Month: August 2014

Jodythinks · Love/Life

Throwback Thursday thoughts

Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

Whenever #throwbackThursday rolls around, I always see these insane posts of photos of people 4 years ago, 10 years, 15. Captions are usually “(Number of) pounds ago, or “Before I had  eyebags” or “Wasn’t i supposed to be more successful by now?”. I think the throwback Thursday posts are a way of reliving our past, whether it be a past figure, a friend you haven’t seen in a long time, and makes us think of regrets we’ve had, or how little we’ve accomplished since then. Looking at yourself younger, more fit, and all around “better” can be a kick to the senses. I know I’ve had those moments when I was like, “If I knew I was going to be this chubby, I would’ve worn string bikinis years ago.” or “Augh, what have I done since this photo?”, little things that nag you and make you nostalgic and a little bit down.

I say, honor your past for what it has done to shape you to who you are today. That teeny pooch you didn’t have 5 years ago that you first got travelling to HK and eating so much street food. Those bags under your eyes because your 3 year old kept you up every single night for a week. The wrinkles around your mouth because you can’t stop smiling in the house you just bought for yourself, even if it means 5 more years of payments to get it to be fully yours.

You earned it. Every bag, wrinkle or pooch. You’ve lived. You’ve experienced so many things since that photo of you in that microskirt that would never fit you again. You’re wiser after the string of bad women that have loved you and left you and know what a good relationship feels like, and what it takes to keep it.

Live. Do it for yourself. Do it for those who can’t because their situations are dire, or they’re not financially able, physically capable.

Make these years count. Stop looking back with regret and thank yourself for surviving what you’ve gone through and being able to live.

We only get one life in this earth, make it the best you can.

 

Love/Life

Where are you taking me?

Jody AlarvaLeave a comment
source: http://weknowmemes.com

Too often, this is what happens in all kinds of relationships. People get comfortable. They get used to the routine. They forget.

And no, I am not making a thinly veiled jab at the person in my relationship. I am happy thankyouverymuch.

I am talking about your other relationships. The one that have been there for years, that really we forget when something shiny romantic comes along. Your family. Your friends. Your other relationships.

I admit, I can take things for granted. I have a pretty awesome support system. When things crumbled around me, the people I didn’t see all those years, those I wrote off because I knew I hadn’t kept in touch, all took me back into their figurative (and sometimes literal arms).

And my family, we’re flawed, we talk crap about each other. We bite each other’s heads off. We’re there when we’re needed. We’re honest until it’s necessary not to be, when the truth would only hurt more than keeping it to yourself.

I got a different perspective to this when someone I can take for granted began screwing up. Majorly. People around this person were not happy, and still aren’t. Mistakes were logged and scrutinized. Slights, taken as grudges. It’s still going on, and hopefully,things will change enough that both parties will hear each other out, and treat each other better.

This is a public declaration that I will do better at taking my relationships more seriously. Give equal time to those who want it, who need it.

So who needs to talk? Hang out? Get a drink? I’m here.

Jodythinks

Why comparison is the thief of joy

Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

Teddy Roosevelt aptly put it, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” and in this life and generation, I wholeheartedly agree.

It used to be, that when you went to school reunions, you see the people you went to school with, and how different their lives turned out to be from yours, and you feel bad for a night, or a week even. They became who they set out to be while you’re still finding your path. They found somebody amazing while you’re still in the dating pool. They outgrew the baby fat while you gained 15 pounds and then some since you last saw them. And all the other things you usually hear about when you haven’t seen each other in 10 years.

Social media has eliminated the need for reunions, because when you connect to a person on Facebook or Instagram, you get to see their life, or whatever public persona they choose to reveal to the world.

And it’s usually picture perfect. Filtered selfies, awesome vacation shots, incredible food porn. That is the public life. And you can’t help but shake your head sometimes and ask yourself “Why don’t I get that?”.

Then what happens?

It’s a vicious cycle.

Truth is, there will always be someone who will be better at you at something. Who will look better in a bikini. Who gets to travel the world while you’re stuck in your 9 to 5. When this gets you down on the dumps, remember, you don’t post your crappy outfits, your fail plans, and disappointed thoughts online, so why do you think the people on your feed do? We filter (sometimes quite literally, hello Instagram) what we think looks good, and that’s what we put out there.

Stop comparing your life with someone else’s. It’s unhealthy and it gives you wrinkles. Find what’s good about your life, focus on making it grow, or find other things that make you happy. It’s as simple as that.

Also, you’re awesome. Don’t forget that.

 

food · Restaurant reviews

Silantro: Fil-Mex cheesy goodness

Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

One of our friends had a birthday last month and asked for a recommendation for where to go. My sister had heard good things about Silantro from another friend, and off we went. The premise was nonpricey Mexican with a Filipino twist, and unlimited mojitos so we figured that would be hard to get wrong, and heck, they did things right.

It was a Friday and the place was packed. It only had about 12 tables and there were double the amount of patrons, half of which were waiting for others to finish. We were hungry, so we ordered a plate of Nachos (P145) to eat while waiting for a table to free up.

Here is what we were served:
Silantro nachos

 

Isn’t it pretty? We said it was like the best kind of parol (for the non-Filipinos, a Christmas decoration like this), since it was colorful, and we could eat it. And eat we did. We finished that sucker off in five minutes we were so hungry. It was so worth every penny, we ordered two more. It was a group of 8 people, and we each had our own things to eat, but it was so good we had to have some more.

We got a table around 30 minutes later and got the Calliente wings (P170):
Silantro wings

Which was their take on buffalo wings from what we gathered. I liked the green stuff but was unsure what it is. The sweet, spicy, barbecue like sauce good for those who have little tolerance for hot things, served with a couple of sauces (I only know them as white and orange)with a bowl of orange sauce that was fiery and woke up the senses. Add a touch if you want a little spice, but more than a drop is punishment for those who don’t regularly eat spicy food.

My favorite of the bunch was the Silantro’s quesadilla (P160)

Silantro quesadilla

 

Basically a cheese plate, it was fries, cheese, bread, and other blobs of things that I couldn’t stop eating. We also had the beef version, but I liked the Silantro’s better.

What we had that wasn’t pictured:

1. The Silantro’s Burrito (P180): I wasn’t a fan. The rice had a frozen, then nuked texture to it. The meat didn’t chew well either. Burritos for me are 50-50, either you do them well or you don’t, and for me, they did not do the rice wrap justice.

2. Unlimited mojitos (P250): We loved it. It wasn’t the most faithful rendition of mojitos, but it was sweet, citrusy, sometimes strong, and the bartender was easy to talk to about adjusting the sweet or the strong depending on the three people that were drinking it. My sister had the most lethal mix, one friend had the sweeter, the last, more juice than anything. They each had at least three glasses each.

Verdict: Definitely Mexican for Filipinos, everything had a slightly sweet tinge, and gobs of cheese on every dish. Not faithful to the original recipes, but caters to the Filipino palate, and is on a cool, casual setting that is affordable for both yuppies and college students on a good day.

Tips: Go early. Place fills up and you don’t want to be waiting forty minutes for a seat. Have the unlimited mojitos if you like girl drinks, the beer buckets for a nice, chill time with friends with fun food.

Price per head: P200-300 with drinks and definitely full bellies.

Silantro’s details:

Hours: Mon - Sun: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm

75 East Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig City
1603 Pasig (just go straight on Kapitolyo. It’s past Rub ribs, and next to the Christian church)
Phone (02) 654 9657
Email silantropasig@yahoo.com