Ochi In The City

Food Diary : Yakimix Prime

5 Tips to Boost Your Immunity during the Holidays

With only a few days coming in before Christmas, we all know how hectic the following weeks would be! I've been planning since September how I would go about organizing my holidays, but somehow, I couldn't get it right down to pat. Well, at least this year. At this point, I should've bought all my holiday gifts but I'm not even close to completing my list! My last resort would be to just buy everything online. The traffic is horrendous and I'm scared to go out only to be stranded because no taxi cabs/Uber would take me due to the holiday rush.

We all have Christmas get-together's, year-end parties and holiday celebrations to attend. Not to mention work, time with family and loved ones and everything in between to squeeze during the holidays. With all that happening at the same time, you wouldn't want to be caught sick, only to miss out on these celebrations. I was in the hospital last year and it felt terrible knowing that I've been practicing so much for our department presentation, only to end up in the hospital because my body couldn't take all the stress, fatigue and everything else that was going on aka my breakup, LOL. With that, I want to share some tips you guys might find helpful so you can boos your immune system during the holidays!

Have at least 8 hours of sleep.

I don't know the exact number of hours sleep an adult should have but based on experience, 8 is my magic number. Sleep would be your foundation in making sure you function properly the next day. I also find it unhealthy if one oversleeps as I would get nasty headaches and be more slouchy the whole day if I sleep for more than 12 hours.

Don't skip meals.

Eat breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks in between. I remember mentioning in my previous post that I collapsed during one of my classes a few weeks ago. When I went to the doctor, I was told it was over fatigue. I was extremely nervous thinking it was something serious because I literally blacked out and couldn't remember anything. While thinking about everything that happened that day, I realized I only took about 3 bites from my lunch and I didn't have anything for dinner. Explains a whole lot. So remember, never skip a meal!

Eat healthy.

Well, the holidays isn't really the best time to go on a diet. But let's face it, the older we get, the slower our metabolism goes. Wait, or is that just me? Regardless, try to eat healthy. Not because you're on a diet but because you want to take care of your body. I had to realize this the hard way when I couldn't eat anything solid or tasty during my stay at the hospital. Eating healthy doesn't always have to be all greens. You can be creative as you want to be so long as you use the ingredients that's right for you. Also, go slow. Eating healthy isn't a process that happens overnight. Don't be too hard on yourself.

Exercise.

I know at this point you might be telling yourself, "Ugh, this is a dumb list." Yes, we read about these things all the time but do we actually do them? NO. We've been told to eat healthy, get as much sleep and exercise, but as adults, we have so much going on and our priorities actually change. It takes a whole lot of effort to re-prioritize and shift your perspective. You don't have to do a whole 3-hour boxing session to catch up. As mentioned, go slow. You can start with daily 15-minute exercises, then progress to longer exercises soon as your body gets to adjust. Work with exercises that doesn't bore you or that fits your body type. Customize it and make it as fun as you want it to!

Take your vitamins.

Most of the time, we think everything we're doing is enough--but really, it isn't. Getting help isn't always a bad thing. That's what your vitamins are for! Helping out your immune system is not a bad thing. Which is exactly what Fern-C does. Fern-C is a sodium ascorbate that helps boost our immune system. It's also a potent anti-oxidant that increases body resistance against infectious diseases. In short, it's your daily dose of Vitamin C. You might say that you actually get Vit C with the food that you eat everyday, but how sure are you? Being extra cautious won't harm you. In contrast with ascorbic acid, which is also another type of Vitamin C, sodium ascorbate also helps in fighting/preventing cancer, helps in preventing cardiovascular diseases and prevents possible cataract. Sodium ascorbate is also non-acidic (perfect for me since I have GERD), and is more soluble than ascorbic acid. It is more reactive compared to ascorbic acid in building connective tissues and anti-body structures which make it more effective in killing viruses and bacteria.

Another difference of sodium ascorbate from ascorbic acid is that it is absorbed easier by the body since it provides a more bio-available source of Vitamin C as opposed to ascorbic acid. Sodium ascorbate contains about 111 mg of sodium and 889 mg of ascorbic acid. The addition of sodium buffers the acid content of Vitamin C which results to a lowered acidity.

That being said, we always hear that 'Health is Wealth' but always do otherwise. I'm no saint when it comes to this since I'm a heavy drinker and I smoke too. Which is why I'm trying to improve the quality of my life by adhering to this list not just during the holidays, but on the daily. I'm currently doubling my vitamin dosage due to the extra work I have to do before I go on vacation, add to that the numerous events that are simultaneously happening before everyone else also take their holidays. I didn't have this kind of perspective before I was hospitalized. I would abuse my body until it finally gave up. Don't let that happen to you. Don't wait for a moment of realization before you finally decided to make a change. I was lucky the damage to my body last year wasn't excessive, I am lucky. Not everyone is. Make sure you take care of your body before it's too late.

You can follow Fern-C on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to know more! Have a change of lifestyle and make the shift before it's too late. I know I sound preachy but trust me on this one. No one likes getting sick not just during the holidays, but all the time, right?? More so during the holidays when everyone is having fun! Have a stress-free holiday with Fern-C! #FernCSubokNa #StressFreeChristmas #HealthyHoliday

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, by Ochi Bernadas

Cream Dory

Kitchen Chronicles : Herbed Cream Dory

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, by Ochi Bernadas

food

The Maginhawa Diaries : RBCTY (Rib City)

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, by Ochi Bernadas

bits and pieces

Bits + Pieces

WAAAAAH! I haven't blogged in over a week and I feel guilty! I was supposed to have all this set with queued posts but I was extremely busy a week before taking my vacation hence the absence of posts. Anyhoo, I've been out on vacation for a week and got back to Manila yesterday. This will only be a quick update of my whereabouts, just to let you guys know that I'm still alive! LOL.

1 | My trip to Cebu finally pushed through! The boyfriend and I were reluctant to go through with it due to the APEC hullabaloo but luckily, we weren't affected! Our flights weren't cancelled and the traffic going back home from NAIA was a breeze! Thank you, universe.

2 | This is my first out of town trip with this guy! Somehow I can tell, this will be the first of many breathtaking places we'll explore together. He was able to get survive my crazy moments when traveling. And I tell you, I'm extra cranky and bitchy when traveling!

3 | Our boat on the way to the Whaleshark feeding area! The commute from Mactan to Tan-Awan, Oslob was fun! Rode the bus and a habal-habal to get to our destination.

4 | The main reason we went to Cebu; to watch the gentle giants! This was an out of this world experience. I was really scared to dive at first because I easily forget my swimming skills whenever there's a foreign entity beside me. The whale shark swam right below my feet and I can feel it but the guide told me not move because it will startle the whale shark! More about this on my next post!

5 | This is the view in front of our resort. Amenities and room-wise, this wasn't the best place at the price we agreed upon. But with this view, I wouldn't have it any other way.

6 | The rest of our Cebu trip in a nutshell, hahaha! After Oslob, we spent most of our time looking for the best places to eat Lechon! The entire trip, I think 80% of the meals we had were Lechon! We even had Lechon at the airport. OMG so good!

7 | After Cebu, went to Baguio with the boyfriend and his family. It was tiring as we just got back from a wonderful Cebu trip. But I also missed Baguio so much couldn't bear to waste energy sleeping!

8 | The birthday boy and his birthday cake from Vizcos! Took him out on a date after celebrating with his family. Had coffee at Cafe Will. We were supposed to go to La Casa Bianca but they close at 10PM. We finished dinner late because I went batshit crazy at the Outlet store in John Hay, hahaha.

9 | Concluding one week of vacation with my birthday boy at The Manor in Camp John Hay. Had fun touring my favorite boy in my favorite city! PS You're probably wondering why I'm wearing a sweater and short shorts in cold freaking Baguio?? This used to be my usual get up in college! I find it comfortable until now, haha.

With all those bullets, still couldn't summarize how happy I am this week. Yes, I may have had a few fights with the boyfriend but nothing a hug couldn't fix. I think taking trips and vacations with your loved one improves your relationsip. They get to see you ta your best...and worst! Glad to have survived this trip despite my apprehensions. I'm recharging for tomorrow's work. I can only imagine the butt load of e-mails I have to go through tomorrow, LOL. Have an awesome Sunday!

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, by Ochi Bernadas

#MerrySMChristmas2015

Taking Gifting To The Next Level

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, by Ochi Bernadas

4 Seasons Hotpot City

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, by Ochi Bernadas

Belkin

My Belkin Wish list

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, by Ochi Bernadas

Asian Food

The Maginhawa Diaries : Me Love You Long Time

I'm a sucker for Asian food, every one knows that. And no, I'm not just talking about Filipino and Japanese, although I must say I have a huge bias on the two, hehe. During one of our Maginhawa expeditions, we were trying to avoid StrEAT Food Park as much as possible because I've seen the amount of people that flock the place and no, I won't subject myself to that.

Fortunately when we passed by while looking for a place to eat, there weren't a lot of people! Then we realized it's a weekday, maybe that's why. We decided to give it a try since I've been dying to try the fancy Milkshakes at Lost Bread. When we got there, I was racing to get a table since I was expecting an influx of customers. Surprisingly, the place was chill, hehe.

I was impressed with the Beef Rendang + Rice (P159.00) and Laksa (P149.00), but no so much with the Fresh Spring Rolls(P99.00). According to the waiter, the Spring Rolls is one of their best sellers but it felt like a rip off. The sauce was bland and didn't even come close to what peanut sauce should taste like. The service was fast and the food was served immediately. If not for the service I wouldn't even recommend eating here.

Last Friday, I went back to try other things on their menu. But this time, I tried their branch at Z Compound. I ordered the Pad Thai Combo (P219.00). The Pad Thai combo inlcludes Pad Thai (of course), 3pcs. Spring Rolls and your choice of Thai Iced Tea/Honey Calamansi; I went with the latter. The Pad Thai was just okay, nothing spectacular there. Surprisingly, the peanut sauce at Z Compound tasted better. The taste was still mediocre, but at that price, I guess you get what you pay for.

I still have plans of coming back despite the mediocre taste. I still have to try their Pho and Chicken Satay! Even if the food isn't that amazing, the waiters/waitresses are always friendly whether at StrEAT Food Park or Z Compound. I guess that's why I feel comfortable giving their food another chance. It was scorching hot when I went to Z Compound but my mood lightened up because the person who served my food was smiling and I don't know why, but his aura was contagious.

Read more about my experience over at When In Manila. Yup, I started being an active writer for the site again! Writing takes my mind off of a lot of things that's why I decided to be involved again despite my busy schedule. I know I have my blog for that but sometimes, I get bored that I have a tendency to tinker with my theme and HTML code; which in turn prompts me to keep on changing the design! I have to tell myself over and over to not fix something that ain't broke! Splitting my writing time to two sites takes my attention off my theme--at least for now! So off I go to explore the confines of this city so I can share more of my adventures with you guys! Toodles!

Me Love You Long Time

Budget - P120 - 200 / person

02 2469069 | 3PM - 1AM

StrEAT Food Park, 91 Maginhawa, Diliman, Lungsod Quezon

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, by Ochi Bernadas

Kiltepan Sunrise

Sleepless in Sagada : Kiltepan Viewpoint

This is the last entry for my Sleepless in Sagada series since this is also the last destination we went to. I was thrilled to witness the amazing sunset a lot of people deem to be breath-taking. As popularized by TTCT, I felt that this is the place to renew myself and get rid of all the bad aura I have been carrying. We were supposed to leave our inn at 5AM so we can have a good view of the sea of clouds. I joined a couple of friends the night before for a drinking session. When I got home, I didn't want to sleep anymore because I was scared I won't wake up on time. But because of the weather, I fell fast asleep when I hit the bed.

Luckily, I woke up and got ready on time. Unfortunately, some of the members in our tour group were still preparing. That's one downside of doing tour packages with people you don't know. This bunch in our group were consistently late all throughout the trip. Our driver/guide would let us know how much time we have in one place and what time we'll be leaving and they're always the cause of delay. Again, if I actually had the time to create my own itinerary, I would. That would give me a lot of free time to go around the places I love and not be bound by time. I was pissed because I was drunk the night before and but I was responsible enough to wake up on time so that we will all have our chance at the splendid Kiltepan sunrise. I was thinking I'll miss my chance because of a bunch of people who obviously doesn't respect other people's time.

We were late for about 15 minutes but it was still dark when we got there. I though, okay good. We still have a good chance of having a nice spot to view the sunrise. When I saw the place, lo and behold, it was packed with tourists! I couldn't get a hold of a good spot to position myself, more so my camera, HUHU! I saw the sea of clouds but I wasn't able to take a lot of photos using my camera. There were just too many people obstructing the view and I couldn't hold my camera up high for too long. I gave up and started taking photos using my phone instead. I was able to take a few good snaps, here, here, here and here, After which, I just surrendered and enjoyed the view instead.

There were too many people who wanted a good show as well; the view point looked like a scene out of Mall of Asia Arena while Ariana Grande was having her concert. I couldn't see the sun rise out of the sea of clouds. I'm small so I only saw cellphone lights and GoPro sticks. I kept moving from one area to another until I found the perfect spot---to watch, but not take photos. After most of the crowd went back to their tour groups, that's when I was able to take photos of myself. I may not have the sea of clouds as a background, but the light was equally stunning.

Sagada will be one of the memorable trips I'll surely keep close to my heart. This is the place where I was able to think clearly, this is the place where I realized what matters most and this is the place where I started loving myself again. It resembles my favorite city in a lot of ways. Not only because of the weather, but because of the kindness in everyone. It's a good place to recollect your thoughts and start thinking about your priorities. It's also a place to find yourself. With that, I therefore conclude that my soul searching in Sagada was a huge success. I would love to go back again, hopefully with a personalized itinerary and with the person who also helped me all throughout this ordeal. You guys will be meeting him soon!

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, by Ochi Bernadas

food

Food Diary : The Halal Guys | Gyro and Chicken

I never knew about The Halal Guys until one of my online friends mentioned how excited he was about the opening. Since the opening, I've seen a lot of friends rave and rant about this certain food stall. Given the mixed reactions, I was curious and wanted to find out for myself what the fuss is all about. Coincidentally, one of my friends wanted to meet up at Megamall to personally hand out her wedding invitation. Giddy because I finally get to wear a long gown again, haha! We all decided to try The Halal Guys despite the queue. The line might be brutal but we thought, hey, it might be worth a try.

Story

According to Jaime Daez, master franchisee for The Halal Guys Phils., The Halal Guys was started by three Egyptians who migrated to New York. They initially started as cab drivers who decided to open up a Hotdog stand. They eventually got tired of being one of the countless hotdog stands in New York and decided to finally make their own food. They created Halal food, which became a phenomenon in NY. As of today, you can see Halal food carts practically everywhere in NY. They started their franchise operations last year and now have about over 200 locations under development.

Food

I can't really say a lot about service since the stall is located in a food court setup. You just line up, place your order and get your food. Everything else is practically self-service. I won't elaborate too much on the line since I'm pretty sure you've seen a ton of photos online. The Halal Guys serve platters and sandwiches. The platter includes meat (chicken, gyro beef or both), rice, iceberg lettuce and slices of pita bread. Their sandwiches have the same ingredients wrapped in pita bread.

I ordered the Gyro and Chicken Combo - Small (P269) and my friend got Gyro and Falafel Combo - Small (P269). I was beyond thrilled to finally have my first bite--of disappointment. The Chicken and Gyro beef were so-so, nothing spectacular. I'm not a food connoisseur in any way so take everything I say with a grain of salt. The white sauce on the other hand was miraculous. Too bad the serving size wasn't enough, you'd have to order another serving of this addicting sauce at P25 if you want to have more. Another thing that blew me away was their hot sauce. The smell was mild so I put a lot on my food. I was happily chewing on my food when it struck me. I could taste a lot of herbs and spices and other things I couldn't put my finger on, but one thing was for sure, this heat will linger. I had to remove some of the hot sauce I put on my food because it was too much. The Halal Guys isn't so bad at all, if not for the queue. If anything, I think their sauces were redeeming factors. Some friends who have been to the original food cart in NY says there is a vast difference regarding the taste of the Chicken and Gyro beef. But I have yet to find out since I'm poor and I don't have money to go to NY, haha. UGH. You can find their full menu here

Verdict

I will go back. I want to give it another chance. Wow, as if I'm a revered food critic, lol. I'll probably bring more friends next time so I can have a taste of the various dishes they offer. I also want to see their take on sandwiches and maybe have some sides and dessert next time. I'll probably wait for the fuss to be over before I go back again.

The Halal Guys

Budget - P200 - P400 / person

02 9414158 | 10AM - 10PM

5/F, Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall

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, by Ochi Bernadas

blog

Starting Over Again

The Blog

I gave my blog another make over! The recent one I worked on didn't really sit well with me. While it was responsive and detailed, I felt that it didn't really show who I am. I'm also getting rid of articles that make me cringe! I started this as a personal blog, posting details about my life that no one's really interested in. And while I did have loyal readers who stuck with me, I'd like to be more useful by sharing things that are relevant. I have over 500+ entries on the blog and some of the articles I've posted before don't make sense. I end up blurting, "What the hell was I thinking when I posted that?". I'm also deleting a gazillion useless labels! I'm still in the process of revising my past posts. I'm doing it on a per task basis like get rid of the useless labels first, then make sure my photos are all arranged neatly, then re-check my grammar! My god, I don't know how those booboo's got past me when I usually proof read before I post. Anyhoo, I'm not going to bore you with the nitty gritties. I hope the new layout makes reading my posts easier. I've also made commenting more accessible so thengaging with my readers will be painless.

I actually bought a template on Etsy and it's all sorts of pretty! But I didn't code it, I didn't customize it, I DIDN'T CREATE IT. HTML and CSS are things unknown to me before I started blogging, but I'm learning the ropes. Don't get me wrong, I didn't necessarily start from scratch. I used a base theme and worked from there. I think I secretly want to make things harder for me so that enjoying the fruits of my labor would be more pleasurable. I can't explain the feeling but I can't stop looking at it! I keep on refreshing the page and I just stare. Ugh, what's wrong with me. Anyway, I don't have a place for that template anymore so I might give it away. Stay tuned!

On Love

Pretext : This ship has sailed a long time ago. My love life is public to ~~my friends~~ a lot of people because I'm extremely affectionate online and offline. I'm not posting because I owe anyone an explanation. I just want to make sure I bridge the gap and you don't think I'm a slut jumping from one relationship to another, haha. My relationship of 7 years ended last December. It was painful, heartbreaking, extremely difficult and overwhelmingly upsetting. Imagine getting out of your comfort zone and facing this cruel world alone. Then imagine that happening on Christmas and New Year--that time of year when majority of the world is celebrating the holidays while getting fat. I felt like Will Smith in I Am Legend, but without his best friend dog. Which is totally fine because I hate dogs. It was an ugly break up. I will not go into details but I will say that trust is very important in a relationship. I don't even need to write that down since Elite Daily and Thought Catalog makes sure we don't forget.

Just like any other thing in this world, I believe in the saying, "If you're unhappy--leave." There's nothing happy about leaving something or someone, but there's always a proper way out.That experience taught me that leaving your comfort zone isn't all that bad. You don't have to face this cruel world like Will Smith when you can be Taylor Swift in Bad Blood. Fuck, did I just make a TS reference? Uhm, okay. My point is, there's nothing to worry about when have your squad, your best friends and your family with you. I think I was greatly affected by what happened because I hate change. But now, my perspective on change has changed (lol) significantly. It will always be difficult but I'm glad I'm learning to embrace it; whether at work or in my personal life. I still have trust issues until now but I will eventually get over it.

With that, I'm closing a chapter of my life and venturing into a new one. I'm a little relieved that I've let that one out. Here's to my revamped blog and a better version of myself. I don't want to say version 2.0 because I'd like to believe every version of myself is always the best that I try to be. Fuck, that's so melodramatic I have to stop. I don't want to see this 2 years from now and end up reverting it to draft, haha! From where I am, there's no way but to move forward.

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, by Ochi Bernadas

Food Diary : Yakimix Prime

5 Tips to Boost Your Immunity during the Holidays

Kitchen Chronicles : Herbed Cream Dory

The Maginhawa Diaries : RBCTY (Rib City)

Bits + Pieces

Taking Gifting To The Next Level

4 Seasons Hotpot City

My Belkin Wish list

The Maginhawa Diaries : Me Love You Long Time

Sleepless in Sagada : Kiltepan Viewpoint

Food Diary : The Halal Guys | Gyro and Chicken

Starting Over Again

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