“Don’t Quit” By Edgar Albert Guest


“DON’T QUIT”

by Edgar Albert Guest

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
when the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
when the funds are low and the debts are high,
and you want to smile but you have to sigh,
when care is pressing you down a bit – rest if you must, but don’t you quit. 
Life is queer with its twists and turns.
As everyone of us sometimes learns.
And many a fellow turns about when he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow – you may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than it seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up when he might have captured the victor’s cup;
and he learned too late when the night came down,
how close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out – the silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
and when you never can tell how close you are,
it may be near when it seems afar;
so stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit – it’s when things seem worst, you must not quit.


I was looking for the Filipino-English dictionary in our book shelf and found this magazine instead from Kuya’s stuff when he was still studying at the Philippine Military Academy. Dito ko una nabasa ang poem na “Don’t Quit.”

My brother is one of my accountability partners na tiga-sabi sa akin ng “don’t quit.” Sya rin actually nag-introduce ng faith sa akin. Dahil napagod na sya kaka-advise kapag nagte-text ako sa kanya ng madaling araw back in 2012 dahil sa mga problema ko. 🤣 Nah, kami kasi magkasunod sa magkakapatid kahit pa 5 years ang agwat naming dalawa kaya mas close ako sa Kuya ko. But I also love my sisters just the same and I get to talk to them always, too. ❤️

My brother has been serving the country as a military officer since 2006. And I must say na napakalaki ng influence nya sa akin pagdating hindi lang sa faith kundi pati in life in general. And if ever matuloy ang plan ko to have an IUI (via sperm donor from a fertility clinic) and ma-diagnose ako with breast cancer later in life and ‘di ko sya ma-survive, I will ask my brother and my sis-in-law to adopt my child.

O di ba, ganun ako kalayo magplano. Tapos sasabihin ni God, nagsayang ka lang ng energy Tin dahil hindi ‘yan ang plano ko for you. lol Saklap. 😆 But seriously, if ever that happens, my bro and sister-in-law will be my first choice para sa magiging adoptive parents ng aking anak. My sis-in-law will make a very good Mom (she adopted not less than 5 street cats and still counting 😁). She is a flight attendant at Cebu Pacific, and I call her “the Gal Gadot of the Philippines” because she really looks like her – the Asian version. 😍

Taken during Kuya’s NAG graduation in 2010 kung tama pagkakaalala ko.
Friends, madali lang pala magpaandar ng eroplano. Parang nagda-drive ka lang ng kotse……sa panaginip.
With the Phil Navy Cessna Plane
Bawal po pala mag-drive ng eroplano nang naka-skirt. Bakit kaya? 🤔
Ang Pamaypay. Bow. Miss you, Mom. ❤️

Kasama din pala sa mga nagpe-perform during the flying exhibition sa Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Festival ang mga piloto ng Naval Air Wing (formerly Naval Air Group) of the Philippine Navy represented by the top officer of their class.

Circa 2013: 18th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Festival w/ Victory GT Toyota (UP Diliman) churchmates @ Clark Air Base.

Speaking of hot air balloon festivals, Bicol will also be having its very own hot air balloon event on May 3-5, 2024, which will be held at the old Legazpi airport as part of the Bicol Loco Festival. I hope my 3rd sister will join me to watch this event and hopefully Dad, too, if he is fit enough to travel. And I’m praying for a clear and picturesque view of the ever beautiful and ever perfect Mt. Mayon as the backdrop. 😍

At dahil kailangan ko maghanap ng old photos for this post, I had to reactivate (and deactivate again lol) my personal Fb account, and I found myself reminiscing. Sakto sa #flashbackFriday feels kaya minabuti ko nang mag-screenshot ng ibang photos just in case may mangyari sa Meta, at least may kopya pa din sa WordPress.

Nakaka-miss balikan ang mga happy memories and fun times with friends, former coworkers and classmates, and relatives. Ah yes, it was a past lived well. But God is calling me now to make more meaningful memories with new faces in new places – I am very much looking forward to it. And yet not my will, but His will be done always. ❤️

But wait, introvert nga pala ako. Introvert nga ba talaga ako? 🤔🤣

P.S. Para akong Camaro ngayon na nagre-rev sa garahe, naka-standby lang. Pero kapag binuksan na ang pinto ng garahe, kakaripas na until I’m out of sight. 😂 So baka ang mga susunod kong blog posts ay mga 1 sentence na lang kasi sobrang busy na. lol

My next post actually is for the breast cancer community because I am currently consolidating data regarding the medical assistance provided by different government agencies lalo na para sa mga indigents. Ang hirap mag-copy and paste every time na my nagtatanong kaya naisipan ko dito ko na lang sa blog i-post then share na lang ang link sa mga nagtatanong. Dahil sa kaka-share ko sa breast cancer support groups e napagkamalan tuloy akong resource person kaya andaming nagtatanong. 😅

But I am very happy to help. ♥️ Dahil ito lang ang maitutulong ko sa kanila because time is what I have now – oras para mag-research at oras para sagutin ang kanilang mga katanungan. Kagaya kay Nanay. I am praying na sana nakatulong sa kanya ang info. 🙏 Gusto ko rin sana sya samahan personally para tulungan sya kaso busy na din ako tulungan husband ko now para sa pag-alis nya.

Panawagan ko lang sa mga ahensya ng gobyerno na sana may Filipino version din ang mga instructions sa mga websites nila dahil ang hirap lang kaya mag-translate from English-Filipino. Waaaaah 😭 Sunggo much na ako. Tissue, please.

Ang haba na pala ng postscript ko. lol K. Tnx. Bye.


“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” – Galatians 6:9-10


Be Serenaded by The Italian Flavors of DON HENRICO’S Must –Try Pizzas, Pastas & More: BELLISSIMO!

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Pasta Lover

The Italian flavor has never been new to the Filipino palate and restaurants catering Italian cuisine are everywhere. But as the old saying goes, “some things never go out of style” and out of sync with the best of the best in pleasing the tummies.

I bet there are classics that are an all-time favorite i.e. the first restaurant where you tried this, which had this and offered this. Let’s go Flashback Friday then and take a glimpse on Don Henrico’s humble beginnings.

Founded way back 1993 in Baguio City, the establishment became a hit not just to the students, who were originally the targeted clientele, but also to the rest of the locals and tourists alike. Soon, branches spread down south invading the country’s capital, which is Metro Manila. They now have 10 branches in the following places in Luzon: Session Road, SM Baguio, Malate, Tomas Morato, at the Brickroad in Sta. Lucia Mall in Cainta, Greenhills, West Avenue, Festival Mall in Alabang, SM Mall of Asia, and at Glorietta, Ayala Center, Makati City.

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Don Henrico’s @ Glorietta 1, Makati City

Personally, it was year 2002 that my family and I first dined at Don Henrico’s along Session Road during my brother’s Incorporation Day at the Philippine Military Academy. That was exactly 12 years ago and my next Don Henrico’s experience was 3 days ago at Glorietta 1 in Makati City.

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Circa 2002: With the family, relatives and an ethnic group at Baguio Botanical Gardens.

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Circa 2002: The fam bam during my brother’s Incorporation Day at PMA.

Going back to year 2002, it was the Buffalo Wings that I instantly fell in love with. Every time I hear the phrase “buffalo wings,” no other name pops in my head but that of Don Henrico’s. I was more than thrilled when I found out it still is included in their must-try dishes until now. Some things never do grow old, indeed.

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Chicken ala Buffalo

If I were you, I’d definitely place their “buffalo wings” on top of your list of must-try dishes at Don Henrico’s. So you’d probably wonder why I fell in love with it and why put it as your chart topper. Let’s just say that the perfect fusion of their special BBQ sauce for the chicken wings and the dip creates that extremely smooth, flavorful and mouth-watering taste in your every bite. The spices used are not overpowering which complements well with the tender, moist and juicy meat of the chicken. Upon serving, the aroma of spices combined with the BBQ sauce and the smell of deliciously cooked chicken will already entice your appetite.

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My best pick from Don Henrico’s menu.

They sometimes call this dish “Chicken a la Buffalo” whenever they use a different chicken part other than wings. And I must say, may it be the leg, the breast or any part of the chicken, satisfaction is guaranteed taste-wise.

Another must-try dish at Don Henrico’s would be the Summer Salad. Of course, any meal whether vegetarian or not, always has to has greens. Speaking of being health conscious, you do have an option here. If you wanted to go less on carbs, this salad is definitely perfect for you. And another reason to love it? It just reminds you of summer. Who do not love summer? Everybody loves summer! 😉

And that is exactly what this salad brings you – a feel good summer feeling with all its tropical fruit ingredients from slices of mangoes, to kiwi, grapes, mandarin oranges and walnuts topped over fresh, crisp lettuce. Drizzle it with strawberry vinaigrette dressing and voila! You wish you are off to the beach munching on this.

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Summer Salad

From something light, let’s go to something a bit heavy – pastas. They offer 2 must-try pasta dishes and being a seafood lover, I was overjoyed. No, that is an understatement. I was ecstatic!

I’ll start first with their Tutto De Mare pasta. This linguine pasta is generously served with shrimps and squid cooked in marinara sauce made special by combining ingredients such as garlic, chili, tomatoes, and selected herbs. The shrimps and squid are perfectly cooked. In cooking seafood, there is always this tendency for them to become rubbery when overcooked. But with this dish, I can taste the sweet taste of the shrimp meat and the squid is tender enough you won’t have to cut it at all with your table knife.

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Tutto de Mare

Their second must-try pasta is the X.O. Seafood pasta. This has a very light taste and I love the perfect blend of the seafood and the bell peppers. I bet some would disagree with me when it comes to loving a seafood pasta that’s based with just olive oil as the common dilemma would be the “fishy” aftertaste that sometimes takes you off the hook in experiencing that perfect seafood experience. But this one will get you totally hooked to being a seafood pasta lover with seafood ingredients as the bait. Trust me. 😉

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X.O. Seafood Pasta

But there is something more. Don Henrico’s is also known for its pizzas. And their top 2 must-try pizzas are here to rock your Italian cuisine experience – Don Henrico’s Supreme pizza and Seafood Romano pizza.

Don Henrico’s Supreme pizza is a thick crust pizza topped with pepperoni, mushroom, ham, onions, beef, pineapple tidbits, black olives, bell pepper, homemade ricotta cheese and tasty cheese served with red sauce. What I particularly love about this pizza is that the toppings are not overwhelming and they pair just right with the not-so-thick crust.

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Don Henrico’s Supreme Pizza

The Seafood Romano pizza amazes me in a way that the seafood toppings are not “toppings” at all as they seem to be embedded in the crust. I guess one common dilemma that pizza eaters have would be their topping rolling/falling off the pizza while they are about to take a bite. And once again, their seafood was cooked just right. The cheese just complements well with the overall seafood taste you would not need any sauce to add flavor to your Seafood Romano pizza.

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Seafood Romano Pizza

Of course, something sweet will always be present in any “courtship.”  Thus, when you are at Don Henrico’s, allow yourself to be serenaded by their sweets corner and among their must-try desserts are their Chocolate Nirvana Cake, Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake, Red Velvet Cake and Toblerone Cheesecake.

I’ll start with the Chocolate Nirvana Cake. It is a moist chocolate cake with chocolate ganache layers topped with dark ganache frosting. I can say that describing the overall texture of the cake would be this and only this – EXTREMELY SMOOTH.

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Chocolate Nirvana Cake

Next is their Red Velvet Cake topped with cream cheese frosting which is indeed velvety enough it is not just delectably good but perfect as a light dessert after a flavorful meal.

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Red Velvet Cake

And for Toblerone lovers and addicts like me, Toblerone Cheesecake is a perfect must-try especially if you are a cheesecake lover too. Imagine having two of your favorites in just one dessert – SUGAR RUSH, it is.

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Toblerone Cheesecake

And of course, I saved the best dessert for me as my last entry in the must-try desserts  – Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake. Why is it my best bet? It has the perfect balance of sweetness and saltiness that is not ordinary among desserts. It is a moist chocolate cake with chocolate ganache filling and covered with salted caramel butter cream. I can eat a whole cake of this. No kidding. 🙂

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Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake

All their desserts are not too sweet which gives you that sort of craving for more sweets but not heavy enough for the tummy. You can actually finish a whole slice of their desserts and I am sure you’d request to try all of them.

Don Henrico’s is not just after delivering good food, but the place matters as well. It is not just the treats that your suitor gives you during courtship that are important but how you were serenaded as well, right?

I loved the ambiance of Don Henrico’s at Glorietta 1 in Makati City. They have one side of the restaurant which is quite classical and another side which is a bit modern. What sets them apart would be the choice of lighting for each of this side. The place has a combination of yellow and white lights which creates that semblance to a home. Art galleries are known for its yellow mellow lights while a common office ambiance would be the white lights and any home has both the white and the yellow lights.

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Classical Nook

 

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Modern Nook.

You’ll also see inside the restaurant a striking balance of modern chairs and lounge chairs that indeed attract a diverse clientele. In other words, you have the option to choose from the type of chair that you would love to sit on to that perfect nook that suits your mood.

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I Love Wine

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Waiting Area

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Wine Corner

But the overall feel of the restaurant is totally relaxing. It is spacious enough for you and your family and every nook has its own character. Exactly why I think Don Henrico’s will never go out of style. Infusing the classical with the modern is its way of serenading the clientele with their particular interests from food to ambiance of the place making one happy customer utter this big Italian word  – BELLISSIMO!

Check out a Don Henrico’s branch near you and be serenaded as well with their best pizzas, pastas and more. I should say that you say YES to that. 😉

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Don Henrico’s

The following are their website and Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/DonHenricos

https://www.donhenricos.net

P.S.

And before I forget, they have something ENORMOUS coming up this October! It is something REALLY HUGE. Stay tuned for updates! 😉

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(L-r): Don Henrico’s Operations Manager Noel Santos and Marketing Manager Anthony Mercado with the WhenInManila.com writers.

(Thank you Sir Noel, Sir Tony, Ma’am Tess as well as to the entire staff of Don Henrico’s for the warm welcome!)