Turon ang solusyon...

Kung may bisitang banyaga at di alam ang ipapakain/ipapatikim, turon ang solusyon. Turong saging at ipakilala sya bilang simpleng "'Sorta banana spring roll. Sweet. For dessert."


Ngayong buwan ko lamang natutunan ito. May bisitang Singaporean, at isang kasama sa planta ang parang tiwalang-tiwalang umorder ng turon. Pagkatapos kumain, aba, gustung-gusto nila.

Sumunod naman ay mga Aleman. Aba, "fantastic" daw. "Thanks for the great lunch."

small point: kung ako mag-iinterbyu (job interview)...

... gusto kong makitang maglakad ang aplikante papunta sa kantin o papapasok ng planta. Hindi ko i-ha-hire pag mabagal maglakad. Malaki kasi ang probability na pag mabagal maglakad e inuuna ang porma, mabagal mag-isip, mas iniisip ang itsura nya kaysa trabaho, naapektuhan agad sa iniisip ng iba kaysa trabaho, isip masyado image, medyo tamad, medyo di pursigido, medyo teks ang inuuna, at/o medyo di makakarating sa paroroonan agad.

Pero syemps ang mahal ko ay exempted. Kasi ginawa nyang trademark talaga ang kembot. Naririnig naman sa boses at galaw ang kanyang determinasyon (taliwas sa kanyang lakad). Kasama na rin ang konsiderasyon na mas maliliit ang kanyang mag hakbang.

Exempted din ang mga buntis.

Renaldo Lapuz

I just want to write for posterity that I stayed up 'til 130am to watch pinoy Renaldo Lapuz in American Idol. Waited for him since seeing the advertisement of his pamperya arrival.

He sang his original composition "We're brother's forever..."

"I am your brother
Your best friend forever
Singing the songs The music that you like
We're brothers til the end of time
Together forever til the end of time
I am your brother
Your best friend forever Singing the songs The music that you like
We're brothers til the end of time Together or not, you're always in my heart
..."

Was it his plan to exhibit one of the perennial, "off-the-shelf," pinoy trait... sipsip and suck-up to Simon? Seems genuine though and Simon loves being sucked-up to.

I still maintain that William Hung and Renaldo should be paid premium for supplying entertainment. There was even this girl from a previous episode that they used as a perfect narrator to the ending montage.



And at the very least we look up to Renaldo for having the balls to arrive in a pamperya attire and do what we can't: speak in pure Filipino accent, sing the trademark inuman karaoke voice, hold back tears on tv (another pinoy-tv trademark), and become a youtube hit.

His name could be Reynaldo though. Idol staff could have stupidly missed the y.

Jollibee Hong Kong!

Sa aming palagay, kung ikaw ay pupunta sa Hong Kong para sa purong bakasyon, maiging isama sa itinerary ang pagpunta sa Jollibee Hong Kong. Dalawa na yata sila ngayon pero itong isa sa may Central Station ng MTR ang dapat bisitahin.

Shop Z4, G/B Eurotrade Center, 13-14 Connaught Rd. Central, Hong Kong

Maiging pumunta sa araw ng Linggo, dahil, ‘ika nga nila, you will catch a glimpse of OFW life on the side. Kung pano mag-adapt at magbuklod ang ating mga kabayan, maski isang araw lang nalibre mula sa pagkakayod nang isang linggo. Parang naging huntahan place ang Jollibee Hong Kong. Pag may hinahanap ka rin sigurong kahit sinong pinoy, na sigurado mong nakatira sa hong kong, dito maiging magtanong, parang katumbas ito ng Lucky Plaza sa Singapore.

Paano pumunta? Sumakay ng MTR. Bumaba ng Central Station, lumabas sa Exit B, at kumaliwa. Di ka lalayo, sa kaliwa mo pa rin, makikita ang ganitong eskinita. Bagamat may mga karatulang Chinese, para ka par ing ibinagsak sa isang eskinita sa Escolta or Carriedo.

Sinadya kaya na dito itayo ang Jollibag para talagang authentic ang feel at ang atmosphere? Para kang nasa Pinas talaga? Biruin mong pati ang mala-Caloocang mini-tambakan na basurahan, ang pagkadilim na parang nanakawan nang bumbilya ang poste, ang mismong sikip ala-eskinita,... mapapatanong ka talaga: Hong Kong pa ba ito? Parang hindi nga swak na magkaroon nang isang kainan dito.




Mauuna ang isang Little Quiapo Filipino Fast Food (mukhang hindi ito related sa sikat na Little Quiapo ng QC na may masarap na palabok at halo-halo)... tapos, susunod na ang isa sa simbolo ng ating bansa. Yahooo!



Sa labas pa lamang, nagkumpulan na ang mga kababayan natin. Nagtsitsismisan, nagpapalitan o nagbebentahan nang pirated DVD’s, may nagliligawan, may magkaholding hands. Karamihan din sa kanila’y nakaupo sa hagdanan at nagpapalipas lang nang oras--mukhang wala kasing hinihintay--hindi sila sumusulyap sa relo, hindi rin nakatayo at tumitingin sa teks sa selpon tapos lumilinga, basta kampante lang na nagpapalipas nang gabi.

Pagpasok naman sa loob, aba, wala na ang mabilis at nakakawindang na pantig ng salitang Chinese mula sa mga tao sa pligid. Mga wika na natin--Bikolano, Cebuano, Filipino, Ilokano (depende sa table na tatabihan)--ang maririnig. Pero meron pa ring ilang banyaga na mukhang nagustuhan na ang Jollibee (bagamat mabibilang sa kamay)




Mapapansin na pareho ang pintura, upuan, mga uniporme ng crew--pangkalahatang ambiance, pero may mga pagkakaiba sa menu. Una, may halo-halo sa Jollibee Hong Kong! Kakaiba rin na 22 HKD o 120 pesos ang Jolly Hotdog, samantalang 24 HKD o 136.8 PhP lamang ang Champ. (Iniimport siguro 100% ang palaman na hotdog ng Jolly Hotodg). Meron pa ring Amazing Aloha sa Jollibee Hong Kong, samantalang todits ay matagal nang wala.



Syangapala, maliit ang restroom dito at pila ang mga kababaihan sa pagdyinggel. Nakunan ang mga picture na ito sa loob habang hinihintay makadyinggel si Talampunay. Di rin ngapala namin sinasadyang magawi rito (nahanap sana ang bus papunta Peak Tram), bagamat wish namin na mahanap nga.
Pagkatapos sa Peak, gusto namin sanang tikman at ikumpara kung pareho ang luto at lasa (mukhang pareho naman ang hitsura). Pero hindi sila bukas 24 oras. Pagbalik nang mga alas onse, sarado na, pero andami pa ring mga kabayan!

Sa susunod, kailangang matikman naman namin ang chickenjoy dito. Kadali lang puntahan para mag-agahan, tanghalian, o hapunan. Isang dyok nga din na masarap mag-jolly Kiddie party sa Hong Kong. Pero kung meron nga, at aba kung gagawin mo, bongga ka agad sa komunidad ng Pinoy sa Hong Kong.

Bring Coke Zero to the Philippines

Managed to grab one in Hong Kong. It tastes great. Tastes in the family of Coke, but holds its own distinctive, trademark-like, fizz. I might be overreaching in praise: but it did seem to quench thirst better than the origiona coke (because of zero sugar?). Also I never really liked Diet Coke's Benadryl-like taste... so I urge Coca Cola Bottling Corporation Philippines please to bring Coke Zero here as replacement. You can skip Sprite Zero (could be too weird for the Pinoy palate), but bring this blacker Coke now!

Walang kwenta sa Singapore

Walang kwenta sa Singapore, maniwala ka sakin. Kumpara sa Ocean Park ng Hong Kong, walang ka-kwenta-kwenta ang walang-kwentang Sentosa.

Ang dolphin duon sa Sentosa ay parang matandang-matandang maraming an-an at pagud na pagod na pero ayaw pa pagpahingahin. At ang bawat pagpasok at pagsakay sa mga sulok ng Sentosa ay may bayad. Pagkamahal pero walang kwenta.

Mas malaki rin di hamak ang gagastusin sa pagpunta sa Singapore kaysa sa Hong Kong.

Tapos, magbuklat ka pa nang dyaryo duon, ang laman ng Editorial ay ang debate ukol sa isang pinakaimportanteng, national issue, sa tamang ruta ng Taksi! Hehehehehe. Tapos, meron ding isisingit na isang news tungkol sa isang nagasgasang Jaguar sa Orchard dahil may isang turistang maling nag-U-Turn dahil di yata alam o di sumunod sa trapiko. At ang hunghang na turista ay papatawan umano ng kaukulang multa na kasing-halaga ng isang taong sweldo ng isang MMDA aid satin. Hehehe, malas ng kumag. Tapos nun, puro overseas news na. At kagaling at katapang mamuna ng mga kolumnista pagdating dito. Hehehehe.

Sandali, nasabi ko ba ang dolphin ng Sentosa na mukhang kailangan ng Canesten Cream? Tapos pagkarami ring dolphin ng Sentosa... ang hirap bilangin... mga dalawa.

Samantalang sa Ocean Park, may Dolphin University pa. Enjoy din talaga ang panunuod sa masisiglang dolphins at seals.



Pumunta lamang sa Singapore kapag magtatrabaho o may business trip. Wag na wag para magbakasyon duon. Sa Hong Kong na lamang. Mas mura rin ang computer peripherals. (pero di kasing mura sa Taiwan; sa ibang araw naman ang diskusyong ito).

Moving forward

If one have been in a corporate environment long enough, you will feel the political/powerplay meaning of the word "moving forward," "move forward," "should move forward," and other variations.


It usually means "shut-up." "This is my decision, or the decision of my boss who I lick like a dog, you follow!"

It means all arguments, however rationale, must stop, because the powerful, magical word "move forward" was deployed.

Even though there are indications that the activity in the end will actually be a step backward... because the "move-forward" decision did not look at all angles and was destined to failure... one have no choice but to shut-up. [Btw, if youre not the boss, it's laughable to say in the meeting "move forward," at least in this country].

The move forward thing is good in the sense that something is actually being pushed, some activity is passed on and started. And certain projects need to be released fast begin to mover.

But when the goal that dictates that sched really doesnt require eveything be hectic, and there's time for a clear-headed discussion, it's almost always a word for "shutup." If there's legitimate consensus and well thought-of decision, everybody just moves toward, tags along, support it naturally, without anybody saying "we need to move forward [to here, where I want]"

[SORRY FOR ANOTHER RAMBLING. JUST ANOTHER FRUSTRATING DAY AT WORK].

@ Buon Giorno in Tagaytay...

By the way, it is in the area called Cliff House, just after Leslie's and Yellowcab if you're coming from Sta Rosa/7-11 Rotonda. It is the cheapest restaurant in this Cliff House; so in this respect it's not an immediate mistake to eat here. The food is good, but service takes too long especially if Buon Giorno is packed. Better to eat outside since the aroma of kitchen sticks to your clothes if the orders are streaming. Oregano and tomatos are sometimes not in the best combination with polyester, cotton, and sweat later when you leave Tagaytay. Anyway, you dont need airconditioning outside. The view is great and breeze is soothing.

Great also to try Mano's Greek Tavern, just before the rotonda. Mano, the owner himself, will signal your car at parking, incl. when you are leaving. You might get caught thinking whether you should give him a 20-peso tip for guiding your maneuvering the car's rear-end. Don't. Leave a tip. The food is relatively good and cheap.

Anyway, we are eating at Buon Giorno, then there is a late-30's couple dining in the next table. It was Talampunay who is at the earshot of their conversation. She took my cell phone, opened the new message menu, then typed this...

"Parang 1st tym nila mag-date"

then passed the cell to me. I read it and asked her verbally ""Bakit"

She took the cell again and pushed the keypad: "Parang d comfy with each othr," aimed to return the cell to me but took it back jerkily before i read it, then followed-up:

"Parang tryn 2 please c guy"

Finally gave the cell to me, read the blue screen with white text, then I typed back "Naririnig mo ba ang topic"

She read and then said verbally, "Yes"

I typed "Kabisaduhin m ha."

In the end, we were probably the ones who looked stupid passing one cellphone to each other back and forth, reading, then smiling like semi-lunatics.

Anyway the topic, according to Talampunay, was about work and they seem to be putting value to their own lousy office activities. I think mostof their senteces start with "I..." Well, if indeed, it's bad for a first date.

Anyway, for us, it was a nice dinner of pesto pasta and pepperoni pizza.

Two movies (the other one in 3-D)

Laguna, particularly Calamba and Sta Rosa are not provinces any more if you consider that some movies are shown at the same time in the malls here as in the Metro. The hoards of engineers working in industrial parks here should be big enough market for the multiple cinemas of SM and Robinson's.


We own the night was shown at Robinsons Sta Rosa at its first showing date as in Alabang Town Center. We watched the thing and it was great. We'd like to put it along the line of Miami Vice... and it's way better than this Michael Mann film (should be rare for us to say that a movie is better than Michael Mann's). The pace and build-up makes you really side with the Joaquin Phoenix's character. First time to here Talampunay say "sige tadyakan mo! tadyakan mo!" in a movie house. This brother of River also acts superbly, with a hairlip and all. He easily outstaged Wahlberg... but not Robert Duvall. That guy does not act in film. He wears the role like a piece of clothing and plays it.

Then yesterday, we drove all the way to the I-MAX theater in SM MOA to watch Beowulf. At a steep price of 400 per head, gasoline, toll fee, dinner at Icebergs... we were expecting our money's worth. For a first experience, it well did. After watching, can't think of any other way to watch the movie but in 3-D.

Talampunay just commented that Angelina Jolie's real boobs are not like that. I just said, probably not any more. May be five years ago? She also commented that her face was so made up. Well, wait till you see the one who voiced Beowulf. He's the fat frenchman guy (but tougher than Beowulf) guy in The Departed.

Probably the expertise of Zemeckis is in churning out sequences where you really won't move while you're watching. That Man vs. Dragon scene is probably the best "aerial" combat ever. Then there's also that underwater part added as a bonus. (But wouldnt you have bubbles in your brain if you surface up from deep water like that too fast?)

In any case, the movie kicks... kicks twice in 3D. Watch it in I-MAX if you have 400 disposable.

Although it's not a full-fledged concave I-MAX theater we have here... another story.

Balls on the big screen (Betlog sa puting tabing): Lust, Caution

Gusto mong makakita nang tunay na betlog sa pagkalaking sinehan? Panoorin ito:

Pagkatapos, nandun ka na rin lang, pansinin na rin ang napakahusay na sinematograpiya. Parang walang sinayang na film sa pagakakakuha, kumbaga.

Pinili rin ng pelikula na hindi magmadali, kaya magdala ng kakainin sa unang isang oras at mahigit. Pag naka-isat-kalahating oras na, tumigil na sa pagkain. Masusurpresa na sa matapang na paggamit ng pagtatalik bilang expresyon ng tagong (o tinatagong) violence sa isang katauhan.

Kakaibang pelikula. At mahusay talaga si Ang Lee. Sana magkaroon din tayo ng katulad ni Ang Lee na makikilala sa buong mundo. Sana maging kasing-husay ni Ang Lee si Lino Cayetano dahil mukhang nabibigyan sya ng break parati. Sana walang sayanging film si Lino Cayetano. :-)