Departmental Outing

Start:	Jun 10, '07 05:00a
End:	Jun 10, '07 5:00p

Drawn by Love - The Mysticism of Catherine of Siena

http://www.drawnbylove.com/
Dedicated to the teachings and spirituality of Catherine of Siena, Lay woman, Mystic and Doctor of the Church

Panciteria Lido

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Restaurants
Cuisine:	Chinese
Location:	Madison Square, Ortigas Ave.

I had my dinner at this place last night (May 31.) I was with Mike Tan, a colleague in the HS but from a different department. (Also a newbie. It was his birthday celebration that I attended last May 28. See blog entry "blends.")

Us HS new 'chers had finished "shooting" a part of our presentation for June 5 and the two of us thought that our group was going out to have our dinner. But Pats and Chewey had to go to the gym and Leo had to go home. I felt quite disappointed because of this, but this feeling turned into joy because I discovered Panciteria Lido.

Mike and I had to buy a single viand and divide it between us so as not to spend too much money. We chose their specialty, asado. We added three kinds of cooked rice: one with salted fish and the other with chorizo, as well as a serving of plain rice in case we are mabitin. I satisfied myself with ordering tap water and Mike, root beer. We only had to wait for a few minutes before our order arrived. Then it was heaven...

For only 300 hundred pesos.

The staff were very courteous and they actually know their food. We asked them to describe the ingredients of the items on the menu as well as their different kinds of rice. This way we were able to choose the right amount and kind of food for two men, one with a sensitive stomach and the other a large belly to fill. Their servings are large enough that I even ended up taking home a doggie bag. I kept on asking for a refill of water and the response to this request was quite prompt.

I want to give the restaurant five stars but I have not tasted their other stuff. If only I am not trying out all the restaurants around Greenhills and Xavier, I'll be back there before anyone can say Lido.

Blends

One Mocha Frost, a lot of Black Forest, two huge trays of Pancit, a single slice of cake, and loads of smiles and laughter capped my day yesterday, May 28.

Our batch of new faculty at Xavier School gathered at the Mocha Blends a few walks away from the school to celebrate the birthday of Mike, our computer wiz.  From the high school came Pats, Tonton, Leo, Richard, Toshi, Chewey, me and our newest member, Dandy.  Regretfully, Zarina, Dot, and Ferdie were not able to join us. (There is always a next time!)

Mike brought tasteful Pancit Malabon and let each of us buy one drink from the shop. I got a glassful of refreshing Mocha Frost and let myself indulge in about three servings of the Pancit. Pats provided some of the initial entertainment with his wit and a game.  We also cannot stop ourselves from sharing about work, our histories, and experiences just before we came to Xavier.  A sense of excited anticipation for the coming school year and amazement about the fact that it is us that were hired rather than others were also expressed.

I went back to Xavier at around six o'clock, tired but joyous.  Thanks Mighty Mike.  

Start of Classes for H2-H4

Start:

Jun 13, '07 02:00a

Submission of LPs for El Fili

Start:

May 30, '07 08:00a

I was and am a Pichay Fan

My Dad and I supported Prospero Pichay for the Philippine senate election this year.  Personally, I distributed campaign materials (mostly Pichay fans) in Baccarra, Ilocos Norte when my uncle celebrated the 25th anniversary of his priestly ordination (I did this very discreetly since my uncle is apolitical) and in our hometown of Cabanatuan particularly on the last day of the campaign period (Saturday, 12 May). My father did a lot of (much difficult) things for Pichay.  This is the first time in the history of our family that we actively supported a candidate (and a group too, the party list A Teacher.) 

Well Pichay (as of today) is doing poorly (but not VERY poorly) in the senatorial race.  As the preelection surveys predicted, he will place number 17 and so far that is what is happening. If we consider, however, that he is a newbie in the national political scene (he was a congressman, technically a local position, as you may know) this placement is not dismal (although, as they say, talo pa rin.)

Why Pichay?  First of all, he is a recently discovered relative of my father who is a Pichay on the mother side. They can both trace their roots to Pangasinan.  They have common relatives.  But, if my friends truly know me, they would know that this is not the primary reason for my support of this guy.  The second is this: since he had placed himself in the limelight in the congress, I got quite impressed with him.  He did not project the image of a sleazy politician. He too had the courage to support the Arroyo administration when it appears that today if a politician wants to be famous among us Filipinos, he should criticize the administration.  In other words, uso at sikat kang politiko kung babatikusin mo ang administrasyon.

I am not an outright pro-Gloria.  I have lived under five presidents (Marcos, Aquino, Ramos, Estrada, and today Arroyo; yes my dears, I am THAT old, hehehe) and my attitude had always been that of objectivity, of critical collaboration (I do not know if this term is proper, but I used it anyhow since I think I have encountered and used this in the past.)  I did not approve of the ugly things that were happening under those administrations, but I also recognized the good things that were occurring in our country under those leaders. 

Today, I have much more hope for our country than I ever had before. And I am not being ironic here. There is much to be done against the poverty, the despair, the red tape, the corruption, the overpopulation, the migration of intellectuals, the flight of my fellow teachers and other workers, and other things besides, but we are moving forward and upward.  There are signs, not the least of which are the results of the recent elections.  And so, I saw no reason not to support one or two candidates who are under the administration line up. I voted for Joker Arroyo, Ralph Recto, Miguel Zubiri, Michael Defensor, Edgardo Angara and Prospero Pichay for example. I balanced my candidates with the proper dose of opposition: Loren Legarda, Francis Pangilinan, Benigno Aquino III, Panfilo Lacson, Manuel Villar and Francis Escudero. I do not like Honasan because I witnessed the destructive effects of the coup d'etats he led in the 1980s and therefore I am also against the means taken by Trillanes and his group.  Compared to them, I believe in the Spirit of EDSA 1 encapsulated in that song Handog ng Filipino sa Mundo.

To summarize, there are so many good candidates on both sides; GO and TU, and the independents too.  For this alone, I anticipate a much brighter future for our nation.  If only Pichay would win.

 

Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End

Start:

May 24, '07 6:00p

I'll be watching this film with Xavier co-'chers: EJ, James, Brian, Kog, and possibly Dot and a former co-'cher, TJ the great. I'll try to write a review of this movie but Kog's are way better.

My Dad's Birthday

Start:

May 24, '07 01:00a

He is now 64 years old!

XAVIER SCHOOL - Luceat Lux!

http://www.xs.edu.ph
My company

Fides' Birthday

Fides is a beautiful person and a wonderful colleauge at Xavier School. She truly deserves the celebration my new department had for her birthday (although she was the one who paid for the food!)

Evident in these pictures is the uniqueness of my new Xavier family where I am the third or fourth eldest. (I am not sure because Fides won't own up to her true age! She said she is only 32, Pervs said in her multiply site that Fides is 34 but in a reply to a reply I made, she said that Ms. Ylan is actually 36! Hay. What is it with women and their age?)

Fontana Pictures by James Nicolay

I included in this album Xavier High School Community at Fontana pictures that have me as one of the subjects. For more fun and funny shots by James, go to his multiply site (sirnicolay).

Among the pictures here is what I consider now as one of my best portrait/picture. Most of my pictures have me looking like my true self, which is bad! Hahaha! And so I thank the camera and talent of James for this wonderful (and now most cherished) shot.

catherine of siena

My favorite image of Catherine of Siena

Shrek 3

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Animation

I succumbed to the temptation of watching the third installment of Shrek last Saturday. In doing so, I broke a three week old vow of watching just one film each month. Was I happy with my decision? A bit. But not in the sense of "jumping with joy" happy.

At the very least the movie has a story. However, the twists, i.e. the surprises of the first two movies are absent. There were no "she is an ogre too!" or "aaww, she decided to be like him..." or "charming is evil and so is the fairy godmother" and "the king is the frog-prince!" moments in the film. Even the laughs were not forced out me. Rather, I forced the laughs out of myself just so I won't spend the minutes before Saturday night's sleep overcome me, regretting my choice to dole out 161 pesos for another lousy movie.

Well, at least I laughed.

Another site, another time waster

I distinctly remember someone asking me for my multiply address and my friendster blog and me answering that I don't have any for I consider having things like these as a waste of time. 

I am far too busy with so many things to focus my mind on.  As of today, I have both.  And a journal too. Time taken away from work.

I will eventually choose to prioritize just one: multiply or friendster.  So far, I am able to maintain both but I have entered more stuff in friendster simply because I started my account there earlier than multiply.  However, I limited the access to the content of my friendster blog to my friends, or so I suppose.

Readers will not miss anything though because I am a lazy and boring writer.  I am also very private simply because I don't want to complicate things, particularly my life. This is the reason for my rather cynical view of marriage (evidenced by that plagiarized and bastardized statement from Jane Austen above) and the reason why I will not tackle anything that can be considered by Cristy Fermin as juicy in these blogs, multiply, friendster, or whatever is "in" in the future. 

Another site, another time waster

I distinctly remember someone asking me for my multiply address and my friendster blog and me answering that I don't have any for I consider having things like these as a waste of time.
I am far too busy with so many things to focus my mind on.  As of today, I have both.  And a journal too. Time taken away from work.
I will eventually choose to prioritize just one: multiply or friendster.  So far, I am able to maintain both but I have entered more stuff in friendster simply because I started my account there earlier than multiply.  However, I limited the access to the content of my friendster blog to my friends, or so I suppose.
Readers will not miss anything though because I am a lazy and boring writer.  I am also very private simply because I don't want to complicate things, particularly my life. This is the reason for my rather cynical view of marriage (evidenced by that plagiarized and bastardized statement from Jane Austen above) and the reason why I will not tackle anything that can be considered by Cristy Fermin as juicy in these blogs, multiply, friendster, or whatever is "in" in the future.