Heritage and Sacred Places

Winter Getaway

Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world. - Gustave Flaubert

Our getaway wasn’t just all about food.

It also led us to highly-recommended and awe-inspiring landmarks.

Come and see.

Feeling the beauty and love around

THE RUINS in Talisay, Bacolod is a stunning, romantic, and "ruined" 1900’s mansion built as a testament to love, often called the Taj Mahal of the Philippines. 

Painting a smile on a MASKARRA mask at Jojo Vito’s Design Studio: Bacolod

When you and your reflection both agree you look amazing

When you take the bull by the horns… what happens is a toss-up. -  William Ridge

 The NEGROS MUSEUM presents in a capsule the bounty that is the history, art, and culture of the people of Negros Island. Bacolod, Negros Occidental

Gator kisses. See you later, alligator. After a while, crocodile. Blow a kiss, jellyfish.

 NEGROS FOREST PARK has been the jewel in the crown of local wildlife conservation for over 20 years in Bacolod City.

This church is prayer-conditioned.

 BAMBOO CHAPEL. Nature’s Valley Resort: Talisay, Bacolod

SAN SEBASTIAN CATHEDRAL is a late 19th-century Roman Catholic church in Bacolod, Negros Occidental. It is the seat of the Diocese of Bacolod.

Its stained glass is the poetry of light, transforming space into a sacred realm. Each piece is a window to the divine, illuminating the ordinary with extraordinary radiance.

Right: Black Nazarene, a life-sized dark statue of Jesus Christ carrying the True Cross

Rightmost: Crucifix, a cross with an image of Jesus on it, as distinct from a bare cross. The representation of Jesus himself on the cross is referred to in English as the corpus (Latin for 'body').

PIETA

Mary cradles the body of Jesus after he has been removed from the cross.

Situated in Hacienda Manaul, ST. JAMES THE GREATER CHURCH stands as the first replica of the Medjugorje church in the Philippines and Asia, and the fourth worldwide.

Left: This is how an awesome priest looks like.

 Leftmost: We have a Prophet-sharing plan.

A child reciting the Hail Mary with, "Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy whoomp Jesus!"

Wrist assured, I’m stylish today. Caught in a loop of fabulousness.

Left: Located within the St. James complex in Talisay City, OUR LADY OF LOURDES GROTTO is a serene pilgrimage site featuring a replica of the Lourdes grotto in France.

 

One day, you are strutting your stuff… the next day, you are a feather duster. That’s life.

 

Right: Peacock on the ground of the Grotto

 

The Grotto serves as a popular venue for healing masses, the WAY OF THE CROSS, and personal reflection.

 (To Be Continued)

Fiesta!

 Winter Getaway

Our winter getaway in the past months had a lot of special moments worth documenting, so I thought, why not do an epic photo dump post?

Most of the days were, in a word, a fiesta. Let's start with a photo buffet of these.

All mine. There is no “we” in food.

 Left: Halo-halo Overload. Seafood City: Waipahu, Honolulu

Right: Home-baked birthday yema cake. Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

Today is fruit day. Beware of the durian!

 

Fresh fruit sari-sari: Silay

Our superpower? Finding room for dessert even after a full meal.

Left: Hula pie. Duke’s: Waikiki, Honolulu

Right: Guavapple pie. El Ideal Bakery: Silay City, Negros Occidental

Let the over-eating begin!

Top left: Lomi salmon, poi, Kahlua  pig, ribs. Helena’s: Honolulu

Top right: Green corn tamale, enchilada. Garcia’s: Arizona Mills

Bottom: Crispy pancit palabok, kare-kare, bagoong rice. Manam: BGC

Sipping coconut water through a straw like sophisticated toddlers

 Fresh buko: Aboy’s: Bacolod City

With seafood, any fin goes.

Lunch: Sinigang fish soup, buttered shrimp. Seaside Floating Restaurant: Silay City

Left: “The Ivy” white pizza. Grimaldi’s Pizzeria: Scottsdale Old Town

Top right: Birthday Lunch. Kapi’olani Culinary School: Diamond Head, Honolulu

 Bottom right: Ube macapuno shake. Manam: BGC

We tried to lead a healthy life, but the kitchen had other plans.

Negrense Lunch: Native chicken binakol, lechon, lumpia, lemon grass juice. Casa Gamboa: Silay, Negros Occidental

Ways to our heart – 

buy us food, make us food, be food!

(To Be Continued)

Spring Cleaning

Everything Spring

Spring cleaning never killed anyone, but why take the chance? - Unknown

It’s officially spring which means longer days, changing temperatures and, of course, spring cleaning.

Time to get rid of all the old crap you haven’t used in years, clear out the dust, dank odors, and darkness of the winter.

Yikes…

I’m not really into spring cleaning. Come to think of it, I’m not into summer, fall, or winter cleaning either.

I like having a clean house, but I also like watching Netflix.

Makes me ponder - a self-cleaning house would really be amazing. 

Such a gargantuan task but, there’s no escaping this spring ritual. So, let me offer some inventive tips.

In lieu of burning your house down, simplify your decluttering by throwing everything out the window.

I’m also thinking… what would make spring cleaning way more fun?  A MAID.

If that’s not within your budget, here’s an extreme measure and hack: don’t! 

Now, you’re done.

Open window to let the fresh air in.

Spring cleaning complete. 

Sassy Fangs Today?

Funny Things To Ask Alexa

A cat’s fangs can convey important information about its mood and intention.

When feeling threatened or agitated, this domesticated carnivore may bare its canine tooth as a warning.

By displaying sharp teeth, it may signal preparedness to defend itself from potential aggressors.

Test Alexa’s knowledge of felines. Ask her, Alexa, should I catch some prey with my sassy fangs today?

Watch out, or I’ll give you a yah and a hi-yah!

You may have big plans for tomorrow. Ask Alexa if she does, as well.

And incidentally, re your plans, ask her, Can you give me some money?

Taking this series on a philosophical note, you'd like her to clarify once and for all, Alexa, what's the true meaning of life?

Then, confirm, Is this truly The End?

Ready, Set, To-Go?

 Funny Things To Ask Alexa

The chicken or the egg dilemma is commonly stated as, Which came first: the chicken or the egg? Check how good Alexa is on this philosophical matter.

Panda Express prepares American Chinese food fresh from the wok. Ask Alexa, Should I order their orange chicken to-go?

I may act like I’m ok, but deep down inside…

I’m hungry again.

Don't you wish you could lose weight as easily as you lose your keys, cell phone, and even your temper? Tell Alexa that you’ve lost your temper. Then ask her where it could be.

On hitting the track for a run, you may ask her: Is running just a faster form of walking?

Run, there’s sauvignon blanc or a dry, red blend at the finish line. Your choice.

And peeve her by saying, Alexa, can I call you Siri instead?

Have you yet received any amusing answers from Alexa? Let me know.

(To be continued)

Who Let The Dawg Out?

Funny Things To Ask Alexa

Reader comments on the previous blog Am I Pretty?

From Second Daughter: I think she did that several months ago, had asked about playing dress-up in her closet!

From First Daughter: [A] looks so pretty and grown-up in your clothes, complete with accessories and a fan pa! Your shoes look like they almost fit her!

From Alexa: I'm sure you're a knockout. But take it from someone who has no physical form, beauty really does come from within.

Now, to this week's blog...

********************************

Have a question about extraterrestrial life forces, or if aliens really exist somewhere in our vast galaxy? Alexa might try to give you a logical answer, or she might give you the synopsis of the movie Aliens.

Hey, who let the dawg out? Maybe, she knows.

My dog growls at nothing.

Want to ask Alexa out on a date? She might politely tell you that she doesn't date humans, or that she already has plans for tonight.

Curious if she eats vegetables? Ask, or be specific and say, Alexa do you like brussels sprouts?

Don’t be embarrassed to confirm whether she’s a robot or not.

Until then, have fun conversing with Alexa!

Please share what she has told you.

(To be continued)

Am I Pretty?

Funny Things To Ask Alexa

Have some fun with Alexa (or Siri), whichever automated assistant you may have.

Although not human, Alexa is pretty smart and witty. Depending on what you ask, she may respond back with some light-hearted banter of her own.

Sometimes Alexa serves up some unintentional humor, thanks to her programmed limitations and misunderstanding of the question.

Here are a few things to ask. You may be surprised. She has a pretty good sense of humor.

Alexa, am I pretty?

Favorite Granddaughter plays dress up with G’s wardrobe stuff

Wondering if she can you make you laugh? Ask her.

Or try her expertise at a good knock-knock joke.

Maybe, you just want her to sing you a song.

The Godfather series are my all-time favorite movies. Why don’t you ask Alexa what her favorite movie is? Perhaps, ask if she could share her popcorn with you.

 

Please let me know of any of Alexa’s quirky answers to you, and any other questions you suggest that we ask Alexa.

 

(To be continued)