Pulse

Remember The Catch? Well, I got these by courier yesterday.


The card reads

Dear Em Dy,

Thank you for gracing the blogosphere with your movie & food reviews! Your blog is always an entertaining read. I am sending you one of my favorite reads. ARCHIE COMICS! This one is from my personal collection. It's made me chuckle many times. I hope the Riverdale gang's antics amuse you too. Have a lot of hearty laughter this 2008!

Your friend,

Toni of Wifely Steps

Thanks a lot, Toni. The present and what you wrote mean a lot to me. I wish you a laughter-filled 2008 too.

wifely steps, archie comics, toni, em dy

Treadmill x 30 minutes x 150 calories
Stationary bike x 35 minutes x 155 calories

Labels: exercise time

I knew nothing about Caleruega except it being a venue for some society weddings. So, when we were told that we were going to where Christopher de Leon and Sandy Andolong got married, I was of course curious.

There are 2 ways to get to the chapel at Caleruega. One is by going up the side of the chapel and the other is by going up from the bottom of the hill. As we had senior citizens in the group, we were dropped off at the side of the church and ascended up a flight of steps. What I saw amazed me. I didn't expect it to be that pretty.

The chapel sits at the top of the hill and is surrounded by lush greenery and foliage. It is an ideal venue for intimate weddings. The fact that it is far from the main road also ensures that the wedding remains private. Not everybody can go inside the property. A head count is asked of each vehicle which arrives at the place.

The church itself is an attraction. It is relatively small with a short aisle separating the pews at the right and left sides of the chapel. It is peaceful and tranquil. The stained glass windows add to its charm.

Although hesitant at first, the seniors were persuaded to climb down to the bottom of the hill and to see the rest of the property. It was an easy trek down as the steps are well paved and gradual in decline. There are ramps too for the handicapped. Add to that the cool Tagaytay weather. On the way down, we saw the cottages, the dining options and seminar venues.

I walked down with Z, my 79-year old aunt. She's a flower fan and so enjoyed the hike down the flower-lined steps. I too enjoyed it because of the photo opportunities available. She pointed to the rooms and asked me what they were. I told her that they were cottages. I thought we were walking to the beach front. It turned out that that couldn't be farther from the truth.



Caleruega is actually a place for reflection rather than recreation. The property is available for, aside from weddings, retreats and seminars. Rates are very reasonable. It is run by Dominicans. We passed by a statue of a saint on the way down. My first guess was St. Dominic then St. Augustine then St. Matthew. The fact that the statue was shown carrying a book clued me into him being a scholar. It was indeed St. Dominic, I should not have guessed further. S1 teased me about guessing wrong. After all, I was a Dominican before I became a Paulinian and later moved to a saintless university.

It was a good thing that we explored the rest of the property. Otherwise, I would have gone home thinking I'd seen a religious part of a resort.

caleruega, wedding, chapel, dominicans, batangas

Josephine Restaurant was where our hosts treated us last Sunday to celebrate 3 birthdays.

Lunch was at the restaurant's Eat All You Can and Grill section where diners eat al fresco and enjoy the view of the ridge and Taal Volcano and its lake. The spread last Sunday included soup, plain rice, garlic rice, mussels, adobong pusit, adobo, pancit, pinakbet, kare kare, lechon kawali and steamed vegetables. The grill featured items like tilapia, ribs and pork chop. I particularly enjoyed the grilled tilapia and inihaw na baboy. The dessert buffet had halo-halo, leche flan, assorted kakanin and fruits. Buffet is priced at PHP 320 and is available on weekends.


The indoor air-conditioned dining area is for guests ordering ala carte. But who needs air-conditioning when one is in Tagaytay? There are function rooms too for private functions.

Service was fast. We were served water without our needing to ask. Our hosts might have given instructions. The drinks came quickly too. The restrooms were clean and parking was ample.

And you know what's even impressive? They honored senior citizen discounts which most restaurants offering buffet in Metro Manila shun.

Good food, great view, affordable prices. All three make the drive from Manila worth it.

josephine restaurant, tagaytay, weekend buffet, eat all you can

Stationary bike x 30 minutes x 145 calories
Treadmill x 30 minutes x 188 calories

Labels: exercise time, taste test

Yesterday's road trip took us to Tagaytay, the summer capital of the Philippines in the south. There are several reasons why Tagaytay is a pleasant destination.

Location. It is a short drive from Metro Manila.

The view. Tagaytay is blessed with the view of Taal Lake and Taal Volcano.

The weather. It is cool up here and this makes a great escape from the heat in the concrete jungle of Manila.

The food. Restaurants, home grown or transported from Metro Manila, have sprouted all over Tagaytay promising not only great food but also terrific views and other perks. And of course, the produce and delicacies that have made the province popular.

Although the destination is a familiar place for most Filipinos because of the relative ease in getting there, it is a special one for my family as our usual haunt is a Chinese restaurant in the Ortigas area. So one other reason why Tagaytay is a pleasant destination is because the journey was made with family.

What makes Tagaytay special to you?

Read on where we had lunch, ventured in later posts.

tagaytay, taal volcano, taal lake, philippines

Labels: travel

Today, my family's going on a road trip to celebrate 3 birthdays. This is the first time we're doing this in years. The last time we ventured somewhere together I don't think I was even in my teens yet. There was a trip to Boracay in 2000 but I missed that because of writing commitments. There were plans of a family outing last summer but that fizzled out. We went on separate holidays instead.

How do we commonly celebrate birthdays and other events anyway? It's usually going back to the ancestral home for a potluck lunch. I can predict the menu with my eyes closed. It's actually good but sometimes you just want to be surprised. Every November 1, I expect to see calandracas on the menu. They haven't done that for the last few years though largely because of the ribbing they get from me.

The other alternative is going to the other houses to celebrate. At least, when we go to the house in Paranaque, what we'll partake of is aways a nice surprise. My Martha Stewart aunt never fails to wow my generation with her creations and foodie finds.

And of course, there's the usual lunch at a Chinese restaurant and we're not even Chinese. My generation would like to tease our palates with other cuisine but the generation before us know how to pressure us into submission.

So, what's in store for us today? We don't know yet except where we're heading to. I'm ready to be surprised.

Photo from this site.

This is not about the Sharon Cuneta - Gabby Concepcion starrer or the Kapuso network's teleserye theme song.

P.S. I Love You is not a typical love story. It stars Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler as a married couple with opposite personalities suddenly separated by death. The movie is not much about dying but about grieving and eventually moving on.

The acting here are not Oscar winning performances for Hilary Swank or Kathy Bates, both academy award winners, but they do turn out memorable performances nonetheless. I am most impressed with Gerard Butler's portrayal of a carefree Irish guy who after his death helps his wife to move on. And he's cute too. The movie is not all tears. Lisa Kudrow provides most of the light moments.

Music plays a big part in the movie. You have to watch the movie to understand why.

The other stars of the movie are New York and Ireland, where the film was shot. I was reminded of my trip to Dublin in 2004, of Guinness, O'Connell St, Butler's chocolates, Malahide castle, etc. Although I spent most of my time in the city, the drive to the countryside was the best part of my visit as I took in Ireland's natural splendor. I wish I can go back and explore it some more.

Although the theater where the movie was screened was the smallest, it was still impressive that the movie house was almost full, with mostly women in attendance. This is, after all, considered a chick flick or a date movie.

P.S. Don't say I didn't warn you.

ps love you, movie, hilary swank, gerard butler

Photo from this site.

Labels: movies

The excursion to Proud Mary was unplanned. I had a few hours free before work. My friend Zara who was picking up her 5- and 3-year old kids from school suddenly asked me to come with them to eat lunch out. As I had nothing else to do, except while the time reading a book at a nearby restaurant, I did not hesitate.

We cruised along Tomas Morato looking for a new restaurant and chanced upon Jozu and Proud Mary. We chose the latter as we had kids in tow.

Proud Mary is a new restaurant in the Tomas Morato area near ABS-CBN. It is jointly owned by 3 sisters who proudly shares family favorites to interested diners. The name is derived from the owners' names. All three share the name Maria.

We had the Mozzarella Cheese Sticks (PHP 140) for appetizer. We all enjoyed this, especially the kids. We wished though that they were more consistent in putting the cheese. Some sticks were oozing with cheese, some sticks almost had none. Zara, who between the two of us is the cook, wished that the dip was something else instead of ketchup.

I asked for the Chorizo Fresco (PHP 180.00) which came with rice, egg done sunny side up and vinegar. I was expecting Chinese chorizo but found it to be like naked longganisa. There was nothing special in the dish. It felt like giniling or arroz ala cubana.

Zara had the Proud Mary's Lemon Chicken (PHP 200). I expected something similar to the Chinese restaurant version but she was served 1/4 fried chicken, a cup of rice, mixed vegetables and cream sauce dip. The lone diner who ordered the same dish was surprised too. I think he had the same expectations as I had - chicken fillet coated with batter, deep fried and drizzled with lemon. The dish is really just fried chicken. It is the sauce which makes it special. Zara thinks it's a combination of yogurt, cream cheese, blue cheese and some lemon. I'd take her word for it. I'm no cook.

We ordered Carbonara (PHP 165) for her kids. Despite being a voracious eater (I've seen him gobble up Pancake House's Carbonara), her eldest failed to finish the pasta. It was either he didn't find it particularly appealing or that he was full from eating M & M's while waiting for the car at school. Zara and I both tasted the dish. I found it okay and unlike some restaurants serving carbonara, one can actually taste the bacon. Zara commented that she makes better carbonara.

Bottomless Iced Tea cost PHP 55.

Regarding the service, there was definitely some wait involved. The lone diner who ordered ahead of us was served at the same time as Zara, whose order came last among the dishes we chose. They are yet to accept credit cards and for now are only issuing temporary receipts. One more area where they can improve is the menu book. We hope that what they're currently using, a laminated computer print-out, will be changed to something that has clearer descriptions of the dish and pictures. That way, diners won't be surprised by what's served them.

The servers were alright but mistakenly served us marinara instead of carbonara despite the restaurant having only 3 tables occupied, one with the lone diner, the other with 2 women and ours. Our server provided us with information regarding the restaurant. She asked me if I was opening my own restaurant when she saw me taking photos. I didn't bother to explain about blogging. I didn't think she'd know what I mean as few people understand what a blog is.

What impressed us was how the place looks, a blend of green and violet. I felt like walking into a nursery, a child's room or a candy store. There is a wall with water display which gives the place a sense of zen. Comfortable couches and chairs dot the place.

We hope that these are just first day blues. After all, the establishment is barely three weeks old.

---

The photos could be better composed but I had a difficult time taking pictures of the food as the kids wanted to eat already and to be included in the shots. They gamely posed for me while munching on toast, eating pasta, etc.

proud mary, tomas morato, cafe, diner

Labels: taste test

I was pleasantly surprised to receive a Hallmark card by mail last Tuesday. The card reads

Labels: musings

The power of the written word was very evident when I had lunch yesterday.

Last Monday, I read an article in the Philippine Star penned by Boy Abunda about the magic of Ysabella's Chicken continuing despite the teleserye's end. He also mentioned Bacolod Chicken Inasal (BCI) and Judy Ann Santos, its new celebrity endorser. The article left me yearning for BCI, although not necessarily soon.

The opportunity presented itself yesterday when I saw a BCI branch on my way to see Sweeney Todd. I was hesitant at first as I only had thirty minutes before the movie starts. I didn't want to be late as I always want a complete movie experience. The craving for inasal was more than that for Johnny Depp so I entered BCI thinking that if I don't finish eating on time, there's always Ben Stiller and The Heartbreak Kid.

I did not waste any time looking at the menu as I knew precisely what I wanted. I ordered the Paa (PHP 91.50), 1/4 chicken leg and thigh on a barbecue stick. The chicken was grilled perfectly with the inside moist, juicy and tender while the skin was crisp but not charred. The dish is best paired with Garlic Rice (PHP 27.50). Although it has been my practice not to add salt in the table, I wasn't able to help myself with the soy sauce. Somehow, inasal has to have sawsawan whether it's served in Bacolod or elsewhere. Nestea Iced Tea (PHP 39.50) quenched my thirst.


Everytime I eat inasal, I remember a trip to Bacolod in 2004. My friends and I couldn't get enough of the dish and ate it in all available opportunities. We tried each restaurant's version, comparing one to the other. They say that BCI cannot compare to the real deal in Bacolod but I say that different versions have different charms.

The only time I was disappointed with BCI was when I tried the soup at Metrowalk in 2006 with balikbayan relatives. The dish was just too salty and the customer service was less than ideal.

BCI did not disappoint this time. I loved their inasal. Service was fast, whether it was taking the order, serving it or settling the bill. I managed to catch Sweeney Todd and watched it from beginning to end.

All because Boy Abunda said so. Judy Ann Santos had nothing to do with it.

bacolod chicken inasal, judy ann santos, boy abunda, ysabella's chicken

Labels: taste test

To enjoy Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, one must 1) not be turned off by blood and gore, 2) adore Johnny Depp and 3) love musicals.

I happen to be all 3 so Sweeney Todd was a blast.

Sweeney Todd is about a returning barber of Fleet Street whose motivation is to exact revenge on the people who wronged him. That being the case and with a set of shavers in hand, the demon barber does that and more. The movie is easily categorized as violent and is not one to be seen by young children. I have no trouble dealing with blood and gore as long as it's not too much.

Johnny Depp is cast as the demon barber and is in character all throughout the movie. I've loved him since 21 Jump Street, adored him as Edward Scissorhands and followed his nautical adventures as Captain Jack Sparrow. How can I pass off a movie he won his first Golden Globe with? And he deserves it, for not only can he sing, he was the demon barber but vulnerable all along. You totally forget about Johnny Depp and the other characters he's played in the past. The same cannot be said for Helene Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman and Timothy Spall. Although I enjoyed their performances, I cannot help but think about their recurring roles in Harry Potter and additionally in the case of Timothy Spall, his last appearance in Enchanted. But that may just be because of the Potter fan in me.

Sweeney Todd is the perfect musical vehicle for Johnny Depp. It's dark and unusual which is the case for most of the movies he appears in, almost always with Tim Burton at the helm. Somehow, though I know he can sing, I find it hard to imagine him doing Grease Lightning. He would make a good Phantom of the Opera though.

As for musicals, I love watching them whether in the cinema or the theater. Perhaps, the first musical that I saw was Sound of Music and My Fair Lady and I've been hooked since. In the 1990's, I used to watch musicals and children's theatre staged by Repertory when they were still based in Shangri-La mall. S3 was my usual companion to these musical outings. It is no wonder then that I could sit through Sweeney Todd and not get bored. The same cannot be said for those who watched the movie with me. A number left in the middle of the movie, bored perhaps. This may also be one reason why the movie is not enjoying immense popularity despite the critics' citations.

They say that a musical is a sure success if the audience leaves the theater humming a tune. The music of Sweeney Todd is not exactly easy to sing. It reminds me more of Les Miserables rather than Sound of Music. But I found myself nonetheless knowing what the character would sing even before he opens his mouth. As is usual for musicals, characters often repeat a line of a signature song. The song that struck me most in Sweeney Todd is Not While I'm Around. I've heard the song countless times before and thought it reassuring. Now that I've learned it's from Sweeney Todd, I would always appreciate it as creepy.

You might not have all the three qualifications I mentioned but why not give the movie a try? You might surprise yourself by loving it.

sweeney todd, johnny depp, helena bonham carter, musical, timothy spall, alan rickman

Labels: movies

I've told you before about two things I'm not. Here's one more. I'm not a mountaineer but I got to climb some mountains anyway.

Mount Sto. Tomas (Baguio). This was my first climb. In 1989, as part of our field biology course, fellow BS Biology students and I went up this mountain. This was a difficult climb for me, a beginner, because of the altitude and my own lack of physical conditioning. We observed the different species of life in the mountain. I remember seeing a passion flower for the first time. My group consisted of 6 girls and 1 boy. On the way down, we espied a jeepney and rode the rest of the way down along with other female batch mates who saw the vehicle. Our guy friend hated us for cheating. He had to climb down with the others. To make matters worse for him, it even rained. He eventually talked to us again.

Mount Makiling (Laguna). Ecology was the reason we went up Peak 2 of this mountain. We had 2 ecology teachers, one for lecture and one for lab. Makiling was the laid back lab instructor's turf. As I was not a climber, I was one of the last in the pack. Our lecture professor, who was definitely stricter, was the one in charge of the end of the pack. On the way up the mountain, we passed by Mud Springs. The biggest challenge for me was the vertical climb. It was around 10-12 feet tall that I had to traverse by holding on to the exposed roots to make your way up.. It was difficult and my foot slipped. The professor behind me laughed and said that if I didn't have good reflexes, I would have fallen down the cliff. I knew he was kidding, I was pretty sure he'd save me. It was raining on our way down and the ground was slippery. I also felt something strange in the mountain. Tales of Maria Makiling crossed my mind. On the bus ride back to Manila, after a sumptuous late lunch of bulalo, he pointed at Taal and said that's where we're going next. I thought he was kidding, apparently not.

Taal Volcano (Batangas). We felt that our lecture professor wanted to show us his turf and he did. We spent the night in the visitor center and took a banca ride to where we would start the hike. It was a difficult hike as there was almost no vegetation and the sand was hot and slippery. When we got to the main crater lake, some of our classmates took water from the lake to bring home because of its medicinal properties. The banca ride back was scary because of the rough waters. Our lab instructor was quiet the whole time. Apparently, he does not enjoy boat rides. A botany teacher who joined our trip played the harmonica as we sailed through rough waters. He calmed us much like the musicians did during the last minutes of the Titanic.

Mount Banahaw (Quezon). Medicine was the reason we went up this mountain in 1991. Our pharmacology instructors wanted to show us alternative medicine in the Philippines. What I remember about this mountain are its mystical nature, many faiths and believers called the mountain their home, and its physical characteristics. I remember a waterfall and areas where one can go spelunking. I dared not.

Montalban Mountain (Rodriquez). This was a leisurely climb we took in 1994 while on community medicine rotation in Montalban (now Rodriguez), Rizal. The mountain is not difficult to climb because of the presence of a trail. Getting there was the hard part as we had to pass through bamboo stilts and a pipe to get to the other side. The balance challenged me would have turned back but a friend held my hand.

Mount Haleakala (Maui). This was the easiest climb of all as I was with a group on a day tour from Oahu. The tour included stops at Haleakala National Park, the Iao Valley and Lahaina Town. We rode a van up the summit and saw the silver sword, a threatened species and views of the Pacific Ocean and the rocky mountain. There was hardly any climbing. S2 and I just went around the visitors' center, hiked just a little to take pictures as there were designated viewing areas and trails.

Tamborine Mountain (Gold Coast Hinterland). Up this mountain were my last two climbs. I was in Brisbane, Australia in 2006 for a ten-day seminar in epidemiology. One of the highlights of the territory is Cedar Creek Falls. Our group of 20 ventured out to go to the falls but we got lost somewhere in the mountain. The balance challenged me held on to new-found friends (the course instructors!) from Norway and the US. My co-delegate from Nepal volunteered to carry my bag. We did find our way back. We went up the mountain again after a couple of days but this time to go fossicking. That was manageable as there was a trail to follow, steep though in some places.

I am no mountaineer but these are really mountains, not molehills. I wonder if there's going to be a next time.

----

Pictures you see in this post - 1. Tamborine Mountain; 2. Haleakala; 3. Silver Sword; 4. Tamborine Mountain

mountain climbing, mountaineering, mt. sto. tomas, mt. makiling, taal volcano, mt. banahaw, montalban mountain, haleakala national park, tamborine mountain

S1 wasted no time following up my promise. She texted me yesterday to meet her for a late lunch. I waited for her to finish at the salon then we walked to Shangri-La mall's Streetscape. I teased her that she should pay for our lunch as I look like an alalay compared to her "fresh from a makeover" look. She said that's one .more reason why I should pay the bill, the makeover cost a lot. I told her to choose any restaurant except Hula Hula Seafood & BBQ House and Fish & Co. as I've already blogged about those.

Via Mare was what S1 chose. It's apparently a favorite as she knew already what to order. She asked for the Spicy Tuyo Flakes (PHP 140) which came with a cup of garlic rice, scrambled egg and atsara. I tried the tuyo flakes which were on a bed of sliced tomatoes and found it just right and not too spicy. I would have ordered the same but remembered that I still have some at home from Christmas. I found the dish priced just right considering that gourmet tuyo could be expensive. And while some tuyo causes my upper lip to itch, and for which I occasionally need an antihistamine, this one didn't.

I wanted to order the Crunchy Dilis (PHP 140) but finally decided on Pork Tocino (PHP 225). Like S1's dish, this also came with a cup of garlic rice, scrambled egg and atsara. The tocino was grilled just right. It was tender, juicy and sweet. Despite that, I found this dish overpriced because there was nothing extraordinary about it.

S1 had the Fresh Apple Juice (PHP 135) while I had the Iced Tea (PHP 60). My drink was okay. S1 thought hers was fabulous. She offered me a sip but I declined.

This was not my first time in Via Mare. I've been to this branch before and the one in Tektite for meals. I've also attended a catered function at Tektite in the past. That said, I knew that oysters and bibingka are the restaurant's specialties. I wanted to order oysters but chose not too because I still had a movie to see and work to do. An upset stomach would do either of that harm. S1 took home their Bibingka with Queso de Bola (PHP 110) and texted to say that it was good.

This branch's interiors are mostly done in black. Lighting is subdued. I would have wanted more color to liven the place up.

S1's only regret about yesterday's meal was not having S2 or the cousin from Marikina with us. Maybe they could join us next time we bond.

And one more thing, if S1 enjoyed the Spicy Tuyo Flakes, I'm sure she'd love my Pinoy Fried Rice.

via mare, pork tocino, spicy tuyo flakes, bibingka, oysters

Labels: family, taste test

Ever since my friend Zara heard about I Could Never Be Your Woman, she's been bugging me to go see the movie with her when it shows, even reminded me of its opening day and texted me earlier today if we could meet up. I said, why not, I'll check the schedule and text her back. It turns out that my favorite cinema is not screening the movie. Even my second choice of theater is not showing it. So I told Zara to watch it with her husband at Gateway or she can watch what I want with me. She begged off later and so did S1 whom I asked to join me.

Alvin and the Chipmunks are as entertaining as when I first encountered them some 20 or so years ago. I was introduced to these creatures by my aunt in Michigan who'd send us Betamax tapes of US TV shows. One of those that we enjoyed watching was Alvin and the Chipmunks, a story of 3 talking and singing Chipmunks who live with a songwriter.

The movie is classic Alvin and the Chipmunks. Alvin, Simon and Theodore are exactly like their animated persona - Alvin, the cool and mischievous one, Simon, the smart one, and Theodore, the sweet but weight challenged one. The story is also one that can be enjoyed by both children and adults for it talked about family, being truthful and not letting fame change you. And of course, the music. Alvin and the Chipmunks have managed to adapt their music to the new generation while retaining the old charm.

Of the Chipmunks, I like Theodore best and identify with him the most. He's weight-challenged, funny, sweet and values family over anything.

I expected to see the Chipmunks' furry girlfriends but midway into the movie, I was certain they would not make an appearance. Alvin, Theodore and Simon were already too much to handle.

I was amazed to know at the end of the movie that the Chipmunks are almost 50 years old. My story with them starts with a Betamax tape but I'm sure they'd have the longevity to survive the blu-ray disc and anything that comes after that. Had they chosen to see the movie with me, I'm sure Zara and S1 would have enjoyed it too. I laughed a lot and was never bored. Go see it alone or otherwise.

alvin and the chipmunks, movie

Labels: movies

UPDATED 24 March 2008

I blogged about the blue eagle and the green archer. Permit me now to blog about something closer to home. After all, it's our centennial year.

I was in UP Diliman from 1986 to 1990 and finished with a BS Biology degree. No, I didn't go on to the university's med school. Pulse is my home on the web and I've never talked biology here. Frankly, I don't remember much but I know UP made me what I am today.

Now, let me lead you to blogs of fellow UP alumni.

Ang Anino ni Abaniko. This is one of the blogs I visit often because Abaniko has a way with capturing images on camera.

Barangay Amerika. This is a small online community of Pinoys in the US. One of its contributors, Anna, together with her husband, graduated from UP Los Banos.

Baratillo@Cubao:www.baratillo.net. This is Juned Sonido's home on the web but UP is what he considers his second home.

Blackshama's Blog. Ben shares interesting trivia about UP, its history and why he never lived on campus.

Bubbleman. Shark is a medical doctor by training who now works an 8 to 5 job. Bubbleman is about his past, present and future.

Bury Me in This Dress. This blog's author is a UP film graduate who shares her college experiences here.

Carol Finds. Carol graduated in 1983 and is now celebrating her silver anniversary as a UP alumni. Her son is a freshman in UP. In a recent post, she asked bloggers to spot the difference.

Chronicles from the Middle of Nowhere. Dr_Clairebear shares her ISKA memories and observations about life and medicine.

CJMM's Chronicles. Chloe Jean is another BS Biology graduate. She blogs in Multiply.

ederic@cyberspace. Ederic Penaflor Eder finished Journalism at UP. He writes about UP here.

Ella Elline. A graduate of Library Science, Ella Elline shares her UP Centennial KickOff pictures here.

Everything Under the Sun. Maria Rachelle now calls California home but once walked the steps of ILIS.

Febeth. This is the self-titled blog of a UP graduate now permanently residing in Singapore. She paid tribute to the school in post called UP Naming Mahal.

Honey Oliveros. Now a lawyer, this maroon to a core started college at UP at the age of 14 and went on to its law school.

In-Jen-Iosity. One of Jennifer Tan's fondest memories of college is eating isaw with friends.

Ivan About Town. This blog, penned by Ivan Henares, was awarded the Best Travel Blog at the 2007 Philippine Blog Awards. Ivan advocates heritage conservation.

J and the Three Boys. This is the blog of Jen CC Tan, a UP Diliman graduate now a proud SAHM.

jonas.ph. Yet another UP Diliman graduate, multi-tasking Jonas Roque blogs about the centennial celebration here.

Kwentong Walang Kwenta. A lurker turned blogger, Auee is a UP graduate now working in London.

La Vie En Rose. Bianca Consunji credits UP as the place she found herself and realized her dream. She shares photos of UP here.

Life is Like a Box of Chocolate. Raymond, a UP College of Medicine graduate, blogs here.

Life Thru My Kaleidoscope. Kayers, the cousin responsible for this blog's header, finished BA Arts Studies at UP Diliman. Her fondest memories of college life were as a UP Singing Ambassador.

Misteryosa. Shari Cruz, the person behind Misteryosa, is a UP Baguio alumni. Her blog was awarded Best Personal Blog in the 2007 Philippine Blog Awards.

No Special Effects. One of my best online buddies, Mark Manguerra or Manggy used to be the editor-in-chief of the Association of Biology Majors' (ABM) newsletter. Now, he writes mostly about food and medicine.

On My Way Home. This is the blog of Dr. Martin Bautista who ran for senator in 2007. He didn't win but got enough votes to show that the country is ready for change. He graduated from the UP College of Medicine in 1989.

Pinay MegaMom. A teacher, doctor, UP graduate rolled into one, Pinay MegaMom's priority is her family.

Pinoy Penman. Jose Dalisay Jr, better known as Butch Dalisay, calls himself a Filipino collector of old fountain pens, disused PowerBooks, '50s Bulovas, and desktop lint. He's privileged to have served the university as professor, chair of the English department and vice-president for public affairs of the UP System. He writes about Dilimania here.

RebelPixel Productions. Markku Seguerra, a BS Chemical engineering graduate, blogs about webdesign and photography. For the last 5 years, he's been posting Oblation photos on Christmas day.

Rising Sun. This is the personal blog of Danny Arao, assistant professor of the Department of Journalism at the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication (UP CMC) in Diliman, Quezon City and concurrent director of the Office of Research and Publication (ORP).

SabitskiPoint. Jillsabs is a recent graduate of the UP College of Law. She also runs Kikay Exchange.

Sayote Republic. This is the virtual tambayan of the UP Baguio Alumni. Individual blogs are listed here.

Siegfried Robert S. Perez, MD. Another Pinoy doctor blogger, Siegfried, who took up pre-med and med in UP, is now based in the Gold Coast. He recalls his UP days here.

Simply Belle. Originally from Catanduanes, UP graduate Belle now blogs from the USA.

Skindiving. Chesca and I have never met but because of comments left in common blogging haunts, we think we might have been in UP at the same time.

So Far, So Good. The student is now a teacher. Ian, aka elsalvadordelmundo, shares his thoughts about life in college and med school.

So What If I'm Fat? Deal With It. Bittersweet Damsel is a big woman and graduate of ILIS. Find out more about this UP alumni here.

The Beautiful Rookery. BtflPenguin is a BS Molecular Biology and Biotechnology graduate now based in the US. She answers the centennial survey here.

The Doppler Effect. Tyron Caliente had to wear Filipiana attire when he graduated from UP. He reminisces here.

The Mommy Journals. This blog's author, Connie Veneracion, calls her time in the UP campus an adventure. She also blogs at Sassy Lawyer and Pinoy Cook.

The Orthopedic Logbook. A graduate of the UP College of Medicine, Bone MD, writes about issues affecting his daily medical and orthopedic practice.

The Warrior Lawyer. This is the blog of a forty-something lawyer based in Makati City, Philippines who married his college sweetheart. They were UP students when they met. He shares his thoughts on the centennial celebration here.

Time and Tide. A UP Baguio alumni, Rhodora blogs about family and social issues, education and culture, life and celebrations.

TonyoCruz.com. Anthony Ian "Tonyo" M. Cruz finished BA Sociology in UP Los Banos in 1995 and now writes for Malaya. His blog is about politics and technology. He writes about his alma mater here, here, here and here.

Too Hot to Handle. Find out more about Kristine “Libby” Malibiran as she answers the UP Centennial Survey.

Touched by an Angel. Noemi Dado, a BS Food Technology graduate, is one of the more prominent figures in the Philippine blogosphere. In her blog, she talks about parenting, grief, etc. In a recent post, she shared memories of her UP days. Both her daughters are studying in UP.

These are but a few blogs. I'll update the list as more bloggers post their UP experiences.

university of the philippines, up centennial, bloggers

For a good part of my life, at least for a few minutes almost every day, I am at EDSA. But talk about EDSA in another breadth and I can tell you I was never there.

I'm old enough to have witnessed the 3 EDSA events unfold.

EDSA for me will always be the 1986 People Power Movement. I was a high school senior then who considered the coup a breather from classes. The country stood still then. People stopped working and went to EDSA. My family stayed home but prepared food for heroes. Although they had to wake me up from slumber when Marcos left, I felt proud of what happened in the country. For a while there, my favorite song was Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo.



In 2001, EDSA Dos happened. I was already into fellowship then. A prominent mentor was encouraging us to join the rallies in our white coats. Yet another mentor went there to take pictures. I never did. I was busy studying for a board exam. I thought about missing all the action in EDSA in 1986 and thought that I could make up for it by going to EDSA Dos. But I decided there were more important things to do. And frankly, I didn't think it would end so soon. Unlike EDSA 1, life went on. I had to go to work. I had a glimpse of EDSA Dos though as I took the MRT to and from work. My friends and I watched Erap's departure from Malacanang in the office.

I never considered joining EDSA III. I thought that this was one time too many. Problems cannot be solved by taking to the streets. And so soon too after EDSA Dos.

---

If you had a different experience, share them. Blogger's Kapihan is hosting Bloggers Action Week: Bloggers Remember People Power 2.

edsa, people power revolution, 1986, 2001, blogger's kapihan

Video from YouTube, originally uploaded by ApoJim

I found these while looking for my SSS card and suddenly a flood of memories came rushing in.


Sama-Samang News was a monthly publication of Sama-Sama Together, what we call my generation back in the 1980's. The newsletter was published from March to June 1988 and March to July 1990. I was the editor-in-chief, my cousin from Marikina was second in command. At that time, I used the Newsmaster publishing software on a 5.25 inch floppy disk and printed copies using a dot matrix printer. Distribution was by hand locally and by snail mail for international subscribers. Yes, we did charge a subscription fee.

In grade school, I never won honors for writing. That was the turf of S1 and the cousin from Marikina. My happiness then was playing chess and dama with the boys. The teachers would say "Why can't you be like your sister and cousin?" They were best in conduct too.

I transferred schools in high school because of location issues as we moved house too. A teacher called me an underachiever and instead of feeling bad, I thought that it was a compliment. After all, she seemed to be saying that I have a lot of potential. That didn't push me any harder. I was happy to know that I could be better. I remember a time I excelled in class. We were asked to pick by lot topics we would extemporaneously speak on. I got "Should Imelda Marcos run for president?" My speech was adjudged best in class.

In college, except for dressing up as a policeman in a Spanish class and Maria Clara in our group's presentation Museum of Love for a Speech class, I never considered writing other than what was required to pass the subject. My paper in ecology was about how butterflies choose their mates. In the summers, I published the family newsletter Sama-Samang News.

While in med school, save for my internship years where I kept a journal, I never wrote anything other than clinical abstracts and discharge summaries.

After the medical boards, I wrote an essay about med school with the byline Em Dy intending to submit it to PDI's Young Blood. I was encouraged by S2's writing. Her articles appeared in page 6 of the Inquirer, this was and remains to be a prime spot. I never submitted the article.

Except for my research papers on a rare cancer, heart attack and urinary tract infection, I never wrote articles during residency. I discovered my writing in 2000 (or was it 2001?) when I was tapped by a mentor to represent the hospital in the convention newsletter editorial board as one of its pool of writers. That I did until 2003, my first year of practice. In between, I wrote for a short-lived institute newsletter and for the organization's newsletter until 4 years back when I begged off as I'd lost interest writing about medical things. When before I could write an article in a jiffy, way, way before it was due, towards the end of my stint I had to push myself to beat the deadline. I became part of the organization's journal instead, editing scientific articles. In the last 8 years, I've compiled research papers, worked on souvenir programs, a handbook and a coffee table book.

But now I'm writing again, daily even, as what I promised myself I'd do when I started this blog. And now, the words flow continuously, one after the other. This blog is about finding the groove back.

I know that I would look back on this blog in a few years and again, a flood of memories would come rushing in as they did yesterday and as I write this.

writing, speaking, blog

Labels: family, musings, writing

Labels: awards

I first tried Secret Recipe in between shopping in Kuala Lumpur. Since all S2 and I had then were their cheesecakes, I thought I'd try more of their offerings in Manila.

So when I saw that Secret Recipe was opening a branch at Shangri-La Mall, I made a mental note of trying it out. I took a chance after Christmas but found out they' d open Jan 8. On that day, I was again at the mall, eager to try their menu. I went there for lunch but it was still closed. I returned after seeing National Treasure: Book of Secrets only to find out they were still closed. Two hours later, they were open but I was already full. It turns out that they had to meet some requirements before they can officially open hence the delay.

Last Saturday, I wanted to eat here for lunch but the best available screening of Bee Movie was at noon. So, it was only after 2 that I found myself ready for Secret Recipe. I thought of asking S1 and our 79-year old aunt to join me. I had a feeling they were in the mall and I was right.

I ordered the Chicken Cordon Bleu (PHP 220) and found it tender and oozing with cheese, as I like it. It came with french fries and sliced tomatoes, onions and cucumber garnished with Caesar salad dressing. I loved it so much, I had no trouble finishing it all.

The same cannot be said for S1. She had the Tom Yum Spaghetti (PHP 180) and consumed maybe only a third of it. I didn't taste her order but she said that it does taste like Tom Yum, a sour bite on a bed of pasta. She went home with most of the dish in a reheatable plastic container, a plus point for the restaurant. Appetite is but one aspect S1 and I are different.

Our 79-year old aunt initially wanted to share with us but we told her to order her own meal. Knowing that she had a small appetite and traditional tastebuds, I suggested that she order from the kids' menu. The waiter did a double take when she ordered the Kid's Fish and Chips (PHP 170) but let her have her way anyway. This is another plus point for the restaurant which I think most restaurants should adapt. Everybody should have access to the children's menu, as a means to downsize, or at least offer the same items in smaller servings. I digress. She found the fish good but would have preferred it cooked longer. We teased her about the alphabet fries which came with her order. For kids, it would be an educational tool. For seniors, a memory enhancer. Laudable too was the restaurant's allowing her to use her senior citizen card when we settled the bill. If only all restaurants could be as kind.

We had different choices of drinks. Mine was the Lemon Iced Tea (PHP 50) which I found to be just right, not too sweet. S1 had the Green Apple Kasturi (PHP 90) which she found tasted like kalamansi juice. Our 79-year old aunt had the Freshly Squeezed Orange (PHP 90) which came in a smaller sized glass. She said there was a lot of bubbles too in relation to the drink. Service water is available on request.

S1 suggested that we have cake for dessert. She must have wanted to try the dessert selection or really did not enjoy her Tom Yum Pasta. She ordered the Almond Coffee Creamcake (PHP 110) for the three of us to share. We found the cake quite ordinary save for the icing and the walnut and chocolate chip on top. The cake tasted like Goldilock's mocha cake but was more dense. The chocolate layer was also plain.

The servers were very attentive to our needs, even remembered me from my previous attempts to try the restaurant. Waiting time from order to serving was just right.

A blend of red, white and blank greets visitors to the restaurant. Plastic chairs and couches provide comfort while dining. The restaurant is decorated similarly to the branches in Malaysia.

Overall, this is a restaurant worth coming back to. I'm sharing this because this is one secret that should not be kept.

---

I thank S1 for footing the bill. I told her that the next time will be my turn. But then from now on, I'm keeping my mall activities secret. He he.

secret recipe, cheesecake, chicken cordon bleu, tom yum spaghetti, kid's fish and chips

Labels: family, taste test

Wikipedia defines a B movie as any low-budget, commercial motion picture meant neither as an arthouse film nor as pornography.

The similarity ends with the sound.

Bee Movie is definitely NOT a B movie.

Budget wise, we know that this is an expensive motion picture. After all, it's by Dreamworks, a company which spares no budget to make any film spectacular. The animation is just fabulous. We know they hired the best people to put the story to life. In fact, this is the most colorful I've seen in recent years. I applaud the illustrators who did such a marvelous job. Then, there are the stars. We know they still get paid a lot even if they don't show their face and only lend their voices. There's Jerry Seinfeld who plays the bee Barry Benson, Renee Zellweger his human love interest, Matthew Broderick his friend and sidekick. Others in the cast include Oprah Winfrey, Kathy Bates, John Goodman, etc. Stars who lent more than their voices to the film include Larry King, Ray Liotta and Sting.

With Jerry Seinfeld on board, the film is definitely funny. I found the jokes poking fun on celebrities hilarious, especially the one about John Travolta, one of my favorite actors.

The story is very original. One wonders how on earth they thought about that. This is not just a story of a bee interacting with a human but that of how humans and animals can work hand in hand.

The film is actually a biology lesson in disguise. But this one will keep you riveted unlike your high school teacher who lulled you to sleep.

If I were a teacher, I'd give Bee Movie an A. But if I were a bee, I'd give it a B, watch the movie and find out why.

PS. As a teacher, I'd give it 2 more letters, GP. This is a film that can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike.

bee movie, jerry seinfeld, renee zellweger, b movie, dreamworks

Image from this site.

Labels: movies

then the Harry Potter series would be...

...worth lining up for and making reservations. Remember how the lines used to snake at the Go Nuts Donuts Fort Bonifacio branch when it first came out in the market? Everybody wanted a piece of it, never mind the wait. The same is true for each book of the Harry Potter series. Fans waited, lined up.

...Bertie Botts' Every Flavor Beans because you never know what you're going to get. Fans made all sorts of predictions and believed in rumors but nobody has gotten JK Rowling entirely right. This candy is straight from her imagination and while it is Harry Potter's favorite, it's the only one which actually conquered Dumbledore. How he hated what he got - earwax! I was fortunate to come across a box of this in 2003 while in the US, bought one for my dad who enjoyed tricking young kids with it.

...a food you want so badly, you devour it madly. I'm guilty of this with the Harry Potter series. I'm so eager to get to the last page that I read it as fast as I could the first time around.

...yet when you try it again, you find flavors you never knew existed but were there all the time. When I reread the books, I discover clues I glossed over. Who would've thought Fred and George's vanishing cabinet prank was important?

...food that's best eaten in its original form. Food has undergone all sorts of transformation (or is transfiguration more appropriate?). A bibingka for instance can be served in its usual form or made into a souffle. We find that the new expression doesn't quite capture the charm of the original. The same is true with Harry Potter movies. Reading the books is still the best.

...comfort food. You never tire of it. It soothes you, warms your spirit, brings back happy memories. The Harry Potter books have that magic over me.

And because of all that, I think JK Rowling's the best chef.

---

This post is part of Wifely Steps' Blog Carnival: If Books Were Food.

blog carnival: if books were food, wifely steps, group writing project, harry potter, jk rowling

Labels: group writing project

Pick an item or more a day from your stuff to give away or recycle. That way, you help someone, save the environment and minimize clutter.

That was one of my new year's resolutions last year. Instead of doing it on a daily basis, I did it sporadically. Still, I managed to unearth a few treasures while decluttering and as I'd like to think made some kids happy. Despite doing that, I still have some items I'd like to get rid of.

There was a rummage sale two months back but though I initially wanted to contribute some items, I felt they would be looked down upon by the organizers as cheap finds.

If S1 holds a rummage sale to dispose of some items prior to the move to her dream home, I intend to participate with some of my stuff.

Now, I have another reason to declutter. My godchild's (and his brother's) school is holding a recycling drive. Acceptable items include paper, plastic bottles, aluminum cans. Like in previous years, the class which gets the most items gets a prize. In previous years, kids' moms got really competitive and would send truckloads of recyclables. My friend Zara and I are just happy to participate (and get rid of clutter at the same time).

What about you? Have you started decluttering or recycling yet for the new year?

recycle, clutter, environment, rummage

Image from this site.

I've never planned a wedding but I can imagine how difficult it must be. The most that I've done preparing for a wedding was to design and execute the misalettes of friends Zara and Allen.

I fully understand why some couples hire wedding planners. It's tedious to coordinate everything from the church to the reception and everything in between especially if both of you are working or abroad.

I've heard of brides expressing dismay over disagreements with wedding planners and changing planners midway into the run-up to the wedding. Yet, there are others who express utter joy about getting what they wished for and their wedding planners getting it all right.

My own take on wedding planners is based on what I've experienced as guest of a wedding and/or reception and my friends Zara and Pink agree with me. The last wedding we attended was an example although we shared similar observations with past weddings that we attended.

The reception was emceed by the wedding planner. She introduced herself and mentioned her company. Later, she mentioned the sumptuous food provided by the caterer. Not once, but several times. She did the same thing for the guys who provided the music. Later, during the reception, a guy went around distributing the photographer's calling card. The wedding planner might not have a hand in this but we felt that it was not proper. After all, the couple paid for all these services. It would have been all right if no mention was made of the service providers. Or just to make everybody happy, one mention would have been enough.

What do you think?

wedding planner, wedding, reception, service providers, caterer, band, photographer

Photo from this site.

Labels: friends, musings

For those of us who frequent Shaw Blvd, Red Ribbon's presence in the area has been felt since the 1980's, even if they changed locations 3 times. I remember going to their branch at the corner of Meralco Avenue after school, walking to the branch beside One San Miguel with cousins when my grandmother was confined at the old Medical City and in later years, eating breakfast at their branch near Astoria Plaza.

While we've had breakfast at the Shaw Blvd branch before, we've largely chosen other places to eat as we found the dishes pretty expensive for the size (the lasagna served to us was very thin, among others), the waiting was much longer than in other places plus the restaurant badly needed a renovation.

Red Ribbon recently opened a branch in the yet-to-be completed carpark building of the Philippine Heart Center. It's a welcome addition to the food choices in the hospital which is largely the hospital cafeteria, the food court with mostly small players and stalls.

In the past, when I had to get a quick bite in the hospital, my choices were either Smokey's or Dimsum 'n Dumplings. Both however are merely stalls operating in the hospital courtyard and so despite the food, are not very good dining options. So when Red Ribbon opened, I considered it a good alternative yet I wasn't actually expecting much regarding the meals given prior disappointments in another branch.

I ordered the Salisbury Steak Meal (PHP 122) which comes with a beef patty drenched in gravy, mashed potato, buttered vegetables and rice plus a choice of drink and cake. I was pretty impressed with the size and density of the burger. The mashed potato was smaller compared to the one in the picture but tasted great anyway.

As the drink choices included in the meal were softdrinks, I had to shell out an extra PHP 10 to convert it into iced tea.

There were 4 or 5 cake choices but I chose one I've heard about but haven't tried before. As I have no point of comparison, I found their Banoffee Pie quite good. If I were to dissect it, I would say the crust is made up of crumbled cookies, bananas line the crust and the whole thing is topped with cream. The sweetness was just right. I just wish there were more bananas and less cream.

The dishes can be ordered on its own, without the cake or drink, as was my original intention. I changed my mind when I saw banoffee pie among the cake choices.

The service was good although the cashier initially looked as if she didn't like me changing my order and having to do it over again. She did anyway and for that, I'm grateful. I didn't have to wait a long time but there were only 2 other diners then so that might not have been a good gauge of how fast service is. The peak hours really test a restaurant's strength. The servers were also warm, greeting customers on their way in and out of the place.

The experience thought me about second chances and not to dismiss one restaurant outright just because of dissatisfaction with another branch.

red ribbon, philippine heart center, shaw blvd, banofee pie, salisbury steak

Labels: taste test

Today marks the beginning of the 2008 film season in the Philippines. The first week of the month was devoted exclusively to entries to the Metro Manila Film Festival.

There is something spectacular about watching a movie on its first day of showing. The images and sound are clear and crisp. The film does not bear scratches. Add to that the upside of being the first among friends to see the movie. One can always threaten those who have not seen the movie with spoilers.

But I am not going to do that to you. I wouldn't want anybody spoiling my movie experience too.

Of the new films that premiered today, I chose National Treasure: Book of Secrets. The movie follows the adventures of Dr. Benjamin Gates (Nicolas Cage) as he goes on yet another treasure hunt. He is again ably assisted by his wife (Diane Kruger), computer expert/book author (Justin Bartha) and his father (Jon Voight). Helen Mirren makes her first appearance as his mother. How they manage to find the treasure is what the rest of the movie is all about.

Nicolas Cage does wonderfully as Ben Gates but occasionally his mannerisms get in the way. The role is a better fit to his age and hairstyle unlike Next.

While there was some romance between Gates and his wife, it is the relationship between his parents that excite the audience more. Jon Voight and Helen Mirren prove why they continue to be at the top of their game despite advancing age.

Comic relief is provided by Justin Bartha. The humor he exudes actually add charm to the character.

And of course, the other elements of an adventure movie are here too. As I don't want to ruin your movie watching, I won't describe it anymore.

The movie presupposes that there are clues, even treasure, hidden in national landmarks. This is somewhat similar to the premise of Da Vinci Code and yet, why do some of us believe the latter when both are works of fiction?

At the end of the movie, there is a hint of another sequel. This is welcome news. If this happens, I'd make sure I'd see it on its first day too.

national treasure:book of secrets, nicolas cage, jon voight, helen mirren, justin bartha, diane kruger

Labels: movies

It was my first time to attend a wedding at the Paco Park so I brought my camera along.

A wedding is a good opportunity to take photographs because everybody is in good spirits and dressed well. The venue also gets dolled up for the occasion.

The nuptial mass was celebrated at the St. Pancratius Chapel inside Paco Park. The church is small and is ideal for intimate weddings. Its antiquity add to the romance of the occasion. The shot of its facade would have been better composed if the green and white striped tent was not there.

Pink was the wedding's motif. And so the bridesmaids and flower girls walked radiantly in their pink gowns, the chapel and reception venue were bedecked with pink and white decoration and flowers, mostly of the sunflower family. The gown's bouquet was a collection of pink tulips.

After the wedding, guests were directed to proceed to the garden where several tables were gathered under a tent. The tent was a good idea to protect guests and the food in the event of rain. Here, we waited until the newly married couple finished with their photo shoot around the park. Dinner and the traditional ceremonies during wedding receptions followed shortly.

The decision to have the wedding and the reception within walking distance from each other is laudable as the guest is spared the trouble of transferring to another location. It also ensures that most guests stay for both events. More often than not, guests elect to just attend one event and miss the other.

The Paco Park is a good choice for weddings and outdoor receptions. It is best for intimate occasions though because of the church's limited seating capacity. As the park is open to the public, organizers should be on their toes to avoid gatecrashers.

paco park, st. pancratius chapel, wedding, reception

Let me start by saying that this is not a paid post. I don't do those. This is also not a review. This is a homage to Max's Restaurant.

The restaurant has been around since 1945 and has etched itself in the consciousness of most Filipinos. Ask your folks how much Max's fried chicken used to cost and most probably they'd remember. My folks do. They'd probably share more information about the restaurant than you bargained for.

The branches are scattered nationwide and while some of us have our favorite branches, frankly I think they're all the same. I love Max's whether it's in Taytay, at the Medical City, in Shangri-La, Roces, EDSA Central or wherever.

Dad likes the sizzling chicken. S1 orders the set menu when we dine out. The accountant that she is prefers it that way, there's less to audit when the bill comes.


My favorite of course is Max's fried chicken. Good thing that they came up with meals. It used to be either half or whole. In this calorie-counting age, how could you in good conscience finish half of a chicken or more on your own? At least, with the meals, you still get a taste of their house specialty.

I usually order the Budget Meal (PHP 158) which is composed of 1/4 Max's Fried Chicken, a cup of rice, macaroni salad on taco bowl, a caramel bar and a choice of drink. Jufran ketchup is but an arm's length away and boy, what an excellent combination. I don't usually use ketchup but when it's Max's and Jufran, I simply cannot help myself.

Why do I love Max's Fried Chicken so much? It's tender, juicy, falls off the bone and just tastes good. It's consistent. It brings back many happy memories. And as I was thinking about it yesterday after my meal, I feel it fulfills the criteria of comfort food. A sure dish to warm the spirit.

And Piolo Pascual endorses the product. Need I say more?

max's restaurant, fried chicken, budget meal, piolo pascual

Labels: family, taste test

Today we trooped to S1's dream home. As we viewed the model units and building proper, I couldn't help but remember my past dreams of becoming an architect, engineer or dabbling in interior design. As a child, I would study Tahanan magazines in detail and make my own rough sketches. I also enjoyed building houses with S2 using her Lego playset. A design comes back to mind. It's pretty simple actually. A suspended bridge above a koi pond is flanked by the kitchen and den. These structures separate the living and dining areas from the bedrooms. In later years, I enjoyed watching the displays set-up by PSID graduating students. The celebrity rooms' display in the then new Shangri-La mall is something I vividly recall. It featured an interpretation of Richard Gomez' would be bathroom.

I didn't know I wanted to be a doctor until I had to fill out the UPCAT application form. I eliminated each one, thought engineering and arthitecture were for men and settled for BS Biology as my first choice and Computer Science as my second. The rest is history.

Thinking about what could have been doesn't mean I regret what I am now. I don't.

Life as it is is also a dream in progress. That doesn't mean I can't look back on past dreams.

dmci philippines, architecture, engineering, interior design, medicine

Labels: family

I practically grew up with the Metro Manila Film Festival. The parade of floats was something I looked forward to every December and was lucky to catch one live while at the Araneta Center. I used to stay up late to see who wins as best actress, etc until the festival got controversial and I lost interest. Some movies I remember better than the others, here's why.

Kape't Gatas. Watching this movie was not planned. We tagged along with mom and some of her girl friends to the Araneta Center. When they decided to watch an adult movie, we watched this movie starring Chiquito and Julie Vega instead. This movie is about parenting.

Babae sa Ulog. I must have been 10 or 11 when I watched this film with family. I marvel at how I was allowed inside when this movie had some breast exposure.

Shake, Rattle and Roll. My sisters, cousins and I must have seen at least one of the series. It must have been the first or second one. It was only recently that I found out that my cousin Ariel didn't like watching these films.

Dekada '70. I watched this with my friend Lea. Not only did it feature stellar performances by Vilma Santos and Piolo Pascual, it was also instructive for us who were kids during Martial Law. Although we lived under Martial Law, we knew little of what it was. The film changed that.

Blue Moon. This was one of the first movies I watched alone while waiting for my turn at the clinic. This is a love story which spans generations. It reminded me of The Notebook.

Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo. Although I like this movie, I was appalled by the number of commercial endorsements in the movie. They were not well-placed either.

Bahay Kubo. This is the most recent film entry that I've seen. You already know what I think about it.

What about you? Is there a Metro Manila Filmfest entry memorable to you?

metro manila film festival, kape't gatas, babae sa ulog, shake rattle and roll, dekada 70, blue moon, kasal kasali kasalo, bahay kubo

Labels: family

One of the earliest Christmas gifts I got (and straight from my wish list too) was a SumoSam gift certificate valued at PHP500. And it came from someone totally unexpected, the management of the restaurant. Marvin Agustin comes to mind the easiest as he is the face of the Japanese food place. I'd like to thank everybody from the group (Managing Director Ricky especially) for a gift most welcome. Haven't I said time and again how much I love this restaurant?

We didn't eat out on my birthday but instead shared a meal at home. So technically, I owed my family a birthday treat. Towards the end of 2007, as it was our village fiesta too, we trooped to SumoSam for a Japanese lunch.

We were the first to arrive in the restaurant and so had our choice of table. Thirty minutes later, guests were already lining up. Talk about good business. And that has been the case since they started, an example of being in the right place at the right time with the right tools, in this instance, wonderful food and good service.


For appetizer, we had the complimentary dilis and our order of Hot Prawn Salad (PHP 258), my favorite. The lettuce was fresh, juicy and crunchy. Resting on it was fruit salad topped with slices of breaded prawns and nori strips. We also ordered Bacon Kani (PHP 168), another of my favorites. The kani is wrapped in bacon and drizzled with teriyaki sauce, a perfect combination. Our main courses were Chicken Teriyaki (PHP 188), grilled chicken with crispy skin yet juicy and tender to the bite and Grilled Salmon (PHP 299), as I like it, fresh, meaty, juicy and without the lansa. Japanese Fried Rice (PHP159) completed the meal. Bottomless Iced Tea (PHP 88), red or green, washed off our meal.

This is not a paid post. Though I used the gift certificate, I paid for the rest of our bill. I've done a review of the restaurant before but felt it deserved a repeat. After all, we ordered more today than during my previous outings alone. Plus, I had a digital camera with me instead of my usual tool.

The gift certificate to Sumosam is another wish come true. (The first was a Princess Bride 20th anniversary special edition DVD.)

SumoSam is so good it's easy to turn wishes into reality. No need to think twice. This is something that you shouldn't just wish for. Make it happen.

sumosam, japanese food, marvin agustin, gift certificate

Labels: family, taste test

As a physician, I see images of compassion on almost a daily basis. Perhaps the most poignant in recent memory is that of 2 sisters.

The older of the 2 sisters was confined in the hospital because of morbid obesity, diabetes and non-healing wound. She has been in the hospital for almost three months and yet the healing was slow. The younger of the 2 sisters came up to me crying because she has limited financial resources yet she cannot abandon her sister because she loves her. She has missed work because of the difficulty in caring for her sister. And it was indeed difficult. Because of the obesity, her sister was mostly in bed because of the inability to ambulate. To sit up or urinate, she had to be lifted by at least 2 people. The younger of the two sisters does all that and much more. Add to that the foul odor that emanated from the wound and the patient's irritability because of her condition. It was not at all easy. And yet the younger sister has to work in order to pay the bills. She reasoned that having lost both parents, they only have each other.

The patient has since improved and discharged but the memory of that cry for help remains in my mind and has made me rethink about my own relationships.

We shouldn't wait until something terrible happens before we show others how much we care. It may be in the simplest of things, preparing a meal, baby sitting, etc.

And showing compassion may be extended to people other than those we know. Examples include donating to the blood bank, signing an organ donation card, etc.

The time to act is NOW.

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This post is part of Spread the Love Now, a joint group writing project of Wade of The Middle Way, Kenton of Zen-Inspired Self Development, and Albert of Urban Monk.Net in cooperation with The Now Watch.

spread the love now, group writing project, compassion

Labels: group writing project

This is an early Christmas gift from Kayers, my musically talented, artistically gifted cousin. I've had this in my mailbox since 2 weeks back but decided to time its first appearance on this blog on New Year's day.


I was, of course, thrilled when I first saw this but restrained myself from blogging about it. Now's the time so permit me to give you an anatomy lesson.

The Philippine flag, Caduceus symbol and prescription are self explanatory. I am, after all, a Filipino physician. I love Kayers' idea of using a prescription for my blog title and byline.

The film reel represents my love for movies. The Princess Bride DVD is a wish granted and the give-away of my first group writing project.

Although I drink Starbucks but I'm not exactly a fan, How NOT to Get a Starbucks 2008 Planner is one of my popular posts based on page views. It's funny how Kayers picked that image among the many in the blog without having access to my Analytics data. The dish is beef tapa, a Pancake House favorite. It represents another item I love to blog about, food.

The other photos are from my travels, the Merlion, the symbol of Singapore which I visited last June; Shangri-La Mactan where I stayed in February 2007 for a medical conference; Bewley's Hotel Ballsbridge where I stayed in Dublin in 2004; and of course the Tian Tan Buddha which I visited with Kayers in Hong Kong in August 2007.

As I start a new year blogging, I'd like to thank Kayers for the new header and you for reading and commenting. 2007 has been a great year as I've found blogging and new friends with it. Here's looking forward to another fruitful year.

Happy new year, everyone!

Keep visiting!

2008, new header, kayers, food, travel, movies, Filipino physician

Labels: family, pinoy blogosphere