Avengers: Endgame is now the Worldwide Highest Grossing Film

It took three months but Avengers: Endgame finally passed Avatar and is now the worldwide highest grossing film. The 22nd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has now earned a global gross of $2.790 billion, just moving past Avatar's $2.789 billion.

Many were expecting Avengers to achieve this feat earlier after it obliterated many box office records. It passed $1 billion in only 5 days and it passed $2 billion after 2 weeks. Unfortunately, it ran up against a lot of other films with strong box office draws such as John Wick 3, Pokemon Detective Pikachu, Godzilla: King of Monsters, Dark Phoenix, Aladdin, Toy Story 4, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and The Lion King. It lost a lot of steam and its weekly grosses started to slow down significantly.

Avengers: Endgame passed Avatar's first record of worldwide gross before any re-release (Avatar earned $2,749,064,328 before it was re-released and Endgame passed this mark in end-June). Now, aided by a re-release of its own two weekends ago, the fourth Avengers film has broken Avatar's record for the highest global gross. The people behind Avatar have acknowledged this and very graciously congratulated Avengers: Endgame on social media:

Congratulations, @MarvelStudios! pic.twitter.com/DWZDX0uDVi

— Avatar (@officialavatar) July 22, 2019

I've read some articles that highlight the fact that Avatar sold more tickets than Endgame and that Endgame only has the record because ticket prices now are higher than they were ten years ago when Avatar was released. While this is true, if we were to adjust all tickets sales based on inflation, neither film would be sitting at the top of the list. Instead, Gone with the Wind would have the record, followed by Titanic. (See list here.) In any case, the overall record not counting inflation is still an incredible feat and I'm sure many Marvel fans around the world are celebrating.

Wimbledon 2019

Over the last few years, the common question about tennis' Big Three - Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic - has been how much longer they would stay at the top and who would eventually take over. So many young guns have showed up over the last several years who had the talent to potentially challenge them and more recently, the big three have faced some big losses against the next generation players such as Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas. That said, the Grand Slam tournaments continue to be the domain of the Big Three, as they have combined to win the last 11 majors, including this recently concluded Wimbledon. In fact, all three made it to the semifinals, with the two top seeds Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer battling it out for the title.

13 years
47 showdowns
1 of the most storied rivalries in sport #Wimbledon | @DjokerNole | @rogerfedererhttps://t.co/Zx23MWTBjm

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 14, 2019

In the end, top seed and world number 1 Novak Djokovic produced an incredibly gusty and mentally strong performance to edge past Roger Federer in a tremendously dramatic five-set win. Novak Djokovic have to save two match points - and he did it on Roger's serve! - and the final had to be decided by the first-ever fifth set tie-breaker in Wimbledon Singles play, a change implemented at the tournament this year. Novak now has five Wimbledon titles and 16th Grand Slam singles titles. In the total Grand Slam count, he is only 4 behind Roger and 2 behind Rafa. With no other consistent challengers to the big three and with Djokovic continuing his mastery over Roger and Rafa (he leads his head-to-head records against both of them), he may very well surpass both and end up with the record for most Grand Slam titles. It will be interesting to see how things turn out over the next few (or even several) years.

World No.1 @DjokerNole is well known for his physical fitness, but Sunday's final required toughness of a different kind...#Wimbledon https://t.co/nW5qxw6T2K

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 15, 2019

On the women's side, Simona Halep trounced Serena Williams in straight sets, 6-2 6-2, to claim her first Wimbledon title and her second major win (she won the French Open last year). Simona played a tremendous match, retrieving so many balls and forcing Serena to hit one more shot. In this high stakes final, Serena just couldn't sustain her shot-making and she couldn't stay with an inspired Simona. How inspired was she? She hit only three unforced errors the entire match. That is a record for the fewest unforced errors in a ladies' singles final. While many people were disappointed that they didn't get to see Serena tie Margaret Court's record, I was very happy for Simona who looked to be in disbelief when she won and couldn't contain her joy.

One for the mantelpiece 📸#Wimbledon | @Simona_Halep pic.twitter.com/3VAeUTRvTT

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2019

Congratulations, Novak Djokovic and Simona Halep!

Obi-Wan vs Darth Vader Reimagined

I came across this video on social media and as a Star Wars fan, I was immediately drawn to it. The original Star Wars movie came out in 1977 and since then, fight scene choreography has improved leaps and bounds. It is great seeing this reimagined light saber duel between two of the most legendary Jedi in the Star Wars saga.

video created and uploaded in youtube by FXitinPost

Tough Week

Last week was tough. First, my brother was hospitalized. He was confined for several days and he needed to undergo a critical operation. Unfortunately, he doesn't have decent medical coverage where he works and his hospital bill was pretty substantial. I contributed to the payment, which meant that my savings took an unexpected major hit. While it was painful, I have to be thankful that at least we, as a family, had enough resources to help bring my brother back to full health.

As if that wasn't enough, our cat passed away. He got sick over the weekend and while the vet did some tests and tried to give him meds to make him better, his health continued to deteriorate rapidly. I eventually got a call from the vet saying that they weren't able to save him. He was an old cat who got sick and as the vet said, it is difficult for old pets to fight off disease.

It didn't help that the week was bookended by two annoying inconveniences. It started with a flat: I ran over a screw that punctured my tire. Thankfully, I was near a vulcanizing shop at the time that my tire lost pressure so I just had to run flat for a short distance before getting my tire fixed. The week then ended with a mix-up at the catering company where I placed a food order for my family for the weekend. When I was ready to pick up my order, I had to wait for several minutes and before being told that they lost my order. Argh. It then took 30 minutes for them to prepare three of the four dishes I ordered - I had to cancel the fourth item. - and by then it was lunchtime already and my family was waiting for the food I was supposed to bring home. It was a stressful end to a difficult week. Hopefully, things start getting better.

Wingspan and More Gaming in 2019

Wingspan is one of the most hyped board games that came out this year. It's been so in-demand that most board game companies in Manila don't have it in stock anymore. Thankfully, my friend Jovan was able to get a copy which we played in my most recent board game night. The objective is to have as many birds live on your board and get them to lay as many eggs. This simplistic explanation makes it sound like a bore but it's actually very interesting and complex, with so many options and ways to win. We played it twice and on the second game, I managed to win with 96.5 points. Cool! I look forward to playing this game again, not only because it's really fun but also because it's very aesthetically pleasing, with beautiful artwork and well-designed game pieces, such as the multi-colored eggs and the bird house dice tray.

Wingspan

I also got to play many other really interesting games for the first time. Treasure Island has players trying to find the treasure that Long John Silver hid somewhere on the island before he escapes his prison and finds his way back to the treasure. Root is an asymmetrical war game where the winning condition of each faction is different. Villainous features six different Disney villains trying to be the most villainous of them all (this game has awesome art and is perfect for Disney fans). Legendary Encounters: The X-Files provides an awesome X-files flavor to this popular deck-building game. Bob Ross: Art of Chill Game requires players to paint popular elements of Bob Ross' many paintings, such as fluffy clouds and happy little trees. :) Finally, I got to try Unlock, which is just like an escape room. This game is so cool that I now want to get my own copy so I can run it with my other friends, even those who don't normally play board games, because I'm pretty sure they will enjoy it.

Treasure Island

One of the more interesting game nights I also had recently was the Scythe night that I organized. I missed playing this game and I hadn't played the expansions that I got so I asked my friends if any of them were interested in a night where we play at least a couple of rounds of Scythe. A good number of them agreed to join. We played only two rounds because people's schedules prevented them from arriving early and by the time the second game was done, most people had to leave. I haven't managed to win in this game but I still absolutely love it and it continues to be in my top 5. I'm now thinking of organizing another Scythe night but hopefully, people can arrive earlier so we can play up to 4 or even 5 rounds LOL.

Also, achievement unlocked: I finally played a game of Legendary where we managed to beat the Mastermind. Making it a bit more serendipitous was the fact that we played it the week that Avengers: Endgame came out. The way we won was also just like what you see in the movies where the heroes win at the very last moment. There was one villain card left, which means we only had one round left. However, we also had one mastermind card left so we had a chance. I had amassed a lot of Captain Marvel cards which, when played together, can inflict a lot of damage, but I wasn't quite sure that I would generate enough attack points to kill the mastermind. I was hopeful because one of the cards in my hand allowed me to draw two more cards. As I drew the two cards, we did the math and I ended up having more than enough attack points to kill the mastermind. Yes! What a nailbiting finale! While I didn't win the game - I was tied for second place - this continues to be one of the highlights of my year for a board gaming standpoint. :)

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

Last weekend, I watched Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. I decided to see it because I realized that I have been seeing a lot of shows that are presented by foreign producers and that feature foreign performers and I wanted to support local shows too. I went with a couple of friends and I'm very happy I saw it because I enjoyed the show tremendously.

I actually didn't know enough about this musical except for the fact that it featured songs of legendary song-writer Carole King, such as So Far Away, Will You Love Me Tomorrow, and (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, and You've Got a Friend. I actually thought it would be something like Mamma Mia where you have a story about fictitious people and the music would be performed as part of their story. As it turns out, Beautiful is about the life of Carole King - the music she wrote and the music of  her time, the significant people in her life, her trials and tribulations, and of course her triumphs. It was very interesting to see the friendly competition she and her husband had with their best friends when it came to writing music and having their songs sung by popular artists. It also allowed us to see what Carole was thinking when she wrote her songs. When I now listen to the lyrics of It's Too Late, I now have a better understanding of the context of that song in relation to what she was going through and it makes me appreciate the song even more. Of course, a musical about Carole cannot be complete without including her critically-acclaimed and most commercially successful album Tapestry, which is regarded as one of the best albums of all time.

The souvenir program si designed to look like a vinyl record. Cool!

It was really great to hear all these incredible songs written by Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Cynthia Weil, Barry Mann, and other artists all in the same show. (Apparently, Neil Sedaka's Oh! Carol is named after Carole King, whom he dated in high school.) The downside for me to having such familiar songs is that at least a few people in the crowd sang along. I don't particularly enjoy hearing the audience sing along in musical theater because I want to hear the amazing voices of the artists LOL. The cast was great, including Kayla Rivera as Carole, Nick Varricihio as Gerry, Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante as Cynthia, and George Schulze as Barry. I also really like the set, with its psychedelic sixties design. Unfortunately, photos inside the theater are not allowed.

I highly recommend Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. It is showing at the Meralco Theater until July 7 so see it while you still can. Tickets are available at Ticketworld.

Random Stuff

Whenever I see an ice cream cake, I keep thinking to myself that I want to bring one home as a weekend treat but somehow I never do. That is, until last Father's Day. I went to the mall with the intention of getting a cake from Sans Rival but when I got there, they had run out. It was then that I passed by Dairy Queen and spotted a variety of ice cream cakes that were decorated specially for Father's Day. Perfect! Running out of cakes in my original choice turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Not only did I get to bring home an ice cream cake which I had been wanting to do for a while, I also got a very appropriately-decorated Father's Day cake. Oh, and it tasted great, too! :)

I also recently visited Mandalay, a speakeasy or hidden bar in Makati. (Technically, a speakeasy isn't exactly a hidden bar but that's how the term  is used nowadays.) It's the first time this year that I went to a bar because I significantly reduced my alcohol intake for health reasons. However, my doctor did say that if I had enough sleep and I wasn't tired, I could have a drink. Mandalay is really cool. It has a very cozy and chill vibe and I can imagine spending a few hours here hanging out with friends. Except for the fact that the drinks are very expensive LOL. I ordered Don't Forget, a cocktail that has Chairman's Reserve Forgotten Cask Rum, lime juice, sugar syrup, cherry heering, and orange juice. This drink cost a whopping P850 (plus service charge!) but it was very good.

Despite having ice cream cake and alcohol recently, I've managed to stay true to the diet and lifestyle change that I started a few months ago, which involves eating less of the bad stuff and more of the good stuff. I have now lost a total of about 16 pounds or more than 7 kilos. I didn't expect that at all. I think I have now stopped losing weight so what's important is for me to try and sustain my diet and to keep exercising whenever I can. It helps that there is a Salad Stop! nearby. They recently added a seasonal menu item: Caulifornia Dreamin' which has cauliflower cheese patties. It looked quite appetizing when I saw the picture so I tried it. While it's on the expensive side at P375, I really enjoyed it, especially the patties so I think I may try this salad again before it is taken off the menu.

Swan Lake by Moscow Ballet La Classique in Manila

Last Saturday, I had the privilege to watch Swan Lake performed by the Moscow Ballet "La Classique". It was the first time I got to see this classic ballet by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and I was truly blown away.

I learned about this show in early April and I immediately wanted to see it. I texted my mom to see if she was wanted to watch it too and she said yes. I went to SM Aura the next day to get tickets at Ticketnet. My mom and I agreed to watch the final show on June 22.

The tickets weren't cheap but they were absolutely worth it. The production was amazing, with grand sets - I especially liked the palace backdrop - and beautiful costumes. More than that, the performers were incredible. The Russian Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Yaroslov Tkalenko, was excellent and the dancers were sensational, especially the leads. There were so many memorable moments, a couple of which I will talk about in a bit, but one of my favorite sequences was the Dance of the Little Swans. It was a bit unfortunate that the stage was quite slippery that night. Three people - Baron Von Rothbart, a woman in the chorus, and I think it was Princess Odette - all slipped during the first act. Thankfully, there were no more accidents in the second act. Nevertheless, the show was still fantastic and the cast and the orchestra got a well-deserved standing ovation during curtain call.

The lead female playing Princess Odette and Odile was replaced by Oksana Bondareva, who we got to see that night. Oksana is such a beautiful,strong, and brilliant dancer and she performed magnificently, drawing massive raves from the audience. The pas de deux numbers were awe-inspiring and in one of them, she does a pose that that drew applause from the crowd even while the performance was still ongoing: she maintains a very difficult pose en pointe with no assistance. Here is a video of Oksana doing this pose; check it out at 4:40 (I'm starting the video at 4:32 so that you don't have to wait too long to see it). I can't imagine how much talent, skill, and training are required to pull this off!


video uploaded by Антуан Мальцев

As if that wasn't enough, shortly after, Oksana impressed the crowd yet again with a dazzling pirouette sequence that lasted for more than 20 seconds and had her moving forward slowly on stage while still doing her pirouettes. I kept muttering 'wow' under my breath until she finished and the audience, including me, erupted in awe. Here is a video of her doing that same sequence (I'm starting the video at 0:37 when she starts her pirouettes).


video uploaded by Антуан Мальцев

It was too bad there was no program because I really wanted to know who the other cast members were, especially the jester who himself does a more-than-20-second pirouette sequence in Act I (here is a video of the jester's pirouettes). I also have to say that the New Frontier Theater isn't exactly the best venue - the seats were too cramped with no arm rests and the chairs sloped downwards, making them a bit difficult and slippery to sit on. Still, these were minor inconveniences and the experience as a whole was still truly magical.

I watched a couple of ballets in Russia when my mom and I went there in 2013 but we weren't able to see a show at the Bolshoi Theatre so I guess seeing a show in Manila that featured Bolshoi star Alexander Volchkov - he played Prince Siegfried - is the next best thing. I'm very happy that I have now seen Swan Lake, which is one of the most popular and celebrated ballets in the world.

Zomato Gold

Recently, some of my friends recommended that I use Zomato Gold, an annual subscription in the Zomato app which gives subscribers free food or free drinks in select restaurants. (Note that a minimum of two guests are required to get the free food or drinks.) Since I don't eat out a lot with other people and since I've been trying to eat less this year, getting free food or drinks from this app didn't seem all that appealing to me. That is, until multiple dinner plans were made this month. When I knew I was going to meet up with Meg and with Cel and Zaza, I thought it might be worth subscribing to Zomato Gold. That way, I could get a free dish or drinks. The annual subscription fee is P600 (at least when I downloaded the app) and you get a P120 discount if you apply someone else's discount code. As such, I ended up paying P480 for my one-year subscription that expires in June next year.

Calderon
https://www.zomato.com/manila/calderon-salcedo-village-makati-city

For my dinner with Meg, I suggested Calderon, a Spanish restaurant in Salcedo Village. I had never eaten there before but Meg has. Calderon gives Zomato Gold subscribers a free dish when you order at least one other dish. I ordered the Bacalao ala Vizcaina (P380), which is salted fish cod simmered in olive oil, tomato sauce, pimiento, and spices. Unfortunately for me, I thought it was a bit too salty.

Bacalao ala Vizcaina from Calderon

Meg said she normally orders the Gambas al Ajillo (P310) or shrimp in olive oil when eating in Calderon and that night was no different.

Gambas al Ajillo from Calderon

For our free dish, we got the Pescado Croquetas (P280) or potato balls with sole fish. I love croquettes and I often order them when I dine in Spanish restaurants. I really liked this dish; meat and potatoes are always such a great comfort food. :)

Pescado Croquetas from Calderon

Mazendo
https://www.zomato.com/manila/mazendo-1-salcedo-village-makati-city

Since both Cel and Zaza work in Salcedo Village, we agreed to have dinner there (my second time in this area in a week). I shared possible venues with Zaza and Cel and from that list, we ended up choosing Mazendo, a Taiwanese Restaurant. Zomato Gold subscribers get a free dish when you order at least one dish. I ordered the Taiwanese Style Pork Chop Noodle Set (P330).

Taiwanese Style Pork Chop Noodle Set from Mazendo

Zaza ordered the Hainanese Chicken Rice (P340).

Hainanese Chicken Rice from Mazendo

For our free dish, we got the Pan-fried Dumplings (P240).

Pan-fried Dumplings from Mazendo

Unfortunately, Cel got caught up in a major work issue and by the time she joined us, she said that she was no longer hungry. She did eat the dumplings that we set aside for her before we moved to another place for coffee and dessert. I suggested Single Origin Osteria which also had a Zomato Gold promo for drinks and was just two establishments away and both of them agreed.

Single Origin Osteria
https://www.zomato.com/manila/single-origin-osteria-salcedo-village-makati-city

There is a key difference between the free food promo and the free drinks promo of Zomato Gold. The free food promo allows the group to get the cheapest dish for free, which means the group can order any of the item from the menu. For the free drinks promo however, the group orders two drinks and they two more of those exact same drinks for free. Cel had initially wanted to get milk tea but she decided to just get Zaza's free drink, the House-Made Ginger Ale Craft Cocktail (P140); she said she could just have milk tea the following day. I ordered a Duomo Decaf served via French Press (P175) which meant I got an extra press that I shared with Cel and Zaza. We also ordered the chocolate cheesecake to share. Unfortunately, I can't remember what it is called exactly - it's not on the menu on zomato so I guess it is a new dessert in Single Origin - and how much it cost but it was good. (It looks good too!)

chocolate cheesecake from Single Origin Osteria

In the short time since I downloaded the Zomato app and subscribed to Zomato Gold, I've used it three times and I already got a return on investment. It really is value for money, especially if you eat out a lot with your friends and/or family.

Three Weeks, Three Dinners

Over the last few weeks, I got to meet up with some really good friends for dinner. The first ones were my ex-colleagues from my second job. Amy, John, and their kids were in Manila for a few weeks so we had dinner with them in Little Flour. Me-ann organized the evening and it turned into a mini-reunion because I also got to hang out with Romi and Mike for the first time in a really long time. Also there were Joh, Raffa, and Alvin. It's been about a year and a half since I last saw Amy and John so it was great getting to catch up with them. It's also cool that Amy got a very well-deserved promotion recently so that provided an additional reason for us to celebrate (not that we needed any :)).

A week later, I met up with Meg in Makati. We had been talking about having dinner for a while now but it was only last week that our schedules matched. We has such an animated conversation that evening, ranging from travel plans and tips to watching concert to politics to our issues with people cutting in line LOL. We had dinner in Calderon in Salcedo Village, the first time I ate there. (I will write in more detail about this in my next post.)

Finally, just this week, I had dinner with Cel and Zaza. While I get to see Zaza quite often, the last time I saw Cel was during the Coldplay concert where we happened to be in the same section of the audience. For the second week in a row, Salcedo Village served as our dinner venue. We met up first in Mazendo where we enjoyed Taiwanese dishes before moving next door to Single Origin Osteria for drinks and dessert. There was a lot of catching up that evening - both Cel and I had started new jobs since we last saw each other - and the discussions went from serious to hilarious, including Cel's very funny celebrity sighting. It was close to midnight when we parted ways and even then, it felt like our time with each other was too short. I guess we need to organize another get-together soon, and hopefully our other friend Doms will be able to join us then.

Movie Watching 2019

Godzilla II: King of the Monsters

photo from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godzilla:_King_of_the_Monsters_(2019_film)

I've been a fan of giant monster movies since I was a kid so watching Godzilla II: King of the Monsters was a no-brainer for me. I thought the 2014 Godzilla film was enjoyable enough but wasn't 'wow', but when I saw the many trailers of this second film (such as this one and this other one which is my favorite) and seeing all the monsters that would be making appearances in the movie, I coudn't wait to see it. So much so that I watched it on its opening day.  And it didn't disappoint. In fact, it actually exceeded my already very high expectations. If there wasn't enough exciting monster battle action in the 2014 film, this one totally made up for it. The fight scenes between Godzilla and Ghidora were epic, the introduction of Rodan as he came out of the volcano was absolutely kick-ass, and Mothra was so beautiful that you couldn't help but root for her. The effects were also stunning (even the posters are so aesthetically pleasing, such as these ones). There are many references to the old Godzilla films that will please its fans. Even the Godzilla and Mothra themes in this 2019 version are based on the original themes. I really enjoyed and was so thoroughly entertained by Godzilla II: King of the Monsters.

Aladdin

photo from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aladdin_(2019_film)

I was hesitant to see Aladdin because I saw a clip of Prince Ali online and I was a bit on the fence about it. However, a friend of mine said that he really enjoyed the live action version of the 1992 animated film. That sparked my interest. When I checked Rotten Tomatoes, I saw that while the critics had mixed reviews at 57%, the general audience rated the film quite positively with 94% (as of this writing). So I made up my mind to see it. And I'm glad I did. SPOILER ALERT: stop reading now if you don't want to know details of the story. It sticks to the original story for the most part but makes adds a few things to make the film a bit more relevant and strengthen the original social commentary about women's equality and changing traditions to make society better. It keeps most of the original songs (Jafar's song was taken out though, too bad) and adds a couple of new ones. I thought the best production number was Friend Like Me. I think the live action adds to the depth of emotion: there was a bit more suspense in the scenes where Jafar was trying to be deceitful and manipulative and Aladdin setting the genie free was more heartwarming. All in all, this was a pretty good remake and I'm happy I got to see it while it is still showing. 

PRU Life policies for my nephews

One of the most important and "adult" things I've done this year so far is to get PRU Life investment and insurance policies for my nephews.

How it came about: I'm at that stage of my life where I think of and plan what I need to do to secure my future when I retire. While I already have my own investment and insurance policies, it has always been on my mind to secure my future and the future of my family even further. However, at my age, the value I get from a policy is nowhere near as good as what a much younger person would get. I then thought that it could be a good idea if I get policies for my nephews, both of whom are still really young. Even if I put just a little money now, by the time they retire, that pot could be huge.

I reached out to my friend Joyce who is a PRU Life agent and asked her if it was possible for me to get policies for my nephews. She prepared a few options and after a few meetings, I decided what I wanted (and could afford) to get for them. I held a family meeting with them, my brother/their dad, and my mom to explain the policies to them and make sure they understood what it covered. I then submitted the application and thankfully, they were both approved. Cool! Now my nephews are guaranteed to get something when they are older and hopefully the fund value is worth a very good amount by the time that they retire (or when they really need to use it).

Mr. Moriarty Room in Mystery Manila

My friends and I recently tried the Mr. Moriarty Room in Mystery Manila at Ayala the 30th. We wanted to do this two years but unfortunately, this room was under construction at that time so we ended up trying the Rebel Resistance room instead. It was only recently that we resumed our discussions on the Mr. Moriarty room. We agreed on a date, I booked it online, and we were set!

Unfortunately for us, we didn't solve the mystery. We were tremendously close, though. Despite our misfortune, I really enjoyed this experience. I also really like the room set-up; while I'm a Star Wars fan, I personally feel that the Mr. Moriarty room is cooler than the Rebel Resistance room. It's definitely worth a try.

While our luck run out in the room, we did find some fortune. We went there during their promo-week: BUY 1 GET 1 FREE mystery game every Monday to Friday that was valid from May 21 to 31:



As such, we got a free voucher for another trip to Mystery Manila. My friends and I are now thinking of trying to conquer the Harry Potter-inspired Sorcerer's Stone room. Now we just need to agree on a schedule and book it. Hopefully, we will be successful in our next Mystery Manila visit.

Nadal wins his 12th French Open title!

Rafael Nadal, the undisputed King of Clay, just won his 12th - yes, 12th! - trophy at Roland Garros. Wow, just wow!

YOU CAN’T STOP THE KING 👑
@RafaelNadal is the 2019 @rolandgarros champion 🏆 pic.twitter.com/zMw8SAFq7p

— ATP Tour (@ATP_Tour) June 9, 2019

Words cannot fully encapsulate how monumental this achievement is but here are some stats to try and frame the magnitude of Nadal's win:

• Rafa alone holds the record - male or female - for the most titles at a single Grand Slam event at 12. He tied Margaret Court last year when he matched her 11 Australian Open titles with his 11th French Open title but he just moved past her record now.
• He also matches Martina Navratilova for winning a single tournament the most times. Navratilova won the Virginia Slims of Chicago 12 times. No other player has won a single tournament more times.
• His 12 French Open titles equal Roy Emerson's total Grand Slam singles title haul. Emerson previously held the men's record with 12 majors before Pete Sampras overtook him in the 1990s. Nadal's tally of 12 also exceeds Rod Laver's and Bjorn Borg's total slam count of 11. So all of Nadal's wins are matching and exceeding the total tallies of some of the greatest male players of all time.

Merci @rolandgarros for this amazing experience. 12!! Still can't believe it pic.twitter.com/iNj8Me4iRJ

— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) June 9, 2019

• Nadal now has 18 Grand Slam singles titles, equaling Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert. A couple of decades ago, it was unimaginable that the greatest male players would match the Grand Slam records of the best women players. (Sampras had the record at 14 while Court had 24, Steffi Graf had 22, Helen Wills Moody had 19, and Navratilova and Evert had 18). Now Federer has passed Navratilova and Evert and Nadal has matched them.
• He now has a win-loss record of 93-2 in Roland Garros. That is just staggering.

Despite being a Rafa fan, I felt really bad for Dominic Thiem towards the end of the match and during the trophy ceremony. At some point in the 3rd set, he started looking dejected. While he continued to show flashes of brilliance, it looked like he ran out of gas. One has to think that Thiem's tough semifinal against Novak Djokovic that went to 7-5 in the fifth set and had to be played over two days - until the late afternoon of Saturday - had some effect. It must've taken a lot of will power and physical energy to edge Novak in a match that could so easily have gone either way, with all its twists and turns up until the very end. I do hope that Thiem wins this tournament in the near future. If there was any one player who I wouldn't mind as much to take the throne from Rafa, it is Thiem.

🇦🇹 @ThiemDomi deserves plenty of 👏 for his run at #RG19

📷: @rolandgarros pic.twitter.com/996KEp5UPV

— ATP Tour (@ATP_Tour) June 9, 2019

Rafa has already been one of the greatest players of all time for a while now so he didn't need this win to prove that. Nevertheless, his 12 French Open titles may very well be a record we never see getting broken in our lifetimes and I feel very privileged to witness history in the making.

Congratulations, Rafael Nadal!

Downtown Cafe in Angeles, Pampanga

On our way back home to Manila from Bataan, we decided to have a late lunch in Downtown Cafe in Angeles, Pampanga. This restaurant is by Chef Claude Tayag who is known for Bale Dutung. In fact, the Bale Dutung website indicates that "if you do not have reservations and just want to sample the food, you can go to Downtown Cafe". I was up for eating in a restaurant I had never eaten at before, so when Downtown Cafe was suggested, I readily agreed.

Downtown Cafe is located at the Quad at Nepo in Angeles. The food here is really good but I was so hungry when we got there that I forgot to take photos. (You can check out the menu here.) The highlight of our order was the Bagnetta, which is a cross between Ilocano bagnet and Italian porchetta. This dish is presented differently from any other crispy pork dish I've had so I naturally had to take a picture.

Bagnetta

Aside from the really good food, this restaurant also has a really interesting vintage theme going on, with images of Filipino celebrities from the 20th century adorning one wall and photos of the menu items plastered on the opposite wall. There's also a working jukebox. How do I know that it is working? The kids of my friends actually tried it.

In the wash area, Ginebra San Miguel bottles have been converted into hand soap, alcohol, and hand sanitizer dispensers. Cool!

I'm happy I got to have lunch in Downtown Cafe because the food is excellent, the service is friendly and efficient, the atmosphere is relaxed and casual, and the decor gives you a warm feeling of nostalgia. I definitely recommend this place to anyone who is near the Angeles area or will be passing by.

Downtown Cafe
https://www.facebook.com/downtowncafe1956/
The Quad at Nepo, Plaridel Street, Angeles City, Pamgpanga
0917 676 1689

Sinagtala Resort in Orani, Bataan

My high school friends and I recently went on an weekend getaway as our summer outing. A few suggestions were made and we had initially thought of going to a beach resort in Zambales but we unfortunately the places we were interested in were unavailable. Iona then suggested Sinagtala Resort in Bataan. Her family had been there before and they enjoyed their stay. It looked really nice in photos so we agreed to spend a weekend there.

Sinagtala is in Orani, Bataan, about 2 1/2 hours from Metro Manila (passing through SCTEX). It's like a resort community; there's the main area with a pool and a variety of adventures and activities that guests can experience.

The Sinagtala Adventure Park is probably the highlight of this resort. There are four activities - Sky Bridge (P100), Sky Zipline (P350), Sky Bike (P200), and Sky Swing (P200). Guests can get an All Ride Package for P750. There is also a Kids Zipline, Paintball, a River Trek, and a Waterfall Trek. I didn't feeling like doing any of these activities but some of my friends tried the Sky Swing and the Sky Zipline.

My friends trying out the Sky Swing

Visitors can dine in the Sinagtala Cafe, which is the resort restaurant that serves very good Filipino food. There are also many options for accommodations which I believe are owned and managed by different people who work together to help develop the resort. Guests don't need to stay overnight; they can just pay the entrance fee.

We stayed in Labuyo Villas. Our villa could about a dozen people and it was very comfortably and tastefully designed.

Labuyo Villas

There's a main area for 6-8 adults, an attic for about 3-4 kids, and a little space under the stairs that can fit 2 people. This room under the stairs was where I stayed, making me feel like Harry Potter. :)

The dining area and lounge area is quite comfortable and a great place for people to hang out in. This area opens out into a patio with more seating.

There's a lawn shared by all the villas. There is also a small negative edge swimming pool that is perfect for small kids.

In the late afternoon, we took a short stroll to take a look at the resort. We spotted a coffee place that we thought would be a good place to chill but it was close to dinner time so we decided to just keep going around the resort grounds.

We spent the evening playing tabletop games. I brought a handful of my board games that I know the kids and adults could play and enjoy. We ended up playing a few rounds of Splendor and a few rounds of Bagani. In fact, the kids enjoyed Bagani so much that we played one more round the next morning once we had all gotten ready. Once we were done playing, there was still enough time for us to take some group photos at the lawn before leaving.

It was a very pleasant weekend spent in an idyllic place far from the hustle and bustle of the city. The fact that I got to spend it with some of my lifelong friends made it even better.

The Sinagtala Resort
https://www.sinagtala.ph/
Bgy. Tala, Tala Road., Orani, Bataan
Email: sinagtalabataan2012@yahoo.com
Day Tour Info: 0917.178.2345  0998.856.1664
Special Events: 0927.053.8632 (Ms. Maica)

Social Butterfly

So I've turned into a bit of a social butterfly these last few weeks. It started when I had dinner with Kat and Sol in Podium. Kat was traveling to Singapore so we all had dinner before she left. We dined in Nikkei, which is a Japanese-Peruvian restaurant. The fact that this resto featured Peruvian fusion cuisine made me feel a bit nostalgic and reminded me of my incredible time in Peru. The food here was really good, so good in fact that I forgot to take photos LOL. I'm pretty sure I will eat here again so maybe I will take photos next time. After dinner, we moved over to Ça Va Creperie for some coffee and dessert. Both Kat and I didn't bring cars that day but Sol very kindly and generously drove us both home. Cool!

The following evening, I joined Joyce in Manila Peninsula for a buffet dinner. A buffet isn't exactly ideal for someone on a diet but I managed not to eat too much despite my desire to head back for second and even thirds (to maximize the buffet, I ended up picking a few of the most expensive items LOL). Joyce checked into Manila Pen that evening and we met there so she could talk to me about some policies that I got from her for my nephews.

I met up with more friends the next evening in Chili's in Robinsons Galleria. It was the first time I hung out in Galleria since I had dinner with Elbert about a year and a half ago. This was a great evening because I got to hang out with Pia and Marco as well as some people I hadn't hung out with in ages - Auds, Hoz, and Bong. Most of us had left our previous company already so there was a whole lot of sharing with each other of what's been going on in our lives since we left.

Shortly after, my college friends Hestia, Letlet, Mitch, Lala, and I met up with Weng who was in town just for a week. We had dinner in Noor in Burgos Circle. I hadn't eaten in this Mediterranean restaurant before and I have to say, the food was really good (although I think Souv is better). For dessert, we moved to UCC where we were joined by Gosh. We stayed there until UCC closed. We discussed a possible trip to Pansol before school starts; it remains to be seen whether the plans will push through.

Finally, late this week, I met up with Gian and Blessy and a few of our other ex-teammates in Skinny Mike's. Gian moved to the US late last year but he came home for a couple of weeks so we managed to slot in some time to have dinner. Apart from getting to hang out with Gian and Blessy, I also saw Rich for the first time in almost two years. We were also joined that evening by Chelle, Miguel, Mitchell, and Mon. It was interesting to hear about how Gian's move to the US was shaping up and it was really nice catching up with my ex-teammates again.

I also spent a weekend with my high school friends and their families recently but I will write about that out-of-town trip in a separate blog post.

Finally, Rafa wins a title in 2019!

Rafa Nadal finally wins a title this 2019! He defeated Novak Djokovic in three sets, 6-0, 4-6, 6-1, to claim his ninth Internazionali BNL d'Italia, more popularly known as the Italian Open in Rome.

Another incredible moment for @RafaelNadal! 🏆#ibi19

— ATP Tour (@ATP_Tour) May 19, 2019

2019 hasn't been a very good year for Nadal and his fans, at least not by the impossibly high standard he has set throughout his career. He lost to Novak in the final of the Australian Open and had a string of semifinal losses, including three in a row during this clay season against three different players - Fabio Fognini, Dominic Thiem, and Stefanos Tsitsipas. This prevented Rafa from adding to his massive collection of clay court titles. The Italian Open is the last tournament before the French Open so it was Rafa's last chance to find his form and gain some much-needed confidence heading into the second Grand Slam event of the year. Thankfully, he did.

Congratulations Rafa and good luck at the French Open!

Club Balai Isabel

Our company outing this summer was held in Club Balai Isabel. As far as I recall, this was my fifth visit, having been here before three times for company outings and once with my friends for a weekend getaway.

Since my last trip, quite a bit has changed, including the Aquapark...

...and a large photo op set-up by the shore.

It was a bright, sunny (and very hot!) day when we were there but while many of my colleagues and their families hit the pool to cool down, I decided to stay dry since it wasn't an overnight event and I didn't want to swim if I wasn't checking into a room.

Thankfully, we didn't need to stay under the sun for too long. Lunch was served in one of the new function halls - I say new because it wasn't there in my last visit a few years ago - and we were entertained by a pretty good band. In the middle of their set, the band asked people to jam with them and my teammates volunteered me. I ended up singing Sam Smith's Lay Me Down which is kind of my default karaoke song nowadays. I didn't get to practice but I think it turned out quite well.

The highlight of this summer outing for me is that I got to try riding an electric scooter. My colleague brought his scooters with him and he encouraged us to try riding. I gave it a go and it was pretty cool. Too bad I wasn't able to have a photo taken while I was on it.

While this outing was only a day trip, it was still fun and eventful and I'm happy that it provided a venue for me to bond more closely with my teammates.

Lifestyle Change

Two things happened this year that triggered my lifestyle change. First, as I had previously written, I had a bit of a health scare earlier in the year. My doctor suggested that I should significantly reduce my intake of a few food items. Then, more recently, my annual physical exam results came out and it seems I have a few more minor health issues that could become bigger issues if I don't make some adjustments. Since I don't want to have major health issues in the near future, I decided to follow doctor's orders.

What changes do I need to make? First, I have to reduce my intake of sugar, fatty food, cholesterol, and alcohol. Second, I have to improve my HDL (good cholesterol). Third, I need to exercise regularly. My doctor told me to do low-impact exercises for 30 minutes at least a few times a week. Finally, I need to reduce my weight, ideally by 3 to 4 kilos (or more if possible). I started my lifestyle change in mid-March and while it has proven to be a struggle, I've managed to follow doctor's orders pretty well:

1. I used to eat lots of foods that are high in sugar: breads and pastries such as sticky cinnamon buns and Danish pastries, cakes and desserts, chocolates, rice, pasta, and noodles. I probably managed to cut my intake of these food items by about 30% if not more.

2. About three to four times a week, I have just a salad for lunch or dinner. This has helped me increase my vegetable intake and reduce my carb intake but I do get hungry pretty quickly. When I get really hungry, I eat a handful (or two) of nuts. I also eat a lot more fish now. I have instant (unflavored) oatmeal for breakfast quite regularly. I know it has carbs and sugar but it also has a lot of dietary fiber and it is about as healthy a breakfast option as you can get.

3. Finally, I am exercising two to three times a week again. I'm proud that even on days when I'm not in the mood or when I feel too lazy or tired, I've managed to will myself to hit the gym.

Thankfully, I've achieved some tangible results in the last month and a half. I lost 4.5 kilos, more than what my doctor had initially suggested. I also slimmed down quite a bit, moving up one belt hole. This also means that I can now fit into some shirts that I haven't been able to wear in years because they had become too tight. My stamina is also getting better when I exercise; my heart rate doesn't go as high as it used to. The true test, however, will be when I complete my follow-up tests in a few months. I'm hoping the lifestyle changes I've made so far will also be reflected in these test results.

VPeepz make it to the World of Dance Finals

Congratulations to VPeepz for reaching the finals of NBC World of Dance. I previously blogged about their incredible performance that allowed them to get to the Divisional final. They then executed another stellar routine that was good enough to bring them to the World Final where they faced some seriously stiff competition. While they made not have won the title, they deservedly gained a whole lot of fans all over the world with their amazingly intricate choreography and their unmatched synchronization. Here is a compilation of all their performances in the entire show:


video uploaded in youtube by NBC World of Dance

What a truly incredible run in World of Dance, VPeepz, and thanks for representing the Philippines in the best possible way.

Petron are the 2019 SuperLiga Grand Prix Champions

Congratulations Petron Blaze Spikers for winning the 2019 Philippine SuperLiga Grand Prix.

Back to back Champions, Petron #PSLTheGrandFinaleOnESPN5 #FearTheGas #LetsMoveNowhttps://t.co/39sVGsBgcz pic.twitter.com/8qidijqD25

— Philippine SuperLiga Volleyball (@SuperLigaPH) May 4, 2019

This title is significant for a couple of reasons. First, Petron successfully defended their 2018 Grand Prix title. Second, they won back-to-back championships (they also won the 2018 All-Filipino Conference late last year). The last time that a team won two in a row was when Petron took home the Grand Prix and All-Filipino titles as well in 2014-2015.

In this Grand Prix, Petron looked to be a heavy favorite, sweeping the elimination round as well as their quarterfinal and semifinal matches which gave them a 17 match-winning streak. It was then that F2 Logistics did the unthinkable - they shocked Petron in four sets in the first game of the finals. In fact, they were on their way to the title after being up a set and 22-19 up in Game 2 of the finals. Petron however shifted gears and started playing grittier volleyball. They allowed F2 only one more point in a 6-1 run that allowed them to steal that set from F2, 25-23. I felt that the loss of that set, after being just 3 points away from a possibly unassailable 2 set lead, turned the tides and F2 couldn't recover from it. In Game 3, Petron kept their strong form and while the match was very close (so many long rallies and so many great attacks and great digs!), Petron managed to edge out F2 in four sets.

Petron Blaze Spikers - your PSL Grandprix 2019 CHAMPIONS! Congratulations once again!

And to @SuperLigaPH for your yet another successful conference! 💯👌🏻 pic.twitter.com/ghQyiQBii4

— • YEYEFANATICSS • (@yeyefanaticss) May 4, 2019

I have to say that I am really happy for Stephanie Niemer. In 2016, Petron were favored to win but Foton beat them. Niemer didn't play in the Superliga again after that until now. Not only does she win the championship with Petron, she also finishes as the Best Scorer and she takes home a very well-deserved MVP Award. Niemer was doing it all, not only in attacking but also in serving, blocking, digging, and receiving. She was just so all-around and so consistent that she was also my choice to win MVP.

MVP. Nuff said. @StephanieNiemer #PSLTheGrandFinaleOnESPN5 #PSLGrandPrix #PSLonESPN5 pic.twitter.com/lctNKRSjpz

— ESPN5 (@Sports5PH) May 4, 2019

Other awardees:

Best Foreign Open Spiker: Katherine Bell (Petron Blaze Spikers)
Best Local Open Spiker: Ara Galang (F2 Logistics Cargo Movers)
Best Foreign Middle Blocker: Grace Lazard (PLDT Home Fibr Power Hitters)
Best Local Middle Blocker: Aby Marano (F2 Logistics Cargo Movers)
Best Setter: Rhea Dimaculangan (Petron Blaze Blaze Spikers)
Best Foreign Opposite Spiker: Erica Wilson (Cignal HD Spikers)
Best Local Opppsite Spiker: Aiko Urdas (PLDT Home Fibr Power Hitters)
Best Libero: Dawn Macandili (F2 Logistics Cargo Movers)

Congratulations, Petron Blaze Spikers and all 2019 SuperLiga Grand Prix individual awardees!

Rest in Peace, Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca)

It's a very sad day for Star Wars fans all over the world. Peter Mayhew, who portrayed Chewbacca in the original Star Wars Trilogy as well as in Revenge of the Sith and in The Force Awakens, passed away. His family made the announcement today (May 3rd morning Philippine time, May 2nd evening US time) through Peter's official twitter account TheWookieeRoars, a couple of days after his passing on April 30.

The family of Peter Mayhew, with deep love and sadness, regrets to share the news that Peter has passed away.  He left us the evening of April 30, 2019 with his family by his side in his North Texas home. pic.twitter.com/YZ5VLyuK0u

— Peter Mayhew (@TheWookieeRoars) May 2, 2019

As someone who grew up watching the original Star Wars trilogy dozens of times, I have connected with the characters and the actors who positively impacted my childhood so much that the effects have lasted all the way to my adulthood. When I learned a couple of years ago that Peter Mayhew was reprising his role as Chewbacca in The Force Awakens, I started reading more about him and I learned that he was literally and figuratively a giant of a man with a kind and generous heart. This is tremendously clear when you read the many tributes written by his co-stars and other people with whom he has worked. Read some of them here.

I'd like to end this post on a more positive note to celebrate the life of Peter Mayhew and his amazing contributions to cinema as Chewbacca. Here is a video of Chewbacca being awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1997 MTV Movie Awards where he finally gets his medal. :)


video uploaded in youtube by Jollylonglog

Rest in peace, Peter Mayhew. Thanks for bringing Chewbacca to life and enriching the lives of millions through your work in Star Wars and through the Peter Mayhew Foundation. May the Force be with you.