2013!

Oh, it's the New Year! Happy 2013!

Be thankful. No matter how difficult it was, we've survived a year and we can look back beaming with either pride or just the satisfaction that we've made it through a year. Whether we've been hurt or loved, it's another year to continue living our life. We're stronger than yesterday! (Thank you, Britney Spears, for that wonderful line.) Well, we've got no choice but to move forward!

And there's always tequila if you're feeling blue!

It Turned Well, Up Dharma Down

Up Dharma Down has been in the music scene since mid-2000s and has released an album last 2006 and another one two years later. They have a steady and (very) loyal cult following with their distinct music style that looks away from the "typical OPM sound" which has been proliferating and playing the radio stations since it was brought to life.

They haven't succumbed into the temptation of giving in to the widely-accepted music style and stuck to their trademark sound. May the heavens bless them even further because of that. Resist the temptation!!! The year 2012 has been fortunate enough to be the year the band released their eternally-awaited third album. Hallelujah bells played when I received my copy (thanks, Rough!!). My ears thanked me so much when I played the CD, they almost cried.

If this is a review (which is obviously not one), that's 8 out of 5 stars. Up Dharma Down is not for everyone and given that, I know a lot of people are missing out on good music.

The Moment I Knew

When it's time to go, it is time to go. 

I have yet to pack my bags and determine where I'm headed to. All I know is that it's time to go, I have to go.

When We Run MNL 2012 (Nike)

This is the first time I have joined a fun run without a cause - no beneficiaries, just a part of a greater schema of run-for-profit-or-marketing events. I present to you... Nike We Run MNL 2012.

Price:
They have this ridiculous idea that when you're above 24y/o, you have to (and can really afford to) pay 1,200 for a run without hesitation. When you're below that age, you have to shell out 800 pesos (single registration or 700 when you and your buddy who's also below 24 years old register at the same time. Yes we know we get a really good hype, nice performance/running shirt, a drifit finisher's shirt, and a water bottle from our registration fee, but the price difference is just absurd.

Venue:
Mall of Asia. I approve of this because we won't be blocking any other important roads aside from those leading to Mall of Asia area anyway.

Event: Run
There was some mishaps during the targeted start of the run because throngs of people were in the wrong place. One Event Security personnel blurted out, "Why are you all here?? You shouldn't be here! The starting line is on  the other side!" No duh, the map was clearly incorrect. There was even a "You are here" mark and the map led us to where we stayed. So by the gun time, we had to wait for more than 15 minutes before we were able to start running.

Water stations just served water. No Pocari Sweat or some other sports drink but that's okay. Just pure water served in... plastic freaking cups. Of course, these runners think they own the world - too much adrenaline being pumped. So people just throw the cups elsewhere and the plastic made these cracking sound while the pavement was really wet! Talk about waste management!

There were mobile DJs, the track was simple and since it's just one distance (10K), no one was left running around in circle wondering where the next turn is.

Merchandise:
This thing is all about the merchandise. Some can add that it's also being part of the Nike Running Community (which I'm not sure why I capitalized the letters, as if there's really a running community).

Saw the shirts? You should also see the water bottle included! This is the first run  I have joined which doesn't have any beneficiary. I feel shamed, yes, so I just try to think I paid for the merch. At 700 pesos, I got a bottle, and 2 shirts that fit me nicely. Quite a steal.

Results are posted here. I really think they should fix the ranking by chip time and not by gun time because at my batch, it took us around 18 minutes before we were able to start! Well, that's really how it goes. Makes it "fun", right? If you run for the competition, go run a marathon instead - where there are less people stopping in the middle of the road, or those who pose for the camera at every stop.

Eat Fresh Hong Kong Famous Street Food - J. Abad Santos St, San Juan

As another way of delaying my other obligations such as uploading photos starting from my July trip and blogging about my half-of-Indochina trip, I just go to our nearby food area and pack some calories.

At 11:30PM.

Since we're not getting any mileage from this one, I present to you Eat Fresh Hong Kong Famous Street Food. Yep, that's the name.

You get to choose from their wide variety of "street food" and you can have it deep fried (oh the health freaks' eyes are twitching right now) with a choice of sweet-and-sour or the famous curry sauce (just like the way they have it in HK/Macau). Aside from the street food, they also serve meals - noodles, short orders, and rice toppings. I'm not exactly sure what to recommend to you, aside from the sure-hit Pancake Balls! It's served with diluted peanut butter sauce. Yummy! Ok, now I'm hungry.

You can view their menu here:
Menu 1

Menu 2

Eat Fresh Hong Kong Famous Street Food
J. Abad Santos St.
Open M-Saturday until 12am
Closed on Sundays (boooo)

Tralala... Life.

Okay.

We've been through a lot of stress but I really admire the endurance of some people in helping another. However, the stress is taking its toll, this useless unnecessary stress other folks are throwing on us. If the kids can't adjust their lifestyles based on what they have and the current situation they are in, there is no hope. Where can we buy sense of responsibility and understanding? Giving them everything, spoon-feeding them, is not really helping anyone. Or maybe, just maybe, these supportive people are just boosting their benevolence points.

I don't want to be mean but some people are really abusive. Either they're hopeless or they are so selfish they're willing to bite off the hand who feeds (or helps) them.

Nasa Isip Ka - Session Road

Session Road has been alive since time immemorial. Well, actually just at that time when OPM was bringing in more bands in the alternative scene. With newfound friends who invited me to watch their comeback gig at 70's Bistro last time and just another one last night at Metrowalk, I revisited my music library and played out their music once again.

When Hannah sings, everyone listens.

I had the first album, "Suntok sa Buwan", way back but totally lost track that they released their second one, "Bakit Hindi?", a couple of years after. "Blanko" has been the front-liner for "Bakit Hindi?" but they have a lot of other good tunes as well, with simplistic lyrics and some reggae-like songs in the mix. Just like an Eager Angel, I had to listen and watch their shows again. "Hiram" and "Nasa Isip Ka" are both on loop now - because  "Blanko" is so mainstream. Haha.

Ito ba sayo’y isang laro?
Ako’y nalilito gulong-gulo
Pinapaasa, saan ba ito pupunta?
Wala naman akong pinanghahawakan pero…

Bakit lagi nalang nasa isip ka
Sa bawat pagmulat ng aking mata
Bakit lagi nalang nasa isip ka
May pagkakataon bang magsama?

Eto ako iyong-iyo
Ano ba talaga ako sayo?
Pinapaasa, ako ba sayo’y may halaga?
Wala naman akong pinanghahawakan pero…

Bakit lagi nalang nasa isip ka
Sa bawat pagmulat ng aking mata
Bakit lagi nalang nasa isip ka
May pagkakataon bang magsama?

The Snakespeare and The Cheap Action Star

So when a friend asked me how do you drop a "I liked you for a time" bomb in a letter, I typed this:

"Have you ever stayed up late looking up in the night sky at a very beautiful and bright star, admiring it from a distance? Then after some time, it moved and shot through spiraling downwards towards the earth. I never saw its magnificence afterwards. That's how I felt about you." Well, it was good while it lasted.

That's at 3:15am and drained by all the documentations I'm working on. It's a deviation from all the classic Pinoy action film kontrabida lines I have always been fond of doing (and acting aloud).

Bida: Mando! *shuffles at the cemented pillar his back is against* Nandito na ako, ako ang harapin mo!
KontraBida: Wahah-haha-hah! Lito, ang syota mo uunahin ko! Isang bala lang ito! Mabuti pang sumuko ka na!
Bida: Mandooooo! *in a husky whisper-like voice* Subukan mo lang saktan syota ko, mukha ko ang huli mong makikita bago ka mamatay! May lima pa akong palakol at itak dito, hindi ako natatakot!

And at this time while waiting for the documentation tool to load, Taylor Swift's song "Treacherous" played. This is the current song on-loop in my head.

This hope is treacherous.
This daydream is dangerous.
I, I, I like it.

Chow Fun - Jose Abad Santos St, San Juan

J. Abad Santos (Wilson area, San Juan) is a good place to visit when "where to eat?" is the only thing you want to think of. There are new places in the area that you can easily miss - Tori Box, La Creperie, and Eat My GF - but we'll get into those soon. Along J. Abad Santos is the huge-ass signage for Hong Kong Street Food and the bright signage of Chow Fun. Oh, how fun, there's Chow Fun! (This won't pass as their slogan, ever.)

Chow Fun has simple red, grey (no paint), and black interiors with a touch of printed tarpaulins at the sides and pretty overcrowded lamps. It's a no frills easy place to come into, you won't get intimidated with the interiors and the servers. As usual, the problem along J. Abad Santos establishments is the parking space. So please have the patience and some saltine crackers ready if you're really hungry already.

So bright like the stars at night. Whut?

Their menu is not to die for. I asked the server if there's a chance that their menu will add more items and she said yes, since the place is still relatively new. I kept on looking for the "basic" ones such as noodle soup and some fried rice. Let's give them time to double their food menu before we strike the hatchet on this. Since we're not that hungry, we opted with their famous starter: the Chinese Fondue.

Interesting!

The Chinese Fondue contains fried veggie cakes, sliced squid balls, and squid. It is served with a cheese-and-curry dip (I suddenly miss Macao) over a lighted candle. Fondue fun-due! It's a very interesting fondue and since I'm a fan of curry dips, this is worth my Php155 (although I know I can eat so much more for this price). Aside from the fondue, I ordered Broccoli X.O. which also has mushroom in dried seafood sauce but was too excited to eat so I wasn't able to take a photo. HA! Their iced black tea strawberry is really really good! It's a must!

It is somewhat pricey for the serving size and almost all items are for sharing. Not a good day to be an only child who went out for some late-night snacking! You have to bring your friends or family over to make the trip here worth it. For dessert, we had a toss-up between Haw Flakes Pastry or their Butchi. The Reese's Chocolate Butchi won! Since I'm the younger one, I ate 2 out of 3 pcs. Mwahaha. I like Reese's and I like buchi, it's a win-win situation for me! Friends said that Eat Well offers 6pcs chocolate buchi but I have yet to see the price range for Eat Well (which has a lot of good reviews, by the way). Maybe Chow Fun's PHP 120 Reese's Butchi stands a chance against Eat Well's.

PHP 120 for 3 pcs.

Chow Fun

103 J Abad Santos St., Little Baguio, San Juan (near Serenitea and Ristras)
+632 624 1009