Of fishes and veggies, JO's Chicken Inato and Buko Halo

I love watching people eat fish to the bones because I seldom eat fish and i hate fish with so many small fish bones. My current dislike for fish may be traced back to my childhood experience when a small fish bone got stuck on my throat and I couldn't eat well for several days.  Since then, I was so hesitant to eat fish unless it has been deboned or its a fillet. I eat bangus ( milkfish ) though, of course preferably deboned,   and toasted or deep fried salted fish ( tuyo ) also which I can eat the fish bones altogether with its meat.  Before,  I love to eat fried tilapia not until i experienced certain discomfort after eating it for three consecutive times.

Since our place in the twin cities at the South is a  fishing community, you can expect fish menus in the dining table from morning till night.  Oh my!  I can't survive with that! I have no other  choice but to look for an alternative food for fish. 

Basically, I am a veggie lover with a slice of chicken, beef or pork.  I love simple recipes for the greens , though.  In fact, I  can survive with blanched  camote or kangkong tops  dipped in fish sauce with calamansi juice.  Steamed  ladies fingers ( or okra ) and boiled or fried eggplant dipped in soy sauce with calamansi juice will bring me to clouds matched with fried tuyo or steamed shrimps.  Stir fried broccoli flowers in butter , garlic and lemon or calamansi juice is such a big hit to me. 

But what will be your choice if your favorite is not theirs?

As I walked  around the city of Dipolog, i bumped into this JO's chicken Inato.  As I drew near the restaurant,  I can smell the mouth-watering grilled/barbecued chicken.  The place is native-inspired with four big wooden posts in the center.  The tables and chairs were made of choice cut bamboos and the ambiance is very light and inviting.  Your choice of  "inato" could be a chicken leg or chicken wings.  They serve it with unlimited plain rice, pickled green papaya ( achara ) and fish sauce with a piece of siling labuyo and calamansi  for only Php 88.00. 

 

 

JO's chicken Inato restaurant is native-inspired with 4 big wooden posts in the center.

Their tables and chairs were made of choice cut bamboos.

 

 

 

a chicken leg with achara, fish sauce with siling labuyo and calamansi

with UNLI rice

 

 

 

Honestly, I love the chicken of  "Mang Inasal".  But JO's Chicken Inato is even better. And for the next three remaining days of my stay there, I kept coming back for the same menu with Buko Halo ( to share ) to complete my meal.  However, they have other specialties like tinola sa buko and sizzling bangus, among others.

No wonder, the place is always jampacked during dinner time.   During merienda time, their Buko Halo is the best seller especially during summer .  It's not only yummy and refreshing but it is very affordable, too, at Php 80.00 per serving.

 

the very refreshing BUKO HALO with ube ice cream on top

 

 

 

and some corn flakes for the crispy texture

 

 

Their business hours  start at 10:00 o'clock in the morning up to 10:00 in the evening or  until the last customer leaves.



 

 

 

When you visit Dipolog City, try JO's Chicken Inato.  I'm sure you will like it! 

Best Summer Platter

Nothing beats God's divine plan! 

During the dry season, when the sun shines angrily, God gave us everything that will refresh our body, mind and soul.

We have the greatest beaches in the world.   The Philippine's Boracay Island ranks number 1.

We have the cool summer breeze in Baguio, which is just a few hours drive from Manila. Nearer than Baguio, we still have Tagaytay City which will mermerize you not only with the cool wind but  with the panoramic view of the Taal Lake and the Taal Volcano as well. 

And the best of all, we have all the refreshing summer fruits to enjoy.  I could not imagine summertime in the Philippines without turnips or  singkamas, melons and watermelons, ripe mangoes and other succulent fruits to quench our thirst.  God has really planned it to be that way to meet our bodily needs .  Actually, nothing beats this best summer assorted fruit platter from UMAMI . . . D' Hotel & Suites Japanese Restaurant.  It's very cool, healthy, and most of all, very, very affordable ! 

So why let the sun spoil your summer?  HAVE A FRUITY ONE  and LIVE LONG!


Assorted Summer Fruit Platter

(watermelon, ripe mangoes, oranges, pineapple, cherries & grapes)

Movies and Transformers

I guess I was just starting my teenage life when I stopped taking fun rides.  The last carnival ride I had was with my sister Beth and my only brother Ernie Boy.  We took a Ferris wheel ride  ( a giant vertical, power-driven wheel that revolves on a stationary axle and bears swinging observation cars for passengers ) and since then, I could not forget the drowning experience that I/we  had.  After that "traumatic" experience, I promised myself not to take any fun ride anymore,  anytime, anywhere. Not even the very famous London Eye in UK nor the Singapore Flyer was able to convince me to try another Ferris wheel ride.  It's just enough for me to have a picture with the London Eye on the background  and a photo of the Singapore Flyer from the distance , and that's it!



The first biggest Ferris wheel in the world ~ the London Eye  ( I was so busy looking at my photos in the cam . . . haha)



The Singapore Flyer taken from the Merlion Site
 

However, when we visited Singapore last October, 2012,  Alyssa ( my niece who is currently based in Singapore) took us to the famous Universal Studio. 

 



Entrance to the Universal Studio

The world-famous Universal Studio Logo  ( Swerte at hindi matao )

 





 The Universal Studio in Singapore is quite big and one whole day is not even  enough if you will seriously consider all the shows and rides.  But there were two activities inside the Studio  that we found incredibly amazing!

 

 First, we found ourselves surprised and  amazed with the Lights, Camera, Action thing, with no less than Steven Spielberg directing the ala "Titanic" shooting with all the thunder , storm, earthquake and river fire effects. 

 

The Director . . . STEVEN SPIELBERG

 

It was indeed amazing that a small place such as this can create blockbuster movies . .. .

 

A small pool such as this can look like a big ocean  in the movie screens . . .

 

How big , do you think, will this small fire look like in the movies?

 

With LIGHTS  CAMERA  ACTION , I came to realize how deceiving movies can be!   A small pool can look like a big ocean and a small ship can be imagined to be as big as the fabled Titanic.  A small spark can easily become a wild river fire and oh..... the ramblings and the sounds  that go with the earthquake... they  seemed so real!  We can't help but clapped our hands after the show.  This is truly a MUST-SEE when you visit the Universal Studio in Singapore.

 

Look who's here!  When we went out of LIGHTS  CAMERA   ACTION,  Charlie Chaplin was there to greet us!

 

The next stop was at  the Transformers ~ The Ride.

 

at the entrance of TRANSFORMERS ~ The Ride

   

I learned that it is a digital fun ride.  I was quite hesitant and  of course a bit afraid of a possible another "traumatic" experience so I kept asking Alyssa what that fun ride is all about.  She promised me , however, that the experience is not that scary  and that it  is worth having.   After some deep breathing, I found myself together with my travel buddies, in the fast-moving cars , bringing us to the different corners of the world just to be barred and have an encounter with the robots and autobots.  The ride lasted for about 5-10 minutes and as expected, once again, I experienced that "drowning effect".  Sa bilis talaga ng mga cars, nakakalula,  and feeling ko,  parang titilampon na kami sa bilis ng andar ng sasakyan namin.  Towards the end, of course, with our last encounter with the Transformers, the voice said,   " Your bravery has saved the earth"!

 

 




Our family picture in front of TRANSFORMERS~The Ride at the Universal Studio in Singapore

 

HAHAHA !  YOUR BRAVERY HAS SAVED THE EARTH!

 

I could never and would never forget those words!

 

Sometimes, we really need a bit of courage  to experience joy and happiness in life.   Often, we miss a lot of things that we should have enjoyed had we had a little of bravery in our hearts.  Had I backed out from that TRANSFORMERS  ride,  I wouldn't have anything to share with you now.  Let's learn from the turtle.  It only moves and enjoy life  when it is courageous enough to take  its head out. 

 

GO !  EXPERIENCE THAT TRANSFORMER RIDE!  HAVE FUN AND ENJOY!

 

Thank you for traveling with me.  There are  more travel blogs about our trip to Singapore!

I hope you'll read them, too! 

 



 

 

Oh My Rosette!

When we were still in high school, Rosette ( a.k.a. Rosetta Garcia-Palma )  was one of  those  favorite "crush  ng bayan "  as what young people would  describe a campus hearthrob nowadays.  Unlike the others who simply remained physically attractive, Rosette has more than an angelic  face, a clear complexion and the "it".  More importantly, she has the brain and a very good and  strong character that sometimes put the so many  "prince charmings" under her magic spell.  Maybe that's one of the reasons why only a few guys had the courage to go near and tell her she's beautiful.  The others, well, they kept their admirations to themselves.  Now that Rosette has turned 50 plus ( haha ) ,  she has never lost her magic.  Her beauty, inside and out, still exudes and she continuously wins the admiration of everyone.  She treats everybody fairly, both the young and the old, the rich and the poor, the beauty and the beast .  She unmindfully shares her life with the needy, locally and internationally.  That alone makes her  magical.

Beautiful Rosette

Kahit side view, beauty pa rin!

For those who do not know Rosette very well, she is a very good chess player as well.  It was she who inspired and encouraged me to go into the same sport, (which eventually, I have successfully passed on to my daughter) .   During our vacant periods in V. Mapa HIgh School, we played chess a lot .  I've learned a lot of strategies from her.  I could not forget that incident where she challenged a guy who wished to court her.  " Sige, sasagutin kita pag natalo mo ako sa chess."  Could you now imagine how well she can play the game?  As expected, hindi nya sinagot ang guy.  Kasi talo siya kay Rosette.  Hahaha

Right now, just like in chess, Rosette has planned her life so well and has placed herself strategically in the chessboard of life.   She has managed very well all the threats that came along and with a few more moves,  she will finally win the most important game she has ever played ~ the game of life.

Happy, happy birthday Rosette.  Remain magical as you  keep shining at 50 plus!

The lovely SENIORas...

A pose with the celebrator inside her beautiful home

A bunch of sweet roses for the sweetest SENIORa

High school seatmates

Rerlaxing at the GRASS Residences

HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY TO YOU ROSETTE!

A thousand arm bouquets!

Last Sunday, May 12, 2012,  many countries  worldwide celebrated Mother's Day.  As soon as I opened my laptop, I have read the blog written for me by my daughter Rein.  It was such a very touching write-up that it almost brought me into tears.

 

Rein's blog for me on Mother's Day

 

A few minutes later, we headed off to the church. As part of the Mother's Day celebration, all the mothers in the church were given a long-stemmed red rose coupled with a plain cupcake or mamon as it is more popularly known. .  There were some hilarious games ( e.g. knock, knock ) and special numbers dedicated to all the mothers.  The simple celebration was capped by a short but meaningful prayer for all the mothers by the church elder.

 

All the mothers in the church received a long-stemmed rose from the

Young Christian Movers (YCM)

 

 

All the mothers at Lealtad Church on Mother's Day

 

After the worship service,  I got some gifts from my sisters.  They, in return, got their gifts also from their children .  Three of my sisters got lovely arm bouquets with sweet and touching  dedications.  Reacting naturally,  I envied them, wishing that my children were also around to give me such a lovely token, too.

 

Sweets from my sweet sisters . . .

 

 

the arm bouquet for Bengga from the Arciaga children

 

 

and their very touching dedication

 

On my way home, I was still visualizing the very nice arm bouquets  given to my sisters by their children.  As I tried to imagine my children giving me also an arm bouquet, it made me reflect on my experiences during the recent past few days.

 

The arm bouquets given by my nieces and nephews to their moms

 

 

It was a hot afternoon when my daughter called up.  She told me that she has booked us in the newest hotel in the area for two main events - a birthday gift to her dad and a pre-mother's day celebration.

Oh, I'm so sorry.  I easily forgot !  We had already an advanced celebration of the Mother's Day!  haha

 

The frontage of the hotel

 

 

The hotel logo

 

 

Vain shots taken at our hotel room

 

 

 

In one of the corners of the hotel with my favorite pose

 

 

Dinner at the hotel with our "son" JV

  

 

A new discovery - real crispy seafood noodles

  

 

Specialty salad - green mango strips with iceberg lettuce, salted eggs , onions and tomatoes with french salad dressing

 

 

another " must try " recipe - kani with ripe mango salad

 

 

lechon kawali 

 

 

my first time to try this Seafood Mongos

 

 

sizzling bangus

 

 

fresh fruit platter

  

 

fresh buko juice

  

 

 Olive Tree

  

 

At the UMAMI - the Japanese Resto  of D'Hotel & Suites

 

 

At the bar -  Olive Tree

 

 

A very simple Filipino breakfast

 

 

a pose at the buffet table

 

 

 

 

at The Boulevard

  

Indeed, we were treated like a King and Queen at D'Hotel & Suites with all expenses paid. 

Thank you, Joe and Rein , for the very nice surprise.  The experiences we had was worth a thousand arm bouquets especially at the time when even a cent counts a lot !