Fantastic Feud!

Whoa! And I thought the 197 points of the Victoria's Secret Angel was astounding.

Then, I saw this:



Now that's very, very, VERY impressive.

No Feud over that.

TRES long, TRES good

This is the longest time that I've not gotten a haircut.

In my life.

Ever!

This 1st week of July will be the 6th month since my last haircut. Normally, I'd be freaking out and reciting that classic film line: "It's hard to think with all this hair!" But surprisingly, I'm not too bothered by my quarantine waves. Or, as a colleague calls it, my "Cersei hair."

One thing that makes my slightly longer hair more bearable? A shampoo that I discovered a few months ago.

TRESemme!

We have bottles and bottles of TRESemme at home, thanks to Tito Pacqui who supplies for Unilever and gives us boxes of Unilever products. One time, when I ran out of my usual Human Nature shampoo and their stalls were still closed, I thought of trying out their Detox and Nourish variant.

It felt good on my hair! It made it feel soft, smooth and manageable! (Yikes! I sound like a shampoo ad! Harhar.)

After that initial trial, TRESemme Detox and Nourish became my regular shampoo, and it looks like it's going to be the brand that I'll be using now, moving forward.

And thanks to TRESemme, I don't mind growing my hair longer than usual. Looks like this new mane will be part of the "New Normal."

Well, at least until my barber finds a way to get back to work. When that happens, ask me again.

Beauty and Brains

During the game show heyday of the 80s, channel 9 was filled with some of the best game shows in the U.S.

They had "The Price is Right," "Name that Tune," "Hollywood Squares," "Wheel of Fortune," "Press Your Luck," and of course, "Family Feud."

While I enjoyed all these shows - and I'll write about each one eventually - the one that I would be most engaged in was "Family Feud." The classic version, hosted by Richard Dawson, would pit 2 families together and they would try to guess answers from surveys done in America. That's the birth place of the classic line:

"Survey says..."

In fact, we even had a "Family Feud" game at home which my grandparents sent from the U.S. And during summer, we'd play the game with our neighbors.

The current version of "Family Feud" still follows the same format, but now with Steve Harvey as host. They still follow the 80s rules - two families fight it out, and the one with the most points goes to the jackpot round.

This round was exciting because 2 players will answer the same set of questions, and they should reach 200 points to win the grand prize.

Recently, I saw an episode from the current "Celebrity Family Feud," and the contestants for the jackpot round are Victoria's Secret Angels. Yes, the ethereal beauties won the first round, and it was time to find out whether they could continue to soar and win the $25,000 grand prize.

And to the surprise of Steve Harvey, the audience, and even me as a spectator, the 1st angel got 197 points! The highest record in the history of the show! Of course, the 2nd angel had it easy, and breezed through the final round.



These angels definitely have a good head on their shoulders!

End of the (Simple) Line

One of my former students posted this photo of our favourite tea store in front of SSC.

It's a melancholic photo, actually. It shows SimpleLine - boarded up and for rent. Which simply means it's already closed.

They must be another casualty of the pandemic.

I'll miss their Lychee Green tea with Aloe Vera and their Caramel Oolong Milk Tea with Grass Jelly.

I'll miss the Simple joy of SimpleLine.

FMM: Tumble We'd

Another week, another Friday Magic Madness song inspired by an earlier food post.

This time, it's an uppity 80s ditty from Boy George and The Culture Club, inspired by last Wednesday's Apple Crumble.

Yup, we all know where this is going.



Just like the goodness of Apple Crumble, songs of Culture Club never get old.

Bath Bomb!

When my Aunt in the U.S. mentioned this in a conversation, my first reaction was skepticism.

But after reading this article on-line, my heart sank! It's true!

The next time I visit the U.S., there will be much less Bath and Body Works and Victoria's Secret stores!

Say it isn't, so, Bath and Body Works! Say it isn't so!

I Crumble for ya!

Nope, this is not about a Boy George and the Culture Club song.

It's about the fact that Dad brought home an Apple Crumble Cake from Dough and Co. last night!

This was one of the first things I bought from Landers when they opened here in Manila, and it's still one of the things I buy whenever we find ourselves there.

The last time we had this at home was around 9 months ago, so imagine my excitement when I found out that we have a pan of this heavenly apple cake here at home.

Let's get ready to crumble!

This is sheet!

Baby steps. Baby steps.

First, it was getting a new gas oven. Second, it was getting it to actually work! (Those were 2 different things.)

This weekend, I was finally able to go to SM Department Store to buy a couple of baking sheets for cookies! That's the third step!

Looks like I'll be back to baking really soon!

Confusing numbers

When I saw this latest promo alert from Zalora, I was a bit confused.

Their promo title usually reflects the amount of added discount that you get.

So, I'm not sure if the discount here is 34% or 35%? Or maybe it's the title that's wrong? Should it be "34STRETCH"?

Oh, what is it? What is it?

Proofreader, please.

Dad’s the way I look

This is a photo of my Dad when he was just a few years older from my current age.

Further proof that I am definitely what my relatives say. I'm a carbon-copy of my Dad.

Happy Father's Day!

Oh, Love ya!

Baby Olivia is looking prettier and more charming everyday!

Hope to see you this December, you super cute and uber adorable baby girl!

FMM: Way back when...

This week, D' Frendz and I were chatting and Mona mentioned the line: "Noong unang panahon."

Of course, like the usual D' Frendz conversations, this suddenly went a totally different direction, and we were suddenly talking about that old song from "Tales of the Manuvu." Particularly this song:



"Noong Unang Panahon" is a memorable song for me. We performed this in our High School Glee Club, and we "toured" around different campuses and venues performing this song. Our teacher, Mr. Ortega, prepared a full number of songs from that musical, and our number was introduced as: "Overture from 'The Tales of the Manuvu.'"

It started as a song, transitioned into a dance, then culminated in a battle. And it was a hit everywhere we went.

Gosh, that was so long ago. Now, looking back at it, this really felt like it was "Noong Unang Panahon."

Missing Mulan

If the pandemic and community quarantines didn't happen, they would have shown Disney's live action version of "Mulan" already. And chances are, Mark and I would have already watched it.



Unfortunately, like most films, the showing has been pushed back until things go back to the "normal-normal" and theatres can open and accommodate people again.

Who knows? Maybe like Aquaman, we'll get to watch this the next time we travel to the U.S.

Traveling abroad, and watching this Mulan film, gosh, I miss both.

It's been so long, Solis!

Back in 2004, another Fab 4 invaded our TV screens. After The Beatles, and just right after the 4 ladies of SATC, they stormed the airwaves with their unique brand of dramedy with a touch of mystery.

That Fab 4, of course, are the Susan Mayer, Lynette Scavo, Bree Van de Kamp and Gabrielle Solis, or the "Desperate Housewives."

Just like SATC before it, each of the 4 housewives were characters on their own, with their own key personalities and strengths. Susan was the level-headed one, Lynette was the boss, Bree was Mrs. Perfect, and Gabby was the fashionista socialite.

While they were all funny and interesting as characters, I found Gabby Solis - played by the gorgeous Eva Longoria - as the one who was the funniest. With her questionable skills as a wife and a mother, plus her unmatched skills in fashion and style, it was the perfect combination for a fiery firecracker of a character.

One of my favourite scenes from "Desperate Housewives" was when Gabby went shopping. It showed her at her element, and her funniest.



Since reunion shows are the rage these days, someone should consider doing a "Desperate Housewives" reunion - even for a few episodes.

It's been so long, and it would be great to see Gabby Solis again.

Standing error

You would think “Ovation” is a pretty easy word to spell, right?

Apparently not.

Proofreader, please!

Chef-fing good!

Even as a kid, sandwiches have always been my thing.

Early childhood memories consist of my Mom's freshly-prepared sandwiches in my lunch box. The same sandwiches that I'd devour during recess time.

Sometimes, they'd be neatly wrapped in plaid paper napkins, other times in zip-locked sandwich bags, or if she'd prepare cold sandwiches - the type that has cold cuts and crisp veggies, it would be wrapped in Reynolds aluminum foil. 

That's how sandwiches became part and parcel of who I am. And it's also why I enjoy making sandwiches for other people whenever the chance comes. These include people at home, during get togethers with D' Frendz, during slow afternoons at the office, at our faculty meetings in SSC, and sometimes for my students as part of an activity.

This weekend, I re-watched the film "Chef" on Netflix.

The film - about a hotshot chef who leaves the restaurant scene to open a food truck serving Cubano sandwiches - is one of those films that I don't get tired of re-watching. Heck, it's about a sandwich! And the first time I saw this, I ended up making grilled cheese sandwiches a few hours after.

Aside from the great sandwiches, the film also had a great cast. The combination of Jon Favreau, Sofia Vergara, John Leguizamo, Bobby Cannavale, and Oliver Platt gave the film an organic feel to it. They carried the film with such ease that it was easy to forget that several A-list Hollywood stars were in it as well. Like Dustin Hoffman, Robert Downey, Jr. and Scarlett Johansson.

After watching the film, that sudden urge to make sandwiches overcame me again. Too bad I left my panini press at the office, and in school. So, grilled sandwiches were off the menu. I had to contend with a regular sandwich with my favourite Goya Double Hazelnut Spread as filling. 

And of course, while I was eating that sandwich, I re-read the Panini cookbook that Mark gave me a few Christmases ago.

Gosh! I do hope I get to make these hot-off-the-press sandwiches again soon. 

It's been too long.

Camp Royal

Sometimes, Disney comes up with the most strangely entertaining film plots and premises.

And I'm actually on board with these films, especially if they have an element of fantasy, sci-fi or heroism in them.

Sometimes, the films can come across as slightly campy, especially with how they treat the villains, but hey, it's part of the film and ups the entertainment value. And because of that, I'm on board!

The "Witch Mountain" films were part of this genre and I thoroughly enjoyed. The first film "Escape to Witch Mountain" was shown when I was still a baby, but I remember watching it on VHS when I was in High School. The second film - a remake of sorts - "Return to Witch Mountain" was shown when I was already working, and of course, it was a film that was worth watching. Mainly because of my fascination with the first film.

While watching youtube, a trailer for a new Disney film popped up. After watching it, the feeling was similar to that thrill of watching "Witch Mountain." Yes, it has all the potential to be campy, it has a strange, underdog-ish, outcast-ish plot, but it definitely has a high chance of being entertaining.

With that, let me present the trailer for "Secret Society of Second Born Royals." (The title alone gives you an idea of how campy this can get.)



I've got a feeling this will be a bit "Sky High"-esque, with a smidge of Mission Impossible thrown in. Strange combination, yes, but you can't knock it until you've seen it, right?

Question is, will I be able to see it, though.

That's Fresh!

Clean, pristine and unassuming scents have always captured my olfactory fancy.

In a survey that was given to me ages ago, I listed "freshly-laundered bedsheets" as one of my all-time fave smells. It goes up there along with "freshly-opened balikbayan boxes."

That's why in terms of cologne or perfume, I've always gravitated to those unassuming scents that smell like soap, or fabric conditioner, or newly-ironed t-shirts. That's why "Clean" is and will always be my top pick. Their "Cotton" series (Warm Cotton and Cool Cotton) is still part of my repertoire. When they discontinued "Cotton T-Shirt," it was such a bummer for me.

Last March, when we had to buy liquid hand soap for the house, the Watsons branch I went to only had one scent left. It was this very plain, very clinical and very aseptic variant called "Fresh Clean."

When we eventually got to using it, I was just flabbergasted!

The scent was AWESOME! It was pristine and unassuming - just the way I like it! The scent was very mild, very quiet, and very clean. Heck, if they had a shower gel that had this scent, I'd buy it in bulk! They don't have it yet, but I'm hoping they will have it soon.

After this discovery, I'm not buying any other variant except this. Well, if I can help it.

FMM: Tuned into Filipino

As we celebrate the 122th anniversary of Philippine Independence, it's only apt that we have a Filipino song for today's Friday Magic Madness.

Having heard how OPM has changed in the past 4 decades, I'd like to think that the 70s and 80s were really the heydays of Filipino music. These decades were so rich with talented singers, beautiful melodies and meaningfully powerful lyrics.

These decades saw groups such as The Hotdogs, VST and Company, Circus Band, Music and Magic, The New Minstrels, and so many more. And don't get me started on the great singers of the 70s and 80s! That topic deserves multiple entries!

One of my favourite groups from that era was "The New Minstrels." Though I was too young to appreciate their music back then, it stuck to my mind and was able to go back to their music when I was older and could appreciate it more. Particularly this song from the 70s, which is very apt and relevant for Independence Day.



"Ikaw at Ako, Makakapatid," is a great reminder that no matter what differences we have, we are all Filipinos, and in turn, siblings through our country. A country who's Independence we celebrate today.

Happy Independence Day!

Let's (Man)Go!!!

During today's 7-11 run, I was standing near the ice cream freezer while in line for payment, when I inadvertently looked down and saw something inside the freezer.

It was a bright, yellow tub of Selecta Ice Cream, and it was part of their summer flavours collections. And on the lid were 2 of my favourite words in one name.

Mango. Mochi.

Yes! Selecta had Mango Mochi Ice Cream!

Of course, we all know how this one ended. We're having Mango Mochi ice cream for dessert tonight.

Maid for the music

It's play on music and musical score is one of the reasons why I'm into "The Handmaid's Tale" a lot. They have this way of weaving in modern, pop music with the dark and dystopian feel of the series.

One of my favourite scenes is a study on how beautifully interwoven these 2 things are. It's the scene from Season 3 when Serena Waterford burns her house in a suicide attempt. June saves her from the fire, and the song that punctuates the blaze is just sheer genius.



It helps that this Boomtown Rats ditty is a such an iconic song, and also, one of Biboy's faves! I thought that song couldn't get any better, but when they placed it in front of those disturbing visuals - plus June's last line to camera - it was genius!

Yup, that scene was definitely made!

Peanut Better

Yes! I have a new cheap thrill!

Presenting, Cloud 9 Peanut Butter.

The first time I tried this was February, pre-CQ, at the Mini-Stop near the office. Immediately, I fell in love with the peanut-buttery goodness of this Cloud 9 variant. It was like eating Reese's Peanut Butter cups, with a bit of a crunch!

I was so, so, SO craving for this during the ECQ period, but there was no Mini-Stop near where I lived. But this weekend, when my Dad and I eventually ventured out to pick up some stuff I had printed, we finally stopped by a Mini-Stop branch and bought a few.

Once again, cravings satisfied!

End of Regina's Era

This is a sad day for Greenhills geeks like me.

As a kid, there were 3 places I'd never miss visiting in Greenhills: Fun House for funny and weird stuff, Nova Fontana for toys, and Regina's for almost everything else.

Regina's was a treasure trove of items - particularly imported ones. Back when imported candies weren't as readily available as they are now, Regina's was the place where you could buy Lifesavers, Bubble Yum, Hubba Bubba, and a host of other imported sweets.

They also had a lot of imported novelty items, like Trapper Keepers. They had imported cologne, like Nenuco and De Ne Nes. They had imported toys, like Cabbage Patch Kids. They pretty much had everything.

It was my personal black hole as an elementary school kid. When I was inside Regina's, I'd stay there for at least an hour, browsing through every shelf, examining every nook and cranny.

As I grew older, Regina kept its same charm. But they had more items in store, including imported overruns, which I'd frequent. Before H&M opened in Manila, they already had H&M overruns there. I'd buy baby gifts there, too. And they even had imported magazines! So, they pretty much had everything I wanted.

The news that they're closing down was swift and shocking. It was expected that small businesses would suffer during this pandemic, but never did I think that Regina's would be one of them.

I just hope that they have a proper send-off before finally shuttering their doors. A place with such a storied history, and an impalpable role in the lives of Gen X-ers, deserves nothing less.

No longer a (Gilmore) Girl

The first time I saw Alexis Bledel, it was as Rory Gilmore in the US TV Series, "Gilmore Girls." This small town Dramedy was one of my guilty pleasures back in the 2000s, and I actually started following it when I was living in HKG and they would show it on TV.

Her turn as Rory had a great combination of humor and vulnerability, that's why I was hooked on the series. Of course, Lauren Graham's role as her Mom, Lorelai, made the series great to watch, too.

Since she was already a great actress as a teen, I knew Alexis would grow up to be a great adult actress as well. And I'm thrilled that my theory was proven correct.

I've seen her turn as Emily in "The Handmaid's Tale," and I'm still impressed. She still has that vulnerability that she had as a teen actress, but she also shows strength and power - especially when she defended herself from Aunt Lydia, escaped to Canada, and eventually working for a group that saves people from Gilead.



Aside from Elisabeth Moss as "June," Alexis Bledel is one of the reasons why I'm anticipating the return of the next season of "The Handmaid's Tale." (Which I am a fan of, as early as the 1990s film with Natasha Richardson and Faye Dunaway.)

Haw i’ve missed you

It’s been almost 3 months since i’ve last had these yummy snackers, and i’m SO glad that I was able to get some from the store today.

Hello again, Haw Flakes! Oh how i’ve missed you!

FMM: For real, really!

Today's Friday Magic Madness song was inspired by my post last Wednesday on Juss and Real Potato Crisps.

This song was actually the inspiration for the title of that post:



It's a song from Donna Summer from 1989, and it's one of her signature catchy, poppy and upbeat dance songs. This is actually a dangerous song, because after listening to it once, it has a tendency to stick to you head and become an LSS.

Just like what's happening now. It's playing in my head over and over again already.

And this time, I know it's for real!

Fashionably Clean

Among the many "pivots" that happened during this ECQ, one of the most interesting ones for me is how local fast fashion and lifestyle brands were quick to find ways to stay relevant in this precarious time.

One such brand is Bench.

As early as March, they've shown that they're not all frills and frivolity by producing more of their signature product - Bench Alcogel! Yes, for those who are not aware, Bench actually pioneered this Alcogel industry in the Philippines. Back in the 2000s, almost everyone had a bottle of it in their bags and it was a must-have for those who want to keep their hands clean and safe.

So, they produced more of that product and distributed it to hospitals and frontliners. They also made it more available for people looking for alcohol in the market, at that time when alcohol was gold and you couldn't find it in supermarket shelves anymore.

Aside from alcohol, another thing that quickly disappeared from shelves is Lysol. The last time I was able to buy it was early March, and after that, it was so difficult to find Lysol anywhere. In supermarkets, drugstores, convenience stores - the product was snapped up so easily that it was almost impossible to find it.

At that point, I was hoping that a manufacturer or a cleaning brand would come up with their own version of a disinfectant spray as an alternative to Lysol. Thankfully, some brands did.

One such brand is Bench.

While looking for a disinfecting spray on-line, this product popped up on google.

Yes, their Alcogel formulation was now available in an aerosol spray! Like Lysol, it was designed to eliminate viruses and germs, it has 75% alcohol, and it has a nice, powdery scent. Needless to say, I was sold on it. And bought it.

Now, we keep our surfaces germ and virus free the fashionable way - with Bench!

(And oh, just when our stocks for this product arrived, so did Lysol. It was suddenly back in supermarkets in different variants and sizes again! Of course, I had to buy those, too.)

Juss time I know it's for Real!

Just when my cravings for Juss’ Peach Juice and Real Potato Crisps were at an all-time high, my orders were finally delivered. FINALLY!!!

Cravings Juss satisfied. For Real!

Jumping to June

When this entire ECQ started in March, one of the concerns of people is that time would drag on slowly since everyone is just at home and not allowed to go anywhere or do anything. (Well, anything that requires you to go out of the house.)

But lo and behold, we're now on the 6th month of the year!

Yes, just like the years before it, this year is zipping by at a remarkable speed.

Anyway, I like the June calendar heading of this one because it's more than just fun, but it also carries a relevant message. Many people are worried and concerned about the current goings-on, but this calendar reminds us not to.

Okay, half of the year is done. Let's jump to it and do something awesome with the next half of the year!

WATN: But First...

Today is the First of June.

It's an eventful day of sorts. Not only is it the first day of the 6th month of the year, but it's also the first day of the GCQ, which means the Metro is slowly inching its way back to normalcy.

And since this is the First of June, I suddenly wonder: Where's FOJ?

FOJ or First of June is a all-girl group that was a hit in the 90s. They had an eponymous single which talked about their group's name, and the lyrics still ring in my head until now:

"F.O.J. is the name of the posse, 
rocking the house, we've got the ability...
Do what we want, do what we please...
Music is hot, so get on your feet.
Check out Benj, Alana and Teri...
We have the right, we have the authority..."

Yes, it was cheesy. But it was so much fun!

Kuya Ers and I were followers and fans of this group. In fact, we would watch the group when they would perform in Music Hall in Greenhills. Mainly because they were really fun to watch and had a lot of happy, poppy songs.

Later on, they were renamed "Vanna, Vanna" and still enjoyed considerable success after that. They had songs like "He Loves Me," and "Hurting Inside."

When the 2000s rolled along, the group disappeared. I think some of their members moved abroad, which led to the group disbanding. One of their members - Teri - continued on performing with the group U-Turn. And I remember watching her in Katipunan once or twice.

Since reunion concerts are a thing now (Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, etc.), maybe FOJ could do a reunion show here in Manila.

Kuya Ers and I would probably be one of the first to watch that, too.