Anak ng Petula 2

In my continuing obsession over Petula Clark's "Downtown", I've actually searched all over you tube for any video on the song. Ideally, I would've found that snippet from the movie "Girl, Interrupted" in order to relive Brittany Murphy's suicide scene.

No dice, though.

What I found was THE Petula Clark singing THE song on one of THE variety shows during the 60s. (I think.) It was such a blast from the past watching this. The color of the video, Petula's fashion, her hair, they all screamed "Retro." And of course, I thoroughly enjoyed it!

And I must say, if I were a kid during the 60s, I think i'd have a crush on her.

Five for fighting

Nothing helps relax a mind like writing lists. That is unless it's Jojo writing lists and tacking it on our corkboards like he used to way back in Adformatix. Now that's infuriating more than relaxing! Grrrr... But I digress. I picked this list up from the next, and thought it would be fun to fill up.

Here goes:

1. Five Minutes to yourself. How would you spend them ideally?

- Reading a magazine
- Talking to people I miss (that's a lot! My family, Mark, Kin, Elsie, Jo, Prichy, D' Frendz, the SSC gang)
- Helping people who need help
- Lying on the couch with eyes closed and just listening to my breathing
- People watching at SoHo and LKF with a Mango Juice in hand

2. Five Dollars to spend right now. How or where would you spend it?

If it's US$5, which is around HK$35

- I'll look for some hungry soul and treat him or her to McDonald's
- Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream
- Roast Duck Meal at Maxim's
- Tank tops for my sisters from Uniqlo (which is on sale!)
- Doritos and Cheetos and Munchies

3. Five Items in your house you could part with right now?

- All the plastic bags i've amassed
- Old magazines
- Shirts that are either loose or have shrunk
- Useless DVDs that my friend gave me
- Junk from the previous tenant

4. Five Items in your house you absolutely, positively could never part with?

- Family Photos
- Wardrobe Closet (and all the fabulous jeans inside)
- My bed
- My comfy couch
- My uber cool leather jacket

5. Five Words you love?

- Happy?
- Sure.
- Harrumph!
- Eeeehhhhhhh.
- Thanks.

Onion Skinned

Once on the tram, a Filipina I talked to remarked that: "parang ang pino ng balat mo." I guess she said that because: 1.) I have fair colored skin, 2.) you can actually see the veins under my skin. Given that description, i'd imagine how thin my skin could actually be. This is particularly true around the leg area where my skin is whiter.

Today, I realized how thin my skin might be. This afternoon, I bumped my leg on my desk as I was rushing to get something. Then, later in the day, my colleague accidentally hit my shoulder with a book he was carrying.

When I was changing my clothes tonight, I noticed that I had two bruises: one on the leg where it hit the desk, and one on my shoulder where the book landed. The strange thing was, the impact of those two accidents were so, SO minimal. It was just like somebody brushing me a bit vigorously. But the bruises it left were actually a bit big.

The one on my leg is this bright red 3-inch gash, and the one on my shoulder is a pinkish-red, 2-inch, V-shaped welt. I should be more careful next time lest I want to look like I was flagellated by someone. Ugh.

Well, at least when someone remarks that i'm onion-skinned, I have bruises to prove it.

Malted Monday

Thanks to an unschedules stop at 7-11, there's a yummy new addition to my breakfast repertoire.


Presenting Nestle's Malted Chocolate drink.

For the longest time, I bought the extra-rich and extra-creamy variant of Nestle. In fact, i'd buy two packs and this would be my liquid breakfast. Today, though, they didn't have that variant. In its place, there was this nice, bright yellow pack - something unfamiliar to me. I picked it up, saw the variant name, and thought of giving it a try.

This is really, REALLY good. Since there's malt and chocolate, it tastes like a cross between Magnolia Chocolait and Ovaltine. There's a taste texture that feels good on the palate, and it feels much lighter than the "extra" variant. Needless to say, I chugged these two boxes in a few minutes, and i'm thinking of buying more later.



Sorry extra-rich and extra-creamy, you've been replaced.

Leather or not

Melvin and I were at Zara this afternoon drooling over some nice leather jackets. Since winter is coming up in a few weeks, most of the brands have brought out their heaviest leather so that people like me can go through the cold still looking nice and streamlined, as opposed to looking like eskimos bundled under pillow thick jackets.

I've been planning to buy a leather jacket since last year. Part of me was against it though since I can only use it for 3 months in a year, and the remaining 9 months, it'll be locked away in my closet gathering molds and mildew. (Hmmm... that sounds like 80% of my wardrobe. hahaha.) In fact, I had a leather jacket in 2003, but I opted to leave it at my parents' place in the US since I won't have too much use for it in Manila anyway. Given that, another leather jacket might not be practical. (Then again, fashion isn't supposed to be practical.)

There are two jackets i'm lusting over. One is a black bomber jacket with motorcycle-inspired zippers in front. The second is a streamlined and suit cut jacket in a brown so dark, it's almost black. I tried them both and Melvin says they both look really nice. He's more partial to the bomber jacket, though.

Anyway, I'm giving myself a week to think it over. Hopefully, both jackets will still be available and in my size this Saturday. If they are, it's a sign.

THEY'RE MINE!

Attack of the College Boy

I decided to have lunch at the KFC outlet in King's Road today. I ordered my usual Zinger meal: Zinger burger, criss cut fries and Pepsi. Usually, this meal costs $24.50, so that's the amount I prepared. But when the cashier asks for my payment, she said: $19.50 please.

Of course, this baffled me a bit. Initially, my thought was that they have some lunch time promo. But on my way out, I noticed this poster by the front door. It said: Student Saver Meals. Under that promo, students get $5.00 off on selected meals, and the Zinger meal was one of them.

Then it hit me. She thought I was a student!

Now I have two things to smile about. First, I saved $5.00, and second, I really look a decade younger than I really am.

I'm under a Tax

Oh no! Every year, people in Hong Kong dread this day, and it's finally happened to me.

I've received my tax statement!

Unlike in Manila where it's the company's job to deduct and remit taxes to the government, here, we have to pay for it ourselves. The problem is, usually a person has to pay for his taxes for the next two years! So I have to pay the government my tax dues for this year and the next. Bummer!

The good news is, I don't have to worry about saving up for tax money the next 14 months. That means I can buy anything I want. ANYTHING! Mwahahaha!

Well, it's a good thing I have until January to pay. At least there's 2 months more to scrimp and save.

She Banks!

This will sound really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, REALLY strange, but the more I watch America's Next Top Model, the more I realize how full of practical wisdom Tyra Banks is.

When I first caught ANTM Cycle 1 some eons back, I thought it would be a flash in the pan and it was just another model's way of holding on to the fame she has. But after following Cycles 5 and 6, I've come to conclude that Tyra does know her stuff. And she really knows her modeling tricks of the trade.

In the last 3 episodes of Cycle 6, she was teaching Danielle and Jade how a little twitch can actually change the texture and overall feel of a model's photograph. She taught them how to smile with your eyes without moving your lips. She taught them how closing the legs a bit can turn a "man's magazine pose" to a "elle girl magazine pose." She even taught them how a squint can soften a person's features.

And the amazing thing is, all her tips work. I was flabbergasted at how Tyra did look softer and friendlier when she squinted her eyes. When she smiled with her eyes, I did feel it, and yes, she didn't even move her lips. It's really impressive. All those years of modeling did make Tyra more than a supermodel, she's a supermodel mentor!

Now I have no doubts whatsoever that she's the best person to host ANTM. And I also have no doubts whatsoever that I'm going to be glued every Sunday at 8:30 to watch ANTM Cycle 7.

That's Entertainment!

Lara's wedding invite finally came in the mail today. Although I was half expecting it, seeing it being delivered by our secretary was a pleasant surprise to end the day. It's always nice to receive good new by snail mail.


The invitation is GORGEOUS! I've always been attracted to chocolate brown, so the brown satin ribbon that greeted me was a welcome sight. Their theme is east meets west, and both the overlay and the actual invite reflected this in a toile kind of way. It was refreshing to see something ornate and classy at the same time.

But the biggest surprise of the invite wasn't inside, it was in front. Here it is:


Yup, I think Lara thought I was a former member of the now defunct "That's Entertainment." Actually, I've been called Lester Samonte a couple of times already, but the last one was about 5 years ago. In truth, Carol was a bit reluctant to give me the invite at first. She had to ask: "Lester, do you use the surname Samonte in any of your correspondences?" Then after showing me the invite, I knew it was for me, despite the gaffe. Carol followed up by saying, I thought "Samonte" was another addition to the Lester Edgard Regalado Morales that we know. And she said that if it was, then my name would really be the longest name she knows.

Kuya Germs! Your long lost entertainer is here in HK!

Of kindred spirits and lost souls

Most of today was spent with a new acquaintance named Karen. She and I were invited by Fernan to breakfast at their nice place in Parkview, and this was the first time I met her. Clicking with a first time acquaintance - though not impossible - is also not common. Karen is one of those few instances when the first time meeting felt like a reunion among long lost friends.

Part of it is largely because Karen and I share the same story. We were both asked to move to HK early last year, and we arrived here pretty much the same time. Both of us came here for the same reason - honest-to-goodness regional experience. We both aim for the same thing, bringing back home the things we've learned and use it to make the industry work a bit better back home. We both come from the same school, and conveniently, know a lot of the same people. Our industries are intertwined - she used to be with a research agency and later on moved to a network. On the other hand, i'm in advertising, and as she herself said: "Creative people hate researchers."

That's true, but not in this instance.

Hours after getting to know each other, we found a lot of other common threads. First, we're both still very much attached to the Philippines and continuously long for home. Both our hearts are in the Philippines - she has her husband and her family back in Manila, while I have my family and my life back there, too. But whilst I come home every month, she takes a trip back home every two weeks. She really must miss her husband, and missing a loved one is something I can easily relate to.

Second, we handle homesickness more or less the same way. She told me that whenever boredom and longing for Manila kicks in, she either goes the the parlor, spa or the mall for some therapy. My therapy is shopping, of course. After all, i've got too little hair to cut and am not too big on the spa thing. Karen tells me that she sometimes goes to Worldwide center just to listen to Filipinos chatter - this alone brings her joy, and it's something I've done a couple of times as well. We've talked about uncontrolled "tear rolling down the cheek" spells, and the adrenaline rush that comes with every trip back to Manila.

Listening to her is like listening to myself. Looking at her experiences feels like looking through mine. She's also a lost soul, and knowing her is like finding a kindred spirit. And finding one would actually make life a bit easier here.

Unfortunately, she won't be here for long. After 18 months, she's decided to come home. The call of her heart is so loud, it prevailed over the sound of money, materialism and shopping noise of Hong Kong. She quit her job, she's living the glitz and glamour of this country behind to be with the people who really matter, and the country that's really in her heart. Yes, in a month's time, she'll be back home in Manila.

Of course, I envy her. Doing that is something that has crossed my mind so many times since I first set foot here. Many times, I was just a hairline away from actually doing it - quitting, packing my 70+ pairs of jeans and going back home. But from where I stand now, there's still something to accomplish here: a lot more points to prove, a lot more people to help, a lot more of lives to touch. If it weren't for these circumstances, I might be writing this blog from Makati and not from North Point.

It would have been nicer if we knew each other longer. We could have helped each other guide each one back home. But somehow, knowing her story and knowing she's coming home might just be the guide I need.

Cheapers Creepers

There has been a proliferation of unbelievably cheap stuff in Hong Kong lately. Maple is still on sale, and i've got about 30 blouses in my flat (heck, I could open a boutique, but alas, those are for my sisters and some are Christmas presents.) After wandering through Fa Yuen Street, I walked out with 10 "pashmina"(yeah, right) shawls which I got for only $20 a pop. Then, there are the $20 shoes in Isuma (and there are now about 10 pairs at home.) Ugh, I'm such a shopaholic.

Then today, I walked into this video shop in King's Road and they had Koreanovela boxed sets on sale! It ranged from $20-$60 for a box with 10 DVDs and 30 episodes! Now that's really, majorly cheap. (Having been to Shenzhen, I know how cheap DVDs can be, and this, my friends, is uber cheap.)

It looks like Hong Kong is really set to replace Bangkok as my favorite shopping destination!

Sticking to one

Aside from jeans, I'm also fond of watches. In fact, they fondly call me "The Watcher" at work because of my penchant for wearing different watches everyday. Peter even noticed that I usually match my watch with my belt, and it gives them a bit of joy to anticipate "what watch will he be wearing today?"

It's actually part of my daily decisions - do I wear a leather or metal strap? Will it be brown, black or green? Crocodile strap or distressed leather? To make the decision making process easier, all my watches are in my side drawer so I can easily open and choose.

But the last time I did that was 3 weeks ago.

Yes, for the past 3 weeks, I've been wearing just one watch everyday. The same watch I wore in Japan during my visit to Mark. This watch right here.


My Mom sent me this watch 2 months ago when my brother-in-law came back from the U.S. It's a silver, Fossil Automatic watch - one of the new watches from their 2006-2007 collection. From the time I first tried it on, I fell in love with it. And why wouldn't I?

The size - albeit a bit big - fits my wrist and frame perfectly. The silver-ness of the watch, even if it's stark, is very pleasing to the eye. The design is simple and classic enough to dress up or dress down. So, on the whole, it's gorgeous! Plus, as Mark says, the best thing about automatic watches is that they're silent - it doesn't tic like the usual watches do.

My colleague actually noticed that I've been using this for the past few weeks. This afternoon, he told me: "Looks like you're just sticking to one now. You've finally found the perfect one for you."

Yup! You're absolutely right.

Anak ng Petula

A few years after watching it on the big screen, I got a DVD copy of Girl, Interrupted last night and watched it at home. Aside from Angelina Jolie's Oscar winning performance, one thing about this film that stuck to my subconscious is Petula Clark's song: Downtown.

I've been hearing this song as a kid. If i'm not mistaken, my Dad had a cassette tape of Petula Clark and this ditty would often pervade in the air during Sundays. Hearing it would conjure up images of happy families in the 60s, going down the tree lined boulevards in the U.S. on a weekend.

But after Girl, Interrupted, the song now feels a bit more dark and haunting. Maybe it's because the song was playing in that scene where Brittany Murphy finally kills herself, or maybe its because there's an eerie calmness to Petula Clark's voice. It's the type of voice that would put you in a trance and make you do whatever she wishes.

Whatever the reason is, I now find myself hooked to this song. I've actually been listening to it since this morning, and i've probably heard it more than 50 times already. It's insane!

Then again, Brittany Murphy was insane in the movie, too.

Scary...

Blanc Wall

Pacific Place was all abuzz tonight, and naturally, my Journalist instincts kicked in. Upon further investigation, I discovered a large contingent of Taitais and other beautiful people converging at the Atrium at the ground floor. What used to be an open space was now a sea of black dresses in silk, jersey and tweed. And this could only mean one thing:

There was a fashion event!


Indeed, there was. Mont Blanc, that brand we all know as pens that are wonderful to write with, was presenting their holiday jewelry collection.


Yup, they do make things other than pens. It was hard to see the baubles from where I was standing (which was the balcony), but based on their tarps, it looks like they could give Tiffany's a run for their 925 sterling silver money.

The models were very run of the mill. In Hong Kong, as long as you're lithe and blonde, you can pass off as a model. And there was a couple of generic blonde models last night, like her:


Then there was this other model who was Asian. She was gorgeous, tall, great body shape and bone structure, and she even looks healthy! And her face... Chiseled, big round eyes, cheek bones as high as Mt. Everest - she was like a sculpture that came to life. Her face was perfect!

Too bad I can't say the same for her walking skills, though. She was as awkward as an ostrich wearing rollerblades!

Oh well, as Kuya Ers would say: "Buti na lang at maganda siya." And mabuti na lang maganda yung jewelry ng Montblanc. It made hanging around Pacific Place worthwhile.

Maybe I should get those for my sisters and Mom for Christmas.

In the tube

Mark told us last night that one of the recent commercials we did was actually uploaded on Youtube a couple of times. The thing was, he nor any of the production people did it. Mostly, they were Iya Villania fans who wanted to put their idol on net for 1.65 billion people to see.

It was a bit strange to see the commercial as accessible as this. I had fun doing this commercial. I chose the song, I gave the choreographer the directions that led to her highly charged, head spinning dance move, and of course, the copy. This clip was the only one I could access because it was the only one that could be embedded.

Whoever uploaded this made me smile. After all, she (or he) says that this is "craziest, headbanging commercial ever!" And note that the person actually recorded it from the television set before uploading it.

(Upon further investigation, i have about 10 more other commercials lurking around Youtube. Cool!)

Deed is done

Today is a great day. What made is stellar is an unexpected good deed that I found myself doing in church. It was a simple, and on hindsight, embarassing deed, but it looks like the other person appreciated it so much. And that made it worth doing.

Three cheers for good deeds!

Just my luck

A couple of weeks ago, I was raving about this really nice dress that I stumbled upon and purchased at Zara. It was a printed dress with a purple grossgrain ribbon that I'm sure my sisters would love. When I looked at the rack, they only have the dress in Medium and Large sizes. Medium was perfect for Ate Bullet, but Ate Lissa was a small. I asked them to check if they had a small size in stock, but no luck.

The past few days were spent by me checking out each of Zara's 4 branches here in Hong Kong, hoping to chance upon the same dress in small. But then again, no luck. I became obsessed with the dress that every night, I'd drop just to take a peek.

Last September 14, I went back to Manila with only one dress - a medium for Ate Bullet. As expected, her eyes lit up as she fit the dress, and it fit her perfectly. I felt bad that Ate Lissa couldn't have the same adrenaline rush that comes from finding a pretty, perfect fitting dress.

Today, I passed through Zara in Harbour City en route to City Super for lunch. I knew the sales weren't up until another 2 months, so I really didn't look around. But on my way out, there was this force that stopped me and made me look to my right.


What did I see? It was the printed dress with a purple grossgrain ribbon! It took my breath away! One piece left, tucked in between some plaid, wool blend dresses. I held my breath as I walked to the rack, pulled out the dress, and guess what?

It was a small! And it was still on sale, still with the same ridiculously cheap price tag.

Faster than you can say TRF, I was already at the counter clutching the dress. As Arnie would say, this is fate!

Hey Ate! I've got your dress!

Baby, I swear it's...

Thanks to Peter who gave me a copy of Beyonce's new B-Day CD, I am now officially addicted to the carrier single "Deja Vu." The first track out of her second album borrows the success factors of "Crazy in Love." First, there's Jay-Z's rapping, then there's the steady bom-bom beat that makes you want to just shake your butt and shimmy (which what it does for me), it has Beyonce's vocal acrobatics, and of course, it's got repetitive lyrics that makes it so easy to memorize.

I think i've listened to this song more than 200 times the past 3 days, and yes, I think I know the song by heart already. In fact, I find myself walking along Victoria Park singing this song in my head. And when I do that, there's a bounce in my step and there's a little wiggle in my tush.

Gosh! I hope people don't think I'm insane. Because if they do, then that would really be deja vu.

What's it all about?

Alfie and I are the proverbial “cat and dog” of D’ Frendz. We have this penchant for getting on each other’s nerves and fighting.

Considering the history of D’ Frendz, Alfie and I are the oddity – or should I daresay, the aberration – of the group. In our 16 odd years as friends, “fights” are few and far between within the gang. The last major one was the “Tintin-Grace cold war” in the mid-90s.

After that, I don’t recall any big fights nor major dramas between anyone in the group. For more than a decade, everything was calm and smooth sailing, or so it seems.

Unbeknownst to the other Frendz, Alfie and I actually stopped talking to each other and given each other the cold shoulder a number of times. It would often start with a simple clash, and the next thing I know, we’d be “fighting.”

Clashes usually happen when things come from opposite directions. This might be the reason why we’d have these “fights.” Ever since college, Alfie and I were complete opposites. Alfie was disciplined and I was chaotic. Alfie was serious and I was overly carefree. Alfie was diligent and I was lazy.

In my mind, Alfie was the ideal student. I still remember when we first became classmates: it was Philosophy I. We’d all sit at the back row, and she’d sit beside her friend Rizza. They’d always come to class prepared whereas I’d come to class late and praying that the professor wouldn’t call me.

Now, if Alfie was the ideal student, I was the disaster waiting to happen. And eventually, it did.

Alfie and I were again classmates in the advertising class of Prof. Jazmines. (I’m not sure, but I think we were.) For our final project, we were supposed to create an advertising campaign for Trac Corporation – a company that was supposed to manufacture a Pajero type SUV.

My duty then was simple; I was in charge of the print ads. Despite the simplicity of the task, I bombed – big time! On the day of the presentation, not only did I come in late, but I was carrying hideous chicken scratches masquerading as print ads. It was a mortifying experience, and I could only imagine how equally mortified my group mates were of me.

After that incident, I expected myself to be a pariah in the eyes of Alfie and her friends – and it happened – up to a certain extent. I began distancing myself from her group of friends.

During our senior year, our paths crossed again by way of the UP Journalism Club. I was the really, really, really late recruit – joining the club during my senior year. What gave me the courage to join was Grace Paat, who likewise joined the club the same time.

From then came the second wind of our friendship. Founded on writing on the logbooks (and keeping Abe from bastardizing page 69) to buying linoleum for the tambayan, to organizing parties and initiations. This was the time when the bridge of friendship slowly connected Alfie and me.

After college, Alfie disappeared. As it turns out, she moved to Davao to work for an NGO. This was yet another manifestation of how different we were. While she was out there alone trying to change the world, I was with the “yuppies-to-be” in Makati trying to change people’s perceptions about infant formula.

But that was something I’ve come to expect from her. Alfie is, after all, an independent spirit. Among the 10 of us, I can clearly say that she was the first one who really lived, breathed and demonstrated independence.

In college, she would make her own rules and stick by them. Even as young students, I’d always remember her calling the shots whether it’s in school or at home. When we started working, she was the first to move out and get an apartment. In her 20s, she was able to do things that a lot of us took more than a decade to accomplish.


Alfie’s independence is grounded on her maturity, and that maturity is grounded on her level headedness. Mention the word “proseso” and she would be the first name that people will blurt out. She was the type who’d always look at all sides of the issue before answering it.

Here lies another one of her opposites. I usually make decisions based on impulse and instinct. Alfie, on the other hand, would gather all information and almost flowchart it. She’d always look at every possible angle, and that’s where she’d base her decisions. Some of us actually find this “proseso” a bit long-winded, but it’s second nature to her. Just as its second nature for Alfie to be pragmatic and open minded.

And strong. This is another characteristic of Alfie. She has always been one of D’ Frendz’s stronger members.

When her Dad passed away years ago, I remember being at the funeral home as we waited for the wake to commence. Even then, she was a picture of strength. That time, she was concerned about the arrangement of the room, if there was food, and what time we’ll go home. She had an admirable composure that night, and it takes a person of unmatched strength to be able to pull that off.

Despite our numerous opposite qualities, Alfie and I do share some similarities. While being opposites create clashes, physics will also tell us that the clashing of two forces would often result in positive energy. And I think our friendship has a lot of that.

Alfie puts a lot of value into our group’s friendship. In one of her birthday celebrations, she decided to bring D’ Frendz all the way up to Tagaytay for a day trip. She single-handedly took care of every logistical need: from the van that we were to use, to the place where we’ll have lunch, to a coffee place where we’d unwind.

That day created a lot of good memories. Among these, my top 3 favorites would be:

1. Tintin’s exhibiting her penchant for explaining herself. We had a stop over at Jollibee, and not only did she order something, she took time to explain to the crewmember why she’s ordering that.
TINTIN: One hot chocolate, please. Hot chocolate lang ang o-order-in ko kasi kumain na naman ako breakfast kanina.
2. Rona’s impromptu song number at Gourmet Café Tagaytay.
3. Maricar’s near panic attack while we were maneuvering a dark road going down from Tagaytay. Her screams and gasps of panic are still fresh in my mind – and honestly, I was pretty freaked out that time, too.

Even though these events happened more 5 years ago, I recall them as if they happened yesterday. My mom once told me that you know that a memory is valuable to you when it never ages in your mind. These memories have that quality. No matter how long ago it happened, it has remained young. And of course, it never fails to make me smile.

A lot of the memories we’ve created have this quality. We’ve actually organized two weddings together – Mimin’s and Mayee’s. On the subject of weddings, I was also once her default wedding date. There’s one time when we had a party near their old apartment in Mandaluyong and we discussed Sharon Cuneta with her friend Cris. Then there were many times when we’d have impromptu lunches at Jollibee Megamall when I was still an Ortigas baby.

Another quality that Alfie and I share is our generosity. Alfie is a person who has so much to give. We – D’ Frendz – have been witnesses to the times she’s given herself to someone: sometimes to our delight, and sometimes to our consternation.

She gives herself so selflessly. These days, whenever we can’t get wind of Alfie on a weekend, that’s probably because she’s on a medical mission, or a project at the Bilibid prison. Amazingly, though, even if she gives so much of herself, she still has a lot left to give. As the adage goes: a deep well never runs dry. I figure that Alfie must then be a really deep well.

Right now, I feel a bit odd because even if I recall these details about Alfie, I can’t remember the reasons behind our numerous fights and cold shoulders. All I can recall is that there’d be days that we’d just stop talking, and then in a few weeks, we’d start chatting away like nothing happened.

But on hindsight, that’s how good friends usually are. When the level of friendship between two people is so comfortable, both of you can bicker, bitch, brood and bash each other, then wake up the next day as if nothing happened. In my mind, this is how our friendship is.

If you ask Alfie, she’ll tell you that I really can bicker, bitch, brood and bash. In fact, she’d often get a potshot or two, or 35, from me whenever we’d get together. Thankfully, (and hopefully) she never takes them seriously. I guess it’s because she knows that it’s just “carino brutal.” And if I may add, its really more “carino” than “brutal.”

It comes to a point that whenever I give her a complement, she often holds her breath and waits for the comeback. And more often than not, there is a comeback! I think Alfie has known me long enough to know that I’ll say something mean. After all, I’m consistent in doing that.

Which brings me to the final similarity between us – consistency. In my 16 odd years of knowing Alfie, I can say that she’s consistent. She’s consistently levelheaded, consistently pragmatic, consistently subjecting everything to a “proseso,” and consistently generous.

They say that consistency is the hallmark of character. If a person exhibits the same qualities through decades, then it’s something that’s ingrained in her. And if I follow that train of thought, then it means that all of the abovementioned qualities are really within Alfie’s personality.

I couldn’t agree more, of course. Because that’s what I see when I look at her as a friend and as a person. Even if we’re opposites, we do get along. Even if we’re similar, we manage to surprise each other.

And despite our numerous clashes and misunderstandings, she’s always been there for me. The same Alfie who has always been levelheaded, always pragmatic, always ma-proseso, and always generous.

With Alfie, that’s what’s it’s all about.

Happy Birthday, Alfie! (Ang tanda mo na.)

Top Shopping

What’s a guy to do during a long weekend? If I were in Barcelona, I’d probably hang out at Parc Gruell and just marvel at Antonio Gaudi’s insane vision. If I were in Amsterdam, I’ll probably sit in front of Damrak and watch people pass by. If I were in Manila, I’d probably be playing with Javier and hanging out with my siblings.

But I’m in Hong Kong. And if it’s a long weekend here, I shop.

I’ve actually told myself to stop buying any new piece of clothing because my closet is already packed to capacity. Thankfully, I’ve got two sisters back home who are bigger clotheshorses than myself. So today, I’ve shopped for them.

Maple – my favorite source of all things funky – has brought out the all-important, 4-letter word: SALE! Quickly, I swooped in, rummaged around like the proverbial kid in the candy store, and walked out with 11 new tops!



Choosing was a very difficult task, especially since there were more than 200 fabulous tops to choose from. But I had to restrain myself, and was also careful not to spoil my sisters too much. So I decided to buy a few key pieces that would fit this season and last to the next.


Black. Any fashion editor will tell you that black will always be timeless and is solace for people who suffer from the “I don’t know what to wear” syndrome. My sisters, though, love things with a bit of quirk. So, I ended up buying these two black tops: one with a nautical twist, and the other with an embedded pearl choker.


Lace. Romance has been on magazines the past year or so, and it doesn’t show any sign of going away. What best captures romance than lace? No frou-frou lace thingies, though. These tops have stretch lace that gives the body shape, and see through details that give it an edge.


Crafts. Although crochet reminds me of my Mom whenever she’s upset (she crochets glass holders whenever she’s stressed out), combining it with jersey makes for a very easygoing and slightly bohemian top.


Quirks. These tops definitely march to their own drumbeat. One has combines lace with knits and tops if off with a belt made of metal and lace. The other is a soft, eyelet bustier that’s a cross between innocent and vampy. And the other one reminds me of a funky schoolmistress.

Looking at the fruits of my hour-long spree, I could already envision the big smiles that my sisters will have when I come home. But the best part of this spree is that this whole loot cost me less than $500! And for Hong Kong, that’s quite a steal.


Ugh! I feel the urge to go back to Maple tomorrow! Must stop myself.

Must stop myself.

Must stop myself.

Light up the sky!

Watched the National Day Fireworks tonight, and it was awesome.

This is the 3rd time I've seen this while living in Hong Kong. Twice for National Day and once for Chinese New Year.

Tonight's show was the best of the 3 that i've seen. Too bad I didn't bring my digital camera to capture it.

Gig in Japan 2: Unidentified Foreign Object

"You're Filipino? You don't look like a Filipino!"

This recent trip to Japan further highlighted this well-known but personally-often-ignored little factoid about me. Really, when I was growing up and even up to now, I was always convinced that I looked "like a native." That's why when people ask me to describe myself, I'd always say: "I look like the typical Pinoy."

But my travels abroad usually disprove this theory. When I met Mark's friends and schoolmates in IUJ, they all thought I was Central Asian. When I introduced myself to Father Bruno and said I was Filipino, his eyes widened and said: "You don't like a Filipino." Even my brother's brother-in-law (confusing, eh?) told me that the first time he saw me, he thought I was Hispanic.

For some people, this might be novel. But for someone who's been experiencing it for the past decade or so, it's actually quite disconcerting. Sometimes, it feels as if I'm a global foreigner. And sometimes I feel that i'm actually citizenless. This is actually a sad place to be in.

Even in Manila, I find myself being treated like a foreigner. I remember a taxi driver who tried chatting me up in English, and when I replied in Tagalog, he let out a huge: "Inakup! Pinoy ka!" Well, being treated like a foreigner isn't bad, if it's the "good" kind of treatment.

But there's the "bad" kind of treatment: when people are wary and intimidated by you, or, in the case of shopping, people think you've got a lot of dollars to spare. There was one incident in Greenhills when I was checking out an Abercrombie and Fitch hoodie, then asked the girl how much it was. She said: "P1,200 sir." Then my reply was: "Sis, medyo P500 lang yan sa Surplus shop. Baka puwede mo namang bawasan." Then she blushed and gave me my asking price.

Whilst it may be a bit irritating, looking like a foreigner has some perks. First, kids are friendlier, and that friendliness is probably anchored in fascination. In Japan, kids would actually play with me: they'd run up, make a face, i'd reciprocate, then the kid would shriek with glee and run away. This happened twice when I was with Mark: first was in the Daisho in Muikamachi, and the second was at Tokyo Disneyland. When I was in Kyoto, another kid was so fascinated with me that she just waved at me for 5 straight minutes.

Another good thing about being seen as a foreigner is that the locals appreciate it more when you try to speak their language. Everytime I'd say "Arigato Gozaimashta" after every transaction, I'd usually be greeted by a very wide smile. There was even an instance when an old shop owner held my face as if saying: "that's adorable." So whenever i'd practice the little Nihonggo I know, it's gratifying to see their faces of appreciation. (But then again, those may be faces of: "What the hell is this person trying to say?")

In the course of all my travels, there are actually just 2 places where I wasn't seen as a foreigner - the first being the Czech Republic. According to some people there (the hotel owner, the waitress at Fridays, one of the museum curators) I have Slavic features, and that's why they'd often try to speak to me in Czech. Strangely, though, this irritated Roland so I tried to keep my Slavic-ness low key.

Second is in Spain. Barcelona is the other place that feels like home. Whenever i'm there, I easily blend in. And thanks to the little Spanish I know, it's possible for me to fake being Spanish. That might be the reason why I like visiting Barcelona. It's one of the few places where I don't feel like a foreigner (even if technically, I am.)

Sometimes I find myself thinking of ways on how I can look more Filipino. The easiest way to change is by changing my color. But that doesn't work quite well. When I tried to get a bit dark, my client said I looked Dominican or Colombian.

Maybe I should just wear a "Pinoy ako" shirt everyday. Maybe that'll do the trick.

Gig in Japan 1: Element of Surprise

Finally, I’ve settled in back in Hong Kong and am starting to jot down all those wonderful sights, sounds and experiences during my 10-day stay in Japan. And here is where the adventure all began.

=========================================

I love surprises! Getting them is great, but giving them is much more awesome. The emotional rush of seeing a person’s face all lit up with joy and astonishment is something that is – according to the MasterCard campaign - priceless.

Early this year, my siblings and I gave my parents one of their biggest surprises yet. They celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary, and we told them we’re planning a small get together for them. Little did they know that we organized a church wedding and a lunch reception.

But that wasn’t the biggest surprise. Biboy, my brother living in Georgia, sneaked in the country to join the festivities. They had no idea he was going to Manila and will be my co-best man. When Dad saw Biboy in church, he was moved to tears. And my Mom, she was in a state of happy disbelief and obvious bliss.

Mom is a big believer of the “pay it forward” philosophy. After the surprise we gave her last January, she became the impetus for the next big surprise I was going to give this year. She gave me a free trip to Japan so I could surprise Mark on his birthday.

Having lived abroad several times, I know how difficult it feels to be in a foreign land on your birthday. In fact, I always come home for mine, no matter where in the world I am. This year, Mark was going to celebrate his birthday in Japan – away from his family and home – for the first time. In some of our conversations, he’d allude to his fear that his birthday this year might be a bit sad because of his current situation.

That was something I didn’t want to happen. Thanks to Mom, the prospect of surprising him and putting a bit of “happy” on his happy birthday was set into motion.

The time span between the day Mom gave me the ticket and Mark’s birthday was about 6 weeks. So, the surprise had to be prepared and executed in that short span. This would have been easy if I had an empty plate. But I had 2 shoots, and countless other projects running. Good thing my juggling skills didn’t fail me.

What had to be done? Get a Japanese visa, find out where he’d be on his birthday, find out how to get to where he’d be on his birthday, file my leave, fix my schedules, try and learn a few key Japanese phrases, and find people in Japan who can help in case of little glitches. Whew! And that’s just the trip part.

People who I’ve shared this “surprise plan” of mine had two common reactions: 1. “You’re awfully nice” and 2. “You’re clinically insane.”

Truth is, I haven’t been to downtown Japan. All my trips have been limited to Narita Airport and Narita town because my flights to the US have always stopped over there. Reality is, I’m going to a strange land where only a few people speak English, and I’m going to try and find a person who doesn’t even know I’m there.

They all voiced out their concerns: “What if you get lost?” “What if no one can help you?” “What if he isn’t even there?”

Judging by those comments, reaction number 2 would be more appropriate. But strangely, that never bothered me or made me think that my task would be more daunting. In my mind, I was going to make a person happy on his birthday, and all the supposed “risks” were inconsequential.

Sir Conrad once told me that if you look too far ahead, you tend not to notice what’s in front. To a certain extent, that was my mindset during the planning stage of this trip. My eyes were set on the goal so much that I’ve chosen to overlook the obstacles. It was a good mindset. Insane, maybe, but still good.

Surprisingly, I was able to map out the plan with a week or two to spare. This I credit to the power of Google, and the assistance of a few acquaintances in Japan. I found out where Mark would be on his birthday, and what Shinkansen to ride in order to get there. I’ve pinpointed the location of IUJ, and even booked a hotel within that vicinity as a fall back. The surprise was set, and all it needed was for it to be sprung.

Like any person who has a surprise up his sleeve, there was a mounting feeling of excitement and giddiness when I took the PAL flight to Tokyo that Friday. It was a bit difficult to move around because I was carrying so many things (including a Chocolate cake that my sister prepared. What’s a birthday without a cake, right? Big thanks to Ate for it.) At the check-in area at NAIA, one of the lady guards inquired about the cake I was carrying and I told her about my planned surprise. Suddenly, her eyes lit up and was telling everyone about it. That added to my excitement, of course.
A few hours later, I was already in Shinjuku. I had a night to spare so I went around the environs first, met up with Cathy, and breathed Tokyo air.

The strange thing was, the fact that I was in Tokyo didn’t sink in just yet. My mind was still busy planning and processing tomorrow’s surprise. This is probably the by-product of my training in advertising – single-mindedness, single-mindedness, single-mindedness. Plus, Tokyo as a city felt just like Causeway Bay here in Hong Kong, so there was really nothing novel or breathtaking about it.

Then the day came, Saturday, September 16. It was the day before Mark’s birthday, and I thought of springing the surprise a day earlier just in case he’s already made plans for the day itself. I took the Shinkansen and found the station I was supposed to get off at. I found the hotel where I’m supposed to check in, and did so without any difficulty. (Yup, my Nihonggo phrases worked.) And of course, the cake was still intact. Everything was set for the surprise.

At around 5pm, there I was, in front of his room. I knocked on his door and acted as if it was the most normal thing to do. In a few seconds, Mark opened the door, and I said “hello there” in the most nonchalant way possible.

What happened next was some sort of a déjà vu. Just 9 months ago in a church in Cubao, I saw my parents with this look that’s a combination of happy disbelief and obvious bliss. Now, I’m here in Urasa, Japan seeing Mark with this same look that’s a combination of happy disbelief and obvious bliss.

Yup, I can tell by Mark’s face that I did put a bit of “happy” in his “happy birthday.” And yes, judging by the "Oh my gosh" he let out upon seeing me can attest to the fact that he was definitely surprised.

And with that, I’ve accomplished what I set out to do and i've seen what I came here to see.

In the continuing saga...

Today, I've decided to wear my utterly distressed and mangled D Squared jeans to work. The right leg has large gaping holes the size of Texas, the most prominent being the hole on the upper right thigh. And when I say "upper", it means it's dangerously up there.

On my way home, I decided to drop by the Maple Outlet in Haiphong Road. While looking at their new batch of jeans, I heard a couple of people talking in Tagalog. I looked up to see two girls and a guy. The guy was standing in front of me and facing my direction. My assumption is that he saw the jeans I was wearing. Why? Because he immediately called his friends and said:

GUY: Pssst! Tignan niyo... libre boso!

He should be thankful that I was tired last night. If I weren't, I would've announced to him and his friends that I'm Filipino and that i'm actually aware that they're talking about me.

Talaga naman. The things that people say...

Multiplicity

In yet another episode of "Lester is all over the place."

This morning, I woke up at 5 a.m. in Tokyo. The weather was crisp and cool, and the walk to Shinjuku station with Mark was nice and relaxed.

By 1pm, I was already in Manila. Not having had Jollibee in a while, Grace and I decided to have a late lunch at their Glorietta branch.

In 3 hours or so, i'll be back in Hong Kong. It's been 11 days since I last saw my flat and I'm hoping that I didn't leave any bread or perishable food outside the fridge. (I've made this mistake so many times.)

Three different meals in three different countries with three different people. This definitely has been a busy day, eh?

Gig in Japan

I've been in Japan for almost a week already. The Shinkansen is such a Godsend. I've been to Kyoto, Osaka, Niigata and Tokyo the past few days. It's interesting to see how diverse Japan is, in terms of architecture, landscape and people.

My trip is for 10 days, and i'm sure that writing about it will take much, much, much more time.

Rainy Days and Comfort Food

Woke up to signal number 1, and now they've moved it up to signal number 3. Outside, it looks like it's 8pm when the truth is, it's just quarter to 4. The mood is gloomy and the air is cold.

Yes, the weather is bad, but it's also perfect for noshing on some comfort food.

Different people have different takes on comfort food. Mona says that her comfort food is french fries - especially the Belgian variety which are big and thick. For my sister, it's a big slice of chocolate cake with caramel filling. My brother's choice is ice cream. And I have a friend in Europe who's comfort food of choice is -- Dinuguan! (Bloody hell! Literally!)

I'm a very shallow person, that's why my comfort food is equally shallow. It's easy to find, no need to prepare, it comes in a bag so you can just open and eat in a matter of seconds. Actually, I should put an "s" in each descriptor as I have two favorites: Cheetos Twisted and Doritos Nacho Cheesier.

Clearly, the taste of cheese is comforting to me. But instead of the usual dairy product, i've chosen to eat it in a more processed format.

I love how Cheetos Twisted just melts in your mouth once you pop a curl in. The cheese just crackles and pops in my mouth, bursting out all over the place. Then, there's that thick cheese powder left on my fingers after - another part of the treat. Doritos, on the other hand, has been a childhood favorite. It's great how the cheese flavor blends with the corn flavor of the chip. It's like eating chip and dip in one go.


Now why are these two snacks (or junk, if I listen to my Mom) my idea of comfort food? Because I can easily imagine myself eating a bag each while plopped down on the couch watching DVDs on a rainy day. Now THAT best exemplifies comfort on a rainy day.

Hmmm... now I know what to do for dinner.

Zara-ful Mysteries

Zara has been a favorite of mine since I've first discovered it in Barcelona some 4 years back. Since it's an ubiquituous brand in Spain, you'll probably run into one of their stores every 5 blocks - just like Bench in Manila and Giordano in Hong Kong. After my first visit in their branch at La Illa Mall, I was hooked. From then on, each time I'd go downtown, i'd make a pilgrimage to the nearest Zara store.

It's been more than a year since Zara first opened its doors in Hong Kong. *cue in sappy, sentimental music* I still remember their first branch in IFC mall, and how a trip here would never be complete without dropping by and walking out with a shirt, jacket or a new pair of jeans. Going there in January was an added treat because most of the winter clothes would be on sale, and I could easily snap up a cable knit sweater for HK$129!

Today, I had lunch at Pacific Place to get my fill of Pad Thai at Patong Thai. Since Zara was just a couple of doors away, I thought of swinging by and checking out if there was anything new.

Surprise, surprise! The lunchtime crowd was almost as big as what you'd normally see on a weekend. There was a long queue at the dressing rooms, an equally long queue at the counter, and maybe around 100 women walking around snapping every trend they can get their hands on. Some were carrying brocade coats (in preparation for fall and winter), while others were carrying metallic sweaters (since gold is supposedly big this season), and some were carrying pretty silk dresses with thick sashes (probably for a hot date).

Walking past them, I spotted a rack that had a couple of pretty dresses. There was a printed, knee length dress with a plum colored grossgrain ribbon, a white, silk number with dainty, blue prints, there was a silver, boat necked dress with a plunging back, and finally, a chocolate brown chiffon number with black beads. I picked up the ribboned dress since it looks like something that my sister would dig. It was the right size, and when I looked at the price, I was simply shell-shocked.

It was priced about 50% off the original! I proceeded to check the other dresses, and they all had the same marked down price.

Immediately, I snapped up the printed dress and the chiffon number. Aside from them being the last of their kind, it was also the right size for my Ate. I felt like I hit the jackpot! Imagine, two awesome dresses from Zara, and it costs less than a steak dinner at Ruth Chris'.

And to think that just 2 weeks ago, I stumbled into another set of bargains from Zara in Harbour City. They had these gorgeous tulip skirts for HK$75, and a couple of chiffon blouses for the same price. That evening alone, I went home with 6 items from Zara, and the total was less than HK$500!

It's a mystery how Zara does that. They have all these nice clothes, and they're selling them at outrageously low prices. Then again, it was just one small rack in a whole store, and most of the other stuff are at regular prices. After reading some books on retail, and finding out that the cost of production is usually only 20% the actual price, then the endless racks of regular items will definitely cover for that teeny rack of sale items. But then again, this dress I had was full priced just 3 weeks ago, and now they're practically giving it away! (I kinda pity the women who bought this at cost. They should have waited.) Makes me wonder how Zara chooses the items to be put on clearance.

What's uncanny is that it only happens in the women's section. Zara Man and Zara Kids rarely go on sales like that. Heck, if they only put that gor-ge-ous leather biker jacket at 50% off, I would have snatched it off the shelf and fought off people who would try to take it away from me!

Another mystery surrounding Zara is how it can draw so many women into its store. I've been to Zara on a weekend and it looks like SM Megmall on a Sunday afternoon. You see droves of women with piles of clothes in their arms - they not only browse, they buy! A lot! It's like women are addicted to Zara and can't get enough of it. It reminds me of how Mango looked like when they first opened in Robinson's Place. It was like a fashion battlefield.

How does Zara do it? Maybe I can interview some people the next time I go to Madrid and find out the magic behind the brand.

But as of now, I could really care less. All I know is, I have 2 gorgeous dresses in a bag and a big smile on my face.

Brrrr...

The weather is starting to get cold and my colleagues are saying that the winter chill has begun.

If that's true, winter is coming early this year.

Time to bring out those jackets.

Refreshing Saturday

Despite the less-than-ideal-weather in Hong Kong today, I've managed to have a very refreshing weekend. After a week of back-breaking schedules in Manila, a restful weekend was definitely in order. And where best to spend that than in Macau.

Ovvian and I ferried off in the afternoon and got to Macau a little past 4 pm. We went straight to Senado Square where I paid my usual pilgrimage to the Cathedral of St. Augustine. I noticed that they repainted the entire place, from the original pale blue, the cathedral now had a butter yellow interior. It made the place look cooler and more airy, and the vibe inside was very peaceful.

Then it was off to another favorite place of mine, Lemon Cello! This gelateria is perpetually a stop over whenever i'm in town. And since Ovvian was here for the first time, I decided to bring her here to get a taste of Macau's best ice cream.

My flavor of choice was pink grapefruit and watermelon, giving my cone a nice duo-tone look. But as I was telling Ovvian, sorbets don't taste that great when it's on a sweet cone.

With gelatos on hand, we went up to the Ruins of St. Paul and then to the Macau Museum where we spent a while doing the best thing to do on weekends: sitting down under a big tree and talking about the past decade. It's always a joy to catch up with old friends because it shows us how much we've changed, but at the same time, it shows us how much we've stayed the same.

After that walk down memory lane, it was a walk down retail street. We passed by my favorite building near Leal Senado and was able to buy a pair of D Squared Jeans. It was a nice fitting pair with so many holes, I can't afford to wear them in winter. (Plus, I can't afford to wear them with ugly underwear since one hole is so big, it'll probably show.)

To wrap the night up, we went off to check out the new Wynn Hotel and Casino. This proved to be the evening's highlight because of a lucky streak for Ovvian at the slot machines, a great dinner with more great conversation, and a trip around the arcade to check out the latest luxury items. During this walkabout, I was surprised to find out that a pair of Louis Vuitton sneakers aren't as expensive as I thought it would be. But then again, I'm not a big LV fan. Give me Chuck Taylor's anytime!

After all that excitement, it was time to take the midnight ferry back home. I wasn't able to cover as much ground in Macau today compared to my other visits. It would've been great if Ovvian saw the Kun Iam and A-ma Temples, Fort de Guia and some other churches. But then again, Macau is just a ferry away, and there are other opportunities to visit.

This was a great and refreshing way to spend the weekend. Familiar sights, the best gelato, a filling buffet buffet dinner, wonderful conversations with friends, an excellent streak of luck and unexpected good fortune. Add all these up, and my evening is best summed up by comparing it with the fireworks that we watched by the bay.

It definitely lit up my weekend.

Speed bump

I encountered one today. Not having had one in a while made this quite a new and jarring experience. Not having experienced speed bumps is quite bad because the bumps feel suddenly bigger than they really are. Thankfully I can stop and assess how big it really is.

Speed bumps are good. They make sure you don't fall asleep on the road or get too comfortable on it. And it creates that want to not run into the same bump again.

Feeling a speed bump while maneuvering the road alone is more difficult now since i've got no one to share the wheel with. For almost a year, there was someone co-navigating the road with me. Because of that, it was easy to laugh and bitch about it. Hey Mr. P, you shouldn't have left me here alone! Grrr....

Hopefully, the speed bumps won't be to jarring the next time. It might make me want to get out of the road altogether.

Hit the ground running

My day today:

5:30 am - Finished shooting in Manila
7:30 am - Met up with my sibs in Makati
8:00 am - Had breakfast with Lyli in Dela Rosa Street
9:00 am - Left for the airport
9:30 am - Arrived at NAIA
10:15 am - Checked in and got business class seats for Andy and me. (Yay!)
11:10 am - Flew to Hong Kong
1:00 pm - Got to Chek Lap Kok
2:10 pm - Got home
3:30 pm - Arrived at the office in North Point
3:31 pm - Started working

For someone who's had only 2 hours of sleep today, i'm surprisingly awake.

Can't wait 'til the exhaustion kicks in. I'm sure that i'll have a really sound sleep tonight.

The waiting game

The worst part of attending a shoot is all the waiting that's going on. This is especially the case for extras on set. Imagine, they have to sit around for more than 12 hours, then they'll have their camera time for about 15 minutes. Then, to add insult to injury, they'll be edited out on the final material.

We, too, need to wait. But at least we can use that waiting time quite productively. We can think of new ads during downtime, so we're actually working while working. This might sound pathetic, but it isn't as bad as it sounds.

Then again, if I look back at this waiting game, there's a glaring fact that needs to be said: While waiting, extras are paid to do nothing while we're paid to do more work over our already loaded plate.

I guess it's obvious who's getting the better deal.

Film Fest

Watched 3 films today in 3 different malls. This is one of the things I miss when I'm in Hong Kong. I've noticed that the cinemas there are a bit cramped, although the seats are nice. Plus, their film selection isn't as varied as the ones we have here. First, I saw "My Super Ex-Girlfriend" followed by "The Devil Wears Prada" and capped off with "Click."

"Click" had a good premise and a lesson to drive home to corporate, work-driven America. Too bad it was muddled by the middle of the film. David Hasselhoff's campy performance added a bit of fun to the film, but it was seeing Christopher Walken do excerpts from his "Weapon of Choice" dance that made this film the price of admission.

"My Super Ex-Girlfriend" started well, flopped in the middle, and got too cartoony-crazy in the end. It's nice to see a superhero movie where the lead heroine actually changes into fashionable costumes and has some neuroses. Plus, it shows that heroes do have their human side, too. But the best bit of this film was the shark out of water.

"The Devil Wears Prada" is excellent. Meryl Streep's downplayed acting was fabulous. Giselle Bundchen was refreshing to watch. Anne Hathaway was fine, although it looks like she was channeling her "Princess Diaries" cuteness too much. Seeing her transform had as much emotional impact as Rachael Leigh Cook's "going-down-the-stairs-while-"kiss me"-was-playing-moment" in "She's all that." And of course, seeing that with "Vogue" in the background deserves an Oscar.

I'm disappointed that I didn't catch "American Dreamz" though. I hope they'll show some more great films before I go back to Hong Kong on Thursday.

September 1 means...

It's officially the beginning of the Christmas season in the Philippines!

I miss being home.

Glamazon Attack

It's happening more and more each day. They can be seen riding MTRs, taking trams, walking along Nathan Road and Central, looking around in malls, shopping in Time Square, and yes, eating at McDonald's.

They're the Glamazons!

Tall, lithe, mostly Latin and European, and ALL SO GORGEOUS, they're fast becoming a fixture in Hong Kong life. According to my friend who owns a casting agency, these girls fly in from Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela and Eastern Europe in the hopes of landing a modeling gig in Asia. I've seen some in Manila, and a number of them have actually prospered and made our country their base. I've worked with one of them, a girl named Christina from Germany.

After watching the Glamazons for the past few months, I've actually been able to make a quick profile of them. Even if their 18 and in a strange land, they use weapons that render most people - both men and women - defenseless:

1. Unbelievable good looks - They've got very symmetrical faces, beautiful colored eyes, aquiline noses and beautifully sculpted jaws. Their hair is usually long and slicked back, highlighting their excellent features.
2. Killer bodies - Being models, they're at least 5'9", zero body fat, flat tummies, long and lean legs, and evenly colored skin. Whether their white, mulatta or dark, it looks like their color was airbrushed on.
3. Black leather books - These house their precious portfolios is their first line of offense and defense.

They never fail to take my breath away each time I run into them, or sit beside them on a moving vehicle. It feels like sitting beside Kate Moss or Carmen Kaas or Giselle Bundchen (who I saw at Central once.) Often I wonder if any of these girls will be the next supermodel, and I think: "Heck, I just might have sat beside someone uber famous in the future."

Maybe I should bring a digital camera with me everyday and have my photo taken with some of them the next time I get the chance. I'm hoping they wouldn't mind, after all, being photographed is what they do for a living.

I just might end up having my photo with the world's next top model.

The Expressionists

Being surrounded by people of different nationalities, I'm used to hearing different expressions everyday. Each person's expression would vary based on their country of origin. For example, my colleagues from London would often say "Bugger", while the Singaporeans would say "Bloody Hell" and the Malaysians would say "F***ing Crap." Of course, my Chinese colleagues will be often heard saying: "Aiyah" and "Waaahhhhh." As for myself, I can often be heard saying: "Oh God", which might be a by-product of my predominantly Catholic upbringing.

Another thing I miss about the Philippines are the different expressions I hear everyday. One fabulous thing about working in advertising is that people just love twisting words and suddenly there's a new catchphrase circulating around town. But hearing new and funny expressions isn't limited to ad people. I hear them even from my college friends, my former McDonald's crew mates, my students and yes, even our househelp.

And out of those many, many words, there are a few that I really miss hearing. They're expressions that make me smile each time I think about them, just like these:

1. KOORAZ - This means "correct." Lisa Girl often mutters this when she agrees with what you're saying. The ways she says it is just stellar: there's a bit of airiness in her voice and the "OO" and "A" are extended like there's no tomorrow. So when I ask her: "Did I get the address right?" she'd answer: "Koooorrrraaaazzzzzzzz!"

2. NGIYAAA - This is an expression of surprise which was probably borne out of Aiza Seguerra's "Ngiye" expression during her Eat Bulaga days. When I was working at McDonald's Commonwealth decades ago (when working at McDonald's was still cool and classy), the crew people would say "Ngiyaaa" whenever a blooper occured. I miss the way Teng would say this because in my mind, that's the proper way to say it.

3. GANON? - This is almost a substitute for "really?" Often used when in doubt, Rommel is one person who says this a lot. That's why when I think of this expression, my mind replays Rommel's voice saying: "Maganda daw siya? GANOOONNNN?"

4. NAMAN! - This is an affirmation of something. Whenever someone agrees wholeheartedly about something that is said, the best way to express that is to utter these words. Sheilah delivers this word the best way possible: with passion and conviction and just a hint of sarcasm.

And the best of the lot is:

5. AYPRAISEBETHENAMEOFJESUSANDMARY - This is a classic. Back in Adformatix, our pantry girl - Lotlot - would say this whenever she'd be startled. I have no idea how she can recite something as long and as holy when she's surprised, but this is really what she says. In fact, everybody there had such a blast hearing her say this, they'd often startle her on purpose just to hear her shout: "aypraisebethenameofJesusandMary!" After which we'd shout: "nowandforeveramen!"

I wonder when I'll get to hear these things again.

Garden(ia) of Delights

Thanks to Joannah who flew in from Singapore this weekend, there are now 2 loaves of Gardenia Fruit and Nut Loaf in my fridge, and i've been noshing on them since I woke up this morning.


The first time I tried these was during my trip to Singapore last year. Some of my fondest memories then was just vegging out in Jo's apartment, watching TV and eating Fruit and Nut Loaf plus a pint of Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia Ice Cream. That, to me, is the way life should be lived. Hahaha.

When I got back to Manila, I checked the Gardenia line of products and was disheartened to know that they didn't carry the Fruit and Nut variant. (We have Ube-Cheese and Choco-Mocha loaves, though, and that's worth a few brownie points.) Thus, I had to be content with the memory of that delicious loaf of Gardenia from Singapore.

At the risk of sounding like a print ad for Gardenia, this loaf really is excellent. There are apricot and raisin slices, as well as 2 or 3 different nut varieties mixed generously in the loaf. Generously means that you'll get at least a couple of raisins, a couple of apricots and nuts with every bite. The experience reminds me of eating a fruit cake, sans the liquour-y taste and half of the calories.

Even without any spread, this bread stands well on its own. But for added kick, I toast it and put on orange marmalade. And that makes one awesome breakfast and makes me one happy boy.

I'm trying to ration the bread so that it'll last me as long as possible. (I hope it doesn't get mouldy soon. But hey, the expiry date is September 1. 2 days to go.) Once again, thanks Jo for carrying these with you all the way from SG. You've certainly made my breakfast a very delightful experience.

Sniffer boy

On my way to meet Joannah this afternoon, I was sitting beside the MTR with a dad and his approximately-2-year-old-boy. The boy was the usual spritely, perky kid. He was sitting on his dad's lap and was squirming around just like kids his age.

Then he did something unusual. He leaned towards me, buried his nose on my chest, and sniffed me. Then he looked at me, and smiled, then he buried his nose on my chest again, and sniffed me.

His dad was mortified and put his son down. I smiled and said "It's ok." Then the kid climbed up his dad's lap, then buried his nose on my shoulder, and sniffed again!

That made me wonder if I smelled like something that kids like: maybe a chocolate bar, or probably a sandbox! Yikes!

I'm on my way to meet Joannah again. I wonder who'll be sniffing me this time.

Shoerprise!

Since the weather was nice and sunny, I decided to venture off to Tung Chung to meet my friend and give her a long overdue pasalubong. The atmosphere around that area is so nice and relaxed, quite the opposite of TST where I live. Whenever i'm there, it feels like i'm in some park in Berlin or a street somewhere in Den Haag, and that "European feeling" is always a good reason to go there.

After lunch, it was off to Tsing Yi to meet a colleague of mine and get some DVDs. Got to check out Maritime Squre - Tsing Yi's biggest mall - and it was ok, but nothing out of the ordinary. Whereas Citygate Mall in Tung Chung has recently been transformed into an outlet mall, with Nike, Adidas, Bauhaus and Esprit having impressive outlet stores there.

It was still early in the afternoon and Tung Chung is just a station away, so I called up another friend of mine and we decided to meet up at Citygate to check out the stores.

The Nike Factory Outlet looks like the ones in the US and the Netherlands. The Bauhaus outlet has a lot of nice GStar jeans, but they don't have sizes. The Esprit outlet looks like its Middle Road and Mongkok brothers. And the Aji Ichiban outlet has Haw Flakes!

I wandered into the Adidas outlet with my friend and we started checking out shoes. It wasn't as impressive since the outlet in North Point has more choices and cheaper prices. But there was a pair of shoes that caught my eye - a special edition Carlo Gruber pair of sneakers. It was green and white, and had built in socks! Just by visual impact alone, this pair gets a perfect score of 100.

Add to that, it was cheap, and they had my size! So there I was, with the ideal pair of shoes in my hands. What did I do? I walked away.

I told myself to stop buying shoes, jeans and shirts since there are more than enough in my closet here in HK. In fact, I can afford not to wear the same thing for 3 months because of the amount of clothes I have. So as much as the pair of shoes were so tempting, my resolve won over me and my decision NOT to buy the shoes was made.

But like a child trying deciding whether to buy the toy of his dreams, I kept on coming back to the shelf, looking at the pair of shoes, trying them on, and putting it back. I must have done that 3 times.

This prompted my friend to approach me and ask: "If you like those shoes so much, why don't you buy them? They're cheap, and they fit your personality." After telling her my "reason" she quickly nodded and said: "Well, it's your decision. Sayang naman yung shoes."

A few minutes later, we left the Adidas store, and I was empty handed.

While I was buying groceries at Taste, my friend had to excuse herself for a few minutes. During that time, my grocerymania kicked in and filled my basket with fruits and Doritos. After 10 minutes, my friend came back carrying a silver plastic bag. She walked towards me with a huge smile on her face, extended her arm and gave the plastic bag to me saying:

"Here. I got this for you."

When I looked inside, it was the green-uber-cool-Carlo-Gruber-pair-of-shoes-from-Adidas! My jaw dropped and my eyes popped. It was a state of utter shock and surprise! So I asked:

"Why?"

She said that she noticed how much I wanted it - which was evident from how I went back and forth and forth and back for it, she decided to buy it for me. It was such a sweet, sweet thing to do.

As we were walking towards the train station, she said that seeing the excitement in my eyes was well worth the price of the pair. Tonight, I arrived home with a big smile on my face, and a brand new green-uber-cool-Carlo-Gruber-pair-of-shoes-from-Adidas!

Here he is:


Here's the funky built in sock:


And here's another shot of him!


I'm going to wear these tomorrow!

Stuff it, ok?

My colleagues are big on "Tea Time." That's the HK version of "Merienda". Sometime between 2:30 to 6:30, someone calls this magic number and in a few minutes, our common area looks like this.


Open styrofoam boxes fill the table and the smell of deep fried goodies waft through the corridor. And like rats attracted to the Pied Piper's hypnotic melody, everyone follows the smell to the common area.

The nicest smelling of the lot would be the Fried Squid Legs. It's battered and deep fried, making the exterior crunchy and the exterior soft and rubbery.


The fried tofu is the favorite among those who want "healthy, Chinese food." That's an oxymoron, according to my colleagues. My favorite part of this dish is the sweet sauce. I make sure to smother it in that.


And of course, the sweets! I love this "glutinous ball filled with bean paste and dipped in condensed milk" creation. The interplay of tastes and textures add up to one very satisfying way to cap tea time.


I shouldn't stuff myself silly this afternoon. I still have a dinner to attend.

June 19, 2006

Fiesta sent me a questionnaire over the net and this question struck me:

"When was the last time you cried?"

After reading that, an episode of my life suddenly replayed back in my mind vividly. Of course I can remember when the last time I cried was.

It was June 19, 2006.

That day, I was fying back to Hong Kong and my parents were flying back to Georgia. There was nothing really unusual about these departures. After all, I fly in and out every month and my parents come and go every 6 months. What made this day different was the fact that my parents were flying back with my 2 eldest nephews - Jul and Carl.

After a few months of deliberating, my sister finally allowed the 2 boys to go the the U.S. to study and live there. The days leading to their departure were difficult, especially for Jul who was really close to my sister. When I left the house that day to attend a meeting, everything seemed calm and normal at home, so I figured out that the departure would be bereft of the usual drama.

That evening, I arrived at the NAIA with Mark, only to find out that my flight would be delayed by 2 hours. Meanwhile, a couple of kilometers away, at the NAIA 2, my parents and nephews were checking in as well. I decided to call up my Mom, and she said that they're all settled inside and that my sister went home already. That's when I thought of calling her just to see how she's doing.

Rang home, the maid answered, and I asked if Ate Lissa was home. A few seconds later, my sister was on the other line. I asked her: "How are you?" Then she just broke down.

In between sobs and her quivering voice, two phrases reached out and just crushed my heart:

"My kids are leaving me. Wala na akong magagawa." and "Why do you have to leave? Can't you just stay here first?"

After hearing these words, I, too, broke down.

That moment, I felt that my sister was so helpless, and I was so useless. If I haven't checked in yet, I would have cancelled my flight and rushed home just to hold her hand. Needless to say, I couldn't. So, at the waiting area of NAIA's gate 5, a grown man was sobbing like a little boy. That grown man, of course, was me.

I put down the phone, sat on the bench, and spent the next few minutes with my face buried in my hands while sobbing. It's a good thing that the other passengers were out having dinner that time, so there were only a few witnesses to my crying frenzy.

It took me about 15 minutes to gather my wits and composure. Then, I decided to call my other sister and ask her to check on Ate Lissa occasionally. I dialled her number, the maid answered, and in a few seconds, she was on the line. We had a few minutes of decent conversation then her voice started to break. All it took was that millisecond break, and tears began to roll down my eyes yet again.

So, at the waiting area of NAIA's gate 5, a grown man was again sobbing like a little boy. That grown man, of course, was me.

My other sister and I were crying and conversing on the phone at the same time. At that point, the people in the area must be thinking: "What the hell is that guy's problem? He's just crying, and crying, and crying, and crying." But I guess that's how close my siblings and I are. We are sensitive to each other's pain, and we feel each other's pain.

Earlier, I was telling Ate Lissa if she remembered how painful it was for us to see our parents leave for the U.S. the first time. That pain, multiplied by 5, was probably what her kids were feeling that day they left. And just trying to imagine how much pain they must have felt drove me to tears yet again.

Even in the plane, while I was replaying my sister's voice in my head, I started to cry. This prompted the flight attendant to actually approach me and ask: "Is everything alright, sir?" To which I replied: "I just miss my family." Honestly, I must have cried 5 times that evening. And I reached the flat past midnight, physically and emotionally exhausted.

It's funny, but whenever I tell this story to other people, a few tears still roll down my eyes. And somehow, they sense the same emotions, too. Rona was a bit teary-eyed when I recounted this story to her and Alife. My colleague also had to stop me mid-way into the story because he felt like crying, too. That's how powerful the emotions were. That's how intense the feelings were.

And it was then that I realized how connected my siblings and I are.

I'm actually starting to get teary-eyed while I write this now. I should stop now, lest I change my answer to that question and make it: August 23, 2006.

The Big O

I have a new favorite munchie.



Double Delight Oreo in Chocolate and Peanut Butter.

This actually isn't new since i've tried it once or twice in Manila. But somehow, after tasting it again, i've suddenly become addicted. I think i've finished a box in two days. (It's just a box of 9 packs, though.)

Move over Double Stuff Oreo, there's a new favorite in town.

Enjoy the show

Since I got my own flat, I’ve developed this bad habit of doing house chores in my underwear. (Emphasis on “doing house chores.”)

Considering that most of the flats here in HK are built so close to each other, I shouldn’t be too bold (pardon the pun) to do that. After all, the view from my window is my next-door neighbor, so if I can see them, they can definitely see me.

That’s why my curtains are closed 99% of the time, especially during weekends when it’s housecleaning time.

This is the view of my neighbors building from my flat.


Today was chore day, and since I was in Manila last weekend, the flat was a bit messier than usual. After lunch, I quickly (un)dressed for the job and proceeded to clean my room like an obsessive-compulsive madman.

It was while sweeping the floor when it hit me: I forgot to close the curtains!

And to make matters worse, my neighbors from the building across were looking out of their windows, and presumably, into mine. By neighbors, this means that there were two sets of on-lookers.

If these neighbors were on the same floor as mine, it wouldn’t be as alarming since my windows were only half of the total length of the wall. Doing the math, that would mean they could only see my upper body.

But horror of horrors, they were actually on the 9th and 10th floor. This can only mean that they could probably see more than they needed to. This is where they were standing and watching me:


Stunned, I froze in place. Holding the broom with both hands, my eyes blankly gazing outside, right into my neighbor’s windows. The man on the 10th floor balcony quickly went inside after realizing that I’ve discovered my folly.

Presumably, the two ladies on the 9th floor would follow suit. But in a turn of events that can be best described as bizarre, they started waving at me. And if my lip reading skills are correct, they said “hello” and “hi.”

At that point, all I could do was smile, wave back, and skitter away to the other room. After a minute, I went back to the room, but lo and behold, they were all gone. They probably thought: “Oh, the show is over. Let’s go.”

This whole fracas makes me want to put a big sign on my door that says: “Make sure the curtains are closed before you clean.” I’m hoping that this lapse of judgment will never happen again.

But today it did. And all I can say is: Thank goodness Bench makes really cute boxer briefs.

Night Moves

Finally got to watch “Lady in the Water” today, and what struck me about the film was how uncharacteristic it was of an M. Night Shyamalan film.

I’ve watched all this films after his first successful outing, “The Sixth Sense.” That film was very memorable for me because it was the first time someone threatened me with bodily harm.

Here’s the story. My colleagues and I were at Robinson’s Place Ermita watching the film. Mid-way into the film, after all the screaming and giggling, I had an epiphany. An epiphany so great, I had to blurt it out:

“Oh my gosh! Bruce Willis is dead! That’s why the kid can see him!”

At that point, all my colleagues gave me dagger looks and shouted: “SSSHHHHHH!” And from behind our row, someone said: “Sisipain ko ‘to. Wala nang suspense.”

Needless to say, I escaped from the clutches of the aggressor.

“Unbreakable” was a big let down. It was the “sophomore curse”, and threatened to make M. Night a “one hit wonder.” He tried to put in a bit more star power in “Signs” by signing up Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix. That, too, proved to be a big disappointment.

Then came “The Village” which all my friends hated, but surprisingly, the film grew on me. Plus, it was the only M. Night film that I couldn’t guess the ending. The twist was a genuine surprise.

With “Lady in the Water”, M. Night has turned in his old bag of tricks for presented a well written, well paced and well thought of film. And of course, it helped that it was a story centered on a legend, which is always a big plus in my book.

It was introduced as a bedtime story, and indeed, it had all the elements of one. Mythical creatures interacting with humans, ordinary people with unusual powers, gods and monsters with the ability to transform – they were all there. The great thing about this film is that not one character is wasted. Although there were a lot of people living in “The Cove,” each one was given an important role, and in the end, they were all relevant to the story.

Another interesting point in the film is that M. Night now plays a major role as opposed to his first 4 films where he only made cameos. His role here was pivotal – the vessel that the Narf must awaken. And I must say, he has the chops for acting. He should do a Mel Gibson and star in a film that he himself directed. (Nope, I wasn’t referring to the drunk-driving-Jew-bashing-episode.)

Bryce Dallas Howard was enchanting as the Narf. She had the childlike-innocence look down pat. She reminded me of The Little Mermaid’s Ariel, especially when I saw her little collection of “human things.”

But the big bonus was seeing Sarita Choudry on the big screen again. Last I saw her was in Mira Nair’s “Mississippi Masala” way back in college. And her performance was worth the wait.

The usual suspense and shocking moments were there. I’ve never been shocked by water sprinklers prior to this film. And the grassy dog really seemed ominous. But on the whole, this film was really a feel-good fantasy. It was a story about faith, hope, believing in others and believing in one’s self.

Throughout the film, I felt like a child being read a bedtime story by my Grandma. And in that respect, the film did live up to its promise. This really was a bedtime story by M. Night Shyamalan. And like most bedtime stories, I wouldn’t mind hearing this over and over and over again.

While “Lady in the Water” didn’t surprise me as much, this film was able to do something that M. Night’s first 4 films: It moved me.

Quote for the day

"You should add 'Genius' to your business card because that last work you did was simply brilliant."

Yup, today is a good day.

Doing Debbie

Thanks to Vincent who sent me a chock-full of Debbie Gibson MP3s, i'm now stuck in the 80s and enjoying a Debbie Gibson moment. I've spent the past few hours playing back her songs, and it brought back so many memories. (Including the fact that I actually memorize the lyrics of Electric Youth!)

Right now, though, since it's night time and there's a nice, romantic view of the Hong Kong skyline outside my office window, i've decided to slow down the tempo and go for a more mushy-wushy song.

Ick! I hope this Debbie Delirium doesn't stick this whole week. I wouldn't want to be stuck in the 80s for so long. (That's Dave's job. Hahaha.)




LOST IN YOUR EYES
(Debbie Gibson)

I get lost, in your eyes
And I feel my spirits rise
And soar like the wind
Is it love that I am in?
I get weak in a glance
Isn't this what's called romance?
And that's what I know
Cause when I'm lost
I can't let go

(Chorus)
I don't mind
Not knowing what I'm headed for
You can take me to the skies
It's like being lost in heaven
When (and) I'm lost in your eyes

I just felt
Don't know why
Something is there
We can't deny
Ooh, when I first knew
Was when I first looked at you
And if I
Can't find my way
If salvation
Seems miles away
Oh, I'll be found
When I'm lost in your eyes

(Repeat Chorus)

I get weak in a glance
Isn't this what's called romance
Oh, I'll be found
When I am lost
In your eyes.