Of London Friends, VIP Invitation & Momentary Independence

They’re Back From London, Baby!

Our dear old friend Cherry, who is currently working in London, is home not only for the holidays but to also take care and attend the burial of her mom (may she rest in peace). The moment she found the time for herself, she met with us together with her boyfriend Toine. We were so glad to see her again after all these years. She’s still the same bubbly person (despite the current circumstances) and she never runs out of exciting and funny stories to tell. We became friends with her while she was still doing law school. Now she’s already working for DTI based in London and she has travelled all over  — from Paris to Rome, Italy, Netherlands, Greece, US, etc. She is not only living THE LIFE but found THE LOVE OF HER LIFE as well! I’m so happy for  the both of them!!!

We had lunch at C2 Classic Cuisine over at Power Plant Mall. They offer Filipino dishes cooked to perfection. Everything we had for lunch (Pochero, Bangus Belly, Pata, Binagoongan Rice) was just very delighful and we were completely satiated. Even their desserts were perfect (leche flan & polvoron) except for the Bibingka Souffle which didn’t taste like anything at all.

Anyway, after catching up for three hours, we went around a bit and saw these life-like display of Polar bears and wolves. It was pretty real looking. I felt like a kid inside a museum. Hehehe. Before long, we headed to Royce Chocolates. We tried a couple of their products like chocolate wafers, chocolate covered potato chips, and NAMA chocolates (champagne and coffee).  Everything tasted so smooth and perfect!  Peter and I bought a box of Champagne NAMA Chocolates but we promise to purchase the others on our next visit.

On THE List!

In the middle of our fantastic late lunch, my gf Jana texted me asking if I was free that evening. Knowing Jana, she  probably has another exciting event to go to and she would probably invite me. I got excited! As it turned out, the 4th installment of the VELVET Club Tour will be bringing the “Models Night”. Venue  will be held at Il Ponitcello (Valero St, Makati). This will also be a casting party for Metro and Chalk magazine as they search for the 2009 editorial models. Music will be provided by DJ SKRATCHMARK and the best thing about it would be — OPEN BAR until 12 midnight!!!

Hanging out by the pool at Jana’s house…

I didn’t exactly say yes in a jiff. A part of me wanted to join her but another part of me just wanted to make sure Peter gets home safely (since he has already been awake for more than 24 hours  and he still has a long way to go before he reaches Alabang). I also felt  like bumming at home, watching DVDs, reading my books and playing with my drums (yeah, the usual). But Peter wanted me to go. He believes that going out and meeting new people will be good for me. Chuckling, I asked him: “Why, are you afraid I’d just end up being a  housewife with nothing better to do?” He laughed at this and replied  “Of course not! I just know that you love doing these things and it will help you widen your horizons. Networking after all is a serious business.”  These were his words,  straight from the new media strategist’s mouth. I am not like Peter who is an extrovert by nature but I guess, for my well being’s sake, being with other people will be good for me. I have proven this so many times in the past (recently, when I went to this Globe event with Jana and last January when I marshalled the Funboard Cup in Boracay for one week without Peter). I guess I needed to do this especially since I still am planning on spending a month in a remote island by myself, right? In other words, this will be a good practice of independence. 

I wish we also had a pool at home. Hehehe. 

I was still not 100% sure if I should do this. The introvert side of me was scared to meet new people. But the extrovert side of me was yearning to let go and be free, even for just a few hours. So there, at the corner of Guadix drive in Ortigas (Peter still has to drop by Megamall to buy my grandfather some Korean ginseng tea), at around 4pm, Peter dropped me off so I can take the MRT train going to GMA-Kamuning where Jana will pick me up so we can hang out at their house first while passing the time. I was wearing my tube dress, my 4-inch stiletto heels and I was commuting. WOW! Just like the good old days (Just like Carrie Bradshaw if this was New York! Hahaha!) How long has it been since I last rode the train? It’s probably been a year already. It felt new. It felt old. It felt exciting. Hahaha! I can’t believe I’d say this but strutting along the sidewalk, going up the MRT station and riding the MRT train  have almost been like an exciting tourist experence for me. It was also scary coz I was wearing my gold & diamond rings and it was the first time I used my Liz Claiborne bag. I might just look too flashy for pick pockets and other bad forces around. Thank God my  fave pair of shoes was comfortable despite its structure. I was able to walk fast, ignoring the looks of the people around me. If I was wearing my black pair of high heeled shoes, my toes would’ve probably died already. Teehee.

At around 10PM, Jana and I finally arrived at Il Ponticello.The place was so happenin’! Lotsa beautiful people, lotsa press from ABS-CBN, lotsa drinks! Jana met some people she knows and introduced me to them: CL and Shaw (who are dancers by profession), Joe (an aircraft mechanic from Houston, Texas who  has been vacationing here since Feb.), Eric (the current commercial model for Colt 45) and a few others whose names I can’t remember anymore.

 Me, Jana & Ronald

CL, Shaw & Joe

Hanging out with the guys we met…They were so fun to talk to and dance with!

Eric, the model from Colt 45, hung out at our table. He was really nice.

Sarah Meier hosted the show. After casting the models, the floor was finally free for dancing and dance was what we did!!! So fun!!! If Ronald (Jana’s bf) didn’t tell us to go home already at around midnight, I would’ve probably stayed there a lot longer. But it was nice of him to encourag us to go coz I was already way beyond tipsy.

 The Early Morning After

In my state, I didn’t even notice that we walked from Valero to Ronald’s Place several blocks away! And I was yacking the whole time about how much fun I had. I was like a bird who got freed from my cage. Hahaha! Ronald was really so thoughtful and sweet.  Back at his place, he gave me clothes to wear for the night and cooked us pasta. I felt so at home. Oh, and did I mention that his pad was the ultimate bachelor’s pad? He has red walls all over, except for this one part that was painted with caricatures in black and white. it was soooo cool!!!

Drunk at Ronald’s Pad in Makati

Ronald is a Christian and these were the things on his door…  

He cooked us Macaroni & Cheese!!! He’s just like Peter and I love him for it!

We hung out, watched a movie on his MacBook and by 3 AM, I’ve already probably passed out. It was one of the most fun gimmicks I ever had. Peter came to pick me up the next day.  We lounged at home watching DVDs until he prepped for work. He was so glad I was able to enjoy my time like he predicted I would. My hubby is really beyond amazing. *Melt*