Aside from the rainy days and becoming busy with projects, there are two other things that is making my October:

At least not for me (because in French au revoir is more like farewell right?). While MMLDC also boasts the Food Hall, I'd be biased to say that I prefer the Areva Pavilion. Who'd have thought that behind the tall white gates that welcome guests lies this relaxing open restaurant. Now I've been with MMLDC for four years and while the center also boasts of a Food Hall, I'd say I favor Areva.

During the recent SBM activity that I attended, the crew had been frequenting the venue for debriefing and of course the food. And while I have frequented the restaurant many times, I still keep coming back for the refreshing ambiance (the restaurant is overlooking a pool) and the yummy dishes (too bad for a small-framed lass like me, I can't eat like a man. :-p)

What did we have during the instances we went on an after work food trip? Here:

This was the crisy pata we had for dinner during our overnight stay last March 23. Sorry for the poor quality the photo (I'm still striving to befriend the digicam) anyway the dish was enticingly good that it's gone in as fast as three to five minutes.



This was the siding we got during the after work lunch last April 5 after visiting the last school. Prawn carcklings like the store-brought ones but the taste is like that from a Chinese fast-food chain. Being the junk food (if you consider so) junkie that I am I'd say being served this is favorable :-D I like this one dipped in vinegar and though the chips was served with a dip, it tasted a bit sweet actually it tastes like the vinegar used in atchara.

This shot's better finally! Main course for lunch--fried chicken and again with the prawn chips (now the prawn chips are more likely to that of the fast food chain). The chicken is good I'd like to think it broiled rather than fried because it's not too greasy. I don't normally eat the skin but with this one, I did.


For the veggies, we had Pinakbet. Yup the native Ilocano dish. Full of flavor and cooked just right--with the veggies maintaining it's appetizing crunch.

Their Sizzling Chinese Chorizo is one perfect alternative to the usual pork liempo sisig. Just for a change. For me who's not fond of meat sisig with lots of onions, I prefer having this instead.

We had brownies of dessert and it's the same luscious treat. Not too sweet and it doesn't taste bland. The whole food experience was one gastronomic treat. If there was one thing I regret for not being included in this post, it's their Strawberry Banana Smothie--another treat that to me is sooooo heavenly.


Areva Pavilion is located at Meralco Management Leadership Development Center, KM. 27 Sumulong Highway Antipolo City

Among the things I like about my job aside from being able to meet people is traveling and above all, food. Second to a well-deserved rest and sleep, food is the best reward one can receive after being able to perform a job well done at the end of the day. During the second day of the SBM Project, just before a free Thursday break, Ms. Joji Mañalac, one of the program officers of MMLDC took the crew to Hap Chan Tea House which has a branch in Antipolo City for a debriefing and early dinner.

Upon settling ourselves at our respective table, the waiter arrived with two pots of freshly-brewed tea. This was my little cup which I consumed in about three minutes. The taste was great and while tea is considered high in caffeine, I don't think Hap Chan's tea doesn't contain too much of it--as the smell is not so pungent (read: matapang) compared to the commercial, store- brought black tea. I wish I could still have more but then realizing that it was already 5pm and the effect of caffeine in humans last for eight hours, I passed for additional cups.

I'm huge addict of dimsum. And among my normal staples would be this--siomai! This one's shrimp siomai supposedly in fours but Chardel decided to get one and give it a try. Now, I've tried the same dish in different restaurants (including Hen Lin and Chowking) but this one's a winner second to the latter. I was supposed to ask the significance of the paper in the container but too bad, the waiter already left after serving us this dish. So if any of my readers do know, please leave me a comment.

My plate with yang Chow rice and lemon chicken. This just looks full but actually I only took a few serving in trying the dishes we ordered. What else can I say? The Yang Chow rice is heavenly the same way with the lemon chicken. I just savored the food in silence but deep within I waws saying "hay, ang sarap! sobra! ." I hardly cannot talk :-p. We also ordered Beef and brocholli and crispy noodles.

The dinner was indeed worth every penny. The food was yummy and really filling. But then, noticing that I am binging into different dishes the past few days, I'm starting to be worried again as I have to look fab in a gown for a scheduled wedding on April. But still, I will recommend this restaurant to those who are looking for hearty, yummy yet affordable Chinese food.

For the list of other Hap Chan branches near your area, you can also check out www.munchpunch.com

Because I was invited to join the Academic Services team of MMLDC for the School Based Management Development Project (SBMDP) Impact study I was unable to update my what abouts. Preparations started to roll since Monday with a meeting then the fieldwork days which we're following now. As of today, I had my free time and so I am trying to update.

I know I wrote about my Tagaytay adventure last year and likewise it's also related to the SBM project. You're dying to know what am I doing there? The deal is this: we visit schools to conduct assessment studies in line with the SBM Project by doing one-on-one interviews with people on the state (not of the nation) but of their respective schools.

Since I don't want to expose the side of me during tiring workdays, I'll just post other photos instead like this one.


I'm here with Mylene Mangilit and Chardel Lucena of ABS CBN Foundation. These ladies were also with us in Tgaytay last August. This year, our location is in public schools in Antipolo. This photo was taken at Marcelino National Highschool. It's actually the first time for me to explore the rural area of what is actually a city in Rizal. With the rough roads and ravines, the drive to the school reminds me of two places: dad's hometown in Quezon and the Kennon Road in Baguio City. For two days we have visited four schools as two schools are scheduled to be visited per day.


And during our visit at Antipolo National Highschool yesterday (they got a huge number of student population guys! 10,000 students are in the said school), just when I thought it's all about work, and interviews, look at the surprise that I got! There I met Lito Palomar. He used to be my research instructor in college and with this little surprise, it's a reunion of some sorts since he was the second editor-in-chief and I became the seventh--just five years after his term. He's now happily married to one of the publication's former section editors.


After the end of a tiring day, I get the chance to take a break too. While Joy Cabaltera thought I was in a different planet, I am still on Earth. Here I am in Chardel's bed logged in Facebook. Kayen De Vera's laptop and Mylene's Plug-It was heavent sent (as it saved me from withdrawal symptoms). There are two "firsts" for me this time. Because of the tight schedule that we have to adhere with, I had to stay at the Residence Hall of MMLDC last Tuesday night in preparation for the following day. FACT: I have dfficulty in sleeping soundly when I am spending the night in different places and sleeping on a different bed but for the first time last Tuesday night I really had a full night's restful sleep. I'd like to associate that with the warm, comfy comforter and the melatonin supplement that I took hours before bed to induce sleep. I suppose I'll always have that handy every trip that I have. It works for me.

There's still a third part of the impact study tomorrow and on April 5th. And though it'll be interview sessions again, I still look forward to that. I remember telling somebody that while I knew I am not good at probing on questions and answers, I think I'm learning how to do it now.

But for tonight I'll have dinner first as I need to make bawi.

...and I'm not talking about the infant conceived the way you think it is.

I'm talking about MMLDC Highlights' last issue for this year. While I was waiting for the text message (that never arrived) from Kenstar Graphics, one of my editors emailed me and told me that the baby has arrived. Which prompted me to go to the office today. Having secured my copies at hand, I went to my darling editor, Ms. Kay Abella's office and asked her (with that wide smile on my face) "your first baby is out! What do you think?" which left us both laughing and giggling to our heart's content.

Actually, this issue isn't just only my darling editor's panganay. In a way, I was like a first-time mother too. I've been with the magazine for three years but I only write my own stuff and sometimes edit someone else's work when needed. But because my managing editor needed to be away, I accepted the huge not to mention tasking yet challenging responsibility of rearing the magazine; which meant overseeing the whole structure not just jotting and editing but coordinating with the editors, the printing press and at times having to decide on my own (when it's just minor) where and what photo to put or remove in the pages. And like a woman going through the whole bout of pains and the birthing process, I must say this is worth the aches and the long, winding, head-turning sleepless nights.


In a few days, another year's coming to a close. My dear reader, I hope you don't mind if I'll be ecstatic by a higher level just for this time. After all, accomplishing something this big is so fulfilling--including the fact that the effort was appreciated. Worthy indeed to shout it out--cheers for this labor of love.

Now it's beginning to look and feel a lot like Christmas--really!


Here's one of my current favorite pictures taken last December 3 during the annual Tree Lighting ceremony in MMLDC. For the past three years that I have been with the center and the magazine, it's the first time for me to witness the event--which I was actually looking forward to.

So when one of my editors, Ms. Angie emailed me and asked me to attend the event, I willfully and excitedly obliged; aside from it was about work, the sole reason that I'll be attending was because I wanted to see MMLDC's vice president, Ms. Leony dela Llana.

But there was actually more to what I had to do that night. The event was indeed fun-filled, full of photos--and Santa was there too. On that night, I was a child again.

Looking back at the question in a game show if there really is Santa Claus, I should say indeed there really is!

Now, if only Santa will give me my one and only wish this year. :-)

The whole Acad crew landed in Tagaytay Monday night. While I thought there's no Amazing Race for this leg, there actually was for I received the scribbles of text message and phone calls that
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Saturday weekend. The past week was full of jumbles, surprises and happy things. It was yesterday too when I realized the amateur photographer in me. Yipee! A new career. And as I was toying with my brother's Canon 300D camera and the past issues of T&D Highlights (the mag where I have been writing for two years) scattered over my bed, the though came into my head, why not give each one a solo shot--just like documenting my two-year "love affair" with the magazine.