Category: Lifestyle

Face Skin Care

Posted by Rochelle Sy Chua On January 5, 2009

A lot of people have been asking me what products I use to take care of my face.
With this in mind, I’m sharing with you my personal routine

Facial Wash

I use Olay 7 effects facial wash coz (1) I work in P&G, (2) I believe in the product (3) I’m positive it is one of the best products out there… I would have preferred SKII but it’s just too expensive.

Facial Moisturizer

If I’m going to put something on my face better just stick to one brand and I have chosen Olay.

Concealer

It took me quite a time before I decided to include this in my beauty regimen. Since I’m not getting any younger and I always sleep late due to WoW (hehe!), I will need to cover those big eyebags. After reading a lot of forums, I’m made to believe that Mac brand is the best out there.

Foundation

Believe it or not, I don’t know how to wear makeup. I really dont understand the difference between a powder, foundation (dry, wet). I just kept researching on what’s the best product to use without any much effort. And here it is, Mac Studio Fix.

Blush-On

A few years back, I was asked to model for a beauty shop. They gave me a free makeover and they used this product to put on my cheeks. I really loved it and from that time on, I learned how to use it. So natural looking

Lipstick

I really don’t care much what to use. But since my mom gave me this as a gift, I’m using it.

Night Cream

I use different moisturizers during day & night, I don’t understand the concept but I just follow it hehe

How about you? What products do you trust to put in your face?

World of Warcraft Battlechest

Posted by Rochelle Sy Chua On December 10, 2008

These past few days/weeks I’ve been really addicted to playing World of Warcraft (WoW).
I started by playing the free 10-day trial. And since I LOVE the game, I bought this WoW Battlechest so I can finally have my own account and start paying the monthly subscription fee.

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I bought this at Datablitz for Php 2,795.00. It’s a lil expensive here in the Philippines but I still think it’s worth it… this game is really the best MPORG available wohoo!

Included in the WoW Battlechest are the ff.:

Installers (now in DVD!)

World of Warcraft SKU
Burning Crusade Expansion Pack

Strategy guides for WoW & Burning Crusade
Game Manuals
WoW guest pass
Blizzard catalog

I will need time to read the strategy guides but I’m really distracted coz I’d rather use the time to play the game than reading the guides hahaha. Maybe I’ll just read it while I’m out

With this post, I’m starting a new section in my blog called WorldofWarcraft. Well, obviously because this is my new hobby/passion hehehe. I’ll be posting more soon. Maybe introduce my character first, share some information about her.

To give you some information on my toon:

Name – Siannah
Class – Undead Warlock
Realm – Coilfang
Guild – Bloodshed Battallion

You can send a whisper if you’re playing at Coilfang, I’d be glad to chat with people while playing

PicPanda.com

Cafe Ysabel

Posted by Rochelle Sy Chua On October 18, 2008

Cafe Ysabel

455 P. Guevarra St., San Juan, Metro Manila

(02) 725-5089

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It has been such a long time since I went to this restaurant. When we were told that we’re eating at Cafe Ysabel, I was even imagining another restaurant in Ortigas hehehe.

It took us quite a time to wait for the food to arrive. Imagine, we were only able to receive our orders after 1 whole hour? Later on, we found out that the students were the one who cooked our food and the chef has to approve them first before serving to us.

Is it worth the wait? Maybe, but 1 hour is really too long.

We were served the ff. though while waiting:

Freshly Baked Bread

This one is served with olive oil & balsamic vinegar.

Virgin Mary

Guess who served us this free offering by the restaurant? A local celebrity here in the Philippines named Janice de Belen. She was telling us that this is something we can take before eating anything. It should be called bloody mary but since this particular shot doesn’t have alcohol then they would call it virgin mary.

This tasted like tomato juice eeheheh but it was good.

Finally, came our orders.. But they tasted good!

Sopa Ysabel (Php 115)

Mixed seafood chowder w/ saffron.

Gambas (Php 218)

This tasted normal. Just like what restaurants usually serve. I like this version better than the ones served in Filipino grill restaurants.

Prawns Thermidor (Php 488)

Shrimps stuffed w/ young mushrooms, vegetables, cheese (baked).

This one I ordered, I was able to cook something like this myself before when I took up a 1-day cooking class. So I had an idea what this dish should taste like. And I’m happy that it is indeed delicious.

Mariscada (Php 488)

mixed seafood in olive oil, herbs & tomato sauce.

Silk Road Salad (Php 298)

A salad w/ sausage, noodles, apricots, smoked salmon, mango & leaves in apple sprice dressing.

This looked really yummy, I just thought that the salmon looked rare so I didn’t try it when it was offered.

Pan Roasted Seabass (Php 988)

We can either choose vietnamese butter & mixed seafood in Crustacean sauce or hazelnut butter w/ wild mushroom ragout. This particular dish that our colleague ordered is the mixed seafood in crustacean sauce.

Glazed Spare Ribs (Php 398)

When we say spare ribs, I never really imagine it as ribs… because other restaurants usually serve this in chunks. So I was pleasantly surprised to see how this dish was presented.

It’s honeycured spareribs coated w/ fruity barbeque glaze.

Lapu Lapu Al Graten (Php 358)

it’s described as a pre-war favorite (I don’t know why it is though hehehe) .
this was cooked the Spanish way with red wine, cheese and tomatoes

Crepe Ysabel (Php 148)

Cafe Ysabel is most famous for their desserts. This is one of them.

Cafe Ysabel serves international food (Filipino, French, Italian, Mediterranean & American). The restaurant used to be an old Spanish house that was transformed into a dining place & cooking school.

We went on a thursday night so there was no pianist. I would advise everyone to go on a weekend so you would hear good music while also appreciating the good ambiance this restaurant has.

Luk Foo Cantonese Kitchen

Posted by Rochelle Sy Chua On October 5, 2008

Luk Foo Cantonese Kitchen

Puregold QL Central, Rodriguez Sr. Ave. cor. Araneta Ave., Quezon City, Metro Manila

(02) 749-9638

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I had lunch w/ Alex & Mitch at Luk Foo today. Alex has been raving about how delicious the food are in Luk Foo.

After I took the first bite, I already am positive that their dishes are extremely delicious!

Here are what we ordered:

Steamed Garlic Fish Fillet w/ Eggplant (Php 260)

Served in a fish metal plate. This is truly a unique & delicious food.
The fish tasted so fresh. I never thought that eggplant & steamed fish go well together!

Crispy Prawn w/ Salty Egg Yolk (Php 320)

Another unique menu, they used salty egg as the breading of the prawns… and I loved it! Luk Foo is now part of my favorite restaurant list.

Broccoli w/ Scallop & Shrimp (Php 480)

Surprisingly, I felt that this is just a normal dish but yet this is the most expensive one. must be the scallops.

One thing that I find intriguing is that all Luk Foo Restaurants are located only in Puregold outlets. I wonder why…

I will definitely go back when I have a chance! Super duper delicious food!!!

La Revolucion Filipina

Posted by Rochelle Sy Chua On September 19, 2008

Photo Courtesy of Victor Ursabia

La Revolucion Filipina

Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, CCP Main Theater, Roxas Boulevard, Metro Manila Friday, September 19, 2008 8PM
Ballet Philippines Presentation

Music by Ryan Cyabyab

Choreography by Agnes Locsin——————–
My friend Orion invited me to watch a ballet performance and I was like “I don’t watch those.” Then he told me “I know you’d rather be with your gadgets but expand your horizon.”

With that kind of statement thrown to me, I said OK, I’ll watch ehhehehe

On the day itself, my friend reminded me that I should wear a cocktail dress coz noone wears casual clothes in that kind of event. With that I wore my Php250 dress that I bought from People are People (cheap isn’t it? it was on sale)

Yeah yeah I know I gained a LOT of weight. After I saw this picture, I’m more & more determined to go on diet.

Back to the topic, La Revolucion Filipina is a Ballet Philippines event & held at CCP Complex. As I watched I can’t really understand what the story was, all I know that it was about the revolution and Emilio Aguinaldo, Apolinario Mabini & Andres Bonifacio are part of it.. . There were spaniards & americans too..

I really have to get this catalog to understand what the story is..

Don’t get me wrong… the dance is really GOOD.. I think I’m starting to appreciate dance in itself… I may again watch ballet soon.

The story takes us through the Philippines history starting in 16th century, the spanish colonization, the formation of Katipunan (Kagalang-galangan, Kataas-taasang Katipunan ng mga anak ng bayan), the Americans taking over of the Philippines & Emilio Aguinaldo’s surrender.

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Complete Story from the catalog (for those who are interested):

Prologue
June 1898, Apolinario Mabini, the “sublime paralytic” of the Philippine Revolucion, is resting on his hammock by a roadside en route to Kawit, Cavite where Emilio Aguinaldo is set to proclaim the independence from Spain of the whole Philippine archipelago. Mabini believes the declaration to be premature. Aguinaldo disagrees.

Act I
Sometime in the 16th century. A tribe of lowland dwellers go on with their daily lives, their naked bodies seeming to be influences of foreign cultures as they take on new manners & new clothes. Finally, the shadow of Spanish subjugation covers them all. Amidst all this, the figures of Apolinario Mabini, Emilio Aguinaldo & Andrew Bonifacio stands out.
1890’s. Bonifacio, Mabini & Aguinaldo become witness to cruelties inflicted on their fellowmen by the Spaniards and by other indios of their time. With the inspiration of the muses of Liberty, Equality & Fraternity, Bonifacio forms a secret society called the Kagalang-galangan, Kataas-taasang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan or Katipunan. Aguinaldo later joins the secret society. Mabini chooses to side with the reformists.
With the discovery of the Katipunan, the revolution begins.
The schism among Filipinos heightens. Aguinaldo is elected President of the nascent Filipino nation. Bonifacio is tried for treason & killed. Mabini blames Aguinaldo for Bonifacio’s death.
The citizens become confused. Act II
The United States of America is drawn into war with Spain. Mabini expresses caution in dealing with the Americans.
Aguinaldo in exile, instructs 3 women to sew a flag for the Filipino nation. Aided by the Americans, he returns to declare Philippine independence. Mabini is asked to become Aguinaldo’s adviser.
Mabini guides Aguinaldo in running the government of the fledging nations. In Malolos, Aguinaldo convenes a Congress that ratifies the Declaration of Independence. The Congress proceeds to form a new Constitution, much against the wishes of Mabini. Aguinaldo is caught between his influencial adviser & Illustrado-dominated Congress.
Spain cedes the Philippines to the United States of America. The Americans who encouraged Aguinaldo show treachery and refuse to recognize the Revolutionary Government. One by one, Aguinaldo allies desert him & join the Americans. The Illustrado blame the non-recognition of Philippine independence on the delay in the establishment of the Republic. Aguinaldo contemplates a peaceful settlement with the Americans. Mabini resigns from the cabinet.
Armed hostilities betwen the Filipinos & Americans begin. Mabini witnesses the treachery of his fellowmen & the cruelty they inflict on their fellow Filipinos.
The Americans close in on Aguinaldo as his aides are killed or desert him. In Palanan, Aguinaldo wrongly trusted those whom he thought were dressed as Filipinos to be faithful to the Filipino cause. Aguinaldo is captured & forced to pledge allegiance to the American flag.
Aguinaldo becomes witness to the continuing division among Filipinos. He is unable to take any action, paralyzed by his belief that no longer holds any lofty position. Mabini rises from his chair & accuses the present of turning its back on its past.
The tribesman must shed his second skind to rediscover his own. Only then can people see what truly makes a nation one.