Now Na!

Di ko alam kung bakit – pero I do experience more than my fair share of bad service. Siguro – this is nature’s way of punishing me dahil minsan medyo di kagandahan ang pag-uugali ko. Like last weekend — I met a friend for a “very late lunch – but still to early to be considered dinner and to heavy to be considered merienda” in this seafood place where the Fish are never alone as they always have Co. Gets? I ordered this fish collarbone something and my friend ordered the sea food platter for one. We both requested for warm water. Nagkataon naman na pareho kaming sobrang gutom na talaga. Famished is the word that best described us that time. After around 10 minutes or so… bumalik yung isang waiter to inform me that my order may take around 20 minutes to cook and if that is alright with me. Since gutom na nga ako – I said that I will just change my order. Surprisingly – walang dalang menu si Mr. Waiter. Wala lang – since tinanong mo ako kung okay lang na maghintay – di ba may posibilidad na hindi ang sagot ko? At pag hindi ang sagot ko — oorder ako ng iba . At pag-oorder ako ng iba — kailangan ko ng Menu. Anyway – umalis ulit si Mr. Waiter – then bumalik after 5 minutes. I ordered this crayfish pasta dish + foccacia bread. Umalis na naman si Mr. Waiter. After 5 mintures – may dumating na waiter para ibigay an gaming warm water sabay alis na singbilis ni Flash. Nung tingnan ko yung glass – I can’t help but wonder (pahiram muna Ms. Bradshaw) – nung hinugasan nila ang mga basong binigay sa amin — dumi ba ang ginamit nila at hindi sabon? As in. Parang may mga natuyong kanin dun sa baso. Tinawag naming si Ms. Waiter – at pinapalitan naming ang baso. After a while – dumating si Ms. Waiter with clean glasses – and my foccacia bread with olive oil dip. Sa sobrang gutom ko – nilantakan ko na talaga yung bread. Di ko na hinintay pa yung pasta. Nang isa na lang alaala ang foccacia bread – we can’t help but wonder – bakit kaya wala pa yung food naming. Aba – more than 30 minutes na a. Since halos walang tao sa resto – nakapagtataka di ba? Anyway — after close to 40 minutes – may bagong Ms. Waiter na lumapit sa amin. She informed us na hindi raw pala available yung inorder ko na Crayfish Pasta. Whatttt???? It took almost 30 minutes bago nyo nalaman ang information na yan? Nasa dulo ba ng daigdig ang kitchen nyo para magtagal ng ganyan? I did not hide my inis – as in sinabi ko na this is the 2nd time na papalitan ko order ko. As in — Ms. Waitress suggested this Prwan pasta in white sauce — which I don’t particularly like — pero dahil sa inis na ako…I ordered it. Siguro naman available yun since sila ang nag-suggest. Hay naku. Kung hindi lang talaga ako gutom. Di na rin nagsasalita yung kasama ko – siguro wala nang energy hehehehe. After another 15 or so minutes – still no food. Mahigit isang oras na kami ha! OA naman. Hindi na nakatiis ang kasama ko – tinawag nya si Ms. Waiter — sabay sabing —- “ I want my food served NOW”. Walang please … walang follow-up…. NOW. As in. with very strong emphasis on the word NOW with matching inis look and all. Ito ang linya ng taon — to rival Sam Milby’s “I never told you…. that I love you”. Dahil sa “NOW” – mabilis pa kay Speedy Gonzales na umalis si Ms. Waiter — after 5 minutes — bumalik si Ms. Waiter with our food then left. Walang kahit anong apologies whatsoever. Grabe no? And this place is not that high-end restaurants na nagtatagal ang food. It’s a upscale fast food place no. The service is really bad. Actually – bad is an understatement. Appaling…. Dreadful… Horrendous… That’s the best description to their service. Para matapos na lang – we ate our food in a hurry – then asked for the bill. Normally – nagbibigay ng mints itong resto na ito pag binigay nila ang bill. Pero that day – no mints….. I asked if they have — Ms. Waiter said – they’re out of mints as well. What the !@#$#$!$%$@#$%. Close to 2 hours or my life was wasted — and you can’t give me #$#@$!@# mints! Magsara na kayo! NOW! ☹

Double Love

Me — fall in love — twice — today! Yup…. Twice….. On the same day….. I never thought it’s possible. Pero posible pala.

 

First falling in love happened this morning. I was reading the paper. Then  bam… something in the news made my heart palpitate fast.  Tutuo nga ang tsismis. They finally unveiled the new… iPod Touch.  I quickly went to the Apple site and there it was – my new love — had me even before hello. The 3.5 inch widescreen display…. touch screen function ….wi-fi web browsing…. And not to mention the sleek iPhone like design… hay….  But this new love need to wait. 16GB  just isn’t enough for me. Aba – picture pa lang ng mukha ko – 8 GB na e…  e di dalawang passport photo lang ang mailagay ko! … No….  need to fatten up this new love bago ako mag-commit. Love can wait — when they release the 60 GB or higher model —- then she’ll be mine… all mine… bwahahahaha…… J More info on : http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/

 

Second falling in love happened during lunch. I had a heavy breakfast – kaya wala sa mood mag-lunch. Anyway — bought myseld a 6 in Subway sandwich ….. nung pabalik na ako sa office – I passed by The  Sandwich Shop. I am quite curious bakit lagi marami tao – so I decided to check it out. The sandwiches are a littly pricy… but looks delicious.. Too bad nakabili na ako sa Subway. I decided to buy something to drink — and there it was — like an answered prayer – Honey Banana Smoothie! I love Banana Smoothies… kaya buy na agad. The firs sip was pure heaven.  Not sure if it was the hot weather.. or  thirst..  but it was really good. Best Banana Smoothie that I have tasted.  Love at first sip! You should try it… and be prepare to fall in love… promise…. J

 

                                               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dry Spell

I am in a “blogging” dry spell. Yup. Wala akong maisip na isulat. Gone are the days na dire-diretso lang ang patipa ko sa aking keyboard while the ideas flow freely. Ngayon – I have been staring at a blank MS Word page for a few minutes now and still — wala pa rin. Nada. Zilch. Zero. Iniisip ko nga ang madalas na topic ko sa aking blogs :

1.        Food! — hmm…. Nada… I haven’t been to any new eating places lately. I haven’t eaten anything out of the ordinary. So far – lahat ng kinakain ko ay on the “OK lang”  list. I had the “best banana walnut muffin” for merienda yesterday – but it seems ordinary with every bite. Don’t get me wrong — it was delicious… still the best banana walnut muffin in my opinion — but seems ordinary…. Hmmm….

2.        Television — hmm… Zilch….  Wala akong sinusubaybayan ngayon sa Boobtube…. Walang teleserye na nakakuha ng aking attention. 

Walang Kapalit – dapat na itong palitan. Masyado nang stretch ang story.

Kokey – hmm… the character is weirdly lovable… di ko alam kung nakakatakot sya or nakakatuwa. Hmm… kailangan ko pagisipan mabuti yan.

Ysabella  –   nagiging boring. Parang walang chemistry between the lead stars which is odd dahil magsyota sila. Or maybe it’s the too much drama… the initial episodes are very promising… but somehow the recent ones are too melodramatic. Coney Reyes is good though.

Natutulog pa ang Diyos — well the title says it all … it seems that everyone is sleeping while making this series. The characters can’t act….  no chemistry….  Plot and dialogues are  bad…  hmm.. basta.. I can’t say anything good about this series. Mukhang kailangan nating gisingin ang Diyos dahil I do think that we need a miracle to make this show worth watching.

Margarita – hay… don’t start with me… I was able to catch a couple of episodes.. In fairness — Wendy is not that terrible in acting… may potential ika nga… but the dancing… more… more… more practice! Sobrang gasgas na ng storyline nito…. Kung dvd ito – iluluwa na ng dvd player kasi unplayable na.

As for the “imported” shows — nandyan pa rin naman ang mga usual suspects — Brothers and Sisters, CSI, Veronica Mars, Grey’s Anatomy, Ugly Betty etc.  Mukhang sa “local” shows lang talaga mayroong shortage of good and quality television e.   Hay…. kailan ba sisimulan ang Maging Sino Ka Man? Miss ko na si Celine, Jackie, Ely at JB!

       

3.        Current Events —  as per normal… yan ang aking description sa mga news and current events na nangyayari. Sa Pinas – the usual stories pag ganitong panahon — baha at bagyo. Syempre nandyan pa rin ang mga ever reliable na corruption, dirty politics at mga oppositions. Lam nyo – ang mga Pilipino (me included) – napakagaling maghanap ng mali na ginagawa ng iba. Kaya buhay na buhay ang mga oposisyon sa Pinas e.  Just read in the news that the senate will again open up the Hello garci issue. Isa lang masasabi ko dyan – Hello! Senate!…. mukhang wala na namang mga batas na maipapasa.  Dapat siguro ang senate isama na lang sa NBI… hilig naman nila mag-investigate e. Does anyone still care about the Hello Garci issue? Hmm.. sabagay … meron… yung oposisyon… para magkagulo at baka sakaling makaupo sila ng mas maaga bilang presidente. Kung ako sa kanila —- isapuso muna nila ang ibig sabihin ng “united opposition” – kasi sila-sila nag-ooppose sa isa’t-isa. Sabagay – oposisyon nga e.

4.        Travel — asa pa hehehe.. the only traveling I do nowadays is from Simei to Tanjong Pagar via Bus 531.  Saka MRT pala  from Tanjong Pagar to Simei.  Nandyan pa rin naman paminsan-minsan ang taxi… but.. I am happy to mention na nabasawan na ang aking pag-tataxi. Wala na akong pangtaxi e… mahal…  Bago ko malimutan… a bright light in the horizon… possible trip to Bangkok! Fingers crossed…..

5.        Gadgets — hmp.. pangtaxi nga wala e… pangbili  pa ng bagong toy.  The Motorola V9X is still to be released… baka end of this year daw or early next year.  The new IMac…. Hmm… tempting…. pero mukhang no-deal.  Mas practical yata ang MacBook Pro…. My computer expo next week dito sa Singapore – tingnan natin kung gaano kagaling ang aking self-control.

6.        Movies — haven’t watch any movie lately.. the last movie I saw was The Simpsons… no movie night last Friday … slept early…. Wanted to watch the third Bourne movie.. but friends says I need to watch the 2^nd installment first.  Might watch Hairspray this weekend — seems that I need some singing in my boring life….

7.        Books — tambak ang books ko sa bahay…. Bili ng bili.. di ko naman binabasa….  Anyway.. darating din siguro ang time at mababasa ko ito… recently — I’ve been browing on some fiction books sa bookstores…. Gusto ko kasing magbasa ng isang novel na masasabi ko talagang wow…. Yung I missed half of my life kung di ko ito nabasa? So far… wala pa akong napipili… kung meron kayong suggestion… suggest nyo lang… pero make sure na talagang worth basahin ha… I wanted somethimg different… kakaibang storyline….  No  auto/biographies please……

8.        Office — same-same.  Lakad pa rin ng lakad si Chichay. Puro pa-japorms pa rin si Ate Vi. Malapit nang mawala  si Ate A. At  nakakatawa pa rin ang pagmumukha ni My Sassy Neighbor. Nothing to report….

9.        Friends — hmm… meron ba ako nun? Alam nyo naman ako loner…. Hehehehe….. wala naman ako masyado natsitsismis sa mga sangkaibiganan. May mga sad L…. May mga happy J…. may mga deadma…. May mga praning…. All in all — tuloy pa rin ang ikot ng mundo.

10.     Plans — I am thinking of enrolling to something… Cooking? Pwede….  Computer Related course like java, html etc ? Pwede rin…. Something artistic — computer graphics, photography? Pwede rin. Driving? Pwede rin. Isa lang problema – naghahanap pa ako ng mag-sponsor ng aking scholarship… hehehehe….. that … or  need to save muna pangbayad ng tuition fee…  Sa mga mag-volunteer to sponsor sa aking quest to further my education — contact me anytime J

Yan.. yan ang aking top 10 topics sa aking mga blog. At wala talaga ako maisip na isulat sa kahit ano man sa kanila …This dry spell  should end soon. Baka iisa na lang nga ang aking fan – mawala pa.  For the meantime — tiis-tiis na lang po muna tayo… Ganyan talaga ang buhay … minsan may tagtuyot … hmm…. cloud seeding….. pwede din kaya itong sagot sa aking “blog” dry spell?    

Linggo ko to…..

1.        I watched The Simpsons last Sunday.  The reviews are good so medyo mataas ang expectation ko. And fortunately – maganda naman ang movie. Laugh trip sa buong movie. I find it odd na hindi ako naiinis kay Homer. Kahit na wala syang kwenta… he still is funny… Kahit nga si Bart na pasaway – lovable pa rin e. But my most favorite Simpson is Maggie. Wala lang … she steals the scene even without talking! Isipin nyo na lang kung magsasalita pa sya. Bart’s nude skateboarding  scene is hilarious. Galing. Natawa talaga ako. Sa mga manonood — stay until the end of the credits — you might miss Maggie’s first word!     

2.        After the movie – I went to Paragon with a couple of friends. Ikot lang.. nakakabato sa bahay e.  We had a late lunch/early dinner at Thai Express. Afterwards – nag-aya ako mag dessert sa Project Shop café. Para kasing may craving ako sa Banana Caramel Cream Pie. If you are a dessert lover…. Project Shop Café’s Bananana Caramel Cream Pie is a must have! It will surely satisfy the sweet tooth in you. Hay… heaven in a plate…. pero di yan ang paguusapan natin — I initially wanted to order the Banana Caramel Cream Pie but the waiter suggested the Banana Mango Crumble.  He said that they are also famous for this dessert. Anyway – dahil kailangan ko ng spontaneous moment – I decided to try the Banana Mango Crumble. Hmm… Banana- Check! Mango - Check! Crumble -love a little crumble in my cookies… so.. Check. Dessert – Check! Nothing can go wrong .. right? Well…. My spontaneity paid off – it was GOOD! The top is – for the lack of a better word – crumbly….. but when you dig deep — the combination of mango and banana is heavenly. It’s a hot dessert – kaya kailangan ng kaunting ingat… but it was really good. For those that are not into “too sweet” dessert – this one is definitel for your. Hay….  Their cakes are good as well.  My friends ordered a Chocolate Marble Fudge something… di ko na matandaan actual name – and it is good as well. Fudgy-cakey feel – Check! Chocolate syrup – Check! Marshmallows – check! Nuts – check! Ice- cream – check! My friend described it as — better than sex! Either she has a crappy partner …or the cake is really delicious. I tasted the cake — and it was delicious… so.. the guy’s reputation is safe – for now…..  By the way — both dessert is great with brewed coffee!  

3.        Still in Paragon — nung nasa escalator kami – may tinuro sa akin yung isa kong kaibigan… tingnan ko daw yung isang nilalang na pabababa sa kabilang escalator. Dahil likas akong tsismoso – tiningnan ko naman… at ako’y nagulat. What I have been predicting came true. Nandito nga sya. Yup. Sya nga. Si Sylar! Isa lang ang naisip ko na makita ko sya – si Madame Auntie. Nasan na kaya sya ngayon? Babalik kaya sya pagtapos ng renovation ng tindahan nila? Nakatakas kaya sya kay Sylar? O napahamak na sya? Worried tuloy ako… buti na lang masarap ang dessert.  

4.        While eating -  nabanggit nung isa kong kaibigan ( a newbie – a month or so pa lang sya dito) na napapansin daw nya na madami daw maganda ang katawan dito sa Singapore. With this opening – sinabi ko sa kanya ang running joke tungkol sa mga tagarito.  Hipon ang tawag ng ilang pinoy sa mga tagarito — bakit hipon? Yan din ang tanong ko dati…. Kasi daw … tulad ng hipon … katawan lang daw ang mapapakinabangan mo… yung ulo.. itatapon.  Nice way of saying  magaganda nga ang katawan.. pero medyo unfortunate looking naman.   Okay fine… pwede ring dikdikin ang hipon para ihalo sa pansit ang juice… pero just the same – kailangan pa ring  dikdikin… saka face value ang pinag-uusapan dito hindi yung juice ng ulo nila pag dinikdik…. Anyway — parang may realization itong kaibigan ko… oo nga daw… so another patotoo yan .  My  other friend then said – kaya daw pala nandito si Sylar…. Sabi ko naman bakit? Kasi di ba si Sylar – utak ang kinakain…. E dito patapon lahat ng ulo di ba? Gets? Ako gets ko kaagad… natawa nga ako… Ang galing talaga ng Pinoy magdugtong-dugtong ng kagaguhan.     

5.        Off-topic – pero di ko lang makayanang di mag-comment —- I read in the Inquirer  that Sen. Dick Gordon is thinking of running for President on 2010. Not really surprising. A few names were also mentioned — Sen. Manny Villar, Sen Mar Roxas,  Sen. Panfilo Lacson,  Sen Loren Legarda and Sen Jamby Madrigal. Vilar/Lacson/Legarda – expected… Dati pa naman itong mga to “halata” na gustong maging presidente. Roxas – not surprised really… He topped the Senate election couple of elections back…  masa as Mr. Palengke… and Korina Sanchez in tow… presidentiable na presidentiable ang dating. Sen. Jamby Mardigal – a.. eh.. ano daw? Tama ba basa ko? Baka typo. Sigurado ba sya? Sure? Seriously? Deal talaga? Bakit parang ang daming sumisigaw ng “NO DEAL! NO DEAL!!” – kasama na ako dun.

Comfort Food

A colleague wanted to have ice-cream for merienda. I asked why the craving ….. wala naman daw… just need comforting.  Para sa kanya pala – ice cream is a “comfort food”.  Yup — a term that Dr. Phil and Oprah does not approve.  According to their psychobabble – emotional eating (or need to eat for comfort) when sad or depress is the main reason of obesity.  Well.. that may be true…. Pero mga pinoy tayo. We don’t go to shrinks when we feel down and troubled. Minsan we talk to a friend or a love one. Minsan naman — dinadaan na lang natin sa kain. Hence – comfort food is a very popular term para sa mga Pinoy.

Ano nga ba ang comfort food? Well — literally —  pagkain na nagbibigay ng emotional comfort. Sa tingin ko – lahat naman tayo ay may comfort food.  Para sa akin – sopas at lugaw. Bakit? May sagot ako dyan. Pinag-isipan ko mabuti yan.  Personally – naniniwala ako na nagiging comfort food ang isang pagkain if you can associate it with a happy feeling or a feeling of relief. Kunwari sa akin — chicken sopas  ang niluluto ng nanay ko when I get sick. Hindi nya pinaluluto sa iba – sya mismo ang nagluluto. So na-associate ko ang chicken sopas with the love and care of my mom.  Sa lugaw naman – ito ang madalas na niluluto ng nanay pag pasko at bagong taon. Well – nagluluto rin sya ng iba pang putahe like spaghetti etc - pero there’s nothing like eating a steaming hot lugaw pag malamig ang simoy ng hangin… at may gayak ang bawat tahanan. J So I associate lugaw with the happy celebration and family togetherness of the season.

 Everytime I do feel sad or depress — a hot bowl of sopas or arrozcaldo somehow diminish the bad feelings. Parang nabibigyan ako ng relief… ng hope… ng reminder na lahat ng nangyari na masama ay temporary lang .. and sooner or later – things will be okay.

7107

Finally… I was able to eat at 7107 Flavours in Marina.  I have mix expectations as I have heard both positive and negative comments regarding this place. When I heard that they now have ala-carte menu – I forced a friend to accompany me to experience the 7107 gastronomic adventure that the place promises.  

Location : Location is really good. You may call it strategic. It’s walking distance from the Cityhall MRT via Citilink. It is also near Suntec Convention center.     

Place : I am impressed with the interior of the place. Pinag-isipan talaga. Simple lang. Hindi sumisigaw na Pinoy ako! It exudes Filipino elegance. Mula sa mga chairs at tables…. up to the small details like Menu cover. Oks din yung uniform ng waiters/waitress.  Filipiniana yet modern. Medyo nakakasawa lang yung palabas sa tv. Considering that the place is being supported by the Department of Tourism – sana magpalabas naman sila ng ibang video. Those who have Magic Sing have already seen the videos that they are currently playing a thousand times. Wala na bang iba? Pwede rin mga travel shows like Travel time.

Entertainment : They have a small stage. The waitress said that they normally have acoustic performances during the night.

Food : Last… but definitely not the least…. Save the best for last ika nga. I have this “benchmark” para masabi if the food of a new restaurant is generall good. Sinigang (baboy, hipon or bangus belly!) Ang sinigang kasi ay very basic ang lasa. Mukhang simple lang iluto pero mahirap makuha ang tamang combination ng asim, anghang at alat.  We ordered Sinigang na Baboy at Relyenong Bangus. Yung sinigang nila ay okay lang. It’s no Max’s Sinigang na Bangus Belly. Pero pwede na. Relyenong Bangus is a personal favorite kaya I have high expectations. The taste? Okay lang. I’ve had better. Pero pwede na rin naman.  For dessert – we ordered the regular Halo-halo. It was ok as well. Pwede na rin. All in all — it was an okay meal. A little to pricy but hey… need to pay for the ambiance right?  Verdict : Its definitely no Aristocrat or Barrio Fiesta — but it’s a good place to go if you want to feel the Filipino setting. There is still room for improvement para sa food (yung mga natikman namin). However – I will definitely go back. Gusto ko pang matikman ang mga native desserts nila like Bibingka at Puto Bumbong. Kailangan din na malasahan ang Palabok, Crispy Pata at Crispy Pork Binagoongan. I also want to see the place at night… para kasing ang sarap tumambay at makinig sa Pinoy Acoustic music habang umiinom – ng gulaman at sago!  I do think na dapat suportahan ito ng mga pinoy dito sa Singapore… otherwise balik GP na naman tayo. As for the management – please improve on the food.  Para balik-balikan talaga!

Super Auntie!

And the adventure of  Madame Auntie continues…..  Tulad ng sinabi ko sa previous Madame Auntie related blogs — hindi na muna ako bumubili ng beehon sa tindahan ni Aling Nena… este Madame Auntie.  There’s a place in the Bridge (overpass between DBS and SGX) which sells better tasting beehon. Yun nga lang – sasadyain ko pa sya. Pero – just to prove a point to Madame Auntie – dito na muna ako bumibili. I was feeling so good about myself for days dahil sa naiisahan ko si Madame Auntie. Hmp… tingnan ko lang kung mababasa pa nya ang aking isipan!

 Today – is another ordinary day.  Woke up late… late for work…. and extremely hungry .  I need my daily beehon dose. Pagkatapos kong ilapag ang akin mga gamit sa office…. punta na ako sa Bridge. As this is a popular place — lagi may pila… which I don’t mind at all. Nung ako na —- ngumiti sa akin si Bridge Auntie… sabay sabing.. Beehon? Packet? Luncheon Meat? I was taken aback….What???? Is that you Madame…..? No. It can’t be! Unless… Hmmm….. Habang pinaprocess nang aking utak ang information na ito – sinagot ko sya ng NO! No luncheon meat… change to Chicken Sausage.  Dali-dali akong nagbayad at umalis.

While walking…. Patuloy akong nag-iisip…. Talaga bang malakas ang memory ng mga taong nagtitinda ng beehon? Is that a requirement? Is this phenomenon true only to those selling beehon? Paano kung ang tinda mo ay siopao? Or Hookien Mee? Hmm… I believe there is a very logical explanation to all this…..  Tingin ko na misjudge ko si Madame Auntie. Posible na hindi lang sya Mind Reader… shape shifter din sya… at may alternate personality! Tama! That is the most logical explanation! Wow! Madame Auntie is more powerful than I initially thought!  Meron kaya siyang kakayahan to manipulate the space-time continuum? Or spontaneous regenerative ability? Aba… posible… lam nyo naman… Madame Auntie never ceases to surprise me……

Heroes in Singapore?

Naa-alala nyo pa ba si Madame Auntie? Yup.. the psychic bee-hon lady.  Well.. since Monday.. hindi ako bumili ng bee-hon sa kanila. Just to prove the I am not that predictable.. binago ko ang aking morning routine. Okay…fine… not much have changed…  sa iba lang ako bumili ng beehon. Pero… wala nang egg! O.. nagulat kayo no? Ang laking pagbababago nun. J Pinalitan ko ang egg ng kikiam.. well mukhang kikiam at lasang kikiam pero di ko alam kung ano ang tawag nila dun… So for 3 days hindi ko nakita si Madame Auntie. For sure namiss nya ako. Subalit… datapwat… but… this morning… sobra na akong late talaga. So wala nang time to go to the other store. No choice na talaga… so dun na lang ako bumili sa tindahan ni Madame Auntie.  Dahan-dahan — well.. mabilis… late na ako e…. na pumasok sa tindahan ni Madame Auntie… and to my surprise… wala si Madame Auntie! Aba! Swerte talaga… technically hindi ako kay Madame Auntie bibili. J 

 Hay.. so happy what!  Nung lumapit na ako sa beehon counter …. Biglang nagsalita ang medyo younger version ni Madame Auntie – beehon? Packet? 2 luncheon meat? Egg? No chili? What the f~@#~@#! -ang sigaw ko sa aking isipan.  Madame Auntie? Is that you? Kababalik nyo lang ba mula sa clinic ni Belo? O hindi lang kayo stress kaya fresh and youthful looking kayo? All this questions running in my head. Pero… all that I can say is – “no egg… change to this… sabay turo sa kikiam”.  Dali-dali akong nagbayad at umalis ng tindahan.  

Nung naglalakad na ako papunta sa opisina… I decided that my theory na psychic si Madame Auntie at young Madame Auntie is not that realistic.  Kasi kung psychic sila pareho.. sana hindi sila nagtitinda ng beehon di ba? Unless… sideline lang nila ang beehon. Hmm.. hindi pa rin… if I have that talent – magtatayo ako ng fortune telling whatchamacallit. Correct? So there must be another reason? And then .. sabi nga nila… it hit me like a ton of bricks.. yup… tingin ko ito nga ang tamang theory. It is so right.. na dapat hindi na theory ang itawag… a fact! Sina Madame Auntie and younger Madame Auntie ay mga “special” na nilalang. They have something in their genes which gives them special abilities. Yup… ang special ability nila ay ang magbasa ng isip. They are mind readers! I think they are the Chinese relatives of Matt Parkman or something. Hmm… pwede di ba? And… since they are special… then they are not safe from Sylar! Naku…. Ang sama pa naman ni Sylar… di bale sana kung yung tindang beehon lang nina Madame Auntie ang kakainin nya…but no… he will eat their brain! Pag nangyari yun…. he will be able to read mind… and speak Mandarin!

We cannot let that happen for  2 reasons. 1^st — tama na ang isang subtitle. Meron nang Japanese… hindi na kailangan dagdagan pa ng Chinese.  OA na yun. Hindi naman Benetton ad ang pinapanood ko. 2^nd reason — pag nawala sina Madame Auntie….. san na ako bibili ng beehon pag super late na ako? Saan? Sabihin nyo? Di ito dapat mangyari! Isip ako ng paraan to prevent this from happening. Hmm… asan kaya si Hiro? 

P.S. Nasa Episode 22 na pala ako! O…walang magkwento. Ang magkwento — tatadyakan ko!       

Madame Auntie

Everyday – papasok sa office.. I always pass by this cafeteria to buy breakfast. Kaya lang naman ako dito bumibili… kasi  along the way sya… so di ko na kailangan pang magdetour  just to buy breakfast. Anyway lumapit ako sa counter para mag-order…. Pero bago ko pa maibuka ang bibig ko… naunahan na ako magsalit ni Auntie. Sabi nya… “ Beehoon… packet… 1 egg… 2 luncheon meat… no Chili.”. Medyo taken aback ako.. kasi yun talaga ang oorderin ko. Aba… Madame Auring este Madame Auntie? Is that you? Bukod ba sa pagtitinda ng pansit ay psychic din kayo? …. Nang medyo mahimasmasan ako… sinabi ko na lang na “Yes”.  Habang pineprepare ni Auntie are order ko … she said… “You always eat the same thing everyday lah! That’s why I remember”. 

Ganun?…. napa-reflect tuloy ako ng wala sa oras…. Hmmmm…. In fairness… tama si Auntie… if my memory serves me right… mga 1 month ( minus a day or two….) na ito ang kinakain ko for breakfast. Aiyah…. Isang buwan and yet di ako nagsasawa? Am I that predictable? Or just plain lazy to even spare a moment para isipin kung ano kakainin for breakfast. 

Ano pa man dahilan… I formulated a plan…. Sa Lunes…. Instead of 2… 1 lang luncheon meat ang bibilhin ko… tingnan natin kung hindi magulat si Madame Auntie.     

Home for the Weekend – Day 3 and 4

Finally went home to Nueva Ecija on Day 3. Pero di muna kami dumiretso sa bahay. Nag-arkila ako ng sasakyan for a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Manaoag in Pangasinan. So – sinundo ako nung sasakyan sa Makati… me, my younger bro, 2 niece and Neil (Jade wasn’t able to come)  went to Pangasinan . 5:00 a.m ako sinundo sa hotel dahil coding yung sasakyan… Antok na antok nga ako hehehehe….. Off to Pangasinan… pero stop-over muna sa may North Expressway…. Syempre for Breakfast… at saan pa… sa Jollibee… hehehe… expected na yun hehehe……  After breakfast — off to Pangasinan na … Grabe. Ang layo pala ng Pangasinan from Manila hehehe…. Dumating kami  sa church ng 11:00 a.m.  – just in time for the mass. We heard Mass…… nagpasalamat…. humiling….. nagsindi ng kandila  for the departed….  Wala lang… the Our Lady of Manaoag is special to me… tuwing nagpupunta kasi ako dito… at humihiling…it is always granted. Sabi ko nga… I should make it a point to come kahit once a year lang… a personal pilgrimage ba. Its the least I can do for all the blessings that has been given to me. 

Afterwards… we head home na… Cabiao Nueva Ecija…… finally… hehehe….. pero bago uwi.. dumaan muna kami sa N.E. Pacific Mall. Bumili lang ng mga bagay-bagay na dadalhin ko pabalik sa Singapore. Sayang din ang 20kg na limit kung hindi gagamitin hehehe….  We arrived home around 6:00 p.m. Had a nice dinner — and slept. Grabe. Kapagod.

 

Day 4 is very uneventful. Woke up around 8:00 a.m. … nag-impake… nagbreakfast  (Yum!!!! Longganisa, Tuyo, Gatas ng Kalabaw at Garlic rice!!!! I love breakfast talaga. For me it’s the beast meal of the day!) then nagprepare for take-off… este… leaving… 9:00 a.m. dumating na yung sasakyan… and travel na ulit kami pa-manila.  Check in ako around 2:00…. Then  sakay na ng PAL flight PR501. Balik na ako sa Singa-bore…este Singapore.

Arrived Singapore 6:20…. Back to reality na…. back to praning na buhay… but okay lang.. kailangan ulit kumita…. para makapagbakasyon ulit sa Pinas!  Hopefully — my next vacation will be longer…. And planned… para naman may time ako to meet old friends… dami ko nang utang sa kanila e….. J