Quirkylakwatsa#10: Greens

Eto ang kwento..

In 2002, I met Mitzi (Michihisa Asai) at Nihon Fukushi University, Mihama-cho, Aichi Japan. I had an opportunity to participate in the NFU-UP exchange program kasama ang anim pang mga ka-batch sa CSWCD. Mitzi was one of the NFU student volunteers who assisted us during our stay. He played the guitar and sang Sukiyaki during the cultural night. Jamming pa sila ni Bijo noon who sang Torete.

In 2003, nakilala ko naman si Chelo (Chelo Mori), Japanese exchange student naman siya sa UP that time. Naging kaklase ko sa isang course sa Educ.

Akalain mong naging mag-asawa sila? Nakilala ko sila on two separate occasions years before sila magkakilala.

Chelo went back to the Philippines for graduate studies. At noong Aug 20, 2011, Mitzi came to Manila para sabay na sila ni Chelo sa pagbalik sa Japan on Aug 27.

Nag-reunion dinner kami sa Greens sa Sct. Castor kasama si Peachy, isa rin sa mga nakilala ni Mitzi noon sa NFU.

Quirkylakwatsa#9: Harbor View

Harbor View (MBD, p.206-207)
South Boulevard, Rizal Park, Manila

Date of Visit: July 17, 2011

Dahil sa naudlot na brunch before the 12:45 Cinemalaya Screening, bumawi na lang kami after. Kumain at nagkape kami (ako at si Meyds; si Jem nag halo-halo, at si Lauritz ay nag tapsilohg) sa Harbor Square. Lumipat kami sa may Harbor view para magpahangin, tumambay, at mag fruit shake (kape para kay Jem).

From Harbor View, we went to see the circus tent of "Cirque Du Soleil" na naka set up sa grounds ng Quirino Grandstand.

And finally, tumambay sa baywalk for the sunset.

Quirkylakwatsa#8: Cinemalaya 2011

Though wala ang "Cinemalaya (Philippine Independent Film Festival)"sa MBD, sa p.309, the book did mention of film festivals  ("Cinema One Originals" and "Cinemanila") as potential lakwatsa options.

Medyo may kurot lang sa aking puso at pagkatao (naks) ang "Cinemalaya" dahil halos lahat ng competition films noong unang taon nito ay napanood ko, at every year (since 2005) ay inaabangan ko ito. Madalas sa UP Film Institute ko na lamang ito napapanood dahil nakakatamad sadyain ang Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). Pero this year, I decided to experience at least one screening sa CCP.

Walang ibang maasahan pagdating sa indie film kundi ang kaibigan kong cineaste na si Lauritz. Na kahit awards night ng Cinemalaya last year ay i-nattend-an. Kaya siya ang gumawa ng paraan para makapanood kami - alamin ang sched at bumili ng ticket.

We were supposed to watch " Ang Babae sa Septic Tank" (by Marlon Rivera and Chris Martinez) kaso sold out na. So we went to see "Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa" (by Alvi Yapan and Alemberg Ang).

With us were Meyden and Jem.

Date of Lakwatsa: July 17, 2011

At umulit pa kami the week after (July 23). Lauritz, Meyds and I availed of the "one day" pass to five 5 films from 10:00 am to 11:45pm.

Sinimulan namin with Jeffrey Jetturian's Bisperas.Then Buboy, Cha, Che and Mayk joined us for the 12:45 screening of Ang Babae sa Septic Tank (by Marlon Rivera and Chris Martinez).

Dahil matagal na kaming hindi nakikita at nagkakwentuhan ni Mayk, nag-quality time muna kami.

Meyds and Che went to see Amok by Lawrence Fajardo, Lauritz watched Joel Lamangan's Patikul, at si Cha at Buboy naman ay umuwi na after mag-late lunch.

At 6:15, pinanood naman namin ni Meyds ang Busong (by Auraeus Solito). Magkakasama na uli kaming tatlo (Lauritz, Meyds at ako) sa panonood naman ng Niño (by Loy Arcenas) at 9:00 pm. Nagkape kami pagkatapos nito at umuwi na rin si Meyds.

Lauritz and I stayed for the screening of Cinemalaya 2011 closing film Zombadings 1: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington (by Jade Castro) at 11:45pm.

Cinemalaya 2011 featured films shall also run at the UP Film Institute from July 26 to Aug 5, 2011. Ito ang Schedule:

July 26: "Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa" (5pm); "Babae sa Septic Tank" (8pm)
July 27: "Amok" (5pm); "Bahay Bata" (8pm)
July 28: "Cuchera" (5pm); I-Libings (8pm)
July 29: "Niño" (5pm); "Ligo na U, Lapit na Me" (8pm)
Aug 2: "Teoriya" (5pm); "Bisperas" (8pm)
Aug 3: "Isda" (5pm); "Busong" (8pm)
Aug 4: Shorts A (5pm); "Patikul" (8pm)
Aug 5: Shorts B (5pm); Best Picture (Newbreed) (7pm); Best Picture (Directors Showcase) (9pm)

Malamang may Part 3 pa kami :D

Quirkylakwatsa#7: Naudlot na "Sabroso" Experience

Sabroso (MBD, p.223)
E. Rodriguez cor. T. Morato, Quezon City

Date of Visit: July 2, 2011

Kakabalik lang ni Erwin, ang "Bi" ni Manay mula sa The Hague, Netherlands. Nag-aaral siya doon. Hinahanap daw nya ang lasa ng lechon. Sakto na sa Manila By Day ay may feature sa Sabroso, which is known for its traditional Visayan-style lechon.

But we came late. Hanggang 6:00pm lang sila bukas at kahit lechon na for take out ay hindi na rin available.

Nauwi kami sa Nomnomnom, a place for happy food :D

Quirkylakwatsa#6: Manila Seedling Bank

Manila Seedling Bank (p.79, MBD)
Quezon Ave. Extension cor. EDSA, Quezon City

Date of Lakwatsa: May 8, 2011

Manay will start growing Basil kaya kailangan nya ng "potting mix" at "pot" para sa kanyang project. So from Sidcor Sunday Market, tumawid kami via footbridge sa kabilang side ng Quezon Ave. Extension - sa Manila Seedling Bank.

First time kong pumasok sa loob ng facility na ito bagaman 12 years ko na itong nakikita at nadadaanan araw-araw to and from UP.

At gaya ng inaasahan, maraming halaman - from flowering/ ornamental to herbs to fruit trees. Potted, sold and ready to be planted.

Dito ka rin makakabili ng iba pang gamit sa paghahalaman kagaya ng paso, gardening tools, mixes para sa lupa, fertilizers, starter compost, seedling bags, at seedlings. Meron ding "Subasta Depot" para sa mga gamit pang-halaman at pambahay (gaya ng mga plato) na ibinebenta at bargain prices.

 I also had a good time taking photos of flowers kahit na medyo hindi maganda ang pasok ng natural lighting dahil 1)nasa loob kami ng green house, and 2) madilim ang paligid kasi umuulan.

Nakabili din naman ng potting mix at pot si Manay and is now ready to start her Basil growing project. :D

Quirkylakwatsa#5: Sidcor Sunday Market

Sidcor Sunday Market (Lung Center Weekend Market, MBD, p.167)
The Walk, Eton Centris, EDSA - Quezon Ave

Date of Lakwatsa: May 8, 2011

 Mothers' Day at laban ni Pacman against Mosley ngayong araw na ito. But for Manay and I, araw ito ng pagbisita sa Sidcor Sunday Market. Naalala ko, years ago, this half-day Sunday market was organized and had operated at the Lung Center grounds. The Sunday market has grown and expanded its operations to include a wide range of shops selling various goods and items: from RTW to fresh fish, meat, fruits and vegetables - some of which are organic - to lutong ulam, specialty food items, plants and home and garden needs.


Kahit maulan ngayong araw na ito ay marami pa ring tao ang bumisita at namili sa Sunday market na ito. Hindi ko alam pero dahil siguro umaga, at weekend, ay pleasant and nice ang mga tao. Shopkeepers smile and warmly greet the customers, at ganun din naman ang mga mamimili sa kapwa nila. People say "sorry" kapag napasabit ang payong nila sa payong ng iba, at masarap pakinggan maya't maya ang salitang "salamat" o "thank you."

Some of the shopowners would even engage in good conversations with you. Lalo na dun sa mga shops which sell specialty products like regional dishes, organically grown farm products, and handcrafted items (like accessories).

Siyempre una sa listahan namin ang mag kape. May stall na nag-bu-brew ng kapeng barako at binebenta ito ng Php50.00/ cup.

Katabi ng stall na yun ang nagtitinda ng "tinututong", "binatog", "ginataang halo-halo", at "ginaatang malagkit na may mais." Bumili para iuwi sa bahay. Perfect for the "bed weather"

We then moved to the area where the "mga lutong ulam" are. The area has long tables and monobloc chairs (na nakatali sa posts ng tables para hindi siguro malipat kung saan or worse, manenok) for the customers to dig in. Regional dishes are sold in this area: one stall serves Bicolano Dishes, another serves Longganisa from the provinces of Central Luzon (Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Bulacan, Pampanga). Meron ding nagtitinda ng Ilocano favorites such as Vigan Empanada, Vigan Longganisa, at siyempre, Bagnet.

Kaya talagang mahihirapan kang pumili. Lalo na if you are looking for "healthier meal options". Sabi nga ni Manay, bibihira ang fish, vegetable or chicken dish. Kaya we ended up eating "relyenong talong" at "lechong baka".










May nakatabi pa kami sa table na isang batang babae na bumili ng dalawang "fighting fish". Sabi ng mommy nya, kung sila/kami daw ay pumunta Sunday Market para mag food trip, ang little girl naman ay pumunta for the pet fish.

 

Napansin nga lang namin na matindi ang generation ng non-biodegrable wastes sa lugar na ito. Sando plastic bags are very much used to pack purchased items, ang food ay served in styro and microwaveable plastic containers, plastic-disposable din ang eating utensils na ginagamit which most of the time are just left on the tables pagkatapos gamitin.

So maybe, if indeed the Sunday Market presents itself as an "alternative" marketplace, maganda ring pag-isipan how wastes can be reduced and managed.

Quirkylakwatsa#s 3&4: Caruz and Poco Deli

QL#3: Caruz (p.202, MBD)
220 Hillcrest Drive, Oranbo, Pasig


QL#4: Poco Deli (p.258,MBD)
21 East Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig

Date of Lakwatsa: May 7, 2011

Madami palang pwedeng kainan at tambayan sa Pasig beyond the "same old, same old" Ortigas Center. Pagkatapos ng aming paglalakwatsa ni Manay sa Greenhills at Podium (kung saan di na naman namin napigilan ang tawag ng aming mga paa) ay ginalugad naman namin ang Pasig para kumain at tumambay kasama si Meyden (Maidane Mendoza), kaibigan ko since grade school na residente ng Pasig.

Una naming pinuntahan ang Caruz, isang kilalang carinderia sa lugar na napaliligiran ng mga *otel. Super late lunch na ito for us pero may inabutan pa rin naman kaming pagkain. We had beef ribs caldereta @65.00, pork sinigang @60.00, at Ginataang Langka @40.

From Caruz, we headed to Purple Oven para mag-dessert. Wala ang Purple Oven sa MBD. Alam lang ni Meyds na sa isang tagong street (St.Peter) sa Barangay Oranbo, Pasig ay nandoon ang bakeshop na ito.

 

Kumain lang kami ng oatmeal raisin cookies dahil ang cakes ay mabibili ng buo at hindi per slice. Mukhang masasarap naman ang cakes nila. Some actually looks familiar :D. Maraming customers ang bakeshop na ito at dahil buo ang cake na mabibili mo, the Purple Oven is actually a "for-take-out" / "to go" bakeshop. Though may coffee tables and a few chairs inside the shop, ginagamit lang ito, siguro mainly for waiting at hindi talaga para tumambay ng matagal. 

When we visited the shop, may announcements for job opportunities posted on their walls. So I guess the shop is also expanding its operations. 

Mababait at very accommodating ang staff ng Purple Oven kaya di ka mahihirapang mamili (choose) or mamili (purchase) ng cake or pastries na gusto mong iuwi. 

Nagtagal din kami ng ilang sandali sa Purple Oven. "Nag-hang" kasi ang coffee machine kaya we had to wait for a while. Pero ayos lang naman dahil nagkukwentuhan din kami. Sabi nga ni Manay, baka kailangang i-CTRL-ALT-DEL.

We then moved to Poco Deli para naman tikman ang hand crafted at premium meat sausages. 

So we ordered a solo platter of Sausages and Cheese (the platter is also served in "double" size) @Php280.00. The platter includes Italian and Kielbasa Sausages and Pecorino and Grana Padano Cheese. 

Poco Deli is also known for its wine selection. And I agree that sausages and cheese are best to go with red wine. Lisa ordered for a glass of Chilean Cabernet (@Php140.00 a glass). Nakitim na lang ako dahil ang dami lang.

Kilala rin ang Poco Deli sa frozen yogurt with premium flavors such as grape, pistachio and wild berry and a cup is sold @Php85.00.

Other than Poco Deli, marami pang pwedeng mabisita, matikman, at matambayan sa East Capitol Drive ng Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City. We originally planned to pass by Charlie's for burger and chips, and have dinner at Cafe Juanita but we decided to visit these places next time instead. Bukod sa busog na, inaantok na rin ang aming mga "nearing 30s" naming katawan.

So abangan ang pagbabalik ng Quirkylakwatsa sa Pasig.