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Intramuros + ChinaTown escape
weekend, we extrovert
Complaining to my friends how I haven’t been my usual self, turned into an extra-INTROvert in the last few months (READ: Spending my Friday nights at the supermarket to load up on ice cream for the Netflix binge at home) Liza, a regular in this post, trusted friend and ambassador of goodwill that she is, happily opened up a window of opportunity for me ‘to extrovert (verb)’ and join them in a weekend hangout to take a visitor around. #TourServices
The very unplanned afternoon was spent in Intramuros. It might be my adjustment period, where I can’t full-on engage yet with new people or the fact that once you’ve seen the walls and the cobble stones behind this fort, there really isn’t much more to look forward to in the area (I could be wrong, any recommendations?). We ended up dropping off the tourists to go about their business checking out old buildings, and we ended up chilling in this cafe beside the Manila cathedral, aptly called Cathedral Cafe.
[SIDE REALIZATION]
All this down time actually got me thinking how in the areas of my life, I’ve been investing disproportionately more time and effort in career (though arguable whether the impact is something felt and seen) and not quite enough for the other more important aspects - nurturing relationships - with God and the people He sent my way, pursuing passions, and equipping myself for the mission.
I know it’s a choice whether to pursue growth in these other aspects. Work has just been a good excuse/ distraction, but then as it is happening now, it catches up on you. After all, you are not your work (not defined by it), you are YOU.
[BACK TO THE WEEKEND]
Waiting for our tourists to finish walking around under the heat of the summer sun, we chanced upon this. “EXTRA MILE” guide - a display of full commitment to give the best angle possible ...that’s the kuya taking that bend it like beckham shot on the left.
Then it was time for some dimsum fix - in oldest China town IN THE WORLD!
China town at night is very different. For starters, sure is dark (duh). I guess it’s only near the new years when lanterns and neon red signs light up the streets.
YingYing dimsum delight! Def worth the visit, that wok-cooked fried rice sure tasted like... fire! haha then there’s the meaty siomai. Scored a couple of packs to take back home!
Some more walking, and it was the hunt for the precious Pei Pa Koa - had to sample with shots, shots, shots! It does wonders for your throat (reaches for the bottle for another shot)
Another sight to see is the Eng Bee Tin fortress! This mothership of a store is huuuge, even offered a museum upstairs -- of hopia? WIl have to check that out some other time though.
Walked past this side street row of eateries, with the fancy red lanterns! Supposedly famous, for the next estero food crawl then!
I had to park along the street, but made sure to do so beside this parking meter - like, when did we ever actually use these? Call 525-PARK!
The ‘China town at night’ experience was pretty quiet. It’s probably more alive during the daytime, a lot more food options too then. For next time, a proper China stop will follow :)
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coff:up
The quest for the perfect cup brought me here!
A sea of brewing (and kitchen) equipment that's not for the faint of heart! Hold on to your impulse and cash (it's a good thing they don't accept credit cards) or you'll end up with loads of items in your cabinet you'll barely get to use, but just so tempting to get!
It’s an MK Kitchen shopping weekend.
First checked out the coffee shop on the 2nd floor called Blue Wonder, where practically no one goes to, except perhaps when you have to wait for your kids to finish their cake-decorating activity in the next room (someone’s birthday) ~ my new-found solace was then disrupted when the Korean parents began pouring in.
안녕하세요! ( Annyeonghaseyo )
A good cup it was! Fortunately, I was able to observe how the barista prepared my coffee, simple but interesting technique that made it silky smooth (mental copy-paste)
And then it was time for the difficult job of picking my stash (I always, always end up with some form of options paralysis) -- bean grinder and weighing scales were my minimum to go, I may have gone (just a wee bit) overboard.
Here’s the loot!
French press, V60 and Kettle are not new. I got a digital weighing scale, water thermometer, that little metal cup for the beans, a ceramic grinder (which I have yet to use after I finish all my grounds). Then... I just had to get an aeropress!
What I did not need was this kalita beaker-cup (?), but oh, how it makes my brewing experience feel legit --and just a fancy way to aerate!
A couple of test runs in the bag! French press, of course, is still the easiest. Glad to say though, my recent brews have been tasting better - less of the annoying sour taste from under extraction. And while the steps are fairly simple, it continues to be a test of patience for me each time.
Truth be told, there used to be this hint of annoyance in me whenever I’d see someone go through all the trouble of making coffee. While I’m no connoisseur (this one’s difficult to spell), nor do I have plans of becoming one, I now have some inkling of what goes on in their heads (and eventually in their sips).
You can say, it’s also a lot about finding joy in the process, a better appreciation of the output from knowing what goes into it.
Could it be? That I am now finding a lot more value in the journey? Side Note: I’m a super end-results person. 🤔 ha!
Time to get brewing!
#coffee#kalita#aeropress#v60#beans#grinder#grind#mk kitchen#blue wonder#cafe#brew#home brew#caffetime#coff up#coff
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BlackWing It
Marikina City welcomed us back on a hot summer weekend! It’s time to pick up the custom-made shoes we ordered back in the first weekend of February. It took about six weeks for the pairs to be ready, my friend’s shoes took a while longer. I assumed it was because I had priority, but when I jokingly inquired, it was really only because my shoe design is super basic, they can make it with their eyes closed!
https://2019weekendproject.tumblr.com/post/182521848600/a-taste-of-black-wing
When we arrived, there was this other client who was having her shoe designed, she wanted a leather slip-on in... green! *clap, clap, clap* Buddy was drawing one on the fly, you can say, he was Blackwing-ing it!
THE GOODS.
Let’s start with my friend Liza’s pair, these are her pumps in merlot (fancy name for red). While they are masters of men’s shoes, they’ve been delving into perfecting the fit for women too. After several days of wearing them, she swears by saying these are her most comfortable heeled pair. Buddy, the Blackwing shoe expert, explained the science behind it. I only recall it has something to do with the level of incline. Apparently, we were really “designed” to be walking with some elevation - just think of how a baby starts walking on tiptoe!
I imagined this to be something you would use if you put up a play about the Wizard of Oz turned corporate in ruby slippers!
My turn! I have to start by saying that the first time I saw mine, I was... underwhelmed. Couldn’t quite put my finger on it then, I needed more introspection time as to why. It looked like a pretty decent pair but something felt like it missed the MARK. Arriving home though, I began to realize why!
Most of my leather pairs were basically big boats aka BARKO, which means they’re probably just a few inches shy of a McDonalds pair, I had loooong shoes! My new pair is about an inch short and much wider than the usual narrower ends of the shoes I own. Long and pointy = stylish was the equation in my head, which made my Blackwing seem like something I wore back in school instead of a dress shoe upgrade! To be fair, it’s one of the options they ask you to confirm, and I recall trying on a sample to see if the length was okay, I thought it was fine and didn’t really pay much attention to it. Who knew that what seemed like a minor detail spelled the difference between wow and a’ight!
Eventually coming to terms with the shoe length, the bigger test was the fit. I say, one thing they did masterfully was the fact that it does fit like a glove! This was expected of course, but still felt weird in the beginning. Given I’ve already associated my nice-looking shoes to that tight feeling, my black shoes are wayyy too comfortable in comparison that it was not triggering my brain to think that I must be wearing an extra nice pair because it did not feel awful!
It’s my first custom-made pair, so it still needs some getting used to. For the times I got to wear them, I do appreciate how at the end of the day, I don’t have that ‘finally, my feet can rest’ feeling, which is a stark contrast to my RTW brown ones!
Before we left, Buddy thought of giving it a bit more shine and then some more conversation on how a custom-made shoe online platform is in the works. Sounds exciting, imagine with just one standard fitting, you can then pick and choose online with a lot more design options from different craftsmen in Marikina. Looking forward to see it thriving one day!
But for now, just some brushing action that warranted a gif!
Telling him I most likely wouldn’t be able to replicate the care he so skillfully demonstrated, he added another layer of wax, one for the road? He gets to practice, I save time from having to put on that shine = win, win! LOL
Would I recommend getting your own custom-made pair? ABSOLUTELY!
I would strongly suggest though, that for you to maximize the experience, you need a very clear idea of what you want. Since it is customized, there’s really nothing stopping you from dictating every single detail. Of course, not that you would know it right away, like the length in my case, but that’s definitely something I’d be extra particular about next time!
Painted shoes now be available, should you decide to be a bit more adventurous with your design ~ @blackwingshoes on Insta!
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WEEKEND CITY TOUR
Played tour guide one fine weekend to friends who visited Manila for the first time. If you only had a day to give someone “the essence” of this fine city, what would your day look like?
Mine started with making the crawl up north to SM North Edsa to pick them up. I probably haven’t been back there for a leisurely visit close to a decade now. And man, I had to pick a parking spot that happened to be all the way to the far right North wing, when the store I needed to get to was located at the Annex, you guessed it, the far left -- forced me to make what seemed like a long journey to the other end of the four-building strip. I could’ve taken a Grab car! This mall better really HAVE IT ALL! *in my head*
Off we went, but first, a quick drive-by the Acad Oval - caught a glimpse of the Oblation statue and a took a walk down memory lane. It was the last day of Engineering Week that saturday. Lots of stories there, but that’s for another time.
And so the ‘real’ adventure began along EDSA, where else? The essense of everyday mundane life in Manila = heavy weekend afternoon traffic, endless waves of giant billboards enticing you to buy, buy, buy and interesting wonders of architecture, like that foot bridge-slash-mini-eiffel tower installation in Kamuning.
We went from north to south in... I didn’t even bother counting how long, all I remember is that the sun began to set by the time we made it Roxas Boulevard.
Yes, made it to the other end of Epifanio De los Santos Avenue, a 23.8KM stretch. Imagine if it was called ELSA? Epifanio de Los Santos Avenue. nahh, LET IT GO.
We almost ended up at the Mall Of Asia, but I figured we already had more than fair share of mall time for the day. MALLS - we probably have one too many, but I’m not complaining, the mall rat in me is happy.
Given limited sun-time, I decided to just squeeze in a leisurely stroll near the Luneta park, pay respects to Rizal (?) and marvel at the huge Philippine flag waving proud!
The last time I set foot there was... in 2013, also in a weekend project! Click the link for a fun staycation idea too (and a bit of my impatient self)
http://2013weekendproject.tumblr.com/post/46754949222/holyweek-end
PHILIPPINE FLAG - a bit early for an independence day post, I know - will keep this here for a future June 12 repost.
Enjoyed the MANDATORY taho break - because, Boba brown sugar (Soya) Milk is life!
Q: Who’s this man in the statue?
A: Google it.
If your keywording skills failed, you can see the answer in the tags :)
And of course, THE Rizal monument - this is the carefully angled photo to hide the hideous eye sore, that is, a condo building behind this statue. The changing hues didn’t really do anything for me though, doesn’t quite spark joy. #KonMari
When you make your way to the bay, you definitely shouldn’t miss THIS.
Now while all that was fine, it seemed like the legit highlight of the day/night was a visit to the fancy McDonalds along McKinley to order Chicken McNuggets.
Now that’s the kind of bright lights that sparks you to... ORDER FRIES!
Good to finally have these touch screen kiosks here - of which I found tons of fascination with when I first saw the babies in action in China. Theirs though was a lot more accessible, given high adoption rate of QR code mobile payments. Imagine facebook (which basically everyone has) with the wallet function = WeChat! I don’t recall ever having the need to bring a wallet to get lunch or go anywhere else, all you needed was your phone... and a handy powerbank! Getting your juice drained, now that was the big NO, NO.
It’s fun to play tour guide every now and then. It allows you to have a different appreciation of the things you see on the daily, if only because the mundane can morph into what seems like a really glorious sight, if seen with fresh eyes. It also gives you an excuse to go out of your way and see “touristy” destinations you probably wouldn’t ever bother checking out.
ANNOUNCEMENT: Now open to driving-around weekend services in the city. RESERVE YOUR SLOT NOW! :)
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party weekend.
oh, how that meant something else completely during the days of my youth (basically, last year). Party Pier club hopping (GZ reference) took a one eighty and now, we celebrate with Mickey!
Looking for something to do on the weekend that was coming up, called up my mom on a Thursday to check if she'd be interested to watch the APO play with me.
me: may lakad ka sa saturday?
mom: birthday ni Ythann. dating ka ng maaga (come early) para mag setup ng balloons.
me: ok. (in my head - how difficult can balloon setups be?)
So I got there quite late ~I arrived while they were in between batches of lumpia fried to golden perfection, which served as my late lunch/ pre-party snack.
The simple house party (or so I thought) turned out to be quite the quaint "outdoor gathering". We put up a kiddie event in a Work-In-Progress lot that my parents were converting into an extended garage. It was basically just an elevated ramp and only two sides of the fire walls built that transformed into the perfect rustic setup - a nice way to say, wow that’s a bare backdrop. We had the clear blue sky that went well with it, at least!
SETUP TIME.
With only an hour to put up whatever my mom had in mind. It was a lot of hands on deck to make it all come to life, even without an actual reference plan. I would have wanted something drawn on paper, but decisions on the spot wasn’t all that bad. Besides, how many different ways are there to put up H-A-P-P-Y B-I-R-T-H-D-A-Y balloons anyway?
There was the question though, if we should hang the Mickey balloon-heads upside down on a string. Good call that we found a spot in the kiddie seats instead! Else, we could've ended up eerie awkward playtime horror (with black and red balloons to boot), instead of Disney fun!
It was a sunny and breezy afternoon that was made perfect with just the right number of guests. A clown-for-hire (not me) served as entertainment. Tough job, makes my wedding hosting seem like child's play, when he's the one who had to actually play with children! oh the irony!
At one point, when some catchy dance music was playing, a recent top40 hit. Several kids started dancing to the beat, in unison! woah, that sure caught on, I thought. What was I dancing to when I was their age? I SAW THE SIGN!🤣
Here’s our little Mickey pre-party!
We got the goodies, chocolate fountain and this surprisingly yummy cake + puto tower
The other nephew was, of course, in attendance with his own Mickey get-up and.. a Pokemon face paint!
It was just like any any other neighborhood celebration. No frills, all fun. And it’s exactly what it was, just that I thought the ‘after-party’ was loads interesting too!
MEET THE FAMILY.
My not so little younger sister finally brought with her... the one who we only had but a glimpse of in her instagram (of which all family members were blocked, but there are ways...) ~ the BOYFRIEND!
I had the idea (in my head) of acting like the bully big brother, tag team with my little bro, but didn't purse that after my buzz~kill brother made a comment (probably out of empathy), that we shouldn't torture the guy. WE~NO FUN.
To be honest though, we were probably more shy than he was. The chatty family that we most definitely are NOT, there wasn't much small talk questions in the arsenal to extend the conversation beyond a few minutes. So, we just distracted ourselves with.. family photo!
[SIDE INSERT]
Since I totally forgot it was the weekend of my nephew’s party, I had to scramble getting a present. And boy, oh boy, someone went for the BEST TITO award, scouring the Big Bad Wolf for the BEST PRESENT EVER! To think, I'm the only Tito in the family, so it was really me just trying to beat myself... or was it the guilt from giving him a squeaky plastic toy hammer for Christmas, didn’t know what I was thinking then! hahaha
First time at the World Trade Center! My second book fair, first one was in Cebu many months back!
This was the 1am ‘crowd’ on a Saturday morning!
The big hit was this augmented reality book. I'm a fan! (not my gift)
#party#weekend#birthday#mickey#big bad wolf#pokemon#books#cake#clown#kids#happy birthday#three little pigs
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not your usual long weekend getaway
5th Feb - a message pops up!
Ants: You free from 22-25? My bday is in the 24th.
Me: 25th holiday! what do you have in mind?
Ants: We're planning to go to Baguio in those days. Down to come?
Me: sounds exciting, G!
Ants: Nice. Let you know the plans.
Fast-forward to the 18th (Monday before the long weekend trip)
Me: wanted to confirm if this weekend is a go?
Ants: So it’s gonna be the whole Cem crew and Lou. And my mom.
The CemCrew
Lou wasn’t able to make it eventually, but mom was present - and oh, did we enjoy having mom around! Not only was she responsible for the non-stop eating (refer to previous post for all the juicy details), I also got schooled on Korean rom-coms, of all people!
We called our little clique, CEMCrew - a mix of very different characters glued together by a solid bond like... CEMent. Well, not exactly.
Yes to the mix - it’s an unlikely and unique mash up. The bond also holds true, in more ways than one - which all started in a... CEMETERY! Manila American Cemetery to be exact! That’s where we first came together one fateful day back in 2014, I think? I’d go detail the relationship web, but you can also figure out with this photo, we’ve come a long way since - consider this the before shot.
Back to the weekend - batch one left on a Friday night. I forgot to bring my neck-pillow for the six-hour ordeeal but apparently didn't have to worry - we each had ready allocation of huge pillows and blankets on board. Tita Liza thought of everything! Ready to roll!
Not a lot of talking in the van, it was late so it was a lot of snoozing instead. I haven’t seen Anthony’s mom in the longest time, we are facebook friends though, so I guess that sort of means we both still ‘see’ each other from time to time (LOL). It’s perfectly acceptable then for me to still feel somewhat awkward, yeah?
The one I should give credit to, however, in finally breaking the ice is.. JOLLIBEE stop-over! No proper road-trip is complete without one, if you ask me. Not so much that we had the most meaningful of conversations over Tuna Pie and sweet spaghetti, but we found ourselves in ‘level-playing field’ that is, it was neither in my turf or hers. I was mostly giving one line answers to China questions though (and beating myself over in my head how terribly un-smooth I was in Conversation 101. Partly blaming it to the fact that my brain cells are midnight owls no more)
We arrived at the house at 3am and we were greeted with the fancy fireplace setup - I say, the best part of any Baguio home!
Again I say, BEST part of any Baguio home!
Netflix (Chill). Rinse (Optional). Repeat.
story of this weekend.
There was really no need to go out of the cabin, and your sense of time and day gets blurry, which is telling of a wonderful vacation.
The Breaker Upperers played after lunch (the Kiwis know their comedy). This movie is definitely the fave in this trip. I can’t help but also associate it with the awesomeness of having free flowing coffee brewed on demand, while we were snug and comfortable on beanies covered in knitted wool blackets. spell COMFORT!
We then shifted to a couple of Oh My Venus episodes, that surprisingly went well with our meat and cheese platter. Oh that honey-truffle. *drool*
Batch two (the other pair of love birds) made an appearance almost midnight going into the birthday salubong - which became game night (captured quite a few jenga faces) - HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANTHONY!
SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS
Unbeknownst to most, Shek (my ex) is now with our friend, Gab. Before, during and post this weekend trip, I got a few inquiries asking how I felt or simply, if I was okay with it. For the most part, yes. It’s been ages since, and Gab had done due diligence (more than I thought he should have) in informing before the courting and making it official.
In a fun, unplanned twist however, all three of us ended up sleeping in the same room (separate beds), sharing the same bath!
So did it occur to me to dip their vulnerable toothbrushes in the toilet? Perhaps looking at it from a third person's POV, thinking it would be funny that I’m thinking of writing about thinking about it ~kind of way, Yes. Definitely not out of spite or anything remotely close to that. I also DID NOT DO IT, just in case that needed to be clearer :)
There really is nothing much to say about it, apart from acknowledging that it sure was an interesting spot to be in. Someone pointed out that perhaps I put up walls in anticipation of the moment. Maybe. But was I constantly, actively on guard waiting for the potential awkward moment, ready to steer to make it less so? Hardly.
New Edition
I miss having this solid unit around. After the Cemetery chill day (it’s really more of a memorial site, where you can find a quiet spot to think), there were more birthday celebrations, chill@home hangouts, a hyperactive messenger group, even attending church conferences and retreats together! I still recall that one Christmas break when I was back for a visit ~ I was in tears, crying in front of these same people, in an honest outpour.
SIDE NOTE: Many relationships from my past have since evolved, they're not quite the same. And I know that's as expected. I've come to embrace the notion that since your friends now were once strangers, there’s no reason why the friends in your yesteryears can’t be strangers tomorrow.
I did not nor have I been unfriended, at least that I know of. There is, however, just a natural course of increasing or decreasing interactions.
Who knows, this could very well be the beginning of many other connections waiting to be rekindled. It should also be no surprise if people who were part of your life then, can continue to play perhaps an even bigger part tomorrow. Keep doors (and windows) open.
We had quite a laugh before taking the first group photo above with the bad good joke that Gab blurted out, that we were seated according to our original pairs plus the adjacent connections that brought the group together.
Here is the now shot, I’d simply call it CemCrew 2019 edition.
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Weekend foodtrip.
holidazed and confused with all the options, I couldnt capture them all, but here's a snippet to give you an idea of the awesome foodie weekend that was!
breakfast was like this on the daily.. unli coffee brew was perfect for the chilly weather.
Afternoon special was meat and cheese platter, best paired with truffle honey 🤤
...and Korean TV 🤞
It was create your own sandwich for the first night
then this amazeballs steak for our last dinner
And of course, snaaaacks!
why haven't I tried this beef jerky before?
Oh, jellybeanz
We're still snackin' on the way home
I believe this is called #TooPig 🐽 love this weekend foodtrip! 😋
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Call Me BREW-know Mark!
It's the first workshop in this weekend series, some hands-on time to learn how to brew coffee at home. Yes, it's not rocket science but this fun little activity had me convinced that there is science to making the perfect cup!
I googled 'weekend classes' and found this on offer. I've always been a coffee fan but I wouldnt call it legit, which means I fancy a 3-in-1 as much as an espresso. You can say I'm only really going for that comforting feeling you get from sipping a hot drink but with a kick, which is why I don't share the same sentiment for tea.
There I was, an eager beaver who was up bright and early for a Sunday morning class. It's only my third time in Yardstick, definitely dig the cozy workspace vibe.
We're a small group of five, I ended up fifth-wheeling with two couples plus Jon, our coffee expert-slash-teacher for the day, who kicked off the session by asking why we signed up for the workshop. It was a gift for the first couple who travelled all the way from Laguna, being such coffee addicts; out of curiosity says one, and a good knowledge head-starter for business says another. As for me, it was the weeekendproject = fill my weekends with something that adds value... sparks joy! 😂
Obviously, I was more interested in taking photos, so I did away with notes. However, if there was only one key take-away, it has to be that COFFEE IS 98% WATER, so the type you use actually matters a whole lot ~ FILTERED > DISTILLED.
On we went then to get our hands dirty (or very, very clean ~ wash your hands please) to try out some recipes!
It brought me back to my Chem lab days
3x3
Three rounds with three recipes each, I get to fly solo ~for obvious reasons. We exchanged notes on what we thought about each brew.
Round 1: French Press
We were asked to dive right into the brewing process, only to learn the err of our ways after, like... forgetting to AGITATE!
We were all too gentle with our grounds, but apparently, you gotta get rough to get the most out of them beans. AGITATE ~a fun word to really just mean stir vigorously.
Round 2: Kalita
Your coffee can do away with the taste of paper, so prep by pouring hot water on that filter before-hand.
There's also 'the PURGE', sacrificing six perfectly fine beans in the grinder to wash out the last batch. And so I did the purge, the grind, then release.
Side Note: Remember to hold the cup before you release, else you end up throwing away fine fresh grounds, which is exactly what happened to me ~and it was on my second attempt #clumsy
Round 3: AeroPress
Purge. Agitate. Press.
Who knew that small differences in steeping time - 1 vs 3 vs 5minutes, water temperature - 80 vs 90 vs 100 degrees, and ground size - 14 vs 16 vs 18 can mean either a good experience or a crappy one! For instance, I now know why my recent brews have been extra sour, effect of underextraction ~ I guess you really can't hurry a good cup (...just like love)
Learned loads in the quick session. Love it when I get more just from listening to other people's Q&A. Really glad I was in this mix!
More courses available ~ who knows, latte art could soon be part of my arsenal of coffee-skillz
WHAT'S NEXT?
It's probably worthwhile to get to exact measurements - ground size and weight, water temperature, steeping time - but on the daily, will have to make do with approximations. Will have to eventually beef up on tools (think weighing scale and bean grinder) to calibrate my bean-method combo to perfection! Afterall, to get to a close approximate, you will need to have a clear idea of the exact.
A wine appreciation class should be a fun follow up for a weekend workshop. And while you can already learn loads online, I still think HANDS ON >> HOW TO YOUTUBE VIDEOS
This weekend is rated A for A~xperience! 😋
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[LIVE UPDATE]
Netflix & Chill. literally.
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[LIVE UPDATE]
It's not a proper road trip without a Jollibee stop-over!
TUNA。PIE。
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[LIVE UPDATE]
Quiche for breakfast while waiting for coffee home-brewing workshop.
What is quiche? And more importantly, did I pronounce it right? LOL
Here's what my good friend Wiki says..
Quiche (/ˈkiːʃ/ KEESH) is a savoury open flan consisting of pastry crust filled with eggs, milk or cream, and cheese, meat, seafood or vegetables. Quiche can be served hot or cold. It is part of French cuisine but is also popular in other countries, particularly as party food
NEXT GOAL: Serve home-made(?) quiche during the house warming! 😂
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Date-Ah
It was the weekend before V-day, I thought it would be nice to book a Date-Ah with Data!
A friend from work, who also happen to be a BlackWing hoarder (see earlier post) shared info about this 'MasterClass’ a.k.a. lecture on Data Science focused on the Logistics and Supply Chain sector happening on a Saturday afternoon. I signed up since the weekend calendar was still wide open, also, it’s been a while since I attended anything of this sort, let alone enter the halls of a formal educational institution.
WALK THIS WAY.
On the day itself though, I almost didn’t push through. The choice was either Netflix (if only I knew that The Good Place would eventually be awesome in the later episodes, I would’ve sat through the mediocre ones much earlier) or I get my butt off the couch. The real barrier though was the thought of having that awkward feeling of stepping inside a big hall full of strangers. I recall the last time I attended a talk like this one was in Guangzhou. It was one of the founders of a start-up that makes phone cases - https://www.mous.co/ who was invited to give a talk about, well, how he started it up.
It turned out to be..
1) real awkward, knowing no one and in some parts pretend like you were super interested to do some form of small talk
2) an educational experience - to not just hear a story, but also learn from all the questions answered. See how other people’s curiosity enriches a gathering of minds
and finally 3) quite entertaining, which was largely due to the good mix of people present. There was the model-slash-struggling entrepreneur, a geeky-yet overly friendly-Middle Eastern kid who was in China to learn Computer Science, and the one I was fortunate enough to be seated right next to.. Mister Know-It-All (who unfortunately, did not shy away from sharing his thoughts on why he didn’t agree to several key points of the speaker). I happen to be “the sponge”, the role of which I revived for this last talk, someone who goes in and out without notice, absorbing as much as he can, with hopes that it doesn’t end up just being squeezed away down the drain in a few days time. That’s why I took notes! Okay, mental notes.
TAKE AWAY! Here’s a couple of tidbits:
1) The Data Science Venn Diagram - which is the intersection of Math (what with all the calculations), Computer Science (because you actually need a machine to do the computing for you) and the equally valuable, Domain Expertise (without which, you only really have numbers and codes lacking real value)
2) This Gartner Data Analytics Maturity Model - I googled and saved this screenshot in my phone, which came in super handy. You wouldn’t believe that the following Monday, I had an actual work meeting where they were talking about a process and described it as.. “Oh, it's just diagnostic then..” And while you can do away with context clues to figure out what they were trying to say, having had this little image on hand allowed me to use the term prescriptive in my response! #FakeItTilYouMakeIt or perhaps rightfully so, that little bit that you know, is but the first rock in the foundation of a skyscraper of mastery! (Mark Laguna, 2019)
Getting all this going seems like it’s easier said than done, I suppose you just have to get by with the fact that no breakthrough is ever easy, otherwise, it would’ve already made its break-in.
While there are barriers in having to deal with big words (and even bigger concepts) such as Big Data, Machine Learning, Data Mining, Cloud Computing and Block Chain - you just gotta start somewhere.
A REALIZATION TIME! (WARNING: a bit off tangent)
In a few months time, I’ll be celebrating a decade of actually being part of my industry, and I begin to wonder, what do I have to show for it? Yes, there’s the pride of working for a multinational - and once upon a time, had a hand to get a region to operate seamlessly to achieve a common goal, this was during my stint in the service center (And now this is sounding a lot like what you see on LinkedIn profiles)
What I continue to search for is a legacy that will last. I realize all processes and frameworks you design is bound to be out of date, soon enough. There’s always the next best thing that will come along. What could last a lifetime, however, is the imprint you leave on people. The very same ones who will lead their generation and the next, who will turn the hopes of today into reality.
Whenever I find myself in a moment of crisis - when I’m not so sure again why I’m doing what I’m doing, I’ve learned to resort to the romanticized notion that what I’ve been doing is the delivery of products that will allow consumers to have that pleasant in-shower experience, a simplified way to maintain a household, or even be the best version of themselves. I still think there’s truth to that, HOWEVER!! I am only one component in a multitude contributing to that - there’s the driver who delivered the goods, the person who made the truck that the driver used, the gas-station boy who filled up the tank -- I’m stretching it, I know, but the point is, sitting in my office chair in BGC, I’m most definitely far-removed from the deep impact.
Then there’s the good news! Because I make my way to take my seat in that office chair everyday, what I get is the IN YOUR FACE reality. These are the close encounters with people, whose day you can either make better or worse. It could be from as simple as greeting them a Good Morning, perhaps noticing their new hairdo (this I’m bad at), to teaching them something new, answering their questions (or pointing them to a person who actually knows the answer), allowing them to fail (and learn), but also join in celebrating their successes. Things that need not an algorithm for Deep Learning, all that’s needed is for me to have a deeper sense of care, respect... love.
SIDE NOTE - AIM is offering a 14-month full-time Masters Program in Data Science (seems intense) Leaving this here, in case of interest: http://msdsonlineadmissions.aim.edu/
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be my guest.
I thought it was only fitting to have family be my first official guests in the new home. And man, did I make such a big deal out of it. I invited them the week prior for lunch after Sunday church service. I thought I could whip something up, the menu of which became my lunch break conversation for most of the week that followed.
And so went my quest of figuring out what to prepare - take-away was floated as an option, but then I thought I could do that many other times, why not just eat out? I was determined to cook something, but what?
Pasta. yes, easy go-to, but then for sure my mom would look for rice, I thought. Toyed with the idea of cooking a Filipino classic, suggestions from the apparently easy to cook tinola, adobo, even caldereta (whuut?) came about, but then I’m almost sure it would just pale in comparison to the home-cooked goodness that my mom usually prepares.
The big exception, however, is anything baked. My mom has always been afraid to use the oven, must be some horrible experience with flames in the past. Thanks to my electric cookware, no need to worry about that. So post-Blackwing fitting, I dragged Liza and Arnaud to the nearby supermarket to grab ingredients for the following day. Also, had to swing by and grab a good old-fashioned Mary Grace Belgian Chocolate Cake - my back-up in case lunch fails miserably.
Baked Salmon.
A bold attempt, only because it’s not a usual family specialty, save the pan-fried option. It was the many YouTube videos that built my confidence that it can be done. Good thing I checked the night prior, because that’s when I realized I actually don’t own a pan you can use for the oven! The nearby SM supermarket to the rescue! This branch continues to live up to the promise, we’ve got it all for you - though I actually don’t hear that as the tagline anymore.
Worried I won’t have enough time in the morning, I decided to prep the night prior, thus the BEFORE photo. I tried to look for asparagus to pair it with (obviously an idea from western vlogs), but I guess it’s not something you can find in your neighborhood store, so mini potatoes will have to do. Butter, lemon juice, some greens - poured in lots of Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and of course, the FILLET!
Here’s the AFTER shot. 20 minutes in the oven at 400 degrees fahrenheit.
I gotta tell you, not bad for a first attempt. Turned out to be quite nice!
I also take fried in discovering the best way to cook home-made chicken wings - AIRFYER! It had to make an appearance in the said lunch. Most def perfect for parties!
And in an attempt to pay homage to my Chinese roots (that is, the roots of what forced me to eventually learn to prepare food for myself), added some fried-slash-pan steamed dumplings to the mix. Unfortunately, this one failed and became soggy. (well, you can’t have it all) Still tasted pretty good though!
POST LUNCH.
You know it was a good meal, when you have them in a food-coma after. After cake, and during ice cream, an afternoon movie session followed ~ GOYO: Ang Batang Heneral was playing. Battle of Tirad Pass, pretty awesome mountain shots!
SIDE NOTE: Only got to see this biopic after all the hype from last year, shout out to former Radio1 buddy, Carlo Cruz, who played cousin Juan del Pilar
Truth be told, I probably worried more than I needed to, there was admittedly the attempt to impress, but with family, really, why bother?
1 - There’s always something that they have to say. Not about lunch in this case, but there’s still that one (or several) thing you know you missed out on doing. It was some cover for clothes for me, that I still haven’t had mind-space to bother about.
2 - Even if you do mess up, it’s not like they’ll unfriend you. Not that you shouldn’t make an effort anymore of course, but then do it for the right reasons, just because you want to.
And since ‘test run’ was done, I had every courage to then say yes to the insta-Chinese New Year tikoy cookfest -slash- Bandersnatch alternate ending - viewing party with a couple of good friends. They are now part of the wall!
Home is now ‘open to visitors’. Click here to set your appointment! :)
#family#guests#lunch#bandersnatch#goyo#movie#baked salmon#hakaw#CNY#airfryer#chicken wings#baked potato#salmon#potato#Mary Grace#cake
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A taste of Black Wing
New York Buffalo wings and blue cheese, sounds just about right! However, this weekend adventure is not about trying a new wings joint to replace Frankie’s. In fact, it’s not even that new, it’s THE BLACKWING, and it’s been around for quite some time now. I’ve heard tons about it from friends who sport more than just a pair (going on third, fourth? you know who you are!)
CUSTOM-MADE SHOES.
I’ve always imagined it to be such a luxury to get anything custom-made. The biggest barrier I had was thinking, for sure it will be super expensive. And then there’s also the fact that it’s going to be such a long wait.
Knowing my alternatives are pretty decent (and instant), plus you’ll likely find something that’s on sale, it made it less attractive to make the effort. Besides, buying apparel nowadays is hardly a pre-planned activity, you swing by the mall one random Sunday and it’s another opportunity for a purchase. If it’s a really good deal, get two (says my inner shopaholic). That’s fast-fashion for you! And just like most people, I love it when I stumble upon good bargains, value for money. I’m easily convinced. I don’t mind if they’re from last season, because really - who can keep track when we have fifty two seasons these days, with new designs rolled out on the weekly.
THE EXPERIENCE.
My friend Liza scored reservations through facebook. Waze pointed us to what seemed like a hardware store selling rubber mats. It was a standee with different types of soles that hinted we were at the right place, and a little tarp to the left that said “BlackWing”. I don’t know why, but I somehow I imagined something more homey than commercial. However, what seemed liked something lifted off the speak-easy trend, they bring you to a smaller air-conditioned room inside to do the fitting - think, a secret bar behind the hardware facade. Not sure if that was intentional.
GET FIT(ted) - FAST.
What happens next is a pretty straight-forward exercise, you get your foot drawn on paper, reminiscent of when you wanted to send your size, so relatives from overseas can send over shoes! shout out to my Titos! It’s not all that crude of course, they also have that measuring device for the actual length, but then there’s all the other dimensions that makes custom-made, well, custom-fit.
MY FOOT PRINT.
You end up with a piece of paper with a print of a sweet potato (or is that an island?). I’m a size 11, and you know what they say about people with big feet... they have big dreams! That and also, they leave a massive foot print, though interestingly, you can choose not to. More on that in a bit.
Because these DapperTod kids shoes distracted me. How come everything mini is adorable?
I’m getting what I consider to be my first “proper” pair, in black. Going for this design I lifted off instagram. Would have wanted a bit more consulting time in picking the style with actual samples right in front of me, but alas, had to resort to whatever is available in photos. Online-offline integration it is, then!
My friend, Liza, is getting these pumps in Merlot. She swears they don’t feel like you’re wearing heels. I guess that’s a big plus!
Liza’s boyfriend, Arnuad, who’s super picky with his shoes tagged along, first to just see how it’s done. His curiosity paid off, as it prompted Buddy (Mister BlackWing himself) to give us a demo on shoe cleaning 101. He basically treats leather like skin, it needs to breathe, so much so that he actually used a gentle pre-teen astringent (think, Eskinol) to get the gunk off Arnaud’s shoes.
Fun Fact - did you know that the instant shine products you’re probably used to using from back in high school actually do more harm in the long run? It's like painting over your shoe, or when you just keep piling on make-up everyday so you’d look good, without ever washing it away = clogged pores, then cracks? ack! Much in the same way, leather gets clogged, then it's downhill from there there. No wonder none of my shoes lasted. Buddy was wearing a shoe that was six years old, and they still looked looked pretty good. But then perhaps too good, and that could be a problem. He mentioned of clients he thought didn’t like their pair, only to return 3-4 years later for another one.
When asked why he does what he does.. I did not expect the answer to be ‘of service to the industry’. Apparently, despite what seemed like a resounding success, given the six to eight week-queue, you’d think many others in Marikina, the shoe capital of the Philippines, will follow suit and get good business out of it.
I guess even with competition sprouting, it’s still not enough to consider it a proper thriving industry. So, Buddy plans to keep on going, recently venturing into the restoration space too.
THE PRICE.
I did mention one of my barriers was the price. That day, I was willing to shell out more than the usual. Their website said prices start at 5K, and I was ready for a 7-8K bill, with the carabao leather sole and what-not. I ended up with... 5K + 300 pesos! Yes, 5,300 for the design I chose. While not cheap, I also wouldn’t call it uber expensive. It’s fairly in the range of what you can get off the rack, and considering the fact that it is custom-made, this price seemed like a steal!
Buddy did mention that there is yet another tier of customers (obviously with lots of money to spend) who’ve been looking for the 25-30K range, which is why he’s now experimenting with a premium line with fancy imported leather. I touched (and actually smelled) the sample he showed us. I’ll probably never be able to tell the difference, apart from the price tag.
It’ll take another six weeks before I hear word of when I’ll be getting my pair, which is why this is only considered a ‘taste of..’ Should be worth the wait, I also didn’t have to shell out money right there and then, will just need to deposit to a bank account closer to actual production day. Apparently, it only takes three days to finish, but given they only get to make around twenty pairs a week, you end up with the long-ish wait.
THE TRUE COST.
On a related note, that same night, I popped in another Netflix documentary. Still reeling from The Minimalist movie, I subjected myself to yet another one that’s sure to give you a wake up call. And I’m glad I did, no matter how uncomfortable it made me feel, knowing how I contributed to the labor injustice in the sweatshops of Bangladesh (and perhaps the Philippines, too). I’ll be sure to reconsider the next time I see something on sale.
And while this weekend started out as a post about consumption, the twist is, it actually taught me about the exact opposite.
One - to be truly materialistic, that is, to be mindful of what you buy, to care enough to think about how it’s made, who’s making it (and under what conditions) and your role in taking care of the things you own, so you don’t find yourself looking for another piece to satisfy an “unmet” need, which all too often is far from the necessities, and closer to intangible self-validation.
Two - the little impact I think I have as a consumer still adds to the tons of waste that end up in landfills, all from the cycle of buying more. This holds true, not just in clothes, but in just about everything I consume. While it may not mean I’m embracing a zero-waste lifestyle tomorrow, I could definitely be consuming a lot less.
And Three - I am part of an industry, whether as a consumer or in my case, an actual mover of product in the value chain. There are ways to contribute. One starbucks cup, afterall, is already a day’s wage elsewhere. And while there continues to be a disconnect with what I see in documentaries, to the everyday consumption that I end up doing, one can argue that there are a lot more ways to actually bridge the gap, and actually see change, perhaps all I need to do is care a little bit more.
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[LIVE POST]
Liza and Arnaud invited for lunch before we go get Blackwing shoes for the day! 😀
Tossed salad with home-made mayo
Beef and Veggie Lasagna
Anand the essence of Hello Kitty (or simply, Apple juice)
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HOST POST
What would have been another chill hosting weekend, this one turned out to be my most challenging ~with the constant fear that I'll have a teenager piyok moment, sound hoarse and raspy, but not in the sexy kind of way, or the ultimate worst case scenario of losing my voice in the middle of the program, which might throw people off from just enjoying the reception.
I was praying to get enough strength for the night, and happy to share I actually managed to pull through - but had to introvert after, since by the time we were done, I was back to feeling feverish.
[RANDOM INSERT]
While waiting to start, a waiter who was staring at me, eventually mustered the courage to ask, "mahirap ba mag-host?". I couldn't find the words to answer, when he provided his own, "o, sa simula lang?", I just ended up nodding in agreement.
And with that, a throwback!
http://2013weekendproject.tumblr.com/post/41107197911/when-the-student-is-ready-the-teacher-will-appear
Interestingly, it was also the third weekend post back in 2013 that I had this 'shadowing' experience. Yes, I gate-crashed a random couple's wedding mainly to observe, in preparation for my first ever wedding hosting stint that same year 😁 Huge thanks to my mentor, host-extraordinaire, Gelli Victor!
Fast forward to 2019, another one in the college barkada is getting hitched, and I am ever so honored to be part of the celebration as their host.
The invite #GijoAndBea
The look - still my favorite blue suit, which took basically just overnight to finish, in one random trip to Bangkok c/o young Thai designer, Suksan Jason
www.suksanjason.com
What's great about being a friend-host, you get first dibs on a photo with the couple BEFORE
and AFTER the program!
My only regret, not being able to partake of the CANDY BAR ~ what a spread!
A wedding is also a great time to catch up with friends, including seeing the couple responsible for my first ever hosting stint in the barkada, #OhEmmGee2014
On to the next! 🤩😛😎
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