Matias: Grilled Food at its Best

Lest you would think that I won't pig out at Matias anymore after my not fitting bontog encounter, you’re wrong. If my taste bud yearns for grilled food again, Matias, for me, is still the best place to go.

The smoke and aroma that wafts from its streetside barbecue/food hall is so appetizing enough.

On tables and benches under a tree covered in Christmas lights, this place even had a touch of ambiance at rock bottom prices. They serve chicken barbecue, atay and baticon (livers and gizzards), pork liempo, pork barbecue, grilled bangus, grilled bontog (which I hope you will pass up), soriso (sausages), puso (rice), sawsawan (sauce), beer, and softdrinks. (Our last bill was only PHP191.25 and we were so full na. That is what I call an incredible value meal!)

If you visit Cebu and are looking for a well-priced, no frills meal, try Matias Food House along A.S. Fortuna Street in Mandaue City. You have to be willing to rough it (like eating with your hands), but it undoubtedly presents grilled food experience at its best.

Lami gyud kaayo bai!

(Thanks Market Manila for the photos!)

Making Marriage Work

OK.. (Sigh) It was our longest fight ever. Four days. Yesterday morning, Mark kissed and hugged me then I gave in. We’ve decided to just learn the lesson from our rift and take it from there. Go figure.

There are five things that pretty much keep our marriage working.

- Number One –
We always say ‘I love you’ to each other.

-Number Two-
We don’t fight much and long. If we do, we simply give each other space and time to contemplate.

-Number Three-
We go on romantic dates from time to time. It helps us escape from routines and reminds us that we are lovers above anything else.

-Number Four-
We keep our communication open. My husband's job demands so much of his time and concentration that’s why communication is very important to us.

-Number Five-
We center our marriage to God. This way, we feel secured that nothing can go wrong to our marriage because we are always taken care of by the Big Guy up there.

Rendezvous at Greenwich Pizza.. Yummy!

I'd Still Say Yes

Christmas is my most favorite time of the year for a lot of reasons. One of these is that people are happier, richer and more giving. This morning, I found one more reason to love Christmas – it magnifies love.

The moment I woke up, I saw my husband smiling naughtily at me. I knew right away that something was cooking up. Then he said he wanted me to be his girlfriend (not as a wife) for the day and we would go for a date like we used to do before we got married. I exclaimed “What?!” I wondered why he felt like living our amorous girlfriend/boyfriend past and I swear he acted like an infatuated school boy. Was it because of the cool weather? Or the massage I gave him the previous night? I wish I knew.

Anyway, I said yes.

So we rode his bike to SM and had lunch at Maxim’s Tea House (their sweet and sour pork is mouthwatering). After that, we watched Keanu Reeve’s The Day the Earth Stood Still. We held hands throughout the movie and he would steal kisses on my cheeks that eventually made me blush. Then we went shopping for clothes (slacks and polo shirt for him from Wrangler and white tops for me from Kirin Kirin). Lastly, we braved the overcrowded supermarket to buy more stuffs for the Noche Buena.

When we arrived home, we had a meal of daing na bangus and steamed rice that brought back memories of our first month as newlyweds (I could only boil eggs or prepare corned beef out from the can back then, so he was glad when I was able to fry daing na bangus for the first time! Actually, that was the onset of my confidence to discover the kitchen world). We talked general issues during dinner such as the anatomy of aliens and Kobe Bryant’s low-cut shoes (we basically talk anything under the sun, you know). Before we went upstairs, we watched the 14th and 15th episodes of Prison Break which we downloaded from mininova.org using uTorrent.

All in all, it was a romantic day with my husband. Next time he asks me to be his girlfriend or wife or even as a mistress, I will say yes to him over and over again!

Tale of a Half Blind

The beep came right after we watched Lake Placid on HBO as if cuing us to fall out before going to bed. I was infuriated by the content of the message. He justified that it was entirely work-related. Obviously, I did not believe him right away as my mind was clouded with suspicion.

He went upstairs while I lingered in the living room longer. After that, I had my routine to clean my contact lenses when I accidentally rinsed them down the sink. I was so angry at my clumsy self. I had no choice but to talk to him about it otherwise I would be partly unsighted the next day. Then in his cool soothing way (one thing that I really love about him), he hugged and told me not worry any more because he would buy me another pair. My heart melted instantly and as essential as breathing air, we cuddled to sleep.

I am literally half blind, you know. I totally depend on a pair of negative 5.00 contact lenses (I used to have glasses but I eventually found them cumbersome to wear). Without these thin round plastic lenses, everything around me would be dim.

Nonetheless, my handicap makes me think that I already have sacrificed enough that's why God pampers me abundantly in other aspects of my life. It also teaches me to truly cherish the beauty and wonders that come my way. And most importantly, I learn to see things with my heart.

After Mark had his Tae-Bo, he drove me to SM on his Lifan Cruiser. Actually, our ride was a déjà vu of what happened in 2002. We were new lovers then; we went riding on his brother’s bike under the blanket of shining stars when suddenly a strong wind swept my right lens away. He was worried but I said it was okay as long as he was beside me. This time, he guided me through the darkness and told me that all is going to be well as long as I am with him.

As a final point, the unwelcomed text message and lost contact lenses were incidents that I consider as little bumps along our way. I believe that we can make it through the long, dark, and winding road as long as we deeply trust each other.

at Kenny Rogers Roasters (mark's fave resto)

Love Brigade

There were exactly forty-five warm greetings pouring in from my family and friends on my birthday. Some were in form of graphics while others are in plain texts. Either way, I felt so blessed and loved.

They say friends are family that you can choose. I’m glad I choose mine well. Likewise, families are heaven-sent angels that you hold dear. I’m so grateful mine is the best one could ever ask for.

Thank you all for remembering my birthday. Rest assured that your thoughtfulness will always be carved in the soft tissues of my heart.

Excerpts:
Mark: Happy birthday, my wife, my friend, my everything! Tsupmwuah! You complete me. (he texted this while we were spooning on our bed at 12:03am, he said he wanted to greet me first via text.. cuteness!)

(I live to love you honey. You make my life worth living for. I love you so much. Thank you for the sexy Mario D'Boro shoes and the nice Kirin Kirin tops. Kiss. Hug. More kisses and hugs.)

Nanay: My loving and warmest greetings on your birthday. I love you and God bless. (4:38:21am)
(Thanks madir. I love you more than you love me. God bless. Mwah!)

Yoj: Happy birthday Manang! Does it mean you are finally out of the calendar? Bingo na lang ka! Hehe! Wish you get pregnant this year, good health and happiness. Love you! Mwahug! (06:01:26am)
(Thanks sis. Apil pa ko sa calendar woi! There are 7 months with 31 days pa baja. I refuse to join the bingo club yet. LOL. God bless sa board exam. I know you can do it. Luv ya!)

Tatay: Happiness, good health, and more blessings from God – these are my wishes on your birthday. May you have so many more birthdays to come. (7:45:26am)
(Thank you tatay gwapo. I love you so much. God bless. Mwah!)

Sir Roy: Jane, belated happy birthday. Wish you and Mark more happy times and your wish to have a baby to come true the soonest. I’m sure you had fun on your birthday. God bless. (11/26/08)
(Thank you so much for the greeting sir. I appreciate it a lot. We had fun last night dining out at Asiong’s, picture whoring at the boulevard, playing billiard, and singing karaoke at E-Place. I posted some pictures on my album entitled 31 at Friendster. What matters most is that I have Mark in my life. I really couldn't ask for more. Well maybe, a baby and more blessings. Hehe. Ingat po kayo sir. All the best.)

Here’s my birthday video..

Belated greeters: Allan, Bernadeth, Emmy, Richel and Mareng Joann.. Thank you!

Not So Gloomy Day with Dunkin' Donuts Coffee

This morning was so drizzly that I refused to get up until noon and when I did, I instantaneously craved for a cup of hot brewed coffee. So, I went to Dunkin’ Donuts to have one and thankfully, the staff greeted me with comforting exuberance that made me forget how dreary the weather was. I guess i could say that dunkin' donuts coffee made me happy today! (",)