2013 Ensogo-Livingsocial Summer Getaway

 Our summer outing at Subic was a blast. We really had a great time! We went to Grande Island at Subic for an overnight stay and hell it was fun. We had games.. had a little drinks.. and had the time of our lives. These are some of my favorite photos from the trip... you can actually view all the photos from my facebook page.. you probably seen it if  you were one of my contacts for sure.. anyways.. of course jumpshots are one of the favorite photo poses of the trip. You can see there sir jojo at the middle leading the pack! Love this photo

Caught up with Marky and Tracy hanging out at the beach... Dude marky, i think all those early morning runs finally paid off! Is that tummy for real or you're not really breathing at all.. haha.. love this photo... 

 The games were really intense and the people were really competitive ! You can see here Tope' and Anne working on those Polo Mints and BBQ sticks for this crazy relay game...

After the games, i was so boozed out i fell asleep.., missing all  the after dinner festivities.. it was bad coz im the photographer and i should have been on top of the situation and yet.. i was cozy and probably snoring at my room... Good thing I woke up at around 12..ish and saw the people getting crazy! Heres the proof! 

I sneaked in to one of the girl's rooms and saw them getting crazy as well over there... 

at first, i was so lazy to bring the umbrella and the light stand at the trip... good thing i did coz this crazy family portrait wouldnt be possible without it. This pose was actually Tristan's idea and wow.. it looks good by the way. :)

She's a sight for sore eyes... i saw chie enjoying the moment at the beach side and instantly saw a picture of minimalism - single subject , negative space... i did this once with a starfish but then again chie is far more beautiful than a starfish so i just grabbed the opportunity to document this moment.... 

The view from outside the veranda. What a great weather. Its hot... its perfect! Sky is blue, water is fine.. and the booze is just flowing... 

told you the booze is just flowing... i think i drank too much that day.. we had tequila shots, vodka shots... i mixed my sprite + antonov curant specialty added some cherries courtesy of Ms. Innie... We also had some beer... and some other mixed drinks that God knows whats in it...

Rona and Marie at the beach... moments like these are rare since work usually gets in the way... how i wish we have more fun moments like this..were you can see these lovely ladies without their laptops... 

of course my team! the ever reliable Production team of Ensogo! We are crazy as hell but we get the job well done. These are the guys that makes work fun... 

How bout a soak at the pool after a long day swimming at the beach? Yeah that... that is a good plan. Again with our crazy boss, Ms Mara right there raising her hand.. :) She's crazy but yeah we love her. 

This., is one of my favorite photos from the trip... i saw our company's captain - Sir Jojo, at the door of the bridge and he's like there leading us to something great. His vision for the company's better being is reachable...it just takes a lot of hard work and sacrifice...

 Luisa, Luisa, Luisa... she was sick at the beginning of the trip but still managed to look good.. No doubt she's still beautiful even under the weather...

oh yeah.. production team along with Jelix getting woozy. Its nice seeing these bunch of hardworking people enjoying themselves after a long day at work.. imagine they did a couple of write-ups, insertions and graphics while others are enjoying the vacation... life of the production team..its simply remarkable.   

With our bosses, sir Gary and sir Tristan - who is a real comic! I never had a boss as crazy as him..but he's a really nice person. His energy is contagious.. 

Moments with chie...

I had to take this photo real fast or these guys will practically strangle me to death... It was scorching hot! Its a little out of focus actually but what da heck... We had fun! I do hope i can still attend the 4th summer outing. This year was a blast... Thanks a lot Ensogo-Livingsocial! 

The Veranda at Gramercy Residences

If I can choose one of the best thing at my brother's condo unit, no doubt its the view from the veranda. Its so beautiful. In the morning you can see the morning fog...that cool air that smacks into your face....witnessing Makati in its young, new day... 

When it rains.. you can see a sea of white mist which actually is water pouring from above slowly.... and when the rain clears out, you will see a dash of colors from the rain clouds revealing spectacular hues and gradients around the sky.... 

and when night comes..the bright lights of Makati skyline greets you with such goodness. i love it here so much.. how I wish i can afford to have a place like this.. its such an experience...   

Back in Paradise, Calaguas 2013

If theres one place in the Philippines that I'd go back from time to time, this is the spot. "This" is the beach! Nothing beats Calaguas beach in Camarines Norte. Nothing! The beach is simply amazing. Crystal blue waters. Sugar like sands.. Its paradise. This is my 2nd time here and im still in awe. So far, its one of my favorite destinations here in our country.

Here, there is no electricity, your phone wont work here, no signal...no computers.. no internet!!! Its like you're unplugged from reality.  i dont mind the long travel..12 hours to be exact. 10 hours inside the van., eventually you'l suffer from minor butt cramps... then., another 2 hour boat ride.. a long... rough boat ride going to the island.Its rough depending on the winds... sometimes its wild and tumbly yet sometimes its nice and smooth. No matter what it may be, just enjoy the waves...

jo doing yoga on high noon...

I really want to thank Jocy for inviting me to this trip. It was a pretty normal day at work, I was inside the studio and she asked me if I wanna go to Calaguas.. Since its the long weekend..and I got no plans at all.. i just said.. Sure.. lets go! I always wanted to hit the beach coz i miss it so much.... Im addicted to burying my feet into the sands and im craving for that feeling for quite some time now. I never thought twice.. i just said yes.. then I went home, packed and left. 

i am now a fan of iPhone 4S's camera

powdery white!

Nothing but powdery white sand all over.. i just love it. I wanna also give thanks to Jo for entrusting me with her phone coz i dont have a camera with me. Yes. I left my camera at the studio and I kinda felt bad coz i really want to take photos that time. She lend me her iPhone and told  me to snap away!  This is the first one that came to me.. took a photo of  how fine and white the sands of Calaguas.. Its amazing. I just hope they dont commercialize the beach so much to the point its like Boracay already. People are starting to bring generators in the island. They'r messin up the harmony, the peace and quiet of the beach...that natural high of the sounds of the waves, sound of crickets...that clasping sounds of twigs burning in the bonfire..those are the things that should be... not disco lights, rave music and worst, endless crap of Gangnam Style and Harlem Shake.  

From right, that is Jed, who basically owns this blog called BiyaherongBarat.com and he organizes group trips in some of the best places in the country. He's also one of the founders of Biyaheng Lokal who does the same thing. Im happy to be a part of this trip coz these guys are just amazing. Trip is full of laughs., great food.. bonding.. Its an escape actually. Its what i need at the moment. Next to Jed is Camille who happens to be one of the coolest girl ever. Her tattoos are awesome! She is a great writer with some of the best magazines in the metro. She loves San Miguel Pale Pilsen, Red Horse beer and Jack Johnson which definitely raised her "astig" meter to the next level. Like jocy she loves doin yoga under scorching heat... Next to her is Jocy., who happens to be "one" with the beach.. you can actually see it in her tan..w/c looks nice by the way...    

With us, a group of friends from Cebu and they are celebrating a birthday party at the beach! They even have full props...balloons, plackards, customized headbands, a red ribbon chocolate cake and i guess those faces are some of their friends who  can't make it to Calaguas... Looking at them is just amazing coz their bonding is rock solid! They sing together, they crack jokes together and laugh all at the same time. They lay on the sand looking at constellations, waiting for UFO's and counting shooting stars together.. Its friendship at its finest.  I took the liberty of taking a photo of em' while doing their thing. I have this inert feeling that i need to capture that moment. I snatched, borrowed Jed's camera and took this picture... 

this is what beach bummin' looks like

I really had a great time. Every cent that i paid for this trip is all worth it. Imagine you're at the beach.. having grilled fish... and some ice cold beer.. then theres another shot of Emperador orbiting around... and theres some of that Good stuff happenin.. all of these we did it with the sounds of the waves at the background under moonlit skies....as the crows patrol the area. Its close to perfection. Sobrang swabe lang. Thats me bago masunog.

grabbed the photo from Jed's Facebook. Group shot! I look like crap.

I also met this kid who talks  like a thirty year old... his name is Kio.. He's just amazing.. his imagination.. his crazy pick-up lines... i must admit, without his presence, the trip would be a little dull... This kid has a bright future ahead of him. I just hope he would use his smarts and wits into doing something good.. not bullying gradeschoolers and harassing chicks of his age.. haha..even chicks older than his age!  He's just so good at those! hehe. My favorite lines from Kio are : "Kuya Jed!!! Pinupulikat na ba yung puso mo? " (Is your heart suffering from cramps?)..  "Nganga!" , "Sige bye~ ", "Grade 4 ako, dapat mo akong galangin.."  Hahahaha.. I'd never said anything like that when I was in grade 4... This kid is really something! 

Watch out for more trips from  Biyaherong Barat and Biyahe Lokal. You dont have to think about anything.. You just have to relax and njoy the ride..Its affordabe.. you have good company, and its a lot of fun! and... They cook the best tinolang manok!

Photos from :

Jocy's iPhone. (Thanks Jo!)

Jed Rosell (group shot) - www.biyaherongbarat.com  

P.S. : Bring a lot of Sunscreen coz sunburn is hell! 

Maru Korean Restaurant

Would you buy this under 500 pesos? I will! 

they use coconut shells for grilling coz their ashes dont fly around

tender strips of beef..ready to be grilled

cooking your own food makes you hungry

grill it till golden brown

frozen soju and korean ice cream for dessert!

very modern yet traditional interior design 

pieces of very nice artwork displayed 

photo from the 2nd floor. 

To tell you the truth, i have been really addicted eating korean food. I just love it so much. Its healthy..its more like a guilt free food for me. Imagine, a lean slice of beef then grilled using only its natural oils then served with fresh vegetables. Its simple, healthy and its heaven! Maru Korean restaurant is one of those restaurants that serve really delicious korean food. The best thing is, its only a couple of steps away from where i live. It is by far, one one of my favorite restaurants i dined in. It has a great interior design. The staff are really nice and hospitable. Its really clean and tidy. The area is safe and not that crowdy. Its a great place to bring your date..maybe you two want to enjoy cooking your own food while dining.. its such an experience. They serve the best Bulgogi and also try their Galbi Jum! Try also ordering a bottle of Soju and mix it with their watermelon juice. Its really good!  My experience here was amazing..i wanna go back here someday.. For more info and reservations you can always give them a call at (+632)403-9140 or at (+632)385-2792. You can also visit their facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/MaruKoreanRestaurantMakatiCity

Bowler Restaurant

When i was still working at NetCore Solutions at Valero St in Makati, everytime i go on a break, I always go down stairs and visit the local 7-11 and get some cold drinks and chips. Then i just sit along the curve and enjoying my snack. I always see this really nice restaurant beside 7-11 called "Bowler". I was intrigued because the place looks cozy and a lot of people hang out there during night time. I never had a chance getting inside back then until now. I am right. The place definitely rocks and the food is really delicious! Welcome to Bowler! They had a deal with Ensogo and they are serving really delicious breakfast meals for an affordable price.   

Photo on tops is their delicious scrambled eggs. This is probably the best scrambled eggs i ever tasted. Its absolutely more delicious than delicious! 

The insides has a lavish amount of bacon and the sauce is just awesome. I dunno what else is in there.. I just love it so much... If ever im coming back there, this is the one to order. Most definitely this is the one!  

This is some "sossy" breakfast. I wonder why do they call it Eggs Benedict? This is so good i tell you. They even blow torch this thing right in front of you when they serve it. To be honest, i never tasted eggs benedict before and i just see them in cooking shows. This is quite an experience...

Had a great time there. Many thanks to the staff of Bowler for their warm hospitality   and of course their great food. This is actually a delayed post and too bad their deal with Ensogo expired already. But then again, deal or no deal, id definitely go back here someday. Im actually craving for it right now... Visit their really nice restaurant at Valero corner Sedeno st in Makati. For inquiries, give em a call at (+632)894-3589.

Ho Galbi Korean Restaurant

This is probably one of the best Bulgogi I ever tasted! Its so delicious. I tried a lot of Beef Bulgogis before and by far this is the king. The meat is so tender. The taste is absolutely delicious! I also love the taste of the mushrooms once cooked..

I ate a lot of these actually. Im actually on a mission of eating healthy. Since this is pure lean beef and boiled.. i bet this is a perfect meal! And its so delicious. Its hard to find a healthy meal yet very good to my taste. This is my bet. One of their best sellers!

Part of the side dish is this one. Its baby potatoes drenched with this black caramel sauce sprinkled with sesame seeds... I also had a lot of these. Im a sucker for baby potatoes and i love them so much. I dunno how they made the sauce...Its just perfectly sweet. 

They also serve this dish called the Galbi Jum or better known as braised short ribs. They used angus beef on this one. This is mighty delicious. The taste is just.... ugh.. i dunno how to explain it. You might wanna order some extra rice for this one. This one is the champion... 

I also love their iced tea. It looks like a typical iced tea but to me its really good. 

I really enjoyed this photoshoot along with Second. The place packs up during lunch and a lot of people visit the place to enjoy great korean food. Hogalbi is located at Oranbo in Pasig City. Ensogo will be running a deal with them. Better watch that out coz they have a spectacular deal with their Beef Bulgogi and Galbi Jum at a very affordable price! 

Dimsum and Dumplings

Time for some dimsum baby! Oh yeah. I so love dimsum. I had another photoshoot at Dimsum and Dumplings. They will be running a deal soon at Ensogo.  These dumplings are are quite special, and healthy because they are organic. Made entirely of vegetables! They taste really good. 

Their seafood macaroni is one of the best out their! If you love tahong, shrimps and fish onto your macaroni then topped with cheese.., this meal is for you.

 Their crispy noodles is also delicious!!! i so love shrimps.

 Their pesto is also a must-try. Len, my co-worker actually had this one to go! 

Their chicken with baked potatoes are also a winner! 

Watch out for Dimsum and Dumpling's deal at Ensogo! If you love delicious food and its easy on budget, try Dimsum and Dumpling's a shot and im sure you will be satisfied! 

Mrs. Fields

Another food adventure! This time its at Mrs. Fields over at Mckinley Hill in Bonifacio Global City. It was an early shoot and my head is heavy as hell due to lack of sleep. Good thing a cup of Mrs. Fields Cappuccino gave me a wake-up call. I wanted something to pair up with my coffee and this milk chocolate cupcake seems to perfect! Those two are like peas and carrots i tell you. Its so good! 

These are called Brownie Nibblers and damn its so good. If you love brownies, these are one of the best ones. You got to try it to appreciate. I tell you its really good. 

Of course, I also tried Mrs. Fields delicious cookies. One of my favorites are the Chocolate Chip! These are just heaven... These are my favorites actually... If you have cravings for some utterly delicious cookies, brownies and cupcakes, visit Mrs. Fields at a store near you.

Many thanks to Aila for all the help and also to Ms Frances for being so nice with us. Thank you mam! 

T.G.I. Friday's

I so love eating at Friday's. Their wide array of meals is just delicious! Im excited that i had a chance to take pictures of their top dishes for their promo at ensogo. Im gonna be shooting burgers, their salad, their famous fish n chips and their super delicious dessert, the Oreo Madness! Photo on top is their ultimate cheese burger with 2 slices of cheese and  a quarter pound of that juicy meat. Served hot with fries. Delicious.. really delicious!

 Also had a taste of their delicious garden salad. Its crunchy.. its so fresh.. i love the dressing. tastes really good. Perfect for those who look for their diet.. ;) 

 Their Fish n Chips is one of the best i ever tasted. I like this one specially with a pinch of lemon.. Its really good. I dunno why some people dont like cream dorry coz maybe its kinda bland to taste but for me., i love it.. Specially this one. Dunk it in to their special onion sauce and its heaven.. You got to try this i swear. Its really good. 

Now for my favorite ending, the Oreo Madness.. This is definitely madness right here! Vanilla Ice Cream topped with mashed oreo cookies then drizzled with ample amount of caramel and chocolate syrup! Talk about calories bro. This one is screaming sugar! But hell this is rally good... 

Many thanks to Meggy for dragging me out here at Friday's in Rob Galleria. You just gave me an extra inch under my belt! Thank you! Thanks also to the staff.. to Mam Chi.. ur' so kind.. I just realized ladies who call themselves chi are not only beautiful but kind and friendly as well.. :) 

Thanks again for the experience!

Dakasi Milk Tea

I have to admit that I am somehow addicted to the newest milk tea joints in town, the Dakasi Milk Tea. According to its label, it is based in Taiwan and its branches can be found all over the globe. Its delicious specially their best seller, the Bubble Milk Tea. Try it for yourself!