Francis M., You Will Be Missed!

News Flash!!!!

MANILA, Philippines—Rapper-TV host Francis Magalona has succumbed to leukemia at the Medical City in Mandaluyong City on Friday. He was 44.

I’m gonna miss you!!! R.I.P.

Bonding With Isa

It’s been forever since we last saw Isa. She’s Peter’s pretty little cousin who is not so little anymore. She’s a grown woman and really beautiful! She was still with her then boyfriend Geoff when we last bonded with her back in 2005. We also thought she already went to Canada where the rest of her family is.

I suddenly thought of texting her old number to ask if she still gives swimming lessons and to see if she’s still here. She used to compete when she was still a student and she used to teach as well. She’s really good at it and I’m very much interested to learn, especially when it comes to making bubbles underwater. It’s a basic lesson I have to learn if I want to swim for real, like do a freestyle instead of my usual dog paddle kind of swimming. Teehee. I also need the skills for my scuba diving lessons which are currently on hold. ^_^.

You see, I may have braved huge waves in La Union and Zambales the size of 10-story buildings and even survived nearly drowning last December 2007, but when it comes to being underwater in a closed space (like a swimming pool), I panic! No wonder when I did a fun dive in Anilao, Batangas in 2006, I only reached 15 feet before my ears hurt terribly that I needed to surface ASAP.  It could have been psychosomatic, I’m sure! To make it even worse, I cried as we were doing the basic scuba diving lessons in shallow water. Gosh! I just wanted to get it over with. But it may take more than sheer will to do it. I’d really have to be very, very patient with myself and just persevere. Good luck to Isa, my designated swimming instructor. 

We went to Makati Sports Arena where non-Makati residents pay P150 each. When we got there last March 2, a Monday afternoon, we were shocked to see that the arena was closed. Man! Is this a sign or what? We headed to Rockwell instead where Isa showed us this nice eating place (not so sosy, mind you, but the food was to die for!) called SOM’s Noodle House. They serve the most fantastic Thai dishes! Just thinking about the Tom Yam Soup, Shrimp Cake, Catfish Salad and Seafood Rice we ordered makes me salivate even more… Hmmmm! That was the best meal I had this month so far! It’s quite affordable too! We only spent P540f or all the dishes we ordered. Imagine?!

Seafood Rice

Shrimp Cake

Tom Yam Soup

Catfish Salad

Anyway, the next day, March 3, Tuesday, we again tried our luck. The swimming pool was open. Yay! We only paid P50 each since Isa is a Makati resident. However, the next time we do this, we all have to produce some sort of Makati permit/ID. They were so strict! I brought my new kickboard and Speedo goggles with me. I had to rent a swimming cap for P10 coz I don’t have one. They were really strict!

As for the swimming lessons, I already know how to float and basically not drown so all I had to do then were the leg kick and bubbles for relaxation.  I had a hard time breathing out through my nose underwater though. It was really tough and I was getting frustrated. I also felt claustraphobic everytime I see the tiles underwater. I guess I’m just more used to snorkeling at deep trenches in open water that I find the swimming pool a bit restricting. Oh well. Patience, Jen…patience. 

Two hours were up (6-8pm)  and we were all famished. Earlier that afternoon,  Peter prepared his garlic mushroom pasta recipe which we brought with us. We headed to Isa’s pad and had a grand meal complete with Toast and Salmon spread, Tampiko Passion Fruit Juice, Zen Green Tea Liqueur  (c/o Jayvee) and chocolate cup cakes.  Good bye diet (for now). Hehehe.

It was a tiring but happy evening. We left her pad at around 10:30 pm and headed home. I really hope we can secure some Makati permit so we don’t have to pay P150 each for a two hour swimming session. Hmmm… I wonder if there’s another pool we can use somewhere? ‘Til my next swimming lesson, folks!

Dinner Party Series

The last week of February definitely turned out to be one helluva party week for me and Peter! We saw them as blessings considering that we live in very trying times. But who said that we can’t have our fun especially when the party is free and dinners at fantastic restaurants like Banana Leaf in Greenbelt 3 is discounted at 20% ?! (Thank you Visa Platinum! ) So party we did!!!

L-R: Reggie, Alma & Me

Feb. 27, we met up at Banana Leaf with my two friends from MDP — Alma and Reggie.  It was all our first time in that Thai restaurant and we wanted to try their delectable dishes. We were not disappointed. 

 L-R: Black Lamb Curry, Nasi Goreng Rice, Green Thai Curry Chicken

L-R: Just hanging out…Me, Alma & Reggie

The last time I saw Reggie was last November during a major MDP get together at The Fort. As for Alma, it’s been more than a year, I guess! And they both haven’t changed (except for the fact that like me, they ‘ve also already retired from government service some time last year). They’re still the same carefree and loving people I know from before. I really hope we can do the overnight thing at our house. We’ll surely have tons of fun!

~~~oOo~~~

  L-R: Ate Rose, Vina & Me

Feb. 28, we met up with Ate Rose, Vina and Kiko at the same restaurant as the previous night. We enjoyed the food so much that we wanted to try out their other dishes as well. Even before 6:30 p.m., Vina already caught me outside Burgoo.

You see, Peter and I came from a business meeting somewhere in Bicutan. It finished early so we went to Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf  and had mocha and coffee mudslides (thanks to my BDJ Planner discount coupon!) to do some brainstorming session for another business concept of ours. We were so engrossed with it that we hardly noticed the time! So we rushed to the other side of Greenbelt and that was where Vina spotted me. We were both ecstatic! This is the first time I’ve seen her since she got pregnant and my Gosh, was she so pretty and slim! Is this really what happens to women after they’ve given birth?! Maybe I should really consider becoming a mom too, hehehehe.

(more…)