A few hours before Christmas Eve

This is how our Greenhome looks on the night before Christmas.




It is Christmas clutter at our greenhome that will help spread good cheer to families and friends.


It is a few hours before Christmas and am scribbling these holiday cheer from our kitchen. From where I seat, the street across our Legazpi Greenhome is empty. Not a single car is parked. The windows of the call center at the building across are closed. The blinds cover any activity going on. Guess, none. Only a couple of cars are parked in the parking area below.


Earlier, I quickly passed by Don Bosco to pick up desk calendars with artworks of Joey Velasco. (Photo of Joey Velasco besides his famous painting from http://joeyvelasco.com) Joey received the 2008 Blessed Philip Rinaldi Servant Leader award. I had written about his work in Code RED, which was publsihed last December 2007. He received the award last December 6 during the 9th Asia-Australia Congress of Past Pupils of Don Bosco program held in Pampanga.

Guess, it was really God’s plan to allow me to catch up with Fr. Armand Robleza, SBD. Earlier, from work I called and talked to Madz Nayve to make reservation for those calendars. She told me that she would just leave the calendars and extra copies of the current issue of Code RED at the reception. I knew that I wasn’t going to make it earlier at Don Bosco because of work.

Yup, I am still working through this day as I needed to get a draft proposal read by client soonest. Plus, a couple of publicity materials out for CITEM. Work cut into our planned visit to Greg’s place for the annual “Cotyfest” in honor of Tita Coty Cobangbang. We missed that event last year as Chief and I were in the States and now, we are missing it again due to work.

Anyway, back to Fr. Armand. He was preparing to leave the compound and visit his mom and family in Antipolo for noche buena. We did get to talk for a few minutes, updating him on the challenges and concern Grace and Max were having for their new baby, Zak, who has been in and out of the hospital. And we talked about our parents and their relationship with their children.

Plus, about the rush for shopping. “They have their own way of packing and preparing gifts,” says Fr. Armand. He is referring to wives and how husbands like me get out of the way of their wives during Christmas shopping.

The only shopping I did this season are the calendars by Joey Velasco and the Swatch I got for Chief last Sunday.

Happy holidays everyone!

Coffee at Chateau 1771

Earlier, Chief and I caught up with Bingo and Mila Pantaleon at Greenbelt 5. Manny Gabutina and his son, Jag, dropped us off at Greenbelt where Chief and I could have dinner. Actually, we were just tamad to cook and prepare food at home. We still had paksiw na lechon at home. But really, just tamad. Hehehe. And besides, it was a couple of days before Christmas eve and I felt tonight was the rare night Chief and I would have together this season as reunions lie ahead for the next few days.

We ended up at Le Maison in Greenbelt 5. It was a little crowded. And the “macho chops” I ordered had run out. Huh? Albert, the waiter explained that the last piece had been ordered. Huh? He gave a recommendation but I opted for calamari (friend squid). It was little too "cracked" meaning a little too breaded... that it had sharp corners and service from the corner where we sat a little to slow. But still a good place to dine. Anyway, am not a food critic. This was our second time here. Our first dining experience was last August... my birthday.

Into our dinner, we both get text messages from Bingo and Mila… asking if we were free for coffee? That was perfect timing and advised them that we were just in Le Maison having dinner. Around 9pm, both were standing in front of us.

It was great to see good friends again!

We moved to Chateau 1771 for coffee and desserts. Mila noticed that I quickly talked to Hazel, the receptionist. I actually just mentioned to her that EON had it’s Christmas party at this restaurant only last Friday and she said that she remembered me. Actually, just PR. Chateau 1771 in Greenbelt 5 and is open until 11 p.m. for dinner on Fridays and Saturdays. For inquiries, ask for Hazel but dont mention my name. You can call 729-9760 or 0917-862-6467. One day soon, I would like to taste their grilled king prawns. Photos from www.3mddigitalsolutions.com/chateau


Mila proudly showed off pictures from Unilab’s anniversary “Warrior” event. Both she and Bingo were wearing Indonesian inspired costumes. Both shared kuwentos about the parade that showcased its heritage and growth. Symbolic items like the first cash register, the first Unilab product package, etc. was passed on to the current leaders of the company.

It quickly brought back memories of how our own friendship grew since those days back in Saigon, when Chief was with McCann Erickson Vietnam and Bingo was Marketing Director of United Pharma.

Today, we hope to visit them in Jakarta next year but for now, also hope to catch up with Maribel Regino.

After coffee, Chief and I walked home while both rushed to Rockwell for last minute midnight shopping.

Waffles at Flapjacks

It is the last weekend before Christmas.

Last Saturday night, Chief was busy… busy packing and wrapping gifts for families, relatives and friends. I met up with Chief at Greenbet 1 where she bought some gift bags at National Book Store.

Later, she wanted to have merienda at Flapjacks. This restaurant in Greenblet holds beautiful memories for Chief and I, as well as my cousins, who were here from the East Coast last June 2008. Photo shows Renelle, Ben and Patrick, and their mom, Tita Nenen, and Cecile and Gil, and Fritzi Pilar.

Actually, only she had merienda, which was really a late lunch for her. She had eggs and corned beef. Me? Just waffles but my order of waffles never came as their machine “broke down.”

Chief said that waffles and pancakes was supposedly their “core competency.” And how could that happen? We got a little disappointed as the waitress, Jen, didn’t even bother to inform us that my order would be taking extra long or wouldn’t be served at all. It was until Tom, who had greeted us earlier, advised us that the waffle machine was not working and offered a replacement. Huh? Chief had nearly finished her food.

So, we paid the bill and before we could raise our complaint to the next level, Tom had offered three pancakes for free. Good PR really but they should advice Jen to be a little more sensitive to customers. After all, there were only two couples when we were there and that really is not much work. Maybe, she was rushing out through her shift to get some Xmas shopping done?

I told Tom as we were leaving, “May utang ka sa akin na waffles.” And they greeted us Merry Christmas!

Pacquiao Quick Facts

Am sure many families stayed at home last Sunday to watch Pacquiao defeat dela Joya. And with his win, even a few more parents named their babies Manny or even Pacquiao. And his success gives more meaning to Filipino pride.

Here are some quick facts about his recent win, specially, his presence on HBO.

1. According to HBO, the fight at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas generated about 1.25 million pay-per-view buys.

2. It is only the fourth time a non-heavyweight bout in the US reached at least one million. Interesting to note that Oscar De La Hoya has been in the ring in all the four fights.

3. Pacquiao will get an estimated gross amount worth $11.2 million or P548.8 million from the above earnings. Can you imagine how many poor families that amount can feed for one year?

4. Pacquiao’s previous pay-per-view high was 405,000 buys registered last April in his rematch against Juan Manuel Marquez.

5. It is his birthday on December 17! He is turning 30.

6. Guess who gave him a carrot cake decorated with a red boxing glove and a green boxing belt with the inscription "World’s No. 1 Pound-for-Pound Fighter."

7. He has the World Boxing Council (WBC) Flyweight, International Boxing Federation Super Bantamweight, WBC Super Featherweight, and WBC Lightweight world titles. And the first Asian to do it!

8. He lost to incumbent Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio, when he ran as congressman in South Cotabato’s first district in 2007. I hope he doesn’t make his presence in politics. He only be used by “trapos.”

9. His first name is Emmanuel.

10. He rode a 22-foot float for a motorcade-parade in General Santos City