Vigil-ance

For more than 5 years, Mark and I had this Holy Week tradition of hearing Easter Vigil mass at the Franciscan Chapel Center in Roppongi. And while it's been 2 years since we last went there, I still remember the vigil mass as if it were yesterday.

When we arrive, the entire chapel would be dark. The parish goers are then asked to wait by the corridor for the official start of the vigil. They would hand us candles, then we're led to the garden for the first part of the ceremony. Since it's Springtime, the cold air mingles nicely with the warmth from the flames.

Then, the congregation would head back into the building and into the main chapel. Oftentimes, people would go inside in a rush since the seats are limited and the mass is long. Mark and I would usually take the same spot, which is on the left side of the altar. (Although we sat on the right side during our last mass in 2016.)

The chapel is still pitch dark by the time we arrive. It gives the chapel a feeling of serenity and calm. They would have the traditional 7 readings, and somewhere in between is my all-time favorite "Go down, Moses." (Which I've written about several times already.)

Here's my super duper favorite part. For the first time in 40 days, the congregation once again sings the "Gloria", and all the lights in the chapel come on. This is always a breathtaking and emotional moment for me.

After the readings and the gospel, the Litany of the Saints is sang. This signals the procession to the basement where the Easter baptism occurs. Again, this is another emotional highlight for me.

Everyone then takes a short break to let the new Catholics change clothes, and everyone heads back up to the main chapel for the resumption of the mass. Once it begins again, the new Catholics walk around the chapel, hand-in-hand, amidst songs and applause from the mass goers. This is the part when my heart really swells with joy, seeing new Catholics - young and old - proudly joining our family.

Then, the mass concludes, and we all greet each other a Happy Easter. And usually, the priests will also be in front of the Chapel to greet everyone as well.

After that, we have dinner in Roppongi, or go back to Nakano.

That's how we usually spend the Easter Vigil, and I look forward to doing it again soon.

FMM: Good Friday Love

Today, we celebrate the ultimate sacrifice and act of Love that He gave us.

Good Friday brings back so many memories from different stages of my life. From my childhood in Malinao where we'd watch the "Siete Palabras," to the more recent Good Friday masses that Mark and I would attend in Tokyo. (Our favorite part of the Holy Week mass in Roppongi was the singing of "Go Down Moses".)

While hearing the Passion of the Christ in church, and hearing the priest talking about the love that was given to us through death, one song suddenly played in my mind. It was the World Youth Day song in 1995, "Tell the World of His Love."

This song has many meanings for me. We actively participated in WYD 1995 as part of Yuppeace, and we practiced this song - both words and actions - almost every night after work. And of course, the culmination was performing it in Luneta for Pope John Paul II.

Gosh, this song is already 23 years old! Which makes it perfect for today's Friday Magic Madness.



Truer words have never been spoken. Now, more than ever, we should really tell the world of His love.

Two wrong!

I'm not really a grammar Nazi, but grammatically erring signs posted in public are another thing.

This one doesn't just have grammatical errors, it has spelling errors, too.

Proofreader, please!

CLassy

CL is one of the reasons why my interest for 2NE1 was piqued. She's such a total performer! She can sing, she can dance, and she can command the stage.

After 2NE1 disbanded, there wasn't much news about her. That's until the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeonchang where she performed in the closing ceremony - which was a fantastic performance.

She's now making an indelible mark in the international scene, and proof is her 73 questions video for Vogue. Yup, the same one Anna Wintour did splendidly.


(It's amazing how she answers in 2 languages so flawlessly!)

Looks like we'll see more of CL soon.

Mari me

After a seeming drought in designer collaborations, Uniqlo is coming up with several ones for Spring/Summer 2018.

The first off the gates are Uniqlo U by Christophe Lemaire, and Ines Dela Fressange. And in a few weeks, they'll be launching their design collaboration with Marimekko.

I've seen the lookbook for this collection, and one piece stood out:

This dress is definitely the money piece of the collection!

Hopefully, this will be available here in MNL. If it is... sold!

Crowning glory!

While I was reviewing and deleting photos from my phone, I found this set of shots that I took in HKG a month ago.

It was an exhibit of Cantonese Opera headdresses which was on-going - that time, at least - at Times Square in Causeway Bay. As a huge fan of the art, both the singing and the costumes, it was definitely a must check-out.

As expected, the headpieces and crowns on display were amazing! From the design, craftsmanship, ornateness, detail, and so on and so forth, it was just mind-blowing!

The Cantonese Opera, as well as exhibits like this, makes me miss HKG more.

LFLTAT: Blackbird

Avian prints are still very much around. It's proof that it's not a one-time fad but a fashion mainstay.

But here's something new. Avian embroidery! Particularly on this black skirt from Kamiseta that I got on sale.

At first glance, it might look like a bit too much. There's lace, there's a ribbon, and of course, the embroidery. Strangely though, the combination works.

The busy skirt needed a counterpoint. And I found it via this black flutter sleeved top from Uniqlo, also on sale.

This combination is perfect for the "bird" reference. With the sleeve that look like wings and the embroidery that really has wings, it's a fashion match!

And did I mention that this ensemble cost just a little above P800?

About last Saturday

It's always a great feeling when you see former students.

So, the great feeling was multiplied exponentially when more than half of the 4MC-ADV Class of '17 showed up in school!

Props to Pat and Colleen for organizing this! And we should get together again soon!

FMM: You are getting sleepy... you are getting sleepy...

Whenever the sandman is delayed in visiting me, I put on the 80s music playlist on Spotify, and it's off to Slumberland in a few.

Today, while trying to sleep to the tune of 80s ditties, one that I haven't heard in decades popped up the playlist. And it had me sitting up and enjoying the tune - word per word, second by second.

It was "Hypnotize me" by Wang Chung.



True to its title, it hypnotized me to sleep right after the song finished.

What sorcery is this? Part deux

The stretch of P. Tuazon, especially between SM and EDSA, is usually congested in the mornings. It isn't uncommon to see cars and buses stuck in between that stretch of road. And I know this since it's my route to work everyday.

But today, Thursday, I pass by the same area and see this:

Whoa! What's happening here?

Whatever it is, it's definitely a good thing.

Park that!

After much anticipation - and over 2 years of construction - the elevated park along Julia Vargas avenue is finally open!

And it's nice!

We should have more wide, common spaces like this around the metro.

Ready for it!

I've seen the trailer for Steven Spielberg's new film, "Ready Player One." I've actually seen it several times. Actually, I've seen it A LOT of times.



Strangely, it feels like a compilation of 80s fantasy and sci-fi films. It's a little bit of Tron with a little bit of Labyrinth with a little bit of Transformers with a little bit of Never Ending Story and a little bit of Blade Runner. In short, it's a mish-mash of everything I love about 80s films.

(Oh, and it has Van Halen in the background. How 80s is that?)

I'm so on board!!!

LFLTAT: Sophia's choice

For some strange reason, full skirts and sleeveless tops remind me of a young Sophia Loren.

It's an outfit that I imagine her wearing while walking down the Amalfi Coast during summer. And it's a look that I was able to recreate for less than a thousand, thanks to the weekend sales.

The top is from Kamiseta, and it's an off-shoulder top with ribbons.

Then, there's this skirt from Meg. It has a summery, yellow hue, and the cut is full and flowy.

Together, it's an outfit worthy of Sophia, and it costs less than P800!

Ciao Bella!

Summer re-leaf

Remember my wrapper theme from Christmas 2016?

 The leaf print inspired by D&G?

Well, the leaf print is back for summer. And it's on swimsuits in SM Department store.

What goes around comes around.

An emotional Piece

While watching a series of blind audition videos for "The Voice - US," I noticed one song that was often used for auditions. Entitled "Piece by Piece," it's a song about a child being abandoned by her father.

It's definitely an emotionally charged song. From the lyrics, to the melody, to the way it was sung - it's a beautifully heart-wrenching song.

Curious as to who the original singer was, I was pleasantly surprised that it was from one of my favorite American Idol alums - Kelly Clarkson!

It was a song that she wrote, and it was about her relationship with her estranged father and her current husband. She performed it during the last season of A.I., and her performance was as emotional the song itself. (Keith Urban was an emotional mess!)



After listening to this song that she wrote and interpreted, it's no wonder she was the first American Idol!

FMM: Inexplicable Language

For me, Friday Magic Madness actually came on Thursday.

While walking through Megamall, this song came blaring out from one store:



Yes! It's the classic 70s ditty from The Dooleys, "Body Language," or better known as "the Pia Moran song." Despite the song being almost 40 years old, it's still inexplicably catchy and infectious.

Enough said. Let's sing - and dance - the Body Language.

So, it's a fake?

Was looking through my HKG photos and found this gem of a shot which I took in Mongkok.

It's a Mini So knock-off! Complete with the deceiving logo.

They fake everything these days.

Top gone

It's quite alarming that a lot of the Robinson's Specialty brands are closing at Shangrila Plaza.

First there was Topman, then Miss Selfridge, and now, this:

Hopefully, they're not shuttering stores anywhere else. We need our British influence in fashion.

Sketchy Stories: Tiers of joy

When my niece invited Ate Bullet to be a principal sponsor on her wedding, Ate couldn't resist.

After the invitation, the first question that popped in her mind was:  "What to wear? What to wear?"

The motif was royal blue, and Ate already had a few gowns in that color. She decided to try them on, and while they were all nice and chic, it didn't have the grand-ness fitting of a principal sponsor. So, it was time to sketch a new gown for her.

Ate's parameters were simple, she wanted to look like a young, chic and fashionable "ninang." So, none of those usual "ninang" trappings like flowy chiffon or shiny organza. No. Nada. Zip. Zilch. None of those fabrics, please.

On a routine visit to my fabric haunts, I found this very ornate Royal Blue lace which had a net effect and a floral cenefa. Taking those elements and making them the base of the design, this was my sketch.

It's a deep-v necked, 3-tiered gown. It played with the natural composition of the fabric and played with the prints and proportion.

And because this was a church wedding and Ate Bullet couldn't be too daring, a capelet with feathers was added to the mix.

Joy looked at the design and fabric, and her reaction was: "Ganda. Haute Couture. Pang-Grammy Awards. Perfect!"

The finished product lived up to her description, and to what I envisioned in my head. The gown was unique and super flattering. The tiers made the difference, and made Ate look more than just a "ninang" but a "modelesque Amazon ninang."

And the capelet was that "Haute Couture" touch that Joy declared.

It's such a joy to see a sketch come to life!

Treasure!

Lest we forget, here's another dish that I had to eat before flying back to MNL.

Lok Bo Fan!

My Cantonese colleagues explained this to me before. The name literally means "6 treasure rice" and refers to the 6 items that top the steaming hot rice. They are: char siu, roast duck, chicken, sausage, egg and veggies.

You can buy this at most local HK roast shops, but my go-to places for this dish is either MX or Cafe De Coral.

Good thing I was able to catch this before I left.

Cat-atonic

It was such a joy to see this cat lazily lying on the pavement, unmindful of people passing by and the ruckus around the area. It was literally unfazed by all the action around it.

Don't you wish you can just do that everyday?

Join the club

Here's proof that a good chick flick knows no age.



Four of my favorite actresses, all at their prime, in a very promising and funny film.

Sign me up this book club now!

FMM: Feeling free!

We're on the 2nd day of the Ad Summit, and it's pretty cool because we get a lot of free stuff.

There's the free loot bag, free lunch and dinners, free pies and sundaes, and the delegates' favorite - free booze!

That's the inspiration for today's Friday Magic Madness song. It's a 90s classic from Janet Jackson and Luther Vandross, and it's a song which was on the top of the charts that decade.



Yup, the best things in life - and the Ad Summit - are free!

Oh how the mighty have fallen...

A few years ago, Red Ribbon had the chicken empanada. The scent would trail out of the store and it would call to me. And it was impossible to resist.

Then, they discontinued it. Boo to that!

Then, last month, they brought it back. Woohoo to that!

Today, I had to pass by Red Ribbon to try it.

And it was the biggest let down. Ever.

The crust was cold and hard, the filling was sparse and stingy, and it didn't even taste as good as I remembered it.

I guess that's that for the Red Ribbon empanada.

Getty outta here!

Check out this hilarious photo! (For advertising folks, at least.)

Not only did this store in Fa Yuen Street filch a photo from Getty, they didn't even bother to remove the watermark.

Hilarious!

Berry nice!

In celebration of the Sakura season, McDonald's in HKG came out with a special edition strawberry series inspired by the pink hues of the sakura.

Strawberry? I'm definitely on-board!

Strawberry waffle cone + Strawberry soft serve + Strawberry cookie = Strawberry bliss!

It's definitely tastes as good as it looks.

I couldn't leave HKG without...

Thanking Him.

The first order of the day was doing what I usually did when HKG was still my 2nd home. Going to Rosary Church to hear mass. And even if it's been 8 years since I left HKG, the church still feels familiar, and the people, too.

Then, it was off to Landale Street for another must-do.

Eat a bowl of Penang Prawn Noodles! No matter how long or short my HKG trip is, I'll never leave without enjoying this bowl. It's as good now as it is then.

Two of the musts completed! Until the next time, HKG!

Affixing my signature

During the last 4 or 5 trips to HKG, the McDonald's Signature Menu has always caught my eye.

Ain't it swanky?

Strangely, though, I've never gotten around to trying it. Mainly because the people I've travelled with didn't want to step into a Mickey Ds!

On this trip, one of my non-negotiables was to finally try this menu. And voila!

The Spicy Jalapeno Chicken burger is so good! What's even better is that it has a pineapple slice! (Sorry, Pineapple haters.)

Finally, I've signed off on this food goal!

Vita-lity

As it is customary, the first stop in any HKG trip is:

Seriously. The moment I touched down, I looked for a 7-11 to get my Vita Lemon Tea fix.

I'm going to see you a few times more this weekend.

FMM: The night is alive

There's a stereotype when it comes to elevator music.

Usually, it's monotonous, calming and soothing.

But not today.

While in the elevator at HKIA, this song was what was blaring:

Alicia Bridges' "I love the nightlife!"

Guess HKIA got the memo that today is Friday Magic Madness and got in the program.

You're not cleared

Really now. "Clearance" should be too hard to spell, right?

Right?

Proofreader, please.