4 Buffets in 1 Month

That's how much I've been eating these past few weeks. Indirectly proportional to the amount of workout I've been doing.


Ding Qua Qua Dimsum
(June 24, 2014)

Yes. P288 only. 

A trip to Cebu is never, let me just reiterate that, NEVER complete without dimsum. I was born and raised in Cebu, and every Sunday we would have lunch in Harbour City in SM. I'd look forward to the steamed rice, fried shrimp balls, and quail egg siomai; those were my staples. My dad would chow down on chicken feet, and I never understood why it was appealing until just recently when I tried them at Causeway.

But Cebu dimsum is far from Causeway (sorrynotsorry). I don't understand how steamed rice could be so addictive (probably loaded with MSG but #idontcare) and magical. There is only one kind of steamed rice for me, and if you'd serve me the literal 'steamed' rice, it would be unacceptable. I never knew what this wonderful bowl of msg and carbs was made of, but it's pork, chicken and shrimp smothered in their secret, special, wonderful sauce. I've been to many dimsums in Manila and they don't serve this. Only in Cebu. (Until just recently when a branch of theirs, Dimsum Break, opened in SM North Edsa, making me the happiest dimsum girl in the metro)

My next favorite is their fried shrimp balls in sweet and sour sauce. It really sounds like a simple dish, but there's a disturbingly heavenly divine intervention in every bite. 

The photos aren't mine because I was too excited to dig in everything, I forgot to take photos. There were other dishes as well, several kinds of siomai, your usual buchi, kropek, that siopao bread, and other popular chinese dishes (noodles and stuff) to complete your dimsum experience. Ding Qua Qua is not your typical huge buffet, but trust me, load up on the steamed rice, siomai, and shrimp balls, maybe chicken feet too, and you're in dimsum heaven for just P288. 

When you're in Cebu, go visit Ding Qua Qua at JY Square in Lahug.


Mikado Japanese 
(June 28, 2014)

If there's one type of cuisine I swear I could eat everyday, it would have to be Japanese. And finding cheap Japanese restaurants/buffets aren't easy. Thank God for Mikado Japanese Restaurant in Cebu. We're loving Cebu already. Yes po. P380 for lunch and P470 for dinner. Again, these aren't my photos because I was too busy filling my plate from this pile of happiness.

Pile of happiness.

My second plate. 

The restaurant has a simple set up, not much frou frou Japanese keme, but really, who needs Japanese keme when you're there for the food. They have other dishes like your katsus and dons, etc. Didn't really bother with the meat because I was there for the sushi, sashimi, tempura and sukiyaki.

Mikado is located at Archbishop Reyes Ave., Cebu City

Sambokojin
(July 14, 2014)

I can eat Japanese food everyday. I mean it.

We all know Sambokojin, so I will not dwell on the food. It's probably the cheapest Japanese (and Korean) buffet in the metro, so if you're craving for just sushi, sashimi and tempura (nope, no sukiyaki), go for it.

Not much on their desserts bar, but this, too, is my staple at Sambokojin.
Green tea and strawberry ice cream with baby marshmallows and sprinkly winklies.
Just the right amount of #GV. 

We were there a few weeks ago for Denise's despedida dinner, who is going to the US for graduate school. Good food, good company, crazy kwentos. Please celebrate your birthday in Sambokojin. I don't know if they have that free birthday buffet for the celebrant thing like they do in Vikings and Buffet 101, but you're in for a real surprise with Sambo. Literally. The waiters screamed at the celebrant "SURPRISE!!" Screamed. Shouted. And please act like you're dying of shock para sila naman ma surprise. Haha

With former co-workers at Britesparks.

Banzai: The Great Teppanyaki Theater
(July 25, 2014)

I can eat Japanese food everyday.

First thing's first, I'm the realesssst.

We happened to be in the area, and we decided to try out Banzai. If you're looking for legit Japanese food in the metro, this is it. You would know how seriously dedicated they are to their pagiging legit because of their Japenese keme interiors and the spectacular performance by the geishas, ninjas, and even the chefs. Please do watch the chefs. You're in for a surprise from them at the finale (hint: something exploding haha)

This place screams "we take Japanese food seriously" just like Sarah, seriously picking out from the variety of Japanese pancakes. Aside from my usual sushi, sashimi, tempura (still no sukiyaki huhu), I tried out other dishes that looked interesting, like the Chicken Teriyaki Pizza. There's also lasagna, pasta dishes, salads, katsus and dons, etc. The dessert bar was also full of interesting cakes and sweets. I just settled with vanilla ice cream and lemon squares.

My usual loot. 

Please do watch out for the performances. The costumes are really nice. Their belts are made out of colorful bubble wraps, they have big ass swords and they do their make up really well. They deserve the attention, so put your chopsticks down and instagram that shit. 

Ninja. 

Geishas. 

Banzai is located in the Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City. We highly recommend it, it's the best we've had so far. Make sure you call in early for reservations because by the time we were done, there was a long line of people waiting to get in.


My next buffet will probably be in a year, when I've done all the workout I ought to do. Whatever, I'm getting cheese fries.

Boredom

I've said it for the past few months, and I'll say it again. 

I am so bored. 

I don't understand how someone like me can be so bored. I remember saying that since April this year, and so far, these are the things that have happened over the past few months:

Our yearly thing with the biggest barkada ever: Timee & Gar Boracay 2014

I went home to Iloilo twice. 

Philippine Fashion Week.

Months of TONTWO rehearsals.

TONTWO: Making it. Moving on. 

Moving on from whatever feud and issues during Tontwo. :)

Went to Cebu for work. Yes, work. 

But had some family time in between work in Cebu <3 td="">

Sandosenang Sapatos rehearsals. 

In my standards, that's not enough ganaps in the span of 4 months. What busy meant to me was 2-3 productions rolling in at the same time, work, papers and exams for gradschool (which I have taken a leave from). Sleep and rest were a luxury, and even sometimes finding the time to eat was such a task. 

But now there's just so much time. Aside from binge watching Game of Thrones, I've started reading up some of the books I've put aside last year (but really, reading just puts me to sleep). I have also been eating a lot, which is indirectly proportional to the amount of times I've been working out. Oh, and other things I do not need to elaborate on. The things I've done these past few months to keep myself amused, I may not be proud of it, but I was bored, and those things were fun. So I did. Ho Ho ho. 

And then, there's thinking. There's also so much time to overthink about what I've done so far with my life, and ending up with the realization that I am lost. I have lost the direction in which I was so sure of a few years ago. I've let go of some dreams because I've simply lost interest in them. Is that even possible? It's not giving up, is it? It's just that I don't think these dreams aren't my dreams anymore, and they've lost appeal to me. Now I feel like I'm stuck in the now, without any idea of what I want to happen to me in the next few years. I honestly have no idea what to do next. The future scares me. It's like having a deck of cards that totally don't make sense. 

Ever since, I've always been so pumped about the future; getting myself into gradschool right after college, making a timeline of my life till 2020, eliminating all the distractions just to get my head in the game. I was always sure that I wanted to write a children's book, put up my own school, start a theater company for children with special needs, travel, etc. But since I've quit teaching, I have lost interest in these plans, and now I have none. No plans. 

I think I am bored because there's nothing really to do, for the future, I mean. Nothing to prepare for, nothing to study hard for, nothing to work hard for (I intend on finding a rich old man to marry so I can perhaps inherit his wealth away from his legitimate children. Harhar), nothing to look forward to in the long term. I have these productions lined up, a trip to Bali on my birthday, (oh shit that's it) to look forward to---- but these things are only good for the next few months. 2015 is a blur. Might probably start applying for gradschools abroad, but applications don't start till late this year. Marvin, our manghuhula friend says I'll get pregnant in 2016 if I can't avoid it, eh, that's easy. 

Maybe I've been so all worked out for the future, that I have forgotten what 'living in the now' meant. Enjoying what is happening now, without worrying about tomorrow. To stop planning, and just let things happen just as they are. Shit's scary, but whatever. This is all so cliche. 

Is this quarter life crisis? Damnit I need a drink.

Sandosenang Sapatos

I got in. 

It was all just a dream; to be part of a Tanghalang Pilipino production. Thank You. I put myself through auditions everytime, expecting not to get any part, but only to improve myself in going through these auditions. And each time I pass, I am just thankful. Thankful for another chance to be onstage where I truly feel at home. :)

Poster from the first run of Sandosenang Sapatos with the original cast, the Tanghalang Pilipino Actors Company.

This will be the production's 3rd run since it opened last July 2013 and its second run last December. Another round of auditions was held for this run, and also for another important run soon! (Can't spill! Don't want to jinx anything! hihi)

New cast of Sandosenang Sapatos with Director Tuxqs Rotaquio

Two months into the rehearsals, and I must say that I've grown comfortable moving about in blades. A few more twists and stunts to learn, and then we're good to go.

We have been to music rehearsals in between choreo and blading classes too. Some of the songs aren't for the faint hearted. Better bring a box of Kleenex when you watch the play. We might need some for ourselves in the backstage too.

We have 4 weeks left till the shows. I cannot wait for all of you to see it. :)

Don't Get Too Attached

Don't get too attached because everything is just fleeting; a moment, a sensation, a kiss. It happens, and all at once, it fades into a memory. Everything I have of you is now, and will just be a memory to me. And memories are a constant struggle of holding on and letting go. And these memories, emotions latching onto them, tear you apart, knowing that though the feeling is real, the moment is forever gone. There is a danger in being too attached; you either get too attached to the memory, or too attached to the feeling.

But tonight, whatever emotions we encounter, I promise you, we are making memories. Why plan a memory? Because nobody can ever take memories away from you. Nobody will tell us not to go through it, to rethink things through, to avoid going down that road because memories have already passed. Memories don't undo themselves. They exist because of the temporariness of things. Don't get too attached to a memory you are not willing to make. Because when everything is fleeting apart from you, memories are the only thing you can hold on to.

NP