Joan won the Yummy Cook-Off at Shangrila

Joan Manalang, the Art Director and the Artist Chef won the first ever Yummy Cooking Competition in the Blogger Category on September 30, 2007, at Shangrila Mall at 3 p.m.

 The competition was divided into three categories namely: Moms, Blogger and Chef division.

It was presented by Summit Media and Yummy Magazine. The YUMMY is a modern food magazine for anyone who loves to cook and eat. The YUMMY magazine gives inspiration readers to be creative about their home menus even with time and budget constraints. The magazine is also packed with useful and practical content for only P95.00.

Every issue of the magazine has more than 40 doable and delicious recipes, with ingredients available in the supermarket. It also has beautiful food images, styling and overall layout. It is useful for cooking and food shopping tips, instructionals, and of course, exciting food features and dining-out articles.

The show was hosted by Ruby Rodriguez and Chef Jun.



Here are some of the photos.

The ARTIST CHEF at CONDO CENTRAL Magazine

My sister JOAN who is an ART DIRECTOR on weekdays and an ARTIST CHEF on weekends is featured in the JULY issue of the CONDO CENTRAL Magazine. The article is entitled JUST FOR TWO. Discover how she came up with a business like this one - a romantic dinner date for two with an affordable prize of P1,800.00. Here she narrates how she blends her ideas in the arts and her passion for food.


The Artist Chef




The Work Place




The Ambiance




The Arrangements

JOAN MANALANG...the Artist Chef

JOAN MANALANG, a name known to the advertising industry, is a name attached to the word ART. That is how exactly I would describe this lady. A woman who exemplifies not just beauty but a woman holding tight to determination, perseverance, wisdom, goal and dreams.

This is how she wants her future to be. Since our childhood days, she never loses hope of being somebody someday. She has a vision and she works hard toward that vision. At 28, being an ART DIRECTOR, I believe she is halfway through her dreams. She harvests the fruits of her labors. A proud woman whose head is up high when she walks down the streets in Makati and as she mingles with the society's high profiles.

A Fine Arts graduate majoring in Advertising at the University of Santo Tomas, Joan has done many print ads for Smart (SMART Buddy and SMART Gold) and TV commercials like SKIN WHITE, ANLENE, UCARE 1,2,3, (Biyenan and Balae), STRESSTABS (with Tuesday Vargas), LEWIS AND PEARL powder, GREEN CROSS SOAP (with Maricel Soriano), CHOWKING nai cha, black gulaman and mongo pao, and the recent is the DUTCHMILL Yoghurt drink. Apart from these, she has also been into modeling, photography and painting, and most of her works became finalists in some prestigious art contests.

She has also done various posters, brochures, flyers, etc. relevant to her field. But her inclination toward the arts never hinders her passion for cooking. As a matter of fact, cooking has become an added income for her. She is branded as the ARTIST CHEF of the people who know her and of course, those people who have been acquainted with her. To her family, she is the kitchen queen. She has a condo unit in Makati which serves as the place for a romantic and cozy dinner for two. The place is simply decorated with white curtains, white tables and chairs, and white plates. The walls are also painted white and Joan's works of Art are spread throughout the place. You can tell her beforehand if you want to have your personal style during the dinner. A menu will also be given to you beforehand to allow you which food you want to be served.

You may also request her to have the food you like if it is not on the menu. Aside from the white atmosphere that brings a positive aura, a selection of amorous songs from Jazz Cappuccino CD will light up and stir the romance in the place.

For the amount of P1,800, a unique and heartwarming experience will be added to your library of memories of course, with the special person in your life.

By the way, Joan Manalang is my sister and I am very proud!

Lessons on Friendship

These past few days, I’ve been so confused with the people and with the things that are happening around me. I do not know who are real, those with a sincere heart, those whom I can trust and those who wear different masks to cover the person in them. Fate has twists and turns. They say things happen for a reason and I definitely believe it is God's will.

Yes, it is the will of God because I’ve come to realized a few things in life and had learned some lessons from one of the most valuable gift from God, friendship.

Friends can be classified as friends for good times, friends for bad times and friends for life. To which do you belong?

When you enter the wondrous gift of friendship, be sure that you know its meaning, its value, its importance and its essence. You enter that kind of relationship not only because you want someone you can have good time with and to laugh with. Girl, if that is what you want, you merely want to have fun and not happiness. Friendship paves way to happiness - the happiness of discovering the real person that she/he is and happiness of revealing or opening the kind of person that you are. Friendship is the happiness of realizing and appreciating what is in your hearts.

Friendship is attached to the word commitment. It is a reciprocal kind of relationship. You benefit from each other. You help each other grow. You help each other to reach out. Do not appreciate what is only good in her/him. For that is not real friendship. Friendship accepts even the most disastrous attitude or behavior one has. Friendship embraces not just the strength your friends possess but you also have to learn to cuddle its weakness.

Friendship goes hand in hand with sincerity and trust. When one enters friendship, he/she should be sincere with his words and deeds. If you promise to keep a word, be sure to keep as it is and never ever use it against him/her when the time comes you both decide to end it. Friendship develops the meaning of trust. If trust dwells in the heart of friends, doubts and worries will have no room in it. If you trust, you know how to love and if you love you will also be loved.

Don’t love your friends because you need something from them. Don’t love your friends because they meet your expectations. Don’t love your friends because you share a drink of beer or a cup of coffee. Don’t love your friends because you have the same units of cellular phone or the same brand of shoes. Don’t love your friends because you always eat and chat in a cozy restaurant. Please don’t, don’t love your friends because you benefit from them. Love them no matter who they are and not for what they have. Love them because you have accepted them without any hesitations and simply because you want them to be part of your life.

Friendship involves maturity (in mind and in deeds). Always see the scenario. Always listen and then speak. Keep an open mind. Don’t jump into conclusion. Widen your understanding and learn from your mistakes. Do not judge others if you don’t want them to judge you, too. Remember the golden rule? Keep the lines of communication always open. If there is something that is bothering you, always voice it out. Directly confront your friends if you want to clarify things and never believe in hearsays.

Sad to say but I was surrounded by a very deceiving people, or friends should I say who wear different faces everyday. It is painful to say that once I thought I found a lifetime friendship. A friend I considered a family. A friendship I treasured and valued a lot. A friendship I fought from beginning to the end over a lot of people who have false judgment. But now it is a friendship ruined by false allegations of a rigid level of understanding.

Friendship is tested by time. It will be attacked by a range of dilemmas, problems and challenges. Remember, the weather of friendship is not always a sunny day. But, if genuine friendship prevails, no matter how heavy the storm is, it will always stand firm and strong.

I lost one friendship but the door was opened and a new one came. I won’t say that it’s for life now, but I will always give the best to make it grow in maturity and love.

I lost one, I gained another but there are still a few friends left. Learning from the past mistakes, I will start a new with them with new hopes and new dreams.

I lost one, I gained one, a few others are left, and most of all, I’ll make stronger the foundation of a friendship to someone who has long been there, long been kept and long been treasured. God make His way, He permits things to happen. I am thankful and grateful for making me closer to a special friend who is always a part of my life.

Friendship no matter how far the distance, how busy the lines of communications are and how complicated life may be, when founded and rooted in hearts that is always willing to sacrifice and to love, remains friends till the end.

Painful and difficult it may sound, in life, sometimes we have to learn the art of letting go. To free our minds and our hearts, we simply have to let go of the things that once had meaning in our lives. Don’t hold on to a thing that is unworthy of your time. Life is journeyed forward and not backward.

I only have a few friends. I have two best friends, a number of special friends and some close friends. I can count them in my fingers but I am happy and glad having them because I believe we have shared various things that helped us make a better person and moments that strengthen our friendship. Life is beautiful and God is good, remember that!

In Silence...

There are things that are meant to happen and they don’t just happen. They happen for a reason.

There are words that are better left unsaid. Because if you voice it out, you might got hurt.

There are feelings and emotions that are better unexpressed. Because if you show it, you lose in the end.

There are stories need not to be told. They are better kept.

The only one who knows it well and you trusted the most is Him.

For someone who cannot voice out the love inside his heart,
for the one who keeps quiet and watches his love grows,
for you who loves in silence,
this is for you!

That Stranger

It was a Friday, August 25, after coming from a tiring sports fest, I was on my way to the entrance door of SM Megamall where I’m going to fetch Chard.

The security guard was checking my backpack when I accidentally looked at my right side and saw a guy looking at me. I didn’t mind. I entered the mall and walked my way to KODAK to see Chard. I asked Lanny (one of the outrights) if Chard was there. Lanny told me he was at building A. I was ahead of time (6:30 p.m.) so I decided to roam around.

When I turned around, I saw the guy who I saw at the entrance gate. He looked surprised to see me (and maybe in his mind, he said – nakita ko to kanina ah!). I looked at him but didn’t mind that I saw him again. I bought peach Danish at French Baker because my stomach is barking in hunger. And for the third time that guy and I crossed ways again. I was paying at the counter when I saw him paying too. In that incident, I was surprised to see him (again). He smiled at me but it doesn’t matter to me (deadma effect!) and left.

After eating, I went to the comfort room to fix myself. Coming out from the door, I saw him again coming out from the men’s CR. I don’t think he was following me. Maybe it was really a co-incidence that we crossed ways for the fourth time. He smiled at me and said hi. I just looked at him and walked hurriedly. I was a bit frightened – (baka sira ulo nito, magnanakaw, kidnapper, etc.). Things were playing in my mind as I walked fast. I was turning back to see if he was following me.

He was tall, white and yes, handsome. He looked as if he was attending office in one of the companies in Ortigas. He looked decent but beware….looks can be deceiving!!!!!

I looked back to check if he was following me and I saw him entered a boutique. I noticed that there were many people looking down the basement so I checked to see what it was. Agot Isidro was having her mall tour for the promotion of her album – The Island (compilation of bosanova ). So, I mixed myself in the crowd and had forgotten that guy. After a few minutes of watching the show, I decided to go to Chard coz it was 6:25 p.m.

When I walked away from the crowd, I saw again that stranger. This time he stopped and talked to me. He smiled and asked me my name. I became conscious that people might be looking at us and I was afraid. I wasn’t able to answer his question. Then he told me “uy ba’t namumutla ka, wag ka matakot, di ako masamang tao.” I just smiled and said “pasensiya na nagmamadali ako…” He smiled and asked me again my name. I said “Jenny po.” He extended his hand and said “I’m Eric Salvador.” I was hesitant to shake hands with him but I didn’t extend my hand instead, I answered, “pasensiya na ha…hindi ako interesado makipag-friendship, may asawa na ako. Sige, nice meeting you.” I know I wasn't polite that time. I was about to walk, when he said, “pasensiya na, nakikipagkaibigan lang kasi ang gaang ng dating mo nung makita kita sa gate. (sus bola!) Hindi ako masamang tao.” I said “ganun, salamat, sige, una na ako.” He asked for my number but I didn’t give it. When I walked away from him, he gave me his calling card and said “wala namang masama kung bibigay ko number ko sa’yo, here’s my calling card…nice meeting you.” I took the card, smiled and walked away.

That night I was recalling those incidents. I looked at Chard who was sleeping soundly while I was looking at the calling card. There were few things that run in my mind. If I accepted the invitation to add him in my circle of friends, then, you can’t avoid him to call you or call him, sometimes there’ll be gimmicks. Love starts in friendship and friendship might take a leap into its boundaries. And that I don’t want to happen. I also thought, that, the guy might just be fooling around. I tore the card and threw it to the trash can and sleep.

Five years of continued hopes and dreams

June 10, 2006 was our fifth year of spending, celebrating, journeying and surviving life together. Bro, it is never easy. It is not all fun and merriment, there were times we were lonely and disappointed. It is not all times winning, sometimes we lose. It is not all times we gain, sometimes we’re about to give up.

I’ll be the biggest hypocrite and the greatest liar if I’ll say we are the ideal couple. We are a typical husband and wife having fought a lot of things about friends, family, money, decisions, events, etc., and had argued details about the way we dress ourselves, manners, bills, foods, etc. We exchanged sharp words that hurt our feelings and often times we remind each other of the good things we’ve done. But hey, those were part of this so called marriage. They were challenges; they were tests on how long you will last. As the old ones say, they are the ingredients that add spice to life. Life won’t be tasteful without those.

Every time we fight and argue, I look back to the old times. I look back when, where and how we met. I look at Jennard. Then, I’ll smile and the pain will subside. I tell myself, we managed to survive for 5 years and I believe we still have a long way to go. 5 years is a bit short. We are still in the beginning. We are still in the period of continued adjustment. But, these five years of being with Shrimp had thought me a lot of things about being a mom, a wife and a person. We do not have so much in life. We can’t give each other so much luxury in life. What we can give to each other and to Jennard is a heart that is always willing to love and a self that is ready to sacrifice.

What makes this marriage special? Together we face and share the hardship life brings us. We continue to fight the difficulties that come our way. And together we hope and dream for our future.