Passport Renewal

By | Household Tips | 5 Comments

For Passport Application and Renewal, you can now do it online for the application.  You still need to make an appearance but the rest of the steps are convenient and easy

website:  DFA Express Passport Delivery 

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After application, they will go pick up your passports from wherever you want, home or office, and get your fingerprint. There is a fee of P 1,300.00 per passport which you have to pay as they pick up your passport.  

Then you will have to make a personal appearance in the Department of Foreign Affairs ( DFA )  in Roxas Blvd. where they will meet you and escort you so you do not need to wait or line up.  

website:  PASSPORT DIRECT 

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In less than five minutes, we were done, then last step will be for them to deliver the passport to you

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Sweet Bella

By | Yummy! | 3 Comments

Aside from the beautiful presentation of these cakes, they are just a yummy as they look!  Heart2Heart is so lucky to have tried both cakes on two occassions.  That goes to show you how popular that feature was from the Philippine Daily Inquirer by Vangie Baga-Reyes on the 20 Yummiest ( privately Baked ) Cakes because these two cakes made it to that list.  

Apparently, these cakes are made by the daughter of Melo Santiago of Melo’s. I hope to meet her one day.

 

Strawberry Charlotte 

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Mango Charlotte 

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Uncle Libering

By | Tributes | 3 Comments

A few weeks ago, I arrived in the Polo Club parking lot and I saw Cynthia from afar and Uncle Libering in his wheelchair.  I walked towards them to find out that Uncle Libering was very pale…little did I know that that would be the last time I would see him.   

Everyone I talk to remembers Uncle Libering as a very cheerful person just like his brother who is my father in law.  He was our “Ninong” in our wedding 14 years ago.  I remember very well when he visited me in the hospital when I gave birth to our first son.  He brought me some pastries, I think ensaymada.  I was so touched.

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 Uncle Libering is such a simple person and I admire him for that. 

His shirts are all from Brooks Brothers….. so I guess Daddy Monching was trying to convert him to a Lacoste guy because every Christmas and birthday, we help Dad get his gift for Uncle Libering.  Here is a photo taken during Uncle Libering’s birthday this year – the two brothers in Lacoste 🙂

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He goes to Polo Club everyday to go to the gym where I see him regularly

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 Heart2Heart pays tribute to Uncle Libering! A good husband, father, brother, uncle, friend and businessman.dsc_4996.JPG

 Since he lives in Malabon, we celebrated mass at this beautiful church in Malabon….

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While in the church, I overheard two women chatting and saying that Uncle Libering visited his wife, Aunty Choleng ( who passed away 5 years ago ) everyday and gave her flowers!!! WOW!!!!!  I only found that out a few weeks ago!  And that was what Cynthia said in her eulogy that her Dad was a loyal and faithful husband…….even till his last day.scan1683.jpg

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Beginnings

By | Great Achievements | 2 Comments

Heart2Heart admires young entrepreneurs who take that risk and pursue their own businesses or companies.  Bert, Michelle and Gemma all started out as employees of big companies and decided to put up their own.  It has been more than 10 years since they started Beginnings….

I visited them in their office and it reflects the hard work, creativity and definitely a proof of their success!

More power to you guys!! 

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Harajuku Party!!

By | Celebrations | 5 Comments

What a great idea M. Donnie!  Heart2Heart will give you the credit for the idea and credit goes to Crix for implementing it!  You guys really make a great team!  🙂 What a cool party!

And to the lovely and beautiful twins, Nicole and Camille,  HAPPY 19th BIRTHDAY!!  

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Famealy Day

By | Celebrations, For kids | 2 Comments

Thanks so much to my friend, Shellane, for sending this to me.   She saw my feature on “Serious Dining at Heart2Heart”  and felt that it was fitting .  I will write it here again as not everyone saw it as it came out only in the email updates and not in the website:

Heart2Heart really takes dining and meals seriously.  Whether it be with family or friends, each meal is a dining experience. You must have noticed this with all the Foodie entries.   I remember when we were kids, my parents made sure that everyday we had to have dinner together because it is the only time of the day we are complete as a family.  Up to this day, I follow that rule with my own family as it is the only time we get to talk and share the events of the day.  Every special occassion  is celebrated with a meal – whether it be in the house or in a restaurant.    

Even with friends, eating together is a serious occassion…. even if it means setting up a dining table in the bedroom.  It is a time to share good food, good conversation and just enjoying each other’s company.   

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Heart2Heart encourages FAMEALY Day to be everyday, not only on September 22 but as often as you can.  Thank you to Monde Nissin for supporting children and families.  Heart2Heart supports companies that promote good things.  Take time out to watch the short commercials in between. I love it!  Great marketing campaign but more important is the message!

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 On September 22, 2008 (Monday), celebrate Famealy Day and join hundreds of parents who will come home to have dinner with their children.  Famealy Day, a nationwide call to celebrate family dining every 4th  Monday of September, serves as a reminder that eating together is a simple but effective means for parents to raise happy, healthy and successful children.   This event also coincides with the first day of DSWD’s National Family Week which runs every fourth week of September.

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Pagiging Makadiyos ( FOR GOD )

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Pagiging  Mapagbigay ( GIVING and GENEROSITY )

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Pagiging Mapagkumbaba ( HUMILITY )

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Ang Kainang Pamilya ay Mahalaga!This nationwide initiative which promotes the importance of family togetherness during dinner was certified in a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed between the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the National Committee on the Filipino Family (NCFF), and Monde Nissin Corporation.  famelaybrochurepage11.jpg

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http://www.kainangpamilyamahalaga.com 

Visiting the Bakers Dozen at Powerplant Mall

By | What's New at Power Plant Mall, Yummy! | 6 Comments

If there is Heaven on the 5th at Rustan’s Makati, there is Heaven on the ground level at Powerplant Mall 🙂  

I stopped by last friday to see what is new or what I had not seen last year…. 

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I was so happy to have finally met Tin.  I featured her YUMMY apple pie before and I am glad to meet the woman behind it all.  

Previous Entry:  Apple Pie Three Ways- December 3, 2007 

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 Costa Brava!! I was hoping to bump into Nadine but she was not there yet.  I love her heart shaped cakes which come in mini sizes..and suprised to see that now she makes cupcakes too. 

Previous Entry:  The Best Sansrivals – May 2, 2008

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I always ask each owner what their bestseller is or what they are known for….Tunnel of Fudge cake is their bestseller.  They also make speciality cakes for occassions 

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I was very happy to meet the owner of Estrel’s!  When I saw her, I said, are you Estrel’s?  I was so embarassed!  Her name is Joy!  I always hear Estrel’s Caramel cake all over the place so I got excited when I saw them at the Baker’s Dozen and of course I want to always meet the owner.  Joy was so nice!  She even gave me a cake!  She made sure I came back for it because I was carrying tons of things. My favorite is the HEART shaped one covered with flowers on top!  Icing Icing!! and flowers at that! YUMMY! 

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Best seller:  Carrot cake and Bread Pudding! 

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OH MY GOSH TIPPI!!! I spotted your carrot cake cookies right away!!! YUMMY!!!!! 2 cookies with cream cheese in between!!!! I am definitely going back to get some!!!!!

I think I am into carrot cake suddenly – even that carrot cake of Christine’s Kitchen was really good! 

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What an interesting name and names of pastries! I wonder if it really works as a “gayuma.”  I will have to taste it yet!

I googled the definition and found this which may give you an idea for those that do not know what it means ( taken from Pyrexia’s Crepitus ):

Gayuma = love potion in” tagalog.” More than being a concocted drink or additive, it is also associated with any object that arouses one’s sexual desire towards another person, usually the one who gave or owned the object referred to as gayuma. (my definition)

In the Philippine setting, although accepted as a myth or a superstitious belief, gayuma is still something that most people turn to when it comes to matters of the heart that can’t be solved by courtship or any other means of winning one’s heart. Concocted most of the time from herbs, plant roots, and other stuffs believed to have extra special magical powers, they aren’t hard to find once you know where to look for them (most of the time near prominent churches such as Quiapo church and Baclaran church). Since the early times, its effectiveness, according to its patrons, is proven and will not fail as long as one believes in its mystical properties. 

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Kitchen’s Best had some new things and is ready for Christmas with all their packaged items!

Previous entry:  The Best Sansrivals – May 2, 2008 

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Wow!!! Macaroons!!! Just looking at them is already YUMMY! 

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Previous Entry:  Baker’s Dozen  – Sept. 21, 2007 

Baker’s Dozen 2008 – August 28, 2008 

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Laro!….. Child’s Play

By | Entertainment, For kids, Giving Back | 3 Comments

From my friend, Maja Olivares Co

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To our valued friends…

In these past years of consistent growth, the Philippine Youth Symphonic Band (PYSB) has been fueled by affirmation from both our audiences and our generous benefactors like yourself.

 

In response, we have dreamed up new creative ways to keep the joy of Filipino music alive.

We have a dream and a plan to make it happen. With the help of several solo artists we will reintroduce today’s Filipino children to our rich heritage of folksongs. By resetting familiar “play songs” into reggae, jazz, latin, pop and rock arrangements our well loved ditties like Sitsiritsit/Leron-Leron Sinta, Sarungbanggi, Dandansoy and Tongtongtongtong Pakitong/Penpen De Sarapen will be refreshed. They will be fun again. They will reclaim their place in our children’s memory.

Come and hear the PYSB with May Bayot!

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LARO!… Child’s Play

October 17, 2008 (Friday), 6:30 P.M.

Rockwell Tent Power Plant Mall, Rockwell CenterMakati City

Ticket Prices: P2,500, P2,000, P1,500, P1,000

For Ticket Information and Children’s/Pet Furniture Auction details please call Marissa: 0927-3910762

Ticket also available at Ticketworld: 891-9999

THE YOUNG MUSICIANS DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION (YMDO)

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Previous Entry:  Philippine Youth Symphonic Band Jazz Holiday Concert 2007 

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A Chef With a Past

By | Foodie | No Comments

Tivoli was one of my favorites as a kid.  Dad and Mom used to go here a lot and I would enjoy having my lamb chops.  We recently ate here to try out Chef Paul’s menu.  THE FOOD WAS EXCELLENT! 

Thanks Dad and Mom for inviting us!  

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Heart2Heart decided to get the MENU SURPRISE and it was just PERFECT!   I asked the waiter to give me a list of the 6 course surprise- obviously he replied- ” Then it would not be a surprise anymore! “:-) So I took a chance and ordered it and really loved it! My type of dining….having a little of everything.  

I felt it was better value than ordering one dish at a time and I got to taste more dishes.  I really liked the salmon which I do not normally eat and I was wondering how Chef Paul knew I liked lamb and cheese 🙂 I actually got to have my favorite…. lamb.   It was my first time to try blue goat cheese and it was my favorite cheese in the selection.  The creme brulee was YUMMY!!

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Three of us had the Business Lunch menu and funny how they ordered almost the same things which explains why there are only 3 photos of dishes.

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