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.