back and forth.

I DON'T KNOW how screwed up people can get. No matter how simple things are, they choose to be complicated. Well, five years ago, all that had to happen to me. I like everything simple. From white, vanilla, cheese pizza, no prints, no salt, everything that comes in plain natural form that's what I want.
Ben (name withheld) is a downright jerk from the first time I met him, we became the best of friends and there was something in between I guess. After confronting myself and validating what real feelings lie beneath, I stopped and went away. I cried of course, not seeing him or talking to him for seven months have been hell, but I had to do it..for my own sake.
Then out of nowhere there he is, a few feet away from me, wearing a stupid grin not knowing I was there looking at him, pained.I'm at a very happy place til now. He still has that sugar effect on me and I hate me for indulging into it. I really thought I could escape him but sooner or later I will have to face him for whatever reason.
APRIL 13 marks the day of our meet. After a few fights since he got a hold of me by New Year's eve, we compromised. I still have to figure out how this story will end...

reason why I am here...

THIRTY PLUS YEARS AGO, a shy,beautiful 17 year-old met a 21-year old handome radio operator in Baguio City, she was a shy UPian freshie while he, a breadwinner of his family. They fell in love through several years of writing letters to each other while he was in Vietnam and she was finishing up with her studies.

A few years after graduation, they married and had six children. I am a product of the overflowing love in this particular household. We are four girls and two boys running around,fighting with each other trying to get the attention of my mom and dad. It's so amazing how we were brought up and kept the family intact through struggles and crises. We have always been a prayerful family and we keep an open communication so through childhood,awkward adolescence, puberty, teens and and adulthood, we stuck like glue. When nearly all of us moved out to pursue our own dreams, mom and dad were really sad but they were more than willing to travel miles just to see and be with us even for a few moments. I will be forever grateful to these two who kept me grounded and made me believe that I could spread my wings and fly..

breakfast with my family

THIS WEEKEND have been one of the most wonderful days ever! My mom and dad are always excited to come to Manila to see us and bring all the food they could think of. She knows I love fish, so the freezer was well-stocked with sausages, tinapang bangus,basasong and salmon. Everybody was noisy like we were kids and we slept late.

7am, CIRCLES,Shangri-la Makati

We headed to Circles for our breakfast.Usually when the family gets together,we go someplace where we could relax and just talk about everything. So as we entered the resto, we were greeted with a friendly crew, the familiar sweet smell of waffles and pancakes and the low buzz of people who just woke up, sipping their coffee quietly and ruffles on the morning paper. I scanned the room, it was brightly lit and chefs were busy preparing sausage links, dairy products. The tables were cherry oak with big white plates orange mugs and orange mats to compliment the restaurant's theme. There was a pastry bar with white chocolate donuts,muffins with raspberry,cheese, and orange flavors. Beside it was a wide spread of fruits, toasts,whipped cream, waffles,mascarpone and syrups. Across the bread counter, there was an attractive line of crushed ice with yogurt,and bottled juices in it. The cereals section was easy to find since the spot gloat of colorful little wheels in big bowls (Cheerios or Froot Loops, my best bet), cornflakes, granola bars, pitchers of fresh and skimmed milk, fruit juices and big blocks of different cheeses like Gouda, Camembert, Parmiggiano,Ementhal, Blue, Brie, sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack, Goat cheese and cream. I stayed away from the cheese board much as I can because it can be so addictive once I take one bite. Right across our table was across the carving station with links of hungarian, bratwurst, veal and chicken sausages, pots of freshly cooked and baked potatoes, baby asparagus, seared salmon squares and eggs benedict with creamed spinach. The Chinese food section boast dumplings, steamed pork ribs, chicken feet and a lot of mouth-watering goodies inside their small rattan-like steam baskets. While the Japanese chefs were uber busy preparing the sushi, maki and yakitori spread. What I love about the place is its exclusivity. People didn't really care about other people's businesses so two brownie points for Shang for keeping the privacy in place. Our pictures didn't do justice to my description, there was just so much food to keep track of.

Me and my dad started with the greasy, heavy stuff. We loaded our plates with bacon, ham, salmon, croissants, and hashbrowns while the rest of my family got something healthy like cereals. Our table was nothing short of jams,marmalades and honey.

I didn't take a lot of pictures since we were enjoying ourselves so much. We kept laughing and shared stories about what we were up to and our plans for life. I savored every second with my family, and nothing gives me a natural high like this. After drowning myself with milk and yogurt juices, I was ready to turn in and go home. But Car and my mom loves to shop and the day was just starting so they headed to Glorietta, my Dad went someplace for his business meeting and as for me, I went home to take a nap, I was meeting Tina that night for some drinks.

It's always been tradition for all of us to get together and try different restos. Good thing I came from a family of foodies!