islands. bay. sea. caves. underground river. wind. water. sun.
puerto princesa, palawan, philippines.
here are more pictures from the cowboy-inspired party for my baby!
throwing a cowboy-themed party for your child? here’s what i did for my son’s first birthday party!
venue: Maya Playgarden, our preschool with a ranch feel
time: 3-6PM
invitations: handmade with baby’s picture in a cowboy hat
set-up: ranch-like. kraft paper as table runners. brown paper bags with cut-out letters for the streamers instead of tarpaulin. baby pictures hanging on twine as decor. sweet corn cut in circles on a stick to look like flowers.
menu:
for children - carrot burger, spaghetti (by default in children’s parties!:), cheese lumpia, sweet corn flowers on a stick, dirty ice cream in mango and cheese flavors, polvorina, kalamansi cupcakes. beverage: kalamansi juice.
for adults - spaghetti, assorted sandwiches, lumpiang shanghai, sweet corn flowers on a stick, lechon, pork bbq, cassava bibingka, polvorina, buko pandan, kalamansi cupcakes, leche flan. kalamansi juice.
cake: cowboy hat (carrot cake in fondant icing)
entertainment: live acoustic
games: apple-eating contest, relay, pin the tail, lasso the horse, pabitin
other gimmicks/attractions: best in cowboy costume contest, free-for-all playground
giveaways: cake pops (horse design)
pinay and proud
thanks to Human Nature Iloilo for making me the Pinay and Proud Iloilo Branch awardee.
one-of-a-kind jewelry from TJ Concepts. my friend is the official distributor here in the philippines.
1renewing your philippine passport
here are some tips before queuing up to the nearest DFA office:
(1) Only Manila has an appointment schedule feature in applying for or renewing a passport; in Iloilo City, the procedure is still walk-in. You really have to line up, so it’s really best to come in early. Iloilo DFA opens at 8AM.
(2) Be ready with your requirements before coming over. A completed application form, which you can download from the DFA website, a photo, your payment, photocopy of your old passport (pages 1-3, inside and back page, including your travel stamps).
(3) DFA is now issuing ePassports so there’s no need to bring 3 passport pictures. Just bring one for their file. A white background will suffice. A royal blue background is not necessary. Your actual passport photo will be taken inside the facility. They are now doing biometrics so they’ll take your photos, take a sample of your signature, and do a thumbprints scan.
(4) Regular processing fee ( about a month) is at Php 950.00. Express (about 2 weeks) is at Php 1,200.00.
(5) If you don’t want to pick up your new passport, you can have it delivered to you via LBC at Php 100.00 additional fee.
(6) If you’re like me and you are renewing your passport as a married woman, bring your NSO Marriage Contract.
(7) I tried to renew using a hyphenated name (Jaruda-Espinosa) and retain my mother’s maiden name as my middle name but they are discouraging married women from using it because it causes confusion in their records and apparently makes it complicated. Be ready to surrender your right to use this name under Art 370 of the Civil Code of the Philippines.
ADDENDUM:
Before taking your photo, you have to remove your earrings and necklace. Good thing I already wore a collared shirt. Not sure if it was a requirement, though. They didn’t tell me. But, to be sure, I think you should be wearing a decent shirt when you go there.
Penne Pasta in Vodka Sauce
Instead of pancetta, I used Honeycured bacon. - unhealthy
Instead of butter, I used Dari Creme light. - quite healthy (compared to butter)
I used Absolut vodka - ask the Russians! it’s healthy!
I used packed grated Parmesan - it’s not fresh so i guess it’s not healthy?
I used the new del monte lite cream with 0g trans fat - healthier?
I used the del monte tomato sauce with lycopene - healthy, right?
I used whole wheat penne pasta - healthy!
Penne Pasta with Chorizo
Ingredients:
1 pack of Balducci penne rigati (free of genetic modification)
Cebu chorizo (around 6 pcs or more, depending on your preference)
2 cloves garlic, minced
olive oil ( I used Bertolli)
mozzarella cheese (I used Perfect Italian)
(Ingredients available at the Iloilo Supermart, Atrium except for the Cebu chorizo, which was given to me by my sister-in-law. You could substitute with any other chorizo, preferably sweet and spicy in taste)
Procedure:
1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
2. Fry the chorizo in olive oil. Break the chorizo from its casing while still in the pan. Continue to fry in oil until it separates and looks crumbly.
3. Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant.
4. Add mozzarella cheese to taste. Coat chorizo-garlic mixture with the cheese until it melts.
5. Add the cooked pasta and turn off heat.
6. Serve immediately.
lango-lango! hahahaha happy 11th month, baby!
