OT: Unexpectedly Dong Juan

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We weren't supposed to go to Dong Juan, but two weeks before the date, I suggested the restaurant. I read a few blogs and decided it's worth a try. Their branch at The Perssimmon is the most accessible, so we opted to have our dinner there.

The boyfriend and I didn't really know what to expect since we don't have an idea what they serve and  how they look like. When we got there, the place was small and cozy. I like the unique furniture inside. It had a modern and comfortable feel to it. The staff were very cordial and they readily made us feel comfortable. I just like the ambiance of the place and the boyfriend couldn't agree more.

Our meal. (Left to right) Calamares, all-meat pochero, burger steak, drinks and rice.

Without really knowing what the best food in their menu is, we ordered calamares, linguini with meatballs, all-meat pochero, and burger steak. The food there is unbelievably cheap. We were expecting to pay around P300 for every dish, but each only costs less than P200. The dishes, however, are for two persons only. If you are bringing three or more people with you, it is best to order more food.

A random drink that looked cool. :D

I love their glasses. They're soo unique.

The food was definitely great. I love their burger steak. It tasted really good. The patty was thick and you could really find the herbs in the patty. You'll probably mistake the pochero as soup, but Dong Juan's version is a sizzling one. It's pretty much like the burger steak. The beef was just so tender. It was yummy. What I like about their calamares is their dip. Maybe I just got used to those dips with mayo. However, this one comes with a spicy garlic and honey sauce.

Linguini, our last order.

I'd definitely recommend Dong Juan. It's a nice place to dine with your date or with your friends. The ambiance is nice and the service is great. It's also not as crowded as other restaurants downtown. It's also accessible. Aside from the above mentioned dishes, they also serve pasta, sizzlers and even pizza.

OT: The Old Spaghetti House

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I've been wanting to go the Old Spaghetti House in SM City Cebu for a really long time. Although the both the boyfriend and I have wanted to go there, we never found time. Most often, we get to go to other restaurants instead.

For the boyfriend's birthday, we planned to go to a local Filipino resto. However, when we were already on the way there, we felt like neither of us feel like eating crispy pata which is the specialty of the resto. We debated for a while and landed on the The Old Spaghetti House. There are never a lot of people there which makes it a desirable place for dinner.

One of the coolest-looking pizzas I've ever seen.

I really like the ambiance of the place. It has a vintage and homey feel that makes you think of your mum's cooking, not that my mother likes Italian food. Their furniture and decors remind me of European bed and breakfast. The restaurant is cozy. They have nice and attentive waiters. You don't have to wait a long time for the food, which is a plus. You get served five minutes after ordering.

Nachos.

We got their Five-Cheese Pizza, Nachos Supreme, Lasagna, and White Sauce Carbonara. I have to say that they really have great food. They were all yummy. Their pizza had thin crust which the boyfriend love. It was also fun since the slices were in strips. It looked cool and it was definitely good, especially if you are a cheese lover like the boyfriend. I love TOSH's nachos! The salsa was just so yummy. If only our own homemade nachos tasted like this. It was probably the easiest food to finish. It just took a minute or so to finish all the chips. It was that good.

Mi lazagna. ♥

The boyfriend's carbonara.

I ordered the lazagna for myself. I think it tasted even better than I expected. I like how soft the cheese was but not too soft that made it difficult to eat. The boyfriend got himself the carbonara. Their carbonara was also really good, though I'm not much of a carbonara fan. 

Green tea (matcha) shake.

Mango shake.

That night, we were so full that we postponed our supposed gelato date. I really love TOSH's food. However, I wasn't able to eat to my heart's content since I wasn't feeling much of myself. I was a bit sick that I couldn't really eat so much and I couldn't really feel the joy of eating. I'd love to go back to The Old Spaghetti House next time and have the same meal again.

After eating everything. 

PS. We spent a grand-ish for our dinner. Not really that affordable but 'twas worth it.

OT: Make a Kid Happy, Share a Hug

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Christmas comes once a year. Like most people, I grew up getting excited about Christmas and all the gifts I'm about to receive. But as I grew much older, the excitement started to decrease. I realized that Christmas really is for kids. Since I started working, I realized that gifts came with a price. You would have to work hard if you want to give away presents, not just for others, but for yourself as well.

When we usually think of presents during Christmas, we usually think of buying things from the mall. Personally, I'd want that animal printed sweater from Forever21 as a gift this year. However, at this time where consumerism is in the air, we forget that we can still give gifts without having to spend so much. One can share time or even talent to those who might just be in need of them.

Photo credit: UP Tsinelas

Share a Hug is an annual event conducted by the UP-Tsinelas chapter. It is a pre-Christmas event that they hold to share blessings to kids in forms of old stuffed animals. We know for a fact that little kids love toys. It's something that every child would expect during Christmas. 

The biggest I own.

I've actually left three of my stuffed animals in school for the event. Don't think that I've no care for them. I'm actually a very sentimental type and letting them go went through a lot of deliberation in my head. However, I've always had a feeling that toys are meant to be played with. I get sad when I see toys or stuffed animals just kept in the drawers. If they could cry, they probably would. It's just like living a purposeless life, or maybe I'm just exaggerating it. 

Mi babies. :">

I've realized that giving them away would give them (my stuffed animals) a second chance in their lives. I'm just leaving them to collect dust at home though I still look at them once in a while. Honestly, I don't use them though it's good to know I still have them. But, this is a bit selfish to keep things that I don't need anymore. They will become useful again, when I've donated them. I know they will be as important as they are to me to those kids who don't have as much as I do. They will regain their purpose to be played with.

My  babies inside the box, as I said my last farewell. :'(

If you want to share some old toys that you have, you can just drop by at the University of the Philippines Cebu campus and ask the guard where the NSMD lobby is. You can see a small box near the guard's table and just leave the toys there. They will receive donations only until this Friday, December 9. You can also donate used and decent clothing for the kids as well. It'll surely put a smile on their faces.