Comfort Food in My Old ‘Hood

When we were growing up, our area in Marikina was purely residential. We had to drive elsewhere if we wanted to eat out. Nowadays, Lilac Street is lined with restaurants with various food choices. We decided to try out Miguel & Maria for dinner when my brother and his family came over to visit.

We ate there twice in a week and both times, the place was full! The ambience was homey, perfect for family gatherings. The food can be described as comfort food, food that is familiar, but given a new treatment. Serving sizes are quite generous. On our first visit, we had the tomahawk steak, spiced shrimps and baby back ribs. All of those were delicious! On this particular night, though, we had the roast herbed chicken, the stuffed pork chop and the mac and cheese. The mac and cheese was the best of the three. The chicken was good, but the pork chop was a disappointment. It was tough and dry.

For dessert, they had “home crafted ice cream” with unique flavors. We tried the butterbeer and it was yummy! The brownie ala mode, chocolate cake and blueberry cheesecake were also delicious.

Eating in Miguel & Maria is like having a family reunion in your grandparents’ house – good food, homey ambience, great company.

Still High On Japanese Food: Trying Out Dohtonbori

There’s a new restaurant that opened at the SM North EDSA City Center – Dohtonbori. We weren’t able to eat okonomiyaki (or Japanese savory pancakes) when we went to Japan. Dohtonbori specializes in okonomiyaki, so we decided to give it a try.

Apart from the main dining area, they have a separate room with teppan tables, for a more authentic Japanese experience. You are asked to remove your shoes and leave them in a locker before entering the room. Diners are seated  on the floor around the teppan table.

We ordered the okonomiyaki, gyoza, chicken teppan and katsudon. Aside from the katsudon, everything was cooked in front of us. You can choose to cook it yourself, but this being our first time, we had them cook for us.

The okonomiyaki was good, but I would have preferred to have more meat in it, instead of having mostly vegetables. The teppan was okay, nothing great. The gyoza was quite dry and bland. The katsudon was okay too.

It was a novel experience, but not quite satisfying.

Japanese Cheese Tarts in Manila

During our trip to Japan, we discovered this delicious cheese tart in a convenience store. It had a pastry crust and the filling was very cheesy. To my surprise, I saw an article about some Japanese cheese tarts being sold in Cafe Kumori in SM North EDSA The Block.

Cafe Kumori sells a lot of bread products. I tried out a few of their specialties: the Kumori Signature Hanjuku Cheese (original), the Kumori Signature Cheese Tart, the Crabstick Bun and the Custard Butter mini.

I tried the cheese tart first. I liked this crust better than the one I tasted in Tokyo because it was sweeter. But the cheese filling here is less cheesy. It was still okay, though. The Hanjuku Cheese was soft and creamy and really melt-in-your-mouth. The crabstick bun was delicious, with generous amounts of crabsticks in it. The custard butter bun was quite plain.

There are still a lot of pastries that I want to try in Cafe Kumori. I hope I will enjoy them as much as I did the cheese tart and the crabstick bun.

Quick Day Trip To Nagcarlan

We are firm believers of domestic tourism. We try to bring the kids to a new town/province/region in the Philippines every year. With the change in the academic calendar, vacation was pushed to the rainy season, so we didn’t make plans to go far. I chose Nagcarlan, Laguna as our local destination this year. Our good friend, Amie Malabag-Hernandez, was recently elected as the Vice-Mayor of Nagcarlan. I got in touch with her and she agreed to meet us.

With Vice Mayor-elect Amie Hernandez

Amie first brought us to the Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery. It is the only underground cemetery in the Philippines. During the Philippine Revolution, the cemetery served as a meeting place of leaders of the Katipunan. It also served as hideout during the Philippine-American War and World War II.

Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery

We also visited a candy-making factory and the vegetable tram which was high up in the mountains.

For our last stop before lunch, Amie brought us to the Nagcarlan Forest Resort. Aside from the usual swimming pools, this one had a stream of running water. The water was cool. Too bad we weren’t ready for swimming.

Nagcarlan Forest Resort

By then, we were famished. Amie brought us to what used to be an abandoned warehouse, but is now a “boodle fight” restaurant. Boodle fight is how soldiers eat – the rice and viands are placed on banana leaves in the middle of the table and each one gets from there and eat with their bare hands. The food was delicious!

Boodle fight!

Our last stop in Nagcarlan was the San Bartolome Apostol Parish Church. It is a beautifully-preserved church. The original floor tiles from Talavera, Spain are still there on the walls. This church was used as setting for “Kampanerang Kuba”, the movie which starred Vilma Santos, as well as the television series which starred Anne Curtis.

San Bartolome Apostol Parish Church

This trip was very educational and fun for all of us. Thank you to our very gracious host, Amie, for a day of discovery.

 

 

A Convenient One-Stop Shop for Government Services

I used to dread having to avail of government services. Lines are long, offices are hot and uncomfortable, employees are grouchy. I needed to send something by mail, but I didn’t want to have to go to the post office. I was even willing to pay more to send it by courier, but the courier said they did not deliver to that particular area. I asked the ladies in the information desk of SM North EDSA if there was a post office within the mall. She wasn’t sure, but she said I could try looking in the basement of the Annex.

I’m in the mall fairly often, but I have not seen any post office there. The guard pointed me to the very end of the Annex, just before the bowling alley. You wouldn’t think there was anything beyond the two guards posted. You enter a corridor and at the end, you will see this:

With SM Government Service Express, now you can transact with these offices in the comfort of a mall. The offices were lined up against the walls, leaving lots of seats in the middle for the customers. When I got there on a weekday afternoon, there were hardly any people. So I was able to mail my parcel in a minute.

Thank you to SM Malls and the government for finding new ways to serve the public and to make their services more readily accessible to everyone.

Tips for Travelling to Japan

Our trip to Japan was a DIY project. I researched on what sites to see, how to get to each destination, where to eat. Here is a compilation of the tips that helped us in this trip:

1. Apply for your Japanese visa 60 days before your scheduled trip. Get the forms from accredited travel agencies. Complete all the forms and submit them. Make sure you fill in all the blanks. You will also need to submit your planned itinerary, copies of your tax returns, and certifications from your bank. Allot 6 – 10 working days from the time you submit your application to the time you get your passports back. Also make sure that your passport is not yet expired.
2. Order Japanese yen from your bank. Some banks require a few days to a week.
3. If you are going to take the Keisei Skyliner from the Narita Airport to Tokyo, it would be cheaper if you booked your tickets online.
4. Consider getting a hotel close to most of your destinations. We always choose a hotel that is close to a major train or subway station.
5. Get a Suica card or its equivalent. These are reloadable cards which you can use to pay for train/bus/subway tickets or even convenience stores. This saves you time since you don’t have to line up to buy tickets. Consume it to the last yen, if possible. Before leaving Japan, you can return the cards for a refund of JPY500. You are charged JPY220 if your remaining balance is more than that.
6. Order a rental pocket wifi. I rented a unit from Pupuru. This will come in handy when you are trying to access Google Maps or any navigation guide. I had the unit delivered to the hotel so it was ready when we arrived. Before leaving, I placed it in an envelope that they provided and had the hotel drop it in the mailbox for return.
7. Wear comfortable shoes. You will do a lot of walking.
8. Don’t be afraid to try small restaurants in the side streets. Food is delicious and prices are lower. Even the sushi and onigiri sold in convenience stores, department store basements and train stations are delicious.
9. Depending on your itinerary, you might want to consider getting a Tokyo Metro 24-hour pass for unlimited subway rides. I think there are also passes for multiple days.
10. If you are a fan of outlet shopping, you might want to schedule a trip to Gotemba Premium Outlets. You have the added bonus of having Mt. Fuji as your backdrop while you shop. Prices are generally not as low as those in the US outlets, although there were some stores that offered great deals. You can get to Gotemba by bus or by train. I booked our roundtrip bus tickets online before leaving Manila.

Japan is a very nice vacation destination. We hope to return there someday soon.

In Love With Japan

Just recently, my family and I went on a trip to Tokyo, Japan. Like in our other previous trips, we did not join a tour group. We made our own itinerary based on what we want to do and see. We did not want to be confined to a pre-set schedule and preferred to do the exploring on our own. We got lost at times, but that was part of the adventure. From the minute we landed in Narita, we loved every minute of our stay in Japan. Here are some of the reasons why:

1.  Weather

Coming from a scorching summer in Manila, the cool weather of Tokyo was a welcome breather. Days were cool and nights were chilly. Even during the early afternoon hours when the sun would be at its peak, it was still cool enough for a thin jacket. It rained on our second day there, but we did not let that get in our way.

Going around shortly after arrival

2.  Efficient transport system

To get around, we took the subway, the train or the bus. Cabs are expensive in Tokyo. There is an extensive network of subways and trains, so there’s bound to be a stop near your destination. The trains arrive on time and leave on time. That way, you can schedule your activities more effectively.

On our first day there, we got the Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket (JPY 600) for each one of us. That allows unlimited rides on the Tokyo Metro for 24 hours. Aside from that, we also got Suica prepaid cards for everyone. Suica is a reloadable card that can be used to pay for train, bus or subway tickets. It can also be used in convenience stores. It is very easy to use and saves you time, since you don’t have to line up to buy tickets.

3.  Food

Everything we ate in Japan was delicious. Prior to the trip, I was not a big fan of ramen. But I became a convert after eating ramen in Japan.

Ramen and gyoza in Ippudo

We also enjoyed the katsudon, gyoza, tempura, sushi, Harajuku crepes and Japanese cheese tarts. It didn’t matter where you got them – from big restaurant chains, mall food courts, department store basements, train stations, hole-in-the-wall restaurants. They were all delicious!

4. The sights

There’s much to see in Tokyo. There are temples and parks and gardens. There is a huge Gundam statue outside Diver City in Odaiba.

The highlight of our trip was seeing the majestic Mt. Fuji. We were really hoping to get a glimpse of Mt. Fuji while we were in Gotemba. Cloud forecast that day wasn’t very encouraging. So we were surprised that the peak of Mt. Fuji was visible throughout the day that we were there. Mt. Fuji is the highest mountain peak in Japan and is a famous symbol of Japan.

5.  The lack of noise

Tokyo is a very vibrant city, with lots of tall buildings, cars, busy people walking along the streets, but it is relatively quiet. Even with all the tourists crowding around in Nakamise Dori or in front of the Senso-ji Temple, there is no shouting or yelling. There is no mad honking of horns or loud music in malls.

6.  Cleanliness

Tokyo is a very clean place. Most restaurants observe a “clean-as-you-go” system, where diners are expected to bring out their plates and utensils and wipe the tables clean after eating. The streets, train stations and even public bathrooms are clean.

7.  The Japanese people

Everywhere you go, Japanese people are very polite. Even if they do not understand English, they will try to help you in any way they can.

All of us enjoyed our stay in Tokyo. This early, the kids are already asking if we can go back.  There are so many other places in Japan that we’d like to see. Until the next adventure.

Travelling

I enjoy travelling. I like going to new places, discovering new restaurants, seeing the sights. I like preparing for a trip, awaiting seat sales on different airlines and beating everyone to the punch when the clock strikes 12. I enjoy preparing our itinerary, researching not only on the usual tourist spots, but also other interesting places or things that are not hyped about. Travelling gives us a chance to be together, away from work and school, on our own. Bong hardly goes on a day off when he’s in town so it’s only when we travel that he is really on vacation. He and I know that before we know it, our children will grow up and embark on their own adventures. So while we can, and while they still want to go with us, we try to travel as a family.

Trixi, by Caitlin

Trixi and her classmate Caitlin teamed up for their school’s photo challenge. Caitlin took this photo of Trixi that day. I love how it shows Trixi’s playfulness and interest in the things around her. I love how it shows how innocent she still is. I know it won’t be long now before she grows up into a young lady. So I will enjoy moments like this while I still can. Thank you, Caitlin, for this photo.

Bonding with My 2019 Co-officers

I have been pretty active in the PTA ever since Chino entered Philippine Science High School. But it was mostly work I did from the house. I could not go to school often because Trixi was still in Antipolo. But now that they are both in PSHS and we live closer to school, I have increased my involvement in the PTA groups of both year levels. With Batch 2019, our President Irene included the presidents, secretaries and treasurers of each class in the Batch Council. It was in the course of the year that I got to know more of my 2019 fellow PTA officers. We worked together in the selling of t-shirts and movie premiere tickets, putting up seminars and workshops, decorating the gym for Family Day and so many meetings in between. It was hard work a lot of the time, but being with them didn’t make it feel like work. Being with people who shared the same dedication and work ethic made the experience a pleasant one. I hope that I can have the same experience with Batch 2021.