December

The last month of the year 2013 was spent without any travel to far away place. My officemates and I had planned to spend Christmas eve in Pangasinan but it did not push through. And we had planned to spend our first Christmas eve away from our families and in an island where we would camp and cook our own food.

December is one month I dread the most. I always get depressed on the last few days of November which usually lasts until the early part of January. I dread my birthday. I dread Christmas. I dread New Year's Eve. Maybe it's because my mind always withdraws back to the past, waxing nostalgic about my childhood, my highschool life (which I considered the happiest phase of my life because of my innocence and naiveté), my fall-after-enlightenment in college, my turbulent post-college years... The last days of November would always urge me to open my diaries, where I recorded most of my teenage years. It's both amazing and weird at the same time how I was able to write that much back then and how I even had the time to record SMS to me by people who mattered a lot then. And I am thankful that the younger me was that addicted to keep memories for posterity's sake so it's easier to see where I went wrong in some aspects of my life.

December 2013's important highlights:
1. Lots of food trips but the ones I enjoyed most were the ones with my highschool friends and the one with my ex-officemates. I'm glad to be reconnecting with those people. It's very seldom when I meet people whom I truly care for. (Being nice to everyone doesn't mean I truly care for everyone.)

2. I won a scholarship to a learning institution and might be studying again anytime soon but there are no definite plans yet.

3. Attended Handel's "Messiah": A Christmas Concert at UP Theater and was treated to a night full of wonderful music. I especially loved the UP Madrigal Singers for their extraordinary skills in mimicking animal sounds. Really wow! (On the downside, I was reminded of how I was discouraged to continue my music lessons... I could have been a musician... Boo!)

4. Shopped for clothes. The last time I did so was in December of 2012. I very rarely shop unless needed. My wardrobe looks pitiful compared to my sisters'. Also, that day was another sisterly date. I just love eating out with my sisters (coz they're always the ones to foot the bill...)

5. First time to interact with the Heritage Conservation Society-Youth (HCS-Y). I found the people really knowledgeable and very friendly. I might consider volunteering more. The project was to tour students from UP Visayas who are currently staying in UP Diliman following the disasters in the region. We visited Fort Santiago, Manila Cathedral, San Agustin, Manila Collectibles, Casa Manila, and National Museum Art Gallery.

6. Disposed a lot of useless things from the shelves in our bedroom. Less trash, more useful space, which means, I can finally have space for my books. (Don't tell my sisters!!!)

September

I almost forgot to write about how I spent my September and so here goes.

Since I couldn't get over how Backyard Burgers' offering taste so good, I went back for a Truffle Burger and a Cheeseburger. Seeing Hot Hombre Burger (this one's got jalapeño) which cost only P155 on the menu, I bought one, too. Their burgers are just the juiciest burgers I've ever tasted, and this second time, I got to notice just how soft and how fresh the buns were.

cross section of Backyard Burgers cheeseburger

Experiencing something bad at the office did not prevent me from having fun. I don't wanna delve into the details but it sure did help to take some time off to be with myself and to enjoy my own company. The 16th Cine Europa was just the very thing I needed since it's been a long time since my last movie theater visit. Movies, accompanied by my other love--- FOOD! So I tried Secret Recipe's Japanese soba (P225) which is mildly flavored by Japanese soy sauce. I love the mushroom and the crisp cabbage lettuce. A serving is good enough for two so I had to take out what I couldn't finish. Also tried Pho Hoa's grilled chicken banh mi (P175) which I found very aromatic. The grilled chicken can send anyone instantly to paradise. Yummy! I still think the french bread in Vietnam better though.

More on food... My sister and I had a date at Nomama Artisanal Ramen where I had Thai green curry ramen with 2 chicken cutlets. The soup has coconut milk and it's got just the right spiciness, not too spicy like most Thai foods. My sister had Tantanmen and it's okay. We shared an order of mushroom gyoza which I found to be expensive at P140 for just 5 pieces, but it's got mushroom slices inside. To cap our dinner, we had Japanese croquettes stuffed with white cheese and with aioli sauce which was very sour. Fusion cuisine works here effectively but prices are expensive. Our bill showed almost P1,000! We also brought home some sylvannas, bought from a store across Nomama. Not too sweet and very nice. I will miss those treats.

A friend of mine met up near Ayala Museum on a Friday and I brought her to Mercato Central near Glorietta. It's a weekend food market like the one I went to in UP-Ayala Technohub last year and in BGC earlier this year. This time I brought a cup of fried crablets and a cup of small fried shrimps (2 X P50= P100) and shawarma rice (P100). For dessert I had a cup of Merry Moo's Sea Salt Caramel (P70). Also that day at lunch, an officemate and I went to Mitsuyado Sei-men in Jupiter St.. I had Yuzu Tsukemen and Japanese fried rice with 3 pcs gyoza. The tsukemen reminds me of breezy summer evenings, probably because of the citrusy taste (probably lime) and the cold tsukemen were QQ. (I'd LOVE to go back there to try other tsukemen.) For my snack the following day, I brought a matcha cronut at Yamato bakeshop. It's too expensive and while it's not sweet at all, it feels like eating bicho with green tea cream.

I'm happiest when I get to enjoy a play. This month, a friend and I went to see DUP's "The Duchess of Malfi". Lots of anachronistic elements and I was even shocked by a brief nudity, but the play as a whole was effective in its goal to portray how far man's greed can go. The ending was a tragedy but in between were witty and comedic lines bound to make the audience laugh out loud.

February 2013

February of this year seems to be my busiest month yet. I met up with friends a lot, went to Hong Kong and explored some areas there on my own, flew to Ho Chih Minh, and got physically more active compared to previous months.

I watched 4 out of 6 movies shown during the Spring Film Festival at EDSA Shangrila Mall. I even accompanied an old man who seemed to me to be lonely. I asked about his wife and he said they used to watch movies a lot. It's all different now because his wife has become sickly and weak and so he now watches alone. At first I felt creepy but then I thought of my grandmother, I thought of the many old people left behind by relatives, neglected by their own children, alone, wandering, reminiscing those sweet old days... I thought of maybe in the future I will be like one of them, an old solitary woman, unmarried, with no child, companionless. Maybe it's the last thought that prompted me to stick with this man for one night and be his companion. I talked to him about the old times. Too bad I am not a fan of Elvis Presley, as he seemed enthused of the popular star.

I watched The Life of Pi with a dear friend at a time when I needed to keep my mind off a certain someone. We both agreed that 3D would have been a whole lot better. After the movie, we pigged out on gelato. It had been months since I last ate ice cream. Gelato is still a better alternative.

And with the same friend, I watched DUP's "Collection", a brilliant satiric play by Floy Quintos attacking the hypocrisy, excessive greed, materialism, and vices of the present-day society. This, in contrast with the pure Hermana who was all for the poor and the needy. Of all the plays I've watched in UP so far, this one is the BEST!

More friendly dates with my girl friends kept me happy on days when I was feeling down. I'm happy to be able to hang out with them. They have this amazing power to make me forget about that guy who flirted a lot with me and with whom I got attached to and found hard to detach from. And at present I have accepted that I was nothing more than a game for him. To be fair, I couldn't think of "us" either but still welcomed his flirting with much gusto. To be honest though I "considered" him, but after everything that happened, I know better. In fact, I think I may be committing a grave error. In my diary dated February 6, I wrote, "Upon careful examination, I think maybe I'm just obsessed with love. Or maybe just experiencing a thirst for love.", which, I know, is not fair to the other person concerned. One day in February, I reread his messages to me while on the bus and felt my heart constrict. I realized that he's one of the very few guys who seemed so simple yet who took the risk of being sweet to me, despite me being intimidating and all. Before the month ended though, I finally have gotten over him.

A day before the Chinese New Year, I went to Chinatown and was greeted by LOTS of people. The place has become a tourist spot with all the festivities in the area, made even more lively by the ubiquitous dragon dances with the sound of gongs and drums and firecrackers complimenting the smell of sulfur. Add to that the widely used color combinations of gold and red, lucky colors for the Chinese. I was in no mood that day and was annoyed that Filipinos go there to document rather than to actually engage with the place and the people.

Also this month, I went to Corregidor on a bus tour. It wasn't at all the tour that I wanted. I was expecting lots of walking and hiking. Turned out to be just a boring bus tour. And so I resolved to myself to go back there and explore, as well as to spend the night at the beach. The tourist guide boasts of zero crime rate in the island. I wonder if it's true.

On the last day of February, I flew to Vietnam. Cebu Pacific still has the Valentine Promo. In addition to the two bagtags I won during my Hong Kong trip flights, I won a small netbook sleeve.

The Phantom of the Opera

Catchy songs, beautiful lyrics, fabulous costume, detailed props, wonderful actors and musicians... all these make up one grand performance. And one grand performance The Phantom of the Opera was.

Last Thursday was the first time in many years that I went to CCP with my dad. I was also accompanied by a friend and her friends. Despite being a bit unwell following my very slow recuperation from fever last week, I was still adamant and told myself that I WILL CERTAINLY NOT MISS The Phantom of the Opera for anything.

Such was my decision, especially after watching the 25th anniversary of the musical as performed in the Royal Albert Hall. After that I understood completely why the name of Andrew Lloyd Webber is famed. He is a musical genius!!!

Watching the musical live at CCP was surreal. I never was bored, not a minute of boredom. For some reason, watching it live was more engaging. For instance, I still can't get over the slight change in the script when the previous manager of Opera Populaire says he will be off to Boracay for his vacation. that surely elicited laughter from an appreciating audience.

Jonathan Roxmouth, who played the role of the Phantom, was brilliant. Without doubt he gave justice to the character he is portraying as one can very easily feel the Phantom's frustrations and anger. Also well-loved is Andrea Creighton who played the role of Carlotta. It's just so hard to hate this character who is both funny and a really really good singer. Also a fave is Cat Lane who played a minor role, that of Meg Giry. For some reason, I find this girl charming and lovable.

I have had the wonderful opportunity to ask questions to an usher during the intermission since we sat two rows from the stage. According to him, all the props, including the "statues" framing the stage and the beautiful curtains, are all owned by the production. Wow! All that effort! At that time, I understood what I really paid for and at the end of the performance, thought to myself that everything is so worth it. In fact, I was thinking of watching it all over again. Now if only I have the money, I'd certainly go back and relieve the experience. It was just so fantastic.

Also, because I was so impressed by the orchestra who beautifully played the music, I asked a bit about the group. The usher told me that included in the orchestra are some members of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO). Wow! Right then and there, I vowed to myself to really really support our local musicians and also to get exposed to local plays. (I frequent Dulaang UP's plays since UP is accessible.)