Solo Travel in Bacolod, Negros Occidental 2023

 I can say that Bacolod offers a unique blend of cultural experiences, focusing on arts, history, and delicious cuisine instead of my previous travel with typical water-centric destinations. Exploring diverse facets of travel can certainly provide a refreshing and enriching experience.

San Sebastian Cathedral is known for its beautiful architecture and historical significance in Bacolod. 

The Capitol Park and Lagoon is a scenic park in Bacolod. The park boasts well-maintained gardens and a lagoon, providing a serene environment for visitors to enjoy nature and relax. The park serves as a recreational space for locals and tourists alike, offering opportunities for leisurely walks, picnics, and outdoor activities.

The Negros Museum  is a cultural institution that showcases the rich history, art, and heritage of the Negrenses. Visitors can explore a collection of historical artifacts, artifacts, and memorabilia, providing insights into the region's past.

Jojo Vito Art Gallery is known for its vibrant collection of colorful handcrafted masks. The gallery, located in Bacolod City, showcases the unique artistry and creativity of Jojo Vito, a local artist. The masks often incorporate elements of local culture, folklore, and traditions, making them both visually striking and culturally meaningful.

The Orange Project is an intriguing mix of establishments, including restaurants and bars, with a significant emphasis on art galleries featuring works by local artists. This fusion of culinary and artistic experiences creates a unique space where visitors can appreciate both the local cuisine and the diverse talents of artists in the area.

Calea is renowned for its delectable cakes and coffee. This dessert haven is celebrated for its wide array of indulgent cakes, pastries, and desserts, making it a popular destination for those with a sweet tooth. The combination of high-quality cakes and a cozy ambiance has made Calea a favorite among locals and visitors alike. 

Manukan Country in Bacolod is a popular destination for lovers of Chicken Inasal. This area is known for hosting numerous stalls and restaurants that specialize in serving this flavorful and iconic Filipino grilled chicken dish. It's a place where locals and tourists alike can enjoy a variety of Chicken Inasal preparations, each with its own unique marinade and style of grilling. 

Super Batchoy House is known for its delicious Batchoy noodles, featuring a combination of flavorful elements. Some highlights include crispy garlic and chicharon, organ meats, and a savory broth. This culinary combination creates a satisfying and hearty bowl of Batchoy, a popular Filipino noodle soup. 

Bacolod has a lot to offer, and I'm considering coming back to explore the places I missed. Whether it's historical sites, cultural attractions, or culinary delights, there's always more to discover. 

Advance Screening of "One and Only" Movie starring Wang Yibo

Thank you Pioneer Films through Lakwatsera Lover for giving me the opportunity to cover the Advance Screening of this acclaimed Street Dance movie - One and Only starred Wang Yibo. 

Aside from the fans of Wang Yibo, we spotted several Bloggers, Vloggers and celebrities.

One of them is well known in street dancing and part of a girl group, Sexbomb dancer, Izzy Trazona-Aragon with her beautiful and healthy family. Young dancers show off their b-boying moves (or also known as breakdancing moves). There are red carpets and photo booths available for everyone's gram, facebook, reels and myday post. 

The movie :

If you love the Stomp the Yard, You got Served, Let's Dance and Step up movie series, you definitely need to watch this movie. I can say that this is the best street dance movie of 2023. 

It may started as a typical person facing challenges and willing to sacrifice things to pursue their dreams. After working for almost 24 hours of several side hustle and errands, Chen Shuo still managed to practice breakdancing after the restaurant close. 

He may have been rejected from his past audition, but he gained the opportunity when coach Ding Lei ( a veteran street dancer) offered him to be an understudy of E-Mark's Star dancer Kevin. 

Everyone will definitely learn that we made mistakes if we only use our brains to calculate things and choose what is beneficial. Sometimes we just need to follow our heart. 

In all of this, Chen Shuo leaves us a memorable voice over quote that we should keep in our mind. "Success comes with continuous effort."

Netflix Review: Marry my Dead Body

 Marry my Dead Body

Release date: February 10, 2023 (Taiwan)

Director: Cheng Wei-hao

Starring: Greg Hsu; Austin Lin; Gingle Wang

Love has a lot of colors like a rainbow. Like other BL(Boys Love) stories, the movie presented seduction, discrimination and other challenges faced by each individual to get everyone's acceptance of his true being. The story gets deeper when you learn a grandmother's love, a father's reason for disagreement, a grandson's wishes, and one's love for his pet. It will teach us that some spoken words may give us some regrets if it is kept hidden, especially when we realize it is too late to say it.

The story is about a police officer determine to resolve big cases and one of them is  fighting drug trafficking which later on related to a death. This is refreshing to watch as there is interesting Chinese culture but with a very modern touch because of legality same gender marriage. There are also sensitive scenes like butt exposure, mild nudity and implicit sexual content. But it helps the funny side of the movie.

THE ROUND UP: NO WAY OUT opens in Sm Cinema and ticket giveaway

 He is back with a round of brawls and fistfights in his newest bone-wrecking movie - THE ROUND UP: NO WAY OUT. Ma Dong-Seok works as a detective to investigate a death case and finds out that it involves drugs and a gang of thugs. Never miss him in action as he brawls with those thugs with his power to knock those bad guys straight into the next realm with his mighty punch.

Starring Ma Dong-Seok, Lee Beom-Soo, Kim Min-Jae, Lee Joon-Hyuk and Munetaka Aoki. Directed by Lee Sang-yong.

Viva International pictures will release it in Philippines and exclusively on SM Cinemas this June 7! 

Want to score 'THE ROUNDUP: NO WAY OUT' Advance screening ticket??

This is your chance to witness the action-packed K-film with your friends and family!

📍 JUNE 5 (Monday) 7:00PM at SM MEGAMALL, Cinema 1

How to join:

- Follow/like Viva International Pictures social media accounts 

- Tag a friend you'd like to watch The Roundup: No Way Out with 

Ten lucky winners will receive two (2) tickets, which will be given at the schedule and venue.

FOR MORE DETAILS, visit Viva International Pictures's Social media accounts.

 Follow my blogsite for future movie updates :). Comment any feedbacks. Love to hear something from you guys. 

A Moment of Me

Everyone wants to start the day right and with a bright smile before going to work. Some normally do few their daily "rituals" such as placing a few coins in their work station for good luck, while others pray to their Gods for blessings to come. But most of the time, people just rise from their beds, take a shower, take their breakfast, then head to work.

But after two hours, everyone would feel the exhaustion from the challenges of finishing all the papers and backlogs, as well as facing irate customers and bosses.

Stop. You deserve a break even if you're a workaholic and consider your work as life. A few minutes of "Me Time" is still a big thing. Take a break and enjoy the moments of your time away from the workstation.

Walk away from your table. Make your own coffee or get some from the vending machine. Sit down on a very comfy couch in your office lobby, play a few games on your phone and chill in your office's game room or eat some snacks in your pantry. Have some chitchat with the best person you can trust.

Relax, because you know what's next. You'll need to go back to work again and in order for you to accomplish everything, you'll need to gain back your strength and focus.

First Time but very Memorable Moment

It's been a long time since I wrote something here in my webpage. I want to share some of my recent experiences that are really memorable to me. When something went wrong, God will send a blessing that may bring another blessing.

I won a Php500 voucher from Italianni's Philippines in one of their facebook contests. It's a simple contest because you just need to answer the question about the location of the newest branch. It was my first time to dine in to Italianni's newly-opened branch in  Shangrila-Plaza  and the experience is very amazing. 

It all started when I invited my friend Marj  to come with me and enjoy the food. I came out from work and she was at home. As I step in to Boni MRT train station, my phone suddenly shut off. It's dead battery and the last message I sent to my friend was to see each other at Shangrila Plaza Mall. I'm not sure if I already told her or if she is aware that we will dine-in at Italianni's. I waited at the seat near at the information desk  of Italianni's, hoping that my friend will come. Then a very elegant beautiful receptionist ask me if I will dine in. I told her about the voucher and my situation about my phone and my friend. Without hesitation, she offered her phone so I can insert my sim card and call my friend. It is really sweet of her and it really gives me hope. Unfortunately, her phone is not reading my sim card. Then she suggested that I ask the near guard if there is battery charging station. I am happy that she made some effort. She is very beautiful outside but she is exceptional because of her beauty inside. 

I'm glad that I found a kiosk that offer battery charging at the ground floor. For Php 25 for 15 minutes, I immediately turned on my phone and texted my friend. A very good coincident that she was at the bookstore located at the right side of the kiosk. It's a three steps away so we found each other. After 5-6 minutes charging, we went back to Italianni's to eat.

While at the reception seats, the crew gave us something to drink and then escorted us to our table. Marj ordered Pasta Alfredo and I tried the Spaghetti with Meatballs. Marj who is very particular with food she eats, enjoyed the dish we have specially the bread. 

We also had a good time talking about our common friend who I had issues recently. But luckily ends up as good friends again after learning from Marj's advices and point of views. It's really nice to talk things while eating good food. It's really good that we dine at Italianni's.

But wait, there's more. Since Italianni's announced another contest for share a memorable moment, the third paragraph above was my entry and I won again. :D

So if you also want to follow Italianni's @ facebook, visit https://www.facebook.com/italiannisph .

Superlike!!!

Thanks Italianni's Philippines for this wonderful memory. 

Thanks Philstar! A new fun Experience is about to happen to me at Linden Suites!

It's been a long time since I wrote something in my blog site and I am excited to share a new Prize I won using my online account specially twitter and facebook.

Philstar is not just providing the best and important news in the Philippines but also giving opportunity to avid followers and readers. Last December 2013, they open a simple to follow online contest entitled "12DaysOfChristmas" promo in partnered with Agoda.com.

I never had a hotel experience. This is why I am so excited, happy and enthusiastic in planning what I will do because they gave me a chance to have an overnight accommodation with breakfast good for 2. Linden Suites is not just an ordinary hotel so I assume that I will really have a great night in this hotel. 

It's also my pleasure to meet Ms. Joyce Guevarra of PhilStar. She's been very accommodating and very friendly. As I step out from the elevator, I look around since I don't know exactly the Philstar office. When I saw a group of people outside two different office doors, I asked one of the ladies and she immediately answered me not knowing she is the person I am looking for.

I suggest that you also follow  Philstar via twitter (@philstarnews) and at their facebook account (https://www.facebook.com/philstarnews) to know the latest and hottest news and next contest giveaway.

Nescafe coffee in Salad: A Simple Twist makes A BIG Difference

         It is very unusual that my all family members sees each other at home. This is why we decided to have something special. As a bonding moment, we prepared something to eat since most of us like something sweet. The main plan is to use a canned fruit cocktail but since our pantry cabinet don't have stock of this item, we use the available fruits which is Apple and Pear that are almost 3-4 days displayed on our dining table. 



          On the second day, there is a lot of leftovers of this fruit salad and I don't want to waste it even there's already "Umay" feeling. So I made a twist with this recipe and found out a very surprising outcome. 


     It's like a discovery by curiosity because I ask myself a question. "What if...?" So I will share this to everyone since I know how hard to earn for food and it should not be wasted. Here is the recipe.


Ingredient

2 apples chopped into cubes
4 pear fruit, chopped into cubes
1 bottle nata de coco
1 bar of cheese
1 can of condensed milk
1 tetrapack all purpose cream

1 Nescafe 3 in 1 sachet (additional twist)
hot water

How to's

Mix the first 6 ingredients above. You will find out that this is already good dessert but because I have hot coffee (a simple combination of coffee and hot water) that morning, I added this hot drink to my cold dessert and the outcome is something sweet and bitter which really change the overall taste. I also love the marble effect after pouring the hot coffee. Also, the best thing is nothing is wasted and I enjoyed a new dessert.

Breakfast Reminder

French Toast and hotdog with Bacon-flavored mayonnaise dip 

I remember the days when I am young. There are few things to think, little expectations and things to worried. All I have to do is play with my friends in the morning, after classes and during weekends in the field, under the mango tree, backyard, neighbor's house and in the playground. I studied and enjoyed schooling without any pressure, help household chores with a smile and be loved by my family. But life changes as we grow older.

Life has been a struggle and full of challenges. I realized that Reality, life is not easy as it is. We need to stand on our own and prove that we have purpose in life. It's like typhoon with rain heavily pouring in your head, wind slapping your face, and submerged you in flood. I have been to worst situation like being empty-handed, been judged and humiliated. I been down for few years but I change myself for good. I adjusted more than what I did before. I studied and learned the tricks and trade of life specifically work, social life and cultural differences. 

If we are weak, how will we survive with the wilderness of reality. To face a new day, inspirations and reasons are important to begin it with strength and focus. Then I found out that Things change again. There are a lot of things to learn but everything seems like a piece of bread and coffee. I'll bite it in a snap and smile. If it's hard, dipping it with hot coffee will help soften it. 

I am not rich or popular as other does but at least I know where I stand now. I'm a better person and it's time that I return the favor to the people I love and who loved me.

Papanel's Budbod, Let us Support Filipino owned restaurant

I always find ways to enjoy my rest day since it helps me relax and to avoid too much stress. I am also a cheapskates somehow but not extreme. I make sure that everything I spend is worthy, with quality but not costly.

I always saw this restaurant on my way to work because it's near at Roval Bus terminal. Even outside, you'll see the beautiful wall painting and Filipino ambiance.

So a day after typhoon Maring came, since it's my rest day  and the sky is just cloudy but no rain and wind, I went to Papanel's Budbod to try the food.

 I'm the only customer because of the weather. It is cold so I need something warm and soupy. First, I tried Lomi. There are carrots, cabbage, noodles and egg in warm broth.

I want a rice meal so I decided to order shanghai rolls with rice served in a very Filipino style way. Traditionally, Filipino's use banana leaves and rattan plate in serving food for a native effect. 

These are simple dishes that you may order or buy in other restaurant, carinderia, food cart or street vendor. But considering the ambiance and effort in maintaining cleanliness at affordable price, I rather visit this place more often. To be honest, I did that because I step in again to the restaurant for the second time after a week to try other dishes. 

I tried chicken barbeque with atsara (pickled papaya and carrot) and free soup. It is served again in a rattan plate with banana leaves. As side dish, I ordered a plate of Pancit Canton. 

But I am saddened that there are only few people dining in the place. I hope that the restaurant's order delivery is good and earning well for them to recover the operation cost. I hope my fellow Filipino will support and promote this restaurant like what the wall painting shows above.

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The above blog is not sponsored and money spent for food came from my pocket.

Shawarma Guy: A Playful Taste of Middle East Food

We love something new and that makes us eager to look for something we haven't tried before. We went to Bonifacio Global City (BGC), a place that we haven't visited, though very popular to rich people. Marj and I haven't tried to visit a Arab or Turkish fastfood, so we looked for one and we never failed because we found Shawarma Guys.

The place is very youthful. Walls were painted with bright colors like orange. There were also words and drawings which you will find interesting. It's not a traditional Arab architecture for us because we are expecting some arches, curves and pillars. 

We tried 3 foods that me and Marj shared and enjoyed. We tried Sisig Shawarma. Instead of having Sisig in sizzling plate, it is served in pita bread. Marj who don't usually eat meat fats enjoyed taking them one by one. We love the every bite of this fatty shawarma with the two spicy sauce.

We also ordered hummus with pita which I realized that it is simple to make. It's made of sesame seed, chickpeas or garbanzos, olive oil and some spices.

The third dish was Seafood Biryani. It is fried rice with spices and seafood.  In the past, I only have tried few rice toppings so it is something new to me. This is different to the usual fried rice I ate in most common fastfood.

Marj was excited to taste Lassi. She want to try the Mango Lassi, however, it is not available that time. Instead she have the plain one. It is a little sour because of the yogurt flavor.
  

Overall we are satisfied with what we ate and we felt full and heavy stomach even though we only 3 dishes and 2 yogurt shake. We will be back for more for sure because we haven't tried all food and hopefully with more friends.