How was your long weekend, friends? I hope you all had a wonderful time. The recent Holy Week gave the hubby and I ample time to spend with our family so that was exactly what we did. Of course, there were the usual moments of reflection and the observance of some religious traditions. All these and more have made our long weekend fun and meaningful at the same time.
Please be warned that this post contains more photos than usual.
On Maundy Thursday, the hubby and I, along with Mame, did the traditional Visita Iglesia. As what has been our practice, we visited seven churches (two stations per church to complete the 14 Stations of the Cross). We joined the huge crowd composed of people from all walks of life in getting from one church to another. We started early at around 8:30AM. The weather was a bit cooperative that time (read: shady with some short bursts of sunshine) so we enjoyed the long walk.
and we’re ready to go!
with Mame
After visiting the third church (San Beda College Chapel), we had a quick breakfast at McDo-Bustillos and after setting foot at the last church (Basilica Menor de San Sebastian), we walked back home already.
the beautiful interiors of San Beda College Chapel
McDo moment
Together with my in-laws, the hubby and I went home in Bacoor in the afternoon.
a full trunk always means it’s a family trip
We also stopped over at King Bee-V Central Molino branch for lunch and the Chinese food lover in me thought it was a great idea. Haha.
King Bee’s Salt and Pepper Squid was tender and tasty!
Our Good Friday was spent entirely at home. We didn’t take a bath despite the unforgiving summer heat. (Do you also follow the same belief?) We just made punas-punas our body, you know. Haha. But it was perfectly okay, it was just a little sacrifice that anyone wouldn’t mind doing. And yes, we also abstained from eating meat. My MIL cooked most of our meals and her hard-boiled eggs in tomato sauce was my favorite of them all. Tell me, how can something so simple be so rich and delicious?
I can eat this every day!
In the afternoon, I granted my FIL’s request for some freshly-baked brownies.
it’s as good as it looks
Suddenly, I also thought of making some lemon bars using the recipe shared by The Pseudo Shrink on her blog. I just lessened the sugar to suit my taste. Not to boast, but they turned out to be perfect!
sweet, tart, and everything nice
Ooops, I almost forgot we did go out to visit the chapel inside the Fernbrooks Garden complex in Las Piñas to say some prayers and kiss the Holy Cross.
The next day, Black Saturday, we all trooped to Kalipayan Resort in Dasmariñas, Cavite for a swim. We were one of the first ones to arrive so for more than an hour, 80% of this pool was ours to enjoy!
We also brought some snacks and when lunchtime came, we just ordered food from the in-house restaurant there.
our groufie
MIL’s Pinoy style spaghetti was a hit to us!
our delicious yet affordable lunch spread (got all these dishes for P1,000+ only!)
This was the same resort we went to for our Black Saturday swim last year with my two siblings Danison and Jodie. Just like last time, we had lots of fun!
From Kalipayan Resort, we headed straight home only to hit the road again for SM Southmall. We had to do some errands there and we opted to have dinner there as well. The hubby and I settled for a bowl of La Paz Batchoy each while my in-laws got individual rice meals from the mall’s food court. We were in a hurry so no pictures. Meh.
Before noon of Easter Sunday, we were already back in Manila. I immediately crossed the street and went to my siblings’ place to check on my family. I missed them a lot. I stayed there and chatted with them until the hubby suddenly asked me to go to Robinsons Magnolia in QC to unwind. Mame and my sister Nyam joined us without second thoughts. They even ended up shopping!
two of my favorite girls in the world
It was actually their first time to visit that mall and to make it memorable, the hubby suggested we have our dinner at Magnolia Flavor House (MFH). (We all know the connection.)
MFH’s classic Banana Split
Their food was as delicious as before but unfortunately, their slow and inattentive service didn’t change a bit (sorry, not sorry). But still, it was a nice dinner and I was happy to have spent some quality time with my side of the family.
our group
All in all, it was a memorable observance of Lent and the hubby and I even had lots of bonding with our families. Life is good. God is good. 🙂
May you choose happiness always,
You had a productive long weekend ha! I didn’t know na hindi pala naliligo pag good friday? hehe. Not a catholic though but my jowa is at hindi naman nya yan nabanggit sakin. hehehe. At least you have spent you Lenten Season with your families and that was a great experience. =)
Haha, oo nga nung binabasa ko tong post ko parang bigla ako napagod sa dami ng ginawa namin! Yes, bawal maligo and true, masaya talaga pag pamilya ang kasama. Kaya rin siguro wala ako masyado friends kasi sa pamilya pa lang, bitin na ang oras ko. 🙂
Hindi ka naman masyadong busy nung Holy Week, sis! Haha! Me, I just spent the entire Holy Week at home. We let go of our annual family trip because of our house construction. Hubby did the Visita Iglesia with a friend. They went (and walked!) to 14 churches. They finished around 2 AM na yata. Sana next year makasama na ako, haha! I wasn’t feeling well kasi nung Holy Week break. Happy Easter! 🙂
Hahaha, oo nga busy busyhan! Kakapagod din pero enjoy naman. Naku, okay lang yan para naman sa house nyo. Bongga naman ni Boyet, 14 churches. Di ko ata kaya lakarin yun lahat, okay na ako sa pito. Bawi ka sis next Visita Iglesia. 🙂
Ang dami nyong napuntahan!!! Bahay lang kami all the time haha King Bee never fails, meron din sa amin na branch along Antipolo.
As for the corndog recipe, DIY lang kami 🙂 We use maya hotcake mix and egg lang kami 🙂 yung iba they place milk and sugar pa, depending on your taste 🙂
Yung eRAse pala sa watsons or SM meron nun for sure 🙂
Oo ngayon ko nga lang naramdaman ang pagod habang nirereview ko ang post na ‘to.
Thanks, D! Try ko yang corndog na yan one weekend.
Sabi nga ng SIL ko naka-try sya kumain sa Antipolo branch before. Good to know consistent sila. Sa Cavite, 2 branches sila, one in Bacoor and another one in Gen. Trias. Sa Las Piñas (along Daang Hari), isa rin. 🙂
Bili ako ng eRAse, mga ‘sang dosena. Hahaha. Kasi para sa CS scar ko, pero good luck din sakin kasi keloid na sya. Contractubex gamit ko at present, bigay lang ni MIL. Pag naubos, bili ako eRAse.
Wow….. mukhang masarap ung lemon bars, kaya lang parang kumplikado gawin. I’m just a newbie baker, as in kakagawa ko lang ng banana cake kagabi sa turbo broiler. Natuwa naman ang hubby ko pati babty. Na-inspire ako sa mga baking posts mo. Malapit na nga rin ako bumili nung convection oven. 😉 Sulit ba ung Asahi? Pinag-iisipan ko pa rin kasi kung alin talaga ang bibilhin ko. Can you share tips for new bakers, like myself? Anu anong na-bake mo noong nagsisimula ka lang?
Naku, madali lang sis. Try mo rin! Hala, turbo broiler din ang gamit ko before. Madami rin pwede gawin don. I-aadjust mo lang ng konti ang cooking time pero swak din yun. Pinakamadali sakin ang cookies, brownies, then muffins. At mga cakes madali lang din yun. Kayang-kaya mo.
Yes, sulit ang Asahi. Andami ko na na-bake at nailutong dishes using it. Hindi ako nagsisi sa pagbili. 🙂
Thanks for the encouragement. 😉 Konting subok pa, para ma-convince ko si hubby na magagamit talaga ung convection oven. Fear kasi namin baka tumaas ang bill sa kuryente. 😉
Parang hindi ko naman naramdaman yung pagtaas ng kuryente, tingin ko hindi sya ganun kalakas kumunsumo. Well, siguro rin kasi madalang lang ako mag-bake every other weekend lang halos. Tip ko pala, just don’t be afraid, enjoy mo lang ang baking. And sa baking supplies store ka bumili ng flour, mas mura don compared to supermarkets. P30 per kilo lang ang APF. 🙂
Gusto ko na ring magbake!
Go, sis! Bili ka na ng oven na gaya ng sakin. Hehe. 🙂
Wow, nagutom ako. Buti na lang lunch break ko mamaya. I miss the Filipino Spaghetti. It’s my favorite.
It’s my first time to hear about the belief of not taking a bath on Good Friday. We also did not eat meat on Good Friday. My mom and dad won’t eat meat the whole week.
Haha, sorry about that. Ako fave ko talaga ang Pinoy style spag, nagke-crave talaga ako don madalas. Paniniwala ata sa Visayas, kasi ang nanay ko pati MIL ko mga Bisaya. Bata pa ako ayaw na talaga kami paliguin pag Good Friday eh. 🙂
Yan ang gusto ko sa mga blogpost mo ms edel, ang sasarap lagi ng pagkain grabe, lalo na yung banana split, brownies & hardboiled eggs in tomato sauce,….panalo yan 🙂
Natutuwa talaga ako sa closeness nyo ng pamilya mo ms edel 🙂
Haha, oo kaya nagtatabaan kami! Thank you, Grace! For me, family is everything and I know that you know and apply that in your life as well. 🙂
Never thought of hard-boiled eggs in tomato sauce eh andalas namen nag ninilagang itlog. Must try! 🙂
Go, sis! Masarap sya, mapaparami kain mo ng rice! 🙂
I also cook a variant of hard-boiled egg + tomato sauce. I boil the tomato naman along with the egg, then chop them, mix, and add a bit of patis. Kahit yun lang and rice, solved na ako. 🙂
Interesting, I have to try it! Juicier kasi ang tomato pag boiled (tamang boiled lang, yung nagstart pa lang humiwalay ang balat), diba? Bata pa ako, mahilig na ako sa hard-boiled egg. Ang gawa naman namin ng brother ko dun, egg + lots of toyo (soy sauce) on white rice. Ayaw ng brother ko ng egg white, yolk lang yung sa kanya kaya tiba-tiba ako. Haha. Best meal ever! 🙂
Oo. I don’t even remove the skin anymore. Lamang-tyan din yun. Hehehehe. Saka andun ang nutrients.
Korek! Simple food pero masarap at nutritious pa rin. 🙂