Today's Word: Psalm 24:1

I know how busy you are, my friend, in your career and even at home. But have you ever paused and thought about how great is the Lord and what He does for you? When we're too preoccupied and engrossed in so many activities, we tend to forget the core of our existence, of who we are and who owns us. But if we start and end the day with communicating with God, we don't lose perspective; we don't forget that the Lord made and owns the earth and in fact everything in it, including us! How humbling it is to think that we do not exist, earn money and live comfortably by our own means and ability but because God has allowed us to live and gives us breath each day! May we always be thankful to God for this and everything else that He blesses us with. God is good and longs to give us our needs to face life and its challenges. And not just our needs! He wants us to have life - and have it more abundantly! Wonderful is our Lord, isn't He? Be blessed this day, my friend.

Kabigting's Halo-Halo: Try it before summer's gone!

It's mid-May and before you know it, rainy season's here. So enjoy summer while we can, won't we? And what better way is there to enjoy summer than to eat halo-halo - that favorite sweet cooler that could range from simple, with only three ingredients, to complex, with a dozen things on top of each other? During the summer months from March to May, halo-halo is sold in nearly every street corner. Some people including me, however, prefer to enjoy this summer goodness at "legitimate" restaurants (which also offer it all-year-round) just to make sure they're having it clean (the ice is what you watch out for), lest they end up with a bum tummy. Haha!

Recently, I found the No. 1 halo-halo in the metro, according to Spot.ph, for 2014  (I'm not sure if there's a 2015 edition already). It's at Kabigting's Halo-Halo - a dainty foodie place 
on Banawe St. in Quezon City. 
I was expecting to prove for myself whether this claim was true, but discovered another thing - durian coffee! Reading the menu, I found out Kabigting's offered food and drink coming as special products from different provinces around the Philippines. Durian coffee, for one, is from Davao. There's also Cebu liempo and lechon sisig, and longganisa from Tuguegarao,  Vigan, Calumpit, Lucban and Pampanga. Also available were "pasalubong treats" like silvanas from Dumaguete and frozen daing na bangus from Bonuan, Pangasinan. Needless to say, Kabigting's endeared itself to me at once. Haha! A few minutes after placing our orders, it was time to eat:

Halo-Halo, P90. 

Durian coffee, P90. 

Palabok, P90. 


Cebu Liempo, P115.

Tinapang Bangus, P125. 

Lumpiang Sariwa, P45.

The Tinapang Bangus was my order and I liked it very much. The smoked fish was delicious and meaty - the serving was big! Two thumbs up for this, which is my favorite all-day brekkie. I've eaten here at Kabigting's three times (after this first visit with my daughter, I went two more times with friends) 
and ordered the tinapang bangus twice. 
Anyway, my daughter ordered the Cebu Liempo which she liked as well. We shared the Palabok which was good, too, although I can't exactly recall the taste as I write this. The Halo-Halo, which is the "star" here, lived up to its reputation as the best in the metro. The pastillas made with carabao's milk, which is its crowning glory, was sinfully yummy! Too bad, I couldn't eat much of this as I couldn't let my blood sugar level shoot up. It was the durian coffee, which was, however, the one that's unforgettable for me. Imagine the taste of  brewed coffee blending so well with the distinct slightly sweet flavor of durian - that yellow, plump-fleshed fruit with a pungent smell - and your senses celebrate! What a taste and aroma! Truly, it was heavenly and awesome for me. I ordered durian coffee at each of my visits here at Kabigting's and now I look forward to having it again..soon, I hope!  As for the Lumpiang Sariwa, my friend ordered it on another visit and she said it was good - freshly prepared, saucy and delicious, and she was happy with it. 

A poster at the door 

Kabigting's Halo-Halo, by the way, is a Kapampangan original, having started in Arayat town in 1970. I have no information, however, how many and where are their branches here in Metro Manila. If you're on Banawe St. in Quezon City, drop by Kabigting's, folks, and stuff yourself silly 

with real good Pinoy food. Happy eating!

Quezon vacation completes my summer

I have just spent one week of a wonderful summer vacation in my hometown of San Francisco in the province of Quezon, which is my own slice of heaven on earth. I made sure every moment counted, eating delicious food cooked by my mom and brother-in-law, and going to the beach to watch the sunset and walk barefoot on the sand at every opportunity. 

I took photos - lots of it - at the beach, especially the sunset which is my top favorite thing in life. I would thank God every time I was there on the shore, breathing in the gentle breeze, feeling the moist, rough sand under my feet and then the cold water at the coming of each wave, and watching the sun hide itself on the horizon to signal the end of a happy, blessed day.  Seeing the marvelous beauty of nature, I would praise the Lord for His magnificent works, 

made for us all to enjoy.

Kulong-Kulong Beach, San Francisco, Quezon. We went here for a swim and picnic.


Also at Kulong-Kulong, which is a little far from 'our' beach, meaning the one that's near our home.

Afternoon walk at the seashore to watch the sunset. 

Small fishing boats at rest

A medium-sized fishing boat called 'basnig' 

Near the mangrove area where we went looking for sea urchins but found none

Gorgeous seashells to add to my collection

Meanwhile, meal times were happy moments for our tummies. For one whole week, the kids and I were fed delicious "ulam" (viand) by my mom and brother-in-law that included inihaw na baboy, nilagang baka, crispy beef tapa and tinolang native na manok. For merienda, we would go to eateries to eat halo-halo or mais con yelo, chami - the pancit that is popular here in the southern part of Quezon that uses miki noodles - and pancit bihon. Sometimes, I'd buy "kakanin" or mom would fry "saba" or boil ears of corn. I'm pretty sure all of us went back to Manila 
a few pounds heavier than we left. Haha!  

Inihaw na baboy. Even without marinade, my kuya's version is so mean! 

Tinolang native na manok. You know the soup's much more flavorful when native chicken is used. 

Nilagang baka - my all-time favorite ulam 

What a beauty: purple 'kakanin' topped with toasted coconut

Chami - my daughter's favorite 

Now this is my all-time favorite merienda: pancit bihon 

Quezon crispy tapa and fried rice-corn make this the best "tapsilog" for me.

Fried "saba" and coffee make for a nice mid-morning snack 

It was our town's fiesta and we were served "sugpo" at my cousin's house. Yum!

Going on vacation is always a wonderful time especially when spent at a place full of memories of growing up. For me, it's a bonus that our town is a coastal area because I love the sea and sunset by the beach. Traveling back to Manila is always the saddest part. Maybe someday when I retire, I could settle for good in my beloved hometown. Who knows, I might be even able to build a home right there at the seafront. That would be a dream come true!