The Snap and Crackle of the Ad Industry

Mad Men from the creator of The Sopranos. Man, I remember why I love my job.

Ohhh Glam Rock!

The New York Dolls :P

Sexy

1. Crazy - Aerosmith
2. Cherry Pie - Warrant
3. I Touch Myself - Divinyls
4. All Day Long I Think About Sex - JC Chasez
5. We Just Don't Care - John Legend
6. Dirty Man - Joss Stone
7. Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
8. Closer - Nine Inch Nails
9. London Bridge - Fergie
10. Wild Thing - The Troggs

I Can See Slowmo Shopping Montage Shots

Yay! Lisa, our print producer, just told me we get to pull out ALL the clothes and accessories and whatever we want for the print shoot at SM! Ang saya saya!

Those Middle Easterns

Had dinner at Persian Grill last night with Ige and Paolo. We've eaten there a couple of times already, and we always see this cute guy with an attractive gym body hanging around, sometimes serving the people or manning the counter. We didn't know he was Kian Kazemi, Pinoy Big Brother Season 2 third evictee (thank you, Google). Hell, how would we know, we don't even have time to watch tv.

Apparently, Kian, 21, has a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management and personally manages the small hole-in-the-wall Persian restaurant. I still like Ziggurat but this is geographically desirable to us as we can just walk to it from where we all live.

In any case, we love the food there and I would think, judging from the many Middle Eastern customers dropping by, that it's as close to the real thing as we can get.

What's with all these hot, young Middle Eastern guys? They're cute! Most of them, at least. Add to that, Paolo says they have really big........ hearts. Charing.

You can even get to try and smoke hookah like they offer in Ziggurat. The hookah or shisha as it is known in the Arab world was invented by the Egyptians around 5,000 years ago. It's basically a water pipe filled with sweetened tobacco flavor.

I always order the kebab meal which has kebab pieces served in loose, long grain rice smothered in butter (yeah, I don't wanna think anymore this is my automatic order). It comes with an eggplant relish and grilled tomato. Yum! Ige orders everything. He plans to try a new thing each time he has dinner there.

Last night, guess who was there? Uma (remember him?) who was in the first Pinoy Big Brother. In fairness, he looks really good in person. He's not that tall pala.

Anyway, drop by, girls, boys and gays. It's along Valero, just beside the Paseo Center parking lot, harap ng Paseo Parkview condo where Old Spaghetti House is. Medyo nasa gilid sya on the small street where Ministop is. Enjoy!

Project!

Marc emailed to invite me to write for this website he's setting up. No moolah involved, just a lot of fun. It's gonna be quite exciting 'cause I'll get to write about food, restaurants, shops, services, fashion and makeup! He also asked me to write about some ads, critique them and all that, but I don't think that would be a very good idea haha. So I stick to the neutral fun stuff. I get to take pictures, too! Ooooh it's gonna be a lot of fun! I wanna write about Salcedo Village and the treasures at MCS and Little Tokyo and Som's and Evangelista...lots more.

*Giddy*

Project Runway Season 4!

From Heidi Klum's website:

"Project Runway Season Premiere-November 14th

Watch the new season of Project Runway beginning Wednesday, November 14th, only on Bravo (check your local listings). I consider it to be our best season yet!"


Whooohooo can't wait!

I Like

Hotness Even Today

Beauty and Talent

It's unfair. Carla Bruni rocks.

Proenza and Schouler in Tweed

In other news, Lester was able to score a quintessentially Proenza Schouler dress with the bustier-type detail for 80% off at Lane Crawford.

What's even more wonderful is it comes in an interesting tweed material, unlike the usual silk I saw in the US sold at full price. Inggit ako.

oOo

I bought a mannequin off ebay. :P Wala lang.

Proud

I guess my system's not used to sleeping early, I woke up around 11 p.m. And I couldn't get back to sleep.

Before that, phone rang and it was Gino. Gino! We talked forever. Gino's not the senti type and neither am I. We're deadma queens. So when he said, "Aww friend miss you na talaga. We should have dinner next week and continue this talk.", it felt different and it got me teary eyed. When I told him this, he shifted to normal mode. "Potah wag ka iiyak!"

What a blessing he is in my life. He knows me best. He knows me more than I do myself sometimes, it's scary. And still, he accepts me, warts and all. Ano ba...ang senti yuck!

Anyway, we're meeting up next week for a long due chikahan portion over dinner.

So I walked around the apartment. Saw that the trash cans were full. So I threw the garbage out. It amazes me still when I do that despite doing it for years now. I never did that back home. *pat on the back*

Dita on Harper's Japan Cover

Oh man this I have to have. Ahhhrgg.

Showbiz Linggo

My week was showbiz to the max. Like that dinner at Ms. Julie's Wednesday night, we met a good friend of hers who turned out to be the mom of Lara and Paolo Fabregas.

Friday, while scouring for costumes for a print shoot at SM Makati with Johanne, we bumped into Sam Oh (Johanne's college classmate). She shops at the teen section and speaks the same way she hosts! Tip: For fab finds, there's no beating SM Makati.

Eto ang killer. Last night, at the grand dame Tanquilut's 85th bday celebration, flashback flashback flashback... Janet Basco at Marco Sison were special guests. Oh-ha naalala nyo pa ba ang "You Made Me Live Again" at "My Love Will See You Through"? Where were you when this song was number ...one, one, one............(echo).

This morning, had a shoot with "toot toot" and the hubby, that singer, who dropped by. She is SO nice. So real. So down-to-earth and professional. Wish all our talents were like her.

Love or Torture?

"The most attractive are not those who allow us to kiss them at once (we soon feel ungrateful) or those who never allow us to kiss them (we soon forget them), but those who know how to carefully administer varied doses of hope and despair."

- Alain de Boton, Essays in Love

Project Chocolate: Success!

Waya was sufficiently clueless over the surprise Red Box pre-birthday event, she was still wondering why Lala was there when she arrived at what 'supposedly' was a Red Box gimmick with the GASSO biatches.

Yes, it wasn't a party, it was an event. And a riotously happy frenzied karaoke event at that. The karaoke 'spilled' out to the corridor. Of course, great talent NEEDS space. Enough said. :)

The Red Box manager gave us an extra hour at a larger venue FREE. I guess he either got amused...or just thought we got too loud harhar. Paolo took the mandatory pic with waiter mug shot. More pics here.

Clearly the I.O. era has ended. Enter the age of Red Box. What a blast! The perpetrators: Lala, Ige, Karl, Fran, Jen, Julia, Julette, Ene, Paolo, Rap, Kaye and me. Advanced happy birthday Waya! We love ya!

Pictures swiped from Julette. :P

What a Teese

Dita von Teese is sooo glamorous. Love her look.

Just One of Those Things

Things happen for a reason.

oOo

We joined quiz night at Murphy's for the first time last Tuesday. Mike invited us. Of course, we won the Entertainment category. All other categories, we trudged along. If only they had a category for 'Funniest Answer', we'd win.

I surprised myself for being able to answer most of the Business and Management category questions. *Hah* Looks like all those chats with dad, I was actually listening.

oOo


Last night, the Creatives had a party at Ms. Julie Lingan's condo. The boys got piss drunk. Dennis spilled water on me twice. Ige was going to the bathroom every so often and stumbling along the parking lot. Everyone was present, including family guys Berlin and Alex which is rare. Berlin and Alex! The powers of Ms. Julie kakaiba. Met some 'old timers' of Philippine advertising (but don't tell them I used that word). We have a Pamilya Zaragoza shot to remember the night by, shot against a fantastic view of the Makati skyline. We should do this more often. :)

Design-gasm

Panton-inspired fabrics. And Marimekko. Oooohhh.

Mujifabulous

Hey here's news for everyone. Mga bakla, they're opening a Muji flagship store in Soho, New York by September! Am sure Pau will be there as soon as it opens. Tama? Tama. Read about it in Readymade magazine, my second favorite magazine lately next to Dwell, Vogue and Elle.

Next year, am planning my NY trip again, and am glad I don't have to settle for that tiny corner at the MOMA to get my Muji trip in NY (How appropriate, right? To have Muji sold in a museum. And at the NY MOMA, no less).

Back to Readymade: The Small Space Living issue has cool DIY articles on how to make wall-art-slash-stools and lamps from rope lights. I think the latter is more doable. I wonder if there are rope lights at Ace hardware?

Well Well Wellies!

Am pooped. Just came from the Urban Bazaar at Powerplant Mall. But more about that later.

In the meantime, let's talk wellies aka rain boots. At the Saturday Market in Salcedo early this morning, we saw Celine Lopez in a pair. Hers were printed---Pucci perhaps?

After my Nasi Goreng brunch, I bought my requisite veggies (lettuce and arugula), fruits (chico) and protein (a tray of eggs to last me a month).

After, the baklas Ige, Waya, Paolo and I went to Poweplant Mall for the Urban Bazaar. Met my cous in law Rhoda, who's here for a few months from Toronto, who LOVED the stuff in the bazaar.

I did, too. There were an overhwelming number of brands I liked at marked down prices! Jil Stuart (oooh!). Castle Starr (gasp). Philip Lim 3.1 (gasp gasp). Marc Jacobs (gasp gasp gasp). Stella McCartney. Marni. Chloe. Aaaaargh. I couldn't breathe anymore! For half the price they usually are in the US, maybe more. Then again, maybe these are off season stock. . . but still, I was on a buy-only-stuff-for-the-apartment phase.

So I sought refuge at the Ikea stall, where I assuaged myself with the purchase of a cool Ikea Lersta floor lamp for only P1,200.00! FYI, friends! Ikea has a showroom in Makati! I got the flyer so I can go there for more stuff. *

BUT back to wellies. I saw wellies here and there in Powerplant. Printed kinds. But a bit too wide at the top for my taste. Hmmmm didn't I just see similar ones in Target and Walmart for US$10 last March?

Anyway, there was a stall at the Urban Bazaar selling them, and people were buying them like CRAZY. Think Havainas crazy, it was amusing. Called Plueys, it supposedly a US brand and comes in 6 different designs, all in some form of print (see pic showing four styles).

I still prefer plain ones, though, like the ones at J. Crew and of course, my MJ ones (mines are the army green and lime green sole ones).

But suddenly, after seeing everyone buying all those wellies and Celine Lopez wearing a pair, I don't wanna wear mine again unless I DO have to go through floods next time. As if ang haba ng legs ko haha.

Gotta go set up my Ikea lamp. Ciao ciao!

*The Ikea showroom is located in 4977 Enrique St. Palanan, Makati and open from Mondays through Saturdays at 11 am till 7 pm. For info, call 833 5590 or 0917 8131201. You can also email rooms101@gmail.com. If you want anything from Ikea which is not available in their showroom, they can order it for you. No need to go to Hongkong, how cool is that? :)

Ibang Lebel

Mark King. A bass player. Who can sing lead. and who ige says is gay. Bow.

P.S. Is it bad to wish for one of my future kids to be gay?





Leaving Me Now
Level 42

It seems true love is so rare
seems all I've known is deceit
your laughter fills the air
once more I'm sensing defeat

and I suppose you're leaving me now
I was so sure now I'm so full of doubt
and I suppose you'll be leaving this place
just like the smile you wiped from my face
this time

I always gave my best
your memory serves you so badly
some people kill for less
yet I'd still die for you gladly oh, so gladly

but I suppose it's my turn now
to play a scene that's familiar somehow
I turn the page and you walk away
not even love could bring you to stay
this time
walk away
so easy

once more I'm learning
in the depths of my despair
your lies confirming
true love is so rare

and I suppose it's my turn now
there's no more love only feelings of doubt
a midnight sea that swells in your eyes
takes just one look to know I'm still mesmerized

but I suppose you're leaving me now
I was so sure now I'm so full of doubt
I turn the page and you walk away
Not even love could bring you to stay
this time

Leaving me now
leaving this place
I watch you walk away with an easy grace

Grammar Police: In Furnace, Malamig Ngayon

Meron na palang apartment sa Makati na may furnace. In furnace, mura lang siya ha. And they accepts daily rate pa.

An Excuse to Finally Wear My MJ Wellies

And so I did. Hehe.

Let It Rain!

I looooooove the rain. I loooove the cool air. I just wish I enjoyed it more. Am feeling better. No more temp, just a little bit of weakness and light-headedness when I sit up. A slight dizziness when I stand up. I think I still need to go to the doctor just to make sure. Thanks to Bonsai, Waya, Rob, and Francis for dropping by with meds, conversation or food. Waya even had a can of organic Tomato soup. And Gino for being with me kahit phone lang. Naks parang award show.

Ang funny talaga ng parents ko, I called my dad to coordinate with him the travel plans for my cous in law over the phone. He was, as usual, his ultra-focused, Capricorn self. That's why he's so good at getting things done, he has this uncanny skill of being so laser focused on a goal.

But sometimes, he forgets the little things, the 'soft skills'. Well one major example, asking ME, his sick daughter, how I was. When I put down the phone after talking to him, I stared at the phone and said: "Oh anak, kumusta ka naman? Okay ka lang?" Then I went back to bed.

Hahaha I'm not even hurt anymore it just makes me laugh. Then again, he can't multi-task. Sorry talo ko sya dun.

oOo

Happy birthday to my sweet sis-in-law Franny!

oOo

It's amazing how productive you can still be even while stuck at home, thanks to the telephone and the internet. Laundry. Check. Mineral water. Check. Gamot. Check. Groceries. Check. Bank stuff. Check. Stuff for work. Check.

Ahhh Bed Weather!

Normally, I would be loving this weather. But then I am home, sick. :( Thank God for DSL and Tapa King delivery, I'm having champorado and tuyo right now. :)




Miracle
Rick Astley

Many roads Ive travelled
And faces Ive seen
Each tells a story
Of what might have been
A missed golden moment
But life still remains
A search for the innocence
Somehow we lost on the way

And we all need a miracle, that I truly believe
Yes we all need a miracle, and I believe my miracle is you

Now the silence that follows
The last curtain call
I dont know anyone
Who has come through it all
You gave me direction
A part in your cast
No longer make believe
Now that I know it will last

Cos we all need a miracle, that I truly believe
Yes we all need a miracle, and I believe my miracle

And I believe my miracle
I believe my miracle
Yes I believe my miracle is you

Common Denominator

Peter Som. Thakoon Panichgul. Behnaz Sarafpour. All have one thing in common.

It's a sign.

Marc Jacobs, Naked

Well, almost. Check out the out.com pics here. He's hot. Add the talent. Hotter. Now, if only he were straight.

oOo

Look at those costumes! Since it was screened at last year's Cannes, Daft Punk's Electroma has captured the fascination of fashion fiends and stylemeisters. Not surprising. You can't help but stare at all those fabulous costumes. This is a super-edited version of the 70 min. silent film. The gist: two robots dressed by Dior Homme (whoooooo) struggle in their desire to become humans.

Adele - Daydreamer

Kate Nash - Foundations

Love, love.

Bat for Lashes does Springsteen

Cool Video, Awesome Sound

Longanisang Hubad, Banker's Lamps and Cuaron Saturday

Work till almost midnight Friday night for a presentation for Monday. Pao was at Bonsai's having drinks with Aaron. I was too pooped to join them.

Early Saturday, I had to give Pao the office keys. He asked if I had breakfast already. I said no. He asked me to go down and go to Saturday Market with him. I hopped off bed, washed the sleepiness off my eyes and went down.

It was a nice, cool day. The weather reminded me of being near the beach. Pao and I went our separate ways and I ended up buying Longanisang Hubad with rice at the Chicken Bacolod table for brunch. Yum. We all converged and joined Mica, Nina and their boylets in one long table. Later, bumped into Waya and family. Fran. Ige. Everyone was at the Market as usual.

After, Ige, Pao and I went to MCS (deebeedee!). Did the usual stops: Swap Meet (asked about the banker's lamps -P2k each), Book Sale (Pao found an Andy Warhol diaries hardbound book) and of course, Candy's DVD stall. I eyed a movie featuring Louise Brookes (Louise Brookes!) who looked the lovely gamine she was on the cover and one of Alfonso Cuaron's first movies about AIDS called Solo Con Tu Pareja (Love in the Time of Hysteria). Well, I loved the art direction of the cover and Y Tu Mama Tambien and got Cuaron instead.

I'm glad I did. I loved the simplicity and beauty of the movie's unfolding sequence of events. You can see from the young Cuaron (he was I think 29 at that time) that he is a storyteller at heart, not dependent on effects or editing or some technologically advanced technique to tell a story. And this is why I like the way he directs more than I do (shall I say it?) Steven Spielberg.

Don't get me wrong. I love Spielberg and his fantastic, larger than life movies. But there is something to say about a director who can just squeeze your heart out using an excellent storyline that's directed simply and beautifully. And this is something, I think, that Filipino movie directors should take to heart. It all starts with a good script, not just a good budget. Mexican films, for a while, mimicked that of the Philippines. It was nowhere. And if you want to find out how we can do something about it, they should listen to the DVD's interview of Cuaron. I think, slowly, with the young directors coming out lately, we might come out with our own Cuaron soon.

In the interview, he talks about how the first ever movie he saw at age 7 moved him so much and probably influenced him to become a director. The movie? The magnificent Bicycle Thief! Which moved me SO much (I cried), I made it the basis of a radio drama school project in college but set it against a Filipino context. Mark Escaler's Film class rocks! It's practically one of the few subjects I had in college that a) I enjoyed to bits and b) is still of great help in my line of work today (well, aside from Fr. Cruz's Film Theory class) when I need visual pegs or ideas for commercials we have to come up with.

I can see now the influences on Cuaron's work coming into play. For example, in Solo Con Tu Pareja, he got 2 non-actors from Mexico's Japanese embassy to play the two Japanese tourists in the movie. The great Vittorio de Sica did the same in Bicycle Thief, choosing largely non-actors to play parts in his movies.

I am no Harry Potter fan (yes, I'm a freak) but just to see how Cuaron did it, am gonna watch Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Oh and of course, The Children of Men.

And guess what? The movie's main character, Tomas, is, well what do you know, a copywriter!

My Vinluan

The guys met up wth Pau for dinner last night before he leaves for New York again. Dinner at 121, dessert at Waya's and drinks at Pao's place. Got my painting na! Thanks Pau! See ya next year!

Energy!

"You don't need much of anything to start – just energy and enthusiasm. Don't let anyone tell you there is a right way to do it." - Ruben Toledo

I Love Paul Smith Pink

PAUL SMITH has three women's collections out: Black, Blue and Pink. Black is evening, blue is classic dressy and Pink is casual and girly with flowery prints.

I like the styling and the subtle smokey makeup of this spread. I particularly love the hair! I wish I had hair cut like that with the soft bangs. Am gonna grow out my hair na.

Yung katawan.....hmmm good luck na lang hahahaha.

I Know Someone Whose Life Went Like This

A bit tragic. But he ends up knowing what he wants. :P

Billy Brown

by Mika

Oh Billy Brown had lived an ordinary life.
Two kids, a dog, and a cautionary wife.
While it was all going according to plan
Then Billy Brown fell in love with another man.
He met his lover almost every single day
Making excuses through his (dodly) holiday
(Unto religion that he said and duty found
They didn’t know his faith was (earthlic) bound)

Brown…Oh Billy Brown.
Don’t let the stars get you down.
Don’t let the waves let you drown.
Brown…Oh Billy Brown.
Gonna pick you up like a paper cup.
Gonna shake the water out of every nook.
Oh Billy Brown.

Oh Billy Brown needed a place, somewhere to go.
He found an island off the coast of Mexico
Leaving his lover and his family behind.
Oh Billy Brown needed to find some peace of mind.
And on his journey and his travels on the way,
He met a girlie who was brave enough to say,
When they made love he shared the burden of his mind.
Oh Billy Brown you are a victim of the times.

Brown…Oh Billy Brown.
Don’t let the stars get you down.
Don’t let the waves let you drown.
Brown…Oh Billy Brown.
Gonna pick you up like a paper cup.
Gonna shake the water out of every nook.
Oh Billy Brown.
Brown…Oh Billy Brown.
Gonna pick you up like a paper cup.
Gonna shake the water out of every nook.
Oh Billy Brown.

Oh Billy Brown had lived an ordinary life.
Two kids, a dog, and a cautionary wife.
While it was all going according to plan
Then Billy Brown fell in love with another man.

Rainy Thursday

Having morning espresso. Weather's divine! Time to bring out the Winter Collection outfits. Time to layer with abandon. Let's go mga bakla!

oOo

Finally, an art exhibit that's not in far-off QC or Ortigas. Paulo Vinluan's third solo exhibit at Blanc in dela Costa St., Salcedo Village. Practically next door to where we live. More info at the Blanc website. I am not saying this because he is my friend and co-worker, but I really like Pau's work. I asked Pau to set aside this small painting with rosettes and a naked girl in a coffee cup. Too pretty and too bizarre to pass up. It's till the end of the month so if you haven't dropped by, where have you beeen??

But really, the exhibit opening wasn't your normal one 'cause as usual, it was the usual camwhoring session with the guys from work.

We're planning some sort of dinner for him tonight here in Blanco. It's gonna be fun, fun, fun like exploring Carolina's.

Arg I wanna go back to New York!

oOo

Who was it who said the 30s are the new 20s? I agree.

oOo

I just might have a very beautiful story to tell my grandkids. Let's see.

Ayoko Na

Lapit na.

I Wish

Please get me excited. I am so not.

oOo

Vanity Fair's best dressed list is out! Anderson Cooper is in the list. I mean, I like him, but I don't really think he's well dressed. Oh and THE Anna Wintour's daughter, Bee Shaffer, is in the list. Am happy to see Hedi, Sophia and the Toledos on the list. Those Toledos are just too cool. And they're real, too, not floating about in a world all their own.

Women
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Princess Alexandra of Greece
Marjorie Gubelmann
Princess Mafalda of Hesse
Fran Lebowitz
Michelle Obama
Bee Shaffer
Tilda Swinton
Ivanka Trump
Renée Zellweger

Men
Tiki Barber
Jonathan Becker
Count Manfredi Della Gherardesca
Lapo Elkann
Richard E. Grant
Lenny Kravitz
Luis and Rafael Medina
Hidetoshi Nakata
Nicolas Sarkozy
Gay Talese

Couples
David and Victoria Beckham
The Earl and Countess of Cawdor
Damon Dash and Rachel Roy
Frédéric Fekkai and Shirin von Wulffen
Mitch Glazer and Kelly Lynch
Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore
David Lauren and Lauren Bush
Viscount and Viscountess Linley
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
Ruben and Isabel Toledo

Fashion Professionals
Amy Astley
Tory Burch
Jefferson Hack
Liya Kebede
Alexandra Kotur
Margherita Missoni
Stefano Pilati
Michael Roberts
Katherine Ross
Hedi Slimane

Fashion Originals
Peter Beard
Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele
Lisa Eisner

Hall of Fame
Alba Clemente
George Clooney
Marina Rust Connor
Anderson Cooper
Sofia Coppola
Jemima Khan
Anna Piagi

oOo

Ennui–noun

a feeling of utter weariness and discontent resulting from satiety or lack of interest; boredom: The endless lecture produced an unbearable ennui.

—Synonyms listlessness, tedium, lassitude, languor.

oOo

"Ennui has made more gamblers than avarice, more drunkards than thirst, and perhaps as many suicides as despair."

- Buddha

I Am Thundercats

Friday evening, had dinner at New Bombay with Paolo, Ige, Waya and Jay. A nice change from 121 haha. Then a little bit of guitar playing, singing and wine at my place. They left past midnight. I was asleep as soon as I hit the sheets.

Saturday morning, was in Greenhills and Ortigas whole day, errands here and there. Later, in the early evening, had Alabang dinner with Gino at the despedida party of the dela Fuente's in Pacific Village--awesome Pamplina soup! They sure do know their food. And what lovely, gracious hosts. I finally met Gino's clients, the one's he's been raving about who're so nice they're practically friends now. I discovered one of them is married to the brother of a batchmate, Tina Aruego. JV, the husband, used to be one of my clients when he was still with Whitehall. It was a pleasant evening and I'm glad I agreed to go.

Midnight, Gino dropped me off at the Austin Powers suite of Victoria Court for Julia's bday party. It was fun as usual. Ana Abdon made an appearance. Paulo V from New York. Anton from Singapore. The usual suspects. Paolo A wore his kilt. Kaka.

Around 1:30, Francis picked me up for a night cap. We talked a lot. But I was just too pooped to keep on going. He noticed I had no TV at home. I don't need it, I said. Yeah, he agreed. I watch the news off the net. Was home 3 a.m.

Sunday morning, woke up at 8 to pick up mom then Rhoda to go to Binondo. Walked around Ongpin and Raon. Toured her around the San Lorenzo Shrine. Eng Bee Tin. She bought a bit of jewelry and some watches. Then Meisic Mall for cutesy cheap stuff. She saw tubo being chopped up for the first time on the street. Watched the bakers at Baker's Fair make those little tasty square thingies that smell divine.

For lunch, we were tired and saw the Chowking in Raon. Brought her there instead of President's 'cause it was a long way off where we were.

Since we wanted to make sure Rhoda wouldn't get a major tummy ache because of not-so purified water, we asked the store manager what kind of water they used for the halo-halo as that has been the only reason why Rhoda hasn't had any halo-halo yet.

I discovered that Chowking branches all have their own water purifier which they use for ALL their food. Awesome. Finally, Rhoda had her first taste of halo-halo. We have a picture to record this moment in history hehe.

Mom and I bought little Caitlyn small, embroidered red kung fu style shoes with a strap over them. They'd look adorable on her feet.

Oh, just had to mention that I saw one of dad's letters from Equitable PCI informing him of the merger, and the letter was superduper aligned with our current campaign. It made me smile to read the copy I wrote on the top of the letter informing my dad of the transfer of his account to another BDO branch. I xeroxed the letter to show the people at work.

In Raon, I bumped into a Korean surplus store where they sell these nice dark and light wood chair for a steal! They're the sort you'd find at Dimension or Bo Concept for more. I was able to haggle for P800 each. Am still trying to get them down to P500 for 4. Hope they give in. I got their number so I can get back. There was also a single seater sofa which looked extremely comfortable for P2k plus and some other nice furniture. I need to pick them up myself to get a discount as they don't have a truck for delivery.

The laugh of the day was driving by Raon street and discovering Ronquillo street! Well, Rhoda is now a Ronquillo after marrying my cousin, and so she scrambled on the other side of the car just to take a pic of the street sign it was hilarious. I had to slow down for her to take it. Laugh trip. I remember, in my mom's home town, the street where my lolo's house is located is named after one of my great grandfather's. Hmm. Maybe I should take a pic of that, too.

Was so exhausted, I took a nap in the car. Dropped off Rhoda in Makati. Back to QC. Had a power nap on the sofa. I wasn't even able to change outfits and freshen up.

With still the smell of Binondo's star anise on my clothes, off to Podium for family dinner at Gloria Maris with the little girls and then coffee at Dome. Dad drove. Was so busog. We had shabu-shabu (with free facial har har) and three way Peking Duck again. Burp.

Am so pooped. My weekends are busier than my weekdays. I can't do this anymore. I think I need to go back to boxing. Next weekend is fully booked already. Sheesh.

P.S. Rhoda and I had a little talk about one of our relatives while I accompanied her to smoke. Teehee needless to say, I discovered we think the same. I'm happy we get along pretty well.

Advertising Does Technobribes

Free ringtone via Bluetooth promo. And music sampling through headjacks playing music for free in Subways. Oh-ha.

Discovery Friday

Italian dinner was a success! Marc taught me how to use my espresso machine. It's been on display for the longest time, I felt intimidated by all the little accessories. Easy lang pala.

Dinner was rich puttanesca (from scratch), homemade veggie pizza, walnut/arugula/lettuce salad with Italian dressing, pesto bread (from bottle haha) and pineapple upside down cake (from Waya-grabe sarap). Bog-su. Gino brought Chilean red, which tasted great with the spread. Used my new wine glasses yehey.

Because of last night, I just realized that:

-I need more forks, spoons and knives (for change of courses)
-I need a strainer for the pasta
-I need serving plates/trays
-I need more chairs

oOo

Alam mo, we can hold our own in the world. Just look at what Locsin does. Pwede itapat sa other furniture designers in the world. There are a lot more talented designers like Budji Layug and Cobonpue but I just happened to stumble into his website.

oOo

Eto the simplest simplest way to help the planet since ALL of us Google for whatever reason, including Googling our name (aminin nyo ginagawa nyo yun!): use Black Google. Marc made kwento this to me last night and I was like, that is an awesome idea.

It works this way. All white web pages, apparently, use about 74 watts to display versus only 59 watts for a black page. Using Black Google would save 750 MWh a year in electricity. Read the FAQ here. It's a small thing, but with a lot of people doing it, every bit helps. PLUS black is always fashionable anyway. :P

Am blogging this while Manong Reuel, a very nice, reliable staff sa building, is setting up the fishnet curtain over my bed (bakla!) and my white Chinese lamp over the bed. Winner!

Finally

Wine, Perhaps?

Having bad ass guests tomorrow night for dinnah, my bestfriend and his partnah. And am gonna get to use the vino glasses for the first time. And the cobalt blue fleur de lys napkins. And the white ceramic Gourdo plates and cups and saucers. All four sets of them. *Kabaklaan galore""

Ooooooooooohhhhhhh

Color kung color!

Would you believe these interiors are in Santorini, Greece? Now if I went all out on color, this would be a nice combination! Check out the candy pink room. You'd think the idea preposterous, but it plain works. Am partial to the turquoise and white combo though.