CASA Veneracion

Got young kids? Look! Bladeless electric fans.

February 8, 2012 By Connie Veneracion 14 Comments

After running errands and spending hours at the showroom of a custom kitchen designer, Speedy and I had dinner then proceeded to the grocery — first at S&R for dog food, cat food, vegetables and fruits, then at Shopwise Libis for rice paper (you know, for making Vietnamese spring rolls). At Shopwise, the first thing that caught Speedy’s attention were these bladeless electric fans. Of course he had to inspect them… A guy thing, maybe?

I don’t know what he found more interesting — the new technology, the fabulous design or, perhaps, both. (more…)

Valentine’s Day: Are the cost and brand of the chocolates and flowers equivalent to the amount and quality of the love professed?

January 17, 2012 By Connie Veneracion 14 Comments

I remember how, back in grade school, whenever there was an occasion (Christmas, Valentine’s Day or whatever), we would sometimes have class “visitors” who would be selling bowls of chocolate for PHP1.00. Yes, you got that right. PHP1.00 for a white plastic bowl about four inches in diameter filled with chocolate candies wrapped in brightly-colored foil. The “visitors” would suggest that we could give them to our parents or grandparents.

I don’t know how that worked for the school administration. It was a Catholic school and one would expect better so, looking back, perhaps, the “visitors” knew someone high up in the administration. Decades later, when I was already in college, the school would hit the evening news when the principal, the same principal we had when we were still students there, was bodily carried out of her office (live footage on the evening news) after she locked herself in amid accusations of dipping into the school coffers.

Anyway… back when I was a grade schooler, the bowls of chocolate looked so pretty and I would run to my grandfather after school and ask for two pesos so I could buy two bowls of candies — one for him and my grandmother, and another for my father and mother. I didn’t understand marketing gimmicks at that age. I didn’t realize how we were a captured market and sitting ducks. Still, I think about our attitude toward those generic chocolate candies. We didn’t scoff because they weren’t branded. I don’t remember how all that changed. How we changed.

By the time I was in college, gift-giving had become so laden with status symbols. On Valentine’s Day, it was expensive branded chocolates in boxes and long-stemmed roses in boxes that screamed the names of the shops where they came from (the all-important names of the shops spelled out the cost of the flowers). Even places to go to for a meal were labeled as “pang-date”, “pang-barkada” or “pang-pamilya” and the ones categorized as “pang-date” were expensive with all the romantic accessories (candles, soft muted lights, wine…) but where the food was not necessarily good. (more…)

I miss them already but not the mess they make

January 3, 2012 By Connie Veneracion 15 Comments

Speedy drove the girls back to the condo late last night. The third term of the school year officially begins tomorrow, January 4, and the girls were supposed to spend today clearing up their class schedules and finalizing their enrollment.

As I watched the pick-up pull away from the front door, a wave of sadness hit me. We had so much fun during the Christmas break and I’ll miss them terribly. But, in a split second, a feeling of tremendous relief pushed the sadness away. I won’t have to constantly remind them to please not leave dirty glasses and bowls and plates on the living room coffee table. I won’t have to repeat over and over that half-eaten bags of chips lying around are magnet to ants. With the torrent and video streaming addicts gone, the internet is suddenly fast. I can watch my choice of TV programs once again and not have to bear the inexhaustible reserve of The Powerpuff Girls reruns.

It’s a bittersweet feeling, this endless stream of homecomings and goodbyes. I still keep wishing that there was more constancy in our lives, that we could just all live together in one house seven days a week instead of having to deal with the adjustments — physical, mental and emotional — each time they leave and each time they come home. How can I describe it? Each time you start coming to terms with not having them around and not feel like crying about the separation anymore, they’re suddenly home. Then, just when you feel so happy to be with them, they have to leave again. It’s a horrible and cruel roller coaster ride that never ends.

When Speedy and I were having lunch earlier (leftovers from last night’s roast chicken), I suddenly remembered the Japanese rolls in the fridge. Before they left last night, Sam made a huge batch of maki, packed most to bring to the condo but left enough behind for Speedy and me. I opened the fridge, located the round white Tupperware with the light green lid, and Speedy and I pushed aside the leftover chicken to enjoy the spicy rolls. They were wonderful. Sam announced last night that she used wasabi, cayenne pepper and chili powder to season the rolls. There was some parsley too. Definitely not traditional Japanese but also definitely delicious. (more…)