OUR FIRST DATE POST ECQ

Ever since the pandemic started, my family and I dutifully stayed at home. Save for work and other essentials, there's no going out for us.

The great thing was I had such a great family that I didn't mind the solitary life with them. I didn't yearn for our usual mall gimiks, or out of town trips -- as long as we're all together (eating, doing chores, praying the rosary, having movie nights, etc), I'm happy.

Yun lang the Yub didn't agree. He REALLY wanted to go out and fast. BWA HA HA HA HA! So di siya masaya sakin ganern??? Che!

Kidding! In his defense, he has been religiously working at home for 4 straight months now, only going out for grocery runs. So yeah, he felt like having a bit of a social life even for just a few hours.

That weekend, the boys were in Antipolo with my brother's family so I didn't have that guilty feeling of going out without them. With that, the Yub jumped at the opportunity and excitedly invited me out for a mini-date in Powerplant Mall.

To be honest, if given the choice I'd rather stay at home and chill. At the same time I wanted to be practical and just save money. The Yub though was very insistent and declared that he will treat me to ANYTHING. Minsan lang naman daw.

E DI SIGE! Bwa ha ha ha ha ha! Basta I already raised my points ah (nagpapilit... he he he he).

FINALLY after 4 months, we're out on a date!

MENDOKORO RAMENBA (BGC)

Once upon a time before the pandemic....

It was the Yub's birthday week and as much as we wanted to have loads of celebrations (like what we would do before), we didn't have a choice but to end it after a week because the Covid-19 situation was making everyone nervous.

For the last official celebration though, the Yub and I decided that since it's most likely that we'll not go out in a LOOOOONG time, we should go somewhere that is best eaten at the actual restaurant and not just via take out. So burgers or anything fast food is out of the question (Drats! It's going to be my treat pa naman). Ha ha ha ha!

With that, the obvious choice was RAMEN because soup and noodles were always best consumed as soon as it was served. Also, even if they have all of the Ramen kits in the market, it's still not the same as when you have the actual chefs cook it for you. 

And of course if there was one place where we'll have Ramen it's going to be our favorite  -- MENDOKORO RAMENBA!!!

To think that our dinner there would be our last family outing in a loooooooooooooong time (like 4 months and counting).

 

WOHOO! We're out for some Ramen!!!!

PANDA EXPRESS PHILIPPINES

Once upon a time nearing the pandemic...

When we learned that PANDA EXPRESS was going to open in the Philippines, we got so excited because it's one of our favorite restaurants in the US. Even if we should be savoring burgers, steaks, pies, etc, there, we would always make room for this fast-food Chinese giant because not only were the prices affordable but the food was really good! It's a big plus too that it was everywhere! Ha ha ha ha ha!

After it opened, we were not able to go to PANDA EXPRESS in SM Megamall yet because we saw the torturous long lines. Normally we're fine with lining up, but these days, we're just not in the mood. Ha ha ha ha ha! Doesn't help too that there's that covid-19 looming about.

For one weekend however, we got word that classes were suspended that Monday (as schools were disinfecting their rooms). The Yub and I then thought of going to SM Mega to finally have a taste of PANDA EXPRESS here in the Philippines. And even if it somehow tasted different from its US counterpart, we still enjoyed our Sunday family outing to savor one of our favorites!!!!

(Little did we know that our gimik days were "numbered" with the upcoming virus!)

PANDA EXPRESS PHILIPPINES!!!!!

MANN HANN CAPITOL COMMONS

Once upon a time before the pandemic...

If you're close with my hub, you'd know that he's one of the most simplest man ever and it doesn't take much to make him happy. He's really not for grand celebrations and as long as we're together eating his favorite grub, he'll be super happy.

For his birthday this year, he really didn't want to make a fuss anymore because of that growing pandemic. Still, we thought that we cannot let his birthday pass without giving him even a tiny celebration and we promised to be ultra-careful.

When pushed he said he would like to have some (surprise, surprise) Chinese food. He remembered the last time we went out with Team Godoy how much we enjoyed the food in MANN HANN and asked if we could go there.

OF COURSE! His wish was our command!

We're extra happy too because we LOVED MANN HANN!

Yipee!!!!

MANN HANN!!!

INENG'S SPECIAL BBQ

One Saturday before the pandemic...

We met up with Team Mina in Paranaque-ness. While deciding where, the BGP suggested we go to SM Sucat. Normally, I was fine there but remembering how the BGP is a cancer survivor and that her health defense system is way, way, way down, I asked if we could go somewhere else. I said that it's better if we just go to a restaurant that's not located in a mall. With that, the BGP recommended INENG'S Special BBQ!!!!!
 

WOHOO!

Turns out, this was their surprise (advance) birthday treat for me!

WOAHHH! 

TONGYANG SHABU SHABU EXPRESS

Once upon a time before the pandemic...

My little family are such fans of Shabu Shabu that we cannot stay away from it for a long time. Fried Chicken, Pizza, Burgers, etc etc are fine when we're out but there's something deeply comforting about slurping on boiling hot soup, devouring the chewy noodles, and crunchy vegetables, then dipping it all on my spicy and "umami" filled sauce. We just gotta have it at least once a month in our mundane lives!

One night while the Yub and I were doing groceries, we came upon TONGYANG SHABU SHABU EXPRESS. We have already been to their mothership TONGYANG buffet many years before but since we're watching our diets and our wallets, the "express version" would be perfect!

And we were right. TONGYANG SHABU SHABU EXPRESS was just what we needed.  I think we'll be here A HUNDRED TIMES more.

(That's what you think... ha ha ha ha-- Jaz from the future)

TONGYANG SHABU SHABU EXPRESS!!!!!

TITTOS LATIN BBQ AND BREW

Once upon a time before the pandemic....

It's been a while since I saw the dear Godoy's that's why when we needed to meet up for one night, we made it into a gimik. He he he he!

You see, I have finally decided to do some "adulting" and get myself insurance. I thought that when I depart for heaven (for heaven daw o!!!!) I don't want to burden my family with the cost. At the same time, I'd like to give the boys a little something to help them out.

Kidding. I just want to get my ginormous "noo" insured. Ha ha ha ha!

So with that, I met up with dear Lieza to make my payment and sign some documents. At the same time, she offered to treat me for dinner as my 40th pre-birthday celebration.

Yes. 40th!!! May reklamo????

Lieza suggested we try out TITTOS LATIN BBQ AND BREW and I was game because everytime we passed by Greenhills, that restaurant was always packed.

And eat there we did. It's great that I was finally able to try out this restaurant (that seems to be the new haven for "titas of Manila" he he he he). We enjoyed the food and I immediately made mental plans to return with my family.

(Not! -- Jaz from the future in ECQ)

Tee hee....

TITTOS LATIN BBQ AND BREW!

OF IBON ADARNA AND CHEAP EATS

Once upon a time before the pandemic....

Every year, the little guys' school would arrange a "Repertory" family day where they invite families to watch their kid-friendly shows.

The Yub and I used to go every year with the little guys making it a Saturday "gimik" for us. I love theatre that's why I appreciate that the boys' school promotes this activity for the family.

For 2019 though, our family wasn't able to watch that year's Repertory Show of "THE QUEST FOR THE IBON ADARNA" with their classmates because we were in Japan that weekend. There were other shows but the boys have other school schedules that did not match up for the whole family.

Finally we just decided to split and as per Andrei's request, I went with him. It would have been better if the Yub and Master Mati were with us but my big guy had a school interaction that day and opted to watch on another weekend ALONE (yep ayaw na niya kami kasama... ha ha ha).

As for the Yub, any chance that he could escape watching musical theatre, he'll do so. That's why he just waited for us. Okay lang. I don't want to hear his loud snoring in the middle of the show anyways.

In the end, the bunsoy and I enjoyed it all and were so glad to have seen it. I appreciate that besides the catchy songs and the flashy costumes, we were able to have a refresher of this Filipino classic story.

We don't know if we'll still be able to watch Repertory Musical theatre shows in the future (especially that the boys are growing up and the pandemic might prohibit the school for organizing it). That's why it's a good thing that the bunsoy and I had a great time watching "THE QUEST FOR THE IBON ADARNA" because we don't know when's the next magical theatre experience for us is going to be.

So for now, ENJOY! 

THE QUEST FOR THE IBON ADARNA!!!!

Dan! Dan! Daaaannn!