and moving on..and thanking God that despite of the facts of life, there is always a chance to change track..for the better and improvement of our life..

My Christmas season for 2009 was something out of the extraordinary, but in the truest sense of the season..it is always something to thank for.. God has been good, and always He will be!!

my PIUC family..

as i fondly remember them…how? in the summer of 2005, my hubby’s boss then, offered me a job at the university..was a bit apprehensive since i felt it wasn’t the right time to leave our baby..Ethan was 5 months old that time..thus me and hubby sought guidance from Him and prayed that if the job was really meant for me, everything will come into place..after weeks of waiting for the results, i got in..thus we made plans..that if we were to work, then where we lived should be nearby..so i we can still take care of Ethan and work..with our siblings by our side, we were able take turns babysitting..and the boss was understanding enough that we were able to bring Ethan to work with us..me and hubby worked in the same building but two different divisions..it was also a blessing that EJ was well behaved and slept a lot..so he comes to office in his heavy-duty Graco stroller with the works..diapers, wipes, food..no milk? got my breasts..no prob..(=;

so here i was working for the International Relations Office of the university..it was a newly opened division thus it had only one staff..and since the boss headed the PIUC project, i roomed in with the PIUC staff..thus began our experience just like a family.. my first weeks at work was “warming up” to those who have long been there before me.. in time i learned to go along with them..three of us were moms so mornings would be spent talking about our kids’ escapades and household work, sharing recipes and food discoveries as well as “tipid tips”… the two moms were years ahead of me thus it was really a blessing to have known them during the course of rearing our EJ….not all days were sunny for us, there were conflicts and misunderstandings..but above all was the love and respect for colleague.

Single ladies abound in the office then,  one had to leave for the US, replaced by a funny and boisterous gentleman who along the way fell in love, got hitched and now has more kids than mine..talk about true love! it was always something to look forward to if someone invited the whole gang for lunch of dinner..there was also the time when we just got tired of the usual fare for lunch that everybody just decided to eat at Cafe by the Ruins..hehe! so off we went in the middle of the day.. and always there was Mam Klonds, not minding if we were just staff, she opened the doors of her home to us for a hearty lunch or snack..and with overflowing coffee..who could forget her! Her birthday was something to look forward to in the office..her family always prepares food for everybody..that was how she will always be remembered..by her sincerity and kindness..

as the years went on, some had change of plans maybe due to the needs of his/ her family thus they had to look for better opportunities..others stayed and me had to stop and take care of my child..but along the way we still remember each other, coming together in birthday parties of our kids, birthdays of some but most of all i have learned the importance of having friends from all walks of life, that if we be sincere to them..they will also be loyal friends …for life..Cheers to you my friends wherever you may be!!!

Lip Service…

is what i remember most out of the experience we had the last time, it always bugs me when people or businesses advertise what they do and use all the best adjectives to promote themselves. But, come the event itself, it falls so short of one’s expectations….sheeeesshhh!!! why can’t one be sincere? it’s better to outdo what you have said that fall short …know what i mean?

like in this “famous” hotel, the marketing gal was all nods of approval to the requests the couple had for their affair, then come the dinner reception…omg! their sound system totally ruined the couple’s first dance!! me was so pissed! because we were imagining them lovebirds to be dancing to a classic tune, only to be told by the gal that our laptop was not compatible to their audio system!!! whaaattt!! your website says it can do and hold almost anything in it’s hall? but the simple audio system is not working right? and what did we get? they ended up playing the song “thank you” all thru out the night!! and the gal even said it was a song by jim brickman….when it was sung by a girl…this is a true experience thus i am so angry and frustrated by the lack of competency and sincerity these people have..

oh by the way, please check your website and seriously do some corrections on your grammar, you honestly think you can sell yourself to the hotel patrons with these kind of feature? ..what gives for me you say? first of all, THE COUPLE PAID BIG BUCKS to celebrate in your hotel, the LEAST you can do is serve them right..by what? making their celebration a lasting and memorable one..to be passed on to friends and relatives..that they had a great experience at your hotel..that is the best way to MARKET and ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS…..

Weaning Twice…

Breastfeeding is one thing dear to me..it is one promise that i made when i decided to get married..to breastfeed my kids until such time that they are able to get enough of it. Thus me and hubby decided with the eldest Ethan that breastfeeding him until the age of 2 is quite enough, and so we did also with Troy.. now he turns 2..and so here we are again in the process of weaning..so far the results are quite what we expected and we hope for it to gradually set in.

The joys of motherhood don’t come that easy..Pain, anger and frustration can set in..thus the condition ” post partum syndrome”. But if you have prepared yourself for motherhood, then surely you can always dance with the tide..With a lot of prayers and support from family, i believe it has encouraged me a lot in going thru breasfeeding..

Selflessness is one virtue i learned thru my course of breastfeeding my two babies in 5 years..that in order to care for them, one must give more than what is expected..to think about their health, the benefits they can get for being exclusively breastfed and economical benefits too. Friends would always have a common comment for me..that i’ve gone FAT..it’s because i have chosen not to go on diets post-partum because i needed all the energy to breasfeed..fatty acids found in breastmilk are essential in the development of a child’s brain and whole body..how can i produce a good breastmilk if i go on a diet?..and so you have it..from my pre-marriage weight of 55kgs..i went up to 65kgs and i haven’t felt so bad about it..because i know i am doing a good thing..not for me..for my precious kids. I can always go back to my ideal body weight, and in time i will..

For first-time moms, please breastfeed your babies not just for a month or two..if you can, then do it for a year!!! stop thinking about going back to work and having to formula-feed your child! do it for the sake that you chose to be a mother!..stop thinking about other people’s comments or ideals…find it in your heart to care for your child with one thing that only you, a MOTHER can give…

i have a dream..

that one day i will have my coffee shop!!

and i know it will happen, it shall promote locally grown beans, yup Benguet & eventually Cordillera- grown varieties..and shall do justice to brewed coffee the way it should be..pure and simple…food shall be pasta and sandwiches..made from locally grown ingredients..

….in His own time, it will be..

my bliss in the mountains..

had a chance to spend a weekend in my parents’ home..it was such an experience for me since going on a trip with young kids in tow require a lot of preparation..not just physically but also mentally…had to psyche one’s self that dizziness and a lot of throwing up will really occur during the trip.. thanks to the much improved halsema highway, them van drivers breeze thru it with ease..

so after a gruelling 3-hour ordeal, finally we reached our home in the mountains..what peace and relief!! it is so good to have a brief respite from the busy life in the suburbs..to go up the mountains and suck up on the pine tree scent all around, to sit down and slowly sip your coffee whilst listening to the putter of rain on the roof tops, to relish simple home cooked meals and most of all, the “kumustahan” that follows therein..these are the joys i find so priceless, no amount of work hours can replace and no amount of money can ever pay..when the day came to an end, my son was excited to sleep on the floor in the living room, it’s a thing he looks forward to everytime..then as Sunday came, all got up to hear mass at 7am, and it is also Market Day thus it is a good time to avail of the local produce..one routine for my family i learned is that sunday was “rabong at saluyot” day..If there is one delicacy that you can serve my father anytime, it will have to be these tandem..yup, simple joys for my Papa!

funny moment was when Ethan said he wanted to play the white game (Wii for you) which made me n hubby do the “stare” and ended up telling him the Wii is for the other house only. Then genius kuya Christian brought out his handsewn ball matched with a piece of firewood..lo and behold..baseball in the mountains..yup dearies, ingenuity maketh a man..

overall it was a worthwhile trip, being with loved ones and best of all..having a renewed sense of being..looking forward to my next one..cheers to life!!

Mama Zhen turns 70!

What a milestone! and a rare feat these days, a Mother of three Mothers and a Father celebrated with style…her daughters successfully pulled off a surprise party for her..lucky mom! and lucky for them daughters to have such a caring and ever so loving mother.

whilst rehearsing for the Wedding Anniv, we were also into helping map out plans for Mama Zhen..by taking out her old photos and creating a  slide show out of them..memories of her younger days, working with colleagues here and abroad and enjoying the fruits of her labor..her lovely kids with their own families..and at 70, she still got the moves!!! dancing the night away with her siblings, friends down to her grandchildren…

what energy and love a mother has for her family, thru the years she has been a fortress, supporting and protecting her brood thru all their trials an celebrating with them in their tribulations.. truly she deserves her throne for the night and be honored as she celebrates her day.

..cheers Mama Zhen! 

wouldn’t have missed it for the world…

overwhelming….!

i believe is what describes the events that transpired for the past week which moi and hubby have been invited to. It’s not everyday in our life that we get to be witnesses to a Golden Wedding Anniversary…and be part of it, as we sang for them! oh what joy one feels for the couple!

For the times the group came together to rehearse, overall it was a worthwhile cause..seeing the Jubilarians (as Fr. Benny calls them) march down the aisle with much love. Together for 50 years, they have raised responsible and successful children. They have gained good friends,  have lent a helping hand to their neighbors and are model citizens of the community.And still going strong, and working despite of being retired in their respective professions..As their eldest daughter narrates, she now understands why the couple insisted on celebrating their anniversary in the home country despite the numerous churches found in California, here is where they have their lifetime friends, the family was almost complete, the people who have been part of their lives were all here…their mom still chose to receive blessings from a friend priest in the country, thus the arrangements made one year prior to the occasion..oh, what love!!!

Despite of having the sniffles and a sore throat, me still sang for its my way of praying for the couple (as my hubby would always say: “singing is twice praying”…) ..Dinner followed at the BCC, it was a splendid evening, food was great but wasn’t able to enjoy it though,…my nasal passages didn’t give me the privilege to enjoy the aroma and taste of the feast..darn!!..oh well, there will always be some other times to enjoy the BCC.

..it was really an eye-opening experience, a testimony to a great marriage, which got me into thinking…hhmmm..50 for us?…only time will tell, and God be the guide.

…cheers Ma’am Rufy & Sir Nony!!

Igorot food….

Today i had a VERY satisying meal at Cafe by the Ruins…what i had?..pinikpikan!, and oh my it was deliciously made, with watercress and kinoday…yum!yum! The soup was oh so tasty that i kidded my tita..”nalipatak pay ni lakay ko!”…Yes people, that is how an Igorot feels about her food…and what are other foods enjoyed by us highland people?..there is Pinuneg, the native sausage, Kintoman, our fragrant red rice, Etag or salted meat, Kinoday/Kini-ing or smoked meat..and of course my favorite…Coffee..brewed coffee..my fave mix is Benguet/Barako…according to a recent study i chanced upon in Yahoo, coffee makes you fit..so it’s better to have it plain with just a bit of sugar and brewed coffee tastes better with brown sugar or muscovado, no creamer or milk..and it’s known to contain lots of antioxidants..Just one of the times where one can really sit down and enjoy a slow cooked good meal..

Ethan’s first formal school…mixed emo of a mom..

How time flies…my deary Ethan is in kindergarten!!! yup people our firstborn is officially a schoolboy now! whew what excitement we have..days before, nostalgia hit me(boo-hoo! the crybaby i am..) that my baby is gonna be in school now, meaning no more unidivided attention for the mom& pop..now his time will be between school, home and play..yup LOTSA PLAY..its the one thing that we don’t deprive him of. Yes dear parents out there, play is an essential part of growth, allow them to play and play with them the best that you can..because time will come they will be so busy they won’t have time for you..Then you’ll tell yourself “i should’ve talked and played with my kid more…”

Back to my Ethan..a funny thing happened today..just when The Hubby thought he was all set to enjoy lunch, as he stepped into the frontdoor that he realized..he forgot The Kid!!!! horror of horrors ! (for The Mom!), my husband forgot to fetch my kid from school!! i was all like “how could you!!! %@!!!..then, off he sped to the Little Flower to pick him up.When he arrived in school, Ethan was playing in the grounds, only after teacher Jony gave his lunch..oh what relief! thank goodness for kind people! And of course the school wouldn’t just let them out of the compound without the proper person to pick them up. Nice policy i should say. Then they came home, me & hubby looked at each other and i can sense how sorry he was. Oh well, the things that happen along the way of parenthood..gives you the feeling of excitement and scare at the same time, butterflies in your tummy..All is well that ends well!

an Igorot stared at death in the face….

TUesday morning on my way to work, my taxi figured in a head-on collision..huh!! yes dearies, i had the scare of my life watching an Innova come straight at us in a one-way flyover which had “no-entry” signs posted over it.

im okay by the way, just bumped my shin on the frontseat, but anyways going back to my story..so there was I and the driver dazed at  what had just happened, so shocked i couldn’t even get out of the taxi, had to gather my wits for a few minutes..then  i texted my tita at the inn whom i was supposed to meet. she came to my rescue right away, then texted also The Hubby who got so worried but assured him i was fine..Oh my!! it was the first time for me to encounter such, it was a shaking experience..had both drivers been on full speed, only God knows where we’ll be right now..

They say taga-Manila daw sila, their first time in Baguio City and on their way to La Trinidad, probably to visit the Strawberry Farms. Said they never saw a sign saying it was not allowed to enter, when in fact there was a HUGE sign that says so..Talk about responsible driving, well i hope they learn a lesson from us Igorots who are responsible people. Had it been a jeep that they crashed into, more lives could have been burdened.It is irritating for people who come up to the mountains and make it a reason na “taga-Manila” daw sila!! so what!!! aside from entering one-way zones, they make u-turns where it is not possible, honestly you guys are the ones responsible for traffic jams in our city! accidents too! and then you display yourselves so arrogantly! you call whoever it is in authority to patch things up and then make it look like us Igorots are the ones ignorant of laws,how shameful! Adding up to this is the insult you always inflict on us even when you are already stepping on Igorot land..my!my!my! But adding up all this, it won’t topple our pride of being a tribe, for one we Igorots can always adapt to any culture and society we get into, but you Manila people can NEVER, EVER blend into any culture other than your own, which can not even be called a culture. Ti Igorot uray ipalladaw mo ijay Manila wenno America ket maka-blend in..nu taga-Manila haan da ammo makibagay ti dadduma. haaayy!!! 

MY family always takes the taxi when we go out, i can never be thankful enough that I was alone when it happened. Not with my precious kids and Babe..Most of all, am really thankful to the Lord for shielding us from any worst case scenario that might have happened…God is good! All the Time!

the pain a mom has to endure..

Happy Mother’s Day to my fellow mommahs!!!..but why the title?..oh well it’s because it’s been the red flag for me for days now..and its beginning to take its toll..headaches…cramps..and my dear Troy who is having teething pains soothes it by biting when feeding…ouch! ouch! ouch! double ouch!!..just some of the pains that we have to endure, and live by..because it comes with the choices we made..which by the way, i’ll always stand by…

when non-singers release an album…(?)

yup, thanks to Filipino ingenuity (again!), it’s only here in our Lupang Hinirang do you see people who all of a sudden release a CD or album..without us even hearing them belt out a tune…huh? anya kanu?!.. 

it’s them people in the entertainment business er.. “sio-biz”.. who have ventured into whatever income generation they can think of..using their face… to market an album supposedly a collection of songs that “inspired” them..in respect to professional singers..i think it’s not a fair move…what do you think fellahs?!

LaSt SoNg SyNdRoMe…..

why is it called such?..we had a good laugh watching the “Mel&Joey” episode last Sunday…not because of Joey’s antics but of the ingenious rendition of a popular rock song to the tune of a ballad…HUH???!!!….anu yon??? It was the guys from the BUbble GAng segment “IyoTube”..(harharhar, nice name sez highland people…(=;) …ladies and gentlemen,,,,,Moymoy Palaboy!..they have a CD…but then there’s no harm in searching for it in Youtube..after all it’s where they got the idea for the segment…so, my hubby enjoyed the song very much that up to this moment….theirs was pure talent..a testimony to the talents us Filipinos have..na kapag wala ka na ma-compose na kanta, make a version!..

of debuts and coffee..

its 1am in the morning and here i am wide awake…and dazed from the creaminess of a latte..Gloria Jean’s..

me and hubby witnessed a wonderful event just last night..it was our cousin Erika’s coming of age..yup!yup! she’s 18!!! and what warmth and love one can witness as we look at their family..was particularly touched when the Pop shared his wisdom, it was truly a GREAT moment..not a boring party i say…and the MOM was shy on words…BUT….great in deeds!!! just look at her kids! ika nga sa ating mga pinoy…magalang at mabait mga anak..which is a rare feat these days..i can only have good words for the MOM and POP for raising such kwela but mabait kids…may there be more parents like you are… and of course! wouldn’t enjoy such moment if not for the good heart of my Babeh!!! yehey!!! you’re the winner of my heart talaga!….

and one thing i learned, don’t trust the one behind the desk, always talk straight with the person in charge…ok na sana ang Hotel Supreme if not for the ill-mannered people they put as front-liners, they are the ones putting your business below the ratings…what if a well-moneyed Igorot farmer comes in and asks to be served? would you shoo him away just because he wears muddy shoes?….lo and behold! hope you won’t judge your customers by the way they dress, but by the way they will pay you for your service…because after all, it’s where your damn salary is coming from! you are in the HOSPITALITY industry for crying out loud! 

i miss my Baby!!!

oh my! the weather isn’t so good today, and Ethan is having a nasty cough, had him drink Meptin last night and this morning…then off to work i go..my Babe joined me along the way coz he was doing some errands..had a good laugh while in the jeep..then it was bye-bye time.. these moments i miss alot, just the two of us having nasty time having a good laugh out of silly things..the weather makes me nostalgic, wishing i’ll be with my Babe for a longer time, lingering and savoring every moment…

a chance encounter of the good kind..

wednesday morning on my way to work, upon boarding the Baguio-bound jeep i overhear two gentlemen talking in a different dialect turns out it was Visayan. judging on the look on their faces, they were not sure of what route they were taking. Thinking i can help out, asked them ” saan ba kayo pupunta?”, they say ” sa bus terminal po”…and the story goes on..

they are visitors from Cebu, came to Baguio to perform in a concert, huh? what concert? it was at the Baguio cathedral…hmm..then i ask them what’s the name of their group.. my was i surprised to learn they are from a prestigious singing group down south..then came the introductions, they are working professionals and singing with the group at the same time, nice of them to be in such form of art..and a blessing too.

so back to their supposed destinations, one was going to take a bus down to Manila so he can make it to his 7:30pm flight to Davao while the other was going to Aurora Hill where he was still billeted..so me planned a quick solution then i suggest it to them, but still there was that puzzled look on both faces like “uh, saan po yun? malayo po ba yun?”…then i say..”what if we ride a taxi, i’ll help you out ..” and they accepted so off we went..

good thing a kind driver came our way, so off we drove first to AH to look for the house and then when he was sure of the way, we dropped him off then off to the bus terminal..Along the way, the guy left behind kept on saying thank you and how kind people in Baguio were, as we talked he asked if i was purely from Baguio to which i replied “yup, puro ako..Igorota.” then i added “because Baguio now has a mixture of people like Igorot, Ilocano, Pangasinense, Kapampangan, Muslims and even Koreans!”. Then he went on to praise Baguio and its people, nice to hear such things from a visitor.

At the terminal,  saw to it that he boarded the bus before me scrammed…then off to my workplace…then me thought, oh well it’s not everyday that you meet such people…lost and unfamiliar..and be of help without second thoughts..and what a wonderful experience it may be..

why i blog…

there are things in life that are better written than said…….. better typed than gossiped..   

this is me…

is what “sak-en na” means in my dialect, kankana-ey.. 

these are my thoughts, the things that run through my mind each day, my inspirations in life,everything i want to write about..