When I was younger, I wasn’t very fond of Filipino food. Maybe it was because there were no places like Max’s and Red Ribbon, Goldilocks and Aristocrat, Kamay Kainan and other restaurants, where our parents could bring us. Mom and Dad are awesome cooks, but there was quite a limitation to the Filipino ingredients you could acquire when we were in Riyadh. So instead they learned to make do with whatever could be found in the local markets. Mom learned to bake, and she made wonderful things: pineapple upside-down cake, prune cake, apple pie, chicken pastel. Dad made excellent tempura, and everyone loved his tempura sauce. One year, for my birthday, they stayed up till the wee hours of the morning working on my birthday cake. It had a gingerbread house made of biscuits, Smarties, cookies, wafers, and I don’t know what anymore. Continue reading
The Culinary Misadventures of the New Mrs Rosero: On Sandwiches
Sandwiches are easy. Two halves of bread, some meat or fish, a toaster and you’re done. Unfortunately, many people fail to appreciate the potential of the sandwich to be a truly great meal. Most places will put tuna and mayo between two pieces of white bread and call it a tuna sandwich. Others will put Kraft or Eden cheese—thin slices at that!—or plain Cheez Whiz in the middle of boring white bread and call it a cheese sandwich. Blasphemy!
Simple sandwiches are not a bad thing. But simple need never be boring! A cheese sandwich, for instance, can have two kinds of cheese and a dash of something to liven it up: cayenne, chopped basil, a slice of tomato or cucumber. That isn’t so difficult. Continue reading
From our ninang, Ruby Bayan-Llamas: My undelivered toast to my new “Godchildren” Rej and Oneal Rosero
Tita Ruby, Dante's mom, was our ninang. She made the costumes that she and Mike are wearing.
May your helmets embolden you
to explore worlds beyond your wildest dreams
while your boots keep you firmly on the ground.
May your armors flaunt your battle scars
as the Force remains strong
within you and among your younglings.
Always.
The Rosero Reading List: currently on my bedside table
In response to Lorie’s status message on Facebook asking what people were reading right now, I started writing down the titles of the books currently parked in various parts of the house. I realized my comment would be ridiculously long, so I’m posting it as a blog entry instead.
Would you believe I’m reading about 4 books right now? Since I have more free time now that the Kapihans are over and I’m no longer working for Playboy, I’m reading more and more. Webcomics, RSS feeds, news, books, and even comics. The books are scattered all over the house, so wherever I am, if I feel like reading, I need not look far for a book. Continue reading
The Culinary Adventures of the New Mrs. Rosero
Ever since we got married, I have found renewed interest in cooking. I feel like all my old recipes are, well, old, and I have been pursuing new dishes with great enthusiasm.
It may have a lot to do with the markets. SM Hypermart is well-stocked. (Admittedly though some things are woefully lacking. Axion dishwashing detergent, I need you!) There are many options, a good fresh produce section, and points for the Advantage Card! There’s also a bakery, a deli and a roast chicken stall. For the days when I’m too lazy or tired to cook, there’s a food court and many other restaurants to choose from.
When I want to go all healthy, Tiendesitas is right next to Hypermart. There’s an organic market, and various stalls sell preserves, local delicacies, and other locally made products. And there are so many ihaw-ihaw places! We need never go hungry! Continue reading
Meralco = Money Pit?
MERALCO, why oh why?
Nearly two months of wedded bliss, and everything’s fine. New house, new life, and many other new things, most of which use power. We’re people of many gadgets–who isn’t nowadays? My work requires me to be online almost all day, and Oneal and I have many interests online. In fact, we rely on the Internet for so many things: news, photos, communication with friends and family, even much of our charity work and 501st activity happens online. So you can understand the need for the multiple laptops, the phones, and the requisite power consumption.
Still, that’s not unusual. Neither are the aircon units (only used at night, but if during the day, only when we’re both home), the washing machine (chosen because it’s energy and water efficient), the lightbulbs (all CFL, mind you), the electric fans, and the kitchen appliances. So when we got our first electric bill in March, it was P2,082.40, and that seemed reasonable. After all, there’s two of us, and a three-bedroom townhouse.
Then just a few days ago, we got our new bill: P7,062.70 Continue reading
Official wedding photos
We have the wedding photos! Thanks, Pat Mateo! They’re awesome. 
We’ll post them as soon as we can! We got 3 cds, with a total of about 8GB of photos. 
Speech by the mother of the bride
Me and Oneal with my family - rej
This is a draft of the speech given by Marian Martin Layug, mother of the bride.
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This day is a day full of gratitude. I thank the good Lord for bringing together Rej and Oneal and binding them in the holy bonds of matrimony. I thank you all for being here to witness this blessed event. You are here because every single one of you is either a family or close friend. You are here because you know and love them both. Your presence here is a blessing too.
Because Rej’s father, Fer, has passed on, I will speak for both of us. Continue reading
Speech by the mother of the groom
The groom and his parents
This is a draft of the speech given by Leonor Tripon Rosero, mother of the groom.
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First, I want to start off by saying best wishes and congratulations to Rej & Oneal! I know that you both have been planning for the past year to have this day be everything that you have both been dreaming of, and everything is just beautiful! I feel honored to have witnessed and enjoy watching your relationship blossom into marriage that you will cherish for the remainder of your lives together.
Today is, of course, a celebration, but not just of the love that has united Rej and Oneal in holy matrimony, but also of the families that have created, moulded and influenced the lives of these two special people. Continue reading