PR: 10 Filipino Lads Uplift Communities Through Basketball

Ten Youth rise from 50 VisMin hopefuls as basketball legends culminate Alaxan FR National Galing Mo! Camp (L-R) 1st Row: L-R Ronnie Magsanoc, Benjie Paras, Alvin Patrimonio, Jerry Codinera, and Johnny Abarrientos 2nd Row: Top 10 Winners of Alaxan FR Galing Mo Natonal Camp! L-R John Ballentes, Tyke Bano, Gabriel Dagangon. Dan Audris Lagbas, Carl Soreno, MVP Rhys Jefferson Flores, Rhodelle Nagac, Miguel Plata, Michael Kent Salado,  Josuel Macarines

Hard work paid off for a group of young, aspiring cagers from the Visayas and Mindanao after making heads turn during the Alaxan FR Galing Mo Camp held at the Unilab gymnasium in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila.

Days and Nights at the Somerset Olympia Makati

I end my balikbayan (coming home) vacation series with a post about our staycation at Somerset Olympia Makati.

View of the Somerset Olympia Makati from the inner courtyard

Kuya's™ Special Lumpiang Sariwa

NOTE: I've noticed that all my posts about our return trip to the Philippines, so far, has mostly been centered around food.  But ask any OFW returning to the homeland what they miss most about the country, then food (aside from family, of course) remains the ready answer.  So please bear with me once again for another food entry.  J

Here in Singapore, I rarely get to eat a decent lumpiang sariwa (a local version of a fresh spring roll).  Sure, we have the Vietnamese and Chinese-type spring roll versions and those also being passed off by some Filipino carinderias as similar fare (not!  Yuck!), but nothing really comes close to an honest-to-goodness treat that is the simplicity and deliciousness of this dish.

Now there are tons of establishments that offer really delicious lumpiang sariwa in the Philippines (Max's Restaurant is one that readily comes to mind.  Read my full post in this here link.); but when I find myself pressed for time, then a serving from a Kuya's™ Special Lumpiang Sariwa stall is just the answer.

Kuya's™ Special Lumpiang Sariwa

A Fresh Take on Old Icebergs Favorites

Children of the 80s and 90s (like me) would most probably remember Icebergs, that mecca of deliciousness serving one of the best banana splits in the Metro.  There was even a time when most major malls and places with high foot traffic were graced with this oasis of desserts.  Times have changed and with that, they've slowly hidden away from the limelight.

Good thing, though, that they're quite recently reviving this place of sweet havens; a rebirth of sorts.  And let me tell you, their offerings are still as luscious (perhaps even more) as I remember them to be.

icebergs

The Last Person Who Got a Taste of BonChon Chicken in Manila...

... would most probably be little old me.

My apologies for the overly melodramatic blog post title but I'm just so happy that I finally got a taste of a BonChon chicken!  And now I finally understand what the buzz was all about.  J

Source: BonChon Chicken Philippines website

'Sang Dosenang Halo Halo ng Taga-Digman

We used to live in a little cozy family compound in Pasay City, where having my immediate relatives (mother's side) for neighbors, ensured a tight bond that would last us till we kids (then) have grown up and are now with our own little ones to care of too.

My childhood spent in the land of motels (this is how I view Pasay City.  Heck!  We even had one 2 houses away from our home, right next to a Christian church, mind you.  J) were not to last as when the late 1990s rolled along, our lot was sold and families went their own separate ways.  2 titas (and their corresponding families, of course) stayed in another area also within Pasay City.  One settled in Laguna; and 2 (ours included) chose to call Cavite home.

Living a stone's throw away from Bacoor, it's inevitable that that mouth-watering delicacy known as Digman's halo halo (a type of local dessert) would make its way to my food-I-must-try radar.  Pestering the paternals (the parents) were of little use as locating this famous hole-in-the-wall was a little exhausting to say the least (not located along a major highway, folks).

But little did I know that I've been having a taste of this famous dessert for ages already.

Halo Halo ng Taga-Digman

Home Sweet Home (The Non-LAH Version)

The first 3 months of 2013 saw both the Little One and I enjoying the company of family in the Philippines.  And I just have to say, there's really no place like home.  *sigh*

The Little One lazing about at home

So expect a few (and I mean really few.  Man, most of our time were simply spent lazing about here and there and meeting up with friends, too.) posts from me about our stay in the home country.  J

Summer Days at Sentosa Island, Singapore

Sentosa has always been a popular island resort here in Singapore.  Even before Resorts World™ Sentosa (RWS) and Universal Studios Singapore® (USS) started operations there, the island has always been visited by millions of people for the enjoyable rides and attractions that they offer.

I've made a few posts about RWS and USS already (you can read all about them in my 3-part USS series: The Little One Goes to USS!, The Little One's Adventure Inside USS!, and The Little One Goes Retro at Mel's Drive-In, USS), so I guess now is as good a time as any to showcase the original entertainment hub.

Tranquility at the Singapore Botanic Gardens

A short 20-minute taxi ride from our place here in Singapore and one comes across one of the best botanical gardens in the world named, what else, but the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Singapore Botanic Gardens

Death Benefit by Robin Cook

Another book from one of the Madir's favorite authors.

Death Benefit by Robin Cook

C2 Classic Cuisine Breaking News!

This just in, folks.  C2 Classic Cuisine is set to release a new menu!

C2 new menu launch