BonChon Chicken Philippines (Exchange Gifts)

For the sake of memory and sharing, this is another late post (and there will be more. haha!)

It was Eastwood that has been our favorite place last year. We love how we can just walk around and find places to eat in every corner. 

Since it is a time travelling blog post, I'll post as if it just happened yesterday. hihi!

Christmas is always a family day to us, so as to them. It is our family which is our priority on this important day. We usually just spent it at home, waiting for our godchildren to come in our house and get their gifts. In the afternoon, we attend mass. 

And because we cannot see each other on Christmas Day, we decided to meet a day before so we could at least exchange gifts which makes us feel like children again. We love to feel like we're kids. 

I've been craving for BonChon Chicken so we decided to eat and spend our early Christmas Eve there. We both ate light since Noche Buena's waiting in our houses.

He ordered Bulgogi Wrap while I ordered Thigh Ricebox

I really love the juicy-ness and tenderness of BonChon Chicken. Plus, it has its distinct flavor that you will surely love. What I love more is its simple yet nice serving. 

After dinner, we exchanged gifts and these were what we got:

We love Christmas and the happiness it brings in our hearts. We also love the idea of opening gifts during this season. We love the idea of sharing, not just the material things but the love wrapped in it.

As to BonChon, we highly recommend that you try eating here. Both the place and food is really good. Overall, we will rate it 9/10.

We love BonChon Chicken :)

***

BonChon Chicken Philippines

Libis, Quezon City

http://www.bonchon.com.ph

Christmas Village at Eastwood City

Okay, I know it's very very late to be posting this on this almost -Ber months but I just can't help but share the photos just for Christmas, a happy Christmas' sake.

We were just doing a simple walk along Eastwood Citywalk 2 when we passed by this lively Christmas Village. Lights and colors made us feel like we want to be part of it. Silly us. We maybe just love the happiness that Christmas season can bring to children. 

Candy House

Snowman

Santa and children (okay, I'm one of them and he's the eldest brother. haha!)

Santa's elves

Christmas Lights

Unfortunately, we didn't had the chance to see and experience the snow shower but I we definitely enjoyed our walk along the Christmas Village. We will surely come back next Christmas.

Dear Christmas Village,
Thanks for making us feel like children again. 'Til next time!

***
Eastwood Citywalk 2
Eastwood City
C5 Road, Quezon City
http://megaworldlifestylemalls.com/main/eastwood

Ristorante Bigoli - Eastwood

Eating is one of our favorite things to do. We both love to eat in different restaurants, food chains or anywhere where we think has good food to eat. So expect a lot of posts about food in this blog.

Walking around Eastwood one night, we saw this restaurant which was a bit familiar to me, the Ristorante Bigoli. I remembered eating at Trinoma branch of Bigoli. This made me asked him if he have tried eating there and since he haven't, we both tried eating at Bigoli Eastwood Branch.

These are what we had for dinner:

Garden Salad, Minestrone Soup, Italian Chicken, Slices of Cheese Overload Pizza, Spaghetti Marinara, Italian Rice, Orange Juice and Coke

Ready to eat! :)

Spaghetti Marinara was good though I liked Italian chicken and rice more. Very delicious and tasty.

Bigoli also offers free unlimited garlic sticks. What wasn't that good is that, you have to wait for the staff to give you some unlike in Trinoma branch where you will be given a basket of garlic breads on your table.

See how addicted he was with the garlic sticks? He really loves it.

***

Ristorante Bigoli

Center Plaza, Citywalk 1

Eastwood, Quezon City

https://www.facebook.com/RistoranteBigoli

La Mesa Ecopark

Located in the heart of Quezon City is where a man-made park called the remaining forest inside the Metro Manila, the La Mesa Ecopark, resides. As its name suggests, it was built around the La Mesa Dam/Watershed, the primary drinking water reservoir of the Metro.

If you want to leave the city but don't have enough time to travel, La Mesa Ecopark is the best place to go. In it, you will feel like you're far from the bustled city when in fact, you're just a short-ride away. 

Now let's go into details.

This is what will welcome you if you wish to go inside the park: big trees and good security.

Before going inside, one must be briefed in this area:

Residents of Quezon City and Senior Citizens have discount upon entering the park but if you're not, do not worry because the entrance fee is just P50.

It's my third time when we went there. It's his first that's why he's more excited than I am.

Big trees are everywhere which made us feel like we really like inside a true forest. It was lunch time when we got there so we first ate lunch. Since we don't have packed food for lunch, we just bought lunch on food stores at the park's food station. We had tilapia and pork with free salted egg and tomatoes. We also decided to eat using our hands and under those big trees instead on those tables around. I missed eating like that. I missed doing picnic.

After eating, we rested for a while before going around.

First stop, La Mesa Dam.

We have to take those steps just to see the dam.



It was so hot that's why it was a bit exhausting to go up but  it was all worth it after seeing what we want to see plus the beautiful flowers on both sides of the steps. Everyone is restricted to go near the dam so at the end of the steps, there are fences for safety.

Then, we went around and the following will surely make you love the place:

 The Lagoon

Picnic Areas :) 

If you wish to have a private place to eat, nipa huts are also around but you have to pay for it.

 You can do horseback riding.

 Different activities can also be done in this big activity area.

and the Forest.

Do not worry about losing in the place because you have these guides everywhere:

So, if you're a nature lover or just want to be away from the "busy-ness" of the city, you don't have to go that far, visit the La Mesa Ecopark in the East of Fairview, Quezon City and surely, your mind will be rested and refreshed.

And for us, we will definitely come back here. 

***

La Mesa Ecopark

La Mesa Dam Compound

Greater Lagro, Quezon City 

430-4051/430-5207 (Telefax)

http://www.lamesaecopark.com

Regina Rica

In the hills of Tanay, Rizal lies this big statue of Mary, a place for silence, peace and serenity, the Regina Rica. Regina means Queen while Rica is a Spanish word for Lady. 

After a long ride and before the walk to Regina Rica, we made sure to prepare ourselves by making our stomach full. We first ate the food that I prepared, Carbonara :)

The place was so beautiful and serene, far far far from the pollution and noise of the city.

One must pass the S Trail to before reaching Regina Rica.

NO cheating please :)

As you go through the S Trail, places where one can stop, light a candle and say prayer can be found.



Plus the flowers...

and the scenery (since Regina Rica is located on a hill).

El Shaddai = Breast of God. Now I know :)

Reaching the end is truly an achievement.

Under the statue of Regina Rica is where masses are being celebrated since the chapel is still under construction. Also, it is a place where everyone is being oriented before going inside the statue where there is a prayer room.

Chapel under condtruction

Everyone must take his/her shoes before going inside the prayer room. This is to give respect and to maintain the cleanliness of the sacred place.

Taking photos inside is not allowed. According to the nun who gave us the orientation, that place is a place for prayer and contemplation, not a tourist spot. There really is a different feeling every time we talk to God inside that kind of place. I know that we can talk to Him anytime we want to but I always believe that deeper conversation with Him can be done at a right place.

Outside the prayer room is a veranda where the beauty of the place can be truly appreciated.

After talking to God deeply, we went down and saw this prayer house. It has this circular walkway which we don't know what really means. 

Though we have no knowledge about that circular walkway, we still followed the way  and walked through it.

On the other side of the place is where the Station of the Cross (which was also under construction) can be found.

Visiting Regina Rica was a different experience. If you wish to be far from the busy city and be in a place where you can contemplate, meditate or just communicate with God in a deeper way, I strongly recommend that you go to this place.

Just a reminder, Regina Rica is not a place for picnic or recreation, it is a place for prayer.

***
Regina Rica
Brgy. Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal

http://www.reginarica.org