Sunday, March 29, 2015

Veggies/ Meal of the Week: Where do I Usually Buy Food


 
Wet market or supermarket?
 
Outside where you feel and smell everything, or inside where you there is an AC? Where do I usually shop for food?
 

I have been here for almost 3 months now and believe me, I've been comparing prices like a madwoman. First few weeks after I arrived, I was still in the process of adjusting (I know, I'm OA for saying that- adjusting-adjusting pa ang drama. In my defense, when I left 5 years ago, I don't usually do grocery shopping and all that adult stuff. I don't have money back then so I don't shop for food, so yah. I know I don't make sense, but... yah)



First few weeks after I arrived, I have been shopping for food in the nearby supermarket (Super Metro, Lapu Lapu). I wasn't really keen on going to the wet market not because I am arte but because I am not really from Mactan so I don't know how their market system works. So, doing grocery in the supermarket is really convenient; you get to shop around with an AC blasting in your face, you don't have to look after your bag and all that- relax ka lang if sa supermarket ka mag go-grocery. With that convenience comes a price. Every week, I have been dropping Php 2,000- Php 3,000 just for all the food, and no matter how I budget and no matter how I eliminate this food and that, the grocery bill was still so high for me. So I told my mama to go with me in the public market and "tour" me around... and I fell in love... ahhh, this is my place!


Vegetables:

 Wet market of supermarket for veggies?

Answer: Wet Market all the way!


Sayote (my favorite veggies in the whole wide world) in the public market: any size/weight for Php 10

Sayote in the supermarket: fist size for Php 14
 

I paid Php 145 for all the veggies in the picture below- and that's a week supply ( 4 people). If I went to the supermarket, I probably pay close to PHP 300 for all of these:





Pansit Miki


Supermarket: Php 60 per kilo

Wet market: Php 32 per kilo

 


Dried Fish  ( the kind in the picture below)

Wet market: Php 80 per kilo ( bought 1/4 for Php 20 pesos, in the picture below)

 




Meat:


I know it's Holy Week, that I should not be eating meat, but yah...


Wet market or supermarket?


For meat, I suggest supermarket/ meat market- that store with AC and all. I feel like the meat in the wet market is kind of unhygienic, with all the flies and all. For my peace of mind, I go for supermarket/meat market for my dose of meat.

You gotta tilt your head to be able to see the price, sorry..
Menudo cut: Php 186 per kilo
Bought: Php 39.43
I cut the meat into small pieces, divided it in 4 different containers, freeze it and voila, we already have meat good for 4 cooking.
 

Pork belly:  Bought Php 67.08 :



Where do you shop for food?

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Itching to Buy a Car




When I was working abroad, which seems like a lifetime ago already(gosh!), I was blessed enough to be living in a place where majority of people depend on train and buses to get them to work and back. That's why transportation system there is safe and reliable as well as the existence of bike lanes and such because, as I said, people depend on it. So that's why owning a car wasn't really a top of my priority back then. (If you have been a follower of my blog for some time now, you know I mostly walk/bike to work everyday when I was still working abroad.)



Now that I am back in 'pinas, I have been riding the tricycles, jeeps and tri-sikads to get me to where I want to go. I really don't mind doing it (been relying on public transportation for almost 3 months now) but man, hot weather + waiting time + stuck in traffic + tons of things to bring, e.g grocery = super duper hassle! I'm now thinking/imagining, "Ano kaya ang feeling to be driving noh? Ang convenient siguro. I can take Mama to places na if I'm driving, plus I can go anywhere even on a whim. Ang saya siguro!"


Before coming home for good, I already expect to be buying a car since my house is kind of far and I know how public transportation here in the Philippines work. Me being cheap and all, I really wanted to delay buying a car since kaya pa naman mag public transportation eh, so go! Almost three months of experiencing once again what it feels like to be in a public transportation- Philippines style, I am now ready to buy a car, but what should I buy?


CRITERIA, etc.:
  • Budget: Php 500k
  • Used or Brand New ( I don't mind)
  • Automatic Transmission


Contender:


Kia Picanto VS Suzuki Celerio



Kia Picanto




Suzuki Celerio





Suggestions, anyone?


Later kana lang Mini Cooper (the car I'd like to own before I die). Picanto or si Celerio muna.



Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Ganni's Death: A Piece of My Heart Died With Him


Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... 


Taken from: https://rainbowbridge.com/hello.htm
This site was given and recommended by a good friend

 
My Ganni Bear's gone and I miss him with every fiber of my being.

Before, I always wonder why people cry over pets, and now I know how it feels like. It sucks, man... It really does.

I consider myself a strong woman but Ganni's death really broke me down. I'm crying so bad ... the morning coffee doesn't taste the same. Hell, I can't seem to continue my everyday morning run.

I spoiled him to death. He sleeps beside me and when the fan gets super cold during the night, my armpit was his hiding place and I'd get to hug him and smell him. One time, when the power went out for hours, he was whimpering coz he doesn't like the heat so I went and manually fan him for hours and hours until the power went back. I can't stop the tears from falling. I miss him super bad.

Yesterday, when I learn about his death, it seems like I was in a crowded place and everybody's life seems to go on as usual but mine seem to stop. Man, the feeling is sometimes unbearable but I know that "This too shall pass." 


I buried him where the Grotto of Lady of Lourdes will stand. His toys went with him, a rosary plus a piece of this heart necklace (I am wearing the other piece.):

 
A piece of my heart is with him



You will always be in my heart My Baby Boy... always...



 


Saturday, March 14, 2015

When You Love a Dog ... and He Gets Sick



My Ganni Bear is sick and I'm heartbroken. You wouldn't believed how I cried because of his situation. I started a Novena to St. Francis of Assisi hoping and praying that he will get better.

Last Thursday, he started vomiting and his poop was kind of wet. I rushed him to the vet last Friday night because he was getting weaker and weaker, though his poop wasn't liquidy anymore. The vet gave him 4 shots and prescribed medicines ( I paid Php 1,800 for all of those.) We all thought it has something to do with upset stomach coz Ganni eats anything, including gravel and wood (  you all know we are currently renovating the house.) I was relieved because I thought he will get better, but all through out the night, he was still vomiting and his poop got watery again. The next day, he wasn't really getting any better and then.... he pooped blood and I panicked. I rushed him to the vet again.

My poor Baby Love:



He is currently in staying in the clinic and I cried all night clutching the towel I wrapped him with when I took him to the vet. 

This morning, I read a text message from the vet saying that My Ganni Love has parvovirus. My poor Baby Bear is really sick. ( He is still a puppy, in terms of vaccination , he still has 5 shots to go through. That's why there is a high chance of him getting a parvo coz his vaccination isn't complete yet.)

When a pet touches your life and you learn to love him/her, it sucks seeing him/her in pain.

Hoping and praying that he will get better. Together, we still have a lifetime ahead.


Be well My Gannicus.