The Power of Three

I call this picture "The Power of Three".  This three-piece set is one of the many chandeliers hanging from the ceiling of the newly opened Chinese restaurant, Lugang Cafe, in Megamall's new Fashion Hall.

2012 Christmas Displays Around Metro Manila

Rustan's Tower (part of the Shangri-la Mall building in EDSA Crossing, Mandaluyong City):

The Rustan's Christmas tree located at the second floor lobby of the department store is probably the best tree this year.  OPULENT - that's the word to describe this outstanding tree.  Ostentatiously rich, lavish and luxurious.  The tree does not have trimmings, yet it successfully conveyed glamour and splendor.  It also evokes a sense of mystery and a bit of magic, something you would see most likely in Narnia or in a fabled faraway kingdom, where good magical creatures dwell.  Fantastic!

I would definitely set aside some time to enjoy this gorgeous Christmas tree.  Thank you, Rustan's!

P.S.  Rustan's has smaller Christmas trees in the corner made up of transparent balls.  The result are elegant and "bubbly" trees perfectly matching the giant Christmas tree.  Go see them!

.o0o.  .o0o.  .o0o.

Filipino Food Perfection. C2 Classic Cuisine

Aside from adobo, the SINIGANG is the quintessential Filipino food.  At C2 Classic Cuisine, perfection is redefined to a higher level of gastronomic delight.  C2 Classic Cuisine dishes are what I consider Filipino Food Perfection.  They have savory food and an award-winning dessert to boot.  I recently celebrated my birthday at this resto and there's no other option in meeting my "balik-bayan" friend but here in C2.

crispy ribs sinigang

My best friend from high school recently visited Manila from Seoul.  We had so much fun especially because we both enjoyed the food in our rendezvous.  She was dying to eat her favorite Filipino food, the sinigang.  Now, at C2 Classic Cuisine, the sinigang had a marvelous twist.

Two of my favorite dishes here are the CRISPY RIIBS SINIGANG and LUMPIANG LUCENA.

What makes the sinigang here different from the regular sinigang is that the meat is crispy beef ribs.  You usually cook sinigang with pork, fish, or shrimps.  The crispy beef ribs are served with tangy tamarind broth and native vegetables (i.e., kangkong, sitaw, long green pepper, and labanos).  The dish is excellent.  The beef ribs are indeed crispy.  The broth is indeed tangy.  The vegetables are fresh.  It is up to you if you want to mix the broth and the crispy beef or eat them separately.  Because the broth is sooooo good, I always tell the waiter to bring me additional bowl of broth.  He-he-he...

lumpiang lucena

The LUMPIANG LUCENA is to die for.  Those deep-fried spring rolls have crumbled longganiza, vegetables, and shredded coconut meat.  Once you dip those spring rolls in garlic-vinegar, Oh!, it's Oh! My God!

I recommend you to try this resto.  The prices are a bit steep but you get excellent food.  They have branches in Shangri-la Mall, Megmall, and Robinson's Place in Ermita.  They recently closed their Power Plant Mall Rockwell branch but opened a new one in Greenhills.  My fave is in Shang and in Rockwell.  You get to bump elbows with "artistas" (local stars).  LOL.

My other fave dishes from C2 are Binagoong Lechon Kawali, Tinolang Binakol, Pinakbet at Bagnet, Seared Tilapia in Coconut Emulsion, and of course their award-winning dessert - the Bibingka Souffle. Try them all!

Straight or bent?... Take one (at a time).

I was wandering around Megamall (one of the largest malls in the Philippines) and it's getting late.  So, before going home I decided to pass by French Baker and buy some bread for tomorrow's breakfast.  I saw these freshly baked croissant.  They smell and looked so good!  I have to take some pictures.  Yes, with my Alcatel OneTouch Blaze Glory.  He-he-he.

Straight or bent?  Which one to get?  While thinking, my mind wandered off... There were times that no matter how hard we try, it would seem that our efforts are useless in reaching our goals.  On the other hand, there were times that without even asking for them, opportunities as well as helping hands unexpectedly fall on our laps that aid us in effortlessly fulfilling our objectives.

Good or bad luck, straight or bent, yin or yang, over or under, left or right, true or false, black or white, to be or not to be... we are in a constant state of selection... more aptly perhaps in a state of perception of one over the other.

No matter what situation we're in or what decision we have to make, the thing is to take one step at a time... little by little, one by one.  Decide, then act!  Before we know it, we had them all and we're done!

Wait... (back to reality).  He-he-he.  Not quite!  I still haven't decided which one to buy.  Oh, OK.  I got these.