MASCKS Day: 2 Rajas, A Guru, And Ducks

- September 22, 2012, Saturday.

- After a tiring day at school, I rushed home, changed, and went off to Ersao to meet my friend Julienne for her birthday, together with other close friends in the bunch. Camille and Thomas came later than me, Julienne, and Nicole, and surprised Julienne with a candle-lit cake. Other friends soon came to meet up and hang out.

- After sunset, I rushed to Lucky Chinatown Mall to meet up two good ole buddies - Ryan and Timothy. While waiting for them, I visited my friend Pei Mei at her stall in a nearby mini-mall, and chatted with her as usual.

- I met Ryan later on at Lucky Chinatown, and came across Pei Mei at Lucky Chinatown as well. We had a nice time catching up, before Ryan and I went to Little Asia to meet Timothy.

- The Little Asia branch at Lucky Chinatown seemed to have great food and nice service, despite the cramped space of the restaurant. The most interesting dish we had was coconut squid.

- Timothy later treated us to Starbucks, and Ryan treated us to desserts. (I treated them dinner. HAHA.) We did so much catching up that we were the last customers to leave Starbucks. Timothy and his dad later gave Ryan a lift home.

- Despite lack of sleep, disorientation, and added weight from so much eating today, the day went better than expected. Also, my yellow boots saved me today too.

Manila International Book Fair 2012: Deja Vu

- September 15, 2012, Saturday.

- I had been looking forward to today, since I wanted to attend the Manila International Book Fair at SMX. This morning's weather was terrible, and I feared that I might not be able to attend my morning class and perhaps, the book fair, if the sky didn't clear up. Fortunately, my class pushed through, and I was even able to win a free pass (oh the coincidence) to the book fair because of a game we played in class.

- I immediately went to the book fair after eating lunch at home, and went around to look for books. Alas, I realized that this year's book fair was more or less the same as last year's, and worse, the arrangement of the booths seemed to be more confusing. I also felt dizzy after seeing and rubbing elbows with too many people. As much as I would have wanted to hang out with my friend Tiffany, whom I met up with in the book fair, I told her that I needed to go outside. Tiffany and her boyfriend were waiting to get their books signed by Ramon Bautista.

- As for me, I was able to get a few small free books from a certain Buddhist book stall. I wasn't able to buy anything, in short.

- I went to MOA to stroll around, since there was a mall-wide sale. Despite the number of people, the big space of the mall made it easier for me to walk and breathe. After several centuries and seven mountains and oceans, I was able to stumble upon a pair of orange corduroy pants in Uniqlo, and quite reasonably-priced too.

- I went home after having a small meal at El Pollo Loco. Despite the torrential weather, and the almost-fainting dizziness, and more or less walking around cold and alone,I was able to have small victories for the day.

Oculars: Visit, See, Meet, Watch

- September 8, 2012, Saturday.

- As another free Saturday, I wanted to roam free once again. I had been itching lately to go on antique-store hopping to look for Filipino ethnic wear, just in case I'd be able to purchase a nicely-priced piece. I initially planned on scouting the whole Mabini Street right after lunch, but a bit of laziness kicked in, especially since I'd also be meeting friends for dinner at Lucky Chinatown Mall right after.

- Instead on going to Mabini, I planned to do things step-by-step, and decided to go to nearer Intramuros, and take my time to explore the place, and if got lucky, I might even find myself a handsome ethnic piece.

- I first went to Silahis, an antique store in Intramuros, and remembered why I didn't buy anything there: the price. Since there were also only a few pieces of ethnic clothing, the lady in the store directed me to the second and third levels I never knew Silahis had. The second level was also an antique store, with pieces not only from the Philippines, but from nearby countries as well. Tradewinds Bookstore was also in the second level. The third level was an art gallery (mostly paintings on canvasses.)

- I later visited The Papier Tole Shop, and as always, it was filled with wonderful gift items that I would've wanted to take home, but didn't really need anyway. The shop was right outside the San Agustin Church, where a military wedding was held. The bridal car was a handsome white limousine.

- My last itinerary on my antique-store hopping was the Mananzan Handicraft store near Fort Santiago, and as expected, I wasn't able to buy anything.

- I passed by the old said-to-be-haunted Aduana after a short snack at Ministop, and walked all the way to Chinatown, then to Lucky Chinatown Mall.

- I was able to encounter my elementary classmates Giselle and Janine, with their moms, on separate occasions. I met Giselle and her mom at Dunkin Donuts, on my way to meet my dinner friends, but Giselle's mom was eager to catch up with me (and my with her, and Giselle,) so she treated me coffee. Haha. (Thanks auntie!!) I met Janine and her mom outside a store.

- I later met Charmaine, and went around the mall a bit before meeting Danica at Sumosam. Eric followed shortly. Too bad Samuel wasn't able to come.

- We had a hard time finishing out dinner since, as the name of the restaurant implies, the dishes were in large servings.

- Danica planned to watch a movie, and decided to watch "The Watch," starring Ben Stiller. I planned on treating the guys to cake, but since they/we were still full, they just wanted mochi ice cream. They were surprised that I treated them, but I said my birthday is coming up, so it was my little treat to them.

- "The Watch" was a bizarre comedy-suspense alien film. I felt the suspense more, since it was already quite late in the night, the last show I think, and I really have a big imagination - the same reason why I couldn't sleep after watching even the lamest horror film when I was little. The comedy of the film helped a bit in easing the discomfort of watching a suspense film at night. (Still wondering how I managed to go through a semester of Horror Film class in college, and made it out alive.)

- Danica offered to give Charmaine and me a life home, while Eric trod home, and me telling him to not get eaten by aliens. It was an interesting Saturday.

Around in Circles: Quiapo and Chinatown

- September 1, 2012, Saturday.

- I decided to spend my free day with my friend Kevin, after Kevin asked me the other day if I could show him around Quiapo, where he will be taking his board exam in a few weeks, as well as Chinatown.

- I met Kevin near my house around 1pm, and went to some hotels close to the board-exam venue, and asked for room rates; Kevin and some of his friends from elsewhere might sleep somewhere near the venue for accessibility.

- We walked the whole of Recto until we turned at a corner to go to San Sebastian Church. We visited the church, explained its significance to Kevin, before strolling the whole of Hidalgo Street at the backside of the church. We finally reached Kevin's soon-to-be board-exam venue, and walked on to Muslim Town, turning left at Norzagaray Street.

- I was able to chance upon a store that sold some interesting Muslim/Maranao clothing. I got a shirt-pants set for 400, instead off 450php. I was also able to practice my Arabic, for the first time ever, with the store owner. It was nice to know that my Arabic was "good enough" for someone who didn't learn the language formally. I was even asked if I was a Muslim, or where I came from, since it was unusual for someone who didn't look Muslim, or Arab, to speak in Arabic.

- After going around Muslim Town, and showing the Golden Mosque to Kevin, Kevin remembered that he left his umbrella at KFC Recto. We went around Recto again, and rode a jeep near Chinatown after the umbrella was returned to him, fortunately.

- Kevin and I had a short time in Chinatown, and had some dimsum at Golden Fortune, where I met my friend Anne and her oh-so-international co-workers.

- It was a short afternoon, but definitely a worthwhile one. My legs are tired from all the walking, but moving my butt around seemed to do me well; I had been eating nonstop the past few days. Haha. It was also great to have had a bit of culture this afternoon, something that feeds my soul.

A Year Later, A Friend Decided To Visit

- August 30, 2012, Thursday.

- My friend Yujin Han from Korea announced to my study-tour group that she would be coming to the country together with her mother. Yujin works for EBS Korea, the television station that sponsored my Korea trip (along with 5 other (former) Ateneans, and our professor, Sir Sev.) Yujin was the one of the people who worked hard to make out study tour become a success.

- In order to repay all the things she and her team did for us in Korea, as well as to show the Filipino hospitality, our group decided to plan out things we could do to show Yujin and her mom around. It was decided that we would go to Tagaytay, as the highlight for today (my only free day,) and see where we could go afterwards.

- This morning, after a peculiar suicide case in one of the LRT stations halted the whole LRT operations. All the jeeps and taxis were occupied, and fortunately, I was able to ride a tricycle in front of the Sta. Cruz Church that sent me flying all the way to Hyatt Manila; the tricycle was really really fast.

- I arrived a bit later than the others, and we were all set to go to Tagaytay using the van Sir Sev rented. Ceej, Guada, Mel, Sir Sev, and I were present; Lexie couldn't make it, but would be able to join us for dinner, while Ali couldn't make it today because of work, I think.

- On the way to Tagaytay, we had a light pre-breakfast at Jollibee, and proceeded to see the myriad meadows along the way. It reminded us of the song "Paru-parong Bukid," so we taught a short line to Yujin and her mom, complete with actions.

- We arrived at Tagaytay Highlands and had a more proper breakfast. Afterwards, All of them, except Sir Sev, Guada, and I, swam in the nice infinity pool. Guada and I just took pictures of them. We seemed to own Tagaytay Highlands today, since it was a weekday.

- After their swim, we had a stopover at the Picnic Grove to do some souvenir shopping, before going to Josephine to eat a hearty and cholesterol-loaded banquet. There was also an artist doing 15-minute portaits at the open-area of Josephine, and Yujin and her mom decided to have their portraits drawn. I think the artist's "artist name" was "Nipara," or something like that. He specializes in studio art, and payment for his life-like 15-minute sketches would depend on how much the customers think the sketches should cost.

- After lunch, we had a long sleep-loaded trip to Makati, where Yujin and her mom did some shopping, before capping the night of with a buffet dinner at Glorietta's Dad's-Saisaki-Kamayan. Apart from the nice meal, we were able to ask the mariachi group to sing some Filipino and Korean songs, and I was able to borrow the tempura-waiter's nice shrimp headdress for a short photo-op. Haha.

- I was the one assigned to accompany Yujin and her mom back to the hotel, since I lived closest to the hotel. I had my early goodbyes to them, since I wouldn't be able to accompany them for their Manila tour with Guada and the others (something I think I could've contributed more too, since I have toured a lot of people around Manila.) Anyway, I still hope to have more encounters with my Korean friends, as well as my other friends from other interesting and colorful lands.



** By the way, I met the most interesting cab driver on the way home. :) :) :) :)

The Long-awaited Dinner: Tofu And Tea Delights

- August 29, 2012, Wednesday.

- After months of postponing and rescheduling, I was finally able to arrange a dinner meeting with my friend Samuel.

- While waiting for Samuel at Lucky Chinatown Mall, I was able to encounter former schoolmates Dennis and Reggie at random. We spent some time eating donuts and bench-hopping at the center atrium, and catching up with each other.

- I met Samuel around 7:30pm, and went to Shi Lin to have dinner. Samuel seemed to hungry (I was too, secretly,) and so we ordered a feast. My favorite for the night, aside from the noodles with spicy sesame and peanut sauce, was the Taiwanese tofu. The tofu was very silky, almost watery, and lightly sauced.

- Samuel and I talked a lot; we haven't seen each other since last December, I think. (I never realized how long it was since the last time I saw him.) Thanks to technology, I was able to regularly keep in touch with him though.

- We went home as the rain showered the city with glee, and we were able to hail a cab that would send us home, after several attempts. Hopefully, I'll be able to hang out with Samuel more, soon.

A Kid For A Day

- August 25, 2012, Saturday.

- My "hell week" in graduate school just ended officially this morning after doing a major report with my groupmates. As part of the celebration, I went to Toy Kingdom's Toy Expo at SMX this afternoon to hunt for a gift for a friend.

- I arrived at SMX around 2:30pm. I went straight in the venue, since there was no entrance fee, unlike most events. Most, if not all, of the toys were discounted, and some special items could be claimed at the customer service counter for single-receipt purchases worth 500php and above.

- This afternoon, there was an auction of Lala Loopsy items, and a meet-and-greet of Lala Loopsy herself. I think only the ones who lined up in the auction were the only ones allowed to participate in that event. Well, I had my own agenda anyway, and gladly, I was able to find what I needed.

- Toys, and more toys everywhere made me feel like a child again. I was excited to marvel the current, and soon-to-be deluxe robot models of Power Rangers Samurai (second season: Super Samurai,) the current Power Rangers season being aired in the USA. I was not too keen on purchasing Power Rangers Samurai toys, since they were quite expensive, and I still "patronage" the original three (or five) seasons of the Power Rangers series.

- After buying what I needed to buy, I went to MOA and searched for orange pants, to no avail. I just had yogurt to console myself. Haha. I was tired too.

- I later went to Grace's workplace, and went to Banapple Tomas Morato to meet with Lalaine (Lala,) Marie, Marnie, and Joanna; tomorrow will be Lala's birthday.

- After having dinner at Banapple, and surprising Lala with a big banoffee pie, we tried the unlimited-cake (and coffee) promo of Cravings, a few doors away from Banapple. Apparently, we were too full, and might not have made the most out of the promo, but we were still able to try the different cakes. My favorite was the devil's chocolate cake - so moist, so chocolatey, so creamy.

- Apparently, I found out that no one would be able to hitch a ride with someone home, since Marnie, who lived closest to me, was going to sleepover somewhere else tonight, so Lala and Grace accompanied me to flag a cab home. The traffic was too heavy, but gladly I was able to come home safely. Goodness.

- Toys, cakes, chocolate, surprises, and other randomness - it's great to be a kid, to feel free, to do anything, right after a tough week. Haha.