Ben there....

Was it done on a whim, or was it finally the fulfillment of a two year quest (from our last Baguio trip where we literally hunted down the subject of this entry in Tam-awan village)? Was it destiny that led us to that quaint little coffee shop that changed our lives forever.. Questions haunted the four sisters. In-law that is -- me, plus my 3 fave sisters in the whole wide world Meg, Lia and Mel. That afternoon in Baguio, July 28, right after having a leisurely cup of coffee in 'Cafe by the Ruins', serendipity took effect and the world stood still - as women in their fourties (ok, plus baby Mel in her thirties) regressed into a shrieking bunch of groupies. For we had just gotten word that we would finally have the chance to meet our idol, National Artist Bencab -- right in his own studio in T____ street, with the black, red and white gate, right across the B____ store, near the B____ church. (I am doing this to intentionally confuse the readers since the privilege of spending an afternoon with this great man in his very own studio is bestowed only on a chosen few, and thus I am taking great care not to disclose his exact location!! Haha.)
The four of us, plus brothers Jomie and Pancho and my art loving daughter Nikki were greeted with much warmth and hospitality as he chatted with us, toured us around his studio and the gardens, showed us his bonsai tree collection..then back to the studio where we continued our small talk. Never mind the faux pax like when in genuine ignorance I asked who Annie was (in a tone that seemed to ask WHO the HECK she was), or when Jomie commented in a trying-to-sound-intelligent way that a certain painting would look so beautiful when finished (It was actually finished.) My three sisters made up for this via their eagerness in placing their names in the long long waiting list of....more than 200!! So here we are... our moment with the master...

My daughter's version in link below:
http://swimthroughme.multiply.com/photos/album/35/Francisco_Baguio_Trip_--_Day_2

Blog leave??

I had intended to go on blog leave as I felt I was getting too addicted to this blogging mania, forever editing, polishing, adding pictures, deleting... And so I wanted to take a break for a while but I find that I am not allowed to do that pala! Ever since this website was 'monitized' via the ads you see on this page, I have had to fulfill my side of the agreement with google by providing useful, readable, blog-worthy content whether it be colorful and exaggerated narratives of my boring life, or perhaps some educational trivia about ...well, worthwhile topics like... cooking and handicrafts? I think I shall stick to the former.
Anyway, the ads are supposed to change daily depending on the content of my entry. And you are supposed to be very curious about them and open them, thus eventually making me rich granted that there at least a hundred thousand of you doing that on a regular basis. So if you consider yourself one among my hundred thousand friends, you know what to do! hehe. You can start NOW.

This bank rocks (a sequel to C! rocks!)

He probably never knew what hit him last Monday when I just suddenly plucked his name from the internet and on a whim decided to visit him and see if I could get myself a temporary car to use while my car was undergoing repair ... High heels- check, pencil skirt- check, hair with windblown effect- check (for once I removed my trademark ponytail work-hair), and the most charming Ms. Congeniality smile ever, targetted at everyone from guard on the groundfloor to elevator boy to the secretary on the fourth floor named Zeny. Of course it wasn't all ditz and daring. I brought with me my piece de resistance... a beautifully worded letter, pregnant with sincerity and humility, enough to melt any executive vice president and chief operating officer's heart. The "checklist" is something I learned from my hotel sales executive days 20 years ago when I used to do the rounds of all those offices in Ayala Avenue knocking on doors without any appointment, charming the secretaries and flashing a Bb Pilipinas smile as I replied to their do-you-have-any-appointment -with-my-boss query: "Well, not for any specific date or time, but if you tell him it's Ms. ___________ from the Hyatt, he might be able to spare a few moments to see me..." Auurghhh sobrang bilib... Nah, it wouldn't work this time, and thus the beautifully worded letter. Besides, the supposedly "pencil" skirt was more pentel pen than anything, and somehow the supposedly beauty queen smile didn't look quite the same with crow's feet. OUCH!

I am sure you must have guessed by now that I speak of the man who heads the bank (ok, the number two guy) that owned the armoured truck that rammed into my car several blog entries ago.

Anyway, suffice it to say that within two hours after my visit, I got a call from one of his managers saying my temporary car would be ready by Wednesday (last Wednesday). So...whether it was the pentel pen skirt, the crows feet smile, the charming letter, or the very very kind heart of my internet man ....all I can say is - this bank rocks!! Thank you Mr. RC!!

Drool Alert!

Last Tuesday July 10 was drool day. The Fall/Winter 07 press collection of Tod's went on display for our press friends that afternoon, and we hammed it up for the cameras (as usual) before the guests arrived. We caressed each piece, fantasized ... and drooled. The collection carried Derek Lam's designs (Derek Lam is the new creative director at Tod's) - the Bangor bag in striking GOLD with the gigantic Tod's logo (pang pinoy talaga!) and my absolute favorite that came in black and red - the modified version of the classic D bag - very very hollywood - you know, the ones you see in those paparazzi shots when the artistas are caught in some parking lot running from the grocery, gym or their kid's school to their car, hair in disarray, big shades, no makeup, carrying their oversized bags and looking absolutely stunning. I don't think they would achieve the same effect with secosana or manel's di ba?

So here are the pics... of a bag with a girl attached!! Yummy! (the bag)
Click to enlarge.



Corinne and Liza...If "Derek" could only see us!


Even the rose centerpiece (now make-believe bridal bouquet!) provided by our caterer wasn't spared! hahaha! Now THAT'S fantasizing...

Nikki

My daughter, the 'calbo' but very pretty baby born on July 9, 1987, at 3:58am, bade farewell to her teen years yesterday, surrounded by cousins Jose, Carlo, Isa, Nicole and Denise.... HAPPY 20TH BIRTHDAY, NIKKI!!


(boy, you gave me a hard time -- It was tough giving birth in my teens!! hehe)

This is a poem to my daughter Nikki

by her mama,
written in October 2005

This is a poem to my daughter Nikki
Who in many disturbing ways
Resembles a girl I used to know
Somewhere ages and stages ago.
For I too turned eighteen
And rebelled and struck out in rage
at a woman who wanted to shape me
and mold me into her clone.
Like some déjà vu,
I find that you, headstrong you,
Have become an obstinate, independent
extension of me.
Yet thankfully different from me.
While loving you, I live in fear
Of mistakes repeating, your young heart breaking.
The desire to mould you
into what might shield you
from the darkness crossed my mind.
But no, unlike the generation past
I shall never ask that you be me,
for I realize each child, just like a flower,
must turn toward the sunlight
on its own.

Pocholo's Pride

Pocholo Malilin is one of the humblest sweetest persons I've seen on stage. Well actually, he doesn't really work ON stage but behind it...he is the owner of Club Mwah and executive producer of all those sensational dance revues performed by Follies de Club Mwah. So sensational that the girls of the Ratwak gang - Ginny, Jeannie, Carmi and I - simply had to hold our Girls Night Out (plus one - Nilo!) at this place, to unwind after a week's work. (did we? work?) ..After the breathtaking hour-and-a-half show, Pocholo went on stage and started thanking the audience in the humblest, most sincere fashion, pleading with everyone to PLEASE spread the word around...he needed our support, he needed us to keep him and the entire Club Mwah crew going. He spoke from his heart and we could see so much passion and love. We were all so touched at his humility and so I am here to urge everybody to stop reading my blog and click on this link, and make your reservations pronto!

http://www.clubmwah.com/


You won't regret it. (especially those among you who are still stuck in the eightees mode like the four of of us girls are. hehe. You MUST see all those revolving disco balls!!) It is the most fabulous show I've seen in Manila. Let me mention here that Pocholo of course called Carmi to join him on stage...and...whoosh! that completed our transformation into the eightees.. It was so touching and cute seeing him lavish praise on her, telling her how much he had always idolized her from way back, and even giving her one of the 'mink' stoles being worn by one of the follies dancers. And of course Carmi, true to form, gave her most artista-like, and very very gracious reply which automatically made her the goddess of Club Mwah...the role model and idol of all those 17 very sexy "female" dancers. (I guess that exempts the entire rat/wak pack from cover charge next time!)

To Pocholo and the entire cast and crew of Club Mwah...you have our support!! Mwah!

p.s. the picture above - those are the Mwah girls. NOT us, ha.

ck cuties

No, the heading doesn't mean me...I meant I was TRYING to be a ck cutie... ck's latest fragrance ckn2u (ck into you) was launched by Lux Asia the other night, July 4, at Embassy and here I am trying to look embassy-ish. Actually, I and Corinne plus calvin klein brand managers Monica and Cristina were there because SSI sponsored some of the raffle prizes and the host's clothes... And so we posed for some paparazzi shots against the logo wall...with ck sunglasses artista style...and then a solo shot mala-Ok! magazine na di-ok.

p.s. Sunday Alcaraz was supposed to be with us but he thought we were going to the US Embassy dahil July 4. makes sense nga naman...

Luis

My son, my 6-footer son, turned 17 today. I did not have a camera with me this evening, but my heart took a picture. There are moments in one's life that just cannot be captured by a two dimensional image. That moment happened this evening while we were walking towards the car in the parking lot in Greenhills, after his birthday dinner. It was raining in a very 'nostalgic' sort of way - pa ambon ambon - there was Nikki happily chatting away, there was Luis in the center holding the umbrella with his right hand, his left arm resting protectively around his sister's shoulders..and there was me on his right, clutching on to his elbow, my head leaning lazily on his shoulder. And the three of us were just walking in the rain bound to each other this way, walking slowly towards the car. I felt an incredible sense of peace and that breathless sort of feeling you feel when you're half happy half scared... scared because the moment seemed to be too perfect. We reached the car, and even the car became incredibly beautiful too in our eyes.. with all its bumps and dents and 'character' it had become a part of our lives. And when Luis turned to me with his smiling eyes and said thank you for his birthday... the very simple (and cheap) dinner at Luk Yuen which was all I could afford this year - of congee and siomai and fried pancit..and when he said those were all his favorite dishes ever since he was a kid .. and I could see how sincere and how happy he was...and I could actually feel the love - BAM!! My heart took a picture.

The Nearness of Q

Nilo should consider himself very lucky that we were all friends last night, as he could easily have been shot the way singers of "My Way" get shot in the provinces when they reach that deadly climax. No we were not in some seedy smoky karaoke bar...we were in Carmi's super fab and cozy townhouse.. which we turned into a seedy smoky karaoke bar. The evening was supposed to be our farewell party for our 'principal'..our godfather.. Mr. Q who leaves for Vancouver this Monday and won't be back till November. And Nilo, Carmi's 'Mr. Left", somehow was the self appointed entertainer with his rendition of various classics and lounge type music. His repertoire was quite limited though.. I think he sang "Nearness of You" around fifteen times. Of course Carmi, Ginny and Ricky also took their turns at the mike to entertain the rest of us shy ones.. :)
"We" were the usual Ratwak gang of Mr. Q. Ok, I finally got permission to publish their full names here (except for Mr. Q who remains Mr Q, principal, godfather, Don Vito because of some sacred code of Omerta where our lives could be in danger if we know or reveal too much).. so here we go -- roll call : Carmi Martin, Jeannie Pilapil, Ginny and Ricky Banaag, Nilo Cruz, and moi, plus two new recruits (or victims?) - Robert Palomar and Mari (someone, pls give me Mari's surname). Yup, Robert of the infamous suka-shoe incident. We finally convinced him that he was very lucky that the girl last week had the presence of mind to choose the shoe over the car. Click here: suka shoe incident

It was an evening of giving birth to truly creative ideas that can only come from intoxicated minds.... you never know...we could all be famous restaurateurs, with Q'a ideas about the Greek resto and bar (we are now tasked to find a location, we really ARE serious), and Nilo's business proposition about Seattle's Breast and Starbust Coffee... which of course is ridiculous but when you're all thinking-under-the- influence, puwede na rin. Funny how the most inane ideas can sound so brilliant at one in the morning.. Going back to Q - it was a happy sad occasion, as we all knew it would be quite some time before our next reunion - November to be exact.. Things won't be the same without this guy. Of course we can all still get together, but I guess we won't be as crazy or bastus or irreverent or nakakasuka. He can sometimes have the most BASTUS, the most SHET SOBRA joke in the whole wide universe but since he is who he is, we all just have a great time and walang 'pikunan'..

ok, since I went as far as mentioning everyone's complete names, let me take the ultimate step and post everyone's pictures.... If anybody in the group is reading this and wants his/her pics or name removed because of some Omerta code or secret he/she is not telling us please contact me or post a comment. :)