On new relationships

It's been ages since I last posted anything on my blog. New company, new friends and a helluva of great experience (Yo, Jakarta!). The past couple of months were really busy. While going through everything, I was flighty, anxious and snappish. I needed an avenue to unload all my angst without being judged and subjected to rumors. This blog has been my home for how many years now and I know that my home will gladly welcome my dreary soul back. chos!

Lately, I've been hanging out with a lot of debate friends. Admittedly, I can be an exclusivist in terms of dealing with people. I value relationships so much to the point that I only hang out with the same friends since waaaay back. I realized that the world is so big to limit myself. Majority of my friends are no longer here and some who are left behind have questionable place in my hierarchy of relationships, but I digress.

Anyway, I find contentment and happiness when I'm around these people...

Grace's birthday party at Villa Immaculada

After party at Music Bank

at the Philippine Supreme Court

Azrul's Manila visit

Gremlin's house party

Yes, they are the same people who, once upon a time, were involved in verbal tussle against each other. The foundation of the friendship is our passion in the craft that we love best-- DEBATE. They are some of the brightest minds in the Philippine (and Asian) debate community. It's nice to know though that we- or at least some of us- can hang out without mentioning debate. :D We watch movies, do karaoke, dine out, go on house parties, talk about life and do all sorts of landichi. For those reasons and for so much more, the only biological rose among the thorns is extremely thankful.

* photo creds: Grace and Gremlin

Supersize finds at Big Mak!

I have a lot of food post backlogs. Things are getting a little wayward and I know that blogging about new discoveries will keep my sanity intact, i hope.

Last Christmas was spent in our Pangasinan home. It's been ages since we last did that. Blame it on my sister's hospital duties, and to our tradition that Post-Christmas Eve should be spent with visiting friends. So technically, I have to be in Manila. But, I digress. I really want to share my cheapo but yummy finds in Pangasinan.

Pangasinan vacations are always characterized by spending long hours on bed, stuffing ourselves to the brim with local delicacies and just discovering great finds.

This vacation is not an exception. My sister and I were playing Virtual Villager when boredom struck me. I knew right then and there that I had to get of the house and just "explore". Good thing, my sister was game so off we went to the town plaza (I can here my city friends snickering ;p).

Guess what we found? Two giants! Big Mak!, a local trailer type food chain (maybe a parody of the giant burger of this well-known fast food chain) was offering giant burgers and super long hotdog sandwiches. I forgot about the prices but they were cheap. Think below 100 bucks.
The Big Mak Giant Burger was huge but lacking in flavor. I didn't like the texture of the bread but it was quite filling. For its worth, I'm not complaining =)

Shobe taking a bite.

Next came Big Mak's Super Long Hotdog Sandich. This is probably the loooongest dog I've set my hands on (no pun intended. hehe). It measures 1 1/2 ft long. So if you think the footlong sandwiches in Morayta are the bomb, sizewise, you better think again ;p.



The hotdog sanwich was waaaay better than the burger. The hotdog did not have the usual snap that I want in my sausage but the bun was really soft so it kinda made up for that. 

Hmn, I'm wondering what they will supersize next =)

Goodbye, 2010!

I know, this is a belated New Year's post but holidays in the Philippines is usually the most stressful time of the year. Nonetheless, I have to write and pseudo-evaluate the year that was in order to assess things. I need to keep things in perspective. Let go of those that didn't work out the way I wanted them to and just learn to value more the keepers.


NEW/IMPROVED RELATIONSHIPS
1. My Techno loves. I've been friends with some and was initially acquainted with most of them from way back but the bond was sealed over great music, cocktails and constant analysis of our life's drama.
2. Partner. We've been hanging out for more than a year and I can say that he's really a keeper. He understands what I want-- my need for personal space, my drama queen syndrome, my love for KTV, my passion for intellectual discussions, my love for hats and boots, my intolerance to mediocrity and stupid remarks. The surprises, the road trips, the comforting words when I was going through hell with someone important in my life. He can be my best friend! haha
3. Nice people at work. I may not be an extreme exclusivist but I certainly know how to compartmentalize. I hang out with my friends because they are my friends and I go to work because I have to go to work. I don't mix things because they usually mess up everything in the end. But I'm lucky to have some really nice people at work. So screw compartmentalization, they just made it to my pyramid of friendship.

 MY LIFE'S FIRSTS
1. Got really, REALLY, really drunk. Panagbenga in Baguio, I may die and resurrect but I shall never forget you!
2. Recorded a cooking sesh. Guesting in a cooking show is part of my bucket list so I guess this is substantial compliance of the goal.
3. Went to a gay bar. 'nuff said. hahaha.
4. Spent Holy Thursday and Good Friday away from home (and family).
5. Became a lector and a commentator.

MEMORABLE TRIPS (No, I'm not elaborating why ;p)
1. Taiwan with the boys.
2. Tagaytay road trip with Wen.
3. Panagbenga Festival in Baguio.

HAPPINESS ROAD BLOCKS  
1. The post-trip detachment. (we're ok now, I guess).
2. It all started with canceled meet-ups with former important people. Snowballed into friendships gone wrong (so yeah, I canceled them in my life).
3. A lot of my friends left the country this year (Thank you, technology, for making the physical absence tolerable).

THANK YOU 2010
1. For allowing me to build new relationships and strengthen the old ones regardless of the distance.
2. For being a very good year for my sister whom I love dearly. You made her a full-fledged doctor, a top incoming IM resident choice of the only hospital that she applied for, and you made it possible for her to stay with us after our years of separation c/o medschool.
3. For a good working environment.
4. For the new experiences with my constants.
5. For that nice Tagaytay road trip and the emotion-filled 9 pm view deck experience.
6. For all the UAAP events that I was able to watch free of charge. (It pays to be connected ;p)
7. For teaching me how to embrace calculated risks and appreciate random detachments.
8. For all the food adventures with my family and friends.
9. For keeping my family intact.
10. For simply being steady.

I KNOW THAT 2011 IS A GOING TO BE A GOOD YEAR BECAUSE...
1. Of a possible business opportunity.
2. I know that my friends got my back.
3. I have a continuing offer from my friends to visit them abroad.
4. After all the bumps and temptations, my values are still intact.
5. I am fabulous and I don't see any reason why it is not going to be a good one. hahaha ;p

10 Reasons to be Happy #4

1. My Seoul-based best buddy is finally here in Manila. Move over stress, time to smell the roses with Luckyboy.
2. Completed 5 days -and counting- of Simbang Gabi. Every single time, we're at least 20 mins early. Naks!
3. Simbang Gabi service. I love the fact that I still have my "female voice" no matter how early it is.
4. Solving mystery games with Shobe. I just love playing detective with her. Hay, one of the things that I will surely miss when hospital eats up majority of her time starting January 1.
5. Tita Miriam's thanksgiving breakfast party. I love breakfast parties! I have found a family in the company of my churchmates. Lord, ito na ba yung "calling"? wag naman sana. hehe
 6. My new (old) favorite game-- Virtual Families and Villagers. I know, I know, too old school. But these games take my mind off facebook.
7. Watching a football match with my country as one of the competing teams. No matter what, I'm proud of you Azkals! I can't wait for Suzuki 2012.
8. Friday night. Recreated Taylor Swift's "I'm only me when I'm with You". FTW! *grin*
9. Sir Gene's birthday party. I love it when a normal birthday party becomes an instant reunion of dear ol' friends. I had so much fun with Joeven, Ate Ans, Ma'am Barro, Ate Raqs, Sir Gene, Sir Joey, Sir Rog, Harold, Lucky, Mike, Bryan, VV, et.al. Ang kulit ni Mike! hahaha. lines that are worth remembering:
           

1. “Bawat isang plato ay nakakasira ng buhay.” (Mike on going back to the buffet spread after receiving praises for his beautifully sculptured body. Naks! Gustung gusto nya yan.)
2.   “You just don’t get that virus if you don’t have an underlying GRAVER disease like AIDS and CANCER (Ma’am Barro’s ‘comforting’ words to Lucky. hahaha)
3. “I-enjoy mo na ‘tong food. Baka last mo ng kain ‘to. (Everyone in relation to former entry.)
4. “I like that! Ang lakas maka-cosmopolitan ng statement mo friend.” (I forgot the context na basta Mike and I were talking and this came up.)
5. “Kumusta na kaya si Maren.” (Harold’s out of the blue question. Yes, he did state that he’s single now and I did say that Maren is frolicking in NYC and that she is ALSO single. hahaha)    

10. Receiving gifts with personalized cards/messages. I love receiving presents in general (pwede naman sigurong maging materialistic minsan?)  but I treasure letters and notes more. It always ups generic gifts to personalized status. =)             

10 Reasons to be Happy #3

1. Christmas shopping with Shobe.
2. Our mom-daughter bonding during Velvet Mood's Christmas concert.
3. Father-daughter cook-off yesterday.
4. Having my hair done. New look for Christmas =)
5. Two overlapping meetings last Tuesday. A clear sign that I am doing good career-wise.
6. I'm finally done organizing my closet and packing my old clothes. More space for new ones.
7. Three new pairs of shoes. Love, love, love.
8. Seeing my mom happy with her new-found friends in her Tai Chi class.
9. My sister getting accepted for residency.
10. Loads of parties!

Happy Lemon

I had two meetings last Tuesday night with the last one ending past midnight. The last one was analytically demanding so I forced myself to drink a cup of normal coffee with a shot of espresso. I think that was not a good idea since I was awake and unable to sleep until around 4 in the morning. Naturally, I had the biggest headache when I woke up not to mention the fact that I was kinda feeling a little bit under the weather because of my stupid asthma. To cut the story short, I took the day off and decided to just rest. Shobe brought me a huge cup of mint tea and after a couple of hours after lunch, I was feeling a little better. We decided to maximize the time and do some shopping. Guess what we found?????

HAPPY LEMON!!!!

I was ecstatic when I saw the image of the winking girl with yellow hair! I first saw this milk tea brand in Hong Kong. Too bad I wasn't able to try it because the line was too long. Luckily, I don't need to fly to HK (or China) just to try Happy Lemon. The Greenhills Promenade location rocks!

Green Tea with Rock Salt and Cheese (Php. 80)

The server instructed us not to use straw and just drink it straight from the cup to fully appreciate the flavors. Shobe found the mixture weird but for me, it was yummy. I loved the creaminess of the cheese and the mild taste of the green tea. The rock salt added a good punch of flavor.

Welcome to Manila, Happy Lemon!

Mr. and Ms. Presenter of the Year 2010

Last week, sir Joey and the student council officers of IABF invited me to judge the culminating event of IABF week-- Mr. and Ms. Presenter of the Year 2010. For so many years now, I've been judging/adjudicating debate and public speaking competitions but never in a pageant format.
Wow lang di ba?! hahaha. Anyway, I love fashion and Presenter of the Year requires the winner to be eloquent, smart and witty so I accepted the invite.

Flashback:
If my memory serves me right, Maren and Harold joined this contest some light years ago. Yeah, that was a looong time. I am hoping to be able to stumble upon an old picture of Maren in a long gown but to no avail so boo.

Present:
Contestants were representatives from different IABF organizations. They were asked to parade on their uniform, business suit, sports wear and formal attire. The sports wear was the best! I still can't get over the pair who wore an el matador outfit (because of the sheer creativity) and the guy who wore a speedo swimming jammer and a white sando (because of his sheer yumminess confidence and strong personality manifested when the crowd went wild after he ripped his sando off).

They were all good looking so it was up to us (Jeff, Nina and Moi) to test their eloquence and ability to relay think of awesome answers under pressure. I am not in the mood to write everything that happened. I just want to point out that I had so much fun during the event.

I wasn't able to take decent pics so sorry, guys,
for not giving justice to your gorgeous looks 

Thank you, IABF and Congrats to the winners! =)