There was an earthquake this evening, and I couldn't help but imagine the ceiling falling in and me and my co-workers buried underneath rubble. We were dizzy for a few minutes after, but our fears quickly subsided when nothing awful happened.
I had dinner tonight with a friend I hadn't seen for a while. We talked about a few people and looked over our shoulders.
After being dropped home, I checked our podcast numbers and they looked pretty good. I tried pimping Toro Y Moi to a trio of friends coz I had talked too much about the "Friday" girl over the past couple of days. I talked about dogs with a friend online, and then I went to type this out.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Dad's Bday
It's difficult to maintain more than one blog. Different audiences, sensibilities and purpose. I have started doing some writing and podcast recording for a blog called Urban Exchange. It's a different experience from the quiet that I experience here in Urban Fervor. For one thing, that blog is more heavily promoted. There are links on our Facebook walls. There are discussions about improving the site layout, and future topics of discussion for podcast. It is definitely fun and interesting. It doesn't lend itself though to much rambling or introspection. Perhaps just the short cut variety that is palatable to many others.
* * *
It was my dad's birthday this weekend. He is 67. I couldn't help think that it's a fortunate thing that he is still up and kicking, since this past several weeks, 3 people I know lost their fathers. They died from various ailments. The history that is such in our family is that our men don't suffer lingering illness. They just keel over.
For birthdays and celebration, I use the occasion as an excuse to try out a new recipe. I tried to make Waldorf Salad. It didn't taste as good as I expected it to be. I believe it is a function of the recipe, which made it not too interesting. I was able to practice making mayonnaise however.
* * *
* * *
It was my dad's birthday this weekend. He is 67. I couldn't help think that it's a fortunate thing that he is still up and kicking, since this past several weeks, 3 people I know lost their fathers. They died from various ailments. The history that is such in our family is that our men don't suffer lingering illness. They just keel over.
For birthdays and celebration, I use the occasion as an excuse to try out a new recipe. I tried to make Waldorf Salad. It didn't taste as good as I expected it to be. I believe it is a function of the recipe, which made it not too interesting. I was able to practice making mayonnaise however.
* * *
Sunday, January 2, 2011
fast start
Holidays are about over, and this suits me just fine. I'm looking forward to heading in work tomorrow, and seeing what kind of surprises await me in my inbox.
They say a new year is a new start. Definitely. And in these intervening days, conversations and circumstance have conspired for me to start planning towards a new direction towards the middle of the year. As with some of these important decisions, there is uncertainty -- I don't know the possibilities, I don't know the full risks. The biggest risk of all however, seems to be remaining still. As move further into the year, the picture should clear up more and more.
* * *
From the 24th Dec to 2nd Jan, I was mostly in QC. Today I'm back in Makati. I've unloaded the largesse (?) of the holiday season into the apartment. A few new things to wear. Food items to sustain me. New books to read. My Bookshelf by the Door has new arrivals. They are stacked next to my notebook pile [ it is a little ridiculous, as I write things in notebooks that I will scarcely every look into again ].
I have some idea of the direction that I want to take this year. . .I figure that I will need to rest a lot, since in between, I plan to play hard.
* * *
My gift to myself this holiday season is a Mark Bittman cookbook. Hardly any photos but loaded with information. The most intriguing book I received is a well-illustrated and sufficiently nerdy, "Business Model Generation". The best trip during the break was finally visiting Everybody's Cafe in San Fernando. Thank you PJ and NJ.
The biggest surprise of the holiday season was talking to someone from six months ago. I really shouldn't second guess my instincts. . .
They say a new year is a new start. Definitely. And in these intervening days, conversations and circumstance have conspired for me to start planning towards a new direction towards the middle of the year. As with some of these important decisions, there is uncertainty -- I don't know the possibilities, I don't know the full risks. The biggest risk of all however, seems to be remaining still. As move further into the year, the picture should clear up more and more.
* * *
From the 24th Dec to 2nd Jan, I was mostly in QC. Today I'm back in Makati. I've unloaded the largesse (?) of the holiday season into the apartment. A few new things to wear. Food items to sustain me. New books to read. My Bookshelf by the Door has new arrivals. They are stacked next to my notebook pile [ it is a little ridiculous, as I write things in notebooks that I will scarcely every look into again ].
I have some idea of the direction that I want to take this year. . .I figure that I will need to rest a lot, since in between, I plan to play hard.
* * *
My gift to myself this holiday season is a Mark Bittman cookbook. Hardly any photos but loaded with information. The most intriguing book I received is a well-illustrated and sufficiently nerdy, "Business Model Generation". The best trip during the break was finally visiting Everybody's Cafe in San Fernando. Thank you PJ and NJ.
The biggest surprise of the holiday season was talking to someone from six months ago. I really shouldn't second guess my instincts. . .
Monday, December 13, 2010
good things
One can't really make people do awesome things. One can only create the right environment; and the people take care of the rest. . .
The managers and staff of our firm are subjected yearly to a mandatory team building event, where we are grouped into colors, have to think up a group name, have to make a group cheer, have to make a creative presentation, have to purchase an exchange gift, and are given all other kinds of delightful requirements.
I gave my group the name "Green Phlegms" but then had to change it (for the better) to "Green Minds" when the organizing committee weren't too happy with the original name. I thought that we were simply showing that we had a sense of humor.
The event was in a sprawling resort in Tagaytay. Though I thought that our team gelled together quite well, we came in dead last after all the points from the games were tallied. A couple of us were also quite pissed that some members of other teams were quite obnoxious about winning something like a sack race. I felt fully redeemed however when our Glee-inspired song and dance number won during 'show time' in the evenings socials. (Aside: who would have guessed that I had an officemate who'd give Myx VJ's a run for their money. . )
The most fun part of the night started however after the partners and some less fun folk had left for bed. Armed with a laptop containing dance music tracks and a karaoke machine, plus more than enough beer, we started a series of epic party games. We played a modified statue dance where someone would laugh at your face while one's frozen. We also did those line up games where we had to organize ourselves by the number of girlfriends or boyfriends we each had.
The best game however was musical chairs where the competitiveness was of a different level. I still remember a colleague's face planted on the seat of a chair as she literally dove her way towards winning the game's prize -- 100 pesos gift certificate for Starbucks.
The next morning, there was enough good will leftover that we explored the resort's obstacle course and grounds and took enough cheesy photos to fill an album.
* * *
Saturday afternoon was the wedding of a good friend, mountaineer and sporting buddy, JV, to Dennis, also a friend, but someone regarded as more on the fashionable and cultured side (not saying that JV is a lightweight but anyway). The ceremony and reception was in Wanakasa Farm, which sounds like some grass growing on a plot, but really is more like a Balinese inspired house with two wings, interior design enough for a good magazine, and an infinity pool at the back just next to a cliff.
The wedding had great food (and i'm not just saying this), the atmosphere was warm yet elegant, but most importantly, it was a real joy seeing JV and Dennis really enjoy each other as a newly married couple. JV kept on smiling and laughing and Dennis kept on giving people hugs.
Our table was a hoot thanks to Elmer, Raymond, Hazel, Lui, Nel, Suwann and Joseph.
* * *
The Benedicto Siblings had space in Cubao X for two afternoon-evenings to sell furniture, pillows, totes, and t-shirts that they had designed themselves. They also had art on notebooks, cards and paper; a selection of books and music; skateboards and pre-owned bicycles.
Mic showed me how to use the CD mixer so that I felt like a DJ . . .still wearing clothes from a wedding reception earlier in the day. Bob told me that he was thankful that he had moved into Cubao, and the artistic and creative community that he had thus gotten more exposure to. I stayed with them til they closed down for the early morning.
* * *
Sunday was the annual Abrera reunion. This year it was Auntie Willie who hosted in Alabang. The turn out wasn't so big this year, but it was good still meeting those who had turned up. The Palawan Gang (Nonoy + the Joses who had come along); the Melquiades side -- including Uncle Jess who just wouldn't shut up (in a good way). Great to meet cousins who were much older, and nephews and nieces who really should just be our cousins. Kel and I put up a forgettable song number (Israel something's version of Over the Rainbow).
The evening's highlight though, I thought, was the Trivia Night bit that Pinky had thought up and done for the whole family. Awesome. How many of you have trivia during your family reunions?!? Maybe it isn't so uncommon, but it was the first time it happened in ours, and it wasn't generated by me. :)
Before we went home, Pinky showed us the most heartwarming thing. A piece of paper had the trivia question written by her son Paco: who are the favorite Abrera family member's of Paco in tonight's reunion? Answer: Kel and Fabian.
Apparently, Kel had been told by Paco earlier in the night that we were his favorites.
Perfect way to end the weekend.
The managers and staff of our firm are subjected yearly to a mandatory team building event, where we are grouped into colors, have to think up a group name, have to make a group cheer, have to make a creative presentation, have to purchase an exchange gift, and are given all other kinds of delightful requirements.
I gave my group the name "Green Phlegms" but then had to change it (for the better) to "Green Minds" when the organizing committee weren't too happy with the original name. I thought that we were simply showing that we had a sense of humor.
The event was in a sprawling resort in Tagaytay. Though I thought that our team gelled together quite well, we came in dead last after all the points from the games were tallied. A couple of us were also quite pissed that some members of other teams were quite obnoxious about winning something like a sack race. I felt fully redeemed however when our Glee-inspired song and dance number won during 'show time' in the evenings socials. (Aside: who would have guessed that I had an officemate who'd give Myx VJ's a run for their money. . )
The most fun part of the night started however after the partners and some less fun folk had left for bed. Armed with a laptop containing dance music tracks and a karaoke machine, plus more than enough beer, we started a series of epic party games. We played a modified statue dance where someone would laugh at your face while one's frozen. We also did those line up games where we had to organize ourselves by the number of girlfriends or boyfriends we each had.
The best game however was musical chairs where the competitiveness was of a different level. I still remember a colleague's face planted on the seat of a chair as she literally dove her way towards winning the game's prize -- 100 pesos gift certificate for Starbucks.
The next morning, there was enough good will leftover that we explored the resort's obstacle course and grounds and took enough cheesy photos to fill an album.
* * *
Saturday afternoon was the wedding of a good friend, mountaineer and sporting buddy, JV, to Dennis, also a friend, but someone regarded as more on the fashionable and cultured side (not saying that JV is a lightweight but anyway). The ceremony and reception was in Wanakasa Farm, which sounds like some grass growing on a plot, but really is more like a Balinese inspired house with two wings, interior design enough for a good magazine, and an infinity pool at the back just next to a cliff.
The wedding had great food (and i'm not just saying this), the atmosphere was warm yet elegant, but most importantly, it was a real joy seeing JV and Dennis really enjoy each other as a newly married couple. JV kept on smiling and laughing and Dennis kept on giving people hugs.
Our table was a hoot thanks to Elmer, Raymond, Hazel, Lui, Nel, Suwann and Joseph.
* * *
The Benedicto Siblings had space in Cubao X for two afternoon-evenings to sell furniture, pillows, totes, and t-shirts that they had designed themselves. They also had art on notebooks, cards and paper; a selection of books and music; skateboards and pre-owned bicycles.
Mic showed me how to use the CD mixer so that I felt like a DJ . . .still wearing clothes from a wedding reception earlier in the day. Bob told me that he was thankful that he had moved into Cubao, and the artistic and creative community that he had thus gotten more exposure to. I stayed with them til they closed down for the early morning.
* * *
Sunday was the annual Abrera reunion. This year it was Auntie Willie who hosted in Alabang. The turn out wasn't so big this year, but it was good still meeting those who had turned up. The Palawan Gang (Nonoy + the Joses who had come along); the Melquiades side -- including Uncle Jess who just wouldn't shut up (in a good way). Great to meet cousins who were much older, and nephews and nieces who really should just be our cousins. Kel and I put up a forgettable song number (Israel something's version of Over the Rainbow).
The evening's highlight though, I thought, was the Trivia Night bit that Pinky had thought up and done for the whole family. Awesome. How many of you have trivia during your family reunions?!? Maybe it isn't so uncommon, but it was the first time it happened in ours, and it wasn't generated by me. :)
Before we went home, Pinky showed us the most heartwarming thing. A piece of paper had the trivia question written by her son Paco: who are the favorite Abrera family member's of Paco in tonight's reunion? Answer: Kel and Fabian.
Apparently, Kel had been told by Paco earlier in the night that we were his favorites.
Perfect way to end the weekend.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
NU 107
It seems like everybody this week is saying goodbye to NU 107. Now that news has spread that NU will be changing its format, moving from a ROCK radio station to whatever passes as commercially viable these days, people have started sharing on Twitter and FB their fondest memories of the station. . . of the memorable DJs, the Rock Awards, and of the Music.
Tina asked me earlier in the week something along the lines of, "Do you still listen to NU 107? I haven't done so in the last 10 years." It's a fair question, because even as many of us are nostalgic saying our goodbyes to what is a strong memory of our youth, most of us have already said goodbye to this station, to this era, for many years now. . .
* * *
So earlier today buzz built on twitter on how censorship be damned and the DJs were doing whatever they wanted, since the station was closing. I enjoyed my tweet being read on the air: that I'd be so pissed that I could not finish Jessica Z's (and Claire's?) show Twisted in the morning coz I had to be in class. Quark said such a memory dated me; I was proud to have been dated as being of that time.
* * *
And they did pull out all stops. Oh my god. I was in stitches and literally crying when Quark started playing on-air a friend's (long) phone recording of a security guard having phone sex. Said security guard was working in the call center of the friend . . . and there was even a deliberate interruption to ask if the Jollibee delivery had arrived. All smiles.
* * *
I can only imagine the other things I missed :)
Tina asked me earlier in the week something along the lines of, "Do you still listen to NU 107? I haven't done so in the last 10 years." It's a fair question, because even as many of us are nostalgic saying our goodbyes to what is a strong memory of our youth, most of us have already said goodbye to this station, to this era, for many years now. . .
* * *
So earlier today buzz built on twitter on how censorship be damned and the DJs were doing whatever they wanted, since the station was closing. I enjoyed my tweet being read on the air: that I'd be so pissed that I could not finish Jessica Z's (and Claire's?) show Twisted in the morning coz I had to be in class. Quark said such a memory dated me; I was proud to have been dated as being of that time.
* * *
And they did pull out all stops. Oh my god. I was in stitches and literally crying when Quark started playing on-air a friend's (long) phone recording of a security guard having phone sex. Said security guard was working in the call center of the friend . . . and there was even a deliberate interruption to ask if the Jollibee delivery had arrived. All smiles.
* * *
I can only imagine the other things I missed :)
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Namee's dad, Noel, passed away Thursday afternoon. This is sad news. My fondest memory of him is his periodic query on book I was currently reading. This was part of our conversation in Salcedo market, and there were many times that I would join Namee's family for lunch under the white tents in the park. I had always found him a very nice, mabait and cool person.
* * *
There are ends, and there are beginnings. I had spent a good chunk of Saturday evening in San Fernando, Pampanga where the wake for Tito Noel was. This Sunday afternoon however, I was garbed in safari attire (or what passed for it) for Michelle's son's 1st bday. This pavilion at Blue Leaf was all jungle (what a production I thought, but MJ assured me that this is NOTHING compared to what some of these kids' parents are springing for these days. Read: renting out the Makati Shang Ballroom). The hosts were kind of enough to provide a bar (!) for grown-ups so it wasn't only the kids who were having fun. I had a couple of drinks, and saw Joelle, Norman, Ina, Mike (Ina's husband), Erika, and all these kids. Ramon is the cutest of Ina's kids now, but then I think that's coz he's the baby and not yet one.
* * *
I'm preparing for Quiz Night on Tuesday @ 121 allegro. My first hosting gig, along w/ a friend Jason.
* * *
There are ends, and there are beginnings. I had spent a good chunk of Saturday evening in San Fernando, Pampanga where the wake for Tito Noel was. This Sunday afternoon however, I was garbed in safari attire (or what passed for it) for Michelle's son's 1st bday. This pavilion at Blue Leaf was all jungle (what a production I thought, but MJ assured me that this is NOTHING compared to what some of these kids' parents are springing for these days. Read: renting out the Makati Shang Ballroom). The hosts were kind of enough to provide a bar (!) for grown-ups so it wasn't only the kids who were having fun. I had a couple of drinks, and saw Joelle, Norman, Ina, Mike (Ina's husband), Erika, and all these kids. Ramon is the cutest of Ina's kids now, but then I think that's coz he's the baby and not yet one.
* * *
I'm preparing for Quiz Night on Tuesday @ 121 allegro. My first hosting gig, along w/ a friend Jason.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Sunday with another crazy family
I spent a good chunk of Sunday with the Jojo L and Family. We started off at Rockwell Bazaar (disappointing), then did the usual rounds of going to a health food store (rice dream!), hardware (light bulbs!), and the grocery (apples!).
For drinks, we went to L'entrecote at Burgos Circle. I would like to return because they have adopted the concept of only serving one dish: steak and fries. This is something I last had in Geneva; and the restaurant owner kindly explained that the idea actually originated there in the 40s before it moved to Paris in the 60s.
The restaurant has to learn how to communicate this concept better though. Some eaters in our party were taken aback with the menu: that's it? where are the other plats?
I can imagine that from a inventory management point of view, steak and fries as the only main dish has its benefits. :)
We had dinner at the nearby restaurant, Just Thai. Nothing special.
We noticed that these new restaurants in Burgos Circle really need to up the ante on service. L'entrecote took more than 20 minutes to process a senior's discount. Orders in Just Thai took 45 minutes to arrive. And in BOTH, just outside their doorstep, were flies, bugs and mosquitoes. Jo quipped that it feels like we're eating in a construction site.
* * *
Watching J and his dad interact is always interesting. I didn't notice the bad service so much because I was talking to them the whole while. The conversation was the usual fare with this particular Tito: UAAP basketball, politics, investments. .
* * *
Today was the boss' birthday. My tummy is lined with cebu lechon, dinuguan, pancit, puto and turon. All eaten during merienda time. Dinner is off for me.
For drinks, we went to L'entrecote at Burgos Circle. I would like to return because they have adopted the concept of only serving one dish: steak and fries. This is something I last had in Geneva; and the restaurant owner kindly explained that the idea actually originated there in the 40s before it moved to Paris in the 60s.
The restaurant has to learn how to communicate this concept better though. Some eaters in our party were taken aback with the menu: that's it? where are the other plats?
I can imagine that from a inventory management point of view, steak and fries as the only main dish has its benefits. :)
We had dinner at the nearby restaurant, Just Thai. Nothing special.
We noticed that these new restaurants in Burgos Circle really need to up the ante on service. L'entrecote took more than 20 minutes to process a senior's discount. Orders in Just Thai took 45 minutes to arrive. And in BOTH, just outside their doorstep, were flies, bugs and mosquitoes. Jo quipped that it feels like we're eating in a construction site.
* * *
Watching J and his dad interact is always interesting. I didn't notice the bad service so much because I was talking to them the whole while. The conversation was the usual fare with this particular Tito: UAAP basketball, politics, investments. .
* * *
Today was the boss' birthday. My tummy is lined with cebu lechon, dinuguan, pancit, puto and turon. All eaten during merienda time. Dinner is off for me.
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