Fat Tummy Cakes: A Project

     Hey guys, what's up?  I've been away from blogging for quite some time, 3 years and 9 months to be more accurate, and a lot has happened since then.  After my dad's stroke in 2013 and while we were adjusting to a new lifestyle, my brother and I started a small business which took most of my time.  And then, just when things were beginning to look promising, in September 2016, my mom had a stroke too.  It drained me a lot emotionally, physically, and took a toll in our finances.  But with love, faith, and perseverance, we were able to survive.  From everything that has happened, we can learn that indeed health is wealth, and that we should teach ourselves to live a balanced life.  No matter what, life goes on and we should work harder for our goals.  Oftentimes, being passionate about something is what helps us cope.

This was the first order we received after our Fat Tummy page was launched on Facebook in December 2018.  Fat Tummy is our new baby.

     Since I am now responsible for the well-being of my parents, I have to continually look for ways to earn while having fun at the same time.  And so last December 2018, out of the blue, my brother decided that we start baking cakes.  He had some training at a culinary school in Resorts World Manila and a year experience as pastry chef for a cruise ship in the United States.  Me, on the other hand, I'm creative and a fast learner.  And so that's how our Fat Tummy project started.  

ACE Hotel & Suites and ACE Water Spa: A Review

     When traveling, it's important that we choose to stay in a hotel where we can be comfortable and have peace of mind.  Whether it's for business or a vacation, the hotel we choose should minimize the stress that usually goes with being away from home. 

     Hey there, what's up?  In this post, I'm going to tell you about our stay at ACE Hotel & Suites, including our use of their facilities at ACE Water Spa.  There's already a lot of reviews about ACE Hotel & Suites and ACE Water Spa all over the Internet, mostly positive, so I'm not gonna bore you with all the details you already know.  Only the relevant ones that you can use if you decide to stay in this hotel.

     Ace Hotel & Suites and ACE Water Spa is located at United Street | corner Brixton Street, Pasig City 1603, Metro Manila.  ACE Water Spa also has a branch in Quezon City.   This branch in Pasig is the better choice for a staycation because they have an excellent hotel where guests can stay after a satisfying and therapeutic hydrotherapy massage at their water spa facility. 

     Here are some of the photos I took during our stay at the hotel.

1st Colonial Grill: A Review

     1st Colonial Grill is one of the restaurants I frequent to since they opened at their old address in Old Albay, Legazpi City. This original location I'm referring to is one of the oldest buildings in Albay where La Mia Tazza and 21st Ammendment are currently residing.  After the move to their Daraga address, 1st Colonial Grill have since opened several branches within the province.  Now, 1st Colonial Grill has a restaurant in Pacific Mall Legazpi, in Ayala Malls Legazpi, and just recently, in SM Legazpi. As far as I know, they also have a branch in Sorsogon City and Naga City.

     1st Colonial Grill is known for their authentic Bicolano cuisines such as laing, pinangat, Bicol Express, tinutungang manok, and their famous sili ice cream. I'm from Bicol and although I enjoy those dishes, what I've come to love about this restaurant are the proven Filipino favorites that they serve.  And that's what we usually order when dining at 1st Colonial Grill.  The photos in this post was when my brother and I had a late lunch at their Ayala Mall branch. Take a look.

Tyler's Gourmet Kitchen: A Review

     People love to eat and food is an important part of human interaction. We eat when we celebrate something, when we want to relax, when we want to cheer ourselves up, when we're happy, and sometimes, we eat when we meet friends we haven't seen in a while.

Ruth, The Pinoy Wanderer, and Ate Bolen @ Tyler's Gourmet Kitchen.

     And so that's what happened when my good friend Ruth was in the country for a short vacation from Singapore. After a relaxing foot spa and massage at Natural Therapy HUB & Cafe, Ruth and I went to Tyler's Gourmet Kitchen in Daraga, Albay for an early dinner.  We were joined later by another good friend, Ate Bolen.

Awesome Zip Line Adventure at Embarcadero de Legazpi

     Hey guys! Sorry been sooo busy lately. Anyway, my friend Kevin was in Legazpi City last weekend and I toured him around a bit. Kevin is the one who introduced me to Jessa Herbal Beauty Soap, the “miracle” soap that we’re bringing to the people of Legazpi, and with God’s grace, to the entire Bicol Region. (I will tell you more about Jessa on a separate post). Anyhow, with the little time that we had, I tried to give Kevin a taste of Bicol. We walked the sunny streets of Legazpi and Daraga (while giving Jessa samples), ate some Bicol food (mostly we ate because Jessa promotion took most of our time, LOL), and yep, before his flight home, we tried the Zip Line at Embarcadero de Legazpi which, by the way, did not disappoint.

The majestic Mayon Volcano as seen from Embarcadero de Legazpi. Took this photo while we were on our up to the tower of Embarcadero, the starting point of their zip line adventure.

     The 350-meter zip line starts from the 30-meter tall lighthouse of Embarcadero de Legazpi descending all the way to the breakwater across the Legazpi port basin. The entire ride will give you at least 55 seconds of awesome Mayon Volcano view and a unique perspective of the City of Legazpi. The water below the zip line will look a bit intimidating but I assure you that once you’re down the cable, all you will have is appreciation of the breath-taking beauty around you. All for just P150.00.

     Here's one of the photos I took before my turn to zip-line...