The Dark Tower

Wildflowers

Mga Eksena Version 2

Mga Eksena Version 1

Flowers

Butterfly

Circles

Country House

The Apple Tree

The Call

I walk downstairs

Into the pitch darkness,

Fumbling for the switch

To let in some brightness.

So begins my day

That so resembles night.

I flutter, flit and fly

Like a moth in search of light.

I pour coffee down my throat,

Trying to jump-start my brain

Like pouring down liquid Drano

To unclog a stubborn drain.

A cold shower jolts me

From my suspended animation

But still I fight to hold back

Sleep's sweet, sweet machinations.

I amble through the city,

Miles away from the dawn

Into a life of conversations

That leave me feeling more alone. 

Adobo My Mom's Way

Ingredients:

1/2 kgs. menudo cut pork

1 can of peeled tomatoes

1/2 cup vinegar

1/2 cup soy sauce

3 cloves of garlic

pepper to taste

cooking oil

1. Marinade your pork in the vinegar and soy sauce with the garlic diced. After 15 minutes, put everything in a saucepan and simmer until the marinade has reduced.

2. Once the marinade has reduced, add some cooking oil and the peeled tomatoes that you've quartered.

3. Once the tomatoes have somehow absorbed into the pork, you're done.

 4. I recommend pairing this with boiled eggplants for a more balanced meal.

Today's Outfit #009

Off to work after yesterday's gestation period in my violet Springfield collared shirt, grey generic plaid shorts and True Religion sneakers coupled with Charles and Keith aviators.

Forest

My Lola's Omelette

Ingredients:

4 Purefoods Tender Juicy hotdogs

2 eggs

1 spoon American Maid mayonaise

a pinch of salt

cooking oil

1. Heat the oil in a pan on high heat. Once the oil is hot, reduce to medium heat and drop in the sliced hotdogs. Fry the hotdogs until just about done. Reduce to low heat.

2. In a bowl, crack two eggs. Add a spoonful of mayonaise. Beat this mixture until it is thoroughly mixed. Add a pinch of salt to taste.

3. Pour in the egg mixture into the pan with the hotdogs. Let the egg cook, flipping occasionally so as not to burn the egg.

4. Once cooked, transfer your omelette into a plate or a bowl and serve hot.

5. Serve with rice and calamansi and seasoning mix. Accompany with a cold glass of Coke and you're done. Another idea would be to save some sabaw ng sinigang. Pour this soup on rice and eat it with the omelette. Quite a treat.

Today's Outfit #008

Off to work in my pink plaid Diesel shirt, chocolate Mossimo cord shorts and chocolate Traffic sandals.

Relish: Hello, Happiness!

Tucked away in Scout Limbaga near the corner of Tomas Morato sits a little restaurant that's equal parts style and substance. Curious about the place after seeing it on a lot of people's Instagram, I decided to check it out myself. Armed only with my IPad and a pair of mint green jeans, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

Seeing the resto up close for the first time is like being hit by a leaf blower on the face. The freshness of the interiors arrests your senses in a sea of Provencal throwpillows and taupe. The interiors remind me of those quaint Cape Cod retreats done by Rachel Ashwell.

Still, with all its style, it does not lack in substance (or, in this case, sustenance). I tried the Lengua in Creamy Sauce and it was heaven on earth. Lengua has always been a go-to comfort food for me, and theirs does not disappoint. The added flavor of the Garlic Mashed Potatoes totally drove it home.

After this meal, I treated myself to Sansrival and it was divine. I especially like the crunch in their crust.

All in all, Relish was a wonderful experience. Happiness really did drop by and say "Hello!" to me that day.

Today's Outfit #007

For lunch with my folks, I'm wearing my black Springfield collared shirt, 7 jeans and black Ferragamo loafers.

The Laperal House

The Laperal House is another Baguio landmark plagued with the reputation of being one of the city's most haunted places. Built in the 1920s, it was said the house was the scene of a brutal massacre during the second World War, although whether the atrocities were connected to the Japanese forces or not remains unclear. What is clear is that during the 1930s, the house was owned by the Laperal clan. The Laperals were one of the richest clans in the city, Roberto Laperal Sr. being the owner of both the Session Theater and the Laperal Building on Session Road. The last known Laperal in the home died during the 1950s in the house' yard after fracturing his skull.

It is unclear which parts of the house' history are based on fact and which are based on urban legend, but tales of supernatural occurences in and around the house have haunted it as much as actual ghosts.

I must admit that compared to The Diplomat, this house gave me more of the creeps. I'm not sure if the house has actually been witness to as much gore as its reputation suggests, but it gave the feeling that it has been witness to a lot of tragedy and sadness.

The house itself is beautiful. Its balustrades have kept their shine. The hardwood floors still gleam in the sun. The imposing white facade has kept its majesty. Whatever history and secrets the house has been privy to, it does not take from the fact that it is one of the most beautiful structures in Baguio City, a must to visit for people that love old architecture.

Today's Outfit #006

Off to Resorts World to watch their production of The King And I in my red Arrow collared shirt, khaki Zara flat-front chinos and brown leather and canvass Zara shoes.

Today's Outfit #005

Went out last night in my purple Springfield collared shirt, grey Zara jeans and grey Springfield shoes coupled with my silver Día De Muertos bracelet.