The Jollibee Tuna Pie Now Has a Spicy Variant!

I've always loved Jollibee's Tuna Pie. In fact, I look forward to its return every year. This year is extra special, though, because Jollibee has released a new spicy variant. If you know me, you'll know that I absolutely LIVE for spicy food, so this variant is totally up my alley!

Starting yesterday, February 10, our favorite Jollibee Tuna Pie is now available in all stores. I don't know about you, but I missed biting into that crispy golden crust and savoring that rich creamy tuna filling.

And now, as mentioned, there's a Spicy Tuna Pie, too. You can now dig into the same crispy crust and creamy tuna filling, but this time with an exciting hot and spicy kick that makes it extra flavorful. 

"It can’t be denied that there’s always a resounding clamor for everyone’s favorite Tuna Pie," shares Mari Aldecoa, Jollibee Marketing Director for Core Products. "As we pride ourselves on having something for everyone as much as we can, we also wanted to give an extra surprise for fans of spicy food with new Spicy Tuna Pie, which they’ll definitely love!"

And she is definitely right. I LOVE LOVE LOOOOOVE the Spicy Tuna Pie. It has actually trumped my love for the original. And don't worry. It's not too spicy; so even if you're not a huge fan of spicy food, you'll still love the taste and flavor of the new variant.

Whether you love the timeless classic or you like that extra spice, Tuna Pie’s Two-Na Sarap is sure to delight you with its Two-Na Variants! Grab yours now for only Php45; or if you can’t get enough, try the Tuna Pie Trio for only Php132! Tuna Pie is available for dine-in, take-out, drive-thru, and delivery at all Jollibee stores nationwide.

For more info and updates on Jollibee products, like Jollibee Philippines on Facebook, subscribe to Jollibee Studios on YouTube, and follow @jollibee on Twitter and Instagram.

The First Real Crush

So... I experienced a 'mommy first' yesterday that I wasn't entirely prepared for. When I got home from my trip, I lay down on the couch for a bit and Syrena suddenly came to sit down next to me. She asked if I had time to talk.

"Remember my crush?" she asked. "Yes," I answered a little hesitantly, not knowing what was coming. "Well, I wrote him a note yesterday and asked him if he likes me back." My heart instantly panicked.

I still remember my first real-life crush. My only crush up until that time was Tom Cruise and it was weird that I was getting butterflies looking at this young boy in my class who couldn't even speak any of the languages that I knew.

He couldn't speak English or German. He was from Bosnia. And he was obsessed with Michael Jackson. But he had this smile that melted my heart. And every time I couldn't get something done in class, he'd rush to my side to help. His name was Sead. I was in Grade 4, the same grade my daughter is currently in now.

Did he like me back? I have no idea. Because 9-year-old Anj was exactly the same as the Anj of today: insecure, awkward, shy, and utterly crap around guys that she likes.

"What did he say?" I asked, masking my worry. "HE SAID HE LIKES ME, TOO!!!" she said with a huge grin on her face. I didn't know how to feel. How can my little baby girl have already reached this milestone in her life? "And then I met his friends," she continued. "And I wrote him a long love letter after school."

Just. Like. That.

Just like that, my daughter had opened up her heart to some older kid I barely knew. Just like that, she expressed her feelings without worrying about any potential consequences. Just like that, she put herself out there - a kind of confidence and strength I could only wish I had.

Tomorrow is Syrena's 10th birthday and here I am, worrying about the day that she experiences her first heartbreak. I'm glad it didn't happen while I was away, but I'm still worried about the day when it does.

So many things went through my head when she was telling me about him. I wanted to tell her not to be too clingy and not to come on too strong. I wanted to tell her that things like that tend to scare guys away. I wanted to tell her to be cautious and careful and to guard her heart at all times. But I didn't.

I didn't because I don't want to ruin her current happiness so early on. I didn't because I want her to experience things on her own. I didn't because I don't want my negativity with men affect her own lovelife. I didn't because I was scared that if I get too involved, she might not open up to me with stories like this anymore.

Growing up, I never had anyone to run to with my stories of the heart. My mom and I were never close, and my sister hated me. I crushed in secret and loved in secret and cried in secret and fell apart in secret. I don't want that for her.

I want Syrena to know that she can run to me for anything: the happiness, the kilig, the sadness, and the pain. And if that means supporting everything she decides to do wholeheartedly while worrying in secret, then that's what I'll do. Besides, if that kid doesn't like her for who she is - clinginess, weirdness, and over-the-top-ness included - then he can go love himself.

Sundowners Zambales is the Terrace House of My Dreams

I don't know how many of you guys watch 'Terrace House' (if you don't, you should check it out on Netflix, like, NOW); but every time I watch that show, I find myself wishing I could experience staying in that kind of house sometime. My wish came true last week when we had our teambuilding trip to Sundowners Zambales in Botolan.

Coming from the South (Alabang area), it took us a while to get there. It was a weekday morning and we had a bunch of stopovers, but we left at around 9AM and arrived right before sunset. As tiring as it was to get there, though, all of the fatigue melted away when I saw the stunning colors of the sky and watched the sun slowly descend. There is nothing more breathtaking than a beautiful sunset and it was downright gorgeous at Sundowners.

The villa that we stayed in was absolutely perfect for our big group of 11.

I chose the most 'Terrace House'-ish room in the villa to sleep in and dibs-ed my bed in the same way that they do in the show.

However, the rest of rooms were just as awesome (and better suited for those non-clingy people who like a big amount of personal space):

As you can see, the villa we stayed in is perfect for bigger groups, and the decorations are on-point. You can find villas ranging from one bedroom to six bedrooms, depending on your needs.

The villas are generally very spacious. The lounge area is so big, you won't feel cramped at all. They can be booked for as low as Php9,000 (good for six people).

They have full-functioning kitchens, too, in case you're not lazy like us and want to cook your own food. You won't have to pay extra to bring in food or anything, either. They even have an outdoor grill for a barbecue party.

If you happen to be the lazier types, Sundowners Zambales also has an in-house restaurant called Reef 'n' Beef.

We had breakfast and dinner there, and the food is sooooo good.

Coffee lovers, get the Iced Latte!

Most of the villas also have a personal swimming pool and patio to chill at, where you can enjoy the cool breeze from the beach.

This is where we ended up spending our night playing games, bonding, and (of course) drinking.

Aside from the personal swimming pool in the villa, there are also two other shared pools: an infinity pool that faces the beach and a plunge pool.

You aren't allowed to go to the beach past 6PM, but it's better to go in the morning anyway since there are fewer people and the sun isn't too harsh yet.

Sundowners Zambales is Sundowners Vacation Villas' second branch after they first opened in Bolinao Pangasinan. If you want to plan a trip with your family or friends, make sure to check them out! Do make sure to plan ahead, though. They are almost always fully booked, so it would be highly advisable to book a villa months ahead of time!

Sundowners Zambales is located at Purok 5 Bgy. Danacbunga, Botolan, Zambales. Visit their website here or check out their Instagram account at @sundownerszambales :)