Chateau 1771

The missus and I were at GB5 the other week and decided to have dinner at Chateau. The acoustic guitar player was inviting and since we've already eaten at Myron's previously, we decided to step into Chateau.

We were given the complementary bread and eggplant-pate, which was quite good. Then for starters we ordered the tomato soup, which was quite nice.

For the main course, the missus ordered Pork Scallopine (P420), one of the house specialties. It was a delightful dish.

In keeping with my tradition of ordering fish in fine-dining restos, I ordered the Salmon Rockefeller (P670). The cheese-topped salmon was delectably delicious, especially with the ratatouille and white wine.

Chateau 1771, all in all, was not bad. Finding a great fine-dining resto in the Greenbelt/Glorietta area is rare so Chateau should be a good place to check out if you want to try fine-dining if you're in the Makati area.

Let's Get Ready To Rumble!!!!

I was driving home late Friday evening when I noticed that there was a small traffic accumulated in the EDSA Santolan LRT area. It's 12:30am, it shouldn't be traffic, I said. It could've been another vehicular mishap or a DPWH construction, but it wasn't.


The small snarl of traffic was caused by a big 10x10m(?) Nike poster.






You just have to admire the effect of Pacquiao-mania. Once again, almost everyone will be glued to the TV and movie screens to watch Manny in his biggest (money) fight against Oscar Dela Hoya. The missus and I already have reserved seats at Robinsons Galleria to watch Sunday morning.


Hold on to your seats, for the next Pacman fight is about to start! Yeah!!!


Go Manny!!!!

One True Love

Nice story. But the lines are too deep ("pinakiibig kita", etc.). Even people during the 60s never say such things. I think I even heard the word "alaala" more than too often in this movie. It would've been better if the script had made the lines more applicable to modern talk and that funny moments would've been inserted into some of the scenes.

Siomai-all-u-can

My team had our Friday lunch out earlier in Dimsum N Dumplings Greenhills. There is also a DnD branch near our office but we wanted to go to that little DnD store in GH since it's the only one we know that has a "siomai all you can" promo. For P159.00, you get a cup of yang chow rice and ALL the pork siomai you desire.

The standing record from a group of our officemates who went there last year was 39 1/2, made by one of our lady engineers. We all wonder how she managed to eat the whole lot since she's just a petite 4'11".

Sadly, none of us who went to DnD earlier managed to break the record. BE, one of the known eaters in the group, managed only 31. I had 18.

I guess we won't be coming to DnD GH to try the siomai-all-u-can until next year. For now, the diced mongo from Baker's Fair will suffice until merienda time.

Tropic Thunder

Funny!

Appeal for Homeless Football Team

Guys, I'm asking that you give your support for this. Thanks!

=============================

To all my friends,

I email you regarding a 'football project' that i have.

It's a big international event and it is for homeless people. We entered a team of streetchildren from Tuloy sa Don Bosco street childrens village and Nayon ng Kabataan (DSWD). They will be our Team Philippines.

Attached is a print ad that will come out in the Philippine Daily Inquirer this weekend. I send it to you in advance hoping that you can pass it on to some friends who may like to participate in the spirit of cheerful giving.

We remain short of funds and are looking for people who want to be a blessing in any of these streetchildren's lives. I strive daily and in every way to find 'Ninongs' (Godfathers) whoare willing to contribute Php 50,000 for a child. Thus far, we have been blessed by several friends.

And for those who can afford less but have opened their wallets, their donations of Php 1,000, php 5,000, php 10,000, php 20,000 have all been a tremendous boost to this project.

The potential of this international event to bring joy and dignity to the lives of our homeless youth is enormous, thus, I have made it my mission to give them the opportunity to become their personal best.

And so, with 8 days to go before the team's departure for the competition (the team leaves for Melbourne on Nov 27), I continue to seek funds. And I come to you, by email, to ask your assistance in however manner and to pass on this letter and spread the word. Thank you for helping me bring these kids the opportunity. Theyare so grateful to you for your support and so am I, appreciative of anything you can give.

Blessings always,Ed Formoso

PS: you can read more about the project by visiting the main website of the tournament at http://www.homelessworldcup.org/ or read our diaries which i write at http://www.pinoysoccer.com/.

For all who would like to donate, please email me directly theformosoway@yahoo.com or call me at 0915-991-9042.

Biglaan

Since the missus and I started dating, most of the enjoyable dates we had were unplanned. Take for example that office lunch-out at Josephine's Tagaytay when we were still with Globe. THAT was really spontaneous.

Last Saturday morning I had to bring up my Mom to DAP Tagaytay for her to attend a conference. Seizing the opportunity to eat at Breakfast At Antonio's, the missus and my boy joined in.

So from New Manila we drove to Makati to pick up one of my sisters then to Paranaque to pick up my Mom and then straight to Tagaytay. My Mom will be done by 3pm so the plan was for us to go down to Paranaque, rest for 2hrs and then drive all the way back up to Tagaytay.

I suddenly remembered that the SLEX is a driver's nightmare every Saturday afternoon. Since we were already near Batangas, I just thought, "Hmmm, we can go to Nasugbu?!"

A great idea it was indeed. We proceeded to drive from Tagaytay to Nasugbu and found our temporary paradise: Munting Buhangin.

Munting Buhangin is a memorable resort for me. It was back then in college when our class decided to have our outing there. The road was not yet developed then so it felt like forever before we reached the resort. We pitched our tent and cooked tuna and sardines with rice for our meals. That was around 1991 or 92 I think.

Well, Munting Buhangin has developed since then. But the beach was still the same. It's not Boracay or Bohol, but for that Saturday wherein I had just come from a week of stress, seeing the water was just too invting to not resist.

We didn't bring any towel nor swimming gear nor suntan lotion nor even soap. But seeing my boy by the shore looking at the refreshing clear water saying "Want to swim" made my heart melt. So, I went over to the resort store and bought myself a pair of swimming shorts (P250) and a towel (P250). With my boy wearing only his pajama shorts, we were off to the water!

It was truly the relaxing 1.5 hrs of swim that I needed. The water was warm near the shore but as you go further out the water seemed to become cool. It was a joy seeing my boy with his undescribeable laugh as he splashed his hands through the water as the smooth waves lifted him slightly.

The missus, being pregnant, wasn't able to swim due to the hot sun and no swim gear so she just had to watch us from the free cottage that we used (free since we only stayed for a couple of hours which the resort personnel gladly gave). My sister had an extra pair of shorts but I forgot she was a woman when I told her, "Tanggalin mo na lang undies mo tapos magshorts ka na lang!" since there were a lot of women swimming with t-shirts and bra on. I forgot my sis needed an extra shirt, hehe. So it was just my boy and I who enjoyed the Batangas beach.

It was 1pm so we had to leave this paradise and drive back again to Tagaytay to get my Mom. It was a great biglaan trip. Something that the missus would've texted her Mom, "You'll never guess where we are now."

Yup, sometimes the best plan is no plan at all.

Anger Management

Weird, but I've been hot-headed since Wednesday no thanks to some people I've worked with in the office. I've been feeling my blood boiling since Wednesday that I've just become easily irritated by people who are just sooooo irritating. I guess that's just the way office life goes: you'll meet all sorts of people. The missus says it could be just a temporary feeling since I'm not like this normally ---a big relief.

Oh well, I hope this all goes away by next week.

Knocked Up

Katherine Heigl is just beautiful. Cute story. Nice film.

Fabulous Finds: Myron's Place

The missus and I had the weekend to ourselves last week after dropping off my boy to my parents house in Paranaque ("ride the slide! ride the swing na lang!").

We checked-in at the Renaissance Hotel Makati for an overnight stay which was quite pleasant since we haven't been hotel-hopping for quite a while. Across the hotel was Greenbelt so we had no problems attending the anticipated Mass that evening. Dinner was going to be a selection process since the missus mentioned that there was a host of fine-dining restaurants there, especially at Greenbelt 5.

Good thing I brought along my trusty laptop and wireless broadband. I got online and logged on to OAP and searched "Greenbelt." Anton had a lot of places to recommend so after a lot of eenie-meenie-miney-moe we ended up with Myron's Place at GB5.

Myron's place is setup nicely, with orange as its major color. The best seats could probably be those overlooking the GB garden ---which was where we were.

But enough of that. Let's go straight to the food, shall we?

For starters, we ordered the pumpkin soup to worship the missus' tastebuds which seem to have become a connosieur of pumpkin soup.

Along with soup, we were served with bread which tasted a little chocolatey.

For the main course, I ordered the Grilled Herb Tuna Steak with Aglio Olio Fettucine. Accompanied with a glass of Chardonnay, the meal was, well, so-so.

The missus, once again, topped me in the main course. She ordered one of the house specials, the (hold your breath) Duet of Bacon Wrapped Petite US Certified Angus Medallions & Grilled Shrimp (whew!).

How did it taste? Let me just say that when the missus gave me a piece of the wrapped Angus, I whispered OMG! as the sauce and beef and the bacon mixed inside my mouth. A pleasurable experience indeed.

Try it out!

Words of Wisdom from Bob Ong

I got this from an email sent by my colleague AF, currently in NZ.

Enjoy!

======================

1. "Kung hindi mo mahal ang isang tao, wag ka nang magpakita ng motibo para mahalin ka nya.."

2. "Huwag mong bitawan ang bagay na hindi mo kayang makitang hawak ng iba."

3. "Huwag mong hawakan kung alam mong bibitawan mo lang."

4. "Huwag na huwag ka hahawak kapag alam mong may hawak ka na."

5. "Parang elevator lang yan eh, bakit mo pagsisiksikan ung sarili mo kung walang pwesto para sayo. Eh meron naman hagdan, ayaw mo lang pansinin."

6. "Kung maghihintay ka nang lalandi sayo, walang mangyayari sa buhay mo. Dapat lumandi ka din."

7. "Pag may mahal ka at ayaw sayo, hayaan mo. Malay mo sa mga susunod na araw ayaw mo na din sa kanya, naunahan ka lang."

8. "Hiwalayan na kung di ka na masaya. Walang gamot sa tanga kundi pagkukusa."

9. "Pag hindi ka mahal ng mahal mo wag ka magreklamo. Kasi may mga tao rin na di mo mahal pero mahal ka. Kaya quits lang."

10. "Kung dalawa ang mahal mo, piliin mo yung pangalawa. Kasi hindi ka naman magmamahal ng iba kung mahal mo talaga yung una."

11. "Hindi porke't madalas mong ka-chat, kausap sa telepono, kasama sa mga lakad o ka-text ng wantusawa eh may gusto sayo at magkakatuluyan kayo. Meron lang talagang mga taong sadyang friendly, sweet, flirt, malandi, pa-fall o paasa."

12. "Huwag magmadali sa lalaki o babae. Tatlo, lima, sampung taon, mag-iiba ang pamantayan mo at maiisip mong hindi pala tamang pumili ng kapareha dahil lang maganda o nakakalibog ito. Totoong mas mahalaga ang kalooban ng tao higit sa anuman. Sa paglipas ng panahon, maging ang mga crush ng bayan nagmumukha ding pandesal, maniwala ka.

13. "Minsan kahit ikaw ang nakaschedule, kailangan mo pa rin maghintay, kasi hindi ikaw ang priority."

14. "Mahirap pumapel sa buhay ng tao. Lalo na kung hindi ikaw yung bida sa script na pinili nya."

15. "Alam mo ba kung gaano kalayo ang pagitan ng dalawang tao pag nagtalikuran na sila? Kailangan mong libutin angbuong mundo para lang makaharap ulit ang taong tinalikuran mo."

16. "Mas mabuting mabigo sa paggawa ng isang bagay kesa magtagumpay sa paggawa ng wala.?
17. "Hindi lahat ng kaya mong intindihin ay katotohan, at hindi lahat ng hindi mo kayang intindihin ay kasinungalingan?

18. "Kung nagmahal ka ng taong di dapat at nasaktan ka, wag mong sisihin ang puso mo. Tumitibok lang yan para mag-supply ng dugo sa katawan mo. Ngayon, kung magaling ka sa anatomy at ang sisisihin mo naman ay ang hypothalamus mo na kumokontrol ng emotions mo, mali ka pa rin! Bakit? Utang na loob! Wag mong isisi sa body organs mo ang mga sama ng loob mo sa buhay! Tandaan mo: magiging masaya ka lang kung matututo kang tanggapin na hindi ang puso, utak, atay o bituka mo ang may kasalanan sa lahat ng nangyari sayo, kundi IKAW mismo!"

19. "Pakawalan mo yung mga bagay na nakakasakit sa iyo kahit na pinasasaya ka nito. Wag mong hintayin ang araw na sakit na lang ang nararamdaman mo at iniwan ka na ng kasiyahan mo."

20. "Gamitin ang puso para alagaan ang mga taong malalapit sa iyo. Gamitin ang utak para alagaan ang sarili mo."

21. "Ang pag-ibig parang imburnal...nakakatakot mahulog...at kapag nahulog ka, it's either by accident or talagang tanga ka."

I appreciate you because...

One session of our team-building the other week was on verifying one's strengths and weaknesses from the eyes of your officemates. We had a piece of blank paper which went around with everyone putting in the strengths (I appreciate you because...) and weaknesses (You need to improve on...) of the name of the person who owned the paper.

Here's what's written on mine.

I APPRECIATE YOU BECAUSE...

...you know how to handle people...dependable, kind, conscientous...ok ka kase alam namin na boss ka namin pero di mo kailangang sabihin yun just [to] have that authority...a good friend...tumututok...quite a cool boss! you know how to separate work from personal things
...cool...supportive...cool boss, salamat!...of your integrity and good thoughts...you're a good leader, keep it up...dependable...super best boss...you know how to handle people with no pressure...mabait at equal lahat ng tingin sa subordinate nya...mabait at objective
...ok ang treatment sa mga tao under you...funny...no pressure on work, you handle us well
...very cool sir!...nice and friendly...astig na boss! galing makisama...happy person...cool
...alam mo na yun...funny guy! makulit din pala, haha...mabuting ama...super manager...nice person...astig na boss (cguro)...humor...matinding boss & funny...best boss, treats equally.

YOU NEED TO IMPROVE ON...

...bawas pang-aasar at paggaya sa ibang tao, hehe...ice breaker (team-building parlor game)...weight loss...just keep it up...free throw...work management...may pagkamaharot...mapanglait, hehe...bilis kumalat balita...malakas ang pang-aalaska...mr.popo...impatient...be more strict!2x...being strict...none!

Bamboo:Tomorrow Becomes Yesterday

Bamboo's latest offering is packaged in their latest album, Tomorrow Becomes Yesterday. The music of Bamboo never fails to strike my fancy since Bamboo Manalac resurrected from the band scene with their self-titled album a few years back.

Packed with 10 awesome tracks, this album's a keeper. Nice!

Pics from Business Planning

Our department had our annual Business Planning session, this time at Montemar, Bataan. I brought along my point-and-shoot digicam so here's a couple of shots I took during that time.

On the way to Montemar I asked the car be stopped when we reached this area just past the Bagac, Bataan welcome sign:

Pics within Montemar:

Taken during one of the group sessions (out of boredom):

Montemar beach:

Pulutan:

35 Random Thoughts

1. I am grateful for being where I am right now. There were good and bad times, but altogether when I look back at where I've been, I'm still grateful.

2. My boy can sing the lyrics of "Get Low" by Flo, "It had to be you" by Harry Connick Jr., "I left my heart in San Francisco" by Tony Bennett, "Ever After" by Bonie Bailey, and all of the Thomas The Train theme songs. He is 2 years old.

3. I really need to slim down. With all the aches and pains that I often feel, it is really time to get serious. I'm 170lbs as of this morning and I need to be slim by 20-25 lbs. Listening/watching Paul Mckenna's shows and audio instructionals didn't help a bit since the supposedly habit-forming technique didn't quite fit in for me. Self-control is the key, right?

4. I've recently had the itch to start up the old band again. I've emailed my bandmates and I hope that we get to play again sometime soon.

5. Bamboo has just released their latest album today. I might try to get a copy of their CD today or tomorrow.

6. The missus and I have yet to finalize the name of our 2nd son although we're sure that Matthew/Mateo/Mattheus is going to be in it.

7. Christmas season is coming up.

8. Will there be a long weekend on the days covering Nov1-2? I hope so.

9. I played in last Saturday's company badminton tournament. I had 4 games in the men's doubles class A division. We won 3 and lost 1. That sole loss was against our CEO partnered with an ex-badminton instructor turned Marketing Senior Manager. Not bad of a win-loss record considering I was able to hit our CEO with a smoldering shuttle off a smash to his chest. Hehe.

10. I really want to go back to the US. The February 3-week vacation was too short. I've been following/watching this HBO series called "Entourage" and I can't help but miss LA everytime the scene goes to a place were I've been.

11. If you need to think of a person who hasn't gone to Boracay, think of me.

12. The first real time I felt I was a hero: I was in 1st (or was it 2nd?) year high school and the neighbors and I were on the street playing a merged version of football/baseball. One of the long-kickers successfully made a home run when he kicked the ball that flew right onto a moving medium-sized truck. I ran as fast as I could to chase the non-stopping truck and climbed the back, got the ball, and went down at the next halting intersection. The other kids thought praised and clapped at the sight of me holding our precious plastic ball.

13. A close friend of the missus says this famous FM DJ is gay. Guess who.

14. I've watched that new ABSCBN gag show called Banana Split. Except for the beautiful Angelica Panganiban, it's not worth watching. The skits/jokes are not that funny. I'd rather watch Goin' Bulilit or Bubble Gang.

15. When will this bear market ever end?

16. I'd still want to go visit the Vatican someday. I'd probably be overwhelmed and welling with tears once I step inside St. Peter's basilica.

17. I've recently joined Facebook. Many say it's like Friendster without the jologs.

18. My motto: Work hard, play harder.

19. The company basketball tournament ended a few weeks back. We won 4 and lost 5. Thus we failed to crash into the semis again. Oh well, there's always next year.

20. I love my wife.

21. I love my two sons.

22. Ask the missus, this is one of the few discussions wherein I won. My parting shot was: Why is it that women always expect that if a guy takes them out for a date, the girl assumes that the guy likes him? Isn't it also possible that the guy is taking this girl out to see if he will eventually like him as his girlfriend? We (men) should have a right to choose, di ba? This argument of course is void if the guy's an ass and takes advantage of the girl leading her into something pointless. The guy should be blind-folded and be shot by a firing-squad.

23. My cubicle's view of the surrounding Ortigas, Pasig, Antipolo area is fantastic!!!

24. I've been envious of my classmates when I was in 3rd, 4th year high school. My family had barely enough back then to get us by and seeing my classmates had lunch-outs in McDo or having the latest Tretorn or K-Swiss shoes just left me wanting. I guess that's why today when I buy stuff I always want it to be the best. I hope I'll be a good provider to my family so that my children will have the best that life has to offer ---provided they have good grades.

25. I almost spent my college days as a DLSU Industrial Engineering student. My mom back then made me realize it wasn't going to be when she honestly pointed out, "You choose: you study at La Salle or we still get to eat 3x a day?" End of discussion.

26. Why is it that most companies here prefer graduates of UP, La Salle, or Ateneo? I think it's downright unfair. Refer to thought #25 for more details.

27. My boss' boss (who's an expat) usually takes mid-afternoon naps during office hours at the nearby hotel he's staying in. Yup, that's money well spent. NOT.

28. My favorite movie: Serendipity.

29. In 5 years I'll be forty. FORTY! Yikes!

30. My goal when I'm 60: happily retired and driving a BMW Roadster with the missus on a Sunday morning going to our Tagaytay resthouse overlooking Taal lake.

31. My dad was the main architect/designer for all the branches of the then-famous Coney Island Ice Cream. My favorite flavor was Bubble Gum.

32. I have only played poker 3 times and that was all with the missus' friends. I've always won the pot each time.

33. My boy's food preference in ascending order: rice, meat, soup, vegetables, and chocolate.

34. The missus and I still try to beat each other on who's the first to greet the other on every 17th of the month ---our monthsary.

35. I love my life.

In-Ear

I've just bought a pair of A4Tech in-ear earplugs since my last in-ear earphones (a pair of Belkin I bought at the HK airport last 2006) had one of its plugs stopped working and had to be retired.

The A4Tech metallic in-ear design is awesome! My laptop volume is at the low end but the bass and treble is sounding loud (and clear!) with these ear buds on ---plus zero (as in WALA) noise/sound from the outside.

Great buy!

Macro

With fantastic SLR-shooting by bloggers of ouramazingplanet.com and Strange Fruit, I've gone into rediscovering the nitty-gritty functions of my point and shoot digicam to see if I have what it takes to be a photographer.

I found a great function in my Canon IXUS750 called Macro that gives better detail of the subject that one tries to shoot. Well it's not SLR grade, but I feel quite impressed by the few "artistic" shots I attempted the past few months.

Nokia's iPhone

The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic. Hmmm. I hope this one's cheaper than the iPhone.

If it is, then it's something to think about as a Christmas gift ---for myself (wink wink).

The World's Greatest Get-Rich Formula

Read here.

The Gang's All Here!

"Meron nang Heroes 3," my sister said.

That was all I needed to spend my Oct1 holiday morning going thru the torrent pages and start downloading all my favorite US shows in their latest season:

1. Heroes
2. How I met your mother
3. Entourage

Yebah!

***

Here's a video of Shaun the Sheep. Scanning between ABC5 and Nick-Jr every morning for my boy to view while sipping his bottle of milk, I chanced upon this show after the melee of Barney, Bob The Builder, Yo Gabba Gabba, and High 5 were done.

Well my boy doesn't like it. But the missus and I found ourselves laughing silly everytime. Here's a sample I found in YouTube: