I moved to the U.S. from the Philippines five years ago and got married to a wonderful & hard-working man. Now, happily married and blessed with our adorable Shadow (brown & hairy English springer spaniel). Life in the U.S. is very comfortable and you can afford pretty much anything you want as long as you work hard & smart. But how did I end up as a fitness coach?? Well, I lost control and indulged myself to all the mouth-watering foods as if it was my last day on earth; gaining over 40 lbs was easy. I tried to get back in shape few years ago; I went to the gym, I did Zumba classes, I ran. However, the motivation wasn’t just there & I kept failing.

My dad had a stroke with a 50% chance of surviving at a very young age of 47. I didn’t want that to happen to me. On January 3, 2017, with no hesitation, I joined Beachbody as a “Discount Coach” and started my journey right away with a 21 Day Fix program. My husband introduced me to Stephanie (my amazing Coach!), so that’s how I got here. I was 140.02 lbs when I started. I took a picture of me and it was scary. All the crap I fed into my body was not good. So, I am sincerely thankful that I took that 1st step to change my lifestyle. Because I really want to be healthy not just for myself but also for my family (for my husband, family in the Philippines, and my dog).

With dedication and the motivation I get from the Challenge Group, I’m down to 124.8 lbs on February 3, 2017. Yes! I lost 15.96 lbs in 30 days!!! I love it so much; the result even motivates me more. As my fitness journey progresses, I also noticed that I inspired some of my friends, family, & other people online (thanks to technology). Currently, I have a team working out with me & helping each other to reach our fitness goals (the more, the merrier!). The fact that I am inspiring other people, I am also earning EXTRA income which is a life blessing. By this means, I am able to extend more help to my family.

So it all comes down to one simple thing: How bad do you want it?

Need to get seriously shredded in the shortest time possible? Check out 21 Day Fix Extreme!!!
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Another great year and counting...

 Today, marks another year of being married to the man who made all our “chats” a reality! I constantly look back on those days and those memories when we started our life together and they always make me smile -- so unique, sweet, challenging, encouraging, and educating.

Before I left Cebu:

I was very excited, happy, also nervous, and could not wait to see him. While, the feeling of missing my family was there too, it was a mixed emotion. As soon as I received my plane ticket, I started packing all my stuff right away, all summer clothes, flip flops, sandals. I had NO clue what Montana was like! #LessonForMe #Educating Who cares about the research, Ill be seeing Mr. Hottie in few days!

The #sweet part is, I got a biggle bag of UA cold gear, more jeans, and etc!

In Amerika

At Las Vegas airport, saw him right away… that smile.. shaved and very neat (as always).. soo good-looking man! “Kilig to the bones” my heart was like beating “togodog togodog x1000 per second” and in my mind “wow wow, im really here now.. no joke.. wow hhooh”.

We flew together to Montana. and hmmmm…

As I am remembering and writing this. I was like WOW!! I was really very shy that time in comparison today! I remember he asked me what I want for food and I said ummm hmm wheat bread, green apples (period). I don’t know what happen to my precious “RICE” that time.

I saw microwave, vacuum cleaner, washer. Oh Great! because I used them in the Philippines all the time. hmmm

#Challenging  Before, I was too sensitive and cried when he says the F words. Now, I could care less if he says all the ABCD FFFFF. #GettingHisJokesNow #BigFan.

I was worried that I was not going to get a decent job when I moved to America. Yet, he encouraged me and pushed me to try applying for a job that I deserve. My very first job interview when he said ”Don’t worry you will do great” J #myheartsmiling

CONCLUSION

Life from where I came from vs the Life he gave me was magically different.

I have learned a lot because he showed and taught me things.

He helped me gained confidence and not be afraid (which I probably still need help with it and will always do – just the way I am).

He stood by me and fought my fight.

  

I found a few filipino stores in Virginia! TG!

Filipino Global Market Falls Church VA USA

Filipinos

Wherever they are in the world, Filipinos always crave for Filipino food and look for Filpino stores to get them.

There are few places in America where significant populations of Filipinos or Filipino Americans can be found such as in California, Hawaii, New York, Illinois and Texas.

Filipinos are the biggest asian people in California, finding filipino food, filipino stores, or filipino restaurants is not a problem.

In Montana, where I lived for a year, my filipino friends and I drove to Great Falls to get filipino food from an Asian Store called Kims Oriental Market. Not a lot of choices for filipino food but Kims Oriental Market sells Pancit, Lumpia Wrapper, Patis, Mang Tomas, Monggos, Sardines, Longganisa, & Suka, stuff that Filipinos will most likely buy.

When we moved in Virginia, my husband surprised me when we walked inside the Filipino Global Supermarket - Manila Oriental in Springfield Alexandria Va. I was very happy, first thing's first, I grabbed Pancit Cantoon and searched for my #1 Polvorone.

The people working in Manila Oriental filipino store are all Filipinos. The store has big selection of Filipino food. Manila Oriental is not only a place to shop filipino food, it also offers dining-in cafeteria-style. After shopping or before shopping, Filipinos can enjoy a meal from a selection of Chicken Adobo, Pancit Bihon, Lechon Kawali, Fried Tilapia, Mechado, banana-que, pork sticks, bangus, buwad, bagoong, lumpia, and many more.

Filipino Food Shopping in Filipino Global Supermarket in Falls Church VA

FILIPINO STORE LOCATIONS  (Northern Virginia & Washington DC area)
Filipino Global Market 
5509 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041

(703) 820-1961
(this was the old location of Manila Oriental, the store has moved to a new location -- please see new address below at Springfield VA)

Manila Oriental
7026 Commerce St
Springfield, VA 22150
(703) 379-0595

Philippine Oriental Market
3610 Lee Hwy
Arlington, VA 22207
(703) 528-0300

Fiesta Oriental Store
4815 1st St N
Arlington, VA 22203
(703) 516-9160

Danny's Tindahan
 4115 Wisconsin Ave NW
(between N Van Ness St & N Upton St)
Washington, DC 20016
Neighborhood: Tenleytown
(202) 244-7221

Filipinos Love Siomai

http://instagram.com/p/Y9KEGONq-B/
 4th of May

I love Siomai,

Filipinos Love Siomai

Few weeks ago, hubby had a lunch with colleagues at Red Parrot Asian Bistro. "Oh it was pretty good" he said! and I said, "hmmp"!

I knew he's gonna take me to Red Parrot Asian Bistro and he did! We went to Red Parrot Arlington, everything on the menu looked really good to me. I was going back and forth with the Thai Pattaya Seafood and Katsudon. I was, "Can I just order everything?"
 
Anyways, we had the Spicy Shrimp Sushi, Happy Family (Jumbo shrimp, scallop, chicken & beef sautéed with mixed vegetables in brown sauce), it was a huge plate for a Filipina woman like me! Burp! :) I super love the Spicy Shrimp Sushi, the Happy family was okay for me but my husband love it!

Then I had quick glance at the appetizer menu, I saw the Siopao.. I kept reading.. I was like omg! it's SIOMAI!!! It's siomai... it's my favorite! it's famous in the Philippines, I wanna have it too! I couldn't describe my feeling that time, it was like not seeing a good friend for a very long time.

Siomai is a dimsum of Chinese origin, made of shrimp and pork wrapped with small wanton or siomai wrapper. We, filipinos love siomai!

The Siomai in Red Parrot Asian Bistro taste a little different, but it was good. The sauce was different too and not spicy. In the Philippines or the Filipino style Siomai ~  Siomai is dipped in a Chili Paste and it's very very good and very very spicy!!!

Filipino Siomai is made of ground pork, water chestnuts,  carrots, minced onions,  spring onions , egg, sesame oil,  freshly ground pepper, and salt. And, filipino style siomai sauce is made of soy sauce, lemon, sesame oil, & chili paste.

Overall, the siomai at Red Parrot Asian Bistro made my weekend's foodgasm!

To Filipinos , if you're in America or just came to America and craving for Siomai, go to Red Parrot Asian Bistro!

Why Filipino Mama is the best?

2010 Mother's Day Picture of Mama

2013 of May (Happy Mother's Day)
Living in America, /ˈjäblis/, gives me extra time facebooking, tweeting, instragraming, blogging... as inzz... not that I'm bored, it's just my passion!!! No kidding!!! lol

Another night of updating facebook status, uploading pictures, browsing albums, reading timeline, and all that... then I found
 <<== this!!!

It's been three years since I took this beautiful picture of my mom on a Mother's day in the Philippines.

And, I was like, dang, if my mom was here, all I have to do is to earn money and period.

So anyways, I thought  I should write something meaningful about it. This is actually the first time I posted a picture of my mom on a web page available for public view.

Filipino Moms are the best. Why?!!!

• Mama hand washes and irons not only your baby clothes but, to school uniform, to office uniform, to her *apo's clothes, kay sayo man naminyo!!! (*grandchildren's clothes)
• Mama prepares your breakfast, lunch, and supper even you're *gi bol bol na! (*grown up to take care of own's self)
• Mama patiently listens to your *"yawyaw" (*constant bickering)
• Mama tells you "You are beautiful *pero padaut gamay day para samot ka gwapa!" (*even you are fat)
• Mama hides your secret from papa *kay ga ibog ibog lagi maskin highschool pa. (*about your puppy love)
• As a kid, Mama scolds you but gives you a lollipop afterwards kay nangluod naman konohay ka unya dili na mokaon ug kan-un. (Filipino Moms are tender-hearted)
• As a teenager nga wala pay buot, Mama just cry when you balikas at her! But uban mama kay sili an jud imong baba. (Filipino Moms  only cry when her teenager kid is back-talking at her)
• Mama takes good care of you until her last breath!!! (maskin nilapas na sa kalendaryo imong edad si mama naa japun gaatiman sa mga anak) Literally takes care of you - cook for you, do laundry for you, make coffee for you & etc.....