I took my family to Clark last weekend. My grandmother 'Nanay' lost her brother in July last year but as her brother (we called him Uncle Vie) was buried in Pampanga, she was unfortunately unable to go during the 1-year death anniversary. As such, I decided I would plan a family trip to Pampanga to visit Uncle Vie and spend some time in Clark as well.
The Philippines was hit over the weekend by Typhoon Karen, but since it wasn't raining hard in Manila, we figured it might not be raining heavily in Pampanga either. It was mid-afternoon when we got to NLEX and it was at this point that we realized the rains here were significantly heavier. Our initial plan of going to the cemetery in the late afternoon first before checking into the hotel had to be tossed out because the weather was very bad. Add to that the fact that traffic in Pampanga was so intense due to the rains and a bit of flooding - it took us about an hour to get through about a 2-kilometer section in Dau! - and it was easy to decide to just rest in the evening and wake up early the next day and visit the cemetery then.
I booked a junior family suite in Hotel Widus (previously Hotel Vida). I saw pics of this hotel a year or so ago and have been interested to try it since, so when I saw a deal on Deal Grocer that was valid during the time that we had planned to go to Clark, I booked it immediately. It's a really good hotel - I think it was built only in 2008 so it's pretty new - and the service is excellent. The junior family suite was very spacious and comfortable. I don't know if this hotel is owned by a Korean but they actually have both Korean and Filipino receptionists. Make sure you know this when you call the front desk because it might be a Korean who answers, then you need to speak in English. :)
We got up early the next day, at around 7am, and it was good that we did because the breakfast room started filling up pretty quickly once we started eating. (Lots of people were checked in despite the storm.) I really enjoyed their breakfast spread. It's always a plus for me when the buffet includes corned beef, but on top of that, they also had some Korean items like bulgogi and kimchi. We all had a really full meal to start the day before getting ready to drive to the cemetery.
Uncle Vie was buried in Holy Mary cemetery with his wife, Auntie Edna, who passed away several years ago. It was raining slightly when we got there at around 9:30am but thankfully, it was no longer pouring like it was the day before. With a few umbrellas providing temporary shelter, we said the rosary and a prayer for the faithful departed for both of them and for the other relatives of Auntie Edna who were also buried in the same area.
Thankfully, the hotel gave us a late check-out time of 2pm which allowed me to take my nephew Ciera to the pool before leaving. One new experience for him was the pool bar - Azul Sunken Bar, as it is called. I ordered a vanilla shake for him and he enjoyed drinking it while sitting half-submerged in the water.
We checked out at a little past 1pm to give us some time to hit the duty free shops in Clark. I ended up getting a truckload of chocolates for myself: Cadbury, Twix, Reese's, and Hershey's assorted chocolates. Obviously I got stuff that aren't available in Manila or are cheaper there than in supermarkets here. I reckon in about a week's time, I will have packed a few extra pounds from all the calories in my refrigerator right now LOL.
It was actually quite a good trip for us despite the bad weather. Clearly, it would be a much better trip without all the rain so I'm now looking at bringing my family to Clark again at some point in the near future.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Andy Murray wins the US Open!
Andy Murray's summer began with heartbreak but ended with grand success. He finally shook off the best-player-to-never-have-won-a-Grand-Slam-title monicker to upend Novak Djokovic in the US Open final, thus winning his first-ever Grand Slam title.
The final, which was played on a Monday instead of Sunday for the fifth year in a row, was filled with tension and drama. Andy Murray took an early lead in the first two sets but Novak, fighter that he is, refused to budge and made things a lot tighter. Andy scraped through both times (7-6, 7-5) before Novak found his form. Doubts started to creep into Andy's game as well - he had been in this situation, a major final, 4 times before but he had never won - and when Novak won the next two sets, it seemed like Andy was destined for even more heartbreak. If this continued to go Djokovic's way, this one would be even worse than past losses as Murray was up 2 sets to love.
Somehow, though, Andy steeled himself and got the early advantage in the 5th and final set. When he finally won the last point of the match - his second championship point - it seemed that he wasn't even sure that he won. He looked like he stunned and in disbelief. In interviews later on, he kept saying that it hadn't sunk in yet, and he seemed to feel more relieved than happy. It has been a couple of days since this win so hopefully he is now fully enjoying the fruits of his labor.
What was interesting throughout the final was how many people in the crowds were cheering for Andy. I guess a lot of people like me wanted Andy to win at least one Grand Slam title, given that he was too good to end his career without one. (I mentioned before that the timing of his career isn't that great, given that his peak coincides with the peaks of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic.) Seeing Andy's tears at Wimbledon a couple of months back showed the world how much he values success at the majors and I think it was at that point that more and more people started rooting for him. Whether or not Andy wins another Slam doesn't, and shouldn't, really matter. His year, which includes a Wimbledon final, an Olympic Gold, and a US Open trophy, will surely go down as the most important year in Andy's career.
Congratulations, Andy! :)
Photo: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images (from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/)
The final, which was played on a Monday instead of Sunday for the fifth year in a row, was filled with tension and drama. Andy Murray took an early lead in the first two sets but Novak, fighter that he is, refused to budge and made things a lot tighter. Andy scraped through both times (7-6, 7-5) before Novak found his form. Doubts started to creep into Andy's game as well - he had been in this situation, a major final, 4 times before but he had never won - and when Novak won the next two sets, it seemed like Andy was destined for even more heartbreak. If this continued to go Djokovic's way, this one would be even worse than past losses as Murray was up 2 sets to love.
Somehow, though, Andy steeled himself and got the early advantage in the 5th and final set. When he finally won the last point of the match - his second championship point - it seemed that he wasn't even sure that he won. He looked like he stunned and in disbelief. In interviews later on, he kept saying that it hadn't sunk in yet, and he seemed to feel more relieved than happy. It has been a couple of days since this win so hopefully he is now fully enjoying the fruits of his labor.
What was interesting throughout the final was how many people in the crowds were cheering for Andy. I guess a lot of people like me wanted Andy to win at least one Grand Slam title, given that he was too good to end his career without one. (I mentioned before that the timing of his career isn't that great, given that his peak coincides with the peaks of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic.) Seeing Andy's tears at Wimbledon a couple of months back showed the world how much he values success at the majors and I think it was at that point that more and more people started rooting for him. Whether or not Andy wins another Slam doesn't, and shouldn't, really matter. His year, which includes a Wimbledon final, an Olympic Gold, and a US Open trophy, will surely go down as the most important year in Andy's career.
Congratulations, Andy! :)
Monday, September 10, 2012
Weekend family treat
When I saw a deal for a two-bedroom suite in Holiday Inn Manila Galleria a few months back, I thought it would be good way to celebrate my nephew Ciera's birthday. The deal was pretty good - the room was really big (it was a two-bedroom suite, after all) and the reservation came with buffet breakfast for four adults and kids 12 years old and below eat for free. The fact that it was located right next to Robinson's Galleria made it very convenient for me and my family to head out and eat and shop.
We checked in at around 4:30pm but unfortunately for my nephews, it was raining so they couldn't really use the swimming pool. Instead, I just took them and Nanay (my grandmother) to the mall. I got Ciera his birthday gift - a lego set based on the Xbox game Halo. Nanay doesn't have a lot of chances to go to the mall, especially not ones that are far from her house - so we used this opportunity to look for new shoes for her. We finally found a pair she liked in Celine and I got her those as well. We decided to quickly pass by the supermarket to get some groceries before dropping everything off at our hotel room and getting ready for dinner.
While there are a lot of restaurants in Galleria, I thought it would be great to bring my family to TGI Friday's. While my mom and I have eaten here before, it was the first time for my nephews and Nanay. Nanay was still full from their late lunch but she had a bit of my dish and my mom's dish while my nephews enjoyed their Baby Back Ribs and Grilled Porkchops. We saw the Fried Ice Cream in the menu and my nephews seemed really interested to try it. By the end of dinner, we were all pretty full. :)
My brother joined us for our early morning breakfast the next day and we all got to enjoy a pretty hefty meal to start off our day. Everyone else went back to the room but I took Ciera to the swimming pool. It was still drizzling slightly but there were a lot of other people there despite the weather so we spent about an hour in the pool before heading back to the room.
We checked out at 1pm and I took my family to Old Swiss Inn - I had another deal voucher for P1000 worth of fondue in Old Swiss Inn. People weren't in the mood for chocolate fondue that afternoon so we used my voucher to order the Fondue Bourguignonne. It was my first time having this fondue in Old Swiss Inn and it turned out to be a fun experience for everyone as the prime beef tenderloin cubes served to us were still raw, and we had to cook it ourselves by dipping it in hot oil.
We caught the 3pm mass in Greenbelt before heading home. Along the way, we decided to visit Tatay in the cemetery. We were a bit lucky as well as right after we finished our prayers for him and got into the car, it started drizzling again. I then brought Nanay to her house before heading back home with my family. It was a really great weekend filled with new experiences for me and my family - even staying in Holiday Inn was a first for all of us. I reckon I should plan something similar for my birthday.
We checked in at around 4:30pm but unfortunately for my nephews, it was raining so they couldn't really use the swimming pool. Instead, I just took them and Nanay (my grandmother) to the mall. I got Ciera his birthday gift - a lego set based on the Xbox game Halo. Nanay doesn't have a lot of chances to go to the mall, especially not ones that are far from her house - so we used this opportunity to look for new shoes for her. We finally found a pair she liked in Celine and I got her those as well. We decided to quickly pass by the supermarket to get some groceries before dropping everything off at our hotel room and getting ready for dinner.
While there are a lot of restaurants in Galleria, I thought it would be great to bring my family to TGI Friday's. While my mom and I have eaten here before, it was the first time for my nephews and Nanay. Nanay was still full from their late lunch but she had a bit of my dish and my mom's dish while my nephews enjoyed their Baby Back Ribs and Grilled Porkchops. We saw the Fried Ice Cream in the menu and my nephews seemed really interested to try it. By the end of dinner, we were all pretty full. :)
My brother joined us for our early morning breakfast the next day and we all got to enjoy a pretty hefty meal to start off our day. Everyone else went back to the room but I took Ciera to the swimming pool. It was still drizzling slightly but there were a lot of other people there despite the weather so we spent about an hour in the pool before heading back to the room.
We checked out at 1pm and I took my family to Old Swiss Inn - I had another deal voucher for P1000 worth of fondue in Old Swiss Inn. People weren't in the mood for chocolate fondue that afternoon so we used my voucher to order the Fondue Bourguignonne. It was my first time having this fondue in Old Swiss Inn and it turned out to be a fun experience for everyone as the prime beef tenderloin cubes served to us were still raw, and we had to cook it ourselves by dipping it in hot oil.
We caught the 3pm mass in Greenbelt before heading home. Along the way, we decided to visit Tatay in the cemetery. We were a bit lucky as well as right after we finished our prayers for him and got into the car, it started drizzling again. I then brought Nanay to her house before heading back home with my family. It was a really great weekend filled with new experiences for me and my family - even staying in Holiday Inn was a first for all of us. I reckon I should plan something similar for my birthday.
Sunday, September 09, 2012
OTH says goodbye
After nine long seasons, One Tree Hill finally comes to a close. I used to watch this regularly in its first few seasons, but when Hilarie Burton, and her character Peyton Sawyer, left the show, I sort of lost interest. I'd still get to watch episodes every now and then, which means I still sort of know what's going on and who all the new characters are, but I wasn't following it very closely anymore.
I did get to watch the final episode, which was a great way for the show to say goodbye to its fans who have stuck by them through all these years. It made a lot of references to events going back as far as the first season, making it even more nostalgic. It was too bad Peyton didn't make a special appearance in any of the last season episodes (Lucas, Keith, Deb, and Bevin all came back for at least one show) but overall, it was a nice way to go.
I did get to watch the final episode, which was a great way for the show to say goodbye to its fans who have stuck by them through all these years. It made a lot of references to events going back as far as the first season, making it even more nostalgic. It was too bad Peyton didn't make a special appearance in any of the last season episodes (Lucas, Keith, Deb, and Bevin all came back for at least one show) but overall, it was a nice way to go.
Saturday, September 01, 2012
Phantom of the Opera at the CCP
Okay, so I've seen "The Phantom of the Opera" before on Broadway in New York. That was an incredible experience and apart from amazing music and performers with unbelievable talent, I distinctly remember the opulent sets and costumes. All of that combined to provide audiences with a fantastic visual and aural spectacle. While I had a grand time watching, I remember thinking that my family would certainly love seeing this legendary musical as well. As such, when we found out that Phantom would be staged in Manila, we got tickets as early as we could.
Somehow, seeing it the second time around was even more electrifying. Part of it was the fact that I was watching it in my home country. Part of it was also experiencing it with my family, all of whom were just as awed as I was. And how could you not be? I believe that, at least of the musicals I am familiar with, this one has the most vocally challenging set of songs. "Phantom of the Opera" requires a really strong soprano voice from the female lead (such as can be heard here) while "Music of the Night" demands that the male lead have a massive range that goes both pretty low and pretty high. Check out this version by Michael Crawford, who originated the title role:
Of course, you can appreciate the music and the vocal talent of the cast just by listening to the CD or going on youtube. However, watching the musical live is an altogether different experience as it is truly one extravagant production. From the chandelier that surprises you with its scale and brilliance to the awe-inspiring "Masquerade" sequence on the massive staircase (you could hear and feel the audience gasp in amazement during this scene), "The Phantom of the Opera" is a visual feast that continually takes your breath away. On top of the that, the speed with which the sets are changed is truly impressive. It's like a magic show; they switch the lights off and when they come on again, you see something different on stage. I still can't believe how many stunning backdrops and lavish curtains they have! (Where do they keep everything?)
As I have seen this show on Broadway, I know what it is supposed to look like. So I was extremely pleased that they successfully pulled off all the amazing effects here and they didn't shortchange the Philippine audiences with respect to the grandness and quality of the stage production. They brilliantly executed what is arguably the most visually stunning scenes in the musical - the boat-and-rising-candles sequence as the Phantom takes Christine to his lair - and I am glad that my family and rest of the audience were treated to this wonderful spectacle.
I've been to quite a few amazing shows here where the occasional stinginess of Pinoy audiences with respect to applause and appreciation of performers was clearly evident. That was so not the case in "The Phantom of the Opera". Everyone in the audience was on their feet during the curtain call and the applause and cheers for the performers was rapturous. Emilie Lynn, who played Christine Daaé, deservedly received a massive ovation, but the most thunderous of cheers were reserved for the Phantom, played by Jonathan Roxmouth.
"The Phantom of the Opera" season in Manila has been extended, adding 16 more shows that will run through to September 30. Clearly, this means that ticket sales have been strong. It is my strong hope that the success of this musical here, along with "CATS" and "Mamma Mia" (and even Miss Saigon almost a decade ago) will result in more shows being brought to the Philippines. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that one day, we get to see "Les Misérables", "Wicked", and "The Lion King". In the meantime, I will continue to relive my wonderful experience watching "Phantom" and start listening again to my CD. :)
photo courtesy of www.philippineconcerts.com
Somehow, seeing it the second time around was even more electrifying. Part of it was the fact that I was watching it in my home country. Part of it was also experiencing it with my family, all of whom were just as awed as I was. And how could you not be? I believe that, at least of the musicals I am familiar with, this one has the most vocally challenging set of songs. "Phantom of the Opera" requires a really strong soprano voice from the female lead (such as can be heard here) while "Music of the Night" demands that the male lead have a massive range that goes both pretty low and pretty high. Check out this version by Michael Crawford, who originated the title role:
video uploaded in youtube by user xanastasia
As I have seen this show on Broadway, I know what it is supposed to look like. So I was extremely pleased that they successfully pulled off all the amazing effects here and they didn't shortchange the Philippine audiences with respect to the grandness and quality of the stage production. They brilliantly executed what is arguably the most visually stunning scenes in the musical - the boat-and-rising-candles sequence as the Phantom takes Christine to his lair - and I am glad that my family and rest of the audience were treated to this wonderful spectacle.
the audience was allowed to take photos during curtain call
I've been to quite a few amazing shows here where the occasional stinginess of Pinoy audiences with respect to applause and appreciation of performers was clearly evident. That was so not the case in "The Phantom of the Opera". Everyone in the audience was on their feet during the curtain call and the applause and cheers for the performers was rapturous. Emilie Lynn, who played Christine Daaé, deservedly received a massive ovation, but the most thunderous of cheers were reserved for the Phantom, played by Jonathan Roxmouth.
the cast who performed the night we watched
"The Phantom of the Opera" season in Manila has been extended, adding 16 more shows that will run through to September 30. Clearly, this means that ticket sales have been strong. It is my strong hope that the success of this musical here, along with "CATS" and "Mamma Mia" (and even Miss Saigon almost a decade ago) will result in more shows being brought to the Philippines. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that one day, we get to see "Les Misérables", "Wicked", and "The Lion King". In the meantime, I will continue to relive my wonderful experience watching "Phantom" and start listening again to my CD. :)
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Benchingko/Films Presents: Kontrabida 101
This is hilarious! Bella Flores is truly a Philippine cinematic legend. There will never be another kontrabida like her. :)
video uploaded in youtube by BenchTV
video uploaded in youtube by BenchTV
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Splurging
The recent long weekends (along with my movie-watching) allowed me to spend a bit more time in malls. I noticed a lot of shops were on sale so I decided to check out stuff that I had been interested in buying for a while now. Earlier in the year, I saw these yellow and blue Nike Free 5.0 cross-trainers that I was really wanted to get. To be quite honest, it wasn't really a need; my current cross-trainers were still in great condition. But when I passed by The Athlete's Foot, I noticed that they still had one pair that was my size and it had a 20% discount. Too good to pass up. :) I ended up getting those shoes.
I matched that with an orange Adidas Climacool shirt that I got at 30% off. I had been seeing this shirt for a while as well now but I always felt it was a bit too expensive. Shaving 30% off of the price meant that it was now in a more acceptable price range. As such, it ended up in my shopping bag. Now I have bright yellow and blue trainers and a bright orange shirt. I should wear those two together. That'd be a sight for sore eyes. :)
On top of that, I got about 10 new DVDs - all of them, movies I haven't seen, such as "The Social Network", "Shutter Island", "Crazy Stupid Love", and "Hangover II". I tossed in 5 CDs (most of which I got at P99 each!) which now means I have a lot of new music to add to my iTunes and I have enough movies to keep me entertained at home for a while. The only downside is that my credit card bill is going to take a hit next month. But hey, you have to spend some money on yourself every now and then, right? :)
I matched that with an orange Adidas Climacool shirt that I got at 30% off. I had been seeing this shirt for a while as well now but I always felt it was a bit too expensive. Shaving 30% off of the price meant that it was now in a more acceptable price range. As such, it ended up in my shopping bag. Now I have bright yellow and blue trainers and a bright orange shirt. I should wear those two together. That'd be a sight for sore eyes. :)
On top of that, I got about 10 new DVDs - all of them, movies I haven't seen, such as "The Social Network", "Shutter Island", "Crazy Stupid Love", and "Hangover II". I tossed in 5 CDs (most of which I got at P99 each!) which now means I have a lot of new music to add to my iTunes and I have enough movies to keep me entertained at home for a while. The only downside is that my credit card bill is going to take a hit next month. But hey, you have to spend some money on yourself every now and then, right? :)
The Bourne Legacy
I am really pleased that I have been able to go to the movie theater quite a few times this year. The latest flick I watched was "The Bourne Legacy". As this was filmed partially in the Philippines, I wanted to make sure I saw it. :)
I have to say that I can't view the movie objectively and say whether it was good or not. As a Filipino, I couldn't help but be entertained by the fact that the scenes were shot here. That car chase through Manila traffic with vehicles being smashed and jeepneys being whipped around was awesome to watch! I loved that they kept the traffic in the scenes and didn't clear the road, it made it more authentic. :) (Not that something like that would ever happen here hehehe.)
I've heard some Pinoys complained about the fact that "The Bourne Legacy" painted the Philippines in a bad light as a lot of scenes were shot in slum areas. But hey, movies don't always do their filming in the nicest locations. Quite a few scenes from the Incredible Hulk were shot in the slum areas of Brazil. And how can anyone forget Slumdog Millionaire? Even crime shows in the US feature lots of scenes in very dodgy locations.
I don't normally stick around to see the credits roll (except when there's a final bonus scene slotted in during or towards the end) but I made an exception for this film because I wanted to see the names of John Arcilla and Lou Veloso. I noticed that Joel Torre was also credited for being the samaritan who helps the woman with the oranges but I didn't even see him. I need to get the DVD when it comes out. :) I also wonder if the scenes with Filipino dialogues were sub-titled in other countries because they weren't subtitled here.
Anyways, it was a really cool experience watching "The Bourne Legacy". I think a lot of people who got stuck in bad traffic during filming in Manila won't agree with me but I think it would be cool if more Hollywood blockbusters get shot in different locations in the Philippines.
I have to say that I can't view the movie objectively and say whether it was good or not. As a Filipino, I couldn't help but be entertained by the fact that the scenes were shot here. That car chase through Manila traffic with vehicles being smashed and jeepneys being whipped around was awesome to watch! I loved that they kept the traffic in the scenes and didn't clear the road, it made it more authentic. :) (Not that something like that would ever happen here hehehe.)
I've heard some Pinoys complained about the fact that "The Bourne Legacy" painted the Philippines in a bad light as a lot of scenes were shot in slum areas. But hey, movies don't always do their filming in the nicest locations. Quite a few scenes from the Incredible Hulk were shot in the slum areas of Brazil. And how can anyone forget Slumdog Millionaire? Even crime shows in the US feature lots of scenes in very dodgy locations.
I don't normally stick around to see the credits roll (except when there's a final bonus scene slotted in during or towards the end) but I made an exception for this film because I wanted to see the names of John Arcilla and Lou Veloso. I noticed that Joel Torre was also credited for being the samaritan who helps the woman with the oranges but I didn't even see him. I need to get the DVD when it comes out. :) I also wonder if the scenes with Filipino dialogues were sub-titled in other countries because they weren't subtitled here.
Anyways, it was a really cool experience watching "The Bourne Legacy". I think a lot of people who got stuck in bad traffic during filming in Manila won't agree with me but I think it would be cool if more Hollywood blockbusters get shot in different locations in the Philippines.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Treadmill time
I've been plagued by health issues recently: I had a bad ankle sprain a few months back and more recently, I was stuck at home with conjunctivitis. I haven't had any exercise so since we have another long weekend in the Philippines and I had some spare time today, I decided to burn some calories on the treadmill. I'm very unfit right now so I just completed a 3-km run.. Hopefully, I can muster the will and the discipline to spend even half an hour in the gym a bit more regularly now. I'm not getting any younger and I need all the exercise I can get to stay fit. :)
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Deja Vu: last-minute Superhero-Animated Film Combo
A month ago, I made my way to the cinema to catch "The Amazing Spider-Man", and the day after I watched "Ice Age: Continental Drift". I managed to watch both movies before their theatrical releases in Manila were over. This time around, I managed to do a repeat of this superhero blockbuster and animated film combo two days in a row, and once again, I caught both towards the end of their cinema runs.
I was planning to watch both "The Dark Knight Rises" and "Brave" much earlier, but I got hit with a bout of conjunctivitis that kept me at home for two weeks. It was just during the last long weekend that I got well and was no longer contagious. Luckily, both of them were still showing, albeit in limited theaters. Since either or both these movies would probably be gone later this week as a bevy of new films like Total Recall are released, I decided to catch both while I still could.
The first of these two movies I got to see was "The Dark Knight Rises". It's gotten a lot of great reviews, both from critics and audiences. I do think it's a well-made film, although I wasn't as blown away by this as much as most other people. Christopher Nolan does a fantastic job of tying together his Batman series reboot while giving each film the ability to stand on its own. This final part of the trilogy features top-notch performances by cast, although I have to call out Tom Hardy for his chilling portrayal of the frighteningly powerful Bane. Just hearing his voice made you quiver in your boots! I found the climax a bit cliche and the villainous twist predictable - I don't know how I figured it out early on but somehow when one of the supposed allies turned backstabber (almost literally) in the end, my reaction was "I knew it!" LOL - but the apparent introduction of a new hero in the form of Robin leaves me in eager anticipation of what's to come after this.
For me, the film revelation this year is "Brave". Clearly, I am Pixar's target audience as I am a huge fan of most of their recent films, such as Up, The Incredibles, and Wall-E. I wasn't sure what "Brave" would be about, but the fact that it is a Pixar film made me want to see it. From the trailer, it is clear that the lead is a strong-willed heroine. Another one of those I-don't-want-to-be-told-who-to-marry type of movies, you think? Wrong! The strange sequence of events is so unique and surprising that it catches you off-guard and changes the direction of the film in a way that you wouldn't have expected. Making this an even better movie is the incredible animation - check our the hair of the lead heroine, Merida (read more about the animation of her hair here). I won't go into detail of the storyline since this is one of those films where spoilers may ruin the impact of the twist, but it is absolutely worth watching. I can't wait for the DVD to come out!
My nephew told me that he would rank these four films in this order of preference (although he did say he enjoyed them all): The Amazing Spider-Man, Brave, The Dark Knight Rises, and Ice Age: Continental Drift. Strangely enough, that's how I would rank these four movies as well. :) We're surely in the minority as most people will have The Dark Knight Rises as their #1. But hey, to each his own. :)
I was planning to watch both "The Dark Knight Rises" and "Brave" much earlier, but I got hit with a bout of conjunctivitis that kept me at home for two weeks. It was just during the last long weekend that I got well and was no longer contagious. Luckily, both of them were still showing, albeit in limited theaters. Since either or both these movies would probably be gone later this week as a bevy of new films like Total Recall are released, I decided to catch both while I still could.
photo courtesy of wikipedia
The first of these two movies I got to see was "The Dark Knight Rises". It's gotten a lot of great reviews, both from critics and audiences. I do think it's a well-made film, although I wasn't as blown away by this as much as most other people. Christopher Nolan does a fantastic job of tying together his Batman series reboot while giving each film the ability to stand on its own. This final part of the trilogy features top-notch performances by cast, although I have to call out Tom Hardy for his chilling portrayal of the frighteningly powerful Bane. Just hearing his voice made you quiver in your boots! I found the climax a bit cliche and the villainous twist predictable - I don't know how I figured it out early on but somehow when one of the supposed allies turned backstabber (almost literally) in the end, my reaction was "I knew it!" LOL - but the apparent introduction of a new hero in the form of Robin leaves me in eager anticipation of what's to come after this.
photo courtesy of wikipedia
For me, the film revelation this year is "Brave". Clearly, I am Pixar's target audience as I am a huge fan of most of their recent films, such as Up, The Incredibles, and Wall-E. I wasn't sure what "Brave" would be about, but the fact that it is a Pixar film made me want to see it. From the trailer, it is clear that the lead is a strong-willed heroine. Another one of those I-don't-want-to-be-told-who-to-marry type of movies, you think? Wrong! The strange sequence of events is so unique and surprising that it catches you off-guard and changes the direction of the film in a way that you wouldn't have expected. Making this an even better movie is the incredible animation - check our the hair of the lead heroine, Merida (read more about the animation of her hair here). I won't go into detail of the storyline since this is one of those films where spoilers may ruin the impact of the twist, but it is absolutely worth watching. I can't wait for the DVD to come out!
My nephew told me that he would rank these four films in this order of preference (although he did say he enjoyed them all): The Amazing Spider-Man, Brave, The Dark Knight Rises, and Ice Age: Continental Drift. Strangely enough, that's how I would rank these four movies as well. :) We're surely in the minority as most people will have The Dark Knight Rises as their #1. But hey, to each his own. :)
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Cleaning my kitchen
The other day, I was having a late night meal so I went to my cupboard to get a plate. As soon as I opened the cupboard door, I saw a roach. Damn! It was a small one, but it was still in my cupboard. I pulled out my Baygon and sprayed into my cupboard. To be on the safe side - I mean, when you have one roach, you might have a few more crawling around - I decided to spray my whole kitchen.
So clearly, I now had to clean up all of my kitchen surfaces, not only to get rid of any remaining insecticide, but also to disinfect any potential places where roaches may have crawled on. Aside from that, I also had to rewash all my dinnerware and silverware. Thankfully, we had a long weekend. It gave me enough time to clean everything up.
I now need to make sure I do a better job of keeping my place trash-free and my sink clean. I probably should have my place undergo pest-control every so often, too.
So clearly, I now had to clean up all of my kitchen surfaces, not only to get rid of any remaining insecticide, but also to disinfect any potential places where roaches may have crawled on. Aside from that, I also had to rewash all my dinnerware and silverware. Thankfully, we had a long weekend. It gave me enough time to clean everything up.
I now need to make sure I do a better job of keeping my place trash-free and my sink clean. I probably should have my place undergo pest-control every so often, too.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Saltimbanco comes to Manila!
I'm really happy that Saltimbanco came to the Philippines. I was hoping after the massive success of Varekai last year that more Cirque du Soleil shows would make their way to our part of the world. When I saw the ads on TV a couple of months ago, I decided to buy tickets immediately.
Apparently, Saltimbanco is the oldest major touring show of Cirque du Soleil. It has been running since 1992 so it's actually their 20th anniversary (although some changes have been made to the original version since then). Pretty cool that we get to see them on their milestone year. :) I wanted more of my family to see a Cirque du Soleil show live so this time around, I got tickets for my mom, my brother, and my two nephews as well. Needless to say, everyone was amazed, impressed, and fully entertained.
Saltimbanco has a wide array of acts, including a heart-stopping solo trapeze (this used to be a duo trapeze in the original format), fantastic juggling, jawdropping balancing on canes that involves some unbelievable flexibility, and a spectacular sequence with a Russian swing. It also features a very unique "boleadoras" act that you can check out here (although what you will see in the link is the original version that has since been modified). The sequences with Jesko the clown are immensely funny and entertaining to both kids and adults, and they provide much-needed comic relief after watching stunts that leave you holding your breath for prolonged periods of time. :) The Chinese poles act early in the show is visually stunning and showcases daredevil mentality and astonishing muscle power. Check out the guy going up and down the pole using just his arms from 0:42 to 0:59. He makes it look so effortless!
video uploaded in youtube by Gerardo1999
I still can't fathom how these performers do it. Not only do their stunts require superhuman strength, stamina, and skill, but they also require an incredibly high degree of fearlessness and trust in what you and your co-performers can do. One of the most memorable acts in the show for me is the "hand-to-hand". I don't know what kind of training these guys do but they are impossibly strong! Most sensational portion is 5:27 to 6:48 (but the whole clip deserves to be watched! Even the comic relief after. :))
video uploaded in youtube by mcirque
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that another Cirque du Soleil show will come to Manila next year.
photo courtesy of http://www.philippineconcerts.com
Apparently, Saltimbanco is the oldest major touring show of Cirque du Soleil. It has been running since 1992 so it's actually their 20th anniversary (although some changes have been made to the original version since then). Pretty cool that we get to see them on their milestone year. :) I wanted more of my family to see a Cirque du Soleil show live so this time around, I got tickets for my mom, my brother, and my two nephews as well. Needless to say, everyone was amazed, impressed, and fully entertained.
Saltimbanco has a wide array of acts, including a heart-stopping solo trapeze (this used to be a duo trapeze in the original format), fantastic juggling, jawdropping balancing on canes that involves some unbelievable flexibility, and a spectacular sequence with a Russian swing. It also features a very unique "boleadoras" act that you can check out here (although what you will see in the link is the original version that has since been modified). The sequences with Jesko the clown are immensely funny and entertaining to both kids and adults, and they provide much-needed comic relief after watching stunts that leave you holding your breath for prolonged periods of time. :) The Chinese poles act early in the show is visually stunning and showcases daredevil mentality and astonishing muscle power. Check out the guy going up and down the pole using just his arms from 0:42 to 0:59. He makes it look so effortless!
video uploaded in youtube by Gerardo1999
I still can't fathom how these performers do it. Not only do their stunts require superhuman strength, stamina, and skill, but they also require an incredibly high degree of fearlessness and trust in what you and your co-performers can do. One of the most memorable acts in the show for me is the "hand-to-hand". I don't know what kind of training these guys do but they are impossibly strong! Most sensational portion is 5:27 to 6:48 (but the whole clip deserves to be watched! Even the comic relief after. :))
video uploaded in youtube by mcirque
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that another Cirque du Soleil show will come to Manila next year.
Friday, August 17, 2012
End of the season?
Things have gone downhill for Rafa Nadal after his 7th French Open title back in June. He was handed a horrible second-round loss by Lukas Rosol in Wimbledon and he hasn't played a match since due to his on-again, off-again knee injury that has plagued him his entire career. His latest announcement, that he will miss the upcoming US Open, the year's final grand slam event, comes on the heels of him being unable to defend his Beijing Olympic gold in London.
I don't know how much longer Nadal will be out of commission. He mentioned in an interview that he will be patient and won't play until his knee is fully healed. Hopefully, when he gets back on tour, he can get back to his French Open form ASAP and start winning titles again.
I don't know how much longer Nadal will be out of commission. He mentioned in an interview that he will be patient and won't play until his knee is fully healed. Hopefully, when he gets back on tour, he can get back to his French Open form ASAP and start winning titles again.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Digibox
Well it turns out I didn't switch cable providers after all. Skycable showed up with a digibox ready so I had them install it. Strangely enough, I got so used to not having some channels on that I still keep watching the ones I had without the digibox LOL. I did spend some time watching Fox (Bones already has a baby!), Fox Crime, and Nat Geo Wild (dubbed in Filipino).
Too bad I didn't get it a couple of weeks ago. Star Sports would have been handy during the Olympics.
Too bad I didn't get it a couple of weeks ago. Star Sports would have been handy during the Olympics.
Tuesday, August 07, 2012
Flooding in the Philippines: how you can help
For those who want to help victims of the non-stop rains and floods in Luzon, I gathered some information on where and how donations can be made (I'll keep editing this as I find more ways of helping out, either through cash donations, relief goods, or even manpower):
Click here for a comprehensive list of drop-off areas for relief goods donation
2012 Donation Center Map - Google Maps
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=217425989537301383681.0004c6aaad38797cef2ef&msa=0&ll=14.645666%2C121.05968&spn=0.025286%2C0.027595
Look for the closest donation center to where you are
For Globe Telecom users:
http://www.facebook.com/globeph/posts/10151013509054748
To donate via your Globe phone, text REDAMOUNT to 2899. To donate via GCASH, text DONATE AMOUNT 4-digit M-PIN REDCROSS to 2882
Donate to the Victims of the Torrential Monsoon Rains Enhanced by Tropical Storm HAIKUI. Assist by donating P100, P500, or P1000 to fund relief operations of the victims of the current Southwest monsoon. All proceeds of this Groupon charity campaign will completely go to Philippine Red Cross.
Info on how to make cash donations (local and overseas)
http://www.facebook.com/notes/ateneo-de-manila-university/call-for-assistance-for-august-2012-monsoon/10151078462814337
For inquiries, please contact the Ateneo DReaM Team at (632) 697-7168 or email ateneodreamteam@lists.ateneo.edu. Check out links above to see how to make cash donations both locally and from outside the Philippines.
URGENT: Hi everyone! The Ateneo DReaM team is now accepting donations at the Cervini Lobby. Please donate food (canned goods, those we can cook), water, and blankets. No clothes for now please. Thank you very much!
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150964756872063&set=at.405975442062.191407.107058077062.793028424&type=1&relevant_count=1&ref=nf
They are accepting food, clothes, utensils, medicines, plastic bags for packing, etc as well as cash donations (click on links for more info). Please bring them to UPSCA Tambayan, Parish of the Holy Sacrifice, UPD. Contact Lobs at 09051709817 or Cheska at 09228182184.
For queries, please contact Mr. Jayjay Jacinto of the Social Action Office at 09178597602.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=417807564922488&set=a.358890244147554.71730.104479062922008&type=1&ref=nf
Contact Argee Gonzales, Central Student Council Vice President at 09178460671
Drop-off points: CSC office, Tan Yan Kee Student Council Center Lobby, and the Local Student Council Office
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=430320093684990&set=a.127562663960736.31794.120866421297027&type=1&relevant_count=1
DONATIONS will be accepted at UA&P (Prom A) until 6:30pm. Beyond that time, the guards at Pearl Drive entrance can accept the donations. We especially need no-cook/ready-to-eat goods, bottled water and toiletries. We also need boxes for packing.
E. Caruncho Avenue, Malinao, 1600 Pasig
http://www.facebook.com/licsian/posts/486929598001782
We will be opening a donation center for those affected in flood-hit areas. You may drop your donations in kind (canned goods, noodles, rice, usable clothing and the like) at Gate 4, La Immaculada Concepcion School.
If you are in the Makati area, Sanctuario de San Antonio is accepting relief goods at the parish center, Rooms 1-4
817-1212
Weather permitting, starting August 8, Victory Fort Bonifacio will accept donations of food and bottled water at the ground floor of the Every Nation Building, University Parkway corner 32nd Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
CCF Makati
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151015275108785&set=a.250339598784.136030.204599813784&type=1&ref=nf
They are accepting clothes, canned goods, rice, sugar, noodles, and medicines. They also need volunteers and partners. Please text 09062541396 or call 7953019
Xavier School
64 Xavier Street, Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila 1500 Philippines
Xavier School is accepting donations from Aug.9 to 15 for the victims of Gener and monsoon rains. You may send them straight to Xavier School. Each bag should containing the following for easy distribution:
8 canned goods
12 packs instant noodles
2 liters of water
2kg of rice
Click here for a comprehensive list of drop-off areas for relief goods donation
2012 Donation Center Map - Google Maps
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=217425989537301383681.0004c6aaad38797cef2ef&msa=0&ll=14.645666%2C121.05968&spn=0.025286%2C0.027595
Look for the closest donation center to where you are
For Globe Telecom users:
http://www.facebook.com/globeph/posts/10151013509054748
To donate via your Globe phone, text REDAMOUNT to 2899. To donate via GCASH, text DONATE AMOUNT 4-digit M-PIN REDCROSS to 2882
Beeconomic (Groupon)
http://www.beeconomic.com.ph/deals/shopping/Philippine-Red-Cross/716258105Donate to the Victims of the Torrential Monsoon Rains Enhanced by Tropical Storm HAIKUI. Assist by donating P100, P500, or P1000 to fund relief operations of the victims of the current Southwest monsoon. All proceeds of this Groupon charity campaign will completely go to Philippine Red Cross.
Operation Blessing Philippines
http://obphil.com/v2/page/p/emergency-aid-donationsInfo on how to make cash donations (local and overseas)
Ateneo DReaM team (cash donations)
http://www.facebook.com/ateneodemanilahttp://www.facebook.com/notes/ateneo-de-manila-university/call-for-assistance-for-august-2012-monsoon/10151078462814337
For inquiries, please contact the Ateneo DReaM Team at (632) 697-7168 or email ateneodreamteam@lists.ateneo.edu. Check out links above to see how to make cash donations both locally and from outside the Philippines.
Ateneo DReaM team (donations in kind)
http://www.facebook.com/ateneodemanila/posts/10151994560765153URGENT: Hi everyone! The Ateneo DReaM team is now accepting donations at the Cervini Lobby. Please donate food (canned goods, those we can cook), water, and blankets. No clothes for now please. Thank you very much!
UP Student Catholic Action (cash and relief goods donations)
http://www.facebook.com/upsca.dilimanhttp://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150964756872063&set=at.405975442062.191407.107058077062.793028424&type=1&relevant_count=1&ref=nf
They are accepting food, clothes, utensils, medicines, plastic bags for packing, etc as well as cash donations (click on links for more info). Please bring them to UPSCA Tambayan, Parish of the Holy Sacrifice, UPD. Contact Lobs at 09051709817 or Cheska at 09228182184.
De La Salle Santiago Zobel School
Donations may be dropped off at DLSZ’s Gate 7.For queries, please contact Mr. Jayjay Jacinto of the Social Action Office at 09178597602.
University of Santo Tomas Central Student Council
http://www.facebook.com/USTCSChttp://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=417807564922488&set=a.358890244147554.71730.104479062922008&type=1&ref=nf
Contact Argee Gonzales, Central Student Council Vice President at 09178460671
Drop-off points: CSC office, Tan Yan Kee Student Council Center Lobby, and the Local Student Council Office
UA&P
http://www.facebook.com/uap.asiahttp://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=430320093684990&set=a.127562663960736.31794.120866421297027&type=1&relevant_count=1
DONATIONS will be accepted at UA&P (Prom A) until 6:30pm. Beyond that time, the guards at Pearl Drive entrance can accept the donations. We especially need no-cook/ready-to-eat goods, bottled water and toiletries. We also need boxes for packing.
La Immaculada Concepcion
School
http://www.facebook.com/licsianE. Caruncho Avenue, Malinao, 1600 Pasig
http://www.facebook.com/licsian/posts/486929598001782
We will be opening a donation center for those affected in flood-hit areas. You may drop your donations in kind (canned goods, noodles, rice, usable clothing and the like) at Gate 4, La Immaculada Concepcion School.
Sanctuario de San Antonio
https://twitter.com/dadmakeshome/status/232752956783607808/photo/1If you are in the Makati area, Sanctuario de San Antonio is accepting relief goods at the parish center, Rooms 1-4
Victory
http://victory.org.ph/article/join-us-in-our-relief-efforts/817-1212
Weather permitting, starting August 8, Victory Fort Bonifacio will accept donations of food and bottled water at the ground floor of the Every Nation Building, University Parkway corner 32nd Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
CCF Makati
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151015275108785&set=a.250339598784.136030.204599813784&type=1&ref=nf
They are accepting clothes, canned goods, rice, sugar, noodles, and medicines. They also need volunteers and partners. Please text 09062541396 or call 7953019
Xavier School
64 Xavier Street, Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila 1500 Philippines
Xavier School is accepting donations from Aug.9 to 15 for the victims of Gener and monsoon rains. You may send them straight to Xavier School. Each bag should containing the following for easy distribution:
8 canned goods
12 packs instant noodles
2 liters of water
2kg of rice
Asian Institute of Management (AIM)
They are accepting clothes, medicine, ready-to-eat meals, blankets, emergency lights. Donations in kind can be dropped off at Asian Institute of Management, 123 Paseo de Roxas Makati City 1260, Philippines. Cash donations can be deposited to c/o Stephanie Tan: BDO 3520106390.
Flooding in the Philippines: Emergency Hotlines
Non-stop rains in Luzon have resulted in massive flooding in Metro
Manila. Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Laguna, Cavite,
Rizal, and Bulacan.If you need help, here are some emergency hotlines you can reach:
Yahoo Philippines also has a lot of emergency hotline information and useful links. Check out this link.
Also, from Dick Gordon:
[August 7,2012] We're opening PARC (PAWS Animal Rehabilitation Center in Aurora Blvd, Katipunan Valley, Loyola Heights QC) as a temporary evacuation center for Marikina pets. Owners must leave ID and contact info, and if possible, roofed cages.
Yahoo Philippines also has a lot of emergency hotline information and useful links. Check out this link.
Also, from Dick Gordon:
- if you are unable to contact our hotlines as a last resort, please post in my wall on facebook the complete details (Name, Address, Situations, No. of people involved and there situation, contact numbers, etc) so that our volunteers can get back at you ASAP. Again our RED CROSS HOTLINE: 143 or 527-0000 or 911-1876 or 524- 5787
- TO THOSE WHO NEED TO BE RESCUED, PLEASE PUT WHITE BLANKETS WHERE IT IS VISIBLE FOR THE RESCUERS SO THAT THEY WILL KNOW SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE RESCUED IN YOUR HOME.
PETA
Animal rescue hotline 817-5292
PAWS
http://www.facebook.com/pawsphilippines/posts/419661198079531[August 7,2012] We're opening PARC (PAWS Animal Rehabilitation Center in Aurora Blvd, Katipunan Valley, Loyola Heights QC) as a temporary evacuation center for Marikina pets. Owners must leave ID and contact info, and if possible, roofed cages.
Celebrate Humanity
With Olympic fever really high right now, I remembered an amazing advertisement from the Celebrate Humanity campaign back in 2000, I think. While a lot of the commercials were inspiring and touching (especially the ones about courage and the one about winning silver), this one is probably my favorite:
video uploaded in youtube by rogerclemens
Now that's a winning celebration, if I have ever seen one. :) You can check out the rest of the ads from that campaign here.
video uploaded in youtube by rogerclemens
Now that's a winning celebration, if I have ever seen one. :) You can check out the rest of the ads from that campaign here.
Monday, August 06, 2012
Murray wins London Olympic Gold!
Way to go, Andy Murray! Murray achieves glory on the very same court that brought him heartbreak just a few weeks ago, in his Wimbledon final loss against Roger Federer. Not only does he get his revenge on Federer on that very same court, he also wins Olympic gold in his home country (UK, not Scotland :)). Most people will say it's the Grand Slam titles that matter in tennis, and maybe it is. But players will have at most one chance in their lifetime to win an Olympic gold medal in their home country so Andy's achievement and success is unique.
Here's hoping that can now finally break through in a Grand Slam event. Not only did he beat Roger Federer for the first time in a best-of-five match, he wins in dominant fashion. 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 without getting broken (and saving so many breakpoints!).
Congratulations, Andy! :)
*****
Despite all his success and the innumerable records he holds, Roger Federer still doesn't have an Olympic gold medal in singles (he won doubles gold in Beijing 2008 with Stan Wawrinka). It's the only thing missing in his resume now. Also quite surprising is that Novak Djokovic didn't medal, being beaten by Juan Martin Del Potro in the bronze medal match.
Here's hoping that can now finally break through in a Grand Slam event. Not only did he beat Roger Federer for the first time in a best-of-five match, he wins in dominant fashion. 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 without getting broken (and saving so many breakpoints!).
Congratulations, Andy! :)
*****
Despite all his success and the innumerable records he holds, Roger Federer still doesn't have an Olympic gold medal in singles (he won doubles gold in Beijing 2008 with Stan Wawrinka). It's the only thing missing in his resume now. Also quite surprising is that Novak Djokovic didn't medal, being beaten by Juan Martin Del Potro in the bronze medal match.
Saturday, August 04, 2012
Stuck at home with a stupid illness
Can't believe I'm stuck at home now with conjunctivitis. In layman's terms, sore eyes. Ugh. I don't know where I got it. I haven't been in contact with anyone who had noticeably red eyes recently. In fact, when I woke up on Friday morning with a red eye, I thought it was just because of a busted blood vessel or maybe it got irritated from my long hair (I badly need a haircut). But after three doses of Visine on Friday, my eye remained red. And when it didn't seem to clear up in the morning, I decided to see a doctor.
Funny and unique experience: the clinic I went to had only two available doctors - a general practitioner and a pediatrician. Since the queue for the general practitioner was too long, the nurse told me I could go see the pediatrician instead hahaha! I don't remember the last time I saw a pediatrician but hey, conjunctivitis is a common ailment among kids so a pediatrician would surely be able to properly diagnose me. And when she did, the news wasn't good. Argh!
The last time I had conjunctivitis was in 2000 and it took me 2 weeks to recover. It sucked too because I was supposed to go to Kalibo for the Ati-Atihan Festival - I had my plane ticket already - then I got sick a few days before. This time around, I missed the birthday celebration of my inaanak earlier today and I will surely miss the 1st year death anniversary of Mama Guading tomorrow. This truly sucks. I guess I will just be with my family and with Mama in spirit tomorrow.
Anyway, I hope this bout of conjunctivitis won't last very long. My friend Joyce told me that three of her students has sore eyes recently and they all got well within a week so I'm keeping my fingers crossed the same happens to me.
Funny and unique experience: the clinic I went to had only two available doctors - a general practitioner and a pediatrician. Since the queue for the general practitioner was too long, the nurse told me I could go see the pediatrician instead hahaha! I don't remember the last time I saw a pediatrician but hey, conjunctivitis is a common ailment among kids so a pediatrician would surely be able to properly diagnose me. And when she did, the news wasn't good. Argh!
The last time I had conjunctivitis was in 2000 and it took me 2 weeks to recover. It sucked too because I was supposed to go to Kalibo for the Ati-Atihan Festival - I had my plane ticket already - then I got sick a few days before. This time around, I missed the birthday celebration of my inaanak earlier today and I will surely miss the 1st year death anniversary of Mama Guading tomorrow. This truly sucks. I guess I will just be with my family and with Mama in spirit tomorrow.
Anyway, I hope this bout of conjunctivitis won't last very long. My friend Joyce told me that three of her students has sore eyes recently and they all got well within a week so I'm keeping my fingers crossed the same happens to me.
Friday, August 03, 2012
Free coffee
So I was at Krispy Kreme in Glorietta right before it closes for the day. I ordered a large smooth coffee but the manager said that there might not be enough coffee to fill a large cup. As it turned out, there wasn't, so she told me that the coffee was good for a short cup only. It was the end of the day and it would be wasteful to have them brew more coffee so I agreed to get a short cup instead.
She then pours the coffee from the large cup to a short one (it's a waste of a cup, I know), takes a quick look inside, then she hands it to me and tells me that I don't need to pay for it. She said that because the remaining coffee still didn't fill the short cup (it was about 90% filled), they would just give it to me for free. I asked her if she was sure about my coffee being on the house and she said she was. So I got a free coffee from Krispy Kreme. Cool!
She then pours the coffee from the large cup to a short one (it's a waste of a cup, I know), takes a quick look inside, then she hands it to me and tells me that I don't need to pay for it. She said that because the remaining coffee still didn't fill the short cup (it was about 90% filled), they would just give it to me for free. I asked her if she was sure about my coffee being on the house and she said she was. So I got a free coffee from Krispy Kreme. Cool!
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