MAGINHAWA FOOD TRIP

I am not much of a foodie but I love to eat and I have always been intrigued by Maginhawa Street in UP Teachers' Village. I always hear a lot about this place and how it a haven for foodies.  So when I got an opportunity to wander around this area, I never missed to try out what everyone's talking about.

I have heard about BRGR: The Burger Project, but I thought it was somewhere else.  So when I met up someone along Maginhawa, it was right beside it. I invited my friend to try it out. You can actually create your own burger whatever you want in between those buns but I ordered the Western Bacon Melt. It's an overload of 100% beef patty, bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes, onion rings and thick BBQ sauce.

 Overall, it was great. The idea of creating your own burger is intriguing although one must be careful on what to put in so not to overwhelm the flavor.  Would definitely come back here, though it was quite pricey.

The Burger Project is located at 122 Maginhawa St.


I was very impressed that the next day I went back to Maginhawa and look for another place to dine.  I came by Jek's Ku-Bo Bulalo at Ulo-Ulo.  I was craving for some soup so when  I saw it's signage I told the tricycle driver to drop me here instead.  The place really looks more of a posh turo-turo. I ordered bulalo and some adobo flakes.  At P135, I think the bulalo which is good for two is kind of ordinary for me. Good thing though I ordered the adobo flakes which kind of save it.   But hey, overall its not bad at all. Though if ever I come back, I'll try that ulo-ulo.

Jek's ku-bo Bulalo at Ulo-ulo is located at #77 Maginhawa St.


Just a couple of days ago, I started browsing through the web on where to go next, and this caught my attension: Tinola sa Pakwan. I was like... what? how?  That is the specialty of the house of Roberta, Flavors of Asia. I told myself that is definitely next on my list and yes it was. I tried it out, ordered some bagoong rice and Calamansi sa Tanglad juice.  It was so good, that I had to order extra bagoong rice. The tinola is good for two up to three person but I finished the whole bowl by myself. It was so satisfying that I can eat that all year. :D

Roberta flavors of Asia is located at #45-B Maginhawa St.

This is just part one of my Maginhawa Food Trip.  While browsing the net I found a couple of interesting places that I look forward dining in.  Until the next foodtrip.

WHATTAYEAR

2013. What a year it has been for me.  Right from the start it was swirling downwards with being laid off from my work.  And then I lost my (now ex) girlfriend to reasons I really do not know until now.  It could not get any worse. After that I felt miserable, lived miserable.  With nothing holding me intact, I thought I was going to lose it.  Old habits return with bumming around and feeling hopeless.  It was my lowest point in my life (hence the lack of update also with this blog).

Depression. With things not going right for me, it was hard living alone in a cruel place like Metro Manila, especially when you’re kind of unstable. So I thought it would be best to just go back home, to Iloilo, where I am accepted, everybody loves me.  I tried. I tried selling my stuff to buy a plane ticket.  I have decided. If I stay here I’ll be haunted by the events that just happened.

Then I got a call from a company I applied to, I did not even remembered I went there. My mind was cloudy. I came with what was left of my wits. Thankfully I got in. I do not even know how I got in but hey who cares.

I needed to fix myself up.  So the little money I got from my sold things I spend it on my work documents and also pills to keep my sanity intact.  Damn I still feel low despite this.

Middle of the year, with a new job, slowly eased my mind. Got distracted. Got busy. Still felt alone though every time I come home and feeling the void every time.  I started cleaning out my closet, every nooks and corners.  Even though I am a sentimental person who usually keeps things, I decided to really clean up my place.  Threw away stuff that reminded me of her. But I must admit I really do keep things.  Anyway, I was starting to move on. I never know I could I don’t even knew wanted to but I just do spontaneously.

And then somebody came. It was not the way I wanted to meet someone, I do not even intended to get back into a relationship a couple of months away from my previous but I am the type of guy who grabs every bit of opportunity that crosses my path, so even though we got off on a wrong foot, I slowly got myself back on track. 

After sometime we developed into something more serious although I am still careful not to make the same mistake we decided to move into a new place, to keep me away from my past and start to move on with the new.

And now I got myself a new place, a little better than the old one. I am planning to get back into painting because the bare wall got me inspired to add a little of my touch of the place. Right now it’s a little mess because I do not have much things yet but little by little I will get this place just the way I wanted. I got a new partner hopefully things will work out just fine between the two of us even though the situation is quite complicated but will not elaborate on that. 

So 2013 was not that bad after all. I have moved on with the earlier difficulties and now I’m enjoying my time.  Thankful for all the blessings that have come to me and hoping that in the new year things will even shine brightly.  Happy New Year. 

It's Time

Is this life telling me that I should let go and move on. I guess what made it difficult was the reality that I am in a situation where in I don't know where I stand therefore I don't have the right to demand! What made it worse was the fact that everything was fine. Everything was going smoothly. Then all of a sudden I was left behind! I then began to question myself... "Was I not good enough to be loved?"... "Was there something I failed to do?" or "Was there something that I did to deserved such treatment?", a lot of questions left unaswered. I've been hurting a lot for the past weeks and I realized I can't be in this situation forever. This will be the last time I will let my tears run because of this. If something is meant to be then it will be.

LDR

Ano ba ang pananaw mo sa isang relasyon na walang kasiguraduhan?

Ang long distance relationship mahirap... masakit para sa dalawang taong nagmamahalan ng malayo sa isa't isa.
May mga taong pinipiling tiisin ang sakit dahil alam nila sa sarili nila na kaya nila, at naniniwalang may patutunguhan din ang lahat basta may tiwala sa isa't isa... yun ang mahalaga.
Pero sapat ba? Sapat ba ang tiwala para magtagal ang ganitong relasyon?

Ang pagtitiwala ay dapat may katumbas na tapat na pagmamahal.
Kailangan tiisin ang sakit... kailangan mong maghintay... kailangan mong mag tiwala.

Pero hanggang saan... hanggang kailan ka aasa?
Kung minsan umiiyak sa sobrang pagkamiss sa taong yun.
Hindi ka kayang pasayahin ng kahit sino dahil mas lalo mong nararamdaman ang sakit sa tuwing nakakakita ka ng magkarelasyon na magkaholding-hands at naglalambingan.

Nakakainggit hindi ba?
Na sana ikaw rin.
Na sana kasama mo sya.

Pero kaya pang tiisin dahil naniniwala kang kayo pa rin hanggang sa huli.
Dahil hindi mahalaga ang distansya para sa inyo kung ang laman ng puso nyo naman ay ang isa't isa.

Pero hindi lahat ganito, hindi lahat kayang magsakripisyo.
Hindi sapat ang telepono, ang Internet para mapawi ang kalungkutan.
Mahirap labanan ang tukso.
Mahirap pigilan ang sarili na magmahal ng iba.
Hindi maiiwasang mahalin ang taong laging nandyan para sa'yo.
Pero kailangan pigilan ang nararamdaman dahil may taong umaasa at patuloy na naghihintay sa'yo.

'Wag kang aasa kung wala kang tiwala.
'Wag kang mag paasa kung ayaw mo na.
Kapag mahal ka n'ya, gagawa sya ng paraan para makita at makasama ka.
Kung dagat man ang pagitan, tatawag sya sa'yo para kamustahin ka.
Hindi dahilan kung busy sya dahil kung miss ka nya, ilang minuto lang naman, magagawa nya.

Sa huli, sapat lahat ng sakripisyo dahil mangingibabaw ang pagmamahal nyo sa isa't isa.

Simple lang ang buhay... walang forever... walang assurance.

At the end of the day, true love can stand against all odds.

Kung naranasan mo man ang ganitong sitwasyon, "Kaya pa ba?"

'Wag lokohin ang sarili mo kung alam mo namang walang patutunguhan at umaasa ka lang sa wala.

Sabi na lang ng iba, "bahala na... kung kami, kami talaga."

Bear in mind,

"Fate brings you together... but it's up to you to make it happen."





thanks @itsmekriztinab

MT, Chapter Three.

So after 7 months, I've finally moved on to a new chapter. I always thought I'm going to make it there but things isn't always what we expected them to be. Sometimes, when you took a risk you have to be ready for all possible consequences. For 7 months I've made some good friends, learned a lot from it too. And now the time comes to move on. It isn't good to be starting all over again but I have to. I have to not just for myself but for the people I love. Going through the process again and hoping that this would be the last. I've learned to love my work because I have a purpose in life now, a goal that drives me to do my best for us.

So now, after a month's hiatus I'm starting anew. I hope and wish that this would be my last and will grow and prosper with them this time. Time for a new mindset in terms of work ethic. As always, with Aiza as the center of my drive and purpose, I will be better. This is not just for me but for both of us. She thought me how to be positive and optimistic in life.

I could sense a good set of people also with my new team so adjustment period would not be that difficult. A little of getting used to with a new account which is literally new to me; the rules and technicalities, but with a clear mind now everything will be alright.

Well, I just wish myself good luck with this new environment. Everything's gonna be alright.