Remember last week’s super panget day? Apparently, when you’re feeling as bad, it could be something worse than the usual allergy run. Something this blotchy (photo here, I saved it as a link in case you’re having breakfast with my blog) might be is dengue.

So yes, I spent the latter part of the week staring at the view above (at CBTL, Asian Hospital). The doctors were amazed because I was still able to drag myself to work for 3 days with the swollen red spots and 40 degree fever. Actually, it wasn’t very easy because my feet still hurt like silly and until now, my ankles are still swollen. On the plus side, it does pay to take all the supplements in the world coupled with 4x a week gym sessions. Docs said it could’ve been worse but my immune system’s fought the virus really hard!

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I was about to hail a cab late last week when the unthinkable happened: my stomach grumbled out of hunger like it’s the end of the world. I cannot stay in Serendra for a full meal so I stopped by one of my favourite restaurants for a to-go to be noshed at work just before midnight.

Apart from the iced latte (approx. Php 165) above and the Grandma’s Crispy Duck Confit and Mushroom Risotto (Php 575), I ordered something new to me just because. Oddly, I eat pork but I will only submit myself to its full glory only when I need serious comfort. That said, I ordered the Grilled Maple Cider Glazed Bone-In Pork Chop (Php 475).

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For some three weeks now, this has been the talk of town at work. Sure, it might be (partly) my fault asking everyone to define and differentiate it for me. I’ve gone a little too nuts about it so I finally Googled it (hello SOPA) and this is what I got:

loy·al
adj.
1. Steadfast in allegiance to one’s homeland, government, or sovereign.
2. Faithful to a person, ideal, custom, cause, or duty.
3. Of, relating to, or marked by loyalty. See Synonyms at faithful.

faith·ful
adj.
1. Adhering firmly and devotedly, as to a person, cause, or idea; loyal.
2. Engaging in sex only with one’s spouse or only with one’s partner in a sexual relationship.
3. Having or full of faith.
4. Worthy of trust or belief; reliable.
5. Consistent with truth or actuality: a faithful reproduction of the portrait.

With the definitions presented above, I’d like to leave you with 2 questions:

1. What does it mean to be loyal but not faithful?
2. What does it mean to be faithful but not loyal?

When one says ARIA, there’s only one place that comes to mind: Aria Boracay.

September 2011

ARIA Cucina Italiana is a modern Italian restaurant that has a menu inspired by the coastal regions of the Mediterranean. It elevated the standards of restaurant designs in Boracay with its stylishly modern, yet tropical, interiors and cozy ambiance. Here you can dine beneath the stars or enjoy your cocktails at the outdoor bar, feeling sand between your toes.

Aria’s charm, to me at least, never gets old. It’s still the same haven by the beach I got to first try with J 5 years ago (note to self: must go on a beach vacay with the girls soon!). I think I’ve dined at least once in Aria on every Boracay trip I’ve had since 2007.

J with our Caesar salad and Salsiccia pizza

My favourite wood fire oven-baked pizzas are still the same:

Salsiccia
Italian sausage, tomato sauce and mozzarella

Aria
tomato sauce, mozzarella and parma ham

I received a photo in the mail just minutes ago that quite literally (excuse me) made me drool:

Capricciosa
fresh cherry tomatoes, artichokes, farmers ham, mushroom, kalamata olives and mozzarella

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Funny how some people can read my mind. I’ve been a heavy tea drinker for a while now (since 2004) and I always put the words “tea infuser” in my shopping list but never got around actually carting one. I received two presents last Christmas that made me oh so giddy just because they made my diversion from coffee more fancy schmancy:

from Penney and Mr. & Mrs. AskMeWhats <333

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Me to my best friend (who’s based in Cali): What should I try from Pinkberry?

• Original = sweet + tart
• Green Tea = fresh + light
• Watermelon = crisp + refreshing
• Mango = fruity + sweet
• Pomegranate = bold + intense
• Chocolate = rich + indulgent

Price list (fro yo only, fro yo with standard toppings):

• Cone (3 oz): Php 115, Php 165
• Small Cup (3 oz): Php 100, Php 155 (2 toppings)
• Medium Cup (5 oz): Php 135, Php 220 (4 toppings)
• Large Cup (8 oz): Php 170, Php 265 (6 toppings)
• Take Home (25 oz): Php 515 (not available with toppings)

Raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, swirly whip, peanut butter crunch, and milk chocolate crunch are considered luxe toppings (Php 40/serving).

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Since pre and initial diagnosis, I’ve been praying quite hard for one thing: that my endocrinologist could be wrong. In 2005, I was diagnosed and treated for hyperthyroidism. At 5 feet flat, I went from 100lbs to 80lbs in two weeks without changing my diet nor workout. Turns out, my mom’s mom also has hyperthyroidism and it’s well, one of my prized inheritance. :) Fast forward to 2011, things backfired and I can’t stop gaining weight. My muscle and fat mass are both normal but I’m starting to gain too much weight too soon. I went to my endocrinologist for a consult and the initial diagnosis was hypothyroidism and diabetes (not surprised since both sides of the family has it).

I can’t imagine myself getting nicked for the latter. That would mean giving up laying low on my love affair for lavender cuppycakes, Godiva and Royce dark chocolates, and penne. NOOOOOOOO. :(((((

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I’ve been sinfully chugging on caffeine since I was a junior in college. Doing the math, I’ve a shameless coffee drinker for 9 years now. Coffee, being my capital vice, dries up my bank account pretty big. I’ve roughly spent an astounding Php 591,300 (or $ 13,752 = 365 days x 9 years x approximately Php 185 a day) on this “daily necessity” alone. I love it black, brewed, slightly sweetened. Sometimes fattening, sometimes really skinny. I’ve had it many cities nationwide, in HK, Oman, UAE, SG, Vietnam, and Cambodia. I love my coffee piping hot and oddly, when it’s wet/winter season, I like it freezing cold. On big chains my name’s been misspelled too many times — Fifi, Fibi, Feebee, Pheobe, Pheebee, Mimi (!!!), Kitty. The list goes on.

Never though, until this morning, did I get this (excuse the pun) warm treatment:

To the girl who opened the Bibingkinitan store at SM City Bicutan: yes I did enjoy my coffee even if I spilled 1/3 of it on my tray and on my extra hot bibingka. Thank you for wishing so. :)

I’ve always been a wahine baby for as long as I can remember. Growing up, much of my photos look like this:

maillot and sunnies, 1985

Fast forward to the mid-90s, the beach bum in me learned about Roxy from Seventeen and NYLON. I always saved up for Thanksgiving and Christmas since back then, that’s the only time of the year I can afford sweet finds from the brand. :) When I went to college, I met lots of friends who were into surfing and the beach life. L (below) and I had LOTS of projects together where we fused in tiki, hibiscus, and ocean elements. She’s my favourite Roxy and Quiksilver shopping buddy too!

Hellooooo tan lines
With L, in my favourite XS all-American Roxy studded tank, 2003

After more than 10 years into this love affair and countless bikinis, rashguards, room decor, and linen, Roxy has finally arrived in MNL. 2012 is going to be very big because Roxy Philippines has a lot of surprises for us fan girls. :) For starters, a handful femmes from print and new media were whisked off to Quiksilver Nuvali for an afternoon of fun and frolic the Roxy way.

Minutes before we arrived in Nuvali, we were handed cans of Rockstar Energy Drink (which I’ve been drinking for a while by the way cause I get perked up sans jitters). I’m glad I chugged on mine because boy did we need a lot of energy!

A snap of calm before the storm: delish lunch at Sumosam with Shen, Earth, and Lace.

Chef May and Roi (pictured below) taught us how to make two of their best sellers: Dynamite Roll and Crunchy Tuna Roll. They also served some of my Sumosam faves like the Salmon with Wasabi Cream and Ebi Tempura. Everything was so good (and fine, I ate quite a lot) I kept on praying that we won’t wear bikinis along the way.

After lunch, we found ourselves in my kind of heaven on Earth.

Roxy is the go-to lifestyle brand for the fun and active girl with a pulse on the best trends. Naturally beautiful, the Roxy girl is all about following your heart and where it will lead you. The brand offers a vast array of clothing and accessories that go from fashionably sweet to shredder-worthy when you want it to.

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During my recent trip to Baler, I brought with me my new fave kitchen wonder aka. the BlenderBottle:

shaking my rhum based Rocky Road from Bay’s Inn in 3..2..1..

BlenderBottle® is actually a patented best-selling portable shaker in the U.S. wherein it received numerous accolades from different but all very distinguished institutions like Self Magazine, Reader’s Digest, and even from Good Morning America where they only had praises for the product. Let’s face it, the most successful, effective and enduring contraptions that are unique yet simple, and ready-for-use for every day, for every one. BlenderBottle® is all that and more.

BlenderBottle® simply just works! No batteries, no cords, no slips, no spills, no hassles. It is FDA-approved, made of recyclable plastic that’s also dishwasher-friendly, and guarantees less cracking that makes it especially safe to use. Blender Bottle® has also several patented features that make it one very remarkable product:

BlenderBall® is a surgical grade, polished 316 Stainless Steel wire whisk that can be dropped within the bottle that blends ingredients into a smooth and light consistency when shaken together.

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