Random Pictures: SM North Edsa Annex

Caffe Ti Amo: Heaven on Earth

Everyone who knows me know how much I love ice cream and coffee. So what do I think of Caffe Ti Amo?

PURE HEAVEN!

I really think that they had me in mind when this joint was conceptualized! I'm sure that my doctor would be happy to know that I'm satisfying myself with gelato and its low butterfat and sugar content!

Try it out at the Upper Ground Floor of SM North Edsa Annex!

Major, Major...

Why can't we just be happy that our candidate, Venus Raj, was able to place 4th in the 2010 Ms. Universe pageant? In itself, 4th place is the best finish we had since 1999 when Miriam Quiambao got into the top 5.

To be put on the spot in front of millions of televiewers can be very nerve wracking. Personally, I think it was a safe answer given the situation. Me, I don't think I'd be able to think at all if I had been in her place.

However, Mr. Baldwin did pose an interesting question---something that we can actually ask ourselves. Is there any mistake that we've made that we regret and wish to change?

I guess my answer, which I thought of for more than a day, is more or less similar with Venus. I did make a lot of mistakes in my life but those mistakes is what made me what I am today, so I won't change anything. In other words---I'm happy what I am right now.

How about you?

God's Counsel

I firmly believe that I am where I am today because God guided me there.

All the major decisions in my life I have asked God's counsel and as far as I'm concerned He has led me to a path that gave me the opportunity to grow and provide for my family's basic needs (a man's got to eat, right?).

I say opportunity because God did not give it to me on a silver platter. I had gone through a lot of hardships to get to where I am now. "Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa." Well, God found merit in my hard work and it did not come overnight. I'm talking about blood, sweat and tears hear brotha! It was a test of faith and persistence.

Anyway, I have come to realize that God does not answer immediately. He bids His time and, well, He's actually got the whole time in the world, right? So I learned to be patient---VERY PATIENT. After all, I am not God's only child. So, I take my place in a very long queue and wait my turn.

As I've mentioned in my previous blog that you need to be attuned to God's signs. I'm sure I'm not one of the favored ones to whom He speaks to directly and He can't be burning bushes in this day and age. Me, I just pray and pray and pray and pray some more until He manifests His wisdom in some form or another.

This morning I had a dream. It's kind of incomprehensible at best. Maybe God realized that I'm really not that intelligent so when I took to the john and reading my book, a quotation struck me. Really? Well, let's see how this pans out...

Tong Yang, SM Fairview Annex

My wife has been telling me about the eat all you can at Tong Yang but the opportunity to try it out hasn't turned out yet. Last Friday, we finally got our chance.

Now my idea of an eat all you can buffet is a table laden with food, dig in, and devour all you can take. I consider myself an eat all you can bad ass---you take me to a buffet and you'll surely get your money's worth and then some! I did not get this big taking it easy on food!

I'm happy that my wife enjoyed herself when we went there but I was really impatient with the cooking part. Instead of just shovelling food for a re-fill you still need to wait for the food to cook. Now I know how Pavlov's dog felt!

In fairness, the food was great (except for those which I took in half cooked)!

Grand Vista Hotel Boracay

It has been three months since me and my wife celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary in the beautiful island of Boracay but the memories of those wonderful four days vacation still lingers.

The beauty and spectacle of the island is a given. Day or night the place is teeming with activity. Needless to say, there was no boring moment in Boracay! No wonder we found our stay "bitin"!

After going about all your business from Station 1 to 3, you can't help but get sapped! What really helped us get revitalized for the next day's action was the cool comfort of the Grand Vista Hotel!

The accomodations were a honeymooner's delight! The room was enormous! It had a king size bed, a big LCD TV, hot and cold shower, and if you want to just dip in water privately---you have your own 3x4 meter pool to soak the heat away! Sweet!

We were not able to use the hotel's main swimming pool since we were out most of the time but it sure looks very nice to swim in.

Buffet breakfast is from 6am-10am. The menu was nothing fancy. Don't expect brewed coffee or freshly squeezed orange juice but it sure gave us enough sustenance to fuel our halfday's worth of gallivanting!

One downside to this hotel is its location. Definitely no walking distance to the white sand beach. The hotel is on the topside portion of the island. To remedy this situation, the hotel had an hourly airconditioned service going to D'Mall. Pick up going back to the hotel is also by the hour until 9pm.

On the upside, being located on the hill top sure gave us one hell of an island view!

Beautiful Pinays: Georgina Wilson