Up Northwest: Zambales II

DAY ONE was Anawangin. :)

DAY TWO. After our satisfying breakfast at Nora's, where we had a yummy and generous serving of tocilog for only P100, we started our itinerary before 7AM— Capones Island then Camara Island. [Sol and her friends weren't able to find a bus ride to Zambales.]

First drop was Capones Island.

Nice fine sand and shoreline. But we couldn't see the famous Faro de Punta Capones (Capones Lighthouse). Manong informed us that it's on the other side of the island. Hay, bat di nga naman namin nilinaw. Pero di ba yun ang main attaction ng Capones? The other boatmen told him to bring us there and let his "assistant" guide us to the trail. "Entertain the visitors, " sabi pa nung isa. So there, sakay ulit kami ng bangka.

[We had another option: to treck from the east side of the island to the lighthouse. But it will take us an hour or so to reach the place. And since our time was limited and we only had our flip flops, we opted to ride the boat again. Oh, they say that some scenes in the TV series Marimar were shot here as well as in Punte de Uian Resort back in Pundaquit. :D ]

The ride to the other side was a challenge because of the strong waves and rocky shore. [Boats cannot just dock there.] The treck to the Capones Lighthouse was not easy either. The way up is a bit steep and, during that time, slippery because it rained the previous night. Aside from the uneven rock surfaces, there were too many leaves scattered on the unmarked trail, making the treck more devious.

[We wouldn't recommend taking the treck to the lighthouse during rainy days, unless you have the right trekking gears.]

But when we got there, worth it naman yung less than 20-minute climb. The spot was romantic and peaceful. A 360-degree view of Capones and the nearby islands boasts a good photo-op material.

My buddy was persistent to resolve his kite flying frustration from our Rizal Park's visit. Dala dala ang P60-saranggola all the way from Manila, hehe.

We went down and returned to our boat at around 830AM.

Our next stop was Camara Island.

We were welcomed by a picturesque rock formation, and fine off-white sand. The island somehow reminded us of Shimizu Island in El Nido, Palawan. And like Anawangin Beach, it also has strong undercurrent but with gradual rocky slope. My buddy had his chance to snorkel. I didn't; the current was too strong for me.

We had the chance to use the Flip-float that I got from my WWA 2009 coverage. Imagine the effort it took us to inflate that raft manually. :P

The sun was already piercing at 10AM. After several camera stunts, we went back to the main land.

By 1230PM, we hired a tricycle back to San Antonio then catched a bus heading to Caloocan. It took us four hours to reach Manila. Oh, our bus ride was fun. :)

*****
We're both beach persons. And our recent coastline trip is not one of most favorite beach destinations. Most probably, not his, too. But what I appreciate about it was our attitude towards the whole thing. We didn't take the flaws of the trip as off-putting. Rather, we found ways on how to inject gratification into each downside we met by chance. I think, this time, 80% of the trip's fulfillment came from each other's company.

Are we coming back? For a trekking and camping adventure, yes. But for a good unruffled swim, we both think one visit is enough.

Thank you very much for the weekend, buddy ko. *kugos*

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Day 2 Overheads (for two persons): P2452

Anawangin-Capones-Camara Island Hopping = P 1500
Food = 400
Tricycle fare from Pundaquit to San Antonio = 50
Bus Fare from San Antonio to Manila = 502

Up Northwest: Zambales I

We trailed a little up north this weekend.

After a series of go-no go discussions with some friends, my buddy and I firmly decided to hit the road to Zambales despite the erratic weather condition here in Manila for the past several days and the extended 5-day forecast by accuweather and PAGASA for our destination. After all, what could a few raindrops and light breeze possibly do to ruin our little summer outing? :)

So, with our backpacks and snorkling gears ready, we left the Victory Liner terminal in Pasay City around 530AM to Olongapo. We weren't able to catch the 5Am bus ride to Sta.Cruz/Iba, which would pass by San Antonio, our drop-off. We were trapped in a traffic mess somewhere in Subic, causing our trip to last for six hours. From Olongapo, we rode another Victory Liner bus going to Sta. Cruz/Iba to reach San Antonio.

[We recommend leaving Manila late in the evening, or having your tickets reserved before your preferred date.]

We had our contact boatman, Manong Randy, for our island hopping. And since we had settled on not having a camp, we did random quick calls to certain accommodations suggested by some bloggers and friends. Most of them were already fully-booked. Our choices were trimmed down to Punta de Uian, Ferriol's Residence, and Wild Rose Inn. Muntik na naming patulan ang Punta de Uian, probably the most expensive place there. But considering our time, our activities, and the place itself, we decided to go for a cheaper one. We got room F of WRI. Hmmm..let's say, in general, the room was pretty basic and the service was not exceptional-- sorry pero hindi proactive.

[We have no idea how the other rooms look like, but taking into account the quality of service, we wouldn't recommend the place. Try Ferriol's based on a good feedback from a couple of friends who stayed there last Holy Week or Punta de Uian based on its posted rates and photos. Or, bring your own food and go for a camping to save some pesos.]

DAY ONE. After searching the area for a decent lunch, we ended up eating at the resto of Nora's Beach Resort, a 3-minute walk from WRI. Then, around 130PM, we met Manong Randy's contact boatmen (he was still in Capones) to take us to Anawangin Cove fronting the South China Sea.

It was a 30-minute bumpy boat ride. Inspite of the nasty weather for the past few days, the place was still packed with campers. Parang tent city. We roamed around, took some pics, then tried the beach.

[Another way to reach the camp site is by trekking from Pundaquit for four to six hours, depending on your speed. The trek usually starts at 430AM.]

Malakas yung undercurrent ha. Para kaming weightless. The water would swiftly toss us to the shore then fiercely pull us back into the sea. After a number of attempts to look pro in the water, we decided to stay near the shoreline and just wait for those waves, hoping they would be a little calmer when they reach us. The sand is fine (not like Boracay's but more of White Beach, Puerto Galera's) and almost gray— sabi ng buddy ko magnetite daw yun. Around 3PM, the sea toned down. Ayan, our chance. After an hour, we decided to take a rest on the sand. He dozed off; I took pictures. Before 5PM, ikot-ikot ulit.

We both appreciate Anawangin as a great camp ground. Looking at the tent set up, we could imagine how cinematic it is when you wake up the next day, with the early morning sun rays seeping into the pine trees and the soft sound of the waves complementing the scene. Parang masarap magkape o kumain ng champorado. :)

[Try swimming around 3-5PM, or early in the morning. However, if your goal is just to have a smooth and safe dip, we wouldn't recommend Anawangin Beach and Pundaquit Beach. Closer to Manila and, for us, a wise choice is White Beach in Puerto Galera for a long stretch of fine sand with a gradual slope during weekdays and minus the night parties.]

We headed back to Pundaquit around 530PM. The rain started to pour. I somehow enjoyed the boat ride back to the mainland, thinking the little risk we took traversing the rough open sea in a relatively small boat. It was another 30-minute but bumpier ride.

I wasn't feeling so well in the evening. May nagbabadyang sore throat. Nadale ata ako ng halo-halo sa Anawangin. After refreshing ourselves, we planned to rent a tricycle to go back to San Antonio proper. Wala lang, ikot ikot lang sana. Realizing it was already dark outside, we decided on exploring the vicinity of Barangay Pundaquit to look for a place where we could have our dinner. But the place does not have that much establishments. After several minutes of strolling, we reached a sari-sari store that sells varied products— from toiletries to liempo to banana to Pringles to Amoxicillin. I bought a hot Nissin cup noodles and a stem of bananas; he bought rice and chicken curry from a nearby carinderia. And that was our dinner. :)

[Most accommodations there don't have cable TV in their rooms. The Dream Satellite is usually installed in the main TV of a resort's restaurant. Not that it is a priority; just an FYI. :D]

DAY TWO was Capones and Camara Islands.

*****
Day 1 Overheads (2 persons): P2860

Bus fare from Manila to Olongapo = P498
Bus fare from Olongapo to San Antonio = 102
Tricycle fare from San Antonion to Pundaquit = 60
Accommodation for 2D/1N = 1500
Food = 700

(Anawangin entrance for a day tour is P50 per head and for an overnight stay is P150 per head. Anawangin-Capones-Camara Package is P1500. These are standard rates.)

Wake Park

Ela, one of my closest friends since UP CMC days, offered a spanking sideline last week (thanks, thanks!). A seven-day production for the 2009 WWA Wakeboarding Championships at Camsur Watersports Complex (CWC) in Pili, Camarines Sur. Initial hurdle set in: I would be needing five VLs in a row--- and that would be too much. But my cool manager gave me a go signal right after my wInsight project was released last March 20 (woohoo!).

It had been a week of mixed emotions: fired up for learning a new sport (which, I sense, could possibly be a potential hobby), inspired for an out-of-town vacation going back to production, and glum for a weeklong unusual break without my buddy.

I met up with Ela and Giselle (another CMC batchmate) around 1AM at Starbucks in Morato. I wanted Kopi Roti or Seattle's that night but I realized I was wearing my charcoal Starbucks tee. So, out of respect to coffee (hehe) I waited for them at Starbucks. Luckily, I earned another complimentary beverage for my next visit.

Our convoy (an L300, an OB van, a Canter, and a Montero) left Manila at 2AM. The crew consisted of 25 individuals, including their ever reliable drivers. I didn't know what my job would be. Ela just told me they needed someone to help on the creative side. But in one of our stopover chitchat, Direk Bebs Francisco, a noted TV director for sports, started discussing scripts, segments, and AVPs with me and Giselle. Exciting na nakaka-tense. Parang college ulet, hehe.

======

CWC is absolutely huge. It offers little cabanas, tiki huts, trailer homes, villas, and a mansion for accommodation. It also has two big man-made lakes for wakeboarding and waterskating: one using a cable system and the other using a motor boat. The newest addition is the World's first Winch Park (it looks like a skateboarding vert ramp with funboxes but this time with water). The Clubhouse also provides guests with a moderately good menu, free WiFi, a game room where you can play pool, foos ball and table tennis, and another area for air hockey and basketball. And the province has had a very hip and meticulous governor (thanks, Gov, for the interviews!). :)




The place, as expected, was stuffed with hot bodies, six-pack abs, trendy boardshorts and bikinis, funny commentators and DJs, and Mac laptops owned by a few riders. We had been feeding www.cwcwake.com and www.justin.tv/camsur with real time (although sometimes late by a few minutes) video coverage powered by Bayantel, and moderating a chatroom facilitated by our graphics editor Kuya Mond (who's been listening to podcast about Twitter, Microsoft, and Apple while editing).

Equally remarkable and chic was the event itself. Imagine a whole day of video and photo coverage taken directly from the Republik chopper for almost seven days. There were large, multihued, and visually striking posters and tarpaulins everywhere. There was a party with a unique theme each night, from Arabian Night to Retro Party to Masquerade Ball. There was a decent fireworks display before each party began. There were invited known TV and movie personalities, and there was a press conference that included Solar Sports, Sports Unlimited, and other members of the International press to its guests list.

Hitches? Undeniably, a number of them. Their constantly changing timetable; thus our relentlessly shifting camera setup. The sudden request for specific details and output by some people. The
misguided communication among team members (in a big event like this, everyone needs to carry compact handheld radio I think). And the sun. Graaah-- who can beat the burning sun? Super iniiit! For those who are moderately brown like me, what would you expect afterward aside from sunburn? :P

Good thing we discovered three literally cool hangout places, the OB van where we can listen to Direk Bebs demanding a smooth panning shot from camera 2 or saying "o sorry na" for his wrong call to camera 4, the Clubhouse where we can see everyone including event coordinators, roaming camera guys as well as riders, and the Melo's airconditioned booth where we can enjoy a watermelon shake or a brewed coffee with one or two small coffee buns.

By Tuesday, Ela and her dad left us for their Earth Hour prod prep in Manila. We didnt' know where "the calling" came from but Direk Bebs had been assigning me and Giselle as producers of the show. The last three days was not as busy and as stressful as the previous days, though. We were able to roam around, buy some souvenirs, and take photos. The exhaustion sank in Saturday afternoon. Giselle and I went for a short trip to Naga (lakas loob yan, commute) and desperately looked for a nice foot spa. We asked a saleslady at E-Mall, and she recommended Blips Spa Center, just almost a block away. Relatively pricey, parang pang-Manila na. But since we'd been walking for several minutes, we availed its foot spa with paraffin and pedicure (this one we didn't avail) for P500. The ambience is OK by the way; dimming the lights would be better.

Sunday was the sweetest-- a resounding "pack up". Ela and her dad, Tito Fernan, returned from Manila. We didn't finish the awarding ceremonies. After a bottle of Coors Light, a couple of quesadillas slices, and a barbecue stick, we headed home courtesy of the Penafrancia's lazy boy seats. We left some cameramen and Ela's dad to cover the last part of the event.

And I got a giant inflatable slipper-shaped raft, Flip-Float, from Havaianas! Thanks to the girl who spotted me. =)

*****

I missed you already at the end of the third day. Let's go back there one of these days, and try to bunny hop and sideslide. And when we get the hang of it, we can move on to ole and boardslide. :)

Kite for Dummies

Two Sundays ago, we went to Rizal Park for kite flying. It was an awfully humid afternoon at home, and Gabi had been throwing tantrums-- must be the heat.

Gabi with her emoticons-- damay lang ako. :)

We assumed it was a sure thing since we already knew the basics: hold the kite and pull the string when a moderate wind blows. He did those stuff actually. He was a one-man show at first, carefully tossing the kite and pulling the string while calling Gabi's attention; the kid was running loose everywhere. But our colorful butterfly kite kept on descending after several seconds in the air. He was a bit frustrated by the scene. Gabi was in awe— maybe not of our kite but of the other kites fluttering like silky patches in the sky.

Feeling for his late afternoon toil, I helped him pitch the kite up. I lost count of the times we did our routine: me tossing that piece of paper and him winding and unwinding the string. We were able to redeem ourselves though, but not for a long time. That stubborn butterfly kite eventually tumbled down, either hitting a tree branch or landing on the thin grass.

After two hours and several attempts, we decided to pack up and just eat dinner. So much for our kite flying know-how; we underestimated its physics. But at least we burned some calories! :)

*****

Buddy ko, you did a good job. The kite just sucked. :D

Auburn

I have a fresh fix, which I discovered two months ago while waiting for him at SM Manila. It is the Tchibo Exclusive Coffee by the known German coffee giant Tchibo served only at French Baker. It is rich in flavor and very aromatic. Aaay— did I just sound like a generic TV commercial? Again. This German coffee has an intense aroma and a mellow sweet taste, neither harsh nor tangy. Swabe. A single serve complemented with a small Danish pastry costs a little over P60, and a 250-gram vacuumed pack around P245.

*****
I totally overlooked this post until Reina remarked on my "delightfully different" Delifrance brew earlier this afternoon. :D

43

Ours has been very convenient— our families, this setup, their faith. To top it all off, we're still doing the things that move us. It is not a spotless familiarity but it is undeniably matchless.

===
After walking around, and window shopping for a reasonably priced vacuum cleaner, we settled on Kamayan at Glorietta 3 for dinner. We were thinking of New Bombay at The Columns but he worried about offending my taste buds, hehe. After more than an hour, we were overstuffed again. He had been teasing me (and faintly embarrassed trying to stop me) the whole time I was bending sideways to ease my tummy. I was really full, no exaggeration. :D

The food was so-so, 5.5-6 out of 10, but for P325 per head (excluding drinks), not bad at all. A practical alternative to those upmarket buffet offers. I just hope they can slate a few restorations— better chairs, some new dishware, among others.

*****
Buddy ko, I think, we should go back to running. :P

Mi luv yah. *kugos*

Retune

We weren't able to watch THE final set last weekend. Poor us. But no, we opted not to watch; and yes, we still went to our emo engagement. The thing is, I realized that this Florida band's music is already deafening for me. Is it my age? Or, are they really loud? But in fairness, the venue was crammed full (not as overloaded as the MOA concert grounds, though), and the band had an excellent clear-cut audio system (maybe too loud for the venue) so eventhough Ronnie Winter had been screaming in most of their songs, we can still catch what he had been singing on the platform.

At ang Nats ay nakanuod...:)

===
Smart had a charming present for us by the way. The E-heads' performance was shown live, and even replayed the next day on my mobile TV. Über coolness.

****
After the show, we brought Gabi (yes, she also rocked with us) to Cuts 4 Tots for her official summer haircut. Hay, si Dora lang ang katapat. She did everything the hair cutter told her. Kids, tsk, tsk.

Superproxy 1964-2009

"There's no substitute for the real."

*****

A freeman. A happy battle. A legacy of a genuine, intelligent, burning Pinoy rap music.

Maraming salamat.

Offstage

Eheads concert again this Saturday.

My buddy and I are not as thrilled as we were last year, though. Ka-turn off naman kase. No sign of fair consideration for those who welcomed their celebrated comeback the previous year. Now they are selling the tickets at the same price. Lovely. Unless it would be raining SVIP and VIP tickets from the heavens before March 7, we would rather gulp our pet pitcher of fresh fruit shake from Dulcinea then watch the pop-punk The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus perform live for free. Ayan, medyo magpapaka-emo na lang muna kami. [So sorry Nats, still no news for complimentary backstage passes. Ela, yuuuhuuu!]

Of course, we would still remember Eheads after we finish the shake and the gig. I think, we would just jog in Luneta early morning the next day. Now, that's how you move on! :P

Loose Ends

One minute I held the key

Next the walls were closed on me

And I discovered that my castles stand

Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

Viva La Vida, Coldplay

Played Chris Martin several times today.

*****
Our HS yahoogroups account has been engaged lately. Reactions pouring. Even those who had just been lurking are now visible. All shaken and low-spirited. A batchmate has been accused of shooting and killing his girlfriend. He was one of the quiet, fine-looking, and polite guys in school, from kindergarten to 4th year high. She was a graduating Nursing student.

There are many sides of a story. There is justice— no matter how slow it is. And people change.

C (n, k)

C (49, 6) = 49!/ [(49-6)! x 6!]

Where 49 is the available digits for selection, 6 is the total number of digits to be selected, and C is the total number of combinations one can bet on. ! means multiplying a series of descending natural numbers starting at 49.

Math 17, circa 90-something.

And it's just half of the job. The rest depends on the number of people marking out those combinations. No sweat.

What would you do with the millions?

I would take my buddy with me, and we would disappear for a while. Maybe we would go to Waiheke Island for a short vacation, let the magic sink in. Afterward, we would talk about the dough over a glass of Naked Grape juice. Save the half, share the 1/4, invest the 1/8, travel with and splurge the remaining 1/8. What a life.

I'm not sure what the two lotto winners have been doing since the historic draw last Sunday night. I hope they are both genuinely good individuals— like some great karma has just happened to them. And I hope they can still pass it on to their grandchildren's grandchildren.

*****
What happened last Sunday was not an exact science. It was pure luck. One hell of a good luck.

Chew the Fat

Another weekend habit.

Most Sunday or Saturday evenings, right after attending mass at Pius, we would take a gradual walk along UN Avenue, passing the Sikh Temple and Unilever then crossing the Pres. Quirino Extension near Robinson's Otis. Right there at the crossroads, we would make a short stop in a small "booth" owned by Manang who sells balut, softdrinks, biscuits, candies and yosi, and calls each of her customers "Anak". She would give us two balut eggs, then remind us of the available "maanghang na sawsawan": 1 for mild, 2 for strong, and 3 for very strong. [Of course, I would rather choose salt.] She would generously offer a roll of tissue (unlike many fast food chains that limit a piece of super lightweight tissue to one person regardless of the order size) and monobloc stools. Sometimes, a tricycle driver would give us his chair (there is a tricycle "terminal" nearby).

My buddy would slightly tap one pole of the egg on the edge of Manang's tiny table, creating a small opening. I would drop a pinch of salt on the crack, drink the warm broth (sabaw ba), eat the yellow part then give him the rest. Nice and easy. We could finish our break in less than 15 minutes. Our brief visit would give us time to inadvertently overhear street stories from other customers (or from Manang), and gaze at some fancy handsome cars (like BMW and Ford pickup) or good affordable family vehicles (like Crosswind and Avanza) passing by. Eventually, we would start musing (again and again) about our "future" family car. Afterward, we would continue our stroll until we reach Robinson's mall-- to buy some groceries or take our chance on lotto, or just wait for a bus going home.

And I love us for that.

Hearty snack, easygoing chat. =)

What's Up Yo

Really weird Joaquin.

I'm not a big fan, but I consider him one of the few very good character actors in Hollywood. His performances in movies like James Mangold's Walk the Line, Doug Holt's Inventing the Abbotts, Terry George's Hotel Rwanda, Ridley Scott's Gladiator, and M. Night Shyamalan's Signs are few substantial testimonies of a fine acting. That's why when the news came out announcing to the world that he's shifting career followed by his series of outrageous appearances in known TV shows, I've had some rethinking about this whole Joaquin Phoenix repackaging. Perhaps, it is not about him being high on drugs or having a classic nervous breakdown. Perhaps it is something deeper, more intense, well-versed artistic craftsmanship.

I have two related theories (as if the world cares):

1. Maybe he's pulling off a social experiment, gauging how the media as well as the audience are going to react.

2. Maybe this is just all about the documentary film that he and his brother-in-law and fellow actor, Casey Affleck, have been shooting. If this is the case, the premise of the film is not really about an actor taking a chancy career move, but about an audience's wavering frame of mind.

And if I'm right, the "new" Joaquin the rapper Phoenix would be another stunning masterpiece.

Easy Valentine

We had a fun and cozy night out last Saturday. It was a follow-through on our Friday night "gig". We checked out Fish Out of Water at Greenbelt 5. Double celebration naman sya, so di nakaka-guilty mag-overindulge, hehe. We made reservation two days before.

We ordered grilled chicken couscous salad, grilled Sarangani Bay milkfish belly, steamed lapu-lapu in soy sauce, a huge crab over a pasta in white sauce with garlic (I forgot the name), kiwi shake, strawberry shake, buko juice, and their iced tea. They served us their smoked fish pate, thinly sliced baguette with a creamy dip, for appetizer.

The interior reflects a fine dining atmosphere (but most customers, including us, were in casual attire). The attendants are welcoming, and the service competent. Thanks to our attendant (Rick ba yun?) who tried many times to take a decent group pic of us.

And Gabi was soooo hyper the whole time.

The steamed Lapu-lapu was 5 out of 10 (I'm not sure how it would taste in other sauces). The crab was 7 out of 10 (my buddy broke their crab plier, hehe). The pasta, without the garlic and some crab meat was 8 out of 10, but with garlic was 6 out of 10. The salad was also 7 out of 10. The whole food adventure, for me, was an 8. =)

Total overheads for four adults and a super hyper kiddo was around P4k. Relatively steep. But if you're not planning to grab any of their per gram entrees, such as steamed lapu lapu and crab, you could budget around P500 (with drinks) per person. Each serving is good for sharing.

After FOW, we walked around Greenbelt for some photo ops. Gabi was still nonstop. Ibang klase. We had been chasing her all night. Then, we wrapped up the night with Nay's treat at Starbucks near Makati Shangri La (the one at GB3 was too crowded).

*****

Happy birthday, Nay! Much Love, GJ, Nin, Giselle, and Gab.

UPDATE: Wildflower

We did it. Yeah. :)

It wasn't a seamless process however. There was a delay of almost two hours due to heavy traffic. There was a change of location because it was already after regular office hours -- from the small Hawkers Management office to the open air Manila City Hall garden. Luckily, they have been having OT tasks this month, which gave us a significant leeway to catch up on the last-minute hitches. Pulling the whole thing off had become much more taxing in some way. But when the first song started, I instantly knew that it would be a smash hit.

My buddy and I were hiding at the back, behind the huge sliding glass window. We were like stalkers, trying to get a partial view of the whole show. I wasn't able to pick up the song very clearly, but I realized that Nay was crying. [Giselle informed us soon after that the group first played Beautiful in My Eyes, followed by Wildflower; and concluded with Moonriver (which Gabi also enjoyed as she sat on Nay's lap).] Some of her officemates had been taking video and photos using their mobile phones. Parang celebrity, hehe. It was a fine three-song performance— with a bonus Happy Birthday To You sang by everyone. The crowd cheered. Nay was a little dumbfounded. And happy. Thank God. The tough grind that we (inlcuding Broe) went through that week was worth it. =)

*****
Super thanks to Maam Norma, her boss, and the rest of her officemates for helping us keep the whole thing a top secret up to the last minute. And thanks to the boys for the music.

Hmmm..nice team, buddy ko. =)

Wildflower

While many lovey-dovey couples put so much effort into making reservations at the most romantic spot on Earth every February 14, my buddy and I do our best to come up with an extraordinary family bonding idea in our attempt to make that day a little extra special for Nay. It's her day, not ours.

We're done with the flower delivery thing. She loved it. We're done with a family night out surprise. She loved it as well. This year has given us the trickiest stint so far. I've been thinking about it for more than four weeks now. And my buddy and I have finally decided on surprising her with an acoustic serenade just this week. Buti na lang, Broe is the go-to-guy in times like this— yung mga Mentos moments, ganun. Aside from his rare ingenuity, X factor nya ang pagkakaroon ng malawak na network.:) Partida pa yan ha, he's been preoccupied with all the getting married blues (He and Marge are tying the knot in two weeks. Woohoo!). Let's say, he made our life for the past few days lighter (naks!).

So tomorrow afternoon, one day before Nay's birthday, will be the "gig". Trio guitarists (namely, Charles, Darwin and Jazz) will be at her office's doorstep to sing three songs. [Sana naman ma-hit namin ang weakness nya.] Nati-tense din ako— first time to arrange this kind of treat for someone special. I'm not really sure if she would like it. I mean, the whole package, including the embarrassment that lies ahead at Manila City Hall. But we trust Broe so much (ehem, ehem).

*****
I wish Ma is also here in Manila or somewhere nearer. Getting this thing done in the province while being here is way too dense. And we don't have a Broe there. [Haaaay, bentang benta ka sa kin Antonio ha.] :D

Adding Broe to my list...=)

Cantina

We had our 42nd month slash advance Vday celebration yesterday [our Feb 14 will always be Nay's birthday special]. Our initial plan jumped from one potential date place to another, and struggled from one petty dispute to the next.

First was Malacca (but he changed his mind) then Vieux Chalet (but the timing was a bit off), and then Cafe Juanita (but all of the taxi drivers we encountered that afternoon showed us some sign of consternation; too scared of the traffic I guess). And we only had an hour or so to beat the rush hour in Makati. So he suggested Eastwood, after all we had not seen the place in several months.

The taxi ride was slightly quiet. We were both cheesed off to some extent. But we got there, he gave way...=) He was back to his usual accepting, easy nature. Ikot-ikot muna, then we agreed on having Mexican dish for the night.

We tried Agave's Appetizer Sampler (which is 50% off everyday from 4PM-7PM). Beef taquitos, Yucatan chicken skewers, three-bean empanaditas and Mexican buffalo wings (yumyum!). Served with chips and your choice of salsa. For our next course, we went for the Seafood Platter. The amigos size serves two to three persons (but the menu says 3-4). Calamari al chipotle, shrimp Chile rellenos, three-bean empanaditas, shrimp quesadilla (yumyum!), and filete de Pescado (yumyum!). Served with both lime cilantro and Mexican red rice, corn chips, Mexican green beans and, again, your choice of salsa. We noticed that we had a few redundant foodies. He ordered a cup of brewed coffee, which he liked (now I'm wondering why I didn't attempt to taste it, hmmm), and I chose mango shake (how original, hehe).

Given the serving size, taste, ambience and customer service, the overheads won't hurt your pocket. For a date, budget around P1,200-1,500 for two (or three). For a light solo meal with a glass of your favorite cocktail mixed drink, around P250-400.=)

That night, he was so in the mood for taking photos. Or, maybe it was his way of making up for our cab ride episode. O baka pinagbigyan lang ako...=P

We weren't able to finish our platter. The set was too heavy for our appetite. But good food anyway. For me, the service was also good; for him, the attendants were about to cross the line between being very accommodating and a bit pushy, hehe.

We capped the night with a cup of extra hot Raspberry Mocha Kiss. =)

*****

For always trying to back off from every spat and recognize my point even it starts to get on your nerves, I love you to pieces. And yes, sometimes, you can be erratic. =)

*kugos nang malupet*

Sunlight Hours

Happy New Year!

*****
Super late post. Hehe.

Nose-Dive

My first browse for the day (after one cancelled meeting and another missed meeting due to a dial mix-up) swayed me to check out this particular MSN front page article that includes the following statement:

"She's switched perfumes (no more orange blossoms!), but there's still something about her scent. I don't think it can be reduced to what comes out of a crystal bottle; it's human chemistry. And no matter how many columns I write, I'll never be able to explain it."

Yun yon eh. You've been wondering about the "satisfaction" that I usually get every time I sniff you. Di ko sya ma-explain in a logical, extraordinary way, but I am 100% sure that I can recognize you and pick you out of a crowd by your scent— even when blindfolded. Hmmnn. =)

*****
Maniwala ka na lang kulet ha?