Beauty and the Beast

Dear pink roses, you remind me of Beauty and the Beast.

Baked Ziti and Roasted Garlic Chicken

My Christmas babies from the kitchen. The kids (nephews and niece) loved the Japanese Crispy Fry Chicken so much that it was gone before I could take a photo.



Baked Ziti ala Sbarro. Most important ingredients are the Romano and Mozarella cheese. Thank you to SM supermarket for making these and other types of cheeses available.

For the chicken, I spent a lot of time rubbing garlic all over it. I also dropped thinly sliced garlic onto the marinade. When I roasted this, some garlic also sticked to the Chicken. Then I used parsley, rose mary and thyme.

Merry Christmas from Lace

I am gonna pretend that am doing an editorial for a magazine.

Christmas for me is all about thanksgiving. I attended a party and an old fellow said that surely this year, there is at least one thing that you are thankful for. Surely, there was one moment in the year even if it was just a minute that you laughed, smiled, and felt happy. Everyone has something to be thankful for.

This year was amazing and one of the most colorful years in my life. I learned a lot from many challenges, mistakes, good and bad persons, and travel! We have to be thankful for the good and bad things that happened this year, all of them make us wiser that prepares us for the next year ahead.

Surely, there was at least one problem in your life that you resolved this year. My biggest problem and hindrance from doing what I love was gone just before 2008 is about to end. When I started pursuing my dreams and believing in myself, taking the risks - I got to know myself more, my talents and what I am capable of. I realized why God placed certain persons beside me and with me, somehow they are connected to what I want to achieve and they can help me get it.

Christmas also means hope that the next year will be better. This means that we all should believe in ourselves and never stop dreaming. At the end of every depressing moment, remember that on Christmas day, God gave us Jesus to save us. And when you think there is no way out, the answer is always God.

On TV, I overheard someone said that God is inside all of us. So all we have to do is to listen to our hearts, follow our conscience and that little voice within. Next year, let's all believe in ourselves and follow our hearts. Let's not make our hearts suffer, if you are not ready to do something or are confused then wait. Maybe there is a reason for us to endure some pains here and there. Our hearts will point us to the right direction where our personal legend can be achieved (thanks Alchemist). This year, it was my first time to experience letting my heart and soul take control. Seriously, I was like speaking in tongues and suddenly I have the strength to decide and say what I have to say. I felt almost like a puppet and maybe it was divine intervention, I am not kidding. It was unplanned yet it happened, problem solved.

Now I know there is truth in Jose Mari Chan's "Christmas in our Hearts". Let us not stop believing.

Merry Christmas to ANYA, ate Joni, Vincent, and every good heart on the planet!

Stay beautiful, style and relax!

Dayo sa Mundo ng Elementalia Premiere Night

I brought my nephew Jacko with me to the red carpet screening of Dayo sa Mundo ng Elementalia. It is an animated film that is 100% Pinoy, an official entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival.

What I love about premiere nights are the activities, contests, and freebies that one can experience aside from being one of the firsts to see the movie. Jacko enjoyed the movie very much and so did I. The movie is a perfect reflection of today's culture and each of the characters had their own distinct personalities.

After the movie and after two tubs of popcorn (Jacko ate them all), we met the stars or voices behind the movie Dayo.

Here's us with Hopia who played Hannah and with Nash, who played Buboy. These kiddie stars can be seen in the hit TV show, Going Bulilit. We also met the Director, Robert Quilao.



Jacko and I walked along the cinema halls where he was able to try drawing a dinosaur using a wacom tablet. We also got several tokens and freebies from sponsors that greeted the viewers upon exit. Free tender juicy hotdogs, Fruitees, Ceelin pouch bag, Dayo calendars, Dayo poster, and Dayo stickers. The kids loved it!


The premiere night of Dayo was awesome and it was a great experience to kids of all ages. Good luck and congratulations to the people behind Dayo :) Surely, the Filipino can fly!



After the movie, we all felt like Elementary students and had a photo op with Winnie the Pooh :)

Jollibee MaAga ang Pasko

It was a rare experience to partake in a humongous charity event such as Jollibee's MaAga ang Pasko, now on its 14th year. Jollibee was able to collect the biggest number of toys so far - 114,000 toys and books were made available as presents to more than 400 children with the help of DSWD.

The Mega Tent in Pasig was transformed into a barangay that is filled with the spirit of Christmas - sharing, giving, and caring. Everyone (ate and kuya volunteers included) was concentrated on making the kids feel comfortable, safe, and making sure that they get the most out of this BIG day that Jollibee has prepared for them. That day, kids were treated like kings and all that matters is for them to go home filled with happiness and the Christmas spirit.

The kids enjoyed a magic show, a mini live play with Jollibee and Buboy as they search for Mr. Yum, Twirly, Hetty, and Popo, and a live performance by their idol Sarah Geronimo. Of course, Mr. Aga Mulach was there to start the gift-giving as he is the brain behind the MaAga ang Pasko project. The tent also had different booths in the form of kubos where kids can enjoy fun activities like face painting.

I was surprised that each kid was given a BAG of TOYS when I thought that each kid would only go home with a doll or two. This experience is priceless, I have never seen charity this big. Congratulations to Jollibee, DSWD, the Jolly Toy Scouts, the ates and kuyas, and Jollibee's Ms. Gold Tantoco and Mr. Ernesto Tanmationg.

Department of Tourism partners with MTV Asia

Travel is one of life's greatest pleasure, actually - it is the best! At Alchemy Bar, we had an intimate dinner with Department of Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, Christine Gambito aka Happy Slip, and MTV Singapore marketing staff Yvonne and Raksha.

DOT Secretary, Ace Durano and Me

The Department of Tourism will launch new and hip campaigns that will highlight the Philippines as a wholesome destination not only for foreigners but most of all, for the locals as well. The reason behind this campaign is that there are several Fil-Ams who want to know their origin and heritage but need a little push by means of media, to actually come and visit their homeland - the Philippines.

Yvonne and Raksha of MTV Asia

The witty and charming Christine Gambito, an international YouTube star would be featured in this campaign as she is a Fil-Am herself who has discovered her roots and heritage by visiting and traveling around the Philippines.

Happy Slip aka Christine Gambito

MTV Asia will air this campaign "Rockapelago"to reach out the young and young at heart Filipinos around the globe.

For Happy Slip's fans, know about her beauty secret over at Style and Relax

Mama's Christmas Photos

This post is for Mama's friends and my sister Joni.


Mama is very proud of her Christmas decors. She made everything all by herself and now our house is filled with streaks of Christmas colors.



This afternoon, she was in the mood to have a photo shoot around the house.

Mama for Style and Relax


More photos here

Yehey! Pinoy Christmas Party at Grilla Bar n Grill

Thank you to Yehey.com for a ground shaking party at Grilla Bar and Grill. Yehey!'s partners, clients, and friends were all under one roof last night and partied till morning.



Yehey.com's Christmas party had a fun Filipino-pop theme. Everyone got to wear (and bring home) their fave Pinoy Pop taglines printed on their shirts.


Lace and Judda R.A.F.F.L.I.N.G

The party was also made more exciting with raffles by the minute, and congratulations to Marcelle for bringing home the grand prize! :)




Everyone enjoyed Grilla Bar's festive and truly Pinoy cuisine, who can resist the overflowing Lydia's Lechons?


Mr. Donald Lim - CEO, Yehey.com

Cheers to Yehey.com, their partners, sponsors, clients, community and all the bloggers who also partied the night away.

View more photos here

Shaking it out with TV5 at Chili's

It was just this week that I learned TV5 (former ABC 5) runs shows 24 hours a day. Since I write until sunrise, this was good news for me. One time, I got to watch Eugene Domingo's sitcom Everybody Happy that injected me with burst of laughters in the wee hours of the morning, around 3AM.



At Chili's yesterday, TV5 threw a fantastic thank you party for being the number 3 TV station in the Philippines, they have been running for only 3 months.



Someone pulled my leg that Gretchen Baretto, my super idol is going to be at the party. She gives away a million pesos every week on her show, You and Me Against the World. I love the title.



TV5 news anchor for The Evening News (TEN) Cherry Mercado was present. She featured the party the same night on TV5 and all of us waited for it to be aired at Chili's.



We all had a fantastic celebration and kudos to TV5 for shaking Philippine television! If you want to be updated with TV5's programs, visit their website at http://www.tv5.com.ph/

Chasing Cars

I visited 5 different toy stores today in the metro, in search for Anya's Disney Cars collection. She is missing Luigi, Guido, and Boost. Also on my list is Wall-E's girlfriend Eva.


In each shop, I physically and personally went through the stocks and shelves. In Toys R' Us, I finally found Guido.

Luigi and Boost are very hard to find, I even visited Department Stores as well. Yet after all the hunting, I met Anya's super buddy Lightning McQueen and told him I was looking for his other friends.


Lightning says "Hi! Anya" too. Anya's cartoon friends are all over the place, I also met Ben 10 at a toy shop but didn't get a shot with him.

Will fix all Anya's toys for shipping tomorrow. Or might try the toy shoppes in Greenhills as someone informed me that there is a shoppe that has lots of Disney Cars.

I love you Anya! :)

Manny Pacquiao Wins!

Manny Pacquiao versus Dela Hoya.

Manny Pacquiao winner by Technical Knockout after round 8.

Baguette with fresh Tomatoes

As promised, I remade the sandwich I learned from Giada de Laurentiis and took a shot. This time, I got a fresh Baguette from the French Baker.


I enjoyed it this afternoon with a cold bottle of San Pellegrino. Only 39 pesos at French Baker!

Guess who we met?

At the World Trade Center, Bantay Bata Bazaar - I met Raiver Cruz whose dance moves are amazing. I hate my face here, I look like a squirming fan girl and my face turned maple red!


And Mama met Anya's boyfriend at Mall of Asia, Ben Tennyson or Ben 10 minus his alien force.

Ben Tennyson is muy gwapo in person too!

"Hi Anya!" - Ben

Midnight Snack Attack

I don't want thunder thighs but my favorite place right now is the kitchen. Here's a quick makeover for sausages.

Sprinkled lots of pepper, parmesan cheese, and garlic powder over these sausages. Popped them in the microwave and served with cheddar cheese and bread sticks from Delifrance.

Last night I made a simple Italian sandwich but the photo got deleted, will make it again sometime and take a snap. It's bread brushed with olive oil, topped with slices of cheese (mozarella is best), tomato, parmesan, pepper and salt. Heaven!