Win GC's from Mercato Centrale When you Check-in at Swarm

Hey Foodies!  Anyone here who frequents Mercato Centrale? If so, then here is a treat for you. Whenever  you visit MM, check-in via Swarm and share it on Twitter and then you'll get a chance to win Mercato GC!

If you are unaware of Swarm, it is an app that helps you keep up and meet up with your friends. Like Foursquare, you can check in to your favorite places, keep up with your friends by seeing who’s close by, and meet up with your friends right in the app.

Tagum City is Palarong Pambansa 2015 Venue

Photo credit here

After careful deliberation, officials of the Department of Education (DepEd) have selected Tagum City, Davao del Norte to host the 2015 Palarong Pambansa. The city beat out five other bidders – Dipolog City, Pagadian City, Koronadal City, Lanao del Norte province, and CARAGA region.
Before announcing the results of the vote, Education Secretary Br Armin Luistro FSC asked for the support of the cities that were not selected. “This is a vote for Mindanao. This year we were surprised at the number of bidders. We hope that we still have your support.”

When asked what he expected from the host Luistro replied, “The only thing we need to expect is for Tagum to deliver.” He added, “Ang maganda sa Tagum ay mukhang handa na ang lahat. Hindi na kailangan pa ng dagdag na buwang preparasyon.” The Palarong Pambansa is held in May with hosting duties rotating yearly among the island groups.

Caution Hot! 警告辣 Spicy Noodle House

Just Last October of 2014, another restaurant that seemed to be a scanty place opened up to serve authentic Chinese spicy noodles.  But I was surprised at learning that this scanty place along Magiting St., in Diliman is actually substantial on truly hot menu.

Time to Do Some #Skinvesting at Luminisce

Have you ever wondered how it's like to be Alice Dixon, Dawn Zulueta or Eula Valdez even?  As far as looks went, they had been blessed with aging clocks that were set slower than the rest of us.  We do understand that they spent a fortune maintaining their youthful looks.  

I guess they are good examples among many others who went out their way to really invest in their skin's beauty and health.  

Just a week ago, I was able to meet with a wellness expert and a health advocate rolled into one personality, Dr. Kristina Cuevas Reyes, but she prefers to be addressed as Dr. Kaycee.  This beauty expert is the one behind the slowly becoming famed hashtag - #skinvesting. 

What great way to be educated on "skinvesting" or investing in your skin than with a skin check done at Doc Kaycee's posh clinic in BGC called Luminisce Holistic Skin Innovation.

Grand Kick-Off Treats at Century Park Hotel

Be fascinated with Century Park Hotel's grand treats that's sure to kick start a delightful 2015.

They have extended Holiday Getaway room promo. Where the fun is continued with a celebration in their Classic Superior room for only at P4,500 net/room/night and deluxe room/Studio/One-Bedroom Park Tower suite/Junior Superior suite at P 5,500 net/room/night. These packages include complimentary buffet breakfast for two plus P500 credit in all Food and Beverage outlets. Promo is until January 15, 2015.

Neo-classical Romanticism at Vikings SM Jazz Mall

Milan, Italy is my parents and siblings' second home, thus it is mine too and I can't wait to come back.  Though only in my dreams, I would definitely barter for any tour, for me and my family to go back and see again the grandeur that is Italy.  In order for me to ease my yearning to coming to Italy is basking in Italian cuisine at home and when I'm called to indulge to dine out.

What made  me so in love in that romantic country is its renaissance art depicted in their architectural preeminence.  Bucolic monuments, neo-classical buildings to gothic palaces and everywhere you look seems to transport you in the era you only have read on novels.

Once you've been there, you will never leave without leaving aprt of your heart there.  So there, I really, really miss Italy, well also my relatives, hehe.

That being out in the open, I'm glad to tell you that I found a decent dose to cure my ailing heart, I found it in Vikings' newest branch, SM Jazz Mall.  Let my photos tell you why.

Visit Bohol Tourism Campaign for 2015 Launched

Because I am soo in love with my father's hometown, I can not excuse myself not promoting its natural beauty and wonder.  Even though I have been there a couple of times and have experienced the region in so many exciting ways, from the fun to the tragic stories it's history have shared, there is still that glorious aura that will not only invite you into its rich culture, kind people, scrumptious cuisine and ahhh magnificent scenic sights to behold.

Here is one proof that I'm forever drawn to Bohol:

Bohol Photo Journal 2014

A Taste of KPOP's Soft-Ice Cream and Honey at Milk Cow

I've ended my blogging entry for 2014 with a sweet bang, though we rang 2015 with a semi-glorious feast at our home (which I'm hoping to blog), this experience remained to be one guilty pleasure to boot.  I'm ecstatic to report that this new dessert place in Eastwood City that rocked Korea and some Asian countries is now open to wow dessert lovers of the metro.

The Restaurants I love that weren't properly blogged

Take a deep breath, sit down on your favorite chair or lie down on a hammock and think.  Have you thought of how 2014 was?  Has it been kind to you or has it brought a lot of challenges and gave you some demise? 

I don’t know about you but this year has simply flown by.  Perhaps I'm starting to feel the signs of getting old…..mmm.  Anyhow, as I was pondering over my 2014, I can say that it has been extremely rewarding, how could not trying out different cuisines - from newly opened restaurants and cafes, not made it awesome. 

Though the workload have been undeniably cumbersome and sometimes stressful, the pleasure of writing my blog has not diminished even if there were times when finding the time and head space for creative thinking proved very challenging, indeed!

Come to think of it, I also have tons of things to share here in my blog and my draft page is spitting pity on me for not being able to do so.

So, regrettably, let me just share some of this food establishments that I was able to visit and try but was not able to blog about.  If you have been a follower of my Instagram feed, you can see my where-abouts and yep, I was just mightily blessed of being able to discover a lot of new dishes, activities and whatnot.  I just wished that was gifted with more time and abilities (availability, that is) for me to be able to write about all of them.

2nd's

A Closer Look at City Garden Suites Manila

The city of Manila is distinctively a melting pot of culture, arts and business.  Carlos Celdran have even described it as "a city of extreme contrasts."   "It’s easy to see how it can become an intense personal experience. Manila can be chaotic and spiritual, dirty and divine, gritty and gorgeous all at once. If you don’t find beauty and poetry here, you will never find it anywhere," as Celdran wrote of it more.

Many prefer to spend a little while in this city before seriously delving in to business or backpacking off the outskirts of the city and one hotel suite stood out from the rest when it comes to nesting awhile.  The three-star accommodation of City Garden Suites Manila have been a definite choice to many tourists, both foreign and local.  For reasons such as its proximity within Manila's commercial and business establishments.  It's near the US and Japanese Embassies, World Trade Center, CCP Complex, Baywalk area, the historical area of Intramuros, the entertainment district of Malate, and only 15 minutes away from the airport.

I'm feeling a bit void inside my gut for not trying out a staycation here before the year 2014 ended, however let me share you what other great treats you'll have once you'll try it to yourself.