new year goals

At the start of each new year, I set goals that I aim to accomplish. I don't really expect to do everything in just a year, which is why my list of goals seem to just get longer and longer (haha!). It's okay, that just means more things for me to do and to aspire to accomplish.

so instead of saying that these are my 2012 goals, I'll just declare the following as my life goals in general.

1. Travel to the different provinces in Region 1 and 2.

- Okay, this is going to be a bit easy for me to accomplish since I'll be based in Isabela for 7 months. I can easily take a bus and go on an adventure anywhere in the northern part of the country.

2. Go on an out-of-the-country trip.

- I was supposed to visit my friend Annick in Sydney, Australia this April. However, my forever erratic work sched sorta ruined my travel plans for the year so I'm thinking of moving my trip to later this year or early next year. Also, I've started planning a few trips abroad to be spread out in the next 2-3 years..

3. Make my 'Tricycle Chronicles'.

- Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao -- the tricycles all over the country have very different looks. I've been thinking of recording the trikes I've seen during my trips but didn't really do it since it was just an idea swimming in my head. Now, I've decided to finally do it. I find that the differences in tricycles are affirmations of how different each region is from one another. I mean, it's like Filipino cuisine. We all know what adobo is, and we all cook it, but the adobo in Manila is different from the adobo in Ilocos--the texture, the taste, the way it's cooked. So yeah, maybe tricycles all over have the same purpose but are different in built and style.

4. Food trip

- I don't think I need to explain this. I mean, who wouldn't want to go on a food trip?!

5. Continue working for the betterment of the country, and to be able to do more.

6. Be financially stable and financially wiser.

- Being a woman, this ain't easy hahaha! But, I must learn to spend wisely and save more.

These are just a few of the things I'm aiming to accomplish, the rest are a bit more personal hehe. Mind you, the goals listed down are not in order of importance.

Happy 2012!

Happy New Year, everyone! It's been more than a month since my last post. I'm back in Manila, but I'll be leaving by the end of the month or mid of February. Anyway, I hope everyone had a wonderful 2011. I know I did :) Life in general was pretty awesome last year. Things are looking up for me in 2012, and I hope it'd be the same way for everyone.

Why not start this year's post with a food entry?! :) I want to share with you my experience at Yabu - The House of Katsu. I first heard about it from my brother a couple of weeks ago. Then just last week, I had a reunion dinner with my former colleagues and our resident planner Richmond informed us that it'd be at Yabu.

I was the first one to arrive so I was able to get our group the largest table. Good thing, because by the time the 4th person arrived the place was packed already. Was so excited to order already since I was so hungry and having browsed through the entire menu my mouth was watering already. Tonkatsu is not something I'd normally go for in a Japanese restaurant, but since I was in an all-katsu place...err...no choice, haha!

I got the Rosu (pork loin with trimming of fat) Tonkatsu set. In one set you'll also get Japanese rice, a bowl of miso soup, unlimited shredded cabbage, and a bowl of fruit. Awesome!

Seriously, I've never had tonkatsu that good--considering it's all pork and breading. I will definitely go back, because I honestly think that the only place I'd eat tonkatsu in is Yabu. Comparing the katsu in Yabu and in the Japanese restaurants I've had katsu, the ones at Yabu are by far the best. Duh. It obviously should serve the best considering it is the house of katsu.

If you want to try the katsu at Yabu, it's located at the 2nd floor of the Megamall Atrium. For big groups, I suggest you reserve ahead because there is only one big table large enough to accommodate a group of more than 5.