Old kids from the block

Fun fact about my Dad: His best friends now are his best friends from way back in high school. 

They're all 82 years old, and they still meet up as a group quite often. Usually, on Sundays, they'd meet up for breakfast at Pancake House, and they spend the morning just catching up. One of Dad's best friends - Ninong Tino - even goes to the house whenever there's a special occasion. 

It's safe to say that their friendship is "goals" worthy.

This is something that I can relate to. That's because after 30+ years since we first met in college, some of the Block I-1 kids are still together. We still see each other often, share meals, hang out, and talk about a wide range of topics, from our time as college freshmen to maintenance medicine.

The reason why I was in UP last Friday was exactly that. To meet up with some of my best buds from the block:

Mona, Wowie and I had a meeting at CMC, then headed off to the University Hotel for lunch. Incidentally, the managing consultant of this establishment is also a blockmate of ours - Rommel! So, it was like a mini-block reunion.

Of course, part of the discussion during lunch was organising a bigger block reunion at the hotel. Not only will we finally get to see each other, we'll also be supporting another block mate in his new endeavour. 

Gotta block off the dates for that one.

Hot Rod-ic’s

Now, there’s no need to go all the way to UP for my Rodic’s fix.

They opened a branch nearby!

This branchnin White Plains is near the Bakeshop and Coffee Shop. If the weather is pleasant, it’s actually possible to just walk there from Dexter’s!

Hey Rodic’s! Here I come!

Comm-patriots

When the 3 of us first met as block mates at the UP College of Mass Communications, we were all wide-eyed teenagers who were raring to embrace what college life has to offer.

Through we came from very different backgrounds, Prichy, Wowie and I became fast and close friends. 

It's a friendship that lasted decades. Even if we moved to different cities and different countries, our paths would always cross and we'd always find ourselves together.

One place where our paths crossed again was another Mass Communications experience. The 3 of us became teachers at St. Scholastica's College - Department of Mass Communications. Being co-faculty members made it so much fun and enriching to teach.

And almost 3 decades since we graduated, we're now back in Plaridel Hall to visit Wowie. She's now the Associate Dean of the College! The same college where we met as wide-eyed teenagers.

Even though it's been decades, being back with these 2 makes me feel like  freshman all over again.

Kissing Boo

One of our usual food haunts within UP Campus is The Chocolate Kiss.

Just like Rodic's, Mang Larry's and The Tea House, this is one of the iconic and unmistakable places within the campus where students, alumni and visitors stop by for yummy cakes, delish dishes, and their famous bottomless iced tea.

Two of my "usuals" at The Chocolate Kiss are the Dayap Chiffon Cake and the Quezo Chiffon Cake. These are cakes that are not just super yummers, they're very unique, too. I don't know of any cake or bakeshop that carries the same items.

Last time we had a good meal at this place was in December. It was when Prichy, Rose, Wowie and I met for our Christmas merienda-cena. And as always, the food and company was so good!

But like many good restaurants during this pandemic, The Chocolate Kiss is about to say goodbye. Another casualty of the pandemic, much like Hop Hing Ka and Swindon in HKG.

It would be great to have one last "Chocolate Kiss." But in this current situation that we have, I doubt if we can have a proper goodbye to this UP foodie institution.

From the Block

Prichy was the first person I met in college. She was our block head, and she was a strong and fun presence on our first day of school.

Shash was a blockmate who later became an officemate, and somewhere in between, we became awesome friends.

Mareng Kitel was my constant barkada from freshman year to our senior year. We've shared many shenanigans, movies, life changes, and there are no signs of stopping.

I'm so glad we were able to catch up for lunch yesterday.

And as Prichy pointed out, this year is the 30th year since we became blockmates!

This calls for another reunion!

Le Sheikh

It's always a good surprise when you run into a collegemate.

And an even better surprise when you end up working with them.

Just like how I was surprised when Sheikh was the AD for one of the videos I did.

It's a small world after all.

Hot and Cold

Always a great Sunday combination:

Piping hot fishballs.

And cool, avocado and cheese ice cream.

UP is definitely the place to be on weekends.

Old and new

After decades in their original place in UPSC, Rodic's opened another - and more modern - branch, just in front of their first.

How's that for old meets new?

Sunday Street food

Yes, more food.

This weekend, I went to the Uniqlo store in U.P. Town Center in search of a nice pair of chinos. (They didn't have any.)

Since I was already in the area, instinct and a grumbly tummy brought me to U.P. Diliman. The craving for the street food that I used to eat as a student was just too strong.

And what was on today's menu?

Fish balls and dynamite sticks, of course!

Let's not forget dessert - ice cream in a bun!

As I messaged D' Frendz, street food from U.P. will never grow old.

Old kids from the Block (I-1)

They were among my first friends as a college freshman in UP Diliman. Prichy, the headstrong leader of Block I-1, and Kitel, our resident partner-in-crime when malling and watching movies.

And decades after, we're still at it!

Here's to friends of long-standing!

Having a ball!

What better way to spend the weekend but in UP, eating fishballs! (And squid balls. And kikiam. And dynamite!)

This is one thing about school that I'll always miss.

Flush Report!

Even my alma mater is not immune to proofreading faux pas!

Here's one from the restroom near UP Shopping Center.

(Maybe it's an April Fool's Day Joke? Maybe not.)

Really? We need to "flash" the urinal?

And to think this was signed by a PhD.

Proofreader, please!

Back to school

UP is one place that never grows old.

Even if I spent more than 4 years of my academic life here, and even if it's been decades since I graduated, there's always a feeling of thrill whenever I visit.

Maybe it's because UP is the perfect melange of old and new. It's a place that's steeped in history, yet never feels old. It's a place where there's always something new, yet it never feels forced or trendy. Simply put, it's a classic that never goes out of style.

That's why when I visited the campus today, it felt both new and familiar. Yes, the haunts that we usually stayed are still there, but the energy and vibe has changed a bit.

The Sunken Garden is still as I remember it - always full of people lazing and lounging around.

There were baristas practicing their routines, and it was interesting to see them do their thing.

Of course, the compulsory visit to UP Shopping Center had to be done. And no visit there would be complete without stopping by Rodic's. It's a university institution that's been around since 1949!

While their menu has changed since my college days (they didn't have sisig and liempo back then,) the classics like the tapsilog, tocilog and longsilog are still very much around.

What's peculiar is that because UP changed it's academic calendar already, the campus and the dorms were very quiet - almost deserted. So, it's nice to see UP without the hustle and bustle.

UP is definitely one school I don't mind going to everyday. Even on weekends.

Something's UP(town)

Thanks to my AVP shoot in Katipunan, I was able to swing by UP Diliman, and found out that part of the former UPIS grounds is now a mall!

The fact that there's a Family Mart there - and they sell the soft serve Green Tea ice cream - is enough for me to go. But with the myriad of new restaurants opening there, it looks like I'll find more reasons to keep on coming back to my alma mater's new town center.

Hit Parade

It's that time of the year again. UP is pulling out their creative stops and celebrating Christmas with the annual UP Lantern parade!



Usually, I go there with my classmates or co-professors, but this year, I decided to go with my students.



As usual, each college showcased their best. And here's a sampler of what we saw that evening:

College of Engineering's "Up" themed lantern:


A sweet treat from College of Architecture:


And the most awaited part, College of Fine Arts' super creative entry. This horse parade was just a sampler of what was to come.


It was my students' first time to watch the lantern parade, and they were amazed at how fun and creative the event was. And I'm hoping that this inspires them to be more fun and creative in writing their articles from hereon in.