Victor would

Yesterday, Mother and I found ourselves in Bridgetowne for the usual "pagpag."

While we've both been to Opus, this is the first time we were in the back part of that township. And it turned out to be a really nice place.

There were wide spaces, sports facilities, modern looking buildings, and, of course, the statue of "The Victor."

We both agreed that this place had that SG vibe, and it would be great if they could maintain it.

They'd score a victory if they're able to do that.

FMM: Singing Surgeon

When my colleagues and I were talking about 80s OPM singers, the name Nonoy Zuniga came about.

That name immediately rang a bell because of two things.

First, he's a surgeon aside from being a singer. And back then, that was a huge deal. Imagine, he's a not only a good doctor, he's a good singer, too!

Second, he's the brother of my grade 2 teacher, Mrs. Munoz. She would often talk about him, and he actually went to our lass one time.

It was after that meeting that the class learned about his songs. And they turned out to be really cool songs! They were well-written, the lyrics were deep and insightful, and the melodies were easy to listen to. Ballads were his forte, and he sang them with an emotion that you can easily feel.

So, for today's Friday Magic Madness, let me play Nonoy Zuniga's most iconic hits

"Doon lang" was released in 1981, and became one of the most played songs on-air during that time. It also became one of the usual singing contest songs that would be sung. That's who impactful it was.

Let's just say the doctor wrote the prescription for a hit!

Bjorn this way

While we're all familiar with the songs of ABBA, this quote from one of their members - Bjorn Ulvaeus - was new to me.

No wonder they had so many unique and memorable songs. They're testimonies of the life lived by all the 4 members.

Creativity really does run in their groups' blood.

Double Take

Two things that have been well established on this blog.

I'm a fan of Ovaltine.

I'm a fan of Take it.

And now, we have this:

Take it with Ovaltine!

Solid!

Blessed Birthday

Happy Birthday, Mama Mary!

You've done so much for me - both in good and not-so-good times. Your infinite love and compassion has guided me for so many years, and I'm a better person because of of that.

Continue to cover us with your blue mantle of protection and love.

In step

Cute cats really take the edge of Mondays. Especially this Monday when the weather isn't that great.

Spotted this cat in one of the buildings here in Ortigas.

His position on the bottom step, and his far away look makes this photo so intriguing. What's he thinking about? What's keeping him from walking up the stairs?

Let's wait for the next step in this story.

Clasp act

Looks like the fisherman's clasp is having a fashion moment.

I've seen it being by some fast fashion brands, including our very own Plains & Prints.

Ate Bullet was drawn to this jacket the moment she saw it. Needless to say, we had to get it.

The combination of the black denim and the fisherman's clasps gives it a very industrial yet chic vibe. To soften the hardness of the jacket, we paired it with a soft and draped skirt from The SM Store, and mules from Zara.

This gives the look a combination of classy and edgy.

Elie-ment of Surprise

Sneaky, sneaky, H&M.

I've been wondering and researching if H&M will have another designer collaboration, and it usually comes out blank.

But this weekend, they surprised us with this:

Elie Saab x H&M!

I've been a fan of this Lebanese designer for years now. I'm drawn to his very elegant and feminine point of view. He does a lot of red carpet gowns and bridal dresses, and they're always very luxe and fashionable.

And judging by the images that are being provided so far, he's bringing this high glam to H&M.

Can't wait for October!

FMM: Lightning strikes

Today is Kidlat day!

It's that time of the year where Philippine creatives gather to learn, network, and recognize the work that ad people work tirelessly on.

This year is more fun because of the judging duties that was assigned to me. And it's interesting to see how that shortlisting judging will pan out in the finals.

While waiting for that, let's put another kidlat on the spotlight for Friday Magic Madness. 

"Grease Lightnin'" is a 1978 song by John Travolta from the film "Grease." It's one of the fun and upbeat songs, and it still is one of the most memorable and popular ones, alongside "You're the one that I want," and "Hopelessly devoted to you."

They really struck gold with this song.

Mith Universe

Thanks to Mark, I've got a fresh stash of Mith Bangkok perfume!

The best of the best when it comes to this brand is definitely "Nude." Scent Takes isn't exaggerating when she says that this is one of - or maybe the - best skin scent ever. It really embodies the "your skin but better" philosophy.

It's so popular that it's also difficult to get. 

Mark told me that when he went to the Mith stall in Central World, the staff said that Nude was out of stock. But she advised him to try to come back in a few hours since they might have a restock. Thankfully, Mark did, and he was able to get 2 bottles of Nude, plus 2 other scents.

Now, my universe of perfumes is complete.

Cool clock

Every time we have a 4As meeting at Nokal, this clock catches my eye.

Wonder where they bought this?

'Tis the season for defrosting

It's September 1!

Aside from JMC, it's her time to make her grand entrance.

After all, all we want for Christmas is Mariah!

Cat Condos

The cat caretakers in Ortigas Center are really serious at good at doing their jobs.

They even made this home for the kittens in Ortigas Park.

After all, there are a lot of condos in the area. Why shouldn't the cats have one of their own?

Family Affair

No, this isn't a Mary J. Blige post.

Then again, why. not?

"Family Affair" is one of those songs that fall under the "What?! This song is 25 years old now?!"

But I digress.

This post is actually about Toni's bazaar in Gateway this weekend. Mom, Dad and I went there today. As expected, the lines were long and there was a clamor for Toni's yummy cakes and Dubai chewy cookie. 

Because the lines were consistently long, we did our little parts to help out. Suddenly, Dad became a line manager, directing people in line and calling the next customer.

My duty was to buy food for the group, and pitched in with the packing.

Another successful bazaar for Sweet Tones! 

The family is so proud of her!

Who am I to judge?

But apparently, I can!

Honored to be part of the shortlisting jury for this year's Kidlat Awards. 

Watching and judging all the entries reminds me of my days of a young creative. And seeing the work showed me that creativity can really come from anywhere.

Sometimes, being judgmental can be fun.

Hello. Farewell.

To have a Friday Magic Madness song featuring Dolly Parton is apt, considering that she just passed away a few days ago.

But let's give her another kind of tribute.

The type that goes back to 1969, and features the unforgettable voices of Louis Armstrong and Barbra Streisand.

"Hello Dolly," was originally sung by Louis Armstrong in 1964, for the musical of the same name. It was one of his biggest hit songs, and even won awards in 1965. Then, in 1969, the musical had a film adaptation, and this is where his duet with Barbra came about.

If you listen to the lyrics, it could very well been talking about Dolly Parton. 

"I feel the room swayin' while the band's playin'
One of your old favourite songs from way back when
So golly, gee, fellas have a little faith in me, fellas
Dolly'll, never go away, promise you never go away
Dolly'll, never go away again"

She might have gone ahead, but considering the legacy she left, "Dolly, you'll never go away again."

SoMeone's excited

They say that Christmas in the Philippines officially begins on September 1. 

Or does it.

It's August 27 and you can already see this at SM.

Even n August, they've got it all - including Christmas - for you!

Parton is such sweet sorrow

Yesterday, the sad news broke that country legend and overall singing icon - Dolly Parton - has gone up the the great music hall in heaven.

Growing up, we'd hear a lot of her songs, from the iconic "9-to-5," "Jolene," and her ultra popular duet with Kenny Rogers, "Island in the Stream."

Undoubtedly, she was the queen of country music, and she inspired a whole new generation of country singers, most notable being Miley Cyrus.

From what has been said and written about her, she has a huge heart and was always generous with her time and talent. She nurtured and mentored young singers, and was happy with the success of country performers that came after her.

She's truly a legend, and that's why millions of people with always love her.

You will be missed, Dolly Parton.

Orange you surprised? Part deux

Seems like I"m having an orange moment.

After that orange juice discovery in One Ayala comes another orange discovery, courtesy of our neighborhood Daily Supermarket.

Bissin Orange Wafers aren't exactly popular - even known - in the Philippines. But I've seen this brand in SG, particularly in Valu$ store. I've never tried it back then, cause it felt like it was a knock-off of Nissin. 

Now that I've tried it, my opinion in the brand completely changed. These wafers are very light and crispy, and the orange filling has the right amount of tang.

No surprise that I'm going to buy more of these soon.

Basket case

During my grocery run yesterday, the person in front of me had a very eye-catching basket of groceries.

Two of our clients were in her basket - Gardenia bread and Nestle Yogurt.

In that case, it really deserved to be photographced.

Orange you surprised?

I've written about Jooz a couple of times here. It's that instant orange juice kiosk in SG that's been a staple and stop every time my travels take me there.

And surprise, surprise. Look what they have in One Ayala?

It's the same product, same format, almost the same price in SG. The name is similar, using "juice" as the inspiration. But this one drops the "i" and just says "Jucebox."

Was in a hurry, though, so wasn't able to try it.

But I'm definitely trying this the next time.

Meals with Mark: Follow the Curve

One of the activities that Mark and I decided to do more this year is to try restaurants in the South. 

After our trip to Aizu a few months ago, one realization is that there are a lot of interesting places to eat around his turf.

Yesterday, we tried one of his go-to places - Curve Coffee Collaborators.

Primarily, it's a supplier of coffee beans that also hosts roasting workshops. So, they have an intensive coffee selection. But they also have food, like pasta, sandwiches and rice meals.

We decided to have the chicken pesto and scampi pasta, plus the grilled cheese sandwich. They were all flavourful and filling, and worth the price.

There's still a lot of items on their menu that's interesting, so that just means we'll be back here soon.

FMM: Lead the (high)way

On today's Friday Magic Madness episode, we have one of those songs that made me exclaim: "What?! This song is 35 years old already?!"

It's a hit from Tom. Cochrane from 1991 called "Life is a Highway." We were in college when they released this song, and some of my schoolmates would play it in the CMC walkway on lazy afternoons. That's why this song always reminds me of college.

But for today's generation, they're more familiar with this ditty because of "Cars." It was remade by Rascal Flats and was used in the soundtrack, which made the song gain more traction.

I'm a fan of the song either way.

Virali-tea

So, there's a viral video about a HK Sprite iced tea recipe.

It's been passing by my feed for days, and even my friends are sharing the recipe with me.

As a former HKG resident, of course I had to try it.

Following the recipe on the video, the iced tea turned out a bit pale and light on the black tea flavour. So, I modified it and used 3 tea bags, and it made a world of difference.

The black tea taste is more pronounced, and the fizziness of the Sprite keeps it light and effervescent. Then, there's the kick of lemon after.

Some viral vids are worth paying attention to.

To calamansi is to believe

There's a potted calamansi tree at home, and since it's a fruit tree in a pot, I didn't have high hopes for it.

But lo and behold, seeing it this morning, it turns out that it's bearing a lot of fruit!

Now, we can just go out of the gate and pick a few if we need calamansi for juice or toyomansi.

Unbelievable!

Island living

The rains have been pouring non-stop the past few days, even Megamall has turned into an island.

Hope this lets up soon. I'm missing the sunshine.

Living the dream(er)

I've seen this video quite a few times already. It's an audition from the 2018 edition of "The X-Factor UK." Gosh! It means this video is already 8 years old.

This audition features a 50-year old singer named Jancie Robinson who did a rousing rendition of a very danceable ditty. (Two alliterations in a row!)

While she was being interviewed, there was a backstory about that song that she sang. Apparently, it was a hit song that was part of the soundtrack of both Robbie Williams' and Louis Tomlinson's lives. After doing research, it turns out that the song - "Dreamer" - was a song from an American group called "Living Joy." 

And guess what, Janice Robinson was the lead singer of that group.

The song reached number 1 in the UK charts, which explains why Robbie and Louis are very familiar with it. Looking at both videos now, Janice hasn't lost that beautiful voice and commanding presence on the UK stage. Whether it was "Top of the Pops" in 1995 or "The X-Factor UK" in 2018, she still has that power and presence.

No wonder her dreams - and dreamer - are still going after more than 2 decades.

Meals with Mark: Easy Aussie

In the continuing saga of "Where do we eat in One Ayala." 

 We've passed by Panco a few times, but haven't tried eating there. Panco is an Australian-inspired cafe that serves Australian coffee and Pinoy meals. Tried this at The Podium once, but haven't eaten here with Mark, so we decided to have lunch here last Saturday. 

 My go-to order here is the Salmon Cream Dip with pandesal.

This never disappoints. The creaminess and savoury salmon pairs well with the crunchy and soft pandesal. We also tried their rice meals - Mark having the charred longganiza and me having the fish tartare. They're both really good! 

 Looks like we have another winning discovery!

Send me one line

No, this ins't a Spyro Gyra post. But it feels like I'll have one of their songs as a Friday Magic Madness song soon.

This is about Toni's bazaar at One Ayala today.

Dropped by after school, and got there around 11am. And as early as that time, they already had this long line of folks wanting to try Sweet Tones cakes.

It's actually like this in a lot of the bazaars that she joins. And it's not surprising since the cakes are really good. Especially the Ube Bibingka Cheesecake.

Way to go, Toni!

FMM: Mx it up

While writing the title for yesterday's Mexican story, this song suddenly clicked and played in my head non-stop.

"Mixed-up World" is another catchy ditty from Sophie Ellis Bextor, this time from 2003. While it's not as overly popular like "Murder of the Dance Floor" and "I won't change you," this song is as catchy and danceable as the first 2.

And in true Sophie Ellis Bextor fashion, the music video was eye candy - filled with stunning visuals, great fashion, and signature moves.

Because of all these reasons, this song will suddenly be in the mix the next few days.

Mex it up

Since yesterday was a WFH day, thought of using my in-between-work-time doing something meaningful and memorable.

That activity is making Ham and Cheese Quesadillas for the usual Senior's afternoon merienda get-togehter.

It's memorable because quesadillas remind me of Tokyo and Mark. We would usually make quesadillas for Pinoy parties, like the GRIPS Hanami and birthday celebrations at IH2. It's meaningful because it's for the my folks and their friends.

Decided to use 2 types of ham - chicken ham and farmers ham. Also used 2 types of cheese - mozarella and quick melt cheddar.

The tortilla was brushed with a bit of butter, for that extra flavour and crunch.

And here it is!

Estoy ogrullosa de mi creacion!

Everything's coming up Rosie

It's one of those days when you wish there was a Target store here in MNL.

If they were here, I'd be there now, grabbing pieces from the Rosie Assoulin x Target collab.

Rosie Assoulin is known for her very feminine and fun aesthetic. She plays with colours, patterns, and executes them in sharply tailored pieces. And that DNA is easily seen in her Target collection.

The piece that caught my eye is this off-shoulder, button down denim dress.

It has a casual and classy silhouette, and the denim makes it easy-to-wear for every day.

Gotta find a way to get this.

Musinsa's scene

The Korean fashion invasion continues.

If it wasn't enough that we now have Top Ten and 8 seconds, Musinsa will soon be part of the Philippine scene!

The Ayala group is bringing in Musinsa, and understandably, their first store will be in Glorietta. I'm interested to see how big their store will be, and how much product they're carrying. If it's anything like their Seoul stores - filled with clothes, beauty products, and nutritional supplements, then they have the makings of a huge hit.

Question is: when will the bring in SPAO?

Escape plan

Saw this very peculiar sight while passing through DIY in Ali Mall.

I'm not sure if a kid left it there, or if it fell when one of the staff was restocking, but it sure looks like the toy dinosaur is hatching an escape plan.

There's a story in this somewhere.

Cool Cat

Couldn't help but take a photo of this cool cat that I spotted yesterday.

His stance, his look, his vibe - it screams "I'm cool and can't be bothered."

That's an attitude that we should all have.

Meals with Mark: Mucho Gosto

Mark and I are in One Ayala so often, we've tried almost all restaurants in the mall.

We have our go-tos like Tim Ho Wan, Chili's and Friday's. We've tried all the Bistro Group restaurants in the environs. We've had one-off lunches and dinners at Fat Seed, Khao Khai, Ebi Ten, Stuffd - and the list goes on.

But one place that we always pass by but haven't tried yet is Bom Gosto.

It's the European Concept of The Vikings Group, and it's an ala carte place. Yup, while most concepts of The Vikings Group are buffet places, this one goes against the grain. 

Since we're going against the grain anyway, we decided to try it for lunch today.

Like most Bistro restaurants, they also have an all-day set menu, which is what caught Mark's eye when we first passed by. After browsing the menu, the already knew what he wanted. So did I.

For starters, we had the croquettas and tomato salad with parmesan texture. (It was the "parmesan texture" that got us.)

For the mains, we had the chicken cordon bleu and shrimp alfredo pasta. It was so appetizing, we forgot to take a photo of it. 

Because there's always room for dessert, we had the Classic Torrija.

Overall, the food, ambience and service was well worth its price. Not bad for our first experience here.

And looks like it won't be our last.

FMM: Living in a bubble

In my mind's playlist, there's a long list of songs that are inextricably attached to films. Whether the song was part of the film itself, or the song was incidentally played somewhere in the theater, these songs suddenly have a different and deeper meaning.

Most of these songs are old ones, so it's time to feature them as Friday Magic Madness songs.

In 1976, there was a film that would often be shown in RPN-9 entitled "The Boy in the Plastic Bubble." It starred John Travolta as a teen who was born without an immune system, so he had to live inside a plastic bubble his entire life.

There was a scene - not sure if it was the ending scene - where he finally steps out of the plastic bubble and rides off on a horse with the love of his life. And the song that was playing in that scene was this 1976 hit from Paul Williams.

"What would they say" was written for the film, and it was a perfect match for the scene where it was played. There was a feeling of freedom and joy that captured that final scene.

Now that I've played this song again, it's time to scrounge youtube for the film itself.

City view

Look who had a glow-up.

The Medical City lobby just had a makeover. 

The area which used to be open and had a fountain is now enclosed, air conditioned, and laid out with more couches and waiting areas.The area leading to the garden now has floor to ceiling windows, which highlights the nice view outside.

While the old lobby has a sense of nostalgia for me, this new one looks pretty fine.

Rice above

Amazing how local chefs are continuously finding ways of elevating local dishes.

Biboy and Liz brought this box of rice cakes from a famous shop in Laguna.

It's the traditional bibingka, but elevated through its flavours. Aside from the classic bibingka, they also have choc-nut, almond yema, and ube. As an 80s kid, the choc-nut one was the best for me.

Alas, their only store is in Laguna, so it might take some time before we get to enjoy these rice cakes again.

What sorcery is this?

This is the legitimization of the Pinoy habit of dipping their fries in sundae.

Frankly, I'm so tempted to try this out.

Scared. But tempted.

You say potato, and I say...

Baked!

Speaking of comebacks, one of my fave Wendy's products is finally back!

Back in college, Wendy's Baked Potato at their Quezon Avenue branch was my go-to meal. Paired with their iconic iced tea - it was bliss!

As their old tagline goes: It's the best time for Wendy's!

Color Story: Taupe tier

This is one of my most watched scenes from "Desperate Housewives."

It's less than 4 minutes, but it's bursting with quotable quotes that's been living in my head rent free for years now. 

One of the standouts for me is: 

GABY: "I said taupe, this is clearly beige."

MANAGER: "We don't have it in taupe."

GABY: "Second floor, third mannequin to the left. Look alive!"

Watching this again inspired this post about an outfit from 2 of my go-to shopping places.

The taupe top is from Bocu. It's a classic, boatneck shell that goes well with everything. And because of the simplicity of the top, the pants should make a statement. And that's what this pair from The Landmark can boast of.

It's a wide legged pant with asymmetric panels that sway when you walk. Together, it's an outfit that's simple in terms of colour, but generous in fashionable details.

And that's today's top taupe look.

Visual feast

It's been a while since I've posted about Taylor Swift, so this is long overdue.

I've seen her music video for "The Fate of Ophelia" many times already, and I'm still in awe at the art direction and visuals of this video.

Each vignette is thoughtfully conceptualized and beautifully executed. Each one has a strong concept - Esther Williams' synchronized swimming, Parisian showgirls, Mod 60s dancers, 40s pin-up girls - each one was a feast for the eyes.

And let's not forget the song itself, that's a feast for the ears, too.

This is how MVs should be done. And Taylor knows how to do them perfectly!

FMM: Hit it!

Call it "last word association," but after writing about Jack in the Donuts, this song immediately came to mind.

"Hit the Road Jack," is one of the most popular songs from the iconic Ray Charles, with Margie Hendrix adding vocals to the ditty.

Even if this song was released in 1961, if you listen to it now, it still feels fresh, relevant and catchy. Not bad for a 65 year old song.

No wonder it was such a hit!

Not in the box

Speaking of donuts, there's a new entrant in the donut game.

And it's from Japan!

Jack in the Donuts is in Glorietta!

Now, aside from Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory, we have another source of authentic Japanese donuts in MNL.

When the news first broke out, my first thought was "Jack in the Box." Yup, that iconic American fast food chain which was here in MNL once upon a time. Too bad they didn't survive, they had good onion rings!

Here's hoping that this Jack will last longer.

Two good to be true

The inner child in me is ecstatic!

Two of my favourite Dunkin Donuts flavors are back. At the same time!

As a kid, my allowance would usually go to Choco Jelly Ripple and Split Royale. What's common with these 2 donuts is the abundance of icing. For the Choco Jelly Ripple, it slathered on the top and sides fo the donut, and piped on top. For the Split Royale, it's nicely piped on top to mimic a banana split.

Now, this is where my salary will go.

Found in translation

It's true that you learn something new everyday.

Example, I was today years old when I found out that "Chicharon Bulaklak" has an English translation.

Somehow, it sounds more fine dining when you call it "Flowerfat."

WATN: Potter head

No, this isn't a post about Harry Potter.

But it is about a Potter.

Monica Potter, to be exact.

During the late 90s and early 2000s,, she was one of the most visible actresses in Hollywood. She was mainly known for rom-coms, but her range allowed her to play darker roles. My first exposure to her was "Con-Air," but for me, her most iconic film would be "Head over Heels."

Later on, she appeared in thrillers like "Along came a spider," and "Saw." After that, her appearances were few and far between.

According to IMDB, she had a few small roles in the 2020s, but nothing as big as her early films. But it would be nice to see her again in a rom-com, since that's where she really stand out.

Market Dynamics

One of my favourite parts of advertising work is going on-field and seeing how real consumers interact with our brands.

Haven't done that in a while, so it was great that we were invited to our client's wet market roadshow in Pasay yesterday.

As expected, it was loads of fun. From the games to the interaction, having this face-to-face encounter beats any type of desk research.

We should do this more often.