CBS | Empress Of Drac, A Cebuana Blogger - Part 2
                   

Brasco’s Crazy Bliss is Insanely Delectable

Posted by Agnes Embile Jimenez
Categorized Under: CBS, Foods
Comments: 8

Photo by Atty. Ethelbert Ouano

There’s a new pizza house in town and it is located in the newly built lifestyle district  in Juan Luna Avenue.  Brasco Pizza & Pasta invited CBS to check their newly opened pizza store, housed inside the sophisticated building of The Gallery.  Ingrid, the sister of the owner, was the one who personally entertained us.

Brasco Pizza & Pasta is owned by Ingrid’s brother, Brian Espina.  Brasco is not actually an Italian word and it actually means Brian’s Aspirations and Company.  Brasco doesn’t only offer pizza and pasta, but home-made ice cream and desserts as well.

It’s their Crazy Bliss dessert which has surpassed my expectation.  It is a hot brownie topped with home-made vanilla iced cream.  The combination of these two luscious palatable mixtures is sweetly unforgettable.  La Marea’s version fades in comparison.

Photo by Atty. Ethelbert Ouano

Other than that, we also tried their Brasco (a must try pizza), Meaty Spaghetti with Pepperoni, Pasta with tomatoes and aligue (pasta with tomato sauce and and crab roe), and Four Seasons.  (I love their Pasta with tomatoes and aligue.)

Brasco’s thin crust pizza comes in three sizes: Big (10″), Bigger (14″), and Biggest (20″).  Each pizza toppings is Brian’s original recipe which he studied and researched for four years.  This goes as well to all their home-made desserts in the menu.

At the later part of our pizza trip, Brian came and told us why he ventured to a Pizza business.  He said that he’s a pizza lover himself, and it’s his dream to build a pizza house.  Since his family is already into the food industry (his parents are the owner of MyJoy formerly known as McJoy), it’s not that difficult for him to start one.

Brasco Pizza and Pasta is located at The Gallery, San Jose dela Montaña/Juan Luna Avenue, Mabolo, Cebu City, in front of San Carlos Seminary and IPI.  They accept delivery, and you can contact their store thru these numbers: 5057924 and 5114018.

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Is Neo’s EDGE Laptop thinner than MacBook Air?

Posted by Agnes Embile Jimenez
Categorized Under: CBS, Reviews, Technology
Comments: 5

Photo screen shot from Neo’s website.

That’s the very first question that popped up in my head when Nancy Cudis and Max Limpag of Sunstar News invited a few CBS members to attend the product launching of Neo’s EDGE laptops, the thinnest laptop/netbook in the country.  The EDGE is 0.87 inch thick while MacBook Air is 0.76.  Basing from this single specification, it is obvious that the latter is thinner.  But, the thickness is not really that important.  What I’m up to is how functional and economical it is.

While some people would definitely prefer MacBook Air because of its unquestionable functionality, many would still go for Neo’s line up of ultra thin laptops not just because of the obvious reason that it’s affordable, but because it has superior functionality that is at par with those expensive ones in the market.

Why would you buy a very expensive MacBook Air when you can have almost the same functionality and style with Neo’s latest offering, the EDGE series, the ultra slim netbook which has beyond cutting edge mobility features?  With the global recession and all, we must be cautious enough in spending our hard-earned money.

The Neo EDGE line of ultra-portables were carefully designed to strike an amazing balance between utra-portability and performance.  This series has three exciting models that would surely fit the fast-paced lifestyle of the users in the information technology age.

  • EDGE Z3265 - Specs include a core 2 duo processor (3 MB L2 cache, 1.30 GHz, 800 MHz), a genuine Windows 7 Home Premium operating system, a 2 GB DDR3 memory,  a 13.3″ High-Definition LCD monitor, 320 GB SATA hard disk drive, Wifi ready with a speed of 802.11 b/g/n, has bluetooth connectivity and 3-G capability.  Click here to read more.
  • EDGE Z3260 - Specs include an Intel Pentium processor SU4100 processor (2 MB L2 cache, 1.30 GHz, 800 MHz), genuine Windows 7 Home Basic operating system,  2 GB DDR3 of memory, 13.3″ High-Definition LCD monitor, 320 GB SATA of hard disk drive, has bluetooth connectivity and Wifi ready.  Click here to read more.
  • EDGE Z3240 - Specs include an Intel Pentium processor U2700 (2 MB L2 cache, 1.30 GHz, 800 MHz), a genuine Windows Vista Home Premium operating system, a 3 GB DDR2 memory, 13.3″ WXGA LCD monitor, 120 GB SATA (slim type) of hard disk drive, has bluetooth connectivity and 3-G capability.  Click here to read more.

Now, with its consumer friendly packages, Neo EDGE successfully disproves the long running myth that laptops need to be expensive to be powerful and efficient. For more information about this latest product release, click here.  If you wanted to know more about NEO Manufacturing and Services, a Philippine based company, click here.

References: Neo’s Press Release, Neo’s Website

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Ashtanga Vinsaya Yoga at Body Mind Well-Being Inc.

Posted by Agnes Embile Jimenez
Categorized Under: CBS, Events, Health
Comments: 6

Photo by Leo Castillo

I don’t know if it’s a coincidence, but I and my officemates were actually planning to enroll in a yoga class long before I was invited to a Yoga Workshop along with my CBS mate, Prince Ryan Gilig.  I’ve been planning to enroll in any health and fitness program, but my erratic work schedule became a big hindrance.  It was actually my pleasure to accept Edert’s invitation to attend and cover his friend’s Yoga Workshop (Intro to Ashtanga Yoga Principles) last 23rd of October at the 5th floor of AMSLAI building in Lahug, Cebu City.

The workshop was headed by Amitabha Ebj, an international Yoga Practitioner  of 37 years and the Managing Director of Body Mind Well Being Inc.. It focuses more on Ashtanga basics wherein the participants were being taught proper sun salutations, plus exploration of breathing and in deep of the unique principlye system of Ashtaga yoga breath movement.

Ashtanga Yoga according to Ashtanga Yoga Institute, is an ancient system of Yoga that was taught by Vamana Rishi.  One of its main components is the Vinyasa, which means breathing and movement system.  It constitutes that for each movement, there is one breath.  Its main purpose is for internal cleansing.  During the workshop, the participants didn’t only experience the wellness of the body, but also of the soul.

The other important component is the Tristhana.  This describes the three places of attention or action: posture, breathing system, and looking place.  According to AYI, these three are very important for yoga practice, which also cover three levels of purification: the body, nervous system, and mind.  In the Ashtanga Vinsaya Yoga Workshop, Ebj properly emphasized all of these to the participants.

There are six poisons that are being burned when you practice Ashtanga Yoga.  These are desire, anger, delusion, greed, envy, and sloth.  It is said that when Yoga practice is sustained with great diligence and dedication over a long period of time, the heat generated from it burns away these poisons, and the light of our inner nature shines forth. (This forms the practical and philosophic basis of Ashtanga Yoga as taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois.)

Ashtanga Mantra (Opening Prayer) and Mangala Mantra (Closing Prayer) were also performed during the workshop.  The participants were also able to performed the following various sets of Ashtanga Yoga postures and positions.

At the end of activity, the participants were being treated to a very healthy snacks of camote tops juice squeezed with lemons, empanada filled with vegetable fillings, and crackers topped with ground vegan meat.

If you are interested to practice Ashtanga Yoga, you can contact Body Mind Well Being Inc. at 032-5112342, 032-2323332, SMS 09228322500 or email at bodymindwellbeing@yahoo.com.

Reference: Ashtanga Yoga Institute

N.B.: Video documentation of this event is still being edited by Prince Ryan Gilig.

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Cebu Bloggers Society for PBA 2009 Special Awards: Blogger’s Choice

Posted by Agnes Embile Jimenez
Categorized Under: Blogging, CBS, Movies, Organizations
Comments: 6

In the end, my loyalty to CBS prevails.  At first, I hesitated doing this because of that little mess that happened a month ago.  But when I think of it now, it’s just like a tiny splat of mud that temporarily stirs the very still water.  Cebu Bloggers Society Inc., no matter what will happen, is still the only winner in my mind and heart.

CBS is very dear to me because of various personal and official reasons.  This is why I’m voting for it (http://cebubloggers.com) in the PBA’s Bloggers Choice Award.  In the near future, I am quite sure that CBS will not only become the leading bloggers group in Cebu, but also, will become the Philippines’ premiere blogging community.  This is because, as what Bimbo Cabochan said, “CBS is a very powerful group.”

CBS is the most organized blogging community in the country and has the highest number of active members compared to other blogging organizations outside of Cebu.  Unity, respect, humility, and camaraderie are the main components that bond the group together.  Being tagged as a “very bureaucratic” organization is definitely a compliment.  Arigatou ne!

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Orange Brutus Defeated Fat Happy Bee

Posted by Agnes Embile Jimenez
Categorized Under: CBS, Foods
Comments: 7

The mighty Brutus had just defeated the obese happy bee in a 24-hour long battle of wit, intelligence, and humor.  The fat happy bee surrendered and bowed never to challenge the aristocratic brute, and swore to stick to his business selling burger patties and sweet spaghetti.  LMAO!

Photo by Michael Sinjin Pineda

Cebu’s Orange Brutus, the home of the best sizzling burger steak and fresh fruit shakes, had invited 10 members of Cebu Bloggers Society to join their food tour activity last 19th of September, 2009.  This food tour aims to showcase their new budget meal products and their Christmas Papremyo promo.

I’ve been a silent patron of Orange Brutus since 2004.  In fact, I was a bit curious why there are more people who prefer Jolibee’s “stale” foods compared to Orange Brutus’ fresh and more affordable menus.  My list of favorite meals are their Lumpia Shanghai, Burger Steak, Chicken Brutus, and Brute Burger.  But, due to the scarcity of their outlets, especially in the vicinity of my workplace, I can’t visit their store more often.  Nevertheless, I still believe that when it comes to food quality and affordability, Orange Brutus has an edge compared to Jolibee.  (Jolibee’s massive advertisement campaign did make a big difference.)

Anyways, during our food tour activity, we met Mrs. Nina Kokseng - Misa, BFSI’s Executive Assistant.  She’s the one who entertained our questions and inquiries about Orange Brutus as a company.  Orange Brutus is a Cebu-based fast food chain restaurant that is managed by the Kokseng family.  The business is now in it’s 30 years of existence, and though the fast food market competition became tougher nowadays, Orange Brutus still has a stable influx of customers who are patrons to their salable products.  (There are still lots of people who can clearly distinguish quality from popularity.)

The Orange Brutus fast-food chain has a centralized management.  This means the absence of franchise owners and the likes.  The family who own the business is the one who run all it’s 20 outlets all over Cebu.  And, they are the one who manage their more than 200 employees in all their branches.  You can check the list of all their store outlets here.

For more information and details about Orange Brutus, you can visit their website.

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Balamban Liempo, Cebu’s Tastiest

Posted by Agnes Embile Jimenez
Categorized Under: CBS, Foods
Comments: 18

Balamban Liempo

Bursting with that succulent flavor which distinctively pleases the tongue of every picky meat lover, Balamban Liempo is definitely Cebu’s tastiest liempo.  Juicy and flavorful grilled meat seasoned with local herbs and cooked to perfection, Balamban Liempo is definitely a Cebuano dish I can recommend to everyone.

Balamban Liempo Food Corner was established on July 2009 by native Cebuano couple, Jojo and Honey Vergara.  Both are from Abucayan, Balamban.  For those people who don’t know, Balamban is a farming and fishing municipality in South Cebu known for their ship building industry.

Jojo and Honey were inspired by Balamban’s method of grilling liempo using several local herbs and secret ingredients.  They first set up their business at Jojo’s father’s residence in Mabolo, Cebu.  Their first customers are the people in their neighborhood who spread the news to the locals about the newest dish in town.

Just recently, they opened their second branch in Salinas Drive, Lahug.  For this opening, they invited 12 members of the Cebu Bloggers Society to check their product and make an objective review about it.  And,  my verdict is…

Well, as what I said in the very first paragraph of this post, Balamban Liempo is definitely very tasty.  Well-cooked meat and heavenly crunchy skin dipped in a special local vinegar would make you crave for more.  The liempo is very meaty, no extra fatties.  If you have tried CnT’s lechon, then the quality of taste is in the same level.  The only difference is, you can buy a whole piece of liempo for only Php 160, and that’s already good for 4-5 persons.  It’s great for barkada, office, or family dining.

Balamban Liempo Food Corner has also opened their 3rd branch in Hi-way, Mandaue.  They aim to open five stores by the end of 2009 and 10 stores by 2010.  For orders and inquiries you can contact 09226205921, 09285022605, or 4158592 and look for Mr. Jojo Vergara or Mr. Gaylord Tingzon.

Reference: Balamban Liempo Profile

Photo Credits: Cebu Classifieds (I tried to search for its link, but can’t find it ):), Mark Tan, Prince

Review empressofdrac.com on alexa.com

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Twilight - The Cebu Bloggers Parody Series

Posted by Agnes Embile Jimenez
Categorized Under: CBS, Entertainment, Fun
Comments: 6

N.B.:  I’ve been thinking of a creative way, wherein I can express and release all these craps inside my bloody head, and this concept just popped in.  I don’t have any talents in drawing, nor do I have great talent in writing, but all I want is to offer an alternative entertainment to everyone.  I hope this style (which is obviously not original) would somehow interest some readers.  Enjoy Reading. (: Click the image to see full size.

Continue Reading here.

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Cebu Bloggers Parody Series: Teaser

Posted by Agnes Embile Jimenez
Categorized Under: CBS, Entertainment, Fun, Personal Rantings
Comments: 9

This is only a teaser of Cebu Bloggers Parody Series that I’ll be featuring here in my blog.  This Parody series includes love, humor, horror, suspense and everything.  This serves as the main content of  my site’s Entertainment section.  The photos are from CBS members, but I’ll create a story in each series.  Please be reminded that all these are for entertainment only.   Let’s celebrate the humor in every funny things and events that we had shared.  Long Live CBS!

Continue Reading Here.

More people, more laughs, more fun in the next post to come. LMAO.

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CBS Castaways stirred Sumilon Island’s Silence

Posted by Agnes Embile Jimenez
Categorized Under: CBS, Events, Fun, People, Personal Rantings, Places
Comments: 4

Where could you find a group of sociable cyborgs who has this “cam-whoring” personality disorder, but were courageous enough to play with big waves and survived a sandstorm?  They are a group of unique and happy individuals who love even the pettiest of things, and laugh at the cheapest and lamest of jokes.  Well, I’m referring to my fellow CBS barkada, the second main reason why I enjoyed our Sumilon Bluewater Island trip last 1st of August.

The main reason is of course, the island resort itself.  Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort is one of the finest Cebu destinations that I’ve been to, so far.  We were picked up by their three caravans at SM for a two and half hours of land trip to Oslob.  The road trip itself didn’t take so long because I didn’t notice the time since we were so busy with our chit chats and nonsense talks inside the van.

We arrived at Sumilon’s port area twenty minutes after we toured the whole island (in a pump boat) .  I noticed how raucous the whole gang every time the ocean waves carelessly wobbled the whole boat.  They screamed, laughed, shouted at each other, and others were amused looking at other people’s reactions.  A few were too busy capturing photographs and did some sight seeings at the upper deck.

And, at the very moment we set foot in Sumilon’s 24-hectare virginal island, the calm and still surroundings of the place was disturbed (I was the only one who noticed all these.  Hehehe).  The meek white sands sensed something is not all right, the old Ipil-Ipil trees bent their slender trunks to investigate, the white seashore waves moved closer to the seashore’s end to take a peek, the beautiful water in the infinity pool wanted to jump out to greet us, the kayaks at the small river’s end were nervous, the snorkels were optimistic, the delectable foods served on top of the table were scared, the famous white sandbar was unaffected, and the sandstorm had something deadly in mind…And wait, the innocent, chinky-eyed Koreans were dumbfounded. LOL!

Well, the rest of this careless, I mean carefree bunch of cyborgs was not aware of all these commotions.  They were too awed with the resort’s beautiful attractions, unaware that there were other creatures watching us, checking our every moves, listening to our thoughts (creepy).

Nothing can stop our giddy spirits.  It’s because when we entered the resort’s Island Pavilion (the building that houses the resort restaurant that serves delectable fare of local and international cuisine), a few heads turned, chairs and tables murmured at each other, and the mouth watering foods on the buffet table turned pale.  Once again, all of us (except me), noisy androids, were totally unaware how our presence affected the creatures around us.

After the resort background briefing, and after consuming our mid-morning snacks, we proceeded to check and to take photos of the island resort’s deluxe rooms.  And as expected, the harmonies of the cozy private verandas, comfortable lounge bars, privacy of the toilets and showers, and the coolness of the rooms’ mini bars, were soiled by the our unending “cam-whoring” sessions.

Famished after over an hour of whoring our bloody faces before our lowly and poor cameras, we voraciously  attacked all the mouth watering foods that were served on the buffet table.  These foods got no time to faint because they were already consumed before they could react.  Acid filled stomachs were their final destination.

Full and ready to ramble, we tried every possible island activity.  From snorkeling, paddle boating (kayaking), hiking (trekking) to skim boarding, swimming, and playing with the big waves (in the sandbar).  It was during our fun-filled-challenge-the-waves moment that we encountered the mischievous sandstorm.  While we held each other to face the big waves, we were surprised by a sudden violent rush of wind, and it only took us a few seconds to discover that we were already hit by a sandstorm.

It was like rain of tiny bullets were fired toward us.  The intensity of the ocean wind served as a momentum that ignited the fiery white sands to ambush us unexpectedly.  An angry current violently squashed us as we ran with all our might toward the safety of the caves at the seashore’s end.  It was like  a tragedy is unfolding on our very eyes as we ran for our lives, forcing our legs to run as fast as it can.  A few minutes later, we found ourselves groggy, tired, out of breath, and full of red patches.

Still not satisfied from our sandstorm encounter, we jumped in to the very relaxing water of the resort’s Infinity Pool.  There, we tried to relax our tired bodies and feed our eyes with the beautiful island sceneries.  From the magnificent ocean below the pool, the graying sky above us, the chirping of birds in the nearby tress, the salty humid air that caresses our tired senses to the “delectable” pretty Koreans squealing and playing at the other side of the pool…  It seemed like we were in paradise.

We ended the escapade with warm cups of tea and palatable plates of carbonara.  Thank you very much to Sumilon Bluewater for the very great and hospitable accomodation.  That trip was indeed one of our most memorable island adventures.

Photo Credits: Bryan, Atty. Ouano, Tiborsho, Xerxes, Mikyu.  Dili na nako maidentify ang uban.  Sori jud au.  Huhuhu.

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