Serendra 13 November 2009

When we got to Serendra, my husband and I were surprised at the number of available parking slots. I looked at my watch and saw 6:15 pm. I thought my watch was broken: could it be that early? My husband confirmed the time – no wonder parking wasn’t a problem.

Determined to go to FU for dinner, we nonetheless stopped at Conti’s for takeout- chicken pie only in my mind until I saw the other goodies available: so I got two  tuna pies, two cheese crisps and 4 chicken pies, plus a box of assorted brownies. I would have wanted to try the frozen goods of Conti’s but I thought they might spoil if we bought them as early as then. Next time perhaps?

On to FU. We ordered suckling pig 3 combination, so with it we chose to have century eggs and soy chicken. Also ordered spinach with garlic and Fu fried rice. All tasted very good but there was no attempt whatsoever to present the fried rice artistically. It was bereft of color. Never mind, it tasted good. Yes, I like fried rice very much, CHinese fried rice especially. Can anyone share what gives Chinese fried rice in all CHinese restaurants that distinct taste? what’s the secret, pretty please? After the meal I asked permission from Ricky of Fu who has been waiting on our table each time we are there if I could eat a brownie. He smiled and said to go ahead. And guess what, he gave us two platitos with forks. How kind of him. Fu has this campaign 8 for 800 or something to that effect. There’s a form one fills up if one is inclined to donate to Virlanie foundation for the street children.

After Fu we stopped by at a different bookstore. The person who attended to us was apparently well read – he knew right away that the book I was looking for (Tracy Chevalier’s The Lady and the Unicorn) was on stock. He then told me I should also read TC’s other book, The Lady and the Pearl Earring. He recommended the other books he had read and said to come back tomorrow as they’ll have a sale – 20% off books. Darn we were a day too early.

After ADB, we went to Fully Booked. As usual, I savored the smell of new books as soon as the door opened. Sigh. Reminds me so much of my childhood. There I finally found a copy of Catherine de Medici by Leonie Frieda, which M recommended. I read it as husband looked at CDs on the fourth floor. He bought a Radiohead CD (com lag) and I got Johnny Alegre’s 3rd CD for son – as Christmas present. I also saw Gela skin with a bear playing a red electric guitar on it. So I got that too for son. For his old MacBook. While there we received a text from him saying they had just crossed the border into Holland and would be in Amsterdam in a few minutes. I couldn’t help but feel excited for him. What a thrill.

Some comments – The sales personnel in Conti’s are all very warm. They smile a lot. Perhaps that’s why Conti’s is such a success.

The personnel of ADB are knowledgeable. They know if they have a certain book or not. They can tell you which books they like. Way to go.

Edu Manzano is Gibo’s running mate?

When Connie Sison said “kumpirmado na si Edu Manzano…” I thought she’d say something bad had happened to Edu. Little did I expect that something was happening to our country – I mean, you know. Sure, Edu has more brains than some people in government. Sure he can swagger. But he’s funny – so we have or will have a funny VP? Let me absorb that for a while. I’m not sure I’m awake.

*******

Asked a cousin-doctor whom she’s voting for in 2010. She said Edu was a good vice mayor in Makati. Now I’m even more confused. Choosing won’t be easy, that’s for sure.

Kidnappings

Watching Fr. Sinnott, the newly released Irish priest, all of 77 years old, brings tear to my eyes. Why, kidnappers? He had just had a quadruple bypass, for heaven’s sake? He has done you no harm, has he? So why?

While in Paris we met this priest in Notre Dame Montparnasse and he mentioned upon learning that we were from the Philippines how a confrere of his, Fr. Michel de Gigord had been abducted twice while in Mindanao. So their religious order no longer has a priest there.

Why are the religious abducted? Red Cross personnel? Teachers? What evil have they done? Aren’t they the very people who help or try to help make the lives of people better? They aren’t well paid, if at all, for their efforts and then there’s every chance they will be abducted. Sad.

Sigh.

Veronica Baluyot and more

When I turned on the TV this morning, I heard a voice mouthing the prices of pork and it didn’t sound like a Channel 7 voice. True enough, when I looked, I saw that the TV was on 2. Then I recalled watching Probe last night, until after the feature on Nicanor Perlas was over. NP is one of the presidential candidates for 2010. I used to think he would be a good choice. Maybe, I still do? I am not so sure. Featured with him was my Chemistry teacher in high school: Sr. Aida Velasquez, OSB. They are both anti-nuclear power plant, that’s why.

So after hearing Pinky Webb enumerating the prices of pork, I decided to change channels and happened to see Vroni Cabaluyot (that’s how I thought her name was spelled the first time I heard it eons ago), Cookie del Mar and someone who used to be on 2, a male. I decided to watch them and thought maybe I should more often. They were just the right mix, very calm, not noisy, not yabang-annoying. VC, or rather Veronica Baluyot Jimenez has always been a favorite of mine. I think her husband is connected with GMA7. Perhaps that’s the reason she left the channel, so no charges of nepotism will be directed her way. I miss seeing her on TV though. So again, perhaps, I should watch Channel 4? The prospect doesn’t exactly excite me because NBN4 is a government channel and guess what that means? But maybe for the sace of Vroni I can watch early morning tv in 4.

*******

The other day, was at the grocery. There was no white sugar. I thought Rustan’s had just run out like it sometimes does, but possibly, it’s because of the shortage of this, that and other stuff in our part of the world these days. Heavens, will there be gasoline in the stations when we gas up this weekend? I remember how it was in the 70s when Papa would ration gasoline in Bacolod. he was very strict and fair, gained a few friends in the process, lost or irked some. What’s happening, Philippines?

Sadly, the oil companies aren’t exactly fair – they earn so much and what’s a few weeks of holding back prices as people recover from the repercussions of Ondoy and Pepeng? As people have to contend with fixing their houses, cars and what have you so they can go on with their lives? But no, the oil companies want their profits intact, regardless.

Meanwhile, government’s decision to hold back prices – sometimes government does things for political mileage, for pogi points especially because of the 2010 elections. So one wonders – is government sincere in this move to put a price cap on oil prices?

******

Speaking of government, why isn’t anyone wanting to run as Gibo’s VP? Poor Gibo. So who will it be? GMA for VP? Noli de Castro? Many have turned down the offer: Vilma Santos, Miguel Zubiri, Prospero Pichay even. And GMA, Ermita and Claudio have chosen to distance themselves a bit from Lakas to untaint the party so Gibo will gain some followers, I guess, followers who aren’t exactly fans of the current administration. Possibly, this move comes a bit too late. I am not taking sides here, mind you. Actually, Gibo seems okay but then again because he is an administration candidate, one thinks twice.

So who will it be for me in 2010? I still haven’t decided. For VP, I think I’ll vote Mar for sure. For the president… now that remains to be seen.

 

Raffle winnings

I have yearned to win big in raffles – like a condo, trip abroad, the lotto jackpot, a car, a house and lot. But so far, my luck hasn’t reached such proportions. Oh yes, I’ve received text messages declaring I won P550,000. now if only these were true.

This post was instigated by a call from my all time favorite mall, Shangrila, early tonight. I won 2000 worth of e-tickets to its movie houses in the raffle tie-up of Globe and Shangrila. Yahoo, it’s always such a thrill to win such but I was tempted to ask, does a box of salon pas come with it? The theater in Shang is hardly wheelchair friendly in the sense that the only spot accessible to the likes of me is the front row and guess what that implies?

At any rate, the win has made me reminisce. I can’t remember everything but one prize I recall winning was a dozen cans of Darigold evaporated milk. This was in the seventies. The Talisay Youth Council of which I was a member had a bingo and I won that.

I also won an Easy Call pager which we claimed in Paranaque I think. Oh boy, I can’t even recall why or how I won that.

A few years back, I got a call – I won a box of Panda cookies. But I had to go to Quiapo to claim my prize. I said they could have it.

At Rustan’s, my favorite neighborhood supermarket, I’ve won twice: one was a keyboard (no, not Yamaha or JVC) and one other item. I cannot now recall what.

Lotto – I’ve won P1000 max, I also won P500, at another time P20, another time P40.

Oh yes, in the early 80s, my sister asked me to have a roll of film developed. The store had a promo – I could get a key and get the prize in the chest it would open. The prize was a camera. I gave it to my sister as it was rightfully hers.

I have been pronounced lucky in raffles by the family because they say when my yaya would ask me for numbers for daily double when I was very young, she’d sometimes win using the numbers I gave.

So who knows which raffle I’ll win next? Looking forward to that event. Pretty please, make it soon and really substantial?

Prayer for Healing

I found this novena in my basket. I know someone gave this to me, but who it was, where, when and how – those things I cannot recall. But I’d like to share it with you as  it expresses what I often pray for, and may well express what you pray for as well.

Prayer for healing:

Dear God, You said, Come to me, all of you who are tired and heavily burdened and I will give you rest. I come to you, today… Right now. Please touch every pore, every fiber, every cell of my body. Touch my mind, my heart and my spirit. Fill me with hope. Teach me to believe that with God nothing is impossible. Let me forget and forgive all events that make me sad: and when I worry, teach me to rely on you. Help me to believe that nothing happens by chance and everything that happens has a reason.

I trust that no matter what, you will fight for me. I only need to be still. I need not fear anymore. Help me, heal me, hug me, be here in my pain. Blessed pain, holy pain. Blessed pain, holy pain. I accept your will, but touch every part of me that needs healing… heal my boyd, heal my heart, heal my mind, heal my spirit, heal my pocket, heal my memories. I have come to you with my burdens. You will give me peace, you will give me rest. You will give me healing… And this I believe.

I believe that I am healed.

I believe that I am whole.

I believe that I can now live life to the full.

Mother Mary, regina Rosarii, intercede for me to Jesus your Son. I ask this, in the name of Jesus the great healer, the great provider. Amen.

At the back of the prayer pamphlet are indicated the following information:

email: reginarosarii@yahoo.com

website: www.reginarosarii.org

Regina Rosarii Center for Contemplative Prayer

70 Scout Fernandez Street

Barangay Laging Handa

1103 Quezon City

 

Aga Muhlach on GMA7? Not! And I’m sad

Posts back, I was excited to report what I had just read: that Aga Muhlach would transfer to GMA 7. Unfortunately, it ain’t so according to his manager, Ethel Ramos, per Philippine Daily Inquirer. Sigh.

On another note, Susan Roces will make a Christmas special in GMA7. Now that is certainly something to look forward to.

McDonald’s and Coke

When we were in Casino in Dijon, we saw on display small cans of Coke. I bought one for my sister who is an avid fan of Coke. Then I saw a sign that seemed (yes, I don’t understand French) that if one bought a certain number of Coke in cans, one could get free glasses with the Coke insignia embossed. I wanted to get for my sister but two constraints held me back- I wasn’t sure how many I had to buy to get the glass. I was scared to bring something breakable home.

then lo and behold, McDo here has this ongoing promo: buy a value meal and you can get a Coke glass for P25. Sight unseen except in TV commercials, I ordered two value meals two hours ago and wasn’t disappointed to get a pink glass and a lime one, as chosen. I was even happier when I flipped the box holding the glass: it read Luminarc. I shall try to buy more meals so I can have more Coke glasses which are so cute. Luminarc isn’t as cheap as P25 per, I think.

Guess what and who?

There’s this TV commercial whose model is a known actress-beauty queen. I’ve seen it several times but each time I have to think what product she is endorsing and top of mind, whiskey is what comes to mind. The music and the setting belie what she truly is endorsing – perfume by a known makeup group. I think perfume advertisements should be more toned down, misty, quiet. Besides, her siblings and father have a TV ad that so reminds me of her own in terms of tempo and setting. Oh well.

 

First thing in the Morning – UH and PDI

Unang Hirit News/Features:

a) Janice Jurado – she was interviewed about her drug problem and cancer. At the end of the interview, she had a message to everyone – don’t even think of doing drugs. I think the government entity in charge of drug rehabilitation should take Janice as its spokesperson. Who better than someone who has been there, done that?

b) GMA to run for VP? is that why up till now Gibo has no running mate? Is that why Chiz has no VP? Sigh, what’s that saying about power and absolute power? I know it, you must too.

c) Kangaroos on a rampage because of hunger – scary

d) An oldish man (but not that old) interviewed in NEPA Q Mart on rising prices of commodities gave very good advice – Stop grousing. the problem won’t go away. Look for additional sources of income. This is one of the best things I’ve heard in a long time. Remember how last week I mentioned Mac and getting him to take charge of repairs in the house? His carpenters came Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. they haven’t returned since. Carpenter A came Wednesday. He barely finished one cabinet – open cabinet with two “layers”. He was joined Thursday by Carpenter B. They finished that one cabinet and began a second. Friday they were joined by Carpenter C. A and B finished the two cabinets – no varnish yet, no paint. Carpenter B the most junior of the three started chipping away on the sides of the bathroom door in preparation for the installment of a new one. Carpenter C worked only when he saw my husband. At the end of the day they wanted their pay but we said to talk to their supervisor first who in contracts past insisted we give him the payment. They did and the policy held. They haven’t been back since – a week exactly. So our bathroom door is open, there’s wood in the garage, PVC doors etc. lying in wait. And the poor complain there’s no money. Why? They do not work. Sigh.

PDI – A common malaise of some feature items and even TV features is the failure to mention the exact locations of places featured.

a) Jenni Epperson wrote on apparel (bag and clothes) with Ang Kiukok’s artworks. where are they available, pray tell? She mentioned it is a Freeway collection, so where is it available?

b) Rina Silayan Go wrote on Fino and Skin’s owners. She didn’t mention where their stores are. It’s okay about Fino, I have seen it in Shangrila and Power Plant. But where is Skin located?

********

The other day, went to Shang and in the Food Court I saw two LV messenger bags right there. One was slung on the shoulder of the owner of my favorite eating place there, the other was on the table where sat two men. Gays both. One had silver rubber shoes on. One was having sinigang, the other barbecue when this little boy, maybe around 3 or 4 years old dropped by their table and showed off his red toy car. They were trying to engage him in conversation when the mother saw the boy and took his wrist, brought him to their table a few feet away. Then I saw the boy’s father chastising him, hitting him even. I wondered if he did this because the boy strayed or because he, the father, was homophobic. Then he started feeding the child. Soon after, the boy threw up. I don’t know if it was because he was anxious or what. the man changed the boy’s shirt roughly and went off to wash his hands. I so hate it when children are physically disciplined by their elders.

********

back to UH – I’ve noticed that Rhea Santos no longer handles the news even if she’s around. Today, it was Pia Arcangel doing it with Arnold Clavio. The other day, Connie Sison was doing it. Speaking of Rhea, I saw her at the food court as I wheeled to the elevator. She had some makeup on and was ravishing. One cannot help but look at her. Initially, I didn’t realize it was her but gave her a second look because she was so striking. She was smiling this time. In a previous post, I mentioned she wasn’t.

Cooking Shows on QTV

Quickfire – It replays constantly but it continues to entertain.

the show that follows – I once followed a recipe intently then checked on their website. The ingredients didn’t tally to the letter. I have yet to try making any of the recipes but they always look good. I think the host owns Goodies and Sweets.

The third show featuring San Marino products is a bit noisy with two or three hosts. And expectedly the recipes always involve tuna. So I haven’t paid too close attention to it.

the Sweet life, 5 November 2009, Full Time Moms

I like today’s focus on TSL: Pinoy street games. I can relate very much and easily as I too played piko, though I never did luksong tinik or luksong baka. I never learned to jump high enough. it’s a good idea to promote the good old Pinoy games that required interacting with one’s playmates/friends/yaya in a fun and active way. Wilma was a riot – she can do luksong baka so well!

The next topic was a science exhibit in Riverside Marikina. Some interactive thingies available there were shown in the show. Entrance is P100 per and I think it’s a worthwhile fee to pay in the sense that kids who go there learn while having fun.

More often than TSL delivers a good show – interesting topics, competent guests and very good hosts in Lucy, Wilma and Grace Lee.

Full Time Moms – I have yet to watch it in full. Funny thing: while watching TSL a few days ago, I saw that FTM would feature Juday and Ryan that night. So I waited for it and just when the show began, the phone rang and there went my chance to watch the show and my two favorite people who are good human beings, their celebrity status aside, notwithstanding, possibly incidental. Will there be a replay? I wish… The interview was conducted by Suzie Entrata who happens to have been their wedding godmother…

 

 

There are sales clerks and there are sales clerks

A few days ago, husband bought something in SONY Shang, an outlet of Abenson. Pity I didn’t get the name of the sales clerk but he was so eager to serve, so solicitous that though he made a mistake about what came free with the purchase, one couldn’t get mad. He also gave a few freebies and promised to follow up if there would at least be something free that came with the purchase. Today, he called up to say there would be – smaller than what he originally said, but there nonetheless. On the phone or in person, he is a personable employee of Abenson and I wish the store would recognize him for that. I think I’ll get his name and post it here. Paging Abenson.

Also very nice is this preggy sales clerk in Adidas in Shangrila. She remembered me from Power Plant and attended to my requirements with a smile, never mind if there were other customers around.

Blue Kitchen’s personnel also appreciate one’s patronage. being in a wheelchair, I needed two hands to wheel myself to Dimsun n’ dumplings after buying tapa et al. from BK. I asked if I could leave my purchases there first plus orders from Cyma and they concurred.

Speaking of Cyma, as I asked the maid to leave me there but had to wheel myself to BK, I asked for a string to tie my orders to my bag whose strap I put around my neck so my hands would be free. As the young man was getting string, a lady attendant asked where I wanted to go. She offered to wheel me and I took up her offer.

Oh, and the security guard stationed outside the mall on the sidewalk in front of Dome. I asked husband to pick us up on that side. The maid was about to leave our purchases near the sidewalk so she could wheel me down the ramp but I prevailed upon her to just watch the purchases. I made a sign to the guard that I wanted to go down the ramp. He promptly got me and refused the tip I tried to give him. Speaking of security guards, those in BPI Loyola Katipunan are nice. One held the umbrella over my head as I was wheeled down the ramp. He did this with a smile. And the BPI lady who’s pregnant and attended to me — her promises were all fulfilled – my enrollment of Citibank in my express phone banking bills payment was done as promised.

But there are sales clerks too that are tentative. One such person is this clerk in True Value. He was manning a table just near the entrance. He attended to us but had that tone of voice sorely lacking in confidence. As I looked over the goods, someone took his place and possibly took the credit for that sale. Later, I caught him alone again and wanted to make a purchase if only to lift his spirits (he looked sad). But when I asked him a question, he had to consult someone else for the answer. I didn’t bother buying a second item because the purpose would have been defeated.

At Rustan’s yesterday, I bought a bottle of syrup and as the clerk took my FSP card and cash I wandered off. I bought some small items for Christmas giving, lingering as I made my choices and waited for the person in charge of those gift items to get new stock. Thereafter I went to Cyma, etc. and went home.

As we ate dinner, I was about to offer my husband ice cream when I remembered the syrup. It was not among the things we brought home. My FSP card wasn’t in my wallet. I called Rustan’s Shang and true enough, my card and the syrup and my change were with the sales clerk. According to her she looked for me but failed to find me. The guard told her I had left. The maid came back to get the wrapped gift items but she didn’t see the maid. She said she had us paged over Shang’s PA system. Her fault as much as mine. She took too long. I forgot all about it as a result.

BPI phone banking

Until two days ago, I didn’t know that one can pay for one’s Citibank credit cards through BPI’s phone or Internet banking. Thought I would share this info because in my case, I no longer need a checking account which I maintained for the purpose. When I told my sister, she was equally surprised as she also has a checking account for the same purpose. I enrolled my Citibank credit cards at a BPI branch. Per a conversation with a BPI voice in 89100, enrollment cannot be done over the phone. But wait, when I called just now, that seemed to be an option. Let me check.

Talked to BPI and was told utility bills may be enrolled over the phone but non-utility ones have to be enrolled in branches.

Letter to yeseditor (YES! editor)

yesterday, I emailed the following letter to yes magazine, but it kept bouncing. So I’ll put it up here instead, hopeful it will get to her. I’m referring to the November 2009 issue in my letter.

hello. when I got my copy of YES! magazine yesterday, a long-running monthly habit actually, I was prepared to leave it unread because the topics per the cover weren’t, or so I thought,  too interesting, having been taken up endlessly by various media.

Lo and behold, after I began to read the magazine, focusing on the captions or stories underneath Charice’s pictures before I was drawn to the stories on Ondoy, I was moved – you gave real faces to the devastation that hit so many of us and painted a matter-of-fact picture that was sympathetic but not mushy. I finished the many-paged article on Ondoy to the end, sometimes reading pages through glasses clouded with tears, touched as I was by the various harrowing experiences of fellow-Filipinos and by the kindness of the likes of Judy Ann, Ryan, Jericho and Raymart; disgusted as I was by some accounts on government personalities– in a word affected, make that deeply affected by the so many different stories.

Thank you very much, YES! magazine staffers for making the Ondoy experience an eye-opener and a heart-opener for the many people who will read it. I was completely clueless about foreign artists’ pitching for help on our behalf, having left the country two days after Ondoy. I will certainly keep this issue to show to my son when he comes back in December so he will experience what he missed vicariously yet accurately and be touched by it. One cannot be indifferent after reading your rendering, which was essentially the Filipino people’s.

A Citibank Nightmare

Wow, I never thought the bank could be so inefficient.

Around October 16, I filed to avail for its Call for Cash. I was impressed when by Monday, I got the check. Wow. But I noticed that my middle initial was S rather than K. Still I tried to deposit it with the bank where I have a checking account as I thought my long-running relationship with the same bank would mean their allowing the transaction notwithstanding the error. But my bank refused to honor the check. They would be audited and get a reprimand if they did.

So I called Citibank to explain the situation. I was able to speak with Suzette, the same person who had handled my initial request. She said she would expedite the request for a replacement check after I sent her a copy of my passport, birth certificate and marriage certificate for good measure, to attest to my middle initial’s being what it is.

By Wednesday, I still hadn’t received the check. I called again and spoke to Tuts (tots?) who said it was going to be expedited. Friday still no check although a Mr. tamayo said to wait for his call at the very least by 3 or 5 pm Friday. Failing to receive both the check and the call, I called again and was told best efforts, Saturday or this week. Another person took that call. He was apologetic as they usually are “Sorry for the inconvenience,” they are trained to say. All of them.

Anyway, I refused to stress myself further, so I didn’t call Citibank Saturday, Sunday and Monday, and was happy when I  received a check this morning, Tuesday, without having to remind them.

But what the… when I saw the LBC envelope, I got goosebumps. The name on the envelope still had an S as my middle initial. I tried to remain optimistic that the check would have a K, but was scared nonetheless. My fears were confirmed: the check, the replacement check, supposedly the third check because the second one Mr T had canceled, was still erroneous. It still read xxx S. xxx

As the LBC messenger waited at the gate, I called Citibank and spoke to CJ. He said I could just sign the notice from LBC so the messenger could go. But I asked for my request for call for cash to be canceled. I don’t want the stress, I don’t need the stress – to keep calling one Citibank officer after another, to explain all over again each and every time, to be at the receiving end of their patronizing tone because I also issue forth bile, only to receive another wrong check. My cut-off date for the use of said check is on 11 November. At the rate they expedite checks and wrong checks at that, can you blame me if I don’t trust them to help me meet that deadline? No way.

CJ warned me that our conversation was recorded – was that a threat? Will Citibank go after me for complaining about the service it renders? What about the promises they make over the phone and don’t keep? That they’d call by 3, by 5 for example?

I asked CJ explicitly to ensure that because I canceled my request I shouldn’t be charged interest or any finance charge for doing so. I think preterminating a placement in another bank will, in the long run, be a more healthy decision on my part, it being less stressful. Sure, it will make me less liquid but my blood pressure need not rise. As C always reminds me, “Ang puso.”

Sigh, Citibank.

Another poem by Hopkins: The Windhover

Fr. Galdon made us memorize this poem, I guess he thought it the most beautiful of Hopkins’ works? When my husband saw me typing this, he tried to recall the poem because already then, he was my boyfriend and I would memorize it while he listened. Now he remembers more of it than I do. Sigh.

Anyway, some trivia. Windhover is also the title of the magazine published by Jesuits on their work, I think?

The windhover is a bird, a kestrel, a small falcon.

The poem:

The Windhover: To Christ Our Lord

I caught this morning morning’s minion, king-
dom of daylight’s dauphin, dapple-dawn-drawn Falcon, in his riding
Of the rolling level underneath him steady air, and striding
High there, how he rung upon the rein of a wimpling wing
In his ecstasy! then off, off forth on swing,
As a skate’s heel sweeps smooth on a bow-bend the hurl and gliding
Rebuffed the big wind. My heart in hiding
Stirred for a bird — the achieve of; the mastery of the thing!

Brute beauty and valour and act, oh, air, pride, plume, here
Buckle! AND the fire that breaks from thee then, a billion
Times told lovelier, more dangerous, O my chevalier!

No wonder of it: shéer plód makes plough down sillion
Shine, and blue-bleak embers, ah my dear,
Fall, gall themselves, and gash gold-vermillion.

Gerard Manley Hopkins

Reading the above poem made me remember the following quote I saw a few months ago. It’s a beautiful one by Victor Hugo:

Be like the bird that, passing on her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings, knowing that she hath wings.
- Victor Hugo

Gerard Manley Hopkins’ Poetry

When I was working at the Ateneo, I thought I should take the chance of enrolling in a class taught by Fr. Galdon, SJ. He was our retreat master in high school and we frequented mass at della Strada which he offered because of his homilies. I bought the Manila Chronicle to read his column, The Mustard Seed. But all these left me wanting for more.

So one semester, I thought to enroll in his class, regardless of what it was he would teach. Oddly, it was the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins, a Jesuit. Oddly because I have this fear of poetry and the class didn’t dispel this, but if anything, it exposed me to the beauty of the genre. Fr. Galdon made us memorize some poems, analyze them, and once invited Fr. James Donelan, SJ to speak to us about architecture, was it? Fr. Donelan showed us some slides, beautiful ones but sadly, I cannot now remember what they were. It was the feeling evoked more than the pictures that stay.

One thing I learned from Fr. Galdon too, about writing, is to ensure an economy of words. The early eighties saw such expressions as “this moment in time” flourish, and I was a victim. I used this expression once in a paper and he crossed it out with a firm stroke of the pen and wrote: NOW. Lesson learned. Since then, that expression has never been used by me and when I see permutations of such redundancies when I edit, you can be sure they are crossed out.

In this post I shall include some of Hopkins’ poetry. One that comes to mind immediately is Pied Beauty, likely because a friend Malou who lives in the Netherlands has been posting pictures of autumn which she takes and they are lovely. They made me recall Hopkins’ poem and while it doesn’t speak of autumn per se, it speaks of God’s beautiful creations, “pied beauty” many of them are, “pied” meaning “having two or more different colors.” Hopkins dwells a lot on colors in his poetry. The poem I copied from http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15840 goes:

Pied Beauty
by Gerard Manley Hopkins
Glory be to God for dappled things-- For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow; For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim; Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches' wings; Landscape plotted and pieced--fold, fallow, and plough; And all trades, their gear and tackle and trim. All things counter, original, spare, strange; Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?) With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim; He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change: Praise Him.

Short shorts

As I rode on my Breezy wheelchair, it occurred to me that I haven’t mentioned how it was able to withstand cobbled walks. It gave me no problems at all during the travel. On the other hand, my wheelchair whose tires are similar to those of rubber bikes always has problems with its bearings. One encounter with a crater along our street causes it to make a creaky sound that you pray will be shortlived but ends up staying on and on and on until the bearing is replaced.

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In PInoy Henyo in Eat Bulaga, one of the pairs consisted of Danica Sotto and Marc Pingris. Occasionally, Marc would raise his voice – that’s how things are in the contest. Once Vic said to him “huwag mo sigawan ang anak ko!” He looked serious but if one knows Vic, one knows he was being funny.

 

Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines gives good value for money. Maybe even beyond. Aside from going the extra mile for me in terms of wheelchair assistance, SQ gives its passengers no reason to be hungry. Food is served at constant intervals, drinks even more frequently. And drinks here don’t just mean water and juice, but also softdrinks, beer, Cointreau and other types of liquor – at no additional charge. There was a nursing mother across the aisle from me and at one point, I even saw her eat hot noodles. I wanted to ask for the same but was too shy. But I did manage to overcome my shyness and ask for a sandwich and chocolate marble bar. When the flight attendant came with the sandwich, she apologized that they had run out of the choco marble bar, was a chocolate bar okay? I got a Snicker’s or Kitkat bar with the sandwich! And in the four plane transfers we made, there was always one lady assigned to  the disabled and the babies. On 3 occasions, the said lady even knew my name and addressed me accordingly. How much more personal can you get?

No wonder that a friend who travels frequently was endorsing SQ. No wonder that my travel agent never once suggested I book elsewhere when we were waitlisted for the longest time in SQ. She said SQ planes had more leg room, but even more than the leg room, SQ offers great service. I cannot thank Singapore Airlines enough for making my first trip abroad in a wheelchair truly pleasant. ( I am not too keen on trying out the other airlines if and when lest I regret the decision.)

Sheraton CDG Paris (Airport Hotel)

Yesterday, in quick succession I received the following letters from Sheraton Airport Hotel. The first one read:

First of all we would like to thank you for having chosen the Sheraton Paris Airport Hotel for your stay in Roissy Charles de Gaulle and for your feedback.

In your comment you mentioned “I stayed twice at Sheraton (one for day use) but would like to point out that on our first stay /day use) I was charged for taking something from the mini-bar which I didn’t at all do. We were too much in a rush to catch the train to Dijion so we didn’t have the luxury of time to check the bill and point this out.” May we kindly ask you to provide us with the date of your day use stay and the exact amount you have been charged for the mini-bar? This would help us tremendously for further investigations.

In your ratings we also noticed a 5/10 for our lobby. May we kindly ask you if you encountered any situation/problem or discrepancy in the quality of our services that may lead you to think so? This would help us tremendously in improving our services.

Mrs. xxx, please do not hesitate to contact us, should you wish to share any additional feedback and/or suggestions with us.

We thank you once again for staying with us and look forward to welcoming you again in the future.

After I answered the above letter, I got the following response:

First of all we would like to thank you for having taken the time to give us an additional feedback.

We apologize for the inconvenience caused and are happy to reimburse you the amount of 6,50 Euros for non consumed mini-bar items.

Further to your question regarding the receipt; Montant = 1180.72 frf is the amount you paid converted to French francs, the former currency of France.

Mrs. xxx, please do not hesitate to contact us, should you have any questions or need further assistance.

We thank you once again for staying with us and look forward to welcoming you again in the future.

Both letters were signed by:

Kathrin HEUMÜLLER | General Manager Office

Sheraton Paris Airport Hotel

Terminal 2 I B.P.35051 I Tremblay-En-France I 95716 ROISSY CDG CEDEX

telephone +33 (0)1 49 19 70 73 | facsimile +33 (0)1 48 62 36 55

The response of the Sheraton stands in sharp contrast with that of the hotel where we stayed in Paris itself: Hotel Concorde Montparnasse. While I liked the latter’s location, amenities, and personnel very much, there I was overcharged for a night — whereas per the reservation I made via the Internet, the second night should have been 180 euros, I was charged 200 euros each per night. HCM also sent me a survey form the way Sheraton did. I pointed out this error and while HCM acknowledged my glowing review and asked if I could write the same to Trip Advisor, it never dwelt on the overcharge. This may indicate that either they didn’t think the matter was worth paying attention to or they missed seeing it altogether. Again, I hadn’t bothered to complain though I noted the error because when we checked out, we were in a rush to catch a train to Tours. I know I am partly at fault here (for not complaining right then and there) but that the same thing happened in Sheraton and that they bothered to correct it show me which hotel is more concerned about being fair. Sheraton also noticed that I didn’t rate the lobby favorably and asked why. Way to go, Sheraton!!!

CLick on the links for pictures.

a. Sheraton

b. the view from our room in Sheraton.

c. Another picture. yet another

Prayer on a sleeplesss night

Dear God,

The rains carried by typhoon Santi are here. Please control their volume. Spare us from floods, landslides and other mishaps. We trust in your mercy and love. We trust that you will not allow a reprise of Pepeng and Ondoy, not here in Metro Manila; not anywhere else in the Philippines or in the world.

Many of us will undoubtedly keep vigil, will not sleep until we are assured of our individual and collective safety. Please keep us in your loving care. When Ondoy was giving us a deluge of water, I remembered Noah and his ark. I prayed that like you saved Noah you would save us. And you did. Water receded before long. This time around, God, I plead that you don’t allow water to rise to such a level as to cause flooding, landslides and the like.

Thank you very much, loving Father. Angels and saints, please watch over us.

Amen.

Quick Posts – topics muna, okay, write-ups done

Case Unclosed on Antonio Luna (I like its format – it’s not about Arnold Clavio at all, but the topic at hand. Congratulations, AC.)

The Good Girl Syndrome from The Sweet Life

Charo Ronquillo

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Case Unclosed: Last night, oh okay, early this morning was the second time I watched the show because of the lateness at which it is shown plus the topics. The first time I watched it was because of the killing of two brothers blamed on the scion of a jeweller. Last night, I was switching channels when the topic caught my attention: Antonio Luna. Beyond his being one of the heroes in our country plus his being brother to Juan Luna, I knew nothing about him. And the angle taken by the show last night was an eye-opener. It somehow hinted at the possibility that he was killed upon the orders of Aguinaldo or at the very least by people loyal to Aguinaldo. The resource persons were professors of UST and UP. The format was interesting – in between inputs from them was the dramatization of Luna’s life. Now I am curious about Antonio Luna. If I am correct, the death of Bonifacio has also been attributed to Aguinaldo. Sad. As one professor said – it’s odd how those killed are the competent, whose loyalty is to the country rather than some foreign power. And the professor did not at all sound leftist.

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The Good Girl Syndrome – Explained by now psychologist Techie Agbayani, it goes this way from my understanding of it. Young girls are encouraged to be good by their parents nad teachers, good being obedient, docile, unquestioning. This has made me realize what a truly good girl I was as a student. Of course, occasionally, I was chastised – once by a German nun for flipping the pages of our textbook to a story the class wasn’t taking because after several repetitions of the same story I got bored. ANother time was when our Work Ed teacher overheard me commenting that a classmates many prominent projects were placed nicely during an exhibit she was putting up but those of ours, lesser skilled students, were at the bottom where no one could see them. This teacher promptly removed all my projects – I cried, I was so scared she heard me. I don’t know nor remember how, but the German nun had them put back.

Back to the GGS (why is it specific to girls – because boys are by nature naughty and intractable?). I must have broken from the mold after I became paralyzed and a mother. I became assertive. I felt the need to “fight” for my son and even my own rights. Does this confidence come with age? Or is really confidence? I don’t know but I haven’t thought twice about “demanding” for service if niceties don’t work – whether in person or over the phone doesn’t  matter. Plus an old sage once said “I’m too old to be nice” or too old to bother to be nice if the situation and person don’t warrant nice-ness. As a rule I try to be patient but when push comes to shove, beware my fangs.

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Charo Ronquillo. I think she came for Fashion Week or a fashion affair but regardless, she was interviewed on GMA7. Her beauty caught my attention when she was featured in local newspapers and TV as a Ford model. Last night during the interview she revealed how showbiz was her dream, how she’d joined Starstruck at GMA7 years back and landed among the top 16. Ryza Cenon was the winner that year. Oh yes, in one interview, CR said she hears mass frequently in New York.

Odds and Ends

Craving burgers but too far off from the nearest Sango (it being in Power Plant – Ortigas is nearer but parking is difficult), we settled for the burgers in Shoppersvile. While on the phone with the girl in charge, I asked what else they had. She offered tuna croquettes with sidings and chicken croquettes with sidings. One of them costs P75, the other P80. The tuna comes with macaroni salad – very tasty, the chicken – two oblong pieces comes with Russian salad. Not bad. Very filling. Could stand having more meat though. The girl also said they had biko and am I glad I got a slice – I think P40. Very, very good. I think it’s freshly cooked because it’s soft and just sweet enough. If I weren’t controlling my food intake, I could have consumed the entire slice which is rather big. Oh and the burgers – husband ate his, I have had mine put in the fridge. I ate just a tiny slice of the tuna croquette and one chicken croquette.

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watched the tail end of The Sweet Life and caught part of wilma’s tips on drying books soaked in flood waters. It was the tail end so by then the books were almost dry but she suggested putting kitchen towels (paper) every 20 pages and putting a heavy load on top of the book to tighten its appearance.

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after the sweet life, watched Rosebud’s quickfire. She had Sam YG as guest and they cooked chicken shorba. I was not watching intently but caught on enough to see it was soup that had garlic and turmeric as spices.

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I listened more to “My Favorite Recipes” the show of the owner of Goodies and Pastries. She made lemon tart and it looked good. The recipe she said is in www.wmn.ph. I caught it but am not sure if I have all the ingredients listed:

Crust: 2 c flour, 1 tsp salt, 3/4 c cold butter, 1/4 cold water. Make dough and refrigerate. Roll out on parchment paper. Bake blind for 25 minutes.

Custard:  1/2 c butter, 4 egg yolks, 1/3 c condensed milk, 1/2 c lemon juice and 2/3 c sugar. Cook in double boiler. Pour in baked crust and bake 20 minutes.

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The last cooking show had Sam Oh and Nino Logarta. It’s sponsored by San Marino corned tuna which dingdon and marian endorse. They made sandwich for Akihiro Sato, the plumber SamOh wants to hire as live-in plumber (per the script). I didn’t catch most of what they were saying but noted that 2 hard boiled eggs were added to the tuna sandwich filling.

 

 

PLDT’s We Roam, MYDSL, WatchPad

Am now on the phone listening to the taped messages of PLDT re its DSL products. Oops had to cut that short. My wish is to find out more about WatchPad. A few months ago we got a WeRoam bundle for free. A few days ago, we got WatchPad. So I want to know if the latter is Mac-compatible. I wasn’t able to let WeROam work with Mac. Maybe I wasn’t patient enough. But before I even start WP on my Mac, I want to know if they are compatible. THing is, a robotic voice answered my call and the choices offered didn’t lead to a humanoid. So I’ll have to try out WP on my Mac myself.

WP looks promising. It offers the world, and it seems for free. When something sounds as good as that, the skeptic in me asks – what and where lie the catch? I don’t want to be on the receiving end of unhappy surprises but it seems I cannot ask 171 to enlighten me.

Oh yes, the other day, I talked to a humanoid on 171. He wasn’t very informative. When I asked him re the difference between our current DSL plan and the rest, he said it was all about speed. As for WP, now what did he say? That I can watch TV shows on it. that’s all I remember, anyway.

Realities Bite/reality bites

Okay, so project no. 1 post Ondoy, as I mentioned in a previous post, is over and done with: general cleaning of the sala aircon which is perched below the windows, ergo near the floor.

Project No. 2 which has branched out and out and I hope has reached its peak: cabinets in the sala whose doors have ballooned and whose bottoms are rotten, side tables in the sala, cabinet doors in the kitchen (not necessarily caused but Ondoy but noticed because a carpenter has come), a replacement for my now 27-year old ramp to the room, the bathroom door of the maids. The other day our bill in Wilcon for 3 prefab doors (2 PVC, one wooden), door knobs, etc. was in the vicinity of P11k. Today, the hardware store bill for plywood et al. is P10k. I hope that’s it for materials. Labor next. How much? Can the pocket still take it? These are unexpected expenses, but at least, we still have a roof over our heads.

I know, I shouldn’t really complain. Others are worse off than we are. Smile…

Next project – the son’s car. For cleaning at the very least. Some parts may have been reached by flood waters before they were brought to a higher part of the driveway. Smile. Smile. Think positive.

Aga Muhlach on GMA7?

Dolly Ann Carvajal wrote thus on her column today, 26 October 2009. That’s super great news. I only hope that GMA has a good comedy or drama series for him rather than a fantaserye.  I didn’t watch Dyesebel religiously, Darna even less so. Mulawin too.

New entrees in Pepper Lunch; Balducci in Eastwood Mall, Wilcon Builders

For days now, I’ve been coughing and my nose has been stuffy. Oh pollution… honestly. Or is it the weather? A combination of both?

The past days have been lazy in that no work has come my way. But coughing has kept me busy. And in between playing Bejeweled Blitz and Farmville on FB and Alchemy, a popup game, I’ve been watching TV and reading – yes, reading something that’s non-work related.

The visit to Versailles, as I mentioned in a previous post, made me wonder how people communicated in that humongous palace. So now I’m reading Marie Antoinette by her name sake and mine: Antonia Fraser. I also bought a book “The Lady with the Pearl Earring” by Tracy Chevalier. At Saint Chapelle, I wanted to buy The Lady and the Unicorn but it cost 13,50 euros. Way too expensive. A friend Malou suggested reading Catherine de Medici but there’s no copy available here. I’ll yet get to her someday.

Notwithstanding the above activities and clogged nasal passages that mean dampened taste buds, we’ve been eating out. Bumabawi after eating ham with cheese sandwich, ham and cheese sandwich, ham and cheese sandwich, gravy-less beef hache and fries, gravy-less beef steak and fries… we deserve to eat real food.

Last night we went to Rockwell Club for my sister’s recital. But when we arrived she was already playing. No way were we going to risk her ire at the interruption. So we decided to go to Power Plant. The lady in charge said there would be an intermission at 8, but did we go back? No. We were in Pepper Lunch enjoying ourselves. Husband ordered double salmon pepper lunch, I tried the beef teriyaki with fried egg. Yummy. And because I didn’t want my husband to get my colds, we each ordered a salad: he, spicy tuna; me, kani. Yummy. We didn’t get dessert as earlier that day I had received two mazapan de pili by Felicia from my cousin in Bacolod and before that came, I saw this press release of SM North Edsa’s food court where Cello was mentioned and its new offerings. SO I got one box of the tiny donuts- 15 pieces at P165. At first bite, I regretted not having sent the maid to get Go Nuts instead but eventually the taste of Cello donuts grew on me. No doubt their toppings are really delicious. It’s the dough – it tastes homemade. Maybe for some therein lies its charm too. But somehow, the likes of Dunkin’, Krispy Kreme, Go Nuts, etc. appeal more to me. Anyway, Cello isn’t that bad at all especially after the taste has grown on you.

Yesterday, I called Mac, the supervisor of a contractor who hasn’t ever let me down, no matter that my job requests must be very minor relative to the jobs they take. Okay, after Ondoy, I was too preoccupied with the trip to worry and bother about the repairs yelling at my face. The first one we addressed when we came back was the aircon in the sala, where water reached knee deep. I prayed even when I was gone that the unit wouldn’t need repair, just cleaning. So, Friday last week, I called Virex and by Saturday, two men came. They told my husband the bearing was noisy, the unit had to be pulled out. I told my husband if its just that, don’t bother having them repair it. That’s what they’ve been saying about the aircon in the room for years. A teenie weenie bit of noise won’t destroy our eardrums, right? So that was project number 1.

Project number 2 et al.: the cabinet under the china cabinet. No I will not give you pictures because merely looking at it whenever I’m in the sala is depressing. Then there’s the kitchen door. Then there’s the cabinet where images of various saints are arranged.

This morning Mac came as promised. He said he’d look for solid wood to replace the base of the cabinet. For the kitchen door, he suggested looking for PVC doors in home depots. He said they average P1800 per. Luckily, a friend called yesterday and she mentioned that her sister’s doors at home are also PVC and they’re okay.

A hunch that Wilcon might be closed because we were about to leave only at 6 pm, I texted my interior designer niece for its number.  I called and was told the branch we were planning to go to closed at 5:30. Luckily the branch I was speaking to would be open till 8 and was along Libis. The guy who took my call was very gracious.

So off we went to Wilcon Libis and my, is it big. Bigger than S & R and so complete. ANything for the home is available at Wilcon: readymade doors, windows, bathtubs, lights, varnish, faucets, the works. We chose 2 PVC doors – one each for the bathroom and the kitchen and got one for our bedroom too as it no longer closes very well. (Oh no, we shouldn’t have – that will mean taking down a note my son left for his father years back when he went out with a friend – that note asking what pizza he got. Strangely, when I saw it tonight, without even thinking about the new door, I took its picture. Darnn, darnnn, darnnnn. I guess I’ll have to put it in an album. Shucks. Oh no, I feel so sad at the thought, I won’t discuss Wilcon any longer. Darnnnn.

On to Balducci – the resto in Eastwood has always looked inviting but it was only tonight that we mustered the guts to try it out. It has also always looked intimidating because it looks expensive.

We shared osso buco, gambas and mushroom risotto. The gambas weren’t the appetizer size even if the dish was listed under antipasti. The prawns weren’t very huge, but they weren’t small either. The osso buco was good too. The risotto that came with it plus the mushroom risotto tasted a lot better after we added parmesan cheese – or rather the server did after I requested for some. But Balducci isn’t cheap so we shan’t be going there too often. Only on special occasions.

OH darn, I keep thinking about what son posted on the door and it saddens me. Years back, he confessed that he felt sad when I had the cabinet doors  wall papered because he had stuck his favorite stickers on one of them and these were covered. Darnnnn.

Political pitches

At least two presidential candidates posture themselves as nagkakaisa sa mahirap, as having been mahirap. At least one is not at all mahirap but is part of the elite, then as now.

Why do they have to pit the poor against the rich? Why not make the pitch for all Filipinos? Why are they so divisive? Divide and conquer seems to be their motto. Sad. They remind me of one group in society that always makes out the rich to be ALL BAD. Not so.

Ryan Agoncillo in Eat Bulaga!

This noon, in the Pinoy Henyo contest, I was surprised to see Ryan among the lineup of hosts who carried with them peso cards indicating how much contestants would win. He was dunked blue.

Then I fell asleep. When I woke up, it was Startalk and Joey welcomed RA to Eat Bulaga, saying he would now be part of the show.

This makes one EB fan very happy – me.  I have always admired the verve of Ryan and was saddened by his decision to transfer to Channel 2.

Welcome back to 7, Ryan. Hope you’ll stay for good this time.

UPDATE:

Today, Tuesday, 27 October 2009 should have been Ryan’s 3rd day on Eat B. Why wasn’t he around? I fell asleep once in a while so whether they explained his absence or not, I’m not sure (I’m on antihistamines and cough medicine). Ryan, come back. Maybe he was taping for his show with Juday on 2?

 

Shorts

In Malcolm Gladwell’s latest release, What the Dog Saw (a collection of his works published in The New Yorker), one of his topics per the blurb in the back cover had to do with why there are so many varieties of mustard, but only one type of ketchup. Apparently he hasn’t been to the Philippines. Here we have banana ketchup, and in 2008, I tried mango ketchup during the Negros fair in Rockwell Tent. I think it was made in Guimaras.

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“For health reasons” now means “pregnant”. An EB babe quit the show some time ago for “health reasons”. Tonight, it was revealed in 24 Oras that she’s pregnant by her showbiz boyfriend. Another GMA 7 talent has quit at least 3 shows also for “health” reasons. Of course rumors are rife she is on the way. Hmmm… or should I say Ommmmm…

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Yesterday, my contact in Tahanan Walang Hagdanan called to ask how I was, if I had been affected by Ondoy. I found that so thoughtful of her. I guess my being a victim drove all thought of asking about the welfare of others but the same could not be said of her. Shame on me…

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Oh boy, we’re getting it in droves these days – commercials of presidential wannabes. Only today I’ve seen new ones with Chiz Escudero and Loren Legarda. Next…

On 24 Oras too, donors to the fund for typhoon victims were mentioned or shown, among them Mar Roxas and Korina Sanchez. Wonder if that’s okay with Channel 2. Also, doesn’t the Bible say “the right hand should not know what the left hand is doing” or something to that effect? Oh well, elections are drawing near…

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After being food deprived (at just 2 meals a day, that’s deprivation for me) for 17 days, I now eat 10 times a day. Of course I exaggerate but that’s how it feels. Everything tastes so good when one is back home. I really have to control myself or else my clothes won’t fit. Resolve, resolve, resolve…

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Uh-oh, as I type this, it’s raining and hard. But there’s thunder, so while I fear an Ondoy reprise, hearing thunder is reassuring (in the past it made me fearful) in that it means the rains will stop before long.

My Favorite Novenas (7)

The Souls in Purgatory

O Holy Souls in Purgatory, who are the certain heirs of heaven, souls most dear to Jesus as the trophies of His Precious Blood and to Mary, Mother of Mercy, obtain for me through your intercession, the grace to lead a holy life, to die a happy death, and to attain to the blessedness of eternity in heaven.

Dear Suffering Souls, who languish in your prison of pain and long to be delivered in order to praise and glorify God in heaven, by your unfailing pity help me at this time, (Particularly…) that I may obtain relief and assistance from God.

In gratitude for your intercession, I offer to God on your behalf the satisfactory merits of all my works and sufferings of this day (week, month or whatever space of time you wish to designate).

Attend Holy Mass and have a mass offered for the holy souls. If possible Offerings of the Precious Blood and the Way of the Cross are also powerful means of helping them and obtaining their help.

St. Martin de Porres  (Feast, November 5)

Father of the poor, patron of the needy, help of the sick

Oh God, who have given us in your humble Son our Lord Jesus Christ, the model of all virtue and perfection, grant to us the virtue of humility. We think so little of you because we are so full of self. We cannot love you more until humility shows us our own nothingness and makes us rejoice in our complete dependence upon you.

You have given to the world a glorious apostle of humility, Saint Martin de Porres. Guide us by his example and strengthen us through his intercession in our efforts to conform our hearts to the humble heart of your crucified son.

May the glory of sainthood which you have deigned to bestow upon Brother Martin draw the world closer and closer to you. Renew O Lord in these days when pride and forgetfulness of you are so  widespread the wonders which you performed through your humble servant during his lifetime.

Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen

(Our Father Hail Mary, Glory be… 3 times).

Mention your request.

St. Francis Xavier (feast December 3)

O Great St. Francis, well beloved and full of charity. In union with you I reverently adore the Divine Majesty, and since I especially rejoice in the singular gifts of grace bestowed on you in life and of glory after death, I give thanks to God and beg of you, with all the affection of my heart, that by your powerful intercession you may obtain for me above all things the grace to live a holy life and die a holy death. Moreover I beg of you to obtain for me (hear mention special spiritual or temporal favor). But if what I ask does not tend to the glory of God and the greater good of my soul, do you I beseech you, obtain for me what will more certainly attain these ends. Amen

(Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory)

Novenas may be made any time of the year. Special Novenas: March 4 to March 12 and November 25 to December 3.

St. Lucy (feast, December 13)

Saint Lucy, whose beautiful name signifies light, by the light of faith which God bestowed upon you, increase and preserve his light in my soul, so that I may avoid evil, be zealous in the performance of good works and abhor nothing so much as the blindness and darkness of evil and sin.

Obtain for me, by your intercession with God, perfect vision for my bodily eyes and the grace to use them for God’s greater honor and glory and the salvation of souls.

St. Lucy virgin and martyr, hear my prayers and obtain my petitions. Amen.

My Favorite Novenas (6)

St. Therese of the Child Jesus, the Little Flower (feast October 3)

I greet you, Saint Therese of the CHild Jesus, lily of Purity, ornament and glory of Christianity! I salute you, great saint, seraph of Divine Love. I rejoice at the favors our Blessed Lord Jesus has liberally bestowed on you. In humility and confidence, I entreat you to help me, for I know that God has given you charity and pity, as well as power. Oh then, behold my distress my anxiety, my fears. Oh tell him now my wants. One sigh from you will crown my success, will fill me with joy. Remember your promise to do good on earth. Obtain for me from God the graces of the Divine Lord (especially…). Amen.

St. Raphael the Archangel (feast October 24)

Glorious Archangel St. Raphael, great prince of the heavenly court, illustrious for your gifts of wisdom and grace, guide of those who journey by land or sea, consoler of the afflicted, and refuge of sinners, I beg you to assist me in all my needs and in all the sufferings of this life, as once you helped the young Tobias on his travels. And because you are the Medicine of God, I humbly pray you to heal the many infirmities of my soul and all the ills which inflict my body, if it be for my greater good. I especially ask of you the favor of (name it) and the grace of angelic purity, which makes me fit to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

St. Raphael, of the glorious seven who stand before the throne of Him who lives and reigns, Angel of Health, the Lord has filled your hand with balm from heaven to soothe or cure our pains – heal or cure the victim of disease, and guide our steps when doubtful of our ways.

St. Jude the Apostle

Glorious Apostle St. Jude Thaddeus, true relative of Jesus and Mary, I salute you through the Sacred Heart of Jesus! Through this Heart I praise and thank God for all the graces he has bestowed upon you. Humbly prostrate before you I implore you, through this Heart, to look down upon me with compassion. Despise not my poor prayer, let not my trust be confounded! To you God has granted the privilege of aiding mankind in the most desperate cases. Oh come to my aid that I may praise the mercies of God.

All my life I will be your grateful client until I can thank you in heaven. Amen.

St. Jude, pray for us and for all who invoke your aid.

My Favorite Novenas (5)

San Roque (feast, August 16)

O Blessed San Roque, patron of the sick, have pity on those who lie upon a bed of suffering. Your power so so great when you were in this world, that by the sign of the Cross, many were healed of their diseases. Now that you are in heaven, your power is not less. Offer then to God our sighs and tears and obtain for us that health we seek through Christ our Lord. Amen.

San Roque, pray for us that we may be preserved from all diseases of body and soul (three times).

St. Michael the Archangel (feast September 29)

Glorious St. Michael, Guardian and Defender of the Church of Jesus Christ, come to the assistance of the Church against which the powers of hell are unchained. Guard with special care her august head, the Pope, and obtain that for him and for us the hour of triumph may speedily arrive.

O glorious St. Michael, watch over us during life, defend us against the assaults of the devil, and assist us especially at the hour of death. Obtain for us a favorable judgment and the happiness of beholding God face to face for all eternity. Amen.

Glorious St. Michael, intercede for me with God in all my necessities, especially (name it), and obtain for me a favorable outcome in the matter now recommended to you. O glorious Prince of the heavenly host, and Victor over rebellious spirits, be mindful of me who am so weak and sinful and yet so prone to pride and ambition. Lend me, I pray, your powerful aid in every temptation and difficulty, and above all, do not forsake me in my last struggle with the powers of evil. Amen.

The Holy Angels (October 2)

Bless the Lord, all you his Angels, you who are might in strength and do his will. Intercede for  at the throne of God, and by your unceasing watchfulness, protect me in every danger of soul and body. Obtain for me the grace of final perseverance so that after this life, I may be admitted to your glorious company and may sing with you the praises of God for all eternity.

O all you holy Angels and Archangels, Thrones and Dominations, Principalities and Powers and Virtues of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, and especially you my dear Guardian Angel, intercede for me and obtain for me the special favor I now ask (mention it).

Glory be to the Father (9 times)

My Favorite Novenas (4)

Prayer to One’s Patron or to any saint

O glorious Saint _____(my beloved Patron), you served God in humility and confidence on earth and are now in the enjoyment of his beatific vision in heaven because you persevered till death and gained the crown of eternal life. Remember now the dangers that surround me in the valley of tears, and intercede for me in my needs and troubles (especially…)

Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Feast June 27)

O Mother of Perpetual Help, grant that I may ever invoke your most powerful name, which is the safeguard of the living and the salvation of the dying. O purest Mary! O sweetest Mary! let your name henceforth be ever on my lips. Delay not O Blessed Lady, to succor me whenever I call on you, in all my temptations, in all my needs. I will never cease to call on you, ever repeating your sacred name. Mary, Mary! Oh, what consolation, what sweetness, what confidence, what emotion fills my soul when I utter your sacred name or even only think of you! I thank the Lord for having given you, for my good so sweet, so powerful, so lovely a name. But I will not be content with merely uttering your name. Let my love for you prompt me ever to hail you Mother of Perpetual Help.

Mother of Perpetual Help, pray for me and grant me the favor I confidently ask of you.

Hail Mary (3 times).

Glorious st. Anne (Feast, July 26)

Glorious St. Anne, filled with compassion for those who invoke you and with love for those who suffer, heavily laden with the weight of my troubles, I cast myself at your feet and humbly beg you to take the present affair which I commend to you under your special protection (name it).

Deign to commend it to your daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and lay it before the throne of Jesus, so that he may bring it to a happy issue. Cease not to intercede for me until my request is granted. Above all, obtain for me the grace of one day beholding my God face to face, and with you and Mary and all the saints, praising and blessing him for all eternity. Amen.

Good St. Anne, mother of her who is our life, our sweetness and our hope, pray for me.

My Favorite Novenas (3)

Novena to St. Rita

Helper of the Hopeless (Feast May 22)

Holy Patroness of those in need, St. Rita, so humble, pure and patient, whose pleadings with your Divine Spouse are irresistible, obtain for me from your Crucified Jesus the request I make of you (mention it). Be propitious towards me for the greater glory of God and I promise to honor you and to sing your praise forever.

O glorious St. Rita, who miraculously participated in the sorrowful Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, obtain for me the grace to suffer with resignation the troubles of this life and protect me in all my needs. Amen.

Our Father Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father (3 times)

The Holy Spirit (At Pentecost or any other time)

O Holy Spirit/Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, Spirit of Truth, Love, and Holiness, proceeding from the Father and the Son, and equal to them in all things! I adore you and love you with all my heart. Teach me to know and to seek God, by whom and for whom I was created. Fill my heart with holy fear and love of God. Grant me compunction and patience, and allow me not to fall into sin.

Give me an increase of Faith, Hope and Charity and bring forth in my soul all the virtues proper to my state of life. Give me the four Cardinal Virtues, your seven Gifts and your twelve Fruits.

Make me a faithful follower of Jesus and an obedient child of the Church. Give me the grace to keep the commandments and to receive the state of life to which you have called me and lead me through a happy death, to everlasting life. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Grant me also, O Holy Spirit, you who are the giver of all good gifts, the special favor for which I ask (name it) if it be for your greater honor and glory and the good of my soul.

Glory be to the Father (3 times).

St. Anthony of Padua, the Wonder Worker (Feast June 13)

St. Anthony, glorious for your miracles and for the condescension of Jesus in coming as a little child to repose in your arms, obtain for me from his bounty the grace which I ardently desire. You who were so compassionate towards sinners, regard not my unworthiness but the glory of God that it may be magnified by you in connection with the particular request which I now earnestly present to you (Name it).

As a pledge of my gratitude, I beg you to accept my promise to be more faithful in accordance with the teachings of the Church, and to be devoted to the service of the poor whom you loved and still love so greatly. Bless this my resolution that I may be faithful to it even until death.

St. Anthony, consoler of the afflicted, pray for me.

St. Anthony, whom the Infant Jesus so much loved and honored, pray for me.

My Favorite Novenas (2)

St. Joseph, Patron of workers (Feast May 1)

Glorious St. Joseph model of all who are devoted to toil, obtain for me the grace to toil in the spirit of penance, in order thereby to atone for my many sins, to toil conscientiously, putting devotion to duty before my own inclinations, to labor with thankfulness and joy, deeming it an honor to employ and to develop by my labor the gifts I have received from Almighty God, to work with order, peace, moderation and patience, without ever shrinking from weariness and difficulties; to work, above all, with a pure intention and with detachment from self, having always before my eyes the hour of death and the accounting which I must then tender of time ill-spent, of talents unemployed, of good undone, and of empty pride in success, which is so fatal to the work of God.

All for Jesus, all through Mary, all in imitation of you, O Patriarch Joseph! This shall be my motto in life and in death. Amen.

St. Peregrine, the Cancer Saint (Feast, May 2)

Glorious wonder worker St. Peregrine, you answered the divine call with a ready spirit and forsook all the comforts of the world to dedicate yourself to God in the Order of his most holy Mother, You labored manfully for the salvation of souls, and in union with Jesus Crucified, you endured the most painful suffering with such patience as to deserve to be healed miraculously of an incurable cancer in your leg by a touch of his divine hand. Obtain for me the grace to answer every call of God and to fulfill his will in all the events of life. Enkindle in my hand a consuming zeal for the salvation of souls; deliver me from the infirmities that afflict my body (especially…). Obtain for me also perfect resignation to the sufferings it may please God to send me so that imitating our Crucified Savior and his Sorrowful Mother, I may merit eternal glory in heaven. Amen.

St. Peregrine, pray for me and for all who invoke your aid (3 times)

St. Pancratius (feast May 12)

Prayer to the Eternal Father

I believe Heavenly Father, all that Faith teaches, and in that Faith I wish to live and die. Through the intercession of St. Pancratius, grant us good health to fulfill our duties. (Our Father, Hail mary and Glory)

Prayer to God the Son

O good Jesus, grant me the virtue of Hope in your promises in the same measure that St. Pancratius always trusted in your Providence, so that I may, through his intercession, obtain work and success in all my undertakings. (Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory)

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Grant me the virtue of Charity that I may love God above all things and my neighbor for the love of God as St. pancratius did. Through his intercession, I hope to obtain this grace and that of being free from adversities adn from ill-intentioned persons. (Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory).

Concluding Prayer

O glorious St. Pancratius, I beg you to obtain for me all the graces that I need, but especially health and work, so that I may appear before you to thank God for the favors I received through your powerful intercession. Amen.

My Favorite Novenas (1)

(My 30 Favorite Novenas booklet is disintegrating fast, hence my resolve to type them out here.)

Novena in Urgent Need to the Infant Jesus of Prague

to be said at the same time for 9 consecutive hours or for 9 days.

Oh Jesus, who have said “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you,” through the intercession of Mary your most holy Mother, I knock, I see, I ask that my prayer be granted.

Mention your request.

O Jesus who have said, “All that you ask of the Father in my Name, he will grant you,” through the intercession of Mary, your most holy Mother, I humbly and urgently ask the Father in your Name that my prayer be granted.

Mention your request.

O Jesus, who have said, who have said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass,” through the intercession of Mary, your most holy Mother, I feel confident that my prayer will be granted.

Mention your request.

Novena of Confidence to the Sacred Heart

O Lord Jesus Christ, to your most Sacred Heatrt I confide this intention (here mention your request). Only look upon me, then do what your Sacred Heart inspires. Let your Sacred Heart decide… I count on you… I trust in you… I throw myself on your mercy. Lord jesus, You will not fail me.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in you. Sacred Heart of jesus, I believe in your love for me.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, your kingdom come.

O sacred Heart of Jesus, I have asked you for many favors, but I earnestly implore this one. take it, place it in your open, broken Heart; and when the eternal Father looks upon it, covered with your Precious Blood, he will not refuse it. It will no longer be my prayer, but yours, O Jesus, O sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you. Let me not be disappointed. Amen.

Our Lady of Lourdes (Feast: February 11)

O ever Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Mercy, Health of the Sick, Refuge of Sinners, Comfortress of the Afflicted, you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings: deign to cast upon me a look of Mercy. By appearing in the grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary from where you dispense your favors, and where many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and corporal. I come, therefore, with unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession. Obtain, O loving Mother, my requests. I will endeavor to imitate your virtues, that I may one day share your glory and bless you in eternity. Amen.

St. Benedict (Feast: July 11)

Glorious St. Benedict, sublime model of all virtues, pure vessel of god’s grace, behold me humbly kneeling at your feet. I implore your loving heart to pray for me before the throne of God, to you I have recourse in all the dangers which daily surround me. Shield me against my enemies, inspire me to imitate you in all things. May your blessings be with me always, so that I may shun whatever God forbids and avoid the occasions of sin.

Graciously obtain for me from God those favors and graces of which I stand so much in need in the trials, miseries and afflictions of life. Your heart was always so full of love compassion and mercy towards those who were afflicted or troubled in any way. You never dismissed without consolation and assistance anyone who had recourse to you.

I therefore invoke your powerful intercession, in confident hope that you will hear my prayers and obtain for me the special grace and favor I so earnestly implore (mention it) if it be for the greater glory of God and the welfare of y soul.

Help me, O great St. Benedict, to live and die as a faithful child of God, to be ever submissive to his holy will, and so obtain the eternal happiness of heaven.

Seven day novena to Mama Mary

Becoming like Mary

Seven daily prayers…

Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

140 rue du Bac

Paris

http://www.chapellenotredamedelamedaillemiraculeuse.com

(We searched high and low for this church, walked quite a distance from the hotel before we found it after a Spanish lady pointed it out to us. Following are the contents of a chapel pamphlet I bought. I’d like to share the prayers with you.)

Day 1

Become humble like Mary

Marie Mary remembered that all that was in her was a gift from God. She kept secret, even from her husband, all the celestial favours that she was granted. She told God about the praise she received. She took pleasure in helping others and to remain the background. She didn’t fear scorn: we didn’t see her in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, when the people welcomed her Son with so much praise, but she wasn’t afraid to appear on Calvary where she was recognized as the mother of the condemned man.

Saint Catherine, you kept secret the wonderful grace of having seen the Blessed Virgin. Pray for me when I put myself before others.

O Mary, Mother of God and Our Mother, you who dislike pride, bathe me with your humility.

And remember… my special intention …

Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…

“O Mary  conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”

Day 2

Love Mary

Christ gave us this commandment: You will love the Lord God with all your heart, and your neighbor as yourself. Mary fully accomplished this double precept. According to St Bernard, the love of Jesus entered Mary’s heart like a spear and pierced it right through, so no part of it remained untouched by the wound of love. Mary’s heart therefore became fire and flame, fire because of the love that burned inside her, flame by glowing on the outside through her charity work. When Mary carried Jesus in her arms, we can say that it was “the fire carrying the fire.”

Saint Catherine, may the two hearts on the reverse side of the medal remind me of the love of God when my fervor for Him diminishes, and love for my neighbor when I am filled with too much self-love.

O Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, as at Cana, pray to your Son for me, tell him: “The have no love”, and give me the grace to do charity work like you.

And remember… my special intention …

Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…

“O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”

Day 3

Believe like Mary

It is because of her faith that Mary was proclaimed blessed by Elisabeth. In jesus’ Passion, the disciples were plunged into doubt, only the Holy Virgin remained steady in her faith, said Albert le Grand. Faith is both a gift and a virtue. It is a gift from God, inasmuch as it is the light with which He fills our soul. It is a virtue in that the soul puts it into practice. A true Christian lives according to his faith. This is how the Blessed Virgin lived. Saint Catherine, you welcomed with faith the apparitions of the Mother of God, pray for me when I am in doubt.

O Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, obtain for me the sight that contemplates everything by the light of faith.

And remember… my special intention …

Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…

“O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”

Day 4

Hope like Mary

Hope is born out of faith. The Blessed Virgin showed how great her trust in God was, first by keeping secret her miraculous motherhood, completely reassured that God would defend her innocence, her honor and her life. The same for when she was turned away from the Inn and forced to take shelter in a stable, and again during the flight to a foreign country and especially at the wedding at Cana, where despite her request’s being turned down by Jesus, Mary is nevertheless sure that her Son would grant her the favor she asked for.

Saint Catherine, the mission that was announced to you was filled with obstacles. But your Mother gave you advice as to how to negotiate these difficulties and you trusted her. Pray for me who worries too quicky.

O Mary, Mother of God and Our  Mother, you are, after Jesus, all my hope, teach me to trust in God’s Providence.

And remember… my special intention …

Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…

“O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

Day 5

The chastity of Mary

In Mary, God gave us the perfect model of the transparence of God’s love. Mary devoted herself totally to God, opening the way for many others. The evangelistic request for chastity is addressed however to all Christians, no matter what his life. It is a call not to use another for one’s own pleasure. Chastity is a way to live free, respecting another as another, fighting against what in us always dreams of merging, the transgressing of limits which characterizes our humanity.

Saint Catherine, all your life you served the poor with great respect, communicating to them the love that God has for them. Pray for me in difficult moments.

O Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, that your name, said with confidence, be my recourse when I must renounce the passions of the spirit and of the flesh, so as to let God in.

And remember… my special intention …

Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…

“O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

Day 6

The poverty of Mary

On Mary went to the Temple not with a lamb, which was the offering of the wealthy, but with two doves, which was the offering of the poor. She accepted to marry Joseph, who worked hard with his hands. She went to Egypt to save her child, abandoning her home, family and friends. When the virtue of poverty makes itself felt, what a source of consolation may the poverty of Mary and Joseph be!

Saint Catherine, you gave yourself to God to serve the poor. Pray for me when I place money too high on my list of priorities instead of giving priority to God.

O Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, in your magnificent canticle you said: “My soul doth glorify the Lord”. Obtain for me the grace that I desire nothing other than God.

And remember… my special intention …

Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…

“O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

Day 7

The obedience and patience of Mary

La Sainte, the Blessed Virgin was so attached to God that she described herself as His servant. Humbly, Mary lived all her life according to God’s will. When the woman from the gospel called out: “Blessed is the womb that bore thee!”, Jesus replied: “Blessed rather are they who listen to God’s word and keep it”. In this way, Mary is the first disciple of her Son.

Saint Catherine, you who patiently persevered in the pursuit of your mission, despite the difficulties, pray for me.

O Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, please obtain for us that we may faithfully obey God’s will and bear our crosses in peace and to always love more.

And remember… my special intention …

Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…

“O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

Most Holy Virgin, your prayer was continuous and persevering. Deign to obtain for me the love of prayer  and silence, because God loves to speak in the desert, as He Himself declared through the prophet Osee: “I will lead her into solitude, and I will speak to her heart.”

COMICS

Check out the following site: http://news.yahoo.com/comics/nancy

I was pleasantly surprised to see that Nancy continues to live. She was one of my favorites as a young girl. Pity that the likes of Wendy, Audrey, Little Lotta, Big Huey are no longer extant. Or are they? Anybody out there knows?

People vs places

Perhaps I’m a people person because when I shared some insights on our travel with my sisters I mentioned people rather than places. And this post will again be on people.

Yesterday, we were at a loss as to which bus to take to get to the Louvre. Then we saw a Filipina. She wasn’t sure herself so she called a friend on her cellphone. Even if that didn’t help either, it’s the thought that counts.

Buses were our bane yesterday. From the Louvre we took Bus No. 96 which was supposed to bring passengers to Gare Montparnasse. But what do you know? All bus 96’s stopped at St. Sulpice and so we were stranded there for a bit, wondering what bus to take next. There were two Filipinas there and one of them suggested taking two buses. Then after over an hour of waiting, husband overheard a woman say that all bus 96’s refused to go to GM because there was a demonstration or something. We approached her and asked if she were going to Montparnasse herself and how. She said she’d walk. we asked if we could join her and she readily agreed. As we conversed along the way, she asked if we knew how to speak Spanish. (Do we look Castilian? oh, okay, maybe my husband does a little) and as the conversation proceeded we mentioned we were from the PHilippines. According to her, she was with the French Embassy in the PHilippines years back. Now she is with a fashion group or something. After we crossed a street, she saw a bus that she said would bring us to Montparnasse. So we rode it. I asked if she had a ticket with the intention of our paying for her. She said she already had one. And guess what? She went to the driver as my husband was paying and said not to charge us because of the Bus 96 issue. So we didn’t have to pay. When the bus stopped at Montparnasse, she showed us where we should go to end up in our hotel. We exchanged contact info afterward.

Oh yes, at the Louvre, we saw a Filipina again as we were about to board the Star Wars like elevator – it’s open and circular. Pity it wasn’t she on the elevator else we could have talked. She was very efficient as she sternly told ambulant people that the lift was for carriages and wheelchairs.

This morning at the Notre Dame in Montparnasse, we chanced upon cub scouts selling brownies and butter cakes. we asked for a slice and gave some euros. Any amount, they said, would be fine. Mass had finished when we arrived but after praying, we chanced upon a young French priest. he asked where we were from and we told him. He said he was previously in Malaysia and mentioned there used to be a priest from his order in Mindanao. However, that priest was recalled after two abductions. I was a bit embarrassed when he told us that and said “I hope he isn’t mad at all Filipinos.” Small world: the said priest is now a parish priest in Dijon. I hope my son’s path and his cross before he comes home.

Paris is not in want of Good Samaritans

The goodness of man has been confirmed time and again in our trip these past days.

This morning we left for Versailles on a TGV train for Versailles Chantiers. Getting into the train was a bit difficult and there was no one in sight to help us from TGV but a young man inside the train willingly did.

Then on to the bus in Versailles for the chateau. My Filipina sensor is more often than not accurate. Right where my wheelchair could be positioned was a Filipina and we talked. She has been here for 20 years and cooks for an English family. She taught us where to get down and asked if we’d go to Lourdes. We said yes, tomorrow. I mention that for a reason here.

Then Versailles. The place is beautiful. At a certain point, I stopped taking pictures because I knew no picture would do it justice. And the personnel except for one were kind and efficient. We got in for free because I’m in a wheelchair. We were led to the lift which looks like a safe – all heavy metal. A man with a key accompanied us. But here’s the catch. When we were about to go down, the lift nearest the end of the tour was broken. So we had to go back to where we started on the second floor. Another lady in a wheelchair preceded us. A man conducted her down. But guess what? He didn’t come back. I was sure he wouldn’t because there had been more than enough time for him to do so. hence, I told husband maybe he should check things out. Luckily, there were stairs leading to the ground floor as the door behind us – he had locked it. Wow, what if there werent’ any stairs? Scary.

Soon after, husband came back and said someone was coming. Shortly after we descended, the first man came in and I think was chided by the man who got us because he seemed to apologize to us. Haha, we couldn’t understand what they were saying, so body language was what we usually try to go by.

Oh earlier, a black man was trying to sell us Eiffel tower keychains. He asked, “Spanish?” I was amused because I thought he may have mistaken me as Spanish. Then it occurred to me that maybe, it was my husband he thought was Spanish? I am Malay-CHinese to the core. Even when I was speaking to Corinne I’d interject my sentences with Ilonggo or Tagalog. I’m Filipino hands down.

Back to Versailles. As usual, we lost our way or rather we couldn’t find the way to the bus  or at least that’s what we thought the lady in the quarters of Marie Antoinette was telling us – that there was a bus in the grounds. I didn’t want to go through the cobbled stones we went through earlier. Very uncomfortable, very bumpy and what a long walk. But we had no choice as we saw no bus. At one point, husband was huffing and puffing as he pushed me up the grassy area rather than the rough patch of ground. I was worried. what if he collapsed. Then two men said “ayudamos.” They weren’t young men but they helped husband push me and then lift me across a wire thing. Oh boy. We could only thank them and of course, I offered a prayer for them and all the kind souls we’ve met along the way.

Finally we got on a bus to Versailles Chantiers train station. Bus B or G we were told would be fine. Bus B came first but on its heels was Bus G. The latter really read VC but the driver of Bus B signaled to say we could ride his bus. So I told husband let’s take Bus B. The driver is so kind. And he had to let out the ramp to the bus several times before he succeeded. AFter we got into the bus, husband went up to pay him. He refused to accept payment. Then he stood up and addressed us in French, smiling. Of course I couldn’t understand what he was saying but still I nodded. Then there was this teenage boy, one of two who moved so I could stay where wheelchair passengers should, who said “press the buzzer when you want to get off.” He translated what the bus driver was trying to tell us. Another angel for us.

On the train station – again, the train was too high for me to get on easily. So we let that one go as no help was in sight. As we waited for the next train, we saw a young man with a bike and we hoped he’d be going our way as this meant he’d be in the coach accessible to me as well. We asked, he said yes. He also said he’d help after he tried to communicate with the office through a contraption beside us, explaining our situation, only to find out the lift to the train was kaput. But the train was too high, so we solicited the help of an older man already on the train. Still difficult. Another passenger in the train, without being asked, came out to help. Lucky us. And finally when we got off the train in Montparnasse, three men again helped us — passengers all from the train we rode. God is so good to have been sending us these Good Samaritans, these angels, all the way.

As we were in the Gare, we thought of booking tickets for our trip to Lourdes tomorrow. A man from SNCF gave us the schedule and pointed us to where we could get tickets. A man in one of the booths saw us and told us to come forward, ahead of everyone in line. Yes, the disabled get special treatment here and no one complains (in Ikea, we were lining up and the same thing happened. The man who should have been next but was preempted by my disability, smiled when he saw me. SOme nationalities would have fumed, right?).

The TGV man patiently tried to find us seats for the train to Lourdes tomorrow. He said the 10:10 a.m. trip was fully booked. Then he said there was a trip that would require us to transfer trains. we agreed. then we asked him to book us for the return trip on Sunday. Sadly despite the long time he spent in his computer, he found nothing. He was extremely apologetic and looked sad that he couldn’t help.

So we went back to the hotel. This morning, I checked if the hotel might have a room for us if we couldn’t proceed to Lourdes. It was fully booked, their online booking said. So I was apprehensive when we approached the lady at reception. But guess what? She said we could have the same room.

God continues to bless us…

PS While in Versailles, we were blessed with no rain, not a drop. Last night, when we went to Eiffel Tower, slight drizzles and we failed to catch the river cruise. Truth to tell, I didn’t fancy riding the boat at night – so dark. I was sad for my husband but relieved for myself. Anyway, tonight, when we got back to the hotel, husband said he felt a drop of rain fall. Finally, when we were in the room, it rained.

Thank you God…

Corinne Jacquin

Back in the PHilippines, months ago, when I was looking for accommodations for son,  I chanced upon comments on Coco. Glowing comments from Americans and other nationalities who had stayed at her apartment.

I contacted her. And she answered, and answered, and answered. Later, when we began planning our trip, I asked if we could stay at her place on the first floor only to find out that first floor in France  equals second floor in the Philippines. Apparently I couldn’t stay at her place. But she and I continued communicating.

A week or so into our departure, I asked if disposable diapers were available in Dijon. I just wanted to be sure. She went to the grocery and looked. then she wrote, “bad news. I found none.” But she assured me she’d ask around. She finally got the answer from a friend with a mom in a wheelchair. She asked what size I needed and got me two packs. She knew we’d be arriving Tuesday and planned to see us Wednesday so she could hand them over as I might need them.

She did come Wednesday and handed over the two packs. We talked a bit and then resumed our email communication.

Yesterday, the day before we left Dijon, we invited her to lunch at Stephane der Bord. Afterwards she showed us (me through a video, my husband live) her apartment near Rue de Liberation. She also accompanied us to Musee de Rude, St. Michel church and handed us a magnet resembling those found in the chouette trail. She also gave us a poster of Dijon and their specialty – ginger bread.

Will post a picture of hers once we’re back in the Philippines.

Now, if only her flat were on the ground floor, I’d have stayed there. Anyone who goes to Dijon should. She’s hospitality personified. She was our angel in Dijon.

A Filipina in Interlaken – Good Samaritan

In Switzerland, son and I went to the Catholic church near the hotel, Beau Rivage. The night before we had been hearing the bells clanging. In one souvenir store, I asked if it were a Catholic church. When told it was, I asked what time mass would be Sunday.

I was determined to hear mass even if I had to do it alone. I know the two boys would want to go around. Then, shortly after son and I reached the church as husband had to call the trains to expect someone in a wheelchair, just after we left the sanctuary where one lights candles and we did (I prayed for my friends, sisters and their families), I saw a woman who looked very Filipino. She looked at me and smiled too. Our respective instincts were right. She was Filipino. I asked how long the mass would be (the mass son had  attended in Notre Dame in Paris was two hours – I couldn’t stay that long as we had to check out by 12) and when she said an hour, I decided to stay. Son put me in a place on the side. The Filipina and I talked a bit and as we were doing so, an old lady passed us and made gestures -hinting I should transfer. So the Fiipina helped me wheel to the area – a big space between pews and stationed me there. She went to the front pews.

The mass lasted less than an hour. Of course I couldn’t understand anything-it was in German– though more or less, from the sequence, I could guess certain portions. I think I had dozed off by Peace  be with you time when a lady tapped me to shake hands. hahaha. Oh and before that, after the homily, my cell phone beeped. Twice.  I shut it off and hoped no one knew it was mine. (Later I saw it was husband saying they would ride the funicular and to wait for me as they’d come back 11:10).

After mass, Evelyn Garcia Reyes (from Quezon province, then a resident of Frisco del Monte and a med tech graduate of Martinez school in Caloocan), came to me and we exchanged stories. She said next time we could stay with her. She has a studio. After a while (the mass lasted 45 minutes) I told her to go ahead. She said “kawawa ka naman. hintayin ko nadumating sila- she had met Inigo earlier). As we talked on, there was muttering in front. Oops the second mass had started.  So I wheeled myself out with her help. Shortly after, husband and son  arrived. I introduced them and soon after, we left. Hadn’t we been in a rush to check out, we’d have asked her to lunch.

Cab drivers

One meets all sorts. One gets lucky sometimes, one meets cranky ones other times. A number in Dijon tried to speak english to us, today here at Montparnasse from Gare de Lyon, the cab driver was really nice too. He was a bit embarrassed that his cab could hardly accommodate all our luggage and my wheelchair, so unlike the one who picked us up in mercure this morning. He was impatient that we were taking so long and I didn’t see any reason for him to be so as his meter was ticking all the time he was waiting for us anyway.

But lucky for us, there was just he who was not nice among the cab drivers.

Divia buses and Diviacity

The bus system in Dijon is tops. Bus fare is 1 euro and can be used to transfer buses within an hour. Diviacity is free. Its route is limited but wow, it really helps. Imagine having to pay zilch to get to designated stops.

Not all Divia buses are wheelchair accessible but there are enough of them for us to have had no need to take a cab except when the drivers waged a strike yesterday.

Riding them made me wonder: can’t we have something similar in the PHilippines?

Railway systems

TGV is the best. We also used SBB in Switzerland but they are so rigid out there, we were bumped off from a train we wanted to ride, all because we had failed to “announce” our need for assistance two days prior. Luckily, there was just one person who refused us on that ground. We were able to take the next train. Earlier we had gone to the SBB office and they told us it was too late to request for assistance. Not so with TGV.

You can ask for assistance 20 minutes prior to the trip and they’re there all out to help with their lifts and personnel. And on a TGV train, the one in charge of tickets facilitated a request for us to be assisted when we transferred trains. Great service.

At Montparnasse station, there was this guy charged with unloading me off the train. He was so upbeat, so pleasant, I took his picture. Soon as I get back to the PHilippines where my card reader is, I’ll post his picture. He assured us that though we’d separate, he’d bring our luggage to where the taxis where. “don’t worry” he said. And he found a taxi for us too. I felt like God was sending us an angel via this man.

Hotel Concorde Montparnasse – the best!!!

Free wifi, friendly people at the reception and they can speak English, ice machines on every floor, what more can one ask for?

How I wish son were with us. He’d love it here. There’s jazz music in the bar! Guitar’s like his.

Hotel is near Gare Montparnasse. Across it is a supermarche, a pharmacie and restos. On the reception desk is a bowl of candies.

The elevators are fast.

Pity we’ll be here for only 3 nights. It’s such an improvement over Mercure.

Disabled room has a wide door, door to bathroom is wide. there are bars everywhere. the only flaw – it has no roll in shower but a bathtub. But they had warned me in an email, so I’m not complaining.  Not at all.

And this is no paid advertisement. It’s a glowing report of a hotel in France that’s really the best so far for us. Several notches higher, no second thoughts about it.

And when we entered the room, there was even a greeting on the TV welcoming us, my name written on it.

Diagonal to it is a Chinese resto: Le table chine or something. How did we find it? The guy at the reception pointed it out to us when we asked for the nearest Chinese resto. If this trip has made me realize on thing, it’s that Asian food remains my favorite bar none.

PS

The shampoo, bath gel and soap are Annick Goutal, no less. The ladies at the Reception are nice. Earlier this a.m. as we waited in line for someone to attend us, someone who must have been their boss saw us and asked how she could help. She promptly endorsed us to one of the girls.

Prayers shared by Letty Jacinto-Lopez

A few weeks back, I read an article by Letty Jacinto-Lopez on Holy France and decided to email her. She emailed back each time I wrote her and shared the following prayers. I’d like to share them with you as well. Thank you, Letty.

A Candle…

LORD, may the candle

which I burn be a light,

so that you may enlighten me

in my difficulties

and in my decisions.

May it be fire,

so that you can burn in me

all selfishness, pride and impurity.

May it be flame,

so that you may warm up my heart.

I cannot stay for long

in your church.

By lighting this candle,

it is part of my self

which I wish to give You.

Help me to continue my prayer

throughout all my daily activities.

AMEN.

My Jesus, my Friend
walk with me today.
Hand in hand, guide me to learn
and to know what is good
Arm in arm, help me to grow
in my faith and in love for others
Side by side, stay by me to pray and
to be all that You want me to be
Thank you, Jesus, for the special love
You have for me. Amen

==============================

=======

Lord be our guide  and our protector
on this journey.  Watch over us.
Protect us from accidents
Keep us free from harm to body and soul.

Lord, support us with Your grace
when we are tired.  Help us to be patient
in any trouble which may come our way

Keep us always mindful of Your presence and love.  Amen
==============================================

Mino Marchetti

We were booked in Beau Rivage in Interlaken last Saturday when passing across the lobby, we heard piano music. We took a peek and then went on. We meaning my husband and I.

Later that evening, after dinner at a pizza place outside the hotel, we entered the hotel lobby and heard piano music yet again. Son stopped on his tracks, sat on the sofa and we joined him. He marveled at the piano playing and pronounced that the pianist must have had classical training. I had to agree with him – the touch was different. No banging there, just forte or fortissimo with strong fingers rather than beating the piano to a pulp.

After the first piece we heard was finished, I applauded and so did my son and husband. The pianist looked at us and bowed. He asked “want to hear something?” He wanted us to name a tune we wanted to hear. So one after the other, we gave him the names of songs to play: Moon River, Smile, etc. He played a Gershwin medley too.

At one point, when all the others in the lobby had left, he came to us and we chatted. He had studied in the conservatory in Milan, thereby confirming our conjecture that he had classical training. Oh yes, he came to us after playing Smile. Why? because it is a song associated with Charlie Chaplin whom he met in the 1960s, I think. The pianist’s name: Mino Marchetti.

My son was pleased with himself. He recalled a video I had forwarded him many weeks back about an experiment conducted with Joshua Bell’s participation. Apparently, JB had played to a full-house but days later, when he played in some public place anonymously, no one bothered to stop and listen.

Oh yes, MM is 86 years old and has never been wanting for work. He advised my son never to give up music. Click on the link to see him:

Lessons learned on travel thus far

In the Philippines, when one buys euros, one gets huge bills. And guess what, these are not appreciated here at all. They’d rather you transact in small bills, debit cards or credit cards. Debit cards are like ATM card that are swiped (think BPI’s EPS in groceries and some stores). Thing is, none can be obtained in the Philippines thus far. Earlier, HSBC it would launch in August. Now I hear it will be launched this October.

So what? We went to the post office after the lady in the Tourism Office told us we could have our money changed to smaller bills there. But when we did go to the PO, we were turned down. Darn. Then at the center of Dijon, I saw HSBC. I thought oh, an oasis in the dessert. A bank familiar to me. So we wheeled in. A stern looking man saw the 500 euro bill and shook his head. I was near tears but I knew that wouldn’t have moved him. I tried the only trick I thought available to me: I waved my HSBC card to him. Yes, HSBC Savings Bank card from the PHilippines. He started giving us 50 euro bills. I asked that 100 euros worth be changed to even smaller denominations. He did it.

Sigh… or should it be, hurray!!! Thank God we had HSBC cards with us. And this is not a commercial, mind you.

Lesson number 2: this took place a day earlier but isn’t as critical as the first. We were in Toison D’or. I saw the name of my sister emblazoned on top of a store: Julie K. I took a picture of it. Then husband got the camera and tried to take a better one from his height. A man in a red shirt and black pants approached us and waved a finger at us. “No pictures” he said. We apologized and so you won’t be seeing any pictures of malls here. So strict. When I told Corinne this she said the same had happened to her in Harrods, London. Hi Corinne.

France et al.

It’s a pity that I cannot blog as often as I’d like to because in many hotels, Internet comes for a fee. Nonetheless, I’ll try to recall what have transpired since we planed in at the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris.

A French man and a woman came to our seat with a small wheelchair for me. They helped transfer me to it. Then at the door of the plane, they handed me to a young French man who wheeled me to wherever I needed. He knew what he was doing, certainly, but as the walkalator fell and rose at different angles, I was scared though he always thoughtfully locked the wheelchair when the going was particularly steep. He helped us with the luggage, and bully for us we had forgotten to put attractive tags for easier identification. The cute tag I had put had come loose but husband saw it.

We told the young man we were going to Sheraton CDG. He wasn’t familiar. I mentioned Terminal 2 and asked if someone could take us. He knew very little English, I knew no French but somehow, he got the drift. He started making a call.

Now if like me you’ve watched too many espionage movies and don’t understand French, chances are that like me you will wonder if he’s selling you to some undesirable element. So I prayed, really hard. He brought us to an elevator that had only us and my husband and led us to the exit of the airport. There a small van with a man and a woman and a driver were waiting. The driver set down the lift and put me on it. The man and the woman were not friendly. Oops, what was this about? My imagination ran wild as he drove fast, very fast, past Sheraton. Is he kidnapping us? The couple with us weren’t smiling and they sounded mad. Then they went down some terminal. So there was just husband, driver and me. He drove really fast. And then finally he brought us to Sheraton. Whew.  As they always do, the person charged with me wheels me, husband the luggage. While the man wheeled me to the hotel, I shivered a little and said “ang lamig.” He said as he patted my arm, “is cold here, no?” After endorsing us to check in he shook hands and said for us to have a good time. He was really nice.

The Sheraton Hotel – the girl at check-in was nice. I teased about a discount and she seemed shy when she said that’s the lowest price we could give. We went to our hotel room and the corridor leading to it was open on one side, so the carpet looked like it had been wet once. The room was nice, overlooking some tarmac. Yet we heard none of the noise planes make. AFter resting a bit, I brought up the possibility of going straight to Dijon that morning. I noticed how expensive food was at the hotel – 35 euros appeared to be the cheapest. Multiply that by 70 pesos. You get the drift. So though we had paid euros 155 for the day use of the hotel, we decided to try to catch the train to Dijon. I was sure lunch there would be cheaper.

Husband went down to the train terminal to ask about tickets: 86.50 euros for both of us. It was 10:45 and the train was due to leave at 11:16. We were supposed to be at the information desk 20 minutes before so someone would accompany us to the train. As husband and I were about to board the elevator, he realized we didn’t have the tickets we bought. We reached the information counter at 11:10. The guy accompanied us and we proceeded to an elevator. It didn’t work. Went to another and finally that one did. Went to the tracks, proceeded to the right. Wrong. Our coach was on the left. Arrgh. Four policemen in front of us were rushing to their coach. Ours was the farthest. A guy who looked like he was part of the system saw us. He didn’t say anything and I was really worried we’d miss the train.

The guy in charge of us wheeled me up the train – no ramp and shoved our luggage in and the train left. We were stuck with our luggage as the swinging automatic sliding doors to the seats closed before we could get in. Then they opened and we rushed in, leaving our luggage behind in the compartment.

There were only about 5 people aside from us. Seats were wide and aisle spacious. First class coach, not for anything but that being in a wheelchair makes first class logical. As the trains sped, I looked at the view outside and I thought of Talisay. There were fields of green everywhere.  The houses were quaint, not palatial. I smiled as I imagined how son must have felt going through this for thte first time some 28 days earlier.

The lady in front of me was writing on what looked like newspaper. I wanted to ask her whether the train would proceed elsewhere after Dijon as I wanted to be sure we’d be able to get off quickly if it did. As I couldn’t reach her I asked husband to do so and she was very nice. Plus she spoke English!!! She goes to Dijon every two weeks because her office in Paris sends her. She asked where we came from and before we parted she wished us a great stay.

As the train stopped, I saw a man and a woman in uniform ready with some contraption. yes, they were there for me. And the contraption was a ramp of sorts. The man operated it as the woman pushed me down. Amazing. ANd while I wondered how we could go off the tracks  section to the side of the road, the woman pushed my wheelchair and voila, we ended up on the road.We asked where we could get a cab. Cab? They asked, Avis? I said, cab, AVis, anything. They made a call with a handheld gadget, brought us somewhere and before long a tiny taxi came. Citroen. TIny one. But our luggage fit and the driver drove fast…

We asked to be brought to IBIS in Dijon Center Clemenceau where I had reserved a room for the disabled. It was around 4 pm and quite hot. We were given the card key to the room and it was up to us to look for it and bring our luggage to boot. My husband having only two hands, I told him to bring the luggage up first and then get me. He did just that.

The room was very bare but it would have served our purpose – a bed to lie down on although it was quite low and  would be a bit difficult for my husband as a result to transfer me to. But the bathroom was tops. SLiding door, roll in shower, wide. Yehey. Then as we were about to go out to eat, I asked my husband to try turning on the aircon, just to check. No cold air there and so we went to front desk. No aircon, contrary to the individually controlled aircon claim of the website. Two weeks ago, we were told, they had put in heaters instead. We were aghast. Dismayed. How could we sleep? I told the person in the front desk we’d check out Mercure across the street, and he shrugged his shoulders.

At Mercure we were told there was but one room left and it was the most expensive. The receptionist said we could check it out. She called an old man over to bring us. They spoke French and the lady then shook her head while telling us that old man said the wheelchair wouldn’t fit. I insisted, “Could we check it out ourselves?” She said yes and so we spent our first night in a suite in Mercure. Of course I asked if there’d be a cheaper room for the days following and got that. It is where we are now. It has two doors: one from outside to the room, and one between the tiny foyer and the room.

Problem: the wheelchair couldn’t get inside the room. Husband had to carry me in. Sigh. So I thought this means I can only go out very rarely. Still we went out to Toison d’Or near Holiday Inn where we’d originally planned to stay but decided otherwise when son said there are hotels nearer his dorm. Toison D’or is a two story mall but before I go into that, let me tell you of how the door in our room problem was solved. Corinne Jacquin.

I’ll save the next post for her. I’ve taken up too much time using the Internet. (sorry for the errors. will edit in the PHilippines)

Singapore and France for the first time

I thought I shouldn’t be blogging and taking up precious Internet for a fee time, but why not? I think I need it so I don’t forget.

Checked in, the first in line at SQ in Naia 1 pleasantly. We arrived at the counter before the lady who attended to us did as the travel agent told us to get there first so we could ask for bulk head (front row) seats. I had been able to check in online, but when I tried to do the same for my husband, I got the message “stretcher passengers not allowed to check in”. There was a miscommunication right there, I texted the travel agent so she said to go early. No problem at the counter.

The plane ride – so many airpockets. I prayed the rosary and my novena of prayers. Force of habit the rosary – my mother always did that and it’s a habit that continues to live on among us sisters.  Food was okay but being new at these things, I didn’t realize until the plane was about to land that like the rest of the passengers, we too had monitors attached to our seat. Pity the 3 hours I could have spent playing Bejeweled and other games, or watching a movie, etc.

At the airport in Singapore, I was met by this old man, a Steve Lau who was tasked to facilitate my being wheeled to wherever. Wow, that was so nice of SQ. Oh yes, there was a man tasked to do similarly in Naia, but he was late. And as he wheeled me to predeparture, we passed by so many stores, St. Cinnamon among them. We hadn’t had breakfast so i asked if we could stop: he said that where we were headed, “meron din niyan.” Ngek, sure there was Kopi Roti where we finally ended, but no St. Cinnamon. That’s the bane of being wheeled by someone who’s doing it in the line of duty: he calls the shots.

Oh, before Steve Lau were the stewards and flight attendants of SQ. Among the stewards, I had a favorite: I think he was the senior most among them. At the predeparture area, he looked at me and smiled, so that won me over immediately. He was consistently pleasant each time he saw us. Then there was this prettiest of the stewardesses. Very solicitous. She’d constantly assure us my wheelchair was coming. When it did, she and nice steward gathered our hand carried items, watched over them just outside the plane’s door and handed them to us. The man teased, “is your husband a wrestler? He’s very strong.” Steve Lau for his part asked husband “are you the doctor?” Wow, he thought I could afford to bring a doctor with me????

Anyway, Steve Lau is very articulate and efficient. He’d point out where we should go to wait for his counterpart in the evening, etc. And he transferred us from Terminal 2 to 3 using the skytrain. My, the skytrain is something one sees in the movies – so sleek and clean. So fast. I really enjoyed that ride and Changi airport.

We checked in at Ambassador Transit Hotel where rates are for blocks of six hours each. Nice hotel, clean. Room is just the right size, with TV. I watched some Koreanovelas, haha. Husband dozed off. We had lunch at Ajisen, I was famished: tempura and rice; husband had salmon salad. And I treated myself to Coke.

Dinner was at Delifrance. Ordered quiche lorraine, husband ordered steak. We looked at the shops a little, husband bought a shirt. I got wet tissue. My Bench alcogel had spilled into the zip lock, so I left that in the hotel. I didn’t buy chocolates because I thought our hand carried might be weighed and found beyond the limit. They were not weighed. (Oh yes, our checked in luggage totaled 40kg. yes, it fell within the limit. Initially the total was 56 kg -this was at home. But we were determined to meet the max and no more because a niece at the airport, also flying to Paris texted that excess luggage cost $40 a kilo. I thought that with $40, I would be able to buy NEW clothes if I left behind some old ones to trim down our luggage. Bought this digital luggage weigher so we knew we fell within the limit.

at Changi, near Ambassador is a Butterfly Garden. It was okay.

Next installment will be on the plane ride to France. I’m hungry and therefore too lazy to continue. Still haven’t had breakfast!

what a day

Last night, as the rains poured, I wondered how we’d get off the car to the church where my nephew was getting married. This morning I was similarly worried. By 11, as I bathed, water gushed out from the square thing with holes. Uh oh. And water had entered our sala. And soon it reached the first step to our room, then the second, then the third. Then our room. This was the first time ever and it felt so awful. In the past I’d imagine it happening but it never did. I was scared. Would we all just drown inside the house?

I took out my novena and prayed aloud. My husband was perpetually shaking his head as he and the maids put things on tables, beds. It was awful. At one point, there were so many things on the bed my nose began to itch. I told the maid to stop already and took a Benadryl capsule. She stopped and so did the itching of my nose.

At 12 Carlo of Grand Salon called. He had come earlier but we couldn’t let him in because where could he wait? There was water everywhere. The 12 noon call was to apologize that he couldn’t wait any longer for the flood to subside. He was to do my hair and makeup for my nephew’s wedding at 3 pm. I texted my sister and asked if the priest was going to proceed as scheduled. Before long she texted back to say he couldn’t come. The wedding would take place with a different priest in the hotel where the reception was scheduled. I changed, I thought we could still go. I wasn’t too concerned about the lack of hair and makeup on my part.

One p.m., we couldn’t get out of the house without having to wade. So we decided to stay put. By 5 pm, waters had subsided but we were fearful that the worst wasn’t yet over. Around 7 pm, husband checked MMDA Channel 4 on Destiny to see how the road situation was. We took the plunge and left for Makati at 7:30. No traffic to contend with. We made it to the reception.

Lovely reception. Food at Makati Shang was superb. Started with a salmon appetizer, then portobello mushroom soup with croutons, parmesan cheese and a special kind of bacon. Then a sorbet. Then the main dish that consisted of fish with saffron risotto and chicken in some sauce and goose liver. Dessert was a black and white cheese cake or something.

My nephew sang 3 songs for his bride. What a revelation. Hosts were Sam YG and Bianca G. Band was Sound Salad. really good.

Pity that we had missed the wedding ceremony but no recriminations were forthcoming. It was a great reception.

**********

As the waters were rising this pm, I thought of Noah and his ark. I wondered if he’d have let me ride his ark. Occasions like today’s give one pause. At least it made me think somehow of whether I would have deserved a ride in the ark if push came to shove.

I prayed hard to God, the angels and the saints. Mama Mary too, to spare us, to spare everyone. Hope this never, ever happens again.

Globe Issues

There are so many things to remember when one uses Globe (and maybe Smart too) when one goes abroad. And guess what, the normally efficient Globe operators are just as confused. Ask one question and they’ll ask to put you on hold for 30 seconds which is actually more than 30 seconds. And each time, they say, “Thank you for patiently waiting.”

All along, I had the impression that if one has a Globe plan, one can share a load to someone with an OFW sim abroad. Thank God I asked again. I was told this wasn’t possible. So one has to bring a box of prepaid cards so one doesn’t run out. Darn.

Then I asked some days ago, how someone can load a prepaid card abroad. I was told one can do it the same way one does while here in the PHilippines. An hour or so ago, I called Globe. I was told to do this: *123*callcardnumberpin# and press send.

For good measure, I called again a few minutes ago, was told to just do it the way we do it here. I raised the point that I was told one has to do the *123* bit. So she put me on hold for 30 seconds, at least that’s what she promised. And true enough, the *123* thingy is it.

Next I asked earlier how one makes a call to someone in France using Globe load. She said “country code followed by the area cole and then the number.” Earlier I asked and was told to do this: *131*countrycodeareacodephonenumber#

My head is spinning from all these instructions. Why do you thing I’m blogging about this? Not to rant but to remember all the instructions. If a Globe operator’s brain goes on overdrive, it is from having to memorize all the instructions they have to give.

As for checking the balance, it’s *122# – at least that’s what I was told.

For text +country codemobileaccessnumbermobilenumber

Oh and the charges:

The other day, the girl who answered told me that text from OFW to OFW sims abroad costs P20 for 160 characters. But today I was told it’s P25 flat rate, not P20.

What to do then?

Let me get my bearings first. Or maybe I’ll leave my phone with a sister and ask her to share-a-load with me using my phone while I am gone.

I pity the operators of Globe. I’m sure I am not the only lost cum irate customer they’ve had, or am I?

A Continuing Saga

Months back, I got my passport. No end destination in mind, for ID purposes, I reasoned. How would I be able to afford going anywhere with my entourage of 3, I thought? Husband, son and my yaya.

Then some quarters teased “Won’t you visit your son in France?” Nice idea, I thought, but one that seemed too, too far-fetched. One friend, when he learned son was going to apply for his visa soon, warned that the Schengen Embassy was strict about the requirements, especially financials. So I smiled widely when my son’s visa was approved. That friend’s wife, when she learned we were applying for our (husband’s and mine) own hinted about financials again – she said something to the effect that a teacher’s income was small and the embassy would look at that. Our visas were approved. I haven’t told her that yet. Her husband when he learned we were thinking of going said “Paano mag travel ang naka wheelchair?”  I think his wife was embarrassed and said a friend had told her that on a pilgrimage she had a companion in a wheelchair. And I know that person in the wheelchair. The husband was stunned.

We are due to fly out Monday. Still haven’t finalized the return. Please pray all goes well, that accessibility issues won’t arise especially in the train stations. Because that is my husband’s greatest fear.

My most fervent wish is that we will remain healthy and safe at all times. When son went to Marseilles over the weekend, there were suspicious looking characters following them, he said. One succeeded in opening the bag of one of the girls but failed to get anything.

So please pray for us – our health, safety and the accessibility of transport systems. I trust God will provide with the help of the angels and saints in heaven.

Dolphy on Politics and Willie Revillame

Dolphy is consistent. All these years, this has been his stance. I admire him for it, I salute him for it. A wise and humble decision on his part.

Dolphy gives Willie ‘political’ advice

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abs-cbnNEWS.com | 09/22/2009 8:32 PM

MANILA – Do not enter the dirty world of politics.

Comedy King Dolphy has offered this advice to “Wowowee” host Willie Revillame, who is being urged to run in next year’s elections.

Dolphy said he dissuaded the popular afternoon host from running when they talked Monday night, saying “it is not yet the right time.”

“Iyong pagpupulitika kako mas marumi kesa sa artista. Pag-aralan mong mabuti kako. Pero para sa akin it’s not the right time, di ba? He’s doing okay ngayon. Hanggang nagpapasaya ka ng tao, sige magpasaya ka muna. Maybe, later on,” Dolphy told ABS-CBN News.

Dolphy had been urged to run for senator once. The veteran actor, however, declined the offer. He said he was more afraid of winning in the elections than losing.

“Natatakot siya (Revillame) talaga. Mananalo siya talaga. Sa akin iyon ang sabi ko, ayokong magpulitika…. doon nga ako natatakot baka manalo ako. Ganoon din si Willie,” he laughingly said.

Dolphy is shooting his comeback film “Juan,” which will also feature Revillame, Eddie Garcia and sons Epi Quizon, who will play the young Dolphy, and Vandolph.

Directed by Dolphy’s another son, Eric Quizon, “Juan” is one of the official entries to the annual Metro Manila Film Festival in December.

“Juan” tells the story of a senior citizen who desperately wants to appear on “Wowowee” where he will meet again his one true love after years of not seeing each other.

Meanwhile, Dolphy broke his silence on the National Artist issue.

Like any other actor, the 81-year-old actor said it is his ultimate dream to receive the award. His supporters said Dolphy should be named in the Order of National Artists, citing his contributions in the film industry.

He joked: “Sabi ko nga make-up artist na lang o national arthritis award.” Report from Mario Dumaual, ABS-CBN News

Philippine Politics

I couldn’t believe my ears tonight. According to the news, one of the presidentiables is thinking of getting the host of a noontime show to run for VP under the presidentiable’s party. What??????!!!!!

His choice makes me think that he just wants to win. Period. He doesn’t seem to love the Philippines and the Filipinos if he sincerely believes we can have a vice president the likes of everyone knows whom. His choice is perpetually being castigated by various groups for one reason or other and he’s thinking of having this person sub for him if he’s away or, heaven forbid, if he passes away? What a nightmare.

How absolutely sad and disgusting.

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Menu, settings, network, manual, choose first network suggested

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Travel Club Rockwell and Shang

Choices are aplenty in TC Rockwell. Plus there’s this pregnant lady who patiently answers my questions, shows me the goods and smiles to the end whether I make any purchase or not. Yesterday I changed my mind at least thrice about which bag to buy, but she was never irritable. TC is lucky to have her in its fold.

TC Shang also has okay personnel. One of them knows us from a visit to Rustan’s. So he always has a welcoming smile for us each time we drop by.

If you need windbreakers and are big, ask them for the Columbia brand. North Face items  available range from Small to Large only for men. Columbia has up to XXL. If you’re female and big, the store has no get-ups for you from their racks for women. Sadly. The situation makes me wonder: don’t big women have the right to wear windbreakers et al? Or aren’t they supposed to get wet? Don’t we need protection?

This reminds me of a comment re the suspension of classes during inclement weather. More often than not, tertiary level students have to attend school up to Signal No. 2. One college teacher supposedly ask, “Does a high school diploma provide immunity from respiratory ailments” or something to that effect?

Oh well…

Negros Fair at Rockwell Tent

It has been a long time since we’ve had a good lunch for two for just P385. This consisted of two orders of valenciana, one inasal and one order of chorizong hubad. Also two cans of Coke. Oops, that should also have consisted of a serving of ginataan but the lady forgot to give it. When husband asked for it, there was none left. So he got an empanada chorizo instead. I had been longing for ginataan from Bacolod.  But I guess Flavors of Negros at Rockwell Tent just had too many customers. In fact we’d have ordered lumpia ubod too but they had run out.

So ordered lumpia ubod from El Ideal. Husband who’s used to lumpia with sauce, tagalog style, was looking for sauce. He also said Bailon’s was better. But I had one lumpia fried when we got home and it was great.

Stopped at Quan’s for takeout food: suman latik, cassava bibingka, puto pao (the BEST), plain puto, kalamay hati. I’m not sure if I’ve listed all I got from it.

Also got pili from Felicia’s and tried the malunggay polvoron. Yummy.

This year’s affair was less stressful for us than last year’s in that we weren’t hard put to find a table. Plus when we found one without our having gotten food yet, I saw the daughter of a cousin. I asked if she was hurrying and she said no. So I asked if she could sit on our table while we got food. She readily agreed. My husband was aghast that I asked her and was assured when I told him she was a niece. Occasions like this make me appreciate the fact that I’m older. haha. thank you, Cynthia.

Outside the tent were a few vendors – plants mostly. But I also saw Ereneta chorizo. Got one pack of recado. Hamonado had run out. Ereneta chorizo is actually available in Rustan’s supermarket as well.

Oh yes, got one pack of 10 piayas from Sugarland. Only 1 pack. the last time I got a box, the filling was so dry I wondered if it was a new batch.

Catch the Negros Fair up till tomorrow. Rockwell Tent. There are so many nice non-food items as well: neck pieces, wrist bands, smocked dresses for children, bags, etc.

Elevators in the Metro

The best where one hardly gets turned away are those of Power Plant even without elevator girls manning them. They’re huge and clean, efficient too.

Podium’s – I’ve written this often enough – they stink and are humid places to be caught in. No problem getting a ride.

Shangrila – some stink, some are okay. But getting into them is a challenge, especially the set that plies Basement-Level 7. Sometimes, the doors open to reveal an embarrassed elevator girl who has passed us several times. She’s helpless. Can’t management do anything about this? The elevators are small, hence the problem I guess. But SM Megamall and Makati Med have remedies that help avoid such incidents.

SM Megamall – the elevator doors have signs that read “Give priority to the disabled.” Thank you. And of course, not too many people care but the elevator girls in the mall are firm. They tell those who choose to rush in before a wheelchair bound person to let the latter get in first. Thank you.

Makati Med – the elevator girls have handheld radios. So when they chance upon someone in a wheelchair whom they cannot accommodate, they radio the other elevator’s personnel to stop at such a level to pick up said disabled. This avoids situations akin to Shang’s where the same elevator girl sees you growing roots waiting for an elevator with enough room to bring you in your wheelchair to where you need/want to go.

The Traffic Enforcers and the Occasional Violator vis a vis the Habitual Violators

Why are they not fair? Why do they have double standards?

Case 1: When buses take on lanes that aren’t theirs, the blue shirts turn a blind eye/look the other way. Is it because there’s no way they can catch the buses? So the buses keep at it without let up. They take any lane that suits them. And why not?

Case 2: Man inadvertently finds himself in the bus lane and guess what a pack of blue shirts pounce on him. Three of them, their black leather ticket holders in hand. No matter how the man pleads that nagkamali lang, na box out, they do not budge. The blue shirt takes forever to fill up the ticket while staying at the back of the car. The man might have driven of but didn’t. Blue shirt gives man a ticket. is it a recycled one? On it someone else’s name has also been written. Plus 2 offenses: taking bus lane and refusal to surrender license. Man never refused. The ticket also indicated that man delayed traffic. There had been no bus behind the man.  Whatever.

There is no one perfect bank, trust me

This a.m., hied of to Bank A to effect a bank transfer to Europe. Of course the document I brought with details on the entity I had to pay to was all in French. A month ago, brother-in-law who works in a bank did it for me. I didn’t want to bother him again, so with my husband, ventured to Bank A.

The lady who attended me sat behind a huge desk. She had a form and instructed me from across the huge expanse what to fill up. Since grade 3 I have been wearing glasses and even a person with 20/20 vision could not have read what she was pointing to from the distance. Superman maybe, but a normal human being, no. I know, she had lots to do but well, what happened to customer service? Strike 1.

Strike 2: I showed her the letter in French. She said she couldn’t fathom what number and info was which. Neither could I. But I thought hey, they must be doing this every day, right? She said it was their client’s responsibility to know what to write. Oh boy. I asked for the manager, she echoed what the lady had just told me. Oh boy. So I called a friend (oh, this sounds like a game show) except that it had been her husband who had done it for her before. Next recourse, call Bank B where I also maintain an account but which charges higher, almost double what Bank A charges (P1500 vs. P800). My Bank B contact guided me and voila, found it.

Strike 3: As we were about to leave, the transmittal print-out in my hand, I looked for the info I had requested to be written- that the amount was for my son’s dorm from October to December. what did I see? Typed in was October and December. So back to clerk. Whereas Bank B would have offered to have the corrected document delivered (personnel in Bank A who could effect the correction from the head office — all of them were out to lunch), Bank A told me to have the maid come back. I was too exhausted to argue.

Who scores better? Bank A or Bank B? I don’t want to think. Now if I start on Bank C my blood pressure might soar, so I’ll stop right here, right now. I just needed to vent.

Chew, you and your super powers, care to guess which bank is which?

Cinderella Man

As the title goes, Cinderella here is a man who goes the route of rags to riches but under different circumstances. Oh and by the way, this is a Korean telenovela.

The male lead is the same actor who portrayed Cholo in Stairway to Heaven. He is a good actor but seems miscast in light of the girl who portrays his dream partner. Or maybe, it is she who is miscast. There seems to be  a lack of chemistry between them resulting from his being too old for her or her being to young for him. Cholo is more suited to the contravida in terms of looks, age and personality; the young girl he pursues is more suited to the bad guy here. The miscasting notwithstanding, the setting of the story is interesting. It takes place in a mall of retailers and wholesalers of fabric and clothing.

The female lead is pretty, so is the female contravida. They wear mini skirts a lot but don’t look offensive. The male contravida is good looking and looks kind. He acts well enough to convince people he has a mean streak. Cast in minor roles are a number of actors and actresses who are present in a lot of telenovelas I’ve watched previously. The lola, the person she trusts the most, a nightclub owner who was in a ridiculous Afro wig.

CM is in mysoju.com.

Happy Birthday, Mama Mary!!!

8 September 2009

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

Amen.

(from http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/prayers/Memorare.htm)

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Back to

Shang on a Sunday

Heard mass at the atrium at 11, then lunch at CPK. Went to Marks and Spencer and found a number of shirts that had sizes for me. Hurray. For as long as I avoid the Autograph label, I’m fine. Two shirts of their regular brand are worth just one Autograph shirt. As usual, one can never fault the ladies selling in M & S. Very good service there plus the occasional samples of their goodies for sale.

Then went in search of Gore-tex shoes for husband. Went to Nike, none. On a wild hunch, went to ECCO and voila, they had a few Gore-tex models and these were on sale at almost 50% off. And the size was just right for husband. Made of yak leather. I liked two bags there but they were not part of the sale, so didn’t get either.

Then on to the groceries. The constant relayouting of Rustan’s supermarket in Shang plus my infrequent visits thereat must have showed in our body language because there was this clerk who’d suddenly pop up and ask what we were looking for. Fortunately for us, he was around when husband wanted to go to the water closet so I asked if he could push the grocery cart. He readily agreed and was pleasant even as I repeatedly asked if he’d not get into trouble doing this for us. He smiled to the end.

While waiting for my husband by the driveway of Shang, a Starex van stopped close by. It had a few ladies and a baby coming off it: Katrina Halili was one of the ladies and my, she’s pretty! She got the baby and carried it inside the mall. I think it was her sister’s?

********

The day before was at Power Plant for dinner with friends. The Baker’s Dozen was on – all weekends of September and October, I believe. But the store selling baklava wasn’t around. Was feeling a bit under the weather so just tried what was being offered without buying anything. Oh yes, I did get mochi ice cream. The lady recommended the strawberry filled one. It was okay. She also gave me mochi chocolate – yummy. The table selling cream puffs also had samples and it was good. Perhaps next weekend. Speaking of which, next weekend we will be there fo rhte Negros thing at the tent. I’m sure I’ll buy lots of goodies from my cousin’s booth (Casa Carmela) and my student’s (QUAN). Can hardly wait.

Back to last Saturday, we had dinner at Crustasia. We ordered Hainanese chicken, but Banana Leaf’s is better. The Nasi Goreng was too spicy but the crispy baby squid was all right. The ribs with bagoong rice too. The lechon with kangkong disappointed. I have tasted better there. Perhaps the lechon was reheated? It was a tad tough.

After dinner, we proceeded to Diamond Hotel’s cafe on R2 for cakes: Le Royale and the cheescake. Both good as usual. Then we headed for home.

Oh yes, last Saturday, we got this international adaptor – blue OMNI. Costs only P199. For son. Because we got him a more expensive brand before he left only to be told when he was there we should have gotten the OMNI. Now do we hand carry that or mail it? Remains to be seen.

Paging Singapore Airlines. Please confirm our bookings for the flight back… Waiting, waiting, waiting…

Back to Sunday

- at around 6 past in the evening, we drove off to Filinvest in Commonwealth for a soon to be member of the family’s shower. Traffic was awful. Half of the road served as road for people in vehicles – that’s four lanes. The other half – four lanes too – became a parking lot – for the INC followers. As in. I’m not sure they did this when Cory Aquino died. Oh well, the head’s funeral is today which means people who use Commonwealth will enjoy better traffic tomorrow.

Odds and Ends

At Rustan’s Katipunan and Shoppersville, I’ve been calling about chicken neck. A few times I’ve been lucky but of late, no. What do I need the chicken neck for? Benjamin the beagle’s original owner told us to feed him raw chicken neck and wings. Yes, RAW. Anyway, I asked Rustan’s and Shoppers why necks were so scarce. The chicken delivered to them they told me was usually neck-less. I guess these are bought en masse by those who offer chicken chicharon in their bars? Very good appetizer that.

*******

After my son finished packing his clothes in a black suitcase and a black duffel bag, I gave him the orange luggage tags we had gotten (there was no other color available). After he attached them, he said “parang Halloween”. haha. Indeed. Imagine a pumpkin perched atop a witch’s hat.

*******

When we went to Naia for a dry run last Saturday, the guard (policeman) on duty smiled when we told him we were there for a dry run. Then when we went near the pre-departure area, another policeman (guard) approached the car. Told him the same story. He also said indulgently that we should be at the airport by 5 a.m. the next day. He knew after we said that son was taking a Singapore Airlines flight. I like it when people are so into their jobs to behave thus.

*******

Speaking of people who do their work well, at Big and Small Shang, I was looking for pants. Finding pants for a nonpregnant person with the statistics of a pregnant person or worse is no easy job. But Milette patiently helped me out. She brought a few pairs for me to check and didn’t waver. Her mood never changed even as I ended up buying just two pairs because the others were  made of material that was too smooth. She also had a look of concern as she asked where I now got my blouses. I guess it was she who had attended to me when I got 4 and returned 3 months back all because of one problem – the sleeves were too tight. way too tight. I have big arms. Very big arms. It’s a family thing.

Random Pickings

In the run up to son’s departure, so many things have demanded our attention. I feeling like a rolling spinning top or a rabbit drumming away powered by Eveready energizer batteries. Or Kilometrico pens by Papermate. But you get the drift. I don’t even know what day we did or had to do what. Just one thing on top of the other.

Thursday was the fullest. Woke up really early for visa interview at the French Embassy. We were at Pacific Star by 7 a.m. Haha. Culture shock for me or deja vu? I witnessed Makati life up close, or make that a working girl’s life in Makati. Called to mind memories of almost 3 decades ago when I too was a working girl in Makati.

Being too early for the embassy (our interview was scheduled for 8 a.m.) the guard at the basement informed us we could wait in Chow King or Starbucks on the ground floor. Not being a coffee drinker, I told husband, “CK” only to realize that CK was but one of many other establishments in a fast food set-up. There was a 7-11 type of store, Sizzling Pepper Steak (but this was closed), Reyes Barbecue (also still closed), etc. Around 7:30 Fully Booked opened. Promise, FB. But it sold mostly magazines arranged in maybe two shelves. After eating 2 pieces of siomai and half a longganisa, we decided to go down to the basement to wait for 7:45. Across the information table of the parking place were rows of benches. It was not uncomfortable waiting there along with several others, most of them visa applicants like ourselves.

Close to 8 our names were called and we were made to proceed to a guard who issued us guest passes. Then on to the elevator and then the visa section of the embassy.

We were number 7 because after boarding the elevator first, we exited it last. (He who is last shall be first and vice versa – how biblical). The guard of the French Embassy was very competent and pleasant – not overly so, just right. He directed us to sit on the left side.

There were 3 windows that had people behind them. Left most was a Filipina, in the middle was a Filipino, in the right was a foreigner, likely a Frenchman.

I shall not go into more details except to say that most of us had to have our pictures retaken – comment was usually our faces were too big. Luckily, on the ground floor is a full-service place for visa applicants. It photocopies, it takes pictures. As my wheelchair couldn’t be squeezed in between the two glass encasements, the lady told my husband to hold a white blanket behind me. And she took a picture of me with a smaller face. Moral of the story? Better have your picture taken by her or by studios like Budski in Katipunan. My son had no problem with his picture. We had our pictures taken in Kameraworld Shangrila, this didn’t pass muster. I was almost tempted to ask the others who also needed to have their pictures retaken where they had theirs taken in the first place.

By 10:15 we were done at the embassy and proceeded to Shangrila which was closed as yet, as it wasn’t 11 a.m. But Mongkok was willing to serve us, so we had lunch there. Then to Rustan’s. Weeks back, we bought TSA locks for luggage. The clerk recommended the one that snaps shut (red-colored) rather than the one with a cable thingy. He said that took some effort to close. When my son checked a few days ago, the red lock opened way too easily and refused to snap close. So we told the clerk in Rustan’s who initially asked for the receipt. I said, “but doesn’t this have warranty?” Besides, the blister pack with Rustan’s tag was still intact. Then the girl said they’ll have it checked for repair. I complained, “Repair? it hasn’t been used and you won’t replace it?” Finally she said she would. I opted to get the cable lock and just pay P130 more. She agreed. Whew.

Then home. Before we could get home, son said his friend who was supposed to interview me said he was on his way. Sure we were in the vicinity by then, but still I fretted.  True, we arrived home before he came but he and his companions had to wait a bit for me to get ready.

It felt so odd to be interviewed with video at that but I agreed to the whole thing for some reasons: first, he is my son’s friend and two, he is taking physical therapy. So I thought if interviewing me would enlighten them a bit and help disabled people get better attention from would-be therapists or doctors, then I should do it.

The interview with video didn’t take too long. But guess what? they also accompanied me to the grocery. Luckily they used a digital camera that has a video feature so it wasn’t too attention calling. Whew.

That night we went to Route 196 for the gig of the band to which my son belongs. He had asked us to watch and who were we to refuse? Their band sounds so much more polished and they sang Bababaero in a really cute way.

********

Today was another full day. First to Greenhills for lunch at Kimpura. One of the maitre d’ smiled at us. He wasn’t the usual one but looked familiar. I said weren’t you here years ago? yes, he said, 1990. And he remembered my son – baby pa. he was a waiter then, now he’s suited up. How nice. Kimpura. Very good owners, I presume, to have such a loyal fleet. I’m sure there’s no union operating in it.

Afterwards we went to V-Mall for some things for the camera of son. Abacus on the 3rd floor is the place to go. The man who attended to us is very cordial and knows his stuff. No, he’s not the typical salesman who could sell you the moon, just a regular guy who can answer your questions. We also entered a store where the man who attended to us was selling us bundled ink (black and colored) at a really low price. But he had long hair, chewed gum and was dancing to the beat. So I told my husband and son, let’s beat it. As we went out son said “bangag, high on drugs.” I was taken aback. He said he could tell as he had a friend from years ago who behaved that way. Oh boy…

Then to Naia 1. Why? So we’d know the way early tomorrow morning, as in 4:00 a.m. So son will be there 3 hours before departure. Oculars are definite musts where we are concerned because it will be so stressful to be looking for the way to the airport on the day of departure. That done we hied off to Power Plant for mass and a few last minute purchases.

Do we sleep?

I doubt it very much.

Knock Knock Loving You

The title is awkward but then again, it’s just a translation.

The male lead is uber good-looking. As in really good-looking. I constantly wonder what planet he came from. So good-looking. But I repeat myself.

It is a bit dragging in turns because there seem to be characters like the youngest brother of the lead girl whose story seems to be unnecessary. But then again, maybe things will fall into place by the story’s end.

As usual, this movie series has some insights/inputs one doesn’t find in Filipino ones. Like Julliard is mentioned. Like the recent finding that dark chocolate is healthy is mentioned. Apparently one learns a few things from watching the series.

There are also lessons on how to conduct business. It’s so unlike Filipino works on TV where all the characters do is fight, court, cry, break up, make up. Sure there is some scheming going on here but one is not inclined to think there’s all there is to it, the awkward title notwithstanding.

Image from http://www.mysoju.com/knock-knock-loving-you/

Just finished watching KKLY and I should say it is a disappointment. It rambled, the characterizations were flawed – very inconsistent. The mysoju version had comments and the one commenting said the one who made it didn’t know how to end the story.

Power Plant on Ninoy Aquino day 2009

A lot of ladies were in yellow. Sosy ladies.

Blind item:

Husband and I were on R1 in front of Lacoste when I nudged him and asked, “Kita mo yun?” He didn’t see but I did: Megan Young with a guy in a fedora. They were holding hands. Megan was unmade up. So I enlightened him: Starstruck finalist who had transferred to Channel 2.

Proceeded to Sango for lunch. Saw the right hand girl of MVP. Soon after, some Blue Eagles came. They lined up for food. Then I saw Megan and she and her ka-holding hands joined the Blue Eagles. Guess who?

*********

Also saw this perpetual goon of Philippine movies. But I don’t know his name. Burly, with a mustache. Muscled. He was in a red shirt. Not young.

*********

We’d have wanted to watch UP but the lines were impossibly long. Did see one of the Blue Eagles line up though.

Up on R3 the aroma of Pepper Lunch cooking wafted . But we were too full for a Pepper Lunch fix. Next time.

*********

the Bakers Dozen sellers were back in action: got macapuno balls from Iya’s stall. No we’re not close, she doesn’t know me. But how else to identify the stall that sells the best pastillas de leche and peanuts in Metro Manila?

In Anatolya, got a box of baklava. If only it weren’t so expensive, would have gotten more.

*********

Bought a spare battery for son’s phone in Vertex. So expensive, almost as expensive getting a low-end phone.

********

Clerks who brightened up our day yesterday: the cordial people of Sango who serve with a smile, the cashier in Marks and Spencer who offered “paylite, ma’am?” I was paying with my Citibank credit card and he said I could opt for Paylite, the term as long as 12 montsh, 0% interest.  The lady in Majestic was nice, too.

*********

From Power Plant we drove to S&R for the juiciest, plumpest roasted chicken at P219 only. Sarap na, mura pa. How do they do it?

Why Obama is so lovable and why some others are so not

Enlarge By Roger L. Wollenberg, Getty Images President Obama and Vice President Biden sit at a table with their cheeseburger lunch orders at Ray’s Hell Burger in Arlington, Va.

• By David Jackson and Mimi Hall, USA TODAY
  WASHINGTON — Maybe they just don’t make a decent burger at the White House.

  Less than two weeks after first lady Michelle Obama told a group of schoolchildren that she once snuck out to the burger chain Five Guys with some staff members, her husband scrapped his official schedule and went in search of his own burger.

  He took Vice President Biden with him.

  President Obama’s motorcade slipped out of the White House complex at 12:26 p.m. Tuesday, crossed the Potomac River into Arlington, Va., and came to a stop five minutes later at Ray’s Hell-Burger, an independent prime-beef burger joint where you order at the counter, sit at wooden tables and pay $6.95 for a burger.

  As the stunned lunch crowd looked on and took pictures with their cellphones, Obama and Biden waited their turn in line. The guy ahead of them offered to let them cut. Obama declined.

Canaries in a coal mine

I was on Facebook when husband asked me to google “canaries in a coal mine.” I found the following info in this site and I’d like to share it with you. Very enlightening and well written:

Life for an actual canary in a coal mine could be described in three words – short but meaningful. Early coal mines did not feature ventilation systems, so miners would routinely bring a caged canary into new coal seams.

Our Lady of the Assumption

PRAYER TO
OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION 

(from http://www.catholicdoors.com/prayers/english/p05500.htm)

Lovely Lady dressed in Blue,
Teach me how to pray!
God was just your little Boy,
Tell me what to say!
Did you lift Him up, sometimes,
Gently, on your knee?
Did you sing to Him the way Mother does to me?
Did you hold His hand at night?
Did you ever try
Telling stories of the world?
O!  And did He cry?
Do you really think He cares
If I tell Him things -
Little things that happen?
And
Do the Angels' wings
Make a noise?
And can He hear
Me if I speak low?
Does He understand me now?
Tell me - for you now?
Lovely Lady dressed in blue,
Teach me how to pray!
God was just your little Boy.
And you know the way.

Image was downloaded from: http://www.domestic-church.com/CONTENT.DCC/19980701.GRAPHICS/assumption.jpg

(Today, 15 August, is the Feast of Our Lady of the Assumption and I forgot
until I checked the calendar. Ergo, I failed to hear mass. Sorry Mama Mary.) 

Below is an explanation on the feast and the importance of the rosary.
Excerpt was taken from

http://www.frtommylane.com/homilies/years_abc/assumption-3.htm

Today we thank God for the Assumption of Our Lady. It is as the Preface to the Eucharist Prayer says today, “a sign of hope and comfort” for God’s people on their pilgrim way.

Do you know that Our Lady is depending on you to help her? Do you know that you can change the future course of world events? When Our Lady was assumed into heaven she continues to help us from heaven but she depends on you, on each of us to help her. We learn from her many apparitions that she is depending on our Rosaries. On 13^th July 1917 in Fatima Our Lady said, “Continue to say the Rosary every day in honor of Our Lady in order to obtain peace for the world and an end of the war because only she can obtain it.” Mary is depending on your Rosaries to help her achieve her plans in the world. No wonder then that in so many apparitions in so many places she has asked us to pray the Rosary every day. In the same apparition in Fatima on 13^th July 1917 she said that if we fulfilled her wishes Russia would be converted. We have seen this fulfilled. On 13^th October 1917 in Fatima Our Lady revealed herself as Our Lady of the Rosary. In Lourdes Our Lady never came before they had begun to pray the Rosary and she always left shortly after they had finished praying the Rosary and she prayed the Rosary with Bernadette. During the apparitions Bernadette went into an ecstasy and during those ecstasies for the benefit of people praying the Rosary she mimed or acted out the mysteries of the Rosary under the guidance of Our Lady. Pope John Paul II in his Angelus Address on 29^th October 1978, shortly after his elevation as Pope, stated, “The Rosary is my favorite prayer. A marvelous prayer! Marvelous in its simplicity and in its depth.” As you are probably aware the Pope gives a gift of a Rosary beads to all those who are privileged to be given a private audience with him.

No one really knows the full story of the how the Rosary came to be. It evolved into its present form over a number of centuries. While we are unsure about the development of the Rosary, we are not unsure about the power and beauty of the Rosary. For all who love Our Lady, praying the Rosary is a most beautiful gift to give to her every day. The name ‘Rosary’ means a garland of roses and it was given this name after a legend which spread all over Europe which stated that Our Lady was seen taking a rose from the lips of a young monk each time he prayed the Hail Mary.

And finally, an audio clip of the song from this site:

Mama Mary has always been very special to me. I constantly seek her prayers, cry out to her when I am down, and thank her for everything.

Proposal on DVD DVD

Failing to watch it in theaters and streaming, I got a DVD of the movie in Tomas Morato, just outside Cafe Via Mare. Though I was assured the copy was clear (the guy said “palabas na nga yan sa sinehan eh”), I got it for P50. Whoa, after a few minutes I saw the silhouette of several heads. I thought at first they were Sandra Bullock’s behind. Then I heard laughter. If that were a TV show, that would have been canned laughter. But it wasn’t. And around 30 minutes or so later, the movie refused to move. The scene froze.

But what I had seen thus far was so funny I had the maid look for a second copy. Going to TM to have it exchanged would have been costlier.

Luckily the maid succeeded in finding another copy. I thought I saw a silhouette but dismissed it when laughter I did not hear. Then almost halfway into the movie, I saw the silhouette of an arm stretch out. Haha, I had been gypped again. I wouldn’t have minded that but again, the movie froze. SO later, the maid will have to find the seller – Mercury or Rustan’s katipunan, he had assured her, to have my copy replaced.

I hope I get a good copy of Proposal soon. Otherwise, I’ll have to wait months for it legit release. My Grade 6 tutee asked me just the other day if I had watched it. He said it was such fun.

Darn… or maybe it’s still showing in some theater?

Paging Xocolat redux

Yesterday, after seeing the Salvador Bernal doing his groceries in Rustan’s Katipunan and excited to tell husband and son that the SB was doing his own groceries, we left the supermarket and as we turned the corner, the brother of a former maid who was riding a bike greeted us with the news that he’d seen my husband fuming because he couldn’t get into the house. Care to guess why?

Yes, there was a black Getz car (DES 11) parked in front of our gate. Maid asked our neighbor, it wasn’t theirs. She proceeded to Xocolat and asked a table of boys, it wasn’t theirs. A table of girls was approached next, and after some time, one lady stood up and went out to get her car. She said “sorry po” and waved to my husband to apologize. She was in a St. Paul’s uniform.

Girl was pretty, I was told – college age, a dead ringer for Baby Delgado and Heart Evangelista. Pity she has no breeding, no courtesy, no respect.

A phone call to Xocolat was made, and so was a request that they provide us a sign -no parking on driveway. Also asked if they still monitored their customers because shortly after a previous incident, we’d see them near our gate, checking for any inconsiderate customers who might park and prevent our ingress. But now we no longer see them doing that.

The supervisor I spoke with said they have it posted on their bulletin board that customers shouldn’t park in front of other people’s gates. Thing is, how many would bother to read that bulletin board, or if indeed they do, how many would bother to go out and park their car elsewhere?

sigh.

Wonder if St. Paul’s teaches good manners and right conduct to its students. But maybe, the school isn’t too blame. Maybe that college girl was formed in another school and is just enrolled in St. Paul’s for college.

From my inbox: Joey de Leon’s poem on Willie Revillame vis Cory Aquino

I have no love lost for Willie Revillame, apparently, and for obvious reasons. Joey de Leon may sometimes offend people with his jokes, double entendres, etc. (Ces Quesada resigned from Eat Bulaga supposedly because of Joey’s jokes) but he is never disrespectful out of hubris. Naughty, yes, but not bastos. His poem:

Pres. Cory Aquino: My tears came naturally

Wala na sa piling ng mga Pilipino,
Tinig ng awiting Mga Kababayan Ko,
At lumisan na rin noong isang Sabado,
Inang nagpalipad sa awiting Bayan Ko.
Ako’y sumasaludo, paalam Pangulo,
May isa ‘kong lihim, kay tagal itinago,
Sa lahat nang inabot kong mga namuno,
Tanging ikaw lang sa luha ko’y nagpatulo.
Marami ang nalungkot sa iyong pagyao,
Magalang ang lahat at puno ng respeto,
Nagpasalamat pa nga Kapamilya sa ‘yo,
Dahil kanilang himpilan naibalik mo.
Subalit ano itong nabalitaan ko?
Nangyari noong Lunes, a-tres ng Agosto,
Habang inililipat ang mga labi mo,
Ika’y parang nabastos sa isang TV show.

At ang napakasaklap at masakit dito,
Ang nambastos pa’y kapamilya ng anak mo,
Napanood ito ng tao at publiko,
Kakaunti na nga, ngunit lahat nahilo.
Sabi ng TV host na mainit ang ulo
Pagkakita sa video na kanyang kasalo,
“Sandali, meron akong ano… sa’ting ano…
Hindi naman sa ano,” nagkaanu-ano!
Ayon sa Internet, meron pa s’yang nasambit,
” Sana pakitanggal muna ‘yan sa’ting traffic…”
At ‘di maaalis sa iyong pag-iisip,
Ang parada ng patay ang pinaliligpit!
At dagdag pa daw ng naghahari-harian,
“I don’t think na dapat n’yong ipakita iyan…”
Nasaan naman ang paggalang, o nasaan?
Mga sinasabi natin minsa’y pag-ingatan.

At ‘di pa nangimi nang sumunod na araw,
Pinilit pa ring ginawa n’ya ay tama raw,
Mga nakarinig ‘di na nakagalaw
At ayon sa iba sila na la’y napa-wow!

“… Pero ako, totoo ‘ko eh … “, sabi kuno,
Totoo nga at totoo ring walang modo,
Pwede namang sabihin itong pa-sikreto,
Kaya’t wala na rin mga paliwanag mo.

“Kung ganyan, pakita na lang ‘yan!”, ang hamon pa,
Para bang ang prusisyon nila-”lang – lang” lang ba,
Ang pangasiwaan ay pinapili pa n’ya,
Sumunod ang himpilan, nung August 5 wala s’ya.

May mga komentong pwede nang pang-harapan,
“On camera” baga sa TV ang tawag d’yan
At kung sensitibo man ang gustong bitawan,
Pagpasok ng commercial, hintayin mo na lang.

Matutong magbaba muna ng mikropono
At saka idikta lahat ng iyong gusto,
Lagi kang mataas lahat daw takot sa ‘yo,
Ratings lang ang mababa – totoo ba ito?

The breaking news breaks your heart – at ‘yan ang bawi mo,
Nang mahalata mong sumablay ang pasok mo,
Pero sigurado ika’y maa-abswelto,
‘Di ba ikaw rin ang may-ari ng network n’yo?
Nung Hueves nag-apologize sa diario naman,
O, akala ko ba wala kang kasalanan,
Tapos ng angalan, sunod paliwanagan -
COMPLAIN before you EXPLAIN ka na naman!
O ito kaya ay isa na namang “glitch” lang,
Tulad ng “two-zero” ‘di na natin nalaman,
O ito ay maliwanag na kabobohan?
Sa tingin ng marami, mahirap lusutan.

Ang sabi ng iba – istupidong mayabang,
At giit ng iba – istupidong mayaman,
Mayaman man o mayabang ang tiyak diyan,
Napakayaman n’ya sa kaistupiduhan.

Buti pa ang apat na honor guards ni Cory -
Sina Malab, Laguindan, Rodriguez, Cadiente,
Walong oras tumayo sa ulan at viaje,
Ang lahat ay tiniis at walang sinabi.

Samantalang ikaw na may bubong sa ulo,
Komportable ka lang sa malamig na studio,
Nang kapirasong libing sa TV sumalo,
Angal at inis ang sumambulat sa iyo.

Maaari din namang pabayaan na s’ya,
Subalit ang nangyari’y mabigat talaga,
Namayapang pangulo’y huling paalam na,
‘Di mo pa pinagbigyan … hoy, nag-iisa ka!

At nais ko lang sabihin at ipagyabang
Sa mahigit na s’yam na libong tanghalian,
Sa limang pangulong sa Bulaga’y dumaan,
Kahit isa wala kaming nilapastangan.

Late Saturday night in Tomas Morato

We dropped off son at a party and proceeded to TM for dinner around 9 past after watching the first half of the Madz in Philamlife Auditorium. We had no specific resto in mind,  parking was our foremost concern.

The first we found was near Annabel’s but as it would have been awkward to swerve to the right (we were in the middle of the road), we decided to go to the next resto with a parking slot available. We ended up in  Cafe Via Mare.

Before going down the car, we asked the security guard if the place resto was still open. Apparently, we’re not used to restos outside the mall which close at 10 pm max. Yes, the guard said, they closed at 1 or 1:30 a.m. Great.

So we went in and were led to the table in the deepest part of the resto. Along the way I saw Starstruck ultimate survivor Mike Tan. He is as good-looking in person as he is on TV. I didn’t recognize whom he was with. They were seated beside each other.

We ordered lumpiang ubod, pancit molo, binagoongang baboy. Then husband saw a menu devoted exclusively to oysters. While in the past he avoided them like the plague, our happy experiences in Ninyo have made him want to try oysters where available. So we ordered boursin oysters.

Pancit molo came in a big bowl. Yummy in that it was hot and at P125 was good for two. We also halved the lumpia which was great as usual. The binagoongang baboy, I just picked a few pieces and had 2 of the 8 oysters. We took home two pieces and ordered bibingka with keso de bola for son.

The pancit molo wasn’t as great-tasting as the one we used to have in Landmark. Now that one had chorizo bilbao bits. But luckily the binagoongang baboy did not have the bagoong slathered on top of the pork pieces. One could just get whatever amount of bagoong one cared for. In Landmark, we once took out the dish and I was so alarmed to see the pork pieces heavily covered with bagoong. How sinful. I didn’t enjoy that at all.

The oysters boursin – nothing special. Maybe Rockefeller would have been better. Ninyo’s oysters are much more special tasting.

But service in CVM is cordial, despite the late hour no frayed nerves on the part of the personnel, but ready smiles.

Oh yes, and before leaving to pick up son, I bought a Dvd-dvd of The Proposal from a peripatetic vendor. He gave me quite a lot to choose from, but The Proposal was the only one that interested me. P50. Haven’t checked yet if the copy is okay. Nights back, I started watching it online (Video streaming -sorry i forgot the site) but it kept stopping at the same spot so I gave up.

Personal Shoppers

In an article in the Inquirer a few days ago, featured were 3 personal shoppers in Rustan’s Makati. People call them up, tell them what they need and the personal shoppers make the selections. I would enjoy doing that too, as I do when someone gives me a budget and makes me buy a gift for someone else.  A sister who hates shopping would sometimes ask me to do this, or my father did that too.

I have been doing the same also, in a sense, not by choice but by force of circumstance. The most recent memory took place a few minutes ago. My son woke up and said, “ano kaya bibigay ko?”

See he is going to a birthday lunch of a friend’s sister and hasn’t gotten her a gift. I have been asking him constantly but typical of creatures from Mars, he was not particularly concerned. ANd now, just 3 hours before the event, he wonders aloud.

In the past, I would keep some items ready here at home, but of late, I have been unable to buy generic stuff. Perhaps because I want to save some pesos for his trip soon, perhaps. I am not sure of the reason myself.

So when he broached the topic, I asked so what are you thinking of getting her? Chocolates? Flowers? He’s not courting the celebrant, she is the sister of his friend. He said “chocolates”. I asked if he wanted a cake and he said “chocolates”. I think he didn’t want to bring a cake he thought I’d bake, haha. So what to do?

Rustan’s having generally well trained personnel, I called up 928 4119. And this guy answered. I asked if they had chocolates that could be given as gifts – in a can or box. He promptly said “opo ma’am, sandali lang.” Then he came back to the phone and gave me 3 options: Ferrero Rocher at P500 plus, Van Houten at P200 plus and Merci at P200 plus.

I chose one of the 3 and asked if I could just have the maid look for him. I also asked if the chocolates could be wrapped. He said yes to both requests. His name, JOEL.

Thank you, Joel, and thank you Rustan’s Katipunan and the Tantocos for superb service most of the time. What a load off my back.

Nodame Cantabile

I was then watching Shining Inheritance while waiting for the latest episodes of The Man Who Can’t Marry when my son said to watch Nodame Cantabile in Mysoju.com. My son rarely makes any suggestions but that he did, I thought, would be worth looking into the series. Thing is, the first few episods so reminded me of his other favorite, My Sassy Girl, in that it was quirky and unusual. The characters were a bit off-beat and perhaps I am too old to appreciate it.

But then I quit watching SI because I was sad that my candidate for the main lead’s heart wasn’t getting a big chance to be it. So I looked at other options in mysoju but none held my interest long enough. So I decided to look at Nodame Cantabile once again. I am now about to watch Episode 5 and am enjoying it immensely. In fact, I shed a few tears watching Episode 4-3. Like my son said, there are some scenes that are moving. To quote his text, “It’s really good if you go beyond the crazy antics of the people. It can get very moving sometimes:)” And he has been right.

Now to Episode 5.

20 Retorts to someone who tells you you’re getting fatter

Saw a link to this site and am enamored. I get the ribbing/insult all the time and it grates, rankles, peeves, depresses – when I allow it to.

Lourd de Veyra is the lead of Radio Active Sago Project. His piece “Gusto ko ng baboy” was/is a favorite of the family … Here’s a video of the song “cartoonized”

Serious TV viewing

I like watching shows hosted by the likes of Chiqui Roa Puno. I liked how Manolo Quezon contributed to the annotation of President Aquino’s funeral cortege. I like how Tina Palma is not intimidated by anything or anyone, cocking one eyebrow occasionally when she finds the utterances of a guest incredulous.

The shots taken by the cameramen of GMA of the Manila Cathedral necrological services were outstanding. Never have I seen the Cathedral so beautiful.

The proceedings in the funeral mass for President Aquino were very dignified, so befitting of her stature. All the grandchildren who read something during the mass were very articulate. The presidential daughters conducted themselves so properly. Breeding was evident.

Pity that late last night, the spirit was willing but the flesh was weak. I began watching the show of Cheche Lazaro where she interviewed Pinky Aquino. I liked how Cheche quietly listened to Pinky as she spoke but I just couldn’t keep my eyes open.

Yes, Cheche was a quiet interviewer. Her questions were succinct, giving Pinky more time to talk. Yes, Cheche didn’t ask kilometric questions the way some TV hosts do, such that they give the answer in the process and merely seek validation, a yes or a no merely from the interviewee.

And yes, C, I do sometimes stray to Channel 2, ANC, etc. if the show justifies my doing so.

I miss those days or make that nights when intelligent fare/discussion was available via the shows of Randy David, Dong Puno, Cheche Lazaro, Louie Beltran, his son, etc. on GMA.

Hubris, no not of everyone, but a few, keeps me away from exploring the other channel except rarely.

SNAIL MAIL in Loyola Heights

Can the separate experiences of my sister in Xavierville and mine in Varsity Hills rationalize/justify a sweeping generalization?

Two weeks ago, the parent of my son’s friend got mail I should have gotten as well. I still haven’t and to think mine was mailed earlier than hers was. She lives in New Manila.

I recounted the aforementioned to my sister and she told me that last summer, the school where her son studies sent her mail around April. She still hasn’t received it. Her co-parent who lives in Fairview received hers.

What gives? Why isn’t mail in our area delivered?

He who can’t marry now complete

Mysoju.com only has Episode 16, segments 1-4. But viikii.net has episode 16 segments 1-7. Go watch!

Imee and Bongbong Marcos and the Aquinos

In going to Cory Aquino’s wake, Bongbong and Imee were taking a big risk. Imee appeared downright uncomfortable and stiff, Bongbong to a lesser extent looked similarly ill at ease.

So I guess, in a sense, that they went was a sincere gesture. They weren’t sure what they would be up against by going. Yet they did. And afterwards, they refused to say beyond a few words to the press. So possibly they weren’t there to gain media mileage.

And the Aquino children, particularly Ballsy, Pinky and Viel are truly impressive, very dignified and quiet, their utterances kept at a minimum. I also admire Kiko Dee, Viel’s son, for describing the love Cory had for Josh as the most among the grandchildren and different. No resentment there, the declaration delivered with a big smile.

May Cory’s soul rest in peace.

World Bangers in Power Plant, CPK in Shang in Pictures

The hotdog and other entrees here are filling. Place is always full. Nothing extraordinary here.

The view from CPK Shang on a rainy day:

The pictures following – I can’t recall where they were taken. But they’re interesting.

Taking pictures one evening while in a moving vehicle

I cannot recall where these shots were taken. The last looks eerie.

View from Joya last Christmas

The Ruins in Talisay City, Negros Occidental

(sorry, one picture is wrong side up)

More Pictures

Rizal area – Ynares territory. I was pleasantly surprised to see these:

While husband and son were in the church, I saw this from inside the car outside one of the Rizal churches:

Cleaning up my camera’s memory stick – some pictures

Mr. Kurosawa’s ceiling

The bay view from the Mall of Asia: The candle was inside Via Mare.

Sango in Power Plant

I can’t recall how long ago a cousin-in-law gave me a flyer of Sango in Ortigas. She knew I was not wont to discover new places which her sons regularly did. following that, one lazy weekend, I asked my husband if he were willing to get us some burgers in Sango. Luckily, he was up to it and did. The taste lingered and we would have wanted a reprise but the one time we did, there was no parking slot available and so we drove off.

Then I came across a post of Cecile saying Sango was open in Rockwell. We had been planning to visit since but either forgot to do so when we were there, or didn’t have the time. Yesterday, it being a rainy Sunday, we opted to hear mass in the mall (Power Plant) plus the bonus of a Sango lunch.

Though it was close to 12 noon, only one table was occupied. As we lined up to choose, however, another family lined up behind us so we felt pressured to order immediately: son ordered chicken curry sandwich and master fries, husband ordered omelette rice and I ordered cheeseburger. Like I told you, I felt pressured.

Husband’s order came first: the omelette contained a mound of orange rice, and around the omelette what seemed like brown sauce was evident. Husband offered me a portion and it was then I realized that the brown sauce actually had some sukiyaki cut meat in it. Then son’s sandwich came. He groused  – sabi ko on the side ang vegetables eh. It was right in the sandwich along with the rest. In the meantime, I asked the waiter, could we still add something without having to line up? He said yes, so I asked what rice meal was good. He said “gyudon” and so I gave him money for gyudon. Meanwhile, I also asked if he could have my cheeseburger put in a bag as takeout. Yes, he said.

Happily, when the gyudon came, it was sooooooo gooooooood. Like the omelette rice, though, it didn’t look pretty. But forget appearances and just dig into the bowl. There was so much of it that though I shared it with husband and son, we were able to take home the rest and enjoy it. Oh yes, the rice bowls come with miso soup. Yummy. Husband couldn’t have his though because he correctly saw cabbage. Plus miso is made of beans. Cabbage + miso spell gouty arthritis hell. Before long my son fished his sandwich and ordered strawberry shake. He had me try it and it reminded me of either Selecta or Arce. Very good and creamy.

Verdict: we will be back. In fact, after going around the mall, I asked son if he wanted takeout form Sango. I was surprised when he said yes and husband wanted as well: so takeout orders consisted of chili dog for husband and two orders of master fries for everyone to share. When we picked up son, he said “I ordered coffee shake”. He had me try it. Good too, but strawberry shake was better.

One suggestion: the omelette had very little meat. Maybe, Sango could do a Pepper Lunch and offer an extra meat option for additional pesos?

******

The table next to hours consisted of a family, parents our age, their children around my son’s. The adults also ordered rice bowls, the 3 children ordered sandwiches. But they also ordered salad. One, initially, then another. They also had fries.

This goes to show that adults would do well to order rice bowls in Sango. Sandwiches are regular sized and may not assuage the hunger.

Some pictures: No picture of the gyudon.

Palace choices of 4 nat’l artists protested

By Kristine L. Alave, Bayani San Diego Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 09:44:00 08/01/2009

Filed Under: Arts and Culture and Entertainment, Awards and Prizes, Arts (general)

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang’s announcement of the new set of National Artists has stirred a hornet’s nest and elicited cries of outrage.

Concerned artists said the fact that Malacañang’s picks were more than the nominees of the selection committee showed that the National Artist awards had become a way for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to accommodate her allies.

Early this week, Ms Arroyo approved the nomination of theater stalwart Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, filmmakers Manuel Urbano (aka Manuel Conde) and Carlo Magno Jose J. Caparas, visual artist Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, novelist Lazaro Francisco, architect Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa and fashion designer Jose “Pitoy” Moreno as National Artists.

But concerned artists said that of the seven, only three—Conde, Alcuaz and Francisco—were short-listed in May by the selection committee composed of members of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). The other four were included as part of the so-called President’s prerogative.

The inclusion of Caparas and NCCA executive director Guidote-Alvarez was particularly galling to the artistic community.

According to actor and director Leo Martinez, chair of the Film Academy of the Philippines, neither of the two was included in the shortlist and deliberations of the selection committee.

Wholesale declaration

Martinez told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that many artists were discouraged to see that the awarding was based on politics, and not on a nominee’s body of work.

He said the selection process had been “disregarded” and “cheapened.”

According to the rules, the President is allowed to pick a National Artist, director Eddie Romero said in a phone interview on Thursday.

“It seems it’s the first time the presidential prerogative was used to declare four artists. It’s like a wholesale declaration,” said Romero, National Artist for Film and the Broadcast Arts.

Also on Thursday, Bienvenido Lumbera, National Artist for Literature and a member of the NCCA/CCP selection committee, described the results as “outrageous.”

“It was Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, as executive director of the NCCA, who had insisted on the President’s right to add names that were not discussed in the committee,” Lumbera recalled.

“Cecile shouldn’t have allowed herself to be named National Artist because she runs the NCCA. It smacks of utter lack of delicadeza (propriety),” he said.

‘Undeserving’

What was more “shocking,” Lumbera said, was that musician Ramon Santos was “dropped to accommodate four names that didn’t figure in the committee deliberation.”

Those four names were Caparas, Guidote-Alvarez, Mañosa and Moreno.

Romero said that when he was declared a National Artist in 2003, he never campaigned for the honor. “I didn’t even know that I was being considered.”

Lumbera said that this year, there was “heavy campaigning because the government wanted to ensure the selection of four people.”

Martinez said the film community had nominated the late Conde and director Celso Ad. Castillo, but not Caparas, who he described as “undeserving” of the honor.

He pointed out that Caparas—who made a name writing komiks novels and directing a string of “massacre movies” in the 1990s—was appointed National Artist for Visual Art and Film, thus being awarded a new category for himself.

“It’s an insult to Manuel Conde,” Martinez said. “Can you compare Caparas’ body of work to those of Conde and [the late National Artists for Cinema] Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal and Gerry de Leon?”

In his blog, comic book writer and artist Gerry Alanguilan said Caparas’ nomination was a big disrespect to pioneering Filipino illustrators.

Said Alanguilan: “Carlo J. Caparas is not qualified to be named National Artist for Visual Art. I’m not sure if President GMA was aware when she gave this title, but Caparas is not an illustrator. For every single story he has written, another artist worked with him to draw his story.

“How can someone who does not draw his stories, especially his most successful ones, ever be named National Artist for Visual Art?”

‘Dagdag National Artist’

Romero said he did not wish to question Caparas’ appointment as he did not know the man personally.

He said his main concern was a reassessment of the rules governing the “very complicated” selection of National Artists: “When there’s a provision that gives a higher political authority power to choose a National Artist … that leaves it open to a lot of intrigue.”

Romero, who is also a member of the NCCA/CCP committee, called such a provision “a mistake.”

He explained: “The President is the President. But that doesn’t necessarily qualify her to supersede the committee. It dilutes the process and, in a way, cheapens it.”

Lumbera recalled that as early as the deliberation process, he had pointed out that “if the President wants to honor other people, she should set up a separate award.”

“What’s the sense of having a committee if it would be bypassed in the end?” he said.

He also said there was no need to revise the rules: “The President only needs to respect the rules.”

Lumbera stressed that the selection process “should not be tainted by politics.”

“Artists and cultural workers should band together and point out to the President that there should be no political intervention in naming National Artists,” he said.

‘Why bad news only?’

He also dismissed the presidential prerogative as “DNA” or “Dagdag National Artist”—an allusion to the “dagdag-bawas” (vote-padding and -shaving) that has long marred Philippine elections.

Calling from Cebu where he was shooting his latest film “Ang Pangarap Kong Jackpot,” Caparas said that instead of criticizing his award, entertainment people “should unite and work together to revive the ailing movie and komiks industry.”

“Let’s leave politics out of it,” he said. “We always criticize the President. Why is that we only highlight the negative? Between good and bad news, we emphasize the bad.”

Caparas said he was aware of the criticism that his victory had bypassed such komiks legends as Mars Ravelo, Francisco V. Coching, Tony Velasquez and Larry Alcala.

“But they were my fellow recipients of the Presidential Medal of Merit in 2007. In any case, I am representing other komiks novelists and artists with this honor. I believe I was given this award because I was able to cross over from komiks to movies and TV.”

As for other entertainment icons who were bypassed, like comedy king Dolphy and superstar Nora Aunor, Caparas said “their time would hopefully come in the near future.”

He defended Alvarez’s nomination as well, saying “she helped found PETA (Philippine Educational Theater Association), which produced some of the country’s best directors and actors.”

‘From the masses’

Caparas said his triumph was significant because he was from the working class: “I am a National Artist who came from the masses. I work and struggle with them.”

He worked as a night guard in a printing press in his teens before becoming a komiks novelist over three decades ago, he recalled.

He said it was time for a National Artist “who the masses can identify with—someone who walks beside them, someone who can inspire them.”

Caparas said some Filipinos did not even know the National Artists.

“Hopefully, since I am still active in TV and in the movies, this will encourage our countrymen to learn more about our National Artists,” he said.

*********

My take on the above: there are microcosms in Philippine society that depict the same style of giving awards to the underserving simply because of connections, campagining, a lot of gall. Believe you me. Sadly the trend for such doings/ stances is set, perpetrated and perpetuated by the very persons, entities, authorities who should set the bar for morality and uphold worthwhile values. They don’t practice whereof they speak. They bend the rules when it suits their needs. Disgusting.

Eastwood on a Friday night, payday yet

We got to Eastwood at close to 8 p.m. after hearing mass in the parish. There was quite a crowd in the area between Eastwood Mall and that which houses the likes of Make Room and Office Warehouse. Oh, I remembered Sitti had a concert. I received tickets to it a few days back. But we craved food more than entertainment at that point and besides there were so many people.

We went to Flying Pig on the ground floor. It is beside BluFish. And one can order from either, no problem.

We ordered the fried lechorito or something that sounds like that. A quarter portion that came with one siding. For that we chose the basmati rice and ordered fontina gratin extra. Shortly after, a bowl of onion soup came with a slice of french bread topped with cheese. One big bowl. We asked if we could have the soup divided into 2 portions for husband and me to share. With a smile, one of the waiters said yes. And when the soup came back in two cups, guess what? Each cup had a slice of bread with cheese on top. How’s that for hospitality.

Then the pork quarter came. It was the leg portion. Wow, it was great. The rice was dry, therefore unexciting. The lechon sauce was terrific and the fontina gratin was okay too. Oh yes, the soup was marvelous.

The rice that came with the dish wasn’t too plentiful so we ordered a cup of garlic rice. Well this took a long time coming, longer than the lechorito did comparatively speaking. we had to ask 3 different waiters and finally the third delivered, with an apology. Asked him for the menu of desserts. Again this took a long time coming. Asked a second waiter for the same menu and it came. The waiter we had originally asked for the dessert menu dropped by some time later and asked if we had gotten the menu and I told him we decided not to order dessert any longer. There were just so many people so one couldn’t really fault the waiters. Besides they were a pleasant lot, gracious, nice.

Pictures of the Flying Pig high – same subject, many angles:

Got sandals at Charles & Keith. They have some items on sale. The Naturalizer sandals of my friend has a clone there going for less than 1100 pesos. But I think they had it in broken sizes, so good luck to whoever is in search of sandals on sale.

Went to Fully Booked to buy a magazine for Naturalizer friend. Magazine is called simply M. A brief perusal showed that the magazine is on Mindanao, I guess that’s why it’s called M. But I may be wrong. Also looked at travel books and dreamed. Bought some nice gift wrapping paper. They no longer come cheap. Lila and Nana sells at P18 per. Fiesta Greetings wrappers sell at P13.25 I think.

On to DIY. Guess what we got there? Turtle food. Yes, it has turtle food, dog shampoos, dog conditioners, etc. The place is an admixture of hardware stuff et al. Reminds me of True Value. Same owner, I think? Mr. Gokongwei. Good service.

having failed to get dessert at Flying Pig, we hied off to UCC. Wow, another crowded place. The security guard smilingly let us in. A girl in red recommended the tiramisu. I went back to our table and wished for water. But everyone was so busy so I asked husband to get me a glass of water. It was so cold and refreshing. I must have had 4 glasses. These were small glasses though. After reminding the girl in red of our orders, they finally came. Husband had ordered caffe latte ice cream. But the order came in a tall glass. And the girl announced it was caffe latte. I asked husband, “you changed your order? Didn’t you ask for ice cream?” So he asked the girl if what the thing in the tall glass was: caffe latte but not ice cream. They promptly changed it. Then my tiramisu came. A very huge portion that 3 people could share. Not cheap, though.

In the end, I wondered whether I should leave a tip because we virtually had little service – it almost was self-service for us. But I did leave a tip because as my husband and I talked while wheeling out, everyone still had a smile and even the security guard said to us, “balik kayo ha” and he was helping out the waitresses, fixing magazines that fell and doing other stuff. How nice to see a resto where everyone is busy but everyone can still manage a smile and to just help beyond one’s assignment. UCC’s management should commend its complement tonight, July 31, 2009. What a team.

As for Eastwood Mall, it has become our haunt of choice for the past weeks. One, it is nearer our house and thank you BF for opening a U-turn slot not too far away. Two, the place is not too crowded, a cross between Podium and Shangrila. Now, if only it had a grocery. And maybe, a drug store. In fact, while we were in Gingersnaps, a young man asked, “is there a convenience store in the building?

Hint, hint, EM management. Planet Sports will open soon. My son will be happy. A music store would make him even happier.

Oh one fly in the ointment was this man in Globe. My, was he bored. He seemed like he was about to sleep. He answered us languidly. Husband said he looked like he couldn’t wait for the mall to close shop. ho, ho-hum. He needed a shot of adrenalin. The lady with him was nonchalant. Only the guard was alert.

Hope Springs Eternal

While waiting for the next episodes of He Who Can’t Marry, I ventured into watching Shining Inheritance in mysoju.com. One guy was so cute: Sunjie. But I noticed he was hardly in the telenovela and I had a sneaking suspicion that… still hope sprang eternal for me. I kept wishing that… By the 20th episode, I was almost sure that… So I went to the 28th episode immediately after the 20th and found out that… Darn…

What I did is a family thing. My father used to laugh at my mother who couldn’t wait to know how a story ended so she’d always go to the last chapter to find out. Sigh. In the case of SI, I won’t bother to go to the episodes I skipped even as I am curious why …

I wonder if the actor who portrayed Sunjie has other telenovelas. he looks like a worthy leading man so why…

odds and ends – cooking, PLDT, Meralco, BPI

Son is leaving in a month’s time so I thought it fit to start his cooking class today. Yesterday, I did the groceries and bought a slice of squash for making into pumpkin soup. I thought he should do it.

So he did. As I guess I did before, he was very slow moving. I wanted to take over. And it occurred to me that possibly, our cook, Vir, felt the way I did this morning. I am sure she too wanted to get the ladle from me and cook away. But I waited things out, giving him advice not found in cookbooks but learned through years of intermittent cooking and baking. I also advised him that there are things one learns through experience, that I couldn’t tell him how long the stove should be on high before being switched downwards. And he learned fast. He adjusted the heat as he saw fit. The broth having been cooked for 30 minutes and the squash and carrots in another sauce pan cooked in butter for just as long, he set about pureeing the latter and straining the former before combining and reheating the mixture. He tasted it, I did too. And while it was great tasting to my mind, he thought it lacked a taste that lingered. He thought and thought hard: not tabasco which he had earlier added though it wasn’t in the recipe. Neither pepper. Not bacon bits. Eureka, it occurred to him. Cheez Whiz. And while I prefer things measured, he just scooped out from the bottle. After he put some of the pumpkin soup into his bowl, he wondered what would make it look pretty: leaves, he said. I didn’t have mint or basil fresh. I did have parsley flakes. So he put some and freshly ground pepper and took some shots. I haven’t seen the pictures yet, though.

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Weroam – yesterday I got a call from PLDT asking for details – email address, home address, etc. I was qualified to get a weroam thingy. Rate per hour of use would be P20, but the contraption was going to be given me for free because of our dsl plan (P1995). Wonder when it will get to us.

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Finally, BPI’s bank statement came, 23 days after I had complained. Two separate envelopes arrived: one with pages 1 and 2 of 4, the other with all four pages. Lamely, I say “alleluia”.

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Meralco – this a.m., a man from Meralco shouted through the gate to turn off our computers as they were going to cut off power. What’s that again? I was aghast. Why? I called 16211. She asked for the ID of their personnel, truck number, etc. I asked husband to go to the Meralco person to ask what the request was about. He found out they were going to reseal our meters. I was surprised because we had received no notice to the effect, neither had we requested for our meters to be resealed.

the lady at the end of 16211 upon hearing this said they indeed had such a campaign. Why weren’t we informed previously? Sigh.

Artistas and basketball players on TV

Two people stand out, both from the same school: what do they share in common that so irks me?

Their chewing gum while the camera is focused on them. Okay, let this be a blind item post.

They come from the same school that is the reason why the sky is blue. The artista is a big one from a big network. One time he was being interviewed, not in the studio, but while walking or something. All the time he punctuated his sentences with gum chewing. Disgusting, I thought.

The basketball player – his team had won and the camera was focused on the best player of the game. He was behind the best player of the game, busily chewing gum. He looked so rakish, it was off-putting, okay a major turn-off.

Why my aversion to gum chewers? Back in grade school and high school, the Benedictine nuns disallowed us from chewing gum in school for two reasons: we looked like goats doing so and like prostitutes in the bases. I’m not making this up. Chances are, my schoolmates will not have forgotten the same missive.

Chew gum where no one can see you or to keep the pressure in your ears manageable while flying up in the air.

Update on BPI Bank Statement

In a post some days ago, I mentioned how I still hadn’t received my bank statement from BPI which I had request in June, got 2 pages short, requested again in early July. It’s a day to the end of the month, still no sign of the statement.

Why Bpi? I expected better service than this. sad.

Little Asia in Tomas Morato

A balikbayan friend planed in a few days ago and I thought of treating her out to dinner. Invited 3 friends to make up the group. The oldest of the 3 lives in Kamuning and we were to pick her up so I   decided the resto should be in Tomas Morato. First thought was Alba’s buffet but at P650 per, I thought it a bit too expensive. Then there was Mario’s, which isn’t cheap either. Son wanted Amici and I had reserved a table there but was told it would be too noisy. Also reserved in Omakase until one of the 3 suggested Little Asia.

Off to Munchpunch I went, to check on the menu and reviews. Amici didn’t have rave reviews and the rating in terms of stars wasn’t too encouraging. Litlle Asia had very good ratings and the menu looked promising. So to Little Asia we went.

We arrived just in the nick of time. There was parking available in front of Mocha Blends which is right beside LA. Two of the three said they would be coming late but as our orders took quite a while to come, they were able to join us before we could even take a bite.

Our orders consisted of emperor fried rice (instead of asado it has Chinese chorizo), fish with creamy cheese, crispy fried chicken which is their specialty, broccoli with shrimp and mushrooms, and chicken with orange and honey glaze. What????? Two kinds of chicken dishes?

Yes, you read right. i wanted to try the house specialty while husband wanted the orange chicken. So, for an everyone happy state, I ordered both.

the verdict: everything was just so great tasting. In fact, I really liked everything except for the crispy chicken, maybe because I got a breast portion. My personal favorites were the fish, the rice, the orange chicken. The shrimp too. See? I told you. And later, we ordered mango crepe with nutella and my, it was very good.

And guess what? It cost less than P400 per head.  To think we had two orders of the rice, oh and a bowl of beef rice for son (he cannot eat fried rice because he is allergic to shrimp). We also each had a drink.

Can’t wait to revisit Little Asia.

GO’ Nuts Katipunan 4408747

Che of Go ‘Nuts Donuts in Katipunan is one of the nicest ever order taker by phone I have ever encountered. More or less clueless about the flavors of GND, I asked her to enumerate them and she did, with a smile in her voice. She gave me the price for a dozen –P285, I think if one gets the special flavors — if that price is wrong, blame my memory, not her. And when I reached P250 worth of choices, she said I was entitled to one free pizza. So, of course, I was surprised that they now have pizza. One can get it frozen or heated. She also volunteered the info that if my order reached P270 I was entitled to two free pizzas. So we tried to reach that goal and when my choices reached P265, she suggested a choco chip cookie that costs P5. That meant 2 free pizzas: pepperoni, she said was good and garlic and cheese a best-seller. I asked about barbecue flavored pizza and she said that was her favorite. I said I wanted to try all three so she suggested I order one garlic and cheese and no more cookie. My total bill I think is 294 pesos. Sorry if the figures are not exact, but suffice it to say that this post is mainly to laud Che of Go’Nuts Katipunan. Service with such patience and a happy smile as can be gleaned from her voice.

Congratulations to GND for hiring such a gem. (Che just called to inform me that her computation was wrong: it should have been P297. She was profuse in her apologies and I am truly impressed with this young lady. Her mistake hasn’t diminished my admiration one bit. If anything, it has increased it.)

GND, though, doesn’t deliver.

Calvin and Hobbes on ethics

Cartoon strip from http://pactiss.org/resources/media-articles-cartoons/Ethics.jpg

Text from http://chquotes.synthasite.com/oquotes.php

Calvin: Today at school, I tried to decide whether to cheat on my test or not. I wondered, is it better to do the right thing and fail…or is it better to do the wrong thing and succeed? On the one hand, undeserved success gives no satisfaction…but on the other hand, well-deserved failure gives no satisfaction either. Of course, most everybody cheats some time or other. People always bend the rules if they think they can get away with it. Then again, that doesn’t justify my cheating. Then I thought, look, cheating on one little test isn’t such a big deal. It doesn’t hurt anyone. But then I wondered if I was just rationalizing my unwillingness to accept the consequence of not studying. Still, in the real world, people care about success, not principles. Then again, maybe that’s why the world is such a mess. What a dilemma!

Hobbes: So what did you decide?

Calvin: Nothing. I ran out of time and I had to turn in a blank paper.

Hobbes: Anymore, simply acknowledging the issue is a moral victory.

Calvin: Well, it just seemed wrong to cheat on an ethics test.

Talent Contests on Eat Bulaga

The subjective element is ever present. When before the contestants perform their sub stories are told, that colors the judgment of the judges.

Last week, a man who had this cute dog who could do tricks won in the kahit sino pwede portion because among other things, I think that he brought this dog to entertain cancer patients, especially children, tugged. So even if it was the dog more than the man that showed talent and it wasn’t too unusual at that, the man won.

Just now, birit baby was on. Husband and son were one in saying the first contestant was the better singer – effortless and rare vocal talent – male soprano. But the second contestant won. Before he sang, the mother related how he was a MIRACLE baby because she had lost the first one during pregnancy and this one was at risk to when he was in her womb.

Can’t contestants be anonymous until they win? The way essay contests, or at least most of them, are conducted where a participant has to come up with a pseudonym and not indicate her real identity in her essay?

Contests should be conducted fairly and squarely for results to be accurate. Don’t you agree?

Mark your calendars: September 11-16 at Rockwell Tent

Every year, I try my best to go to the ANP-mounted Negros Trade Fair. It’s been 24 years now and it has transferred venues from the Ayala parking building along EDSA, to World Trade in Roxas Boulevard, to Shangrila Mall, to SM Megamall and then Gateway. For the past so many years, though, it has been at the Rockwell Tent and I think, in a sense, it has found its home in Manila. This year, the dates to watch out for are September 11 to 16. While in the past the fair would always coincide with the Guardian Angels Fair in Ateneo, now it is some two weeks earlier which means I can go more easily. Or there’s always the Wheelmobile.

The line-up of products is interesting, but what excites me really are the food items. Casa Carmela, I see, is into malunggay  stuff. Can’t wait to try that and to get the pili concoctions, piayitos, palitos, etc.

For  some of the other things to expect, read on. Materials were sent by a cousin.

Thanks, Millie.

(Will post the rest of the picture soon)

SUGAR FARM ORGANICS

An assortment of jams, jellies and dried pineapple preserves from choice pineapples grown in Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental, the Province’s newest cool mountain Destination. By Sugar Farm Organics

BOGS BREW

A truly Bacolod beer, Bog’s Brew’s unique essence and flavor comes as a result of its use of two raw materials most abundant in Negros: mountain spring water and muscovado sugar. It comes in several variants: India Pale Ale, Aussie Pale Ale, Czech Pilsener, Canadian Blonde, Mexican Cerveza, Euro Lager and Negros All-Grain. This brew will make its Metro Manila debut at the 24th Negros Trade Fair. By Bogs Brew

MANON

Cuffs embellished with intricately imbedded and creatively designed patterns of Mother of Pearls, Fresh Water Pearls and Wooden Beads. By Manon.

CRISVIL

Crystal Studded fine leather cut-outs from a unique and interesting neckpiece from which a single onyx and glass beads hang. By Crisvil Creations

ART ENERGY

Simple, yet dramatic. This set of Nesting Tables of Mahogany wood with quality finish and workmanship can become both a functional and ornamental part of any room. By Art Energy

CASA CARMELA

Malunggay Series. This award winning wellness food collection features creative uses of malunggay (moringa) whose health benefits have been promoted world-wide. The collection includes Casa Carmela Piayitos (crisp and thin bite-size piayas) speckled with malunggay flakes, baked polvoron with organic muscovado sugar an malunggay- (an easy way to get one’s kids love to consume this vegetable), Sea-Salt with Malunggay Flakes. By Casa Carmela

HACIENDA CRAFTS

Hacienda Hanging Lamp. Free Form weaving of Rattan, which result in a graceful symphony of lace-like cut-out-effects, breathes life into a circular hanging lamp of resin. By Hacienda Crafts.

VITO

Vito’s Lamp. Award-winning hanging chandelier of sea urchin shells becomes an interesting piece when lighted, as each shell’s pattern, texture and form is pronounced. By Vito Prints

REYCON’S PINA CLOTH

Shawl- Soft Hues and Bright tones woven together put life into woven pashmina and pina cloth. By Reycon’s Pina Cloth

FRESH START ORGANICS

Saponified oils, VCO, scents made by hand in Negros Occidental. By Fresh Start Organic Personal Care

VICMIK ENTERPRISES

Isa Lovina’s Vicmik Enterprises’ Signature Craftsmanship and artistry on fabric will once again be made available to the patrons of the 24th Negros Trade Fair, after having taken a leave during last year’s fair. By Vicmik Enterprises

PING’S KNITWEAR

Knits of various shapes, sizes lengths and combinations to fit all figures and to suit all tastes will be available at the 24th Negros Trade Fair. They provide a nostalgic element to this fair which once brought to Metro Manila a full complement of exhibitors of the knitwear craft. By Pings Knitwear.

CARMELINAS

Award-winning, Carmelina’s Turon Imperial are reminiscent of Spanish turrons but are inspired by French nougats. They come with three choices- its classic Wild Honey plus one with Guimaras Mango bits and another one with Malunggay Flakes.  By Casa Carmela

CRISVIL

Cut-up Bamboo poles turn high-fashion as a collection of award-winning evening bags with woven covers and handles accented by exquisite crystal bead studded engraving. By Crisvil Creations

FRESH START ORGANICS

Coffee blends from organic farms of Negros Island, which has embarked on a drive to encourage organic, farming, will be available in take-home packs or on-the-spot coffee pleasure. Available at Fresh Start Organic Booth at the 24th Negros Trade Fair.

QUAN

One of Bacolod’s famous chefs of the past was Conchita Cuenca, whose influence on the Negrense palate continues to be present in various kitchen creations. The Puto of Quan is one of these and will be one of the traditional Negrense Fare Available. By Quan of Pueblo

EL IDEAL

Guapple Pie is as Negrense as Apple Pie is American. This is a Negros Trade Fair Favorite.  By El Ideal.

Italianni’s and Red Mango in the Eastwood Veranda

The staff were very welcoming, everyone had a warm smile and an uttered greeting for guests. Bread was promptly served and refills were offered as one waited for one’s orders. But sadly, the food while freshly cooked and warm, did not satisfy taste-wise.

Husband ordered the fish fillet and it was crunchy. I think it was the best tasting of what we ordered. I ordered the chicken with vegetable risotto. Very generous portion but it lacked flavor. Risotto was dry and so was the chicken. I asked what sauce might help enhance them. I was given marsala sauce. Somehow that didn’t help much.

Son had pizza and it was okay. He said perhaps one should limit one’s orders to pizza and pasta in Italianni’s. But I’m not giving up. When we come back I ‘ll try the seafood risotto. I would have but the lady who served us said it was the chicken with risotto that sold more. Sigh…

At Red Mango, we almost had the place to ourselves except for one couple. Had the original yoghurt with banana crunch and bananas. Basic rate is 80 plus 20 for the first topping and 10 pesos for succeeding toppings up to 5 toppings max. Husband put all sorts on his: almond mochi, muesli and peaches. Son said he didn’t want any because he doesn’t like fruits.

The verdict: original yoghurt was sour. That’s normal my companions said, but I think I should have added syrup to make the experience whole. Husband gave me mochi and it tastes like the espasol thingies DECS had before. Or maybe tikoy. Son later decided to buy one cup that had chocolate crunch or something. He did so after getting some of my yoghurt.

Will I buy the same next time? No, I’ll just filch from my husband’s cup. I didn’t finish mine yesterday.

Power Plant July 25, 2009

We were in Makati to have my son’s Goudin guitar fixed. The bridge came off. He had a theory about it and he was right. The wood suffers from the heat/humidity. Suggestion of Yupangco Makati: if you don’t plan to use your guitar for a long time, loosen the strings.

Now to Power Plant. Had dinner at Myron’s. While waiting I asked if we could have some garlic bread – thin and crispy. The girl who attended to us must have been new, she was raw not polished. She asked, “gusto niyo ma’am?” after I asked if they had it. She gave us one each. Our orders: husband’s was chopped salad, son’s was Black and Blue burger, mine was Paolo’s 5 oz steak. No more foie gras for me because it raises the price by some P300. I miss foie gras but it will be a long time before I muster the gall to splurge on it. One observation – oh I forgot, we ordered their sundried tomato and cheese dip which came with French bread. Though we had consumed the bread, there was some spread left over. The waiter reached for the ramekin but I restrained him. A bit later, after my plate was near empty except for some veggies and my favorite roasted garlic, the waiter reached for my plate. I’m not sure now if it was the same waiter, but I told him I was eating pa. I was almost tempted to ask, “wala na kayong plate?” Why the rush? I’ll post a picture of the steak tomorrow. It was so good. Sliced just right, tender and juicy. The plate didn’t look as full as before though the steak occupied a good portion of the plate. Mashed potatoes wasn’t ready-mix tasting. Yummy Myron’s but I hope they train their waiters better.

Pazzo for dessert. Husband and son had ice cream but I thought that would be too heavy. Then I saw one inch cubes of chocolate. I got one – white chocolate with pistachio filling. Yummy but seemed not enough. I got another cube – milk chocolate with strawberry filling. Yummy too.

In the concourse level, they had the baker’s dozen group again, I forgot to ask why. Usually they are present on special occasions: Christmas, Valentine’s, Mother’s Day, etc. What was the occasion, I wonder?

At any rate, son bought the usual Iya’s pastillas and peanuts, I got baklava. Three flavors: pistachio, walnut and hazelnut(?). Truly yummy. A bit pricey with 17 pieces at P350. Once in a while…

Went to the groceries for a little shopping. Got boursin. The other night, son was raving about the buffet in Spirals. He and his friends went on a Tuesday when the buffet was 50% off. They had boursin to their stomach’s content. So he has been hankering for more. It’s available in Rustan Supermarket’s Le Gourmet glass display.

After Rustan’s we went to the cinema to watch Public Enemies. Stars Johnny Depp and Christian Bale. I read some time back it wasn’t very good, but my husband and son wanted to watch it. So we did. And I slept part of the time, thinking, mahal naman ng tulog ko. But the temp of the theater was so conducive. And each time I’d wake up, I still had an idea about what happened because it was just killing and shooting most of the time. The policemen in the movie weren’t very bright, it was unbelievable. And one of the characters said so. Christian Bale’s character was undeservedly recognized, there was a brighter policeman in the force. So things like those happened in the States before. Remind me of, guess what?

Got a George Simonen book from Fully Booked, just as I did an Albert Camus book from National Bookstore the other day. Both books were mentioned by Jessica Zafra. She should get a commission from both stores. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one convinced to get them after reading her column on the books.

Old Vine Grill the nth time around and Eastwood Mall

The pulled pork was great, the chicken in a basket tasted just like one would do it in the house. Nothing special. The seared tuna with garlic ponzu was okay, but I prefer Cyma’s seared tuna. The steak was okay, with herbed butter. My husband ordered spicy chicken pasta. Tried the chicken, it was okay. The bread was superb and it was a good thing we ordered that because our orders took a bit to come. Some pictures:

Pictures from CPK some time back

Don’t know what these are called  except for the ravioli, but they’re all good. I think the bread is cheese foccacia

Shang on a Friday night

First stop was CYMA. Hooray, it was open. Last Sunday when we were in Shang, I noticed a man carrying a CYMA plastic bag and thought it must be open by now and indeed it was.

The manager Deng greeted us after Third took our orders: tonnos salata – solo, moussaka and the special rice in two green bell peppers served with 4 wedges of potato. The rice has sultanas and pine nuts. Yummy.

Deng welcomed us back and said they reopened on the 30th. I asked why they closed and he said there were renovations made: the ceiling, the flooring, the water pipes, etc. Most of the renovations done weren’t too evident, an observation other customers made too, he said. And he promised us free dessert. I love restos that spring such happy surprises.

Our orders were served within 10 minutes, maybe even quicker, a testament to the fact that moussaka doesn’t need that long to prepare. Remember our Cyma Eastwood experience? Husband reiterated that Cyma Eastwood really forgot my moussaka  order then. But one cannot stay mad in Cyma long because the personnel have very good PR. They are quick to apologize for any shortcomings and that’s great.

Back to last night. While eating, I looked ahead and saw the nice Naturalizer sandals my friend had on a lady’s feet. I thought I would tell my friend about seeing similar sandals. When I looked at the lady’s back I was curious who she could possibly be. Sixth sense, but I waited for her to turn. It was my friend. Hahaha. So I called out and my voice’s volume being what it is, she didn’t hear me. So I solicited my husband’s help and she heard him. What a laugh we had.

After we were through with dinner,the free dessert came as promised: yummy pistachio ice cream with caramel syrup. I asked what it was, lest it had some fancy name. Third said it was indeed pistachio ice cream. While Deng the manager stands out because he doesn’t wear a uniform, Third will stand out too. He is tall and good looking (pretty) and has a ready smile for everyone. I also saw this lady who used to welcome people to Cyma and she was dressed differently as well. I asked if she had been promoted  – she said she was under training for the position of manager.

How nice that people in Cyma progress if they are deserving: Pacino, Deng and the lady. The same goes true in Kimpura Greenhills. Former waiters become maitre’d.  I also saw a “geisha” who began to use a different uniform – a sure sign of moving up.

After Cyma, went to True Value where a number of clerks have this visor-like creation on their heads that indicate there is a sale ongoing. We got some PHilips bulbs at buy 1 take one, so instead of spending 600 for 6, we paid 300. Wanted to get gift certificates for a nephew who’s getting married but guess what, they didn’t have enough. What a shame. Bought YES magazine instead. Without even looking at the cover. later saw in National Bookstore that on the cover were: Aling Dionisia and Corinna and Mar. Guess whose story I have qualms about reading. I’ll bet you’ll guess wrong.

To Rustan’s next. Went to the Concierge to get GCs. The same clerk who attended to me then attended to me again. She smiles and yet she doesn’t. No warmth there. Does she have problems or is it I, to borrow C’s perpetual puzzle. She gets the job done but no, she doesn’t reach out to the customer. So, so unfeeling. And they easily had GCs because guess what, there are templates/ forms they just type the amount onto and then print. They even have a box for the GCs, tailor-fit. Then I asked if she could have it wrapped. Yes, in silver she said. I thought it was Rustan’s de rigueur white with silver but no, it was silver all throughout. But like I told you, this lady was okay, sungit, even if she smiled so got the package without muttering anything. My discount card – the last time I forgot to bring it and I was about to get something that cost. So I wanted a discount. Was directed to the concierge and to her. She checked my name in the database. It wasn’t there, she said. So I asked, why have I been able to use it for years? I asked if I could just use my sister’s if she found it in the database. With a heavy heart and face she did and so I got my discount. (I told you, she gets things done but is so stoic). She also told me then to bring the discount card next time so she could check. I did yesterday and so she checked. She said eh magkadikit ang MA.name mo pala. (kasalanan ko ba yun? Sino ba nag-input? Sino ba nag print sa card? No, I’m not blaming her, but neither should she have sounded as though it wer my fault) Then she said “tapos `s’ ang dulo ng apelyido mo.” I could have asked her the same questions racing in my mind, but she wasn’t to trifle with kasi ang sungit. So I just nodded. Then she said to fill up a form so the errors could be corrected. As she was typing from the form I filled up, she said “Z ang dulo ng apelyido mo?” I nodded meekly even if I wanted to spew venom, errr, wax sarcastic) The new dc she said was good for a year and renewable each year. The dc I had was open-ended. Earlier when she had told me my old dc was  open-ended, I had said I’d just keep it. Her answer “ikaw bahala.” O, di ba ang sungit? In the end I applied for a replacement because she said that anyway she could issue me a receipt that I could use for discounts pending receipt of the new card. She also said it was renewable for free each year. Hay ang sungit talaga.

After Rustan’s we stopped by Fish and Co where sunshine greeted me via the preggy personnel who used to wait on our table. Now I think she has been promoted too. After taking our order, someone else gave me the bill and 2 Endearmints. yehey. But when I gave her my bff discount card, she told me that for take out, bff discounts could only be given for bills P500 and up. This someone else was smiling so how could I argue? Plus rules are rules.

If you see a picture in this post, that will be the pistachio ice cream of Cyma. By the way the place was full by the time we left. So at Cyma, either one comes early or one comes early. You can have yourself put on the waiting list too, though. Am not sure they accept reservations.

(Oops, re Rustan’s, as I have yet to get my discount card in two to three weeks after they call, I hope Ms. S doesn’t read this or if she does, I hope she won’t be around when I get the card. I’m scared. The other people there are nicer. There was one lady in fact who saw me alone and asked “may nag attend na ba sa iyo?” I smiled and said “oo.” Then she went inside the room inside (that sounds so inane) and asked “wala bang tao  rito?” I thought there was someone inside but apparently there was no one. I said “ay baka may multo rito?” She said “wala naman.” Before long my husband arrived with the purchases I had him pay for to save time. The Ms. had gone out to have my GCs wrapped.

the ice cream from CYMA

BPI-how disappointing.

I am disappointed

Over a month ago, I requested for a copy of my bank statement, initially by fax but was channeled to a human being. Fine. She said there was something wrong about the fax so she said they’d just send me my bank statement  through courier. Reference number for my request was 1-585-084-xxx. Fine. Within 15 days I would get the statement, I was told. The  statement came within the 15-day window. Not good in the sense that  only pages 3 of 4 and 4 of 4 came. I was pressed for time then so I called a few days later: July 08 to be exact. I talked to Jaymee and explained the situation. She told me she would rush the request and gave me another reference number: 1-591-396-xxx.

Okay, 15 banking days almost – it’s 13 days today, and no sign of the statement. So I called. The person who checked my records said the request  update was that 5 pages were sent to me on the 23rd. That’s on the 12th banking day, and that’s as good as BPI can deliver for a rush thing? A correction of their previous inefficiency? What a shame.

Possibly I’ll receive the document on the 27th – the 14th banking day, just a day short of the window.

Can’t BPI do any better than that? I asked the person who answered me today, will you give me a reference number again? He said yes, for the complaint and it’s 1598506041.

Sigh. How disappointing

Paging Dencio’s

This morning I had a craving for Dencio’s food. Called up several numbers, even head office and no one could tell me which branch delivers to Loyola Heights. Arrgh. Have they ceased doing so?

Hodgepodge

Yes, this will be a mishmash of things that suddenly come up in my head. When I woke up there were a number. Now, whether I remember everything is another matter.

Let me list them down as I recall them: Seattle’s Best, Katipunan; Max’s Katipunan; Perspolis Katipunan; recollections about food places in Katipunan (Red Deer, Coffee Pot, Sweet Haven, Dunkin’ Donuts, Round Table, Roli’s); Make Room.

Last night, a friend emailed asking about early breakfast places in Katipunan. He asked how early McDo opens and whatever options are available. Wanting to help him out because he is so helpful himself, I decided to think about the matter and make a few calls along the way.

McDo – it’s 24 hours open, I didn’t have to call to find out. Next in line:

Sweet Inspiration – From my recollection it offers breakfast buffet, but I wanted to be sure. So I called up (9282557), the buffet no longer is served but the place opens at 6 a.m., convenient for joggers et al. besides which it has more variety in terms of offerings than McDo. I must tell my friend they have a “function” room one can reserve. I hope I don’t forget.

Starbucks – I don’t eat there, I don’t know its number, I just know it’s there.

Seattle’s Best – I called the number in my cell’s phone book; it kept ringing. I looked in munchpunch.com. They had a different number there, I called that too. Same story. Kept on ringing. I called the Greenbelt number – huh? To ask for katipunan’s number and I felt like such a dunce to find out it had closed. When, I asked? The lady said “one week ago.” Oh, I’ll miss the brownie javakula and ham and cheese croissant. Yes, I know, there are other branches out there, but SB in Katipunan holds happy memories and was our destination of choice in keeping the CHinese tradition that after going to a wake, one shouldn’t go home straight. One should drop by somewhere. SB for us was one such destination.

Ken Afford – This place used to have breakfast buffet at P99. I called up 4333575. For a while there I thought it had closed to because the phone rang, and rang, and rang, and rang maybe 9 times. Then a man picked it up. They open at 8, no more buffet. Incidentally, the buffet in SI is P170 per.

Cravings – I know it had a buffet breakfast, but I called to be sure. No, they no longer have buffet breakfast, the lady told me, just salad and soup buffet. Promise, she offered that info, so of course I dumbly followed up with – during breakfast? No, she said. Thank God, I thought the world had gone bizarre. So there.

Thinking about Cravings’ response made me remember a call I got about lunch time yesterday. Sigh, these telemarketers really one to make me thin by destroying my appetite. Who put them up to it? Yesterday, I got a call from I forget her name. She sounded like she knew me. So possibly, she had called me before (just like Analyn formerly of Peninsula, now of Crowne Galleria has called me so many times before, I’ve lost track). Now this lady who called yesterday said she’s from Mandarin. After delivering a spiel about what come with a Mandarin card, she said “ready na po yung card n’yo” etc. Oops, that was part of the spiel. But an off-putting part was her constant reference to Peninsula. I said “di ba, wala ng card ang Peninsula?” Did she read my blogs before about Peninsula and find out I had no love lost for its card? Just kidding, my phone number is nowhere to be found in my blog. Sheer coincidence. Or had someone made a note there somewhere that when you call this number, work on her dislike for Pen? Anyway, she kept emphasizing about how the Mandarin card was so much better than Pen’s. See, I repeat myself, you think? But no, I’m just recalling the conversation because even after I pointed out the fact that Pen’s card was no longer available (Analyn has told me countless times, boo for her as it was she who had sold it and sang praises about it) she kept saying Mandarin’s was better. After the nth time I was tempted to tell her not to flay a dead horse but I wasn’t feeling that mean yesterday. But seriously…

Now back to Katipunan. Over the months, a number of establishments have closed, I noticed, every time we pass by. the place’s signage will either have disappeared or barring that, the place is eerily dark. Among those that have closed shop are Max’s, Perspolis. More peripatetic diners might want to add to the list.

Establishments formerly in Katipunan which I sorely miss are Coffee Pot — because of it’s yummmy barbecues. CP looked like a small log cabin, dark brown. First year college at Ateneo I’d always see it and occasionally eat in it with my sisters or classmates. But even before I finished college, CP had burned down. Sigh.

Red Deer – no, it wasn’t a resto but a shoe and bag place. Its manager was from my hometown. She once ordered cake from me and shared it with the owners. They offered me space in the store where I could put up a pastry shop of sorts. My father said NO. See, my father was conservative – like BPI, a friend who works there says her bank is stable because it is soooooo conservative. And being the very dutiful daughter then, I just said followed my father’s advice. Of course, over the years I have vacillated about that decision – if I had, would it have been a smashing successs or would I just have folded up like RD? Because yes, it did. Oh well.

And not as long ago as 3 decades (when I was in college) but longer ago than Perspolis et al., there were Round Table which sold pastas and pizzas and was a sister company of Pollo Loco, which closed not very long after it opened. There was Dunkin’ Donuts too. But I think it closed shop because the building where it stood has been demolished for a Henry Sy building? Till now it remains a mystery to me – no signs there. But I miss DD. I prefer it to Mister Donut. And Go ‘nuts is not within walking distance from the house, not even trike distance because of the U-turn thingies.

Roli’s, my beloved Roli’s used to have a small resto in Katipunan. I used to get my beloved sate babi there but was always left feeling shortchanged because it came not with the great-tasting java rice but with garlic rice. Don’t ask me why, I never found out. Roli’s didn’t last too long. Sigh.

Sweet Haven – just when I had begun to like its peach pie. Darn. Or was it mango with a walnut crust?

So there. What will close next? So morbid a thought, but last night when I told husband and son about the demise of SB in Katipunan, they wondered out loud about the possible reasons. Son being the brightest in the family ventured – 3 branches of Starbucks along Katipunan did SB in. I asked, “3?” I know there’s one near Shakey’s, another beside Rustan’s. where’s the third, I asked? Son said “Petron.” Oh, okay. Son also said “Bo’s coffee” may have contributed to SB’s death. No one mentioned Xocolat, but I guess it also did. Oh well.

*********

The post is more than long but here’s one info I’d like to share. If you buy something, anything from Make Room any branch, do show them your Rustan’s discount card and enjoy, what else, a discount. No FSP (Frequent Shoppers) points though. In the past, the likes of Marlboro and other Rustan’s subsidiaries(?) gave out points provided one shows one’s receipt from these establishments in Rustan’s, at most within a month of the purchase. Now, one gets discounts, no points. Remember that. I sometimes forget. Actually, that is the better deal.

Rosalinda

After a few nights of watching the new telenovela, I quit. Nestor Torre explained it best in a recent column. I didn’t like watching a show where one misfortune after another beset the good people. That isn’t so in real life, di ba? Very tiring/tiresome exercise.  So what do I watch these days?

Some portions of Unang Hirit, Eat Bulaga, The Sweet Life, 24 Oras and Saksi, if I watch TV at all. Otherwise I am on the Internet or listening to music.

Pinoy Henyo, Eat Bulaga

If there’s one portion of Eat Bulaga I don’t want to miss each day, it’s this. Oh yes, Bulagaan too, except that the latter is shown ever so infrequently.

What’s with PH? It’s a lot of fun where a couple related or not, friends at the very least, go through this exercise: there’s a guesser on whose forehead is attached a contraption where a word is written for which the said person has to ask questions answerable only by oo, hindi, pwede by her/his partner and from such guess the word. It can be a lot of fun when the guesses are so far away from the answer, when the questions are repeated, etc. Weeks back I was looking forward to Soxy Topacio and Manny Castaneda’s guesting except that they took the game so seriously they didn’t spell fun.

Today’s guests featured showbiz writers. My, but they are a sharp lot. All three pairs managed to guess the words correctly and the team which guessed the word fastest and proceeded to the jackpot portion, won the jackpot.  Sorry that I can’t remember the winning pair’s names. The other pairs had Mario Bautista, Eugene Asis, Jun Nardo and one more.

Yes, showbiz writers are not to be sneezed at. They write and speak very well, and Jun Nardo is a lawyer, in fact. Way to go. I won’t hesitate to bet that if the IQs of these writers and showbiz stars are taken, the former will have higher IQs on average. This is not to denigrate the likes of Joey de Leon, Vic Sotto, Pauleen Luna and Alan K, Francis Magalona, who are obviously smart. But there are some really who should go back to school or read books at the very least. Watch Joey’s expression and you can tell which guest is which. Joey always nods in approval or has that countenance which spells “magaling ‘to a” whenever a guest shows intelligence. Yes, he does, even if the guest isn’t from showbiz.

A Recipe

As with most of my food posts, this is as much to share as it is for me not to forget.

Days back, Rosebud on Quickfire had this interesting sandwich which used two slices of eggplant in lieu of bread. What did she stuff it with?

As usual, because it had eggplant, I wasn’t immediately attentive. But the filling caught my attention. So here was how it went.

1. She put salt on the egg plant not for taste purposes but so it would sweat (One does this when one pickles green mangoes too).

2. Then she prepared the filling. I didn’t know what else she added to the ricotta and feta cheese but what I did yesterday was to combine feta cheese with kesong puti (I didn’t find ricotta in rustan’s, perhaps because I didn’t look hard enough. I did look for cottage cheese because I think it approximates the texture of ricotta but failed to find any.)

3. She laid one slice of eggplant on a cookie tray and topped it with cheese – in lieu of eggplant, I put a slice of Elsie’s garlic bread (Hi Iggy and Elise). Then, while Rosebud topped the cheese mixture with a whole slice of salad tomato and one whole basil leaf, I cut up the tomato and basil as one would for bruschetta.

4. While Rosebud topped the above with another slice of eggplant, I left it open faced while topping it what what Rosebud did to the top eggplant: with a combination of Japanese bread crumbs and parmesan cheese.

5. yummy. Lesson learned: while Rosebud sort of lined the tray with olive oil, I didn’t. Mahal kasi plus I forgot to buy a new bottle though it was in my shopping list. Blind spot. Anyway, I thought, the garlic bread wouldn’t stick on the pan. Well, it didn’t, but when I looked at the bottom of the slice I ate it was a dark brown, but not black. I think the butter pre-spread on the bread by Elsie’s was responsible. But not to worry. It didn’t taste bad. Sorry, no pictures. I was too famished to bother. Next time.

Doing the Groceries in Rustan’s katipunan 18 July 2009

Good news, healthy eaters. Del Monte’s freshly squeezed orange juice is now available in Rustan’s Katipunan. Yes, starting today, it is. So now there’s no need for us to go to Unimart, Rustan’s Power Plant or Rustan’s Shang to get a bottle of it.

Darn, brownout. Must be the strong winds.

While at Rustan’s, saw this man in a burgundy polo. He so looked like William Martinez, I thought, but I didn’t see Yayo (wrong presumption that married couples always do the groceries together). So no, he can’t be William, I thought. But no, it’s William. No it’s not. Then I saw his daughter and yes, I finally concluded, it is William.

A little later, while my groceries were being punched, I saw this fit-looking lady in black shirt and pants, hair pulled back in a ponytail. Lyn Ching. She wasn’t wearing her trademark smile, she wasn’t looking at anyone. I guess she was in a hurry.

Saw the manager bagging William’s purchases. I thought, “ah, kasi artista.” But he also bagged the next person’s purchases. Very good manager. Walang pinipili.

He Who Can’t Marry

… no, this isn’t an emo post. On the contrary, I’ve been having a great time watching this Koreanovela on mysoju.com. Some parts weren’t accessible but that hasn’t made the viewing any less fun. The main protagonist was one of the male leads in Jewel in the Palace. He is so funny. All the rest of the major characters, the three ladies and one young man, are unfamiliar. The father of the doctor I’ve seen in many telenovelas acting as, what else, the father.

Go watch. C, I’m sure you can relate. The guy is so OC. Shades of Jack Nicholson in As Good as It Gets.

The Sweet Life 15 July 2009

The Sweet Life today pays tribute to the late Michael Jackson. The first number had Joshua Zamora of Maneuvers and Aira Bermudez of Sex Bomb dancing to Rock with You. They so looked like they were having a great time I enjoyed watching them. And it is now that I appreciate Aira’s dancing the most. Joshua I’ve long admired along with the rest of the Maneuvers.

Joshua just announced that the Maneuvers will have its 25th anniversary concert next year. If it wouldn’t look odd, I’d like to watch that show. Hahaha. Really. Oh, and he announced that they’re part of PAGCOR’s almost daily show Wonders!

Oh, Amy Perez is a guest. I love this lady’s humor. How I wish she were with GMA so I’d see her more often.

Also guesting are the finalists of “Are you the next big star?” Yehey, they don’t sing birit style. And they’re good.

Random Takes from TV Watching

The discussion  on buses along EDSA between Arnold Clavio, Assec. Suansing and Claire de la Fuente in Unang Hirit proceeded very amicably. Perhaps it helped that Suansing and Claire are magkumpare. Perhaps it helped that Claire knew whereof she spoke and so did Suansing. The discussion was not impassioned but factual. I admire Claire. She started out in showbiz and while she hasn’t abandoned the entertainment industry she has become this well respected bus magnate and president even of the IMBOA or whatever bus association it is. Galing. I was half listening and so was my son (he’s studying) pala when at the end of the discussion he said “Alam niya ang sinasabi niya no? Galing ng babae.” And he hasn’t heard her sing yet.

Unang Hirit’s weather girl: who’s she? wow, so confident as she delivered info on the weather complete with pa-cute motions with her body and hands. Who’s she?

Iwa Moto – in the interim between her TV appearances crying over her father and the past week, her look is softer. She’s prettier. What did she do or have done?

Akihiro Sato – he’s a guest in UH now and the ladies (Rhea, Lyn, Suzie and Sunshine) are having a heyday intervieweing him because he’s very warm without being flirtatious. He’s fun. He’s a model and is into Brazilian jujitsu.

Last night in 24 Oras, they featured Lala, a deaf young person whose digital hearing aid was snatched from the mother along with the latter’s wallet. Thing is that was no ordinary hearing aid. It cost P300k and was obtained through the help of PCSO. Possibly, the snatcher thought it was an IPOD or something similar because it looks so high tech. But you know, even if the snatcher has a relative who is deaf, that relative can’t use it because the apparatus could only be used following an ear implant. The news item also made me realize that the PCSO is one government agency we can be proud of. While it doesn’t get that much media mileage, it is doing great stuff. In one school, the dialysis sessions of a personnel was undertaken by PCSO and now, this digital hearing aid. Way to go, PCSO.

Flowers, the hospital and then Ninyo

Yesterday, after getting a friend a bouquet of flowers  and bringing this to the hospital where my son was asked “ano mo si xxx?” and he answered “Friend ng nanay ko” and got the reaction “Ay!”, we went to Ninyo for the nth time. Earlier we were thinking of going to  Power Plant but as it was nearer to head for QC after Chinese General, we did just that. Options were as follows:

SM North Annex, Trinoma, Eastwood Mall. SM North got no reaction. Trinoma – son said too crowded. EM would have been it, but I said “Ninyo kaya?” Unanimous yes.

So we headed for NInyo, with son and I sharing the same mindset “let’s order something different.” Husband didn’t say anything but he did the same, and son actually didn’t.

Husband’s orders: trio of oysters and Julius Cesar salad, son ordered the glazed salmon while I ordered the Vietnamese coffee crusted US beef tenderloin with mushroom ragout and parmesan uggh, I forget – the veggie tempura.

Verdict: the trio of oysters consisted of 6 pieces, two of each of the following: Rockefeller oysters, oyster with foie gras and the oyster with wasabi which is usually served free. Yummy, yummy, yummy. But son’s favorite remains the wasabi thingy.

Husband’s salad had chicken strips that were great tasting, I didn’t try the rest of the salad.

My order was a visual delight: It had coffee floss (read cotton candy) that melted in the mouth. The beef I found a tad strong – the coffee coating that is, but otherwise it was okay. The mushroom ragout and veggie tempura was a wow. Son and husband tried my order and son said he’d order it next time.

I think I may have pictures. I’ll see and post them in a while, sloth not getting the better of me and getting in the way.

Transport group all set for nationwide strike

From: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=486269&publicationSubCategoryId=65&newsalert

Amazing! So was my initial reaction when I read the following in my email (I subscribe to Philstar online). Then reality set in. I didn’t know whether I should chuckle or cry. See especially the words I set in bold:

Transport group all set for nationwide strike By Rainier Allan Ronda Updated July 13, 2009 12:00 AM MANILA, Philippines – Militant transport group Piston (Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide) said it is all set for today’s nationwide transport strike to express their grievance against high oil prices and the government’s continued implementation of a Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) order raising traffic violation fines.

Methinks they may protest the high oil prices, but to protest against government’s raising traffic violation fines?

How absolutely spoiled, dumb, stupid. Why don’t they just follow the rules and not commit traffic violations so they need not pay fines? That they protest it means they don’t care about avoiding traffic violations period. For so long as the fines are low.

What kind of thinking is that? Silly. I’m flabbergasted.

Repeat after me, Cyma’s Loss, Tender Bob’s Gain

This is the second time it happens, but this time for a different reason.

This pm, hied off to Shang after stopping at Dita Sandico Ong’s for my blouse, Malu Veloso’s for my two blouses, my sister’s house to drop off books, and then Shang. Intent on having the tuna salad of Cyma and possibly, skolatina or baklava.

Level 6 – oops, rather than Cyma’s lights, we saw a tarp announcing they were on vacation and would be back soon. Where to go? Tender Bob’s.

It being around 3 pm, it was too early for a full meal. So husband and I split a 3-cheese burger. Also ordered spinach artichoke dip in an effort to eat healthy. Okay, so the dip had cream and cheese, but at least it had veggies. Rather than toast, what came with it were pita chips, fried brown. Yummy, yummy, yummy. I could just have eaten that. In fact, I didn’t finish my half of the yummy burger. I like TB’s burger because it is so simple tasting, like burgers of yore. It makes me feel nostalgic. Must have eaten a similar tasting one when I was younger.

Then to errands. A light bulb and Brita filter from True Value, Citromint for roaches on the 6th floor just outside TV. Not necessarily in that order. Oh yes, went to National Bookstore in search of threads. The first girl we asked was conversing with a man, not a customer. Asked “May thread kayo?” Her immediate reply, “ay wala, try niyo sa department store.” I said “saan?” Guess what she answered, “Sa Rustan’s o sa Crossings.” Hahaha. We left her and then went to an aisle when from a distance, I thought I saw another lady just a meter or so away from her who looked more responsible. So I told husband, let’s try her. We did, and guess what? She produced spools of threads packed with scissors, colors predetermined. O di ba, National has threads. You just have to ask someone not chatting with some male. I asked the more responsible girl (sorry forgot to get her name) who the errant clerk was. She said “promo ng neon pen” or something. Husband showed her the threads, of course. “Ay meron nga naka pack.” uh huh. Hay.

Mercury Drug – bought filter for my Devilbiss nebulizer circa 1990. Had bought that for my then 10-month old son but have been using it myself. Okay, so it’s almost 20 years old so the filter it uses, a flat disk like a 10 centavo coin has been phased out. Instead, the clerk who had sold us my wheelchair months back, said people bought the   one-inch or so cylindrical filter and just sliced as needed. Husband saw a newer, more compact looking nebulizer. Costs P3300. He said we should buy that, ours is so noisy. The girl interjected, “Ay maingay rin yan.” How honest. We didn’t buy a new one yet. I feel attached to the old one, for sentimental reasons.

Went to Rustan’s on the ground floor. Have been in search of a wallet that doesn’t have a light portion that gets dirty easily. I have had two Liz Claiborne’s which are faux leather with faux silk lining. Very nice in terms of price (less than P2k) and have several pockets for credit and store cards. Sturdy too, but the stain from handling doesn’t come off. So after some time, it looks icky.

At the CROSS stand, they had not only ballpens but watches and leather products. Most of the wallets or maybe all, come with this tiny ballpen, refills available at Rustan’s. Really cute. And the wallets have this tiny slot for a sim card. Novel and very thoughtful. Except that the least priced wallet was P6k I think. So we said we’d just come back.

Went to the second floor. Lots of Liz Claiborne wallets but some designs were a bit tacky. Asked the girl if there were other brands available. I was expecting Rolf’s which I had bought years back. She said “Braun Buffel”. I almost didn’t go to the said display because years back I did and was intimidated by the prices. Like Tumi’s. But luckily we went because the wallets were priced over a wide range. And guess what, the bottom-most items were on sale! Chose a wallet with several slots for cards. It had a compartment that swiveled. I asked if it was sturdy because it was held on to the rest of the wallet by a snap sealed on both sides. The lady assured me it would hold. Incidentally, this lady was the girl in charge of BB products. Earlier, a younger looking girl attended to us very solicitously and it was only later we realized she wasn’t even in charge of the product. Pity I forgot to get her name.

Back to BB lady. So I paid for the wallet after which husband and I went to Fish & Co to get a New York Fish and CHips for take home to son. Ordered bacon and pumpkin soup for sharing. While at Fish & Co, waiting for our order, I decided to try out the wallet and it looked too bulky for comfort. It looked like it was going to burst as soon as I filled up all the slots for cards. I was so sad, oh okay, disappointed. I needed another wallet or a purse for the cards so as to preserve my new BB purse. So after Fish & Co, we went back to BB. I explained my predicament to BB lady and showed her what I meant. I asked for possible card holders and she showed me quite a lot. later I asked her name, Apple Ramos. Very patient young lady. And guess what? After I hinted if I could just change the wallet even if had to pay more she immediately agreed. So I got a bigger one and am happier now. You can bet I’ll be back looking at BB products from now on. Price isn’t too bad plus personnel service is tops. Apple and the young lady who subbed for her earlier. Thank you both.

TO go back to Fish & Co. Ever since I tried pumpking soup some place, I have been curious about pumpkin soup preparations of various places. So we ordered that. First sip. I told my husband “it has ginger.” Then I promptly reassured him, “Oh, just ginger taste, no slivers.” Hahaha, I spoke too soon. Because by the time I finished the soup, my half of it, I had removed maybe 8 portions of various shapes and sizes. Arrgh. Never again. Husband said he just swallowed whatever without chewing. Arrgh.

******

Some feedback on MV and DSO in terms of service. MV, who has  been in the business longer, has personnel who are better trained and deliver as scheduled, or call up if a delay is likely. At DSO’s, delays could run for weeks. And when I got the blouses (at MV’s, for repairs – one was too big, some beads of the other were becoming loose), those from MV were in hangers and covered with plastic. Those from DSO were in a funky recyclable bag, folded. Cool. Do I post pictures? One of these days maybe. I’m so not in the mood. Okay, lazy.

The Gentleman

In Reading Literature, the title of an essay by John Henry Newman was simply, “The Gentleman.” But the internet version taken from http://www.oldandsold.com/articles33n/essays-studies-16.shtml is entitled “A Definition of a Gentleman”. Here it is: {Though written in the 19th century, I think it is all but passe. Good manners and breeding are not time-bound. The criteria for them should not be, anyway.}

HENCE it is that it is almost a definition of a gentleman to say he is one who never inflicts pain. This description is both refined and, as far as it goes, accurate. He is mainly occupied in merely removing the obstacles which hinder the free and unembarrassed action of those about him; and he concurs with their movements rather than takes the initiative himself. His benefits may be considered as parallel to what are called comforts or conveniences in arrangements of a personal nature: like an easy chair or a good fire, which do their part in dispelling cold and fatigue, though nature provides both means of rest and animal heat without them. The true gentleman in like manner carefully avoids what-ever may cause a jar or a jolt in the minds of those with whom he is cast; — all clashing of opinion, or collision of feeling, all restraint, or suspicion, or gloom, or resentment; his great concern being to make every one at their ease and at home. He has his eyes on all his company; he is tender towards the bashful, gentle towards the distant, and merciful towards the absurd; he can recollect to whom he is speaking; he guards against unseasonable allusions, or topics which may irritate; he is seldom prominent in conversation, and never wearisome. He makes light of favours while he does them, and seems to be receiving when he is conferring. He never speaks of himself except when compelled, never defends himself by a mere retort, he has no ears for slander or gossip, is scrupulous in imputing motives to those who interfere with him, and interprets every thing for the best. He is never mean or little in his disputes, never takes unfair advantage, never mistakes personalities or sharp sayings for arguments, or insinuates evil which he dare not say out. From a long-sighted prudence, he observes the maxim of the ancient sage, that we should ever conduct ourselves towards our enemy as if he were one day to be our friend. Ile has too much good sense to be affronted at insults, he is too well employed to remember injuries, and too indolent to bear malice. He is patient, forbearing, and resigned, on philosophical principles; he submits to pain, because it is inevitable, to bereavement, because it is irreparable, and to death, because it is his des-tiny. If he engages in controversy of any kind, his disciplined intellect preserves him from the blundering discourtesy of better, perhaps, but less educated minds; who, like blunt weapons, tear and hack instead of cutting clean, who mistake the point in argument, waste their strength on trifles, misconceive their adversary, and leave the question more involved than they find it. He may be right or wrong in his opinion, but he is too clear-headed to be unjust; he is as simple as he is forcible, and as brief as he is decisive. Nowhere shall we find greater candour, consideration, indulgence: he throws himself into the minds of his opponents, he accounts for their mistakes. He knows the weakness of human reason as well as its strength, its province and its limits. If he be an unbeliever, he will be too profound and large-minded to ridicule religion or to act against it; he is too wise to be a dogmatist or fanatic in his infidelity. He respects piety and devotion; he even supports institutions as venerable, beautiful, or useful, to which he does not assent; he honours the ministers of religion, and it contents him to decline its mysteries without assailing or denouncing them. He is a friend of religious toleration, and that, not only because his philosophy has taught him to look on all forms of faith with an impartial eye, but also from the gentleness and effeminacy of feeling, which is the attendant on civilization.

Not that he may not hold a religion too, in his own way, even when he is not a Christian. In that case his religion is one of imagination and sentiment; it is the embodiment of those ideas of the sublime, majestic, and beautiful, without which there can be no large philosophy. Sometimes he acknowledges the being of God, sometimes he invests an unknown principle or quality with the attributes of perfection. And this deduction of his reason, or creation of his fancy, he makes the occasion of such excellent thoughts, and the starting-point of so varied and systematic a teaching, that he even seems like a disciple of Christianity itself. From the very accuracy and steadiness of his logical powers, he is able to see what sentiments are consistent in those who hold any religious doctrine at all, and he appears to others to feel and to hold a whole circle of theological truths, which exist in his mind no otherwise than as a number of deductions.

A Slander

Here’s a version of another story I read from Reading Literature. Being too lazy to type what was in the book, I got the from the site http://www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/5274/.

Title: A Slander
Author: Anton Chekhov [More Titles by Chekhov]

SERGE KAPITONICH AHINEEV, the writing master, was marrying his daughter to the teacher of history and geography. The wedding festivities were going off most successfully. In the drawing room there was singing, playing, and dancing. Waiters hired from the club were flitting distractedly about the rooms, dressed in black swallow-tails and dirty white ties. There was a continual hubbub and din of conversation. Sitting side by side on the sofa, the teacher of mathematics, Tarantulov, the French teacher, Pasdequoi, and the junior assessor of taxes, Mzda, were talking hurriedly and interrupting one another as they described to the guests cases of persons being buried alive, and gave their opinions on spiritualism. None of them believed in spiritualism, but all admitted that there were many things in this world which would always be beyond the mind of man. In the next room the literature master, Dodonsky, was explaining to the visitors the cases in which a sentry has the right to fire on passers-by. The subjects, as you perceive, were alarming, but very agreeable. Persons whose social position precluded them from entering were looking in at the windows from the yard.

Just at midnight the master of the house went into the kitchen to see whether everything was ready for supper. The kitchen from floor to ceiling was filled with fumes composed of goose, duck, and many other odours. On two tables the accessories, the drinks and light refreshments, were set out in artistic disorder. The cook, Marfa, a red-faced woman whose figure was like a barrel with a belt around it, was bustling about the tables.

“Show me the sturgeon, Marfa,” said Ahineev, rubbing his hands and licking his lips. “What a perfume! I could eat up the whole kitchen. Come, show me the sturgeon.”

Marfa went up to one of the benches and cautiously lifted a piece of greasy newspaper. Under the paper on an immense dish there reposed a huge sturgeon, masked in jelly and decorated with capers, olives, and carrots. Ahineev gazed at the sturgeon and gasped. His face beamed, he turned his eyes up. He bent down and with his lips emitted the sound of an ungreased wheel. After standing a moment he snapped his fingers with delight and once more smacked his lips.

“Ah-ah! the sound of a passionate kiss. . . . Who is it you’re kissing out there, little Marfa?” came a voice from the next room, and in the doorway there appeared the cropped head of the assistant usher, Vankin. “Who is it? A-a-h! . . . Delighted to meet you! Sergei Kapitonich! You’re a fine grandfather, I must say! _Tete-a-tete_ with the fair sex–tette!”

“I’m not kissing,” said Ahineev in confusion. “Who told you so, you fool? I was only . . . I smacked my lips . . . in reference to . . . as an indication of . . . pleasure . . . at the sight of the fish.”

“Tell that to the marines!” The intrusive face vanished, wearing a broad grin.

Ahineev flushed.

“Hang it!” he thought, “the beast will go now and talk scandal. He’ll disgrace me to all the town, the brute.”

Ahineev went timidly into the drawing-room and looked stealthily round for Vankin. Vankin was standing by the piano, and, bending down with a jaunty air, was whispering something to the inspector’s sister-in-law, who was laughing.

“Talking about me!” thought Ahineev. “About me, blast him! And she believes it . . . believes it! She laughs! Mercy on us! No, I can’t let it pass . . . I can’t. I must do something to prevent his being believed. . . . I’ll speak to them all, and he’ll be shown up for a fool and a gossip.”

Ahineev scratched his head, and still overcome with embarrassment, went up to Pasdequoi.

“I’ve just been in the kitchen to see after the supper,” he said to the Frenchman. “I know you are fond of fish, and I’ve a sturgeon, my dear fellow, beyond everything! A yard and a half long! Ha, ha, ha! And, by the way . . . I was just forgetting. . . . In the kitchen just now, with that sturgeon . . . quite a little story! I went into the kitchen just now and wanted to look at the supper dishes. I looked at the sturgeon and I smacked my lips with relish . . . at the piquancy of it. And at the very moment that fool Vankin came in and said: . . . ‘Ha, ha, ha! . . . So you’re kissing here!’ Kissing Marfa, the cook! What a thing to imagine, silly fool! The woman is a perfect fright, like all the beasts put together, and he talks about kissing! Queer fish!”

“Who’s a queer fish?” asked Tarantulov, coming up.

“Why he, over there–Vankin! I went into the kitchen . . .”

And he told the story of Vankin. “. . . He amused me, queer fish! I’d rather kiss a dog than Marfa, if you ask me,” added Ahineev. He looked round and saw behind him Mzda.

“We were talking of Vankin,” he said. “Queer fish, he is! He went into the kitchen, saw me beside Marfa, and began inventing all sorts of silly stories. ‘Why are you kissing?’ he says. He must have had a drop too much. ‘And I’d rather kiss a turkeycock than Marfa,’ I said, ‘And I’ve a wife of my own, you fool,’ said I. He did amuse me!”

“Who amused you?” asked the priest who taught Scripture in the school, going up to Ahineev.

“Vankin. I was standing in the kitchen, you know, looking at the sturgeon. . . .”

And so on. Within half an hour or so all the guests knew the incident of the sturgeon and Vankin.

“Let him tell away now!” thought Ahineev, rubbing his hands. “Let him! He’ll begin telling his story and they’ll say to him at once, ‘Enough of your improbable nonsense, you fool, we know all about it!’”

And Ahineev was so relieved that in his joy he drank four glasses too many. After escorting the young people to their room, he went to bed and slept like an innocent babe, and next day he thought no more of the incident with the sturgeon. But, alas! man proposes, but God disposes. An evil tongue did its evil work, and Ahineev’s strategy was of no avail. Just a week later–to be precise, on Wednesday after the third lesson–when Ahineev was standing in the middle of the teacher’s room, holding forth on the vicious propensities of a boy called Visekin, the head master went up to him and drew him aside:

“Look here, Sergei Kapitonich,” said the head master, “you must excuse me. . . . It’s not my business; but all the same I must make you realize. . . . It’s my duty. You see, there are rumors that you are romancing with that . . . cook. . . . It’s nothing to do with me, but . . . flirt with her, kiss her . . . as you please, but don’t let it be so public, please. I entreat you! Don’t forget that you’re a schoolmaster.” {My comment – this seems to imply that teachers are expected to stand by/on a higher moral plane}

Ahineev turned cold and faint. He went home like a man stung by a whole swarm of bees, like a man scalded with boiling water. As he walked home, it seemed to him that the whole town was looking at him as though he were smeared with pitch. At home fresh trouble awaited him.

“Why aren’t you gobbling up your food as usual?” his wife asked him at dinner. “What are you so pensive about? Brooding over your amours? Pining for your Marfa? I know all about it, Mohammedan! Kind friends have opened my eyes! O-o-o! . . . you savage!”

And she slapped him in the face. He got up from the table, not feeling the earth under his feet, and without his hat or coat, made his way to Vankin. He found him at home.

“You scoundrel!” he addressed him. “Why have you covered me with mud before all the town? Why did you set this slander going about me?”

“What slander? What are you talking about?”

“Who was it gossiped of my kissing Marfa? Wasn’t it you? Tell me that. Wasn’t it you, you brigand?”

Vankin blinked and twitched in every fibre of his battered countenance, raised his eyes to the icon and articulated, “God blast me! Strike me blind and lay me out, if I said a single word about you! May I be left without house and home, may I be stricken with worse than cholera!”

Vankin’s sincerity did not admit of doubt. It was evidently not he who was the author of the slander.

“But who, then, who?” Ahineev wondered, going over all his acquaintances in his mind and beating himself on the breast. “Who, then?”

Who, then? We, too, ask the reader.

[The end]
Anton Chekhov’s short story: A Slander

A note on top of the story in the book read:

The characters in the stories of Anton Chekhov often appear foolish and actually cause thier own difficulties.

{I cannot agree more. The story above so reminded me of the saying “hoist by his own petard.”}

The Ideal Wife (Proverbs 31:10-31)

Blessed with a lot of time in my hands, I have taken to reading a literature textbook sent me by my teacher in high school from the US. Entitled Reading Literature(Purple Level), I like it in that it gives me many choices, it being a collection of essays and stories and poetry by various authors. I’d like to share the following with you. While it wasn’t written thus in the book, you get the drift:

Proverbs 31:10-31 (New International Version)

^{10 [a]} A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.

¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.

¹² She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

¹³ She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.

¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.

¹⁵ She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.

¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.

¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.

¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.

²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

²² She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.

²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.

²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:

²⁹ “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”

³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

³¹ Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 31:10 Verses 10-31 are an acrostic, each verse beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet

From: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+31:10-31;&version=31;

My latest favorite commercial

two siblings, a young girl and her brother “playing” dentist. A very typical scene with the “ATE” playing the dentist and the young boy the patient. And the ATE taking the “know- it- all” stance, checking her brother’s teeth for cavities. Then Dad comes in and talks about Colgate, asks “dentist” daughter if her brother has cavities to which she smugly says “wala.”

The acting of the young lady is so lovable. Wonder who she is.

Tristan Encarnacion, his father’s son

Yesterday, while watching the trailer for today’s The Sweet Life, I saw that 3 chefs would be featured: Tristan and two others. One was with Ka-Toque formerly. Or maybe the two were? The third was relatively a newbie compared to Tristan and the other.

So today, I was determined to watch the show and did. The newbie did a dance floor demo (sorry, I don’t know what to call it) where he held ribbons – think a gymnast’s routine. The second did a rap, complete with a Hitler-like higad, err, moustache. And Tristan danced. Very restrained but you just knew he could move. So much charm and apparently the judges were smitten: Audie Gemora, IDa Henares and Geleen Eugenio. Audie hinted that he knew Tristan would have done even better if his dance were choreographed rather than spontaneous. Ida and Geleen swooned. Geleen offered to teach Tristan how to dance. ANd hand’s down, he won the talent competition. Fun, fun, fun.

Tristan is his father’s son, a lot of charm oozing there.

Thank you, Jun Encarnacion, for producing such a son.

Dinner Tonight

The other day, I was half-watching Quickfire. The guest was Joanne Quintas. I was so entertained by her ways that I couldn’t focus on the recipe. Then as the show progressed, I realized that I should have been more focused because the end product looked so enticing.

From what I gathered, they filled huge salad tomatoes with foccacia bread, cheese, basil and tomatoes. Okay, don’t take that as gospel truth. I’m 53 so my memory isn’t fool-proof. I also saw they used red wine vinegar and that attracted me even more because some time back, I bought a bottle after seeing it in a recipe and of course, I forgot what recipe that was. So the vinegar was just in the pantry.

What I did today was the product of what I could remember and some semblance of research and creativity. Yesterday, I did the groceries and bought foccacia, 3 salad tomatoes, a pack of basil, gruyere cheese (I know, they used mozzarella because I remember Rosebud’s saying it didn’t have much taste but was stringy). And this was how I prepared dinner.

On a glass bowl I mixed 4 tbsp red wine vinegar, 3 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 inch of Dijon mustard, 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Oops, the olive oil should be put in in a thin stream while beating the rest together.  the mixture is supposed to emulsify. Let stand.

In the meantime, I took one loaf of foccacia bread, not a big one, mind, but one of those sold in a pack of 6. I shredded this into cubes (herb flavored) and put in a bowl. I drizzle it with a little of the dressing.

On a pan I sauteed garlic, added the tomatoes’ innards minus the seeds (the tomato’s top was sliced off and its insides taken out) and added the basil. Around 2 tbsp. Put in some freshly ground pepper.

WHen done, put the tomato mixture in the bowl with the soaked foccacia. Mixed them together with cubes of cheese. Stuffed the tomatoes and was sure to set aside some cheese to top the tomatoes. Baked the tomatoes in an oven toaster until the cheese melted. Yummy.

Aside from the above concoction, I served my family smoked fish – salmon and a white fish (son said it was tanguige, but not sure). Also bought a pack of prosciutto ham.

Thanks, Rosebud for the idea. It got the thumbs up of my husband and son. Pity I forgot to tell them to drink wine with it.

the philippine dermatological association plugs on tv

have you seen them?
The first features this lady wishing to be white using every means and then ending up white. . . Forever.
The second is just as hilarious.
It shows an ordinary woman bleaching the clothes she was washing and her being an expert in it. Then the question was raised – would you entrust your whitening to her? And two other situations, one involving a lady in the market with a syringe. Was she preparing ham? No she was plumping up chicken. Whatever – this ad is funny too. I think it’s hitting at establishments that perform cosmetic surgery et al. without the benefit of the expertise of doctors.

Will these ads produce the desired effect? Me thinks no. There’s the economics of the situation to contend with, or at least cosmetic centers give the impression they’re cheaper. I don’t know for sure. I am not too inclined to part with my money for such services. Anyway, it is said, when one meets tghe Creator, looks will be the least of his concerns. Rationalizing ba? But it’s true.

commercials and the upcoming elections

a few days back saw johnny presenting facts and figures re power, that is, electricity charges. Like he did years back he promised to protect the people from unreasonable policies in this regard. Again, like he did years ago. Same tune, same singer. Three things at least came to mind when i saw the ad.
One- the cause won him the elections last time, he’s expecting the same to do it next year.
Two – this should have been one- he’s running again. Shouldn’t he be resting by now? He looks like he should.
Three – he wasn’t able to do anything about the past years so he has to do it if elected in 2010. This last observation i am not certain about in the sense that i don’t keep track of legislative goings on. And i don’t listen too closely when a politico is on tv. For all i know he’s promising to improve further on what he has accomplished. No hand on the bible this time. I still can’t forget that ad years back that had a soft hue, like the scene was suffused by a gentle light from up high. Angels we have heard on high . . . You get the drift.
Ad number too – tv provides peripheral noise for me when i play games on my laptop. I knew ours was on 7 as i did. Then i heard my former classmate boy a. And it wasn’t his ad with his mom. Took a peek after a while and it was a while. And he and manny were in deep conversation. Two nights in a row. How much did running the ad cost? I shudder to think. But hey, that’s not my money or . . .
My son’s comments /reactions -
Ad 1 – tatakbo siya. I said “i guess .”
Ad 2 – that’s too lengthy. I’m sure people won’t stop to listen. That won’t work. – maybe that i was on the laptop rather than into the show was what drove me to let it be. Otherwise, i might have switched channels or turned the tv off

SMILE

Failed to watch the services for Michael Jackson so feeling like a vulture, went in search of what I could find on it. Saw this and realized only then that Charlie Chaplin had composed SMILE.

Wanted to find Charlie Chaplin actually doing SMILE  so went to YOUTUBE. Then I realized he belonged to the era of the silent movies. What was I thinking? Found this instead, Charlie Chaplin CLips compiled with Michael Jackson singing SMILE.

Below, the lyrics of SMILE, but they’re not exact same ones Jermaine sang:

‘Smile’
Charlie Chaplin’s Theme Music for 1936 ‘Modern Times’
Lyrics by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons – 1954
Recorded by Nat “King” Cole
(The lyrics for ‘Smile’ was never sang in the film ‘Modern Times)

Smile tho’ your heart is aching,
Smile even tho’ it’s breaking,
When there are clouds in the sky
You’ll get by,

If you smile
thro’ your fear and sorrow,
Smile and maybe tomorrow,
You’ll see the sun come shin-ing thro’ for you

Light up your face with gladness,
Hide ev-’ry trace of sadness,
Al -’tho a tear may be ever so near,

That’s the time,
You must keep on trying,
Smile, what’s the use of crying,
You’ll find that life is still worth-while,

If you just smile,

Original lyrics sheet from the Edna Purviance Research Collection

From: http://ednapurviance.org/chaplininfo/chaplinlyrics.html

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Don’t make her sad

A few hours ago, a friend of my son’s whose girl friend is the daughter of my friend, added me in Facebook. This boy’s parents became my friends too when he and my son were in an org together.

As I had heavily endorsed this boy to my friend (his girlfriend’s mom), I constantly remind the boy to take care of his girlfriend. This morning, I added, “Don’t make her sad.”

Is it my negative frame of mind that prompted me to remind him so? Initially, I was about to write “make her happy.” But then I contemplated, it is not difficult to make someone happy, especially if that person is grounded. Give her a chocolate bar, text her good morning, call her to say hello, praise her new hairstyle, her new scent – that will make her day. That will spell happiness for her.

So I guess, my asking him not to make her sad was, I believed, a more challenging order/request. It is so easy to make another person sad and so  it takes deliberate care, thought, effort, concern, solicitousness, generosity, true love to ensure that you don’t cause someone sadness.

One careless, thoughtless remark from a loved one can rankle forever. The person on the receiving may not even show you she’s hurt, and you, being from Mars, may not notice it either, but it will be with her for life.

One careless gesture that you think nothing of but spells betrayal for her if she finds out (and you know it – now that makes it even worse) can make your relationship fragile, like gossamer, like porcelain. Things you may dismiss as “wala yun” will gnaw her thoughts, frazzle her being. While you may continue to sleep soundly at night she may be staring at nothing, wondering, sobbing, bewildered, awake, willing for sleep to come. And it doesn’t.

It is sad if a relationship goes this route, especially if the said (and sad) relationship appears so ideal and blessed to outsiders.

Love is supposed to be such that the two people in love make each other better persons.

But love once frayed may take on a less harmonious path, in fact an altogether bumpy road. It may make a termagant of someone formerly sweet and content. It may transform a person formerly accepting and patient to be a nag, a shrew.

And it will all be because you made her sad, not just once, not just twice, but several times over. You possibly said SORRY but shortly after, reverted back to what you did that brought on the pain. Some wounds may have developed scabs but the pain underneath will forever remain raw.  If, on the other hand, the wounds have become scars, the mere sight of them will serve as perpetual reminders of the pain that once was. The pain that caused a blister on what was formerly near perfect or blissful.

It is good, it will be good if you choose to reform and remain faithful to that vow to change your ways, dear man, but once you choose to hope and wish that she will never find out about your doings, anyway, those which you know will hurt her, can only hurt her, and you go back to what was so comfortable for you but so hurtful for her, then expect hell to break loose sooner than later. For one, someone may see fit to tell her and then what?

Time and again, one hears the truism “Hell knows no fury like a woman scorned.” Be guided accordingly. In  this site of Time Magazine,

look at what I saw (“Brace for the Whirlwind”)

Sir: “Hell knows no fury like a woman scorned.” Man, you are paying for your immature notion that you prove manhood by sexual exploitation [Aug. 31]. You failed to understand woman’s need for love, protection and companionship. The sexually liberated office girl or career woman mistook your lust for love and turned on you when she realized her mistake.

Your wife, aware of your infidelities and lack of interest, began to see her lot as slavery and her life as meaningless and dull.

Brace yourself, fragile man. You are reaping the whirlwind NOW.

CAMERA cum DSLR bag and SM ANnex

last week, we got this laptop bag for son, big enough for his camera and lenses as well. But somehow, while the bag was a good brand (pac something), it wasn’t perfect. And we knew it.

This pm, after mass and then lunch (to be described later), we saw a Camera-DSLR bag in Case Logic, 4th floor of SM Annex. yes, Virginia, we were there again, believe you me. And the bag is as perfect as can be. It has a padded compartment for the laptop, a separate one for the camera, another receptacle with dividers for the lenses, pockets for this, that and whatever.  And it was a few hundreds cheaper than the Pac-Safe. Not to worry, the PS bag will be used. It is a good one in that it has a mesh and other security features. Rationalizing? Not really. And aesthetically, PS is prettier.

Yonex. Son got himself two shirts that were at 50% off. He used the money he earned from subbing for me when I couldn’t tutor last Friday. He also got a grip for his badminton racket.

Now the lunch. That happened before the shopping but was so unexciting     it almost doesn’t deserve to be written about. We parked in level 3, and TOSH was one of maybe 2 restos we passed, the other being KFC. TOSH is special to us in the sense that years back, son had his grad dinner in it’sKatipunan branch. But the food was so-so this noon. First to be served were the cheese logs – quickmelt cheese in some kind of wrapper – pita bread? Not bad. Salsa was superb per my men’s standards. Then my son’s sun-dried tomato with something pasta came. He kept looking out for what else to eat. I think he wasn’t too happy with his order but was too polite to say so. Oh, he said, the chicken had bones. Then the baked mussels came. How emaciated, they were hardly visible in the shell. They were virtually invisible. In some restos, these wouldn’t have been served. They’d have  told the guest that they didn’t get a good batch. This happened to me once in CYMA. I had hoped to eat the clam in angel hair but was told the clams weren’t good.

Husband’s salpicao came. It looked similarly unexciting but taste-wise, it was okay. Not superb he said, prompting me to comment that TOSH was like home-cooking in a resto. Finally my American baked spareribs arrived. Slathered with barbecue sauce the ribs were hardly visible. But tender they certainly were. And the perpetually reliable choco chip cookie, freshly baked and served ala mode was a definite winner. Took some time to cook though. But well worth the wait.

At the back of the resto is a function room that was huge and nice husband said.

***********

While waiting for the elevator on Level 3 so we could go to Level 2, we were passed over several times. Unluckily for us,   I guess, the elevator was always full and there was no one wishing to get off our floor. Finally, the doors opened and we managed to go to Level 2. Husband was surprised it was only then we had succeeded in getting  a ride. He had gone on to Level 4 and bought something before going to Level 2.

Moral of the story: go to the external elevators near the parking lot if the situation inside the mall seems hopeless and you’re impatient to get to a particular floor.

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Tony and Jackey. Some time back, when husband and I were in SM Annex, I saw this salon on R3 called Tony and Jackey. I didn’t think there was anything extraordinary about it.

But son, when he saw it, said “that’s the Korean salon I was telling you about.” Apparently, he has friends who go there. He was telling me to try it out and maybe, if I didn’t have a wedding to be ninang to come September, I would have. Son noticed there was quite a queue. I, for my part, saw a lady as old as I in the salon. So it’s not merely for teens. The hair dresser, a Korean male, looked funky in a pure white long sleeved shirt, longish hair (think Koreanovela bida) and slim pants. Now his look kind of intimidates me. hahaha.

tV Viewing OVer the weekend

Sure I had work to do yesterday morning but by noon, I was done. I had canceled some appointments because my scratchy throat was not very reassuring. I was not certain whether I could carry on long monologues for the good part of an hour. So I settled down in fron of the TV.

Of course I wanted to watch Eat Bulaga where the son  of a friend was a featured performer. And I was so looking forward to watching Soxy and Manny Castaneda interact in the question and answer portion. But it was a disappointment when they finally came on. The repartee wasn’t to funny. Speaking of EB, one thing that had to be guessed one time was “butiki” or lizard. The contestants failed to get it. Joey kept saying they should have said “insect” but I think he’s wrong there. A lizard is a reptile, not an insect.  (check out this link)

A few days ago, I happened to be channel surfing and went to 2. They mentioned Katrina Halili as a victim of HK, among others. But they didn’t mention the kapamilya starlet. Unfair to KH and 7. In the interest of fair reporting, they should just have omitted naming KH as well, or should have named both.

The 10-million game is so difficult to win. Have they had  a winner yet? At the rate it’s going one must be super lucky to make it. All Star K. During the teasers, I was wondering who the pretty lady was with Allan K. Then “she” spoke. BB. Gandang Hari. Wonder if she can do anythhing about her voice, though even as Rustom, the person underneath had such a voice.

Most of the contestants had difficulty singing. Nadia Montenegro can sing. She got lost at one point though because the one immediately preceding her was so off-key, nahawa siya.

I’ve turned over the remote to my son and his tennis open. So now I’m here trying not to be bored…

Paging Wilma Doesnt

A comment in one of my posts from trishachunli@yahoo.com went:

WILMA DOESNT PLS HELP MS PHILIPPINES UNIVERSE 2009..SHE NEEDS YOU TO BE FIERCE..(PLS SEE MISSOSOLOGY) WE WERE HAPPY TO HEAR THAT U WILL BE TRAINING MS MANALO PHILS REP TO MS UNIVERSE 2009.PLS PLS PLS HELP HER TO CHOOSE HER COSTUMES, GOWNS AND EVERYTHING SHE WILL BE WEARING SOON..PLSPLSPLSPLS DNT ALLOW RECYCLE DRESSES. PHILS FALLDOWN WERE BCOZ OF RECYLE AND UGLY DRESSES.. PLS HELP HER AND MAKE FILIPINOS RISE AGAIN!!! GODBLESS YOU!!

I’m actually flatterd that the young lady who wrote this thinks/thought Wilma Doesnt reads my blog, else why did she send a message for WD through it. For whatever it’s worth, I hope Wilma reads this nga.

Shang on a Saturday Night

Son slept most of Saturday afternoon after lunch. When he woke up, I asked if he cared to go out as I wanted to buy birthday presents. He said yes. I asked where. He said “Shang”. I said “okay, let’s eat at CYMA.” I guess he wasn’t listening because the next thing he said was, “May Pepper Lunch pala dun, no?” Who was I to argue? Most of the time, my motherly instinct compels me to give in to a growing boy.

So we went. We tried the sesame chicken salad for the first time, I ordered miso soup, shimofuri steak, while the two men in my life ordered beef curry rice. Odd? I felt I deserved a really good meal after being on sick bay since a few days ago – asthma, a bad cough, a slight fever.

What was served first was the shimofuri steak. The food server was about to lay it down before my husband when I said “akin yan” sheepishly. Then he asked who the soup was for. I said “akin din. takaw no?” Inunahan ko na.  sarap, sarap, sarap. But I didn’t finish the steak or the pepper rice I ordered with it so I can have it for lunch Monday, latest. I asked for additional sauce to take home. Hope that’s not disallowed? The girl smilingly did so.

After dinner we looked for presents. Found a pair of shorts and socks for my nephew at Nike after going to Toby’s and not finding anything we thought he might like. Then to Marks and Spencer for the mom of my career best friend. While there I saw this linen blouse, a shade of aqua that I like very much. So though I had promised myself I wouldn’t buy myself any new clothes until son comes back from his JTA, I couldn’t resist. Luckily the size I needed was available. I noticed though, that the designs of Mark and Spencer are  so classic and hardly differ. The cuffs of the sleeves for example, are to be folded upward and so they have this V-shape design. I’m not explaining this very well. Also, while two buttons were sewn well at the back, in front, the thread was coming loose. Husband said to show the store tomorrow, but I’ll see if something can be done from our end. Such a hassle to go back to Shang for two buttons, don’t you think? Moral of the story: check the merchandise well.

As we were on our way to the car, while along the tube, saw the soon to be married couple who are so much in love it makes me very happy each time I see them. So I said a quiet prayer that they’d stay that way for the rest of their lives. They’re nice “kids” and deserve each other and no less.

Barry Schwartz on our loss of wisdom

Check out this video from Ted.com forwarded by my son. While it basically addresses those in the teaching profession, I think it touches or should touch every single one of us.

Mongkok

Ordered stuffed tofu for lunch, beef tenderloin, seafood roll and yangchow fried rice. That’s supposed to be sufficient for dinner as well. Cook went marketing.

Verdict: the stuffing of the tofu was perched atop it. It consisted of cornstarch with some minced or finely ground pork that has the color of pork spareribs. Blah.

Beef tenderloin – the sauce is different. too sweet and rich.

Seafood roll – I was almost sure when the girl on the telephone suggested it that I had tried this before and didn’t like it. Darn. My opinion hasn’t changed.

Yangchow fried rice was ok.

Tonight I intend to order the tinapang dory from Mag:net. I hope it will make up for my wrong choices during lunch.

Clones

Vary rarely, they surpass the original in terms of quality and taste. A lot of the time they don’t.

Today son ordered the clone of Pepper Lunch’s beef pepper lunch because the clone has a branch near where we live. Take out.

So I tried one slice of the meat and it tasted burnt. Son said its accompanying sauce seemed to be like its marinade. Not the honey and garlic sauces PL provides when one orders takeout. (And they don’t carry a curry variant.)

Pepper Lunch forever. Tagal pa ng weekend.

(There’s a negative comment re PL Shang below, however. Sad…)

Michael Jackson

Everybody has said his piece on Michael Jackson, I spoke to a friend via long distance from Bacolod and she said she shed a few tears for his passing. Poor Farrah Fawcett, her death was all but obliterated by MJ’s own.

Michael Jackson – the first song that came to mind when I heard of his death was BEN. Then the Christmas song that goes “People making lists, buying special gifts…” And finally, Thriller.

I liked MJ’s music and his dancing. Pity that his life was colored by scandals and that appearance of his in the balcony with his baby – that really floored me.

Rest in peace, Michael, and as many people have done, I’d like to do too. Say, “Thank you for the music.”

GMA’s forthcoming shows

The one I’m most excited about is Rosalinda. Yes, partly to see Delia Razon’s granddaughter (I like Delia Razon, such a lady) and Geoff Eigenmann, but also because of the presence of Ariel Rivera and Roderick Paulate. I Like AR’s intensity as an actor and RP’s fun, a lot of fun when he does comedy. He did a telenovela for GMA before and sadly, the effort he put into it was too evident to be effective.

I think Gelli de Belen is in All of My Life along with Zoren. They’re okay but I cannot stand Kris Bernal. So I’m not watching that.

I’m looking forward to watching the nth remake of Darna, at least once because Marian Rivera seems very adept in executing her stunts. She appears very well coordinated, her moves are sharp. Even husband noticed that.

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This pm, contrary to what I wrote above, I watched All of my Life. Gelli was a gem, so was Lani. And the three children. Now whether I’ll watch the show when the children grow up is another matter. Oh, and Manilyn was great.

Gerry Esquivel’s Address to the Graduating Batch (2009) of the College of Architecture of UP

+
amdg

Magandang umaga sa inyong lahat.

Nuong 4th year ako, may back-subject akong watercolor. Isang umaga, pinatawag ako ni Professor Chico, sabi niya….”Esquivel? Halika rito sa harapan…” So proud naman akong lumapit at pinagmalaki ang aking gawang watercolor.

At habang hawak ko ang aking pinag-yayabang na nilikha, proud din naman si Professor Chico’ng sinabi…..” Class, eto na yata ang pinakapangit na watercolor painting na-sinubmit sa akin ngayong semester!!!!!!”

“Mam! Bakit naman?”

“Esquivel, ang assignment ninyo ay magwatercolor ng bukid, ng pilapil, ng tanim na palay…. Shades of green and blue… bakit naman may napakalaking poste ng Meralco dito sa gitna ng drawing mo? Napaka-itim pa!”

“ Mam progress di ba? 5 years from now, subdivision nayan!” Binigyan niya ako ng TRES!

Hindi ko maalala pero parang na-flat yata yung kotse ni Professor Chico sa parking lot ng Melchor one week after.

Kung nagtuturo pa siguro si Mam, marahil tutulan niya si Dean Danny na pagsalitain ako ngayong umaga.

3 weeks ago, I went to the Library and looked for my old thesis. The title was “Balanga Housing Project.” After going through it, I requested the Librarian to let me check out the more recent thesis materials. She gave me a bound presentation entitled, “The New Philippine Stock Exchange- subtitled Merging Architecture for an Emerging Market.”  WOW!  Haneeeep! Gusto kong magmura!

Nakita ko rin yung mga scale models ninyo. Ang ganda-ganda. Impressive. Professional.  Halatang hindi kayo ang gumawa. Sa loob – loob ko, kung ngayon ko ipagtatanggol yung thesis namin, malamang di ako gagraduate.

I visited campus because I was trying to get a feel of what’s new in college and what stayed the same. The Blue Book is made of the same paper; banana Q is still sold inside campus. And that ROTC and Spanish are no longer requirements.

Some things change. Some things stay the same.

But as I was skimming through my 1982 thesis and comparing it to the more recent ones, I found it quite soothing that all our thesis introductions, both old and new had exactly the same acknowledgements.  Ang dati at ngayon, parehong nagpapasalamat sa Panginoon at sa ating mga magulang.

And while your presentations appear to be more sophisticated than ours, what clearly remains timeless is our gratitude to God and our parents who loved and sacrificed a lot for us to be here today.

Sa mga magulang……. araw din ninyo ito ngayon. Malaking Congratulations.

Kadalasan ang graduation speeches ay tungkol sa pagiging bayani.  Leadership. Vision. Inspiring stories about career achievements and professional victories. Magaganda ang lahat ng ito.  But today; I will not talk about grand and mega things. None of that. Wala naman akong puedeng sabihin sa inyo na di pa ninyo alam. Magkekwento na lang ako ngayong umaga ng mga ibat-ibang kababawan,  mga simpleng at ordinaryong pangyayari ng aking buhay.

Story no 1. UP vs Ateneo

Tuwing UAAP basketball game ng Ateneo at UP ay lagi akong nalilito kung ano ang isusuot kong T-Shirt para sa Araneta. Mag-mamaroon ba ako? O Asul?  Sinabihan na nga ako ng Vice- President ng Ateneo, “Oh come on Gerry…… make up your mind?”

Nakakalito. Yan sana ang gusto kong pag-usapan. Confusion.

Ano ba talaga ang gusto nating gawin for the rest of our life? After several years of studying architecture, what are our opitons? Kapag tinanong ninyo ang anak ko sa Grade 7, maliwanag at matining ang kanyang isasagot. “ I want to be rich Tatay, I want to be like Oprah.”

Minsan mas maliwanag pa nga sa mga bata ang nais nila sa mundo kaysa sa ating may mas-mataas na pinag-aralan.

Alam ninyo, hindi ko naman talaga gustong mag- Architecture. Si Tatay lang ang nag-udyok sa akin. High school pa ay ginusto ko nang mag-pari. Kayat pagkatapos ng Board Exam ay pumasok ako sa Arvisu House. Nagsubok mag- Heswita. Nalito.

The wiser among say that to be successful, you must be focused and hard-working.  I agree.  But for many years, I was neither focused; and definitely not hard-working.

What I was, was confused.

Because after almost 2 years as a pre-novice, and finally knowing that priesthood was not for me, I was so defeated that I wandered around aimlessly searching for what I would do.

Then one beautiful morning, I accidentally met Beng. I fell in love. And after getting married, I was no longer confused because everyday, everyday of my life,  she tells me what to do!

So, sa mga lalaki dito na di alam ang gagawin sa buhay? Mag-asawa na kayo!

Sa aming 1982 batch may mga nag-practice ng architecture at landscape, may naging construction managers, contractors, may naging animation and graphics professionals. Halo- halo. May nag-tanim din ng orchids.

But I don’t want to share about the options that you all can pursue after graduation. Different areas of expertise and specialization.  Further studies maybe or working overseas? Ang dami talagang options.  Nakakalito.

But today, I want to tell you about another type of confusion.

Our internal confusion to do good against bad. And to do better against good. And to do best over better.

When you look around us today, you will be so disappointed that our leaders can’t seem to figure out the simplest of battle. Good against evil. Stealing against giving. Lying against truth. Corruption against service. Loyalty against betrayal. Daig pa sila ng anak kong Grade 7! Diretso! “I want to be rich Tatay! Like Oprah, because I want to help!” Maliwanag. Simple.

In my journey both as a businessman and as an ordinary mortal, I have come across some very confusing times. Moments when everything can appear real but not really so. Moments when even wrong and right can be muddled together to present itself as grey. Not as bad as pitch black. Not unreachably white. But conveniently grey.

Sandali na lang at kayo ay kikita na ng sarili ninyong pera.  Para sa iba, limpak limpak na pera ang bubulaga sa inyong harapan. Maganda ito.
Pero darating ang panahon na dadalawin sana, SANA kayo na pagkalito. When you will be so overwhelmed by your success and achievements and wonder… “Para sa akin ba lahat ito?  Is this all for me?

O di kaya naman, kapag malapit ng marating ang tagumpay, when everything is just within easy reach….. When we have been so focused, and determined to achieve, sana, SANA dalawin tayo muli ng pagkalito …..Tama ba itong ginagawa ko? Is this good?

Confusion is good. It grounds us. It reminds us. It silences us. It allows us to dig deeper than the world normally offers. And when confusion stares at us squarely in our face, don’t reject it. But more so embrace it.

Story no 2. Ang saranggola ni Tatay

February of this year, my 9 year old son Ian, and I attended a kite flying activity in Ateneo.

Napaka-loko nitong bunso ko. Dahil nahirapan kaming paliparin ang saranggola ay linayasan akong bigla. Tumakbo at hiniram ang tangang lubid ng lumilipad na saranggola ng kanyang kaibigan. Nainip. Tinamad. Ginusto ni Ian na maramdaman agad-agad ang sarap at laya ng may-tangang matayog na saranggola na parang inuuyayi ng hangin.

My father too dreamt of flying his own kite. Mahirap na tao lang ang Tatay ko. Isang probinsyano galing Nueva Ecija. Tapos maaga pa siyang naulila.

Wala rin siyang naipon na kayamanan. Liban sa asawang minahal ng mahigit limampung taon. Wala napundar na magarang bahay o lupaing puedeng ipamahagi sa aming magkakapatid. Tanging yaman ay ang dalang tungkod, UE diploma, ala-ala ng Inay, at anim na anak.

Magtatatpos kayo ngayong araw. Magulo ang mundo. Mahirap mangarap. Mahirap isipin na may hanging malayang bibitbit sa inyong saranggola para ilayo ito sa lupa. Mahirap umasa. Ganyan din siguro ang inisip ng Tatay ko noon. Ganyan din ang inisip ko noon. Siguro iniisip din ninyo ito ngayon.

But don’t worry too much, my dear graduates, relax, smile, chill, laugh out loud,…… the world awaits you today. The world is ready to be tamed by you. By your ideas. By your vision. By your passion.

And if you must dream? Dream Big! If you must dream? Dream now! Your kites will soar to places you can never ever imagine. There must be no boundaries to your dreams. The sky is open and the winds can take your paper toy so far your eyes can barely see their dance.

I am so excited for you. Your professors. Your parents. We all are.

But let me just remind you my dear graduates, that while the world awaits to be tamed by bright, young and creative minds like yours….. By new architects, engineers, landscape designers, Your beautiful ideas of curtain walls, and skyscrapers, intelligent and green buildings, while this we all wait for……  and are excited to see….

The world yearns, and aches for men and women of kindness, compassion, gentleness, love for God’s poor.  Men and women who continue to value honor, respect, and integrity at all cost.

Today the world no longer needs the minds of degree holders alone, but in many ways the heart of ordinary souls that have the simplest of joy, the purity of heart, and basic desire to serve humanity. The heart of farmers, teachers, soldiers, doctor volunteers.  Hearts stripped of selfish ambition and greed.

Huwag naman kayong sumali agad-agad sa Red Cross at magpa-assign sa Basilan. Our hearts are so infinitely expandable it can accommodate both personal gain and service. Yakapin ninyo pareho.

Balikan ko lang sandali ang kwento ng saranggola. Dito na ako magtatapos. Ang tanong ngayon umaga ay….Papano ba masisiguro na lilipad ng matayog ang bitbit natin mga saranggola? Papano ba mangarap? Subukan kong sagutin.

Una.  Huwag Mangarap para sa sarili. Ang pangarap ay para sa marami. Ang pangarap ay para sa ikabubuti ng ating mga mahal sa buhay. Kapag nakita ninyo si Tatay ay iisipin ninyo na wala naman siyang nakamit na pangarap. Na walang narating ang bitbit niyang saranggola. Pareho lang dati. Walang laman ang pitaka at tagabukid pa rin ang gayak.

Pero sigurado ako, na di naman niya pinangarap na yumaman ng labis- labis. Gusto lang niyang makatapos ng kolehiyo at sana palaring magkapamilya ng buo at mapag-aral ang mga anak upang magkaroon ng kabuhayang higit sa kanyang narating.

Pangalawa. Ang pangarap ay may sariling buhay. Dahan- dahan. Hinay -hinay. Etong anak kong bunso. Mainipin. Hinatak ang saranggola ng iba. Pagkatapos ay inaplasan din. Kasi naman hindi niya pinaghirapan. Hindi niya inalagaan. Hindi niya sinamahan.

Walang shortcut sa pag-papalipad ng saranggola. Lahat nag-uumpisa sa lupa. Hinay- hinay. Dahan- dahan.

Pangatlo. Ang busilak na pangarap ay pangarap ng marami. Ang tunay na pangarap ay pagtutulungan ng marami. Share your dreams with your parents, relatives and friends Chart your dreams together. Ask them what they think about your plans. Tell them stories of where you want to go and what you desire to achieve.

Pang-apat. At sa tingin ko ay pinakamahalaga. Kaibiganin natin ang Hangin. Befriend the winds that will carry our kites soaring to places we can never imagine to see. Because no matter how skillful we all are, no matter how much hard work we do, no matter how much study we put into flying our kites, their destiny, our destiny is up to the gentle caress and mercy of the winds.

Kausapin ninyo ang Amang Hangin. Makinig sa Kanyang huni. Lagi. Lagi. May sinasabi Siya sa inyo. May pinararamdam. At kapag di maliwanag kung sino na ang nagpapalipad ng tangan niyong saranggola, ang matitipuno ninyong bisig o kaya ang Hanging nagmamahal, ay duon lang mga anak, duon lang nating masasabing lalalaya ito ng pagkataas-taas, pagkatayog-tayog, pagkasarap-sarap. Walang hangganan ang langit.

I crammed this speech last night after several drafts. There is just so much to tell you. 5 years in UP. Amazing experiences and friendships I take forever.

I wanted to tell you about my business. How I started with nothing; my very first job that earned me 400 pesos a month erasing smudge marks in an architectural office.

How excited I was when I bagged my first project as a contractor; a kitchen cabinet for a friend. How I dreamt of buying my own car.  How things just fell into place and has grown many times over from where it started.

I thought that my business story might inspire you. How a very confused man, a distracted and not so hardworking architect could have put together a construction company that continues to expand. If I can do it, so can you!

But then I realized that while this seeming business fairy tale can move you and challenge you to reach for your dreams; It may also mislead you, and distract you from what is true and real. That giving is more than receiving. That reaching out is more than achieving. And that sharing is more than taking.

Sabi ng iba…. “Gerry, don’t talk about God.” Hindi ka naman Pare. Besides…. UP ito, walang Theology.”

Ang sabi ko sa kanila….” Hindi, hindi naman siguro maari! Kasi lahat ng anumang meron tayong tagumpay ngayon ay utang natin sa Kanya. At anumang meron tayo ngayon. Ay dapat nating ibalik sa Kanya!”

I have been listening to this song everyday for the last 2 months. Bingi na nga ang driver ko. Pati ring tone, pinaprogram ko.

It’s called Nella Fantasia. In my fantasy.

“In my fantasy, I see a fair world. Where everyone lives in peace and honesty. I dream of a place to live that is always free. In my fantasy, I see a bright world, where each night there is less darkness. I dream of spirits that are always free. In my fantasy.”

My dear graduates, I enjoin you today, I invite you. And with guns blazing, armed only with your dreams, lets try, lets all try to live by this beautiful fantasy.

Malaking congratulations sa inyo muli. Maraming salamat sa inyong pakikinig.

Now filming: David and Gloriath

Starring: Randy David and GMA

Last week, the Philippine Daily Inquirer carried a huge photo of RD riding a Ducati, scarf wound around his head, shades, moustache. And the story that came with it was his thinking of running for Congress against GMA in the second district of Pampanga in 2010 because he felt, “sobra na to”.

A few minutes ago, when Mr. David was being interviewed over the phone by Arnold Clavio, I turned on the TV loud so my son who was in the bathroom would hear him. When he came out I said “O, si Randy David.” He said “he’s running out of principle, not to win, no?”

Philippine politics is so exhausting because it seems to stymie progress. People with good intentions are trampled upon by the powerful trapos. The statesmen, they don’t win. Will Randy David?

There’s only one way to find out. First, he should march forward with his slingshot and take on GMA. Will he?

The news article from PDI:

UNO vows support for UP prof Randy David
By Allison Lopez
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 20:28:00 06/26/2009

Filed Under: Elections, Politics, Eleksyon 2010

MANILA, Philippines—The United Opposition on Friday vowed to support the bid of University of the Philippines professor Randy David if he decides to run for Congress in Pampanga.

David, who is also a Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist, claimed he would seriously consider opposing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s reported bid for a congressional seat in their hometown.

“Randy David will be fighting a tough battle, but his is a principled one, and we will support him. We will support Randy David or any other like-minded citizens of Pampanga,” said UNO president Jejomar Binay.

The opposition leader has claimed that the President’s numerous recent visits to Pampanga showed that she was eyeing a seat in Congress, to eventually become prime minister once the government shifts to a parliamentary system.

“Ms Arroyo appears convinced that she will get the congressional seat on a silver platter. From there, the post of Prime Minister under a parliamentary system is hers. But we believe that there are many concerned citizens like Randy David who are willing to fight an uphill battle rather than let Ms Arroyo have her way,” Binay said in a statement.

Malacañang, he stressed, should not question the intentions of David, a known critic of the Arroyo administration.

“Randy David proceeds from the purest of intentions, while Mrs. Arroyo is driven solely by her desire to hold on to power beyond 2010,” he said.

Binay, however, warned Arroyo not to be complacent as she may face a repeat of the 2007 gubernatorial election where her candidate lost to a new face—Fr. “Among Ed” Panlilio.

“I am certain that many Kapampangans are looking forward to new leadership in 2010. That will not happen if Ms Arroyo succeeds in getting herself elected to Congress and becomes prime minister under a parliamentary system of government,” he said.

Random Pickings/Finds/Discoveries

A year or so ago, a cousin gave my husband Fujichrome film for slide for his Lomo camera. Husband used the film but hasn’t had it processed yet because inquiries in regular stalls like Kodak Express have yielded the answer that they don’t do it. He called Fuji in Sto. Domingo and was told he could bring it to any Fuji stall but he kept forgetting. And when he asked in SM North’s Fuji store, they were clueless. SO I called cousin despite husband’s protestations and she had one simple answer: go to Digiprint, any branch. They process and will have LBC deliver it two days later.

Now I’ve seen Digiprint stalls in Shang, Greenhills and I think, in Power Plant. So off we went to Shang. Charge is as follows: for the first roll with delivery and transferred to a CD the cost is P155. Every additional roll up to 5 rolls total would mean plus 30 per roll. Convenient, no? Today is the moment of truth. Will they delivered as scheduled?

RIIR bags. Or Rags to Riches bags designed by Rajo Laurel. I’ve read about it but have never seen it till yesterday at Eastwood Mall. It’s made of katsa and has a handle woven like a banig using retaso. Thing rags sold in supermarkets at P50 each or so, but sold in the streets at 3 for P100, I think. I should have taken pictures. They are recyclable bags that are like those one can get for P120 in Rustan’s (that will double one’s rewards points if used when shopping for groceries) except that buying the RIIR bags will be equivalent to helping out worthwhile causes. If I recall correctly, one of them is the Philippine National Red Cross. Wanted to get one but couldn’t think of whom to give it for a present. Hopefully, once I have decided it will still be available in Eastwood Mall, ground floor.

Also at the ground floor of EM yesterday was a photo exhibit. Mostly or all environment related.

Let me stop for now, Jan Nieto and Harry Santos are in Unang Hirit… yes, I am a fan. Ay, their singing was cut short. Inis. If they were the type with the artistic/artiste temperament,  they would have a fit. Why do TV shows, live ones, do that? Cut their guests short while performing? They are shortchanging not only these professional singers but us, the audience. All because of commercials scheduled? Where’s the courtesy there? I’m peeved. UH does this a lot, SIS too. I can’t say about Channel 2 shows because I don’t watch them. Paging GMA 7. Arrgh… I wonder if they apologize to these artists or warn them beforehand. Just because they’re contract singers of the station doesn’t mean they should not be extended the courtesy of finishing their act. Again, inis.

Speaking of TV. I find it amusing when newscasters and even Kris and Boy stand on the set and then while delivering their spiels move to another position. What’s that about? One time, the irrepressible Kris was walking toward Boy and said “Boy, I’m going there.” Possibly, Boy missed his cue and didn’t soon enough or as scheduled, so Kris just had to say it out loud. I noticed Boy smile. Perhaps he is so used to Kris that he didn’t seem offended by the outright instruction. Kris could just actually have moved beside him without saying anything, and maybe, Boy would have moved? Anyway, that’s Kris Aquino for you.

Check out this site

Found the link to this site in my inbox and checked it out: http://www.wmn.ph/

Very interesting posts ranging from food, to fashion, to health, etc.

Check it out.

Susan Sontag

I’m not sure I’ve blogged about her before but some time ago I bought her book At the Same Time (Essays and Speeches) for two reasons:

a) The quote from her on the back cover that went “A writer is first of all a reader. It is from reading that I derive the standards by which I measure my own work and according to which I fall lamentably short. It is from reading, even before writing, that I became part of a community — the community of literature– which includes more dead than living writers.” [In a sense, I guess I wanted to be reminded that I should read and read more.]

b) One of the essays in the volume was on photography and my son was so into it when I bought the book I thought he might like to read it.

Soon after buying the book, I began to read it but the words used by Ms. Sontag and her son, David Reiff, in the foreword were such that I needed to use a dictionary a lot. To my consternation, the Collins Dictionary I used didn’t have some of the words in the essays, words for which I needed to look up definitions.

Resolutely, an hour or so ago, I decided to start reading the book again. And of course, I experienced the same problem of not finding some words in the dictionary I was using. Hence this post — I had to look up some words in my Mac’s dictionary, or barring their being in it, then online. So I had to open my laptop.

So far, so good. The words not in my dictionary are in the Mac dictionary, to wit: adventitious, exculpatory, reification, craquelure, perdure. So, I didn’t have to go online.

Perhaps, some of these words are known to you offhand, they weren’t to me. Just in case, here they are again alongside their definitions:

adventitious – happening by chance rather than by design

exculpatory – not guilty of wrongdoing

reification – make something abstract more real

craquelure – a network of fine cracks on the paint or varnish of a painting

perdure – endure

Another quotation, this time on Susan Sontag by Hilary Mantel of the Los Angeles Times Book Review goes:

“What ultimately matters about Sontag…is what she has defended: the life of the mind adn the necessity for reading and writing as `a way of being fully human.’”

Eastwood Mall, the nth time around

Had lunch at CYMA, second floor of EM. When you exit the sliding glass doors, go to the left side. It is past Crisostomo.

The resto was full inside but outside in the open air were tables for the taking. But at 1:30 pm, it’s hardly comfortable out there. So we peeked inside and lo and behold, the guy who used to sport a ponytail in CYMA Shang was there, and he was the manager. He came out to greet us and said we’d just have to wait between 5 to 10 minutes. Actually it was longer because my being in a wheelchair meant waiting for a table that wouldn’t make the resto too crowded given the bulk of my wheelchair.

At around 2 pm, once inside the resto, we placed our orders: swordfish kebab for son, chicken gyro for husband, moussaka for me and the rice in pepper (the name is Greek and I can’t recall what it’s called).

Some 15 minutes or so later, the orders of my husband and son came. But not mine. Those of the other table’s came too and I looked longingly even as I took a cube of the kebab, a potato slice each from husband and son. Earlier I had asked if they wanted salad or appetizer. they said no so I waited, and waited, and waited.

Around 2:30 I was told my order would come in 2 minutes but that was an understatement. It came in maybe 10 minutes. Sigh. I was peeved, of course and asked if they had forgotten about it. I had been following up and was reassured. I noticed that one of the female food servers seemed wary about passing our table – I think she knew I’d ask again.

Our male server said the moussaka had been ready but didn’t look nice so it was cooked again. It had collapsed, he said. Okay, that wasn’t the word he used, but that was the impression I got from his description.

Before the moussaka came, the rice did. Two pepper wholes stuffed with rice that had pine nuts and sultanas. In the dish were also two potato wedges. Delicious. I ate a little of that as I waited for the moussaka.

The moussaka was great tasting when it finally came. Well worth the wait but a shorter wait would have been preferable. Soon after the manager dropped by our table to apologize. He also said he’d give us skolatina to make up for their remissness. He said there was a confusion in the kitchen in terms of the order at which orders were prepared or something. Earlier, I had asked the lady server if I could just cancel my orders and have salad instead.

We had ordered baklava earlier and we had that after we were done with the main course. So good. Pistachio nuts crushed to bits between phyllo pastry. The skolatina is heavenly. The cake was chewy, the chocolate that oozed out of the cake was thick and fudgy. I didn’t need the vanilla ice cream, the cake was superb.

Some insights: I think it was very nice of the manager to come and apologize. Even without the skolatina peace offering, he’d have been forgiven because some managers would just look the other way or even hide if they knew they were at fault. But not he. Pacino, I think his name is? I’ll ask my son later.

As we left the resto, the manager was outside working on one table. He bade us goodbye but while I had forgiven the wait, I still couldn’t muster enough graciousness to say thank you warmly. Maybe next time.

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It being a Sunday, we didn’t have much time to linger in EM because son has badminton at 4. But we did manage to squeeze in a visit to A. Shop across and Office Warehouse. The A. Shop EM is similar to that in Podium, while OW is bigger in EM than in Power Plant. Its goods are better stacked than similar ones are in National Bookstore. Perhaps because it is focused on supplies, it has more kinds of envelopes, for example. It also had shoe boxes that are breathable. made of plastic, a set of 3 costs P195 and has tiny holes in them to let the shoes breathe and avoid icky bacteria from forming and flourishing. Shop closes at 10 everyday except Saturday when it closes at 11. How convenient.

Food Cravings, but where are they now?

Just now, son got a tetra pack of  Rocky Road Selecta milk from the fridge. Then he said “wala na talaga ang Vanilla Selecta milk”. That was his supreme favorite, so why was it phased out? Was he its only fan?

Other food I wish to see back on the grocery shelves again:

Cracker Milk – Was it a Nestle brand?

Milady toffee – My mother would buy this in cans that had cross-stitched designs on them. We ate it ever so sparingly that before we knew it, they had gone soft sometimes.

Cafe blanco ice cream – Magnolia

Rainbow pineapple ice cream – Magnolia

Silver Bell neapolitan ice cream

Magnolia ice cream sandwich

Roli’s sate babi’s end chunk of meat – pork fat

Inasal that tastes like the inasal of my youth

Strawberry Fruitella that tastes like the one in my youth

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What kind of food do you wish would make a comeback?

JUST HITCHING

I wish women would stop hitching rides with married men by themselves and vice versa. Their doing so can cause utmost damage to a marriage. I know of at least three such cases where hitching women have tarnished marriages. It is difficult to move on, one said, after one discovers the “infidelity” even if the consenting parties to the arrangement (hitching) declare “it’s just hitching.

Case A: The husband and the habitual hitcher ended up dating until husband confessed to wife and promised to stop. (hitcher was single) A relative of the husband’s had seen the husband and the hitcher together during one of those dates.

Case B: The wife saw the husband with the habitual hitcher and confronted him, he promised to stop.

Case C: The wife received a letter telling her about her husband and a habitual hitcher. She talked to the hitcher who reasoned “but it’s just hitching”. Husband who said the same promised to stop. (hitcher is a married woman. Asked if her husband knew, she said yes and said he also believed it was “just hitching”. Maybe he doesn’t care about her and their marriage.)

Things could have turned out worse. Families could have been broken. And all because the parties reasoned “but it’s just hitching.” Note that all three cases involved co-workers. And someone once said such arrangements have a bigger tendency to proceed to an illicit one because of the frequency of contact. Parties are more susceptible.

And imagine this? What if Husband A hadn’t thought to confess? What if Wife B hadn’t caught Husband B? What if no one had written that letter to Wife C? Then the hitching would have gone on and on and on and then led to heaven knows where – Araneta Avenue? Pasig? Pasay? or a 5-star hotel?

SM Annex, SM North EDSA

I’m beginning to like the place. Yesterday, we went to SM North explicitly to go to Camera Haus for a lens. We parked in the annex building parking lot after two attempts to park at the disabled parking at the back of the old building and at parking in The Block’s parking building. We’d have had space in the latter except that it was “full” so that no one was let in. If it was fully, why did we want to park there? There were two slots for disabled parking but we couldn’t get through/past the cars in front of us. So off we went to the Annex.

First level was full, so we went to the next, more or less. Please keep this info in mind. From the parking lot, I saw stairs and was wondering why there was a disabled sign on the parking slot. Guess what, there was an elevator that led us to the floor where Krispy Kreme was. We had asked the elevator girl what floor the tube was leading to the main building. She said “ano yun?” Lucky for us, a curious young man was eavesdropping (I do that a lot) and answered “second”. Bear thsi info in mind too. We clean forgot later.

It was the first time I ever saw a Krispy Kreme outlet that wasn’t too full and the aroma was enticing. The outlet in Serendra intimidates me by its sheer size. So we stepped in and looked at the choices. Then I asked husband if we should eat. That was around 3:30. He said okay. Ordered New York cheescake, he had oreo. He ordered cappucino, I had cold, cold water (how refreshing) served in paper cups. Wow, this reminded me of PAL flights when water and juice and anything liquid were served in paper cups. I digress. After a satisfying merienda with very friendly food servers, we left for the tube. Oh, and by the way, I took 3 sips of my husband’s black cappucino. I’m not a coffee drinker but the sweetness of the donut somehow made the coffee palatable, just right even.

TO the tube. As we wheeled, I saw this young man, maybe in his early 20s, in front of us. Maybe a meter or so away. His eyes looked strange, no not physiologically, not something inborn, but maybe, drugged? And his eyes were looking at me and he had this smile that didnt’ seem quite right. I thought he was after my bag or something so I hugged my bag tight. Then before I knew it, he touched my head. Uggghhhhhh. I felt so violated. To be touched by a stranger who looked like that. I inclined my head to shake his hand off. Husband didn’t say anything.

Later, when I looked back, a couple were looking back at the man and the girl was saying “hinawakan niya ang ulo.” I wonder now if he thought he was a healer? I didn’t feel healed. He looked not at all holy, so… I wanted to report him to the guard but my husband wasn’t saying anything and I felt too stunned to take it up with the guard myself. Scary really.

At SM North we went to Camera Haus  and got the lens. Then we went back to the annex, this time taking a different route. We went through the alley that had food stalls.

The first stall had tokneneng and kwekkwek. Also day old chicks. All fried, deep fried in orange batter. If I am not mistaken, the tokneneng was the balut, the kwekkwek the balut. But it may be the other way around. I didn’t try that.

We moved on to the next stall and got RL Lapid’s chicharon laman. A bit pricy at P170 for 200 grams. But as usual, very tasty. Yum. HAd that at home.

Moving farther, we saw Marina. What grabbed my interest was that it said “Iloilo” and offered pancit molo. I suddenly felt nostalgic and asked if we could have another merienda. He agreed and so we went in. The waiter enticing people outside was from Iloilo.

The waiter inside wasn’t too helpful. When I asked what was good, all he suggested was the seafood soup. When I asked if the pancit molo was good, he was hesitant to say anything — about the pancit molo and everything else.

But I was determined, so I ordered the pancit molo. I also saw dinuguan and puto. Husband ordered lumpia sariwa. I asked what were in it (it might have cabbage or togue which is bad for husband) but the waiter couldn’t answer us. So I just prayed.

Verdict: pancit molo was okay, it had shrimps in the broth. Not bad at all, but it was not the pancit molo I knew. The dinuguan had generous portions of pork and entrails. The sauce was the type that one would say “gumuguhit” so that I almost coughed. But it was okay too. Not the dinuguan of my youth, but better than Red Ribbon’s in terms of quantity of meat. Taste wise, though, RR’s is better. The lumpia was swimming in sauce. Think infinity pool. Think surface tension.

Minus sides aside from the waiter – flies, at least one huge one.

Plus sides – it was peopled so perhaps we just didn’t ordered the right dishes? The next table had crab. I think they ordered the soup. And Mike Guevara, the saxophonist of Boy Katindig was there with his family. No gig that early, I assume. No day job either?

After the second merienda, I resolved not to eat dinner. We went around the annex. Fifth floor – computer shops galore. Stand alone stores of Acer, Toshiba, Power Mac, Sony Vaio, etc. Even MSI I think. Villman was there too, PC Depot, etc. And some stalls that sold Golla type products for cell phones and laptops. A lot cheaper – same designs and structure. Trust Filipinos. A cellphone older that sells for almost 600 for Golla, only P175 there.

On the fourth floor there were cell phone stores, a lot of them. And there were a Globe outlet, a Fuji Film outlet, etc. In one of the two floors there was a gaming center – mostly peopled by men playing NBA Live, boxing games, etc. A Canon store too. The lady who attended to us was very gracious. Tall and fair. Such a contrast to the people in Fuji. Husband was asking about processing for Fuji chrome. They said they didn’t know. And to think that months back, he called their outlet in Sto. Domingo and was told he could just bring it to anywhere Fuji. But he got shakes of the head from the girls. My husband was insistent. They said to wait for the manager who was chatting away on the phone. When she finally finished, she gave the same answer anyway.

In another store, I forgot which, the guy who could answer us was also on the phone. What’s with the people working in the Annex? Is business so slack that they just yak away on the phones?

Third floor – there was a salon, some dress shops. Was it here I saw LOALDE? That’s owned by an Aldeguer in Bacolod and I went in because my sister has been raving about it. But I was not in the mood to buy clothing yesterday so I just looked. Also went to Collezione but thee aren’t too many choices in the sense that most shirts now have PHilippine maps: hoodies, dresses, shirts. One of these days, I’ll get a hoodie yet. Haha, feeling young.

Then we decided time to go home after going to Krispy kreme for donuts for the son. The food servers remembered us and they were smiling. From there we proceeded to the elevator outside recalling that that was the elevator we had used to get in. Okay, so we had gone up to get to the mall. So now we had to go down.

UG, the elevator man suggested. We stepped out at UG. No car. Oops, was our car napped again? Greenhills 1994 our old Galant was. When the elevator passed, we rode. LG. Oops, this didn’t look quite like it. We saw grocery carts.

Then the man said “baka sa 2M”. Oh yes, I remembered, we’d seen a 2M. And voila, the car was there.

What an experience.

Father’s Day at NINYO

I clean forgot how special our Father’s Day lunch was last Sunday because of NINYO in Esteban Abada. We chose the resto as son had to go back home asap to study for a test. At Ninyo, we ordered our usual favorites: dory for son, salpicao for husband, and all together now, hanging tender blade for me. As usual they served two kinds of bread with herbed butter: French bread and sweetish pimiento bread (my absolute favorite). Then their fried oyster in wasabe coating (I don’t know it’s exact name: it’s like corn dog with a pancake batter around it, except that instead the batter has some wasabe and instead of a dog, there’s oyster.) The chef’s mother was gracious as usual, giving my husband mocha panna cotta with cashew – heavenly, with Happy Father’s Day “painted” on the plate using chocolate icing. Before we left, she gave my husband a paper bag by way of wishing him the same. When we got home, husband saw a coffee thingy and ground coffee. The coffee thingy is a cup with a strainer.

Ugh, sorry, I’m not a coffee drinker so I am not knowledgeable on things coffee.

PS I forgot, they offered free massage service for fathers that day. My husband not wishing one, son took over and enjoyed the massage in the open air, in one of the gazebos.

Fathering

As I type this, I am watching The Sweet Life. Shortly before I began typing, Rico Puno was on the line, talking about his son and his being a good father. He said something to the effect that he may not be a good husband, but he is a good father.

I wondered about that because I recall a line in a booklet I read in high school. I think it was by or on Karina Garcia, daughter of Ermin Garcia, father of Charisse Garcia Chuidian and Ermin Garcia Jr. Karina drowned in her youth but she had this booklet