After Hubby and I went to 168 shopping mall last Saturday, we decided to take a break, so we had coffee at Starbucks Intramuros. I was hoping to get a decaf but guess what!? The barista wouldn’t want me to! He said it would be bad for the baby (I’m on my 26th week already). I tried insisting (since Hubby was already seated on our table), but he was adamant of not giving me one DRINK! LOL!
So, I ended up with a Chocolate Chip cream-based drink that day.
Yes I was happy (but not that happy!) with my drink but while drinking I realized that yeah, that guy has a point. 
And they actually care!
Anyway, Starbucks Intramuros was a very nice place. It was cozy compared to some cafes that we’ve been to. A bit small but I liked it since there weren’t much people or students around. Probably because it was a Saturday. They were able to preserve the walls which were made of stone. I loved the location too which was at the corner of some street.
We will probably go back there once I give birth and drink all the coffee I want! LOL!
Starbucks Intramuros
15-A Puerta Isabel II, Muralla St. cor. Magallanes Drive, Intramuros
Manila
Phone Number: (63 2) 527-4282
Open from 6:30am to 11:30pm, Monday to Friday, Open from 7am to 12:30mn, Saturday, Open from 8am to 11:30pm, Sunday
for this blog that is, is to post our travels outside Manila. It’s not much but these trips are pretty exciting so it’s definitely worth posting here! I have also plans of traveling outside the country soon, probably in the next few years. It may be in the United States or Australia. Depends on the budget really.
I guess if we travel to Australia, there won’t be any problems because there are a lot of websites out there that offers accommodations, flights, and packages. One that I stumbled upon is the last minute accommodation wherein the prices are not bad at all. They also offer last minute flights and I mean these are really cheap flights.
You see, these are the things that I have to consider when we travel one of these days. Time, budget, comfortability of our travel (since we are traveling with babies), and most importantly we will have a great time!
I was giddy with excitement when I saw some bread at our dining table last Sunday. I just love breads these days and when I found out where it came from, I got more excited!
It was some bread from Sonya’s Garden! What a treat. Our friend brought us some sesame bread and Spanish bread. The bread was oh so tender and I almost finished the whole thing! I got to try the spanish bread this morning and boy, it was definitely yummy!
They sell different types of bread at the Panaderia like kalihim, ogoy-ogoy, putok, monay and so on. Then there’s Sonya’s cheese-flavored rendition of the Chinese hopia made with pure parmesan. They also offer specialty cakes such as, rich chocolate cake and Lola Liling’s Sans Rival.
Going to Sonya’s is definitely worth the trip!
Sonya’s Garden
Barangay Buck Estate, Alfonso, Cavite, Philippines (near the vicinity of Tagaytay City, Philippines)
For reservations: call or text +63-9175329097 or +63-9175335140
Email: info@sonyasgarden.com
Website: http://www.sonyasgarden.com/
*Photo from Sonya’s Garden website
Since it’s already August and I am giving birth in a few months, Hubby and I decided to do our early Christmas shopping. We wanted to buy cheap (but good) items so we ended up at 168 Mall. This mall located at the heart of Divisoria along Sta. Elena and Soler Streets. It houses various stalls offering all kinds of commodities, from novelty items, bags, shoes, toys, hardware, RTW’s, DVDs and others.
We (or should I say I) had a blast shopping for shirts that cost only from p50 to p280. And these are in good quality! Small bags that I will be giving away this Christmas also costs only around p45 because I bought it in wholesale price. Yes, you can get cheaper items if you buy more!
One of the things that we didn’t find there though was this DVD for Alex that includes counting, alphabets, and more. I was able to buy a hamper for Baby #2 and it only costs p100! I just hope it would last for years. Would you believe that it was our first time in this mall? That’s why when we got there, we were surprised how big the mall was. We will definitely go back there next year for more shopping!
Hubby is one of the biggest fan of The Journey band especially now with Arnel Pineda as their lead vocalist. He has been watching their shows in YouTube.com for weeks! And he is watching the same video all over and over again.
And now, their first album is already out!
Cool huh!? Hubby will definitely get one soon! This two-disc collection, Revelation, is released locally by MCA Music.
Disc 1 includes the following songs:
1. Never Walk Away
2. Like A Sunshower
3. Change For The Better
4. Wildest Dream
5. Faith In The Heartland
6. After All These Years
7. Where Did I Lose Your Love
8. What I Needed
9. What It Takes To Win
10. Turn Down The World Tonight
11. The Journey (Revelation)
Disc 2 includes:
1. Only The Young
2. Don’t Stop Believin’
3. Wheel In The Sky
4. Faithfully
5. Anyway You Want It
6. Who’s Crying Now
7. Separate Ways
8. Lights
9. Open Arms
10. Be Good To Yourself
11. Stone In Love
Hurry, get your copies now! (*wink*)
*Photo from here.
Are you a fan? You can see her live at her “The Best Damn Thing 2008” concert on September 3, 2008 at Araneta Coliseum.
Here’s what I got from ClickTheCity.com:
After three years, Avril Lavigne surprises her fans as she comes back to Manila for another concert, titled “Avril Lavigne - The Best Damn Tour” happening at the Araneta Coliseum this coming September.
Avril’s upcoming concert which is set this September will showcase hits like Girlfriend, When You’re Gone and Hot from her recently released album The Best Damn Thing which has sold more than 5 million copies by the end of 2007.
This Grammy-nominated Canadian rock singer/musician was also behind the hits Complicated, Sk8er Boi, I’m with You, and My Happy Ending.
Araneta Coliseum (Quezon City)
For ticket inquiries, please call (63 2) 911-555.
P10500, P6750, P5250, P2850, P1400, P600
September 3, 2008. 8PM.
*Photo and details from ClickTheCity.com
On August 29 and 30, Jomar Hilario will give the Truly Rich Hands-On Internet Marketing Workshop. Why hands-on? By the end of the workshop, you will already have a working website that will start earning money for you.
Jomar Hilario is the young man who sold P2M worth of tickets for a concert—all done in 30 days—just by using email.
Have you always wanted someone to guide you step-by-step on how YOU can earn from the internet? Then your prayers are answered. On August 29 to 30, the Truly Rich Club is offering a two-day, hands-on, Truly Rich Internet Marketing Workshop.
You will get the following:
• Set up a system to earn US dollars online – semi passively.
• Duplicate this system so you can earn more – and faster – from your home!
• Set it up so you only need to maintain it for as less frequent as once a month!
• Set up another system to earn even more using client lists.
• Sell to your client lists using an online store.
• Collect money from your clients by giving them a service or a product (even if you don’t have one)
• Promote anything you do on the internet –and doing it “automatically”.
• And finally: Do all the above even if ALL you know is how to set up an email account!
For the Internet Marketing Seminar under the Truly Rich Program, they offer it for the insanely low price of P9750 only. This fee includes 2 powerful days of intense learning and hands-on training, your seminar manuals, with 2 lunches and 2 snacks.
For more information please email Beckie at beaconlightevents@gmail.com or call (632) 722-9562 (Tues-Friday 9am-6pm) to reserve your slots. Seats are VERY VERY LIMITED - - so hurry! They also offer early bird discounts of up to P500 per person. Call or email now!
To read more about this workshop click here.
I AM NINOY
An Exhibit Commemorating the 25th Anniversary of Benigno S. Aquino Jr.’s Martyrdom
August 19 to 28
The Alcove photo gallery
Benigno S. Aquino Jr., the
man Filipinos remember fondly as “Ninoy,” was born in Concepcion, Tarlac, on
November 27, 1932.
Ninoy was a leading opponent of President Ferdinand Marcos. He was the man who would
have been president if Marcos had not declared Martial Law and forced Ninoy into
exile. But when Ninoy returned to Manila after living in the United States, he
was assassinated at the Manila International Airport.
Ninoy’s death on August 21, 1983, struck a chord in the consciousness of the oppressed
Filipinos, leaving them with a resounding thirst for freedom. His death was one
of the pivotal events that led to the People Power Revolution of
1986.
Know more about Ninoy and the values he upheld through a display of photographs at
The Alcove photo gallery. The exhibit can be viewed from Tuesday to Saturday at
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
For more details, please call 892-1801, e-mail cruz.ct@ayalafoundation.org, or visit www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph.
A trip to Bicol will never be complete without tasting or bringing a Pili Nut. I didn’t grow up in Bicol but I have learned to love this nut ever since I got married to Hubby. His Mom grew up in Bicol and they would go there thrice or four times a year. And when they get back, I would look forward to some pilis, everything fresh from Sorsogon.
Salted Pili Nuts
Fresh Pili Nuts. Yummy!
Market Manila has described Pili Nut as this:
The pili tree (Canarium ovatum Engl.) is indigenous to the Philippine archipelago and grows primarily in the bicol region. It is an extremely hardy tree and its fruit is somewhat jurassic in appearance. pili fruit The fruit (often called a nut but is technically a drupe, according to Doreen Fernandez in Fruits of the Philippines) is about 5-6 centimeters long and has a think black skin when ripe. Under the skin is a fibrous (hairy!)greenish pulp. The very hard pointed shell houses the oily and yummy nut within. It is the nut within that most Filipinos think of when you say Pili Nut.
I have to admit, I haven’t really learned to love the fruit itself, but the nut I can say is to die for! You see, I love all kinds of nuts and this one definitely is in one of my lists.
The Bicolanos cook their Pili in different styles such as, sugar coated, with salt, Buding - which looks like a bucayo, the one that is cooked like a pastillas, and many, many more.
I still have years to appreciate the fruit (which is usually cooked by just boiling then eaten with a patis), but for now, I will give my share to Hubby and his siblings first and I will get their share of the nuts. 
Well, according to Faye, I’m a kick a$$ blogger!
Do you know any bloggers that kick ass? Maybe they’ve got incredible, original content. Or they’re overflowing with creativity. Is it someone that helps you become a better blogger? Or a bloggy friend you know you can count on? Or maybe it’s someone who simply inspires you to be a better person… or someone else who sends you to the floor, laughing your ass off. Whatever the reason may be, I’m sure you know at least a couple of bloggers that kick ass. Well… why not tell ‘em so? LOVE ON ‘EM - Choose 5 bloggers that you feel are “Kick Ass Bloggers” - Let ‘em know via email, twitter or blog comments that they’ve received an award - Share the love and link back to both the person who awarded you and back to www.mammadawg.com - Pass it on! To get the code for the image you can go back to mamadawg.com - don’t forget to link up the person who nominated you for the Kick Ass Blogger Club.
And now my turn to nominate the following bloggers to the “Kick Ass Bloggers” : It’s Joy, Aggie, Jody, and Thea!