07.09.09
THE GOING GETS TOUGH
Last time I was home, I was driving my car around buying some supplies and meeting friends for a day. It was pretty cool: from my hometown to Legazpi, there’s a very long stretch of scenic route and I’ve driven early and there was the haze of the morning dew and all, certain to be back in time when the sun is gonna set. At these times, the sun keeps everything warm and glow, including my heart. ^^.
I was actually thinking about poetic thoughts (e.g. mooning over how the volcano is shrouded in mist and marveling about the greens of the rice fields that span the sides of at least a league of a straight highway) I figured I was so fortunate to have been driving in such a fine day.
Way deep in the city, with the gathering traffic, I was in high spirits when I caught something red flashing in the dashboard. The car was overheating and I was traversing a busy street beside a shopping mall! I am not yet very confident with my driving skills and so you would understand how I was sweating profusely and growing nervous by the minute. Then the fucking car stopped dead before I was able to pull over. Horns started blaring and I was, like, thinking “Shit, what am I gonna do?” It was not unlike a gathering storm, lol. Lucky for me, two trike drivers were kind enough to lend me a hand.
I did not go near my car for about two to three days after the incident. Pathetic, eh? Bwahaha.
06.27.09
FOOD TV
This program in QTV called Secrets of the Masters invites the supposed leading chefs Manila has to offer. One should never let a chance to learn from the best pass, so I always find time to watch.
So far, no spectacular secret has been revealed by the “masters” lol. Some chefs there do the basics (stuffs that noobs would know like the back of their hand na); some seemed to like the sound of their voices, and so forth. The only remarkable episode that I was able to catch was probably the one by Chef Jessie Sincioco and the episode this morning with Margarita Fores of Cibo renown.
I am particularly amused by the Fores episode. One, because it was insightful. The chef knows her Italian and certainly demonstrated why her Cibo is well-loved. ^^ Second, the amusement came from the host – Izzy (or was it Issa?) Litton. She was offered the finished food for the routinary tasting and was about to launch her food critique with this spiel: “Okay, I would be having first-hand taste…”
Eh? Ano daw?
Medyo naguluhan ako sa phrase na ito. First-hand taste sa pagkain? Parang the context went awry a. Meron din bang second-hand taste ito? Waa.
06.20.09
THUMBS UP
Yesterday I went to the NBI office in Carriedo to get my clearance. I was actually bracing myself for the much-maligned bureaucratic queue that government offices are notorious for. Back when people have to get their clearance in Taft and I used to pass that way, I could always see the teeming masses camped there as early as 5. So you could just understand why this is the first time in my entire life that I would be applying for an NBI clearance. Dunno how I was able to get away with it – not having a clearance – and work. Lol.
Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised that the process now takes so less time! My brother assured me that such was the case na for a considerable period of time. They have these “7 steps” to get you through. I went there Friday, so I don’t know if that’s peak or off-peak day. But I got my clearance after about 16 minutes or so. I could scarcely credit my senses.
Wow. That’s mighty good work, I think. ^^
06.08.09
MANDARIN WOK AND SOME CHICKEN TALK
I lost a bet yesterday so I had to pay for a meal we’ve had in Mandarin Wok in the Mall of Asia. Now this restaurant supposedly offer gourmet Chinese food, or something to that effect. But that’s not the reason why we came there instead of Don Henrico’s, which is just a stone’s throw away or the ritzier Azul which I want to go to. My friends were raving about a roasted chicken (The friggin chicken aroma was wafting all over the place) and I think the Chinese does this dish best.
I got the Mandarin Orange and their seafood rice. I could not remember how much I paid. What I do remember, however, is that for the price I shelled, I was mighty satisfied with the serving of the rice.
Now, their chicken was good, something different from the other chicken I’ve had before. This is mainly due to the skin. See, when you have a bite, there’s the proverbial crunch and then it crumbles! You will actually feel that. I have been racking my mind how the cooks there achieve that kind of effect. Anyway, I have no complaints except for the iced tea and the hard seat. Had the service been just a tad faster, I wouldn’t have whined about the latter ^^.
Now this brings me to another conclusion I made. I do like KFC chicken and I’ve been trying to figure out how their chickens are made and fried. As you probably know, KFC chicken are moist and the inner flesh is flavorful so I thought, they must be soaking it in brine. I tried this method already, and it seem to achieve its objective. lol. However, what I could not quite get was the outer part. I initially thought they were using a batter instead of dredging it (breading is out of the question). So, what…
Yeah, what the heck am I talking about, lol. The thing is I was not able to duplicate the feat via my taste buds alone. And since we could not eat chicken all the time, it is only sensible for the other attempts to be relegated in the future. 
Oh, by the way. One of my favorite chicken is the Cajun Chicken of Bigg’s Diner back at home. It’s delicious.
05.31.09
EXTRA
I finally got myself a Dell Latitude. I am not exactly pleased in regard to how it looks like, lol. My Ibook – which is like one and a half generation older when we talk about the specs and production – looks waaay better.
Also, I figured 14″ is not that much different to the 12″ I am used to. The 2″ difference turned out to be really significant and I think it’s way too big for me, especially that my other work is so mobile. I do like this Dell’s keyboard.
Anyway… I think it will serve its end (it has Core2Duo) and so it will do.
Meanwhile, I decided to take time off this weekend and play a bit. I have been so frustrated these past weeks and suddenly I just had this desire to make someone happy. Wah. I am not selfish in this kind of things. ^^ So, we watched a movie. Now, why did I forget the title?
I hope God would have mercy on this restless dude.
05.28.09
WALKING and so forth
Warning: A better part of this post wouldn’t make much sense to most, so this would probably qualify as a rant.
See, am absolutely dead beat these days – with the endless walking under the menacing heat and all. Been looking for a place where I can do my training and, as things are, the current circumstance is frustratingly dismal. WTF. There’s this thought gnawing at my brain telling me that things are so dangerously overrated with this caper I am in. I’ve had so much of this character-building exercises etc. etc., as a result, I am increasingly getting fidgety. I feel like I am wasting so much time!
Lest, peeps say this dude is way too impatient, it seems I would still keep walking, aight?
Anyway, today, been to 5-star Hotel # 1, 5-star Hotel #2, then Renaissance in Makati. In a three-way battle for first impressions, I’d say Renaissance won. Like, this is the place that would be interesting to work as an employee out of these three – that is, if I have a choice (unfortunately, I don’t have that luxury). The place is cozy and gives you a real welcoming feeling and so it’s kinda conducive for creative people. Besides, I think they don’t have this system in place that filters paying guests from non-paying guests, lol, unlike some, which appear so ridiculously impregnable.
05.22.09
SOCIAL DISTANCE T.T
P.I. has been spared with the A(H1N1) plague while other Asian countries had to deal with their share of the epidemic already. Not until last night, though. DOH have confirmed 1 case na! Wooo. A more detailed story could be read from the Inquirer. The carrier was said to be a 10-year old girl who arrived from the US. Poor soul.
It is recommended for people to observe proper hygiene and, uh, social distancing.
I am wondering —> if the virus is catching, then what happened to those peeps who were with the carrier in the plane. Are they at large already? Were they properly checked and quarantined or are they infecting people as we speak. Aaack. I was up and about yesterday, having excessive socializing in… Dang, where have I been?
the MRT… the mall… watched Angels and Demons…submitted resume for my OJT.
I hope I am not thoroughly screwed. Anyway, be sure to buy the flu medication (er, was that Tamiflu?), stay put, or… would a mask suit me?
Eh?
Meanwhile, be safe.
05.06.09
DEPTH
Kupal: Wow tsong, pansin ko lang a, medyo alang substance yata tong blog mo.
Dude: Oh? Pano mo naman nasabi?
Kupal: Alam mo na, parang nangangailangan ng depth pare.
Dude: Bakit nga? Tadyakan kita dyan e. Me pa depth-depth ka pang nalalaman.
Kupal: Inde kasi, puro na lang mga kababawan pinagsasasabi mo dito. Fine dining, gadget-gadget, blah, blah, pati mga isda isinusulat mo. Dami mong kaartehan parekoy. Ang gusto ko lang naman, e, makitang nagsusulat ka din ng may saysay.
Dude: Aba, ansakit mo naman magsalita. Aber, sabihin mo nga: Tulad ng?
Kupal: Politics, my man. Duh… sabagay ni hindi mo man lang yata napasadahan yung Republic ni Plato o kaya yung mga bio ni Solon, ano ha? Kaya di mo naaapreciate yung relevance.
Dude: Asus. E, sa ayaw ko ng mga ganyang topic. Ano gusto mo, gawan ko ng analysis kung bakit pink ang preferred color ni BF o kung ano pinaggagawa ng mga madre sa tabi ni Lozada. Alam mo ba yung konsepto ng feel-good theme ha?
Kupal: Kunwari ka pa, aminin mo na lang. Ala kang clue inde ba? Ikaw kasi dapat sumasama ka na ulit sa toma, at least naiinform ka sa mga current events. Sige na, shots tayo mamaya.
Dude: Ala kang pera, no?
Kupal: Tsk, lika na. Alang sasagot sa pulutan.
Dude: Ungas, tapos gagamitin mo blog ko.
