Tsim tsiu, Mano Po 親吻手

February 28th, 2010 by The Photoblogger

The Tiu Gan Altar

Tsim Tsiu or Mano Po is the Filipino-Chinese act of receiving a blessing from an elder relative by means of gently making contact between the hand of the elder and the forehead of the youth.

Ancestral Altar

Tsim Tsiu is literally translated as Kissing the hand but is now adapted in the form of contact between hand and forehead. This is a common practice amongst Filipinos and is even seen in church when the churchgoers receive the blessing from the priest by means of Tsim Tsiu

Some of the clan members

I am proud to be 50% chinese and part Filipino. Our family’s culture shows how persisent and hardworking the chinese really are. I’ve been told countless tales of my grandfather starting with nothing and now leaving the family with blessings to sustain us.

Recently our family had to go to our Clan gathering in downtown Cebu. My memories of this place consisted of awardings and ceremonies but after I graduated from High school I no longer go to the clan gatherings.

Our Tiu-Gan clan association awards students and teachers who excel in the field of Chinese education and my shobe (??/ younger sister) got recently awarded for having third honors in Chinese education. I miss the times when I used to go to a Chinese School and received awards myself. I could use some extra cash too you know. *wink*

Unfortunatelty, today’s generation is becoming less aware of the importance of upholding the culture and values of the old chinese. Although this may be an advantage such as the tolerance of inter-marriage amongst non-Tsinoys, values such as respect for elders are also slowly fading away.

Nevertheles, I am still proud to be Tsinoy or Fil-Chi and even if I am just a half-blood I will continue to uphold the ways of the Chinese starting with the very roots of Tsim Tsiu.

6 Comments / Posted in 中文

Red Ribbon Chocolate Heaven!!!

February 27th, 2010 by The Photoblogger

Beauty and sweetness merged into one

After staring hopelessly at the TV screen while the commercial went on, I grew restless and hungry for the new Red Ribbon Chocolate Heaven cake.

Chocolate Heaven from Red Ribbon

I love food.

Deep chocolate inside

Red ribbon has always been my traditional favorite. Back then my family bringing home a Red Ribbon black forest cake must have indicated a really special occasion. It could’ve been an honor roll when the grades come out or it could’ve been world peace. Eitherways everyone loves Red ribbon in our family.

Topped with rolls of pure chocolate

It was a delightful feast when we finally tried this new creation by Red Ribbon: the Chocolate Heaven. It’s so sweet it’s enough to give me a sugar rush to heaven. I’ve seen the beauty of Red Ribbon’s S’mores, Black forest, oreo, and white forest and now this.

Red Ribbon just does not stop and that is why I always come back for more.

Beautiful in and Out

Piece-o-cake

I like sweet stuff but anyone can tell you too much is not good. The Chocolate heaven is actually a well balanced cake with icing for beauty, mousse layer for delight, and basal brownie for neutralizing the sweetness of the first two. The whole thing is a dance of sweetness that is not too sweet that it hurts your tongue.

Red Ribbon has done it again. I’m just curious as to what they will come up with next.

(Oh, and I find it funny that they bring out the words chocolate and heaven in this season of lent.)

Ahia making a slice

Achi devouring her share

The cake after 3 slices

Isa nom noming

1 Comment / Tags: , , , / Posted in Food

‘No Problem’ Sutukil Mactan Cebu

February 27th, 2010 by The Photoblogger

fresh fish displau

I once did a post about Sutukil in Mactan Cebu. Now I’m going to share a little experience in “No Problem” Sutukil.

achi feeling the sea air

The sutukil restaurant was named as such because they once had tranny waiters/waitress (or somewhere in between) who would answer to you in the common phrase: “no problem!”

You ask for water they answer ‘No Problem!’. You ask for extra spoon or fork they answer ‘No Problem!’. You ask for the bill they will answer ‘No Problem!’. And that is pretty much why the place is “No Problem!”

However, things have changed now. The waiters/waitress no longer say ‘no problem’. And just recently my family ate there and there seemed to be lesser quantity in the food that was served

achi helping dad choose

than what we personally selected in their fresh fish selection. Although we cannot have concrete proof that we were cheated but I’m just gonna warn you to be mindful of what you ordered.

No Problem Sutukil is quite “deep” inside the line of restaurants so you’ll hae to go even further in the place to find it.

We ordered some scallops, Lapu Lapu fish, Molmol (Parrot fish), shrimps, and a Giant Clam (I’m still not even sure if it was legal to eat such.)

The food is actually pretty good. You can definitely taste the freshness of the fish you eat but the problem was the price was also as very fresh. It’s quite sad that they are overpricing their food so that it discourages a good number of locals to  eat in there.

achi and shobe

There is now a bit of problem in the recent time we ate there. The last time we ate there I had a high satisfaction rating for the place that I wanted to go back and blog about it. Now I had quit a bad experience with the place.

The eating experience isn’t as good anymore as there are some begging kids beside the restaurant. (it makes you feel guilty when you’ve got something to eat and they don’t.) We also felt cheated as the Calamares (fried squid) being served was fewer in quantity than what we ordered.

I checked in Istorya.net/forums and some people agreed that the same Sutukil restaurant

mom achi and shobe

actually served less than what we purchased. The forumers shared that it is possible they cook their stock rather than cook what you chose.. I suspected it once I tried the calamares because it was thinner, drier and blander than the calamares in other places. We couldn’t argue with them because we didn’t have proof.

But enough about the bad stuff, here are some recommended food:

  • Lapu-lapu fish- as the name suggest it is a Cebu special. You might want to request it to be cooked using steaming methods to fully appreciate the tenderness of the meat.
  • Molmol (Parrot fish)- I love this served with tomatoes and onions inside it, asked for it to be grilled. You can also asked it to be in ‘kilaw’ form. great for appetizers
  • Baked scallops – although no longer as fresh as I tried before maybe I had a bad timing, just try it out anyway, you might like it
  • Crab- if you love crustaceans then this is for you, there are several ways to prepare this. You just select what you want although I’ve always preferred steamed
  • Shrimp- before I tried it with sweet sauce but now I know I definitely want it with Garlic and butter

dad and mom in pink

Those are just few of my choices. Do leave a comment if you want to know more.

The Area

The area

The Food:

baked scallops with shells

lapu lapu soup

Crab with sweet sauce

Giant Clam Kinilaw style

Shrimp with Garlic and butter

Parrot fish kinilaw

And that’s your No Problem Sutukil

6 Comments / Tags: , , , , / Posted in Cebu, Food

QUIZ Night in Cebu!

February 24th, 2010 by The Photoblogger

My friend Benj Espina once shared to me about quiz nights in bars in Manila. I always envied how they had those kind of things because I myself am an avid reader and boy do I like general knowledge. Now they actually have quiz night in Cebu!

I remember watching shows like Game knb, who wants to be a millionaire and other shows involving trivias. it was always interesting to know about stuff you don’t usually hear about.

Unfortunately for me the quiz night happens deep in a weeknight meaning school comes after. T_T That does not stop me from wanting to go to the quiz. (Want but can’t. lol.) Quiz night in Cebu is available in Alejandros which is located in Don Jose Avila St., Capitol Site, Cebu City.

So bring your friends over for a fun night in Alejandro’s first ever Quiz night in Cebu every Wednesday Nights!

You can contact them through this number:

253-7921

and look for Jade.

7 Comments / Tags: , , , , , , , / Posted in Cebu, Events

Sutukil in Mactan Cebu

February 24th, 2010 by The Photoblogger

Cebu Sutukil is one of Mactan’s delicious treats found in the island of mactan in the city of Lapu lapu.

Cebu Sutukil stands for Sugba, Tuwa, and Kilaw. Sugba which means to Grill, Tuwa which means to make into Tinola or soup, and Kilaw which means to make Kinilaw or raw style serving of the fish, are just the main ways of cooking the delicious fresh seafood found in the rich marine resources in Mactan.

The Sutukil is not actually just one restaurant but several restaurants found in one area. Talk about competition. To get to Cebu Sutukil in Mactan you need to just go to Mactan Shrine then beside the shrine entrance is a parking lot and a narrow entrance.

When you enter the Sutukil area you will be greeted with several people who will try to drag you to their Sutukil Restaurant. This is the part where I advice you to try to bring a friend who can accompany you and advice you on which Restaurant to go. I was able to do two restaurant reviews in Sutukil:

1. Manna Sutukil
2. “No Problem” Sutukil

Then again there are several other sutukil restaurant available there.

If you are a foreigner I regretfully will warn you that there are some who will try to trick you with the pricinings of the fish there. After all, the food here in Cebu is supposedly comparably cheaper than food outside. That is why you should at least bring a friend or a guide to help you choose your food and watch out for overpricing.

Do leave a comment if there is something you want to know more about SUTUKIL in Mactan Cebu.

6 Comments / Tags: , , , , , , , , / Posted in Cebu, Food, Travel

UCC Cafe Ayala Terraces Revisited

February 22nd, 2010 by The Photoblogger

UCC cafe Logo just outside the shop in Ayala Terraces

I’ve been to Ayala Cebu UCC Cafe Terraces for already four times. For a person who likes to eat, stay in isolated places, four times is quite few.

Sipping from my Creme Brulee drink while working away

The UCC coffee coffee located in Ayala Terraces is quite near to Marriott hotel thus attracting people staying in the hotel.

I personally chose that for my little business meeting because it was secluded, the ambiance was nice for discussion, and I do enjoy their drinks.

Last time I was there I ordered some strawberry drink. Now I decided to try something new so I went for the creme brulee.

A nice cold glass of creme brulee

I just love the cream on top.

Creme brulee just filled my mouth with a nice soft sweetness that was worth every moment of drinking.

They even provided a cute little spoon so I can nomnom on the delicate cream .

One thing I like about UCC Cafe is that it just feels so… homey. I feel comfortable there especially that four corner table set up with the chairs seemingly embracing the person sitting on it.

Pizza toast

Vegetarian Pizza Toa

For a change, instead of just the usual drink I decided to get something to eat. For somewhere 200+ php you can get a generous serving of Pizza Toast and they happen to have my favorite kind of pizza: Vegetarian.

My companion also ordered a pizza toast but his was the Meat Lovers.

The meat lovers Pizza Toast

Meat Lovers

In general I really like the UCC Cafe shop in Ayala Terraces but here’s a little part I didn’t quite particularly enjoy:

  • Wifi connection was fluctuating, UCC personnel blamed it on Globe Tattoo.. Ei Globe, any comments on this?
  • Price is OUCH! I felt like my wallet grew lighter by 90% after eating there.

If you’re after a nice place to do a meeting or probably a breakfast Club then UCC cafe is a nice place.

Empty in the afternoons. Perfect for business meetings

Chinese new year along with Valentines

The Valentines Aura in the Shop

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3 Comments / Tags: , , , , , , , , / Posted in Cebu, Food

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