My Simple "Kare-Kare"

KARE-KARE or Philippine Stew is one of the Filipino's favorite dish. The stew is made up with peanut sauce, vegetables and shrimp paste. The meat could be beef, chicken, goat or oxtail. There are different ways on preparing kare-kare but I choose to have it simple.

New Garden for New Year

Good bye to year 2010 and welcome to the New Year of 2011. The New Year has finally come and everyone is happy to face the New Year with good vibes. Many are trying to make this year more fruitful and progressive.

One of our neighbors really loves taking care of his garden. Last year, he retired from his work and since then; he spends most of his time at home. Mr. Cruz used to have a busy lifestyle. He used to have a life with many things done in a day but since he retired from his job, he thinks that he must continue being active and fruitful. He should have done something in a way to make himself more useful at home.

Mr. Cruz likes taking care of plants and flowers before but since most of his time at home, he spend most of it for making new garden and landscape for his different varieties of plants, flowers and orchids. I could never imagine living in a house full of flowers and plants that gives beauty and colors into your eyes. Beautiful flowers and plants really give beauty in a simple house especially when placing it in nice outdoor planters.

Mr. Cruz never let inside his house empty with his plants and flowers. He thought of bringing some of his best is like bringing good vibes inside his house as well. My parents and other homeowners nearby gave him different sets of indoor planter and outdoor planter as their Christmas present to Mr. Cruz. Last year, the homeowners association awarded Mr. Cruz for having the most attractive house in our neighborhood.

Mr. Cruz is one of a kind person. Never think of himself useless, instead he makes himself busy and useful to become more fruitful for this new year. A person could be fruitful in some ways when choosing life to become one.

Anniversary at Seablings Seafood Restaurant

Today, we are celebrating our 3rd year of wedding anniversary. Hubby and I decided to celebrate it at the side beach restaurant. Seablings seafood restaurant is one of our choice for tonight's celebration.

Our Food

New Year at Monte Richi Beach Resort

Today, we are grateful to have an ample time to share with family together. Monte Richi Beach Resort is one of our choice of our outing.

Monte Richi Beach Resort is an hour drive from Cagayan de Oro City. This is one of the newest spring pool and beach resort located in Danao, Jasaan Misamis Oriental.

The Cottages


The Spring Pool

The Beach Side

Christmas 2010

Merry Christmas

Preparing for noche buena for our Christmas family gathering is quite tiring but our happiness makes all so perfect. Thank God for giving us another year to celebrate Christmas in our house with abundant blessings and good health all through the year.

Machang at Mandarin Restaurant

Another day to have time together with family to go out for fun strolling at the mall during these busy days of holiday season. Many spend time to shop and to buy presents for their love ones . This time we went out to window shop and buy some stuff for Paolo's Christmas party.

After a long day of strolling around the mall, we gave ourselve a nice dinner. I have taken picture of my favorite "Machang". Machang is made up of sticky rice, chicken, pork, egg, dried shrimp and other stuff which I don't know how to discribe. Machang is like Spanish Paella but in Chinese version of preparation.

Shrimp, Flour in Egg Recipe

Another menu for breakfast. Shrimp with Egg and flour is one of our recipe for breakfast. This is one of my favorite dish and I would like to share it with you.

Small shrimp (washed and drained)
egg
minced garlic
flour

Nursing Course

One of the most in demand courses here in the Philippines nowadays is nursing. There are lots of people I have known who have taken nursing and who dreamed to have the best for living after graduation. Most of them are taking their studies too serious for they know how expensive this course is. It is really my dream to become a nurse before but because of our financial instability my parents cannot afford to send me to school taking up nursing. So then I decided to shift for another course which has leaser in expenses.

I really like to see nurses wearing in white uniforms for they represent themselves neat, clean and pure. I have been to hospital this recent month and I felt a bit happy to see nurses who have taking care of me at their complete uniforms, nursing scrubs and scrubs clothing. I was too weak when hubby confined me to the hospital that time but when I saw nurses who greeted and smiled, the whole thing they did helped paved the pain I suffered.

This second semester some of my friends celebrated their graduation. There are some of them would prefer to take the nursing board exam the soonest possible but some would prefer to have nursing review before taking the board. Nursing course is not just those snappy scrubs clothing and neat uniform but it also requires brain in order to pass.

Philippine First Celebrity Sole Survivor

Congratulations to "Mr Nice Guy" Akihiro Sato for winning the first Philippine celebrity sole survivor.

For the past months me and hubby are avidly watching the Survivor Reality TV Series of GMA7 every Mondays to Fridays and last night was the final voting for the sole winner. There were 18 celebrity castaways who stayed in an Island fighting for the price for 39 days.

Christmas Season of 2010

SM CDO


SM CDO


SM Christmas Tree


SM CDO


LKKS Christmas Tree


LKKS CDO


PSC Christmas Tree

Anywhere I go, Christmas season is all over the place. My friends, family and relatives are all busy preparing for parties and even family gatherings for Christmas. It is a tradition of the Filipinos to gather during Christmas or even new year's eve. This is the only time when families are complete during the gathering. I have taken some pictures.

Philippine Sinter Corporation tour

Philippine Sinter Corporation is the world's largest steel makers. My brother happens to have their field trip inside PSC and I served as the chaperon. It is my great privilege to see by myself how the company operates and they had us the chance to watch videos about the company. From Cagayan de Oro City we travelled for more than an hour by jeepney the school rented.

The Month of Thanksgiving

Eagerness for others to share in something speaks volumes of one's appreciation. Our gifts serve much the same way. When we give money, time or any material possession we are sharing with others what we are thankful for. And so our act of generosity is an offering of thanks in and of itself.

As we, the follower of Christ, we were commanded to give thanks. That command of giving thanks is on the same level as the command breath. Our gift of thanks has the potential to produce thanks also in someone else.

On the one hand, our gift itself is an expression of thanks. One of the clearest ways to express gratitude and admiration is by sharing with others. When we find a new song, a new book, or a new food that we enjoy, and are thus thankful for, we aim to share it with others.

When you are compelled to give thanks do not pass over generosity. If God blesses you with a job, an unexpected gift, or a good return on an investment, give and be generous. Your generosity has the potential to double the thanks given to God.

Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao

The Best Boxer in the World

Manny Pacquiao is definitely one of the best boxers in the whole wide world. After beating and ruining the face of his much bigger and heavier opponent, he really showed that he is the best fighter in todays generation. Receiving his 8th title in the boxing world, what more he has to prove to show the world he is the best. Many boxing fans wish Pacquiao to face Floyd Maywether jr. in the ring but the fight depends on Floyd's decision. Pacquiao is open now for fight to anyone in the ring. Manny is not just the best boxer but he has the humble heart in which the Filipinos are very proud of. A real fighter who gives great honor to all Filipino people around the world. He made people in the Philippines very happy and proud to be a Filipino.

Christmas Season

Christmas season is fast approaching and people are busy buying Christmas decorations and presents for their love ones. In our house, I decided to buy early to avoid rush and I wanted to feel the Christmas season as early as this moment. I have taken some of the pictures of my decors.