Cocktail Hour

This may not be the most graceful exit, but I know when the bottle's empty.
---Doug, Cocktail 1988

When I was in my early 30s, I used to down four to eight bottles of San Mig Light. But now, when I go out with friends, it would take me forever to knock back two bottles. And lately, I’ve been favoring cocktail drinks than beer.

I am no cocktail drinks expert but my favorite Alabang watering holes are Tia Maria’s, Gilligans, and Aplaya. I think I’ve been to most of the bars in Festival Mall’s Green and Grills area. Aplaya’s piña colada (rum, coconut cream, pineapple juice) tastes better than Gilligan’s, and it goes with a paper parasol. But I like Gilligans’ daiquiri (rum, lime juice with cherry as garnish), both the banana and mango variants. Tia Maria’s strawberry Margarita (tequila mixed with triple sec and lime or lemon juice, often served with salt on the glass rim) is too sweet. I have also tried Payao’s version (rating: good enough), while I find the one served at VoxBox (a videoke place at the 4th Level of the mall) too warm.

There was also a time that I thought Long Island Iced Tea (gin, tequila, vodka, rum on the rocks) was simply an iced tea variant. I didn’t know that it was just named such due to its resemblance to the good old iced tea. May amats pala.

But yes, I would still enjoy a bottle or two of SML with Alex at Antakya (4 bottles for Php100 during happy hour) while listening to a band or watching the stand-up comic acts, and at our Pacita hang-out, Big Cha (where they usually play 80s music) with our usual pulutan of french fries, pork sisig and calamares. When we spent a night once in Mauban, we went to a local pub in front of the hotel and drank beer with garlicky peanuts (for him) and inihaw na isaw/tenga ng baboy with super spicy vinegar dip (for me). Simple pleasures for simple folks like us.

Cheers.

The Ballad Of - Hale

YouTube - Hale - Kung Wala Ka

YouTube - hale nescafe

YouTube - Hale - Shooting Star

Caehl's School Pic

I thought the photographer would have a hard time but Nanay Ev said Caehl behaved well, clapping his hands after each take.

The Written Word

The other night, with the lights already turned off, I espied Caehl tinkering with my cellphone in the dark. It turned out he was typing letters in my Calendar, which read “papamamaatemegpiatita”. Put space in between and there goes papa (my father), mama (my mom), ate meg (my niece), pia and tita (my sisters).   As I watch him adding “titodeng” (my brother) to it, I could see the awe in his eyes as the letters form the names. Next, he was writing his name “caehlandreeuanacunacapiz” and as he struggled with the letters, repeatedly saying his name (and listening to the sound) so he could spell it out, his forehead would furrow a bit and his face would lighten up afterwards.   There goes another fan of the written word.   After a while, I think the TV addict in him showed, as I saw what he wrote next: snnbingomyx (snn, bingo, myx), saying in between “Boy and Kris…Play on!”   That morning, we went to his school to follow up on the directress’ assessment (of him) and to enroll him next. Teacher Mely said she has consulted a daughter’s friend, an occupational therapist who thought that Caehl was probably “sight reading.”   To sight read, she explains, means to read with the aid of images, associations, letters or words one repeatedly sees or is exposed to. For example, a child may be able to “read” apple or banana because there’s a letter A or B beside it, or Jollibee or McDonald’s, because he is familiar with the logo or the sign, or “Amarillo” because of his exposure to Dora the Explorer. But she asked Caehl to join him in the room and read a Kindergarten book (which contains only words and no pictures). Later she told me Caehl was able to read it, thus she is dumping the sight reading theory. “He truly can read,” she declared.   A month ago, she was telling us of the reading process, citing the aid of sounds or use of syllabication. She was wondering how Caehl can read without going through it. Maybe it’s the lutein in Progress Gold. Maybe it’s genes. I don’t know.   She told me she will still research on Caehl’s “gift” and consult with her colleagues from Philippine Normal University on how to nourish or handle it properly. In the meantime, he’ll be accepted to the Nursery level. Personally, even though I know Caehl’s reading skills are advanced for his age (3-1/2), I still think he should start from Nursery to be able to socialize with kids his age and to learn other skills from scratch. Sure, he can draw lines or doodles but he still cannot write his name with a pencil. Moreso, he’s just tall at 3 feet and a half pero beybing-beybi pa talaga. Iba pa din yung “maturity” na nakikita ko sa mga 4 or 5 year olds. I’m worried that if he’ll get together with kids older than him, baka mahiya siya.   I remember Cae skipping Kinder A after her summer classes and going directly to Kinder B level at age 4. Looking back now, I am not sure if that was a brilliant move. Pitted against 5 and 6-year old kids, she became more like a follower, going with the flow with her older classmates. While having the edge over her peers before, she became just one of the guys. Even up to now, Cae is still a baby compared to her 16-year old classmates. Matangkad nga lang. Somehow, one can’t help but admire her even though she’s not an honor student. With her contemporaries a level below her, here she is, attacking Chemistry and Geometry and Algebra, and yes, coping.   Back to Caehl, the only challenge Teacher Mely sees is he might be bored with the three-letter words (sun, dog, cat, bed) Nursery students should be able to read at the end of the school year. But I think we’ll take things in stride. If the time comes that we’re in a better position to say that Caehl should really be put somewhere else, then we’ll decide when we get there.

More Summer Fun Pics

Tito Deng's birthday April 10, Papa's birthday (swimming at Hacienda R), and Nanay Ev's birthday April 13

Easter Sunday 2009

Held at my house with Caehl and my two nephews Dom and Dean as participants. Si Azalea ang promotor, as usual.

Senior Moment

Last Monday was the first time (ever) Cae went through school enrollment all by herself. Yes, she’ll be a high school senior this SY 2009-2010. As a mom who was forever doing all the enrollment for this young lady, I was quite proud of her initiative, “Ako na lang mag-e-enroll, Mommy.” And, taking note of her dad’s order, maaga pang natapos at diretsong umuwi, hindi na gumimik.   Wala lang, natuwa lang ako. It never entered my mind to delegate this task to her. For one, I like doing it myself, lalo na iisa lang naman siyang nag-aaral for the longest time. Even in paying her monthly tuition, minsan ko lang siya utusan, but the rest, ako pa din.   Alex and I are wondering what course Cae will take up in college. I think she prefers to go to La Salle like her Tita. We would have wanted her to go to UST as well but we now find that part of Manila quite far. I don’t think her dad would allow her to live in a dorm.   One time, she and Alex were talking about it when I butted in, “Ano, you like Accounting?” Before she could answer, may isa pang sumabad, “Like Tita?” Caehl asked. Akala mo naman, alam na niya ibig sabihin nun.   Communications or Multimedia Arts would suit Cae, taking into consideration her personality, skills, interests, and of course, the genes. But Alex says it might be wise to ask her to take up a BS degree, “Para mas ma-disiplina siya.” Pag nga naman arts-related, kikay na nga, lalo pang ma-u-unleash ang pagka-kikay.   Makes sense. This led us to a discussion of what should really be considered in choosing a college course. Alex cited examples of children whose parents chose their courses for them. While some have failed, “Marami din naming naging successful,” he insisted. It might be difficult at first, I remember him saying, but eventually, the child would cope.   English and Communications have always been my family’s forte. But for practical reasons, my siblings took up other courses. In my case, there was no doubt as to what I was going to take up in college. Even my high school teachers and school publication adviser knew. Lalo na parents ko. Wala ng discussion pa. It was just a matter of where to go. My choices were UP and UST. I was already enrolled in UST when I got the notice that I passed the UPCAT. Still, there were no regrets on my part. Looking back, I believe pang-UST talaga ang beauty at personality ko. It was where I met Alex, what more can I ask for?

The Water's Fine Part 2

Medz Resort, GMA Cavite*April 7, 2009

Come on in, the water's fine!

Medz Resort, GMA Cavite*April 7, 2009

Cae turns fifteen

March 30, 2009

A Night at Star City

We thought we had to be there early to enjoy the rides (well, at least for Alex and Cae). But getting there by 7:30pm was still all right.The crowd was manageable and we had a nice time. Ride-all-you-can tickets were free courtesy of Alex (part of their Christmas party treat) but we spent more on food (Azalea and I went eat-all-you-can, we're no carnival fans) and the extras (Dino Land, Snow Park, etc). Si Cae, walang katakot-takot sa rides. KJ daw kami. At least, tumili naman kami sa dinosaurs.

Prior to that, we watched Fast and the Furious at the Power Plant (for free again, thanks to MOP, a PIAA client), picked up my sister at her Pioneer condo, and had Joey Pepperoni pizzas.

What more can you ask for on a Saturday (it was actually a continuation of our anniversary celebration)?

At Seventeen*

Yup, Alex and I just turned 17. I always pass on this joke to my friends that only half of that were ours, referring to the years when we truly loved each other. The other half, well, were spent (or wasted) on other things. 

Seventeen is a great number. It’s one of my favorite numbers actually since I was born on the 17th of September. It’s a number that is often cited in songs, “She was just seventeen. You know what I mean.” “'You are the Dancing Queen, young and sweet, only 17”. Did you know that “At Seventeen” by Janis Ian was originally written as "I learned the truth at eighteen”? But the singer found that the word "seventeen" worked better than "eighteen" when she tried to put melody to the lyrics.

I often write about me and Alex, our anniversaries, our relationship in general – what we have and have not done; what we have done right and what we have done wrong; how we come clattering down once in a while and how we get up each time we fall; how I thought I knew it all, that I knew everything.

But not quite, I know that now.

Reality check: sadly, some of the ideals I used to believe in, stand for and hold dear do not hold true anymore, and I have accepted (and am still trying to accept) that. There are actions that I cannot undo, events that I won’t be able to foresee, and people that we certainly can do without. For things that I just can no longer change, wala na kong magagawa kundi tanggapin, try to control what's left (and what can be controlled) and go on with life as happily as we could.

At seventeen, I know better.

Disclaimer: You don’t have to agree with me, you don’t have to believe me. You’re entitled to your own opinion. More so, these do not really sum up my life. Random thoughts lang.

Life and love are more than these, of course.

1. First love dies. I can’t even remember who it was.
2. Kay tamis ng una mong halik is not true. Again, I can’t even remember who it was.
3. It takes two to make a thing go right. In saving a marriage, hindi pwedeng isa lang ang may gusto or nag-e-effort. Dapat pareho kayo. And do it because you want to, not because you have to.
4. In a relationship, there are three versions: the girl’s, the guy’s, and the truth.
5. The most wonderful of all things in life is the discovery of another human being with whom one's relationship has a growing depth, beauty and joy as the years increase.
6. God made many puzzle pieces, but only those two 'cut out' for each other can fit together to create a perfect and beautiful picture. Kung hindi ikaw ang missing piece niya, wag ipagpilitan ang sarili. Kung mali, mali.
7. The life and love we create is the life and love we live. There are people who intentionally, deliberately mess up other people’s lives. Once in our lives, or maybe not just once, we encounter such careless people.
8. Huwag matigas ang ulo. Iyan ang ikapapahamak mo. We live only once. Live it well, live it right.
9. I used to tell my mom, life is short. And she would ask back, why make it shorter. Sabi na nga ba, makinig sa magulang. Parents know best. Since I have become a parent myself, sold na sold ako sa idea na ito. Wala pa ring tatalo sa Alaska.
10. From Alex: love is something that must be worked on on a daily basis.
11. Sabi nila, sometimes love is not enough. Well siguro nga, but perhaps love could make everything easier. Sabi nila, love makes the world go around. Well siguro nga, but perhaps love just makes the ride worthwhile.
12. Metaphorical, but I like this: Love is the thing that enables a woman to sing while she mops up the floor after her husband has walked across it in his barn boots.
13. From Alex again: (I learned) to subjugate the "self" in favor of the family.
14. Walk the talk. Kung ano yung sinasabi mo, yun din ang gagawin mo. Hindi yung puro salita, tapos iba naman ang ginagawa sa totoong buhay.
15. Sabi nila, for a relationship to work, there must be trust and communication. Sa akin naman, the person to whom you’re according that trust should be trustworthy, too. And you must find out what method of communication suits you best. Different strokes for different folks.
16. There are questions that seem to have no answers. I once read that the key is to be patient and not to search for the answers which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. Maybe someday, you will gradually live your way into the answer. In His time.
17. Move on.

*Copyright © Janis Ian/her co-writer(s) if any/their publisher(s). All rights reserved.