Explore Manila, the Philippines and the World!

This one is one of my favorite pasty shop & restaurants in Manila. They have branches in Paranaque, Greehnills, Serendra and Trinoma. And usually all these are always jampacked. You will have to wait for more than 30 minutes to find a seat especially during lunch and dinner time.

But the waiting period is all worth it. The food is superb and not to mention affordable too. They also offer catering services and food can be ordered by just ordering usually 2-3 days before the event depending on the amount of food that you will be ordering.

I have tried several food from Conti’s such as…

Barbeque Spareribs

All of these are very tasty and is very good for parties and special events.

Here are the contact information of Conti’s just in case you want to try their food too!

Paranaque
#61 President Avenue, BF Homes Commercial, Paranaque City
Tel. 807-3388 / 772-3041 / 850-5852

Greenhills
#53 Connecticut St. Greenhills, San Juan
Tel. 744-4184 / 744-4208 / 727-6898

Serendra
IC-17 Serendra Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Tel. 856-2352 / 53

Trinoma
P1 Level, Trinoma EDSA cor North Avenue Quezon City
Tel. 900-5013 to 15

Thanks for this Alpha and Peachy! It makes me want to eat ASAP!

Let’s learn what blogger’s favourite meal (Breakfast) is. Simple straightforward meme and great for link love. Have a good Breaky!

*Start copy here*

The Longest Breakfast Menu List

Everyone likes to start their day with a comfort food for breakfast. What kind of food do you take? This would be a good way to find out your blogger friend’s favourite food for breakfast.

All you need to do is to put your name down, the country you are in and your favorite breakfast meal. Let’s see how we can have this breakfast ‘menu’ travelled all around cyberspace and learn what each blogger living in different country and what they eat for breakfast. This meme was created by a little lady with a penchant to spy around little baskets while marketing. Her favorite breakfast of the day is none other than Roti Prata, an indian flat bread. What about you? What is your favorite breakfast meal of the day?

1. Spymama, Singapore – Roti Prata 2. Janeth Vicy’s Life Journey, Philippines – Ham and Hotdog with Rice 3.As The World Turns, Philippines, Milk and Biscuits. 4.Just Me.. Eds, Philippines- Sausage and Egg with Garlic Rice/Fried Mash potato 5. Alpha, Philippines ~ McDonald’s Big Breakfast 6.Explore Manila, Philippines – Sonya’s Garden Breakfast 7.Your Name, Country, Food

*End copy here*

My most favorite breakfast is by Sonya’s Garden. It composes of Chicken and Pork Adobo, Daing na Bangus, Mushroom Omelette, Fried Rice, Mango Salsa, and of course the best hot chocolate I’ve ever tasted! Hubby and I ate here twice already and I would still go back when we have time. I don’t mind the 1 and 1/2 hours drive as long as I get to taste the hot chocolate. Thinking about it now made my mouth water! Yum!

Now, what’s your favorite breakfast, Jody, Joy, Thea, and Jane?

We celebrated Nanay’s 40 days last Tuesday at our place. It was just a simple lunch with a few close friends and relatives. We had prayers before 12NN and then started lunch after that. Since it was a weekday (and a lunch) our cousins and some Titas weren’t able to attend, too bad!

The food was ordered from Conti’s that’s why I was excited to taste it. I looove Conti’s so much and in every party, I would order food from them. Not to mention affordable too!

Here is the food that we had last Tuesday :

- Pineapple Macaroni Salad
- Lumpiang Ubod
- Barbeque Spareribs (this one was really tasty!)
- Chicken Pastel
- Pansit Bam-I
- Rice
- Leche Flan (I loved it!)

Barbeque Spareribs

A Sumptious Lunch!

Everyone loved the food including my in-laws. She even borrowed the menu from Conti’s and is planning to order there in her next parties. I would highly recommend it.

Oh by the way, Nanay’s sister brought old photos of their family that I would like to share here. It’s funny because in this photo, Nanay looked exactly like my sister.

Nanay is at the rightmost part of the photo.

I’m actually a bit late in this since I know that it’s been months since Paypal has already accepted Philippine bank accounts for Philippine users. And now that I had a first hand experience on this one, it’s time to share what process I’ve been through.

Yesterday the Paypal money that I transferred to my bank account was successfully credited. Although the surcharge was a bit high (around PHP 200), but the thought of not having to transfer the money to my Aunt’s bank account in the US is truly worth it. Now, I can shop all I want!

I’ve learned a lot from Chikai on what to do. First, I added my bank account through Paypal and used the following bank codes:

ALLIED BANKING CORPORATION – 010320013
AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND – 010700015
ASIA UNITED BANK – 011020011
BANGKO SENTRAL NG PILIPINAS – 010030015
BANGKOK BANK – 010670019
BANK OF AMERICA – 010120019
BANK OF CHINA – 011140014
BANK OF TOKYO – 010460012
BANCO DE ORO (& EPCIB) – 010530667
BANK OF COMMERCE – 010440016
BANK OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS – 010040018
CHINA BANKING CORPORATION – 010100013
CHINA TRUST COMMERCIAL BANK – 010690015
CITIBANK N.A. – 010070017
DEVELOPMENT BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES – 010590018
DEUTSCHE BANK – 010650013
EAST WEST BANK – 010620014
EXPORT & INDUSTRY BANK – 010860010
FUJI BANK – 010640010
HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANK – 010060014
INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK OF CHINA – 010560019
INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE BANK – 010680012
JP MORGAN CHASE BANK – 010720011
KOREA EXCHANGE BANK – 010710018
INTERNATIONAL NEDERLAND BANK – 010660016
LANDBANK OF THE PHILIPPINES – 010350025
MAYBANK OF THE PHILIPPINES – 010220016
METROPOLITAN BANK & TRUST CO – 010269996
PHILIPPINE BANK OF COMMUNICATION – 010110016
PHILIPPINE TRUST COMPANY – 010090039
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANK – 010080010
PRUDENTIAL BANK – 010150018
PHILIPPINE VETERANS BANK – 010330016
RIZAL COMMERCIAL BANKING CORPORATION – 010280014
SECURITY BANK & TRUST CO – 010140015
STANDARD CHARTERED BANK – 010050011
UNITED COCONUT PLANTERS BANK – 010299995
UNION BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES – 010419995
UNITED OVERSEAS BANK – 010270189

And then as soon as the bank account was approved, I was able to withdraw the money through the “Withdraw” option. For Philippine users, withdrawals equal or more than PHP 7,000 are free. For withdrawal amounts of less than PHP 7,000, there will be a fee of PHP 50. There is also an extra surcharge of PHP 150. This is the case of my bank. I just don’t know how much surcharge the other banks would get.

This is quite an experience for me. But I’m glad I tried it because it was all worth it!

For more information, you can check out Chikai’s blog here.

Today is my Lola’s (grandmother) 40th day after her death last June. During the 40th day after death, the family, relatives and friends celebrate this day along with a prayer.

40 days is the most popular tradition among Filipinos. “In the Catholic tradition, a nine-day novena (prayer) is held every evening after the Holy Mass and a celebration is held on the deceased’s 40th day as this is believed to be the day he/she ascends into heaven.” – by Cathy Guballa.

There were several relatives who were able to attend and after the prayer (which was around 11:45am) we started having our lunch.

This will be the last day of the novena but of course we would still pray for the soul of my grandmother as long as we can. Our memories with her will stay in our hearts for the rest of our lives.

Yesterday, Sunday, we went to University of Sto. Tomas (UST) hospital chapel to attend my Lola’s memorial mass. It was raining hard but good thing that the roads along Espana were not flooded at all.

According to the History of UST, the University of Santo Tomas is actually the oldest existing university in Asia and in terms of student population, the largest Catholic university in the world located in one campus. That explains the old buildings in the campus particularly the Church. Too bad it was raining hard that we weren’t able to take some photos.

I love the facade of the church and makes me think of the Spanish era. There are so many things that you can see inside the campus which include:

Arch of the Centuries
Benavides Monument
Main Building
The Cross
Statues atop Main Building
Beato Angelico Gallery
Central Library
Central Seminary
Santissimo Rosario
UST Botanical Garden Museum of Arts & Sciences
Publishing House
Rector’s Hall

I have yet to explore more about this campus and hopefully will be able to get photos the next time we will visit the place. But for the mean time, if you are interested in enrolling in this school or would want to hear mass at the church, you can visit their website here.

I got this from my sister through email.

Please be advised that effective January 2010, the green colored Philippine Passport will no longer be accepted even if it is still valid.

Attached is the list of new requirement for the application and renewal of Philippine Passport.

Thank you.

FOR RENEWAL MINOR AND ADULT
REQUIREMENTS:
1. OLD PASSPORT
2. 3 PASSPORT SIZED PICTURES W/ROYAL BLUE BACKGROUND WEARING DARK COLORED POLO/BLOUSE
3. PROPERLY ACCOMPLISHED APPLICATION FORM
4. IF 18YRS OLD & BELOW, SUBMIT PHOTOCOPY OF BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND ORIG. PASSPORT OF MOTHER (TO BE
SIGNED AND THUMBMARKED BY MOTHER ON THE
APPLICATION FORM AND UNDERTAKING)

PROCESSING FEE: PHP1,500.00
PROCESSING TIME: 12WORKING DAYS

FOR NEW PASSPORT (ADULT)
REQUIREMENTS:
1. AUTHENTICATED BIRTH CERTIFICATE, IF LATE REGISTRATION SUBMIT 2 OLD DOCUMENTS (EG. BAPTISMAL WITH DRY SEAL,
FORM 137, VOTER’S AFFIDAVIT)
2. IF MARRIED WOMAN, AUTHENTICATED MARRIAGE CONTRACT
3. 3 PASSPORT SIZED PICTURES W/ROYAL BLUE BACKGROUND WEARING DARK COLORED POLO/BLOUSE
4. ORIGINAL I.D. (COMPANY, SSS, VOTER’S, DRIVER’S)
5. FILLED UP APPLICATION FORM WITH SIGNATURE IN UNDERTAKING (2ND PAGE OF APPLICATION FORM). PLS. DON’T SIGN AND DON’T AFFIX THUMBMARK ON GREEN APPLICATION FORM

FOR NEW PASSPORT/MINOR BELOW 18 YEARS OLD
REQUIREMENTS:
1. AUTHENTICATED BIRTH CERTIFICATE
2. AUTHENTICATED MARRIAGE CONTRACT OF PARENTS IF MARRIED. IF NOT PARENTS ARE NOT MARRIED, AFFIDAVIT OF ILLEGITIMACY
3. 3 COPIES PASSSPORT SIZED PICTURE W/ROYAL BLUE BACKGROUND WEARING DARK COLORED POLO/BLOUSE
4. DULY FILLED UP APPLICATION FORM, IF 8YRS OLD & ABOVE DON’T SIGN AND DON’T AFFIX THUMBMARK. BUT IF 7 YRS & BELOW, FORM SHOULD BE SIGNED AND THUMBMARKED BY MOTHER
5. ORIGINAL VALID PASSPORT OF MOTHER
6. PHOTOCOPY OF SCHOOL I.D. IF STUDENT
7. IF TRAVELLING WITHOUT PARENTS NEED DSWD CLEARANCE
AND ORIGINAL PASSPORT OF TRAVELLING COMPANION

NOTE:
1. FOR MINORS BELOW 8 YRS OLD NEW AND RENEWAL, MOTHER IS FOR PERSONAL APPEARANCE AT DFA
2. FOR 8-17 YRS OLD NEW AND RENEWAL, APPLICANT AND MOTHER ARE FOR PERSONAL APPEARANCE AT DFA
3. FOR 18-64 YRS OLD NEW AND RENEWAL, PERSONAL APPEARANCE
IS A MUST. ONLY 65 YEARS OLD & ABOVE ARE EXEMPTED FROM PERSONAL APPEARANCE

PROCESSING FEE: PHP1,500.00
PROCESSING TIME: 12WORKING DAYS AFTER PERSONAL APPEARANCE

Tagged by Joy and Jane. Thanks ladies!

Prayer for the MV Princess of the stars fatalities and survivors.

Dear God, we pray that you comfort each bereaved family everyday as they grieved for their loss, we pray that you will supply all their needs, we pray for the survivors that they may have a good life after the tragedy, that you will bless them and let them know in the deepest part of their heart that in spite of what have happened, you LOVE and CARE for them. This we pray in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. I encourage everyone to keep the prayer going. LET’S P.U.S.H. (PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS).

We Prayed: 1. Through The Rain 2. God’s gift 3. The Adventures of Dong and Jing 4. Me, Myself and I 5. malditang bunso’s journal 6. Underneath It All 7. 100% Kelly 8. My Colorful World 9. InkBabyStudios 10. TheSaladCaper 12. MommyTalks 13. All About the Memories 14. Enchanted Play 15. I Am Mommy 16. MY Happy Place 17. IamDzoi 18. ClikTrik 19. I Love the Thirties 20. Explore Manila 21. YOUR BLOG HERE

Now, I’m passing this on to Eds, Alpha, and Faye!

If you’ve ever been to Serendra, you won’t definitely miss Bonifacio High Street. More shops and restaurants here and they even have a huge area for the kids to run to. I love this place. And so is Hubby and our little girl.

Shops here include, All Flip Flops (my fave!), Crocs, Nine West, United Colors of Benetton, Face Shop, Kenneth Cole, and many more.

Restaurants are also everywhere in Bonifacio High Street. Some restos that we already tried here were, Pancake House, Starbucks, Friday’s, Texas Roadhouse Grill, Figarro, Brother’s Burger, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Krispy Kreme, and this restaurant by Dencio’s (which I forgot the exact name).

There are still more restos to try and discover and I can’t wait for that!

Click here to know more about Bonifacio High Street.

This is one my favorite hang-outs in Manila. If we have time, Hubby and I would go and check out this place every weekend. There are lots of shops, restaurants, coffee shops here. This place is nice anytime of the day but best at night time.

We would usually bring our little girl here but sometimes if we needed a time out, we would come to this place alone for more bonding time.

The minute this place opened a couple of months ago, Hubby and I immediately checked it out and we immediately love Sonja’s Cupcakes even on their soft opening:

These cupcakes are to die for!

If you are looking for a perfect place to go out with your friends, husbands, kids, and families, I would recommend that you check out Serendra.

Other restaurants to check out:
- Conti’s
- Abe
- Brazil, Brazil
- Mary Grace

Shops to check out:
- Peppered Cherry located at the second floor

Serendra
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila