WOWOWEE!!! ;D / DECEMBER 11,2007

Aaaaahhhh...the things one must do to earn a living. Hahaha!!! 'D

I have recently transferred categories and have switched from the Red Saucy side of the business to the Yellow Fruity Side. It is actually a welcomed change, having spent the past 12 years only in Reds. It's like getting a fresh start on a new career without having to give up my tenure (and retirement package, haha!). Overall, it's been a blast. I have, since two months ago, resumed going back & forth to the plantation--something I have stopped doing ever since we transferred Reds production to Manila. Those who have been to the plantation know that it can be quite a stress relief. Wide-open spaces. Fresh air. Great food. Even if we have whole-day business sessions going on, they always seem to go at a pretty relaxed pace--as opposed to the highly-charged boardroom meetings in Manila.

Handling a new category is also like getting a new baby with a totally different personality. Whereas my Reds brands tend to be more mommy serious, talking about serious topics like cancer prevention and three times a week consumption, my Fruity Yellows tend to be lighter, more fun.

Still, it has its pros and cons. HAHAHA!!! 'D

Just last week, I found myself in a Wowowee taping (yes, isa akong Bigaten!!! Hahaha! 'D) with my groupmates Lily and Yoyo (that's their assigned code, haha 'P), to monitor the implementation of a Christmas-related segment buy. No biggie as I have done the noontime show rounds before, I thought.

HA!

The difference between Wowowee and the other noontime shows I've been to before is that in the other shows, I can quietly sit by the sidelines, totally hidden, and just make sure that everything is either done correctly (or at the very least, I can discuss the "flaws" with the production folks so they can do the corrections in time for the next segments in the series).

NOT SO IN WOWOWEE!!!

First, there is no such thing as a back stage in ABS-CBN's Studio 3. Neither is there a marked delineation between the stage and the audience. While, in general, the audience is advised not to go onto the stage because of the heavy equipment, the audience seats (and consequently, the audience) are practically part of the set design!

Second, as a direct offshoot of the first point, the audience is advised that everytime the camera is rolling, EVERYONE HAS TO BE HAPPY! As in E.V.E.R.Y.O.N.E. Before they go on a commercial break, everyone has to go, "WOW-WOW-WEE!!". YES, complete with gestures. (Ask me to do it the next time you see me. I already have all the moves down pat. Haha! 'D) When dancers and the hosts start dancing "Boom-Tarat-Tarat" during the opening sequence, the audience is required to sing "Boom-Tarat-Tarat" AND dance along with the people on stage! WaaaaaaaahhhhhHAHAHA!!! 'D Worst of all, when the Bigaten segment starts, everyone has to dance "Sayaw, Darling"! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! 'D HALA, SAYAW!!! Hahaha! 'p

Truth be told, I rather enjoyed myself. The energy inside the studio was quite palpable. Even during commercial breaks, the entire place was alive as the floor directors "taught" the audience all the moves they would need to do once the cameras start rolling after the commercial break. It was quite hilarious, really. On one side you have the TFC audience, holding up their hand-made banners, declaring their place of origin. On the other side, you have the locals who are really there to try their luck at winning. We were seated in the "halo-halo section" where people from all walks of life end up sitting for lack of any other available seats in what would have been their "assigned area" inside the studio. Lily, Yoyo and I thought we found the perfect ploy for staying off the camera range by staying behind literal bigatens (haha) in the second row of the halo-halo section. We all thought it would allow us to sufficiently monitor the segment buy while escaping the inevitability of being shown on TV if we had stayed on the front row. So, there we were doing "Sayaw Darling" while laughing ourselves silly, secure in the knowledge that we will not be seen on national TV. Fools! HAHA! 'D Soon after the song started playing, the other "bigaten hopefuls" who got stuck with back row seats started rushing to the front, landing beside us, dancing "Sayaw, Darling" like their lives depended on it! Ngyah! Walang kawala! HAHAHA! 'D

That day, Ilong (I kid you not; that was the contestant's name) won P170,000! He was a fruit vendor who, before trying his luck in Wowowee, spent sleepless nights trying to figure out how he was going to pay for P40,000 in debt. Apparently, he would borrow capital (most likely on 5-6 basis) to buy the fruits that he would sell, only to realize at the end of the day that what he earned was only enough to feed his family, leaving his original debt unpaid. It was a cycle that he had to go through everyday until his debt ballooned to P40K. Seeing the losing contestants with their far-away look and drooped shoulders was literally heart-breaking (after all, their financial woes may be just as heavy as that of Ilong's), but I suppose the show can only do so much.

It can provide temporary relief from the drudgeries of life through entertainment.

It can grant a glimmer of hope for a better future.

Yes, it is there to help out, but it can only do so one person at a time.

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While I will always remember the Wowowee experience as a noisy, fun one, I am writing down this note as a reminder to myself: to help when I can and to help as much as I can. My professor in Theology of Liberation, Father G (God bless his soul), once told us in his typical Father G tone, "God made the world to have enough resources to feed everybody. Why do people go hungry? It's because Those-Who-Have end up wanting more, instead of sharing what they have with Those-Who-Have-Not. Always remember that to have more than what you need means you are depriving others of a chance for a better life. You must therefore decide on what you need, then share the rest with the less fortunate. To be truly Atenean, you must be a man for others. To be a man for others, you must learn to live simply so that others may simply live."

Point taken to heart, Father G! =)

DELICIOUS DISH-COVERIES / PART 3!!! =)

Hubby Sweet and I have officially turned Japanese. After an unsuccessful attempt to go to the mall for almost-last-minute Christmas shopping and a possible sneak-in of Elizabeth: The Golden Age only to find the line to the mall parking snaking way beyond what we were willing to wait in line for, we decided to head home to House Better instead. Having only eaten a light lunch, Hubby S's tummy was grumbling by the time we reached Amorsolo to get to the Skyway. Shall we go for another round at Sango then?

Nay! (As in "Nope!", OK? Not as in "Naykupo!", haha. =))

After parking at Creekside (that's the building where Sango is!), I stepped off the car and asked the parking attendant, "Manong, saan dito yung Kamikaze?", having remembered reading an article about cheap but delicious Japanese Ramen. "Yun pong Japanese noodles sa tabi ng grocery," I explained further. Manong Parking Attendant smiled, and pointed down the street between Makati Cinema Square and Creekside, "Mam, duon po. Lakad po kayo ng konti. Doon po ang Yamazaki," not trying too hard to stifle a giggle.

YAMAZAKI RAMEN HOUSE & GROCERY! Haha! Oooops. =)

Sya, sya! We walked further down the road to find an almost dilapidated facade--one I wouldn't even think of entering had I not read from somewhere that the food was halfway decent. =) Yamazaki is right across the side entrance of Plaza Fair.

Now, if Sango had a well-lit, Japanese anime theme, walking into Yamazaki will make you feel like you stepped off the streets of Manila into some sidestreet (read: eskinita, haha) carinderia in Japan! The place was sparsely lit. Except for a few pieces of vertical paper with Japanese handwriting tacked onto corkboards (I'm thinking it is probably their version of the "TODAY'S ESPECIAL" signs that one would see in the local carinderias, haha), the walls were dirty white and bare. The place looked slightly run-down. Not dirty. Just not spruced up. =)

Still, I thought this is another one of those authentic places. Japanese folks sat on tables while Japanese moms lined up at the counter of the mini-grocery right next to the eatery. EATERY. Yes, that's the appropriate term for Yamazaki. EATERY. Not restaurant. Haha. =)

The authenticity of the place (and our own ignorance, haha) shone through as soon as the waitress handed us the menu. Uh....uh......uh.....Wala akong naintindihan! HAHAHAHAHA!!!!! 'D Although there were recognizable English fonts next to the Japanese text, none of the dishes were familiar to me. Usually, descriptions of the dish are provided beside the foreign-sounding names. Apparently not so in Yamazaki. I had visions of the Japanese head cook, looking like Mr. Miyagi, going to me in his English-with-Japanese-accent, "You want authentic?! You have to know the names!" HAHAHAHA! 'D



Hubby Sweet and I asked each other back and forth, "What are you having?"..."I don't know. What are you having?"...."I don't know, you?"...."Uh...I don't know". Momentary silence before the exchange begins all over again. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! 'D The waitress finally took pity on us (or she probably realized she would be standing there forever unless she helped us out, haha). Handing us another menu with pictures, she warmly suggested, "Mam, tumingin na lang po kayo sa pictures." HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! 'D

Thing is, they only had the rice meals rendered in pics. None of it appealed to us at that time because we knew we were heading home to House Better for dinner with Mother and Father. We only wanted a light merienda. Still, it did not escape my attention that they provided pretty good value at the place. I mean for P130, one can already get a decent bento box complete with appetizer, viand and rice! I made a mental note to visit the place again--probably for lunch or dinner takeout! =D
After surveying the menu with pics and finding nothing that we wanted to eat at that point in time, I went back to surveying the original menu that the waitress handed to us.

Almost panicking, haha, I finally found the one thing we went there for. "Miss," I went to the waitress, "Bigyan mo na lang kami ng...uh...Yamazaki Ramen Special." HAHA! 'D Done! Hahaha. She looked relieved and smiled. "Good for two na yun, Mam. Share na lang kayo," she advised before scurrying away. Haha! 'D

While waiting for the ramen to arrive, Hubby Sweet had time to survey the grocery and found that they actually carried frozen shishamo (this fish that seems to have only fish roes for internal organs, haha) that he would always order in Zaifu. (Mental note to drop by the grocery one of these days to get some. =))

Soon enough, the big bowl of Ramen arrived. The soup was warm and light-tasting. The noodles were plentiful with the typical flavor and "spongy" (for lack of a better term) bite of authentic Japanese ramen. The pork cutlets were not tipid either. All in all, a GREAT, GREAT deal for only P180! 'D No more reviews. See for yourself.

SOUP +


RAMEN +


PORK =


YUM!!! ^_^

And since it was good for two, DOUBLE YUM!!! ^_^ ^_^

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TIP! Yamazaki does not have parking up front. It would be best to park either in the Creekside parking area (P40) or at Makati Cinema. =) Also, bring cash. From the looks of it, I don't think they take credit cards. Haha. Then again, I could be wrong. Haha! =D

DELICIOUS DISH-COVERIES: PART 2! =)

Last Saturday was a hectic, but pretty good day. I had been advised by the ad agency that we would be doing a re-offline of the Christmas TVC at 4:00 p.m.--which will hopefully end in time for me to meet up with the rest of the family for the Wanders Chinese Acrobat Circus at the Casino Filipino along Airport Road. It's one of Father's advance birthday gifts (should I say only? hahaha), and it's one I cannot afford to miss.

With all the tickets to the show still with me, I made arrangements with Sister Pusjing for me to drop off everyone else's tickets at House Makati. That way, they can take care of picking up Mother and Father at House Better in case, push comes to shove (sana hindi!), the re-offline once again ends at some ungodly hour.

Before dropping the tickets off, I goaded Hubby S to eat someplace we haven't been to before--I suppose as a temporary respite from the whirlwind of activities that has been going on around me lately. Eating somewhere new, for some strange reason, makes me giddy-happy. It's the equivalent of a mini-break for me. Haha. Yes, it recharges me and gives me peace. =D

That's how we found ourselves in SANGO! The Burger Master! Haha. =)

Sango is not your typical Japanese restaurant. 'Am not sure if they actually have tempura, teriyaki, sushi and sashimi. If they did, it's not the highlight of the menu. I've previously heard of the restaurant from my photographer friend Nikolodeon (that's his assigned code, and I do hope he does not kill me the next time I see him, haha), and he has, on occasion, asked his trusty assistant Divine to serve Sango during shoots. I once went for the Chili Fries (which is to die for!). On the basis of that single Chili Fries experience, I thought visiting Sango to try the full line-up is a trip worth taking with the Hubby. A Japanese Burger Joint. Now, how weird is that?! The idea alone made me smile, and intrigued me enough to resolve to visit! =)

We arrived around 2:30 p.m. to find the place almost full with only two empty booths left inside. (I just realize that the Hubby and I have been eating unusually late lunches during Saturdays, haha. That's probably because we eat breakfast at 9:00 a.m. Ngyaaahhh...=)). 'Am not sure if it's the same for Hubby Sweet, but as soon as we stepped into Sango, I felt like we also stepped off the streets of Manila. Why?

First, everyone else in the place--other than us--was Japanese! Japanese moms with their Japanese sons. Japanese dads with their Japanese daughters. Japanese men with their.. uh OK...Filipina girlfriends. =) Oh, and yes, even the Filipino crew seem to be fluent in Japanese, conversing easily and continuously with their patrons in a language that I do not understand. Haha. I took all these as a good sign, thinking one cannot go wrong with a Japanese restaurant that actually has mostly Japanese customers. =)

Second, Japanese anime comic books, magazines and books lined the bookshelves that stood on one side of the restaurant. I suppose customers were free to read them, considering that the kids were running to and fro with comic books in tow. In addition, Japanese anime cartoon was playing on the LCD screen mounted on the opposite wall. Various origami figures also lined the counters and the kitchen windows. Apparently, the servers give these out to the kids. I, for example, found rather charming seeing a little girl who looks like a Japanese doll receive an origami flower from one of the waitresses--especially when she smiled back in delight until her eyes were no more than slits. =) Rumor has it that when the Japanese owner is there, he gives out origami rings (which he makes himself) to first-time visitors. I suppose it releases the inner kid in everybody as they wolf down their sandwiches while wearing "Voltes V" rings. Haha! =) Sayang, he wasn't there when we went. =(

Last, despite the packed place and the very active kids, you don't sense any of the chaos that you would otherwise walk into if you visited Jollibee or McDonalds. First, although some of the kids were running around, none of them were screaming. It also seemed as if they all had lightweight feet. =) I suppose it also helps that the place was generally well-lit and that there's sufficient space between tables and booths so you don't feel like you're eating elbow-to-elbow with the rest of the metropolis. It's soooooooo Japanese to still be able to provide a sense of zen amidst a bustle of activities. It's an art I have yet to master. I really wish such can be bottled up so I can just buy it off the shelf and take it to the office with me. Haha. =)

While I took in the sights, Hubby Sweet's take on the restaurant was more olfactory. As soon as we walked in, he took a whiff and couldn't stop himself from going, "Hmmmmmmnnnnn.....Tweet, I love the smell!" And, yes, I suppose that's another thing that sets Sango apart from your regular burger joint. It smells clean. Not the antiseptic-Lysol kind of clean. It smells like...how do I say it? It smells like food cooking without the smell of grease. It smells like Japanese spices and flavors lightly and very subtly wafting in the air even as they delicately flavor the food that is being cooked.

Ah, yes, the food. After surveying the menu, the Hubby went for the house bestseller. The Master Burger! DOUBLE VERSION. Haha. For the life of me, I couldn't imagine how he will eat the darn thing without it collapsing. As the Japanese have been known for simplicity and moderation, however, let me just say that this is NOT a gigantic burger. It's not as big as those burgers that you get from Friday's. It's a moderately sized burger that when it was served, I actually thought Hubby S would waste no time ordering for seconds. Apparently, it was more filling than it looked! Hubby Sweet, after all, contentedly leaned back soon after he finished it off--along with a serving of fries (each strip as big as my fingers) and a very healthy take on Iced Tea. Brewed Ginger Iced Tea. =)

Just to experience The Master, I took a bite (which was quite a struggle since the size of my mouth is no match for the full height of the burger, haha). It was pretty flavorful. No bland burgers here. The flavor is in the pattie. The flavors and textures of the lettuce, tomato, cheese, chopped onions and the meat sauce topping enhanced the taste even more. Yum! =)

I, on the other hand, decided on the Yakiniku Rice Burger and Coke Light. I mean, if I were to eat here, I might as well eat something I cannot get in any other burger joint. Oh, except McDo, I suppose. =) (For the record, I also love McDonalds' rice burgers! Haha. =) I just thought I might as well take the opportunity to find out how an honest-to-goodness Japanese rice burger tastes like. =))

Sango's rice burger is much simpler. It has none of the sesame seeds and the mild teriyaki rice flavoring that you would get in the McDo version. The "rice patty" was actually quite crumbly--which, really, shouldn't be the case, right? Disappointment with the rice patty notwithstanding, I thought the flavor of the entire thing was quite excellent. Then again, I suppose that's because I love Yakiniku beef! Hehe. The Yakiniku rice burger came with a bed of lettuce and a light lace of aioli. It was OK over-all. If the rice patty weren't crumbly, I'd probably even rate it great. Still, I wouldn't mind ordering it again the next time we go. That's how much I love Yakiniku beef. =)

Our meal was capped off by a shared serving of Blueberry Shake. (Shared because Hubby Sweet and I were both trying to lose weight. Haha! 'P). I read in a magazine once that we should ignore the name and simply order it for dessert. As soon as we got it, I realized why. The so-called Blueberry Shake is actually a simple sundae made of vanilla ice cream generously topped with cornflakes and blueberry drips. The magazine article also advised that it is best to first mix the Blueberry Shake thoroughly before digging into it. That's exactly what I did. The Blueberry Shake was a goner as soon as Hubby Sweet and I took our separate first spoonfuls. YUM!!! ^_^ Haha! The flavor was actually very simple, but the combined texture of smooth and creamy ice cream, crunchy cornflakes and blueberries bursting inside the mouth provided a wonderfully light but indulgent experience (if that is at all possible). It being a fairly simple concoction, I will nonetheless resist the temptation to just replicate it at home, lest I blow up to the size of a Good Year blimp in no time at all. Hahaha! 'P

All told, I enjoyed our visit to Sango. I enjoyed the ambience as much as I appreciated the flavors in the food (and in the air, haha). Most of all, I loved the fact that although I felt full, I did not feel unnecessarily bloated as we walked out. It's a particularly unique experience, considering Sango is supposed to be a fastfood burger joint. I suppose that gives me license to say that despite the menu line-up, the Sango experience is really so Japanese! =)

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P.S. - For the benefit of Sister Pusjing, the meal cost us around P400+. Haha. Yes, it's not exactly cheap. I suppose even the price has to be authentically Japanese. Haha! =) In any case, if you want to try Sango for yourself, it's at the Mile Long (or is it the Gallerie?) Building along Amorsolo. Basta, it's the building right next to Makati Cinema Square. =) Sango and the other restaurants are sandwiched between Pharoah (yes, the GRO club =)), and another Videoke Club. =) Ayan, now all the guys know where Sango is! HAHA! 'P

DELICIOUS DISH-COVERIES! =)

South Beach begone!!! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!! After successfully holding on to my 100-lbs weight for a good three months, I am back to my 112-lbs (maybe more). Ack! =(

Work did me in. Not having enough time these days to actually go and buy veggies (much less have time to cook them), the Hubby and I have resorted to eating out more and more. Fortunately for the hubby, he has his weekly wakeboarding and his 3x-a-week gym time to keep him fit. I, on the other hand, barely have time to comb my hair these days. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!! In addition to eating out, we have been rushing several TVCs and shoots. People in the industry would know what pre-prod and shoots mean. FOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!! An endless parade of food!!!!!!!!! Waaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In any case, I have resolved since Monday to at least try and eat more sensibly--in addition to resolving to eat in smaller portions. Haha. That means trading in my Venti Peppermint Mocha Frappucion for a hot Venti Peppermint Tea instead. It means eating smaller portions of rice. It means choosing to eat salad over lunch. All in all, it isn't such a bad deal. I actually don't mind eating these things. It's just that I don't usually choose them over the other yummy stuff. Haha! =D

With Christmas coming in about two weeks though, I thought it would be a good time to try and exercise some self-control. Not only will it prepare me better for the Christmas binges, it will also make sure I don't look like a butterball in all the Christmas pics! Haha!

So, anyway! This is my temporary goodbye post to all the delicious dish-coveries I've had in the past few months. =)

KKK! - A Food Revolution @ The Mall of Asia

In one rare Saturday that did not find Hubby Sweet on his way to Lago de Oro, we found ourselves trooping to The Mall of Asia, each with our own agendas. He wanted to go and check out the X-In-The-City event at the parking lot (which put together tournaments for several "extreme sports"--wall climbing, kite-skateboarding, wakeboarding, etc., etc.--in one place). I was on a mission to find a gift for ultra-precocious GB's 2nd birthday and another one for ultra-adorable Ray*-B's third. We got to the MOA in time for a late lunch, resolving to eat someplace we would never find in any of the Makati, the Fort and Ortigas malls and eating places that we usually go to.

After a quick survey of the menus parked outside each of the restaurants, the Hubby & I unanimously agreed on KKK. The twists in the menu intrigued us enough to decide that we were ready for a food revolution! Haha!

KKK is not too big. I think it can sit at most 50 people, but there were a few tables free by the time we got there, it being a late (almost 2:00 p.m.) lunch and all. =) We entered to find a gigantic mural along one wall of this photo of Jose Rizal and other revolutionaries. (My history teacher will kill me as I do not recognize the other two, haha!) 'Am not sure if this was based on an authentic photo, this being the digital age, but I thought it lent a kitschy-witty feel to the place. =)

In any case, a restaurant does not rate great because of its ambience. We must taste the food!!! 'Twas a hard choice with the menu filled with a slew of interesting dish options. Hubby Sweet and I, however, eventually decided on two viands: inasnang plapla (yey!) and sinigang na lechon (double yey!).

With two cups of steaming hot rice and two glasses of bottomless gulaman at sago. I was practically salivating and I haven't even seen the dishes yet! HAHA! How Pavlovian. Haha! 'P

The gulaman and sago came first in a syrupy green and red color combo served on a bed of crushed ice. Christmas in a glass! YES! =) As soon as I took my first sip--with the sago and gulaman siphoning up the straw before bursting in my mouth--I was glad I did not take the usual Coke Light route. Slightly pricey @ P75 for the bottomless option (I mean considering it's just sago and gulaman =)), but I suppose I have rationalized enough in my mind that it is the only drink worthy of the full KKK experience. Haha. =)

The sinigang na lechon was served not too long after. I found it intriguing, and almost instantly happily dug into the palayok to transfer single-serve portions of the lechon meat (surprisingly, the lechon balat was still reasonably crunchy! =)) with generous servings of kangkong leaves, talong, and kamatis swimming in the delightfully-sour tamarind broth into our individual bowls. Heaven. I don't know if it was because it was a late lunch, but it was heaven. Heaven in a bowl. Haha. The smokiness of the lechon meat blended wonderfully with the sour soup. One bite into the crunchy balat while sipping the soup had the Hubby Sweet and I scrambling for the last piece of skin! Haha. 'P

Hmmnnnn....hmmmmmnn...GOOD! No. Hmmmnnn.....hmmmmmnnnn...GREAT! =D We have thankfully discovered another way of dealing with leftover lechon--especially with the coming holidays! =D

We were way done with the sinigang na lechon when we realized the inasnang plapla has not yet been served. Nabitin tuloy ang Hubby! After repeated follow-ups and repeated apologies from the waiters and the kitchen staff, the dish finally arrived. Hubby Sweet and I sat in silence as we looked at the gigantic fish, not exactly sure how we were going to deal with it. It was caked in a thick white crust (which we later found out was coarse salt) with a side-serving of bagoong. The server explained, apologizing again, that it takes time for the heat to permeate through the salt crust to eventually cook the fish. "OK...", I thought, "How do we eat it?" Haha! She seem to have read my mind and proceeded to de-crust the fish. We dug into the bagoong side-dip and discovered a treasure of tomatoes and onions inside. Digging further down, we also discovered slivers of kamias! Yum! ^_^ I have never had kamias as part of the dip before, but I am now a convert. =)

Thankfully, the fish was not too salty--as I had expected, given the thick crust. It tasted fresh, but truth be told, it tasted quite ordinary (parang inihaw na isda lang! =)) but the presentation and the dip made it seem just a tad more special. Hubby S and I dug in and enjoyed the fish with whatever rice was still left. Matching the fish with the lechon sinigang soup was also divine. Hay......*Deep, deep sigh*...=)

Sya! This is it for now.

More of our dish-coveries in the next blog na lang!

Back to work muna ko....=)

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P.S.!!!

If you want to try it out, KKK is on the ground floor of MOA--on the wing near the IMAX theater.

I think we spent around P750 here. Not exactly cheap, considering the restaurant is practically on "food-court" row where most of the mid- & low-price restaurants are. Still, it was worth the experience of at least finding something new! =D

I'M A FAN!!! / DECEMBER 5,2007

I've been belatedly fascinated with You Tube. 'Am especially thrilled that its use apparent goes far beyond me scouring for past episodes of Marimar that I missed because of the late nights at work. Haha! I came across this and found myself crying like a fool in our dimly-lit sala. Haha. Now I've always rooted for the underdog. I especially love it when they win! This is Paul Potts on Britain's Got Talent. Yes. I am now officially a fan. =D

P.S. - Now why do I get the feeling you'd be crying too after you see this? =)

COME RAIN, COME SHINE, CAM SUR! / A MUCH DELAYED PART 2! =)

The first thing that struck me about the CWC is the apparent pride its people has in working for the place. People are courteous. They're always smiling. And yes, there is an evident willingness to help, on top of a seeming inherent commitment to doing their jobs well. Kuya Ronald, the chief cablepark operator, came from Lago de Oro and he couldn't stop marvelling at how the CWC beats Lago in every single way. I didn't have to take his word for it. I can actually see why. =) Still, the truest testament for me of how well things are run in the complex would be the public shower rooms. This is a government facility for pit's sake, but quite impressively, the shower rooms and the toilet cubicles remained clean and dry throughout the day! No dirty footprints. No muddy puddles. No yucky surprises on the toilet seats! Ate, the shower room attendant, always made sure that each cubicle is checked and cleaned after it is used by a guest--to make it perfect for the next guest who will use them! If only for that, I'd have to say, BRAVO!!! To the nth power. Haha. =)

The cablepark opens at 8:30 a.m. If you're a beginner, it would be best for you to pick yourself up and take advantage of the "slow-time" as the serious (also read as experienced wakeboarders) only begin to line-up at around 10:00 a.m. They take their sweet time, because unlike Lago de Oro where wakeboarding hours are limited to 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. with a 1-1/2 hour lunch break in between, the CWC cablepark is open until 10:00 p.m. That gives them a solid 12 hours to do their thing! =)

I suppose the generally more leisurely pace can also be partially explained by the fact that a lot of the CWC guests are foreigners who stay in the complex for about 1-3 months. It's winter in Europe, they say, so they're staying put at the CWC until winter is over. Haha! =) Hubby Sweet marvelled at the idea of being able to afford to take 3 months off from work to live in a foreign country. Then again, heck, one 500ml bottle of Coke Light at the Vatican once set me back 7 euros (back then, that was equivalent to P475!). One bottle of soda in their country can buy them four full meals at the CWC! Hmmmmnnnn....maybe that's why they really like it here. =) (And, yes, since the entire complex is amazingly Wi-Fi enabled, some of them actually work and/or access their e-mails right there on the dock! Word of caution though. It might be a bit risky to do so because occasionally, waves of water either from the speeding wakeboarders or the splashing beginners do reach the dock. =))

Unlike in Lago, the CWC folks (cable operators and guests alike) are more willing to help beginners. You can laugh yourself silly soon after every unsuccessful try, and have folks readily give you tips on what adjustments you should make as you make your way back to the line. If you're lucky, you can actually get free wakeboarding lessons from Reuben Buchanan (former world #2!) who decided to stay at the CWC as the cablepark manager soon after visiting it when it first opened. In addition, a beginner who repeatedly plops down head-first into the water, would also appreciate the CWC lagoon much better than that in Lago. If you ever dive into the Lago waters, close your mouth and spew out whatever water you may have in your mouth as soon as you come up for air! It will not get rid of the really awful, foul taste, but it will at least ensure that none of the germs will be swimming in your tummy. Haha! Unlike the Lago de Oro lagoon (which used to be a fishpond), however, the CWC lagoon was built specifically for the cablepark and was designed to give you the sensation of tumbling on a sandy beach, except that the water is fresh. =) I still wouldn't advise that you swallow it, but I suppose, it just makes diving head first into the water much more enjoyable. Haha. =)

Amateur hour (haha) ends at 10:00 a.m. While beginners are welcome to continue trying their luck at getting to actually stand on a wakeboard in half-a-day (on the average, they say it usually takes 1-2 days), I decided it was time to just lounge around on the dock and take in the action. It was almost noon when I decided to hang up my vest and helmet. Time for lunch. Time to step aside and give way to the experts!

(Note: This pic is not mine. I think this one is from the CWC site.)

Now, you'd have to know that wakeboarders take their craft seriously. They talk about wakeboarding as soon as they wake up. They analyze where they went wrong and how they can do things right over meals. They stand around waiting for their turn, offering each other tips. A mere spectator can be easily impressed by the tricks, and want to actually learn the sport. From experience, however, I realize that it takes an extreme amount of dedication to actually get to that level. I, for one, did not have it. After half a day of diving head-first into the water, I had the sinking feeling that I will be a knee-boarder for life. Haha! That's fine. I could live with that. =) The Hubby, on the other hand, seems to have gotten the bug and seems to be hell-bent on learning every single trick in the book! He downloads wakeboarding DVD's and watches them repeatedly, the entire time jumping around like a loon in our sala (I suppose, the entire time, simulating how he should be maneuvering on water, haha). The DVD and sala simulations can be equated to classroom lessons; the CWC would be practicum. Haha!

For a time, I stayed by the dock, watching all the tricks. I can't describe them--as I wouldn't know the difference between riley and a surface 360 (let alone know if I actually spelled riley correctly, haha!) so I'll just let the pics speak for themselves.

Beyond wakeboarding, however, there are other things to do at the CWC. Actually, the major difference between the CWC and Lago de Oro--beyond the obvious difference in the facilities--is the endless energy that seems to flow through the entire complex. People actually come in droves (but since the entire complex is huge, you don't actually feel like you're in a sea of humanity). During our stay, several shoots were going on. On our first day, a "wakeboarding exhibition" was staged over lunch by Reuben and several of the European wakeboarders as 10-busloads worth of people lined the lagoon shore. It was quite amusing, actually, to have all these world-class wakeboarders flip and fly and whatever-else-you-call-the-things-they-do, only to have them land in front of the crowd and shout (along with the crowd, of course), "COME SOUTH, CAMSUR! WOW-WOW-WEEEEEEEE!!!" HAHAHA!!! 'p

Yes, beyond having vision enough to think of putting up such a place, and determination enough to actually get it done, Cam Sur's 38-year-old governor, LRay Villafuerte is a genius at marketing the place. To get the world's attention, he invited world-class wakeboarders to its opening. To build local awareness, he invited all the celebrities and even gets the complex regularly featured on TV. Throughout our stay, there always seems to be a camera rolling from different networks. Again, because the place is huge, you don't actually feel like you have to walk around in tiptoes around the shoots. Truth be told, it actually lends an air of excitement to the place; it gives one a feeling that you're part of something much, much bigger. It actually heightens the buzz within the complex as schoolkids and local visitors rush up to the celebrities (both major and minor, haha) to get their pictures taken. (How showbiz, I know. Yup, but how fun! Haha. =)

Families of the serious wakeboarders need not fret as the women and the kids spend their time either frolicking on the "beach" or getting wrinkled like prunes in the gigantic infinity pool. It looked great and inviting, but sadly, I was not able to try it during the visit. Still, everyone who was in it looked like they were having fun. =) Other things the kids can do.....well, they also have a gigantic trampoline (really meant for wakeboarders who want to work at their flips, but yes, other guests are free to use it =)), a gigantic rubber bounce and slide castle and bikes for touring the place.

My personal favorite, however, would be getting a full body massage in one of the cabanas after stressing every single muscle in my body at the cablepark! For P250.00 (yes, P250!!!), one can get a one-hour full-body massage already! Complete with oils and stuff. While any of the masseuse (may plural ba ang masseuse? =)) can give you a decent massage, the regulars would advise you to ask for Ate Paz if she is available. Having been trained in the traditional art of hilot, her style goes beyond the usual massage to one of healing. Man! I didn't know I had "hidden aches", but as soon as Ate Paz's hands ran through my body, it was as if she was unknotting every, single knot there is! Truth be told, there were times I wanted to scream, but the initial pain was always almost immediately replaced by a wave of relaxation. Just when I wanted to go, "OWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!", I magically transitioned to "Aaaaaaahhhhhh...." Haha. =) Magic hands! =) Ate Paz told me that as part of the CWC's continuing programs for improvements, the other masseuse will eventually be trained in this ancient art of hilot. Good! I actually miss Ate Paz. I wish she were in Manila. =(

All told, the CWC is a worthy experience and one I wouldn't mind going back to. Even as I type this, the Hubby is busy making plans to go back (this time with his Lago wakeboarding buddies). The next time I go back though, I'd probably bring the fam and squeeze in a trip to Donsol and Mayon before going to the CWC. (To which the Hubby replied, "Can I just wait for you at the CWC?" Haha! Patay. =))

Next visit would also probably find us at the Caramoan (Ka-ra-mo-an) Peninsula which is The Governor's next big project. Imagine Boracay when it was still unspoiled by the influx of tourists and the set-up of concrete hotels on the beach! They say Caramoan is beautiful. I must go and see for myself! =D

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P.S. - For more information and pics on the CamSur Watersports Complex, visit http://www.camsurwatersportscomplex.com/ !

COME SOUTH, CAM SUR! / OCTOBER 12-14,2007

I grew up WITHOUT a province. My parents were classmates in Grade School; they lived five blocks away from each other. Everytime people ask what my province is, I would always half-laughingly reply, "Makati." Hahaha. Yup, I think part of the reason why I have such an over-active imagination is that while my classmates wrote about visits to lolas and lolos in the province for their annual "What I Did During My Summer Vacation" essay, I invented mine. HAHAHA!!! 'p True, my childhood years were priceless and ultra-fun, spent with cousins from both sides of the family, but in my young mind, taking a 15-minute trip to Makati from our Paranaque home did not seem to count as a "real vacation" worthy of an essay. HAHAHA!!! Fool. =)

In any case, both work, family and barkada gimmicks have brought me to different parts of the Philippines, and it is now official. If I were to choose to adopt a province, I would choose Camarines Sur. Hands down. Any day of the week. Twice on Sundays. No questions asked. Haha!

I will explain anyway. =)

Wakeboarding being Hubby Sweet's most recent passion, we reserved the first available long weekend for a trip to the Camarines Sur Watersports Complex (to be hereby referred to as CWC). Having personally watched a feature on it once in one of the sports channels, and with Hubby Sweet checking out the CWC website every, single night (!), expectations were admittedly running quite high.

The CWC did NOT disappoint. Considering the lofty expectations, I was actually surprised it did not disappoint! Haha. =)

We arrived in Naga at 5:30 a.m. on board the Penafrancia. It was an overnight trip, having left Manila at 9:00 p.m. The ride wasn't too bad. Truth be told, we could have flown via Air Philippines, but aside from the obvious difference in rates, I was actually looking forward to experiencing an overnight trip aboard a bus with Lazy-Boy seats and an actual, working restroom. =) I mean, I've flown countless times before, but riding a bus overnight in the Philippines? Now that's a new experience! Hahaha.

I suppose I was soooooooooooo tired from all the goings-on at the office, I was snoozing soon after the bus drove off the Araneta Center terminal, and woke up only when we were about 20 minutes from Naga. I think I actually woke up only because Hubby Sweet kept fidgeting, checking out the window for any sign that we were already there. He claimed that he did NOT sleep a wink. I think it was more out of excitement and anticipation though, rather than discomfort. Hahaha! =)

A shuttle picked us up from the Central Bus Terminal. Driver Joel told us we were the first he was scheduled to pick up that day, but we were definitely not the last. It was still dark when we arrived. After driving through the streets of Naga, we reached the Capitol Building. I thought it odd that the driver was giving us a tour of the capitol at that time of the morning--until I saw a sign. The CWC was apparently at the back of the capitol compound. It sits on 6-hectares of what used to be raw land.

What used to be raw land is now acknowledged as the best wakeboarding complex in Asia.

Now, to make something out of nothing takes vision and doggone determination. I was already in awe--and I haven't even seen the darn thing yet! Hahaha! 'p

Driver Joel dropped us off at the registration office. Both Hubby Sweet and I had wanted to stay at one of the container vans. We wanted to experience how it is to live in a container! Hahaha. Ang babaw. It was not meant to be. Fully booked. Apparently, the container vans are always the first to go. Not only were they the cheapest among the different housing facilities at the CWC, apparently, everyone wants to experience living in a steel box! Hahaha! 'p

We had to stay in one of the cabanas--which is really a quaint hut, good for two people. P1,500 per person. That already covers 2-night stay, 2-days worth of wakeboarding and a 2-day P120 per day per person breakfast tab. Yes, all for P1,500 per person!!!! WOW!!!! Did we just die and go to heaven?! Hahaha! 'p Not really. Hubby Sweet, however, looked like he did. Then again, he was in wakeboarding heaven. Haha! 'p

Cabana #15 was assigned to us. It was going to be home for 3 days. (The extra day cost us P1,250. Haha.) It was simple and functional, yes, but it was also rather charming. I suppose because the CWC was built not just to entice locals to learn wakeboarding as a sport, but also to attract foreigners, the facilities were built with the primary intention of being more than decent. =) Considering the CWC is a government facility makes it even more impressive. It's a government facility run like a world-class complex! Did I already say, WOW?! I did? Let me say it again. WOW! =)

Oh, yes, there's the minor glitch. It wouldn't be a glitch if we were prepared for it, but we weren't. Since it is a government facility, future visitors be warned. The CWC does not take credit cards. All payments have to be done in cash. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!! No biggie, though. We just requested for a shuttle to take us to the nearest ATM. I rather enjoyed the trip. I got to see downtown Naga. Haha. =) Driving down Magsaysay Ave., I was rather impressed by the new structures and the presence of upscale coffee shops, restaurants and bars. It didn't used to be that way, driver Joel said. People started opening restaurants and bars when the foreigners and the local tourists started pouring in after the CWC was put up. He referred to Magsaysay Ave. as a mini-Malate. Pwede...but I think I would much rather compare it to Timog and its row of multi-faceted restaurants that come alive at night. The fact that the CWC brought something more to Naga beyond the confines of the cable park impressed me even more.

With the cable park opening only at 8:30 a.m., there was actually enough time to either freshen up or rest. I plopped down automatically on the bed to rest. Hubby Sweet automatically started rummaging through the bags for his wakeboarding DVD's. Susko! "Just as well," I thought. Each cabana has its own TV and DVD player, but the only faint signal one can get from the TV was ABS-CBN. There goes another tip, I suppose. Bring your DVD collection in case you're the type who needs to wind down watching TV before you hit the sack at night. =) I say that only for winding-down purposes. Truth be told, you wouldn't even miss TV with everything that you can do within the park during the day!

By 7:00 a.m., Hubby Sweet was itching to rush out the door. "We might as well take our breakfast," he insisted, "Para matunawan tayo." Yeah, yeah. Still blurry, I ambled along after him. "How can he be this cheery?!" I thought, "Weren't we together on the overnight bus ride here?! I want to sleep!!!"

I was blubbering my fool head off as we walked through the pathway, past the villas where the "sosy" guests stay. Still not a bad deal when you think about it. For P5,000 a night, you get to stay in a gated area with your own pool. Haha! Yes, apparently, even at the CWC, there is such a thing as socio-economic classification. And, yes, for the record, even at the CWC, we were effectively classified as...uh..."B". OK, OK! Maybe ...uh...C+. Hahaha!' p

Hubby Sweet was growing impatient with my blubbering by the minute. I could sense that he was holding on to every bit of sanity as he tried to keep his cool amidst my spewing. The lack of sleep did me in. "Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah," I seemed to go on and on, until I saw what lay before me.

The view was enough to silence the crankiest of human beings. Having been used to Lago de Oro these past few months, I was not prepared for the beauty that stood before me as we reached the cable park. Set at the foot of Mt. Isarog, the majestic mountain seemed more to me like some ancient god watching over his domain. In the stillness of the morning, the experience almost seemed spiritual.

"Magandang umaga po, Amang Bathala," kept turning in my head as I savored the landscape.

Did I already say WOW?!

I did?

Let me say it again.

WOW!!! =)

Kiko stood in awe. Truth be told, I think he would have knelt down and kissed the sand if the beauty that lay before him did not shock him into silence.

GOD, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US HERE!!! =)

After our momentary pagpupunyagi, hahaha, we made our way to the dock. Although there is a real restaurant area, the waiters cater to the guests' whims as to where they would want their food to be served. We chose a table on the dock, right next to the lagoon. It was a good spot. Later on that day--having laid claim to the table =)--we got to watch the action as we eat.

When we saw the menu, we almost fell off our seats. Having been used to the Lago de Oro rates where one mediocre burger will set you back by at least P350, we were ecstatic to find that most meals at the CWC were within the P100-150 range! Mostly P120. Fine, there was a smattering of dishes at P200, but they were baby-back ribs, bulalo, etc., etc. Man! For P120, you can have chicken BBQ with rice, a decent Philly Cheese Steak sandwich for P110, etc., etc.! The menu was quite extensive with Filipino, Mexican, Italian, Japanese and American dishes--obviously developed with the foreign tourists in mind. All for the cool price range of P100-200. Man! Did we just die and go to heaven?! Haha. Not quite, but with every single second, Hubby Sweet seemed closer and closer to Nirvana. Hahaha!

I decided on the inihaw na liempo with garlic rice (P120, yey!) for my inaugural breakfast. Never mind the time of day. I was sooooooooo craving for an ice-cold Coke Light. Haha! Hubby Sweet decided on an omelette. Totally surprised me, but he said he didn't want anything too heavy. Butterflies in his stomach, I suppose, from all the anticipation. Haha! =D

While waiting for the food to arrive, I took the chance to go around the complex. With most guests still sleeping, the entire place was still. There was a slight chill in the air. The kind that comes fresh without any hint of pollution. Haha. I wish I could just breathe in enough fresh air to last me a lifetime in Manila. Man, I really wish I could have done so. "This is the life!" I thought as I clicked away, walking down the dock to the cabanas, "This place is soooooooooooo darn beautiful! I can't believe we get to stay here for only P1,500 per person! Haha!!!" 'p

Hubby Sweet seemed content just waiting for the food to arrive, the entire time sipping his hot choco as his feet dangled from the dock. I suppose he was already busy planning his key moves and practice routines.

Those who know me well, however, would know that I cannot sit still for long. Realizing that the food was not yet ready when I got back, I decided to walk further down to where the infinity pool and the cabanas were. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! I wished the rest of our family could see it. It seemed a bit too much to share just between the two of us. Even before the day could really start, I already decided we will somehow find our way back here with the family in tow.

Soon after, Hubby Sweet called out to me. The food had arrived.

The other wakeboarders were also beginning to arise, rubbing sleep off their eyes as they lazily plopped down on the monoblocs set on the dock. Some silently surveyed the menu, not quite sure about what they would be having for breakfast. The others quietly sipped their coffee as they looked out, surveying the lagoon.

This was their time for silence. It was their time for planning.

Soon enough, the entire scene would explode into action!

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ETC!!!

We found out from some of the regulars that, if you book early enough, you can actually get your hands on Air Philippines' "limited-seats" P288++ one-way flights, and get to Naga in less than 30-minutes. That way, you can avoid the risk of riding on a bus with a daredevil driver. Haha! If you're lucky enough to get the promo fare + taxes, the difference between the plane and the bus fare comes out to only about P500. That sooooooooo beats 8 to 9-hour bus trip! I suppose the next time we go there, we will be riding the plane. Enough of the bus ride experience to Naga! Done that. I can cross it off my checklist. Hahaha!

To get to the CWC by bus, however, you can either ride Penafrancia or Isarog. Both have Lazy-Boy Seats, although the jury is still out as to which is more comfy. All that I've talked to, however, seem to agree that Isarog drivers drive much faster. Not necessarily a good thing. Haha. Bus fare to Naga is P750 per person, one-way. You can buy your tickets in advance at the Araneta Center Bus Terminal. (CWC takes care of your trip back to Manila, i.e., if you're staying within the CWC housing facilities.) If ever trips to Naga are fully-booked (as it was in our case since we decided on the trip only at the last minute), you may opt to take the Legaspi bus (for P900 per) and just ask to be dropped off at Naga. If you're staying at the CWC, they will also arrange for your pick-up from the bus terminal. Otherwise, you may take the bus until Pili and ask the driver to drop you off at CWC. From the drop-off point, you can take a 15-minute tricycle ride to the complex.

There are several housing facilities, depending on one's needs and one's budget. The cheapest would be in eco-vill for P 500.00 a night. We didn't stay there though so I wouldn't know if it's OK. Next would be the container vans at P 1,000 per night, good for two people; P2,850 for the bigger container vans, good for a party of 4. We stayed at the Cabanas which normally go for P1,250 a night, except that we availed of the promo. That said, it would be good to ask them about promos and freebie stuff when you reserve. =)

Then there are the Mansion Suites for P2,500 per night and the Villa del Rey Villas for P5,000 per night--both for 2 people. I suppose it's where you stay if you want to live in relative luxury. =)

Sya! That's it for now. More in the next blog! =)