Food From The North

From the right:

• Crispy Dinuguan
• Pinakbet

Crispy Dinuguan mainly made from bagnet (deep fried pork meat) and cooked pork blood.

Pinakbet (different vegetables cooked with spices) is a popular Ilocano dish.

        The picture was taken at Herencia Cafe of Paoay, just in front of Paoay Church (also known as St. Augustine Church) located in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.
        Herencia Cafe of Paoay offers different authentic Ilocano dishes.

See this link: http://paoay.blogspot.com/2007/08/herencia-cafe-of-paoay.html

@ Playa Tropical Resort Hotel

So relaxing

So refreshing

My friend Jonalyn really loves picture taking. ^.~

        Overlooking from Playa is the South China Sea and from there you may see the beautiful sunset.

Filipino Street Food "Balut (Egg)"

Say "Hi" duckling..!

Yummy!

        Balut is a fertilized duck egg or chicken egg with a nearly-developed embryo inside that is boiled and eaten in the shell.

        It is eaten with salt only or salt and vinegar. I eat not more than two (2) baluts a day because eating too much of it may cause high blood pressure.

        Balut is known to be an aphrodisiac and considered a high-protein, hearty snack. It is commonly sold as streetfood in the Philippines.

        The pictures here were taken last April 2010 along Pedro Gil Street near the LRT (Light Rail Transit) Pedro Gil Station. That time, me and my friends used to eat streetfoods after our duty hours for our OJT (On-The-Job-Training) at Diamond Hotel Philippines. We also used to walk along Pedro Gil Street and eat different kinds of street foods such as "isaw" (chicken intestine), fish balls, chicken balls, squid balls, dried squids and many more. It's an enjoyable experience but also risky for the health.

Big Bear Hug at SM Mall Of Asia

I hugged Mr. Papa Bear..!

Papa Bear and I were looking for his wife Mrs. Mama Bear.

I tried to find Mrs. Mama Bear but what I found is a bunch of cute Baby Bears. :-)

@ Diamond Hotel Philippines

Leonard (K-9), and the D.A.

Paoay Church, also known as the St. Augustine Church in Paoay, Ilocos Norte

The construction of Paoay Church was started by the Augustinian friars in 1694. It was completed and was re-dedicated in 1894. It has a unique combination of Gothic, Baroque and Oriental designs.
The church is known as the “Earthquake Baroque” church in the Philippines. It was built of baked bricks, coral rocks, salbot (tree sap) and lumber, and has 24 carved massive buttresses for support.
Large coral stones were used for the lower level while bricks were used for the upper levels of the church. The walls are 1.67 meters thick made of the same materials. Its bell tower, which stands a few meters away from its main building, is made of coral stone. Few inches away from the building, the coral stones are visible.
The three-storey coral stone bell tower served as an observation post in 1896 for the Katipuneros during the Philippine revolution against the Spaniards, and also by the Filipino guerillas during the Japanese occupation in World War II.
The bell tower also served as a status symbol for the locals. Historians said that the bell would ring more loudly during the wedding of a prominent clan than it would during the wedding of the poor.

See this link: http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Paoay_Church

Fort Ilocandia Resort And Casino (Photos) Laoag City, Ilocos Norte

Warrior

Entrance and Exit

Four sisters

Edit Photo (The Before and After)

After (2)

Before

After (1)

        I had fun editing a photo at taaz.com.

I just shared it here so that you may also try to edit your photos.

        You may put on different hair types, sunglasses, and makeup's; and play or experiment with different colors and styles. You can also imitate the hairstyle and makeup of international female actresses/singers and other famous people.

        It is a fun experience for those who want to make their face and hair look different without applying a real makeup or cutting and styling their hair. Try it now! ^.~

It Is Said That Parsley Leaves (Kinchay) Helps Cure Kidney Stone Problem

Parsley

Parsley in culinary is commonly used to garnish food.

There are some helpful information about parsIey which I got from wikipedia:

Medicinal Use

• Cherokees used it as a tonic to strengthen the bladder.
• Parsley also appears to increase diuresis by inhibiting the Na+/K+-ATPase pump in the kidney, thereby enhancing sodium and water excretion while increasing potassium re absorption. It is also valued as an aquaretic.
• The essential oil apiole found in all parts of parsley are a proven kidney stimulant.

Health Risk

• Parsley should not be consumed as a drug or supplement by pregnant women.

Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parsley

        My father was diagnosed with stones in both of his kidneys. He used to drink cranberry juice and after few months I discovered that cranberry juice contains substances which may crystalize and can form kidney stones.

        He had another ultrasound and it was indicated in the result that the stones had grown bigger and his legs had always felt bad as a side effect of his condition. As known by my brother, he then gave an advice to father. Brother said that in order to treat the kidney stone problem or help minimize it, father should drink the extract from boiled parsley leaves.

        Everyday, my mother would wash parsley leaves and bring them to a boil. My father would drink the liquid three times a day. After few days of drinking the herbal liquid, he told us that he felt better; his legs are still in pain but not as often as they used to be. He also can walk better than before.

        Now, aside from parsley leaves, my mother also prepares boiled leaves and root of eight different herbal plants. She make my father drink the liquid from boiled herbs.