Bacolod City

Bacolod City is a small but sophisticated city. For the size of the city,( population: 499,497 , registered voters: 263,853) it has 3 big malls, several restaurant that can rival Cebu and Manila and several antique,furniture stores and a thriving art scene!!!!It is the home of artist Charlie Co, Nenulencio Alvarado and Artist/Furniture maker extraordinaire,Mr. Sason.


Transportation from the new airport in Silay to Bacolod City is no problem at all. You can take a shuttle that charges 150/person from the airport to your hotel or a taxi that charges 500.










There are several hotels in Bacolod, but the one that I always stay in is the L'Fisher Hotel. The hotel is located along Lacson Street and is just a stone throw away from most ( if not all)the great restaurants Bacolod has to offer. The people in this hotel are very helpful and friendly. The front desk people would go out of their way to answer any inquiry and all the employee of this hotel greet all the guest. Make sure you ask for the newly renovated rooms when you book.








My favourite restaurants are Pendy's ( home cooked taste food ), the Chinese restaurant beside L'Fisher hotel for their siopao, the Chocolate Square cake of La Calea and the Margarita of Restaurant 21( which I think is the BEST in the Philippines). I tried too this restaurant called Aboy's which is something like a class A turo-turo restaurant. They serve organic rice and pro -biotic pork, chicken and beef. They also have a counter wherein you can choose the seafood you would like for grilling.


the chocolate square cake of La Calea


the yummy Margarita of Restaurant 21





There is also a very good and very reasonably price ( five pesos each)Bibingka stand in Silay. Try too the Barquillos of Sugarlandia along Yulo St. And for the Sugar Addicts, try the Piyayas of Bong-Bong and caramel tarts of Virgies.

There are also several old big mansions to see near Bacolod. There are 2 house museum in Silay and the Lacson Ruins that you can visit.

The people here know how to work and have a good time and enjoy life.I wouldn't mind going back to Bacolod over and over again!

MELANIE MARQUEZ- THE QUOTABLE QUEEN

MELANIE MARQUEZ ( I think ) is the funniest mother, beauty queen, soap endorser, mother rolled into one. And its because of all her quotable quotes!!!!!!! Kudos to you!!!!

My brother is not a girl; he’s a gentleman.
That’s why I’m a success, it’s because I don’t middle in other people’s lives.
Don’t judge my brother; he’s not a book.
I won’t stoop down to my level.
Hello? Bulag ka ba? Bingi ka ba? Are you dep?
‘Yung STD, baka sa maruming toilet lang niya nakuha yan.
Eh, ikaw ba naman, durugin ang ari mo...Pag di ka naman manutok ng baril.
We are lovers, not fighters.
Kapatid ko pa rin siya. We are one and the same.
I don’t eat meat. I’m not a carnival.
Sumasakit ang migraine ko.
Ang tatay ko ang only living legend na buhay!
I keep my crown in the voltage.
Can you repeat that for the second time around once more from the top?
I couldn’t care a damn!
What’s your next class before this?
Hello, my brother Joey is out of town, would you like to wait?
Don’t touch me not!
You! you’re not a boy anymore! You’re a man anymore!
Bakit ang dami mong tanong? You're so questionable.
You can fool me once, you can fool me twice, you can fool me thrice. But you can never fool me FOUR!
Hindi ba kayo naawa sa kapatid ko...sa mga kwento nya? Di ba kayo na-PERSUAVE ng mga kwento niya? Hindi si Joey ang tipong mambubugbog ng babae...talaga lang malapit siya sa mga gulo...PRO-ACCIDENT kasi siya eh.
Boy Abunda: O Melanie, paano na ang showbiz career mo ngayong magmo-Mormon ka na? Melanie: Ah okay lang 'yon Boy, kasi matagal na rin akong SEMI-RETARDED.
They should talk behind the scene...

(answering the phone) Hello. Wait a moment. Please hang yourself.
(before Christmas) Well, I want to spend my holidays with my family most probably out of place.
Why I will give my calling card, I'm not a call girl. (Her reply to a certain duke when the latter is asking for her calling card.)
Eto na po ang pinakamaligayang pasko at manigong taon sa inyong lahat. (During her acceptance speech at a Metro Filmfest awards night where her bioflick, directed by her late father Temyong Marquez, won an award.)
Period na talaga; wala nang exclamation point. (When asked on S-Files if her present husband, Adam Lawyer, is her Mr. Right)
And the base of my observation is... (showbiz stripped May 14 GMA Ch. 7)
At a talk show after her break-up with Derek Dee, Melanie was asked if she had some words for Derek’s mother (whom she partly blamed for the separation). "Oo nga," said Melanie, "pero i-English-in ko para maintindihan niya." She looked into the camera and, with the peremptoriness of royalty, said, "And to you, Mrs. Dee, I have two words for you. Ang labo mo!"
(When asked for a message to her daughter who was allegedly abused by their houseboy) Don't worry little angel, big angel is here.
(On what they should do to the houseboy who molested her daughter) He should be put behind bar.
(While waiting backstage during a noontime show after watching Nikki Valdez do her dance number) Nikki, you're so galing. You should go to the States. You will sell hotcakes!
(While she's in Morning Girls With Kris & Korina promoting her movie with Aleck Bovick) Please watch HIRAM starring Aleck Baldwin (referring to Aleck Bovick) and myself. It's DIRECTOR by Romy Suzara.
(After giving birth, and an interview on The Buzz) My answers have been prayered!
(To ex-flame Senator Lito Lapid) Hello...Huwag kang tumahol sa sarili mong bakuran noh! (In response to being misunderstood) You know, huwag kang tumahol like dogs.

Applying for a U.S. Visa

(image copied from website of the U.S. embassy -manila)




Even before 911, the U.S. has been very strict with the issuance of tourist visas for Filipinos. There are horror stories, tear jerking stories, stories about intimidating consuls abound . So here are some tips to remember when applying for a U.S. visa:

1. Go to the U.S. Embassy website. http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3024.html
This website is very, very helpful because it will give you clear and detailed instructions on how to apply for a Tourist visa . It also has a page called Demonstrating Ties which explains in detail in the documents which you have to bring to as proof that you have compelling reason to come back to the Philippines and not go TNT.

2. Apply early at least 2-3 months in advance.

3. On the day of your appointment, come at least two hours before your appointment and LEAVE YOUR CELLPHONES AND IPODS OR ANY ELECTRONIC DEVICE !!!!! Just in case you forget to leave your cell phone, there are people who can keep your cellphone for you. They are normally by the line outside the embassy. This is of course for a fee and at your own risk.

4. They sell food and drinks in the waiting area, but these stores open at 8am. So if you have an early appointment, bring water and food.

5. Dress appropriately. But not in your Sunday clothes or in a barong.

6. Be confident .

7. Read the instruction posted around the embassy regarding the finder print scan. I guess with so many applicants everyday, these consuls by the finger print scan can get feisty AND RUDE.

8. Answer only when asked and bring all ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.






9. And Good Luck!!!!

ANAWANGIN COVE

This trip was a last minute plan. Originally, our plan was to explorer the beaches of Barangay Tambobong, Dasol,Pangasinan. Then I saw a blog of Ferdinand Decena and Alford Ronduen, which immediately made me change my mind. How could you not resist going to this place. Pine tress instead of coconut trees along the beach?????
















There are 2 ways to reach Anawangin Cove. One is a 6 hour trek and the other is thru a 45 mins boat ride on an outtrigger from Barangay Pundaquit. I chose the latter. Call Mang Vic the boatman a day or two before going to Anawangin Cove( cell#+639284537121).The cost was 1,600.00 round trip to anawangin and back to San Antonio for 3 people). To get to Pundaquit, follow the signs to San Antonio, Zambales. Upon reaching the town of San Antonio, follow the sign the Panaquit. Just follow the road till the very end. There is a safe parking spot whrein the owners charged us 50.00 for a whole day parking.


















There are also two places to stay in Ananwangin. One is on the left side of the cove which charges 150.00 per head and the other is owned by the Bolipatas and charges 50.00 per head. We stayed on the left side of the cove.












The places to stay(either on the left or the bolipata's place)in Anawangin are very, very rustic. In the place that we stayed in, There is one hand pump,one toilet and one place to take a bath( to take a bath, you have to pump water in a pail and use a water dipper to take a bath with) Bring a tent because there are no lodges here. If you want a hot meal, bring a portable gas stove. There is no electricity in this place, so bring portable lamps incase you want to stay for a night. There are no cell sites either. No place to buy food and bottled drinking water too.
So be a boy scout and come prepared!!!!Electronic lovers, beware.

The Chestnut Gang is not a gang of chipmunks or pre adolescent teenagers, but is a collective group of mothers who happen to ride chestnut horses. Karina Limcaoco, our founding leader thought that it would be cool to name the group since we all ride ( well except for Delania, she rides a roan coloured horse) chestnut horses. The group composed of Marielo Guerrero,Delania Whittington ,Karina Limcaoco ( The Leader- the chosen one ), Sonja Vontobel and me, yours truly ( soon to be Honorary ) ride every morning at the Los Tamarow Equestrian Center under the tutelage of Janine Santos-Felix and Migs Felix.

Always the first to arrive in the morning and the last one to leave, Marielo Guerrero is like our barn mother--a mother to not only her daughter but to all of us, including the horses! She is the mechanical, civil, and electrical engineer of our group; the car mechanic, architect, builder, sewer, designer, and buyer, who knows Divisoria like the back of her hand. She rides and competes in dressage on 17.4-hand Savannah (a.k.a. the horse I don't want to fall off).










Delania Whittington, a mother to all sorts of avian, reptilian, aquatic, furry, or four-legged friends, is married and does not compete at the moment, but rides as regularly as possible. She is our French interpreter and avian expert, owns a pet store, and keeps attacker birds in her room. She rides her horse, a strawberry roan gelding named Freckles.










Karina Limcaoco is the leader and art expert of the group. She's also the most obsessive-compulsive person in the barn, from cooking to shopping to family and even to riding. She keeps a journal on anything and everything, and can ask the most insane questions. She currently competes in dressage on another giant named My T Bear.

Sonja Vontobel or “Sonia” is our regular Swiss-Miss. She is from Switzerland and is married to a swiss.She rides a chestnut horse named Jack .

I on the other hand ride a mare named Mil. We compete in jumping(lower class) and dressage. I say the most insane phrases when I teach such as " At the canter, corner" or " don't make your line snakey( interpreted as : keep your line straight ) and surprisingly, my students understand.



The five of us like to talk about our riding and our horses all the time--the things our horses did that day, the shampoos we use on them, the grooming techniques we try, and our orders from Dover. Well sometimes too we talk about other things such as secret recipe of lechon kawali .We try our best to help each other out. And we take riding seriously, but we remember not to take the fun out of it!

There will be more about the Chestnut Gang. You can check us out in chestnutgang.blogspot.com!!

Obsession with the weather

If you are like me who is obsessed with knowing what the weather will be or if a giant typhoon will hit the country, you should check out the following websites:
1.https://metocph.nmci.navy.mil/jtwc.php
This website called JOINT TYPHOON WARNING CENTER PRODUCT, located at the Naval Base Pearl Harbour Hawaii. This agency is responsible for issuing tropical cyclone for the Pacific and Indian Ocean and is intended for the use by the U.S. government agencies. Here you will see a weather system forming in the WHOLE Pacific and Indian Oceans! They even have graphics that will show you where they tropical Cyclone was, her current position and where she is heading.The site has a multi spectral Satellite Imagery and even prognostic reasoning.



Ship Avoidance Graphic

2.http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/map/interactive/RPXX0017?
I also like this site because it an an interactive/animated weather map and because you can add as widget.



An interactive , animated weather map

Clark and Kitchie during the party of Enzo