Eve Of 2014
Last day of year 2013. Woke up early to buy food to put on our table. There's this belief that when the year crosses, there should be food on the table to ensure we would not be wanting in the coming year. Preferably, if there would be round fruits and anything "rounded" food.
So, at
The Landmark, bought
puto, macaroons, "round" dedication cake saying "Happy 2014!" in
Golidlocks. Had breakfast at
McDonald's first before proceeding to
SM to buy basket of fruits. The basket of fruits contain 13 different kinds of "round" fruits.
Since our "angels" plan to buy mobile phones with TV (they would be sending back home their old mobile phones), scoured shops in
Glorietta for one. Also, went to Goldilocks in SM to buy
pulvoron.
With all items ticked-off, went home.
Around 4PM, went to
Emerald Garden Restaurant to buy our food. Bought Emerald fried rice, crispy chicken, sweet and sour pork, beef with brocolli, and shrimp salad.
While waiting for 12 midnight, sang ourselves hoarse with videoke (while our neighbors fire-up firecrackers from time to time).
Happy 2014 to everyone!!!
10,000 Hours
Since I was not able to attend the anticipated Mass, went to the mall to attend the Mass.
Was early, so had my breakfast first at
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. My usual is an eggs ben.
After the Mass, bought a discounted movie ticket for
10,000 Hours. While waiting for my movie to start, had a quick Mongolian lunch at
Food Choices, dessert at
Vanilla Cupcake Bakery & Cafe, bought some items in my list.
Seems the movie is loosely based on Sen. Panfilo Lacson, the
Kuratong Baleleng, and possibly where the senator was in hiding when a warrant of arrest was put on him. Hope the audience would not think the movie are the actual facts, similar to what they think about
The Da Vinci Code.
After the movie, scoured possible mobile phone which Mai may be interested. Got flyers on them.
Not EK
The usual bonding of my nieces and nephews are in
Enchanted Kingdom. Not this time. We usually do it every 30th of December. Since we want the numbers for the bonding, did it today.
It is a private pool in
Los Banos, Laguna. Nice thing, did not pay for the use of the venue; just gave tip to the caretaker.
Woke up early to go to
The Aristocrat to buy our food. Have to be at our meet-up place (my aunt's house) by 7AM. Already bought
chichiria and soda in
The Landmark, snacks from
Goldilocks the previous days. My cousin also have some food sent.
While the kids are having a time of their life, went to
The Original to buy
pasalubong of
buko pie.
Christmas Decors
Usually, at the end of my last working day, I walk my way home taking photos of the Christmas decors displayed on buildings. Since I am "forced" to complete the 10-day vacation leave for the year, will take a half-day off tomorrow. Thus, would do my usual today.
Also planned to watch the light and sound show at
Ayala Triangle Gardens. Was told it was cancelled because of the rain. So I left. Learned later, it was only postponed. Duh?!
So, proceeded to
The Landmark to buy
chichiria, drinks and disposable utensils we would be bringing on Saturday for the kids' bonding.
Pagpag Ang Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy
My tradition during Christmas day is to bring my "angels" to the mall for a movie marathon. Previously, we were always at my
Lola's house in
Baclaran the whole day.
The decision I did today which was right was to already purchase the movie tickets online. In fact, when I did so, only a few seats were available for the movie and scheduled time we prefer.
We left the house around 10:30 AM, hoping to have lunch at the mall before our movie. Lo and behold! The mall opens 12 noon. This isn't the case last year. So looked for a restaurant nearby that is open. Found one that opens at 11 AM. Actually, I planned that we would be having our dinner there; but I guess, will have to adjust. I ordered combination (steamed and roasted) hainanese chicken, honey crispy squid, fried rice and barley juice at
Wee Nam Kee.
Some stores in the mall are closed. I noticed most shops that are open are either restaurants, toy stores, boutique/clothes.
Our first movie is
Pagpag: Siyam Na Buhay. Working on Filipino superstitious beliefs and practices when attending a wake. The characters break these practices and untoward incidents happen to them... particularly because the deceased and the family of the deceased practices witchcraft.
After our first movie, had our snack of
Greenwich lasagna and pizza at
Food Choices.
Our second movie is
Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy. The movie rides on the comedy talent of its lead star Vice Ganda. Supported by Ms. Maricel Soriano, known also for comedy, drama. Well, one thing is sure, everyone inside the theater is laughing.
After the movie, we had our dinner at
Kaya Express to top off the day.
Christmas Eve
The usual activity when
Nanay was alive during Christmas eve is that they still keep on cooking. Not for our
noche buena but because we would have a feast at my
Lola's house in Baclaran on Christmas day. All the
tindera in my
Lola's
palengke would be there to join the feast. This is my
Lola's gift to them.
Considering my
Nana, I just order food for our
noche buena. We go to Christmas Mass and eat
noche buena after. My usual is order food from
Amber's. Actually, I place my order during the first week of December for it is impossible to call them when it is near Christmas. My order never fail to arrive. (wink)
In Fear
My movie weekend.
What's nice about completing your Christmas list, you don't have to fight your way among Christmas shoppers! LOL
First bought a discounted movie ticket for
In Fear. Had a quick Mongolian lunch at
Food Choices, cupcake dessert at
Vanilla Cupcake Bakery and Cafe, before proceeding to my movie.
Unlike the usual horror that tries to frighten you through gore or surprises, "In Fear" tries to build-up the feeling just within the confines of a car, three people and winding roads. It tries to shows man's true character when put on a certain position. I like it.
After the movie, attended the anticipated Mass and had dinner at
Watami. Went to
The Landmark to check-out the fruit basket for my niece.
Rustan's for
Reusable BagsGo again. Weh!
Christmas Lunch
Would meet with friends at
Wee Nam Kee (my recommendation) at
Ayala Triangle for our Christmas lunch. What's nice about reunions, hours pass by with all the stories shared. Also, the venue is a good choice because of the food! LOL
N.B. Be sure to try combination (steamed and roasted) Hainanese chicken, sizzling tofu, honey crispy squid and barley juice.
Christmas Dinner
We often meet every Saturday to attend the anticipated Mass and have dinner after. Since we would not be complete on Saturday before Christmas, decided to meet up for our Christmas dinner. After exchanges of gifts, we ate our dinner at
Sugarhouse. c",)
Christmas Lunch and Christmas Dinner
This time would be meeting with friends and former officemates for lunch. We would be having our lunch at
Lugang Cafe. Never liked it (restaurant) but what is important is the company. Even my
kumpare agreed with me (regarding the restaurant). Shhh...
For dinner, it would be with my photography friends. This time, it's different. Food is tops and so is the company. c",) It's a Turkish restaurant called
Combos Bakery: Turkish Restaurant near Rockwell, Makati, also known as
Mehmet's Kebab House. Be sure to try the Iskender Kebab.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Doing my next batch of Christmas shopping. Thus, left early and was at
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf for brunch while waiting for the mall to open. After completing my Brek 'O Day, decided to walk to
The Landmark. Woah! The department store is already open even before 10AM. So, started to check-off items in my Christmas list. Also bought some items at the supermarket. Left all my purchases the package counter... the better to shop for more. LOL
Withdraw from the ATM. Doing it late will have me lining up. Bought a ticket for
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Just strolled while waiting for my movie to begin.
Second of the trilogy, the Dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield, and Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit, has reached the Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, with challenges encountered along the way. Then, there's the love triangle among a she-elf, an elf and a dwarf. Haven't read the book but surfing the internet, it seems the she-elf is not in the book. Well, it gave an excuse for an elf to join the fight (spoiler). There's lots of action and I think this is better than the first. It also have a "
bitin" ending, that it prompts me to surf the internet the ending of the book. LOL
Ate a quick, late lunch at
Food Choices and continued my Christmas shopping at The Landmark. Attended the anticipated Mass and had dinner at
New Bombay.
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First Christmas Lunch
First of several Christmas lunches (and dinners) with friends.
A friend arrived from Australia and we would be meeting her for lunch. She often returns here to spend Christmas with the rest of her family.
Lunch is at
Kaya Express (my recommendation). Aside from having good food, lunch is enjoyable with stories and bantering.
N.B. Be sure to try bude chige and chicken bulgogi.
Christmas Shopping
I am late in my Christmas list. Usually, when December steps in, I have already checked-off the items in my Christmas list. November seems to pass quickly. Must be because of the recent events in the Philippines. Earthquake in October; Typhoon Yolanda in November.
So, decided that my (usual) rest day will be spent on partially completing my Christmas list. I usually do it by batches. This time, it is the batch for my nieces and nephews. Wanted to be there once the mall opens.
Had brunch first at the
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL). Again with my usual visitor, the
langaw (fly). The
mambabarang (witch) is persistent. Yesterday, there was a
langaw at
The Aristocrat and so at
Dekada. But my guardian angel is ever watchful as I, or someone else, gets to see and ward off the
langaw. Was at CBTL until the mall opens.
As soon as the mall opens, checked-off my to-dos.
1) Withdraw
2) Buy toys at
The Landmark
3) Have toys gift-wrapped at The Landmark
Then my niece called. She'll be joining. Alas! Someone to help carry my purchases.
4) Buy cosmetics for teener at
Beauty Bar
5)
Reusable BagsGo at
Rustan's
Brunch at
Pancake House since my niece is hungry.
6) Money enclosure at
National Bookstore--used my points for the purchase
7) Gifts at
Forever 21
8) Load-up
mPass in preparation for our Metro Manila Film Festival movie marathon.
9) More gifts at
Uniqlo
10) Additional gifts at
Bench
11)
Hungry Pac crinkles at
Food Choices
12) Pick-up wrapped gifts at The Landmark
And off home.
My nephew noticed that our internet is kinda slow. I attributed it to the router. Thus, replaced the
Belkin N300 with the
Linksys E1200. Initial observation, connection now does not disconnect from time to time.
Intramuros Tour
Feel that I need to extend Filipino hospitality, decided to guide a vendor of the system we are installing in our company on a tour of Intramuros (learned it is his first time to travel outside his country). Borrowed my brother's driver in the process.
Picked him up at
St. Giles Hotel along Makati Avenue around 9AM and proceeded to
Intramuros. First stop is
Fort Santiago. Met a friendly tour guide who explained to us the items in the museum, also showing us where Dr. Jose Rizal was incarcerated before he was shot at
Bagumbayan. It is also in this cell where he and Josephine Bracken got married two days before the execution. The museum also houses the vertebrae of Rizal that shows where the bullet hit the bone.
And just when we are on way out, if you can't say were lucky, saw a short play about the life and death of Rizal being reenacted.
Then showed him the
Manila Cathedral. Walked our way to
San Agustin Church and checked-out the
San Agustin Museum. Also saw the
Bahay Tsinoy and the ruins of
Customs.
Our next stop is the
Luneta (or
Rizal Park). Because of a wrong turn, stuck in traffic. But, we were able to witness the "Speed Drift Muscle" event at the
Quirino Grandstand.
Given the traffic and possibility of finding a parking space, decided to proceed to
The Aristocrat instead, one of the oldest restaurants in the Philippines, for lunch. After lunch, checked out the
Malate Church, crossed
Roxas Boulevard to view the
Manila Bay.
Then, a drive tour of the CCP Complex (Cultural Center of the Philippines, Star City, Folk Arts Theater, Philippine International Convention Center, Coconut Palace) and SM Mall of Asia. Finally, dropped him off to his hotel.
I, on the other hand, was dropped off at
Glorietta to attend the anticipated Mass. Then, had dinner at
Dekada.
PCCI: Digital Video Essentials
The
Philippine Center for Creative Imaging (PCCI) organized a seminar on "Digital Video Essentials". The income generated on the seminar will be donated to the victims of Typhoon Yolanda. I also have my niece with me to attend the seminar.
There are five (5) speakers of the seminar, namely: Director Dale Custodio, Director Nani Naguit, Production Manager Sheela Alcasid, Cinematographer Pao Pangan, and Director Emman Pasucal. Too bad the announcement of the seminar was short notice. Many would have benefited on the talks.
The
Tilak Hettige also dropped by to say hello. Sweet!
