I was worried about Hagupit/Ruby ruining our shoot. But the weather turned out great, and I had a blast photographing Gian and Chesa's two month old cutie, Hugo, at their home.

Here are some of my favorites from my morning with Hugo, Gian and Chesa.

Thank you so much, Gian, Chesa and Hugo, for letting me into your home and allowing me to capture your growing family!

Nate loooooves animals. So when we stayed overnight at a relative's house in Mendez, Cavite, we decided to swing by Paradizoo on our way home. But before going to Paradizoo, we had brunch with our Ninong Willy at Breakfast at Antonio's. The first time we were there, the little one was just three months old! Time zips by too fast when you have a tiny tot.

Anyway, back to our quick trip. Paradizoo is owned by the same group that runs Residence Inn. It has an Animal Farm (the farm boasts of some "special" animals like a 5-legged cow, miniature horses, a wild boar that they have tamed, and a hybrid goat lamb that we could not find), a Flower Garden, a Vegetable Farm, and even a pet cemetery dubbed as "Perpetual Park." You can purchase carrots and feeds to give the animals, ride the miniature horse for a fee, or hire a tour guide. Since we just wanted to see if Nate would be responsive to seeing the animals, we just paid the entrance fee and helped ourselves at the Animal Farm.

So did Nate enjoy Paradizoo? He seemed pleased and interested, but not as excited as I thought he would be. This is the same kid who would chase stray cats and dogs, so I thought he'd be a little more receptive to being that close to the animals. I think he found the farm animals too quiet for his liking, because when he saw the noisy ducks, he suddenly got excited. Then again, he just woke up from his nap at the time, so maybe he just wasn't in the mood yet.

Overall, I think Paradizoo was ok, but seems to have been neglected. It's worth checking out if you have children who are interested in animals. Is it big? Not at all. Did it smell? Yes, but then again, you've got animals all over, and they're bound to poop every minute. Also, if the sun is out and the weather is not too cool, going there mid-day may not be a good idea (you'll see trickles of sweat in some of my pictures with Nate, hehe..)

I am beyond ecstatic. I was just awarded "Lawyer of the Year" for Franchise Law by Corporate LiveWire!

Every year, the research team of Corporate LiveWire looks for lawyers from all over the world who have demonstrated consistency, excellence and success in their jurisdiction and field of expertise. After four months of screening, online voting/feedback, and judging of finalists, the winners are awarded "Lawyer of the Year." The winners are announced and recognized in a special online publication by Corporate LiveWire.

This year, I have the extreme honor of being named "Lawyer of the Year" for Franchise Law in the Philippines! Franchise Law as a field of law in the Philippines is practically at its infancy. The legislation is minimal and best practices are still being developed and refined. Because it is so raw, I find it quite exciting! To be recognized in this field is absolutely surreal, and I am so glad I got to represent my law firm, Bengzon Negre Untalan Intellectual Property Attorneys. BNU reprezent!

Thank you, Corporate LiveWire!

See the other winners here.

Mike and I spent the Chinese New Year holiday this year food-tripping at Tagaytay with our then three-month old Terrynator. After basking in the sun at The Cliffhouse, we decided to have late lunch at Buon Giorno! Caffe and Bistro.

When Mike and I spent our first wedding anniversary in Tagaytay, we capped off our itinerary with lunch at this Italian restaurant. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience then and especially liked their mango cheesecake. Our return to Buon Giorno! was similarly satisfying, but we opted not to have dessert anymore.

Family picture.

Pumpkin soup. Oldie but a goodie.

Spinach cannelloni. Super good when warm.

Enjoying the bench by the window.

So far, all the items we have tried at Buon Giorno! have been really good, and the prices are very reasonable.

TIP: They have a lovers' table coined "Opium Bed," but it seems a bit stuffy and doesn't offer a view. We prefer the tables beside the railings, which in my opinion, offer better ambiance and an awesome view of the Taal volcano. It's always packed so better to go there at off-peak hours.

Buon Giorno! is located at The Cliffhouse. Here's their number: (046) 413 2102

Mike and I spent the Chinese New Year holiday this year food-tripping at Tagaytay with our then three-month old Terrynator. We practically spent the whole morning eating (Breakfast at Antonio's then Bag of Beans). Naturally, by lunch time, we were still full. To while away the time, we enjoyed the cool breeze, bright sunlight and great view of the Taal volcano at The Cliffhouse.

I was still getting used to shooting with Ewan, so I got to practice by having a mini-photo shoot.

It was a bright and laid back two hours with my boys. Mike was also able to get a few shots of me with Nate, but this one is my favorite of the bunch.

When we finally felt slightly hungry, we decided to have a late and light lunch at Buon Giorno (see next post), one of several eating joints at The Cliffhouse.