Update on Lady

Lady has a new home! She was adopted by a certain Mr. Chan from our village. Now why do I get the feeling that he is actually the "owner" of Lady? Anyway, we're just glad not to see her tied to the same old tree.

Puto Bumbong All Year Long!

Everything purple seems to be good, at least for me. I love the color, ube ice cream, grapes, and of course, puto bumbong! Hubby and I have found two great places to find (and eat) good and tasty puto bumbong.

Our favorite can be ordered in El Rancho, a Western style open eating place inside John Hay in Baguio City. It's freshly made, comes in bigger portions the usual Christmas roadside buy, and may come with a steaming cup of batirol (hot cocoa) for only P75. Now that's a great deal in my book!

Peanut sings "My Hump"

Yes, the title is right; but no, Peanut doesn't really sing BEP's My Hump. I was just taken aback when one night as I watched TV on the sofa, Peanut started humping my arm! After the initial shock, I got amused as it looked really funny. And then I had to put her back in her place.

This humping of a female dog is not unusual at all. It is a learned dominance behavior and she was simply trying (just trying) to establish her dominance over me. Of course I didn't agree to that because hubby and I should and will always be the alpha "dog".

I noticed that she would also try to dominate Toepy (our senior dog). It is true that a Miniature Pinscher is a big dog in a small body, and she believes that without question. She feels that since we let her sleep on our bed (yeah, if Mama were alive, she'd have a fit), she is the "favored one".

It is quite a challenge to care for a minpin and any handler should have a strong enough personality to train one. For those of you who plan to get one, beware! They are certainly super cute and cuddly as puppies, but they can become little tyrants when mature.

Our good old Toepy has challenged Peanut's assertion many times and has "humped" Peanut as well. The old gal won't give up her dominance without a fight!

So, if you ever catch your female dog humping a person or another dog (male or female), don't be alarmed. Just gently but firmly put her back in her place and show her who's the boss. She'll soon get the message and will no longer be singing "My Humps" all the way up your arm.

New Look

After writing about coffee, my site screamed for a more "appropriate" look. If you've read my previous blog, I wasn't exactly ecstatic about Starbucks, but I can't deny the appeal of its logo and overall look. Who knows, I may still change this when I find something else. In the meantime, thanks to Starbucks for this very "aromatic" look.

You may also want to try Melitta Hazelnut Coffee. It was given by a friend who knows about our coffee habit, and it's actually good. Just be sure to use a paper filter and just the right amount of coffee (1 heaping tablespoon for every 2 cups of water), otherwise, you'll get that "lasang lumiliko" that hubby got initially. Now, for that cup of coffee...

Lady's Homeless Again

Well folks, the old Lady was returned yesterday afternoon after she was adopted just the other day. So we brought her some food again last night as we walked all three of our doggies. She barked after us again when we started walking away.

Apparently, she barked incessantly in her "24-hr new home" so she was booted out. I found out that she barked for the same reason: she simply wanted company. Whenever the kids who adopted her would leave, she would loudly call them back. For a dog who has been missing her "people" for several weeks, it is understandable that she needs compassion from people badly. An abandoned dog does not relish being tied down, petted and then left behind. I guess it is the same with abandoned kids.

So, if there is anyone out there who has a heart for an old Lady and enough love, time and resources to take her in, please let me know. For now, she stays in the village clubhouse with the security guards, still waiting for a kind soul to adopt her. I pray she will have a nice warm home soon.

Why I Make Mine Brewed

I love brewed coffee; the smell of a fresh brew, the fist sip, the works! I even love the whole process that goes into brewing a good cuppa joe.

As coffee enthusiasts, hubby and I have tried several brands over the years. Of course, we've also gone to the popular and not-so-popular cafes just to relax and treat ourselves to a cup or two. As a result, we've come up with the following coffee critiques (take note: the following are opinions and not facts):

Starbucks - we love the coffee aroma that permeates the place, but we don't exactly relish drinking their stronger brews. We find most of their brews, including their house blend, bordering on the acidic, and it's no longer comforting to our palate. A friend of ours usually orders a small cup of their house blend, gets a cup of warm milk, and then mixes them to come up with two milder blends. It's not only more suitable to her taste, it also gives her an extra cup of coffee for the price of one. Their decaf house blend, though, tastes like water downed regular, and I don't appreciate it at all. Trivia: Did you know that Starbucks regular coffee contains 166 pts. caffeine while their decaf has 8 pts.? If you want to know which brews suit your taste, take their Coffee Taste Matcher. My coffee preferences apparently include these: Yukon Blend®, Caffè Verona®, Italian Roast. I've tried their Yukon and Verona and they were to my liking.

Figaro - aaah, the ambiance is woodsy and gives the place a rather "clubby" feel, if there is such a word. The decor caters to the more mature and sophisticated crowd, and the subdued yellow lighting is not for the rowdy and noisy yuppies and Koreans that frequent Starbucks. It's also proudly Filipino-owned! The coffee is just to our liking -- not too mild yet not too strong or acidic. Their food selection is also tasty and their sandwiches go well with the coffee. For more coffee trivia, check out this link. You may also check out the history of coffee and other facts here.

Seattles Best - their coffee is sort of midway Starbucks and Figaro. The house blend can be a bit strong without the acidity. Their branch in Caltex SLEX is our favorite because it serves all-day breakfast!. Their pancakes are good and filling, and their pastas are tasty as well. I do have an issue, again, with their decaf blend -- if possible, it tastes even more water downed than the same at Starbucks. I have brewed decaf coffee at home and while the caffeine is taken out (most of it anyway), the strong taste remains. This is what I have been looking for in these posh cafes and I have yet to find a great cup of decaf. We will stay away from their branch in SM Megamall because of their poor service and poor coffee.

These are our usual coffee hunts and have only occasionally tried Gloria Jeans and other similar cafes. We'll see where we end up one of these coffee days.

When brewing at home, we prefer Folgers Classic Roast. Of course, now I drink decaf and Kirkland suits my decaf palate fine. It's exorbitantly priced, though, at P800++ in Shopwise. If anyone is a member of S&R, do buy me a can of this since (check out photo below left) it's only P500++ there, tax-free. And I'm already out, so my system is just making do with Nescafe Instant Decaf -- ugh!

Whoever you are, oh kind soul, I'll pay you back, no worries.

So these are my coffee fast breaks. At least now you know why I make mine brewed.

Lady Luck

Looks like luck is smiling upon Lady -- more of a blessing, really. Our friends' kids have indicated their desire to adopt her. After feeding her for two days and giving her a much welcome bath, she now has a home. Thanks to our friends!

Now all she needs is to gain some weight, get regular exercise and a date with our Beans!

Lady wants to know...

Last night was a night like all the rest (why do I sound like a music CD?), with the exception of a 10-hour power outtage in our entire village. After a long hot day of touring houses we cannot afford to buy (again!), all my hubby and I wanted to do when we got home was to take a nice cool shower and watch the American Idol rerun (since we didn't think we'd be home in time for the 6PM show) in our soft red couch.

But, alas, that was not to be with no electrical power so we just took a quick shower (thank God our water supply was still aplenty) and hied off to our friends' house just a few blocks away to have a nice galunggong and radish salad dinner. My hubby likes his GG hot and crispy, preferably with condensed milk on steaming hot rice. However, we did away with the sweet sticky milk and had cold Coke and Dalandan Soda instead. 'Twas a hot, humid and candle-lit affair as we shared some anecdotes of the day.

Just as we were winding down, our friends' kids excitedly informed us that there was a big black dog running around close to their house. It was obviously far from home and was causing a ruckus among the other caged dogs in the neighborhood. They also said it looked like Beans (our 2-year old black Labrador Retriever), so, being the dog fans we are, my hubby and I looked out the gate (remember that there were no lights everywhere so the village was bathed only by the light of an almost full moon) and saw the silhouette of what seemed like a Labrador Retriever. Upon closer inspection, the wagging rudder-like tail and the boxy head gave it away - it was, indeed, a lost labrador.

She (it was close enough for us to determine its gender) poked her wet snout through the gate, perhaps picking up the salty scent of fried leftover GG, and begged to be let inside. She is perhaps 5 to 7 years old as we saw in the white fur around her snout, and is also very thin because her ribs were very visible even in the dark. Poor girl!

We ended up feeding her and giving her a tabo (dipper) of water to quench her extreme thirst. She was obviously exhausted from running around for days (or maybe weeks!) so she just lay by our feet, the sweet and friendly Lady lab. We did take her back eventually to the village guards who informed us that they picked her up just that afternoon but that she managed to escape.

Why do people get dogs, purebreds or mongrels, and treat them terribly? It's something that really irks me no end.

A neighbor who just moved in two houses away has two puppies, a yellow lab and a dachshund, trapped in a very small steel cage all day. They never leave that cage -- they eat, pee, poo and sleep in it -- all day! Only a flimsy tarpaulin covers the top of the cage so they are exposed to every imaginable element. Worse, the puppies' only interaction with humans is with the househelp, who feeds them and douses their cage with water every now and then to flush out the refuse. I know this because I see them everyday from the window of our 2nd floor room.

For all of you animal lovers out there, please let me know where I can report such animal abuse. I have checked our SPCA and other related websites but they don't deal with these cases the same way ASPCA does it in the US. We also don't have enough animal shelters to take in all these dogs.

I'm sure Lady wants to know why she is now tied to a tree and left alone without her people. I would adopt her in a heartbeat if we had a bigger home and budget to support another pet (we already have three dogs). Apparently, our village has a rule (which I have not heard about yet) that restricts each home to two dogs only. We've already violated it with our third dog.

I'm sure Lady wants to know if she will ever have a nice warm place to go home to every night and people who will feed and treat her right. After assuring the village guards that she is friendly and just needs to be petted and loved, she stopped calling us back (she barked incessantly the moment we left her) and settled in with her temporary handlers.

I'm sure Lady wants to know why we didn't take her home with us when we saw her again tonight. She remembered us and yanked at her leash to get near us. It broke my heart to leave her again. If anyone knows someone who wishes to adopt a mature and friendly black labrador, please let me know. We will try to make arrangements for her adoption if her owners do not claim her anymore.

'Til then, Lady wants to know...when?

Tagaytay Trippin' (on a budget...or not!)

Being just 20-25 minutes to Tagaytay, we frequent this area pretty often. And with the temperatures climbing fast again, the cooler climate Tagaytay offers is a welcome respite. In fact, we will be heading there tomorrow to show some friends around.

So, if you ever plan to go to Tagaytay, here are some highly recommended establishments to visit:

Ming's Garden (pictured above right) is a favorite place and is usually our first stop en route to the cool city. My Aunt who came to visit from the US, marveled at the abundance and variety of flowering plants in the garden. I began to see what I took for granted as something beautiful and inspiring. Do order their chicken adobo flakes, tapsilog and suman sa lihiya. The suman comes in a pair lavishly slathered with macapuno and panucha syrup. Yum! It goes well with their brewed coffee. Their choco banana walnut is also scrumptious! I hope they keep this up because some people may not agree with my views! These goodies don't come cheap, though, so be ready to fork out at least P200 per person (without any drinks), or just have suman and coffee for around P150, which we have many times.

Another stop is Ponderosa Leisure Farms. There is no entrance fee but you do need to be accompanied, though, by an accredited sales agent or broker, like our friends Tony and Tess Santilan from Maritone Realty (Tess is in the photo with me above, left). While we haven't bought property there, we like to daydream that we have and simply enjoy resting in their gardens or taking another look at their model homes. Be ready, though, for the harsh reality check



afterwards: "God, ba't mo kami ginawang mahirap?!"(God, why did you create us poor?!)

If you end up not buying property there (because you simply can't make enough money in your lifetime to afford even a pot of land here), at least take lots of photos, like we did on the left and below. It's all part of the fun!


Once you reach Tagaytay, heading toward the restaurant rows, you may want to stop and spend one night in Discovery Country Suites. It's a 7-room mini-hotel with significantly more than the comforts of home. Each room has a unique theme and comes with welcome cookies and milk (watch the calories!). Though their rates are upscale (it's a budget buster to the nth degree), the whole place is worth it and they are filled to capacity even on weekdays. So be sure to book early -- and save even earlier!

There is also Boutique Hotel and you may get more info on this by clicking on the link. I must admit that hubby and I haven't stayed in either hotel, but we love to check out new hotels, camp/conference sites and restaurants along with our broker friend Tess. I like the fact that you get to choose the type of pillow you want (goose down pillows!!!) as well as the organic toiletries you prefer. Of course, they also offer in-room WiFi access, wall-mounted LCD TVs, IPod -ready docks, king-sized beds and breakfast for two. Watch me salivate...pant..pant...

Another favorite eating place is Antonio's Grill and since we need to watch our budget (or "budjet" with a silent "t" a la French) we usually order their chicken inasal with sinigang na gulay. The sinigang comes in a huge bowl (more than enough for four people), piping hot and super asim (sour)! It's great for a bad cold and it won't bust your ever decreasing budget! I always order the pakpak (wing), which I love, and is the cheapest in the menu at less than P100.

For chocoholics!

For some odd reason, I suddenly have the craving for anything chocolate! I say "odd" because I've never been a chocolate fan -- ever! -- until last year. I wasn't even tempted by chocolates as a kid!

The craving just started kicking in around 11 months ago, little at a time, and now it's full blown. Sigh... and I thought I was the exception! I do eat in moderation, though, for weight and throat issues, but even my ice cream flavor preference now should include chocolate.

So, so stave my chocolate cravings during the lean times, I've come up with a cookie recipe that includes, you got it, chocolate! The photo above shows my White Chip Chocolate Cookies. They're chewy and sweet! Hubby eats this with a glass of milk - like the chubby kid does it in the Oreo commercial. Just one cookie is enough for me to get through several hours -- hahaha! And for those of you who need a scrumptious choco-cookie fix, you may order them at P12.00/pc. I use good quality cocoa so the cost is well worth it!

Another twist is this Banana Cupcake
with Chocolate Frosting, shown in the photo on the right. The frosting is gooey and topped in the center with Nips. Yum! Just like the cookies above, these taste better cold, so it's best to store them in the fridge. These cupcakes go for P10.00/pc. (plain) and P16.50/pc. with chocolate frosting.

Of course, I had to bake some brownies, right? I used some leftover Toblerone (dark) as "chocolate chips" and the brownies turned out to be sinfully dark -- and yummy.I don't take orders for this yet but I'll be sure to post updates soon. Check out the photo below. Watch out all you chocoholics out there! I'll be baking up a storm!

Our New Baby

It's funny how, after getting a new pup, one wants to get another one, then another one... For those who don't already know, hubby and I got another pup last June. Her name is Peanut and she is a black and tan Miniature Pinscher (min-pin for short). We got her when she was just a month and a half old and she looked more like a rat than a pup.

I really had no plans of actually "buying" her -- I just wanted to see her. When hubby saw her (and me fawning, I guess), he decided to get her for me and so began my little love affair with our new pup. When we accompanied her breeder to the vet, little Peanut was so frightened on the vet's cold metal table that she crawled under my left arm that was on the table. She stayed there and there was no turning back! She had me at "ngiork".

She's now a healthy and bouncy 9-month and has recently become an adult with her first period. Our big Beans (black Labrador) wouldn't leave her and kept tailing her. Since it's virtually impossible for them to mate (the thought actually horrifies me), I was able to breathe some.

She's a true terrier ("pinscher" is German for terrier) and has boundless energy. She leaps so high and canters like a little dear. I'll upload some videos as soon as I can.

So here's to our little Peanut!

Cookies For Sale!

I finally did it! I'm in business!!!

My business is called "Velvet Confections" and it's just all about the yummy baked stuff we all dream about when we're stuck in our little corner on a dull day.

For now I'm selling my Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies for P50.00 (tub of 8 pcs.) and P90.00 (tub of 15 pcs.). But I only accept orders that are placed at least 3 days in advance (1 week in advance during the popular holidays), and paid in cash. Moolah is badly needed in my one-woman, small-oven operation. Also, I don't deliver anywhere farther than QC ( I live in Laguna), and it had better be no less than five large tubs for me to make the trip.

I've been receiving good reviews on these cookies from friends, family and acquaintances. So have no fear! It's good and very nutritious.

What's New?

I'm turning 39 in a few months' time and guess what...I'm into baking! The "passion"came to me at the start of the year, and it hit me so unexpectedly. So, you will be seeing some photos of the stuff I had begun to bake in the following months -- and maybe some stories as well. Meanwhile, I have cookie orders to complete within these 2 weeks. My Peanut Butter Oatmeal cookie recipe turned out to be a huge success, especially with my hubby! As you can already guess, I have my hands full (in cookie dough), what with only 3 cookie pans and one teeny-weenie oven!! But I feel totally blessed! Here's to a very good baking year!

My Birthday Wish

It’s the day before my 37^th birthday and thoughts are racing in my head. Along with my long mental list of impossible (in this lifetime, anyway) and not-so-impossible wishes, I toyed with ideas on how I would like to celebrate 37 meaningful years. And yes, although the phrase “meaningful years” does sound a bit cliché-ish, it seems to be the best way to illustrate a life that did have (and still has) meaning. After all, a life without meaning or purpose is no life at all.

And so I ended up thanking God. And God opened up an entire list of a totally different nature – a list of people I am most thankful to (not just thankful for). This is nothing new, but it caught me slightly off-guard, especially when my mind was dead set on daydreaming and fantasizing.

We are all living on borrowed time, and I am made aware of this everyday. So before my time is up, I owe it to God and everyone I love to send my birthday messages of gratitude.

For all of you who mean the world to me… here goes.

I thank you, my “Ate”, for being the kind of person you are. You are strong, highly principled and unyielding in your faith. You have served as my model of godliness, servitude and sacrifice. I don’t know how you do it, only that you have allowed our greatest strength, Jesus Christ, to live in you and through you. You have always believed in me and said that you have faith in me. You continue to live out Philippians 2:4-5 in your life and I am blessed because of it. How I wish that more people can have someone like you as a sister! What we have is special and will transcend this lifetime.

I thank you, my precious niece, for coming into this world and into our lives. Like your mom said, you are a miracle. Thoughts of you bring me much joy and gratitude because you are a smart, lively and beautiful girl. God has wonderful plans for you, and I look forward to seeing you grow more and more in His awesome love.

I thank you, my aunt and “lola” in distant shores. You thought of me more than 7 years ago even when many years and miles separated us. You thought me worthy enough of your time and resources and honored me with your presence on my wedding day. Thank you, for thinking of me, your niece and “apo”, and for loving me even from a distance. To know that I still have family in the midst of loss has been a great comfort to me and “Ate”.

I thank you, my friends and dear neighbors. You have stuck by me and my husband and have supported us in more ways than I can ever recall. God sees your work and your hearts that care for us, especially in times of great need. You welcomed us into your lives, not just emotionally but physically as well. Thank you for always keeping us in your thoughts and prayers – and in your many plans, meals and numerous coffee breaks.

I thank you, my friends and mentors. Your lives have guided me and my husband and your continued support and expressed love spur us on to fight the good fight ‘til the end.

I thank you, my college friends, now my lifetime friends. Although our lives have taken different paths, our memories keep us close. Thank you for the many mini-reunions we’ve had and the many more get-togethers we will soon have.

I thank you, my young friends. Your lives, ‘though fewer in years, have enriched mine. God has given you to me to teach me to love more, care more, serve more and pray more. I may not have children of my own, but I have not missed out because of the many experiences we have shared and the many opportunities our Lord has given me to serve you.

I thank you, my brave friends in the field. You are an inspiration and a light in a very dark world. You have taught me to get down on my knees for your cause and the cause of an endangered world. Your knee bends have strengthened and sustained mine. I appreciate you and keep you in my petitions.

I thank you, my friends and “Connections”. You have given me the chance to share my life with my fellow servants from all across the globe. I discovered a love for writing that I never fully realized I had. You became the answer to a prayer and desire to reach out to more people.

I thank you, Mama and Papa. You may no longer be with us physically, but the many memories and lessons you have left continue to guide me in my walk. I will see you again, and it will be like we were never apart. How I miss you and long for that much awaited reunion!

I thank you, my parents-in-law, for raising a wonderful and God-fearing man, and for entrusting him to me. You have always been supportive of me and our friendship, and I know that you desire the best for us always.

And I thank you, my very precious hubby. You are a gift to me from heaven, prepared especially for me even before I was born. We were created for each other and our marriage is built on the best foundation – Jesus Christ. Thank you for being my best friend 22 years ago, and for loving me so well ‘til now. You are the man of my dreams and the love of my life.

God has been good to me. I have more gifts than I can ever unwrap in a lifetime!

And so on my 37^th birthday, this is my wish: May our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, continue to bless you all and grant you the desires of your hearts (as He has mine) in His name.

I love you.

JOJO (“Sheila”, “Ate Sheila”, “Tita Sheila”, “Tita Jo” or “Ate Jo” to some of you, and “Wifey”J)

Written 05/01/06

Musings on Tiendesitas

People have been buzzing about the latest and hippest hangout in town – Tiendesitas. It literally means small stores. Friends have been inviting me and my husband to this place for weeks and I must admit that I have been very curious about this place myself. After all, it is located in Ortigas (mall central), right in the middle of the posh and exclusive villages of Manila.

My husband and I, along with some friends, finally got the chance to visit the place last Sunday afternoon, after a very early start from Sta. Rosa (way south) to Pampanga (way north) to attend church. Why we went to church many miles away is another story.

My husband and I were anticipating a very enjoyable experience in a much hyped up place. Well, we were in for a very rude and disappointing awakening.

While parking is free, it was a nightmare to find a vacant spot. It is obviously a favorite of the rich and famous so all the huge and imported vans came in full force. You’d best have a driver on hand if you don’t want to start off your Tiendesitas experience on an irritated note.

Thank heavens the cool December air was present! The crowd and barbecue smoke emanating from the big food tent at the hub were enough to turn us off and decide not to go back next time. My eyes smarted from the smoke of the barbecue pits and my hair and clothes literally smelled of coal-roasted meat! The place is, in my opinion, a glorified Divisoria and Greenhills in one. I say “glorified” because the whole structure is made to look like a compound of open Indonesian wooden cottages that, without the commercial trimmings, would actually resemble a beach resort in Bali.

Looking through all (and I mean “all”) the stalls and merchandise found me wanting. There was really nothing new, and certainly nothing that Greenhills and many other malls didn’t have to offer. Most of the prices were standard (and not lower, as one would expect in a “tiangge” atmosphere, no matter how posh), and some were even what I would consider exorbitant. They are just lucky to have attracted the A (as in “affluent”) crowd.

Perhaps the only unique thing among the plethora of stalls and merchandise was the pet area. There were enough dogs, cats, fish and birds on display (and for sale) to keep the kids and their nannies entertained. The presence of more than one pet grooming station was also a plus and a great excuse for pet owners to show off their Shi-Tzus and Chihuahuas in their multi-colored leashes and designer outfits. Legally-blondes-with-dogs Elle Woods and Paris Hilton have definitely left their mark. Did I sense some competition in the air?

As I sat on one of the benches in the food tent, I observed a food stall buzzing with activity. It sold Vigan Empanadas (small meat pies) and okoy (fried shrimp cake). This stall had the longest queue of hungry folks and some even stood in line for close to an hour just to get a taste of the delicacy, prepared and served by mestizas who looked like they could just be shopping instead of slaving over a hot stove. The price also seemed very reasonable, at 3 pieces of empanadas or okoy, or a combination of both, for only P100.

Naturally, I was more than curious and I have heard many times that the food is best where the queue is longest. It makes perfect sense. I had also observed that the food pieces were quite large and those who happily sat and ate theirs seemed more than content. So I asked a friend’s son to stand in line (which he did for 50 minutes) to buy 3 pieces of okoy.

You could imagine my anticipation (it had been almost an hour) and my stomach acids churning at the prospect of a great snack! I happen to enjoy food and I especially love food that can be dipped in vinegar (the commercial variety). Okoy was one of them.

As I bit into the crispy okoy, I had to stifle a groan of utter frustration and disappointment. Where was the shrimp? The batter hardly had any taste, was overdone around the edges and soggy at the center, and the much anticipated shrimp was almost imaginary! Was this what people waited an hour in line for? The vinegar dip that came with it was the organic type (I forgot what it is called) and one I particularly did not fancy.

It was unfortunate that my friend and I didn’t order the empanada. Maybe that was what the hungry mob was really hankering for. Maybe the okoy was just to add variety to their food offering. I don’t know, but I certainly questioned people’s tastes as I strove to eat as much of the okoy as I could to wash down some of the buyer’s remorse I was beginning to feel.

I was also shocked at the P75 kamansi (beef and jackfruit in sour broth) I ordered in another stall. It came in a small (handful) styropore bowl and didn’t have much of the jackfruit or broth in it. Another stall sold suman (sticky rice/cassava cake wrapped and cooked in banana leaf) which quite a number of people were also waiting to order. When the supply finally came, my friend and I approached the stall only to find out that each piece cost P22! For a native snack, that is quite expensive. We left that stall in low spirits and emptier stomachs.

Maybe I ordered all the wrong things. Or maybe Tiendesitas is just not the place for me. I immediately sent my husband a text on his phone (he had left for a meeting) to let him know that it was not a good idea for him to try out the food on his way to pick me up.

It was good for me to finally see the place and have the Tiendesitas experience, if only to finally satisfy my curiosity. But give me the mall anytime! I’m older, wiser (I hope) and more careful with the hard-earned cash entrusted to me. I will go where the food is good and reasonably priced, where the merchandise is affordable to most, and where I can roam and shop in a clean, well-lit, air-conditioned environment.

Written 12/20/05

Manners and Handel's Messiah

It was a rainy Tuesday evening in the middle of December and the air was nippy, as if signaling the quick arrival of Christmas. My husband and I just managed to park our van into a very tight spot, the only remaining slot in the entire unlit parking lot of the University of the Philippines’ Abelardo Hall (College of Music). Students in their semi-soaked jeans and old folks dressed to the nines all piled into the crowded lobby, hoping to catch a seat in the old and tiny auditorium.

I have to give credit to our dear ole’ university – despite its age, the auditorium did not have that typical musty smell we would come to expect in any old room or edifice. But then again, maybe the extremely cold breeze (yes, it sure felt like one) from the air conditioning system killed all existing bacteria in the room and froze all my nasal hair and any olfactory capabilities I may have possessed. I was thankful to have brought a wrap and beret.

My husband and I were excited. It had been a while since we had the chance to watch an excellent choir perform excerpts from Handel’s Messiah. In fact, we never had the chance, as a couple, that is. It was also an opportunity for us to celebrate Christmas through song.

The auditorium was quickly filled to capacity. It’s amazing how there seems to still be much interest in listening to a choir perform Christmas carols in such a “formal” setting. Maybe people wanted to be reminded of the real reason for the season. Or maybe it was the extremely friendly ticket price that drew everyone in.

After a very entertaining spiel from the Dean of the College of Music, the choirs started to perform their Christmas carols. From the youngest choir to the most professional and world renowned one, my husband and I enjoyed quality singing and performances from our very own university chorales. The rousing Hallelujah Chorus was the much awaited finale and was given the encore it fully deserved. We were proud to be U.P Alumni!

The choirs were all accompanied by a full orchestra, also students of the College of Music. Need I say more? It was a professional performance given at a very reasonable price to anyone who cared to come and watch. And this brings me to my observations for the night.

While the concert was open to everyone who had a ticket (which meant a lot of college students and even some very young children) and no dress code was imposed, I still expected a certain level of decorum and behavior during such an event. I guess such expectations would naturally merit some disappointments.

Admittedly, some of the solo performances were a bit dragging, especially to the younger and uninformed set. One solo even caused some uneasiness. Exposed and informed as I am, I still had to stifle a giggle at the performance of the male alto. Seriously, wouldn't a full grown man in a dark blue Barong Tagalog (Filipino male national costume) singing in a soft feminine voice (falsetto all the way) create some cognitive dissonance? I’ll say!

But stifle my giggles, I did. The rest of the crowd was not as subtle. I almost dreaded the solos, which were interspersed between the chorale numbers, because these were taken as cues to take a restroom break or to simply leave. Thank heavens for dim lights! I certainly hope the performers did not see the bobbing heads and moving figures in the dark as they belted out their arias.

And then there was that unmistakably irritating noise of crumpling plastic bags. Ugh! The rustle lasted a whole 10 minutes before I mustered a look behind me. Two old ladies (perhaps U.P Professors?) were busily rummaging through their plastic bags for some peanuts! I knew they were peanuts because I smelled them and was practically salivating! Was I mistaken in assuming that eating was not allowed during a classical concert? I did not see any signs but I assumed that proper decorum dictated it.

I was very hungry and wished I had brought my cookies. At least mine came wrapped in aluminum foil – not as noisy.

I am always amazed by this growing insensitivity toward others. Perhaps the sound of crumpling plastic did not bother the two old ladies, but in a very quiet crowd with only a soprano singing to the accompaniment of a harpsichord, that same sound can become a reverberating noise. None of our “looks” in their direction had any effect and the rustling sound went on for 2 more arias.

And then there were the random comments given at the most inopportune moments and delivered at higher-than-appropriate decibels. Whispering is a lost art, that is, unless a secret is being illegally shared!

Manners matter. They do because they involve others. Placing ourselves in another person’s shoes certainly helps remind us to be considerate.

My husband and I enjoyed the evening despite the unpleasant surprises. It was a privilege we are grateful for and the message of Christmas resounded in our hearts (and ears!) as we drove the long way home.