it’s bliss

Red Ribbon’s Chocolate Mousse and Ube Cake are THE BEST of their kind.

It’s a bold claim, I know. But I dare to say it, ‘cause I’ve never tasted any other Chocolate Mousse or Ube Cake that has topped it.

And even I myself am shocked at my statement, for isn’t it odd that the best cake out there is not produced by some obscure, hard-to-find, non-mainstream bakeshop?

Hindi ba kadalasan ang mga pinakamasasarap na pagkain ay mahirap abutin—mahal, o mahirap puntahan—dahil produkto sila ng isang tao na mahilig lang magluto; na hindi entrepreneur, at hindi kailanman inasam na yumaman sa kanyang kadalubhasan dahil isa lamang itong matinding pagkahilig sa pagluluto, at wala ng iba pa?

So that led me to wonder how I can admit to saying that Red Ribbon, a fast-food, massive, industrialized bakeshop, can come up with the best cakes out there. How is it possible?

It’s by Red Ribbon having come from humble beginnings, as an obscure bakeshop with (apparently) great taste, that opened our eyes to such wonderful cake flavors. And therein lies the differentiating factor: Apart from having the knack to come up with great-tasting products, you also have to be the first to offer them in the market.

I grew up eating two of these great cakes from Red Ribbon. They were the first of their kind that I tasted, and set my personal benchmark for what Chocolate Mousse and Ube Cake should taste like.

Similar progressions have resulted from the following, among others:

• our Lola’s home cookings (ever feel like no other adobo or caldereta is better than her recipes?);
• the Magnolia Ice Cream Pinipig Crunch (original version, please!);
• the slim, salty, and perfectly-fried French Fries at McDonald’s;
• the cheese and bacon baked potato at Wendy’s;
• the Frapuccino at Starbucks (which has become our common term for blended ice drinks across all coffee chains).

So to food service businesses out there: Try. Experiment. Innovate. Be the first.

Who knows? If it’s good enough–even if it’s not the most authentic recipe–it might land on our taste buds just perfectly. And you’ll be the best in our books.

does anyone want boobs?

does anyone want those big, round mushes resting peacefully over their shoulder, or their back, at no cost nor shame to be dispensed? does anyone want to feel their warmth rubbing from left to right to left to right of your own, virgin skin? does anyone want to touch them? caress them to your heart’s desire? experience them without having to exert any effort in inviting them to your personal space?

join me in the mrt and bear witness to these fearless, shameless, or probably just plain numb women who offer their breasts for the world to feel.

disclaimer: I realize that these occurrences may be a function of the cramped space, but there are instances when squeezing between individuals is totally unnecessary, and this is the source of my bewilderment and repulsion.

friends! strangers!

we have new goodies at the chocolate kiss cafe. i can personally attest an addiction to the halo-halo and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies (which i grew up stealing from our kitchen, hehehe).

fruit shakes = love, too! bagay na bagay ngayong summer. the adobo and tuna rolls were experimented for the whole 1st quarter of 2006 (medyo nagsawa na tuloy ako) pero panalo din! best for take out para ma-toast mo sa bahay or sa office before eating

what else…

that’s what’s on the top of my mind, so for more details (and mouth-watering pics), click on this link.

A story to think about and share before the elections…

While walking down the street one day a Philippine senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we’re not sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in," says the senator.

"Well, I’d like to, but I have orders from the higher ups. What we’ll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."

"Really, I’ve made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the senator.

"I’m sorry, but we have our rules."

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.

They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who is having a good time dancing and telling jokes.

They are all having such a good time that before the senator realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises…

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens in heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him, "Now it’s time to visit heaven."

So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

"Well, then, you’ve spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."

The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell."

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

Now the doors of the elevator open and he’s in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulders.

"I don’t understand," stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there’s just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"

The devil smiles at him and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning …Today, you voted."

————-

a call out to my talented friends. pwede niyo bang i-translate ito sa tagalog at ipakalat sa masa?? let’s go!

…if there’s anything wrong with it, that is.

• I fly to Iloilo for the weekend for a climbing competition.
• I see old friends, climb wonderful routes, and get a healthy (versus overloaded) dose of sun.
• We attend the comp socials Sunday night. I drink 3 bottles of beer and eat a mound of fresh oysters dipped in toyo-garlic-onion-chili sauce (HEAVENNNNNNnnnnn).
• I listen to live music, singalong to songs, and catch up with friends.
• I sleep soundly.
• Thanks to the half day leave on work, I get out of bed around 7am Monday morning, getting 7 hours of sleep.
• I feel refreshed.
• We fly back to Manila and get to the office past 1pm. I do my timesheets, check and reply to emails.
• I treated myself to a McDonald’s lunch.
• I realize that it’s half past April, and that I have a series of tasks to fulfill for quarterly reports.
• I catch myself smiling, getting excited at the thought of having things to do the coming weeks.
• I start reviewing and revising task checklists I am eager to start the week right.

i think there’s something weird about this list, but a different perspective always helps.

this is me talking to the world and to myself, all at the same time:

just a word of caution:

i’m being proactive. i am not staying still.

i’m flying to iloilo tomorrow. to compete, yes. though how i wish it was really "to take lonnnng break and not got back to the real world". but the real world isn’t that sucky. at least there are ways out. which leads to new ways in–until such point that you want out again.

is it really this vicious a cycle?

i’m not counting on it. i’m still hoping for the best. life can’t be all happiness and good fortunes. i gotta struggle sometimes. god is only fair.

if i hurt anyone by my decisions, it is totally unintentional. my apologies. my life must go on, and so must yours.

i hate the over usage, but ‘it’s all for the best’.

walking down ayala feels different nowadays.

physically, the weather is much warmer. but even more, i feel i’m not going to be walking down this road forever.

and it makes me appreciate it more.

walking for twenty minutes to paseo de roxas from ayala mrt station. it’s an equal mix of warm and cool. balanced. just the way i like it.

i’ve always loved getting hit by the sun when i’m not sheltered by building shadows or tree canopies. then there’s the breeze; thanks again, to the remaining narrow spaces where the air can pass through.

i’ve mastered the rhythm of the stoplight such that i know when to pick up/slow down my pace so that i don’t end up waiting on the sidewalk before crossing the street (and inhaling car exhausts while at it).

and my favorite: the small patch of green and fresh air in ayala triangle. a tiny area, i know, but for me, it’s a kind of rest and refuge from the hustle and bustle of toxic city living.

i remember days when i furiously jotted down lyrics as i heard a favorite song play on the radio. or when i had to stand by the whole afternoon, wait for it to be played, and record it on a cassette tape, just to understand what the heck the singer was saying, and try to make sense of the phrases.

mababaw ito, pero salamat talaga sa internet at napakadali ng makakuha ng kumpletong lyrics kagaya ng kantang ito. let’s singalong now!

i think of you as i listen to this. you know who you are.

"You’re My Flame"
Zero 7
The Garden

You take a stroll into the morning sun
You make a Happy Meal a portion for one

You steal the wallet of a man with a gun
You make this seem like a whole lot of fun
Yeah you do

You’ll make new shapes with your hands on a wall
You’re driving a nail while you’re taking a call
You wouldn’t care if you had nothing at all
Instead of chasing the dream
You’re just chasing a ball
Yeah you are

You’re just dodging all the friendly fire
You’re never dressed in the right attire
You miss the start of every game
You’re my flame

You make hay when the sun don’t shine
You don’t need a dollar, you don’t need a dime
You burn at both ends yet still you’re fine
You’re my flame

Teach me to haggle
I’ll teach you to swim
Get right back on the saddle
Push me on a swing

Take me to Rio
I’ll take you to Berlin
I’ll give you some yarn
And you’ll give it some spin
Yes you will

Now you’re sitting sure, yes, in an old tree
You’ve tied our legs, and so now we have three
You dip your toes into the ice cold sea
I see your reflection, your reflection is me
Yes I am

You’re just dodging all the friendly fire
You’re never dressed in the right attire
You miss the start of every game
You’re my flame

You make hay when the sun don’t shine
You don’t need a dollar, you don’t need a dime
You burn at both ends yet still you’re fine
You’re my flame

You’re my flame
You’re my flame
You’re my flame

You’re my flame
You’re my flame
You’re my flame

the conversation drifted towards celphone purchases, and a friend jokingly complains that he will never have a reason to buy a new unit since his he could never get rid of his old one. once, he left it in the mrt (slipped out of his shorts pocket). before he realized it, he was already off the northbound train in quezon avenue station. but as soon as he did, he dashed across the station bridge and waited for the train to make its return.

after the train traveled to the last station (north avenue) then back to quezon avenue, my friend enters the train to search, and alas, it was still there on the seat!

i was amazed. i was awestruck. IMAGINE THAT. no one stole it! and it’s not like his phone was some chupipay, uncolored, out-of-style, uncool "junk". it was one of those dirt-/dust-/shock-proof nokia models with a colored screen and everything.

it was a quick story but it stole made my insides to a quick backflip. all hope is not lost, i thought. there remains honest filipinos.

then, of course, another friend jumps in and says that’s impossible for people not to have stolen it. that it was mistaken for a bomb. kasi ganon nangyari sa lrt diba; may iniwan na celphone sa tren at ng may pumulot at pumindot nito, biglang sumabog. and he is certain that that’s the reason why no one picked up the phone.

…

it makes sense. i suppose a large majority have been incited with fear. but i’d rather place my bet on the contrary: that at least one, un-paranoid person saw the celphone, and decided to leave it be. crazy it may seem, but i want to believe that there is still some (if not heaps of) good left in us.

i thank god for [the occasional] light work load.

because it gives me more time to sleep;
more time spent actually conversing with my family (rather than just muttering hello’s and goodbye’s out of the daily morning and evening rush);
more time with catching up with my friends;
more time sharing more pleasant & less stressful [work-related] things to my boyfriend.

it also gives me more time to focus my energy on things i don’t normally do. it gives me the chance to feel less of a self-centered, naive, apathetic, middle-class girl which i feel i am 90% of the time. it incites a certain rebelliousness in me, enough to drive my fingers to click away to websites and scribble away thoughts, ideas, and plans of how to make some sort of impact to my society, right in the middle of "work hours". it is by this act i feel most effected, because it is exactly what i most seldom get a chance to do.
and when it is here, when i am caught up in the emotions of learning, dreaming, and aspiring, i cry for my inability to devote ALL of my time and effort to it. i feel weak,  worthless and genuinely selfish.

but moments later, after that painful truth has yet again hit me, i realize i am still thankful. because there exists people who are stronger than me, who can give their life to the cause. and they are there to eternally remind me that even if i am not strong enough, i can still help. i can still do something. and i can still make a difference.