Brewing Sessions

End Credits

noreply@blogger.com (dropsofjune) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 02:21:00 +0000

Thank you sooo much for visiting dropsofjune.blogspot.com.
We're now officially brewing at www.brewingsessions.com.

Warming Up

noreply@blogger.com (dropsofjune) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:51:00 +0000

We've been grinding a batch of roasted beans for more than four weeks now. And we're going to brew it this month. Hotnessss. ;-)

Super thanks to Nats and broe for the kickoff tips!

Floaters

noreply@blogger.com (dropsofjune) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 06:10:00 +0000

We gave Gabi three choices for her 3rd birthday celebration: Jollibee, Bahay, or Pool. She would repeat those options with her three fingers up in the air, imitating how her tito enumerated them. And she would end up with "Pool!".

Our initial plan was a resort with pool in Puerto Galera. But due to the rescheduling of my company's major product release and the bad weather in the past week, we let go of our first choice, and started looking for a place closer to Manila. We came up with a short list covering Tagaytay, Batangas, and Rizal. After several inquiries and my backing up, I convinced him to convince Nay to try Club Manila East. I was positive that Gabi, Nay, and Giselle would enjoy because I had seen the place during my Trend Micro years.

So it was a CME trip for Gabi's birthday last June 10.

Travel Mug:

From Robinsons Galleria, we rode a GLiner Bus going to Taytay, Rizal. After an hour, the driver dropped us at the main gate of Club Manila East. Since the resort strictly prohibits bringing of food inside, we decided to eat lunch first before going in. After a swift Chowking meal, we headed to the jeepney mini-terminal at the gate, and made a short ride to the main resort.

Our transporation allowance (one-way): P120 taxi going to Rob, P26 (per person) bus going to Taytay, P7 (per person) jeep going to the resort.

What's Hot?

The place is definitely huge. It is designed to cater corporate events, family affairs, and other group activities. Aside from pools, CME has function rooms for conferences, conventions, parties, and other occasions. It also provides a 2-hour basic surfing lesson for P1,500 inclusive of the surfboard, instructor, and pool entrance.

For daytime stay, guests can choose from any of the following accommodation:

Cabanas - P2,500
Huts - P2,000
Beach View Cabin - P2,200
Picnic Area or tents - P310

Each package includes an accommodation for up to five persons, and use of all pools and kayaks. An extra person only costs P260.

For overnight stay, guests can stay at one of the following villas:

Doña Luz Villa - P3,300 (up to five persons)
Don Renato Villa - P3,050 (two persons only)

Each package includes an accommodation for two persons, breakfast for two, use of all pools and kayaks. An extra person only costs P700, which also gives him/her the mentioned perks. We stayed at Room 506 of Doña Luz, and Gabi still passed the height limit of 3ft for free entrance. Woohoo!

CME also boasts the following oversized water facilities:

Beach Waves
Ocean Waves
Easy River
Lap Pool (for swimming lessons and training)
Kiddie Pool with waterfalls and fountains (part of Fun Lagoon)
Adult Pool with a giant 3-looped slide (part of Fun Lagoon)
Boating area for kayaking (part of Fun Lagoon)
Sun-screened Pool (part of Fun Lagoon)
Bean-shaped pool

We weren't able to try the Lap Pool, Easy River and Ocean Waves, which only opens during weekends and holidays. Oh, guests are required to wear proper swimming attire. When we were there, those guests wearing something made of cotton, like shirts and shorts, had been requested by the lifeguards to leave the pool. That was a downer.

In the evening, we held an exclusive small bash for Gab, hehe. She loved blowing her candles over and over again, and all of us fell for the cake. :)

What needs warming up?

The resort has only one in-house restaurant that operates from 6AM until 9PM. But there are other available booths, like Jollibee, Chowking, Shakeys and Itallianni's. These booths, however, close at 6PM. As expected, the price of most items skyrockets by more than 100% inside the resort. Even the cake has a corkage fee of P50 for small and P100 for big.

Our food allowance per person: P100 (per snack, twice), P130 (per dinner, once), free breakfast!

Another not so-hot thing about the place is the customer service. I think they need more improvement in that department. The staff were not so snappy. We needed to ask (or wonder) first for some basic things, like someone who would usher us to our villa or a printout of their restaurant's menu for room delivery. I think, it would help if they could provide some sort of "freshmen kit", which contains a visual map of the whole resort, the opening and closing schedules of some pools, booths and the resto, and some suggested activities, to every registered guest (or in every room).

How many bean stamps?
8 out of 10.

Our kiddo was so enthusiastic the whole time. Nay and Giselle liked the place, especially our room. My buddy had several "great hug" moments with Gabi. I was trigger-happy on the first day, and enjoyed the beach waves on the second day. And I didn't notice that I would be taking a very, very long weekend. :D

*****
Happy birthday, Gabi! Love every bouncy bit of you.

And thanks for my neat SuperProxy tee, buddy ko. :-)

Squeezed In

noreply@blogger.com (dropsofjune) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 05:35:00 +0000

It was another "sandwiched" occasion for us— it's when our day of the month (or any special day) slots in another family event. We had Nay's birthday last Valentine's day, Mother's day last month, and Gabi's birthday this June. What we usually do is either mark the day with a cheap to run date, or celebrate two affairs in one activity.

For this month, we tried the Commons located along Valero Street, fronting my office building the Citibank Tower in Makati.

What's hot about this resto is the ambience. My buddy said that it's a cafeteria, sports bar, fine dining place all rolled into one. The first floor is a blend of a canteen and a bar feel, and the second floor looks like an intimate area for dating couples as a well as a good spot for sports enthusiasts (because of the giant screen showing a sports event projected on the opposite wall). The place is relatively small but its high ceiling and the tall mirror mounted on the wall of the stairs make it appear spacious.

Another good thing about this place is its menu— a fusion of Filipino, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish cuisines. You can bring a date or an expat without worrying about your order because you have lots of choices here.

What’s so hot about this resto is the customer service. We have tried other restaurants that also have polite and attentive staff. But in this particular eating place, almost every attendant near you would take his/her time to stop at your table, and check out if you still need anything without being pushy. They wouldn't wait until you empty or even half your bottomless beverage before they give you a refill. They would top up your soup bowl just on time.

What needs warming up about this place is the price relative to the serving size and taste of the food. I mean, the food that we ordered were not bad. But they were just OK. [This is my second visit, and on my first visit, I had the same assessment of the taste. I just didn't pay much attention to the receipt because it was my boss' treat, hehe.] A cup of plain rice costs around P60 (or P65?). We sampled the Crispy Chicken with Garlic Sauce, Sinigang na Tadyang ng Baka, plus two cups of plain rice, and a bottomless iced tea, and we paid around P1,000 (including service charge and VAT). Our bill was almost similar to that of our Agave's visit, but our experience with the latter was way fulfilling and didn't hurt our pocket.

How many bean stamps?

6 out of 10.

I would still recommend this place if you have a date or a foreign visitor, and you prefer an unruffled atmosphere during peak hours (and, of course, when you're already in Makati area). But for a normal lunch break or if you're on a budget, try to stroll along Valero Street for more options (or just go to Greenbelt or Glorietta instead). :)

*****

Happy 46th, buddy ko. *kugos*

Good Food All Day

noreply@blogger.com (dropsofjune) — Sat, 30 May 2009 01:34:00 +0000

Snatched my attention, as painted on the wall. My buddy watching some shows as foreground.

We dropped by Flapjacks, an all-day breakfast place, at the ground floor of Greenbelt 2 last May 9. At laaast. I'd been nudging him to check out this resto (the one in Robinsons Place) since late last year.

Took these pics using my N77, which has a lousy capture quality.
Made me miss my Sony Ericsson.

What's hot?

I was eyeing for their High Protein Tuna Sandwich but my buddy had been very persistent with the Double Blueberry Pancakes, which I thought was too much even for the two of us. But he had this good convincing mood going on, so there— double blueberry pancakes (P245) and a bottomless brewed coffee (P85) for me. I loved their pancakes! And, yeah, I enjoyed the caffeine-high I got there, too (although I still prefer Mesa's over this one). Two awesome points for him for the prodding. Their serving reminded me of that of Heaven 'n Eggs. The only difference is that the latter supplies you with their assortment of syrup choices. He ordered the Boneless Bangus (P395), which is also another hit.

[Their menu also consists of varied selection of soups, steaks, and salads. Next time, I might try their Country Chicken Fried Steak. :)]

The place is quite small but has a very cheerful feel— must be the interplay of red, orange, and yellow. It looks a little intimidating from the outside, considering that it is at the same row where Italiannis, Pepato, Mezze!, and Temple Bar are situated.

The customer service is notable as well. The attendants are accommodating and patient. You could take your time, without being bothered by a waiting attendant, in choosing which food to take. And your attendant would know the right moment when to come back to get your order.

What needs warming up?

I think the price is a bit steep for eating out on a daily basis or on ordinary days. But considering the serving size, taste and service, this breakfast place is worth a try. Also, all prices are already inclusive of VAT and subject to 10% service charge.

How many bean stamps?

7 out of 10. ;-)

*****
It was an easy afternoon. Happy 45th, buddy ko. :) *kugos*

Blueberry Tart

noreply@blogger.com (dropsofjune) — Fri, 29 May 2009 03:23:00 +0000

My buddy came home last Tuesday night with a box of six unassuming blueberry tarts from Amira's Buco Tart Haus in Tagaytay. Although I'm a huge fan of blueberry cheesecake and blueberry muffin, I was quite hesitant to try the tart right away. From the looks of it, I assumed that it would taste too sweet. But I was totally mistaken. Ah, my judgement these days, really. It tasted sooooo good. Neither sweet nor bland. The crust wasn't like that of the pili tarts that I usually buy in Bicol— small and with relatively thick coating. The texture was like that of the base of a nicely done mango graham cake or tiramisu— spongy and with dense fillings. Yummm!

I ate two big tarts in a row, and another one the next day. Basically, I ate half of the box, hehe.

Adding this to my list of blueberry favorites. :)

*****

Ayan, kulet, bili mo ko nun ulit ha? Sige na. :)

Spread

noreply@blogger.com (dropsofjune) — Mon, 18 May 2009 03:01:00 +0000

We made a swift follow-through on our previous Mesa visit. After watching Angels and Demons last Friday, we agreed on getting a table for two. It was already crowded inside. So, instead of waiting for our turn, we chose to dine al fresco. No one was smoking anyway.

We tried the Salpicao Ostrich, which looked like a steak. We weren't able to take a snapshot of it, though. It has the same texture and color of beef. It has an aftertaste if you eat just the meat; it tastes good if you eat it with the button mushrooms and a small amount of sauce. But my buddy said that it would taste even better if you eat it with wine. We also ordered the Asparagus Tips, which I initially underestimated. Shame on me, tsk, tsk. It is in fact appetizing— must be the sauce. Mesa's freshly brewed coffee is memorable too. It has a very mellow and distinctive taste, almost crossing the hot choco tang. Loved it.

Overall, that Friday was an easy night out. =)

=====
If you haven't watched Angels and Demons yet, please do not proceed.

The movie has more surprising twists than the novel. Perhaps Ron Howard made those turns to lessen holes on the screenplay, which Dan Brown possibly allowed.

Though I am open to not sticking faithfully to the original story, understanding that no filmmaker can show everything from the book in two hours, I still can't find justice in changing the characters' involvement in very crucial scenes. It might be OK for those who have read the text because they have basis of truth. But for those people who simply watch the film, they wouldn't know the key events.

Here are the major content changes, as far as I remember:

The discovery of Vetra's ruthless death by Vittoria. She's supposed to be the last one to know about it. It's acceptable if it's not emphasized that Vetra is her adoptive father. But Robert Langdon and Maximillian Kohler, who have been keeping the truth away from Vittoria, should be in the same room when she sees Vetra. Or, maybe, they cut the scene where the three characters are in that little bedlam. Still, it should have beeen emphasized that it is Kohler who discovers the crime at CERN.

Where is Kohler, the powerful head of CERN in an electronic wheelchair?

Kohler gets in touch with Langdon first, and not the Vatican.

Vittoria's father has just died in a very wicked way, and she could already smile and pitch some jokes? Hmmm..all right this one is forgivable. It must be the acting.

Missing BBC reporter and his camera girl. I think the media plays a significant role in the story. The duo has the direct account on the events after being contacted by the hassassin (hired killer). They also bridge the reality between the politics inside the Vatican and that of the outside world by feeding their network with the raw footage straight from the precise locations where most of the killing happen.

Robert Langdon should be in the helicopter with the Carmelengo (Papal chamberlain). He also takes that huge sacrifice you know, and his is genuine.

The truth inside the Papal room should be revealed through Kohler's handycam, and not through the security camera being monitored inside Commander Olivetti's room.

Vittoria should be captured, dragged to the Church of Illumination, and almost harassed by the hassassin. And Langdon is supposed to save her.

Had they put a disclaimer informing an audience that some scenes have been modified for some reason, all these loopholes could have been bearable.

The film, however, also flaunts some plus points:

Howard showcasts a fast-paced sequence. There are lots of chase scenes, preventing you from yawning or taking a pee or getting more popcorn.

The cinematography is generally remarkable. Howard unreservedly takes you to the streets of Rome. [I'm not just sure about the scenes in the Vatican, knowing how strict and conservative are the laws there.] On the whole, most frames are grand and colorful.

Ewan McGregor's portrayal of the soft-spoken Carmelengo slash Janus is pretty much satisfactory.

Tom Hanks as Langdon is sporting an improved hairdo. He looks younger. =)

What I learned from film production classes is that when you watch a movie, especially when it is based on a book, always lower your expectation. Before the reel starts to spin, condition your mind that you are not going to see exactly every single detail that you read in the book. Watching this film was not an exemption. I could wholeheartedly accept the cast's performance. I could even let go of a lousy direction (I'm not saying that this is a lousy one) or a loose script. But removing the essential parts of the story was a total deal breaker.

*****

I still respect Ron Howard's craftsmanship. It's just that, I don't know, there must be something...

Table for Five

noreply@blogger.com (dropsofjune) — Mon, 11 May 2009 09:25:00 +0000

After our quick O' Noodle stall hunt in Mandaluyong last Saturday afternoon, we headed to Ayala for the family dinner. We took our reserved couch area at Mesa in Greenbelt 5 to celebrate Mother's day in advance. He'd been raving about this resto since he read about a certain good food review.:)

We experimented with Hito Flakes on Spoon for appetizer. Hmmm...so-so. Maybe next time we would try the Baked Scallops with Garlic Butter.

We had the Sinigang na Salmon Head for our soup. This one is OK.

From its Hito menu, my buddy tried the Crispy Boneless with Mangga Salad, another so-so. Giselle ordered the Baby Squid Adobo in its Own Ink— this one is yumyum. Nay ordered Seafood Pasta for Gab. But the kid didn't dig it that much. My buddy, Nay, and I ended up sharing the plate. Nay said that the pasta was salty. She was even proud of Ming Tree's version. :) My buddy and I, however, agreed that it was actually delicious.

He still wanted to order the Salpicao Ostrich but worried that we might not be able to finish everything. I was curious about Crispchon but I think we had had enough.

Our bill was reasonably priced. Our a la carte plus two bottomless iced tea, one ripe mango shake, one mango juice, and six cups of rice cost us only P1,500++. That was fair considering the location. The resto is strategically situated on a corner, near the middle ground floor entrance of Greenbelt 5, almost across Seattle's Best in Greenbelt 3. The exterior looks a bit intimidating, imposing a formal dining aura.

But the interior has a modern Filipino look and feel, reflecting a very casual tone. Personally, the orange (or is it flaming red?) couch sections are more comfortable and private than those seats on the other side and at the center.

We recommend making a reservation since the place is not so big, and has the tendency to be crammed full at peak hours. Also, if you want to dine al fresco and listen to music from the Greenbelt Park or nearby restaurants, you could occupy one of the few tables that Mesa provides.

Mesa is worth a second visit. ;-)

*****
My humor has been quite nostalgic for the past three nights. I've been missing home all of a sudden, weird thing. I'm not so sure if it's just the time of the month or some things have been simply sliding, as you would expect. But I hope it's the former.

I woke up that Saturday morning slightly raring to go, anticipating to spend the first half of the day outside, under the sun or the mall atmosphere, and the second half of the day with the family for our advance Mother's day treat. But it took us late in the afternoon to really get going. I was already a little bummed out. It must be the unsympathetic weather. Or the stubborn WiFi connection that he had been configuring since 12PM. Or, maybe, the day was basically droning.

But we shoved off anyway.

We looked for his group's O'Noodle trial stall along Barangka Drive. It took us several minutes of walking and a modest share of bad mood before we got the exact location. [He'd been very patient with me I knnnow.] We tried its cup of noodles with siomai toppings and cup of gulaman juice for our late lunch. Not bad. Or were we just hungry? =) I so hope it clicks.

Thank you so much for the 45 months, buddy ko. I'm so sorry for moping and for being extra sensitive today...*kugos*

10K Week 1

noreply@blogger.com (dropsofjune) — Fri, 08 May 2009 09:08:00 +0000

I nailed my preliminary goal of 5357 steps per day. Very sweet.

My initial plan was to change routes with increasing number of steps each week. But since I had already exceeded my target for the Alaska Military Highway trail, I decided to switch to a new route, the Appalachian Trail, on the fourth day. Hehe, angas.

Start of the footfall.

Switched trail.

Now I have a very healthy reason to roam around the mall. :P

10K

noreply@blogger.com (dropsofjune) — Mon, 04 May 2009 08:11:00 +0000

All right. Starting tomorrow, I will be counting my steps. :)

As part of my company's Well-Living Program, the second annual 10k-A-Day Challenge will kick off tomorrow. And since the company has distributed this interesting device that you need to wear on you waist to log the number of steps you take (also known as pedometer), I've signed in. Ambisyosa naman, hehe.

The goal is to encourage everyone to take an average of 10,000 steps a day for 28 days. However, the program is considerate enough to provide four different "trails", depending on how active or inactive you are.

Alaska Military Highway — Average 5357 steps a day
Appalachian Trail — Average 7643 steps a day
Highway 50 — Average 10975 steps a day
Lewis and Clark Trail — Average 13214 steps a day

You can swtich routes anytime. I've chosen the first one. I-test ko muna ang aking powers. :P

2:59

noreply@blogger.com (dropsofjune) — Sun, 03 May 2009 06:27:00 +0000

Two huge knockdowns in the first round. A surefire, brutal knockout in the second.

The English fighter fell to the canvas, too down for the count. The knockout artist knelt down in the corner, too humble for the feat. And the crowd was at a standstill for several seconds until referee Kenny Bayless waved his hand.

It was one of the most stunning episodes in the history of world class boxing.

*****
After lightweight, super-featherweight, light-featherweight, featherweight, flyweight, and the latest belt light-welterweight, what's next? :)

Up Northwest: Zambales II

noreply@blogger.com (dropsofjune) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 07:01:00 +0000

DAY ONE was Anawangin. :)

DAY TWO. After our satisfying breakfast at Nora's, where we had a yummy and generous serving of tocilog for only P100, we started our itinerary before 7AM— Capones Island then Camara Island. [Sol and her friends weren't able to find a bus ride to Zambales.]

First drop was Capones Island.

Nice fine sand and shoreline. But we couldn't see the famous Faro de Punta Capones (Capones Lighthouse). Manong informed us that it's on the other side of the island. Hay, bat di nga naman namin nilinaw. Pero di ba yun ang main attaction ng Capones? The other boatmen told him to bring us there and let his "assistant" guide us to the trail. "Entertain the visitors, " sabi pa nung isa. So there, sakay ulit kami ng bangka.

[We had another option: to treck from the east side of the island to the lighthouse. But it will take us an hour or so to reach the place. And since our time was limited and we only had our flip flops, we opted to ride the boat again. Oh, they say that some scenes in the TV series Marimar were shot here as well as in Punte de Uian Resort back in Pundaquit. :D ]

The ride to the other side was a challenge because of the strong waves and rocky shore. [Boats cannot just dock there.] The treck to the Capones Lighthouse was not easy either. The way up is a bit steep and, during that time, slippery because it rained the previous night. Aside from the uneven rock surfaces, there were too many leaves scattered on the unmarked trail, making the treck more devious.

[We wouldn't recommend taking the treck to the lighthouse during rainy days, unless you have the right trekking gears.]

But when we got there, worth it naman yung less than 20-minute climb. The spot was romantic and peaceful. A 360-degree view of Capones and the nearby islands boasts a good photo-op material.

My buddy was persistent to resolve his kite flying frustration from our Rizal Park's visit. Dala dala ang P60-saranggola all the way from Manila, hehe.

We went down and returned to our boat at around 830AM.

Our next stop was Camara Island.

We were welcomed by a picturesque rock formation, and fine off-white sand. The island somehow reminded us of Shimizu Island in El Nido, Palawan. And like Anawangin Beach, it also has strong undercurrent but with gradual rocky slope. My buddy had his chance to snorkel. I didn't; the current was too strong for me.

We had the chance to use the Flip-float that I got from my WWA 2009 coverage. Imagine the effort it took us to inflate that raft manually. :P

The sun was already piercing at 10AM. After several camera stunts, we went back to the main land.

By 1230PM, we hired a tricycle back to San Antonio then catched a bus heading to Caloocan. It took us four hours to reach Manila. Oh, our bus ride was fun. :)

*****
We're both beach persons. And our recent coastline trip is not one of most favorite beach destinations. Most probably, not his, too. But what I appreciate about it was our attitude towards the whole thing. We didn't take the flaws of the trip as off-putting. Rather, we found ways on how to inject gratification into each downside we met by chance. I think, this time, 80% of the trip's fulfillment came from each other's company.

Are we coming back? For a trekking and camping adventure, yes. But for a good unruffled swim, we both think one visit is enough.

Thank you very much for the weekend, buddy ko. *kugos*

---------------------------------------------------
Day 2 Overheads (for two persons): P2452

Anawangin-Capones-Camara Island Hopping = P 1500
Food = 400
Tricycle fare from Pundaquit to San Antonio = 50
Bus Fare from San Antonio to Manila = 502

Up Northwest: Zambales I

noreply@blogger.com (dropsofjune) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 06:34:00 +0000

We trailed a little up north this weekend.

After a series of go-no go discussions with some friends, my buddy and I firmly decided to hit the road to Zambales despite the erratic weather condition here in Manila for the past several days and the extended 5-day forecast by accuweather and PAGASA for our destination. After all, what could a few raindrops and light breeze possibly do to ruin our little summer outing? :)

So, with our backpacks and snorkling gears ready, we left the Victory Liner terminal in Pasay City around 530AM to Olongapo. We weren't able to catch the 5Am bus ride to Sta.Cruz/Iba, which would pass by San Antonio, our drop-off. We were trapped in a traffic mess somewhere in Subic, causing our trip to last for six hours. From Olongapo, we rode another Victory Liner bus going to Sta. Cruz/Iba to reach San Antonio.

[We recommend leaving Manila late in the evening, or having your tickets reserved before your preferred date.]

We had our contact boatman, Manong Randy, for our island hopping. And since we had settled on not having a camp, we did random quick calls to certain accommodations suggested by some bloggers and friends. Most of them were already fully-booked. Our choices were trimmed down to Punta de Uian, Ferriol's Residence, and Wild Rose Inn. Muntik na naming patulan ang Punta de Uian, probably the most expensive place there. But considering our time, our activities, and the place itself, we decided to go for a cheaper one. We got room F of WRI. Hmmm..let's say, in general, the room was pretty basic and the service was not exceptional-- sorry pero hindi proactive.

[We have no idea how the other rooms look like, but taking into account the quality of service, we wouldn't recommend the place. Try Ferriol's based on a good feedback from a couple of friends who stayed there last Holy Week or Punta de Uian based on its posted rates and photos. Or, bring your own food and go for a camping to save some pesos.]

DAY ONE. After searching the area for a decent lunch, we ended up eating at the resto of Nora's Beach Resort, a 3-minute walk from WRI. Then, around 130PM, we met Manong Randy's contact boatmen (he was still in Capones) to take us to Anawangin Cove fronting the South China Sea.

It was a 30-minute bumpy boat ride. Inspite of the nasty weather for the past few days, the place was still packed with campers. Parang tent city. We roamed around, took some pics, then tried the beach.

[Another way to reach the camp site is by trekking from Pundaquit for four to six hours, depending on your speed. The trek usually starts at 430AM.]

Malakas yung undercurrent ha. Para kaming weightless. The water would swiftly toss us to the shore then fiercely pull us back into the sea. After a number of attempts to look pro in the water, we decided to stay near the shoreline and just wait for those waves, hoping they would be a little calmer when they reach us. The sand is fine (not like Boracay's but more of White Beach, Puerto Galera's) and almost gray— sabi ng buddy ko magnetite daw yun. Around 3PM, the sea toned down. Ayan, our chance. After an hour, we decided to take a rest on the sand. He dozed off; I took pictures. Before 5PM, ikot-ikot ulit.

We both appreciate Anawangin as a great camp ground. Looking at the tent set up, we could imagine how cinematic it is when you wake up the next day, with the early morning sun rays seeping into the pine trees and the soft sound of the waves complementing the scene. Parang masarap magkape o kumain ng champorado. :)

[Try swimming around 3-5PM, or early in the morning. However, if your goal is just to have a smooth and safe dip, we wouldn't recommend Anawangin Beach and Pundaquit Beach. Closer to Manila and, for us, a wise choice is White Beach in Puerto Galera for a long stretch of fine sand with a gradual slope during weekdays and minus the night parties.]

We headed back to Pundaquit around 530PM. The rain started to pour. I somehow enjoyed the boat ride back to the mainland, thinking the little risk we took traversing the rough open sea in a relatively small boat. It was another 30-minute but bumpier ride.

I wasn't feeling so well in the evening. May nagbabadyang sore throat. Nadale ata ako ng halo-halo sa Anawangin. After refreshing ourselves, we planned to rent a tricycle to go back to San Antonio proper. Wala lang, ikot ikot lang sana. Realizing it was already dark outside, we decided on exploring the vicinity of Barangay Pundaquit to look for a place where we could have our dinner. But the place does not have that much establishments. After several minutes of strolling, we reached a sari-sari store that sells varied products— from toiletries to liempo to banana to Pringles to Amoxicillin. I bought a hot Nissin cup noodles and a stem of bananas; he bought rice and chicken curry from a nearby carinderia. And that was our dinner. :)

[Most accommodations there don't have cable TV in their rooms. The Dream Satellite is usually installed in the main TV of a resort's restaurant. Not that it is a priority; just an FYI. :D]

DAY TWO was Capones and Camara Islands.

*****
Day 1 Overheads (2 persons): P2860

Bus fare from Manila to Olongapo = P498
Bus fare from Olongapo to San Antonio = 102
Tricycle fare from San Antonion to Pundaquit = 60
Accommodation for 2D/1N = 1500
Food = 700

(Anawangin entrance for a day tour is P50 per head and for an overnight stay is P150 per head. Anawangin-Capones-Camara Package is P1500. These are standard rates.)

Wake Park

noreply@blogger.com (dropsofjune) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 03:56:00 +0000

Ela, one of my closest friends since UP CMC days, offered a spanking sideline last week (thanks, thanks!). A seven-day production for the 2009 WWA Wakeboarding Championships at Camsur Watersports Complex (CWC) in Pili, Camarines Sur. Initial hurdle set in: I would be needing five VLs in a row--- and that would be too much. But my cool manager gave me a go signal right after my wInsight project was released last March 20 (woohoo!).

It had been a week of mixed emotions: fired up for learning a new sport (which, I sense, could possibly be a potential hobby), inspired for an out-of-town vacation going back to production, and glum for a weeklong unusual break without my buddy.

I met up with Ela and Giselle (another CMC batchmate) around 1AM at Starbucks in Morato. I wanted Kopi Roti or Seattle's that night but I realized I was wearing my charcoal Starbucks tee. So, out of respect to coffee (hehe) I waited for them at Starbucks. Luckily, I earned another complimentary beverage for my next visit.

Our convoy (an L300, an OB van, a Canter, and a Montero) left Manila at 2AM. The crew consisted of 25 individuals, including their ever reliable drivers. I didn't know what my job would be. Ela just told me they needed someone to help on the creative side. But in one of our stopover chitchat, Direk Bebs Francisco, a noted TV director for sports, started discussing scripts, segments, and AVPs with me and Giselle. Exciting na nakaka-tense. Parang college ulet, hehe.

======

CWC is absolutely huge. It offers little cabanas, tiki huts, trailer homes, villas, and a mansion for accommodation. It also has two big man-made lakes for wakeboarding and waterskating: one using a cable system and the other using a motor boat. The newest addition is the World's first Winch Park (it looks like a skateboarding vert ramp with funboxes but this time with water). The Clubhouse also provides guests with a moderately good menu, free WiFi, a game room where you can play pool, foos ball and table tennis, and another area for air hockey and basketball. And the province has had a very hip and meticulous governor (thanks, Gov, for the interviews!). :)

The place, as expected, was stuffed with hot bodies, six-pack abs, trendy boardshorts and bikinis, funny commentators and DJs, and Mac laptops owned by a few riders. We had been feeding www.cwcwake.com and www.justin.tv/camsur with real time (although sometimes late by a few minutes) video coverage powered by Bayantel, and moderating a chatroom facilitated by our graphics editor Kuya Mond (who's been listening to podcast about Twitter, Microsoft, and Apple while editing).

Equally remarkable and chic was the event itself. Imagine a whole day of video and photo coverage taken directly from the Republik chopper for almost seven days. There were large, multihued, and visually striking posters and tarpaulins everywhere. There was a party with a unique theme each night, from Arabian Night to Retro Party to Masquerade Ball. There was a decent fireworks display before each party began. There were invited known TV and movie personalities, and there was a press conference that included Solar Sports, Sports Unlimited, and other members of the International press to its guests list.

Hitches? Undeniably, a number of them. Their constantly changing timetable; thus our relentlessly shifting camera setup. The sudden request for specific details and output by some people. The
misguided communication among team members (in a big event like this, everyone needs to carry compact handheld radio I think). And the sun. Graaah-- who can beat the burning sun? Super iniiit! For those who are moderately brown like me, what would you expect afterward aside from sunburn? :P

Good thing we discovered three literally cool hangout places, the OB van where we can listen to Direk Bebs demanding a smooth panning shot from camera 2 or saying "o sorry na" for his wrong call to camera 4, the Clubhouse where we can see everyone including event coordinators, roaming camera guys as well as riders, and the Melo's airconditioned booth where we can enjoy a watermelon shake or a brewed coffee with one or two small coffee buns.

By Tuesday, Ela and her dad left us for their Earth Hour prod prep in Manila. We didnt' know where "the calling" came from but Direk Bebs had been assigning me and Giselle as producers of the show. The last three days was not as busy and as stressful as the previous days, though. We were able to roam around, buy some souvenirs, and take photos. The exhaustion sank in Saturday afternoon. Giselle and I went for a short trip to Naga (lakas loob yan, commute) and desperately looked for a nice foot spa. We asked a saleslady at E-Mall, and she recommended Blips Spa Center, just almost a block away. Relatively pricey, parang pang-Manila na. But since we'd been walking for several minutes, we availed its foot spa with paraffin and pedicure (this one we didn't avail) for P500. The ambience is OK by the way; dimming the lights would be better.

Sunday was the sweetest-- a resounding "pack up". Ela and her dad, Tito Fernan, returned from Manila. We didn't finish the awarding ceremonies. After a bottle of Coors Light, a couple of quesadillas slices, and a barbecue stick, we headed home courtesy of the Penafrancia's lazy boy seats. We left some cameramen and Ela's dad to cover the last part of the event.

And I got a giant inflatable slipper-shaped raft, Flip-Float, from Havaianas! Thanks to the girl who spotted me. =)

*****

I missed you already at the end of the third day. Let's go back there one of these days, and try to bunny hop and sideslide. And when we get the hang of it, we can move on to ole and boardslide. :)

Kite for Dummies

noreply@blogger.com (dropsofjune) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 03:36:00 +0000

Two Sundays ago, we went to Rizal Park for kite flying. It was an awfully humid afternoon at home, and Gabi had been throwing tantrums-- must be the heat.

Gabi with her emoticons-- damay lang ako. :)

We assumed it was a sure thing since we already knew the basics: hold the kite and pull the string when a moderate wind blows. He did those stuff actually. He was a one-man show at first, carefully tossing the kite and pulling the string while calling Gabi's attention; the kid was running loose everywhere. But our colorful butterfly kite kept on descending after several seconds in the air. He was a bit frustrated by the scene. Gabi was in awe— maybe not of our kite but of the other kites fluttering like silky patches in the sky.

Feeling for his late afternoon toil, I helped him pitch the kite up. I lost count of the times we did our routine: me tossing that piece of paper and him winding and unwinding the string. We were able to redeem ourselves though, but not for a long time. That stubborn butterfly kite eventually tumbled down, either hitting a tree branch or landing on the thin grass.

After two hours and several attempts, we decided to pack up and just eat dinner. So much for our kite flying know-how; we underestimated its physics. But at least we burned some calories! :)

*****

Buddy ko, you did a good job. The kite just sucked. :D

Auburn

noreply@blogger.com (dropsofjune) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 09:38:00 +0000

I have a fresh fix, which I discovered two months ago while waiting for him at SM Manila. It is the Tchibo Exclusive Coffee by the known German coffee giant Tchibo served only at French Baker. It is rich in flavor and very aromatic. Aaay— did I just sound like a generic TV commercial? Again. This German coffee has an intense aroma and a mellow sweet taste, neither harsh nor tangy. Swabe. A single serve complemented with a small Danish pastry costs a little over P60, and a 250-gram vacuumed pack around P245.

*****
I totally overlooked this post until Reina remarked on my "delightfully different" Delifrance brew earlier this afternoon. :D

43

noreply@blogger.com (dropsofjune) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 02:39:00 +0000

Ours has been very convenient— our families, this setup, their faith. To top it all off, we're still doing the things that move us. It is not a spotless familiarity but it is undeniably matchless.

===
After walking around, and window shopping for a reasonably priced vacuum cleaner, we settled on Kamayan at Glorietta 3 for dinner. We were thinking of New Bombay at The Columns but he worried about offending my taste buds, hehe. After more than an hour, we were overstuffed again. He had been teasing me (and faintly embarrassed trying to stop me) the whole time I was bending sideways to ease my tummy. I was really full, no exaggeration. :D

The food was so-so, 5.5-6 out of 10, but for P325 per head (excluding drinks), not bad at all. A practical alternative to those upmarket buffet offers. I just hope they can slate a few restorations— better chairs, some new dishware, among others.

*****
Buddy ko, I think, we should go back to running. :P

Mi luv yah. *kugos*

Retune

noreply@blogger.com (dropsofjune) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:16:00 +0000

We weren't able to watch THE final set last weekend. Poor us. But no, we opted not to watch; and yes, we still went to our emo engagement. The thing is, I realized that this Florida band's music is already deafening for me. Is it my age? Or, are they really loud? But in fairness, the venue was crammed full (not as overloaded as the MOA concert grounds, though), and the band had an excellent clear-cut audio system (maybe too loud for the venue) so eventhough Ronnie Winter had been screaming in most of their songs, we can still catch what he had been singing on the platform.

At ang Nats ay nakanuod...:)

===
Smart had a charming present for us by the way. The E-heads' performance was shown live, and even replayed the next day on my mobile TV. Über coolness.

****
After the show, we brought Gabi (yes, she also rocked with us) to Cuts 4 Tots for her official summer haircut. Hay, si Dora lang ang katapat. She did everything the hair cutter told her. Kids, tsk, tsk.

Superproxy 1964-2009

noreply@blogger.com (dropsofjune) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 01:58:00 +0000

"There's no substitute for the real."

*****

A freeman. A happy battle. A legacy of a genuine, intelligent, burning Pinoy rap music.

Maraming salamat.

Offstage

noreply@blogger.com (dropsofjune) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 04:58:00 +0000

Eheads concert again this Saturday.

My buddy and I are not as thrilled as we were last year, though. Ka-turn off naman kase. No sign of fair consideration for those who welcomed their celebrated comeback the previous year. Now they are selling the tickets at the same price. Lovely. Unless it would be raining SVIP and VIP tickets from the heavens before March 7, we would rather gulp our pet pitcher of fresh fruit shake from Dulcinea then watch the pop-punk The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus perform live for free. Ayan, medyo magpapaka-emo na lang muna kami. [So sorry Nats, still no news for complimentary backstage passes. Ela, yuuuhuuu!]

Of course, we would still remember Eheads after we finish the shake and the gig. I think, we would just jog in Luneta early morning the next day. Now, that's how you move on! :P

Loose Ends

noreply@blogger.com (dropsofjune) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 09:00:00 +0000

One minute I held the key

Next the walls were closed on me

And I discovered that my castles stand

Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

Viva La Vida, Coldplay

Played Chris Martin several times today.

*****
Our HS yahoogroups account has been engaged lately. Reactions pouring. Even those who had just been lurking are now visible. All shaken and low-spirited. A batchmate has been accused of shooting and killing his girlfriend. He was one of the quiet, fine-looking, and polite guys in school, from kindergarten to 4th year high. She was a graduating Nursing student.

There are many sides of a story. There is justice— no matter how slow it is. And people change.

C (n, k)

noreply@blogger.com (dropsofjune) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 03:04:00 +0000

C (49, 6) = 49!/ [(49-6)! x 6!]

Where 49 is the available digits for selection, 6 is the total number of digits to be selected, and C is the total number of combinations one can bet on. ! means multiplying a series of descending natural numbers starting at 49.

Math 17, circa 90-something.

And it's just half of the job. The rest depends on the number of people marking out those combinations. No sweat.

What would you do with the millions?

I would take my buddy with me, and we would disappear for a while. Maybe we would go to Waiheke Island for a short vacation, let the magic sink in. Afterward, we would talk about the dough over a glass of Naked Grape juice. Save the half, share the 1/4, invest the 1/8, travel with and splurge the remaining 1/8. What a life.

I'm not sure what the two lotto winners have been doing since the historic draw last Sunday night. I hope they are both genuinely good individuals— like some great karma has just happened to them. And I hope they can still pass it on to their grandchildren's grandchildren.

*****
What happened last Sunday was not an exact science. It was pure luck. One hell of a good luck.

Chew the Fat

noreply@blogger.com (dropsofjune) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 07:20:00 +0000

Another weekend habit.

Most Sunday or Saturday evenings, right after attending mass at Pius, we would take a gradual walk along UN Avenue, passing the Sikh Temple and Unilever then crossing the Pres. Quirino Extension near Robinson's Otis. Right there at the crossroads, we would make a short stop in a small "booth" owned by Manang who sells balut, softdrinks, biscuits, candies and yosi, and calls each of her customers "Anak". She would give us two balut eggs, then remind us of the available "maanghang na sawsawan": 1 for mild, 2 for strong, and 3 for very strong. [Of course, I would rather choose salt.] She would generously offer a roll of tissue (unlike many fast food chains that limit a piece of super lightweight tissue to one person regardless of the order size) and monobloc stools. Sometimes, a tricycle driver would give us his chair (there is a tricycle "terminal" nearby).

My buddy would slightly tap one pole of the egg on the edge of Manang's tiny table, creating a small opening. I would drop a pinch of salt on the crack, drink the warm broth (sabaw ba), eat the yellow part then give him the rest. Nice and easy. We could finish our break in less than 15 minutes. Our brief visit would give us time to inadvertently overhear street stories from other customers (or from Manang), and gaze at some fancy handsome cars (like BMW and Ford pickup) or good affordable family vehicles (like Crosswind and Avanza) passing by. Eventually, we would start musing (again and again) about our "future" family car. Afterward, we would continue our stroll until we reach Robinson's mall-- to buy some groceries or take our chance on lotto, or just wait for a bus going home.

And I love us for that.

Hearty snack, easygoing chat. =)

What's Up Yo

noreply@blogger.com (dropsofjune) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 09:00:00 +0000

Really weird Joaquin.

I'm not a big fan, but I consider him one of the few very good character actors in Hollywood. His performances in movies like James Mangold's Walk the Line, Doug Holt's Inventing the Abbotts, Terry George's Hotel Rwanda, Ridley Scott's Gladiator, and M. Night Shyamalan's Signs are few substantial testimonies of a fine acting. That's why when the news came out announcing to the world that he's shifting career followed by his series of outrageous appearances in known TV shows, I've had some rethinking about this whole Joaquin Phoenix repackaging. Perhaps, it is not about him being high on drugs or having a classic nervous breakdown. Perhaps it is something deeper, more intense, well-versed artistic craftsmanship.

I have two related theories (as if the world cares):

1. Maybe he's pulling off a social experiment, gauging how the media as well as the audience are going to react.

2. Maybe this is just all about the documentary film that he and his brother-in-law and fellow actor, Casey Affleck, have been shooting. If this is the case, the premise of the film is not really about an actor taking a chancy career move, but about an audience's wavering frame of mind.

And if I'm right, the "new" Joaquin the rapper Phoenix would be another stunning masterpiece.

Easy Valentine

noreply@blogger.com (dropsofjune) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 04:21:00 +0000

We had a fun and cozy night out last Saturday. It was a follow-through on our Friday night "gig". We checked out Fish Out of Water at Greenbelt 5. Double celebration naman sya, so di nakaka-guilty mag-overindulge, hehe. We made reservation two days before.

We ordered grilled chicken couscous salad, grilled Sarangani Bay milkfish belly, steamed lapu-lapu in soy sauce, a huge crab over a pasta in white sauce with garlic (I forgot the name), kiwi shake, strawberry shake, buko juice, and their iced tea. They served us their smoked fish pate, thinly sliced baguette with a creamy dip, for appetizer.

The interior reflects a fine dining atmosphere (but most customers, including us, were in casual attire). The attendants are welcoming, and the service competent. Thanks to our attendant (Rick ba yun?) who tried many times to take a decent group pic of us.

And Gabi was soooo hyper the whole time.

The steamed Lapu-lapu was 5 out of 10 (I'm not sure how it would taste in other sauces). The crab was 7 out of 10 (my buddy broke their crab plier, hehe). The pasta, without the garlic and some crab meat was 8 out of 10, but with garlic was 6 out of 10. The salad was also 7 out of 10. The whole food adventure, for me, was an 8. =)

Total overheads for four adults and a super hyper kiddo was around P4k. Relatively steep. But if you're not planning to grab any of their per gram entrees, such as steamed lapu lapu and crab, you could budget around P500 (with drinks) per person. Each serving is good for sharing.

After FOW, we walked around Greenbelt for some photo ops. Gabi was still nonstop. Ibang klase. We had been chasing her all night. Then, we wrapped up the night with Nay's treat at Starbucks near Makati Shangri La (the one at GB3 was too crowded).

*****

Happy birthday, Nay! Much Love, GJ, Nin, Giselle, and Gab.