Tag Archives: photography

What’s In A Goodbye

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“What is in a goodbye?”

It is to depart, to move away, to leave. But what does this word really hold?

Goodbye is having enough from the constant lies after lies casually said.

Goodbye is hopelessly groping for an answer to the retort “Why listen to the Pastor, is he the one you are going to marry?”.

Goodbye is being fed up in the temptations being entertained.

Goodbye is spending more time in another kingdom making memories with them instead of making your own together.

Goodbye is a battered ego because of persecution and name-calling during heavy fights.

Goodbye is a deep pondering what will happen to your family if too much time is spent playing online games.

Goodbye is too much of something wrong that you thought at first was worth sacrificing and enduring but later realize it has to come to an end.

Sometimes the only option is to surrender it all so God can completely take over and take control.

Being at peace – God instructed us this.

It was a week of being disconnected from one another as a couple. Until now I still am not ready to go back to how we were.

But on his end, nothing has changed. The “I love you so much” and the “I miss you” were there every single day. Apologies were said but I was pushing him away and yet he chose to stay.

Which made me question my actions. Am I acting out of pride because my ego was hurt? Am I being selfish? Am I retaliating? Am I punishing him? How long am I going to be like this to him? Am I really doing what the bible says about forgiveness?

I got the chance to share our status with my fellowship group and sisters in Christ, mostly single. They were astonished that even engaged couples still break up. And I told them that yes, couples break up and get together a thousand times in the entire duration of their relationship. Even more so when your relationship is gearing towards marriage – the more that the enemy will try to break apart that beautiful promise of God for both of you.

And their answer was something I wasn’t prepared to hear – a note of gratitude because they, too, are learning from me and my relationship. I wanted to cry for they didn’t know that they are one of the reasons who give me strength and my motivation to uphold to God’s promises and hold on to the commitment.

I was made being overly empathetic and my heart pours out to each one of my sisters in Christ. I love them and my constant prayer is that God will lead their hearts and give them the same strength and boldness in spirit to never fall away from their faith no matter what happens in their relationships.

And when I woke up this morning, I do not know the reason why my pile of clothes went tumbling down as I opened my closet and some clothes still continue to fall down after I piled them up – yes, frustrating. And yet God made me realize at that moment what faith is all about – make your foundations strong, otherwise, you will crumble when shaken.

While stacking my pile of clothes for the last time patiently making sure the bottom parts are well-stacked up, this verse came into my mind:

 1 Corinthians 1:8 NLT

“He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

God did not ask me to leave everything behind and start anew but to have peace in the midst of turmoil. For God works more powerful in times of trouble and despair than in happiness and contentment. And I believe that is what He wanted me to learn. For that is what He has already said and it was pre-written:

John 16:33 NLT

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Just like this new and modern chandelier. It will stay hanging in the ceiling for as long as the structure of the building is there. Time will pass it by, it will look old, tattered and worn out but its foundation will still remain. 🙂

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Swing like a chandelier.

Getting It Done

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Discipleship is a lot like social networking in modern times except that the former is Christ-centered and the latter talks about anything under the sun. In social networking, topics could range from anything to anywhere whereas with discipleship, the topics could be about anything too except that the conversations all have one common major theme and everything is being related to God.

But what is most common between the two is that you establish a relationship with different people. This brings me to my current situation now. I used to wonder or let’s say I far too often wonder why circumstances have brought me to a position wherein I am not in a cubicle or a room doing an office work or I am not following a certain routine though I am and I consider myself a young professional.

Priorities and circumstances never went as clear and as smooth as they can be. There always are conflicts, heavy decision making and a lot of pondering. But then again, through all those myriad of swimming thoughts came the answer that I never considered before: God wanted me to do something at this point which would require me to be flexible in terms of time and commitments.

It was clear to me what my mission was: to share. If I am tied with an 8-hour job, I’d have no time to share all of these. And in my case now, I can only maximize social media. But then again, it was social media that brought me opportunities wherein the possibilities of networking is endless. It is like there is no stopping it once you get started. And I see those opportunities as a wonderful avenue to connect with people online and offline using my faith and introduce them to it.

Tin Ginete

Step 1: Choosing the subject/finding your mission.

Right now my water loo is in the area of relationships. It is the cross I am carrying daily and yet I know I cannot let it hamper the mission set out for me. I cannot let it occupy my thoughts 24/7 because I need to focus on my mission and get it done.

But I know too that my water loo was given to me for a purpose and this purpose is exactly this mission I am set out to complete in His perfect time. I want to give God the glory because if it is not because of Him, I will still be the Tin who is so generous in giving curses, the Tin who is so full of sarcasm, who speaks nothing else but mostly of insults, the Tin who is quick-tempered and the Tin who is nothing but a cynic.

My fiance knows this kind of person. And I know why God gave a person like him to me. My fiance would remind me that I am a completely different person when my old self would come back at times that there is a conflict. It jolts me back to reality, the Spirit convicts me using my fiance and it sets me back on the right track again. I repent, pledges a re-commitment to change by His help and I would tell my fiance that if it wasn’t for God, the person he witnessed is the kind of person he gets to deal with every single day.

Because I cannot change on my own. That is why I surrendered my life to Christ because I needed a Savior who will take me out of the darkness. I’ve tried it on my own but I failed. I needed someone who is powerful enough to overcome anything, even death and there is only one person who can do that: Jesus Christ.

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Step 2: Do the actual sketch after putting the basic lines/in the process of doing the mission refining what needs to be refined.

I am just grateful I was already saved, my past no longer has a bearing and I am no longer stuck in it. I may slide back every now and then but the conviction is already there. And it is this conviction that made me seek for forgiveness instead of letting pride win. God uses people to change you and apply what you learned from Him. Without these people around you, there is no basis if indeed you have changed or not. It is only through God that the flames of the darkness within you can be extinguished.

Putting out that fire is the drive that you will now use to continue your mission and you now know that there is no stopping you from getting it done. And that is because of God’s love and your love for Him. You cannot go out in the world if you don’t have it in you.

I took the risk, I accepted the challenge, I signed up for the mission not knowing what will transpire nor having the assurances I’ll be successful. All I know is that God will prepare me along the way.

I just have to and I should always keep in mind the task laid out ahead of me and consider getting it done by all means. I challenge you too as my beloved readers to seek God’s mission for you and stand up for it, pursuing it by all means.

And I repeat. Getting. It. Done. 🙂

Tin Ginete

3. Getting it done.

TRES AMIGOS Boracay: A Mexican Delight

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I have to apologize, yes. For this post is long overdue. But it came in timely as it is the start of summer now and beach getaways are on top of the list. 🙂

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Beach Essentials

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Pure white sand, the hot sun AND our feet. *wink*

I was supposed to write this over the holidays. But well, the holiday season is just the busiest in our calendars – vacations, getaways, dining out with families and friends. But this article is not about the holiday getaway with my fiance and his family last December 2014 at Boracay Island in Aklan, Philippines. Allow me though to post some photos of our holiday getaway there:

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Boracay 2014

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Fairways and Bluewater Resort

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Infinity pool.

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ATV fun with the Rome family.

This post will be a food review about one of our favorite type of cuisines – Mexican. We found one at the heart of Boracay inside D’ Mall exactly on our last day – Tres Amigos. Indeed, it was a nice way to cap off our island experience in Boracay.

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Tres Amigos Boracay

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Tres Amigos’ Menu

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Table centerpiece.

My fiance ordered chimichanga while his brother and I ordered beef burrito and quesadilla.

Tres Amigos’ beef burrito is one of their best sellers. And I can tell why. It has that smooth blend of Mexican spices that are not too overpowering and mixes well with the mango salsa. Of course, the perfect aroma of Mexican spices never fail to tease my palate.

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Beef Burrito

For the chimichanga, it is similar to our beef burritos except that it was fried. When I saw the crisp sides of the dish, my mouth just melted away I just went ahead and indulged myself over a good crispy, crunchy portion.

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Chimichanga

The quesadilla will surely melt your heart away. Every part of it was melted to perfect goodness and the smooth texture of the beef and cheese just complemented well with the overall texture of the pita bread.

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Quesadilla

I forgot to take a photo of the refreshing mango shake, the perfect all-natural fruit drink to pair with the tasty Mexican dishes we had.

So if you are headed towards Boracay this summer, you might want to try Tres Amigos if your appetite is craving for that Mexican delight and yes, at a very affordable price too. Bon appetit! 🙂

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The Mexican lovers. 😉

“Eureka!” Moment

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If you have read my previous posts, this article will prove that my dreams have a different meaning. 😉

BUT it is such a big relief on my part and I am extremely grateful we have a God who saves. After I got back from the trip, I went inside the house overwhelmingly relieved and found a surprise waiting. Our God is not just a God who saves, but He is also full of surprises.

I found two miniature bicycles that my brother purchased as a memorabilia from his Vietnam trip just last week. And these bicycles were “parked” prettily on our center table. Then, there went my “Eureka!” moment – alas, it is perfect for my Barbie doll. 😀

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Red tricycle rickshaw from Vietnam.

Please don’t get me wrong, I am no longer playing with them. I now use them as models for my fashion styling from anything I could recycle. Like for the outfit below, I used an old hankie for the top which I just folded and Barbie’s hair accessory used to be an origami rose given by one of my students during my practicum.

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Barbie and the black tricycle rickshaw.

Barbie girls are always as pretty as ever and it is by dressing her up where I find ideas for my own fashion statement too. Not that I don’t have a mirror. *wink* I just look for clothing patterns and textures that combine well and when I already have the perfect outfit combination, that’s when I go out on a “fashion hunt.”

But I think my brother will not be too proud of this – that is, using his memorabilia as my photo shoot props. 😀

Loving LOCAL LOVE Philippines

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(cup with stirrer and saucer made from anahaw wood and coconut hull from Sorsogon City)

 

Well, it is all about love. Not the typical kind of love. But an extraordinary love. That kind of love you have for your country and your countrymen – patronizing local products.

My heart is just close to anything native. Why? Because I grew up in a small town from the province of Sorsogon called Bulan. I am just glad and proud of my local roots and folk culture. Because that is my identity, that is who I am and that is who I will be. 🙂

Do check out the article to find out what the Philippine products have to offer. And have that Filipino pride as well, Filipino or not. 😉

“Local Love Philippines: Go Loco with True Filipino Pride”

Cooler Than Cool @ Abdul The Cool

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Ever heard of ox brain dish or moutabal? If not, check out the article to find out more. All I can say is that you are off to a cool food adventure. 😉

“Abdul The Cool: Not Your Ordinary Shawarmas, Kebabs and Wraps”

An Approach Towards A Simple Life

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Traversing the muddy path with prickly seeds from the wild grass.

In this life, you have to learn how to strike the right balance of denying good food every now and then for the sake of avoiding gluttony; of minimizing dressing up and the use of cosmetics for the sake of not being vain; of knowing which possessions to acquire and which not to for the sake of not ending up materialistic; of knowing which dreams and ambitions to pursue for the sake of not being caught up in the rat race and be discontented with what you already have; and in choosing the right experiences to enjoy for the sake of living the righteous life.

The same thing goes when knowing the limits in preparing for the future so that you don’t forget to enjoy the present.

After a period of hyperactivity, it feels good to be back in the cave, do my research and be my mediocre self. 😉

I am grateful though for the experience points gained and now looking forward to leveling up on learning – the right kind of wisdom. That is, in an attempt to live in this world but not be of this world. 🙂

Setting The Trend As An Avant Garde: Revolutionary

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TRENDSETTERS.

Fashion usually comes into your mind, right? It is a colloquial term commonly used in pop culture but on the discourse of historical, political and social studies, it may be equivalent to this – revolutionists. This only holds one meaning – setting up a benchmark.

I will name a few who are icons and heroes alike, bringing their own names to light by changing the world with their concepts, their beliefs and their ideals. There’s Audrey Hepburn in terms of fashion and feminism. There’s the late Nelson Mandela who died just recently (may his soul rest in peace) in apartheid and education, which are, but some of his accomplishments. Then we have Karl Marx who dealt with society’s taboos and introduced a discipline that, although oftentimes regarded as communist by nature, benchmarked most of today’s social and political ideologies.

Big names, great works they are. But you can also be a trendsetter in your own way with your own varied interests.

How?

Inspire your friends and your social network to follow suit with what you did/you’re doing. When you become a trendsetter, be a person of influence – that is, good influence. Empowering individuals, that’s how you change a nation for good.

BUT with the proper mindset – never for personal gain but for community development, to help others and by honoring God.

I have listed 3 character traits that are evident among revolutionists:

  1. Credibility
  2. Integrity
  3. Dedication

Keep in mind that your achievements are never yours.  They were meant to be shared to the many others so they, too, will reach their goals. But what may be good for others may not be good for you though. There will always be those who will be better than you. Because that is how God has planned them to be. But by the end of the day, it is never about you, never about competition and never about who’s the best but Him and knowing His mission for you. 🙂

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 serving 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 at Don Henrico’s humble beginnings.

Founded way back in 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, and the Brick Road 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 the 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 the 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 is still included in their must-try dishes until now. Some things never do grow old, indeed.

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Chicken a la 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 I 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 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 have greens. Speaking of being health-conscious, you do have an option here. If you want to cut down on carbs, this salad is definitely perfect for you. And another reason to love it? It just reminds you of summer. Who does 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 were off to the beach, munching on this.

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Summer Salad

From something light, let’s go to something a bit heavier – 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 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 it 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 that 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 on 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 on 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, mushrooms, 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 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 that 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 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 about 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 these sides. The place has a combination of yellow and white lights, which creates a semblance of a home. Art galleries are known for their 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!)

Spice Up Your Mediterranean Cuisine Experience @ Tahir’s Kitchen

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Tahir’s Kitchen’s CHICKEN SHAWARMA (Photo courtesy of Ms. Maritess Canlas)

Lovin’ the Mediterranean cuisine or just about to love it? Click this link and check out more mouth-watering photos: Cooking Made Extra-liciously Special: The Fumes and Flames of Tahir’s Kitchen.

Include Tahir’s Kitchen in your next gastronomic adventure! 🙂