So it was my birthday yesterday. Rather than spend another drunken evening (which I always find reason to regret the next day), I decided to spend a quiet day with Piglet instead. Actually my birthday celebration started a couple of days prior when Piglet and I had dinner at Nanbantei—this Yakitori place in Greenbelt. Despite my misgivings on the cost, I was pleasantly surprised that it was actually affordable. We ordered some Salmon Sashimi and a set meal with 21 sticks of assorted Yakitori. We both have big appetites but there were left-overs. Nothing went to waste though as I took them home and turned the bits and pieces into some fried rice the next day.

Anyway, back to my quiet birthday. Piglet actually had the day planned from morning to evening. Anyway, the day started with a hot breakfast at Kenny Roger’s. Huh, you say? Well, we always pass this billboard in the Makati underpass advertising breakfast at Kenny’s with free-flowing coffee. The ad always causes us to crave pancakes but we never found the time to go. So on my birthday we did it. I had oatmeal pancakes with bacon while Piglet had oatmeal pancakes with fresh fruits and cream. Not to be outdone, she also ordered extra bacon and some French toast. The verdict? Not GREAT but definitely good.

After a heavy meal, we went to Greenbelt church to pray and then she took me around the mall to get me her birthday gift. She got me two shirts since my wardrobe was seriously dwindling. She has impeccable taste so you can imagine that I love my gifts. Then we went back to the condo to loaf around a bit. It was then that she admitted that she wanted to take me to watch Transformers but that another option was for both of us to get massages. Now I’ve been waiting to watch Transformers but I was already planning to take her next week as part of this date I’ve been secretly putting together. Besides, we both needed massages to rub away all the stress we’ve accumulated at our day jobs. So I opted for a relaxing home massage…but before that…we needed to have lunch.

She surprised me by bringing me to Alba’s for their buffet lunch. I’ve been talking to her about the buffet a Alba’s and how much I miss it so I was practically jumping out of the cab when I realized where she was taking me. I’m crazy about the restaurant’s conchinillo and Alba’s didn’t disappoint. I must have gone back for five servings—I didn’t care about my cholesterol level anymore. I also had a little Paella (not so much to fill me up with carbs though as I wanted to attack the buffet table further), a lot of baked clams, a lot of chorizo, some callos…can’t remember everything I ate but it was all good.

We went home stuffed and I went on the Internet while she caught up on some much-needed sleep. After she woke up, we called in for massages. I then told her that I’ve already had too much fun and we can choose to stay in and watch DVDs for my remaining birthday. But she insisted that we go over to the newly-opened Trellis in Makati after the massage for a couple of beers.

Not one to say no to beer, we went over to Trellis (I’ve been dying to find out if their sisig is as good as it was reputed to be) and ordered some drinks. Unfortunately, I think my taste buds have been acclimatized to Metro Manila’s crunchy sisig. It was okay but I still prefer the sisig in local watering holes. Anyway…Piglet and I were just talking when she mentioned something about the smoking area. My eyes drifted towards the area and to my surprise, I saw Rosie, Mega and Daph walking in. Soon after, Kat D. walked in as well. It was Piglet’s birthday surprise for me!

It was the perfect thing to round off the day. Some booze, food and good conversation with my closest friends (Andy and Corinne went off on their South East Asia trip the day before just in case you were wondering where they were). We didn’t stay long because all of us had work the next day (and Piglet and I wanted to stay in a little *wink wink*), but over-all---one of the best birthdays of my life.

To everyone who greeted me, thank you. To my friends who came over for my small birthday surprise, thank you. And to Piglet who has once again made me happy on my special day, thank you.

I went on a Davao trip with friends last June 4 to 7. I start my new job tomorrow so it was a blessing that I'd be able to unwind with friends before I start the 1pm-10pm grind at SGS. Our itinerary was pretty awesome--Pearl Farm, Whitewater rafting, Zipline...needless to say, we were all pretty excited.

We stayed at this budget hostel called We R Inn (no kidding). They offered triple sharing rooms at around Php920 a night. This meant we'd only be shelling out less than 500 each per night. It was an awesome deal and we got free breakfast to boot. Tipid travelers eh. :)

On our first day, we just checked in our luggage and took off for a day tour of Pearl Farm. I've been hearing raves about this place so I was pretty excited to go. The verdict? Ok lang. I don't know if I was expecting too much but it wasn't as fantastic as I expected. It was a nice place for sure but it wasn't all-out Barney-how-I-met-your-mother-AWESOME. Still, the water was nice. The sand was great. We had fun throwing a disc around and swimming. The weather was really sunny and warm (which was strange because classes were being suspended in Manila at that time due to rain and flood). We also played a 10-minute game of 3-on-3 basketball (my team lost). The food wasn't too bad. Anyway, it still wasn't a bad way to spend the day. Sulit naman yung price of the Day Tour.

We had dinner that night at a seafood restaurant called Ah Fat Seafood Plaza. This is obviously a very popular place as it has two branches right beside each other. Parang Emerald Garden ang dating. We were starving so we ordered a lot--steamed shrimp, oyster cake, shanghai fried rice, garlic fried chicken, pancit canton, cold cuts (with my favorite jellyfish) and this crab dish. When the food arrived,we were surprised to see how big the servings were. We are all big eaters but in the end, left-overs were a-plenty. The best part? The bill was unbelievably low (as compared to Manila). We played a guessing game and my guess was more than double the actual bill.

The next day, we were off to our whitewater rafting trip at Davao river---the highlight of our trip. The fee included almost a full day of rafting--25 rapids--a simple packed lunch of Chicken Afritada (which none of us finished because we were all too excited too go rafting again), a shirt, CD with pictures and videos, as well as a zip line ride and GCs at a local restaurant. In case you're wondering, rafting is perfectly safe. Some in our group were non-swimmers but they still had the time of their lives.

On the very first rapid (I naturally volunteered to be in front for bragging rights plus feeling ko talaga magaling ako lumangoy eh), I was thrown off the raft. It was a good thing we were taught what to do in situations like these. Seriously--before we went to the rapids, we had to jump off the boat one by one and we had to learn how to lift people back in the boat. Still, I was caught by surprise since I was sucked under water and hit my hip on a rock (I have the nasty, ugly bruise to prove it). Surprisingly, I was still clutching the paddle because the guide kept saying that the paddle was our life. When I surfaced, thanks to my life vest, I was swept away by the current. But not before I had a few moments to bid my friends, "Bye...sulat kayo."

So my friends paddled to save me and I got lifted back in the boat. Although I was a strong swimmer, I was admittedly a little shaken up because I couldn't believe how strong the current was. Five minutes later, however, the guide asked us to jump off so we can go down the current without the raft. We hesitated a bit but Jack, our trust river guide and I-tim leader, grabbed one of my friends as he jumped off. Siempre..papatalo ba ako? I immediately jumped off the boat. Now that was the highlight for me. It was fun going downstream at a rapid pace without the help of the raft. To my surprise, even Leah (one of the non-swimmers in our group), jumped off the raft to join in the fun. So nawala takot ko at game na ulit.

Basta---this is definitely one of the best experiences in my life. Jack really gave us our money's worth. He'd tell us to HIGH FIVE (raise our paddles in the air) just when we'd hit a big rock just to up the fun factor. Another scary thing that happened to me--Jack asked us to go down again just for fun but to hold on to the grab line. Eh medyo mayabang nga ako sa swimming prowess ko. So I jumped and forgot about holding on to the line. I was surprised and disoriented to find myself under the raft. My initial instinct was to swim and go to the front of the boat (because of the current, sabay kami ng boat going downstream). But really, you can't swim (and you're not supposed to swim) sa rapids. After a while, medyo napraning ako kasi I couldn't find my way out plus I was running out of air. But I'm really comfortable in the water so I didn't panic. I decided to go sideways instead of trying to reach the front and I was able to ease myself out from under the boat (with my hands pushing off the underside of the raft). Siempre paglabas ko, my friends didn't even notice my predicament. So nagulat na lang sila nung kinwento ko. But I wasn't really too worried.

Highlights of the rapids -- Kiss the Wall (humapas kami sa wall..HIGH FIVE), Washing Machine and the Drop and Suck. Unfortunately for us, it hasn't rained so water level was low. Therefore, the rapids aren't as exciting as it could've been. Still, they were challenging enough for first-timers like us. All of us made a promise to go back to Davao in August when the water levels are higher. Either that or we're going to Chico River. :)

After whitewater rafting, we went to Zip City for the free Zipline ride. By then it was nightfall (since we stopped over to eat) and that was when I realized that I had a morbid fear of heights. Kung anong yabang ko sa tubig--yun ang kaduwagan ko sa heights. When we reached the top of the tower, I suddenly felt the blood drain off my face and I clutched the metal handrail for dear life. Still pride na lang di ba? So I went through with it and yes, I had fun.

We invited our river guide to join us for a drink at Chilly Chill (a hang-out for locals near Bak Bak) and we met up with him and other river guides there. They serve Below Zero beer at that place for 30 pesos (seriously...30 pesos). That place also had the best Crispy Tenga (85 pesos) I've ever tasted and the Crispy Barbecue was 6 pesos a stick. Rosie and Leah ordered pitchers of mixed drinks (Daiquiri and Margarita) for 200 pesos each. We drank and ate all night and once again, we were pleasantly surprised when the bill arrived.

The next day (our last day), we went over to try the Speed Zip Line called the Xcelerator. I was a little worried because I almost choked doing our night zipline. In other words--naduduwag ako. When we were asked if we were doing the Sitting Position Zip or the Superman Zip, all of my companions opted for the Superman Zip. Sabi ko nga, pride na lang. So despite my fear, I decided to do the Superman Zip.

To get there, we had to hike for 10 minutes or so uphill. Now, I'm ridiculously out of shape so it was very difficult for me. I kept apologizing because my pace was very slow. Leah, however, kept me company (I think she felt sorry for me) so everyone else could hike ahead. When we arrived at the peak, I was pleasantly surprised to discover I wasn't scared at all. It was a really nice ride with a really great view. Very comfortable--not scary at all.

After our ride, we decided to have lunch at Luz Kinilaw. Foodies are saying this is a must-visit at Davao so it was only fitting that we have our last Davao meal there. Don't expect anything fancy...but the food was great (and cheap). Imagine a LARGE Tuna Belly (trust me when I say LARGE, our party of six couldn't finish it) for 300 pesos. Then of course, I had to order Inihaw na Bihod (Tuna Roe) for 120 pesos. Daph ordered Tuna Esophagus (I think they called it Bagaybay) and we all loved it. It tasted like a better version of Squid. We also tried their Kinilaw and Inihaw na Manok. Everything was good and everything was priced to reasonably. To cap off the meal, we went next door to buy fresh durian. Leah, Maan, Mega and Rosie have never tried fresh durian (kami naman ni Daph sabik sa durian hahaha) but they all tasted the fruit. At eto pa--nagustuhan nila!!!

After that, it was time to go home. Our Cebu Pacific flight was delayed for over two hours but a small price to pay for all the fun we had. Tomorrow I start my new job utterly refreshed and raring to go.

By the way, the people in Davao were very nice---too nice even. All of a sudden, it is on my list of places in the Philippines I would consider retiring in.

We're having Fwiidom Night II at FriiSpirit, the only Wii Lounge located at Katipunan.
And since we're so nice, we're holding a Rockband competition and we're giving away Php15,000++!!!

First place will get Php15,000 + Php5,000 FriiSpirit Gift Certificaties.
Second Place with get Php5,000 FriiSpirit Gift Certificates.

Bands will be judged according to:

Game Score, Rockstar Image and Audience Impact.

This means -- if you can't play, DISPLAY!

As a special treat, we're going to have celebrity judges! Kitchie Nadal, Savannah Lumen and Corinne Ching will be judging this awesome event.

By the way, we're serving free food and drinks at the party so if you're not playing, go anyway!

If you're interested, call or text me at 0929-6986738 or visit http://friispirit.blogspot.com/ for more details!

Now it can be told.

I had a horrible experience during my vacation a couple of months in Puerto Princesa. The incident aggravated me so much that I wrote an incident report to the Palawan Tourism Board. After several months (and several follow-ups), the management of the Inn has finally apologized.

I'll let the series of e-mails tell the story:


= = =
My Incident Report:

Hello Jeanny,

I don't know if there is a formal template for this, but if need be, I would be more than willing to go to your office to sign.

This is my formal complaint and incident report against the management of De Loro Inn & Restaurant.

First, let me begin by saying that I visited Puerto Princesa last Friday to Monday. I left Manila via Cebu Pacific on January 30, 2009 and left Puerto Princesa via Cebu Pacific again yesterday, February 2.

Upon arrival at Puerto Princesa, I proceeded to Sabang by jeep. Upon my arrival at around 3pm, I went to Bambua Nature Park but was disappointed to find out that the owner downgraded my reservation without prior notice. I reminded them that I reserved a cottage and that I received a confirmation for the cottage. I wouldn't have minded much except the room they were giving me didn't have its own bathroom. Since I was uncomfortable with this idea, I decided to move. To make up for the error, they gave us a ride to Sabang beach where with much difficulty, we were able to procure a reservation at a different inn.

My complaint, however, is not against Bambua. Despite their error, I don't think there was anything malicious about what they did. I honestly think it was a simple case of over-booking. And although it was upsetting, it was something I could understand.

Because of the error Bambua made (where we were initially booked for two nights), we decided to leave Sabang early. After visiting the underground river, we took the first jeep the next day back to Puerto Princesa. Because I was worried about finding a place at such short notice, I decided to call a few inns. I had a reservation for the Lotus Garden the next day but since we were leaving early unexpectedly, I needed a place to stay in for one night. Since our tricycle driver (Nonoy who can be contacted at 0909-757-8359) gave us a brochure of the De Loro Inn & Restaurant, I decided to place a phone call to check if they had a room available.

I called the inn at 2:05PM. A friendly reservation officer answered the call and when I asked if there was a room available, they eagerly told me yes. They then confirmed my reservation of a Standard Aircon room for Php1,200.00.

When I arrived at the De Loro Inn with my companion, we were welcomed with open arms by the staff. I noticed that a woman was observing the on-goings but thought nothing of it. At the back of my head, I figured she was either the owner or the manager. I told them about my bad experience at Bambua and the staff sympathized. My companion then paid the Php1,200.00 and we were given the provisional receipt. We were then given the keys to our room. At that point, I asked if I could use the phone and call the Lotus Garden because I wanted to confirm our reservations the next day.

It was then that the woman suddenly turned to us and ask in a very brisk manner, "Ilang araw ba kayo?" (How long will you be staying?)

I immediately replied that we were staying overnight.

Upon hearing that, the woman started rebuking and shouting at her staff in front of us. Although I am not able to remember exactly what she said, she was shouting something like:

"Bakit niyo ito pinayagan? Bakit niyo tinanggap ito?! Last room na yan tapos kumuha pa kayo ng Overnight?! Narinig mo naman sbe nila di ba? Bukas sa Lotus sila. Eh di doon na sila sa Lotus ngayon!"

Surprised and trying to appease her, I said, "We're tourists. No one informed us and we don't know the rules. And you already accepted our money for an overnight stay. You could have explained to us over the phone that you don't accept overnight reservations instead of confirming it."

I was still trying to talk to her but she proceeded to turn her back at me (still shouting at her staff) and proceeded to walk away. I was stunned and embarrassed. I am a paying customer and I couldn't believe that I was being treated this way. I could still hear her shouting despite the fact that she was already in the other room. I asked one of the staff members if she was the owner. They told me that yes, she was.

The staff kept apologizing for the owner's behavior (but in hushed tones because they obviously felt they would be reprimanded further). My companion and I offered to leave because we realized we were no longer welcome despite the fact that we have confirmed reservations and we had already paid. The staff gratefully returned out money and they got our receipt again.

It was a good thing that I also made arrangements with Ellen's Tours for a Honda Bay tour on the phone ride from Sabang to Puerto Princesa. When we informed them that we had confirmed reservations at De Loro, they sent their staff to get the money we owe them for the tour. When we were leaving, the staff had just arrived. When we told them our sorry tale, they immediately sympathized and proceeded to drive us around Puerto Princesa where it took 3 hotels before we could find a vacancy. We ended up staying at the Badjao Inn right beside Kinabuch.

I am surprised and dismayed that the De Loro Inn & Restaurant management would treat us that way. According to their website, the De Loro Inn is a service-oriented company--I can assure you that with my horrible experience, this is not the case. We were castigated and maltreated when we did nothing but show up for a confirmed reservation. We had already paid and we were already given the keys to the room. If the owner just informed us nicely that they were mistaken and that they don't accept overnight stays, I would have been disappointed and upset BUT not angry. Or if the owner wanted to reprimand her staff, she should have done this in private and not made an obvious attempt to make us feel unwelcome. Instead, I ended up humiliated and aggrieved. Simply put, the treatment we received was not acceptable.

Puerto Princesa is supposed to be the most tourist friendly place in the Philippines. We were lucky enough to meet Mayor Hagedorn at the Bajao Seafront restaurant and he welcomed us with open arms. He showed the greatest hospitality even offering us free transportation around the city the next time we visit. In contrast, we were treated badly at De Loro Inn by a resort owner no less. A resort that treats its guests as badly as De Loro Inn has no place in a city that takes pride in its eco-tourism.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Cherrilyn D. Roces

= = =

Finally, Here is the Apology Letter that I waited months for:

Good Morning,
In behalf of the management & staff of De Loro Inn & Restaurant, i would like to ask for apology for what happened last January regarding your booking here. We are very sorry if you got offended by our mistake, and we understand your remorse. We just hope you could find a way to forgive us. We do not intend to portray a badly managed company, it's just that our Manager was having the worst day of her life that time.

Thank you and we hope for your forgiveness...


Mayah Palma
De Loro Inn & Restaurant

DELORO INN & RESTAURANT
PEO Road, Bancao-Bancao
Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
Philippines

I've been hearing a lot about the Dong Bei Dumplings restaurant in Yuchengco St. (formerly Nieva) thanks to the bloggers who joined the Binondo food tour. Since I don't have 1,000 pesos to spare to join the food tour, I just made a list of the places they visited with the intention of looking for these places myself. Easier said than done.

So last Sunday, I boarded the LRT and got off Carriedo. I walked over to Sta. Clara church and began the "easy" walk to Ongpin. Unfortunately, the summer heat made the walk almost unbearable and after a few minutes, I was also sweating buckets and feeling light-headed from dehydration.

Unfortunately for me, I was born without an inner compass and soon I was hopelessly lost. Too stubborn to take a pedicab (because I keep thinking it must be just a few meters away), I ended up asking for directions every five minutes. After a long walk. I stumbled onto Yuchengco St. and to my dismay, after I've walked the entire length of the street, Dong Bei Dumplings was nowhere to be found.

I was about to give up and I was prepared to go to that cafe on top of the Eng Bee Tin bakery instead (which is also a stop in the food tour, I hear) when I noticed that Yuchengco St. extends a little bit. I thought, "What the fuck, I am already here might as well see if it's there" and to my delight, there it was. This little hole-in-the-wall that promises some of the best dumplings in town.

So I went in, sat down and immediately ordered a set of 10 dumplings with chives and as an afterthough, some xia long pao. I also saw a can of Chinese herbal tea and I went for that too. The set of 10 cost 80 pesos. The xia long pao set cost 60 pesos for 4 pieces. The Chinese tea cost 35 pesos. Not bad at all.

After a short wait, the dumplings arrived. The first bite immediately brought back images of that dumpling stand that was located right below the China apartment I lived in. An old woman used to make those dumplings and they were good and filling. Not to mention that they were steaming hot--something always good when the temperature is below zero. I would definitely brave the long walk for these dumplings again.

The xia long pao wasn't the best I've tasted in Manila (Suzhou still wins for me) but it was definitely better than the scores of other xia long pao wannabes I've had (the worse so far was the one I bought at the Salcedo Market--but hey, the pork siomai there is pretty good). The xia long pao at Dong Bei was good and it tasted authentic...except, I'm definitely going for more of the dumplings next time. Especially since they have different varieties. **Mental note...I am getting the shrimp on my next visit.

I made a mental note of the other specialties they had that I needed to try the next time around. The stuffed pancakes are definitely next on my list (after the shrimp dumplings). In the meantime, I contented myself with buying frozen packs of chive dumplings and pork dumplings (100 pesos each for a pack of 14) to bring home.

Can't wait for my next Binondo food trip.

Yes, it’s been a year.
And after one year, I am still in love…or even more so.

Happy anniversary, Piglet.

I haven’t updated in ages, I know.
No excuses.
It’s just that 2008 was one hell of a year.
I mean it.
It was ONE HELL OF A YEAR.

From relationships that ended (and one that was resolved)…to the fact that I was somehow part of FOUR companies this year (from Chikka to Bizsum to Neuron Global to now NetBooster Asia…oops FIVE including FriiSpirit)…to living in three different places (from Sta. Mesa to Eastwood and now Makati)…I must say that despite the good things 2008 has given me (like meeting who I think is the love of my life), I am happy to see it go.

I have grand plans for 2009.

2009 is my year.

Live and love like there’s no tomorrow.
Each day can be the last.

No more regrets.

Piglet is back…and I couldn’t be happier.

Someone I consider my best friend told me I lacked self-confidence.
No, she doesn’t discount the fact that I’m an arrogant bastard. She just thinks that when it comes to relationships, I always end up selling myself short. Like I always feel that I am inadequate because I am unable to provide financial security and stability.

Something tells me…she’s right.

Now that the girlfriend is the States and I’m left on my own for a few weeks, I’ve been feeling a little down and depressed. It’s not that I miss her (although I certainly do), it’s just that without someone else to fuss over, listen to and take care of…I’m left with a lot of time to do a lot of thinking and that isn’t always good in my case.

So I try to keep myself busy. The demands of my day job and the store take up most of my time. If I find free hours, I usually just use it to stay at home, catch up on sleep or watch some DVDs. Andy tries to show that she hasn’t neglected me by showing up once in a while but I really want her to focus on her thing right now, so I try to give her some space.

I did play at the Filipino Poker Tour where I played safe poker. Unfortunately for me, some guy called my push with a measly K-9 (had it dominated with my K-J) and he ended up hitting a full house when a K hit the flop and two 9s showed up at the turn and river. I also sat down in the featured table where I basically folded every hand that was dealt to me. Definitely not good TV.

Another thing I’ve been doing is learning how to cook seafood. Some time ago, I believed I was allergic to any form of seafood, nuts and chicken. Lucky for me, that turned out to be psychosomatic (which is a fancy word that basically tells everyone I’m a little crazy), so I’m now whipping out garlic-butter prawns and toaster-oven fish fillets in my small kitchen.

That’s it for now. Just a small update to let everyone know I’m still alive. A little beaten and worse for wear but I’m still here. Give me a few days and I’ll be as good as new.

Almost six months after the fact...

You still leave me dazzled, frazzled...

And hopelessly, irrevocably in love

WALK THIS WAY: The Launch!

On Friday, September 12, 9pm-Onwards, FriiSpirit (the place to eat, drink and play Wii at Katipunan) launches the much awaited:

GUITAR HERO: AEROSMITH

Play, eat, drink and enjoy all for Free!

EXCLUSIVELY for Bloggers & FriiSpirit members. If you’re either of those, text 0929-6986738 to RSVP. Or better yet, become a member and join the fun!

No one is a stranger at FriiSpirit.

Featuring, special guest for the evening:

LUIS BENESA – Silver medalist for the 2008 WCG Guitar Hero Asian Championship!

Check out http://friispirit.blogspot.com for more details!

Come on, people! You’ve got to ROCK THIS WAY!

Last weekend, the girlfriend and I moved into the Makati studio (now known as the HoL). The biggest shock of my life was realizing that my life can fit into 3 boxes and 8 large plastic bags, mostly filled with boxes and clothes. Still, despite my lack of material possessions, I am blessed with people who love me. So I know I am actually wealthy beyond belief.

Anyway, moving is a lot of work and it is expensive. By the time we were done, the girlfriend and I were exhausted. When I mentioned I might consider moving again to a bigger place next year when I get the promised salary increase in June, the girlfriend winced and asked that we stay at the HoL indefinitely. I don’t blame her.

The convenience of living in Makati (particularly if you work in Makati like we do) makes up for the increase in my living expenses. I’m cooking again and I’ve even started bringing in packed lunches to work (something I was dead set against doing in the past). Of course, the moving expenses drained my bank account but the money saved in transportation expenses should help me back on track.

The HoL is small but it has its charm. After the first day, it really felt like home. In fact, it’s the first time that I’ve felt truly at home in years. The girlfriend and I are having a good time just hanging out and watching cable TV. On our first day, the girlfriend even went swimming in the roofdeck pool and ended up sporting the sexiest tan lines ever. I’ve checked out the gym and although I’ve definitely seen better, it was pretty well-equipped and should suit our needs just fine.

I haven’t invited people over yet because I’d like to buy a few more stuff before I formally open my door to guests. But for sure, I’ll be having some simple dinner parties soon—although due to the lack of space and furniture, expect small gatherings. Donations of beer and liquor would be most welcome during such events.

The girlfriend and I will take some pictures over the weekend. Until then!

= = =

On a different note, I love Google Chrome. It’s the first browser I’ve ever wanted to make love to.

I won!!

This article I wrote years ago when I was depressed over a dysfunctional relationship:
http://thefool.tabulas.com/2003/10/02/regrets/#1924252

Won me:

Two (2) Orchestra Center Tickets (P2,400 worth) to the Sept. 5, Friday Opening Night of West Side Story
and
One (1) P1,000 Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Gift Certificate

Thanks to Anton Diaz of http://www.ourawesomeplanet.com/ and of course, Mrs. OAP for choosing my story. :)

So last weekend, I went off to Sagada, leaving the girlfriend behind because she had other plans and she didn’t want me to cancel on my friends just because she couldn’t go. This weekend, we didn’t spend quality time together because she had to go off on some company thing.

Needless to say, I was looking forward to this weekend (even if it’s just Monday). There’s even a slight chance I’d be able to move in to the Makati condo on Sunday so I was giddy with excitement. I was thinking that the girlfriend and I could finally spend a quiet Sunday together (since it’s my one full day off), setting things in order at the new place.

So I was at my desk this morning, typing away, when my boss informed me that he needed me during a management meeting. I said yes thinking that it would probably take the rest of my afternoon so I’d have to work late (not something I mind). But he suddenly talked about leaving over the weekend and I suddenly felt my heart sink to the floor.

Don’t get me wrong. I love my job. People can attest that although I complain a lot about the stress and the sheer amount of work, I secretly love the pressure. But is it really too much to ask that I spend just one full day with the woman I love?

I've always wanted to go to Sagada. Finally, I got the chance to do it. Since the Kota trip didn't push through for a variety of reasons (my lack of funding, the girlfriend's overnight trip with friends, Justine's work, etc.), Andy decided to go to Sagada instead. Knowing the gf was going to be busy that weekend, I asked if I could come with. Danielle decided to go and it was set.

First, the 13-hour trip wreaked havoc on my 31-year old body. My back was aching and I was cramping all over. I slept like a log during the Manila to Baguio leg of the trip (thanks to the sleeping pills) but the Baguio to Sagada bus trip was simply a nightmare. It didn't help that there were problems at the shop and for a big part of the journey, we were sickened with guilt about deciding to go on vacation when there was a crucial event To make matters worse, my trusty old Nokia phone flaked on me as soon as we arrived in Sagada. I was the only one in the group with ZERO signal!!!! This freaked me out when I realized I couldn't text or call the girlfriend as often as I wanted to. In the end, I was forced to borrow Andy's phone to sneak in a few phone calls and some text messages throughout the trip.

When we arrived in Sagada, we were starving having subsisted on donuts the entire journey. Andy, having been to Sagada before, told us that Yogurt house was the best restaurant so we trudged over there. I made the mistake of ordering a chicken curry (forgetting that I'd be getting tough native chicken). Andy's eggplant pasta was good and Danielle's roasted eggplant sandwich was refreshing but forgettable. The yogurt with bananas, strawberries and granola made me forget my initial disappointment though.

Danielle hooked us up and we were staying at her friend's house. Well, Danielle did good. Ces and Brian's house was simply beautiful! A part of me was tempted to just stay indoors our entire Sagada stay and forget about communing with nature all together. So for our first day and night, that was what we did. We stayed by the fire, working on stuff for the shop and chatting the night away, drinking Generoso brandy Cokes. :)

The next day I woke up last and the two were nowhere to be found. I found them in the garden, lounging around on Andrea's sleeping mat, enjoying the weather and the view. We chatted a bit about life in general before deciding to cook up a meal with some stuff we bought at the Sagada market. Danielle made us a banana and rambutan fruit salad with brown sugar and brandy. Andy and I collaborated on a garlic and olive oil pasta with zucchini, fresh tomatoes and paprika. Andy also showed us how to make blanched fern (pako) with vinegar, onions and tomatoes. First time I’ve tried pako and it definitely won’t be the last.

In the afternoon, the three of us walked 2 kilometers back to town to go on a cave tour. Andy wanted to see the Big Falls but we were informed it was closed because of an accident (We later found out the depth of the tragedy and my sympathy and prayers goes to the family of the departed). Since my physical condition didn’t leave us much of a choice, I held the group back and we ended up choosing the easiest cave tour. The easiest?? Hahahaha. If this was the easiest, you won’t see me back in Sagada any time soon.

A Romanian girl and a Japanese-Canadian joined us for the caving adventure. We were soon chatting like old friends as we walked a few kilometers to the first cave. We went down a flight of stone steps to see coffins. Andy even saw a coffin that was cracked open and had a skull inside. Then the first stage of my nightmare happened. You need to understand. I am around 25 pounds overweight (I just hide it well hahaha) and the most strenuous activity I do is typing away at an astonishing speed. To make a long story short, hiking up that long flight of stairs proved to be too tasking for a body that has been subsisting on chicharon and cerveza for a good 10 years. By the time we got back up to the road, I was flat on my back by the side of the road telling the group they should go ahead because I was quitting. I told them I’d wait for them inside a bar in town, downing glass after glass of ice cold beer.

Andy kept asking me to reconsider but I was dizzy and tired. Soon, they gave up and went their way, leaving me a little red-faced and ashamed by the deterioration of my physical ability. I used to be an amazing athlete for gosh sakes! What the hell was wrong with me? I ended up talking to myself, going back and forth:

“Are you really quitting?”
“An ice cold bottle of beer is looking really good right now.”
“You’re 31 years old and you’re acting like you’re 70!”
“Whoever said that pain was good? That guy was a masochist. Pain means stop.”

Anyway…after a long deliberation, I decided to follow the group. In the end, I realized that fifteen to twenty years down the road, I would no longer be able to do all these things for real. I was only 31 years old. I really should act my age.

After I caught up with the group, the guide brought us down to the Sumaguing Cave. By this time I was feeling a new burst of confidence (thanks to my Kung Fu Panda-like come-back) and I even dared venture to say, “This isn’t too bad!” Famous last words, I tell you!

The trek down was slippery but I believe I held my own somewhat. Even when we encountered the part of the cave that was filled with bat droppings. A group before us looked bruised and battered and they informed us they all fell after seeing the ghost of a girl. There are a lot of ghost stories in Sagada and during my short stay, I ended up with spooky experiences of my own. I’ll be sure to share them in my next blog entry.

Anyway, by this time, I was getting a little winded and admittedly squeamish because you really have to use your hands a lot when climbing up and down rocks. So I kept ending up with a handful of bat shit.

Then we reached the underground river where we were instructed to remove our shoes. That was when I fell for the first time. I slipped on slippery rock and landed heavily on my butt. Fortunately for me, I was able to use my hands to break the fall somewhat. Unfortunately, I bruised my hands badly which affected the rest of the journey since I now had a harder time holding on to the rocks. I lost a little of my confidence and I admittedly started getting scared at this point. The fall shook me up and hurt me enough to make me realize this wasn’t a joke.

Upon wading in the ice-cold water, I automatically stubbed my toe and fell against some rough rock scraping my knuckles raw. Think slapstick comedy at this point. The rest of my cave tour resembled just that. I was drenched from head to foot and bleeding. I told Andy I was happy the girlfriend wasn’t present to witness such humiliation. Hey, humor is a turn-on.

It was tough. The rough rock was cutting up my city feet into pieces (my Tae Kwon Do days when I had calluses that could probably withstand flame and broken glass are long gone) and thanks to the cold water, I was soon cramping. My knees were shaking due to exhaustion and the only thing that kept me going was that it was too late to quit. Seriously. I had to climb back up anyway so I might as well just push on.

When we reached a rope where we had to rapel down, I balked and told Andy I was content to wait it out on top of the rock. As usual, my favorite cheerleader kept egging me on until I just did it with my terrible technique. I did slip and fall but thankfully, I was already a safe distance from the ground when it happened.

Yes, Sumaguing Cave is beautiful. The rocks had magnificent formations and I was in awe so many times. I snickered at the rock that resembled a vagina and marveled at the beauty of cavern after cavern.

It was a long climb back out of the cave. I fell so many times, bruising my knee and scraping layers of skin. I told the girlfriend this morning, “To get out of there, I had to use every part of my body --- my hands, my feet, my knees, my butt, my chin.” I wasn’t exaggerating.

I admit I was unable to climb up the rope. The guide instead offered himself as a staircase and I almost broke his neck. At one point, I was just too exhausted that the guide practically had to hoist me up at every difficult spot. You can be sure, I tipped him well. Andy kept telling me she was proud of me although I didn’t feel the same way. I wanted to berate myself for letting myself go and in the end, I was just more determined to get back in shape.

When we finally saw daylight, I felt myself cheering up a little. I succeeded even if it was an ugly victory and that was something to be happy about. I chose to do what was difficult and hard even if every molecule in my body was urging that I go for a beer instead.

I changed my mind. I will go back to Sagada. I’ll go through the entire trip again and even add the more difficult tours to my itinerary. But this time, I will be better.

We had dinner at Yogurt house again that night and the food tasted so much better. Danielle’s vegetable fried rice was simply brilliant and the sandwiches Andrea and I ordered sated our hungry stomachs. We washed down the good food with some hot mountain tea and we had a truly satisfying meal.

I wish I could say the walk back to the house was calm and uneventful but this is Sagada, a place so bizarre that even the disturbing adds to its mystique and splendor. That night, I personally believe, I could have lost my life…not in the dangers of the cave…but while I was sleeping in my bed.

But all that deserves another blog entry.

Until then.

Rough day at work yesterday…I was feeling tired and frustrated…Just way too many things to do…I really can’t complain…I know I’m blessed…When I got to the shop, I found out we had no kitchen staff…No time to think or relax…Just dove into kitchen duty…The girlfriend came over at around 11:30…brought some really good cake to feed the masses (a.k.a. my friends) because it will be our fourth “monthsary” on Sunday…yes, you can cringe now…being in love brings out the kabaduyan in me…Joined Andy and the gang in the private room to watch a movie…I was so tired that I fell asleep in her arms...the girlfriend’s arms…not Andy’s…The girlfriend went home at 2:30am…I washed dishes that were piled sky-high (gross exaggeration, of course) then I went home too…Looking forward to tomorrow…the monthsary…ang baduy…I know…but I’m loving being baduy…I missed the cheese factor…watching Batman and maybe have dinner after…I am Christian Bale or rather, I want to be Christian Bale…where to have dinner, maybe Mickey’s Deli? Or maybe somewhere in Eastwood…Really tired right now…Another good day at the shop…but just exhausted...There's a party at Jardine's...boohoo...stuck at the shop...i could follow but I'm really way too tired...don't even know if I can muster enough strength to go home...Lasalle trounced NU woohoo…that was brutal…Collapsing on a beanbag sounds like a good idea...MUST do so now.

You can chalk this up to stupidity but here is my attempt to warn others who might fall victim to this kind of scam.

A guy walked into our small office. He was well dressed in a long-sleeved shirt and slacks. He also spoke English well and he looked like a typical office worker. He had a box of perfume with him—Lacoste “Touch of Pink.” I ignored him at first but then he sprayed perfume on me and started going on and on about how Lacoste was doing a promotional thing and they were giving away Free perfume. My ears prickled at the word “Free” and I started paying attention.

The next thing I knew, my officemates started purchasing 50ml bottles of the perfume for 200php. I did say something like, “I thought it was free?” but the man ignored me. He seemed likeable enough, laughing along with our jokes. An officemate of mine bought three bottles. Most of the men bought bottles for their girlfriends. I bought a bottle for the girlfriend too.

He then asked which of us wanted Lacoste paper bags. Since most of us planned to give the bottles as a gift, we thought that was pretty cool. He then promised he’d be back in 5 minutes and he left the office. After he left, we started getting suspicious. Then the president of the company walked in and castigated us for falling for the guy’s tricks. That was when I found out that two of my officemates paid the guy without getting perfume in return. The guy told them he ran out and that he needed to go down to get some more.

I asked one of my officemates (who purchased the bottle for herself) to open her box. The moment the box was opened, we recognized the perfume as a fake. To add insult to injury, it smelled bad. As expected, the guy has disappeared by now. Although this sucked to the bunch of us who got fake merchandize, it sucked even more for the people who got absolutely nothing in return.

I don’t mind being stuck with fake perfume. Honestly, I was an idiot. I should have known it was too cheap. That was my fault. But this is a scam nonetheless. I wouldn’t have minded too much if the guy just sold us fake perfume, what disturbs me is that he ran off with the money of two officemates without giving them anything in return. I can live with the fake perfume and the lies that it was authentic. Outright theft is one thing.

So be warned. Anyone, and I do mean anyone, can fall for shit like this.

Andy set up a Baguio trip for the FriiSpirit peeps after she got tired of hearing us complain how tired we all were. Expenses were minimal and the company was great. Carol couldn’t go in the last minute and she was missed but we talked about her every single day so in the end, it was like she was almost there.

We had a blast on the way there…mainly because Andy brought a bottle of Jack and by the time we were half-way there, we’ve had enough Jack Cokes in our systems to shrug off the long car-ride (In case you were wondering, I did drink during this trip with the girlfriend’s permission).

It was a very laid-back trip. No one was in a hurry to go anywhere and everyone was just happy being away from the heat and grime of Manila. We stayed at Andrea’s house and it felt great sitting in front of a fire and having some good conversation away from the frantic demands of our jobs.

We did try to be tourists on the second day and we went to Minesview and happily parted with our change (maybe 40 pesos worth) by getting ourselves lured into paying for tourist traps such as “Have your pictures taken with our giant St. Bernard” and “Have your picture taken in an Igorot costume.” We also went to Camp John Hay to visit the Cemetery of Negativity at medyo kinareer namin ito.

It was hard going back to Manila. The girlfriend and I were dreading rejoining the rat race but some things can’t be helped. The only thing we could was to promise each other that we would have more of these moments to somehow alleviate the exhaustion and the stress.

Pictures are uploaded to my Multiply: http://croces.multiply.com