First Anniversary Travel: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam & Paper Gifts!

By: Mhe-anne L. Ojeda - Isidro

Our Exotic Holiday Coin Bank, Passports and PAL Boarding Passes 

As a travel buff married to my hubby who hasn't been anywhere out of the country, we agreed that we would always celebrate our wedding anniversaries (September 21) by taking a trip together at anniversary time. Early on, we drew up our vision board and save up every P5 and P10 coins in our exotic holiday coin bank. We know that the money we save up there, would not be enough to cover the cost of our annual trip. But seeing the coin bank gives us a daily reminder of the romantic getaway ahead of us and that builds up the excitement!

Border Land Crossing Map showing
Vietnam - Phnom Pen & Siem Reap (Cambodia) 

So for our first anniversary trip, we decided to travel to Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon, the second most important city of Vietnam, from September 17-23, 2014. I have been there before but we found a qualified company engaged in the manufacture of Virgin Coconut Oil and made arrangements to visit their plant. But aside from being able to combine business and pleasure, Saigon also has a overland border crossing thru Moc Bai / Bavet to Siem Reap, Cambodia, a place that I had always dreamed of visiting. 

Traditional 1st Wedding Anniversary Gift: Paper
Anniversary Trip Gift: (1) Philippine Airlines Round Tickets MNL-SAIGON- MNL and 
(2) PAL Travel Insurance

PAL In-Flight Meals & Beverage from MNL-Saigon & Saigon-MNL

Although we booked our plane tickets only two (2) weeks to go before our date of travel, we were still able to score a pretty good deal with Philippine Airlines  All - In- Round Trip fare. For only $250 each, our ticket comes with a Complimentary In-flight Hot Meal and Beverage and a Twenty (20) Kilo Free Baggage Allowance both ways. This assures my hubby a good meal while on flight! 

We also availed of "PAL Travel Insurance", especially designed for Philippine Airlines passengers departing from the Philippines and underwritten by Prudential Guarantee and Assurance, Inc. For only $23, the PAL Travel Insurance is one paper gift that allows us to have a complete peace of mind when unexpected things happen at unexpected times during our travel. The PAL Travel Insurance gives us: 

• Coverage for medical expenses due to accident or sickness during your trip
• 24-Hour Emergency Medical and Travel Assistance
• Protection for non-refundable travel expenses if your trip is cancelled
• Payment for delayed flights and for lost or damaged baggage
• Travel accident protection

Indeed, we can Worry Less, and Travel More!

Traditional 1st Wedding Anniversary Gift: Paper
Anniversary Trip Gift:  (3) Philippine Airlines Online Boarding Pass

At the PAL Web Check - In Counter in Tan Son Nhat Airport in Saigon 

My hubby was all smiles when I told him that we can check in on our own and print our own boarding passes at home (or at our hotel when in Saigon), at least 24 hours to 2 hours before our flight. Philippine Airlines has a web check-in facility that allows us to check in our luggage and select our own seats long before we head to the airport. It is very easy to use, and assure us that we are seated together, which is the only way for love birds to fly! 

For more First Anniversary Travel, you may click Ben Thanh Market in Saigon, Vietnam.

Breakfast Cereals on Ice Cream: Another Similarity in Differences!

by: Mhe-anne Ojeda - Isidro

As a newly married couple with completely different taste buds, I am very enthralled at finding another way Red and I could enjoy the same food together. Cereals on Ice Cream!

Cereal is a food made from processed grains usually eaten for breakfast with milk and fruits. My hubby Red loves this American bedrock breakfast meal and regularly buys the Kellogs Frosted Flakes or Frosties! On the contrary, I haven't eaten cereal since I was young because I am lactose intolerant and can't have milk. But since our "cereal" differences isn't so conflictual, we haven't really paid much attention to it for almost a year since we got married. 

But a few days before we hit our first "adjustment" year wedding anniversary, I am happy that we have a chance discovery on how we can enjoy cereals together. For dessert the other night, Red sprinkled the cereals over our favorite rocky road and double dutch ice cream (and topped with marshmallows). I initially thought it was odd to have those "cereals" on my fave frozen delight, but after tasting it, I scream "Yummy"! The cereals are crispy perfect for ice cream!  Now, I don't see anymore eyebrow raising when Red includes the Kellogs Frosties in our weekly grocery list because "They're GR-R-Reat!" 

Eleventh Monthsary As A Couple: Steel

by: Mhe-anne L. Ojeda - Isidro

Steel is the traditional symbol of an eleventh wedding anniversary because of its of strength and durability. So for our eleven months of marriage, I was reminded of the Stainless Steel 4 Heart Shaped Measuring Spoons that we carry during our travel, as a fitting symbol for the last month-sary that we will be celebrating! (yea, next month  is already our first anniversary! yippee!!). Each Spoon has a heart - felt quote:

1 Tablespoon "A HEAP OF LOVE",

1 Teaspoon "A SPOONFUL OF AFFECTION",

1/2 Teaspoon "A DASH OF TENDERNESS", &

1/4 Teaspoon "A PINCH OF JOY"

Since our eleventh month-sary (August 21) fell on a national holiday, the Ninoy Aquino Day, which means traffic and more traffic for us here in Manila, we decided to have a two - fold celebration. 

On Thursday, we just stayed home for a Just Married movie marathon that Won't Last A Day Without You (some movie titles!). We have all we need - a bunch of CDs we bought from the Video City branch that is closing down, a pack of Happy peanuts that Red loves and a bottle of Chamdor, an alcohol free sparkling grape juice that we bought days back. Except for the cork flying out -of - the - bottle –too- soon incident that hits Red's forehead and left us laughing to our heart’s content, I can say that it was the best date ever that didn't break the bank and didn't require us to drive or dress up! 

Then on Saturday, we went out on a date wearing our identical Hawaian tees. We attended a food tasting event hosted by Executive Gourmet (a catering company that I am considering to get for our organization's event), so it means we had a free lunch date!  After that we went to Caloocan, a haven for motorcycles. Red loves motorcycles and we are planning to buy one so we do not have to use the Volkswagen for small errands. We are considering either getting a Duke 390 (a big bike that can be used for SLEX and NLEX), a Madass Bike from Germany or a Visar (cheapest small motorcycle). While Red was doing a drive test, he brought me to Brillantes Spa salon for a haircut (with bangs!) and a pedicure. We ended the day with me shopping for more clothes and taking home four pieces!

These two celebrations look very simple and cheap to celebrate our eleventh (11th) month-sary. But to me, both times allowed us to be together outside of work and let us exhibits to each other a heap of love, a dash of tenderness, a spoonful of affection and a pinch of joy! 

Tenth Month-sary As A Couple: Diamond Jewelry!

By: Mhe-anne L. Ojeda -Isidro

Tin, Aluminum and Diamond jewelry are associated with tenth wedding anniversary since a marriage that lasted for ten (10) years is said to be flexible and durable (like tin & aluminum) and beautiful like diamonds. So on our one-oh month-sary as a couple (and trying to make - up for missing my husband's birthday yesterday), I decided to fulfill the condition for the cash gift given by a very dear friend, and got ourselves a custom-made matching rings, 14 karat yellow gold adorned with titus diamonds! 

our wedding rings 

My dear friend gave us a generous cash gift on our wedding day and indicated that it should be used for a purchase of a 40 - inches LED TV and wedding rings, two gifts that will always remind us of her. But since we still have our respective old and simple television sets and our simple wedding rings, we held off with the purchase until now. Glad our tenth month-sary is a timely excuse to get those shiny sparkling gem as a gift! 

To complete the tenth month-sary celebration, we wrapped up the day with a visit to the newly opened Fairview Terraces Mall in Maligaya, Fairview, Quezon City. The mall is the biggest integrated medium to upscale shopping development of Ayala corporation unveiled last February 28, 2014. It was our first time there and really impressed with its artful, creative, spacious, lush green looks. From the various dining options, we chose Recipes and ordered Tofu with Garlic Sauce (P135), Chicken Curry (P190), Plain Rice (P38 each), Mango shake (P85) and Dessert of the Day /Buko Pandan with Ice cream (P90). Oh my! The food is really tasty and did not cost us a ton! We love it and were filled! 

Just like the food served by RECIPES which are based from tested recipes, there is also a RECIPE for a Happy Marriage so that we will not only last till our tenth wedding anniversary but until eternity. I found this poem - 

"Recipe for a Happy Marriage"

Combine two caring hearts Melt into one Add alot of love Mix well with respect, and trust Add gentleness, laughter, faith, hope, and joy. Pour in much understanding (Don't forget patience) Sprinkle with kisses and, a dash of hugs Bake for a life time Yield: One Happy Couple

 Author: Unknown

Ninth Month-sary As A Couple: Leather!

The traditional ninth anniversary wedding gift is that of a pottery and willow while the modern counterpart is leather. And since we used pottery as a symbol of our eighth month-sary and we can't think of any willow gift ideas, we opted for anything leather for our ninth month-sary as a couple. 

Leather are sturdy, luxurious and rich-looking and this is what we strive our marriage to be when we celebrate our ninth year of marital bliss. So for our ninth month-sary thingy, we took a trip back to Volkswagen BGC for that "leather" touch. Nah, we are actually considering of buying a new car since our Isuzu Sportivo is already 4 - years old, and Red wants another test drive of the 2014 Jetta 2.0 TDI M/T Trendline!

The Jetta 2.0 TDI M/T Trendline looks elegant and classy, no doubt it is considered a luxurious, small saloon car in Europe and in other markets. Inside the Jetta, we were treated to a "leather" and Cardeol interior trim and a "leather" 3-spoke steering wheel, hand brake lever and gearshift knob! But that is not all. Red loves the comfortable driving experience! He said that it feels like driving a "race car" and yet remains very fuel efficient since the turbodiesel is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission with Euro IV compliance. 

So although, I am opposed to owning a small car, I feel that I could make an exception for this Volkswagen variant! Its original price of Php 1.295 Million will be slashed off by almost Php 200 Thousand if we buy the Jetta before the promo ends this month. So, everybody, please have your fingers crossed for our ninth month-sary gift!

Philippine Independence Day and Our First Year Engagement Anniversary

by: Mhe-anne L. Ojeda -Isidro

Our Philippine Flag - inspired Wedding Reception Table Setting 

I love the Philippine Independence Day, a national celebration to commemorate the country's Declaration of Independence against Spain on June 12, 1898 by General Emilio Aguinaldo and Filipino revolutionary forces. It was during this day that the Philippine Flag, which symbolizes our country, was first raised and the national anthem played. On June 12 each year, I usually participate in parades and rallies and make miniature Philippine Flags as my way of tribute to those who have shown great courage in fighting for our country to give us the cherished freedom we now enjoy.

Engagement Day Photo in Bacolod showing Philippine Flag -inspired colors 

On a personal level, Philippine Independence Day is my favorite holiday. It was on June 12,1991 when I met Red for the first time, while I was participating at a rally in UP against the US bases. After two (2) decades of separation, Red suddenly appeared, and after dating for a year, has proposed to me and offered to give me freedom from loneliness and lots of love and happier moments together! 

Fruit Cocktail Cake - 2 eggs,1 1/2 cups sugar, 2 tsp. baking soda,

1/2 tsp. salt, 1 – 14oz. can fruit cocktail with juice 398mL, 2 cups flour, 

3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup butter, and 1 tsp. vanilla

Yes (if you do the math! lol), today marks our 22nd year from the time we first met, and our first year engagement anniversary. To celebrate this day, we wore our identical Bacolod tee shirts and shorts with Philippine Flag - inspired colors (red, blue, yellow and white) that we wore during our engagement trip last year. Then I baked a Fruit Cocktail Cake and had dinner at home together (since Thursday is our car's no - drive day). 

Our greatest happiness does not depend on the condition of life in 
which chance has placed us, but is always a result of a good conscience,
good health, occupation and all good pursuits - Thomas Jefferson

So with that "kiss" from Red and a sweet shared dessert, I  can say that I have no regrets losing my "independence" on Philippine Independence Day!

Banana Split: The Perfect Dessert For Couple Like Us!

by: Mhe-anne L.O.Isidro

Aside from Peanut Butter, Red and I discovered a special dessert for two, that will surely not cause a marital break - up (although it is called a split). With two spoons in tow, we could be on the same boat and enjoy this sweet summer's delight together. Banana Split! 

Banana Split is a dessert made of a peeled banana cut in half lengthwise filled with scoops of ice cream in a row between the split banana and served in a long dish called a boat. Hubby goes banana over bananas while I can't have it because it causes bloating and excessive gas in my stomach. But I go gaga over any flavors of ice cream, while hubby just crave for chocolates.

For our first summer as a couple, we were doubly lucky to have Banana Split for free, not once but twice, courtesy of Pinac Heirloom Capampangan Cuisine and Pizza Hut.

Pinac Heirloom Capampangan Cuisine Resto
2/F UP Town Center, Katipunan, QC

As a reward for making a video message for my mom last May 9, 2014 at the UP Town Center's Reel Love Booth, we were given a coupon for a free Banana Split at Pinac Heirloom Capampangan Cuisine, a resto that showcases the Kapampangan cuisine of Candaba, Pampanga [Philippines]. 

Pinac's Banana Split consists of a peeled banana cut in half lengthwise with three scoops of ice cream - mango, ube and chocolate and topped with red beans and macapuno. I guess I had all the ube (purple jam) ice cream and the macapuno while Red devoured the banana in no time as well as the chocolate and mango ice cream. Yummy! Surprisingly though, we didn't find Banana Split on Pinac's menu. With its taste, I believe that this Banana Split should be a mainstay!

Pizza Hut at SM Sucat

Pizza Hut Banana Split is a dessert consisting of three scoops of vanilla ice cream sprinkled with chocolate sauce, caramel sauce and whipped cream lined in row between the split banana. Like Pinac's resto, the Banana Split isn't part of Pizza Hut's menu, but it was served to us last May 27, 2014 as a reward for taking the Pizza Hut Feedback online survey in another Pizza Hut resto.

Banana Split is officially our fave Summer dessert!