Philippines Vacation and Long Term Stay

Special Halo - Halo  by: Mary Ann Bolanos Make a treat for your family and friends. Here is a sure cool recipe that will capture the hearts of your family and friends. Our favorite Halo - Halo! There is a trade secret here... so read carefully: Ingredients: Ice Cream (Vanilla, ube, or Macapuno)                   (If you like to make your Halo-Halo exotic...                    Durian Ice Cream is for you. - this is only                    available in UP Shopping Center, Q.C. in Manila) Pinipig   (this is a newly harvested rice, slightly milled,                 roasted and pounded). Boiled Banana (Saba variety, this is the banana also used by Africans)                           (Boiled in brown sugar or honey (best for health reasons)). Sweet Mangoes Frozen Fresh Buko Water (Buy the mature one...for its natural sweetness, frozen ahead of time mixed with cold boiled juiced pandan leaves). Mix this with fresh cow's milk. Sago (in different colors) Sweet Beans (available in supermarket

by: Charlene Bolanos by: Charlene Bolanos May is famous for Pilgrimages dedicate to the Queen Mother, Mary. Take time to go to the best places of visiting Pilgrim sites of the Blessed Mother this May. Here are some famous historical places that are visited by millions from all over the world when they visit the Philippines. 1. Our Lady of Manaoag in Pangasinan. We go here to spend some time to our Lady. It is so easy to go to this place now. A friend of my tita said Our Lady who is our loving mother never fails to answer her prayers. She is not the only one who had this happy experience, but most of us who dared to believe. This is now a Basilica as many people flock this place. It is best to visit when its early morning because it is still summer and can be very warm. You can take Dagupan bus that stops right in front of the Basilica. This is 3 hours from Cubao, Q.C. How to Get to Manaoag from the Short Term Stay in Novaliches 1. Take UV Express to Cubao. 2. Go Down to Dagupan Bus in

by: Charlene Bolanos Summer is still careening towards its peak. Enjoy while it lasts... Upcoming last week of May will be rainy season... So I usually keep a happy disposition. 1. Make sure you always bring bottled water with you. Be careful of water intoxication, not too much just ...right. 2. Wash your face often if necessary just to cool off. 3. Take a dip or take shower more than once. 4. Always bring freshening up kit:     Baby powder and light cologne that is     not offensive. 5. Bring extra shirt all the time. 6. Wear sun shades and bring an umbrella 7. Wear 100% cotton clothes. 8. Wear shoes or flip flops which will allow air to circulate. 9. Take water from time to time to avoid passing out. Last but not the least...go to the beach :) Me and my mom at the beach! Have fun as the last stretch of summer is about to end. How to go to the Beach from the Mobliert Ferienwohnungen in Novaliches Quezon City 1. Plan and block the days you want to visit the beach. 2. I suggest for a st

by: Mary Ann Bolanos Upcoming Friday will be 36 degrees C! 2 May 2015. Make sure you have the following when walking the streets of Quezon City: 1. Sun shades. 2. Umbrella 3. Wear 100% cotton clothing 4. Wear skirts 100% cotton or 100% cotton pantsof 5. Water Wet Face Towel 6. Bottled Cool Water (super important) 7. Extra Shirt 8. Sun Block. Best is Virgin Coconut Oil (if you prefer scented - okay.) What to avoid during summer: 1. Eat high cholesterol, high fat food. 2. Going out the office when its 2.oo p.m. 3. Going out of the office without drinking enough water. When you feel... a. Extreme headache b. Dizziness Make sure you drink cool water (not super cold) just  cool. Do not sleep yet. Sit down, relax. Turn on the electric fan or air conditioning. Avoid stress. If you are coming in from a stressful situation I suggest you take: a. 2 fruits of calamansi (Philippine lemon) b. Squeeze the 2 fruits of calamansi in a cool glass of water. c. Drink within 15 minutes d. Eat ripe banana,

By: Charles Bolanos April is almost ending. I hope you had gone to the beach in the Philippines. If not you are missing half of your life. Honestly, the beach in the Philippines is also therapeutic. If you are super stressed out from your work in another country, visit the beach in the Philippines. Meet the Filipinos and you will forget all your stresses. Here is what I did, I catch sea urchins! Searching for sea life! I was looking for a live shell with  eyes and whiskers. I found this creature~       Its a shell with eyes with whiskers on it. I still have to look what type of crustacean is this! Viola! Sea Urchin :) Starfish! :0 So are you missing the fun? If you are coming in from a red eye flight and will be staying at the short term rentals in Novaliches; it is best to rest a day or two. Best to go the beach when you rested. Now if you plan to visit the Philippines when its winter time in your country, best to reserve as early as this month, to make sure you have a place to stay s

by: Mrs. Aileen B. Soriano Summer in the Philippines is pleasant but still warm. Best way to keep your short term stay apartment cool  without having your electricity bill spiraling high are the following: a. Wear cotton clothing. Indian, Chinese and Filipino Cotton cloth are really good. b. Bye tube ice that costs Php 30.oo per pack. Soak the whole pack of tube ice in a big bowl with at least 5 c of water. Turn on the electric fan. c. Keep water in handy d. Always clean your rented furnished residential unit. e. Eat dessert called halo-halo! Otherwise... just turn on the air conditioning :). 

by: Mary Ann Bolanos There are lots of places where people pray for miracles in the  Philippines.  The famous place is making a pilgrimage to a Basilica in Pangasinan dedicated to our Lady. Its easy how to get there from any part of Quezon City. Here's how: 1. Go to Cubao, Quezon City.  2. Go down at Dagupan Bus Station. Best time to ride the bus is early morning or early dawn. Ride is at least 3 hours straight. 3. The bus stops right at the Basilica. If you like to see the beauty of the place when there are still few people. Its best to leave Manila the night before. 

by: Mary Ann Bolanos Drinking ice coffee during summer is refreshing. Here is a quick ice coffee recipe: Ice Coffee with Toblerone Chocolote Shreds Ingredients: Instant Coffee. (your favorite brand, you may opt for a brewed coffee). 5 packs for five people. Creamers (preferred is coconut milk or vegetable base creamer) Honey (brown sugar or white sugar is okay. I prefer honey) Crushed Ice Procedure:  1. Dilute instant coffee in 3 c of hot water. Set aside. 2. Once the coffee is a bit cooler, mix with crushed ice. Add honey  to desired sweetness. 3. Serve in tall glass. For Left Over Brewed Coffee 1. Dilute creamer in 1 C of hot water. Set aside. 2. Add brewed coffee to crushed ice. 3. Add diluted creamer. 4. Add honey to taste. 5. Serve in tall glass. Should you stop by and stay at our family vacation short term stay in Novaliches , don't hesitate to ask for a glass of ice coffee. Best served at summer time. Enjoy your ice coffee.

Pork Sinigang by: Mary Ann Bolanos This recipe is a classic recipe of my family. We don't use sinigang mix because we need the nutrients from natural ingredients. Cooking time is 30 minutes to 40 minutes max. Ingredients: 1.Marbled Fat Cubed Pork: 1/4 K (healthy pork is organically raised) 2. Salt (pinch) 3. Pepper 4. Tomatoes (Camatis) 5. Gabi (optional) 6.Water Cabbage (Kangkong) (if you are in China, Chinese Petchay is okay). Cut leaves and  soft stem. Soak in 1/8 tsp salty water. Set aside. 7. 5 to 7 pieces Calamansi (Philippines Lemon). Squeeze to get calamansi juice. Take out the seeds. (Substitute: Green Sampaloc, Baby Sampaloc Leaves or Kamias) 8. 5 C of Mineral Water 9. Patis or fish sauce with squeezed 5 pieces of calamansi 10. Lemon Grass Procedure: 1. Mix  1-5 ingredients. 2. Add 5 C of Mineral Water. Boil with lemon grass for 3 minutes. Take out lemon grass. 3. Bring to roller boil in medium fire. 25 minutes cooking for Marbled Fat Cubed Pork. 4. After 25 minutes check

by: Aileen Soriano April and May is the best months in my country to get a tan! Here are some tips on how to get a tan: 1. Best time to get a tan is from 6:00 a.m. till 10:00 a.m. at the beach. Then go back in the afternoon at 4:00 p.m. till 6:00 p.m. 2. Know what time of skin do you have:     a. Do you have an Asian skin? If so, you are in luck!     Best way to get a tan for an Asian skin is to apply virgin coconut oil.     b. Do you have an African skin? I think your skin is just         right :)     c. Do you have a European white skin? Its hard to get a natural     tan if you have a European white skin. It is best to use make - up tan     instead. This will prevent you from getting skin cancer.