Don't Stop Believing

I just learned that Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" is the now officially the most downloaded MP3 song on the internet.  The song had achieved some measure of success in the 80s when Steve Perry was the lead vocalist of the band, but in this internet age, it's the version by the new vocalist Arnel Pineda (member since 2007) that has caught the attention of the digital population.  It's been 5 years since Arnel was plucked from obscurity to take over from Jeff Sotto; Arnel was the lead singer of the Olongapo-based cover band The Zoo when his YouTube covers were noticed by Neil Schon, the group's lead guitarist. Truly, the internationalization of the Journey is strong proof that Rock is no longer a monopoly of the Americans, and is now a big part of World Music.

Maya Taqueria

We tried bar-hopping in Cebu, but when we got to the Vudu Club in the Crossroads Arcade, we realized that the club was geared for the college crowd, and while we thought of ourselves as young ones, it would be pretty obvious that we were classifed as young once.  The nearby KTV was lame and appeared dreary, so we walked along and chanced upon Maya Taqueria which had a large and elegant wooden door--a very inviting look!  We quickly learned that this was an affiliate of the Abaca Resort, and we sauntered in, took a table and feasted on quesadilla, tequila & margaritas!  Shades of the early 80s, when we would spend countless nights in Tia Maria, Jalisco and Johnny Midnight's El!  The interiors were nice and classy, the food was good, and the company was superb--truly a night to remember!

Pido's Grill

We were again treated by an old classmate to a SuTuKil experience for dinner at Pido's Grill along Hernan Cortes St.  This was a reunion of 23 friends in Cebu, of course with a lot of drinking and merriment.  Food was good--grilled scallops, marlin & tuna, stuffed ampalaya (bitter gourd), grilled bagaybay (tuna innards), pork belly and beef sinigang (tamarind soup).  We had time to reflect on how fast time flies--my classmate's eldest son is now almost 30 years old, and it was only yesterday that we played baseball (to achieve easier home runs, we used a tennis ball) and flew kites together (his Magnolia kite flew the highest).  By some stroke of coincidence, we had a lot of sports to talk about, as the golfers had just come from rain-drenched play in Club Filipino-Danao.  Moreover, the TV featured the Smart-sponsored exhibition game with the NBA all-stars (as in Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, Derek Rose) and the Philippine Azkals would be up against the Kuwaitis in a few hours (we stayed up to 3am to watch this, but unfortunately the Philippines lost 3-0).  Thanks to great company (with a little help from San Miguel and Johnny Walker), it was very enjoyable evening!

Grand Majestic

Our group was treated to a Chinese buffet lunch at the Grand Majestic Restaurant, right at the ground floor of the Grand Convention Center in Cebu.  The buffet's main attraction is the Peking Duck, which was tasty, very succulent and roasted just right.  The dimsum spread had some dumpling, siomai and siopao, and the main spread was generous with various viands fish with tausi, garlic brocolli, Canton noodles, chili prawns (this was especially yummy), jellyfish, sizzling squid, fried rice and hot/sour soup.  Most of the people in our group went back for several rounds and we were all filled to the brim!  I was quite happy with the mangoes they had, it had just the right balance between sweet and sour, which is what  look for in yellow mangoes.  All in all I understand that the cost was very reasonable, averaging about P550 per head; definitely worth a visit if you are looking for Chinese food in Cebu.

Cafe Laguna

Continuing with our Cebu trip--dinner with the barkada was a unanimous vote for Filipino food, and we opted to try the food at Cafe Laguna at the Ayala Center in the Lahug area.  The restaurant is a popular choice amongst the locals and we had a feast with several dishes--pork sinigang (tamarind soup), chicharon bulaklak, fresh lumpia (spring roll), fried beef ribs, sweet-sour shrimp & stuffed crabs.  All in all, the bill came to something like P500 per head.  At the end of the meal, we realized that the food was actually Luzon-style cooking and it was quite ironical that we came all the way from Manila to Cebu just to eat Laguna cooking!  Well, good ambience and good food gave us all a good time.

Conching's Native Chicken

It's been a great field trip to Cebu with the old barkada.  On the recommendation of one of our friends, the group decided to have late lunch in Conching's, an open-air eatery in front of SM Cebu City.  We were lucky that the rain had stopped and cool wind provided a relaxing atmosphere.  The restaurant prides itself for native chicken inihaw, which is very tasty (comes with a tasty dip consisting of soy sauce, vinegar, chili, onions & green tomatoes) and together with puso (caked rice cooked in coconut leaves), makes for one satisfying lunch!  Being native chicken, the hatchlings are raised without large doses of growth supplements and antibiotics.  As these are uncaged and free to roam, native chicken squabs are less meaty as compared to farmed chicken, and the meat is considerably much tougher.  For complimentary dishes, we also tried the rellenong alimasag (stuffed crab), the grilled talakitok (fish), and grilled liempo (pork belly).  Parking was convenient at 2:30 pm, but I was told that the crowd would overflow at lunchtime.  An amazing find at less than P300 per head for a sumptuous meal.

Heroines!

Never mind the script... I'm here to watch the stunts, the explosions, the action and most of all, the beautiful women!  My top 10 list of the hottest heroines in the movies, again in no particular order:

1.   Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft:

2.   Mila Jovovich in Resident Evil:

3.    Charlize Theron as Aeon Flux:

4.  Jennifer Garner as Elektra:

5.  Kate Beckinsdale in Underworld:

6.  Uma Thurman in Kill Bill:

7.   Rhona Mitra in Doomsday:

8.   Jessica Alba in Fantastic Four:

9.  Emily Browning in Sucker Punch:

10.   Rose Mc Gowan in the upcoming movie Red Sonja (I've been waiting for this; originally slated for 2009, production difficulties have reportedly moved the release date to late this year):

Gwammy's Potato Salad

Gwammy makes wonderful potato salad; we tried to do a test run from memory and it turned out quite delicious:

1/2 kilo potatoes, boiled and cubed
1 dozen eggs, hard boiled and diced
1/2 kilo boiled habituelas (Baguio beans), deveined and cut into half inch bits
1 750g bottle of mayonnaise (I use Lady's Choice)
3-5 tablespoons of sweet pickle relish or dill pickle sauce (depends on your taste)

Mix all ingredients in a salad bowl and add salt and pepper to taste.  Add the mayonnaise and mix well.  Chill to appreciate.  Simple, easy to make!

Star Trek

Space.  The Final Frontier.  These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise.  Its continuing mission: to seek out new life and new civilizations, and to boldly go where no man has gone before.

Star Trek has been a part of my life since it first aired in the late sixties.  As a Trekker, I have memorized that voice-over by Bill Shatner.  I have read most of the books detailing in print the adventures serialized on television.  I have seen the 11 movies.  I have the DVDs of most of the follow-up series: The New Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager and Enterprise.

And as envisioned by its creator, Gene Roddenberry, hopefully there will come a time when man will learn how to travel faster than light, and we will reach for the stars.  Humankind's physical presence, and ultimately, our version of humanity and morality will either envelop or drown in the universe.  Such is life, such is existence. For now, we push the borders of time and space, and in the process, we find that we learn more about ourselves.

Golden Spoon Frozen Yogurt

While Monique is a certified ice-cream fan, it took a while before I could get her to enjoy yogurts.  The brand that changed her perception was Golden Spoon Frozen Yogurt, which looks, feels and tastes exactly like ice cream!  The usual yogurt is tangy and is plain white in color; early on, the yogurt shops would simply add fruits, nuts, candy, chocolate bits and other condiments to make the yogurt more appealing to kids.  Golden Spoon, a Southern California company, has taken yogurts to an entirely new level, and even I can't distinguish if the product is yogurt or ice cream!  More than that, they have flavors that are quite unique--like pineapple and cake batter (yes, cake batter, which tasted exactly like newly mixed, uncooked cake batter).  Their Belgian Chocolate is simply superb (Vicky's favorite)!  Prepare to spend P150 per head.

Tazo Tea

Popped into a Starbucks Cafe last night for a short meeting with a friend and since I wouldn't be able to sleep if I had taken coffee, I opted to try the Brambleberry flavor of Tazo Tea.  I understand that Tazo is an affiliate of the Starbucks group, and I found the packaging of their fruit juice-infused herbal teas very appealing.  The drink tasted more like juice than tea, and the blackberry flavor was quite refreshing.  I read the label and found that the tea was blended with cinnamon, ginger and a few other herbs and flavors, but my tastes buds told me that the drink was berry flavored, and I did not detect a hint of any of the other ingredients mentioned on the bottle.  At P85 per bottle, the drink was higher priced than most other tea or juice brands, but still within the normal spend of P100 for a cup of Starbucks coffee.

Beurre Blanc

We took the clan to Sunday lunch buffet at Beurre Blanc, at the second floor of the Newport Mall in the Resorts World Manila complex right across from the new NAIA Terminal 3.  We arrived at the Newport Mall around 10:30 am, and found a good spot to park.  We were told that by 11:30 am, a large crowd usually attends church service at the nearby plaza, and parking slots were difficult to get all the way up to late afternoon.  Being early, we were lucky to get lounge area tables enough to fit the clan. The restaurant serves French-Mediterranean cuisine and is a sister company of several other restaurant favorites--Old Vine, Uncle Cheffy's and Chef's Quarters.  Literally beurre blanc means "white butter" in French and usually refers to a sauce in which white wine, or vinegar, or lemon juice is combined with butter.  The decor was old world in style and even had a fountain statue (with live fish at the mini-pond) at the center of the restaurant.  The buffet had salmon and oysters for starters, cream of asparagus soup, several kinds of grill items including beef steak, pork chops, chicken, beef ribs, fish & shrimps which were cooked on the spot.  They had oysters topped with cheese, a pasta bar, and a selection of fruits, cakes & pastries (including Baked Alaska, commonly known as fried ice cream).  Kids had a fun time attacking the buffet spread!  We even had time to call Patrick in Oz to entice him with all the good food we had.  All in all, the food was good, and we went home with heavier tummies.  Not bad for P850 per head (which was inclusive of a round of juice, iced tea or coffee for each person).  After lunch, we spent some time roaming around the Newport Mall, which was just the right size--not too big and not too small.

Hush Puppies

It's a time honored brand that I've used since the seventies.  The soft gamuza used for the shoe pretty much set the standard for the casual but chic look that was dramatized in so many magazine ads.  I've enjoyed the comfortable feel of the shoes, and I think it's been very reasonably priced.  I've known it to be the casual but stylish shoe that was also affordable.  Today, Monique found a shoe that fits!  I'm glad she will be able to enjoy the brand, and I do hope she has many great memories from wearing Hush Puppies as I have.

Shi Lin

I learned of the Siao Long Pao (or other authors have spelt it as Xiao Long Bao) in the middle 80s when Kong took me to a Shanghainese restaurant in the P. Guevara area, run by a Shanghainese lady (unfortunately the name of which escapes me at the moment).  My father emphasized that the essence of the Siao Long Pao is the hot juice that runs off into your mouth as you bite off the steamed dumpling.  For a long while, I didn't know of any local Chinese restaurant which had this fare; but after trying Crystal Jade, Lugang Cafe and King Bee, it seems that there is a market for this easy-to-make-but-hard-to-master dimsum treat after all.  Over the weekend, the family tried Shi Lin Restaurant at the Podium in the Ortigas Center, and we found out that they had exquisite Siao Long Pao (thin wrappers that don't break easily, meaty fillings, flavorful soup-juice) at very reasonable prices.  The interiors were clean and uncluttered, and service was fast (the food came within 5 minutes of ordering).  Their garlic polonchay was tasty, the peanut noodles were a smash hit with Monique, and fried squid was enjoyed by all.  Considering that it was located in the pricey Podium Mall, the bill was quite easy on the pocket as we spent some P300 per head for a delicious meal.  However, while it is a Chinese restaurant, don't expect full course Cantonese-style menus; the place is more of a Taiwan-style noodle shop for fast family meals.

Gourdo's Living Well

Had a great time at Gourdo's, which is one of Vicky's favorite home-themed stores.  A lot of stuff was on sale!  We quickly picked up a Lodge Dutch Oven (in bright red enamel, I might add) in which Vicky intends to use as a slow cooker for stews, calderetta and callos.  I've always liked stainless steel cookware and I got a Hamilton Beach stainless steel frying pan for half the price that I usually see it for.  I'll set this aside as this baby is for those times when I myself do the cooking (there was a time when I thought I could make a good chef, but that was then...hehehe!).  Not bad at all; it was a neat haul of kitchen stuff that we've always wanted!

Choco-Vim & Vitamilk

I have been trying to convince Monique that long time ago, Magnolia had a chocolate flavored drink that was slightly different from Chocolait, and that was the much-loved Choco-Vim.  If I remember correctly the drink was soya-based, and I remember that some chocolate flavoring would settle at the bottom portion, and one had to shake the bottle to get the mixture back to its chocolatey color.  We would dip our hands into the water-filled chillers to extract a bottle of this (it was something like 10 centavos in the late sixties).  Yesterday, by some sheer stroke of luck, Monique and I found ourselves lounging around a 7-11 store and she pulled out a bottle of chocolate-flavored Vitamilk, which is imported from Thailand.  She bought it, proceeded to shake the bottle (the chocolate flavoring also settles, exactly like Choco-Vim), opened it and offered me some, and whoa!  Memories of my favorite childhood drink came flooding back to me!  Vitamilk is almost the same, but I distinctly remember that Choco-Vim was better tasting.  Apparently, Vitamilk is widely distributed nowadays, and she says this is available in school and in most groceries and supermarkets.  Inexpensive at P23 a bottle, and healthy too!  Calling the marketing boys at Magnolia--can you guys get Choco-Vim back?

Feng Wei Wee

It was a cool and inexpensive lunch yesterday at Feng Wei Wee Taiwanese restaurant along Wilson St. in San Juan.  We arrived at 11:30 am and the place was just about to get full.  Parking though was bit tight and we were lucky to get the last slot.  The food was hot and nicely prepared; we had polonchay in garlic, steamed meat roll, cha bihon, kiampung (sticky rice flavored with meat and peanuts), oysters in tausi (black bean) sauce, steamed dumplings, fried rice and three cups chicken.  I understand from some friends that this restaurant had a turo-turo (Tagalog for "point-point," meaning one points at a viand and gets a serving thereof in a jiffy)  style branch in the Banawe area but I'm not aware if this branch is still operation at this time.  or dessert, Vicky and Monique took some pastries from their sister company, Formosa bakeshop, which had a display right at the entrance of the restaurant.  The coffee cookies were a welcome treat, as was the Korean bread and the sweet onion bread.  All in all, we spent some P300 per head, and I think that was money well spent!

The Abortion Issue

Monique was recently working on a debate on abortion in her school, now that the passage of the RH Bill is being openly discussed in media.  I have told a few people about this touching story I dreamt of--that a child is conceived when a baby soul begs the Almighty to go down to Earth and come into the lives of a mother and a father.  To which the question of unwanted pregnancies came about--why then are there unwanted pregnancies?  After some soul searching I have come to a conclusion--that in the case of unwanted pregancies, the Almighty sends only the strongest willed, most headstrong and persistent of the baby souls to come down to Earth, and these are the baby souls that overtake and cut in line.  Acknowledging that it's a very difficult and complex issue to address--my advice is for the parent to remember the story--that the baby soul so wanted to come down to Earth that he/she even overtook and cut in line just to be here... Now ain't that sweet?

Putting Things Into Perspective

1.    You
2.    Your bed
3.    Your room
4.    Your house
5.    Your street
6.    Your barangay
7.    Your district
8.    Your town, city or municipality
9.    Your province
10.  Your island group
11.  Your country
12.  Your continent
13.  Your hemisphere
14.  Your world
15.  Your solar system
16.  Your galaxy
17.  Your universe

They say that a race finally gets to join the community of interstellar and intergalactic races only when the specie finally learns how to travel faster than light.  I wonder when we can breach that upper limit of speed?

Cafe 80s

Went with the office staff to celebrate despedida for one of our lovely ladies and the birthday of another.  We trooped over to the Ortigas Home Depot and had a few drinks at the Cafe 80s bar & restaurant.  When we entered, we were greeted by the music of A-ha, Duran Duran, Wham, Rick Astley and many other icons of the 80s.  A step back in time, even the video showed clips from Rambo, ET, Gremlin and other much-loved movies of the era.  Bar chow was reasonably priced, and the Margaritas tasted great!  After a few rounds of beer and Tanduay Ice we went home with a big smile on our faces... Nice time for relaxation and bonding!

Manila Pavilion Hotel

Had lunch today at the Seasons Cafe of the Manila Pavilion Hotel.  This hotel was built in 1967 and used to be known as the Manila Hilton Hotel.  The coffee shop then was known as the Cafe Coquilla; over the years, the hotel has transformed into a casino-hotel.  The rooms are a bit rundown, but I understand that the management will be doing some renovation work towards the end of this year. The lobby area and the ground floor restaurants, however, have been improved.  The buffet at the Seasons Cafe is regularly priced at something like P1,400 per head, but with the ongoing promo at Ensogo, one can obtain a buy-one-take-one ticket at the same amount, and that comes to a reasonable P700 per head.  The spread showed a little of everything; they had a selection of different cuisines--Filipino (various viands and ihaw-ihaw or grill items, American (hams and roasts), Japanese (miso soup, sushi & sashimi), Italian (pizza & pasta) and Chinese (roast duck, dimsum treats).  The cheeses were quite plentiful, they had crabs & cold prawns, three different kinds of soup, various international hot viands and a shawarma cooking stand.  For dessert--various pastries, fruits and my favorite--ice cream!  Try the buffet while the promo lasts...

The Raider's Club

And speaking of the Raider's Club, I remember the time when we'd find ourselves meeting past midnight at the kitchen of the main RSD--Kong as Chairman, and with Mikaela, Erica, Annella & myself as members.  That was time when the refrigerator would have to work overtime, as we would relentessly open and close the fragile Frigidaire door (replaced by Hitachi in 1979), searching for available re-heats and other midnight snacks to munch on.  I recall that this went on for several years, from the late seventies and well into the late eighties.  Kitchen time would be pow-wow time, when we would discuss about all things under the sun, and we would philosophize on the important aspects of our lives.  I guess in the Raider's Club we found the power of the great pow-wow, and in the great pow-wow, we found strength in ourselves, further developing both our individuality and our one-ness.  And our children?  I think they will carry on the spirit of the Raider's Club well into their old age.  It's simply something that is passed on and carried for generations.  Touche!

Snack Time

We're in what we call our "Internet Huddle," Vicky, Monique & I--it's time when we do our own thing on our respective computers, yet interact via tripartite discussion.  And it's snack time!  To give you an idea of what we're munching on:

1. Kellog's Rice Krispies Treats (Double Chocolate Chunk) courtesy of Uncle Gene, which has rice crispies wrapped in semi-sweet chocolate, with marshmallows and chocolate chunks to get that awfully rich texture.  Shaped like a sandwich, the snack is an easy pick for kids on the go.
   
   
2. Mott's All Natural Fruit Snacks, also from Uncle Gene.  This are flavored jelly snacks made from fruit juice.  Shaped like the fruits themselves, the bite-size bits are chewy and even if you decide to merely chew them, they pack a lot of flavor.
   
   
3. Kit Kat Chunky Hazelnut which I picked up at the Marina Sands Mall.  This flavor is a new release by Nestle, and has cream wafers lined with chunky bits of hazel nuts.  A bit on the sweet side for me, but Monique really loves this.

I think this is the most recent version of the Raider's Club!

Top 10 Philippine Resorts

Here's a list that I have collated, not in any particular order:

1.    Bellarocca (Elephant Island)
2.    Shangrila Mactan
3.    Shangrila Boracay
4.    Crimson
5.    Imperial Palace
6.    Misibis Bay
7.    El Nido
8.    Amanpulo
9.    Discovery Shores Boracay
10.  Plantation Bay

I've been to the ones marked in blue, and the rest I have put here based on the evaluations of my friends that have been there.  The websites are pretty informative and I think that you can already imagine what kind of holiday you will have!

Tita Sol, RIP

We just received word that Tita Sol passed away in Los Angeles a few days ago at the age of 79, and we pray that the Good Lord receives her soul.  Early this year she had transferred to a nursing home, and after complaining of chills, was brought to a hospital where she passed away.  She's been away from the Phlippines since 1971, returning only once for a 2-month visit in 1982.  An accountant by profession, her favourite haunts were located in Las Vegas, and she was a regular player there throughout her stay in the US.  In the seventies she was fond of dogs (Snowball, her Japanese spitz in Manila, went through a 3-month quarantine period before being allowed to step on American soil), but I learned from Michaela, that in the nineties, her interest had shifted to the felines, and she had at least 20 cats coming in and out of her South Mariposa apartment.  That had earned her the moniker "Cat Lady," which was bestowed upon her by her neighbors.  With the bi-polar personality that she had, she was either laughing out loud (LOL) or throwing all the @$*%# at you!  I've been on the receiving end of that, and I used to find myself scratching my head in disbelief... Well, I must reiterate, we pray that the Good Lord receives her soul.... Rest In Peace...

Galileo Enoteca

Had a wonderful dinner with some close friends at the Galileo Enoteca the other night.  Part restaurant, part deli, and mostly an Italian wine shop, the place is off Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong (Calbayog Street to be exact).  It was a Tuesday night but the place was quite full; the place has ample parking, and I liked the nice brick walls that gave a warm cozy atmosphere.  Furthermore, the restaurant layout has a lot of semi-private nooks, simply perfect for young lovers!  The restaurant serve several kinds of pasta, risotto, and meat dishes, and I would say that the variety of wine was quite plentiful, enough to range from a modest P700 to a generous P10,000 per bottle.  We had flavorful porcini risotto, squid ink spaghetti and a parma ham pizza, and together with a bottle of good wine, we spent a reasonable P700 per head.  Being a fan of solid wood tables, I must say that their picnic style tables and benches gave the place a very homey look and feel.  I understand the Italian owners are hands-on managers, and it shows in their attention to detail.  Good place to recommend!

Lolie

I just remembered that it's my Lola Gunding's 115th birthday anniversary today!  Lolie, as my sisters would fondly call her, was the youngest child, and she was raised by Basque nuns (she could speak Filipino, English, Spanish and Basque).   An accomplished concert pianist, my mom remembers that she would practice for hours every day.  She was also a psychic; I remember my mother telling the story of the family's desperation during the Liberation of Manila in WWII, when my grandmother described the exact mulatto features of the GI soldier that would rescue them at the Philippine General Hospital, a few days before the actual rescue.  In my mind I can still picture my grandmother, with a cigarette on hand, watching boxing fights on television (she was an avid boxing fan).  I can remember that my sister Erica would love to cling to her arms.  She had this uncanny ability to create long ash trails on lit cigarettes--I can't imagine why the ash would not fall off!  My grandmother was the loving consentidor; she let my try my first puff on cigarettes when I was around 8, and I had my first taste of San Miguel cerveza negra in her house.  On her deathbed, I remember rushing to Sampaloc from my office in Malate; I was there when she passed away.  I continuously remember her--cheers Lolie, I'm glad you're there with the angels now...

The Land Down Under

We are proud to announce that Patrick will be headed to  Oz to complete his engineering degree at the University of New South Wales, one of Australia's premiere universities.  Patrick will call the Sydney-based institution his home for the next few years; we're all behind him, cheering him on!  Way to go!  Can't wait to see him come Christmas time, to catch up on all his campus experiences...

Korea Garden

It was Mama Dee's birthday last Saturday, and based on recommendations by Vicky's friends, we opted to have dinner at Korea Garden along Jupiter St.  This restaurant has been open in various locations since 1972, and while we've tried other Korean restaurants, I don't recall every visiting Korea Garden before.  We were in for a treat--an evening of authentic Korean food.  While the restaurant had a reasonable parking space, we arrived to a full-packed house and had to ask the valet attendants to park our vehicles.  The interiors were bright and clean; as we sat down, various appetizers were immediately served.  When the food arrived--wow!  The Kalbichim beef stew was simply the best!  Vicky also ordered chicken Bulgogi, spring onion pancakes, Chap Chae noodles and Gyoza dumplings (crunchy on the outside, juicy meat inside).  We were happy that the food was served fast; we came in hungry at 7:00 pm and walked out at 8:30 pm with full tummies!  My evaluation--very good value for an average spend of P600 per head.

Chandra

I was reading about the tender offer of Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy luxury conglomerate for majority control of the Italian Bulgari jewelry and watch company, comparing the friendly takeover in this case with the hostile approach of LVMH towards the Hermes group.

My thoughts drifted to the visit we made a few weeks ago to the Bulgari shop; indeed, the Chandra is nice bag for Vicky to have.  I prefer it in ivory though; the lambskin looks very soft and lush to touch.  And yes, yes... Julianne Moore looks just as lovely in this advertisement!

Sentro 1771

Serendra at the Fort has always been a favorite eating spot--nice atmosphere, good company and well, easy parking. My niece Nini had her birthday celebration at this Filipino restaurant last weekend and we were pleasantly surprised to find out that it was affiliated with some of our old favorites, Chateau 1771 (Ortigas) and Portico (Adriatico). With well-appointed interiors and good comfort food, the aroma of crispy pata (their boneless specialty) greeted us as we entered the restaurant. For starters, you can try the corned beef tamarind soup; this was definitely a twist to the usual sinigang fare. Their beef with bagoong was tasty, and the commonplace galunggong was prepared in a way that elevated the status of the fish to a new level. The only comment that came to mind was that I found the washroom to be a bit cramped (I am a fan of spacious private areas). Everything else was a good dining experience. Prepare to spend in the range of P600-P800 per head. Delightful!

We were seated right next to this this colorful painting; it added a sense of family & togetherness!

Park Ye Jin

Monique and Vicky have been watching the Korean telenovela "My Princess," and while the leading lady is quite beautiful, I find the contrabida kinda cute and attractive, much to the chagrin of everyone else in the family. The actress playing the contrabida part is Park Ye Jin, and she plays a strong-willed museum director in the TV series. I especially like storyline--while her character is strong-willed and decisive, she also realizes that she's stress-out thus forcing her to reach out to her boyfriend. Just like Mentos, hard and crunchy on the outside but soft and sweet on the inside!

NS-11

Had dinner in North Park with the gang the other night and I must say that if I look for reasonably-priced Chinese comfort food, I instinctively hop over to North Park which has branches scattered all over Metro Manila. Now there is one item that I just have to order eve,ry time that I visit and the code number is NS11. I've memorized it! NS denotes Noodle Soup and order number 11 is flavored with Prawn Dumplings and Aniseed Beef Tendon. I simply go gaga over the mix of seafood flavors and Aniseed beef. In addition, the glutinous tendon (probaby boiled for several hours to get the desired texture) is a welcome treat. Run by my good friend Gabriel Soon and his brother Raphael, the chain has good Chinese food and is simply wonderful to visit. Do try it!

Real-Life Princess

I found this heartwarming tale on today's news flash--

When Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, arrived at Calgary, Alberta, a 6 year-old gir named Diamond Marshall broke protocal and rushed into her royal idol's warm embrace.  Diamond (her bald head is due to chemotherapy) suffers from a rare form of cancer, as her mother did before her, and had wished to meet a real-life princess.  Her other idol is Princess Aurora, of Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty.

Da Vinci Code

I just watched the Tom Hanks' movie Da Vinci Code last night via DVD.  When the movie was showing in theaters and everyone was talking about the implications of the film's plot on the growth of Christianity as a religion, I wasn't able to comprehend what the brouhaha was all about.  I remember reading a film review that noted the enormous amount of research time that Dan Brown, the author of the book, must have done in order to weave the complex storyline (it's a work of fiction, by the way).  Yet the plot is quite simple.  Tom Hanks' character solves a series of puzzles coded by Leonardo Da Vinci in order to determine the location of Mary Magdalene's corpse.  Why is Mary Magdalene so important?  Because she bore a child sired by Jesus Christ, and the last remaining descendant of thier union actually lives in 21st century France.  The tomb of Mary Magdalene has been closely guarded by the Priory of Sion, a secret society that has been in centuries-long conflict with some of the more sinister factions within the Opus Dei, a conservative sect of the Roman Catholic Church.  A DNA comparison of the corpse and the last remaining descendant of Jesus Christ would establish some proof that will shatter the very foundation of the Roman Catholic Church--the primacy of Peter as the first Pope.  In other words, Mary Magdalene lost the political pole position of her child as successor and heir of Jesus's church to Peter, and the power struggle continues to this day, with the Priory of Sion championing the cause of Mary Magdalene against the ultra-rightists in the Vatican.  What struck me was the part in which the character of Ian Mc Kellen describes the manner in which Emperor Constantine puts his "Roman" stamp on the "Jesus" ideology, calling for the Council of Nicea, and giving political clout to the newly organized "Roman Catholic Church."  At that point in the debates, Jesus became elevated from prophet to God.  Yes, as such, we forever will debate on whether God created Man or Man created God--the phenomenology of an idea whose time has come.  Truly a thought-provoking and poignant movie, the film ends with a question thrown by Tom Hanks' character--what do you believe in?  In the end, this question we all face, we all must answer.  Nice to think of it ahead of time...

Dream Car

It's a Bentley. Need I say more?

Go Go Azkals!

We watched the Philippine-Sri Lanka football game last Sunday via the television facilities of the Manila Doctors Hospital, and we were all happy that the Philippines won 4-0. Basketball and boxing have long dominated as the most watched sports in the Philippines and it has been quite refreshing to note that football has come of age to the Philippine viewing public; the Philippines is starting to realize the thrills of the sport that the rest of the world already enjoys. I think that the name Azkals (referring to mutts, literally meaning "street dog") is perfect to hint on the uphill climb we face, akin to the chances of a half-breed's chance in a dog show. Having tried playing fullback in the hot sweltering sun (many eons ago, I might add), I know that football is a difficult game of practice, coordination and teamwork. Here's hoping that the love affair doesn't go ningas cogon, but continues for a long long time. Go Go Azkals!

Poll question of the day--Does Angel Locsin's rumored romance with James Younghusband have anything to do with the sport's growing popularity?

My Cheese List

Here's my top 10 cheese list, in no particular order:

1.    Colby
2.    Edam
3.    Raclette
4.    Camembert
5.    Blue
6.    Tilsit
7.    Monterey Jack
8.    Parmesan
9.    Feta
10.  Gouda

Old Vine

Monique & I attended Luis' 17th birthday celebration at the Old Vine Restaurant in Eastwood City in Libis.  Nice interiors, cozy atmosphere and good food, we got the the place at 7pm (parking was so full, we were parked in basement level 5), and soon most tables were taken.  The cuisine was French-American and I heard from the staff that the restaurant was operated by a sister company of the Chef's Quarters restaurant (SM Megamall and Robinson's Ermita) and the menu indeed looked familiar.  I had Pepper Steak, which was tender and tasty.  My nephew Patrick had a mean-looking Prawn Tagliatelle, while Louise shared a Dory dish with Monique.  Being situated in the mall was a plus thing; Anita, Erica and Mikaela even went around the mall to window shop with the kids right after dinner.  Kong & Gwammy were tired, so Monique and I took them home by 10pm; Gwammy was able to convince Nelson to sleep overnight with them.  While I didn't see the tab, I would say that you have to prepare some P700/head to enjoy the place.  Had a pleasant time, would like to go back!

Manila Doctors Hospital

I just picked up our forever baby Andi from her four day stay at the Manila Doctors Hospital along United Nations Avenue in Manila.  Her bout with pneumonia had Vicky & I worried, but in the able hands of Dr. Gatch, she has been able to recover pretty fast and we thank the good Lord for this.  I understand that her oxygen utilization level dipped to 85%, and that this should be kept in the 95% up range.  Pipsy (our nickname for Andi) looked like a robot, with an intravenous needle on the right hand (dextrose and antibiotics) and the oxygen monitor on the left!  And in those few moments that she allowed us to strap her oxygen mask on, she looked like the cutest robot on the planet!  Vicky had been sleeping at the hospital for the past 3 nights, and she came home, looking forward to sleeping in her own bed.  With the phlegm all gone, Pipsy is now smiling again, pinching Tita Becca & her cousins, being magulo in her usual manner.

Manila Doctors Hospital has been our hospital of choice, being so near the house of Vicky's parents and my Manila office.  My sister Mikaela was born there (Gwammy would hear the constant booming sounds coming from the construction site that was to usher in the next-door Manila Hilton Hotel), and both Monique & Andi were born there.  With a well-trained nursing staff, renovated facilities and a deep bench of medical practioners, Vicky and I have been quite happy with the hospital.  I understand that the Metrobank Foundation has expansion plans, and with such a high level of service, I wish them the best.  Thanks, MDH!

Fazer Chocolates

Vicky received a box of Geisha chocolates from a friend and we certainly had a great time consuming the hazelnut-filled candy.  We learned that this was made by Fazer Chocolates which is based in Helsinki.  I had only vaguely heard of this chocolate manufacturer before, and from reading the box label, I learned that the company started off as a French-Russion pastry shop in Kluuvikatu in 1891.  This is quite interesting, as I have always pictured Finland as the land of Nokia phones, but for chocolates, Switzerland and Belgium come to mind.  I like the Geisha's light texture and not-so-sweet filling, just right for after dinner sweets!  I'm a true chocoholic!

Ion Orchard: The Great Singapore Sale!

Now a visit to Singapore would not be complete without the customary trip to Orchard Road, the most talked about portion of the city.  On my last trip to Singapore with Vicky & Monique, we had stayed in a hotel along Orchard Road, and we have such fond memories of walking up and down the road, buying deli foods, eating ice cream on monay, and shopping in Lucky Plaza.  Orchard Road has since changed complexion, and is now teaming with people, much busier with the opening of several malls and the closing of some older hotels.  On this trip I had none of that, but I spent some time in the Ion Orchard Mall--a relatively new mall developed and owned by Hong Kong magnate Li Ka Shing.  The mall's lower levels is composed of a maze of shops, eating places, road crossings and subway stops, and I had to backtrack several times to get my bearings right.  The upper levels have designer shops and other stores carry luxury brands.  I was hoping to find good buys in Church's shoes, but alas, I was not so happy with the styles on sale (even at 50% off, the shoes were still pretty expensive at S$700 a pair).  I spent time in Marc Jabobs, Cortina's Watches and TWG, which carried fantastic tea brands.  The Great Singapore Sale lasts till July 25, so if you have time for this, go out and enjoy!

Long Beach

My Singaporean friends told me that there are three truly Singaporean foods that must not be missed:  1) Hainanese Chicken Rice (which I've enjoyed at both Suntec City and Changi Terminal),  2) Char Kway Tyow (which I had at Marina Bay Sands food court) and 3) Black Pepper Crabs.  I was lucky that my hosts this trip learned that I have not yet tried Singaporean Black Pepper Crabs and as such, they brought me to Long Beach restaurant (East Coast Branch), which created the original recipe 65 years ago.  I was not disappointed.  The crab we had was just the right size for me--1.2 kilograms, and this was very very tasty.  We also had sweet chili crabs, but I found that the Black Pepper Crabs to be more to my liking.  I understand that the restaurant imports the crabs from both Malaysia and Australia, and that the dish has an international following due to its delicious taste.  When in Singapore, be sure to try this!  Great!