Calle Crisologo, Vigan

antique shop in Calle Crisologo

Vigan is the capital of Ilocos Sur, a province located in Northern Luzon. What makes this town really popular is this street - Calle Crisologo - a half-kilometer cobblestoned street lined with Spanish architecture, simply a virtual tourist playground. For a moment, you will be transported to the Spanish-era and have a "feel" of the decade when the Philippines was under their regime. Antique furnitures and wooden benches line the sidewalks, perfect for those tired legs and photo shoots. You may just take a walk along this street or choose to ride one of the "kalesas" for a better old-time experience.

On both sides of the street are rows of souvenir shops, hotels, museums, bookshops, galleries, etc. It would really have been a "back to the past" experience if not for the motorcycles parked along the sidewalks. From what I know, only horse-drawn carriages were allowed here before, obviously the rules have changed. I, personally, would have liked it better if they have kept that prohibition. Vigan, being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, should be preserved and seeing motorcycles in Calle Crisologo just ruins what the site represents and the atmosphere it intends to evoke.

Nonetheless, this place is still awesome and worth visiting. Next time, I hope to spend a night on one of those Spanish-styled hotels and have the pleasure of waking up to this scenery. Hmm, perhaps the local government should try hiring people clad in Spanish costumes, they are crowd-drawers as well, like the Igorots in Baguio or the cartoon characters in Enchanted Kingdom. Just a thought :P

Some pics ... ♥♥♥

street sign

antique benches along the street

Kalesa

cobblestoned street

Spanish architecture>>>>>>>>>>

<<<< store selling old books and                        souvenir items

Garlic-y, Pepper-y, Butter-y Chicken!

Define success...... it's when you get asked for your recipe... lmao!

Doesn't that just give you that sense of elation and accomplishment? Especially if you're not even sure of what you're doing? Another "patsam" my friends, from my kitchen to yours....

Garlic-y, Pepper-y, Butter-y Chicken!

This is fairly easy to make. You can choose to bake the whole chicken or cut it into serving sizes or even buy just the desired parts (i.e. legs, wings, etc.,).

First, after cleaning the chicken, place it in a pan and  rub some salt and pepper on it and just let it stand while you preheat the oven (400F) and peel some garlic. And I am not talking about just a couple of garlic here, I mean lots and lots of garlic! The more the tastier! I usually use about 50 cloves (clove = a segment of a head). You just peel them, no need to crush. After that, sprinkle some dried thyme on the chicken, add more pepper if you like, and if you really like it to be spicy you can even rub some cayenne pepper on it. Again, it really depends on how you like it. If there are children eating, then perhaps you should skip the cayenne and use pepper in moderation. Then, rub some butter on it. What I usually use is "imitation butter" which is actually margarine because they are made from vegetable oil but processed to look and taste like butter (check the ingredients). They are healthier but just as tasty. Then finally, add the garlic around the chicken, over the chicken and even inside :)..... Bake for an hour, or longer if you want it to be really brown.

What makes this dish really click I think is the combination of herb, spices and butter flavor. Plus, since the garlic are added whole, they retain their oil which really adds flavor especially when eaten with rice ( I really love eating those garlic, I don't find them bitter at all). Best served with some veggies.... enjoy! ^_^

Doppelgänger

I have been meaning to write something about this two for some time now but always forgets. Javier Bardem and Jeffrey Dean Morgan - separated at birth? The similarity is just way creepy. Supernatural? Nah, that's just the show Morgan starred in. I first saw him there, playing as the father of the two lead actors, then at Grey's anatomy as Izzie's love interest who died after a heart transplant (made a lot of audience cry, I bet!). He also did a guest role in CSI as an undercover agent, just a teeny weeny role. 

Anyway, then last year I saw "Eat, Pray, Love" which starred Julia Roberts (loved it!). Then this guy Felipe came and I was like, "oh, it's that guy on TV". But not quite. And I went on like that during the rest of the film... "yes, it is him"... "nah"..... "sure is"..... "no it's not!".... hahaha! Okay, reading the credits proved that it wasn't Morgan. But can you blame me? Can you tell who's who?

Javier Bardem (L) and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (R)

It's weird since they are both actors, I wonder how they react when they see each other. Heck, they can make a movie with them playing as twins. I know, overkill... hehehe! Of course, Bardem has that Spanish accent but they are actors and they can  change that which was why I really had a hard time convincing myself it wasn't Morgan in "Eat, Pray, Love". One thing I've learned to distinguish one from the other is by their noses. Bardem's is bigger but you have to see that from the side angle to really notice.

Bardem, by the way, is in the news these days, having been nominated in the Oscar's for best actor (yes, he's the one who can act  ^_^) and having recently had a child with wife Penelope Cruz. 

Maybe I should watch more of these two so I can distinguish them easily next time and stop arguing with myself, teehee!

Living, Loving, and Learning...by Leonardo Buscaglia

Have you guys read this book? Leonardo Buscaglia is one of may favorite authors and people. Most lovable and loved by many, and why not when his speeches preaches of nothing but LOVE. He actually taught the subject in the University of California - Love 101. Great, huh? It may be weird for some but I would have gladly taken that class every year. Well, too bad Leo is no longer with us and I wonder if someone has pursued teaching the subject now. Good thing that he was able to author several books for us to ponder on and spend one quiet afternoon with.

About this book, this is actually a compilation of sort of excerpts from his speeches and lectures. Such a nourishment for the soul if you give it a chance to read. It has a way of leading us back to ourselves, of accepting our weaknesses and yet loving ourselves despite of the flaws. To marvel in our uniqueness and to not put our energy into being someone else. Yet, it also emphasizes on the process of learning new things to enrich us, and unlearning things that hinders us. To not limit ourselves by clinging on the filters that were imposed to us as a child by our environment.

That is basically what I like most about this book (no wonder I have read it like a hundred times!), it teaches me to love myself. Not in an egotistical way, but in a healthy manner so that by loving myself I can learn how to love other people and teach them to love themselves too. The title of the book shows us that this is a process. We live, we love, and we learn. On and on and on. We may get hurt or get broken, and we learn from that. Or better yet, we may get lucky and rejoice in it... :) 

            

The one on the left was bought in 1999, so it's been with me for 12yrs now. Over-used, over-read, and over-traveled. I always bring it with me in my travels. On the right is barely a year old, got it during a sale of a local bookstore. I managed to buy 5 copies and been giving them to close friends. Kept one for myself and still have another one which is still waiting for the lucky recipient... ^_^

Ginataang Kalabasa

Happy New Year everyone! I bet a lot of us gained an extra pound during the holidays, eh? I did, and when I think of all the meat and cholesterol which I took in, delicious as they were, I feel kinda awful too coz let's admit it, most are unhealthy! Sugar. Fat. Ugh, no wonder they tasted good... :)

So, to kind of cleanse myself, I have been thinking of eating veggies for the time being and remembered I have not eaten this dish for so long which made me crave for it more. Actually, I have not tried cooking this dish on my own. Just watched other people do and ain't it exciting to try it on my own? So, off I went to the market the other day and readied myself to my experiment, hehehe.

Ginataang kalabasa, or simply squash with coconut milk. I checked out some recipes on the net and some people put pork in it but since I've had enough of that already, I decided to use shrimp instead. Okay now, I am not a professional cook. I have had no formal studies in cooking, whatsoever. Everything I learned, I got from my mom's kitchen and mostly from reading recipes and tweaking them according to my preference. In other words, "patsamba" a.k.a. "patsam". Remember that term coz I will be using it a lot for I have a number of "patsam" recipes.

Ingredients: garlic, onion, ginger, squash (peeled and cut into cubes), string beans (sitaw, cut into about 2-in length), coconut milk (thin and thick), whole shrimp (cleaned), shrimp paste, fish sauce, salt and pepper.

Ginataang Kalabasa

First, saute garlic, onions, and ginger. I usually mince my ginger in any of my recipes coz I want them to kind of disappear and not bite unto a whole strip of it as I eat. Add pork (if you are using them) and shrimp paste and saute until pork is brown. Add the squash and pour in the thin coconut milk, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Let it boil until the squash is partly cooked, then add the string beans, shrimp, and thick coconut milk. Simmer until the string beans are cooked. Add fish sauce, salt, and pepper, according to taste.

Personally, I prefer the squash slightly over-cooked in this dish so I let it boil a bit longer before adding the beans. That's because I love mashing it down as I eat. To each his own folks! :).... Gave some of this to my neighbors and was rewarded a couple of days later with Inihaw na Bangus, nom-nom-nom!

Twin Lagoon, Coron, Palawan

One of the many famous tourist spots in Coron, Palawan, no wonder at all because of the eye-bulging scenery. During the boat ride to this site, I tell you, every turn the boat makes, a new breathtaking scenery is revealed that you cannot help but anticipate a grander show of nature on the next turn.

Twin Lagoon (trying out a raft in its clear waters)

We arrived there at noon, just in time for lunch. The awesome sight beats any 5-star resto, those broiled fish tasted like caviar to me! How I envy the locals there to have the privilege of enjoying this beauty every single day.

Twin Lagoon, Coron, Palawan (inside the second lagoon)

The place gives a feeling of being isolated from the rest of the world coz the open sea is not visible and you are surrounded by large cliffs of limestone.  The second lagoon can be reached by swimming under a rock formation which is difficult to pass through during high tides so a ledge was built so tourists can use the wooden stairs and reach the other side through a space between the cliffs.  Since the tide was low, we swam under and was in for another show from mother nature. The grand finale of the show, it was another world. Eerie – that’s how I’d describe the other side.  If I felt isolated in the first lagoon, here I felt like the world has ended and we were the only people who survived. Okay, that's morbid, hehehe. We were still surrounded by large cliffs, there’s not a landing we could stand on, the water is a mixture of fresh and salty water, and it was so quiet.  Simply eerie.  Didn’t stay long there coz I felt like a thousand pair of eyes were staring at me, to whom they belong I didn’t want to know, hahaha.

Twin Lagoon (the rocky cliffs surrounding the place)

Twin Lagoon (behind me is the passage between the two lagoons)

Bistro Coron

Bistro Coron, Palawan

When I was planning our trip to Coron, I went to check out the local forums as I always do when I need to know stuff. Visiting new places doesn't only mean going to the tourist spots, the local food and must-dine in places are just as important. And Bistro Coron is much talked about in these forums--- "don't leave without eating at Bistro Coron!"--- ok, fine, will do! And yes, we did!

Pizza Bistro

Luckily, the resto was near the resort we stayed in, just a few tumblings away :)... It has just a few tables, with a bar and I think a couple of billiard tables. They offer menus for breakfast to dinner, but since we went there for one certain dish, we didn't bother checking everything out. The house specialty - their Pizza Bistro! I love pizza but I am also very picky when it comes to it, much as I love it I still won't eat every pizza that is shoved to my face. Pizza Bistro is just so yummy, yummy, yummy! I was told that some tourists even bring this back home and if I wasn't carrying a heavy luggage, I would have done so, too! Maybe 3 to last me a week of dinner, hehehe :)

Regal de Mare

Also worth mentioning was the pasta we tried out, it's called Regal de Mare, a seafood pasta in white sauce. This was amazingly delicious! That's the prize you get when you dare to try out new dishes :).. Just thinking of these makes me wanna fly back right now, ugh! ***craving***

Note: Bistro Coron is located in Coron, Palawan

BB Creams..... the bug got me!!!

I really am not fond of make-up, mainly because they often cause me to break out and second, I'm a dummy in using them, duh! My routine basically consists of powder and lipgloss and some eyeliner if I'm not so lazy, teehee :)

So, I didn't really give much attention whenever I hear my younger cousins and nieces talk of foundations, eye shadows, etc., And now the new fad, BB creams. Hmm, sounds Korean to me. What instantly comes to mind are Kpops and those really fair-skinned Korean artists, which obviously I know nothing about **grin**

What really brought my attention to BB creams was when I got curious to what BB actually means. Off I went to check Mr. Wikipedia to enlighten me. Whoa! See my naivete? It actually originated in Germany, not Korea, and not as a cosmetic but rather as an ointment used to soothe and regenerate the skin after laser surgery. Thus, it was called BB cream or Blemish Balm. That's interesting. Reading on to related articles, it did say that a Korean actress was the first to use it for beauty purposes. Well, that makes sense. If it can heal the skin after laser surgery and hide blemishes as well, wouldn't that be great?

Most BB creams now are manufactured in Korea, and like any beauty product, a lot of improvements have been made on it to meet the needs of different type of skin plus other extra benefits, such as SPF. To make the story short, I bought one... hehe, like I said, it got me!

It's really funny coz I got late in the game, so when I was choosing one for me I was really amazed with the many variants offered in the market now. A single brand offers like 3 or more kinds. Anyway, I settled for Skinfood's Peach Sake BB cream because of the good reviews I read about it and because I don't want to confuse myself any more by looking into all the options.

Here it is:

Skinfood's Peach Sake Pore BB Cream #2

So far, I love it! It's like a tinted moisturizer and I like that it has SPF20+. The coverage is light to medium which is fine with me. It's supposed to offer good oil control which didn't really work much for me, maybe because I really have oily skin and I don't use primers. But I really like that it doesn't feel heavy on my skin, it actually gives me a natural and healthy glow which is amazing really. And most of all, it doesn't aggravate my pimples. Really good for my sensitive skin. And the sweet smell! Love it! :)

Am I glad that I got curious on this stuff, now I found a product that really compliments my skin without that cake-y look. Maybe I'll try Skinfood's Aloe BB cream next :)

Maquinit Hot Springs - (Coron, Palawan)

One thing I failed to ask the locals of Coron is what "Maquinit" exactly means or stands for. It could be a place or some famous local hero or simply the local term for the tagalog word "mainit" - which means HOT! At 45C .... whew!

Located in Coron, Palawan, this hot spring is one of the must-see places there. Mostly visited by the middle and old-aged for the therapeutic effect they get from dipping in it,  young ones like me also go there for a relaxing sauna bath experience, also best recommended for those aching legs after climbing Mt. Tapyas' 720 steps.

Personally, I found it hard to get in the water :). The trick is to do it really slow beginning with your toes inching up to your neck. And if you're up for it, then go dive in 'til your ears get red (*grin*). It would be best to stay in the water until you're sure you don't want no more coz there's a sudden drop in temperature and you would need to go slowly again for another dip.

Surrounded by rocks and mangroves, this place is really relaxing. And the view is at its best during sunrise or sunset, so plan your trip well. Enjoy! :)

bamboo walkway in Maquinit hot springs

early morning at Maquinit hot springs, awesome way to start the day

Maquinit hot springs

Banol Beach, Palawan

(located in Coron, Palawan)

My friend and I went to Coron, Palawan last 2009. The trip consisted mostly of island hopping for 2 glorious days and I dare say that this beach is my fave amongst all those beaches we went to. Not only was the water so clear (it was like being in a pool, really!), the sight was also a wonder to behold. Rocky cliffs, green lushes, endless clear water.... whoa! Just breathtaking!

We were also lucky coz we travelled during the off-peak season, which means less tourists, so most of the time we have the beaches for ourselves. Considering that Banol beach is just a small strip of white sand, having it for ourselves was like being in a private get-away, like owning the island (i wish!) ^_^

Here are some pictures. Sorry if my lowly digical camera wasn't able to capture the vivid beauty of the place, I promise to bring a DSLR the next time I visit, coz I surely will! If you need tips on how to go there just leave me a note and I'll happily share some tips as our trip was basically a DIY experience :)

Let's explore the Philippines!

white sands of Banol Beach

clear waters of Banol Beach (an endless swimming pool)

breathtaking view in Banol beach (not me, the view!)

Healthy Thinking

Surprisingly, just believing that you have control – even when you really don’t – can affect your physiological response to stress and your health.

Changing the way you think is one of the best things you can do to enhance health. Research suggests that positive thinking—optimism, confidence, and a sense of control—has very positive health benefits. It can affect your immune system, your susceptibility to disease, and perhaps even your life span. Here are some studies that demonstrate the power of optimistic thinking.

Optimism and immunity

• In one study, researchers measured chemical substances in saliva that protect us from infections like colds. Immunity was higher on days when people felt positive about their lives than on days when they felt down.
• Blood samples were taken from both optimistic and pessimistic people. The optimists had a higher ratio of disease-fighting "helper" immune cells to "suppressor" immune cells than the pessimists.

Optimism and cancer

• Mice and rats were implanted with tumors in several studies, and given electric shocks. The ones who fought the tumors more successfully were those who could turn off the shock by pressing a bar. This gave them some control over a stressful situation.
• Confidence and optimism also appear to help those facing life-threatening diseases. Women who had a second occurrence of breast cancer survived longer if they felt joy in living, and talked to themselves optimistically.
• There is evidence that people can learn to think more positively, and so improve their physical health. For example, one group of patients with cancer were taught more constructive thinking habits. They also received relaxation training. These patients' natural killer cells showed much higher activity than patients who received similar medical treatment, but no counseling.

Attitude affects longevity

• In one study, seniors who believed they were in "poor" health were nearly three times more likely to die within seven years than those who rated their health as "excellent." The self-ratings more accurately predicted who would die than the doctors' objective reports.
• People who thought they were in poor health (despite the fact that their doctors had given them a clean bill of health) had a slightly greater risk of dying sooner than health optimists. Those who saw themselves as well (even though doctor's reports suggested that they had poor health) lived slightly longer.
• Even a sense of control over minor daily events can improve health. Nursing home residents who were given a choice of what to have for breakfast or what night to see a movie were happier and more active. After 18 months, they had half the death rate of those not offered as much control.

Attitude affects illness

• In a company undergoing major reorganization, executives who felt a sense of control over their situations felt challenged rather than threatened by the change. They were less likely to get sick than the executives who saw the change as a threat, and felt powerless.
• A long-term study of college graduates found that men with optimistic self-talk were physically healthier later in life, and had less chronic illness than more pessimistic alumni. Optimistic students at another college reported fewer sick days, doctor visits, and symptoms (such as fatigue, sore muscles, and coughs) than the students with negative self-talk.
• In another study, elderly people were asked to list all the good and bad things they expected to happen in the future. Two years later, those with a more positive outlook had better health (including fewer physical symptoms, less tension, greater energy, and fewer colds) than people who were more negative about the future.

Attitude and surgery

• Optimistic patients facing open-heart surgery develop fewer complications, including heart attacks during surgery. They recover more quickly, and return to work, hobbies, and exercise sooner than their pessimistic counterparts.
• Patients undergoing surgery who were given the suggestion that they could control blood flow during the procedure cut their blood loss by half.

Believing beats reality

• Surprisingly, just believing that you have control—even when you really don't—can affect your physiological response to stress, and your health.
• In one experiment, people were asked to solve math problems while being distracted by irritating noise. They showed less stress if they were told they could stop the noise by pressing a button. Even though no one pressed the button, and the button didn't really shut off the noise, they still experienced fewer stress symptoms (sweaty hands, racing hearts, ringing ears, and headaches).

Beliefs become biology

• Because optimists are more active than pessimists, they are more likely to do something for their health (go to the doctor, change their diet, or exercise). Optimists may also be more active than other people in seeking out support—another factor that's been shown to promote health.
• We don't yet understand exactly how optimistic thinking translates into better health. But we do know that thoughts determine moods, and moods reflect changes in both hormonal activity and immune function. However it works, the evidence clearly shows that it's worth-while to learn to think as optimistically as possible.

Healthy Foods to provide your children:

• Low fat milk offered in clear plastic bottles - especially chocolate milk, kids will drink more of it.
  
  * DO not allow non-fat food to be served. Studies show that non-fat foods actually cause weight gain because it changes the way the body is processing fats and how they NOT burn fats in the body.
  
  * Milk and dairy products should be organic that do not contain anti-biotics and pesticides like regular milk does.
  
  * Cows fed non-organic grains have increased pesticides in milk. Cows that are injected with anti-biotics pass this into their milk. Studies show that by ingesting these by-products of anti-biotics in products is lowering the resistant to bacteria in the human body.
  
  *All dairy products SHOULD not contain carregenan. Carregenan is used in many products as a thickening agent. Studies have shown it increases inflammation throughout body and increases arthritis and breathing disorders like asthma.
• All meats should be from organic sources. Chicken should be organic, free from anti-biotic injections and range fed. Eggs should be as well.
• More fresh water fish - NO FARM RAISED FISH - these fish are showing unusual strains of bacteria in the meat.
• More fruits and vegetables on the menus - preferably organic to reduce pesticide ingestion * All fruits and vegetables should be carefully washed. If not organic, outside peelings like apples and other fruits should not be eaten with these peelings because of possible high pesticide contamination.
  
  *Check to see where fruits are coming from, what country? Fruits coming from Mexico and South America where they allow the use of many pesticides BANNED in the U.S. In these countries, farmers also use human waste and sewage water for fertilizers. Do you want your children eating this?
• No junk foods - demand that all junk foods be taken out of food machines.
• No soft drinks - demand that all soft drinks be replaced with drinking water or 100% fruit juices.
  
  *Juices should not be sweetened with high fructose syrup, a leading cause of your children developing diabetes.
• Whole grains in bread products
• NO FOODS CONTAINING HYDROGENATED OILS or MONODIGLYCERIDES
• NO FOODS CONTAINING MSG - ( MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE )
• NO FOODS CONTAINING ASPARTAME
• Healthy oils that should be used are; olive oil, grapeseed oil, coconut oil, safflower oil

Paoay Church, Laoag

The San Agustin Church of Paoay is the main reason why I wanted to go up north.  It is a premier example of Philippine Earthquake Baroque, an architectural solution to the area's challenging, natural setting. Both sides of the nave are lined with strong stone buttresses to withstand the powers of strong earthquakes.  Paoay church is one of the four Baroque churches in the Philippines that have been included in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Site, others are the San Agustin Church in Manila; Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur; and, Sto. Tomas de Villanueva in Miag-ao, Iloilo.  Wow, that means I have been to 3 of the 4, not bad! 

For so long, I have seen pictures of this church in magazines and on the web but nothing compares to seeing it up close and personal. Simply amazing!!! You guys should not let the chance pass of visiting this place when you travel to Ilocos. And to the foreigners, not only is the Philippines a haven of beautiful beaches, these historical landmarks are also very worth the glimpse. Come and visit! :)