Kielbasa and Chilli

I had a revelation while eating alone at home. I told myself over dinner that I wanted to write something that told a little of everything about my life.

Life to me is the alone time I get from work to talk to God about how I am yet again thankful that no bad thing has reached me about my family and friends. Life is the friends I have around that take time out to let me know whats going on with their lives.. its Axel calling me on my sun mobile phone and we’d talk for hours about life, their plans for a new house, a new car, college and friendship. Its Jamie and I spending countless hours on the PC because we just downloaded the final version of Windows Vista and we so want to try it on our laptops. Spending even more hours trying to crack and activate the damn thing before time expires and our laptops become no more than an oversized paper weight. Its Joe telling Jamie and I how the shipping business worked as if we were to open our own shipping lines shipping out boatloads of things we think will sell to other countries. Its us boys spending nights at the love store, spending so much time there that we actually got robbed while I was asleep, Jamie doing his site and Joe naked in the bathroom. It’s the Velosos and how they’ve made me feel so much a part of their family by inviting me over for a couple of Sunday lunches at Tito Bens place. Its Celine whos managed to be part of us boys crew and being the only honorary girl to be part of it by being the only one who can take down Jamie Joe and I in a drinking contest. . We practically had to steal her beer because she was drinking too fast and we were running out of booze. Its us boys, settling down with a cold bottle of beer, conversation and a life long dream to be able to do this in some foreign country. Its Carlo, Kat and I having this short but sweet reunion in Bangkok and talking about everything that they missed about the Philippines. We had to spend for beer at a hotel because apparently 711 and all other convenience stores lock up the beer fridge until 11 am. We just had to reminisce about what life was back in the day. Life is Val telling me about how I should catch up and keep up with my heroes episodes because she wants to know what I think is going to happen next. Her being cool about hanging with Ax, Kd and I in cebu for those blissful couple of days. Its Candice giving me a ring when she was in town and ranting about how inlove she is with this guy and the next minute pointing out how shes so pissed about what hes doing to her. Its her gobbling down all that food and her friends still trying to figure out whether shes really done already or whether that other pack of snacks is going to disappear in a little while. Its Janella telling me about how she thinks my advices are real eye openers and that she thinks so highly of me when infact it’s the other way around because I adore her for being so relentless about life. Its Danna pressuring me to burn her episode 8 and 9 of heroes because her copy was seriously unforgiving because those exact episodes kept her hanging. Its Jacky always ”late for the party and early for bed” because she claims that med school is robbing her out of her career as a far more better socialite. Its Anne and Dave showing KD and I that they too can be a couple where the world doesn’t seem to exist when they are together, giving us a run for our money in the “perfect” relationship department. Its Alex, calling me a schmuck all the time and in the end telling me that im the only best friend shes ever had not to have spent time with.. Life is cebu and all that reminds me of home. It’s the barangay of Dachshund dogs we have namely Pumba, King, Nala, Dorky, Doggie, Bubbles and 4 new puppies that jump on me everytime I step down the car sniffing, licking and trying to get inside the house because the refrigerator is the only known source of food to them. Its my Dad telling me how he misses me and kyle and how he would work for us forever if he could for us just to be able to enjoy life. Its my mom telling us that we were good kids and even better sons because she knows that she brought us up right. Life is also my dad crying like a baby everytime he takes me to the airport because he thinks that I am away from home because I don’t love him that much to be able to be beside him while my mom tells my dad not to be silly. Its Kyle, my brother, and how we always used to fight when we were kids and not agree on virtually anything in this world but now being so close and being vocal about how we enjoy being with each other. Life is Kyle crying when I started schooling in manila and my mom telling me that Kyle said that he missed me. Its Kd’s dad and how he makes me so nervous everytime I come by visiting their house, stuffing my plate as if I was some malnourished African kid who cant grab a bit to eat at home. It’s the Syiaco family whose given me again another glimpse of what a family should be: Dinner, TV, Lectures and the occasional taking of daily supplements and vitamins. Life is KD and how I tell her that I really didn’t think id see her again after that blind date. How all of a sudden she has become part of my life and so much a part of each others lives. Life is how each kiss, each hug, each smile from her meant that I must have done something right for her to be so perfect to me.. and life is her telling me that shes going away for awhile and that its going to be all worth it in the end since shes coming back to continue giving me what I feel is the only reason why life could be so much better.

Old habits die painfully hard

You know how you still have habits that you do as you did when you were a kid?? Well I do, I guess its proof that you really never totally lose yourself as you are growing up. You still keep elements of your childhood and retain them. The world seems to keep on saying that “people change, things change, times make the change” but in the back of my mind, I never really think you do. Its sort of like a sponge that doesn’t really lose its moisture, you just keep sucking in whats being given to you. Simple things like how I skip cracks when im walking or step on the white marbles and not the colored ones because I can imagine them as big gaping holes. I never step on sewage covers because I just have this haunting thought of falling and never being able to get back up. I oftentimes tell myself that these are silly silly things and that im too old to think of things in such a way but it just feels good to not shy away from what you are used to. Childish things really but they make up who you are when you were starting out. Its just amazing how the brain really works. I honestly tell you, with this kind of imagination, little kids will soon be able to do advertising.

You can teach a dog new tricks, however, you can only hope to contain the old habits.

So tell me, what childish things are still instilled in your head today?

-j

Designer's Soiree: Branded Clothes at 50-80 % off

Last Saturday, July 22' 06, my friends and I checked out the seasonal soiree of designer outfits. Branded clothes such as BCBG, Mango, Mark Jacobs, Chloe, Missoni, Rebecca Taylor and many more, all at 50 to 80 percent off!

I promised myself not to spend on anything, but then again why did I nonchalantly put some cash inside my pocket? I thought to myself that just in case I see the perfect dress, I might as well have some money ready instead of borrowing from someone else. With their previous sale, I got this uber cute Laundry dress which received numerous compliments, thank you very much! Also, I got this Ken Aman satin dress which I saw Tyra was wearing the night before at the Tyra Banks Shows. With that in mind, I was ready to find that perfect dress once again.

I asked the organizers if I could come by earlier than what was said in the invitation. She said that they open exactly 12:30pm. I got there 12:00 noon but lo and behold, I saw that the racks have been attacked already! They told me that these women have been there since 11:00! Oh great.


I scoured the racks to fit on promising outfits but I didn't find anything catchy for my taste, either it was too big or I just didn't fall in love with it. At that time, I felt so hopeless seeing groups of ladies carry a number of white plastic bags as they exit the small function room. I didn't want to give up! On my third try, since they put back the items which had been fit previously, I finally found the one. It was a BCBG spaghetti dress with silven sequins.


As I quote my super fashionable friend Sidney, "hello super nice kaya! as that girl said, "it's TOO CUTE!!!!" if i did not force you to buy that "cheap" dress, you would have killed me! good thing i held it for you before other shoppers nabbed it from you! i swear it's a good buy and you look soooooo HOTTTT in it! remember me when you wear that dress!"


He better be right because my wallet just lost weight and will be on a strict diet for many months to come.

**The next Designer's Soiree will be held next month

-k

Must Try Restaurants and Dishes We Recommend

Here's a list of great restaurants we've tried and would be coming back to. We love trying different restaurants so much that we've created a blog for it. I will not be able to post pictures and food reviews now but will do that in future entries. We hope this will help!

***I can't remember some dishes we've ordered but i know for sure that you guys have to try all these fab restaus.

1. Fat Michael's Place (Tagaytay/Bangkal, Makati) - Seafood Pizza with Kesong Puti, Paella Negra, Rosemary Chicken Salad; Quaint, comfortable place, delectable food & ultimately
affordable.

2. L' Opera (Fort Bonifacio) - Salmon Pasta with Caviar; Small Servings but really worth it.

3. CYMA (Shangri-la Mall/Boracay) - Osso Bucco Pasta, Spaghetti with clams, Lamb, Moussaka, Hummus; It's so good, I practically ate here thrice in two weeks!

4. Lolo Dad's (Quirino Ave.) - complimentary bread with garlic herbed butter, tomato+mushroom soup in espresso cups, Beef and veal, Rack of Lamb; No corkage fee for wines, good food, great ambience, it's the perfect date place!

5. Je Suis Gourmand (Fort Bonifacio) -

6. Grappa's (Gb3) - Grappa's Dark Beer, Pizza Marghertita, Rib-Eye Steak; It was so good, we finshed everything in six minutes


7. Heat (Edsa Shang) - Extensive choices of sushi in their buffet, to die for desserts

8. Il Ponticello - Highly recommended pizza with a good wine, other dishes are worth exploring; Must visit on a weeknight for a better dining experience

9. Buon Giorno Cafe & Bistro(Tagyatay) - Pumpkin soup, Cream Dory fish, Rib Eye, Mushroom and Shrimp Ravioli, Moisten Chocolate Cake; Reasonably priced, romantic ambience, high quality food












10. Lumiere (Ayala corner Makati Avenue) - Herbed duck breast, Soft Dory fish fillet on a bed of potatoes;

11. UCC (Fort) - Warm Midnight Decadent Cake with Caramel Sauce and Vanilla Ice Cream; Orgasmic to the bones

12. Brooklyn Pizza (Chino Roces Makati/896-9696) - Deluxe Pizza, Sausage and Mushroom Pizza;

13. Lemon Cafe (Boracay) - Sandwiches, Slushes;















14. Aria (Boracay) - Involtini of Beef, Italian Sausage Pizza

15. Kulinarya (Rockwell) - Cheesesteak Pizza, Shrimp Pasta

16. Asya (Boracay) - Melts in your mouth Lengua, Seafood Paella

-k

One Big Bazaar: the Internet

A year ago, my teacher once said that online shopping activities has yet to improve in the Philippines because of two reasons: First, there aren't much cardholders here as compared to other countries; Second, cardholders are hesistant to share their card number for security reasons. I guess this is true up to now but this doesn't mean that the internet hasn't developed into a shopping haven for Filipinos.


Indeed, online stores have been mushrooming everywhere, more particulary in multiply. The young ones have found a venue where they can sell their goods (new or second hand) online. With just one click of the mouse, everyone in the seller's network will be notified of new arrivals. Photos of the products are posted, ready for viewing by hundreds of prospective buyers.

Instead of using credit cards, there is a safer way of transacting business for both sellers and buyers. On the side of the seller, they can require customers to deposit the payment through his/her bank account and then send the items through courier. On the side of the buyer, if they are doubtful of paying in advance, they could always meet up with their respective sellers at a common area such as malls, schools, etc.

With the abundance of online sellers in multiply, it gets tiring to browse each one. What really catches my eye is the way each site is presented. Good product shots are important as well as feedbacks from other buyers.

Here are some good finds that I've come across with:

1. Tantease - I love their Japanese inspired top called Kyoto (799php). I bought 2: the rose and the red and black one! It's really nice! Also, check out their pants in every juicy color and those sexy shorts, ooohlala. I personally know the owners of tantease so I can assure you of safe transactions.



2. Flatterbuy - It is known for its vintage accessories. I especially love the glamorous earrings they sell here.
3. Urbain - Interesting bags from Cathy Collection, cute but cheap shoes, affordable accesories from forever21... i also know the owner so feel free to shop here.


4. In Her Own Fashion - I actually had a bad experience with this one. The clothes looked really nice in the picture but when I got the item, I was overly disappointed. Well maybe I was just unlucky! I may give this site another shot based on the feedbacks that I've read.



I'm a seller myself. If you're interested, check it out here: Pink Chocolate. It was featured in The Manila Bulletin.

-k

Alive!

People have always compared life to many things, a taxi meter, a grindstone, a bicycle. Well to me life has always been a poker game, be it texas hold ‘em or just plain straight poker. It never really mattered whether you were holding good cards but rather it mattered on how well you held them. With the surprising boom of random poker games, I feel that I can somehow tell each persons character with the way they “call”, “check”, “ante up”, “fold” or “bluff”. There has to be some kind of way of telling a persons fortune through poker. (“that’s right”, you heard it here first) .

Life as we know it is unfolding before our very eyes, every step, every breath, there is a certain reaction that opens up. Living alone, I have learned to live my life. I chose to walk every single day to work because I want to experience life. From people chattering up each other about the days important presentation, to memos they disagree on, to a man struggling to find something to keep him dry from the rainy season (Yes everyone, even here in makati, life isn’t always pleasant to us all). When discussions about poverty arise at the drinking table, I find myself constantly pointing fingers at the government. Condemning them for the bad shape our country has transformed into. “better education”, “better welfare”, “ more opportunities” are only a few of the phrases I howl as I take a sip of my san mig light. I am suddenly stopped by a voice saying “but what the hell have you done to help??” .. was this God calling out? It was the duo of B&C, Brain and Conscience.

With that in mind I have then turned my attention to giving a little something back. Most of the time I always ready 20 Pesos for the kid selling sampaguitas and telling him to keep the flower but instead him screaming “boss kelangan kitang bigyan ng isa” and me retaliating with “hey kid, it’s a green light, your gonna hurt yourself”. I guess he didn’t listen to me because as usual I reactively preferred to communicate to the boy in English. Or that time when I was roaring to go home but had to grab a cab because rain was so bad, I hated the fact that they didn’t want to offer me service. I literally screamed at the top of my lungs in the rain “You HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!”, decided to walk home in the rain and give my 40 bucks to the first needy person I came across. I handed 40 bucks of my hard earned cash to this guy somewhere between makati cinema square and McDonalds. He was scratching his head probably thinking “This guys drenched wet, and he’s handing me 40 bucks? Wohoo!! Life is good!” The rain didn’t even matter anymore as he bestowed to me a look of shock and satisfaction.

Im not saying that life can be experienced only through the needy, I have undertaken helping old people cross the busy streets of Makati, to sharing an umbrella with someone who just needed to get across. They always turn to me and say “thank you, your such a nice foreigner” or “salamat, ingat ka sa Pilipinas” They are usually stomped everytime I turn to them and say “I’m local!”

To me, part of why I choose to continually walk to work everyday is to experience what only people on ground can, LIFE! Life is so beautiful because there are people who do random and untainted acts of kindness. I never wanted anything in return except their effort to move a muscle and offer their smile to me, that I believe is the only thing that makes me want to keep walking.

Life is good, be thankful you have better.

-j