From the monthly archives:

December 2007

2 Days Before 2008

December 29, 2007

in Films, Food, Friends, Life, Music

This probably would be my last blog for this year.  Early this morning I was reading all the posts (blogs, uploads, etc.) that I did since I signed up for Multiply on July 12.  While I didn’t write everything that happened the past months, my friends, anyone who wishes to reach out and of course myself can clearly get a glimpse of how am I by reading these.  Well, except for the posts that are only shared to my contacts. =D

As I look back, these are the stuff that I can immediately recall, that form part my 2007.  In bold face are those that I have blogged/uploaded:

<2007 Sees> I mentioned that I am not a moviehouse bug but I managed to see a few at home:

Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo (in cinema), Cars, Monster House, Love Actually, Spiderman 3 (in cinema), Art School Confidential, Chocolat, Enchanted, Cinderella 3, Daddy’s Little Girls, Underdog, December Boys, High School Musical and Euro Trip.

I am planning to catch Lust Caution, One More Chance, and a random pick before the year ends. =D

<2007 Reads>  Aside from Marie Claire, a few issues of Yummy and online subscription to The Guardian and NY Times, I savored on the pages of three must reads:

*In The Meantime, The Alchemist, Acts of Faith

My first three for 2008 (I have actually started reading one) are recent gifts from special people:

*The Power of a Praying Woman from my bestfriend, 50 Greatest Love Letters of All Times from Rhea, and Teatime Stories from Lorraine.

<2007 Eats>  No doubt I am a foodie. Not to mention the fastfoods, other food hubs and the number of times I ate at the following:

Krispy Kreme, Binalot, Tapa King, Pasta Works, World Topps, tsoko.nut, Club Grubb, Hap Chan, North Park, Big Buddha, World Chicken, Krocodile Grill, Triple V, DADS, Piquant, Mexicali, Oliver’s Super Sandwich, Starbucks/Figaro/Coffee Bean, Cravings, Ice Monster, Samurai, Cold Rock Ice Creamery, Apartment 1B, Ebun, Kanin Club, Marta’s Cakes, Cupcakes by Sonja, The Old Spaghetti House, The New Bombay Restaurant, Roli’s, Razon’s of Guagua, Czarina’s Gourmet Apples, San Fo Treats, The Sizzling Plate, Max’s, Mary Grace, Mandarin Wok, Chocolat, Pupung and Friends, Kalye Juan, Pao Tsin, Popeye’s, Pancake House, Tea Republic, Century Seafoods Resto, Sugarnot, In Love With Sweets, etc.

<2007 Hears> Ana Bolivar Sings the Hits of Carpenters and Warwick, MJ’s Number Ones, Inspired, Starbucks Collection, In Love With Manilow, Sax Plays Bossa Nova, Piano for Lovers Volume 1, Reggae in the Mood,  Sounds of Nature, New Wave Series, The Elegance of Pachelbel, Christmas Albums, etc.

<2007 Life>:  How I wish that I have started blogging 5 years ago!  Better late than never.  I have shared bits of my personal life despite my wanting to maintain my anonymity.  My life definitely had ups and dows and turn arounds.  But, it has always been and will always be beautiful.  While I am not asking for more,  I am just so beginning to feel and see a more wonderful new year… because that is my choice!

Happy holidays and God bless, everyone!

 

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6 in Two Weeks

December 28, 2007

in Films

I can hardly catch up on movies and gladly I was able to see six movies at home the past two weeks.  300 and Transformers came out as suggestions in this post that I wrote in first week of the month.  A lot is in queue but I selected these randomly not singly based on my mood:

High School Musical:  It is like the original Grease or is Grease the new High School Musical? =D  I loved the movie, it is so teeny and songs are great.  A feel good film.  The lines that rock?

Gabriella: When I was singing with you, I just felt like… a girl.

Troy: You know, you even looked like one too!

Underdog:  The concept is so Pinoy or Filipinized.  Not just talking but a flying dog this time.  But the execution was well done.  Fairly entertaining.  Catch this story of humble superhero doggie.  Not Superdog, but Underdog.

December Boys:  This is an Australian film and no wonder that most of the scenes were shot in Kangaroo Island.  You would be surprised to see Harry Potter, err.. Daniel Radcliffe in a mature role here.  Kissing, smoking, running in almost skimpy shorts with the other boys.  Why the title?  Because he and other three friends in the orphanage are december celebrants.  70% of the film bored me.  The story showed a number of acquiantances and sad goodbyes and the final part could melt your heart.  Perfect finale.

Daddy’s Little Girls:  This is supposedly a comedy flick but I was all out bored.  Don’t see this.  A waste of time.

Euro Trip:  This is a cult film but I found it hillarious!  Also, the title served well its purpose.  A euro trip by American teeners meeting misadventures along the way till the main actor, Scott, met his “penpal” (harhar!) in Rome but not in Berlin.  Expect to see some flesh taken into rated funny scenes.  Catch this!

Cinderela III:  Every femme kiddo (and those young at heart) loves Cinderell-y!  There was a twist of time when the magic wand fell into the hands of the wicked stepmother of Cinderella.  Her stepsister Anastasia almost got married to the Prince who was under spell.  But Anastasia was a kinder but equally ugly (!) stepsister that she never wanted to tie the knot with someone who’s not really into her. 

What have you seen lately?

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The past three days were a whirlwind.  This year was one of the few instances that I spent christmas in Metro Manila.  While it is a tradition that the whole clan do get together for the new year’s eve in Laguna, before christmas some of my dear ones chose to observe this special occasion in this crowded city for a change (wink).   We started with Trinoma moments last saturday, followed by Star City rounds the next day.  We did a considerable preparations for the noche buena on the following day plus the endless chit chats, movie marathon and pigging out at home.  On christmas day, after hearing the mass, we spent the whole day through an eating marathon and sharing of personal experiences the past months (years?) - catching up on each other’s lives.

Well, I have to say a tempo bye-bye to my festive mood and vacation mode from December 26  to 28, hello, workaholic!  The streets are not so busy and I just so miss the unregulated hours.  This week, I am expected to meet up with several friends … with the thought of someone leaving, almost everyone is dying to see you (harhar!)  I seriously hope I can grant all the invites.

So, how are you doing lately? =D

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Ready for ride all you can + Snow World + Dino Island.

I rarely went to Star City.  My first vist here was in December 1995 (I recall some part of the park as soily) and second was in December 2005, both for the sake of spending precious times with good friends.  I am good to last at a maximum of three hours in my visits until we went here last saturday and surprisingly, I lasted from the park opening at 1:00 PM and left at midnight.  That was an hour before the closing.

I favor Enchanted Kingdom (EK) despite the distance from Metro Manila because I can breathe more there.  I find Star City so crowded.  That goes with the way the attractions are put into places.  And I don’t think that the few  minutes “traffic” experienced by the riders of Space Shuttle had greatly affected the theme parks popularity.  On the other hand, the untoward incident in Wild River of Star City was easily forgotten by the patronizers, too.

As you read this blog, you can find out for yourself why Star City is still one of the best theme parks in the country depsite that it is not free from flaws.

This season, Zyklon Loop (Space Shuttle’s counterpart) is temporarily unavailable due to maintenance.  Good news, though that there is the newest attraction this year.  And I so believe that this is better than EK’s Space Shuttle:


The Star Flyer was imported from California in time for Christmas.


This is the first inverted roller coaster ride in the Philippines.


Feet up!  Woooohoooo!


Star Flyer at night.

While in December 2005, they offered Ice Age as one of the attractions, this year’s version is far, far better than that.

Presenting the Snow World:


In a -15 degrees centigrade sphere. =D

Loved the group slide!


68 meters slide.  The longest slide in Asia!

Dino Island is also one of the newest attractions this year.  The children and those young at hearts should see this.


Moving replicas are inside.


It says, “The world’s biggest skeleton.  A smaller skeleton is displayed in the museum.


More old-aged displays are inside.

Aside from these new attractions, there is more to see here:


The Surf Dance in the afternoon.


At night.


Wild River.  A stricter precaution this year.  For 4 1/2 feet and above patrons.


Well, EK’s jungle log jam is far better, that is classy, than this.


Galactica.  I won’t ever appreciate riding while standing and being whirled.


Aka Wheel of Fate.  I forgot how they call this.


Entry point to Time Tunnel.


Old to present times.


Bumping would always be fun!


Even on the waters!


Flying carpet.


Viking.  I was screaming to the max here!


Blizzard.  A variety of roller coaster.


For all ages. =D


A gimpse of Never Land.  You will be looking down here from the second floor.


If you want a break from all the riding…..


See this.


Loved it.  It was so relaxing.  You would be seated in a round boat and it turns automatically
while you ”reading”, err.. seeing Little Mermaid’s characters.  Nice!


Not better than Little Mermaid.  Perhaps I’m too old for slow train riding while seeing the characters.


The Grand Carousel.


One the creatures inside The World of the Giants.


If you don’t have the courage to get to the adult coaster like rides, you’ll be fine here.


Dungeon.  Not for the fainthearted.


Kooky enough?


One of the thriller houses.


Teaser.


Star City is in Sotto Street, CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City.
Park schedule:  monday to friday: 4:00 PM onwards;
saturdays, sundays and holidays: 1:00 PM onwards.
Related videos:
*Surf Dance
*Flying High
*Star Flyer_night

Holiday rates:

Entrance only:  PhP60
Entrance + Snow World OR Dino Island:  PhP160
3 Cheers:  PhP250
Ride All You Can (RAYC):  PhP300
RAYC + Snow World OR Dino Island:  PhP375
RAYC + Snow World AND Dino Island PhP450

Regular rates (cheaper by PhP50, entrance is the same) will resume on January 7.  Cameras and videos not allowed in Snow World and Dino Island.  (Hey, don’t ask me how I managed to take photos.  Will tell you in my individual posts re:  Snow World and Dino Island).  Happy holidays!

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San Fo Treats

December 19, 2007

in Food

san fo treats

San Fo Treats, 2F Paseo Center

I got my first piece of caramel apple (the nutella one) of San Fo Treats from Fun Ranch stall in Glorietta.  I shared it with four pals.  While they were so impressed, I was not at all.  Well, the point of comparison was there as I did a feature on Czarina’s gourmet apples already. But I decided to have a second try when Rhea and I met in Paseo Center last week for my Apartment 1B treat.

choco sprinkle

Choco sprinkle, PhP80

mallows php25

Mallows, PhP25

I got mallows and choco sprinkle this time.  I didn’t like the mallows at all.  Go for Czarina’s for the same price, and try their wafer, too.  Much, much better.  On the other hand, San Fo Treats apple tasted better this time than my first try.  Compared with Czarina’s, their apples are more affordable, easier to eat as there is only a thin caramel coating (or sugar coating?!), but not that crunchy. But the sweetness would be just right for the not so sweet toothie.  

Why the big difference in price with Czarina’s apples?  The quality.  It is like tasting gourmet apple versus sugar coated apple.  

Get a bite!

cimg2484

San Fo Treats
www.sanfotreats.com
+63 2 4999087, +63 2 6282993, +63 927 4637248

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