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When the longing for authentic Pinoy dishes strikes in the U.S., Isla Grand stands ready to transport your taste buds back to the Philippines.

Carmina is traveling to the United States to spend time with her family. My dad planned a family gathering for Mother's Day at their favorite Pinoy restaurant . Since reservations aren’t possible, we arrived an hour early to ensure we could get a table for twelve before everyone else showed up. As my dad approached Isla Grand , the branch we visited in Pleasant Hills, California , the host at the door said they could prepare a table for twelve at five o'clock. Later, the server called my dad's name and guided us to our table. The place was bustling with people enjoying meals and celebrating Mother's Day. On our first visit to Isla Grand, I was captivated by the décor, noticing many native items that gave the place a fancy yet authentic Filipino feel. They usually have a live band, but unfortunately, there was no entertainment the night we went. My family had spoken highly of Isla Grand and encouraged us to try the Filipino dishes we’ve been missing from back home. Lech...

Sleeping Pattern


A week ago I have been having a hard time sleeping and I notice my pattern of my sleeping changing I would sleep at 2:00 AM wake up after one hour sleep or two end up turning on my internet and see who was online to chat with my California friends back home.

I felt someone was thinking of me because I seemed to be restless and my eyes we’re tired but for some reason I couldn’t shut my eyes to sleep.

There is a saying here in the Philippines when you have a child and they will be separated from you they ask you not to think of them.

I remembered a long time ago my in-law had visited a relative who had a baby living aboard. The baby couldn’t sleep on its sleeping pattern because someone was thinking of him and it had affected the baby. The baby kept crying and no matter if you’ve given them their milk or change their diaper nothing seems to help them.

The parent had to call up their in-law to stop thinking of the baby and all a sudden after that calls the baby was able to sleep normal all over again.

You are an adult you don’t know who is thinking of you not making you sleep.

After talking to my friends they are also having the same problem their sleeping pattern has changed because their life style has changed and no matter you make yourself active in your home you still can’t find a way to put yourself to sleep.

Sometimes it is just in our minds that make us feel this way and when we feel we have nothing to do the next day we end up delaying our sleeping pattern it changes our life and the time we eat our meals.

I am not sure if anyone is like me I no longer have the appetite like how you normally eat just that the time pattern of your meals have changed but as well your diet as changed as well.

You no longer feel you want to eat you crave for food but when it arrives you don’t feel like eating it at all.

I have friends showing me what meals they eat every time we talk every day sometimes you see their food looks better than yours and you feel like you wish you can enter their home just like magic.



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