The anti-Valentine

Di na ko bitter about a long-lost love, pramis.

An IM chat with my friend M, who was then going through some rough times.

M: I've given her far more than I've given ---. You have no idea how much crap I had to tolerate.

M: And to have it just handwaved?

M: Wow.

E: look, let it out, but not on her

E: rant all you like now

E: but don't pass it on to her

M: I know.

M: That's why I'm talking to you.

Right. But that's ok. He was there for me when I needed someone to talk to post-breakup.

He also sent me the link to this: whackyourex.com

Nothing like something violent and gross to "manage your anger safely", eh? "Cheaper and funner than therapy", alright. If that's your kind of thing, there's more of Doodieman out there.

===

[Updated 10:11am] On a more serious note...

As a rule, you should not hurt, spurn, reject or break up with someone before Valentine's, Christmas and the person's birthday (or yours). It's cruel and the karma will get catch up on you. But sometimes you can't help it. It has to be done.

Why a lonely girl breaks hearts and spirits, I do not know. I really do not know.

Proposal on ice

Three days to go before the Day of Hearts. I am not counting down the days.

Last Saturday, while shopping at Megamall, I heard the loudest screams from the ice skating rink and saw the fake snow falling. I overheard the salesladies at one of the shops talking about what happened. Turns out Lifehouse's "You and Me" was playing and a guy went on his knees to propose to a girl, causing everyone at the rink to scream. I passed this on to my mom, who was thinking what would happen if the girl said no. Remember the guy who got rejected after proposing at a basketball game? Bad scenario. So guys, you better be sure of the answer.

Later that night, I asked my brother where he was earlier in the day. "Skating rink," he said. I asked if he saw the proposal. "I took the video."

He was in on the plan (the girl is a long-time friend). "They've been looking for a house," he said. It was only a matter of time before the guy proposed.

The only weird part of it was being surrounded by clapping and screaming kids, total strangers who happened to be skating then. Regardless, it's fitting for a girl who had her debut at the skating rink. Just not the wedding, dear.

To the newly engaged couple, congrats!

Survival of the best informed

The archive of Worst-Case Scenarios may just save you from something truly unpleasant, like a trip over a waterfall, a date with a axe murderer or a UFO abduction. The archive also has a lot of emergency scenarios you might find yourself in.

[via vagablogging]

Chef's Quarter + Ilustrado

I was wondering why Chef's Quarter at Megamall Atrium was pretty popular. What else could it be but good food?



The Trio Salad is quite interesting because the ingredients don't go together perfectly. Imagine shiitake, escargot, raw tomato and prawns. But in the end, it all works out wonderfully. That's why it's one of their most popular salads, like the Tessie Tomas, named after the actress.


The Seafood Paella, however, had too much rice and not enough flavor. They were sincere in asking how the food was, as the place is very new. I think they will improve on it soon.

My mom said that the lunch buffet (P495+) is superb because there are different salads, lamb and desserts. Does anyone want to treat me to lunch? I'm game. Hahaha!


Chef's Quarter is large enough for groups and the ambience is somewhat upscale. Two of the partners were manager and chef of Le Souffle The Fort.

QWERTY

Let's cheer on Paolo Dy, who's hoping to be one of the 16 contestants on Spielberg's reality show for filmmakers, On The Lot.

B calls Dy's short film QWERTY theatrical. Maybe that's partly because he got actors from Repertory. I'm proud to have met three of them: Arvin, Altair and Cathy. Good job, guys!

[via Plus 63]

A pre-Hearts' Day gift

A limited edition treat (or earsore) to the kind souls who have been reading this blog. Allow me to humiliate myself for a week by exposing my little voice. Point me to some more backing tracks, will you?

Download

Dulaang UP's Atang

After reading good reviews from all over, I caught the re-run of Floy Quintos' Atang, directed by Alexander Cortez for Dulaang UP. A play with music, it's "the Atang hit parade plus one" according to playwright Floy Quintos, the added song being a poem written by Amado Hernandez for his wife, kundiman queen Atang dela Rama, set to music by composer and arranger Von de Guzman.

I only have three things to say:
1. Shamaine Centenera (Atang dela Rama) is awesome from the moment she comes onstage.
2. I found it hard to take my eyes off Ayen Laurel (Gia Almonte).
3. The simplicity of the staging is refreshing.

After the show, there was a Q&A with some cast members, Quintos and Cortez. Why Atang now? asks someone from the audience. Quintos says that there is much we can learn from the past, especially the nationalism that ran through all the aspects of Filipino life in the time of the sarswela. "Our lives are so fragmented now," he laments.

And he is right. We should not forget that history repeats itself.

Recycled

critters made from technojunk, Cafe Inday

Pinto Gallery, Antipolo City

the office (left) and the chapel (right)

still fountain and the tribal council lookout (leave your tiki torch outside)

Pinto is an art gallery in Antipolo City set in a garden. There's a lot of water around in ponds, an artificial waterfall near a tiny ampitheater, bamboo and tropical plants that sometimes make you feel that you're in the rainforest. I'm afraid I'll encounter frogs here during the rainy season.

In the main gallery, Dennis Ascalon's exhibit featured textured works that have carved outlines akin to comic strips. His drawing style makes his figures appear whimsical though they're PG. The colors are too strong and straight-from-the-acrylic-tube to me, but I think that's intentional.

There are three pieces in the same size by different artists, all of them with a 1920s feel. In front of the Silangan gallery, Jerson Samson's Mona Lisa with a giant toothbrush and Starry Night in the background is a play on the perfect smile.

Dr. Cuanang, being a patron, must have a massive art collection. Construction has begun on the museum, which should be completed by December.

There was a TVC shoot that day, so we avoided the crew and didn't make it to the rooftop.

so med! (left); an outdoor shower... and a bed? (right)

in front of a Borlongan (left) and the wrong pinto (right)


my guide E

the last leaf


at the bamboo house



reminds me of the Jewish Museum in Berlin

Cafe Inday by Chef Geo

Cafe Inday is a new restaurant at the home of the late Antipolo artist Inday Gadapan. You can see several of her portraits by other artists, as well as her artworks in different media. The place is hidden away and hasn't been formally launched, but Chef Geo's friends have been testing his creations since October.

menu board and Pepper the dog

Tried out the parma ham and pastrami paninis (P170), which have mustard, zucchini, eggplant and tomato in them. They're served with potato chips. I had affogato, which is more of a dessert than a drink: coffee poured over vanilla ice cream. We had espresso shots on the house. Your choices of sugar: brown or muscovado. How about that?

Chef Geo is working on cold espresso. Presentation is always key, so expect something fancy when it's done.

what I'll have next time: farfalle with basil cream

without the mood lighting

Marley

love the door

I'll be back for the pasta and the lamb.

For your mp3 collection, part 23

taken by my brother at Coffee Dream Megamall

Antony and the Johnsons:"Another World"-is there no hope?
Blitzen Trapper:"Furr"-a story worth repeating
The Details:"Underground"-surprisingly not sad
Di Johnston:"Trite"-losing the fire
Last Exit Heidelberg:"Wehe Dir"-German pianoforte
Noah and the Whale:"5 Years Time"-hurray for indie pop
Odawas: "Harmless Lover's Discourse"-rich fusion
The Orchestral Movement of 1932: "At Summer Pond"-short and genre-defying
Round Mountain:"Maitreya"-fine farewell
Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees:"You Don't Miss Me"-tough girl
Vetiver:"Everyday"-morning song

King Bee, again

you don't have to be Jollibee to bee popular with the kids

Chinese New Year at the closest Chinese restaurant, King Bee. A busy night, but the service was still good. We started with dumplings and Japanese siomai from the cart. We must have covered all the food groups: vegetables with golden mushroom, beef, chicken, seafood hotpot, Yangchow fried rice.

bubble, bubble

If I remember correctly, the mango shake wasn't nice when we were here in June, but my brother said it was fine this time. In general, the food was ok, except for the ginger that went with the chicken. It left much to be desired in terms of flavor.

I love the world

It never gets old. Really. The Discovery Channel song is love.


Boom ye ye!

The English touch

I sent out a bunch of Christmas cards and got two back--unsurprisingly, from my English hosts. Politesse! From the way they address the envelope to "Miss" in their wide, curly handwriting, to the way they start their letters:

Sweet. (Sorry for the orientation. Picasa's fault.)

WeGame.com

WeGame.com allows users to record and upload games and screenshots. I found this Team Fortress 2 parody of the Where the hell is Matt? video cute.

Watch more videos of TF2

I knew this Simon Pegg skit, but I still laughed at the WoW version because the timings are perfect.

Watch more videos of WoW

Eat & Go @ SM Megamall Atrium

It's fastfood, slightly Europeanized. Eat & Go offers London pies. What's that? Square pies, P55 to P75. Have it with a side dish or two. Their bestseller is Salmon & Spinach. I had Juicy Beef, which has potatoes and spinach. It is then topped with gravy, like so.


Their berry smoothie is good but the serving size is small. Overall, Eat & Go is a decent place for a quick, filling meal.

Scenes from a weekend

the dollhouse of a cousin who recently left for the US, permanently

Church of the Eucharistic Lord, SM Megamall

security dogs, ADB

Academic Idol: Dr. Madianou (center), whom J (right) and I have both quoted for our studies

Saturday afternoon, Ateneo de Manila University

Two years ago

Image stolen from L's FB. I believe this is Copenhagen Stroeget with friends from France, Lithuania and Finland. Note to self: no more oversized coats!

It's my mom's birthday again. The anniversary of my eyes. So much new life.

What you missed: Focal Points

Eight of mine here.

Mine leftmost (red/grey), beside my mom's (blue). Sculpture on the right is National Artist Abdul Imao's.

The guild, missing two members. I wonder what's next :)

My first opening reception (technically)

The best part about having exhibit opening cocktails is seeing people important to you. I'm thankful that some high school friends came and so did one of my favorite artists, who made it all the way from Alabang though she had just come from the States.