Pulse

Hospital Pasalubong

2008-07-24T23:59:00.005+08:00

An uncle is in the hospital. That's why I haven't been bloghopping as much and this blog has largely been about food posts lately. We've been getting a steady stream of food from visitors and family.

S1 brought fruits and stocked up on chips and soda. I think she has an ulterior motive here. She was the one looking for them the next day. When she didn't find them, she wasn't able to resist buying some to munch on. And she brought Sisig Hooray too which I requested.

Cousins Tin, Kayers and her SO brought fruits. Our uncle loved the grapes (I made sure to give him only a few though) as they were seedless and sweet. I had one of the apples which was juicy. They also showed my uncle the audiovisual presentation Kayers prepared for last Sunday's event.

Cousin Ariel and wife G brought siopao knowing that our uncle is a huge fan of Chinese food.

S3 and Kulisap brought empanada, lunch, magazines and what thrilled my uncle a lot, a recording of my almost 3 year old nephew singing Edelweiss.

S4 extended her leave from her job in Singapore and stayed with my uncle most nights. There was a time I got surprised with my uncle's blood sugar only to learn that they shared Starbucks that night.

Those are what I witnessed personally. Random checks of the refrigerator and tray table revealed Bibingkinitan, empanada, kesong puti, fruits and a lot more.

My contribution has largely been lunch or dinner meals for my uncle, watcher and me. What was supposed to be just a check-up ended up as a confinement. In his stay at the ER, he mentioned that the plan was to finish the check-up and head to Teriyaki Boy. I couldn't resist so I bought him take out from Kitaro Sushi. Knowing that he loves Next Door, I brought him pinsec prito and crispy noodles from North Park. But what turned out to be a huge hit was kani furai from Teriyaki Boy. I brought him the dish last night. He was amazed to know that it costs only PHP 85. When I called to check on him at 6 PM today, he asked that I bring kani furai again. I couldn't say no. I just have to monitor his blood sugar. Oh, and I did bring some donuts too.

Most of the food items are either brought home or consumed by whoever's watching him or guests. His doctors did tell him to lose some weight. Now if only he could resist Chinese food.

Dunkin' Donuts

2008-07-23T23:59:00.002+08:00

Zara's Clarence opened up his Dunkin' Donuts store this morning. The donuts were sold out in a matter of hours. I think this is because they are relatively inexpensive compared to other brands. Almost just a third of the price of a fancy one. Second, most of us have at one time or another had a Dunkin' Donuts experience. Some stores were witness to many a medical student's preparation for the boards. I'm sure the same is true for other professions. Yet for others, it is comfort food. our friend Butternut recalls bonding with her Dad over coffee.

What was interesting about watching the sales this afternoon was that those who bought donuts precisely knew what they wanted. That says a lot about the brand. Everyone has his own favorite. Mine is the sugar raised or honey dipped. The Bavarian donut was the one most requested and the fastest seller this afternoon.

I recall that it was Dunkin' Donuts which revolutionized how we see donuts in the old days. Prior to its coming to the Philippines, we were content with deep fried donuts dipped in sugar. Dunkin' Donuts allowed us to see the infinite possibilities with donuts. Toppings. Sprinkles. Fillings. Etc.

What about you? How do you like your donut?

Kitaro Sushi

2008-07-22T23:59:00.003+08:00

Even if I know that Kitaro Sushi serves good food, I rarely eat there because I feel that they're quite expensive. The prices are about the same or even more than that of Teriyaki Boy or Kimono Ken but most of their outlets are food court based. Choosing between restaurants with the same food quality and cost, I'll choose the one with ambiance anytime. After all, mealtimes should be relaxing situations.

The times however have changed people's spending habits and establishents' business practices. Kitaro has added value meals to their menu. I ordered 2 such sets last Saturday. One with Chicken Teriyaki (PHP 115) and the other with Pork Katsu (PHP 115). Both came with miso soup, steamed rice, bean sprouts and yakisoba.

I actually hesitated ordering this because I don't really like yakisoba. It turned out to be the best I've tasted so far. I even wished there was more. As for the bean sprouts, they were too salty for my taste.

If ordered together with the meal, iced tea costs only PHP 10.

I hope other establishments will follow suit, innovate and come up with value meals.

On Cakes

2008-07-21T23:59:00.000+08:00

I am not a cake person but I have friends who are. We were medical students when my friend Inday introduced me to Goldilock's Rainbow Cake. She was a fan after all. The introduction however did not make me one. Frenchy, on the other hand, ordered chocolate cake from Bigby's when were in Cebu. That I became a fan of. Zara's Clarence brought some for me when he traveled to the queen city of the south.

This cake reflection was triggered by yesterday's event. As a relative was celebrating a huge milestone, of course there was cake. Fondant even. It was really beautiful but the icing and the cake both did not impress. Cousin Tin shared the same observation about the icing.

What about you? Do you like cake? How do you like it?

Albergus Catering

2008-07-20T23:59:00.003+08:00

When we learned who was doing the catering for today's event, we knew we were in for a treat. After all, Albergus has a reputation for being one of the best in the catering business. As for the food, my family still remembers that they had a grand time at S3's wedding reception at their events place.

Lunch today consisted of tropical mesclun mixed greens with raspberry vinaigrette and ranch dressing, steamed rice, roast beef with mushroom sauce and mashed potato, chicken teriyaki, shrimp thermidore, popiah, fettucine ala pasta rosa with seafood. The dessert bar had buko jello with lychees, mango crepe with chocolate ganache and fresh fruits in season. Iced tea and iced water complemented the meal.

I was particularly impressed with the roast beef which was really tender and the shrimp thermidore which was wonderful. The greens were very fresh too.

Set-up wise, the table settings were pretty, the buffet table similarly so.

The cost per head is reasonable and at par with other caterers. One can spend so much more with another caterer and not be as pleased.

For Team Philippines

2008-07-19T20:56:00.005+08:00

An Olympic event is happening this August and it does not involve athletes. Yet it is an undertaking for one's country of origin. It involves men and women who are occasionally trigger happy, some armed to point and shoot, some with more advanced skills and equipment. It may even be you.

The theme of this week's challenge over at Shutterday is Your Country. If you want to support your country of origin, all you have to do is enter a representative photograph from now until July 26.

I just posted a photo in my photoblog, Captured Beat. Hope you can too!

Go Team Philippines!

Lucky Me

2008-07-18T20:04:00.001+08:00

Sometime this week, I received a notice declaring that I'd won a raffle. I was thrilled. No, this is not what you think. This is legitimate. After all, I did join the raffle. A purchase qualified me for a raffle ticket. I entered my details and put it in the dropbox about a month or two ago.

When I got home today, this was what greeted me.

I plan to use it this Sunday when a favorite aunt celebrates her birthday.

My friend Pink also won a camera in another raffle and is thinking of selling hers. I, on the other hand, am keeping this. As a souvenir of my luck. And because my point and shoot camera is a hand me down and 5 years old.

Zara thinks that my winning is not entirely good news. She says people who win in raffles are unlucky in matters of the heart.

What do you think?

Best Kept Secret

2008-07-17T21:37:00.001+08:00

What's Your Family's Best Kept Secret? is the title of an article today in the dining section of the Philippine Star. The article calls for contributions from readers about their families' secret recipe.

For some families, guarding a secret recipe is almost like guarding a family heirloom. Think Max's Fried Chicken. Well-loved, distributed all over, copied but never equaled.

It got me thinking too about my family's secret recipes. The dishes I commonly associate with home are calandracas and ube halaya. Even if they're no secrets, I don't think any of my generation has learned them. Not one is exceptional in the kitchen although S5 and cousin Bong do cook. They have yet to take over the kitchen though when we have gatherings at home.

Does your family have a secret recipe? Have you learned it? Are you willing to share it?

On Heroes

2008-07-16T23:19:00.001+08:00

It's easy enough to spot a superhero. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Check. Faster than a speeding bullet. Check.

The same however is not true in real life.

When we speak of heroes, images of people dying for love of country come to mind. But one need not die to become a hero.

In the medical profession, there are many instances of heroism. Blood donors. A resident on duty taking care of other people's kids while his own is nursing a fever. Medical personnel missing out on family because duty calls. A doctor contacting an infectious disease while taking care of a toxic patient. And so on.

Yet these contributions are hardly recognized.

The overseas Filipino worker is dubbed Ang Bagong Bayani for contributions to the economy. I lament however the seeming double standard when it comes to physicians. Doctors who choose to train abroad or shift to nursing are lambasted for their choice and considered selfish. Yet, aren't they new heroes too? Why should they be treated differently?

Perhaps central to the issue is the question when does the job end and heroism begins? There is no easy answer and most probably opinions will vary. Let me know what you think.

People need not die to become heroes. One must only touch the life of another to become one. We need not erect monuments for our heroes, medical professional or otherwise. A thank you is more than enough.

------
This is my entry to The Blog Rounds 16th Edition: Unsung Heroes

Journey to the Center of the Earth

2008-07-15T21:07:00.003+08:00

I first noticed Brendan Fraser in School Ties where he played a Jewish outcast in a prep school. The movie introduced young actors who have gone on to play leads in big productions. These actors include Matt Damon, Chris O'Donnell, Ben Affleck and of course Brendan Fraser. He played the lead character and came across as an intense performer and a good looking one at that. Though there were serious roles in between, he is best remembered headlining The Mummy where he was part comic and part action hero, a role which I think suited him best.

In Journey to the Center of the Earth, he is again a bit of both. Funny though sometimes I felt he's trying too hard. Action hero, yes, as he goes through all sorts of mishaps here.

The movie started innocently enough but once the characters took off on their adventure I felt like I was in a theme park ride. There was no boring moment. I laughed out loud, got startled and was even close to tears at one moment.

It's too bad that it's not as publicized or as widely distributed as Hancock or Mamma Mia as this is definitely better than the Will Smith starrer. It is also appropriate for all ages. Children and parents alike will appreciate the science lessons dished out in the movie. After all, they come with live action minus the boring teacher and the tired classroom.

And when do lessons learned from books or the classroom come in handy? In everyday life and in adventures such as these, you'd rather have a geeky companion than a handsome one. It's a good thing the character played by Brendan Fraser is both.

Take the time to see the movie. I enjoyed it so much I want to see it again in 3D.

By the way, I think they could really develop this into a theme park ride.

journey to the center of the earth, movie, brendan fraser

Photo from this site.

Cavana

2008-07-14T20:42:00.002+08:00

I think I've found it. Stumbled upon it, really.

I've always loved Hainanese Chicken. Although I don't really look for it, I make sure I order it when I come across one. So far, the best Hainanese Chicken I've had was in a food court in Singapore. This is followed by the EDSA Shangri-la Hotel version. The first one is inaccessible while the second one is quite expensive. I've also tried Penang Hill's, dubbed as the best Hainanese Chicken in town but not to my taste.

My plan was to have lunch at one of the restaurants near Toy Kingdom Megamall last Saturday but Cavana caught my eye. The store facade was inviting and the offered meals (mostly chicken) were quite inexpensive.

I asked the store clerk if they were a franchise and she said that they were based in Singapore. Not having seen the store in the few times I've been to Singapore, I was doubtful but proceeded to try it just the same.

I ordered the Hainanese Chicken Rice (PHP 129) which came with soup, rice, chicken leg and three kinds of sauces (chili, soy sauce and ginger). I loved it. The soup was just right, not too hot and not oily at all. The rice was flavorful and had fried diced garlic on top. The chicken leg was soft, tender and flavorful and garnished with vegetables. What I loved the most was the ginger. I don't care much for chili or soy sauce but ginger just happens to be my favorite part of Hainanese Chicken. There was a lot of it and it was a perfect match to the chicken.

Not all however fancy ginger and that's probably why Hainanese Chicken does not appeal to everybody. Zara doesn't like it. My Singapore based sister, S4, prefers other dishes. If I were her, I'd order the dish probably everyday.

Now I know I can have good Hainanese chicken without spending too much or flying to Singapore. And since Cavana is Singapore based, their Hainanese Chicken and probably their other offerings are as close to the original.

This is definitely one good stumble.

cavana, hainanese chicken, singapore

Superhero

2008-07-13T18:37:00.002+08:00

Six humans responded to my call for entries to the Tell Me and Win: Superhero edition. They wrote about their favorites and much more.

I don't actually know who Shadowcat is but I think she'd have a hard time resisting Manggy's cauliflower risotto. For Gigi, the ultimate superhero is Spiderman. Perhaps her choice is so because she believes there are heroes in each one of us. Hawkgirl is Toni's favorite. In their case, I think the hero and the worshiper have one thing in common. They are both strong women. Strength does not just mean brawn. She-ra is special to Kreez because she proves that women like men can be superheroes too and still fall in love. Dr. Emer's favorite Thor has a lot in common with She-ra. While both could have lived lives as royalty, both chose to take action to save the world.

Sakai's least favorite is Robin. He says he never liked sidekicks. I think a lot of us feel this way because sidekicks are not really given much attention by the superhero or the writer. They are mostly there to provide comic relief. This issue was explored in Sky High.

Majority consider traveling (through time or space or even flying to the next destination) as the ultimate superpower. I think this is a reflection of our innate need to explore.

Like Kreez, Superman starring Christopher Reeve was my first memorable superhero experience. Unfortunately, the Superman movies deteriorated after Superman 2. While Superman 4 upped the ante in terms of effects, I hated the end like Toni did.

Some of their responses surprised me. Their ultimate superheroes are not exactly popular. This brings down the point that one need not be popular to be loved.

And now it's time to give out some love. I did promise 2 tickets to the July 17 screening of The Dark Knight. I entered all the names in the tambiolo, in the order of entry. Those with comments and blog posts got 2 entries. The rest got 1 entry for commenting.

Drum roll please while the List Randomizer does its job.

And our winner isCongratulations Doc Emer! You're our ultimate superhero. Enjoy The Dark Knight!

Until next Tell Me and Win. Thank you all for participating! You're all superheroes in my book!

superhero, the dark knight, tell me and win, contest

Mamma Mia!

2008-07-12T21:34:00.003+08:00

There are several reasons why it's no surprise that I loved Mamma Mia!

I love musicals. When Repertory was still based in Shangri-La, I regularly watched musicals and the children's theater with S3.

Abba. I grew up listening to their music. While some songs in the movie were not familiar, there were more than enough old favorites that I found myself lipsynching too. Had I been home, I would probably have been singing along. After all, I think Dancing Queen is the best way to end a karaoke session even if I don't sing in public. But no matter how much one enjoys the movie, movie theater etiquette should not be forgotten.

Meryl Streep. I first encountered her in Kramer vs. Kramer, a movie S1 and I watched as kids and one that left both of us crying. Since then, I've been a fan. I loved her too in Bridges of Madison County and One True Thing. She's simply remarkable in Mamma Mia! Dancing and singing with abandon, she shows her range as a performer and runs away with it. I loved her take on The Winner Takes It All.

Pierce Brosnan. How can I not love him? I am after all a child of the '80's and Remington Steele was suave, debonair and was probably that time's version of McDreamy. He subsequently became James Bond. I loved him as 007, even the VISA commercial with him on it. In this movie, he's visibly aged but charming still. In fact, very much so! And he sings too!

The cast. All the other cast members have spot numbers and they all did well. I especially liked the bit about Take a Chance on Me. They are as gifted actors as they are singers.

Choreography. The ensemble numbers were simply breathtaking especially Dancing Queen.

Greece. One of my dream destinations. White on blue. Beautiful!

Apparently, I was not the only one mesmerized. The elderly man seated next to me who watched the movie with his wife was grinning and was tapping his fingers on his knee. And everybody stayed for the end credits to listen to the songs. You should too by the way.

I left the theater with a smile on my face and the music ringing in my head.

And so to ABBA, thank you for the music.

mamma mia! movie, abba, meryl streep, pierce brosnan

Photo from this site.

Treadmill x 30 minutes x 146 calories

A Girl's Best Friend

2008-07-11T23:59:00.002+08:00

This is not about a who but rather a what. And for many girls, this could be one or all that follows.

Jewelry. Particularly diamonds. This was immortalized in song and is commonly associated with Marilyn Monroe. This even inspired one of Madonna's earlier MTVs. I'm sure you've been witness to officemates buying jewelry on installment, commonly termed as gives, from someone hawking jewelry. Or have you done that yourself?

Bags. I'm not so much into these. I'm happy with any bag that can carry my stuff. In fact, speedy has always been just an adjective to me. But in a recent trip to Singapore, I learned about Speedy, the LV bag, from my friend Zara. Another friend, Mango, is so into bags that she called me long distance to check if the bag that was out of stock in Cebu was still available in Manila.

Shoes. A woman's love affair with shoes is probably best immortalized in Sex and the City. In fact, some quarters are saying that the movie ran up to 2 hours and 30 minutes because of all the merchandise they had to show. These included the now famous Manolo Blahniks. My friend Pink even watched the movie a second time to concentrate on the shoes and marvel at the closet. And believe me, she wears really incredible shoes.

I'm not much into all three. Well, except probably for shoes. When I fall in love with a shoe, I fall deeply. When it's time to retire it, I find one almost similar or just like it. Or if I like it so much, I buy one of another color. I have always been reasonable though about my shoe purchases. I'm not into expensive brands but don't actually buy cheap shoes as I've had an unfortunate incident in college when the sole came off after it rained so hard. Good I was almost home when that happened. I go for sturdy shoes and because of that I don't buy shoes too often. I am however partial to sandals and sneakers.

What's your best friend? Or what's your girl's best friend?

a girl's best friend, jewelry, shoes, bags, sex and the city, madonna, marilyn monroe

Salad Days

2008-07-10T23:59:00.005+08:00

Salads are a good way to be full yet they are low in calories compared to other dishes. It's also a rich source of fruits and vegetables. Although I try to eat salads when I can, there are some barriers too.

On a regular day, I find that eating a sandwich or a rice meal for lunch helps me get through the day better than just eating salad. I'm usually hungry by late afternoon if all I had for lunch was salad. There's actually a way around this which I've tried. When I've decided to have salad for lunch, I usually order one topped with chicken strips or the like. That way, I get some protein too.

The trouble sometimes with some restaurants serving salads are that the greens are not as fresh as they should be. Since experiencing this in one restaurant, I've steered clear of their salad menu. It would be best to order salads in restaurants with a fast turnaround.

Although vinaigrette is the best possible dressing for salads, I don't really like sour stuff. So, it's mostly mayonaisse based or olive oil based dressings for me. We try however to limit the amount we use.

My first real encounter with a salad bar was back in the '80s at Wendy's. I remember how people would try to get as much ingredients into the salad bowl. Pizza Hut also offered a salad bar before. I'm not sure if they still have it though. Cravings also has a mean salad bar. They also offer good value for money as free trips to the salad bar are bundled with the entrees. In the US, we regularly had lunch at Au Bon Pain. The salad bar had the freshest and widest selection of ingredients. The dressing choices were also extensive. What kept us from putting too much was the expense. The salads were priced according to weight. That taught us to choose the lighter ingredients and to limit the amount of dressing.

For commercially prepared salads, my favorites are Sumosam's Hot Prawn Salad, Shakey's Mandarin Oriental Salad and Italianni's Sicilian Chicken Salad. In the US, I've tried Olive Garden and was surprised at how huge the servings were.

At home, we occasionally have Caesar's salad or ensalada. My friend Zara makes a mean broccoli with bacon salad, a recipe I kept egging her to make while we were in Cleveland. A friend in Minnesota similarly impressed me with a salad she topped with grapes and walnuts. Before that, the only salad I knew was Caesar's.

What about you? Do you like salads? Any recommendations?

salad

Tell Me and Win

2008-07-09T19:41:00.005+08:00

I love superheroes. I remember watching in earnest shows such as Justice League, Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, Wonder Woman. A black and white photo of Christopher Reeve as Superman even adorned my notebook back in those days when TV or movie merchandise was not very common. If a movie about superheroes is screening, chances are I've seen it already or planning to see it.

I'd like to know how you feel about superheroes.

Who is your most or least favorite superhero? Why?
What is your most or least favorite superhero movie? Why?
If you could have one superpower, what would you like it to be?

Leave a comment to tell me what you think. Or you can post your thoughts in your blog; just leave the URL in your comment so I can find it. Remember to include your email (formatted as yourname AT emailprovider DOT com).

Leaving a comment earns you one raffle entry. A blog post earns you another. A person is only allowed a maximum of 2 entries (one for commenting and one for a blog post).

And since the theme is superheroes, the winner gets two tickets to the July 17 evening screening of The Dark Knight at SM Megamall.

Deadline of posting comments or blog posts is on Sunday, July 13 at 6 pm. The first name generated by the List Randomizer gets the tickets. I will post the winners at 8 PM. The winner then has 24 hours to contact me re details as I will be sending the prize by courier.

This contest is my participation in Shai Coggins' 52WoC#2: Hold a Contest/Blog Raffle. I hope to make this a regular feature.

Join now!

Image from this site.

superhero, contest, the dark knight, movie, shai coggins, 52 weeks of blogging community

North Park

2008-07-08T23:59:00.006+08:00

One of my family's favorite Chinese restaurants is Next Door which belongs to the North Park group . They never hesitate when the invitation to lunch is to this place. They know the menu by heart and though they may seem to hesitate about what they want, somehow they find a way to say why don't you order (insert favorite dish here)? Favorites include the Chinese lumpia, pinsec prito, shrimp dumpling, crispy noodles, broccoli with three kinds of mushroom and lechon Macau. We love that they serve good food at affordable prices.

I thought all along that North Park had a different menu and was more expensive. I was wrong. When I dined at North Park today, the same menu greeted me. The prices were also similar.

I wanted to order all my family's favorites but since I was dining alone, I limited my choices to the rice toppings. I ordered the Lechon Macau on Fried Rice (PHP 160) which offered really good value for money. The serving could be shared by two and came even with sauces, free soup and a pot of Chinese tea. The meat was tender and flavorful. Although the skin was fried to a crisp, it was not as crisp as I would have wanted it. Though I mostly pair my meals with cold drinks, I can actually manage with hot tea and that was what I intended to do at lunch today to somehow limit my expense. But I guess soup and hot tea are much more than what I can handle. Soon after, I felt warm and almost on the verge of sweating. I ordered the Honey Lemonade (PHP 62) to rescue me from the warmth. And I was really impressed. It was served in a tall glass with lots of ice, lemon slices and pulp bits. The blend was just right too. It surely made my day.

I'm still confused though as to the distinctions between North Park and Next Door (or their other sister companies Tiananmen Bar and Kopi Tiam). But names don't really matter much as long as they serve equally good food.

north park, next door, chinese restaurant, lechon macau

Hairy Stories

2008-07-07T15:59:00.002+08:00

I'm blessed with straight hair and for a good number of years I have been sporting a one-length bob. But life was not always like that.

Photos from long ago show my sisters, cousin and I with the same hairstyle: the apple cut. I also have a photo of me sporting a wig. Apparently, somebody had fun with me that day and I obliged. I've had my hair curled too and that was largely because Mommy said so and I didn't know any better. In those days, curly hair was the rage. If I remember correctly, even cousin Ariel had his hair curled at one time or another. I stopped having my hair curled when I noticed the harmful effects of chemicals to hair. It was a wise decision. I also recall the time I brought my Sharon Cuneta tape to the parlor so that the stylist could copy her hairstyle. A few years after that, I had a siete phase. Then the bob and it's been that way ever since.

Since grade 4, I've been blessed with salt and pepper hair. A detail that did not escape the friend who wrote my college yearbook entry. A detail that also did not escape my med school friends. It was upon their prodding that I started coloring my hair. Though the first one was a disaster, subsequent ones were okay expect for one incident.

Since high school and up to the early part of last year, I've had the same stylist. I love how he just cuts my hair and says very little. The only times I've had my hair cut by another was when he moved salons or when he was on leave. He has left the salon and I haven't discovered where he's now at. Recently, I've been having my hair cut at what is more commonly known as a barber shop. I've tried it twice, been satisfied both times though doubtful if they really know how to cut women's hair.

I'm not one to splurge at salons but would probably be willing to if in case I do decide to change my hairstyle. Occasionally, I do think about it especially when I see someone with a new hairstyle. In fact, when I had some free time in Macau I thought about getting one. The fear of the unknown and the change held me back. Maybe a virtual makeover can help me decide.

For now, it's all about just a trim. I think the one length bob suits me best.

What about you? Are you adventurous when it comes to hair?

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This post was inspired by Write from Karen's Monday Morning Meme.

hair, hairstyle, writefromkaren

Pizzanatic

2008-07-06T23:59:00.004+08:00

I was at Shakey's last week for two reasons: to kill time and to check out the Pizzanatic card. You see, I planned to treat my staff to pizza and thought that their buy one, take one promo is a good deal. It is. I got the card for only PHP 199 and for the next six months, I am entitled to a free pizza of the same size when I order a large or party size pizza and a bottle of Coke for delivery. That same day, I was able to treat my staff to 2 large thick crust pizzas and a bottle of Coke for only PHP462.

That's not all. The card also came with coupons for use in-store or carry-out. The next day, JT and I feasted on Chick n' Chips (5 pieces), a large thin crust Manager's Choice pizza and a pitcher of the house blend iced tea for only PHP 652 (tax and service charge included; the coupon quoted price was PHP 599) . We had enough left for Zara who couldn't join us as she had to work already.

And somehow, today while watching HBO, I couldn't shake off the craving for pizza. I tried to but gave up after 30 minutes. I ordered a large thin crust Manager's Choice pizza and a bottle of Coke (PHP 350). I was asked to choose from three options for the free pizza: Hawaiian, Pepperoni or Cheese and Garlic. I chose the latter and Dad loved it more than the pizza I actually paid for.

I have a good 6 months left to use the card to the fullest and already I am thinking about how I can use it for Christmas gifts or parties.

Pizzanatic? Definitely!

By the way, this is NOT a paid post. I just love to share good deals.

Photo from this site.

shakey's, pizza, pizzanatic, buy one take one

Hancock

2008-07-05T23:59:00.001+08:00

There are movies where you meet actors for the first time and they make such an impression. Such is the case with Independence Day and Will Smith. I loved his portrayal of the regular soldier turned overnight hero. He looked good in uniform especially where he's shown walking across the desert. He was equally suave in Men in Black.

Then Hancock. Scratch those images of Will Smith behind. In this movie, he portrays a foul-mouthed, drunk superhero who desperately needs a makeover.

And that's where Hancock is different. It's not a typical Will Smith starrer. It's also not a typical movie about superheroes. Beyond that, I cannot say more lest I give out spoilers. Suffice it to say that the movie has its share of surprises.

The movie also talks about the power of publicity, branding and advertising. Hancock is a spin doctor's dream.

And thanks to one played by Jason Bateman, we get a glimpse of what a superhero played by Will Smith should be like.

hancock, will smith

Photo from this site.

Killing Time

2008-07-04T21:48:00.003+08:00

Time. Most of the time we just don't have enough of it. Time management strategies are almost always geared to extending it.

But there are days too when we have too much of it.

Like yesterday for example. I had an appointment in the early morning but the person I was meeting with did not show up. Although I used that time to have breakfast with Zara, do some errands, etc, I was still left with some 3 hours before work. I thought about working on a publication but sadly the office computer had crashed. Going elsewhere would have been a waste of resources. And so it was back to the old habit of killing time: sitting in a favorite restaurant to read the newspaper. I actually prefer restaurants which are quiet and relaxing where I can read the paper undisturbed save for interruptions for beverage refills, etc.

How do you manage unexpected free time?

Jolly Stories

2008-07-03T15:52:00.001+08:00

Thirty years in the business. I'm sure you have stories to tell about Jollibee. Here are some of mine.

When we were growing up, my sisters, cousin and I would take the tricycle to the nearest Jollibee outlet to have merienda.
In college, I would make a bet with myself as to what time I would reach my destination. Each time I won, I treated myself to Jollibee.
We used to order breakfast for conferences when we were in training. We loved how it allowed us to save our unit's monthly allowance. From our savings, we were able to finance other purchases like a tape recorder, items for our Christmas party, etc.
When I was starting out in practice and barely had patients, Jollibee was my usual lunch haunt. I remember ordering the Yumburger meal then costing PHP 32.
When treating balikbayan or foreign guests out, we would bring them to Jollibee at least once.
I felt sad when they retired the buko pie. I used to order it all the time.
I love that they give out free newspapers for a minimum purchase.
I have 2 nephews and 1 niece. All 3 of them have had birthday celebrations at one time or another at Jollibee.
Jollibee is where we usually have breakfast after early morning Mass. Its proximity, affordability and free parking make it an easy choice.
My favorite breakfast item at Jollibee was, is and will always be the longganisa meal.
And don't even get me started with Chicken Joy. I love it!
Although I fancied the burger in the past, I've discovered other establishments which serve better tasting burgers.
Their palabok is a hit to some but I personally prefer Red Ribbon's.

Do you have a jolly story to share?

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This is my 15th contribution to Thursday Thirteen. My previous entries were

jollibee

Seven Corners

2008-07-02T22:59:00.003+08:00

When we greeted a friend belated Happy Birthday today and teased him about treating us to breakfast, he countered meet me at Seven Corners tonight. Now, how can you pass up an invitation like that, even if it's short notice?

Seven Corners is the premiere dining outlet of the Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila. It features a wide range of cuisine spanning the globe. There are Japanese, Mediterrenean, Oriental and Western choices plus a dessert bar that's simply sinful.

Personally, I prefer Seven Corners to HEAT because of the ambiance. While the food is equally superb in the 2 restaurants, I like the food in Seven Corners better. The atmosphere at Seven Corners is also more appealing to me. It's more intimate with subdued lighting. People seem to be more relaxed and less bothered with time.

When I'm here, I always get some steak because it's really very tender and cooked just right and as I want it. Dimsum and Japanese fare are my next favorites. Tonight, I discovered a new favorite - naan, which brought back memories of Kuala Lumpur.

So what if it wasn't really a birthday celebration but a scientific meeting and we got convinced into going? Dinner at Seven Corners was more than enough reward. Not only were we fed literally, we were also fed mentally.

seven corners, crowne plaza galleria manila, buffet

Wanted

2008-07-01T21:27:00.005+08:00

The moment I saw its trailer, I knew I wanted to see it. It seemed interesting with a lot of action yet the trailer did not give much away. Add to that the fact that Angelina Jolie is in the cast.

Wanted is the story of an accountant living a boring life. He is suddenly recruited into a fraternity of assassins and that's where the trouble begins.

Action wise, this movie is definitely oozing with it. There is no dull moment and the chases, crashes, etc are the best I've seen in a long time.

I'm not a Team Jolie member. Neither am I with Team Aniston. Frankly, I don't care who gets Brad Pitt. But I like Angelina Jolie because there are roles only she can play. One of those is this one. Only she can get away with it.

Don't wait too long to see this movie. It's definitely worth your money.

wanted, angelina jolie, movie

Photo from this site.

Shoot to Win

2008-06-30T12:38:00.007+08:00

There are a number of photography contests going on locally so whip those cameras out now and shoot to win.

Pitik sa Charity: PCSO National Photo Competition. Open to both amateur and professional photographers, the competition's objective is to promote charitable works. Deadline of submission of entries is on August 1, 2008. Check out the PCSO website for details.

Cameraderie Digital Photo Contest 2008. This competition open to amateur photographers only is jointly sponsored by Business Mirror and Coca-Cola. The theme is Life at Work. Deadline of submission of entries is August 31, 2008. Check out Business Mirror for details.

UPiktyuran Na! with SMART: UP Centennial SMART MMS Photo Competition. This contest is in line with the state university's anniversary celebration. All you need is an MMS capable camera phone and some affiliation with UP. The competition ends on September 29, 2008. Check out the official websit e for details.

Take that winning shot now. Click, click, click, click!

photography, contest, upiktyuran, cameraderie, pcso

Photo from this site.