Taking my leave...

I took a two day leave from office work because I thought I was going to Baguio. Unfortunately the trip was cancelled, because I wasn’t exactly sure if I wanted to go there, although it would have been nice.

So I had to make plans for my long weekend. I was riding the train this morning on the way to SM North Edsa, traveling for me means time for meditation and pondering with life. It was the holiday, I took a leave but if I went to work today, I would have earned 30% more of my daily rate.

I realized I was only writing articles because I wanted to eat, I wanted a place to stay and keep myself from asking money from my parents but I still ask money every now and then… Anyway, the things that I do at the office are somehow hindering me from finishing my projects. I found my weekends and evenings insufficient. It’s not enough, I need more time to finish my projects.

My friend Cholo told me to always organize my priorities. Apparently a tornado ran through my priorities and everything just seemed chaotic, which is exactly how I like it.

While traveling, I had this feeling of really wanting to be a monk someday. Perhaps climb a mountain, live there and wait for the end of the world. To throw everything that make up this non-sense of a world we live in.

Every day I see people, trying to make it through the day, trying to reach for their dreams, trying to feed others, trying desperately to alleviate pain, trying not to be in pain, trying, struggling… dying.

A few weeks ago, I have graduated in this Spiritual University that has 8,500 centers across the globe. They call it, graduate of the “knowledge”… and there are things that I know that I can’t share with anyone. A lot of things are kept in the University and only for its students to know and grasp, this knowledge… is not for the faint of heart.

If one knows the past, the present and future… how would one live it?

Would one die alive? In our university, to die alive has a different connotation unlike in our contemporary society where “To die alive” means you are either depressed, heart broken or devastated and doesn’t have the will to live anymore, to make it short, it means “suicidal”.

When suicidal comes into mind there are several people and things that pop in my head, people such as Maningning Miclat (Filipino-Chinese poet) , Sylvia Plath (American Poet/Writer), Pyramus and Thisbe (My favorite Mythological love story, second was Eros and Psyche), my ex-girlfriends…

They all have one thing in common, their deaths were romantically inclined except for my ex-girlfriends since none of them were successful (mind you, I wasn’t the reason for them being suicidal, they were already like that when I met them. The other one, though she did try to slit her wrist when we were still seeing each other, has issues – Not me)

I think I know why Sylvia killed herself and I don’t find it cowardly at all (she inserted her head in an oven). I suppose I’m a writer because I tend to romanticize almost everything or I could just simply be a romantic in the wrong time and age. It takes more guts and gonads to take your own life than another’s. There’s certain courage to point a gun to your head and pull the trigger however, there’s a difference with pre-meditated suicide and suicide of passion.

Here's a list of suicides in fiction and their methods for entertainment purposes. Ex: Madelyne Pryor, mentally commits suicide by forcing her mind to shut down (Wow... :U)

There’s a Great Wall of China difference with being so overwhelmed with your emotions that having a gun within reach compelled you to grab and blow your brains out to planning every single detail on how you would take your last breath by preparing the gun, perhaps by buying or borrowing, then commencing to the procedure of your designed death. The former has passion and lack of rationalizing while the other was determined and had willed it. But the end has the same answer to the deed… for some sort of twisted moment in the Universe… it was the only answer that presented itself to them, the rest was overlooked, ignored. It was that one sole answer to life, there was a void in their doomed yet beautiful life that only crossing the Rubicon could fill.

I’m afraid I would have to cut this short, I realized today that I would take leaves as often as I can even if they’re unpaid. I just realized my priorities… and sitting in a cubicle inside a lame office is not on top of the list.

Can you feel my...?

I’ve been hooked by Utada Hikaru’s 2^nd English album, I loved her first English album as well but the song in her second English album gave me a mind-blowing mental f*ck, pardon I don’t use the “f” word at all.

Her album “This is the one” was released back in 2009 and if one would grab my iPod shuffle and listen through my songs, Utada will never be without in it. Apparently Filipinos only know her “First love” single since it sounds so sweet and somehow heart breaking, which was remade by Toni Gonzaga and really, it can’t compare to the original. Her “Automatic” single also swept the Philippine nation back in the 90s… I wonder why, since majority of the Filipinos don’t even know how to speak and understand Japanese. Then again, Kpop songs and Chinese pop songs were the rage…

I know Japanese, at least a bit. I can get the gist when listening and I can speak the basics or a little. I never bought any of her albums, but my Japanese friend back in college was nice enough to give me her “Distance” Album. I told myself I will buy all of her albums but they were sort of hard to get by.

Utada Hikaru’s music videos are always creative and are very interesting, even if she were simply singing and washing her dishes or the very fascinating music video of Sakura Drops that took my breath away and gave me wild ideas.

It was rumored that Utada Hikaru will be retiring soon. It made me sad that there will no longer be new creations from her and I love her so. I even told myself I would go to Japan and marry her, I have never been to any concert in my life and if there’s a concert I would be attending, it would be none other than hers. I also haven’t been to any concert since I am not fond of dealing and seeing a lot of people all in one cramped up place.

Goodbye Hikki… you shall be missed dearly.

This is one of her songs that has a whole album of remixes! This one I liked best from her 2nd English album "Dirty Desire"

" 

When I'm alone at night,

I sit and Fantasize

And in my fantasies I loved you long time

Doing my 9 to 5, I'm thinking 6 and 9s

I've got to make you mine

Can you feel my

Dirty Desire

"

I never knew she could be so naughty...

Virgilio Almario and I share the same dentist

Virgilio Almario’s dentist, is also my dentist… at least now.

I went to the dentist today. Since there was this weird feeling in my tooth that has been bothering me, so I went out to get it checked. I thought it was funny since last week I deliberately skipped work and made a lame excuse that my tooth hurts…

I’ve been cheating from my dentist in Laguna I thought, I should really go back there. I trust that dentist of mine and I’m not really happy with going to hospitals and dental clinics.

When I was young, I was very sickly and I think I remember going to the hospital each month. I hated going to the hospital because it was the place where people go when they feel something is bad with their health. Well, that was true. To add insult to my fear, walls were plastered with these disgusting body diseases of cancer and other ailments I would never imagine myself or anyone to have.

The hospital for me back then was an unhappy depressing place.

My mother was a nurse, I wonder if that explains the medication over the slight symptom of a cold? I grew up chugging down cocktails and cocktails of pills, anti-biotic, tablets and others. I thought that was normal, nothing much have changed until now. I’m still the same pill-popping person I was once.

Of course when I was younger I would have to do with syrups and I thought they were really delicious, until it came to a point where I would drink the syrups even if I’m no longer sick or even if I’m perfectly fine. My mother scolded me of course so I learned to drink the syrup by sneaking. I guess at such a young age of 7 I could have been considered a Narcotic addict. Don’t worry, it didn’t last long, my mother learned to hide the medicines.

Moving on, away from my sickly childhood, I found myself in the lobby of a nice looking dental clinic. They gave me a form to sign up, so they can keep a record. I answered most of them truthfully and there were funny questionnaires that brightened up my day.

Do you like your smile? I checked the box next to the word yes. I even smiled when I did.

Then the question where you have to list down your allergies:

Dust

Pollens

Seafood / Eggs

Sudden Weather Change

Other questions now expounded on my health such as, if I have STD, Cancer etc. so I answered most of them as “No” but there was this box that I left out and couldn’t quite answer right away.

I looked at it as though I was playing a gazing game with it. I didn’t want to answer it, the question was somehow incorrect “Do you have a heart disease?”

I wouldn’t call it heart disease though… but nonetheless I answered it, I don’t remember if I checked the “yes” box or the “no” box. I have still yet to visit my doctor in Laguna, have 2D echo tests and that other test that has the word “scan” with it, but I have missed my appointments several times already, I have been tested for the earlier tests and procedures but simply the idea of going to the hospital is not exactly my thing. My friend Zeus even said he would accompany me to the hospitable but I turned down his offer, I said “I’m fine… don’t worry”, I said that because for some sort of reason I didn’t want him to think that his friend has suddenly become handicap and wouldn’t be able to do certain things. Which was true but that won’t really stop me from doing what I want.

My mom told me, my heart became like this since I took a lot of medicines even if they weren’t for me. I digress, my aunt has one. I blame their bloodline.

I met the dentist immediately and he read what my occupation was because I told him I don’t have insurance or anything. “Ah you’re a writer!” he exclaimed, he said that the National Artist Virgilio Almario is also his patient and so was his family. “Just hold on one moment, I was with a patient”, then a beautiful woman came out and left. The dentist said she was a news anchor at some local channel, I mentioned she looked familiar but I really have no idea who she was.

He took me in and told me to sit on the dentist chair, his assistant helped out. I smiled at the dentist and just like a good dentist he complimented my smile “You have a beautiful smile! Nice set of teeth, they are big.”

Truthfully I’m not happy with my teeth.

Back in my childhood when one of my front teeth fell off and my parents told me to make a wish, I wished for rabbit’s teeth. He did manage to make me feel at ease so I had to give it to him.

The check was done in 30 minutes but I had to come back in a week or two.

He told me about his patients and that how he would love to have writers as his patients, he said “You don’t get a lot of them here”

Then I went to the never ending question I’ve been asking others and myself

“What’s with writers?”

Close your eyes and pretend you’re blind to hear for the very first time...

It took me a few days to finally get “The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath”, NOT the book… but the audio-book, narrated my Maggie Gyllenhaal. Since the book in Libreria was sold out immediately, the book and the special edition book much to my disdain, but of course I didn’t quite fret on it. 

The introduction of the audiobook was a tune from a piano that sounded as a dreamy sadness invading my ear passages from both ends, then the voice of Maggie uttering over the music “It was a queer sultry summer…”

I closed my eyes as the sound flooded my ear canals and let my mind follow the flow of spoken images and let the emotions take over.

What a magnificent experience…

 Spoiling this for anyone is a crime... so I won't. 

READING IS ALSO A FORM OF HEARING.

Terebi + Veggie Longganisa

Despite my busy schedule I still try to watch a few TV series whenever I can and well, I would really prefer those that have Lesbians in them however, if the series proves something to watch then even if there is absolutely no lesbian related things then I would definitely watch it.

Sometimes I wonder if I’m really busy… or is it simply an excuse for me not to do the things I ought to.

Over the weekend I made vegetarian longganisa back in Laguna and I have finally watched the TV series a friend of mine burned and lent me. I felt sort of sorry not being able to watch it since it was given with the thought and intention of sharing something and I really appreciate that, it’s been with me for a month and I still haven’t seen a minute of it.

I need to redo the veggie longganisa, it wasn’t exactly as appetizing as I wanted them to be but at least I had something to take with me to Quezon City. I wouldn’t have to worry about what I’ll be having for a meal even just for a day. 

Pretty Little Liars

It reeked of tween-spirit. Definitely not something I would include in my TV series collection, although the character playing the confused teen-lesbian was cute I couldn’t stand staring at it longer than the 4^th episode. I wonder if I should simply return it to my friend…

I didn’t like the idea of a shadow of a deceased girl haunting them in the absurdist manner, the perfect stalker perhaps who can stalk all four people at the same time, who has no life whatsoever but takes utter pleasure in annoying others. So what's at stake here? Their privacy?? Seriously... 

Not my thing… Not even their pretty faces can convince me to shot my precious glance at them anymore.

I’m sorry, you are better off to the grave. Rest in Peace.

After that I thought I’d rather just feed my cat and give my dogs a bath. Since the day was still quite early, I started to write a poem and reviewed my novel then I realized I missed watching my favorite Japanese Lesbian TV series…

Last Friends

Not exactly popular with any of my friends, I think I’m the only one who knew about it. I knew about it since I’m such an Utada Hikaru fan and it was she who sang the opening for the TV series, her song titled Prisoner of Love from 2009, love the song, I love most of her songs..

The series revolves around a circle of friends who live in one house, they call it a share-house where people share the rent and have their own rooms. A twisted love story, with a lesbian trying to confront herself and come out, a milksop of a man who fell in love with the wrong person and a Princess needing rescue from her own Prince Charming.

The series I believe only has 13 episodes, typical of any Japanese TV drama but it delivers and…

A hot motocross lesbian superstar! (The series got me with hot motocross lesbian superstar really)

Recite in a drunken stupor...

It’s been a week.

Apparently I haven’t been able to update my beloved blog, I have been quite busy on trying to work on the story compilation and the novel I’m working on that has a looming deadline and I’m not exactly going to win the race basing on how things are quite doing as of the moment.

No, I’m not exactly a fan of Valentine’s day so I didn’t exactly celebrate it. A friend of mine from Cubao Expo did mention that I don’t seem like the person to celebrate a Hallmark Holiday. “You’re like a hipster who don’t give a shit about mainstream crap like this” he said, in which I would like to agree but that would be labeling myself far too much. A lot of people would have treated the day as nothing more than an ordinary day, which it really is but then again I suppose spending it with my friends and just myself, would have been a nice change. My last two previous V-days were spent with the same person and a plus one on the last Vday… Thanks for the eep-ing memories.

We went to Libreria to celebrate it with the favorite people we love having conversations with and then headed to the Poetry Reading event at a bar in Xavierville. The Poetry reading event was great, I think it was just apt that I warmed myself up by drinking a bottle of wine before going to the place then maintain the drunken stupor with malt beverage and Tanduay Ice.

I had harboring feelings of hi-jacking the microphone and reciting one of my poems…

We are not aimless – The last day of exhibit.

I am re-writing this since I deleted the first blog I wrote for this, sigh…

Anyhows, on the fated day last Saturday, February 5, 2011. I remember very well that the night before was quite interesting, I hanged out at Libreria once again and met with friends. Zeus was in town since he has a lot of things to do for the Meiday Meiday event and he asked me to go to his artist talk around 1pm at WhiteSpace Makati.

So we decided to meet in Cubao, once again he was late. So he bought me two apple pies from mcdonalds. It is times such as these that my being punctual, really saves the day and my pockets and I love apple pies.

We took a cab from Cubao to WhiteSpace and we went upstairs to the We Are Not Aimless exhibit room. The talk did begin after waiting for the others. When we were in the cab, I didn’t really have any idea what we were going to do. But I missed his exhibit opening for some surfing fun a few weeks ago so somehow, I’m atoning it by going with him that day and it was fun.

Most of the people who attended the talk were students, some were even high-school students.

Perhaps I was the only professional who was part of the audience. Honestly it was boring, especially when Weewill Doodle started showing off their commissioned works but I found what Marcus Nada and Zeus discussed quite useful. I just don’t think one should go through the effort of creating a powerpoint presentation with the word FUN and showing it to the kids. What I did was, I tried to continue writing on my laptop and maybe add a little more on the short story compilations I was making.

I also took webcam photos through Neomi's eye. It was interesting, it wasn't so bad at all.

This is me, feigning pensiveness over boredom

After the talk we went to Cubao Expo, thank you Marcus for giving us a ride. 

Vegetarian Junk Diet

Last Sunday I woke up in the afternoon and since there wasn’t anything to eat, I ate noodles. I bought Seafood Chowmien and ate it. Officially, I ate a few grams of artificial crab meat, but I didn’t eat all of the crab meat in the noodles of course.

I know I shouldn’t really be wasting time since I have a lot of deadlines and writings to do but I have office work the next day. Waking up in the afternoon’s not really my thing so I thought I would have to tire myself out in order to sleep well tonight.

Although for me, jogging is not exactly a good thing anymore… For the first time in a very long time I wore my jogging pants from college and wore my Woodstock 1969 sweatshirt and explored UP Diliman.

I wore a towel and since I didn’t want to hold it or put in my pocket, I wore the towel around my neck as though a cravat and zipped my sweatshirt just enough to fit it snuggly. I went out of my Tita’s gates with confidence. I really thought I should sweat it out that afternoon, I’m still aiming for a Surfer’s body since Summer is looming in.

Every step I took that moment was filled with determination.

STATUS

Name: Veronica

 Age: 23

Occupation: Writer

Attire: All geared up for jogging

Location: In the Woods, UP Diliman

Conclusion: Will eat my orange afterwards

RATE: AWESOME

The only thing that was waiting to happen was a man with a rifle and shoot at me, then it will as if I were Blomkvist in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, at least one of my favorite scenes when he was gunned by someone.

I told myself to take it easy and I would jog for 5 minutes and walk for 3 minutes, checking my heart rate once in a while. I wanted to check out the Shopping center, I jogged around looking for it until I got lost. I didn’t want to ask for directions but I did anyway. 

It took me 45 minutes to get there and when I saw people selling Kwek-Kwek (Deep Fried Quail Eggs in Batter), like a man in a dessert to an oasis I zoomed and ordered. I also ordered Cheese sticks, which were also deep fried and had buko juice for my beverage.

So much for jogging, the meal I suppose nullified my 45 minute work-out. For a writer, I’m not expected to actually have a fit body, I used to work-out in gyms before, do football, practice muay-thai and others until a year ago when I discovered something was wrong with this body of mine which rendered me from restless to perpetual-rest, from abs to flabs…

I checked and looked around the place for a bit then took the jeep back to UP Bliss, drank water and ate something healthy finally for the day, an orange fruit, sliced, ready for eating.

It was around 8 in the evening when I arrived so I went back to what I usually do on my free time, after taking a bath I reviewed my novel and some chapters, edited the poem to be submitted and wrote another poem. I thought of reading The Angel of Darkness by Caleb Carr so I gazed at the book for a minute, I looked at the hardbound book that was so huge it doesn’t fit my bag. This is one of the times where I wished I had a kindle, that piece of book must have weighed kilos...

I slept around 10:30 after a friend of mine called on the phone, I reflected on what happened in the last 24 hours before retiring and realized that I’ve just had a vegetarian junk diet, not to mention a few bottles of booze. I forgave myself for eating a few grams of faux-crab meat and eating quail eggs then swore to never repeat what I ate that day excluding the orange. 

I should really eat healthier food no matter the circumstances.

It's not easy to be a vegetarian, but I think it would be harder to put a piece of meat in my mouth now.

Giving birth to The Cultured Club

The Libreria Book Soirée was wonderful and was a success, nothing beats having great conversations with a diversely cultured and interesting set people, while holding a glass of wine and munching on fruits and chocolate bars.

This bookshop is totally a different kind of its own, last night we even had a tango session and was able to learn a few moves. I make it a point that I come over after work and read a few books that would help me out with my career. I also don't mind learning a few things.

If you have a lot of books that you want to sell, you can bring them over at Libreria Cubao Expo. The shop is next to Junkie shop and near Mogwai.

Majority of the Books here are new and some are pre-loved. Despite being new, books here are sold at low prices. To the owner, this is more of a hobby and less of a business.

Over the duration of the night, we have come up with the bookclub name and I have suggested

the name “Very-Much-Cultured-BookClub”, apparently they found it very long and was shortened to “The Cultured Club”. Soirées will be held monthly I think and everything and anything can be shared, from what ever you are reading to what ever you are doing. The people who joined the club prove to be people of characters and talents.

The Cultured Club Soirées from here after will never start without a bottle of wine.

Do you love books? Wine? Great meaningful conversations?

Visit us at Libreria Cubao Expo. Sip Coffee for only P50, read a book and chat with the witty owner and her regular customers.

Search for the best Vegetarian Restaurants (Manila)

For a starving writer, I barely starve, I also believe that the “Starving Writer Feeder’s” Club has something to do with it. I’m thankful for having a lot of friends who are very supportive of what I’m doing. I suppose it’s apt to say that I’m a struggling writer… I have my famished times too.

Recently I have been trying out Vegetarian Restaurants around manila. As a vegetarian, I find it a treat and a good way to expand my taste pallet. I cook for myself however, I would rather have someone cook for me and therefore a very good life partner would be a “cook”, otherwise I would have to spend time learning how to cook new dishes.

*Oh and I joined my other vegetarian friends who came from Olongapo to Vegetarian Resto Hop and for two days we ate at several restaurants in Manila, I didn't have to spend much. Thanks Carlo and Clarice and hope your Vegetarian Restaurant in Olongapo would soon be realized. Good Wishes!!

Here are the reviews of the Vegetarian Restaurants in Manila. I must warn you that my reviews are subjective but I’m sure you are smart enough to know that people have differing opinions about everything. (In descending order, that’s right from “Great to Not-So-Great”)

Greens

Scout Castor in Tomas Morato, the place can easily be mistaken for a house, because it once was (the toilet even has a shower).

The place upon entering is canopied by green plants and a few trees.  And warmth surrounds the atmosphere of the interiors of the restaurant. A must try would be their Barbecue, coming in only at P75 a meal and the option of having red rice or java rice is available, so as not to make your barbecues lonely, includes a serving of their atsara.

I tried their Sisig, it wasn’t bad. The serving was good enough for two people and it costs P120 without rice. Their grilled vegetable wrap was good. I can’t wait to taste the rest in their menu. For desserts, they have vegan chocolate cake and other tasty treats, although some of them aren’t always available. Their Baklava is a nice match for tea.

They also have wifi, therefore it became my office for a couple of days and very nice toilet.

Pipino

Malingap St. Teacher’s Village. (Maginhawa).

Tofu Balls by Pipino

Go with tofu balls for the appetizers, they’re wonderful and excellent for sharing. I tried their Vegetable curry with Couscous. It was good but it became too tiring for my taste buds half way. The presentation was good, rice in the middle of a large plate then splashed with the vegetable and curry sauce, topped with 3 thin slices of tofu. Some green sprout was holding the 3 slices of tofu in place.

They have interesting dishes such as the demi-dried stuffed tomatoes and the Portobello mushroom steak, which are quite good and worth a comeback.

Their vegan lasagna wasn’t exactly what I would have a taste for the second time, it was peculiarly sweet and tiring halfway.

The place is decent and clean, although the people dining there are quite loud, as though they want to force the other people to eavesdrop with their comatose inducing conversations. Familiar doodles were on the wall and paintings probably coming from my friend Zeus Bascon’s circle of artists.

Smoking area at the back, not that it’s something I should be happy for. Clean and decent toilet is a plus.

Price ranges with meals have a mean of P200, pretty pricey for a writer who has an average monthly salary. I’ve dined there last January three times, once in three consecutive weeks.

Eggplant and Tofu Miso

Vegetable Curry with Couscous

Camote Fries By Pipino

Portobello Steak

Demi-dried stuffed Tomatoes

Nom Nom Nom

Timog, Quezon City

A great place to dine in and hang-out with friends, I remember my painter friend Zeus Bascon saying he will be exhibiting his works there or simply displaying some of his works. I liked the color combination of the place and the feeling when you’re inside. Artworks and interesting trinkets from young artists hung on the wall. The nostalgic designs of the tables and chairs can truly take you to another dimension as though in a dream.

They have their slab pizzas and tofu meal creations, I didn’t like their stir-fry tofu but the others were great.

Price rates are a bit higher than Greens but they’re a bit reasonable, though the toilet… hmm I don’t really appreciate. I really wish they could make it a bit better since the prices of their meals aren’t exactly pocket-friendly.

Ha Yuan

Timog x Tomas Morato? (I forgot where it was but I’ve eaten there a couple of times already)

This is a Chinese restaurant that’s vegetarian friendly. They have vegetarian siopao which is my favorite and their Cold Taho is very popular.

My friend suggested trying out their Lumpiang Ubod and to my surprise it was really good. The dish is always served fresh and with bamboo shoots too. They have a wide selection of mushroom and tofu dishes, which are always worth a try. They have a good selection of vegetarian meals and if you’re on a date with a person who’s not exactly a vegetarian, then this is a good place to take him or her, at least there would be something for you and the other person from the menu.

The place wasn’t so bad, there were vintage Chinese paintings (Which can be knock-offs) and the sound of the traditional Chinese bamboo flute music always seem to welcome me when I go there. Meal prices aren’t that expensive although they can get expensive too.  The vegetable siopao costs P35, which is a rather small size but the Lumpia is about P80 (I think) for a serving.

Another Vegetarian friendly Chinese restaurant is Mr. Ube (Binondo and another place in QC), they have vegetarian meals but the selection isn’t that diverse. I think there’s only one vegetarian meal there…

Corner Tree Café

Jupiter St. Makati

Koftas in Tomato Sauce

Quiet place and unlike Pipino, people who dine here are afraid others might hear their conversations, so they lower their voice a notch down whispering or is it just me seeing other people’s mouth move without a sound coming out of it? Anyway, I like them, they don’t make a sound.

Trying to remember what I ate, I believe it was Koftas with Tomato Sauce or Vegetarian Indian Meatballs in Tomato Sauce with rice. I love everything with tomatoes and tomato sauce in them so this one won me over effortlessly. I’m a sucker for tomatoes.

Their Chili Beans was definitely something I would come back for. I loved chili con carne when I was a meat eater and I’ve been craving for some in the past months and finally I found a vegetarian version.

Their vegetarian lasagna must have been the best veggie lasagna I’ve tasted so far, definitely worth a try.

The interior of the café was simpler and has a more classic touch and I really find it a quiet and peaceful place.

The meals were pricier than Pipino, not to mention they have an exclusive service charge when their toilet, though clean, pales in comparison to what Pipino has. This must have been the priciest vegetarian restaurant I’ve dined so far but their dishes are wonderful, still it does not justify the price.

Bowl of Chili (Chili Beans)

Teriyaki Asparagus with Shiitake Mushrooms

Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna

Vegan Chocolate

Starter plate (Dukka and white beans Humus)

Green Halo

Cubao Expo

Tofu Sisig

For a restaurant who claims to serve organic food and items, they wrap their to-go dishes and meals in a Styrofoam. Anyway, they’re the only vegetarian restaurant in CubaoX, so I usually order there.

I tried their vegetarian Burger Steak, it was blah. Their sisig wasn’t exactly something I enjoyed eating although their Basil and Mushroom sandwich was great, I just wished they’d remove the crusts of the sandwich.

I haven’t tried their pastas, perhaps next time I would. Prices are almost the same as Greens but a bit pricier and less than appetizing. I suggest they lower their prices, I could easily remake their sisig in my sleep.

The place looked as though there was no lone concept when designing the interior, my friends liked the wall color though. Dolls and empty bottles of what-nots where on display and also some water color artwork that were for sale starting form P6,000. I would like to call their interior design concept as “Chaos” or “Chaotic”.

No toilet, either the pay-toilet outside or you sneak in Alan’s Grill for their toilet.

Best pick would be Greens. For several reasons such as having a solid wi-fi connection, which makes it perfect for those who work remotely or the place is a really good one to hang out with. It’s very homey and all your favorite cooking has their vegetarian counterparts. Clean and decent toilet with shower and you can buy your vegetarian supplies at the same place. Prices are very reasonable, though I still can’t eat there every day.

I didn’t rate their service, as in how the waiters and waitresses were since I noticed they diversify their treatment each time I visit. Sometimes they could just be stressed or thinking about something and aren’t aware they’re pulling a scowl, I forgive them as long as they don’t do something funny with the food I order.

Other Vegetarian friendly restaurants in Manila

HEAT

I haven't tried the mushroom burger of HEAT since a friend of mine said that it's in Shangri-la Plaza, it was too late when I discovered it was in the hotel. They only have the Mushroom burger for vegetarians.

Mexicali (MOA)
Garden Burger and their Grilled Vegetable Taco are great - Always a reason to try again, other options are available.

Bodhi (Megamall, SM South)

A level below Greens, not so shabby, very good alternative.

Good Spirits (The Collective, Makati) 

They have the most amazing marble brownies.

Sophia's Mediterranean Cuisine (West Gate Alabang)
Reasonable, Good and filling. One of my favorites.

Pho Hoa (Alabang Town Center, Shangri-la Plaza)
Decent, not so bad.

I will expand the list next time, I'm always up for some new tastes.