Hello Heartbeat! :)

1.28.17

I said yes to adventure with Lovelove even before this day, three and a half years ago.

God is good all the time! :)

Dear Love,

Thank you for everything! :)

To ADVENTURE and BEYOND!!! 💓

Kusina Lokal

I found a new dining place! Its hearty menu and rustic-post modern interior is 💖 !

Mami Inasal/Bagnet is a must try! :)

Located at Centris Walk, Quezon City, Philippines.

Asian Spices and More

lemongrass, turmeric, galangal, ginger, daun suji, pandan, kaffir lime, kemiri, curry, kecap manis, nutmeg, cloves, star anise, wansuy, corriander, shallots, bawang putih, bawang merah, sambal... I learned soooo much in one whole day! Asian spices are overwhelming!




Most of all, I met a new friend-- Tante Tinne.

Asian spices are gems in the kitchen! :)

Tante Tinne :)

Onde-onde! :)

Amazing Grace!

This is it!

This day is to honor our parents and thank the community who walked and prayed with and for us through the years.

Thank you, family! I love you beyond words!

:)

turtle speedy!

Superwowo (.")(".) Superwowa!

You will always be my greatest adventure! :)

:)

BanOatKies!

Little bites that will make you smile. 

Moist. Chewy. Banana Oatmeal Cookies with love for Love...

4 mega riped bananas
1 cup peanut butter
2 cups oats
2 tbsp. honey
dried mangoes
cinnamon
salt

preheat oven at 150-200 degrees C. combine and mix everything. drop a tablespoon of the mixture onto cookie sheet. flatten a bit. bake for 5 minutes. expect a yield of... uhm, sorry I lost count, coz it's too masarap! 

Sweet Surrender

Sweet and real without pectin. Here you go!

2 cups fresh or not so fresh strawberries (or any fruits in season)
1 cup washed sugar
1/2 cup water
1 tbsp lemon juice or 1/2 tbsp calamansi

cook over low heat, stirring often until sugar dissolves.

bring out the best of its flavor with a pinch of salt!

pour into sterilized jar. label. go!

Rafa

you are the poem i never knew that i would be able to write; the story that i have always wanted to tell.

i miss you everyday, rafa.

HeartBEATS

Music. Laughter. More Music!

:)

January 2016

The Soul is Grateful

“The soul is both fragile and resilient...The artisan soul must be both tender and tough.” 
― Erwin Raphael McManus, The Artisan Soul: Crafting Your Life into a Work of Art

Borlas at Puni

This is how we make food 'a work of heart.' Bulakenyos wrap this sweet, melt-in-your-mouth delicacy--Pastillas de Leche (made from fresh carabao's milk and sugar) in colorful and intricately designed paper wrappers locally called pabalat or Borlas de Pastillas. 

She is a Puni wizard, an advocate, and a teacher
who generously pours out her time and skills
sharing an important piece of our culture and heritage.
She is Rheeza Hernandez.

PUNI. Priceless artistry. Unparalleled designs. Native and Indomitable weaves of wonders.

*Thank you for sharing these gems, a sweet reminder of who we really are (or used to be) as a people--weavers of passion and excellence. Tita Naty Ocampo-Castro and Tita Rheeza Hernandez, and to dear Nanay Luz Ocampo, I hope to meet you soon! :)

Little Sunbeams! :)

:)

Love Letter

This is it. My continuing love story.

I gave dating a chance in September 2012. It was a heart pitfall. The Lord spared me by grace countless times. Finally surrendered everything to HIM several months of untold tears later.

Little did I know, the Lord is about to unfold a new chapter in my life the following year. HE gave me an undeserved gift--Gift of adventure, tears of joy, faith, hope and love through the life of an amazing (and charming) man, Daniel.

Then this love letter.

September 26, 2013

Dear Love,

About a month ago today, I was with you. I'm glad that today, I'm with you still. Every moment we spend together is a beautiful addition to our trove of milestones. 

The Lord makes things really wonderful. 

Though you are not a big fan of verbally expressing your affections, you have unknowingly supplied me with both joy and laughter (and yes, tears) that can only emanate from love that is so distinct from mere emotions.

I am blessed to be on the receiving end of the abundance of your patience and understanding. I pray that as days go by, I would be able to at least be "extra nice" to you... when I'm having crazy outbursts and tantrums, when I'm indecisive, when my period strikes, when I'm jealous, when I don't like to see you, when I show lack of maturity in the midst of a trying situation or just simply being too much like of a child when I need to grow up. Thank you for praying with and for me every single day.

I cannot promise to be the best Pastor's helpmate. I know that there will come a time that my imperfections will just suddenly spring to the brim of your "patience cup" and will make us pause. One thing is certain though, the Lord will always be there watching over and guiding us on our journey together.

We are definitely up for the greatest and most exciting adventure of our lives! :)

I love you.

"HE has made everything beautiful in its time."

I-yab-u, YABU!

YABU: House of Katsu
Manila, Philippines
@SM North- The Block

YABU with Love
May 31, 2015

Degustation/The Goose Station

August 31, 2015
Quezon City, Philippines

It takes courage to agree with this man.

The Rizal Menu is a narrative you would have to degust so as to appreciate fully (its taste and our culture).

The NOLI ME TANGERE Squab Inasal: Lemongrass and Annatto Glazed Squab smoked in Garlic Skin, Peanut, Pili, Caramelized Coconut Curd, Beetroot and Cane Vinegar Gastrique, Grilled Eggplant

THAT Kid

THAT kid.

She just loved to play all her childhood life. Play was the most important thing she ever had.
School was a menacing chore and nobody understood why she can’t keep up. She used to attend ‘remedial classes’ at age 7 and learned how to read in 2nd grade. And when she did... she never stopped learning. She learned how to learn ever since..
She practically learned math by counting pebbles in the yard and fallen Aratilis fruit, learned subtraction by sharing her paper dolls and ‘gems’, learned sciences by exploring the natural world, learned about relationships and how to communicate, negotiate, give in, give up, resolve conflicts and remain happy by being with her superhuman-playmates.
That kid, she was annoyingly cute and has brought more joy than tears to her parents and brother.
That kid because of her amusing love for quaintness led her to more and more milestones as she navigates through life. She learned to trust strangers, fell in love, made big life-changing decisions, ‘walked on water’, and was spared by grace many times.
Soon That kid will go on the greatest adventure of her life! :)

Daghang Salamat!

Yes, we meet people for a reason.

This time, for a really awesome reason!

Like a sunbeam, their smiles captured my fragile heart.

Sailing through life...

Story ROCKS!

Food is memories. Take a bite!

THE Haribon. Fly with me! 

Story ROCKS!

Recently...

Vigan, Ilocos Sur

@CCP with the Prima Ballerina
It turned out that I can do a turnout! :)

Story Stones-The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Heartbeats

Gurgurya

Bangkito

Love

EDFD 201

Educational Perspectives under Philosophical and Psychological Lenses

- My parents, teachers, playmates, and community.

- Socrates and the Pursuit of Truth, and Knowing Virtue

- Confucius: sincerity and cultivation of knowledge; filial piety

- John Locke and the Tabula Rasa

- John Dewey: "Education is the participation of the individual in the social consciousness of the race."

- Piaget and Vygotsky on PLAY


21st Century Educators

- Tony Wagner  and The Global Achievement Gap
- Sir Ken Robinson: How Schools Kill Creativity (2006), Bring On the Learning Revolution (2010), How to Escape Education's Death Valley (2013) - TED TALKS


The Aims of Education by Alfred North Whitehead (1916)

"In training a child to activity of thought, above all things we must beware of what I will call "inert ideas"-- that is to say, ideas that are merely received into the mind without being utilized, or tested, or thrown into fresh combinations."

"What you teach, teach thoroughly."

"Let the main ideas which are introduced into a child's education be few and important, and let them be thrown into every combination possible. The child should make them his own, and should understand their application here and now in the circumstances of his actual life."

"From the very beginning of his education, the child should experience the joy of discovery."


Philosophy and Psychology of Teaching

- Play
- Learning by doing


My One Thing

- "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it."
                                                                                                         -Proverbs 22:6

Manyaman!

Apag Marangle
@ Level 1, Marquee Park, Marquee Mall, Angeles City Pampanga
PHILIPPINES

Heartwork

"...I wanted my childhood to go on forever." - Kenneth Cobonpue

:)

CREATE-PRENEURS with Kenneth Cobonpue
July 19, 2014
Makati City, Philippines

I Choose You

Let the bough break, let it come down crashing
Let the sun fade out to a dark sky
I can't say I'd even notice it was absent
Cause I could live by the light in your eyes

I'll unfold before you
What I've strung together
The very first words
Of a lifelong love letter

Tell the world that we finally got it all right
I choose you
I will become yours and you will become mine
I choose you
I choose you

There was a time when I would have believed them
If they told me you could not come true
Just love's illusion
But then you found me and everything changed
And I believe in something again

My whole heart
Will be yours forever
This is a beautiful start
To a lifelong love letter

Tell the world that we finally got it all right
I choose you
I will become yours and you will become mine
I choose you
I choose you

We are not perfect
We'll learn from our mistakes
And as long as it takes
I will prove my love to you

I am not scared of the elements
I am under-prepared, but I am willing
And even better
I get to be the other half of you

Tell the world that we finally got it all right
I choose you
Yeah
I will become yours and you will become mine
I choose you
I choose you
I choose you

-Sara Bareilles

Fish Tocino Baconized!

Cebu City, Philippines

Prep and Fry

Cut the round pieces of dried fish fillet into strips (use scissors).
Soak in water for 2 minutes (no more, no less).
Baconized! (I mean, fry!)

Best paired with ensalada.

:)

Choco!

happy birthday! :)

Instacooler!

garbanzos (chickpeas)
pineapple
milk
ice, ice, ice!

:)