Free Donuts on Father's Day

Last Sunday afternoon, after Chief and I had walked around the shops at High Street, in The Fort, Bonifacio City. we went into the Krispy Kreme outlet. It was our first time to be in Krispy Kreme. And this is also their first outlet in the Philippines. And it was also the first time to see the donut making process. Fresh out of the oven.

This donuts chain have gone a long way since 1937 when Vernon Carver Rudolph, the founder of Krispy Kreme, bought a doughnut shop in Paducah, Kentucky, from a French chef from New Orleans. At that time, Vernon received the rights to a secret yeast-raised doughnut recipe. Probably, the “melt in your mouth” secret recipe.

Customers who were in line, along the long window between the customer area and the kitchen, could actually watch the operation of the doughnut making machines. The machines produce rings of dough, yeast raise, bake, deep-fry, flip, and glaze the doughnuts. There is a sign "HOT doughnuts now."

I got one free donut as I waited in line and gave it to Chief. She ate half and I are the other half, after I had paid 385 pesos for a dozen donuts and free Krispy Kreme coffee mug. Not bad, specially, on Father’s Day!


Today, Chief gave six donuts to her Nestle Team, while I would bring the other box of six for our PR Team. Trans fat or not, the donuts taste good. But would not make it part of my daily eating habit. Maybe, only on “Father’s Day.” And maybe, next year, Chief and I, like really proud parents, will be here with a little toddler

Cheers to all dads in the world like me!

Fantastic Wedding

It was a fantastic wedding. Yesterday, Chief and I went to watch "The Fantastic 4 and the Rise of the Silver Surfer." In this ovie, Reed gets married to Storm, played by Jessica Alba. The first attempt of their marriage was at the rooftop of a building in the middle of Manhattan. Been there. But not yet done that! hehehe.



But with the threat to destroy the earth, the Fantastic Four jumps into action against the Silver Surfer. The wedding is stopped for another day.

Back in November 2001, Chief and I also had our own fanstastic weding. Not at the rooftop of a building in downtown Ho Chi Minh City. But on the 4th floor of "Nha Tho Duc Ba" along Le Van Sy. It was a busy Monday morning. Just like Dr. Reed who was preparing the tracking machine that would track down the Silver Silver. Chief was busy managing McCann Erickson Vietnam. But there was no threat of annnihilation in HCMC. Just another day in an advertising agency.

The Sound of Music on Father's Day

Today is Father’s Day. And I owe it all to Christian Gabriel. As wives and kids treat their fathers out today, Chief and I are enjoying a quiet, slow and relaxing Father’s Day here at The Fort, in Bonifacio City.

We had lunch at Brother’s Burger. TGIF was full and people, rather, families were waiting in line. That would take away the fun of Father’s Day.

Now, here at the Coffee Bean, somewhere in “The Fort” along High Street, Bonifacio City, I am scribbling about Father’s Day.
Chief is enjoying her brewed coffee while reading Nick Joaquin and is probably eager to go around to look for a new clothes cabinet for our Greenhome.

Last Friday night, when we had Ricki Arches, CEO and President of McCann WorldGroup at home for dinner, together, with Agnes Francisco, Ricki mentioned to Chief that we needed separate clothes cabinet in our bedroom. Hahaha. Would that still fit in our 70 sqm condo at Legazpi Towers 100.

Earlier after Mass at St.John Bosco Church, we tried to find the Makati’s own antique alley somewhere in Barangay Bangkal.

After asking for directions, we did find the alley. But most of the shops were closed. Only one shop was open, and our fingers flipped through old vinyl long-playing records and laser disks. Each costs only 25 pesos. A real bargain. We got the soundtrack of the Sound of Music and a collection of big band music by Glenn Miller. A small kid named Michael was initiating conversation, encouraging us to look through the rows of old records.

“Mayroon ba kayong Beatles?” I asked. But he would definitely not know the Fab Four.

Guess, wherever Christian Gabriel is right now…. Looking down upon Chief and I here at The Coffee Bean, is probably smiling and saying, “Happy Father’s Day” Dad!

William Turner

Tonight, after hearing Mass at St. John Bosco Church, Chief and I went to watch Pirates of the Carribean 3 "At End's World."

I was touched by the relationship of William Turner (played by Orlando Bloom) on his father, "Bootstrap Bill" Turner played by Stellan Skarsgard

Turner is a blacksmith turned pirate who hopes to free his father who is cursed to serve an eternity aboard The Flying Dutchman. He is slowly losing his humanity, and grows confused over whether his son will rescue him or not.

Wil is determined to save his father at all costs. Even Elizabeth, played Keira Knightley, tries to save her own dad as she she sees his soul pass by in a dinghy. Her dad is murdered by Cutler Beckett played by Tom Hollander. She is unable to save her dad and vows to avenge her father's death.



Towards the end of the movie, Will must spend ten years with the Flying Dutchman while Elizabeth waits and am assuming they had a kid already. Now, Wil and Elizabeth are parents too.

Looking back, if I had only courted Chief much much earlier... maybe, when she was still with J Walter Thompson, then would have a little man watching "At World's End."

7 Years

Seven years ago, today, my dad, Hector Urbano Velez, passed away and moved on to another life.

It was seven years ago, today, when Chief and I received an early morning call in our 1st Greenhome in Ho Chi Minh City. The call came at around 2am. It was my sister, Violet. And she was crying. Immediately, we felt that it was bad news. Sad news. Terrible news. I could feel tears and sadness in our home in BF Paranaque. Miguel was crying. The three girls, Carla, Geneve and Nicole were still asleep, unmindful of what was going on at home.

I talked to mom. Trying to comfort her. Assuring her that we would be on the first available flight back to Manila.

After the call, Chief and I stood outside our veranda. Just holding hands. Close to each other. We were both still in tears. I kept recalling my last phone conversation with my dad. "Na-miss ko na iyon mga midnight snack natin," he said to me. And I would quickly remember how we would wake up at around midnight, eat some biscuits, drink coke or have some ice cream.

He also said, "Baka hindi mo na ako abutan."

When I left Manila (April 2001), I know he felt really sad that I moved on beyond BF and start a new life with Chief in Vietnam. And to this day, those images of me packing my bags and going to the airport are as vivid as they can be. My dad didn't bring me to the airport. My last image of him was... he was seated near the dining table. I was teary-eyed. Holding back my tears. Trying to be strong for my parents.

Today, seven years after, there are still tears in my heart. Some questions which will never be answered. But am sure that my dad, Hector Urbano Velez, looks down upon Chief and I every day.... smiling and very proud of us.

I love you dad. Miss you terribly.