Michi Photostory

School Year 2024-2025 is already over, and I’m proud to say that my son finished this school year with a bang. My son won 2nd place in the General Knowledge Contest and 1st place in Aghamatika Contest. He also received the Leadership Award because he was part of their Student Council. And during the Moving Up Ceremony, he received four medals. 

This is a big achievement compared to his previous years, so I am proud of him because he really improves every year. So when I was making his Junior High School Memories video, I chose the “This Is My Now” song of Jordin Sparks as the background song. I like the message of this song.

There was a time I packed my dreams away 

Living in a shell, hiding from myself 

There was a time when I was so afraid 

I thought I’d reached the end 

Baby that was then 

But I am made of more than my yesterdays 

This is my now, and I am breathing in the moment 

As I look around I can’t believe the love I see 

My fears behind me, gone are the shadows and doubts 

That was then, this is my now. 

Had to decide was I gonna play it safe 

Or look somewhere deep inside and try to turn the tide

Find the strength to take that step of faith 

And I have the courage like never before, yeah 

I’ve settled for less but ready for more 

Ready for more 

This is my now 

I just hope na hind maburn out sa kakaaral and he will have the same passion sa pag-aaral until he finishes college. 

After the Moving Up, we went to Italliani’s for a quick celebration. We ordered Spaghetti Vongole, Margherita and Garlic and Cheese Zeppole.

The following day, we were supposed to eat in a hotel because I found a 50% off buffet promo, but it was already fully booked when my husband called to reserve. Grabe lang ito, fully booked agad kahit 5 days before kami nagpareserve. So I suggested to my husband, sa NIU by Vikings na lang ulit so he called the restaurant to reserve. 

My mom was not able to attend my son’s Moving Up because natapat na flight nila from Boracay to Manila yung event so delayed Moving Up celebration na lang with the Senior Club. Hehehe! Good thing we made a reservation kasi punuan and marami din kumakain because of Recognition, Moving Up and Graduation. 

Fortunately, there was an ongoing Graduation Promo when we dined. We did not know about this promo, good thing na kagagaling lang namin sa school to get the School Report Card and Moving Up Photos, so we were able to avail of this promo. In our case, aside from the Moving Up Photos, they still asked for my son’s school ID bago naapproved yung FREE BUFFET. Sayang nga kasi we are only seven people, so dalawa sana yung free kung walo lang sana kami. 

Anyway, I already blogged about our “Lunch Buffet at NIU by Vikings” last January and halos same naman food and marami rin tao so hindi na ko nagtake ng marami pictures. 

1. Promo duration: March 5, 2025 to July 31, 2025 

2. All graduates of the Class of 2025, including Kindergarten, Elementary, High School, College, and Post Graduate students, are eligible to avail of a FREE Buffet when dining in with 3 Full-paying adults.

3. Applicable Graduates: Only graduates and moving up students of the class 2025 (Kindergarten, Grade 10 Completers, Elementary, High School, College, and Post Graduate) can enjoy this exclusive offer. 

4. Required Proof of Graduation: 

Diploma 

Completion Certificate (Moving Up) 

Graduation Photo 

Graduation Program with the Graduate’s Name/Graduation Invitation 

School Registration Form supported by a Valid ID 

Bring 1 full-paying adult on the day of your birthday. Bring 4 full-paying adults on any day within your birthday month.  

Discounts will depend on the day and the number of guests. Available Weekday Lunch only. Not valid on Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, or holidays.  

PHP1,138 - Adult  

PHP438 - Kids 3-4ft/4-7 years old  

PHP748 - Kids 4’1 - 4’6 ft/ 8-10 years old  

PHP1658 - Adult  

PHP538 - Kids 3-4ft/4-7 years old 

PHP848 - Kids 4’1 - 4’6 ft/ 8-10 years old 

6/F SM Aura Premier, 

26th Street corner McKinley Parkway,  

Bonifacio Global City 

Contact: 478-3888, 0917-586-6888, 0919-999-6888  

Open Daily  

11AM to 2:30PM  

5:30PM to 10:30PM 

Of course, a celebration without cake is not complete. Here is the congrats cake topper and the congrats gift tag that I made.

This week, back to online classes ulit ang anak ko so I will take advantage of this time to blog habang may stable internet pa kami. After class, maglilipat ulit kami ng gamit. If money is not an issue, parang gusto ko na lang lumipat at bumili na lang lahat ng bago pero masakit na nga sa bulsa yung pagbili namin ng ibang gamit sa bahay. Hehehe! 

Anyway, I mentioned in my other post that we did not buy a bed frame at Uratex Alabang Showroom so we visited the Mandaue Foam Store in Alabang. Feeling ko kasi mas marami mabibili doon kaysa sa Sta. Rosa branch nila. I’m also thankful na meron sila sale during our visit kasi laking tipid din yung 30% off discount. I think the sale is until May 12, 2024 so if you are planning to buy something, visit their store. 

We purchased a sofa set, dining set, bed frame, coffee table, lights, and ironing board. Some of the items that we purchased were not available so it took them two weeks to deliver all the items. We paid PHP3,050 for the delivery fee, ang mahal pero inisip ko na lang, wala naman bayad yung pag-assemble. They just delivered the items yesterday and will return to assemble the dining set, bed frame, and coffee table later. 

Update: Scheduled time is 4-6PM. The installers (two persons) arrived quarter to 6PM and finished around 7:30PM. 

Just like our last visit, they still have complimentary drinks for the client. Hindi ko ito napansin sa Sta. Rosa branch nila, I will check nga on my next visit.

487 Alabang Zapote Road 

Brgy. Almanza Uno 

(02) 556 5621 or (02) 556 6086

Modern Shang is formerly known as Modern Shanghai. I have no idea kung gaano na katagal yung restaurant sa Pilipinas pero bago-bago pa yung branch nila sa SM Sta Rosa. It just opened last July 202,3 but I only saw this restaurant when we ate at Texas Roadhouse. 

Modern Shang’s mission is to provide quality and innovative cuisine in Beijing, Sichuan, and Shanghai. I have never been to China, so I can’t compare, but after eating at Modern Shang, I finally appreciate Chinese cuisine, so feeling ko hindi lang masasarap yung nakainan ko dati. Hehehe! 

Prior to our visit, I checked Modern Shang’s menu online, so I already had an idea of what to order. We ordered some of their best-sellers like Deep-Fried Squid with Spicy Salt and Pepper PHP418, Yang Chow Fried Rice PHP228 (per cup) and Signature Xiao Long Bao PHP198 (4 pcs). My husband also added Steamed Tofu in Shallot Oil PHP248. 

After ordering our meal, they immediately served water, hot tea, and crackers and they even refilled the tea and crackers nung nakita nila na naubos agad namin, hehehe! Gutom na talaga kasi kami. After 15 minutes, they already served our food. 

We were so happy with our order, so I knew that we would go back again, siguro sa next check-up ko ulit.

I seldom go out of the house but when I do, ginagawa ko na yung dapat gawin para isang pagod na lang. Hehehe! First, I had breakfast with my friends at Ambos Panederia + Cocina, and then we went to Pag-ibig office because we planned to continue our contribution as voluntary members. Next, we went to SM Sta Rosa because my friend needed to buy something, and we had a late lunch at Modern Shang.

This has been my go-to restaurant na kapag napapadpad sa SM Sta Rosa. My friend ordered from Shanghai Wok Bowls, the Orange Chicken Bowl, but she could not finish this dish because it was too spicy for her. My son ordered this before during our last visit, but did not mention that it was spicy, or maybe because he loves spicy food.

I ordered Porkchop Egg Fried Rice PHP498. It looks like a small meal pero nahirapan na ako ubusin ito. And because of that, take out ko na lang yung supposed to be dessert namin na Deep-Fried Glutinous Dumplings. PHP208.

I went to the hospital for my routine check-up, but the staff informed me na 1PM pa daw darating yung doctor, so I was contemplating kung uuwi pa ba ko or maghihintay na lang. My husband and I decided na maghintay na lang so we went to SM Sta Rosa to kill time.

I went to SM Customer Service to claim our PSA Birth Certificates. I was crossing my fingers na hindi sayang yung pinila ko. Naexperience ko na kasi yung hindi pa available yung order ko. Fortunately, naclaim ko lahat. 

Then we went to Modern Shang to eat our lunch, we wanted to avail of the 50% off promo sana, but unfortunately, hindi pala every day. Toink. So ito lang naorder namin, Shrimp with Preserved Egg Yolk Paste PHP528, Steamed Tofu in Shallot Oil 248, Yang Chow Fried Rice PHP498, and Deep-fried Glutinous Dumplings PHP208.

50% off the Bistro Group was back, so after groceries, we went to EVIA for early lunch. I asked my son kung Italian or Chinese cuisine, and he chose Chinese, so we ate at Modern Shang. 

We ordered our favorites and some new dishes: Xiao Long Bao (6 pcs) PHP268, Pan Fried Mantou PHP98, Sweet and Sour Pork (S) PHP468, Roast Crispy Pork (S) PHP528, Shrimp with Preserved Egg Yolk Paste PHP528, Deep Fried Squid (S) PHP418, Yang Chow Fried Rice PHP498, and Deep-fried Glutinous Dumplings PHP208. 

We almost finished our order, yung Roast Crispy Pork lang ang may natira, pero kahit konti, take-out pa rin namin. Hehehe! We liked the Pan-Fried Mantou with condensed milk so I recreated this meal at home. Good thing, I always buy mantou and condensed milk. I always steamed our mantou pero mas masarap pala yung fried. Parang donut.