Yoshinoya's Yokozuna Gyudon

Yokozuna, which means winner in Japanese sumo-wrestling and Gyudon which means beef bowl is what Yoshinoya is exactly all about - winner beef bowls.

Yoshinoya hosted Lunch with Ms Earth 2013 Candidates

Thirty of the most beautiful creatures on Earth were gathered for a meet and greet session with the media and experience a taste of Yoshinoya on November 25, 2013 at Robinsons Galleria.

Mom's (Not So Deep) Darkest Secret.

Oh boy, when I got pregnant to Huey my skin started to break. My nose got huge, sooo huge! Had pimples all over my face. Tons of them! I look like a pimple with a face. Ha! I had a big-o bump at 6 months. And was almost overweight couple of weeks before I gave birth. But the saddest part I felt was when my neck started to darken. Then my face. Then my dark underarms, uhmm, got darker.

Photo from m.webmd.com

Sentro 1771 | You've Got To Try It To Believe It!

For some reason, everytime I see my husband to who-knows-what-part-of-the-country he is, we always end up raving for Filipino cuisine. Nothings beats the comfort of that familiar taste you get from a hearty shrimp sinigang, lechon kawali or crispy pata after a long day of check-in's, long wait time at boarding counters, and flying. Staying at 3 different islands in a span of two (2) years and being constantly on the move to conform with my husband's work schedule, foodtripping is somehow our way of bonding and getting the feel of "home" while being away from home. Now I think I found the perfect place to take my husband for a date the next time he comes to Manila!

Revisiting Zubuchon: Discovering Saguyon

One day I woke up and decided to take a flight back to Cebu. Haha! Talk about spontaneity! And would I dare miss my top 1 must-try restaurant in Cebu?

So we ordered our usual Zubuchon Meal and surprised with the sudden price increase. 😱 From Php120.00, zubuchon with rice meal now costs Php160.00! Yay! They say its because of the recently concluded Cebu International Triathlon. Maybe that also caused the sudden price increase on airfare tickets to Cebu. Sad face.

My Top Five Must-Try Restaurants in Cebu

My officemate and his wife are going on a 24-hour weekend getaway to Cebu next week without an itinerary or any sort of a plan for that matter. It was originally a five-day vacation trip that has to be cut short due to work schedule. And since they barely have a day to experience Cebu, they said they would most probably just eat there and buy pasalubongs. I just can't help but feel so giddy about sharing the places I've been to in Sugbu which inspired me to write this post. You know, sometimes its easier to say "just read my blog". Haha! So here is my top five list of must-try restaurants in Cebu:

Photo from cebuslechonbelly.com

Bebeta Wet Wipes in a Bottle [Product Review]

Afpces ran out of Nursy wet wipes (the pink one) - my new favorite wet wipes. So I had to run to the nearest mall just to find out it wasn't also available in the supermarket. So I had no choice but to buy a different brand.

My mother-in-law mentioned before about a certain brand of wet wipes in a bottle and said two bottles only cost Php100.00. I thought it's silly to place wipes in a bottle. Hehe. So when I was contemplating what brand of wet wipes I'd buy out of what's available in the shelves, I immediately noticed Bebeta wet wipes and indeed it was in a bottle! 

Camotes Island Adventure in Less than 24 Hours!

I am surprised that most of my friends from Davao and Manila who've been to Cebu have not heard about Camotes Islands yet. If you missed Camotes in your itinerary, oh dear, you missed half of your life! So let me share my experience and give you a quick guide on how to get there!

Photo from islandsofthephilippines.com

CHAMPS Chewable Vitamins Giveaway

Hello mommies and daddies! I know I have been keeping you waiting for my first ever giveaway! This is it! 

While my internet connection was away, I had the chance to try the Champs Omega-3 Plus Multivitamins (the blue one) for my daughter Huey! Since she could not swallow the chewtab just yet, I crush one tablet and mix the same to her milk. Mom's creativity in action! :) Doctors advise: take one chewtab, same time of every day. Make it a routine! :)

I will be giving away five (5) loot bags containing a complete set of Champs Chewtabs each! Five (5) winners will be drawn on 29 July 2013, Sunday. Just follow the simple steps on Rafflecopter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Baby Signs with Ms Sharon Agoncillo

Long before our children start talking, they are already capable of communicating. At three months, my daughter Huey already started mumbling words like ah, eh, and uh as if trying to initiate a conversation with me. Since I do not understand what my baby is trying to say, I'd give her a nod or flash a huge smile pretending I understood her. There are also times that she would cry relentlessly for no obvious reason! These scenarios coupled with post partum depression raises my stress level and often leads me into crying in the bathroom. I was not prepared for this!

So I felt really excited hearing about the Baby Signs Philippines. When I first heard about the Baby Signs Party, I thought, I need this. Isn't it great to talk to your baby even before they start talking? Let's put this tiring guessing game to an end!

©2013 Planeville Mom

Cockpit Announcement: Champs Chewable Vitamins Giveaway

Hello Mommies and Daddies!

I am happy to announce that the goodies from Champs Chewable Vitamins of Chemical Company of Malaysia Int'l Philippines Inc have arrived! Yeeey!

Brace yourself as Planeville announces the details of its first ever giveaway on weekend.

Have a great day! :)

Fisher-Price Joy of Learning Workshop with Ms Carrie Lupoli aka Chief Mum

Moms, dads, and even kids gather on the much-awaited Fisher-Price Joy of Learning (FPJOL) Workshop with no other than Ms Carrie E Lupoli aka Chief Mum, for a day of fun and learning at Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria Hotel in Quezon City. Father's day has never been this empowering!  

Black Canyon Coffee: A Drink From Paradise Available on Earth

I can't call it a day when I don't get my daily dose of coffee. One frappe with a couple of yummylicious doughnut a day and you make me a happy camper. Oh yes! I am one helluva caffeine addict! It came to a point when I know if my usual coffee tastes or smells different. My addiction started when I was pregnant to my daughter Huey. Maybe you can blame my infancipating hormones, but one thing is for sure: cancelled coffee dates means war. And I mean, cold and overly dramatic waaar. 

I really like trying new things. I love travelling, meeting new people from different walks of life, discovering local food specialties, and sharing it to people. I'm not sure, however, if this is what you call "maturity" or just a plain sign of aging but my adventure spirit is gradually declining. It's becoming tiring, for one. My husband and I no longer have the luxury of time and money trying anything new and sometimes go home frustrated and disappointed. We developed a rule that it is always wise to hear a restaurant review straight from a trusted friend or ask google, rather than leaving the place with dissatisfied stomach and abused pocket. 

Photo from http://t2.gstatic.com

Champs Chewable Vitamins: The Yummy Choice Towards Stress-Free VitaminTime!

I have seen my daughter suffering from colds and it was an ultimate heartbreaking experience for the entire family. Though it was nothing serious, my daughter’s pediatrician prescribed Iron and Vitamin C as Huey is still wheezing even after her medication. She did mention that I shouldn't be surprised as babies ages three months and beyond are prone to sickness and diseases. Thus, stressing the importance of vaccines and supplements.

Photo from http://t2.gstatic.com

Mustela Vitamin Barrier Cream: Goodbye Stinky Neck! [Product Review]

The humid weather plus milk running down my baby's neck have been causing a stinky problem. I blamed myself a million times believing that I might have missed her neck during bath time, or forgot to put her bib on during milk time. My in laws, including my husband, would make comments about how her neck smells so badly and as a mom, I hate it. 

I have been hearing a lot of good feedbacks about Mustela but thought their products are just way beyond our household budget. I thought it is just another product line with imported label, that probably has locally-produced alternatives which could be a lot cheaper too! 

Messy Bessy Fabric Freshner: A Surprising Addiction [Product Review]

My husband and I loves anything that makes our room smell good! Who would not love to cuddle in a cozy room with fluffy pillows and soft linens that smells oh-so-relaxing! We have been jumping from one brand to another just to find (1) something that really smells good, and (2) something that could last even for a couple of days. And I think I finally found one!

A few days back, my good friend Glaiza of Moomy Musings featured Messy Bessy on her Top 10 Child-Care Products That We Love. I am the type of buyer that do not really read product labels. If the product packaging isn't so enticing, I would probably overlook that brand. And by the looks of Messy Bessy, I was not so impressed with how it's packaged but was curious that it actually made on Glaiza's fave list. So I thought, why not? 

SSS Lipa: Quota Dilemma

Visited a few government offices to compile requirements for employment and was amazed how early SSS closed its doors to customers. I arrived at 2:00 o'clock in the afternoon. Yes it's late, but I believe  it is too early to refuse service. Upon arrival, I immediately noticed the note "Ubos na ang number sa pila. Bukas po ulit." 

PhilHealth Online Registration: It's so Awesome I Could Cry!!!

Before giving birth to UH-1H, my husband and I were informed that we needed to prepare my PhilHealth MDR (Member Data Record) as it is required by the hospital. I did attach my MDR on my Mommy Book but did not realize it was bearing my maiden name - Moncano. The same was discovered only when dokie already gave the green light for us to be discharged from the hospital. According to the hospital policy, a patient should not be allowed to go home, not until he provides an updated MDR. In my case, I needed to provide one with an updated last name and civil status. It was, at that point, a little impossible as I gave birth in Cebu City and my previous employer is located in Lipa City.  It would take too much time and effort to accomplish the same. The resident PhilHealth personnel then advised my husband to declare me as his dependent and use his MDR instead. My husband sorted it out for a couple of days and so I lost my personal MDR PIN/PhilHealth record.

Now that I am working again, the company required me to secure my own MDR. Again. I have mentioned on my previous post NSO Experience: Obtaining Marriage and Live Birth Certificate that I hate doing transactions with the government. Then I thought of researching the process and requirements online before even trying to brave the long lines and extreme hassle of visiting their office. But lo and behold! Found out that getting one is just as easy as signing up for facebook!

Yes, you can now say goodbye to endless cursing on the forever manual system of government offices! No need to gas up! Just visit the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and prepare a scanned copy of your pertinent docs to complete the registration. Below is the step by step process:

Surviving the Distance

Deployment is such a strange word for me. I consider myself as one of the lucky airforce wives. When I think of deployment, I would imagine him being in a far flung area where cellular signal is a luxury. Times spent waiting for calls; patience stretched by distance. That did not happen even after he left the portals of the academy. Did not happen even after receiving his first long pay. Did not happen until earlier this May. 

Before Huey came to our life, following my husband to wherever he is was just a few clicks away. The thought of deployment was then not so scary. Unknown, but not scary. We always manage to see each other very often. Everything changed when a baby was included in the picture. I instantly became a geographically single mom. My husband might have pampered me so much that the minute he left, life turned into one hell of a bumpy ride! My mom-tuition was immediately put into test, so did my wife-skill. 

I am Whole Again

At 19,  I was no longer contented with my Php120.00 to 150.00 daily allowance to school. I'd feel lucky if mom gives me 200! When you are in college you have to allot budget for movies, night outs (I mean, date with friends at Mc Donalds Bajada, hahahaha!), cellphone load, etc. These are on top of my expenses for daily travel from home to school and back, photocopy of reading materials, meals, and incidental expenses such as trip to Baguio to visit boyfie all the way from Davao, for one. Lol! :)

And so one day, I printed out my resume, hit an interview in a jobs fair and signed a full-time job contract! It was all unplanned and happened in less than an hour! Everything went so quickly that I did not have the time to ask questions about what I was jumping myself into. I was such a fool to believe that I can juggle work and school, and perhaps lovelife, all at the same time. But I tried. There was a time that I woke up in a classroom with unfamiliar faces. Times when I went to work in complete uniform. But who's complaining? 

Huey Bids Goodbye to Small Nappy!

Huey started using small-sized diaper since day four. She first tried Huggies Red and my husband loves the wet indicator (as mentioned in my previous post My Trusted Brands for Huey). When we moved back to Lipa, we started patronizing Drypers Wee Wee Dry. Recently, I started noticing that I am already having trouble changing her nappies. It would take three or four extra drags on each end of the diaper before I could finally position the same correctly. I am no longer sure if I'm positioning it right or might have been locking it too tight as it is already leaving reddish marks on her bikini line. Yesterday, 30th of May, my brothers in law and I finally unravelled the cause! Her bottom was showing off while we were cuddling her. Tama ang hinala! It's time to say good bye to small nappies! We were laughing so hard realising that she is indeed getting so big! Huey might have been confused what we were laughing at and flashed her salubong kilay look, which eventually turned into paiyak na  moment with her lips pouting. Lol! She got embarassed! Thought she's too young to know how to feel embarassed! Haha! Oh well, good bye starry starry diaper! Hello clouds! :) 

Huey happy wearing her new medium-sized Drypers Nappy

My Trusted Brands for Huey

I did not fully understood the saying 'Mom Knows Best' not until I became a mom. Yep, mom was right when she said loving a military man isn't hard, it is in fact very hard. Lol! But what makes a mom know what is best? 

Judge Me Not

Admit it, there was a point in our lives as young teenage girls that we despise the early morning rantings of our moms. You felt like you hear the same litany over and over again and that there is just no way of telling them straight that you got their point, but don't think your doing something wrong. 

Mommyhood: An Unexpected Blessing

LEARNING THAT I'M PREGNANT 
My then boyfriend (now husband) and I have been together for six long years. We knew that marriage is just around the corner but had no plans of doing it sooner than expected. Our lives changed in an instant when two lines appeared on that small white rectangular tester. It dawned on me that I am not ready to raise a kid yet! I had a great carreer and was foresighting a promotion.  For a couple of days, I was praying and hoping that the tester was defective and did not yield correct results. My apprehensions grew stronger as the doctor confirmed that I was indeed seven weeks and two days pregnant on July 18, 2012. Can you blame me? I was 23 and, for goodness sake(!), single! 

NSO Experience: Obtaining Marriage and Live Birth Certificate

Government transaction is one thing I hate the most. Just the thought of the long wait time, poor customer relations and confusing processes make me tired. 

I had to get an NSO authenticated copy of our marriage certificate and that of my daughter's live birth certificate. The night before visiting NSO, I already set my mind for the worst. I arrived at NSO Lipa City office at around 2:00 o'clock in the afternoon. NSO Lipa is located at the Fiesta Mall Complex in Maraouy. I wasn't suprise to see tons of people at the waiting area. I am glad, however, to see each window labeled with Steps 1 to 9. If you are a first timer, it will not be hard to identify which window to fall in line first.  This actually lessens the red tape in government offices. Who would need a fixer if one understands the process, right? 

Baguio Crown Legacy Hotel Review

We travelled nine hours all the way from Lipa City to witness the Incorporation Day of my brother in law, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 2017. Prior to our travel, our cadet already made a reservation for 15 persons at the Baguio Crown Legacy Hotel. 

Situated at Corner Montinola Street in Kisad Road, this newly built seven-story European inspired hotel is a statement of comfort and luxury, they say. The marble and glass themed bedrooms excites me! I liked the panoramic view of the City of Pines right from our window. But I guess all good things come to an end.