Frannywanny

For those who have been following me on Instagram , you may have noticed the continuous photos that I've been sharing during my recent visit to Manila. We spent 6 amazing days eating, spending a lot of time with family and catching up with our closest friends too. One of the biggest highlight of our trip (and reason for our flight home, in fact) happened a week ago when my one and only sister Pan tied the knot with my new brother-in-law E.  It was such a joyous occasion for both families and everything went perfectly as planned. Of course, we got my sister's dream team to thank for too. The most crucial time was the night before and the day of the wedding. This was where a lot of last minute preparations took place and the endless pouring in of suppliers come the wedding day. So, when my sister was scouting around for that perfect bridal suite for her on-the-day preparations, we unanimously agreed that Discovery Suites  in Ortigas was definitely the best choice. Of cou...

Exactly 29 years ago, our family was blessed with a new addition in the form of a bouncing (or perhaps are jumping) baby girl. Months prior to that, I actually thought I was going to have a little brother so when I met her for the first time, the 2 years and eleven month old me somehow couldn't understand why was she wrapped in a pink blanket and instead of having to call her " shoti" as what I was taught to say, everyone was now correcting me to call her... SHOBE . Meet Pannywanny -- my one and only little sister. Today's her birthday so I'm taking a break from all the food talks and I'd like to dedicate this special entry just for her. A lot of people have told me how amazing it is to see that my sister and I are so close to one another. Yes, it's something I'm really proud of and I'm glad that I'm blessed not only with a sister but with someone whom I can bet a gazillion dollars on that she'll be there for me for the rest of ...

This is a continuation of my sister Pan's 10 must-visit places in Tokyo, Japan. In case you missed the first part, please click here . “Sugoi Japan!” Exploring the Rising Sun’s Capital: Tokyo Prefecture #6 Meiji Shrine Stepping out of busy Harajuku station , it surprised me to find the tranquil Meiji Shrine a stone’s throw away from a highly populated shopping district. The shrine is nestled in a forested area in this bustling location and can be accessed through a massive Torii Gate , a usual symbol of a traditional Japanese gate for Shinto shrines. Beyond these gates is like entering straight into nature and away from the city. The shrine itself is found after several minutes a leisure stroll along a graveled path surrounded by trees. During my visit, I chanced upon a Shinto wedding ceremony taking place in the Meiji shrine with the couple and their entourage in elaborate wedding garments, it was like something out of a Discovery Channel episode. Tokyo has two well-...

For the past 5 and a half years, you have been reading my stories predominantly from just one voice -- MINE. Once in a while, Paul would pop in with his own stories but that's about it. I've never had any other guest blogger simply because I keep this blog close to my heart the same way I probably would with a hard-bound diary. It would definitely take a special person to be able to drop in here and to share his/her thoughts as well. Aside from Paul, there's one person who means the world to me. She has been my food/shopping/pamper-me/movie buddy for the past 28 years (and still counting). People may come and go, friends may drop in and out of our lives but one thing is for sure, I know this person will stick to me like glue simply because we love each other unconditionally despite all the imperfections we both may have.  Dear readers, I'd like to introduce you to my little sister Pan . A big travel bug and an adventurous foodie too! She has been traveling to Japan at...