Monday, November 29, 2010

Wawa Ako


We've been living in Rizal for 20 years now and have heard of Wawa Dam a thousand times. When I was a kid, my playmates used to tell me a lot stories about the place but I was never convinced to go there. Or maybe their not convincing at all. Hahaha! Peace guys. Laro tayo mamaya lol! Since I was not able to pursue Apo Reef this weekend because my joiners backed out, hindi matinag ang kakatihan ng paa ko so I decided to go to Wawa. I asked my mom and lil bro to lead me there. If all else fails, sila inaaya ko lagi. My curiosity prevails.


We passed by the house of an old man featured in QTV who lived here for years alone

cave-like tunnel


Keep going...


I can hear na the lagaslas ng water from here (arte?)


As you go along, you will pass by these men with their kalakals

I saw a red plate on the other side of the rock mountain with a Japanese characters on it. According to Mr. Google, this was constructed by the American Government year 1909 as a reservoir and pumping facility. However, this became a battlefield during Japanese Occupation. Many of them died defending this holding point when the Americans retook the area. I also saw a cave going there. I think it was the Pamitinan cave that they said taguan of Katipuneros of KKK in year 1895. If you would explore the cave it will take you hours. You would still see the words "Viva la independencia Filipinas" wrote by Andres.



There it is! It's like a man made falls.


I was looking for that part where my playmates used to swim...


Maybe not.. I don't think I would swim on this greenish reservoir. Maarte ako.


Camping or Picnic area
The ambiance is like probinsyang-probinsya. May siga siga pa kasi. hahaha! I remember one of the movies na ang manananggal ay nakatira sa tabing ilog. Ganun na ganun din.


The abandoned control center
Wawa Dam supplied for Metro Manila for years but was closed when Ipo-Angat-La Mesa dam was established year 1960.


That's my brother Kevin. Afraid to cross this bridge




beautiful as ever


ayokong mag-green
Sabi nila, may mga nangunguha daw pailalim. Yun e sabi sabi lang naman. I think it was merely katangahan lang pag nangahas kang tumalon sa reservoir tapos magrereklamo kang nalunod. 


silip
Imagine what it was like during Ondoy. According to the locals, nagpantay ang ilog sa baba at sa reservoir. Not only that, the houses and nipu nuts were washed out.





Wanna visit?
From Quezon City, ride a Montalban Jeep. Sabihin mo diretso. Literally it will take you to the end of their route. It's in San Rafael. Ride another jeep going to Wawa. Diretso ulit and again, it will take you to the end of their route as well. That's where you will start trekking. Malapit lang naman. Mga 5 to 10 minutes. 

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Daming Bonus! Ano kaya gagawin ko sa kanila?



It's Christmas time na naman! Yihaa! It's my favorite season of the year. Lamigin man akech at talagang papaslang sa mga bumubuhay ng aircon sa department kahit may centralized aircon naman sa buong building, still gusto ko pa rin ang simoy ng hangin pag pasko. Feel na feel! Sabi nga nila, pag nananatili ka pa ring masaya pag pasko, bata ka pa rin daw. Hihihi! I totally agree!

I just received my 13th month bonus yesterday. Ahhhhh...wala ng mas sasarap pa. Pero before that, naka-tanggap din ako ng signing bonus last November 15. O diba? yaman ko. Walang mapaglagyan ng pera. Anticipating one more on December. Hahaha! At dahil mayaman ako, pinili kong i-pamper ang sarili ko. 

Bagay ba sakin? Ewan. Do you think I care? Of course not! I'm uber satisfied

Dahil nagka-baon baon ako sa utang dahil sa Coron Trip ko, yun ang pangalawa kong ginawa. Nagbayad. If you were able to read my entries and saw my underwater pics, ang CHAKA nilang lahat!! hahaha! Wrong move. I should have purchased Canon D10 before going there. Malaking kasalanan pag wala ka nun. Kaya naman eto na siya. Bought it in Orange Gadgets. May yummy na guy named Jay na magdedeliver sa inyo. Promise ang cute niya. hihihi! Actually siya yung gusto kong bilhin e. hahahaha! "Kuya... Magkano ka?" lol!

Love it! Hindi yung ring, yung cam. Props lang yun. Wag mag-react.


Long weekend ulit at perfect sana for another getaway. Unfortunately gumuho ang pangarap kong makarating sa Apo Reef this weekend. Five backed out at hindi ko keri ang gastos na para sa limang tao. Masyadong mabigat sa bulsa. Alam ko may shark sa Apo Reef e. Kasabay mong magssnorkel which excites me so much. At gaya nga ng sabi ko dati, Shark can detect a drop of blood in a million drops of water at maaamoy nya yun kahit sa layong 0.4km. Droga yun sa kanila. Nakaka-high. Unfortunately, one of my friends had her period. Kahit siguro ako ang walang period hindi ako mangangahas ilublob ang sarili ko sa tubig pag kasama siya. Madamay pa ko. hahaha!  I just thought, siguro may reason din talaga kung bakit hindi kami natuloy.  

Well, para sa kunsuelo de bobo.. I booked a flight to Coron for next year na lang alone. Yes you read it right. ALONE. Try ko lang. Pero dun muna ako sa kabisado ko na. hihihihi! Kailangan ko pa mag ipon ng lakas ng loob para sa ibang lugar na hindi ko pa narating mag-isa.

Wala ng mas gaganda pa sa diwa ng pasko if you try to share your blessings to less fortunate. I just did! Hindi ko pa napapanalunan ang lotto jackpot na P650,000,000 kaya I just sponsored a few. Eto siya. Everyone's invited to join my friend's endeavour. Chyng this is for you. Sabay sabay natin tuparin ang pangarap mo. hahahhaa! Good luck friend! See you there.

You may email chyng at chyngreyes@gmail.com

So... did I spend it wisely? What do you think.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

What If

Just attended a grand ball somewhere. At ang ganda ko nun promise (lol!) Basta malapit lang samin yun e. It has a theme.. pupunta ka dun without a partner... dun sa venue ka na mismo magkukumarat maghanap. Guy hunting ito! Love it. So yun na nga. I saw a bunch of bummers na walang mga escort kaya I joined them. I also saw few of my friends who attended. Pulutung ng mga wall flower. Kulang na lang isilid kami sa kahon at ibugaw kung kani kanino. Nung una nag eenjoy pa ko. Pag may papalapit samin na guys parang may sumisigaw sa background na Lights, Camera, Action! Lahat pa-cute. Sarap tadyakan. hahaha!


Time has passed. Ok Panic mode na. Sa kasawiang palad, I ended up alone (loser). Wala naman akong choice no. Alangan naman dambahin ko lahat ng magustuhan ko dun. Kaya umuwi na lang ako at nagpalit na ng damit. Sayang lang ang paparlor ko at pag renta ng gown. Masaklap siyempre. Casualan na lang. Ewan ko ba kung bakit pero kating kati pa rin akong  bumalik dun. Hindi man bagay na ang ichura ko pero pumunta pa rin ako. Paparazzi. I saw this guy.. a common friend. Naka pustura pa at mukang loser din. bwahahaha! Syempre nakita na rin ako at tiningnan ang damit ko. Matagal ko na yung kilala e pero hindi ko siya feel. Supot ang spark. 


Guy (smiling): O bat ganyan na ichura mo?
Me (pissed off): ...ngengelam ka.. naiinitan na ko e. bwiset!
Guy (naughty ang ogag): Naiinitan.. sus! wala ka lang partner e
Me (defensive): Hindi a. Meron ako kanina. Umuwi na lang 


He asked me to sit on a bench near a light post. Sumama naman ako. Landi. Hahaha! Alangan kasi ichura ko para sumama pa sa crowd no. Baka sakin pa ibigay yung empty glasses. Kwentuhan-kamustahan-tawanan galore lang. Tinanong nya ko kung sino yung kapartner ko kanina. I'm a bad liar at mas nakakahiya pag nabuking ako kaya inamin ko ng wala naman talaga. Palusot ko lang yun. 


Guy: See... walang kumuha sayo. hahahaha!
Me: Look who's talking... mas loser ka kasi walang sumama sayo no adik!


Hindi na siya sumagot. Tumahimik lang..... Weird. Scary. Kaya nanahimik na ko. Maya maya may dumating na waiter na may dalang wine and Tequila. Humingi si Guy ng tig isa para saming 2. Ininum niya straight up. Ang seryoso. Tapos nagsalita na siya ulit. sa wakas.. Then he smiled to me. Siguro to ease na rin the ilangan factor.


Guy: ..Sana pala nagpalit na rin ako ng damit
Me: Hahaha! bakit kasi wala ngang sumama sayo kanina kaya wala ka ring partner no? feeling mo kasi
Guy: Hindi... 
Me: Sayang lang sa effort no. hahaha! hindi lang pala ako ang loser dito e. hahaha!


He just smiled again. Ewan ko ba pero may something pag ngumingiti siya ng ganun. Napapatahimik ako. Parang ang daming ibig sabihin. He paused for a while and sip the natitirang latak ng Tequila. Uminom na lang din ako. Kinakabahan ako sa kinikilos nya e.


Guy (parang najejebs lang): uhmmm... ano kasi e.... 


Muntik ko na naibuga yung iniinom ko dahil sa sinabi niyang "..nagpalit na kasi ng damit yung gusto kong sana maka-partner." 


Hindi ako makatingin sa kanya Ate Charo. I don't know how to react. Ako ngayon ang natahimik. Panic talaga. Feeling ko uminit yung face ko. I drank my wine straight up. Andun lang siya sa tabi ko parang nag-aantay ng susunod na kabanata. Eto classic.. nadighay ako. Disaster. Laklak kasi ng laklak. Tinawanan ko na lang. Siya din. 


Ano ng next?








Nagising na ko. Bwisit na alarm clock yan.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Delicioso!

Napansin ko lang...I've never posted any recipe on this blog. For those of you whom I haven't shared my specialty with dahil hindi ko kayo kapamilya (taste testers), officemate (nag-aabang ng grasya), close friends (kunwari hihingi ng recipe pero makiki-kain pa rin sa min), o BOYFRIEND (maswerte siya! hahaha) ...  let me just  share you this post. Siguro if I'm not in the world of IT today, I'll be the best kusinera. hahaha! I'm a frustrated chef. At dahil nga hindi naman ako madatung, everytime maisipan ko mag food trip sa mamahaling resto naka-ready na ang ballpen at tisyu. Ayoko na kasi um-order ulit ng ganun. Gusto ko version ko na. I-dissect na ang pagkain na yan!


Presenting my own version of Pesto (aka Aglio Olio for some)




Ang salarin na resto kung san ko siya nakita? A Veneto Pizzeria Ristorante. I was invited by my friends Oyise, Neri and Melo to have a dinner with them last last year pa ata. Hindi pa ko mahilig mag-foodtrip nun dahil ayoko ma-spoil dinner ko but thank you guys! BI talaga kayo hahaha! Oil and Garlic with Shrimps ang nasa menu. Pangalan pa lang alam mo na ang sahog.  It's P255.00 and good for three I must say. Ang alam ko lang na pasta dati ay red sauce at white. May transparent din pala. Ito yun. 


Ok so much for my kwento, magiging kilometric na naman to...  here's the recipe:


Ingredients:
1/2 kilo of cooked Pasta (pwede na yung pang spag, pero mas sosy kung flat noodles)
3/4 cups of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (healthy naman yan kaya you can have as much as you want)
1 cup canned sliced champignon Mushrooms (uubra na ang jolly na tatak)
5 strips of bacon chopped (optional)
10 medium sized shrimps
3/4 cup of Garlic chopped finely
2 and 1/2 cups of Parsley (yung maliiliit yung leaves ha. Chop it finely)
Parmesan Cheese
Salt

1. Saute bacon until brown and crispy using a bit of olive oil. Set aside.
2. On the same pan, lagay mo na lahat ng remaining olive oil then saute garlic. Wag mo ibbrown. Mas flavorful sya pag ganun papait kasi pag nagbrown.
3. Ilagay mo na ang shrimp. Pag luto na, ilagay mo na ang mushroom. Then parsley. Mabilis lang yan maluto kaya don't over cook it. Add in salt according to your taste. Konting MSG pag kulang pa ang lasa. Toss in the noodles and bacon.
4. Pag kumapit na yung lasa sa noodles, pwede na siyang iplate with garlic toasted bread and sprinkle it with parmesan cheese.





O eto pa...  I want Chicken Curry so bad. Lagi yan ang kinakain ko sa likod ng Ever Gotesco sa recto pag lunch. College days... hay! Unfortunately, my mom doesn't like its smell. Amoy kilikile daw kasi kaya hindi siya nagluluto ng ganun. Kaya madalang ako makatikim ng mga Indian or Mexican food. Oo na. Ako na ang deprived. It's nearly Christmas time last year at naisip ko gawin ang frustration ko. Sorry hindi ko na keri ang curry. It's a Mexican snack though at itago natin sa pangalang Tacos. 




I would like you to meet my Kitchen Buddies!
From left to right: Meet Chiz Quesada! The Queso Grater; Pon the PepperMill; and Chavit the Chopper. Give them a round of applause!!!




Tampok ang mga ingredients na ito...
Eden Cheese, chopped tomato, chopped onion, kili-kili powder (ito yung taco seasoning.. mabaho man sya, pero sya ang pinaka-yummy sa lahat), taco sauce or salsa, lettuce, taco shells of course, konting pepper or hot sauce, ground chicken or beef or pork





Since we are not a fan of beef, chicken was used. Gilingin ito ng bonggang bongga tapos pakuluan sa kawali. Pag tuyo na yung water, ibuhos ang dissolved kili-kili powder sa 1/2 cup of water. yun na!




Charaaaaan! 
Just fill the tacos with all the ingredients. Voila!


At ngayon, dahil masarap na para sakin ang amoy ng kilikile (hahaha!).. ituloy tuloy na natin. Mabuhay ang mga kilikili lover dyan! Pwede na ko magtayo ng sarili kong Nacho King stand sa harap ng mga Jollijeep sa Makati Wuhuuuu! Presenting my very own version of Nachos! Clap clap clap!




Ingredients? mucho nachos!


Cheessy Sauce Dip
2 tbsp salted butter
3 tbsp flour
1 cup grated cheddar cheese (use the one na ma-orange para cute. Anemic yung sakin e)
1 cup of milk


Nacho Chicken Dip
1/4 kilo of chicken breast
1 tbsp garlic
3 tbsp onion
2 tbsp oil
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper to taste
Hot Sauce (optional)




Procedure for Cheesy Sauce
1. Melt the butter over medium heat. Make sure you don't burn it.
2. Remove the pan from heat and add flour. Stir the mixture wag titigilan until wala ng lumps left in the pan. It should look like this:



3. Add salt and pepper. 
4. Add the milk to the flour mixture and stir until it is lump free ulit. Walang habas mo itong haluin at baka dumikit sa pan. It should be like a gravy consistency. Pag masyadong thick, lagyan mo pa ng milk.
5. Add cheese and continue cooking on low heat until all cheese are completely melted. 

Procedure for Chicken Dip:
1. Saute Garlic and Onion in oil.
2. Add in the ground chicken and saute until brown. You may use beef or pork instead. Pero sabi ko nga kanina, hindi kami fan nun. 
3. Pag brown na, add in cumin and cayenne pepper. Kung sa Tacos I used Taco Seasoning aka Kilikili powder, ngayon alam ko na ang ingredients ng mix na yun. Si Cumin ang mabaho, si cayenne ang pampapula at pang-anghang. O diba? I don't need to buy the mix. Love it! Yun na. Ready to plate.



Finished Product
...at siya ang kinakain ko habang nagsusulat ako ngayon. 



Delisiyosong echos sa inyo!!