Saturday, October 12, 2024
The weekend is here!
If you're around Jaro area and you're looking for a quiet place to have solo dinner after work (or if you are too lazy to cook when you arrive home), Cocina Project's cozy little restaurant across San Jose College in E. Lopez Street is the perfect spot for some mealtime me-time. From starters to sparkling drinks, the dine-in menu selections are kitchen tested, crowd approved dishes such as smokey honey back ribs and citrus orange chicken. They also serve family size portions true to their tagline "Food brings family together."
Aside from being budget friendly, Cocina Project has a lovely and cutesy ambiance to enjoy food alone or with friends and family. Bookmark this place in your list of eating places for tasty, value-for-money meals. See you at the Cocina. Happy weekend!
Cocina Project
E. Lopez Street, Jaro, Iloilo City
Thursday, October 10, 2024
Today, let’s lift ourselves up by raising our awareness on mental health fitness and issues. Check out Wondermind, the world’s first mental fitness ecosystem that can help us improve our mental and emotional well-being.
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
I love Iloilo City's quiet, laid-back lifestyle but there is nothing to love about the worsening transportation problem brought about by the city's rapid development and population growth.
In car-centric Iloilo City, commuting remains to be problematic especially if you live in the northern suburbs. Despite being a growing metropolis, the city still implements 80's style transportation management that has remained unchanged since my elementary days. With the addition of a few traffic lights, some road widening efforts, and implementation of a jeepney modernization program, nothing has essentially changed to make travel time faster and more convenient for everyone.
These are areas of concern that remain unaddressed:
1. On Mondays, when people from out-of-town return to the city for school and work, there is an undersupply of modernized and traditional jeepneys. Not even ride-hailing services such as Grab Car and Angkas can keep up with the demand. If you do not have a car, it is impossible to arrive on time as the deluge of commuters is overwhelming. This problem can somehow be remedied if this kind of situation is anticipated by the transport sector.
It has been observed that buses plying the routes from the northern/southern transport hubs have an average turn-around time of 1.5 hours. Perhaps supplementary point-to-point PUJs are needed to transport passengers from out-of-town transport hubs to the city's district plazas where they can get connecting rides.
2. The unresolved traffic bottleneck at Jaro Plaza continues to dim the district's sparkle. Yes, the Graciano Lopez Park is beautiful but is surrounded by constrictive traffic jams and visual/noise pollution from across the plaza. Maybe it's time to create a system for the organized loading and unloading of passengers in this area. Itinerant vendors also need to be regulated to maintain cleanliness and sanitation.
3. The shiny and new modernized jeeps no longer look relatively new and shiny due to lack of maintenance. The jeepney modernization plan should have a corresponding maintenance plan to keep the vehicles clean, safe and fresh-smelling. The passenger assistance officers (aka conductors) should also look well-groomed and clean.
4. Modernized jeeps should have designated loading and unloading areas to keep traffic flow smooth and clear. This is also to instill discipline and awareness in commuters that they cannot be unloaded whenever and wherever they want.
5. The modernized jeepney Panay transport card should be conveniently available so commuters can turn to a cashless pay system.
6. There is also a need to review and re-assess the placement of pedestrian crossing markings especially in places that pose a danger to pedestrians (i.e. forks in the road, rotundas etc).
7. Waiting sheds should be utilized for its most important function-a waiting area for PUJs. Enough said.
There are still a lot of things to be improved to upgrade Iloilo City's transportation. All it takes are small steps taken one day at a time!
Monday, October 7, 2024
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| Phở Bò (Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup) |
On a rainy Saturday afternoon, my friend and I found ourselves craving for a warm bowl of traditional Phở soup. Nothing beats a serving of heartwarming soup when the weather is moody and threatens to crash all your weekend plans. We remembered seeing this new, homely Vietnamese street restaurant in front of the Jaro Small Market in Simon-Ledesma St.
Despite the threat of another impending downpour, we made our way to Simon-Ledesma Street. Hong Viet looked like something right up our alley! No fancy decor or expensive ambiance means the food must be good and affordable. We loved the kitschy Vietnamese music blaring from the speakers and the delightfully tacky wall decor that gave off a cacophonous Ho Chi Minh city vibe. The place is run by Vietnamese expatriates so we anticipated the food to be authentic, homestyle and unfussy.
The menu offered basic Vietnamese comfort food--beef noodle soup, rice paper rolls, dry noodles, Banh Mi, omelette bread plus iced Vietnamese coffee and tea preparations. There is nothing in the menu that's over Php 200 so it's definitely a commuter friendly eatery.
The Phở was aromatic, mildly spicy and meaty. However it lacked the essential coriander herb garnishing that is ubiquitous in Vietnamese cooking (it’s an herb I'm sadly allergic to). Instead, Thai Basil was the convenient substitute that lent a pleasant flavor layer.
Hong Viet's Banh Mi was surprisingly basic, not the extravagant sandwich I'm accustomed to seeing. It's a budget version but still satisfying and filling despite the super chewiness of the baguette. The bread needs more toasting though. It was chewy enough to yank your dentures out.
The eatery’s coffee and tea selections are as authentic as it gets. If you want to try some traditional beverages and noodles at home, they have items for sale such as pandan and chamomile tea, coffee and instant Pho noodles in several variants.
The owners told us they will soon be launching Vietnamese snacks like savory pancakes to go along with their coffee menu. That's something to look forward to!
Hong Viet is open daily from 8 am to 8 pm. Grab a bite of their Com Tam breakfast special if you happen to swing around Jaro Small Market that early.
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| Iced honey Jasmine tea with chamomile blossoms |
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| Banh Mi with smashed meatball and veggie filling |
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| Located just in front of the busy Jaro Small Market |
Hong Viet Vietnamese Food
Simon-Ledesma St., Jaro, Iloilo City (in front of Jaro Small Market)
Sunday, October 6, 2024
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| via Pinterest |
Just so you know, I'm not really into pop music but Taylor Swift's Folklore album is something that made me into a TS fan. I've been listening to her music for years and enjoyed her popular ditties but never considered myself a proper Swiftie. Her previous albums were fun and catchy pop music memoirs about her love life and famous exes. Her cats fascinate me though and I hope she writes songs about them in the future.
So what's the backstory about my favorite Taylor Swift album? COVID-19 pandemic happened and Folklore was a by product of Taylor's time in isolation. As expected, the restrictions and boredom imposed by the pandemic forced her to turn her energy inwards and hence this hauntingly introspective indie-folk inspired album came into existence. The pandemic spurred a lot of creative innovations and Folklore is a brilliant example of that.
I listened to this album in its entirety while watching the Folklore Long Pond Sessions documentary on Disney+ where Taylor sings all the songs in the album while giving the audience snippets of her creative process. Recorded at Long Pond Studio in the forested area of Hudson Valley in New York, this album is refreshingly raw and heartfelt.
For a lot of musicians, the COVID-19 pandemic was a difficult time to make new music but not for Taylor Swift. In reference to her recent song from the Tortured Poets Department "I Can Do it with a Broken Heart" she sings:
I cry a lot, but I am so productive, it's an artYou know you're good when you can even do it with a broken heart.
Come hell or high water, heartbreak, pandemic, or an on-going world tour, Swift continues to do what she does best- write brilliant lyrics with an addictive and memorable hook.
As the cover of the album suggests, the loneliness, isolation and limited movement brought about by the pandemic inspired a creative cocooning in the woods (we mean this both literally and figuratively) that produced a beautifully bare boned collection of songs that relies heavily on minimalist musical instrumentation and soulful vocals. Proving her critics wrong, Folklore is an undeniable showcase of Swift's songwriting and storytelling genius.
I'm not going to dissect every line of her songs and its corresponding thematic interpretation but I will write about how these songs can feel better than therapy.
MY FAVE TRACKS
The 1 and Cardigan are almost on the same musical latitude in terms of tone and tempo. I suspect these are twin songs. One song is not enough to express the hurt of heartbreak, break-ups and what-ifs.
August is an upbeat summer anthem about a short-lived summer romance or fling. Sweet and bittersweet.
My Tears Ricochet- The saddest song in the album that will put you on an emotional wringer. Very cathartic.
Mirrorball- I love this song for what it is and what it is not. If only I can show you every version of yourself tonight.
Betty- Teenage nostalgia that you can look back to when you're 60. The sweetest song in the album.
Exile- A magical duet of Taylor and Bon Iver. Very therapeutic.
The Last Great American Dynasty- This is one of the more upbeat songs in this album. It is inspired by Rebekah Harkness, a Rhode Island socialite whose Holiday House (mansion) was purchased by Taylor. Fun song despite it's true-to-life inspiration.
Friday, October 4, 2024
Edinburgh, Scotland 2022
Ancient medieval buildings, English ivy, bare branches that reach up to the sky. Edinburgh is Dark Academia aesthetics personified. I miss this city this time of year.
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Wednesday, October 2, 2024
If you own indoor cats, it is an unwritten rule and obligation that you have to regularly clean litter boxes on a daily basis- once or even twice a day. Cats hate a dirty rest room, and they may hold their pee if their litter sand is not regularly cleaned resulting to a host of urinary ailments. Open style litter boxes in particular need to be frequently cleaned and emptied of any clumped poo or urine to control odor that may spread throughout the room. If you have multiple indoor cats like I do, more frequent cleaning is needed and it takes a considerable chunk of one's time to sift, dispose, sanitize and deodorize. If you are a fur parent who also loves short, occasional vacations and just can't leave the cats behind (because no one's gonna clean the litter box, right?) then an automatic smart cat litter box is for you. I got mine from Lazada PH after researching and comparing available brands and models. An automatic cat litter box may cost more than a manual washing machine but it is worth it in the long run. Imagine all the time and energy you can save!
Anyhow, it was only recently that I discovered the magic of automatic self-cleaning smart cat litter boxes! I could have purchased one earlier if I was aware such thing was available in the local online market.
Here are the reasons why getting a smart cat litter box is a good idea: The machine can self-clean for a number of days as per your desired setting in the smart cat litter box online app. The waste bin has a specially fitted plastic bag that's easy to dispose of. It has a deodorizing function as well. The litter box also weighs the cat every time it enters the barrel to do its business.
If you travel for a few days, you won't have to worry about stinky clumped nuggets that remain uncollected. Best of all, you can monitor all the excretion activities of your furry ones via the smart cat box app! Pair an auto cat litter box with a Levoit pet air purifier for extra clean air.
What I also like about the auto litter box is that the barrel can be detached from its platform. It can be washed and deep cleaned before putting in fresh litter sand. I do deep cleaning twice a month to keep bacteria and funky smells at bay.
Thanks to this wonderful invention I now have more time to play with my furry babies! Smart cat litter boxes are available on Lazada, Shopee and Amazon.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
YouTube, Pinterest and bookstores (Fully Booked and NBS) are my little oases of mindful distraction. When things get unbearably boring and uninspired, I reach for a cup of peppermint tea and escape into the rabbit hole of cottage core lifestyle videos, dark academia music playlists, classical literature and aesthetic Japanese cakes and cookies on Pinterest. Sometimes, I go on a bookstore run to get intentionally star-struck by famous or popular books that I see online. I often wince at how expensive imported books could get. Books at Fully Booked are quite pricey but if you understand the economics behind having to buy a hard-to-find title at Amazon and paying for shipping fee that's more expensive than the book itself, you'd say buying from a brick and mortar store makes more financial sense. Books don't come cheap these days but inspiration is priceless. Anyway, I digress.
Last weekend, I was on the hunt for Lucius Seneca's Letters from a Stoic. It's a book club recommendation from this Youtube channel that I follow. Luckily, I did find the paperback version at a student-friendly price. I have a Kindle version of this book but like any bibliophile, I want the paper version in my hands. Seneca's Letters from a Stoic is a must-read book for a philosophy inclined soul or for a drifter lost in the limbo of life. If you find your moral compass weakening, this book will straighten you out and give you that much-needed whack in the ass.
Inspired by the works of ancient philosophers, Accepting the Universe is a vlog that explores philosophic ideals that resonate with the modern world. The person behind the vlog is handsome, nameless intellectual reputed to be a talented film maker. I am drawn towards his refined, soft spoken demeanor and sharp intellect. He has explored a myriad of topics of life changing implications. Devoid of any annoying life coach sensibilities, he simply speaks about wisdom distilled from the ages and shares them with viewers. He is heavily influenced by Seneca and Epictetus, ancient philosophers whose writings I need to get re-acquainted with. Somewhere in his talks, I was able to remember a couple of quotations on the meaning of life and how to remain simple in world awash with materialism and excess.
1. "The meaning of life is to give life meaning."- Viktor Frankl2. "Hunger is cheap, the palate is expensive." -Seneca
I have never been the type to ruminate over the profound sayings of dead, white men (especially those German dudes). However, in this age of anxiety and confusion, their wisdom and precepts reassuringly hold water than silly Internet rhetorics that poke fun at postmodernist ideals.
Accepting the universe is just what the doctor ordered. Take the good with the shitty. I've officially reached mid-life and whether I like it or not, I get hit with existential questions bouncing from all directions. It's reassuring to know that despite my erstwhile mid-life angst and existentialist whinings, there's something like Letters from a Stoic to provide perspective and guidance.
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