Ramblings of a Self-Diagnosed Eclectic

Whatchamacallit? Oated and Coated Hotdog Bread Roll

Posted by eclectic-me on January 13th, 2012

I haven’t gone out from the house for 10 days. Tonight I finally gathered myself together and went out to buy some bread and egg for this recipe. I haven’t eaten my dinner and there isn’t any rice left, so this easy recipe is what I decided to make.

: Oated and Coated Hotdog Bread Roll - finally cooked!

Oated and Coated Hotdog Bread Roll - fresh and without coating

Oated and Coated Hotdog Bread Roll - with the exquisite coating

Ingredients:

3 pcs medium-sized hotdogs
cheese
6 pcs of sliced loaf bread
1 egg
1 cup Japanese bread crumbs
2 tbsp Crispy Fry breading mix
1 tsp cheese powder
4 tbsp unflavored oats
1 tsp dried basil
frying oil

Directions:

Remove the brownish outer portion of the bread because that will keep your bread from flattening out entirely.
Flatten out the bread. I used a drinking glass to flatten it. If you have a rolling pin, that’s a whole lot better. Set aside.
Cook 3 pcs of hotdogs in the oven. I used an oven toaster. Once cooked, cut hotdogs in half.
Cut cheese into half inch sticks by not exceeding with that of the width of the sliced bread.
Put the cheese and hotdog on top of the bread parallel to its width. Then roll them snugly together. Don’t put too much force just to make it tight so that the bread won’t tear apart.
Beat egg in a bowl. Set aside.
Mix breadcrumbs, Crispy Fry, cheese powder, oats and dried basil in a shallow and wide container. Set aside.
Soak fresh rolls in egg and coat them with the mixture in #7.
In a frying pan, pour generous amount of oil then put in low heat.
Once oil is hot enough, put the rolls gently. It usually just takes 3-10 seconds for it to turn brown. Watch over it closely.
Put freshly cooked rolls on a plate with tissue to absorb the excess oil.

If you don’t have hotdogs, you can use ham instead. You can also use tuna with mayonnaise instead of hotdogs or ham and cheese.

I’m glad that I’ve actually decided to use the Crispy Fries and cheese powder, without them the coating may be a bit bland. I love the oatmeal coating. It makes the bite more enjoyable!

Chicken Cordon Bleu Chops Recipe

Posted by eclectic-me on January 12th, 2012

I decided to finally put this recipe up in this blog because a lot of people have already been asking for it. I think today’s the best time to do it before laziness and procrastination take a toll on me.

Cordon Bleu Chops

Ingredients:

2 pcs of whole chicken breasts
ham
Quickmelt cheese
1 pack of Japanese bread crumbs
1 cup flour
3 pcs whole egg
McCormick’s dried basil (optional)
4 tbsp. olive oil (optional)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
vegetable oil for a deep-fry

Directions:

Cut chicken breasts as thin as you possibly can, it’ll be easier to roll and fold them nicely with the ham. Set aside.
In a separate container, mix olive oil, salt and pepper.
Mix # 2 with #1 (chicken breasts). You can use your hands to mix them well. Set aside.
Cut the cheese into sticks. The width should be half an inch and the length will be the longest width of the cut chicken breasts.
To make the rolls, place ham over a layer of chicken then place the cheese stick at the end of the ham then roll the same way that you would roll a pencil on a paper. Lock and secure the roll with a toothpick. Repeat the process with the other chicken, ham and cheese. Set aside.
For the breading, beat the eggs in a separate bowl. Set aside.
Place flour and bread crumbs in two separate plates.
Sprinkle a small amount of dried basil in the bread crumbs. Mix to evenly distribute.
Then we will now proceed with FEB process. That is to coat the rolls with Flour, Egg then Bread crumbs. Do the same process to the rest of the rolls.
In a medium-heat, put the rolls in a deep-fryer. Fry until golden brown.
Put napkins/tissues on the plate before you put the freshly cooked rolls to absorb the excess oil.
Cut all the rolls into smaller portion. Make a 1 and 1/2 inches of diagonal cut.
Plate and serve.

Just a trivia, Cordon Bleu is translated as “Blue Ribbon” in French. Cordon Bleu must not also be confused with a prestigious European cooking school. Although this dish is named in French, it is known to be an American innovation.

Mactan Oceantown, Cebu’s Next IT Park

Posted by eclectic-me on January 12th, 2012

Let me walk you through on how I stumbled upon this promising information. It’s just one of those weird things that leads to another.

I decided to play around with Google maps focused on Mactan so that I can get a clearer picture of how a couple of the properties that my friends and I had invested there are laid out in the island. I tried to familiarize myself with the roads going in and out the area of our respective places. I am also stoked that one of those subdivisions, Fleur de Ville Subdivision, is just 3 minutes away from the beach! Shangri-la Resort and Spa and Crimson Resort and Spa are the nearest to my area.

But anyway, to cut to the chase, I noticed a wide and well-paved road that looked like a half-opened zipper shaped like a letter ‘Y’ with an attractive rotunda in one of it’s fork ends; inside a vast spacious piece of land between Fleur de Ville Subdivision and the Shangri-la Resort and Spa complex. It’s labeled as Mactan Oceantown in Google Maps. I find it weird and interesting at the same time. There’s hardly anything in it so I was thinking, what’s will all that fuss. It took me another day to actually research about that area.

Mactan Oceantown, a future IT Hub?

Mactan Oceantown Information Technology Park and Commercial Complex will rise on a 25-hectare complex (a hectare bigger than Asiatown IT Park, Lahug) between Fleur de Ville Subdivision and Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa. It will have BPO offices, hotels, a convention center, commercial and retail centers, skills training center, recreational facilities and a transportation hub, all at the heart of the new growth center in the Visayas. The project will be home to high-tech offices, a retail center, residential villages, leisure facilities with a beach resort frontage to boot.

Megaworld Corp., one of the leading real estate developers in the country, and Oceantown Property for Mactan Newtown Center, signed an agreement with Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza. Mactan Newtown Center is a commercial development consisting of six buildings..

Mactan Newtown Center will probably rise here, near the rotunda or what also looks like the entrance to the park

Mactan Oceantown View from the Rotunda Main Entrance

Mactan Oceantown View from the Ocean - The entire Mactan Oceantown complex may include the land that snakes out to the ocean, between Shangri-La and Portofino Beach Resort, basing on this development plan.

The commercial site is located behind Mactan barangay hall and in front of Sto. Niño church. Megaworld Corp. vice president Jericho Go said they are applying for certification from the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).

He said their development will complement the existing Mactan Export Processing Zone (Mepz). Go said their site will house business process outsourcing companies and call center firms.

Radaza said the commercial development will prioritize hiring of Lapu-Lapu City residents. Oceantown Property vice president Virgilio Carsido said a substation will be build inside the Newtown center for the site’s power needs. (source: Inquirer)

Michael Dignos of the City Attorney’s Office said these investments bring Lapu-Lapu City closer to becoming an international gateway for business and tourism by 2020 as indicated in the Mactan Island Integrated Development Plan.

Below is a video of the site development plan prepared by MJF Scale Model for Megaworld Corporation.

I never really knew about this project during the harrowing months of making sure that I’d choose my future home wisely. I just cared about my budget and the track-record of the developer; not to also mention that I want a home near the airport for my future travels and near the beach to relax and unwind. And knowing that there is going to be an IT Park outside the comfort of the subdivision walls, is amazing! I know that Asiatown IT Park in Lahug isn’t the most relaxing place but it CAN be a good place to unwind. I’m not the most social and most outgoing person that you will ever meet but there is something in the BPO atmosphere that makes me feel a lot sociable. I am hoping this future development will just be as inviting as that of Asiatown IT Park.

Assuming and hoping that Obama’s House Bill 3696 or the US Call Center and Consumer Protection Act will not affect the BPO sector in the future, the Mactan Oceantown will surely open employment and business opportunities to Mactan residents.

There are only few articles written about Mactan Oceantown, so I need to gather more information to support the details I put in here. If you have more information or corrections, feel free to share it.

Spelunking and Zipline in Ugong Rock, Puerto Princesa

Posted by eclectic-me on December 15th, 2011

On our 4th day in Palawan, we were bound for Puerto Princesa Underground River. On our way there, our tour guide gave us an option to try Ugong Rock when she found out that it was open for that day. My friends and I were up to adventure so we decided to give it a try. I wasn’t really expecting to enjoy it because Ugong Rock wasn’t included in our itinerary nor was I even aware about such place existed.

at the base of Ugong Rock

From afar, Ugong Rock looked just like a mound of rock with specks of vegetation around it. It didn’t look so exciting from a distance. It was also located near a ricefield so who would’ve thought something spectacular was waiting for us.

We stayed for a few minutes inside a “kubo” with other tourists and foreigners. We were required to register our names. We also paid 450 for both spelunking and zipline. Then we went to another hut where we had to put on gloves and helmet. We were also given towels to wipe our sweat off for later.

my darling friends, the lovely couple Evz and Raymond

A passageway was carved at the base that opens a channel from and out to the other side. It’s 8ft-10ft stretch to the other side. You can actually see the light shining through the crevices at the top and also from the exit. It still amazes me how nature carved the sides of that channel.

The complicated part of spelunking was on our way to the top. We had to squeeze ourselves in small gaps, climb and push ourselves up. The gloves and helmet were really useful. This activity got us really perspiring. The face towel came in handy too!

curtain formation in Ugong Rock

my brother Voltaire and my friend April

There were exquisite rock formations inside Ugong Rock. We also were also told to tap on other formations so that we can hear a resonating hum, where “Ugong” got it’s name from.

my best buddies going up to the viewdeck

The only way down for tourists is to get on a zipline. A view deck was propped on top of Ugong Rock. That’s also where the zipline starts. You can also enjoy a 180 degree view of the other limestone formation including the view of Saint Paul Mountain where Puerto Princesa Underground River is located.

at the view deck of Ugong Rock

waiting for our turn

The zipline was steep so you’re really going down fast on to the other side. You’ll pass through a rice field on your way down. According to our guide, a dispute on the air space causes the zipline to be closed at times.

my bhessy on the zipline

Our van waited for us in the other side. Our perky tour guide got ahead of us in the zipline so that she could take our pictures while each of us were in it.

I enjoyed the spelunking a lot, and the zipline was quite fun. I’m glad we tried Ugong Rock. I think tourist should also include that in their itinerary.

Achieve That Glowing Dewy Make-Up Look

Posted by eclectic-me on December 15th, 2011

I have just recently put a picture of me up on Facebook as a profile pic before going out to party. A couple of people noticed the sheen and dewy look on my face in that picture. I was glad enough to share what I wore on my face for that night.

Myra Vitaglow Tinted Moisturizer mixed with my Nichido liquid foundation

It will only take one magic potion, Myra Vitaglow Tinted Moisturizer mixed with your regular liquid foundation to achieve that fresh and dewy look that will make your skin glow all night long. Myra Tinted Moisturizer comes in two shades, Ivory and Beige. I’m glad to have accidentally picked up beige. It gives me that natural healthy look during the day while it neutralizes the effect of flash photography on photos during a night-out party with friends.

Myra Vitaglow Tinted Moisturizer in Beige

Myra Vitaglow Tinted Moisturizer already has good enough coverage to use by itself. But I prefer wearing it during the day and in daily basis. That is to allow your skin to breathe and stay moisturized. I usually put liquid foundation even when I go to the mall. I’m glad I no longer have to.

Some people think Myra Vitaglow is too shimmery just because they can see the glitters on their fingers but when you actually apply it on your face, the shimmer isn’t noticeable at all. It just gives you that healthy well-moisturized glow instead.

Myra Vitaglow Tinted Moisturizer swatch and coverage

Myra Vitaglow Tinted Moisturizer has that watery texture. That’s probably the reason that it is feels cool and light on the face when applied.

Myra Vitaglow is enriched with vitamin E and has SPF 15. It comes in 35ml for P165.

All in all, I think Myra Vitaglow Tinted Moisturizer is a great product. I’ve been looking for tinted moisturizers and I can’t find anything that’s accessible and inexpensive. It’s great to be able to buy it over drugstores like Watsons. Myra Vitaglow Tinted Moisturizer is a beauty must-have!

Heaven On Earth Experience in Osmeña Peak

Posted by eclectic-me on July 12th, 2011

I had the privilege to join one of the ambitious trekking destination in Cebu with my officemates when I was still working for Dell, E-Telecare (now Stream). We had this climb last July 5, 2009. It was a memorable moment for me. That was the first time in my adult and professional life that I had been so in touch with nature.

Start of the Trail to Osmeña Peak in Brgy. Mantalongon, Dalaguete

Osmena Peak is known to be the highest peak in the province and Island of Cebu. Base on actual GPS altitude, it stand approximately 1000 meters above sea level. Osmena peak is located in the vicinity area of Mantalungon, Dalaguete.

The clanky bus ride; the steep back ride on a motorcycle and a strenuous climb to the peak, didn’t really take a toll on me. It was fun going off the trail with a bunch of outgoing people who were buying the time with chit-chatting and joking around.

at the base camp in Osmeña Peak

It was already night time when we arrived at our base camp. There wasn’t a single light around but the only the ones that we have brought with us. We probably had rooted 6-7 tents on the base. We pretty much huddled together after we made our tents for a night of merry-making. Our time outside had been cut short when it rained.

I had to squeeze in with 2 harmless guys in the borrowed tent, my team leader and my team mate. All three of us were poorly equipped. We went there without the trekking gears. We had to endure the night of back pains and the night of horror. There was some tales of horror that night that I wouldn’t be sharing right now. Let’s just leave it at that.

truly heavenly - Osmeña Peak

where the exact Osmeña Peak is - picture taken by me

All the amazement had to wait in the morning. We woke up with all the burst of unimaginable colors in the sky complete with a rainbow. The terrain and everything around us was a surprise for me. I couldn’t believe I actually spent the night on top of the most scenic place I could possibly see. It was unbelievable.

The rock formations were amazing. They looked like they were carved out perfectly. Somehow you couldn’t believe they form naturally. Nature at its best.

Kawasan Falls - at the source, we had to pass by a ladder of falls.. I think the usual tourist to the area would only think there were just 1-2 falls, but if they go farther up, there were more...

The sore legs complete with rashes had been worth it. The 6 hours of trekking crossing traverse to the other side of Cebu and ending the whole journey in Kawasan Falls, what else could I ask for.

credit to owner

Photo Credits to: Russel Marion Gonzales

A Night in a Sleeper Train from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur

Posted by eclectic-me on July 11th, 2011

Fresh from an interesting end of our stroll in Singapore that ended in Clark Quay, we hopped on to the MRT to Tanjung Pagar where the Kuala Lumpur train station is. It had been a long day but I could still feel the adrenaline rush despite the fact that my feet and back hurt from all the walking. The excitement was understandable. We planned this trip for months and that was our first ever trip abroad.

Kuala Lumpur Train Station in Singapore (Tanjung Pagar)

Leaving KL Train Station - done with the tickets

We had been to Tanjung Pagar that day to buy the tickets, but because there was a train to catch we hailed a taxi for the first and only time for that entire trip.

Finally, we arrived in the station. I was a bit nervous seeing the crowd of passengers waiting in the lounge. My instinct told me not to trust anyone but my friends. But I did enjoy just observing everybody. After all, trips were not just about places but about the people in those places.

Finally, we had to line up to have our passports checked before getting on the train. We also got off the train to have our passports checked the second time an hour along the way. The train left around 9pm.

Inside the Sleeper Train to Kuala Lumpur

We paid for a top bunk each because it was $10 cheaper. I believed we got on the last car of the train. The idea gave me the creeps. You know in the movies how it was always the last car that crooks cling on when they hijack a train. I got paranoid the whole ride that I was never able to sleep. I was in a lookout all those time.

But one good thing that made me feel safe and reminded me of home was the sound of the Malaysian language blaring over the radio. You know how the Visayan radio commentators in an early morning news speak in fast phasing that you can recognize the rhythm of the language but could not pick out any words that much, that was what happened when I listened to it. It reminded me of my dad delivering his piece of news in RMN every morning when I was growing up.

me, just arrived in KL Central Station

We got off in Kuala Lumpur Central Station (Stesen Sentral). I could totally think of beef rendang that time, not just because I was hungry but because I also smelled like one. I probably got the smell as we passed through the market in Little India where the smell of spices and curry were overwhelming.

As we were nearing the station, I pulled myself together inside my bunk, improvised ‘taking a bath’ with quite handy stuffs like alcohol and tissue paper instead; and changed my clothes, which all of those I regretted doing. There were shower rooms in KL Central Station which charges for a minimal fee. I got so lazy so I ended up to be the only person not able to take a bath.

We arrived in Malaysia from Singapore via a sleeper train around 5:30am. You can read about Singapore-Malaysia-Singapore Trip: 3-Day Itinerary, Day 1 by clicking on it.

Unbeknownst to me and my friends as we got off the train, we would spend the rest of hours trapped inside the station and an unexpected adventure for the rest of our day.

Solo Backpacking in Ilocos: Bantay Abot Cave, Pagudpud

Posted by eclectic-me on July 8th, 2011

Bantay Abot Cave as I had awed upon while my hired tricycle careened along a coastal road and as I had seen it from a distance, was a dome-like rock decorated with tropical weeds and studded on to a scenic coast facing South China Sea. The dome-shaped rock has an arc-shaped hole at the base forming a channel that bores through both sides of the cave. The cave’s entrance was lavished by the sea with empty shells and pieces of dead coral rocks beside polished boulders and large stones.

Bantay Abot Cave from a distance

It was such an overwhelming experience, seeing Bantay Abot Cave right in between a scenic coastline and mountainous landscapes. It made a spectrum of a wild burst of greens and blues around the area.

Bantay Abot Cave

Bantay Abot Cave - my silhouette

Bantay Abot Cave - rock walled, pulling a muscle to get up there

The little rock climb I had above wasn’t really that high but it was steep. If I had more time and wouldn’t care much of my safety, I would like to sit right there and zone out. Everything around was just a sight to behold.

A View from Bantay Abot Cave

A scenic view from Bantay Abot cave

What I said earlier about a sight to behold, the picture above is the proof. The view and the feel of the place reminded me of Twilight’s setting which is Forks, Washington. I haven’t been to Forks, but this place seemed like something that was taken out from the movie. Fascinating yet surreal. Quite unbelievable.

My Wildlife Shot in Bantay Abot Cave – Submitted to Project Noah

Wooly Morning Glory (Argyreia nervosa) - Project Noah

Wooly Morning Glory (Argyreia nervosa) - saw this along the highway cliff down to the Bantay Abot Cave

For my other solo backpacking trips in Ilocos:

Solo Backpacking in Ilocos: Pangil Beach, Currimao
Solo Backpacking in Vigan City: Bantay Bell Tower and St. Augustine Parish Church
Solo Backpacking in Vigan City: Padre Burgos House and Museum

Let’s Get Kinky

Posted by eclectic-me on July 3rd, 2011

So I just realized that I have been keeping quite a lot of kinky stuffs…. to curl my hair. BUT I never really get around to use them a lot. I might have actually curled my hair 3-4 times only in a year! Yet, I’ve accumulated 5 curling items.

Hair Rollers

The conventional hair rollers do work but I actually have to spend an hour to have them on. Sometimes, I don’t really know when I’ll be going out until I feel like it. Sometimes, I have to go out if I feel like going out or else I might change my mind. So definitely, there’s not much room to actually give myself more time to prepare and curl my hair.

Curl Formers

I don’t think the new curl formers actually work without any curling treatments. I tried it once for maybe 20 mins, but it just made my hair wavy not really curled like what rollers can achieve. My hair immediately go flat so I must put hair spray on it right away to keep what it can only achieve with it.

Ceramic Straightening/Curling Iron

This was quite costly for my budget, but this really turned out to be a great product and it’s very heavy-duty. I bought this from Watsons for 1,449.75 ($28-30) 2-3 years ago. It’s really a great hair straightener but I really didn’t want to use it often. It easily heats up fast. It’s just that I can’t find a heat protecting spray around and I really don’t want to kill my already damaged hair. My problem with this is that I can’t figure out how to effectively create curls with it. I’ve watched tutorials where they actually make amazing curls with a ceramic iron, but I don’t know what’s happening to my IQ that I just can’t get it right all the way. I can make one-two curls but I have to keep doing it once or twice. I don’t want to do it all over again because that’s equivalent to torturing my hair towards murder. So I never really successfully used this to curl my hair.

Curling Iron

This curling iron is what I probably used often, as often as I’ve used the rollers. The iron heats up fast, which is a good thing. Because I don’t have a proper boudoir or dresser, and I also don’t have an accessible wall outlet near a mirror, so it’s really difficult to get my hair done with this. I usually squat and remove my mirror of the wall just to get this done. I bought this in Metro Ayala Department Store for around 500-600 ($10-12). I bought this 2-3 years ago. Below is a pic of me getting my hair curled by one of the attendants while I was choosing the best hair curlers. I don’t think it’s the same curler that I just bought. I think the one used in that pic was a bit more expensive.

Getting Curls - I hope I always have someone else curl my hair

Glamorous Curls - This was 3 years ago when curling was a lot easier

Curling Curling Curling - Again 3 years ago

Amazing Curls - 3 Years Ago AGAIN during a photoshoot

Every time I see curling tutorials in Youtube, it drives me to curl my hair again but I’m never really satisfied with how it turns out for me. I want a bouncy curl but I don’t have that large curling iron to work with. If you notice, all these pictures were from 3 years ago. I had a boudoir and vanity table then so curling my hair that time was a lot easier.

Right now, I’m actually curling my hair with rollers. I had this since last night, and I’m planning to take them off later tonight. I’m going out with my friends to watch Transformers 3. I’ll be wearing this for 24 hours. I’m going to sleep with this until tonight. I sleep during the day by the way. I’ll just post a pic of my curled hair later which will be my first curly hair for this year.

300 Species Found in the Philippines Including Inflatable Sharks

Posted by eclectic-me on June 28th, 2011

As we’ve recently been troubled by a great loss when our coral reefs that were twice the size of Manila had been destroyed by poachers last month, this new discovery would help us ensure the survival of the species thriving in the Philippine waters.

Being a Filipino and a nature-lover, these discoveries made me excited and made me look forward to the other species that are yet to be named.

The 2011 Philippines Biodiversity Expedition, funded by the Hearst Foundation and participated by expedition scientists of California Academy of Sciences spent 42 days on and around Luzon, the largest island in the archipelago, surveying creatures in terrestrial and marine ecosystem.

According to Terry Gosliner, the leader of the expedition, new species were found during nearly every dive and hike as the country’s reefs, rain forests, and the ocean floor were surveyed.

Swell Shark - inflates its stomach by sucking up water to scare predators away. - Photo by National Geographic

New Wonderworm - a possible key to unlocking the secrets of the genus Myrianida. Photo by National Geographic

While many of the species still need to be confirmed as new using microscopes or DNA sequencing, the team is confident that three hundred or so are new to science.

The goal was to catalogue the country’s species richness “and ensure that this remarkable biodiversity is afforded the best possible chance of survival,” Gosliner said in a statement.

California Academy of Science (CAS) in San Francisco will be showing their recent scientific expedition to the Philippines where they found and collected 300+ new species of marine and fauna on June 30 at 6:00pm during its Nightlife Program.