Can't Get Over UP

Yeah, had a great walk around the Sunken Garden this morning with my husband and our friend Bernard. On Sundays, the road around the garden is closed to vehicles, so there was a mass of runners, joggers, walkers, bikers, kids, granpa's, grandma's ... it was such a sight to see. I remembered way back in the early '90s that this was not the scene to see on a Sunday (being a dormer and all). But I guess, the fitness craze has hit everyone and even people like me who lives in Mandaluyong would drive all the way up here to walk, jog, talk and just plain relax.

My recent visit to my doctor showed I gained weight, a weight I used to have only when I was a freshman at UP Diliman. With the mixture of being homesick, trying to fit in, having to study (kuno!), concocting schemes so I could get my crush to group study with me, etc .... I could finish a pint of Selecta coffee crumble and a loaf of raisin bread from the Shopping center in one sitting! It was only in freshman year that I hit the 110lbs scale, I'm always within my 100lbs weight zone.

Walking around UP this morning, brought up so many memories and feelings. I guess my friend Bernard put it so aptly, "you just can't get over UP". Yeah, when you're 16, all alone with all the freedom in the world, away from parental control and rules ... who can ever get over UP? The freedom is sometimes overwhelming that I've seen people who couldn't handle it and just spiral down ... sad yet, being in UP has taught me more than just the experential smoking, drinking, sneaking out of the dorm, helping a friend out while she double-booked herself for a date and make-out sessions. And its not some, ISKOLAR ng bayan thing and maki-baka thing, it's being responsible for your decisions and actions. Yup, and when it's not going as planned, there's no one to be blamed but YOU.

At a very young age, I knew that if I spent my allowance on a shopping spree or some gimik, I won't have money for laundry, ikot (walk yourself to death), group meetings and photocopy. I had to learn to budget! I lived in a dorm, with only my friends, my roommate and my BF knowing where I am. Physical safety and security was something I couldn't just assign to somebody else. Mind you, no mobile phones at that time. And getting sick was the worse part because you don't have a mom to take care of you. You have to walk to the pharmacy and buy your own meds. So, by the time you graduate, you can live practically anywhere!

On a lighter note, it was in UP that I gained long-time friends. Friends who know how terrible you look way back in the 90's (my gosh, with very short shorts and frizzy hair). Friends who have seen your high's and low's, friends who have become your second family. UP Dil was my home away from home ... so, how can you ever get over that?

So, I've decided to visit UP every weekend and jog, walk, run, relax ... eat breakfast at Rodic's and possibly visit the other restos there now. Maybe I'd bump into some of you. See you there ...

Mrs Jane B.

Sweets Anyone?

It's really HOT in Cebu! Yesterday was no exception, I'm home for the weekend and decided to check out Ayala Center and our Big Beauty Sale for PONDS before meeting up with a friend. The heat was getting into me, so I asked my husband if we could cool down somewhere and check out any eating place at the Terraces.

Of course, for those of you who have not been to Ayala Center Cebu recently, the Terraces area was set up more than a year ago. It houses more restos and shops and has expanded the Ayala Center. In true Ayala Mall style, the place is themed and the design of the area is like the rice terraces, its tierred and there are water fountains and green landscaping. It has brought a new level of malling again for the Cebuanos!

Because I'm in Cebu, I wanted to go to a non-Manila place, and remembered The Dessert Factory! I do recall my friend (who has returned to Cebu a more than a year), telling me last time we went there that this sweets place is all-Cebuano, can't find it in Manila. So off we went at level 3 of the Ayala Terraces.

This place has the carnival/circus/magical feel inside. The waiters wear purple uniforms and funny hats. Their menu ranges from lots of cake types and pastries to the local halo-halo. But mind you I think only halo-halo is the Filipino dessert available. I'm not so into sweets so I ended up just having cold coffee latte just to cool down. But Brian has a sweet tooth and ordered their A-choco-lypse, their version "death by chocolate cake". And some savoury snack, mini corn dogs. In fairness, the cake was great, not so sweet and I thought the mini corn dog would probably be just 3 pcs, but lo and behold, 7 pcs all in all! My my, the light merienda has turned into a heavy one. We can't eat it all because we're saving space for the buffet dinner at the Crossroads Mall's Gourmet Cafe Kutsara at Tinidor (Dad's bday dinner treat).

Now, we had to walk it off! Ha ha ha!

Mrs Jane B.

Kadyos at Ilonggo Grill

It's really good to marry someone outside your province or town ... allows you to discover new things, new local flavours. Of course, I'm not against the "fall-in love with thy neighbor". Having an Ilonggo husband allows me to not just learn a new dialect in the Philippines but allows me to visit Iloilo in Panay on a regular basis.

My husband loves to cook, and loves eating more! And with it comes the fun of eating Ilonggo food. I learned to love eating Pantat Adobado (visit Zaraga in Iloilo during Christmas and they have their Pantat "catfish" festival akin to the Bangus Festival in Dagupan) and my new love, "kadyos". Its the Ilonggo's version of "sinigang". It's this dish that contains black peas local to Panay. It can be with pork or "bisaya" chicken, with "batuan" for the sour taste and vegetable "langka" (jackfruit). I remebered my in-laws bringing us the raw "kadyos" peas in Manila just so my husband could cook for me the dish.

You really can't find the "kadyos" in the local fresh area of the supermarket, in fact I don't even think there's available ones in the local public market. Though, I was told, there are some, but not on a regular basis. Since its really hard to find here, once my "kadyos" craving strikes, I used to feel so helpless ... but wait we found a place that served this dish that's passable enough vs Nang Oning's cooking (my in-laws trusted help and cook back in Iloilo).

So, if you're wondering what it tastes like, visit Ilonggo Grill in any of the popular foodcourts in malls. We know there's one in Galleria. An order would cost P70+ good for two already or if you're so hungry should only be good for you.

Try it, it will give you a different "sinigang'!

Mrs. Jane B.