Love Letter of Kim Boong-do

Let me share to you a love letter written by Kim Boong Do from the Koreanovela, Queen & I. Yes - i've been staying up late at night to watch this :')

This letter is written both to me and you.

I may forget that I even wrote this letter,

or this letter itself might disappear.

But this letter is written for me and you,

either one of us who may live on holding onto memories.

When I first came into possession of this talisman,

I wanted to know what its cause and effect were.

At first, I thought it was the realization of my frustrated dream.

Then, I thought perhaps the reason was our fateful meeting.

After that, I thought it must be for me to live in a new world.

But now, I have finally realized the real cause and effect.

In order to save my own life,

I would have to lose everything.

My future, my name, my values…my people…and also you.

To gain life, one must pay a price and lose something else…

that is obvious logic.

I was foolish to think I could at least have one thing.

How much must I lose in order to repay the debt of my life?

Never being able to see you again?

I have realized even that is a luxury.

Memories..

Our memories.

Losing them is the final price.

I don’t know what will happen now.

Will we forget each other?

Or will we live unable to forget,

forever tormented?

My final wish,

is to be able to remember you.

In an aimless life,

to not even have those memories would be hell.

And you.. and you…

if you should happen to read this letter

far into the future,

I pray you will not realize

for whom this letter is meant for.

 

Boong Do, Queen In Hyun’s Man, Episode 15 —

Minute Burger at Pagsawitan - IMPROVED!

My mom introduced me to Minute Burger when I was a grader. After Sunday mass, my mom would take me to this burger joint near the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Santa Cruz.

Last month I promise my kids that we'll try the bacon cheese burger of Minute Burger. Para maiba naman sa gabi-gabi nilang Angel's Burger! haha.

And it surpassed our expectation! Bacon Cheese burgers cost P55 for 2. Black Pepper burgers cost P49 for 2. Winner!

Love their peach mango juice and red iced tea. My young Peach, wants to try the shakes on our next visit! Hahaha! Me plans na agad kami and we'll try all their burger! :)

Minute Burger is now located at Pagsawitan, just across the DLTB terminal. 

Thanks Nay for introducing me to Minute Burger.. and now is my time with my kids!

Ryder Stride Competition Mountain Bike

  

On this sunny Sunday morning of Father’s Day, I am sweating beside my husband while he silently inspects his preferred mountain bike!

He loves cycling, always has been since I met him.

  

Finally, he chose a black and white 2012 Ryder Stride Competition Mountain Bike - and his eyes tells it all!

   

I love the idea of biking up in the Caliraya with the family! Excellent!

Happy Father’s Day!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

I remember Daddy´s hands, how they held my Mama tight,
And patted my back, for something done right.
There are things that I´ve forgotten, that I loved about the man,
But I´ll always remember the love in Daddy´s hands.

                                                            Daddy’s Hands

  sa  Tatay Dan ko.. I love you po.

Penne Pasta with Shrimp and Creamy Mushroom Sauce

Its my second time to prepare Penne Pasta in a creamy white sauce. The first time was a penne pasta with creamy white mushroom. Para maiba, i put shrimp naman! haha.

Here's the second dish i prepare last Independence Day. My personal recipe of Penne Pasta with Shrimp and Creamy Mushroom Sauce. 

½  kg               penne pasta

250 grams        big prawns

1 can                sliced button mushroom

1 can                big evaporated milk

1                      red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1                      green bell pepper, thinly sliced
3                      gloves garlic, minced
1                      white onion, chopped
1/4 bar             cheese, grated

1                      all-purpose cream
1 can                cream of mushroom
¼ bar               butter  

salt and pepper to taste

Procedures:

In a large pot, prepare the pasta based on cooking instructions. Set aside.

Season shrimp with salt and pepper. Set Aside.

In a pan, heat oil and saute garlic and onion in low heat.
Add bell peppers, mushroom and shrimps.
Add cream of mushroom, evap milk and cheese. Bring to boil.
In low heat, pour in all purpose cream.
Season with salt and pepper. Mix well.
Toss pasta.
Prepare in a pan, top with grated cheese and toasted bacon.

My family and my colleagues loved this recipe more than the Penne Pasta and Seafoods. Maybe the look and thought of creamy sauce appeals to them.

I prefer naman the Seafood Pasta, i'ts a lot harder to prepare and the ingredients are a bit costly.  - Or maybe i was the only one who can endure the saltiness of this recipe! haha!

Till my next cooking adventure!

Penne Pasta with Seafood

I was able to prepare two dishes this Independence Day.

Here's my personal recipe of

Penne Pasta with Seafood

½ kg                penne pasta

½ cup              butter

¼ cup              canola oil

6 cloves           garlic, finely minced

½ cup              bread crumbs

1 tbsp              red bell pepper, finely chopped

1 tbsp              green bell pepper, finely chopped

1 cup               pasta water

½ kg                prawns

10 sticks          crab sticks, shredded

                        Dried shrimp

                        Grated cheese (optional)

                        Toasted bacon (optional)

                        Pepper

                        Salt

•           Cook pasta according to package directions.

•           Season shrimp with pepper and salt.

•           In frying pan, heat butter and add shrimp in batches. Set aside.

•           In the same pan, heat 1 tbsp canola oil sauté onion and garlic.

•           Add prawns, crab sticks and dried shrimps.

•           Add bread crumbs, red/green bell peppers and grated cheese.

•           Pour in pasta water and let in boil.

•           Season with salt and pepper.

•           Toss in pasta and garnish with grated cheese and bacon.

Because im a self-professed newbie in the kitchen, the two dishes took me 3 hours to prepare! I was doing it all by myself. Enjoy naman! Hubby and my other 3 kids need to attend an Independence Day program at the town plaza. So its me and Lemon in the kitchen..

it's abit salty because i directly pour the dried shrimp. My colleagues advised that i should soak it first in water! haha.

there's always a next time, right?

Ester Grand Villas in Santa Cruz, Laguna

The sun already took a glimpsed and the scorching heat of summer was evident. However, the view of the whole resort enticed me to go out of the shaded cottage and take a panorama look of the whole scenery.

I felt the warmth air but I was unable to resist the refreshing burst of colors from the grass, trees, flowers and water. I took a stroll and tucked my camera.

The lawn was an inviting green carpet of neatly trimmed grass, the dainty chic floras blast their nature’s color palette. I grasped the pleasure to observe a flying sparrow and a resting roan-colored horse. The jovial sound of laughter and splatter of water satiates my soul.

Ester Grand Villas is truly an ideal place to bond with my family.

                      

It’s our first time at Ester Grand Villa this summer. I learned about it from the internet while looking for a nearby resort for my husband’s family outing.

Actually, we were looking for a resort that have a not-so-cold swimming pool water for our kiddos, and not-so-far place. Its because my family loves to bring alot of stuffs and prepare alot of foodies when going to an outing! Tough, noh? haha!

We’re a little worried about how crowded it would be so my sisters-in-law and I decided to take a look at it first . We all find it irresistible the first time we saw it – perfect for us!

I don’t even know that we have such an impressive resort in Santa Cruz! I felt it right away that this would be a great venue for us so I made a phone call to their pleasant part owner, Mr. Hector Audine and met the very gracious Ms. Lynn Orijuela.

Their reservation process is no sweat. They even gave me a call an hour before our scheduled time of arrival.

Let me narrate to you our wonderful experience with Ester Grand Villa. This my way of  showing how grateful our family are to Mr. Hector and Ms. Lynn.

                                                 

               

THE MANSION. The farm mansion sits elegantly with its beauty and character with intimate view of life in Santa Cruz, Laguna. You can wander up to the mansion’s balcony and take the breath taking view of four acres farm land and landscaped garden, waterfall feature and swimming pools.

                           

THE LANDSCAPE. The modern architecture blends effortlessly with the surrounding gardens. The outdoor pools are surrounded by well-maintained landscape and shaded by scattered palms and coconut trees.

         

THE OUTDOOR SHOWER. Take a walk-through shower in natural warm spring water before swimming in the outdoor warm spring pool.

          

THE PAVILLION. Ester Grand Villas offers their pavilion located at the poolside. Beside it is the bar restaurant which is still under construction. The resort has its own water supply and vast assortment of cuisine local fruits, fish and vegetables dishes all available on request.

 kiddie pool:

                                                                      .

large pool: 

                              

THE SWIMMING POOLS. The swimming pools are installed with the best modern filtration and treatment equipment, for all year round use, including ozone and saline systems.

Many guests and nationwide athletes have used the pool for training purposes. Mood lighting is one of the pools main features. “It's not as simple as just dimming the lights,” The pool delivers bright and cheerful moods during the night, It can have a calmer, more subdued mood.

Our family enjoys all their swimming pools. The location of each pool is very interesting.

Kids love their kiddie pool specially the other kiddie pool with waterfall curtain!  Kiddie pools are child friendly, the deepest is 2Ft.

Everyone took a splash in the sparkling water of our magnificently-designed curvilinear swimming pools and are partly shaded my palm trees. When you dipped into the pool, the warm water is just at the right temperature. This made us stay longer in the water just relaxing in the wading pools and Jacuzzi.

 

THE JACUZZI. The outdoor Jacuzzi has natural warm water where everyone can soak and relax to your heart’s content.

                         

THE COTTAGES. Ester Grand Villas has great set of native nipahut cottages  which are spacious and nestled under shady coconut trees to feel the vibe of the provincial flair.

These cool and cozy nipahuts were all well-maintained and very affordable. Each cottages have built-in grill, and sink and has the capacity of up to 20 pax.  It has large table and around it are horizontal concrete benches.

I like their little kitchen, all you have to do is bring your own cooking paraphernalia or request utensils from the resort personnel.

         

THE VIDEOKE. Sing your heart out. Avail their videoke facility and have it installed in the cottages.

THE RESTROOM.

When night comes, torches and antique lamps lit the whole resort. It equally matches the stunning beauty of the resort great for stargazing.

Swimming pools and Jacuzzi have underwater lights. The pathways are also well-lighted and you will be treated to a magnificent view of the resort’s surrounding area at night.

I am really satisfied with EGV Resort facilities and with its efficient customer service. I would definitely keep coming back to this resort. Now I understand why EGV is  making a name for themselves.

Rates  :

Adult    100/daytime      120/night time

Kids     50/daytime        60/night time

Small cottage    600

Big cottage       700

Attire:

Men - Trunks / Short's Without T-shirt

Ladies - Bathing Suit or White T-shirt and Short

For your reservations, please contact the resort at the following numbers:

Name    :                       Ester Grand Villas

Address:                       Sitio Ilang-Ilang, Brgy. San Jose, Santa Cruz, Laguna     

Website:                       http://egvresort.com/

Contact Person:            Mhae / Susan

Mobile No:                    09299554352/ 09063441861 / 09177577071