Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from February 24, 2020

When Mom Violy spotted Crisostomo’s handwritten menu, something in her chest lit up: home-style lumpia, sinigang steaming in clay pots—could this be the comfort food she’d been missing?

Carmina informed Mom Violy that she would visit her home on Saturday, November 8, 2025. She asked if Mom Violy wanted to go out for lunch and mentioned needing to do some grocery shopping due to an upcoming big storm. Mom Violy suggested trying Crisostomo, a Filipino restaurant inside Robinsons Magnolia. Carmina forwarded the menu for her to choose what she wanted to eat, while Carmina already knew her order. I chose pork barbeque served in a set of three pieces with a vinegar dipping sauce. I skipped rice and opted for lumpiang hubad, fresh lumpia without a wrapper, topped with peanut sauce.  Mom Violy initially craved the classic Pinoy paella, but when it wasn’t available, she decided on sinigang na baboy with an extra serving of rice. A family member chose sisig with garlic rice. Carmina enjoyed her meal with Mom Violy and particularly liked the  lumpiang hubad , though she kept wondering why it had no wrapper. I explained that it’s called "naked" because it’s served witho...

Loot Bag

When I had arrived back to Manila and I was unpacking my belongings separate the ones that need to be washed. I had separated the shampoo, conditioner, bath wash soap, body lotion, soap, brewed coffee, sugar packs and tea bags that were given by the hotel during my stay. Each day my room was cleaned and they had replenished my supply I kept it to accumulate. I have sixteen employees who work for my parent in-law’s business and every time I come back from my trip I make sure I have something to give to them that looks like a loot bag of goodies. Funny Story: I gave four employee’s their loot bags that had either one tube of shampoo, hand lotion, chocolates, wafer cookies, brewed coffee with sugar pack and hard candies at night before I was going to sleep. Morning came and I went downstairs Manang V had informed me a funny incident that had happened to her last night when I had given her the loot bags. Manang V said, she didn’t really pay any attentio...

Reaching Out

On the plane I was watching Gilmore Girl’s One Year Television Series my all-time favorite show I realize how much a mother and daughter relationship they have together. I am thankful I have that kind of relationship with my mom this was the first time my mom and I didn’t argue or fight during our recent trip. My mom became expressing to me telling me what Yann is going through that I need to be there for her even if it means she had made a bad decision in her life. It was her choice and even if she is suffering making the wrong choice we can’t scold and question her surrounding because she is no longer a child. People make the wrong decision in life when they are desperate and feel so helpless. People fall in a trap feeling there is something there when in reality our brain has made it seem it real but only a fantasy. People fall to believe the past relationship and his family will fall back in place how it use to be even promised they have made. In real...

Chili's Restaurant in the Philippines

Who doesn’t love dining at Chili’s Restaurant? Whether in California or the Philippines, we still get to enjoy our favorite spot. Funny story:  Last night, my mom said she was craving a “kissadilla.” At first, I couldn’t figure out what she meant. Then I remembered there are some words she struggles to pronounce. She explained it was a Mexican dish with cheese in a tortilla, sometimes with meat. I told her, “Mom, it’s called a quesadilla, not kissadilla.” It sounded like she wanted to kiss someone! 😘 Steak Quesadilla I was craving chicken enchiladas, so I decided to try the soup version to satisfy my craving. It turned out to be really good and filled me up with just one cup. I had ordered my dinner, but my mom ended up eating most of it and brought the rest home. It was shrimp fajitas. My family ordered these appetizers: Calamaris Loaded Boneless Wings Smothered Chicken Burrito Inside the Chicken Burrito NOT SPONSORED. Check out...

Juty Free Philippines

Now that you are back in the Philippines and you have just arrived International you can shop at Juty Free Store located in the following branches: All you need to do is present your passport and boarding pass with you to state you have just arrived. They will give you this booklet and present it as you purchase your items at the cashier. You can use any type of foreign cash or credit card during your purchase. Make sure you visit any duty free stores before three days because there is an expiration date allowed. Time is limited and should be done early as possible. There is other duty free that you don't need to present your passport it is open to the public.

Day 6: Time to say good bye to Sydney, Australia

Staying in InterContinental was a good experience everything was all walking distance and it is not hard remembering where you need to go and come back to the hotel. I had test my mom to see if she would remember herself going back to our room as we kept going out and returning. Funny Story: In every situation you run into a funny story that comes by when I always travel with my mom and she doesn't mind me telling the whole world. No one is really perfect so I would like to share my laughter with you. We had transferred to another room because my mom complains that there is a bad smell in the room. We had been transferred to another room with a bell boy who's Filipino. My mom and the bell boy are talking to each other and all a sudden an Australia man holding a tray with bowl of fruits approach my mom telling her it is for her. Mom said, how much is the fruit? Australian man said, it is a complimentary. Mom said, why? Bell Bo...