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The downside of living in a small town is having limited places to hang out in. We just decided to check out the coffee shop that's in our family friend's old house.

We love the cozy ambiance. We love the tea and the smoothies!

And the wall artwork is way cool.

What I love about the place is there's a variety of books and magazines that you can borrow.

And my brothers love that there's wifi and of course it's a good getaway from the common coffee shop crowd.

Well hello there, it's been a LONG time! I can't say that I'm back for good, but we'll see.

Life has been swell for me and that probably took a toll on my blogs. One thing's for sure though, we continue to do what we love...dining. It's a first in years since we re-visited this Italian restaurant in Iloilo, and like all things, it had some minor changes, but it was all good.

Tonight, I have two of my favorite boys all for myself. Jason and Jerard.

When you're with the boys, you act like them, eat, laugh and talk like them. It became less about the food and more about of the people you're with that makes you enjoy every bite.

Al Dente

Sarabia Manor Hotel, Gen. Luna St., Iloilo City

Again we are spotted in a pool! I guess we just can't get enough of it. So, "Welcome to El Dorado".

We've been here a couple of times now, though we don't like the waters here but it's the architecture that got the better of us.

And in case you're wondering, no we don't own the place and there were people around, it just seemed like it's all us because we scared them off with a little rawr. Yes, the poses are deadly.

And as a family tradition, the kids do their "air shots" which are cooler than cool.

So 1, 2, 3...JUMP!

It's an all-girl swim day for us. And the water never runs dry with us around.

And one great feature about the place is the slide. The kids love it and we all tried it out -- well, except for my sister. It would have been cool if the water doesn't get caught in my nose as soon as I reach the landing though.

And here's the mushroom shot. Tried to go candid then decided to stick with the usual.

MO2 - El Dorado

Smallville Complex, Iloilo City

One innate thing about our family is that, would love a good excuse to swim. So when someone blurts out the words: "Would you guys want to swim today?" Everybody would be cram-mering to work their schedule and clear it out. I guess it's not only food that brings our family together.

We love the water, we could probably be the lost sons and daughters of Poseidon. And as proof that we could also breathe in the water, we took the liberty to capture our underwater life.

My brother gave us water creature names. I thought he'd give me those cute names, but instead he made mine as a piranha -- don't ask why, or you'll drop dead before the last syllable comes out of your mouth.

And then the water battle begins! I'm not sure how my daughter ever managed to win when she's not all that tough, but what I know about her is, loosing would never be an option to her.

Here's a family of swimmers.

Started with my dad, who at his age could beat me in an endurance swim. All my siblings are swimmers as well, they definitely love the sport but don't want to play the game. And I'm a self-proclaimed retired professional swimmer with the hopes that my daughter would make a good following.

I flew back to Manila just in time for my brother's birthday. Initially I just wanted to visit my little girl since it's been two weeks since I last saw her. Two for the price of one huh?

It was a Saturday so everybody was busy doing their own thing. My brother didn't impose that we should be there but we all tried to. I love family gatherings, and it's quiet notable that food always brings us together. We were so ready to get our tummies loaded!

Our uncle was also in town for a wedding, so it makes him a willing substitute for my dad.

And of course there's my brother's friends who are ever present to support him at any time. I'm guessing they flew in too for his birthday.

Food is served! We had one of almost every kind just so we could taste a little bit of everything. It was divine, we loved it all.

And of course, don't forget the cake courtesy of Sheila. And my brother giggled while blowing his 23rd cake. We love you bro!

Marciano's

Second Floor, Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Makati

I wish I could say that I'm back to blogging for good. Unfortunately a lot of things have been holding me down. Right now I'm working on getting back with my old flame...swimming.

It's been years since I've been doing laps and it's surprising that now that I'm a few years older, my body doesn't react as quickly as before. I guess this is how a retired swimmer would feel after years without training. It's not anymore about speed, it's about how long I could stay in the water. I am my own team now, so it's up to me to train myself. Must. Build. Endurance.

I'm lucky to have a family that enjoys the same thing I do -- plus their uber supportive friends.

I'm SO yesterday -- I know! This event was over the summer and I'm just posting it now, nearly three months in the making. This was the time when my brother's shirt business was shortlisted to provide shirts for an event organized by Sofie Garrucho.

FHM a men's magazine brought its Vixens to the City of Love. And I could tell that men are a little agitated about this. I love how FHM has made money out of men's weakness. What a way to do business, i likey!

Men hovered around to watch these Vixen slowly undress to bare essentials. I love that this night I was one of the boys, sipping some beer, eyes on these women, appreciating beauty and curves in a men's perspective. I completely left my last drop of estrogen out the door. It's so easy to be a man...I love it!

But my jaw-dropper wasn't the ladies barely covered, but the people showing off their love to my hometown through our statement tees.

It feels like I've posted here for about a year now. These pictures are still from the summer! And it's rainy season now. That's how bad I am with updates. Anyways, this was when we tried the new place in Iloilo. Terra, a Mediterranean fusion restaurant. The waiter insists that it's Iloilo's version of Cyma. Riiiight.

The food was alright for Iloilo standard, nothing phenomenal, but not bad at the same time. We had lamb since we're in a Mediterranean restaurant, but the serving was not at all what I expected.

I believe that Mediterranean taste is widely accepted in by the Philippine palette. So no complaints in the table, Kiara finished up half of the rice we ordered and we were left to share the remains. Kiara isn't really a Cyma fan so I was a little surprised with the sweeping.

Kiara: Can we make some of these at home?

Janice: What do you think of me? A chef?

Kiara: You can do these mom, some of your cooking are close to these.

Janice: You are by far the biggest fan of my cooking.

Kiara: Yeah, and I'm thankful that I was never served a burnt food from you.

Janice: I may not call myself a cook, but I'm not that stupid. *duh*

My daughter loves my cooking. For some reason, she brags to just about anyone -- how good I am at it. She's just a loving daughter I guess, but my cooking is within the boundaries of our little home. I was never taught because I hadn't even seen my mom hold a pan in her entire lifetime. So it has to come with my love for eating I guess.

Terra, G/F The Avenue, Mandurriao, Iloilo City

Initially I just wanted to hear mass this day but dad insisted on dining out . I looked haggard to the last strand of my hair that day, I thought everyone would be nice enough not to mind but Jason did.

Eating out on my date of birth is a living proof that I've probably been binging out pretty bad in the past decade? I wish to just cut off a little bit of the fat I've stored for the past years, even just for this day, but dad wouldn't want me to. Ha! Lame excuse! Oh well, I had flowers! *grin* I have the sweetest brothers anyone could ever have. Dad of course, he's the sweet genes that got into my brothers DNA. And my daughter is and forever will be my muse.

We had fun stuffing in most of what was on the buffet table. And of course, no family gathering would be complete without the messing around and the photo op. Munching breaks were filled with laughs and playing around so when we've had enough of that, we're ready to raid back to the tables for more food.

Then Kiara and my brother finished off the night with a glass of halo-halo and a hug. *sigh*

Best days are filled with these.

Since I was out of town on Mother's day, we made up for my absence on a heavy dinner. Food brings our family together. LOL. And ever since I arrived, my daughter proudly showed off her new hair.

Since they spent more than a week together without me, these two have been playing around, whispering, giggling, as if they were of the same age.

Kiara is all hyped up that night, thanks to the new do.

Kiara: *giggling* Surprise mom!

Janiz: I missed you so much!

Kiara: I know, but do you love my surprise?

Janiz: Where?

Kiara: *roll eyes* Duh, my hair! You spoiled it. *pout*

Janiz: I was just kidding.

Kiara: Do you like it?

Janiz: Oh, I LOVE it!

Kiara: Me too! I was surprised it was this short, but it was such a beautiful surprise.

Janiz: Now it's my time to do this, *roll eyes*

She's narcissistic just like that.