Starfee: My Smile Inspiration

I read some of my past posts and duhhhh!!! I was emotionally drained after! I'm so glad I'm over those self-inflicted drama : )

And from this day on, no more sad nearly heart breaking posts! I wanna inject lots of positive vibe on this side of the world! :)

Starfee

And from this day on also, everytime I'm tempted to write something not good for the heart, I'll think about Starfee, my niece's favorite toy, which I got from Manila Ocean Park last year. And imagine her (I assume it's a she because it's pink. Hehe.) dislocated eyes. Doesn't she look so funny? And happy? 

I wonder why she's smiling so big and her eyes got rolling like that. Maybe she got dizzy counting her arms? Or fingers? Or tentacles? Haha! Whatever they're called. 

Starfee - my inspiration to keep smiling!

Yummy Gensan: Pizza at Coco's Grill

Tasty crust topped with tomato sauce, lots of meat, tomatoes, bell peppers and other vegetables, and sprinkled by generous amount of mouth-watering different cheeses! Oh yeah! Raise the roof for PIZZA!

I'm no food critic. I don't know so much of food texture, consistency, etc. But it's in Coco's Grill that I've found the best pizza in town! The crust tastes so homey unlike others which taste so fastfood. Plus the non-usual toppings! Definitely a must-taste! :)

Hickory Chicken BBQ

This here is a personal favorite. The grilled chicken is definitely superb! I'm no fan of spicy food but this one has just the right spice in it. Love it!
                                   

America's Favorite

                                             
This one's my family's favorite because of lots of meat and cheese on it (And to sort of have a feel of America. Hihi..)

Coco's Grill is on my list of new flavors in Gensan which I bet would turn out to be Gensan's favorite in no time!

Location: J. Catolico St. beside KCC Mall

Yummy Gensan: Pandesal at Gaisano

Are you a General? Not that some rank in the military. Nope! I mean, are you a citizen of General Santos City? There goes the nod now :) Are you a true blooded General? Oopss. Why do I see a raise of an eyebrow and a scream on your mind, "Well but of course!" Really? Here's a test. Have you tasted Gaisano's pandesal? There goes the big nod! Hey! Congratulations! You passed the test! You truly are a true blooded General! :) Who does not have tasted that hot yummy pandesal, right? Even people all the way from Sarangani maybe and other parts of South Cotabato have tasted it.

This afternoon, about 3 o'clock, I had to do some errands and the nearest mall from where I was, was Gaisano. So I headed there at once. Then I happened to pass by its bakery and thought of buying pandesal. I love bringing home pandesal but I didn't get to buy from Gaisano often due to geographical reasons. It's just so far away from home! Like 30 mins... sometimes, at peak hours, even 40 . So I had to grab the chance to get my beloved pandesal!

When I reached the bakery, people were as if in chaos. Everyone had a basket on one hand and a tong on the other. Feet on their mark and faces like predators were ready to attack. The view of the prey got clearer to me as I also came nearer the bakery. The prey? The hot aromatic freshly baked PANDESAL!

People on all walks of life were fighting their way into the layered trays almost reaching the ceiling! They all looked so cute! Hihi. I was smiling the whole time. After making my way through the crowd, I finally got my own pandesal. Good that there were still few left for me.

Next? I had to get to the line for the payment counter. I was surprised! I've never seen such a line so long on counters! "Am I in NBI getting a clearance? Am I in NSO getting my birth certificate?" But people didn't mind waiting! All for the love of pandesal!

Other bigger malls and bakeries have pandesal, too. But why are Generals coming back for Gaisano's pandesal? Hmmmm... Well maybe because the bakery is open for the people to choose their own bread unlike others which have the glass windows and you only get to pinpoint what you like. (With not so customer-friendly salesladies sometimes). In Gaisano, you can take your time. You can get ensaymada and meatbread. Then you can change your mind. You now want to have pan de mongo and pan de coco (Do they have these? Hehe). Then you change your mind again and finally settle to just having the tinapay na bato. :) Feels so at home because you can take your time without discussing and dealing with anyone or anything but your own love for breads! Maybe that! What about you? What do you think?

This is my first post for the series Yummy Gensan which will feature the familiar and the new delicious flavors of General Santos City! Yey! I'm excited! :)


Can you share your own favorites with me? 

A Letter For The Birthday Girl

Dear Ate My,

Seeing you taking risks, finding what you truly love, and pursuing all you heart's desires make me admire the woman in you more. And as I see you becoming more successful and happier in this chapter of your life, my heart celebrates with you!  

 

I'll always be glad feeling your heart in content and in fulfillment. And as more of your dreams come true in the year ahead and still in the coming years, let it be known that my heart will keep celebrating with you :)

 

 

Years and miles apart aren't hindrances of me loving you. :) I love you te!

Happy birthday to one of the most fabulous woman I've ever known. ;)

For The Love Of Hats

Summer came to mind. Then I thought about the beach. Then I thought about hats! I was hoping the next thing that would come to mind was food. :)

How gorgeous hats for summer can be. Then I found world class hats here. How creative and resourceful and excellent Filipinos can be! 

  

  

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I hope pretty quality Lucban hats like these will be available on this side of the world! :) 

Happy Easter

Holy Week 2012

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        "The motivation was love and the motivation was you."

A Year Wiser! :)

Now I believe the saying that wisdom comes with age... Because today I turned a year older and I feel that I'm wiser! :) Wiser in different aspects of my life. Thank You Father for a year of blessings that was and for yet another year of more blessings! :)

I spent my day with family (as usual) going out and eating out (something new). Every year, I spend most of my day with myself in reflections and with my family in dinners at home. But this year, I took them out for a change! :) 

With an aim of getting more organized and healthier this year, I gifted myself with these

Undies Organizer (via)

Shoes Organizer (via)

These are my first ever tangible purchase online. I'm loving online shopping! :)

... and this

A Juice Extractor (via)

My first carrot juice was super love! More juicing coming up!

Thank you to everyone who greeted me - those who texted, called, and left messages on FB. I'm so overwhelmed with all the greetings. Thank you for all the looooooveeeeee!!!

Happy Birthday Master Laiza!

My sassy girl friend Laiza is celebrating her 20+ th birthday today! :) I call her Laizee because I usually give a little alteration on my friends' names. (Wala lang. Feel ko lang. Hehe..)

We met a year after my first year in MSU. My first year was in 2007. So the year after was... Uhmm... 2007 + 1 = 2008! Yes! We met in 2008. I couldn't remember the first time we talked but I do remember how we became friends.

Every girl in the office were married except me, Ate My, and Laizee. And maybe because all single ladies like to have fun, the three of us clicked! And not only that! We're all Aries girls! I really think it was destiny :) There was always girl bonding moments! Love that! As the cliche goes, the rest was history.

The Sassy girl I know is a master.

1. Master Buddy

All the pics were our adventures and misadventures before her leave to study in Manila.

2. Master Joker

I laugh even when there's nothing to laugh about. Haha! She wonders why I laugh at her statements.  She says something and her friends break into laughters. I really think she's funny even if she's in doubt of that. Haha!


3. Master Eater

(It's surprising that I can't find evidences of her eating so much!)

She eats a lot! She can eat 3 or four cups of rice in one meal! But she doesn't get fat! Yes, the world is sometimes unfair. When we all have to watch our carbs, here comes a girl who's a monster eater but her body is like that of a goddess.

4. Master Traveler

She goes everywhere and does everything she wants. It's her goal to go around the Philippines. See her adventures here.


5. Master Adventurer

She likes to do things that are out-of-the-box. She likes to try out everything!


6. Master Tita/Sibling/Daughter

She's a loving, cool, and supportive daughter.

7. Master in IT

Yes! You read it right. That's why I'm calling her a master in everything else that she is to cue this very significant achievement she received recently. This young fabulous woman has now her Masters Degree in Information Technology from Ateneo De Manila University. Congratulations Laizee!

8. Master Lover

She's a certified master lover of LIFE!


And she's still more than what I've enumerated above. Words... even pictures cannot express how wonderful the person that she is. I love you Laizee!

Happy Birthday to a woman of beauty and brains :) (Parang Miss Universe lang. Hehe..) See you soon!

MSU-Gensan's 33rd Commencement Exercises

I dedicate this post  most especially  to my very first students in the university - the BS Mechanical Engineering and BS Electronics and Communications Engineering students. It was a Monday of June 2007. My first class at 1:00 - 2:30pm was with the BSME and the next class at 2:30-4:00 was with the BSECE. As  I entered the room, I felt strong energy of eagerness to absorb so much. They seemed to be sponges in my eyes. Top students coming from top schools in General Santos City were seated before me and ready to give their best.

In the one semester that I've handled them, I knew they were at their best, freshmen at that. I was really impressed with their performance that I even had to gather more references to be able to offer them more.

And after 5 years, they have finally hit the finish line! I'm as proud as a parent. You all hold a very special space in my heart.

And some even finished with flying colors! 

Here are my other students who are Cum Laude's, too. 

Your grades and medals may not be your real weapon to face the real world but these are your gifts to yourself, for all the hardwork and to your parents most of all for all the sacrifices, love, and support they've given you all your life.

God bless you all on your board exams!!! Make your parents and alma mater even prouder!

I'm sooo proud of all of you!!! Big hug for everyone!!!

This year's commencement speaker was no less the Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

Photo courtesy of Alma Aguja

I remember the first two things that he stressed out. 1) Always do good to everyone. You can never go wrong in doing so. And 2) Always strive for excellence.

I was with no pen and paper then (which I regretted). I could have written his other points, too. He spoke briefly. He delivered truly for the graduates and not for himself, for any project, or for anything else. 

And the most significant moment that morning (well, at least for me) ...was a photo op with the senator! (Talk about a simple girl who melts when seeing a celebrity. Hehe). But nope. I was not alone with him. We were in a group. 

Everyone was trying to get a photo with him that I got shy asking him for my turn. I had several chances because we were at the backstage seeing to it that the ceremony was doing all well. And he was passing by me several times! But when I got a chance, my knees trembled, my lips sealed, and my feet were as if nailed to the floor! :)

Anyway, here's the photo.

Photo courtesy of Rhumer Laniojan

The consolation? I was beside him! :) See that? The Senator then me then all the other people who seemed to be not existing that time. Hehe.

Ok. Enough Ems! Snap out!

Going back to my normal state of mind, this year also I became part of the Protocol Committee of the Commencement Exercises. And as I have written above, we were assigned in making sure that the guests and the ceremonies were all at the right place. And the people on the photo are the other reputable members of the Protocol Committee.

And here are other photos of us.

Photos courtesy of Alma Aguja

A successful event indeed!

A salute to all the graduates and the faculty!

Daydreaming Saturday: Beautiful Beds

It was such a hard week's work - checking final exams, computing grades, pondering on some considerations before finally filling out the grading sheets, and facing the down-hearted students who failed. That was one not-so-good time of every semester. I'm so glad it's over. And so I'm shaking it off! Shake it off! Shake shake shake it off! (...with shoulder sways to the left and to the right.) I can sleep soundly already. I'm dreaming of these beautiful beds. Hmmmm... Sweet dreams come to me...

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