2AM Live in Manila!

Catch these four Korean cuties as they hold a one-night concert at the Eastwood Mall Open Park on April 30, 2011.

2AM will also be staging Meet and Greet sessions on April 28 at the Newport Plaza at Resorts World Manila at 6PM, and on April 29 at the Venice Piazza at the McKinley Hill, also at 6PM.

Julien Drolon

Just who is this Julien Drolon?

That was the question I had in mind when I got this press release from Orange Magazine TV. And then I saw his pictures:



Then I remembered watching him perform at the Brasilipinas Rio de Manila Event at the Rockwell Tent last March 4th. I have to admit, I could barely understood what he was singing about because of too much noise, but I could see from his performance what he's all for - Peace and Love. I've never seen a performer so passionate about his craft. Seriously. Maybe I haven't seen that many artists perform, or maybe all those I've seen are only into performance for the fame and fortune. But this guy is different. That was the first and only time I've watched him and instantly, I knew what he's about.

Now, who exactly is this guy?

ABOUT JULIEN DROLON

Singer, songwriter, and former International Reporter are all words that can be used to describe Julien Drolon, but they merely scratch the surface. Drolon (born in Nantes, France on the 5th of February 1982) is on a mission to promote peace thru his love for music. He first arrived in the Philippines last 2007 and came back at the end of 2009 and decided to start his musical career.

This French singer with a Pinoy heart describe his music style as feel good music which combines pop, reggae, funk, and rock. He considers Jason Mraz, Bob Marley, Jamiroquai, Donovan Frankenreiter, Patrice and Asa as his musical influences. Drolon performs on stage with his equally-talented Filipino band composed of Girlie Capulso (back up vocals), Enzo Queyquep (lead guitar), Joseph Duenas (bass), Leal Nanca (keyboard) and Joven Palencia (Drums).

Drolon already played in Hong Kong and mainland China, at an Asian music conference, Music Matters Festival, which was held in Hong Kong last May 26-29, 2010. He also performed for the opening of the China Music Industry Park in Shanghai last July, 2010.

Addressing the issue of why he started his career in the Philippines, he responded, “It’s a place that is blessed with amazing musicians that want to collaborate on the making of my album and Filipinos are music lovers”. For his first album, Drolon is working with producers Jack Rufo and Angee Rozul.

Julien Drolon's debut album entitled “JULIEN DROLON… PHIL SO GOOD” is due for mainstream release in May 2011, followed by a series of tour in the Philippines. Check out more updates on Julien Drolon at www.facebook.com/jdrolon, www.myspace.com/juliendrolon and www.twitter.com/juliendrolon12

So, as it turns out, Julien Drolon is one of the many foreigners who have a Filipino heart. And how Filipino is his heart? He wrote a song about our country called Phil So Good. Read the lyrics:

PHIL SO GOOD Lyrics

Paradise islands, white sand beach
Tropical jungles where tribes still live
Land of Rizal and the guitar strings
Gotta find some time to live it here

I am in the Philippines x 3
And I feel so good, so good

People speak tagalog, sometimes taglish
They love to have fun, they know how to live
With a warm welcome, they will make you feel
Like it is your turn to smile and sing

I am in the Philippines x 3
And I feel so good, so good

comma down selectah…
seat back relax uminum ng beer
itaas ang bote isigaw ang cheers
lay back, while listenin smooth jazz and
feel the cold breeze and keep the wheels blazin
cause all we need is a time to relax
ihanda na ang serbeza lets drink some wapak
sige sige dont stop, non stop ang saya
pag-katapos ng lahat libutin luzviminda
tawagan mo na si jo and i will text julien
hatakin na si joven all over again
cause the best thing in life is life and that’s true
huwag hayaan ang saya lagpasan ka nito
take a zip just a trip and take a deep breath
libutin tiaong gubat all by your self
fiyah grill, cold beer, lay back and chill
watch the daet sunsets thats the thrill
sounds cool huh

I am in the Philippines x 3
And I feel so good, so good
Boracay in summer, I went there twice
Wanna feel colder, go to the rice terraces
Palawan is where I took my love
She wanted a romance under the sun
Surf is the best in Siargao
You can also dance up to Malasimbo
And when I need a break from Manila
I got a secret place that I won’t say to ya

I am in the Philippines x 3
And I feel so good, so good


Song Credit:

Julien Drolon: songwriting english part/vocal/production
Leal Nanca: songwriting tagalog part/ rap/ keyboards
Jojo Duenas: Arrangement/ bass
Enzo Queyquep: Guitars
Paolo Santiago: Drums
Girlie Capulso: back up vocals

Recorded at Tracks by Angee Rozul
Mixed and Produced by Angee Rozul

Hear Phil So Good here

Uhm, I kinda hate to say this, but the song reminded me of the DOT slogan dilemma a few months back, and I think this song should be it. Really. PHIL SO GOOD. And they'd also have an instant theme song. A great tourism theme song. Perfect for the summer. I can imagine this song being played on the beaches all over the country.

Catch Orange Magazine TV at www.orangemagazinetv.com

Photo Credits:

Photography by Joser Dumbrique


Photography by Willie Samson

my hair, my story

i'm one girl who barely cares about how i look. i can say i'm low-maintenance. i've got long hair and i usually sport the "just-got-out-of-bed" look, because, yes, i just did. most of the time, since i barely go out, i just let my hair dry by itself without combing.

my hair is naturally straight, but because i'm too lazy to get my often-neglected brush, it's wavy most of the time. maybe because it's too long that the strand is too heavy to be straight (my theory). oops.. there goes my "secret".. when you see me and my hair is straight, the job is done thanks to my brush.

well, really, my hair is easy to deal with. if i want it curly, i'd tie it into a bun for a few hours or put it under blow-dry heat for a few minutes and it's set. beauty-queen kind of curly. if i want it straight, comb it or brush it, or blow-dry it and it's straight. if i don't give a damn, i'll just let it be and i'll effortlessly look like i just got out of bed. and hey, isn't that the kind of look most girls are trying hard to achieve? i'm actually quite proud i don't have to exert much effort to sport that look.

but don't get me wrong, what's written above is just the part of brushing my hair. this time, i delve into hair care products and treatments. i don't like going to the salon, so you can conclude i haven't had even the slightest hot oil treatment done in quite a while. i won't agree to have my hair rebonded or even relaxed. why? i won't last 24 hours without washing my hair.

my hair's bestfriend is creamsilk standout straight conditioner and most especially, creamsilk precision repair treatment. i don't use the conditioner regularly, but whenever i feel like my crowning glory needs to be the center of attention, that's when it's put into good use. and since i don't use the conditioner much, the precision repair treatment is a staple for me. it's a weekly regimen for me since i don't take care of my hair as much as i have to.

and since we're at it, i saw the newest tvc of creamsilk stunning shine featuring alvin patrimonio's daughters (am i right?). and then i remember, last year or two years ago, creamsilk had a summer limited edition conditioner which i failed to try. where was i then? anyway, this new one i would love to try. the summer heat is really, really sinking in and, i don't know if i'm concerned or what, but i think i wanna keep my hair doing just fine and not let it dry up on the summer heat. how long i'm gonna be like this, that i can't tell, but really, i'd try it once i see it in the groceries. well, i was in the grocery this evening with my mom and dad, and i checked the racks, it's not there yet.

why am i writing this? let's just say i was inspired by the press release i was asked to post about creamsilk. this isn't a product review, i am simply sharing what i have to say about how i care for my hair and what i do with it. my hair, my story.

Venus Raj: Straight Again

When a public figure like Venus Raj undergoes a transformation, it is inevitable that people talk.

The life of a beauty queen is one filled with television appearances, photo shoots, and media events, not to mention possible career opportunities. This is what is happening to Venus right now.

The demands of her blossoming career have entailed her to sport various looks to suit different roles.

But beauty does pay its price.

“Too much styling, using the curling iron, using the flat iron, rebonding really takes a toll on your hair,” says Moussa Abdayem, technique trainer and head stylist of Emphasis salon.

So once again, Venus turns to Cream Silk for a reliable beauty regimen. The beauty queen says, “Despite the torture to my hair due to over styling, thanks to Cream Silk vitamin treatment, my hair is recharged. Now, I’m happy that I’m back with my beautiful straight hair.”

Pesto Genovese di CIBO

Classic Basil Pesto from Genova

Ingredients:
100g sweet basil, washed and dried well
20g coarse sea salt
60g pine nuts, toasted
4 cloves garlic
120g parmigiano, freshly grated
250ml or 1/2c virgin olive oil
sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
butter

Procedure:
For a quick pesto, put all ingredients except olive oil in a food processor and blend until coarse, adding olive oil little by little.
For a more authentic pesto, pound basil, garlic, pine nuts and sea salt in a mortar and pestle.
When leaves and other ingredients are almost down to a paste, add olive oil little by little and blend.
Add parmigiano and mix well and blend. The pesto should become coarse and bright green.
Season with more salt and fresh pepper to taste.
Top off with some butter.

Vegetable Broth from CIBO

Ingredients:
2 liters water
2 stalks celery
1 whole onion, peeled
1 piece carrot
bay leaf
8 to 10 pieces peppercorns

Optional:
leeks
mushrooms
garlic
bouquet garni

Procedure:
Put all ingredients in a large pot, and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer for at least an hour.
See that color should be like a nicely tinted consomme.
To have ready in your itchen at all times, keep frozen.

Funghi Trifolati di CIBO

Three Mushrooms

Ingredients:
1kg fresh mushrooms (an assortment of shiitake, button and oyster mushroom or your choice of fresh mushrooms)
50g garlic, chopped coarsely
1c extra-virgin olive oil
20g fresh Italian parsley, chopped coarsely

Optional:
1tbsp balsamic vinegar
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper

Procedure:
Wipe mushrooms clean with damp cloth if needed. Do not wash.
In a large saucepan, warm 2/3 of the virgin olive oil.
Add the garlic and warm without browning.
Add the mushroom and saute very gently and quickly.
Add chopped parsley.
Season with sal and fresh black pepper.
Transfer to serving platter, sprinkle some more parsley. Let sit for a few minutes, finish with some olive oil, garnish with a parsley sprig, then serve or use.
To serve by itself as an antipasto, drizzle balsamic vinegar.

My Reality, My Story: a BUM Equipment Photo Essay Contest

How to Participate
1. Contestant must have a valid Email.

2. “My Story” Contest is open for Boys & Girls, 13 yrs old above and resident of the Philippines.

3. A contestant is qualified to join upon purchase of any of BUM’s My Story Collection for boys or girls available at BUM Boutiques & leading Department Stores Nationwide.

4. To register, Log on to www.bumequipment.com.ph and fill up the application with:
• Full Name

• Date of Birth

• Complete Address

• Telephone and or Mobile Number

• Valid email address

• Store name where the product is purchased

• Write a story in not less than 300 words, on how BUM influenced their “Realities”?

• Submit story entries with the photograph at www.bumequipment.com.ph

• No other products or brands (except BUM) must be worn in the photograph and photo must be in landscape picture orientation, JPEG/GIF or PNG format and cannot exceed 2MB in file size.

• A contestant may opt to submit more than 1 story entry, provided each story submitted must be supported with a decent photograph of the contestant wearing the “MYSTORY” collection; however each photograph must be a different design from the My Story Collection. Photos must be taken with a date starting April 1, 2011 until the end of entry submission. The collections are identifiable by the “My Story” swing tags.

5. BUM Management and the website administrator shall screen the entries, makes sure that entries are written decently, should not contain any obscene words and the likes before uploading and posting at BUM’s website.

Photographs must adhere to the following guidelines to be approved and uploaded:
• It must be clear and not blurred.
• It must be focused on one person only who is wearing the BUM My Story T-Shirt.
• It must have a date starting from April 1 – May 30, 2011.
• It must be in landscape orientation.

6. Should a contestant decide to “post” or “share” their stories on Facebook, Twitter or any other website without the knowledge and controls of BUM, BUM shall not in any way responsible for whatever consequences and or any sort of comments allowing himself/herself to be the subject of varying comments, view and opinions of people, which may be express or relayed not just at BUM’s Facebook Fan page, but in other ways and medium, including but not limited to blogs. In such cases BUM Management & the website administrator will not be in any way held responsible and whatsoever in the dissemination of such.

7. Before submission of entries, contestants attest he or she has fully read and understood the mechanics and agrees upon the terms and conditions of this promotion.

8. Promo period April 1, 2011 to May 30, 2011. Announcement of winners June 30, 2011

DEADLINE AND SUBMISSION OF ENTRIES
All entries must be received until 11:59 p.m. of May 30, 2011. BUM will not responsible for any technical delay in the transmission of the entries. All entries must be submitted via www.bumequipment.com.ph

VOTING OF ENTRIES
1. Anyone who visits the BUM website can vote once for any entry. IP address of the voter will be logged on the database to prevent double voting. A unique IP address is equivalent to one vote per entry.

2. Voting starts once first approved entries are posted on the website and ends 11:59 PM June 29, 2011.

3. Only the votes executed at BUM website will be considered valid.

4. Top 8 best entries will be selected based on the entries with top number of votes.

CRITERIA FOR JUDGING
5 Semi-finalists, 2 Runner-ups and Grand Winner Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
1. BUM Factor (40%) – Is the story’s legibility parallel to BUM campaign?

2. Originality (30%) – Is the subject matter pictured in a unique way or is a common item shown from an interesting point-of-view? Does the photo demonstrate originality?

3. Creativity (30%) – Are the items of interest placed well in the photo? Are there distracting elements? Is the photo in focus? Is the story interesting?

MECHANICS FOR JUDGING
1. On June 30, 2011 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon at BUM Head Office, Top 8 entries shall be screened by the Judges to get the top 5 semi-finalists, 2 runner ups and the grand winner finalist. The following panel of judges, with the DTI representative and officers from BUM shall be present during the screening:

a. MR. NATHAN ATIENZA – VP FOR MARKETING AND ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATION; He’s the approving executive for Marketing Activities.

b. MR. BENJIE TORRIJOS - BRAND MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT; He’s in charge of brand image and development.

c. MS.JUDY MARET - PR MANAGER; She’s in charge of brand publicity and press releases.

2. Out of the top 8 entries, the Judges will choose the winners based on the set criteria. Each Judge shall be given a score sheet and tallied in the presence of a DTI representative. The same panel of judges, with a DTI representative and officers from BUM shall be present during the determination of winners.

PRIZES
Prizes for this contest are as follows:

Grand Prize
i. Apple iPad2 16GB WIFI
ii. BUM Loot Bag

2nd Prize – 2 Runner-Ups
i. Samsung ES65 Camera
ii. BUM Loot Bag

3rd Prize – 5 Semi-Finalists
i. Apple iPod Shuffles
ii. BUM Loot Bag

A participant can only win once in the entire contest. In the event more than one entry of a contestant wins, the following rule shall apply:
a. The entry with the higher prize shall prevail;

b. If the entries win similar prizes, the entry garnering the higher rating shall prevail;

All prizes are non-transferable and non-convertible to cash and or BUM products.

WINNERS
1. Winners shall be announced in BUM website www.bumequipment.com.ph, Facebook Fan Page, and Twitter on June 30, 2011, 10PM.

2. Winner shall be notified thru registered mail, email and phone call.

3. Winners must present valid Identification to claim the prize.

4. Prizes not claimed within 60 days upon receipt of notification shall be forfeited in favor of BUM with prior DTI approved.

5. Decisions of the sponsors and judges are final and binding with the concurrence of the DTI.

6. Metro Manila winner must claim their prizes at the BUM Head Office located at Jade Building McArthur Highway, Malabon City from 9:00AM to 5:00PM (Mondays to Fridays). Prizes for the provincial winners shall be delivered via designated courier upon confirmation of receipt of notification by phone or email specified in the registered mail.

7. Winners must present a valid ID and registered notice.
DISQUALIFICATION OF BUM AND AFFILIATES’ EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS, CONSULTANTS AGENTS AND THEIR RELATIVES
Employees of BUM, any affiliate of BUM, any of their advertising or promotional agencies, any provider of any prize offered in this contest or any business or entity involved in the development, production, implementation, administration or fulfillment of this contest, as well as their relatives up to the 3rd degree of consanguinity or affinity are disqualified from joining this contest.

BUM Mini-Bloggers Night

Dino Imperial For BUM Equipment








Blogger Extraordinaire Azrael Coladilla, voted most popular blog azraelsmerryland.blogspot.com


Winners of the most popular blogs

BUM Equipment: What's Your Story?

Local clothing label BUM EQUIPMENT encourages the youth to step forward and be heard

Whether you're the wallflower type who just quietly sits in the corner and watches the world pass by, or the angst-ridden rebel who always feels the need to challenge the norm and practice independence, you've got an interesting story to tell.

The same idea is behind Bum Equipment's latest project called My Story. Highlighting creativity and individuality, My Story is an ingenious contest hatched by the guys behind the local clothing brand to answer the youth's urge to establish their identities and be heard by the world. It's especially designed to those who express their sentiments, inner thoughts, and repressed emotions through clothes and personal style.

Open to boys and girls 13 years old and above. My Story encourages the youth to express their passion, angst or opinion about the who they are,their realities, through fashion and photography.

In 300 words or less, contestants must write a short story about how Bum and their love for dressing up have influenced their "realities." They can submit as many entries as they want, provided that each of their story is supported by a photograph of them wearing pieces from Bum's "My Story" collection. However, they can only wear specific pieces for one photograph, so it means that every entry must have a different set of clothes.

Cool prizes awaits the lucky winners. The one who can come up with the most creative story with great photos will take a home a 16 GB Apple iPad 2. Two second prize winners will receive Samsung ES65 Compact Cameras. Apple iPod Shuffle units will be given away to five semi-finalists.

So if you're up for the challenge, whip out your cameras, don your statement BUM pieces and show the world what you've got.

To see more of Bum's My Story collection, visit BUM boutiques and any leading department stores and look for pieces with the "My Story" swing tags. To know more about the contest, visit www.bumequipment.com.ph.

Extraordinary Online Video Contest Awarding & Bloggers Fest At Thunderbird Resorts Rizal

On April 16, 2011, Thunderbird Resorts awards the winning Extraordinary Video to bag the much-coveted P100k cash prize and Vacation Getaway. The awarding proper takes place at Thunderbird Resorts Rizal’s newly-opened Event Center.

“What Makes You Extraordinary?” was the question posted in the contest, wherein participants must answer by submitting a video best explaining their reasons. By the end of February 2011, a total of 58 video entries were received which were then posted online for the voting period that ran from March 1to 25 2011.

The Grand Prize Winner is determined by a panel of judges that includes Anton Diaz of OurAwesomePlanet.com, videographer Bob Nicolas, Prof. Patrick Campos of the UP Film Institute and Thunderbird Resorts Chief Sales & Marketing Officer Felbin Soto. While the Five Consolation Prizes of P10k Thunderbird Resorts GC, P5k Cash Prize and Enjoy Philippines card is based on the Five Most Voted Videos. An Apple iPad also awaits the Favorite Video shot at Thunderbird Resorts.

Happening on the same day, Thunderbird Resorts is also the host of this year’s Bloggers Fest – an activity-filled day that includes seminars and workshops with expected attendees of about 200 bloggers from various categories. Azrael Coladilla explains on manilabloggers.blogspot.com, “The objective of the event is to have a venue for free mentorship on blogging and as well as networking with Filipino bloggers and participating companies.”

“Inspired from last year’s Bloggers Fiesta Manila, the Bloggers Fest features co-bloggers to serve as speakers on different topics and to share their experiences and give tutorials on how to have a successful blog site,” Coladilla added.

Thunderbird Resorts’ thrust is to create extraordinary experiences for its guests, giving them a luxurious vacation lifestyle with each stay. It holds two world-class properties here in the Philippines catering to leisure, sports, recreation and entertainment activities. One is located in the highland oasis of Binangonan, Rizal; the other Mediterranean-inspired property is in the peninsula of Poro Point in San Fernando, La Union. Through the online video contest and bloggers event, Thunderbird Resorts shares this Extraordinary experience and more.


Special thanks to Zest Air as the event’s major sponsor and in partnership with Travelbook.ph, Nuffnang, Enjoy Philippines, Baicapture, SolidHosting.PH, Dependable Printing, Perfect Renders and Manila Bloggers Network.

For more information, visit www.thunderbird-asia.com.

Newport Mall Sale on April 15 - 17

Enjoy premium offers and great discounts on selected items and participating restaurants at the Newport Mall Sale on April 15 – 17, 2011

Salsa di Pomodoro put to test cooking

i tried making some salsa di pomodoro (recipe here) just 20 minutes ago and decided to cook myself some pasta since i'm on it.

result? a little salty but good enough. wanna know how i did it?

i made a really small batch of salsa di pomodoro. just 2 ripe tomatoes and adjusted the ingredients so it's gonna be just a meal for one. it's just a trial anyway.

Chef Margarita Fores said that the pasta water should be saltwater-like so the pasta will be really tasty. i guess this is where i got it bad. my pasta water got a little salty. but it tasted good for a trial dish. i put in a little milk to subdue the saltiness and the milk turned my sauce a little creamy.

and so, i turned my salsa di pomodoro into a pasta sauce. i put in a bit of Spanish paprika and a dash of dried basil because that's all i have in our kitchen cupboard. there's tuna right in front of me at the dinner table so i took some pinches on it so my pasta won't look so lonely.

verdict: no one's gonna taste my cooking at 3:30am but for sure my next try will definitely be really good.

Salsa di Pomodoro di CIBO

i seem to be in the mood to post and post and post recipes recently, i am amazed myself. knowing how lazy a blogger i am, 2-3 blog posts a day, or even just one blog in a day is a milestone for this lazy li'l miss chrissie.

anyway, i'll be sharing another CIBO dish recipe, the second of the five basic sauces by Chef Margarita Fores. this is called Salsa di Pomodoro. it's simply Stewed Tomatoes in English.

Ingredients:
1.5kg tomatoes, very ripe [blanched*, peeled, seeded (optional), mashed by hand]
5 to 7 cloves or 20g garlic, peeled and crushed**
250 to 375ml or 1.5c extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon tomato paste
brown sugar
sea salt
ground pepper, freshly ground
peperoncini (chili flakes)***

Procedure:
in a saucepan, warm the olive oil over medium flame.
add tomatoes, and after about a minute, add garlic.
add tomato paste, and a pinch of brown sugar if tomatoes are not ripe
when the fat of the tomato starts to separate and sauce thickens, lower flame and let simmer.
season with sea salt, black pepper and a pinch of chili flakes.
set aside.

* how to blanch tomatoes: put tomatoes in boiling water for a minute or two.
** garlic isn't really meant to be crushed, but our goal for this sauce is a subtle garlicky taste.
*** chili flakes can be substituted by sun-dried siling labuyo.

stay tuned for the third basic sauce recipe by Chef Gaita of CIBO. thanks!

Pomodori Crudi Marinati Di CIBO

as promised, i will be sharing recipes from Chef Margarita Fores of CIBO, the ones she taught in her cooking workshop last April 2 in Eastwood Mall.

what i will be sharing with you is one of the five basic sauces from which you can create a wide assortment of healthy dishes.

this first basic sauce is called POMODORI CRUDI MARINATI. in english, it's simply raw marinated tomatoes. this serves 8 to 10 people.

ingredients:
1.5kg tomatoes, cubed (very ripe local kamatis will do)
5 to 7 cloves or 20g thinly sliced garlic
250 to 375ml or 1.5c extra virgin olive oil
1 bunch sweet basil, torn (leave some springs for garnish)
sea salt to taste
black pepper, freshly ground
peperoncini aka chili flakes (sun-dried siling labuyo will do)

optional:
capers
olives
sun-dried tomatoes

procedure:
in a bowl, marinate cubed tomatoes in olive oil, adding the slivered garlic, and seasoning with rock salt and freshly ground black pepper.

add peperoncini and fresh basil, and let stand for a minimun of 30 minutes. set aside. chill if to be used the next day.

if this sauce won't be used immediately, you can stock it in the freezer for two weeks.

wait for the next recipes from CIBO by Chef Gaita. there are still four more basic sauces and a full-course meal recipes to come.

a Samsung SmarTv comedy

i made my entry for Samsung SmarTv (click here if you wanna read it) in the wee hours of April 3, 2011 in hopes of winning one. i did not know something funny in relation to it will happen later on that same day.

it was my youngest brother's birthday, and our family and extended family are all in our house for the birthday dinner. my other brother, the middle child (oh, yes he's a middle child with all the problems that goes with being a middle/meddle child), is going to the US next week for his six-month OJT, so he was telling the birthday boy what to do with his stuff when we transfer to our new house and so on.

i butted in when he mentioned the xbox. i said it's gonna go into his new room only when he's about to return. i guess it was ok with him since he can't do anything since he's gonna be away, so he turned the conversation about his tv. he's got our old lcd tv in his room so he can play with xbox and ps2. he said that the tv is going to his new room no matter what. i said okay, i'm content with my five-year old tv since i don't watch that much and that i'm receiving a new one soon with a touchscreen remote. i was referring to the Samsung SmarTv (hey, i joined. i've got a chance i'll get one, right?). i told him all things about the SmarTv and i can see his face getting green with envy (bwahahaha!).

i knew an argument is gonna happen because i'm slowly creating trouble. being the middle kid that he is, he's always jealous of things i have and he doesn't (come to think of it, i'm the only girl in the family. how absurd is he?). here's the funny thing: he's getting envious and yet he doesn't know how am i gonna get the SmarTv from. he was like, "MOM!!! are you buying ate a new TV? with a touchscreen remote? blah blah blah?". my mom only said, "i don't know what you guys are talking about" and went back to chatting with her sister and cousin.

i didn't tell them about the contest (hehehe). but it was really funny how he believed my story. more than i am teasing him, i am also wishful thinking. not bad to wish for something good for myself sometimes, right?

how to deal with your pomodoro

Missed the recipe posts on this blog? Lucky you this time because I'm posting one. ☺

We had the chance to a free workshop on Cooking and Living Healthy by Ms. Margarita Fores of Cibo and Cibo di M Signature Caterer on Saturday, April 2, at the Eastwood Mall Atrium.

She taught us some recipes of the dishes in her restaurant and some basic Italian sauces.

I can't deny the fact that I am nearly-addicted to pesto, and there are a few ways to prepare pesto and I have yet to learn them. But really, the prime ingredient of pesto is the herb Basil. But Basil's not the point in this post. It's the Pomodoro aka Tomato aka Kamatis.

I often complain that I can never, ever get a kamatis as sour as that found abroad even in the most sosyal groceries. I know that if i wanted those kind of tomatoes, I would have to settle with the ones in jars - the brined ones. No and a bigger NO. A big and bold NO for more emphasis. I loved how those imported tomatoes taste like - sweet but sour. Here, the tomatoes are sour and nothing else. It only makes me want to put patis on it and eat rice with a viand.

Luckily, Chef Gaita mentioned this in as she was doing demos. She said the local kamatis could and would be good enough if it was so ripe already. I can't wait to try it. I am going to hide some kamatis (and hope I won't forget it) as soon as I finish this post.

Anyway, on to the recipe I'm gonna share.

I am not going to refer to the handout she gave out in the workshop, and what I'm gonna post is just purely my doing, or should I say, how I do it.

A few weeks ago, my youngest brother was craving for nachos. I told him to buy stuff/ingredients and I'll make it for him. In all honesty, I didn't know then what I was doing and was totally experimenting. All I know is how it looks like and how it should taste like. How to cook it, that's the part where I experimented. Lucky it came out good.

here are the ingredients:

a box/bag of nachos
500g ground pork (because I don't eat beef, but you can use beef if you like)
1 pack quickmelt (it's the easiest cheese to melt, and the easiest cheese to find in the grocery. but unless you have more budget, go for whatever cheese you want. just grate it so it will melt easily)
3 tomatoes (it's gonna be watery)
1 small onion (one small onion is really, really enough if not more than enough)
2 little cloves of garlic (you don't want garlic to become a little too overpowering all other taste, trust me.)
salt and pepper to taste
less than a cup of milk

I did a cheese dip, a salsa and the meat thing so it's like three different recipes. (I'm so not familiar with what the meat thing's called, sorry.)

So, here goes:

Salsa
Chop the tomatoes, onion and a little garlic. Just a little garlic. I repeat, just a little garlic. Done.

But seriously, it's gonna get watery, thanks to the tomatoes, so I suggest drain it a bit before you mix the onion and garlic. You can also pop them all in the blender if you don't mind a watery salsa.

The Meat Thing (sorry, I just have to call it that, I can't come up with a name and I'm too lazy to research for it)
Sautee the garlic and pork until golden brown. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Done. Easy, right?

Cheese dip
Get that less than a cup of milk and boil it with the cheese until it melts. It should get thick, but if it didn't, seek for the help of the good ol' flour (1 tablespoon flour dissolved in 4 tablespoons water). That should do the trick. Add some salt to bring out the cheese flavor. And most importantly, never stop stirring until the cheese has blended with the milk.

Put the three dips in a bowl and serve.

Hope you enjoy reading. I'm going to share Chef Gaita's recipe when I'm not so lazy. But it's gonna be soon. Thanks! ☺

THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH A SAMSUNG SMARTV

Oh, the things you can do with a SAMSUNG SMARTV.. let me count the ways.. err, i'm gonna do it in bullet form..

* i can watch my DVDs.
* i can watch Blu-Ray. but in this case, i'm gonna coerce my parents to finally buy me one! emphasis on "COERCE" *wink*
* i can watch the videos i downloaded on a bigger screen.
* i can watch youtube videos.
* i can surf the net without having my laptop on my lap. err, yeah.. laptop. lap.
* i can watch videos from my camera on a bigger screen.
* i can look at the pictures from my camera on a bigger screen. and yes, i have to separate the photos from the videos even though they were from one camera.
* i'm definite i can listen to music in it.
* i won't miss on my social network life. *wink*
* i can play xbox better. hehehe
* i can watch KungFu Panda on 3D!!! ☺
* i can play with the digital remote.
* i can save space because it's so thin and lightweight.
* i can place it anywhere.
* my mom can't spout complains of wasting electricity because i can use it all day and our electricity bill's not gonna hike up (that much).
* i can shun the world out when i'm having a bad day, thanks to it's 3D sound system. i won't hear the noise from the outside!
* i can promote a greener lifestyle. i can be an advocate to a greener earth. hey, Samsung was given awards by the Department of Energy, International CES, EPA and other award-giving bodies because of its eco-design and sustainable technology innovation. Samsung is also a recipient of Energy Star Award of Excellence. indeed, Samsung is eco-friendly.
* i can be the first of the few to have the LED TVs in the country! yay! ☺
* i can brag about having the Samsung SmarTv to anyone. *evilsmirk* ☻
* my friends will have to come over so they can enjoy what i'm experiencing with SmarTv. wahaha!
* despite the things i can and want to do with the Samsung SmarTv, my mom need not worry about the electricity bill, thanks to its energy saving feature.
* i won't wish for a tablet pc anymore. thanks to Samsung SmarTv, i can do anything and everything a tablet pc can do with the SmarTv.
* i also can install TV applications i want in my SmarTv.
* i can go on and on about the Samsung SmarTv and my list would never end with all the possibilities it has to offer.
* i can be the envy of everyone in my family having such wonderful, wonderful TV in my room.


Samsung SmarTv. Access. Align. Amaze. Act.

I. Badly. Want. One. Really.
On April 12, 2011.