There's Always A First Time: Chef Arch's Lime

A friend invited me over to try Chef Arch's Lime last night. It sounded familiar.

That's when I recalled my ex-officemate who happens to be a friend of the co-owners of Chef Arch's Lime. He recommended this place to me back in 2010 since it's near my place. And I didn't know what I was missing for these past two years.

If you're into streetfood (but prepared in a classy way), 90's music, and wouldn't mind dining in an old house without air con, Chef Arch's Lime might just be your perfect neighborhood hangout.

Here's what we've tried so far:

We've Got It All For You: SM City San Pablo

It was only recently when I've realized how true SM's slogan is. Indeed, SM's got it all for you.

As I needed to renew my passport, I had to secure an NSO copy of my birth certificate and my parents' marriage certificate. I was dreading it since that would mean I have to deal with government employees again. I originally thought of getting one in NSO's branch office at the Makati City Hall. The main requesting area queue is relatively short but the long queue awaits you at the cashier. Good thing, my friend saw this SM Business Center in Megamall offering various government-related services such as NSO documents last week. The queue was short. I was able to request and pay for the documents in 15-30 minutes then was told to come back in four days to claim it.

Last Saturday when I went home to our resthouse in Alaminos, Laguna, I was looking forward to see SM in San Pablo City, Laguna. It was a relatively huge mall in a province such as Laguna.

Back Home: Alaminos, Laguna

Last Friday night, I went home in our house (now resthouse) in Alaminos, Laguna to get some of my personal belongings. I just thought that it would be best to check on it before the house gets sold or my sister eventually decides to buy the house once she gets married.

I was excited to see the house since I haven't visited it for two years now. Amazed by our landscape of huge palm trees and these two giant pine trees, I couldn't wait to see the rest our garden the following morning.

Iconic Lolas in Philippine TV and Film

this photo from photo4asian reminded me of Vice Ganda

Last Friday night, my friends and I watched and made fun of Jolina Magdangal's (now Mrs. Mark Escueta of Rivermaya) wedding video created by Bob Nicolas. Aside from entertainingly annoyingly watching Jolina in her Tinkerbell-inspired wing, and cringing with her cheesy wedding vow, we started naming the invited celebrities we saw on the wedding onsite video.
 
Of course, Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo was there, even Gibo (Gilbert Teodoro, Jr.), Mel Tiangco, and among other not-so-famous and long-forgotten celebrities. Then we saw this veteran actress from Mara Clara (playing Clara's mom) whom I've recently seen at Banchetto-Pioneer. I couldn't recall her name but one of my friends said her name is Vivian Foz. I said no, because Vivian Foz is mestiza.

Vivian Foz in sepia

Curious About: Pomegranates

My friend and I did some grocery shopping and she showed me this strangely familiar fruit, the pomegranate. I immediately blurted, "We call it granada in our province in Bicol." And then I asked her, "Do you know how to eat it?". She said no but bought it anyway.

So, how do you eat a pomegranate? Here's what I've found in Google.

• Cut the crown of the pomegranate (previous flower bud)
• You may either cut the pomegranate in half or score the rind in several sections
• When scoring the rind, slightly cut through it and gently peel it off
• Gently pop out the seeds (relatively similar to corn kernels)
• Others immerse the pomegranate in cold water while popping out the seeds

So clearly, you don't eat the rind & flesh... just the seeds. =)

Facebook's Timeline Is Giving Me A Headache

What's with this Facebook Timeline?! It's really giving me a hard time navigating around it. Grrrr...

Somnium: December 23, 2011

photo from Bear Medicine Walker

It was quarter to four in the morning when I was awakened by a strange dream. As I try to recall the details of which, it dawned on me... It was my brain's way of creatively putting together small details in my encounters I've had for the past few days into a mystical story.

The dream began in what appeared to be our previous house while I was still in high school. There were a lot of people in my room who were most likely my high school friends (I couldn't see people's faces very well). It became chaotic when their present boyfriends arrived.

As they try to enter my room, I was panicking... trying to find for my cherry red bra... only to find out it was hanging by the door knob.

The Search For The Best Lechon In Cebu

I've been to Cebu thrice. The first two trips were just in transit to Bohol and the third trip I had just recently was a three-day stay in Mactan.

On my first day, my aim was to try Cebu's famous lechon. Prior to my trip, I already did my research and in most of the reviews I have seen, people claim that CnT Lechon is the best. Excited, I took Moevenpick's free shuttle service and asked the driver to drop me off CnT Lechon near SM Cebu. I didn't have a hard time finding it as it was just across the street of the mall.

Certain For Uncertainty

Many employees nowadays are too scared (or too busy) to resign and to explore other opportunities. Perhaps, I'm one of those few who's not afraid (but equally busy) to entertain nor seek a better opportunity.

For me, it is an opportunity to experience new things and start afresh. I'd rather take the risk than dwell on something that I already know. It's a matter of choosing the lesser evil -- in that case, it's uncertainty.

Epic Storm Ondoy (Ketsana)

nearby warehouse flooded waist-deep

Mandaluyong, Philippines -- A horrific experience brought about by the epic storm Ondoy (Ketsana) last September 26, 2009.

Food Tripping In Boracay

Aside from basking in the sun and enjoying the white sand beach of Boracay, food tripping has always been my past time whenever I go here. Here's what I've tried so far:

There's Always A First Time: Business Trip Gone Solo

SLEX en route to General Trias, Cavite

Christmas was nearing when my client's sister company laid off hundreds of employees at its Philippines plant. As part of the company's retrenchment program, the company hosted a job fair and livelihood seminar for the retrenched employees. Thus, I had to solely attend the five-day job fair to man the booth and screen potential applicants at its the plant complex in General Trias, Cavite.

Grandma At 26

Whew! Good thing it was just my dog, Keema. I'm such a proud and happy grandma! =)

The Sweetest Thing...

A guy friend once posted a testimonial for me which definitely tickled my heart...

Although it seems that this girl is unapproachable and could reduce a male's ego into atomic proportions, exert an effort. Who knows? She might notice that you are real and does exist. She is quite sweet/thoughtful and soft to the core. I found out actually that her principles in life are better than those who attend mass every Sunday. All these makes her the perfect companion for long talks at the nearest Starbucks. Yes, she didn't notice you at first, because she was stranded in her colorful world. But now that you're in, I bet you'd never think about leaving. - M. Lim, March 22, 2006 

I never thought men could be this so eloquent. :-)

Musings

A love so real may be wrong in the eyes of many…
How could you leave someone when you still want that person?
I don't want to tell a lie but I can't tell the truth.
Love is evil. It hurts and it kills.
Who knows what is right and what is wrong?