Back to the Pilgrim City

I could have just waited another month for our semestral break and save all the money and effort in going back and forth to the province. But I've already allotted a part of my allowance for the fare and luckily enough, there wasn't much schoolwork for that weekend. So I pushed through with my plans of going home in Naga. It's September, you see. And on that particular September weekend, the fluvial procession of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, lovingly called Ina by the Bicolanos and devotees, was scheduled to take place.

Festival at the Pilgrim City

My experience of attending fluvial processions of Ina is always unique every time. The first one was way back during my high school year. I was with Mama and Papa then. All three of us were new to the tradition and so we didn't know where to go or what to do. And so, we merely followed the flock of people. We ran (yes, feel free to imagine!) from bridge to bridge, hoping to catch a glimpse of Our Lady's passing retinue. Needless to say, the riverbanks and bridges were packed with people and we couldn't see a thing. Not seeing Ina can already be a reason to feel down, but there was just something about hearing all those people present shouting "Viva Divino Rostro! Viva la Virgen!" in unison while waving their handkerchiefs in the air which moved me. Clearly, it was the voice of faith, filled with conviction and passion. It was, then, that I became a devotee.

Blabbermouth #02: Fake It Til You Make It

One of the things on my wishlist is to be able to spread book love. Although I may not yet be confident enough to cross that out, I'd like to believe I am already on my way to attaining that goal. This post, my friend, is about how I helped persuade my sister, Ate Elvy, to start reading too.

Before anything else, you must know that it isn't the easiest of tasks. My sister is what you call a skeptic (hihi online backstabbing at its best).  She doesn't exactly hate books; she just feels like reading a non-required material is too daunting a task. She said she prefer watching movies because everything is visual and you can already know what you need to know just by looking. The best part is that it will be over in two hours, unlike reading which can last for days unless you're a speed reader or a bum. But then again, this might only be my perception of her! >:D

What convinced her to give reading a chance came along when she went to El Nido. She happened to enter a bookstore and I don't exactly know what's in it which made her realize she would like a library like that in her future home. I only know of the fact that she took a picture of a shelf of books and made it her Timeline's cover photo. Kuya Amar and I jokingly called her a poser for doing so. This was last March. My younger sister, Joy, and I, at this point are already sharing thoughts and feelings regarding the books we read. If you remember, last summer was a proud moment of my life because I was able to read six books--the same number which I read for entire 2011. My Ate of course didn't join these conversations because first, we were in Bicol and she's in Manila, and second, because it's not her thing. Unknown to us, she was slowly becoming envious that we can discuss topics such as this. 

We haven't a snobbish bone in our body!

To solve her predicament, she started this Fake it til you make it project. This meant she will pretend to love reading just because it's cool, until she eventually finds the light and realizes how worthwhile this activity actually is. Of course she had to start with what's hip that time: Hunger Games. I didn't recommend it, because my inner conscience that is Bennard, said so. But she argued that she have to take baby steps. Point taken. Better than nothing at all, I mused. After that I think she read Fifty Shades of Grey, too, which again is not something I'd want her to read. By this semester, she began dropping by Booksale and other bookstores too. Her first purchase as bargain was Tracy Chevalier's Girl with the Pearl Earrings. After reading it, she borrowed Joy's copy of Eat, Pray, Love. After much advertising of the literary books and enticing her with our book escapades, I noticed that she seemed genuinely interested with what I am talking about now. (She used to roll her eyes, I swear, when I steer our conversation with these kind of topics!) She even participates, can you believe it? She is now sharing about the trips she made to Booksale, or about how she spent the day on a coffee shop just reading Eat, Pray, Love. Her recent books, you ask? She bought Dumas' Count of Montecristo and Marquez' Love in the Time of Cholera, books to be read after she finishes her currently-reading Pride & Prejudice. Now, doesn't seem faking, does she?

PS. She'll kill me when she reads this!!! But I'm not taking it down because I couldn't be prouder of her! *le tear*

Bye Bye Vacay

It's only yesterday when I found out that the names assigned to tropical cyclones always start with A each year, regardless if the last typhoon's name began with a 'P' or a 'W'. Of course I knew that they are named alphabetically according to the chronological order when they entered the country's area of responsibility--what's the sense of growing up in the province dubbed as Land of the Howling Winds if I didn't? But first typhoon of the year will always get names beginning with the letter A? I was clueless until now. Oh well, hurrah for the new trivia!

I mentioned this because, first, you may not know about it yet and you might, for some odd reason, find this information useful and, second, because Ambo is currently passing through the country, thus the heavy rains and delay of flights. There's nothing that says "your summer is over!" better than 2012's first typhoon on the first day of June. A reminder that, in a few day's time, I will soon be in the city again--back to my study-habit experimentation and in my professors' mercy. But the vacation has done a mighty fine job because I'll be facing the city again with high hopes and motivation, hopefully enough to sustain me until it is time to go back home again.

As usual, this post will be a--surprise, surprise--overview of my vacation! Get used to it, there is no activity I do better than looking back (and writing lists!).

First weeks of April were happily spent with most members of my family. Papa and Mama were home. Ate Glad, Kuya Nel, Lianne and JJ were home. Joy was home. Gwen and Maine spent weeks in Virac since Andrei's birthday until they went back to Manila for Raph's 1st birthday. Ate Yeth and Zye came over for some weeks' visit too. It was really fun! We spontaneously hit the beach almost thrice a week, spent Easter over the farm by holding a picnic, and watched Pasyon with the kids. On Maundy Thursday night, I even experienced the longest bike ride of my life so far: Virac to Batong Paloay Church in San Andres. I was with Kuya Nel, Ate Glad and Joy then. Another milestone, hurrah!

One of our planned beach outings: in Kinaw

With my girlies: Easter picnic at ze farm

Down to Luyang Cave: one stop during my longest bike ride ever

On regular days, Gwen and Maine oftentimes visit us at home and we did some cooking or baking. They will also play with Lianne and JJ (Zye and Ate Yeth already went back to Naga that time) and together, they watch movies. Sometimes, they will even sleep over! *happy tita*

Friday is Self-declared Holiday!

Because I want to take a break from studying first, and because I still have something to say, another blog post it is!

Last Friday was my self-declared holiday! Despite my scheduled exams on ChE 123 and ES 12 today, ChE 131 tomorrow, Kas 2 on Saturday, plus papers and exams, I pushed through with my declaration anyway! Mama stopped over in Manila (she went to Tagaytay) before heading home and so Ate Elvy and I arranged a lunch date. By 11:30, I fetched Mama from the bus terminal in Cubao and then we went straight to Ate's office somewhere in Buendia. We dined at Teriyaki Boy, and it was Ate's treat so I was giddy. I told Mama to order the most expensive meal. HAHA. >:D

And so my mom ordered this.

Seafood Teppanyaki

 I went for this because of the egg!

Gyu-Yakiniku Don

 My sister had this.

Curry Nasu Raisu

The service in that Teriyaki Boy branch was poor. But Mama liked their food so we will let this one pass. HAHA. Our lunch date was just so short, but quality time nonetheless.

Ate Elvy and Ma

Ma and Mae

Ma and her mango shake :D

By 5PM, Mama was already homebound.

Meanwhile, I went back to the dorm first to rest and then prepare again for another appointment: dinner bonding with Kalay roommate, Hazel, and neighboring friend, Twinkle. This had been our second meet-up for this sem!

We originally planned on having dinner at the Van Gogh Is Bipolar restaurant in Maginhawa but unfortunately, it was closed that day. :( The caretaker told us that the restaurant is not allowing walk-ins anymore; clients must inform the management beforehand. And so, we just walked and walked along Sikatuna Village to find a new place to eat. Ahhh, walking with friends is simply one of the joys of life!

Now, can you guess where we ended up? Gayuma ni Maria. Another concept restaurant in the best food hub in the metro. I have already been here twice, but it was Haze and Twinx's first time so I indulged them. Anyway, I don't know if we will still find a place to eat if we walked further.

The concept of the restaurant is, well obviously, love and potions. The place is dimly lit, which gives its intimate feel. Also, there are many cute and creative details all over the place which never fail to catch the diners' attention.

Details on Gayuma ni Maria's walls

Nice ambience

For the romantic touch

My roommate Hazel pointing at her favorite potion

Go on. Read it. I know you want to!

Enough with the place. Let's go to the food. For the past instances I went here, I haven't yet tasted something I can call unique to the place. Sure, the names in their menu are catchy--Rock Me Baby, Hinugot sa Tadyang ni Adan, Chinoy to the 7th Heaven, etc.--but as for the appeal to the palate, nothing special. Although I have to commend their desserts. If there's anything that will make me go back, it's their Beats Sex Anyday cake (which I ordered again this time). So yummy!

Twinx ordered this chicken with cheese on top. I like!

I Love You, Cross My Heart

Haze ate braised beef with mashed potatoes. I like again!

Secret Lovers

Mine's not too impressive again. WHYYY do I always pick the wrong things? Mine is cream dory which is supposed to be chocolate-crusted. But then, there's only so little choco, mustard taste dominated more. I did not expect that so yeah, I was disappointed again.

Once You Go Black, You'll Never Go Back

BUT! Let us not forget how heavenly their dessert is, compensating for the low points in our (or maybe just mine?) gastric experience. There's Beats Sex Anyday again. And now they already got mango cheesecake which they called Pacute. My tummy is now happy. :)

Pacute

Beats Sex Anyday

And here are our pictuuuuuuures!

And that's just the main course!!! Next blog post will be about another gastric experience at another fun, fun, concept place in Maginhawa. :) For now, I have to go study transport phenomena first so I could pass the course and become rich someday as chemical engineer and so to afford more galas in the future! Toodles!