Amiel

Everyone seems to know what happened to him, the 10-year old boy who expired after being hit by a car in Ateneo. Reading about him made me feel distraught. I cried, as any mother would, because here was a young boy, innocent, no doubt, his life snuffed out in school where safety is more or less expected, if not presumed. I wish to condole with those he left behind, especially his mom. I can imagine how painful it must be. It is, even for us who are unknown to you, to Amiel. This pm, I got a text message from a niece, recently married, and she remarked about the incident. Tonight I had a late dinner with my best friend from college who’s here for a spell from Amsterdam. She was angry as she spoke about the incident. Sad, really sad.

Earlier tonight, as I sat listening to my sister and son perform in Paco Park, I received a text from another sister about the mother responsible for the accident and as I typed the keys that should have spelled Amiel, do you know what came out? I was using the predictive text feature of my phone. Yes, what was spelled out was “angel”.

Mrs. Alcantara, your son Amiel, is undoubtedly an angel in the true sense of the word. He is watching over you, even over us. Reassuring us that all is well with him. That doesn’t lessen the pain, I know, but I guess we can take comfort from that knowledge, even just a little.

Having lost my mother way back in 1978, I know how painful it is to lose a loved one. We grieve not for that loved one, but for ourselves. We hurt even as we are reassured that the person we love cannot be any happier. We are sad because they are no longer within physical reach to us. And we miss them.

My condolences to the Alcantaras, to yaya, to the driver even. He whom Amiel spoke to last, “kuya.”

Xin Tian Di

Back in the 1970s, I had my first experience of Peking Duck cooked two or three ways. Family friends from Manila brought us to this resto along EDSA in Cubao so we could try it. Mama was with us then, making the experience all the more memorable and significant to me.

Yesterday, I was bent on having that as a treat to me on my birthday. So, even if I know my son is not exactly partial to Chinese food, I thought of being selfish and chose to eat at Xin Tian Di after mass. Sure,

the Mongolian pork ribs with bread dough (siopao dough, actually. Chinois in Shangrila Mall used to serve the dough with real butter and it was yummy), the pork ribs up closer, – what happened to the two? tummies, speak up, Peking duck one way (note we ordered only half a peking duck but failed to take its picture), see the three set separately from the rest? The three are veggie-free, per son’s request. but later, he tried and liked the one with veggie, just leeks actually. Hoisin was generous; in Heat, it’s sparse. the kung pao chicken diminished -orderer too hungry to wait for its picture to be taken, let the picture speak for itself, the long-awaited but well worth the wait Thai rice, the peking duck second way – it looks so ordinary but taste wise, it’s a wow, the rice again, look ma, a donut light in Xin Tian Di.

Fab, Fab, Fab (think vertical), (wrong side up again), – nice. No picture of the cakes. They were okay looking, but taste wise? We’ve tasted better.

http://www.sassyqarla.com/

Discovered this website care of chuvaness.com who posted a link to it, particular the post recounting Vicky Belo’s saying something to the effect that those who want to look like Boy Abunda should go to Dr. Calayan, and those who want to look like Dingdong and PIolo should go to her. When I recounted this to my husband he said, “is she claiming na pinaguapo niya sila? Eh guwapo naman talaga ang mga yun eh.” My husband was a teacher of Dingdong Dantes in grade school, so as early as then he was guapo, my husband says, and I believe him. So there. Maybe, it would be more honest to say that she improves their complexion, but the raw materials, the basic ingredients are there to begin with. Boy was my classmate in History 14 in college but he remembers me not. He sat on the first column nearest the door. I think I was on the second. Our teacher was Mr. Routledge. But again, Boy remembers me  NOT.

Re www.sassyqarla.com. It’s a fun website, more daring than www.pep.ph actually. And there seems to be something new all the time. The latest I read mentioned that Pokwang is on her way to a musical career with the song “Sana Kunin Ka Na ni Lord.” I think that expression should be credited to Michael V who mouthed those lines in a movie where he was disguised as a nun. Can’t remember the title, though, and I didn’t watch the movie. Just the trailer, countless times, on TV.

Why I like Hugh Jackman

Yes, I do, and I unabashedly admit it. He’s good looking, he can sing, he can dance, he can act. And he’s self-deprecating. Watch this interview I found: on youtube.

In another interview he mentioned that his friends tell him there’s no way they’ll pay $75 to hear him sing. Watch this.

In a written interview for People magazine, he recalled the reactions of his friends and wife when they learned he was chosen the world’s sexiest for 2008. An excerpt:

He’s a triple threat: a star who can sing, dance and wield a weapon.

At 6 ft. 2 in., all scruff and biceps, Hugh Jackman looms large in the epic Australia, which he says kept him “dirty 95 percent of the time” and left people stammering, “Oh … my … God,” according to costar Nicole Kidman, who adds, “Women’s jaws drop when Hugh walks into a room.”

Jackman’s wife of 12 years, Deborra-Lee Furness, calls his perfect form “the Body of Doom – but I like what’s inside”: a romantic who sings ballads at home and makes pancakes for Oscar, 8, and Ava, 3. A hard body with a soft center – 2008’s Sexiest Man Alive sat down with PEOPLE’s Elizabeth Leonard and Julie Jordan to reveal most of his secrets.

You turned 40 Oct. 12 and now you’re the Sexiest Man Alive. What was your wife’s response?
God bless her, she said, “I could’ve told them that years ago!” And then she said, “Obviously, Brad wasn’t available this year.” And I said, “That was a joke, right?”

“Hugh is tough and romantic at the same time,” says costar Kidman. “Australian men are a different breed. They’re rugged and they sweat.” Photo by: Stewart Shining

Your marriage is a success story.
In my early 20s, I didn’t have a regular girlfriend. I was single and really happy about it. And then when I was 26, I met Deb on [the Australian TV show] Correlli. She was my leading lady. It was just undeniable. I started planning to propose to her at about three months. We are happy. Deb and my kids have been the best things that have ever happened to me, without a doubt. (For the rest of the article click here)

SO what makes Hugh Jackman sexy? I think, it has mainly to do with his not being in awe of himself. Plus he loves his wife (as can be seen in the body language in the video) and I think that’s sexy . If his eyes start to wander, he’ll stop being sexy to me.  Promise.

A running commentary on the Oscar Awards, oh okay, Hugh jackman

He’s such a competent performer. He gives his all every single moment. Did you see how he did the opening number? Huffing and puffing and smiling through it all? I could only applaud and shout More. His musical number with Beyonce left me wishing for more. He screamed “The musical is back!” And I hope Hollywood and Baz Luhrman realize this and put HJ at the forefront. I could see him as Captain von Trapp in a remake of Sound of Music, Rex Harrison in a remake of My Fair Lady. Oklahoma? he’ll just have to do a reprise of his stage character. Hollywood, please?

Surfed in youtube and there are posts of him doing Oklahoma. Apparently there’s a DVD available. Here’s a sample post

And here’s a video of him opening the Oscars

Don’t you find Anne Hathaway adorable? I do.

Finally, here’s a video of his musical number with Beyonce et al. One of the young ladies who performed reminds me of Marie Osmond. I could almost hear her sing “Paper Roses”. The video:

In-yo reborn

Posted this in livejournal feb 8, 2008.

It was good to be back. Yesterday for lunch, we hied off to Niño in Esteban Abada. Formerly known as In-yo, it has undergone some changes in terms of layout in the open air and a few innovations in the menu. Here are some pictures: The food was as beautifully presented and as yummy as ever: oyster wasabe on the house (for those who fear wasabe, fear not. it’s just the color. Smoke will not reek out of your nostrils, you won’t turn red from the spicy-ness. I’m not a wasabe fan but this one was really good). the prawn roll – oh so good! my erstwhile favorite – hanging tender blade, but could be tenderer than it was yesterday, the pretty salmon dish (was sauce teriyaki?) with wasabe mashed potato, and the pesto pasta with chicken and chorizo Music was not annoying at all (bossa compilation) and temperature was comfortably cool. Same waiters, same parking attendant. Before the orders were served, we were given bread and herbed butter.

One feels special in In-yo now Niño and we love going back. Valentine’s day, though, we’ll just grab some pizza in katipunan. NIne-course dinner at the resto then will be P2k per. For reservations call 426-03-01. The resto is closed Mondays. Resto hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., I think. It’s along Esteban Abada and has a Filipino great living right next to it: Mr. Onofre Pagsanghan.

Oscar Awards 2009

Son was browsing Time Magazine in Unimart when he said, “Si Hugh Jackman ang host ng Oscars!” He knows I’m smitten. But I didn’t know what channel though I knew it would be shown tomorrow.

Fast forward to the wake of a classmate’s mom. I asked two classmates if they knew what channel. Channel 2 at 9 a.m., one said, another said 7:00 a.m at Velvet for Skycable subscribers. That’s Channel 53.

Can’t wait. Husband told our friends, “walang Oscars bukas. The Hugh Jackman Show meron.” Then he told them “Crush niya kasi si Hugh Jackman. Buti na lang kamukha ko.” I said, “hindi eh.” Mean ba?

Here’s a video of him practicing

Sunday in Greenhills

Whenever we choose to go to Greenhills, there’s always a reason. This time, there were two reasons: to get muesli which husband eats or tries to everyday, and turtle food. Both available more often than not in Unimart. There’s a story behind the muesli. Years back, my friend who wants me to eat healthy gave me an assorted set of healthy foods for my birthday, among them muesli. Guess who ate it then? The rest is history. And the turtle food, of course is for our turtle. Got him maybe five years ago in one of the stores in the structure of Shopwise. Husband feeds him hand to mouth and gets bitten occasionally. He’s proud that they’re close.

Prior to doing the groceries though, son called that he was on his way from basketball and bathing so instead of entering the grocery area of Unimart, hied off to V Mall to meet up with husband and together we proceeded to Bizu. We hadn’t been there for a long time, and so it took us a while to decide what to order. Oh yes, prior to reaching Bizu, we saw quite a few additions to Greenhills, among them Flapjacks. It’s where Pilita used to be. Okay, new is relative. It’s new for us considering we’ve not been in Greenhills for several months now. Oops, didn’t I say that earlier? Anyway, flapjacks looks interesting. A lot of breakfast food including hash browns. One of these days…

While waiting for son to arrive in Bizu, husband and I ordered. Glenda, our charming and friendly server (what’s the politically correct way of referring to them? I don’t like waitress. Someone please suggest) suggested the pork belly confit something. It had strawberry balsamic dressing. Husband ordered the salmon risotto something (I’m hopeless, no?). I liked the description of ravioli and they had a personal sized order so I got that too plus the pork confit. While waiting for our order to come, we were served white bread (right, I was famished so I didn’t ask what it was. Foccacia? Not ciabatta. It was too soft and yummy) with butter – soft butter, one doesn’t have to quarrel with it and win, oh I mean, wrestle with it to be able to enjoy it, the way one would with rock hard, straight from the ref, butter. Had a tinge of herbs.  Then before our orders came, son arrived and ordered chicken pesto pasta or something like that. For a change, my orders came first. The pork confit and ravioli. I’m not mean so I shared with husband and son. Pork confit was served with mashed potato and sauerkraut (that used red cabbage). Sauce was strawberry balsamic (oops I mentioned this already). Glenda offered to give me extra sauce. Verdict: garlic sausage that came with it was about half the long one but provided sufficient contrast to the sweet pork belly. I think the pork should be cooked longer so it would be more tender. The sauerkraut was okay. Reminded me of plum or champoy from Hua Kong in Bacolod or those thingies in Aji -ichiban. I should just have orderd ravioli and saved P400 plus, the cost of the pork dish. Ravioli was yummy. The personal size had six raviolis, 3 per variety. One had spinach pasta, the other the regular one. Very cheesy. It didn’t have meat filling. Mushrooms I think. Really good. It was served with two slices of bread (sorry I didn’t ask what kind) but I didn’t even see the need to eat the bread. The ravioli was just so good. Husband liked the salmon. I tasted it and it was good. Tasted almost like sashimi in that it didn’t have any overpowering flavor. The dish was served with saffron rice and two asparagus spears. Son’s pasta arrived, I let him be. He liked my ravioli too.

While waiting for dessert, we looked at the things on the shelves. Got this cheese thins with sundried tomatoes. I could finish several sheets if I didn’t want to control myself. Very tasty. Also got the melba toast flavored with herbs and garlic (think vertical, it’s the taller container). Didn’t open the canister yet. The cheese sheets we ate at home na ha. (Note: i asked my son if he wanted some flavored breadsticks. He said no. That was unusual because he’s a bread stick addict. His reason? He prefers the palitos of my cousin in Bacolod. It has become his standard so he won’t settle for anything less. And I don’t think it has anything to do with blood’s running thicker than water. But I should get the website of my cousin’s business so I can share it with you.)

Oh yes, the dessert. I ordered Amore, the orange mousse with dark and white chocolate, son got two truffles one with raspberry vodka, the other with champagne I didn’t try them. They weren’t too big. Husband gave me a bite of his apple tart, it had sultanas. I liked my dessert better.

Also bought a jar of pistachio with milk and one of strawberry balsamic for giving away. A friend’s celebrating his birthday next Friday. But I might keep the pistachio. I’m curious. Months back I bought the chestnut paste in Rustan’s. Not that great, but pwede na.

Now to grocery shopping. Unimart offers not only choices but savings. Oh boy, does that sound like I’m promoting Unimart? But really. Case in point: Loaker wafers cost P135 / bag in Rustan’s. In Unimart, they cost P123 only. See? If you buy 5 bags, that’s P60 in savings. And there were a number of things at discounted prices. Like Planter’s Cheese Curls at P32 only, thus half the price. Expiration is May. They also had Magnolia queso de bola at half price. Those expiring March cost P3 less than those expiring in July. I got so many more bags of goods in Unimart for the same amount I would have spent at Rustan’s. Why is Rustan’s so expensive? Plus of course, Unimart has several choices for muesli and pet food. And the Nivea deodorant of my son which Rustan’s doesn’t carry so that we have to get them in Mercury, is available in Unimart. And they now have fresh Del Monte orange juice. . Think vertical. Look Ma, no water or sugar added. And the list goes on. It’s either I move closer to Unimart, or Unimart should put a branch in Loyola. Okay, I’m dreaming.

Oh yes, before going to Unimart, I had a DVD-DVD experience. Ha ha ha. See, I’ve run out of Koreanovelas to watch, okay, make that good koreanovelas. I gave up on about 3 because they were too dark/violent. So i wanted to try my luck in Greenhills. Husband and son said they were bound to be available, but husband said scary because usually, those offering them would say to join them somewhere so one could choose. As we were entering the tiangge, someone said “DVD-DVD.” I asked, “may koreanovela ka?” He answered, “opo, sama kayo sa akin.” yes, I’m crazy about koreanovelas, but not that crazy. I said, “dalhin mo na lang dito.” He said “dun tayo sa ___”. While there he drew out a list, I saw some titles I liked, but these were English movies. At the back sheet was a list of American TV series. I chose 3 movie titles. He asked what koreanovela I wanted, I said to just bring me choices.

Some 20 minutes later, he came back, looking empty-handed. Then he lifted his shirt and pulled out a plastic bag and led us to another area. I looked at the titles. He said a koreanovela would cost me P350. I said no way, he asked how much? I said P50. That’s how much I imagine it’s sold in another part of the world. He said no. I looked at the titles of the movies I checked. He said P220 for 3. I said no way again. He asked how much. I said P150. he said, “o sige.”

Hay, was I relieved the transaction was over. Sad though that I didn’t get any koreanovela. I think I’ll have to go to ____ and _____ for them.

The copies of the movies were clean, although the audio of one wasn’t loud enough. either I use head/earphones or used the DVD player rather than my Mac. Hassle.

Rj on Sunday mornings

I was on the computer when my husband was channel surfing and stopped at Today, which was then showing on RJ TV, 2nd avenue. It’s almost three hours since, and the TV is still on the same channel, but for the past two hours, it has been RJ hosting the show. He has been showing videos of Georgy Girl by The Seekers and other videos of old songs. Very easy listening and RJ has this engaging style of hosting. I think someone texted or emailed that he’s a retired guitarist. RJ said  “that’s bad. Guitarists shouldn’t retire. They should only stop playing when they die.” He suggested, “move those fingers, man”. I cannot agree more.

Music should not be bound by space, time or age.

Saturday at Power Plant (again!) and Salcedo Village’s park

We were set to go watch the jazz festival in Salcedo Park after a friend told me about it when son said he wanted to watch Valkyrie, after which he suggested, we could go to Salcedo.

So we did that, watch Valkyrie in Power Plant after having an early dinner at, do I have to say where? Pepper Lunch. While we were on our way to PL after getting off the elevator, son asked, “Can you order for me? I want to finish the song.” A lady pianist and a tenor saxophonist were playing “A Time for Love.” We left him to his music while husband and I proceeded to PL and shortly after, son joined us while husband left to get tickets for Valkyrie. We had barely an hour to spare before the movie would start. Luckily, there were no long lines at PL, but almost all the tables were taken. Five minutes before the set screening hour, we were done.

Valkyrie stars Tom Cruise. It’s a war movie, focused on Hitler and Germany. It showed a side to Germany then which I wasn’t aware of. I’m not aware of much history to begin with. Anyway, the movie showed how amongst the military were men who were not in accord with the way Hitler ran things. They wanted to serve the country rather than the man, so they set out to assassinate him.

Maybe for almost half of the movie, I was listless. Everyone looked like a bad man except for Tom Cruise. Yes, many of the characters looked like each other so deciphering the story required a lot of effort. Then things became clearer and by the end of the movie there was a reverent silence in the theater. I cannot tell you why without revealing the story’s conclusion, so…

*********

Immediately after we left the theater, we hied of to Salcedo Village. The show was set to begin at 6 p.m, so when we got there at almost 8, all of the tables were taken. But there were Monobloc chairs still stacked and it wasn’t a problem to get seats. Dinner was catered by Via Mare so the usual VM fare were available: bibingka (just one kind, the barest), puto bumbong, pancit palabok (or luglug? I’m always confused – big noodles kind), lumpia, halo-halo, mushrooms al ajillo, beer at P100 a can, soft drinks at P50 a can, bottled water at P30 each. There were a numbere of waiters around so getting one’s order served wasn’t a problem. One had to buy food chits but again this wasn’t at all a problem because there were a number of tables that sold them. (Some people brought their own soft drinks and snacks in plastic bags. No one seemed to mind)

Music was provided by Eddie Katindig who played the marimba rather than his signature sax. On the piano was Romy Posadas, on the drums, his son. On the bongo was _____ Luz. (Could he have been related to Tessie Luz? I think I saw her in the audience). On the sax was Alvin Coronista, on the snare drums was a Cruz guy from the Cruz clan. Sorry if I missed anyone. The singer was Arthur Manuntag. He was so good, singing was effortless. For the second to the last song, he sang Spain and I missed Vernie Varga. Pity she no longer sings on TV. AM is a very engaging person, asking the people to sing with him and to dance. He even recommended dance moves for those too shy. His suggested moves involved only the neck upwards, or the shoulder up at most. Funny.

In the audience were some familiar faces, among them Ms. Lichauco, the dynamic barangay chair of Bel-Air and erstwhile “be kind to animals” crusader. Where does she get her energy? How I wish I were a Bel-Air resident. The things she makes possible there — admirable. Tomorrow I think there will be a classical music concert at the park in Bel-Air.

Also present were Irene Marcos and Glenda Barretto. And Susan Calo-Medina. She usually started the dancing which was great of her because people who might otherwise have been shy were enticed to join her without her deliberately egging them on. I like this lady. So vivacious, so sincere. I think she walks the talk.

Irene – saw her talking to Romy Posadas during the break. She even embraced him. Apparently, her love for the arts and music was something not foisted on her by Imelda. And she seems to be living her life quietly, no fanfare, like a regular person. I observed her for a long time and when she talked with anyone, she was totally engrossed and present to that person. No airs there.

We thoroughly enjoyed the experience of free jazz music under tents. If only it were cooler. But then, better the heat than rain.

way to go, Bel Air. And thanks An, for telling us about the concert.

Erratum: Bel-Air’s barangay chair is now Victor Gomez. Kudos to you, sir, and sorry about the faux pas. Credit is due you and I’d like to apologize for my mistake.

To Mr. Alcantara, thank you again for pointing out my mistake. Much appreciated.

To those who read this post, my apologies too for the wrong info. Happily, Mr. Alcantara pointed out my error so that credit is now given to whom it is due: Mr. Victor Gomez.

Quickfire Season 4

Have had more time to watch TV lately and I’ve caught at least two good episodes of Quickfire. A few minutes ago, it was Aiza helping Rosebud prepare the ingredients for Bulalo steak. I think this is a good way of recycling bulalo. I always grow tired of eating it in soup form after one heating but this recipe gives me no reason not to cook bulalo. Thanks Rosebud.

Yesterday, she prepared okoy. And it looked so simple: tofu, tawilis, onions, togue, carrots, baguio beans.

I can’t wait for the recipes of Season 4 to be posted! I’m glad QF has reached Season 4. May it never end.

(PS: Rosebud, should my son indeed go abroad, one thing I’ll be sure to give him is quickfire’s URL so he’ll never go hungry. thanks.)

GMA, hire me. No Madam President, not you. The network

How brazen can I get? The title is really expressed more in jest than seriously, but if I were offered a job to watch GMA shows exclusively and to note whatever it is I see, I’d gladly take on the job. That I’ve been a GMA fan/observer dates back to the time Maureen Hultman was the focus of the news and the newscasters were a lady and a gentleman. The lady erroneously announced MH’s death, or rather prematurely, I saw that. I also saw Bernadette Sembrano walking out of the newscast as the lights had dimmed or were dimming. I thought that meant something and it did. Shortly after her resignation was announced.

This a.m., I was multi-tasking – eating a mango, reading the papers and listening to the news on TV with Arnold Clavio and Rhea Santos. Here I go again. I heard her say “Roman Polanski” accent on the second syllable when she said the first name. Then she hastily corrected her self and pronounced it with the accent on the first syllable. I guess I’m flattering myself by thinking she may have read my comment on her propensity to do that. Still, I managed to smile when she corrected herself.

Saw this puppet (muppet) singing – Gorogoro band or something that sounds like that. Okay, GMA cannot hire me. My attention’s always divided, my memory is shot, etc. Point is the muppet is cute. Asked why his eyebrows were connected – nuglue style, he said “Idol ko si Eric Fructuoso”. He referred to his band as a youtube sensation or something. THink Moymoy Palaboy and Allysa kees me Alano.

Shortly after the Gorogoro stint, my sister called and I was left with no more energy to watch UH. darn. Yes, the conversation was draining. Or listening to her was.

Paolo Lorenzana’s article on knowing someone with HIV

Yesterday, I was reading my backlog of newspapers when I came across an article which I thought might interest my son. I set it aside for him to read. This morning I asked if he had read it and he said yes. Then he said, “The article below it (what I asked him to read) was interesting. Did you read it?” I asked what it was about and he said HIV.

Lest you may have missed it, I’m posting the same  from the Philippine Star website.

It is very well-written and has a lot of heart in it.

The article:

I know someone who has HIV

There’s a little absurdity in witnessing a grown man shed tears for Clint Eastwood. Gran Torino, Eastwood’s latest — and maybe, last — stand as the ultimate man-o’-rightful-war (an anti-Mr. Rogers who wasn’t the friendliest of neighbors in his’ gook’-populous town) incited his audience’s silent reverence, even if he’d be grumbling through most of his lines. Had the former Dirty Harry seen this grown man getting all choked up, he’d sneer at him, tersely citing why he doesn’t care much for “pussy boys” like him. But the man slouched and sniffling beside me in that cold cinema wasn’t much for keeping his sentiments on the down low or pinning his machismo on his sleeve, anyway.

I’d met him in one of the most dubious methods you could meet people and actually keep them as friends: on a press trip to Boracay, covering the island’s annual wind ‘n’ water sports competition a little over a year ago. It could have been a vacation disguised as work, but for me, it was as if I was still in the grind of pushing pen to paper, just that I was doing it in a place where sand and cement, perpetually sunburned expats and tropical trannies came together. From the first beers we had together as we surveyed the traffic on the sea through our first night clicking through cable TV as roommates, the Unburdener always seemed to emphasize how he had nothing to hide.

Normally, when a childhood, drunken, or just any story recounting a generally embarrassing experience is told to a new acquaintance, there is the concession of shock-masked agreement — of ‘oh my God, are you serious?” but with a smirk of knowing. When the Unburdener regales you with his tales of shame, care of his family circus, high times under the influence, or gay growing pains, he’d beam his probing eyes at you and wait for a reaction, ready to laugh or momentarily simmer with you in scrutiny of what he’d just divulged.

This sort of sharing ‘til it hurts (most of the time, the pain’s from the laughter) was how I discovered the Unburdener’s past life of ransacking the land of easy lays. That when he was a poetry teacher in his early 20s, a pack of young ‘n’ hungry homos had taken him under their wing, transformed him into a ruthless social climber, and gave him a “friendly” push towards the speedy baggage carousel of men screwing men — oftentimes, over.

Used Somebody

I had come to know the Unburdener about a year since he’d neutered the sexual beast within. He would no longer sit around with his co-conquistadors, each one tallying how many men they’d done the dirty deed with, calling out numbers from the 60s to the 100s.

That was the way it had always been in his heyday of wham-bam-thank-you-sir — a game of gay predator and prey, from drawing glances by a club’s bar to gripping the headboard of a grimy motel bed. In fact, he didn’t even need to park himself amid a clubbing throng of sweaty, gym-slaved torsos swelling enthusiastically to Madonna or Kylie. The meet ‘n’ meat market spread out to profile picks online so he could expect a speedy delivery to his doorstep with the click of the “send” button; an assortment of men — short, tall, discrete, abominable — shooting the Unburdener messages with the sole purpose of shooting their loads.

When the Unburdener declared that he was done “with all the stuff that didn’t work, with all that bullshit,”, you could see an overshot inner fury from the intensity in his eyes—someone reborn with a vengeance to stave off his life’s dramatic nonsense. He unflinchingly told me all of his past’s dirt ‘cause he was no longer rolling in it, no longer lingering in the rejection of his love by heaping other’s flesh upon his flesh. No longer a mere receptacle bending over to take it — condom, no condom — the way his partners liked it. Because that one time he’d ridden a bus all the way to Cavite just to jump into the sack with two strangers he’d met online, he realized that all the sex he craved corresponded to all the love he was parched for. The man I met in Boracay had rebuilt himself, and not in the way college kids do when they visit the island for a couple of days, peeling away their reservations for the hot-temp, high-temptation reality show that plays in their heads.

‘Course, I decided I was done with a lot of the bullshit around me as well. His approach towards men was my approach towards work — a lot going in and a lot going out, another assignment, another means to validate myself. The way the Unburdener unflinchingly spoke of his misdemeanors and misadventures made me feel like we were two travelers meeting in life’s airport terminal, leaving no details out about our journeys. We shared where we’d been, which places to avoid, and where we’d be heading — later realizing we were going the same way.

Positive Tension

Months drifted by like a friendly breeze, the Unburdener and I becoming close colleagues in the art of living out loud — along with some friends of his who rolled their eyes at people who couldn’t do the same. Our weekly cleansing ritual of downing rum cokes and drowning out crowds with a live band-backed karaoke tune or two was all about that. Human absurdity was always a topic of choice — of the celebrities we’d written about, of the soulless night lives we’d left behind, of how sneaky it was for us to be so self-aware amid a society so deluded.

It had been almost like a sitcom, those six or so months that the Unburdener and I had become suspiciously inseparable. Like that show Perfect Strangers, where a lot of that good ol’ absurdity unfolds between cousins Larry and Balky, but you were always guaranteed laughs ‘til the credits rolled. Until he called from the hospital, that is — his usual exuberance slightly faded yet still present as he told me he’d be spending a little time there for his migraines. Some time extended to four months, pigeon crap blamed for some sort of brain infection caused by the toxic air he breathed living on the top floor of his building. Every call I made to check up on him was just a means for the bird brain to brandish his signature brand of humorous self-deprecation, never to tell me what was really wrong with him; that he had HIV, as a mutual friend had confessed to me later on.

That he couldn’t find the right time to tell me doesn’t matter anymore. His history of hook-ups came to bite him in the ass and I couldn’t let it punctuate the life he’d salvaged. I don’t know about HIV statistics in Manila or how people get infected and why they do. All I knew was that he was still the guy I’d met on that windy afternoon in Boracay: the man who earned his name by never holding back the person he decided to become, urging the same of people around him —of me, even.

He certainly wouldn’t hold his tears back in that cinema, three months having passed since he’d left that hospital and walked back to a life he lived feverishly, as a sort of retaliation against the virus. Besides, he wouldn’t cease living as he had: to know who you are enough to let go of what doesn’t work in your life.

As we parted that day, I realized there were a few traits the Unburdener had in common with Clint’s anti-heroics. He could take a smattering of bullets and still stand firmly — resolutely — with his weapon of choice in hand. Since I’d known him, love was always the ammo he used, having finally found enough to leave for himself and surrender his body no more. That’d go a long way, I thought, as I watched him get into a cab and ride off into the rest of his days, armed and somehow vindicated from the sins of his past. Maybe even Clint had nothing on him.

Grousing Time

Months back, when I got my Rustan’s Citibank Visa, no amount of cajoling would convince Citibank to waive the membership fee because I already had an existing Citibank Mastercard. So I paid up, rationalizing that I’d be able to “recover” the same through the rebates I would be entitled to.

Last week, my sister needled me. She had not gotten the Rustan’s Citibank VISA then precisely because she didn’t want to pay the fee. Last week she got one free and it’s her second Citibank card. UNFAIR. I want to cry. Okay, I’m exaggerating, but certainly, don’t you think it is indeed unfair? Citibank, I’ll be placated only if you refund me the P2500 I was charged for getting Rustan’s VISA.

Emerald Rewards Card from BDO. Shopping in SM is enticing in the matter of choices but for someone in a wheelchair, it is not convenient sometimes. For example, to apply for their Rewards Program, I would have to go to the ground floor of SM Megamall but thing is, I don’t buy anything from that floor. Why is it not available in their appliance centers or even in Virra Mall? At least the last time I asked, they said it wasn’t. So every time I make a purchase in Petron and elsewhere, I would ruefully shake my head when asked if I had an SM Advantage card that no, I didn’t.

Last week, I felt victorious (like my sister must have felt getting the Rustan’s CItibank Visa card free) when in the mail, I got my BDO Emerald Rewards card which functions like SM Advantage. I was smiling broadly as I told my husband and son that now, when we buy Petron gas, I can show my Emerald Rewards card and earn points.

Yesterday, when my son said he would gas up at Petron, I gave him my card. He came back and said “hindi mabasa ang card mo.” So I called the branch where I have an account. Christopher of BDO Shang suggested I call the hotline. I’m sure I had activated it. When I called the hotline, the system was down. I asked if it were possible that the reason my card couldn’t be read was that the system was down. The person in the hotline number said it had nothing to do with it. A few minutes ago, I called and was told that I was right, my card had been activated. Lily, who took my call, said “baka nagkataon lang.” Huh? Duh? So what now? In Rustan’s or National, if there’s something wrong with their system, they do things manually so you don’t lose out on points. BDO’s Lily said, “sorry po” but they had no such mechanism. I was insistent that they should have so she said to call back in 5 days while she asked. She told me to keep my Petron receipt. hay naku.

First post script: A few seconds ago, the phone rang. Lily from BDO Rewards. She asked what time we tried to transact using the BDO card. Oh wow, I’m impressed. That means she might have an answer for me before the 5 days are up.

Second post script: This Lily is efficient. She called again, asked me to fax a receipt to her and to someone in charge, indicating the follow up number. Problem is the receipt of Petron is in the car and my son has left. But I’m impressed. BDO, you’re lucky to have a Lily in your employ! Thanks, Lily. Even if nothing comes from this, your initiative is much appreciated.

Eat Bulaga featuring devoted lovers

Trust EB to feature “devoted lovers” in their game portion, Sa Pula, Sa Puti where devoted lovers are not the usual type where both are “normal”.  Today’s contestants had either a hobbit, a sight-challenged, an Albino, a wheelchair-bound person, etc. per couple. And they appeared loving to each other. How nice. I wanted both teams to win but of course only one could. And the team that did won the jackpot. Yippeee! And Alan K gave the losing team dinner for two per couple. How nice of them. And thank God, Pia Guanio did not at all appear sad. The way she sometimes would in the talk show. Maybe because she had no reason to. These people were a happy lot, their disabilities notwithstanding. One of the contestants was a young 31 year old who has had glaucoma for 31 years. So Alan asked her off-cam if she had an idea how he looked. When she said no, Alan said he had a big nose and had her touch it. When asked how it felt, she said “malambot.”

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Julia Clarete is so pretty. She looks good in anything. She has really blossomed in EB.

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I thought I had posted this last Saturday then tonight I saw it among my drafts. Anyway, speaking of pretty, Pia Guanio looked really beautiful in 24 Oras tonight. Very decently dressed, makeup just right and the smile was not at all put on. Way to go, Pia.

Eat Bulaga with Maritoni Fernandez and Michael de Mesa

in Sa Pula, Sa Puti. There’s nothing like watching really talented performers sing and move. How I wish I’d see more of their ilk in Eat Bulaga and other shows. They can sing. I miss those times when shows like Eat Bulaga had song numbers, with complete songs sung by real singers.

Cogito Ergo Sum Redux

I’m beside myself with joy. Tee-hee-hee, yippee, hurray, hurrah! I can now say “Cogito ergo sum” and with proof to boot – from the Philippine government several times over. Months back, I got my barangay ID. Then my postal ID. Then someone at the Manila City Civil Registrar pointed out I had mistakenly been using “MA.” instead of “MARIA” all these years. And my name in my NSO birth certificate was spelled “ANOTNIA”. Good heavens. So I was not married to my husband nor mother to my son in the eyes of the law. I promptly applied for a birth certificate with the errors corrected. That was around July (?) last year, a week or so after my corrections to my son’s were filed, etc.  Then I applied for an SSS card too and the lady there applied for a change in my name because while my old card read Ma., she saw that my birth certificate had MARIA. How lucky could I get. My name was running around in circles like nobody’s business. Would it ever end?

Well today, it seems, the end is at hand. This a.m., I received a letter from the SSS. The envelope still sealed, I tried to divine with my hands whether it contained the card or whether I’d have to get it from somewhere. My hand didn’t feel anything hard. What insensitive hands because lo and behold, my card was in the letter of Romulo Neri. Thanks Mr. Neri. Thanks, SSS.

Inspired, I texted my sister to find out if my Talisay City birth certificate was ready yet. My son’s was in December. She said “yes, but I have yet to pick it up.” Actually I explained in my text that I was just so excited about the SSS card so I wanted to have my birth certificate too. A few minutes ago she called and said she had my birth certificate with her and would mail it via JRS (St. Anthony, please see to it that JRS doesn’t lose my precious birth certificate!). And she’d even include my police clearance etc. Wow, I’ve so many testaments to my being me, so who am I?

Per the government, I am now Maria/Ma. Antonia. Both permutations acceptable. Yippeeeee!

Puto pao

Years back, okay, make that 1 score, 1 decade and 6 years past, my classmates and I were the first batch that had Citizens’ Army Training for girls in our school. While we groused about it, I guess that gave us bragging rights so that we were certainly proud of ourselves. It was actually great to spend Saturday mornings marching (yes, I could still walk then), carrying a dummy wooden rifle, wearing boots, no wait, I think they were just manly black shoes (no, we had to wear the same as everyone, so Gregg shoes weren’t allowed), fatigue uniforms, up and down, and white short-sleeved shirts underneath the hot long-sleeved top. years later, the long sleeved top was done away and replaced by white shirts, I believe. Oh yes, and we had matching caps too. Not baseball ones but pang-military talaga. We even went on a bivouac to Sum-ag, walking 7 kilometers. One fainted along the way, and guess what it wasn’t me. ANother arrived midway and all she had to do was salute our commandant 50 times (she was the best friend of his daughter). Unfair, right? But she doesn’t have the same bragging rights.

So where does the puto pao come in?

Right after CAT or during breaks, we’d walk to a nearby subdivision for really cold Coke. That was the time when transferring soft drinks to plastic bags was unheard of, when Coke litro wasn’t yet available I think. That small store which sold us those refreshing drinks also sold us puto. Really delicious. The puto was available in banana leaves, like Manapla puto, but tasted sweeter. It was later I think, that they began to sell  colored puto in pastel shades. Nice. Then the puto morphed into puto pao: puto with siopao filling. Delicious.

Years back, I rediscovered them in a Negros bazaar and realized they had a stall in SM Cubao. So for a party, I ordered several and everyone enjoyed it. I tried to order again but their shop in Cubao had closed, they didn’t deliver. Pity. This a.m., I reconnected with the owner, a former student of mine, and she gave me the number of their branch in Dian. Tel number is 8335843. Called up and was told they usually have it everyday, but to be sure, better to call first. They also have cakes and other products because they have a bakeshop now. One of these days…

The Fish & Co Card, etc.

Had lunch at Fish & Co after mass. Husband ordered seafood something, son his usual New York fish fillet. I got clam chowder soup and salad for sharing. Initially husband swooned over his dish: curried seafood (mussels, squid, fish) on top of rice. Then he bit into ginger and well, he finished his dish but he’ll never order the same ever. The salad consisted of lettuce, lychee, apple slices, fish poppers.

Son didn’t get peeved though his order came when husband and I were through eating. I can’t imagine why but our waiter was too nice to be scolded. I asked him whether they had discount cards like they used to. They do but one has to pay P1500, consumable – P1000 from the next visit onwards up to three months, P500 up to a month after you get the text message signifying the amount. Then one gets 20% discount every time. Card may also be used in Italianni’s, TGI Fridays adn Flapjacks. There’s one of the latter in the UP development along Commonwealth, if we understood correctly. IT’s a breakfast place, the waiter said.

At the end of the meal we got 4 Endearmints.

There are still some stores that have sale items: Rustan’s second floor, for example. Triumph undergarments.

Also went to Mercury and this tall fellow with Chinese eyes and a almost shy smile, very soft-spoken, attended to us. Very nice, very patient in answering my questions.

went to North Face for some stuff for son. There are two men there. Extremes of each other. One is gentle, softer than soft-spoken so I had to ask him to repeat. The other, never mind. I wondered if I had developed hearing difficulty. Husband said it was the loud music and the guy’s voice was really soft. so there. When he had added up my son’s purchases, he pointed at the stuffed yak he put on top. And he let my son fill up a form for future discounts. Mechanics still being developed. the yak is cute. When my son tried to let it stand on the car’s dashboard, two of its four legs didn’t step properly on the board. I told my son, “may polio ata.” He said “oo nga eh.”

Speaking of freebies, or did I mention it, Sunday at Power Plant we got a bottle of Buzz Fizz from Marks and Spencer for free for a certain amount of purchases. And yesterday, as it was Valentine’s Day when I was in Rustan’s Katipunan for groceries, I got a box of chocolate almonds. Blue Sapphire members entitled. tokens like these make one feel better after parting with hard-earned money, haha.

Went to Charlie’s Grilled something in Pasig after Shang because read a magazine article endorsing it. I forgot about the cheesesteak. we ordered the burger. It was tender but the taste? Not to my liking exactly. I prefer tender Bob’s and the japanese place where husband bought burgers months ago – the one near UA&P.

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On another note, maybe more than one, a friend told me about the performance of Jonathan Badon and Lena McKenzie at the Podium at 6. But we had to go to Shang for the bag hanger  (see some posts ago) and to submit a form to BDO which sent me a BDO Rewards card, so we couldn’t go to Podium. While I was typing the previous paragraphs, my cell rang. It was my friend who said “listen to this”. I could hear singing – JB. Time and again she has been telling me about his performances but for one reason or other, we’ve never been able to make it. Maybe she thought I didn’t think JB was good enough? Not at all. It’s just that the venues before were too far or we were unavailable. Like if I were feeling better, we might have waited it out at Podium after Shang. But I still feel a bit under the weather, especially when it’s warm. I get coughing fits. Imagine if as JB was singing I went into one, kakahiya.

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The BDO form – it was filled up on one side by the bank, the right side was for any changes: address, etc. There was even space for change of birthday. But not for change of gender. So if Rustom had a card before and he now wants to be recognized as BB and female, he’ll just have to get a new card, I guess? Though I must admit, they made a mistake in my gender — my real name is really such a controversy-calling one. Oh well, I put a slash across M and put F. Maybe Rustom could do the same.

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Earlier, I mentioned apple and I remembered Alyssa Alano (keesss me youtube video). Weeks back, she was on TV and I think the question was what city was known as the Big Apple. Her answer? Washington. Can you guess why?

Daphne Osena overload and happy about it

Was checking out chuvaness.com and the comments therein. Then saw that one of the comments came from daphne. Clicked on it and voila! Daphne Osena’s blog. I read on, and on, and on. But when I looked on the bar to check out its url, it wasn’t there. So I googled and found it: it’s this. I also discovered she has a flicker account. I’m putting them here so that I don’t have to google every time I want a dose of Daphne. I’ve long been a fan – she makes a lot of sense.

For the top 10 pinay celebrity bloggers, click on this post of our awesome planet.

Why is chuvaness not listed among the top 10?

Sunday at Power Plant

Last Sunday, after lunch at Niño in Esteban Abada, we hied of to Mrs. Cunanan’s in Valle Verde to get the ensaimada I ordered for my friend in Rockwell. That is her family’s holy grail -  to find the best ensaimada. It’s a family thing on their part, and as I think Cunanan’s is the best I’ve tried, I thought of giving her a box. I’m not sure she agrees with me because she hasn’t given feedback, though. To order call 6310798. They bake it fresh and don’t bake extra. Like if you order and say you’ll get it in the afternoon, when you call the night before and say you want to get it in the morning instead, they’ll say sorry, but it’s not possible.

At Power Plant, my husband and I went around looking for a fleece jacket and Gore-tek shoes. Saw the former in Travel Club cum North Place but there weren’t any for men. Just for ladies. Gore-tek shoes, Merrell brand was available but no size. Such luck. Gore-tek was recommended by my friend (the one based in the Netherlands who’s now in Rockwell) for my son in case his trip to Europe pushes through. It’s water-proof, she said. And he’d need a fleece jacket, she said, but she said she’d just lend him.

We went to Marks and Spencer and there were so many new arrivals I was hard put to choose which to get using gift certificates my sister gave last Christmas. Aside from a blouse, I got a t-shirt at half-price. Yes, they still have goods on sale. Further reductions at that. I’d have wanted to get more blouses and in fact, I saw a white blouse I liked but that would have been too indulgent. Sometimes I just know how to say no to myself.

But I couldn’t resist the sandals I saw in Charles and Keith. It’s so seldom that I see any soft enough in the design that’s ideal for my feet (the thong type). So I got it. Not bad at P1699. Actually we entered Charles and Keith after failing to find a bag hanger (for tables in restos) in CMG where I got a few for giving away last Christmas ( I gave mine to my friend who’s based in the Netherlands because it was the first time she saw one).  there was one in a bag store near Archaeology but it cost P900 and it was just a wire thing, the one from CMG was P300 I think. At Charles and Keith they had a bag hanger but I had to make a P5k purchase to avail of one. No amount of cajoling convinced the clerk or the cashier to sell me one. Oh well. So I’ll have to keep on looking. Hopefully Rustan’s in Shang still has it. Last Christmas it had them and in the color I liked at that. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Before going home, stopped at Bread Talk for their sandwich bread and others, then to Pepper Lunch for takeout. Son wasn’t with us so we got for him and for us too. Beef pepper rice and beef curry, plus kani salad. I ate my share in 3 installments. Dinner that night, lunch the following day, and lunch the following day. I just might lose weight? Wishful thinking.

Have been sick these past three days – really bad cold and cough. SInta’s showing in Ateneo and my friend, the mom of SInta asked if I was going to watch. I said I was sick. She said she was too. But she’ll go. I hope by tomorrow I’ll be fine. My son’s playing in the “orchestra”.

KFC’s Famous Bowl

This is a favorite of my son’s. A few minutes ago, sent out the maid to get him one and when she came back, she said, “wala cheese.” Apparently the Katipunan branch of KFC ran out of cheese! Maid asked for a discount but she was told that’s the price na eh. Unfair.

Son also complained there’s too much corn in the bowl but that’s usual.

Inquirer’s Rushes

This column of Inquirer comes out at least twice a week, and I must admit it’s why I buy Inquirer. I love its sub-portion entitled “Top of the talk shows”  under which is always written: “For those who missed last weekend’s gabfests on TV. (And why we are moved if we are moved.” Why?

Because aside from reporting they put in side comments. For example,

James Yap’s birthday wish for wife Kris Aquino: “Good health. dahil kung hindi malusog yung health niya, maraming masasagasaan na work.” (No comment)

See? Sometimes their comments are even funnier, like “So, ano nga?” or “Ano daw?”

However, Rushes’ blind items really leave me dumbfounded. I never get who they’re describing. Today’s (11 Feb 2009) issue’s blind items are as follows:

Mysterious benefactor

Tongues continue to wag: Is Young Actress’ new house a gift from Mysterious benefactor? There is talk that MB was part of YA’s ill-fated project. Why the big bonus though that fizzled out? Is it because the paternity of YA’s child continues to be a big question mark and… do the math.

Till PRs do them part

Aging Matinee Idol enjoys being romantically linked to younger girls though his gneder remains dubious. The latest victim is Feisty Mestiza. MI keeps dropping her name in press releases and TV interviews. FM goes along with that, but off-cam, she is involved with New Hunk from the same network.

Tears for fears

Fearing that Cutie Stud was planning to bolt his home network, Gay Exec allegedly confronted CS and wept buckets. The tears worked; CS’ planned departure has been averted… for now

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Anyone care to enlighten me?

Gary Granada and GMA 7

I’m sad to say the least. Time and again, I’ve unabashedly referred to myself as “kapuso.” But now I shudder.

This morning, my son was about to leave the room when he suddenly paused and watched the commercial running on TV. I was then watching Unang Hirit. The commercial – Mel Tiangco’s pitch on GMA KApuso Foundation’s tie-up with Safeguard, Tide and Downy. As my son listened and watched intently, I looked at him, fascinated. Sure the melody was catchy. But why was he so taken by it?

As the commercial ended, he said “yan ang controversial na commercial na ikinagalit ni Gary Granada.” Then he explained it to me a bit and told me it was doing the rounds in the World Wide Web. My son’s being an occasional composer (one of his works was used in a soap commercial) and an idealist (he’s 19), I guess, explained his interest in the matter. And I became curious about the issue.

I searched in youtube and found this and this

I’m disappointed at GMA. Gary Granada makes a lot of sense. He is passionate about his craft and I can understand where he’s coming from somehow. A case of been there done that in another form.

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Was looking at the Philippine Entertainment Portal and saw an article on the above issue. You might want to check out the said article. Just click here.

Funny Inanities/Eat Bulaga Pickings

A few gems from EB which I cannot forget:

Question: Why is the door knob?

Answer: because the key

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Question: What is the difference between the duck?

Answer: Two of its feet are both the same

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A Jimmy Santos line as only he can (or was it fed him?)

“When I was born…. I was a baby.”

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Feel free to share what you’ve caught from EB and other shows

Charles Bukowski’s “So you want to be a writer? and my thoughts on it (not that they matter)

(from this site: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/16549) if it doesn't come bursting out of you in spite of everything, don't do it. unless it comes unasked out of your heart and your mind and your mouth and your gut, don't do it. if you have to sit for hours staring at your computer screen or hunched over your typewriter searching for words, don't do it. if you're doing it for money or fame, don't do it. if you're doing it because you want women in your bed, don't do it. if you have to sit there and rewrite it again and again, don't do it. if it's hard work just thinking about doing it, don't do it. if you're trying to write like somebody else, forget about it. if you have to wait for it to roar out of you, then wait patiently. if it never does roar out of you, do something else. if you first have to read it to your wife or your girlfriend or your boyfriend or your parents or to anybody at all, you're not ready. don't be like so many writers, don't be like so many thousands of people who call themselves writers, don't be dull and boring and pretentious, don't be consumed with self- love. the libraries of the world have yawned themselves to sleep over your kind. don't add to that. don't do it. unless it comes out of your soul like a rocket, unless being still would drive you to madness or suicide or murder, don't do it. unless the sun inside you is burning your gut, don't do it. when it is truly time, and if you have been chosen, it will do it by itself and it will keep on doing it until you die or it dies in you. there is no other way. and there never was.
***************** What I think: (Was led to this poem by my husband after I told him that Jim Paredes wrote an article on why he writes.) After reading the above poem, I was bothered. I thought of people who have to write to earn a living, who have deadlines to meet and beat. Certainly, Charles Bukowski was not referring to them. He was different from them, okay, make that, from us. His poem should be read in context, one should know where he was coming from. Did he mean to disparage those whose motivation to write differed from what he declared above? Was he encouraging sloth? To what extent did he go to support his Muse? Perhaps, one will appreciate his intent more after reading about the man here.

Gloria Maris at Power Plant

Last night, my best friend in college treated my family of three to dinner at GM in Power Plant. Being habitues of the innards rather than PP’s periphery, we were surprised that GM is now a fixture in PP. When we were in Astralis last week, I saw those red lanterns hanging outside what I thought might be a Japanese resto, yun pala, Gloria Maris. The guard of PP helpfully told us we could also enter GM through a path from inside PP, but my friend opted for us to go through outside.

The place wasn’t full so it wasn’t too noisy. Our friend being Chinese, we told her she should do the ordering but she insisted on getting   our opinions. I asked for radish cake aside from which she also  ordered  salt and pepper pork. Also ordered the beef tenderloin with onions and the seafood hotpot and yang chow rice. I liked the radish cake immensely – so simply prepared. Just fried and served with hot sauce. The salt and pepper pork served with vinegar was very good. The tenderloin was no different from that across other Chinese restos (I haven’t yet found a standard against which to compare it – Kowloon in the seventies maybe, or a resto in Plaza Mart in Bacolod, second floor, in the early seventies, where my high school graduation dinner, per my request was held. Or was it grade school?). The seafood hotpot had fish, shrimp, squid and tofu. Okay also but not spectacular.

The highlight of the evening was the conversation. After dinner we went to her condo on the 26th floor, then descended to the 7th, where in the darkness and the cool evening breeze, while viewing the lights of Guadalupe Bridge, EDSA, etc. and the pool’s silhouette, we talked for an hour: my husband, my son and my best friend. Mostly about batchmates in college who had moved abroad, those who’ve stayed, and one who passed away. Oh, before that, we gathered around her pristine white dining table eating ice cream – coffee for the 3 adults and vanilla for my son. After the rooftop conversation, we hied back to her condo for another 45 minutes of finding out what her life was like at work. Very interesting, very challenging. I told her to write a book about it, she said she’d tell me the story, I should write it. To be able to do that competently, I’d have to read more Tom Clancy books. It’s that type of a lifestyle. She’s based in the Netherlands and gave my son advice on life in Europe, just in case. Taught us a few Dutch words but of course, nothing stuck. Told her we should eat in Pepper Lunch so she’ll meet the owner and we’d hear her speak Dutch with a Chinese accent. (When we were in fifth year college, a classmate commented, addressing me “you have infected the Bulakena and the Chinese with your Ilonggo accent” but I think they’ve both lost it. We’re no longer together 5 days  a week the way we were in college.) That will be fun.

Before we left, she gave us 3 boxes of tikoy. Has tikoy become like fruitcake? It gets passed around. Like I’m passing one to my best friend from work, another to a cousin who lives nearby. I still have 2 boxes in the fridge aside from the 3rd I’m keeping. None of those I bought. But I guess tikoy isn’t like fruitcake. I actually eat it. One slice of fruitcake can last me a lifetime, I mean, it’s not something I’ll actively go in search of.

She also gave us cheese from the Netherlands. It didn’t say what kind it was, but we had a few slices at breakfast and it was so good. My son said, “it’s like queso de bola but creamier.”

Speaking of dairy products: I noticed that the President brand of butter is cheaper than Magnolia Gold and even Queensland (canned and bar). It costs P50 plus only and tastes very good. Or did Rustan’s make a mistake in punching its cost? I should check again next time.

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Oh, one funny thing happened to show how third world I am. In Ilonggo we’d call that “manol”. I referred to myself as such in my multiply blog in reference to something else, and confessed I didn’t know its translation in English. A fellow Ilonggo based in the States suggested, maybe it can be translated to “hillbilly”.  (All along, I thought “hillbilly”  referred to people dressed in tattered clothes who spoke pidgin English, after having seen the likes of them in the comic strip “The Hillbillies”. But I looked in the dictionary and hillbilly pala means “an unsophisticated country person” (after the entry said, “informal, chiefly derogatory.”) Okay so what was my hillbilly moment?

Son was commenting that the sofa in my friend’s place was so comfortable. Then my friend said “Na tootsie yan”. I asked, “Ano, na ano? What do you mean?” Then she said “Na – tootsie, hay naku.” From her exasperation, I got what she meant. I said, “Oh, natuzzi, as in  n -a-t-u-z-z-i.”

hahaha. So basically, that I  spelled Natuzzi as “na tootsie” in my recalling the conversation above is because that’s what it sounded like to me.

O, di ba, manol? (accent of manol is after the second syllable.)

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Speaking of second syllable, have you noticed how newscasters put the accents of names after the second syllable even if it’s normally pronounced with the accent after or on the first syllable? Maybe because doing the former makes it sound more newslike? It happened the other day with Rhea Santos.  Pity I can’t remember whose name she pronounced thus. Oops, why does it look like I’m always picking on her? Maybe she’s the only one I get to listen to 5 days a week. I hardly watch the other news shows. Rhea I do in Unang Hirit. Sorry Rhea.

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Speaking of tikoy, I noticed a new permutation of tikoy. My sister told me about it, then last night my Chinese friend mentioned it. This is to wrap tikoy in lumpia wrapper and then fry it like one would lumpia.

Quickfire, Vigan Longganisa, Jollibee’s Coke

This noon, I ordered hot dog sandwich and one piece chicken from Jollibee. I hardly ate either but mistakenly ordered meals of both, so I had two glasses of regular Coke. I finished only a glass at noon and was surprised when I drank the other glass only tonight to find out it tasted the same, even after I added ice. Ergo, Jollibee’s Coke is the real thing, not overly diluted like its foremost rival’s. yehey.

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Quickfire – after so many weeks (months?) of not watching Quickfire, I had the time to do so tonight. Actually I watched The Sweet Life and when its closing credits were being run, I was about to switch channels when I heard a familiar tune and remembered, “Oh, Quickfire.” So I watched and was happy I did. The guest was DJ Jojo Mojo. I’m not a radio person so I don’t know where he has a show. My son once reminded me that I pointed JM to him, but I don’t even remember doing that. But if I did, it must be for the same reason he impressed me tonight. Jojo Mojo is so articulate and so involved. He was so into the show, asking the right questions, making the right comments, he must be any talk show host’s dream guest. Is he from Ilocos? If I caught her statement accurately, Rosebud alluded to that fact when she mentioned Vigan longganisa. The recipe they featured was Pinoy salad with bagoong dressing. Greens were kangkong and squash flowers. Meat – Vigan longganisa which they didn’t fry but grilled. The longganisa looked so yummy raw that I thought I wanted to eat some for dinner (I had no appetite for lunch and was longing for shabu-shabu or Pepper Lunch but that will have to wait till the weekend, or maybe tomorrow when my husband can take me?). What attracted me to the longganisa aside from the appearance? The idea that it wasn’t sweet – Rosebud said Vigan longganisa is spicy. So I sent the maid to Ilocos Empanada in Katipunan and she got a kilo. Mahal at P300. Okay, maybe reasonable because 1 kilo is equivalent to so many, except that I thought it might be cheaper. So how was the longganisa? Yummy. Not at all sweet – not salty either. Just right. yes, I had two of those for dinner. It had so many pork fat cubes, though, so I didn’t eat all of those.

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the Sweet Life – I liked the makeup of Jennica Garcia, her eyes were a bit dusky. It suited her, made her look sweeter. Kris Bernal was cute as usual. She went to 4 proms and used the gowns of her twin sisters, so twice per gown. How nice of her not to be ashamed to admit that.

Yakiniku recipe

From Philippine Daily Inquirer by Norma Chikiamco (so that even if I lose the newspaper I still have the recipe)

Yakiniku (3-4 servings)

1/4 k sukiyaki cut beef

3 tbsp sugar

1/4 c liquid seasoning

3 tbsp mirin

1/4 – 1/2 c butter

3-4 leek stalks, cut into 2-in pieces

salt to taste

In a large, shallow dish arrange beef in a single layer. Sprinkle sugar on beef. Make sauce by combining liquid seasoning and mirin. Pour over beef. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes.

Heat 3 tbsp butter. When butter melts, add about 1/3 to 1/2 of beef and pour in some of the sauce. Transfer beef and sauce on a clean plate. Repeat with remaining butter, beef and sauce.

Cook leeks in same skillet, scraping off browned bits and juices in the pan and letting them coat the leeks. Cook until leeks are tender-crisp, about one minute.

Chris Tiu in a new Milo commercial

saw it on TV a few hours ago. He’s in it with two others, just as he was in the Nesvita with two others. This time he’s with Japoy Lizardo, the taekwondo champion, and a young lady gymnast,  Ms. Calapatan. Hopefully, someone uploads it soon, somewhere.

Here it is

As with most Milo commercials, this one was very thoughtfully done.

What Chris had to say about the shoot, an excerpt:

Going back to the shoot, my scenes alone already required 3 different locations. I spent a day and a half completing my part alone. And i had to do it without my contact lenses because of an infected eye. How timely! I could hardly see the faces of the kids and people around me, mostly shapes only. Our first location was in Pila, Laguna, a very quiet town that clearly depicts the influence of Spanish architecture. Our call time was at 430am, so we had to leave Manila at about 3am. For my 2nd day, we shot in the pier area in Manila and in Sta Cruz. It was truly fun experience! Especially getting to interact with the kids. They were very ‘makulit’ and kept asking me questions. But having them around and looking at you as their idol, it really inspires me to do good and preach them the right values!

The rest can be read here: chris-tiu.blogspot.com

booktopia

we were in omakase in libis for lunch and being largely creatures of habit we proceeded to the 1st floor of intrepid plaza to pay our respects to booktopia. But lo and behold it had been replaced by JRS.

Does anyone know where it transferred?

********** Several hours after I posted the above, husband came in saying “nahanap ko na ang booktopia. Online store na lang sila. Sayang, nag sale.” Darn. So I logged onto their site and learned that we missed the sale and closing by less than 3 weeks. Darn. Check out their site. The good news is that they accept orders online.

Blind Items, more like “Guess who?”

These aren’t at all controversial. just a guess who thing.

1) Saw her in Power Plant. Mestiza, niece of a former director of Repertory Philippines. Very pretty, I especially liked her in an afternoon soap on TV ages ago. I think her partner there was Joel Torre.

2) Saw her in Power Plant, lining up to buy a ticket to Australia, the movie. She was in a pink shirt and a white skirt. Very talented. Her mom’s a singer. Her name’s something you see in the sky.

3) He was formerly chief of the armed forces. he ran for President of the Philippines. I voted for him. He lost. I think he is a decent human being. Saw him after mass in Gesu.

John Updike eulogized in Time Magazine

John Updike

In Time Magazine’s February 9, 2009 issue was an article by Lev Grossman entitled “Updike at Rest.”

Yes, John Updike passed away in 27 January 2009 hence this eulogy. And what a eulogy! I needed a dictionary badly to keep track of what the author was saying.

She wrote: Updike was an epicurean, but Rabbit is a vulgarian, a crass, priapic lower bourgeois who gobbles up whatever pleasures America puts before him…”

And then some paragraphs later, she asked: “Could a man who saw the world as through a jeweler’s loupe see its ugly truth?

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A one-page eulogy maybe 3 1/3  column’s worth and there were 4 words whose definitions I didn’t know. So I looked them up and below are their meanings:

Epicurean – a person devoted to sensual enjoyment, esp. that derived from fine food and drink

Vulgarian – an unrefined person, especially one with newly acquired power and wealth

Priapic – of or related to male sexuality and sexual activity

Loupe – a small magnifying glass used by jewelers and watchmakers

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Sure, one could gather from context clues that vulgarian is someone unrefined, but the added description of “especially one with newly acquired power and wealth” tells me I should tell my sister to replace nouveau, which is her usual term for such, to vulgarian.

Loupe – again from context clues one can gather what it is, but now I wonder if that term also applies to the thing put across the forehead by such craftsmen

For the very well-written article, click here

Philippine International Arts Festival 2009

bad trip. The intention is noble but the execution leaves much, very much to be desired.

Here goes. Weeks back, my sister called. Her daughter was going to perform at Luneta and CCP. She’s a member of a dance troupe in a small province in the South. Wishing to be a good sister and aunt, when my sister texted yesterday that her daughter had arrived in Manila, I vowed I’d go watch one of her performances, either at CCP or Luneta.

What would decide where? CCP, I thought was the less likely choice because I might have to pay (what a cheapskate) plus the venue might be inaccessible. Little Theater would have been fine, but what if it was going to be at the Main Theater. Hmmm…

So Luneta. This a.m. I asked my sister what time the show would be. She said 2 at CCP and afterwards in Luneta. She didn’t know the exact time. I checked in Starweek and saw 5 p.m. At 5:05 my husband and I got there, no problem with parking. We were promptly led to a slot by a parking attendant who didn’t charge. Great. But my husband was fretting. He wanted to find alkaline batteries for his camera. I was worried we were late. It wasn’t the first time we were watching a show in Luneta but the last time was aeons ago, possibly in the eighties? So we asked where the stage was, we also asked if there was a stall selling batteries. The answer to the latter was “sa Mercury, sa labas.” To the former, mouth pointing. Very Filipino. Or finger pointing. Great. We followed where the thud, thud, thud was coming from. Ohhhhh, there was quite a crowd watching but we persisted. Husband wheeled me to the front row left side where there was just one man seated. The program had begun. I asked the man in a Shirley Halili Cruz dance studio shirt which number it was. He tried to recall and said possibly the third. Young girls and boys dancing in costumes that were similar only in color. Some girls in their pubescence looked a bit immodest, especially one of them. She wasn’t slim and her top was a bra. She was filling out and … TO her credit she wasn’t conscious about it so I tried to forget what I was seeing. But I’d have been very uncomfortable if she were my daughter. I think these girls and boys were in elementary school.

As the show progressed I made mental notes, knowing I’d blog about it. I was enjoying myself. The MMDA band was quite good (trombones, etc.). A number of FIlipino dances were performed. Costumes were a bit loud and shimmering — think singkil costumes except that the dances were Pandanggo. I knew two of the dances from grade school and high school except that while before we used abaca slippers with sequins, the ladies (college age?) were in black two-inch heels. During our time we’d go to the Central Market to look for those abaca slippers, now they just go to the mall. All of them seemed to have the same shoes, so at least their footwear weren’t distracting.

The group of my niece was 20th in line. I counted and thought we might be there till 8 if we were lucky, later if we weren’t. The emcee who was beside me at one point said the second set would start at 6:00. The first set ended at 6:30 or later. Before the first set winded up, one of the ladies in one of the choirs sat beside me. I asked her what school she was from but I’m not telling. Theirs was not exactly impressive though when she sang solo she was very good. But collectively, they sounded discordant. Earlier, before their group went up the stage, I heard the emcee negotiating with them. Two songs na lang ha (instead of 3 or 4). Kasi kapos na sa oras. I think he tried to negotiate the same with the other groups. DId he succeed? Yes in some cases, no in others.

TO illustrate: the town where best friend C comes from had a philharmonic group. When they were done with the 3rd piece, emcee thanked them. But then a different conductor went in front of the orchestra and looked at the emcee who said something to the effect: “may isa pa? Ladies and gentlemen, isa pang number mula sa …” Take note, the conductor was not young and didn’t look like the type one would dare trifle with. See? Some Filipinos can be assertive. But not all…

As that musical number was going on, my niece suddenly descended upon me. She was nicely made up and her hair looked very Filipino in a bun, but what she said sounded like a bad dream. She said they wouldn’t dance. What??????? The info didn’t sink in right away. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. They had danced 3 out of 4 they had prepared in CCP and were supposed to perform these in Luneta. But they were asked to cut their performance to just one dance. And it was decided by their leader that dance would be the all male one because so many Filipino dances similar to those they had prepared had been shone. I felt so bad. All that hassle for nothing, for them, for us. My husband had left me to go to Mercury to buy batteries. And for naught. I should have watched in CCP. But guess where they performed? In the lobby. What floor? Second. If I remember correctly, that was where the art exhibit of my husband’s student was mounted and I couldn’t go see it. BEcause there were several steps leading to the lobby. I stayed at the foot of the stairs and looked up to see who were there to view the exhibit. Sigh…

Reflections:

I experienced this sense of deja vu. In a post over a year ago, I mentioned going through a similar experience in Instituto Cervantes. We were there to watch 2 Spanish guitarists but were turned away because the crowd was just too big. COuldn’t they have made a head count earlier so that we didn’t have to wait 5 minutes before the show was about to start to find out we couldn’t watch anyway? I don’t think a similar occurrence would have transpired if the show were led by Germans and Americans who seem far more efficient.

In the case of the group sponsoring tonight’s event, this is what I gathered. This year marks a milestone. So they doubled projections or targets. How? Last year, they had 1000 performers total, so this year they had 2000. And their target audience? 50,000. But I’m not complaining about the audience because we were comfortable enough. Some people would leave after their friends/relatives had finished their numbers, a couple of foreigners left I don’t know why.

So where did the problem lie? Scheduling so many performers in one afternoon/evening. Imagine this: 30 plus performers at 15 minutes each (and that might even be an understatement). That’s 450 minutes or 7 and a half hours. Too long? So they cut numbers to one each? Unfair for the performers who had practiced or flown in from somewhere. The emcee had proudly said the event was a nationwide thing. Great. But did they have to schedule so many in one day? Other scheduled performers were Joey Ayala, Nolyn Cabahug, Ballet Philippines, Ballet Manila, Powerdance, etc. The emcee kept reiterating. “huwag po kayong umalis. Salamat sa pag panatili niyo. Mamaya, sabay-sabay tayong kakanta ng theme nito kasama si Joey Ayala.”

******

Initially we were determined to watch the all male dance troupe of my niece’s school because she said they’d perform second in the second set. Then before we knew it, she said “not sure.” So by 6:50, we left the premises. Ruing/ criticizing.

Could you blame us?

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I retitled this post because I think “an afternoon in Luneta” was rather unfair to the place. The whole mess had nothing to do with the park.

Time Magazine Subscription

Came home with a copy of Time Magazine. Son asked, “subscription?” I said, no, store-bought. I asked if he wanted a subscription. He said yes. So I googled how to go about it and found this site. Exciting. Imagine a year of time at 90% off (meaning $20 only) and a touch screen organizer free. Wow. Then it occurred to me that the offer was too good to be true. The page asked from what country? So I clicked on Asia. And then the Philippines. Here. And guess what? The free gift is a downer: binoculars. And worse, the subscription is thrice more expensive (Php3100 plus).

Why the discrepancy? I’ll advance some inane conjectures: they’re oppressing third world countries so we remain third world – easier to subjugate dunces? Third world countries are richer (duh)? Law of supply and demand? Demand is higher in our part of the world so they have to price it higher here?

Please Time, Magazine, explain.

Australia, the Movie; Astralis, the Resto

I’ll tackle Astralis first, it being our first stop in Power Plant yesterday. Yes, I know it is a resto   of Diamond Hotel outside its premises but I wasn’t daunted. Months back, in September, as we wheeled to Rockwell Club for a niece’s wedding reception, two waiters, menu in hand invited us to dine there. I asked to see the menu, just curious about the prices. They smilingly showed it and when I said after I looked at it “next time,” they smiled pleasantly. No uncouthness there. So last night we had the time to go and we did.

As a waiter saw us approach, he promptly rushed to the door to open it for us. And he was smiling. The lady (I later found out her name was VANI) asked, “may reservations kayo?” I said “ay wala, hindi pwede?” She said it was okay and led us to a table with the sign “RESERVED”.  Then she promptly removed a chair so I could be positioned. Not all the waiters/waitressees in all the restos have the intuition/courtesy/intelligence/foresight/common sense/ thoughtfulness  to do that.

The menu was not daunting, price-wise. There are entrees priced at P200 plus and perhaps the wagyu at P1900 was the most expensive. What bothered me initially was the list of choices. Not their problem, but I guess my palate was more into something not as elaborate, like Pepper Lunch beef rice. But we were there so I chose.

Let’s go to my husband first because he immediately narrowed down his choices between the chicken with stilton (he likes stilton, I don’t) and lamb with red wine. Me? I just couldn’t decide. I was almost enticed to order the US tenderloin at a fraction of the wagyu but the sauce was tamarind au jus. I don’t particularly like sour stuff. Then I thought of chicken sandwich. And something else except that it had sultanas which I don’t like. I thought of getting soup but then what would I do as my husband ate, stare at him with puppy dog eyes? SO I settled for the scrambled egg with foie gras. Yes, I love foie gras.  So that was it : my husband’s chicken and my scrambled egg which was classified under appetizer. My husband was told he’d be given his order after 15 minutes. Meantime, we were shown a serving dish with maybe 5 kinds of bread (maybe 4 kinds, but there were 2 of the foccacia) after we were given dishes with butter, shaped like a four-leaf clover. Kidding, basta it had 4 “petals”. I initially chose the ciabatta then my husband got what he was told was a carrot foccacia. I wanted that na lang. I asked if it was okay to replace what I got but the girl said she’d just give me the salt (?) roll or something like that also, because it was softer. I think I asked her if the bun my husband got was soft. It wasn’t. Verdict on breads: the salted roll was less salty than the ciabatta. Promise. My husband’s bread – I asked if it was good. It looked like the very soft dinner rolls in other restos. He said “matigas.”

Then the scrambled egg appetizer and I was surprised. ya, I stupidly thought it would be served on a plate, it wasn’t. It was served on a small square dish, the scrambled egg looking mushy with duck liver on top. And I think  a sprig of something. I’d have wanted to take pictures but people seemed too formal there, very quiet so I thought not. Tried the thingy by spreading it one the narrower toast. Hmmm, I could sense some wine there. Very light. Sarap. Then I tried it on the orange hued melba shaped toast. Sarap. Except that the toasts were really tough (think Bravo several months old). Of course I shared the appetizer with my husband. Then I thought I should order another dish. I looked at the menu again ( I don’t know what was with me last night). I think I overheard from another table someone mentioning osso buco? I had seen that on the front page of the menu but it came with the 3-4 course lunch served Mondays-Thursdays. If you’ve read my post on Amici, you might have gleaned that I’ve been looking for OB like the knights of King Arthur looking for the Holy Grail, after failing to get it the second time we went to Amici circa Don Bosco priests management(the first experience had been heavenly- veal osso buco). So I asked the girl, okay Vani, if I could order the osso buco. She smilingly said yes – yes she was very pretty and pleasant. I asked what the difference was between the entree in the inner pages and the osso buco. She said the OB had white wine, the one mentioned in the inner pages, red wine. So I opted for the OB. And I asked if the lemon risotto was any good. She said yes. I asked if ordering that would mean P100 plus as stated in the set lunch menu. She said no extra.

My husband’s chicken dish came. It looked so thoughtfully prepared. Maybe because DH has Japanese roots and the Japanese are artistic? I think it was the thigh part of the chicken because a bone was sticking out above the roundish, obviously stuffed chicken set on top of bright brown gravy that had a halo of red beyond it (cranberry sauce?). Also beside the chicken was a bouquet of greens and orange (carrots). They were held together by zucchini. Could have passed for a wedding bouquet actually.

Then my order came, but the rice was not sticky looking. I asked “ano ‘to”? And Vani said plain rice. I reminded her I asked for lemon risotto. At first she insisted I asked for plain rice but offered to have it changed. When she left I asked my husband and he said I had said risotto. Anyway, she said 5 minutes and it came. Luckily I had it changed. The lemon risotto was heavenly. And the lamb was so tender, one just had to nudge it and the flesh came off the bone. The presentation wasn’t as elaborate- on top of the gravy were a few slices of vegetables (pearl onions and carrots, and one slice of pumpkin? I’m not sure now.) But it was really good. Really good.

Re my husband’s order – it had mashed potato too. And while he was swooning at the start, by the end he thought it was too dry. I think that issue isn’t isolated. I asked “diminishing marginal utility to consume?” He nodded. But maybe too it could have been the fact that as in most cases, when something is stuffed, one end isn’t reached by the stuffing so it ends up looking and tasting dry. I think we’ll be back.

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As we entered Power Plant mall after Astralis, I asked husband if we could look at the store that sells kitchen gadgets, some canned stuff and candies. Store’s name begins with letter “E” small “e” and it’s not in English, so… ( saw the store featured in Philippine Star. It’s called “epicerie”. (it’s the Ruanda word for grocery store” per this site)

As we went to the back portion, there were coffee machines and the person in charge asked if we wanted some coffee. Italian coffee. My husband had a cup and said it was good. I contented myself with looking at the many things in the store. Shades of Gourdo’s and Terry’s Selection in terms of food choices and wines, shades of Cook’s Exchange but higher end in terms of kitchen gadgets. Or maybe Alessi even. Cookware looked so good too. And the staff, from the security at the door onwards, they were all very friendly. Check on this site for a more comprehensive write-up on it. I hope Mr. Market Manila doesn’t mind my linking this post to his?

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What was with the planets last night? everyone was so pleasant. Went to Dimensione and was greeted with a smile. They have many nice things on sale there, like the salt and pepper shakers that looked like two people dancing because they stuck to each other via magnets. Wanted to get this for a friend who’s celebrating her birthday on Feb but it’s breakable. Could I have sent that via JRS? It cost a third of the original price. Brand starts with a letter K. Sorry I can’t remember. It was the last on stock. They also had this nice flower pot things with green petals jutting out. Cute. The petals are actually spoons and the thing at the other end is shaped like a cocktail fork. Made in China. Pots come in three colors: orange, blue and fuchsia. Didn’t get any though.

Went inside Avid and as usual, just browsed. Then we saw ELEMENTS. We went in. Because in the space between the walls was a table laden with Chinese goods (remnants of the Chinese New Year? I asked and was told it would be a permanent fixture). Manned by this one nice Chinese looking guy. I tried on the jade bracelet (brownish beads) – he said it meant to ward off bad luck. Was tempted to get it but it was maybe two beads too tight.  It had literature that said it was also for good health and wealth. Maybe next time if they’ve the right size. It felt cool to the wrist. Guy said maybe it was the aircon. I wanted to think it was because of the beads.  The paintings were awesome – big and CHinese. And they had mugs and cheese boards (I liked these ones) and sauce dishes. If I got them I wouldn’t use them. It would seem disrespectful to the painter. They had shirts for sale too and was attracted to a white one with two figures, one black, one white, like yin yang. Years back my son wanted a yin yang shirt but couldn’t find one he liked. Last night I got him that  for P595. Sizes range from xs to xxl. And the nice guy said I could always replace it if it didn’t fit (he knew I wasn’t decided between xl and xxl). And he said “ganda ng packaging, no? cylinder” See, I told you he was Chinese. When he said cylinder, I knew it – what geometric language. My husband later said “ganda ng canister” – see the difference? Chinese vs Pinoy thinking.  We’ll be back, elements.

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Bufini. I remembered, I had to get YES. And luckily there were several on stock. My husband was teasing, Bilis may isa na lang, baka maunahan ka (remember in Shang they had run out?). More than Pacquiao’s house, i wanted to find out about Marky Cielo. why did he die so young? What caused his death and why? I found out a few details at home at around 3 in the morning. (He was getting death threats and wanted to spare his family)

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Australia – we went to watch the 1030 screening. Son was at a party in Paranaque and we didn’t allow him to drive to unfamiliar territory. Husband said he might miss the turn to Sucat and end up in Laguna. So we had to kill time and did, successfully, before picking him up.

Anyway, Australia. The theater was full. And the movie was okay. Funny because when I mentioned watching it to my son later, he said “so mama, how was it? Di ba ayaw mo ng mga ganyang movies? My son knows me too well. I said yes those movies weren’t my type, but I was awake the whole time, your father wasn’t.

Bahz Luhrman is quite the storyteller (I know he’s the director, but directors do tell the story in their own way, right?). Very compelling viewing. One wants to know what happens next. OF course it helps that the 2 leads are good-looking. Nicole is sometimes too good-looking. She’s so into the character, poise and glamor even in the outback. Hugh Jackman, sigh. And “Creamy” (creamy was their generic term for children of aborigines and whites combined) was so lovable. There were aspects of the movie that were underdeveloped – like the adulation of the young lady (Fletcher’s wife) for Nicole. Why was she so smitten and nice to Nicole? And now I know why the say “people follow like a herd of cattle” – it seems cattle subscribe to mob rule. They just follow in flanks (both literally and figuratively). they don’t seem to think. They only fall off the wayside when they’re at the edge of a ravine.

Australia. One doesn’t notice the time pass. I knew it was long, but didn’t feel the time. Started maybe at 10:35 by my watch, ended 1:20. Almost 3 hours.