SAN SEBASTIAN CATHEDRAL, BACOLOD CITY

SOME MORE RANDOM BACOLOD PHOTOS

DAGHANG SALAMAT!

I owe Jerome of Bridget Jones is a man and and I am her fame for my being able to get into my own blog. I accidentally delisted my own name and email from my members list. Whew! I owe you big time, gurl!

A W.T.F. MOMENT

I am irate.
I am foaming at the mouth.
I'm homicidal.
I'm suicidal.
I'm humiliated, debased, degraded.

And not only that,
I feel like throwing up
to be living my middle years in a country of this nature.

I am nauseated.

I spit in the face of
Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban
and his cohorts in the Supreme Court."

- Maid Miriam upon finding out that she wasn't part of the list JBC submitted to the President

A SUNDAY LIKE NO OTHER

My day started at 7AM yesterday. Went to the office to meet the rest of the storytellers group and we left for Don Bosco Makati by 11.30. We were met by a deluge of children and adults. It was only in DBM did we find out that it was the Archdiocese of Manila, through CARITAS, who was sponsoring the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Day.

We managed to find our group and the gang did their thing despite the noise coming from the main stage (there were satellite sites for other events like storytelling, free hair cuts, coloring, etc). Anyway, the children were mostly deaf or with Down Syndrome. There were caregivers and guides and interpreters to help the team translate the stories to the kids.

I must admit it was a shock to see so many kids with disabilities, some of which were obviously very preventable. Neural tube defects can be prevented with folic acid during pregnancy yet we still see so many cases of cleft palates, harelips, hydrocephalus, etc. A case of miseducation. Or a lack of it.

Children with disabilities require twice the attention (and the patience) given normal children so I wonder how parents, already saddled with work, keep their sanity intact.

I left for Intramuros to catch the 27th Annual Grand Marian Procession of the Confradia de la Immaculada Concepcion. It was a grand sight but a bit misplaced. The objectives, I mean. It wasn't a procession for the faithful. It was a parade of beauties! What the hermano and hermana lacked were score cards and the picture would have been completed.

The hierarchy should look into refocusing the objectives of this exercise. Besides, I wonder if the Virgin - poor and humble from birth to death - would have enjoyed being fitted with such gems and brocade.

Soaked from the heat and the thick throng of onlookers, I left Intramuros for Malate to have dinner with the Borjas and attend the 8PM Mass. Then went to work.

This morning, there was this wonderful sunrise (see topmost photo) that I couldn't resist taking a photo of. I hope this is a sign that the week will turn out smoothly. I wish the same for you, readers.

Cheers!

Photos of the Grand Marian Processions will be posted in SUPERPASYAL soon.

WHY DO I DO IT?

One venue. Two women. 72 hours of keeping awake thinking and planning for their weddings. That was my life these past two weeks. This plus my regular job. Why am I killing myself for this? Because I would be sorry I didn't do enough when I know I can.

This is a reminder to people out there: Do not let your hobby take over your life. Just do it for fun. Be good at it. Earn from it, if need be, but don't let it kill you. For the meantime, I have a sleep session to catch.

More photos to be posted soon at Dylan's Vatel Manila.

COMING SOON

Coming soon to terrorize you.

COMFORT ZONE

Some photos of home in Las Piñas.

SLEEP IS ALL I NEED

A Banana Yoshimoto provides the perfect resting place for my paper weight.

NOT IF I COULD HELP IT

I have added Yellow Cab pizza to my Not-in-another-year Food List. Terribly oily and salty. It joins Cinnabon and all kinds of doughnuts. Oh, wait. Krispy Kreme opens on November 30. I am not excited but congratulations is in order to the Max's Chicken chain for winning the rights to open shop in the Philippines.

I WANT TO FLY AWAY, FLY AWAY

I've been having the longest non-sleeping days lately, the first time since medical school. Heavy workloads plus events I have to take care of. There's been evil talk going around that I've started to look like a panda bear because of the dark rings around my eyes. Maybe I should start nibbling on bamboo to complete the picture. I wonder if Jher met some during his recent sojourn to Mongolia and China.

All my week days are full now. Work schedule has shifted back to graveyard for the next three weeks. As I write this, I am trying to imagine how the wedding I am designing for tomorrow is going to look like. After that, another one on December 8 and 19 ( I think).

Last night, I saw Casino Royale with BC. C.R., Ian Fleming's first novel on 007 written in 1953, comes alive once more in the person of Daniel Craig (Mom thinks he isn't Bond material because he looks German) and boy, oh boy! This film was breathtaking - the chases and stunts were truly awesome! It helps, of course, that camera work was just as good. I have trouble dealing with the banter between Craig and the beautiful Eva Green, however. It sounds very, how does one say it? Tortured. It was like a mere mouthing of lines and sadly, they can be funny if delivered well. Bond here, of course, hasn't yet acquired the savvy and finesse his subsequent characters will personify. I miss the Eva Green of The Dreamers (2003; she played the role of Isabelle).

For those who haven't read the book (like me), now I know the reason behind his mistrust for women. Craig's Bond is very human - he is able to make mistakes (and admit to them!), get hurt, sport scratches on his face, get dirtied and bloodied. I can't wait for the next film, if there will be one.

BULAD = TUYO

Bulad is Visayan for dried fish. It comes from the word, uhm, "bulad" or "ibulad" which means to dry in the sun. In Tagalog, it is called tuyo from the the word, uhm, "tuyo" which simply means dry. See the difference in context? :-)

BOB'S, BACOLOD

Napoleones. Delightful flaky pastry. Perfect with tea.

Pavlova. To kill or to die for?





I went all the day to Bacolod to eat a burger? Bob's Giant Cheeseburger (Php 80)





Ropa vieja. Shredded beef on moist rice (Php 120)

TAGAYTAY, 2006

This is my only 3rd time to visit Tagaytay. Yeah, in 31 years.

At Sanctuario. The de regiuer shot.

Seared salmon and greens.

Tomatoes sun-ripened to perfection.

Tawilis. Said to be found only in the lake surrounding Taal Volcano.

Special thanks to the Borjas, most especially to Ate Gigi and Stephen for the tour of this beautiful city! May God bless you and your family.