Spoilt for choice

Referencing what Mona and I would always say: If it's difficult to choose between two things, just get them both.

Or in the case of the Max and Cleo sale at SM, just get everything nice.



Fortunately (or unfortunately, depends on whose point of view) there were a lot of nice things. SM really spoils its consumers with great choices during this 3-day sale. No wonder the dresses were flying off the ranks.

Dresses like gray shifts with interesting black details.



Florals that are perfect for summer. Just throw a vest over the frock and you've got that downtown boho vibe down pat.



Basics with twists. Like a summery cotton dress with an ombre effect, and a black jersey shirt dress with strategic shirring and cascading ruffles.



Ate Bullet was saying "wow" each time she pulled out a dress from the pile, and that simply means that she likes it to the max. And that also means my job is done.

Lunch with a Dear

David's Tea House was full to the rafters, so Mark and I decided to skip to the restaurant next door and had lunch at Yellow Cab Pizza. I got to choose the pasta so he was in charge of choosing the pizza. And he eventually chose something dear.



I've seen the posters and billboards for the Dear Darla pizza for many months now, but never got around to try it. And boy, I'm glad that Mark ordered it. It's AWESOME!

At the risk of sounding like a food critic, I must say that the combination of flavors and textures is just phenomenal. The hint of bitterness from the arugula mixes well with the light sweetness of the alfalfa sprouts. Add in the flavor of the pizza sauce, cheese and garlic, and wrap it up in a light crust - it was such a treat for the taste buds!

I think that after this, Dear Darla will be my mostest favoritest pizza at Yellow Cab.

But then again, if they decide to put anchovies on that pizza and call it another name (like Dear Dilis), then that would be my mostestest favoritestest.

Max it out!

From the moment I saw that first Max and Cleo dress in HKG, I've always been on the lookout for that brand everywhere I go. That's why I enjoy those short trips to Guam because they carry them in the BCBG store, as well as Ross. Here in Manila, Max and Cleo is available both at Rustan's and SM.

Now SM throws spectacular sales and it's not surprising to see prices drop as low as the deepest trench. From March to April, they have this "Designer Dress sale", and among the brands on sale is - wait for it - Max and Cleo!

And on sale it is! Some of the dresses were on 70%-90% off! There was one rack full of exquisite dresses: from flirty cocktail dresses to summery floral frocks to tailored corporate shifts to shiny evening ensembles. When I started looking at the tags, I had to do a triple take because they were SUPER cheap. I'm not talking "relatively cheap" here. The dresses were really "super cheap."

Take this gray shift for example.



The tailoring is nice. The fabric is classic. It has pockets that make it functional. And there's a neck detail to keep it from looking too much like a headmistres' uniform. This is your quintessential day-to-night dress. Just throw over a cardigan or blazer for day, and use it as is at night.



The original price of this dress is P4000, and the sale price? A whopping P800! That's 80% off the original price!

And this is just one of the fabulous finds on the rack. There was a ruched chiffon dress, a pretty cotton dress with an origami detail on the neck, a tulle and silk dress with a bejeweled waist, a lace and crinkled chiffon cocktail number, and a black jersey dress with shirring on the shoulders. There were so many nice dresses, it made the act of choosing uber difficult.

But as Mona and I would say, why choose when you can get more than one?

Design of a decade

We were having brunch at Mona's place last Sunday, and since the Pacquiao fight was boring and predictable, we decided to just huddle around the dining room and talk. The subject: The 80s!

The 80s had to be the most colorful and culturally impactful decade. Proof? The fact that most of the 80s stuff are back! Whether they're being re-made, re-fashioned or just simply being recalled, it's enough evidence that everyone - young and old alike - just can't get enough of the 80s.

Cases in point:

1. The A-Team. As kids, my brothers and I would crowd around the TV screen to watch the exploits of Hannibal, Face, Murdock and B.A. Baracus. Every episode was an adventure and we'd usually re-live that adventure in our garage the next day.

Now, the A-Team is back on the big screen. Old characters, new actors, and by the way the trailer looks, it'll have a choc full of special effects.


2. Tears for Fears. The new wave/pop duo is going to Manila for a concert this May, and the prospect alone got us talking about how we'd do the "Mad World" dance during school programs and sing "Everybody wants to rule the world" during Christmas parties. One of our friends said that the word around the grapevine is that only one member will be flying over. (Does that make it "Tear" for Fears?)



But according to the posters going around cyberspace, Roland and Kurt will both be in town for the concert. Expect a throng of nostalgic 80s kids to show up at the concert. And hey, we might just be part of that group.

These two - along with Clash of the Titans, Cyndi Lauper in The Apprentice, that concert in Manila featuring Randy, Louie, Gino and Keno - are proof enough that the 80s really defined a lot in terms of visual, sound and culture. And I feel lucky to have seen these things both in their original and revived incarnations.

Suddenly Shabayeva

While reading the March issue of Marie Claire magazine, I saw an article on the winner of Project Runway season 6, Irina Shabayeva. Since I never got to watch - much less follow - season 6, I was completely clueless about the competition and who won. It turns out that, like season 5, the top 3 were all girls: Carol, Althea and the eventual winner - Irina.



Irina Shabayeva was supposedly the resident bitch of the batch. Unlike Kenley who was rude to everyone, including Heidi and Tim, she was just nasty to her co-designers. There was even a "Sweatergate" issue when she accused Carol of copying her design - in front of the judges. But she was never rude to Tim, especially since the two of them worked together when she was still a student at Parson's.



They say Irina had an "attitude." I didn't watch the series so I wouldn't know. But I saw her collection and what Irina has is talent. Her collection of black and gray wool clothes with those intricate criss-cross patterns were so nice. They were architectural but soft, strong but feminine. I like the fact that she also made felt hats to go with the entire collection. It gives it that whole "spaceman-meets-equestrian-vibe."



After reading about Irina, suddenly I'm interested in watching the entire season 6. This is a job for St. Francis Square!

A ditty to talk about

For the longest time, I only knew Kei$ha as the voice who sung our station ID song. Well, it's not really a song but more of a one liner. But the way she sang "TV to talk about" was so catchy and intriguing.

Imagine my surprise when I read that she now has a burgeoning music career in the U.S. Cool beans! Not only that, it turns out that she sang one of the songs that's fast becoming one of my favorites.



"Tick tock" is one of those dance tunes that you can just bob your head to while listening. And the past few days, I've been listening and bobbing non-stop. I better stop before I get a headache, though.

Taylor-ing

I was trying to look for that hilarious dancing scene on youtube, but they didn't have the clip available. What they had was the "How did you meet?" interview which was equally funny.



Taylor Swift has great comic timing! Someone give her more ditzy roles in upcoming projects. Please!

Taylor fit

Aside from the obvious reason, (read: Julia Roberts) the other person who made the film a joy to watch was...


...Taylor Swift!

This is the first time I've seen her act, and I must say that her presence just lights up the screen. Whenever she came out, I couldn't help but be amused and laugh at her character. Her portrayal of a ditzy college girl was so authentic. It makes me wonder whether she's acting or if that's all her.

My favorite scene with Taylor is when she was being interviewed in the football field during track practice and the interviewer asks: "Are you a dancer?" Then she proceeds to do this dorky, bizarre dance which was insanely funny! And when she did it again, it was funnier the second time around.

I wonder when she'll appear on screen next. I wouldn't mind watching Taylor again.

Softie

My nephew Javier is such a picky eater. So once my sister finds a food item that he likes, she makes sure that it's available at home. There's Sugus orange candy, Tiger business, and Keebler's Soft Batch chocolate chip cookies.



And because there's always a pack of Keebler's Soft Batch at home, I'm now addicted to it as well. Which is strange because I never liked soft cookies. I remember how much I loathed Chewy Chips Ahoy and hated it whenever they'd buy that at home.

But Keebler's is different. It feels and tastes like it just came out of the over. The dough is so soft and moist, and the chocolate just oozes out when you bite into it. It's just divine.

Chips Ahoy used to be my favorite. But now that I've found Keebler's, this is the batch I'm going for from now on.

Man of the Century

Today would have been Lolo Iking's 100th birthday.

Happy Birthday, Lolo!

You're always remembered and will always be missed.

Montagne top

A few weeks ago, I bought a CD from The Podium. The title was "Rumors: Dance hits of the 80s", and it was just P99!

Listening to it is like going inside a time machine and ending up during that time when people were dressed up in their colorful, padded new wave outfits. Hair all spiked and held up by Aqua Net (extra super hold). They had all the "classics" like "High Energy" and "Never gonna give you up". But the bonus for me was listening to this song again.



"Liberte" was Gilbert Montagne's hit during that decade. He's been around since the 70s and had a string of hits in his native France. But for the rest of the world, he was known for this song.

And with such a happy catchy melody, it's no wonder this song made it all the way to the top of the charts.

Pearls of Wisdom

People think that I don't get affected by advertising since I'm an advertising practitioner.

Truth is, I do.

Take last Monday, for instance.

I was walking through Greenbelt and I saw this gargantuan banner of that oh-so-popular-drink-with-pearls-from-2000, Zagu.



It was a banner for their new variant, Mixed Berries.

A few minutes later, I walked out of the Zagu store with a grande cup of mixed berry Zagu, chewing pearls while sipping on the cool, cough-syrupy tasting concoction.

The day after that, I bought a grande cup of their natural four seasons variant, then natural dalandan after.

After 6 years on not going anywhere near a Zagu store, now I find myself remember why I was so fond of this pearl-laden drink in the first place.

More moments of sales lady greatness!

This happened at SM Department store this afternoon.

A lady and her daughter dropped by the teen section and went to an area that sold clothes under the brand "It Girl."

Mother gets a dress of the rack, holds it up, and asks the sales lady:

"Miss, damit ba ito o blouse?"

Sales lady replies:

"Ma'am, it can be what you want it to be."


Ladies and gentlemen, we have our employee of the month!

Cullen calling

While I was at Shopwise, I chanced upon this Olay with radiance ribbons. Although it's not my usual Olay ribbon variant, the scent made me want to give it a try.

A day after using it, my question was "what's with the radiance thing?"

I got my answer this morning.

After taking a shower and toweling off, I noticed that I was sparkling! SPARKLING!

Sparkling like Edward Cullen!

It turns out that "radiance" was a chock full of little glittery things that adhered to my body and made me look like a walking glitter ball.

Good thing it gets toweled off easily.

I don't want to go around looking like a Twilight reject.

I got a filling

Dunkin Donuts kiosks are sprouting all over the MRT stations. They have 2 in Cubao station, one in Ayala, and they both open very early. That's why when the queue is super long, it's inevitable for people to buy a donut or two.

Having these donuts within easy reach has revived my craving for their filled donuts. When I was in college, my block mates and I would watch movies and bring 2 to 3 boxes of Dunkin Donuts in the theater. While they would all buy the frosted rings, my preference would always be the filled ones: strawberry, blueberry, apple, apple-raspberry and black raspberry. My interest in
Dunkin waned eventually, and it when donuts were back in Vogue, it was off to Go Nuts and Krispy Kreme.

But after taking a bite out of Dunkin's strawberry filled donuts, it all came back to me now. (*Cue in Celine Dion music*)

Now I'm craving for blueberry and black raspberry filled donuts. Hope they have it at the MRT kiosk later.

A whole lotta lovin'

That's what the movie "Valentine's Day" is all about.

It's not as "awwww shucks" as "The Holiday" and "Love Actually", but the feel-good factor is twice as much. The two most touching scenes for me were Shirley MacLaine's monologue to Hector Elizondo at the Hollywood cemetery, and Julia Roberts finally coming home to her little boy. Those almost got me choked up.

Even though there were around 10 different stories, I loved how Garry Marshall was able to weave these love stories together. The fact that they were different facets of love made it more interesting. It had young love, innocent love, old love that lasts for more than 50 years. There was a fear of love, a longing for love, and a love shared by best friends. There was conventional love, unconventional love, and even a scene where they showed hatred for love.

Needless to say, there was a lot of love in this 2+ hour movie. And that's exactly why I love it.

Chex baby chex

Since I'm a fan of the Kirkland brand of mixed savory snacks, I've never really paid attention to Chex. But during my trip to Guam a few weeks ago, Kirkland wasn't in sight, and I thought of going out of my comfort zone and trying Chex for a change.



I'm glad I did. Although it isn't as flavorful and yummy as Kirkland, it has its own merits. The traditional mix is ok, the Cheddar variety is much better, but the Trail Mix bag is da bomb!



I had to restrain myself or else I'd finish a bag in one sitting. It took me about 3 sittings to finish it, so now I'm finding myself in a Chex-driven craving. For the Trail mix bag, that is. Normally that would make me crazy, but thankfully I still have 2 big bags of the traditional mix and a bag of cheddar to tie me over.

I'm so out there!

Blame it on Tomato.

I dropped by their store and they were playing this song that I wasn't familiar with. All I know about the ditty was the fact that it was catchy. In fact, it was so catchy, it was playing in my head all the way from Glorietta to the office.

After asking my colleagues about it, I found out that the title of the song was "Ejnoy" and it was sung by the Outhere brothers.



This looks like another LSS in the making. But I think it's something to "Enjoy."

Carrot sticks

When I saw a pair of carrot fit jeans at Zara, it initially struck me as odd. True to its namesake, the jeans are wide and loose on top, then becomes tight and tapered at the bottom. So, it's like the lovechild of baggy jeans and skinny jeans. (And it can also make your waist look wide and your legs too thin.)



After fitting the pair, my reaction was lukewarm. But because the dark wash and color of the jeans were spectacular, I decided to buy it. Half-heartedly, at that.

I'm now wearing that carrot-fit pair for 3 straight days. The fit of this pair is perfect on me, and the way it hangs on to the body is just stellar. And of course, the dark wash and color makes it even more spectacular.

Looks like I'm sticking to this pair of jeans for a while.

Super chic. Super cheap.

It's a day before Valentine's day and I found another reason to profess love for The Landmark.

While walking through the clothes section en route to the restroom, there was a dress on the rack that called to me. Well, it didn't just call me -- it grabbed me by the collar and demanded to be seen! And yes, it had every right to demand because it was a vision of chicness.



The dress was a body con dress that was multi-paneled. It was made of a heavy jersey like material which gave it a nice texture. It held its own shape, and I reckon it'll give the wearer an hourglass figure.



The black panels of the dress were placed strategically on the sides to whittle the shape of the wearer. Additional chic points are added by the fact that the black parts were also done in origami folds. This gives the dress an edgy feel.



And just as I thought it couldn't get any more stylish, I turned the dress to see another cool detail.



It had a zipper running through the length of the dress. It was pretty much like Roland Mouret's Galaxy dress from the back. The zipper was chunky and had a burnt metal look - which is a perfect foil to the black and white.



The best part of this dress was the price! It was from The Landmark, so it was definitely uber affordable. Good thing they had both my sisters' sizes, because this dress would definitely be a super addition to their closet.

Landmark is love.

Tabing Inarajan

The atmosphere and vibe at the Inarajan pool was so rustic and provincial, we decided to do the "Tabing Ilog" pose and had our picture taken.



A lot of locals say that the southern part of Guam is more picturesque, and Inarajan Pool is one proof of that. Rock formations and corals create mini pools that go as deep as 8 feet. But since they're smaller in size, it's easy to swim around and maneuver despite the depth.

For the more adventurous folks, it's easy to go beyond the pool and head off to the beach. The caveat, though, is that it's open sea. Aside from the huge waves that might wash a person away, there's also the danger of sharks.

While we were at Inarajan, there were a couple of families swimming and diving to their heart's content. It was too bad that I didn't bring a change of clothes, nor my swim gear. It would've been awesome to take a dip.

Just can't get enough

Seriously.

I can probably eat at Denny's everyday and not get tired of it.

Makes me wonder what I should order tomorrow.

Only on Guam

In the US, Denny's is known as the all-American diner that serves fluffy pancakes and thick French toast. They've also got Club Sandwiches and thick shakes on their menu. So it's a place where you can get the best in Americana.

But it's a different story on Guam. You go there, and find these:



Yup, they've got Filipino dishes on their menu. If you look at their breakfast spread, they even have bangus, tinapa and longganiza.



During my visit there yesterday, I was beginning to wonder whether I'm really at Denny's, or some strange carinderia.

In the red

Today, we went to the southern part of the Island and saw Inarajan pool and Talafofo Falls. It was a good trip since we visited places that David, Rhea, Bobby and Bubble haven't seen yet.

On our way up, Rhea asked me if I wanted to use sunblock. Since I don't get dark easily (even if I tried) I declined. And the afternoon was spent hopping from one place to another.

By the time I got back to the hotel and entered the bathroom, I was in shock! I looked like a boiled lobster. My face was red. My arms were red. When I removed my shirt and watch, the sunburn was obvious.

Whoa! They've got pretty strong sun here on Guam.

Mongrel Moment

While Robert and I were walking across the parking lot, the guard went beside us and started chatting us up. He asked where we were from, and Robert replied: Manila.

The guard then looked at me and asked the same question. Of course, my reply was the same: Manila.

He frowned and disbelief and asked again if I was a Filipino. After confirming my earlier claim, he started talking excitedly in his Cheech Marin accented English:

GUARD: Whoa, man. You sure you're Filipino. Because he (refering to Robert) looks Filipino because his skin is brown. But you. You. Look at you. You've got white skin like an American. Your eyes are Latin and your face is European. But you're Filipino. That's amazing, man.

It's a funny reaction. But something I'm prepared for because even in other countries, they can't identify my nationality or race. But the way the guard described me, I felt like an "askal" whose breed no one can identify. Harhar.

Frisky business

Over dinner, Robert, Leon and I started talking about the new security layer in aiports - close frisking.

They had it in NAIA, and they apparently do it only on trips that are on their way to the US. And yes, Guam is a US Territory.

Gosh! This was frisking to the extreme. Unlike in some places where it was more "courtesy frisking," these guys take their jobs seriously. They really scan your entire body using their hands, and it's so thorough, it's almost enough to make you scream bloody harassment!

Imagine, they run their entire hands all over your body - even under the crevice of your underarms. And that's not the worst part. They even run their fingers around the waistband of your pants and underwear. Good thing I wasn't ticklish, or else I might have been laughing during the entire exam. (Admittedly, I chuckled once or twice.)

I just hope they don't get any friskier anytime soon.

Deja Vu

Thankfully, this isn't an overnight trip unlike my last visit to the Island. Now, I've got a few more days to really explore the beaches, and more of the outlet stores. Harhar.



If I'm not mistaken, I'm in the same wing of the hotel. I also got almost the same room number - same meaning the same room type in a different floor. That's why when I woke up, the view was very familiar.

The same view of the Philippine sea.



Same view of the lobby and coffee shop below.



Same view of the side of the building. And I noticed that the younex tower added some more floors.



And the same view of the infinity pool and the wedding chapel. This time, I packed my swim shorts and will definitely hit the pool one of these days.



Oh, I'm hoping that there will also be a case of deja vu when I hit the BCBG outlet one of these days.

And another year of wanderlust begins

It's the first foreign trip of the year. And I kept crossing my fingers that I'd make it to the airport on time. I rushed there after my second class, and it's a good thing that traffic wasn't that bad.

And if the aircraft I took looks like Cathay, look again.

It's the new Philippine Airlines plane!

Yup, their new 777s are the same ones that Cathay Pacific flies, ergo the personalized TV screens (touch screen, mind you), and personalized entertainment.



Plus, the seats also recline by sliding forward and not moving back, so it's such a relief.



Flights that are now mostly on time, econolight fares, and now this! Looks like I'm going to want to fly PAL more often. And it looks like another year of travel ahead.

Prints Principle

The good thing about taking the MRT going home is I get to pass by Surplus Shop everyday. On good weeks, they've got troves and troves of great buys on display. There was a time when they had Express dresses and H&M shirts. And a few weeks ago, they had this pair of printed pants from J. Crew.

Prints are going to be big this season, although the prints are louder and more colorful. The prints on these pants are very classic and low key. Like this black damask print. I've always liked damask.


Then there's the blue toile de jouy. It's got this rich, French vibe to it that really catches the eye.



Because the pants are already printed, the trick here is to just add a solid top, and you've got an outfit with "oomph" without being too loud.



And that's how prints are done.

Maybe the old songs...

My Dad is a huge music fan. When we were kids, there was a portion of the house where he'd keep all his cassette tapes and label them. The fact that he had a catalogue was ample proof that he was serious about music.

Thanks to Dad, I learned to appreciate different types of music at a young age. It was then that I was introduced to Seawind, Shirley Bassey, Richard Clayderman, Ferrante and Teicher, Earth, Wind and Fire, The 5th Dimension, and a host of other artists that I'd normally not be familiar with.

This is where my affinity for old songs came from.

As much as I appreciate current pop stars (Britney Spears! Yeah!), there's still that need to listen to music from the 70s and 80s.

There's something about the music from that decade. Each song had a story. The lyrics were beautifully crafted. The melodies were simple but haunting. And when you add them all up, the result was pure musical magic.

One of my favorite old songs from the 80s was this virtually unknown song from an unheard of but very musically gifted singer, taken from an obscure movie. It was entitled "Desire (Hello Joe, Goodbye)", and the song still sounds a beautiful as I first heard it as a little boy.

For the longest time, I've been trying to find a CD of old songs that included it, but my efforts were for naught. Good thing there's youtube.

This is MaJor!

Finally saw the much talked about dance number by the Cebu inmates that was choreographed by Michael Jackson's very own choreographers. And I must say, it's mind-blowing!



The snappy moves, the formation, the "slow mo marching" - I don't know where to start. It's a dance number that Michael Jackson would definitely be proud of.

New Cheap Thrill

Thanks to the ladies at the fifth floor office, I discovered a new cheap thrill.



Spanish Bread from Fortune Bakeshop!

Of course, Dexter's Bakeshop is still my top favorite spanish bread of all time, but this comes a close second. The bread is soft and has a lot of crumbs on top, and the filling is soft and melts in your mouth. The entire thing practically dissolves the moment you bite on it. One should be careful when buying this bread because it's totally addicting!

And at just P5.00 a pop, it's great value! I wonder what other cheap thrills are hiding in that bakery. Must discover them soon.

This week's LSS

Lanca perfume can now take a short break. I've got a new song playing in my mind, over and over again.



It's such a nice videoke song.

Must go to a videoke place soon.

Just Heath it

We got a big box from the U.S. and it was filled with all sorts of imported goodies. There were cans and cans of Planters nuts, jars of Skippy, different types of Rocas (Almond, Mocha and Candy), and of course, bags and bags of chocolates.

And among those bags is a chocolate bar that I haven't seen in ages!



I used to really like Heath. It's like Almond Roca with less almonds and creamier chocolate. My favorite part was when you reach the toffee center and the texture of the ground nuts add to the flavor. But I somehow lost touch with this chocolate bar and forgot about it.

Now that it's here, and now that I've eaten a few bars already, my liking for Heath is back!

Channeling Mr. Blackwell

It was Saturday night, and I found myself in Aquaknox to attend the midterm event of my Advertising seniors. Entitled "Masquerada", it was an evening that showcased the talents of students from SSC, UST, AMA and DLSU.

Just like in previous years, I'm impressed at how the Advertising students conduct events. There's a lot of creativity, attention to detail, and that ever-elusive X-factor. As the night progressed, it was easy to see how successful the entire party was.

My favorite part was the fashion show. Coco - the floor director - did a great job in conceptualizing this segment. First, the models appeared on an aquarium like area of the bar, and everyone looked up in delight as they realized what was happening.




Then, the models went down using a stairwell on the side, and gracefully walked down the small catwalk. At the rate flashbulbs were popping, it felt like a real fashion show.



They had a good mix of designers. The 3 female designers from DLSU had very fashion-forward designs. And their finale was a small collection from Project Runway Philippines runner-up, Veejay Floresca. It was nice to see my Trish, my former student, work that runway.


(Trish is the 2nd girl from the right.)

Also, same as last year, I was asked to name the best dressed couple of the evening. After channeling my inner Mr. Blackwell and craning my neck for an hour or so, I spotted this girl wearing a "fierce" ensemble. She had a floral top and mixed it with ripped liquid leggings. I liked the contrast of her outfit, so she got my vote. For the best dressed guy, I chose this dude who wore some of the current trends for guys: skinny jeans, skinny shirt with a skinny tie - skinny everything!



The girl turned out to be one of our seniors at SSC. Maybe she can wear that to school on "Corporate Fridays." I mean, that'll pass off as corporate in an Advertising Agency. Or a bar. Hahaha.

Another year, another fashion show. I wonder what we have in store for us next year.

Sentimental favorite

Another personality has joined Farrah Fawcett, Patrick Swayze and Michael Jackson in that big 80s party up in the sky.



Teddy Pendergrass passed away, leaving behind a legacy of beautiful and heartwarming songs. My favorite Teddy song is "In my time." This was sung around the late 80s, and it was an inspiring song set against a sad melody.

What I remember most about it is the MTV. Teddy was singing on stage from his wheelchair. At the time he recorded the song, he was already paralyzed from waist down due to a car accident. Despite that, he went on singing, and coming up with more soulful ditties one after the other.

Even up to now, I get sentimental when I hear "In my time." And now that the singer has passed on, it gives me another reason to feel sentimental about it.

Discount doesn't count

The latest Zara sale is a bit of a letdown. Maybe it's because the sale has only been on for a few days, but the discounts are a bit lame.

I saw a top that went from P1,950 to P1,750 and a pair of jeans that went from P2,450 to P2,250. Come on, you can do better than a P200.00 discount. If we were in HKG, everything should initially be half price!

Then again, maybe it's because the sale has only been for a few days. Hopefully, the price slash in the next round is big enough to count.

Candyman

I've always been a huge fan of Marks and Spencer's candies. Particularly the mint assortment.



When I was still working in SMC and things got quite stressful, my "escape" would be to go to M&S Megamall and buy a pack of these. After that, the world suddenly became a better place. Harhar.

My friend once told me that - at P145 per pack - these candies were too expensive to be candies. Her argument was that, with that kind of money, you can get 6 packs of Potchi. What she didn't understand was Marks and Spencer mints ARE NOT Potchi. Harhar.

Yesterday, I suddenly had a craving for these, so it was off to M&S Gateway. Unfortunately, they didn't have it in stock. The sales clerk told me that during Christmas, people hoard these candies and give them away as gifts.

Thankfully, there was still one pack of Butter Mints on the shelf. This should tie me over until the candy supply at M&S normalizes this month.

I see the signs!

When I entered Zara in Greenbelt 5 this lunchtime, I started seeing the signs.

- Racks were packed to the rafter with clothes. The usual spaces in between were all filled up.
- Tables were filled with shoes, and each style had all the sizes displayed.
- Items that were previously off the rack were put back again.
- Stockmen were bringing out the ubiquitous black plastic bag.

This can only mean one thing.

THE ZARA SALE STARTS TOMORROW!

Woohoo! Time to shop! (Ok, browse... then shop.)

LSS: Lanca Song Syndrome

It's been two weeks and the song is still playing in my head. I'm so, so into it that I've spent a day just searching for different permutations of the song and its videos. And after sifting through a lot, I've decided to set aside my favorites for easy reference in the future.

1. Rita Lee (acoustic) - She performed this a few years ago, which means she's around 50 years old at this time. Despite her age, the voice is still the same. I like the way this version sounds - a bit of ska, a bit of reggae, and all fun.



2. "Idolos" contestants - In one episode of Brazil's version of the "Idol" franchise, they were asked to perform the song. And it's interesting how each contestant had a different take on the song.



3. Adriane - I don't know this artist, but methinks she's an upstart pop singer in Brazil. Her version is also easy on the ears - taking the essence of the original and adding a bit of electronica to it. I'm not digging her MTV, though. It's too pop tart. She's trying too hard to Britney-fy the song.



4. Rita Lee vintage - Again, the original. She's such a performer! I'm digging the crazy faces and even crazier moves. No wonder she's called the Queen of Rock in Brazil.



One thing I've learned after looking at all those videos is that Lanca Perfume is a Rita Lee anthem. Whenever she sings it, people go bonkers! And this bonker reaction happened in the 70s, 80s, 90s and even in 2008.



It's probably her signature song, much like "Never gonna give you up" is Rick's,"Staying Alive" is the Bee Gees' and "I should be so lucky" is Kylie's. It's a classic! That's why I don't think I'll tire of this anytime soon.

Another Clash

The more new trailers for "Clash of the Titans" come out, the more excited I am to see the film. This new spot shows the story in more clarity, and it also highlights more of the scenes I'm more familiar with.

Among them:
1. Andromeda on the sacrifice cliff awaiting the Kraken.
2. Perseus on Pegasus flying around Kraken.
3. Danae being locked in a box and thrown to sea



At this point, all I can say is: the new Kraken is SOOOO Cool!

Show this film in Manila. QUICK!

Trick or Threat

One afternoon, while passing through SM Department Store in Cubao, I saw a precocious boy running around, much to the chagrin of his Mom. The boy was dangerously weaving in and out of the glass displays, so you can imagine how worried the Mom must've been.

In an effort to stop her son from doing damage, the Mom shouted:

MOM: Huwag ka ngang masyadong magulo! Sige ka, pag nakabasag ka, pupugutan ka nila ng ulo!

Whoa! Now THAT'S what I call a threat. Whatever happened to the "huhulihin ka ng pulis" and "kukunin ka ng guard"?

A Grey-t start

What did I do on the first day of 2010?



Sat on the couch and watched Grey's Anatomy!

While channel surfing around 10am, I found out that one station was having a Grey's Anatomy marathon. Initially, my plan was to watch just 1 episode. But the story got interesting and more interesting, and next thing I knew, it was already 8:00pm! Needless to say, I ate my lunch, afternoon snack and dinner in front of the TV.

It's been a while since I last saw this series. For a time, it was the "drama du jour", and everyone could relate to Meredith's relationship problems. They didn't show this series in HKG, so I kinda lost track. But thanks to the marathon today, I'm back on the Grey track.

Now, it's time to look for DVDs of the past seasons.