Dangerous Minds Art Exhibit at Vinyl on Vinyl

Last Wednesday, we attended the opening of the Dangerous Minds Exhibit at Vinyl on Vinyl at The Collective. Some of our college friends from Bulacan arepart of this exhibit.

(c) Artworks of Jukus Sepada,
The Dangerous Minds Exhibit

It’s really nice catching up with these guys again and
seeing them breaking into the art industry here in Manila little by little.

A cool installation art made of paper mache  and colorful yarn strings at The Dangerous Minds Exhibit

The place is really cool plus all the artworks are awesome.
So, if by any chance, you’ll hangout at B-Side or anywhere near The Collective within the week, please do visit this exhibit at Vinyl on Vinyl, The Collective, 7274 Malugay St., Makati City. 

Perfect Bed-Weather Food: Wabi-Sabi's Ramen Padilla

While waiting for the opening of our college friends’ exhibit at The Collective, we decided to grab a quick bite at Wabi-Sabi Noodle House and Vegetarian Grocery. 

My boyfriend’s been raving about this place non-stop after trying it with some of his officemates. So, last night, since we're in the area,  it’s raining, and I am craving for something hot, I decided to give it a shot.

My handsome hubby getting our food. :)

Wabi-Sabi's Wall of Fame filled with polaroid photos of all celebrities who have tried

either their Ramen Padilla or Fernando Pho Jr.

Wabi-Sabi Noodle House, The Collective

The place exudes a cozy, feel-good Asian vibe. 
George Harrison's song was playing when we got there: instant plus points. 
The staff seemed nice and the service was quite fast as well.

Wabi-Sabi's Fried Vegan Haru Maki Spring Rolls

We ordered Vegan Haru Maki spring rolls for starters.
 I’m not sure what’s in it but I tasted nori and some banana blossoms.
 It’s paired with a soy sauce and mustard dip. It was so good, 

I bet even a five-year-old kid wouldn't mind eating the flavorful veggies inside. 

Their Thai milk tea... Well, I’m a fan of milk teas. Needless to say, I enjoyed it to the last drop.

Shoyu Ramen 

 A steamy bowl of shoyu ramen on a rainy night while The Beatles is playing on the background: perfect!:)
I am no ramen expert, but in my opinion, Wabi-Sabi's Ramen Padilla is delicious. Plus, the price is also reasonable.  A bowl of shoyu ramen or pho only costs 95 pesos. 

All in all, I enjoyed my first Wabi-Sabi Experience. My boyfriend and I will probably come back to try  their Fernando Pho Jr., vegan chocolate, or ice cream real soon. 

If you like good food, especially flavorful Asian dishes, but also want to explore healthier options, then Wabi-Sabi is the place to be.  

 Wabi-Sabi Noodle House and Vegetarian Grocery

The Collective, 774 Malugay St San Antonio, Makati

Contact Number: (02) 519-3950

My Booksale Love Affair

FACT: I love books. I love the feel of paper. I love the smell of books. I love places filled with books. 

(c) http://www.theparisienexpat.com

That being said, I love Booksale and one of them is the nearest outlet from my office, the one in Cityland Condominum Tower 2 in front of RCBC Plaza.

(c) http://www.booksale.com.ph

I go there whenever I’m stressed or down.  My boyfriend knows very well how my eyes literally light up like a Christmas tree whenever I go inside that place. I don’t usually like waiting but if my boyfriend tells me to wait for him there and  he’ll buy me one in return, no questions asked, I’ll wait for him like a good girlfriend would. Hehehe!

        (c) ArdentArrianne.Blogspot.com

I love my brand-new books no less, but hoarding second-hand ones is way easier, as they’re twice cheaper. The picture above: a copy of Anne of Green Gables at 120 Php and a cool pumpkin orange jotter pad for only 39 Php. 

   (c) ArdentArrianne.Blogspot.com
 I found this in a copy of The Kite Runner. It says on the back that the baby’s name is Courtney. Using your baby’s picture as a bookmark? So adorkable. :)

Also, there are surprising finds in pre-loved books: library cards, doodles, petals, dried flowers, vintage bookmarks, to cute baby pictures.  

(c) The Guardian

(c) The Guardian

Read more about it in Wayne Gooderham’s The Secret Contents of Second Hand Books article.

I would like to believe that it’s my own little way of being eco-friendly? If no one’s going to buy it, where is it going to go? It’s sort of like giving a home to homeless books. Hahaha. :)

You can visit Booksale's website to find the nearest shop near your area. There's also a little second-hand bookstore at the second level of RCBC Plaza near Krispy Kreme and 7 Eleven called Books for Less. 

The Best Garden Wedding Venues in Bulacan

A garden venue is an absolute must-have in every girl's dream wedding. While there are a lot of event places in Manila that offer a beautiful garden setup like Fernwood Gardens, Blue Garden, Secret Garden, and the Glass Garden, these places are expensive and are only advisable to book if you live near the metro or if most of your guests are from there.

For couples who are on a strict budget, good news: Bulacan, which is conveniently an hour away from Metro Manila, offers a handful of equally stunning garden wedding venues at a friendlier rate. 

Here are some of the best garden wedding venues in Bulacan:

THE GREENERY

With its man-made lake with an actual dock, an infinity pool, a vintage train, an iconic lighthouse, a pavilion with elegant furnishes, a sprawling garden, villas to house your guests, what more can you ask for? The Greenery can host lavish banquets with more than 300 guests.

The Greenery is a picture-perfect location for that unforgettable garden wedding you’ve always wanted. But of course, all this awesomeness comes with a slightly hefty price, but I bet still cheaper than venues in Manila.

 The iconic lighthouse overlooking the open garden. (c) The Greenery

This place has been used numerous times as location for TV soap operas, photo shoots,  etc. This is where Maricar Reyes and Richard Poon secretly shot their romantic prenup video.

For detailed quotations, contact:

The Greenery 

# 80 Rio Vista Subdivision

Sabang, Baliwag, Bulacan

Tel Number: +044 766 6325 

Telefax: +044 766 6326 

Sun Mobile: +0922 827 5122 

Email:info@thegreenery.ph

LAS NINA'S DEL CARMEN 

(c) Las Ninas del Carmen FB

Situated in the City of Malolos and touted as “Bulacan’s very own Fernwood Gardens,” Las Nina’s del Carmen, is an ideal spot for intimate garden weddings. It features a lush open garden, a spacious pavilion big enough to accommodate 100 to 150 guests, and sophisticated Asian details. The place does not offer accommodations, but you can book nearby hotels like BarCie International for your guests and family.

For detailed quotations, contact:

Las Niñas Del Carmen

Longos, Malolos, Bulacan

(044) 796-0581

CAMP RESORT 

(c) CAMP Resort FB

Now don't be deceived by its name. Although the name sounds plain, this place is actually a hidden

sanctuary adorned with various fruit-bearing and ornamental trees that will surely make a perfect backdrop for that secret garden wedding theme you have in mind. 

Book it for the weekend, and have your family and friends spend the night before or after your wedding day in their well-fitted rooms and suites. Accessibly located minutes away from Tabang and Sta. Rita NLEX exits, Camp Resort also offers wall climbing, as swimming pool, and other recreational activities.

For detailed quotations, contact:

Camp Resort

Brgy. Pritil, Guiguinto, Bulacan

Email:campallianceresort@yahoo.com

Mobile:(0923) 730-5080 / (0908)886-7083 / (0919) 238-9263

THE GRASS GARDEN RESORT AND VILLAS

(c) The Grass Garden FB

Another good venue to consider is The Grass Garden Resort and Villas in Plaridel, Bulacan. Now although it’s lined with lush trees and plants, I’m honestly not sure if they have an expansive garden for an outdoor wedding ceremony. However, they do have well-designed pavilion that can accommodate up to 350 guests. They also have comfortable suites that can each house up to eight guests.

Update: they do have a garden-like area for Christian weddings. This is where we had ours. I'll try to post photos soon!

For detailed quotations, contact:

The Grass Garden Resort and Villas

044.795.2259

God's Work in the Life of Rica Peralejo-Bonifacio

I've known Rica Peralejo since I was child. I can’t say that I’m a fan but I find her really beautiful.

I have stumbled upon these YouTube videos while looking for more of Jason Magbanua’s works.  Honestly, I have seen some of her steamy photos and movie clips, which are still scattered around the Internet these days. Yes, most of them I even saw on the right-hand pane of YouTube the same time I was watching these videos. But seeing those videos made me understand more how much work God must have done in her life.

In her 700 Club interview with Connie Reyes, Rica talks about how she came to know God, gave up her vices (smoking and drinking), changed the way she dresses, almost lost her career when she chose to follow Jesus, and how God has helped her along the way.

I find Rica’s story very inspirational. I believe God is using her story today to tell all women that it’s never too late for anything really and that with Him your past doesn't matter. Our friends, family, and even ourselves will judge us for what we've done in the past but God will never even hold it against us if we just give him one thing: our total surrender.

Rica went back to school and finished college with flying colors at 31. She currently has a morning show and a regular Sunday column in Manila Bulletin. She's very involved in the Lord's ministry and even uses her blog, Wonders&Wanders, to share God's miracles in her life today.

She's also happily married to her husband Jim, a pastor.  This is Rica and Jim's wedding video by Jason Magbanwa. In his vows, Jim’s last words were:

“I promise to constantly pursue you and make you feel loved and wanted, because you’re worth it.”

Binabaha Ba Ang Makati (Does It Flood in Makati)?

Aerial shot of provinces and cities from the South underwater. Source: Yahoo News

Last August, Bagyong Maring’s relentless downpours, which was intensified by Habagat (monsoon), left the entire Metro Manila and its neighboring provinces – including Bulacan, Pampanga, Cavite, and Laguna – submerged in waist up to 10-feet-deep floods.

Vice President, Jojo Binay and his son, Makati Mayor, Jun-Jun Binay, riding in an amphibian truck to check out the entire city. This photo was taken along Mayapis in front of Cityland. Source: Facebook

Sunday night, after spending the weekend in Bulacan, I went back to my apartment only to see Gil Puyat Avenue underwater, although this is a typical scenario for Mayapis and Filmore after three to four hours of rain.

My ultimate baha experience: lumusong sa hanggang tuhod na baha with a week’s worth of freshly washed clothes and a laptop. Thank God, for my boyfie and for pedicabs. :)

I’m kind of relieved I don’t own a car right now. Not sure if this car will still run. :(

Monday, Day One: In my mind, I thought the flood was going to subside in the morning and everything will be fine. But then I woke up to a text message from our HR saying that our office will be closed and that we can work from home. Could it be that bad? I went out and this is what I saw: knee-high flood everywhere!

Photo outside our building taken by my cousin at 3:30 in the morning

Ankle-deep flood by 4:00 in the afternoon the same day.

We didn't have any food in our apartment. L But luckily, we were able to get food and other supplies when the water subsided later that afternoon.  

Tuesday, Day Two: The water was all gone Monday night. So, again, I thought we could all go to work the next day. Morning came and this happened: whoa! Mas tumaas ang baha (the water got higher)! Work’s suspended for real this time. 

The view from above: we can only see the topmost half of these cars.

It's that bad that even our garage at the ground floor level, which was already elevated, got flooded. 

Thank God, our unit’s way up level three or it would have been a different story.

But in all fairness, this is nothing compared to other people’s Maring experience. I was only trapped at home with limited food supply (pero may Wi-Fi pa rin), but other people lost their homes, livelihood, and even family members. :(

Some men from our neighborhood out to buy food ... or perhaps just taking a dip. Haha.

Yes, it does flood in Makati, but hey, where doesn't it flood these days? Times have changed. Even climate has changed. Ondoy, Maring, and other typhoons getting more catastrophic each year and now the devastating Habagat effect, who knows what's next? We'll never know. 

The best thing to do is to be prepared all at all times. How? Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Always go for apartment units in the topmost floors.
• Store non-perishable and no-cook food items such as canned goods, crackers, instant noodles for emergencies.
• Take a shower or, at least, wash your feet and legs immediately after “the ultimate baha experience” to avoid risks of leptospirosis.
• Always keep in touch with your family, especially if you don’t live with them or trapped somewhere else when this happens , to keep them from worrying. 

Free Heart Bypass c/oPhilHealth's Z Benefit Program

After less than a year of waiting, finally, my dad had his bypass surgery last month. 

What Is A Heart Bypass?

Now, coronary artery bypass surgery, which is also called coronary artery bypass graft or CABG (pronounced as “cabbage”) by most doctors, is a major operation that saves thousands of patients suffering from severe heart disease.

PhilHealth Z Benefits 

Unfortunately, not everyone can afford this procedure. The Philippine Heart Center, a heart specialty hospital run by the government, offers heart operation packages for as much as 500,000 pesos to 700,000 pesos, depending on how many arteries are affected – a fortune for an average Juan like us. 

But thanks to PhilHealth’s Z Benefits, their newest health benefit package, my dad had his all expenses paid. For a moment, I felt happy I paid my taxes. :D

All thumbs up after the operation

"We need to aggressively reduce household out-of-pocket health care costs, especially in times of catastrophic illnesses that may or even further push Filipinos into poverty,"

– PhilHeath President and CEO, Dr. Eduardo P. Banzon.

Getting his strength back. Dad at  Philippine Heart Center's Intensive Care Unit

Medical cases that can be covered by PhilHealth’s Z Benefit:

• Childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
• Breast cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Heart disease

Who are qualified to avail this benefit?

• PhilHealth members under the Employed sector
• PhilHealth members under the Employed Sector
• PhilHealth members under the Individually Paying
• PhilHealth members under the Lifetime Member Program
• Sponsored Program and Overseas Workers Program members including their qualified dependents.

For more information on Z Benefits, visit http://www.PhilHealth.gov.ph

The Power of Prayer: This piece of paper was given by Luigi, my dad's first attending nurse.

Philippine Heart Center

My family’s experience with dad’s bypass at the Philippine Heart Center was really good. For starters, they were the one who suggested that we make an application to PhilHealth’s new program. 

My family. :)

Compared to other hospitals, I believe it’s the only competent specialty facility with an army of experts here in the country that offers the most affordable rates and additional social assistance to qualified patients. From doctors (at least majority of the ones I saw while we were there), nurses, maintenance people, to security guards, everyone there’s just full of heart – always smiling, polite, very concerned, and all that.

After eight crucial days in the hospital, my dad is now on his road to recovery. Of course, all of this wouldn’t have been possible, if it weren’t for our biggest backer ever, the Lord Almighty. From the smallest details to biggest road blocks, He helped us all the way.

To God alone be the glory! =)

Product Review: Marie's Poster Color

Using poster colors bring back old memories from Art school, as it is the water medium we use for our most of our plates (what we call our art projects), back in college. It's the best medium to use especially for beginners. You can use it as a "wash" or very transparent-like watercolor strokes.

However, you can also use it like gouache or acrylic if you want thicker and richer colors. I remember one of my professors in Art school telling us that the perfect consistency of poster paints should be like that of a hair conditioner.

(c) ArdentArrianne.blogspot.com
This is a Philippine Kingfisher using poster paint. To see my version of this in oil pastel,

For this particular piece, I used Marie's poster color in tubes that I bought from National Bookstore. I was initially a little hesitant to buy it because back in college the poster paints we use come in little jars. I'm more familiar with DONG-A, Sakura, and Reeves as brands for poster paints. It’s a first for me to encounter a Marie's poster color.

It's usually more known as brand for acrylics and oil paints. However, I think it's a good purchase. The pigments are very rich like acrylics. It’s also very convenient for a travelling artist, since you don't have to carry the whole jar set anymore whenever you need to paint.

How to Transfer Content from One Blog to Your WordPress Blog

I’ve been having a lot of bloopers with my blogging life lately.  Creating too many blogs and then ending up wanting to transfer all contents of one blog to a different blog (just because I think the other sounds cooler) to name a few. If you're like me (yes, if you're fickle-minded, too), then this post will absolutely be helpful for you.

How to Export Content:

1. Open the source blog (the one with the content you want to transfer).
2. Go to Dashboard.
3. Look for Tools.
4. Choose Export.
5. Select All Content option.
6. Click Download Export File button.
7. Save the file to your computer.

How to Import Content:

1. Open the destination blog (the one where you want your content to be).
2. Go to Dashboard.
3. Look for Tools.
4. Choose Import.
5. You will then be asked to choose a system to import. If you’re transferring content from a WordPress blog, like me, select WordPress.
6. Upload the export file.

And there you have it. You now have all your content where you want them to be.  :)

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Yellow and Black, A Very How-I-Met-Your-Mother Wedding

I’m so hooked to How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM), I can’t wait to watch their next and final season! You see, I’ve seen Ted helplessly fall in and out of love many, many times, as you probably have if you’ve watched all their episodes. Yes, it’s very, very painful to watch him do it over and over again. But what can we do, that’s what really happens in real life. It’s just a relief that finally the he’s meeting the iconic Mother whom we’ve been itching to meet as well for sure, (thanks to CBS writers).

When you meet the right person, you know it. You can’t stop thinking about them. They are your best friend, and your soul mate. You can’t wait to spend the rest of your life with them. No one and nothing else can compare.

And because I’m so happy for Ted and Mother (whatever they’re going to call her), I’ve decided to post about a wedding motif that’s so HIMYM! Remember the yellow umbrella?

Good. :) Enter my top picks for a very HIMYM Yellow and Black Wedding:

This wedding theme is perfect for both indoor and outdoor settings. I'll bet it will also look fantastic regardless if you're getting married on a summer or a rainy season. Yellow and black is simply sweet and elegant, absolutely the impression you'd want to make on your wedding day! :)

Disclaimer: photos are not mine; they're mostly from different online sources.

Suggested Reading: The Mango Bride

Hey, just thought you guys should know: I'm planning to grab this book by Marivi Soliven, who's a proud Filipina just like me. I'm still not sure why it's called The Mango Bride. But I see a handful of good reviews for this, not to mention the fact that the author bagged the prestigious 2011 Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, so I'll say it's worth a try. :)

Wedding Inspirations: Game of Thrones, The Red Wedding

If you are one of the many followers of HBO's Game of Thrones, then perhaps a medieval-inspired wedding have already crossed your mind. Why not? Think princesses, princes, and knights. But then comes the most talked about season finale of all times, Season 3's The Red Wedding. Yes, let's shut it before we give the grooms a "brillliant" idea.

[caption id="attachment_86" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Groom: Let's have a Red Wedding ala Game of Thrones![/caption]

While Game of Thrones' The Red Wedding may seem a little inappropriate to recreate for your own wedding, in many Asian cultures, the color red has always been associated with love, desire, passion, prosperity and a whole lot more.

For me, red is a very powerful and captivating hue that is best set with other contrasting colors.



Here are some of my top picks from one of my favorite wedding websites,  The Knot:

• Wedding Invitation

• Bouquet for the Bride

• Flowers for the Bridesmaids

• Hair Accessory for Bridesmaids

• Boutonniere for the Groom and His Groomsmen

• Killer Heels

• Table Setting

• Reception Setup

• Wedding Cake

• Wedding Treats and Favors

Note: All photos featured in this post belong to The Knot.