Before 2011 officially ends, let us look back to the memories I made this past 364 days. All happy memories, bad memories isn't allowed. This year has been memorable as the past years were. Many things happened, happy and sad. Experienced new things. Failed and Succeeded. Met new friends. Made new memories with old friends. Bonded with Family. Strengthened my relationship with God. This year is too good to forget.
I thank God for giving me 2011. I thank my family for their unconditional love. I thank my college friends for being there 'coz i was always alone. I thank SMILES for another year added to our 11 years friendship. I thank myself for holding on too strong and for enjoying life in the midst of problems and that of course with the help of God.
January 1, 2011
December 28, 2011
I'm hoping 2012 will be better or be as good as 2011. Looking forward to new experiences. Excited to make new memories with everyone. I want to meet new friends. I need to be productive. I must change for the better. I don't believe the world is ending. Another 365 and a half days to thank God for.
Looking back this past 11 months, I realized I haven't been very productive like in the case of saving money, establishing a good study habit and many more. It's like I lived following the same routine everyday for more than 300 days. So before the year ends, I listed some "To Do Things" for next year. Got this idea from my Ivy's blog. ;)
1. ALWAYS Keep My Desktop Clean
What my desktop looks like now (December 12, 2011)
2. Keep A Piggy Bank And Make Sure To Feed It Everyday
3. Add At Least 30 Books To My Growing Personal Library
4.) Take A Picture of Myself Everyday
5.) Attend A Concert
6.) Go out of Town
7.) Pass 3rd Year Second Semester
8.) (If #7 is achieved) Pass 4th Year First Semester
This is the third part of my "8 Novels Saga", the second part was written 2 months ago already. The novel comprises the first season of a television series of a similar name created by HBO, this is where I discovered the book. The first novel in the fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire:
A GAME OF THRONES
written by George R.R. Martin.
I've had a hard time finishing this novel mainly because the number of pages (837) and the size of the font bores me and at that time I was reading it, I was kinda very busy in school. I remember reading it part by part everyday the whole month of September just to enjoy and savor the story. This is not your ordinary book where there is only one narrator, this book presents various points of view and plot-lines from its 8 main characters, it also follows three principal storylines simultaneously: In the Seven Kingdoms, On the Wall, and In the East.
The novel introduced to us the 7 Kingdoms of Westeros were most the story takes place. 6 of the 8 main characters came from House Stark of Winterfell, one from House Lannister of Casterly Rock and the last one from the Ancient Dynasty of Targaryen. The story is intricately told, leaves minor cliff-hangers at the end of each chapter which makes you crave for more, it is an epic tale of honor and treachery, love and vengeful hatred, intrigue and heroism set in a world where summers and winters can last for years, even lifetimes.
If you loved "The Lord of the Rings", you better not miss this series. It is one of the best epic fantasy novels out there.
Fasten your seat-belts because "Winter Is Coming".
A newly opened restaurant located at the 2/F Atrium of SM Megamall, Yabu boasts of its authentic Japanese Katsu, the short form of katsuretsu (cutlet). I've found out this restaurant through Georgina Wilson's tweet and instantly my taste buds got curious and excited to try their authentic katsu that "is so crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, you can slice it with chopsticks."
Pictures taken using my SEX10i. Pictures are all mine unless stated. :)
Picture (c) Yabu FB Page
The first thing I noticed upon entering the restaurant is this manga/comic strip on the wall that tells the story of how to make a Katsu including the sides but you will read this normally (right to left) and not in the "manga" way (left to right).
1 and 2
3 and 4
The second thing that caught my attention is the wall full of little squares which they call "Masu Cups".
Picture (c) Yabu FB Page
Settling down into your seats you will really notice their condiment tray because of the unusual containers on it.
The pig-like thing contains the salt.
Pig-Like thing
These bottles contains the dressing for your unlimited cabbage which is part of the tonkatsu set.
Vinaigrette and Sesame dressings
The oval one contains the Tonkatsu sauce that will go side-by-side with the bowl of Japanese seeds that you will get from every order.
Tonkatsu Sauce
Tonkatsu Sauce
I ordered the Rosu Tonkatsu set, Rosu is Japanese for pork loin wherein the slice of pork has a trimming of fat in it. They also have Chicken and Seafood katsu for those who stays away from pork. As I've said earlier, every set came with a bowl of Japanese Sesame seeds.
Japanese Sesame Seeds
I really enjoyed this Tonkatsu Sauce ceremony especially the part where you will crush the sesame seeds using the little mortar, you'll just hold the mortar in upright position then move it in circular motion against the bowl which is already has a ribbed wall for easy crushing. After crushing the sesame seeds, you will now have to add the Tonkatsu Sauce, (Japanese Worcestershire sauce with apple puree) to finish off the sauce.
*drum rolls* and the Rosu Tonkatsu Set has arrived!
Rosu 180g
The Rosu was really great! Crispy on the outside without any hint of excess oil and the meat inside really melts in your mouth! Its as if it fell from heaven and my mouth caught it. The serving is really big, good thing I haven't eaten my breakfast that day. The unlimited cabbage was a great idea, partnered with the dressing of your choice, you can't get enough of it and at least you have something healthy while you eat this sinful treat.
Rosu with the Unlimited Cabbage
The set also includes this very delicious Japanese Rice with black Sesame Seeds. If the Rosu and the cabbage isn't enough to satisfy your tummy, then eat it with the Japanese Rice.
Japanese Rice with Black Sesame Seeds
It also includes a bowl of fresh fruits, Japanese pickles and the tasty Miso Soup.
Aside from the ambiance and the food, the service was also great. The service crew is always smiling and was always ready if you need something and also the owner, i don't know his name but he was really hands-on with the customers, talking to them and answering their queries. He helped me twice already, one on the Miso Soup on my first visit and the second was with the dressing on my second visit. Price wise, it was really "sulit", what is sulit? It's getting more than what you pay for!
To summarize my Yabu experience, everything went perfectly and they lived up to the buzz their making now, everything was great and i really love the food! Just the thought of it makes me hungry. You should really try it!
Me and my batchmates from higschool joined the "Run for Ilog Pasig" which is a fun run that aims to bring back to life the once majestic Ilog Pasig. We planned to join this event weeks before and Ivy was the one who bought our Race Bibs for the 5k category.
Running is not my thing but I've managed to make my lazy ass do the thing because I wanted to help the Ilog Pasig even in the smallest possible way.
Pam, Tracy and Ivy
The fun run turned out to be really FUN. I'm glad to see many people who cares for Ilog Pasig. The run started as walking but as it progresses, i can only see few people walking or maybe they are just resting just as we do in between running.
Me, the finish line and the low quality shirt from Champion
The feeling when reaching the finish line after working your ass off is one of the best feelings in the world, much like reaching the goals or finish line you set in life.
Me and my angas face and Ivy with her wacky pose
After resting for a while we ate our breakfast at El Pollo Loco. Treated my friends with large fries and we just stuffed ourselves replacing the calories we've lost during running. Basically our run was useless but not entirely because we've helped Ilog Pasig anyway.
And of course, vain moments are cherished every time we are together.
This is a very random post about the current music hits in the country (local and international) courtesy of MYX Daily Top 10 October 25, 2011 edition. My music taste is different than yours so respect my opinion.
Number 10:
Masasabi Mo Ba by Rachelle Ann Go
A love song about a person doubting the love of their lover, so cliche right? One thing I don't like about OPM songs is that they sound all the same to me and I can find a song better than this one but you really can't deny how good the voice of Rachelle Ann Go is. I also think this song will click to some emogirlzzz00123 out there.
Number 9:
Hindi Kita Iiwan by Sam Milby
Another sad love song in the list. The song tells us about someone who yearns for someone's love who is already in some other's arms. The lyrics is not forgettable and I really believe that a simple and unforgettable lyrics is a factor to make a song successful. About the singer, Sam Milby's singing career is not that successful like Piolo Pascual's but obviously his voice is much better than Piolo's.
Number 8:
Criminal by Britney Spears
I've listened to this song on repeat when Britney's album went out last March. It is one of the best songs in her album that is why I was happy to hear that she is making it her 4th single. A song about loving someone putting aside all the bad things about him/her. The song is of course auto-tuned but what can I say? Britney is Britney! She's on the track again.
Number 7:
Delivery Boys by Someday Dream
Heavy auto-tuned, inappropriate title, the lyrics are messed up, how come did this song penetrate the top 10? It's not even catchy unlike their Hey Daydreamer song which is also heavily auto-tuned. I have nothing good to say about this song and i don't know the singer.
Number 6:
Forever Young by Sam Concepcion
Sam Concepcion has gone a long way to his singing career, one thing i'm envy about him is that my Taylor Swift hugged him *sniffs*, anyway, the song is catchy even though the chorus is repeated many times in the song just like JB's Baby, the lyrics is not forgettable and it makes sense because I can relate, I really want to be forever young.
Number 5:
Jet Lag by Simple Plan ft. Natasha Bedingfield
The song was released last April and the music video was out also by that time, I played it about a hundred times already, tweeted, shared it on Facebook back then and I was just wondering why did it only click now? It's like 4 or 5 months from it's debut and it is really a good rock-ish song from on of my favorite bands Simple Plan *planning to watch their concert on January 2012*. Very catchy, one of my faves in their latest album, great lyrics and amazing voice collaboration by the two artists.
Number 4:
A-Cha by Super Junior
jakpa mokcha kapchu ichka lagnhu hanto hoiam.....Didn't understand a single shit *sorry SJ fans*, i've only understand these words and phrases; "Oh my gosh, baby, love crash, original", not even catchy like Sorry, Sorry or their other songs. That is why I posted their Music Video instead of only the music/song so that you will be entertained by their dance if the song doesn't interests you.
Number 3:
Louder by Charice
No one can deny how powerful Charice's voice is, she can nail every song she sang just like this one. She really has the TALENT. It was not destined for her to win Little Big Star because her destiny was the international arena. I'm wondering why this song has not been getting the attention Pyramid got. This can pass as one of my feel good song very catchy chorus.
Number 2:
Kay Tagal Kitang Hinintay by Sponge Cola
Not a fan of this song, it's sounds familiar, the downside of OPM is they sound like other OPM songs but i like Spongecola. Yael has this distinctive voice you can decipher when listening to him. Bitiw is till my favorite song from them, rocks my world.
Number 1:
Ako Nalang by Zia Quizon
She really sounds like her mother. Her voice is nice but will not become popular in the coming years if she doesn't become versatile, just like her song, if you play it on repeat you feel will satiated and i don't like the TagLish lyrics.
P.S.
The new VJs bore me, VJ K-La annoys me, the other girl VJ is not funny and VJ Mike lacks energy.
