Last Saturday, we had a party. A joint birthday party — mine, Buddy’s (my brother-in-law) and Buddy’s girlfriend, Laura. A family affair, really, but Speedy has a big family so it was not a small party. The only small part was my side of the family because I have only one sibling. It was loads ... (more)
Be back tomorrow
Posted on October 20, 2008 · 18 Comments
Have to go and blow the candles on my birthday cake. P.S. My Tastebook is out. The link is on the sidebar. P.P.S. I made a bucket list. You know, like you’ve lived half your life and you think about what else you want to do before the second half is over. It’s coming out ... (more)
Understanding the origin of poverty
Posted on October 16, 2008 · 13 Comments
Last Tuesday’s and today’s columns were a two-part essay on poverty; in particular, an attempt to understand its origin from an anthropological context, vis a vis the role of government in the development of poverty. Tuesday‘s column: Poverty and private property Poverty is not a modern-day phenomenon. Of course, that is not the same as ... (more)
Blueberry and apple squares
Posted on October 15, 2008 · 10 Comments
While resting my poor eyes from the tedious job of editing my own recipes in the Tastebook that will be available starting Monday, October 20th (it’s a print on demand kind of thing so don’t feel confused that I am still editing at this point), I decided I’d do some baking and take a few ... (more)
Clay jars and indoor plants
Posted on October 15, 2008 · 14 Comments
If you go around malls and interior decoration shops and boutiques, you will notice that fortune plants — a favorite indoor plant because they require little maintenance — are often placed in glass vases (or crystal in high-end shops). Pebbles are placed on the bottom of the vase, the stalks of fortune plant are inserted ... (more)
Some really inspired Halloween ideas
Posted on October 15, 2008 · 7 Comments
If you haven’t heard yet, the Malacañang-MILF MOA was declared unconstitutional. In terms of merit, there should be nothing surprising about the Supreme Court’s decision. It is the only logical conclusion. In terms of political reality, however, the Supreme Court justices being appointees of the President per provisions of the Constitution, the decision surprised me ... (more)
Soap bubbles
Posted on October 14, 2008 · 17 Comments
Last Sunday, Alex was washing her hand in the kitchen when she called to show me something. I looked and said, “Hold it, let me take photos.” These were taken with my tiny iXus so the resolution and colors aren’t so good but, hey, at least I managed to capture the moment. The girls played ... (more)
Investing during an economic slump
Posted on October 13, 2008 · 30 Comments
I was reading an article by Alex Berenson titled “Those With a Sense of History May Find It’s Time to Invest” and it felt like déjà vu. We were on our way to Dapitan yesterday and we passed by an unfinished condominium project in San Juan. Huge project but it appeared abandoned. Speedy’s familiar with ... (more)
The future (vice) president of the Philippines?
Posted on October 13, 2008 · 11 Comments
This is a true story. There’s this girl, a high school junior, whom I’ll call Anita. She was a candidate for Vice President in the student government and she won by a slim two-vote victory. She won. There was no doubt about that. There were no accusations of cheating or anything. As far as the ... (more)
When was the last time you ate at Ma Mon Luk?
Posted on October 12, 2008 · 41 Comments
My father and my grandfather used to take us to Ma Mon Luk in Manila’s Chinatown often. The unique aroma that permeated the place is something deeply etched in my memory. Established by a Chinese immigrant named Ma Mon Luk who came to the Philippines in 1918, the popularization of the restaurant’s chicken mami (noodle soup) and siopao (steamed dumplings) is probably the reason why those two dishes have become part of the Philippines’ culinary language. The man’s life story and the restaurant’s history are quite riveting. I do not know if the iconic Ma Mon Luk restaurant in Chinatown is still there but the branch in Quezon Boulevard remains.
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