Laini Kauwela

your horoscope for Monday, August 3:

Don't despair -- you need to deal with something pretty big, but you've got the resources to handle it without too much effort or worry.  You do need to keep pressing forward, no matter what. I wish thats true!

My Twittascope: Aries

You might have something to say about a family matter that has been bugging you for a while. But it's not as simple as you wish, for anything you say will create a backlash that could make things even worse. You'll need to decide whether you are raising this issue to improve the current situation or just to make yourself feel better. Ultimately, it could be smarter to keep your feelings to yourself for now. Saturday, July 4, 2009

I am glad I read this before I opened my mouth.  So I am keeping it zipped.  Yes, it has been bugging me and overhearing a conversation earlier just added to it.  It left a bad taste in my mouth.  I was about to open it but for some strange reason I decided to read my Twittascope first and now good thing I did.

I am just going to go clean.  Divert my energy somewhere else.

Taking a cue from Daphe Osena and Chuvaness. I am making a list of things that I learned from Papa.  This post may be a day late but I think Father's day and Mother's day should be celebrated everyday.  Fr. Truc asked in his homily yesterday "how do you see your dad?"  Is he the dad that taught you to ride the bike, to do sports, etc?  or he was something else.  Fr. Truc also mentioned that sure, some people may not have a positive vision of their dad but it cannot be denied that without him, none of us will be here in this planet as well.

Ever since I can remember, Papa has treated me like an adult.  For our grade four class field trip to our airport, I asked his permission and he asked me if I wanted to go.  I said yes and he said okay.  When I was in college, every new appliance he bought and every new renovations he planned on doing to our house, he asked for my opinion.  When I asked for a walk-in closet for the girls bedroom at our house, he obliged.  It surprised me why he would do that since after all he is my dad and I am his daughter.  I will follow and respect every decision he makes because I put my trust in him that he is making the decision with us in mind.  He doesn't have to ask for my opinion or permission. 

I was 10 when he asked if I would be okay with him running for politics.  I asked him why was he running and he said, "because I want to be of service to people".  I said "you can still be of service without having to run for office."  I thought that was the end of it but years later he indeed ran for office and was in politics for 12 years.  I still don't understand why he is involved in politics the way that he is but I respect it and accept it because it is the road that he has chosen.  I saw on Oprah once that "fathers have dreams too which they put to the side for their children to achieve their dreams."  Since then I just keep on telling myself that this is Papa's dream.  Its his time to follow his dream when he has allowed us to follow ours.  Papa and Mama sacrificed their dreams so my siblings and I can follow and achieve ours.  It wouldn't hurt to be supportive in the same way that they have been for our dreams.

I learned from Papa..

* Social awareness and service.  Every since I was young he was involved in socio-civic organizations and he brought us along.  May it have been Rotary or Pintados Foundation and now politics, he made us see how fortunate we are for having the life that we have and we should share it with those who are not as fortunate.  Yes, we are thankful for the life that we live and still live but my parents made sure that we see it not as an entitlement but a privilege and gift.  Something that we should never ever abuse or take advantage of.

* To be thankful that we grew up in the countryside.  I still remember so vividly the day he told me this.  We were driving along Kankabato Bay and the sun was up, the water was still and he said that statement.  Tacloban may be small.  It may lack the amenities that big cities offer but it will always be home.  Life in Tacloban may move in a slower pace but it doesn't have the complexities that bigger cities bring.  Its as simple as simple can be.   

* To be a voracious reader.  Papa would go early in the morning to the airport to get his daily fix of 5 newspapers.  Newspapers would arrive in Tacloban in the earliest flight in so before it lands, he is already there to get his 5 newspapers.  He reads each and every newspaper from cover to cover.  He told us to read the newspaper every day so we know whats going on outside our "bubble".  He also said that it pays to know something so that we wont get lost in any conversation or so that we can start one.  He also told us to read aloud so that we will know how to speak better.  If we encounter a word we didn't know the meaning of, go to a dictionary to check it out.  Up to this day, he still reads the newspaper and has to have his weekly dose of TIME and Newsweek.  People think I know so much when I can be part of any conversation.  Truth is, I just read a lot.

* That if we wanted to maintain the same lifestyle that we have been accustomed to that we should prioritize our education.  Ever since I can remember, my parents never failed to remind us that education is the only inheritance they can leave us.  My parents made sure that we will be able to get the best possible education we can get.  Its not easy sending 3 kids to college at the same time.  Sure, our college education was already covered by our educational plans but living expenses was all entirely on their shoulders.  I know it hasn't been easy but they carried us through and now all four of us siblings have college degrees and even post college degrees that my parents can be proud of.

* To enjoy and find happiness in the simpleness of life.  We find joy in going around our city late at night when we would crave for fruits or chicken barbeque.  We would sit in our porch sharing stories when there would be a blackout which happened a lot.  We played the memory card game or Word Factory even when Papa would cheat, in his defense he wasn't too aware of the rules.  Growing up, we would eat dinner outside.  Literally.  We would have dinners in our garage or in our porch or other places in the house other than the dining room.  Its almost like dining out when in reality we are dining in.  Growing up we only had one television set and we had to learn to share and take turns and respect that when someone is already watching we either watch along or do something else.  We also only had one telephone line.  Long phone conversations were not allowed because for one it is the only line the entire family uses.  This was before the days of cellphones and pagers.  I think that's why I am still not too much of a fan of talking too long on the phone and I only maintain one cellphone.

* Value friendships.  Papa and Mama have had the same friends since high school.  They have maintained long and enduring friendships with people who have been a big part of our lives.  We see that and they foster that which is why I too have kept friendships dating back to first grade.  We also value the new friendships that we have created and nurtured as we journey through life.

* Generosity.  Our house was the "tambayan" of all our friends.  Our friends are always welcome.  If we needed a place for our parties, our parents would gladly offer our house and would fix every thing.  They would be in the house but would keep a safe enough distance so that my friends wont feel shy or limited in their actions.  Be generous even if you have little because the rewards far outweigh the "loss".  Papa is so proud that my siblings and I are generous with each other.  It may seem like its all material things but little as it is, the thought really do counts more.   

*  I personally learned from Papa that a slap is a bigger insult than a punch.  I was really very young then and I lightly slapped my brother after he said something which Papa reprimanded me about.  Since then it has stuck in my mind to never slap another person ever.

I have more lessons from my father but I consider these the best ones.  These are the ones that I learned through life and I carry along wherever I go.  Papa and I may not always agree on everything but bottom line is I am who I am today because of the lessons that Papa and Mama have imparted to me and my siblings.  For that I will be eternally grateful.

PETA slams Pres. Barack Obama for killing A fly.

Ewan!

So Tacloban's Mall aspiration is coming to a fruition.  Robinson's is either set to open or already had their soft opening in my little city of Tacloban.  You can see photos here -> Calle Zaragoza.com.  Its really close to our house.  Thanks to the construction of this mall, our property value I think went up. .  Its been a long dream of so many in Tacloban to have a mall in our city.  I think talks of it started way back when I was still really, really young.  Just when it seemed like a dream, here is it.  My siblings and I tease our mom that her walk to the mall is her warm-up.  Yes, its fairly close to our house.  Walkable in some sense.  Then her workout will be around the mall.  I am excited.  Mano Gerry Ruiz posted in his blog the list of stores in the mall and I am glad to see that there's a good mix of local businesses (Charito's Delights) and those coming from Manila.  There's going to be movie theaters too.  But what got a gasp from me was seeing there will be a National Book Store. I can do away with others but having National Book Store there spells heaven for me.  Yay!

Oh in line with this, my sister's boyfriend opened his food store near the mall at MS Compound.  Its called "Pata Republic".  Take out Crispy Pata, Crispy Liempo/Lechon Kawali, Crispy Manok and Crispy Ulo.  Soft opening is this Sunday.

It's my cousin's debut this weekend.  Her parents asked me to write their welcome remarks 2 weeks ago and I still haven't written it.    I cant seem to write anything decent these past few days or weeks or even months.  If it was only me, I think I can wing it but the point is I am not giving the speech. Wah! 

I should be writing the speech instead of blogging.

I want a netbook so I can write while in the bus or anywhere. *sigh*

I not only have a speech to write, I also have to prepare my things.  I still have to pack! Ack!

I am only giving up beef for Lent and not pork.

AnthonyBourdain just said it...that the lechon he ate in Cebu was the best pig EVER!  If you are a regular viewer of his show NoReservations, it is a known fact how much he loves pig and beer.  So for him to declare that in his show is quite the feat.  In fact, he just ranked the Philippines pig as #1 in his hierarchy of pork.

And speaking of pig? It can now be said that of all the whole roasted pigs I've had all over the world, the slow roasted lechon I had on Cebu was the best. This puts the standings in the Hierarchy of Pork as follows:

#1. Philippines

#2. Bali

#3. Puerto Rico

I still have 35 minutes to go before "No Reservations-Philippines" airs but no way am I changing the channel.  I cannot wait to see his take on his trip there.  This episode was a long time coming and I am glad he went.  Not only did he go but he has taken a great interest in it and hopefully more people will do the same.  Filipinos know that our cuisine is so much more than just the balut.  Now because of his show, AnthonyBourdain has proven that this indeed is true.

Even my horoscope agrees with me. YAY!!

Here is your horoscope
for Wednesday, December 31:

You can't help but think about the future today -- the past is under control and with the big calendar change on the way, you can make some bold progress toward tackling something big for the year!

My otherwise hoo-hum Friday morning got a sudden jolt upon reading on Our Awesome Planet that Anthony Bourdain...THE Anthony Bourdain of "Kitchen Confidential", "A Cook's Tour" and "No Reservations" is in the Philippines!! Woohoo!

I have always enjoyed his brand of hosting..straight forward, quirky, witty and at times laced with sarcasm that is so fresh.  He goes into places that are not at all touristy but honest to goodness good food which is what its supposed to be.  I watch his shows a lot even the re-runs.  I have even influenced my other relatives to watch his show.  While watching, we have always wondered "when is he going to the Philippines?"  It seems like we were not the only ones.  He said in his blog that  "Of all the people who watch NO RESERVATIONS, it's been Filipinos who have been consistently among our biggest fans and most vocal about our having yet to film in their country." Well not only that when his show invited fans to send in their videos for the "FAN-atic Special"  one of the finalist was Augusto Elefanio who invited Mr. Bourdain to take a trip to the Philippines and discover that our cuisine is more than just the "balut".

And now he is there.  So far, it seems part of his itinerary have been Manila, Pampanga and Cebu.  Those are the ones known so far.  The rest is kept under wraps - too much under wraps that I don't think mainstream press are even aware that he is there which is a good thing.  He strikes me as someone who really just want to keep a low profile and enjoy what he went there for which is the food and the culture.  I don't know when this will air on The Travel Channel, reports have said January 2009.  Which day between 1 and 31 is still to be determined.  I will keep my eyes and ears peeled for this one.  I am so excited to see which foods he sampled and what his take on them will be.  So far, it seems he got a pretty good introduction.  I read from Anton's blog that he enjoyed drinking San Mig Light (maybe a little too much too).  It is a known fact how much he loves his beers.  Cosmic because it is I think the only beer in this world that I can drink more than one.  That and Newcastle.

... to wear the same thing when you didn't discuss it.

... to lift your spirits up.

... to make you laugh when you need it the most. Or even when you don't but just because.

... to let you cry your eyes out when they actually want to slap-shock you to your senses.

... to listen to your rants no matter how pointless and petty and repetitive they may be.

... to keep you sane and also share your insanity.

... to keep you grounded and yet be the first to float your boat.

... to tell you like it is and yet also sugar-coat things when they need to be.

... to lend an ear to hear and a heart to listen. Or give you an earful but you know its coming from their heart.

... to lend you their smile when you cant seem to find your own.

... to understand you or at least pretend that they do because well they know its what you need.

... to respect you even if they don't agree with you.

... to give you a comforting hug when words are just not enough.

... to fill up your prospect pool

... to be there for you even when with the way you are acting they'd rather be somewhere else.

I know its not Friendship day but I am declaring my own holiday. It is MY Friendship Day!

"Shared sorrow is half-sorrow. Shared joy is double joy."

 

Updating the Filipiniana

The Indians have their sari.  The Chinese have the cheongsam.  The Vietnamese have the ao dai...Koreans the hanbok and Japanese the kimono.  I think its about time that the Filipiniana be updated a little bit and look more modern so that more and more Filipinas will be inclined to wear it outside of formal events or worse as costumes when its a Filipiniana themed event.

A couple of friends and I have discussed how essential and important it is that every Filipina should have a terno in their closet.  It is not only the perfect "go-to" dress for formal events but its a representation of who and what we are, something that we should be proud of.  The terno is for the formal ones.  There should also be choices when its more casual events, even day to day wear.  I saw a host of a show on TFC once that she had this greenish Maria Clara type bolero jacket paired with a white tank top and jeans and it looked so cool.  This is what I am talking about.  We wear a certain clothing that is representative of us being Filipinas and still keep it modern and fresh and not look like we are going to some party.  There have been innovations to the Barong why not do the same thing for the Filipiniana. 

 

After finding out who won Game 2, I still wore Green & White today.  I have never been more proud to wear these colors than today.

It is how it should be.

This was a Finals appearance that not a lot of people expected, doubted even but the team proved people wrong.  Now that's a feat!

Congratulations to the De La Salle Green Archers!!

Congratulations to the Ateneo Blue Eagles!

 

Pinay, ahoy!

Speaking of PCD, lead vocalist Nicole Scherzinger read Chicosci’s name and explained she was picked for the job because she herself is “from Tacloban.” The venue, Genting Highlands’ (Malaysia) Arena of the Stars, roared with approval!

Source

You Live in the Present

You take things one day at a time. And it turns out, that's a pretty great way to live. You aren't consumed by the past, and you're aren't obsessed with the future. You live in the now, and you enjoy each moment. While most people don't live in the present enough, make sure you don't live in it too much. It would be a mistake to forget your past or neglect to plan for the future.

There is nothing better but to end a meal with delicious dessert.  But sometimes, we are too full to have dessert right after the meal.  Another option is taking it home and sharing it with other people.  This is how I view pasalubongs.  I love pasalubongs.

After sating ourselves with the food secrets of Tacloban shared with us by Anton of Our Awesome Planet, he takes us on a sweet journey of the desserts that we have grown up with.  His post about Leyte Pasalubong is enough to make my mouth water.  Good thing, my relatives just came back so at least I am able to satisfy my craving. 

I like my binagol warm and I turn it upside down so I go to the sweet part first before everything else.  Or sometimes I eat all the "talyan" part first and save the sweet part with peanuts last much like how some people save the skin of the chicken for later.  I didn't use to like moron when I was a kid.  They just looked odd to me but after having my first taste of it, I have grown to love it.  But I still love binagol more. 

But the best dessert of all is the pastillas from Carigara and nothing else.  Much like how my cousins and I are such leche flan snobs because we will only eat leche flan made by our family, I am the same way with my pastillas.  It has to come from Carigara and nowhere else.  All other pastillas just pale in comparison.  I have been able to finish a pack by myself.  Its one of those things that one or two or three is never enough.  Before you know it, you have consumed an entire pack of 100 I believe.  I also hoard it when my parents would send me.  That's how much I love it.  Papa only gets the pastillas from two suppliers in Carigara which escapes me at this point.  They have retained the quality of the pastillas since its beginning.  It is made from pure carabao milk not camouflaged with sugar or what have you.  Others are lumpy and made of condensed milk.  These are smooth and they have a snap to it.  Its not melt in your mouth goodness but heaven in every chew kind of way.  Each chew is a sensation that makes you want to discover it more and more.  Yes, its THAT good!  

 

The foodie scene in Tacloban City is underrated.

Not a lot of people know that Warays are foodies. I was really surprised about the diversity of food in Leyte. - Anton, Our Awesome Planet

I didn't know either and I was born and raised there.  I guess because it was just our lives and living it.  I have not looked at it from another perspective since it was just part of our daily lives.  Now that I am away from that life, I am seeing it with new set of eyes.  Through Anton's, I have come to a better appreciation of what a charmed life we Warays live and we don't even know it.

When Anton first posted about his trip to Tacloban and looking for secret places to eat and all, I left a comment in his blog, a rather mouthful one per Mano Gerry.    I guess I got so excited that Anton was going to Tacloban.  I have seen how he had discovered foodie secrets from other places and read how enthusiastic he becomes talking about them with pictures to boot.  I couldn't wait for him to have a taste of what Leyte has to offer.  I thought my comment was to introduce him to the foods of Leyte but looking back I think it was also because I was hoping he would feature the places of my childhood, that I miss so much.  He sure did and more because I also got to read about the places that I hope to try when I go home.   In some sense, he brought me along and it felt like I was home.

So many have changed since I left and so many have stayed the same.  Nostalgia and excitement all at the same time.  I am glad to know that our lechon is still the best ever with vinegar and garlic.  The barbecue stands that I grew up with is still standing and the same family runs it.  Boy, do I remember those days when I would look after the bakery and I would smell like smoke because  these stands were literally right outside our door.  I can actually still smell it when I remember.  Their barbecue and our hot pan de sal = perfection.  We live far from the city proper but when Papa would have a craving for native chicken, no matter how late into the night it was, we would all pile up in our car and drive to the downtown to eat some barbecue native chicken. 

If Papa wanted "tinola nga isda" for breakfast, the only place to go was Yolanda's.  Its the perfect place - you are inside a hut, near the beach, actually on the shore.  I remember us sitting in our table and buckets and buckets of the freshest seafood would be placed in front of us and we get to picked which ones we want.  Its as fresh as fresh can be - the fish is still moving, the shrimps are jumping, the crabs walking along the shore.  Its cooked according to how we want it and breakfast is ready.  Oh for clarification - our tinola is the same as the sinigang towards the sour kind.  Now I shouldn't be surprised that my cousins had shrimps and prawns for breakfast the entire time they were in Tacloban.  We were the same when we were growing up.   No dress codes at Yolanda's and yup it means you can go there in your pajamas like we usually did since we were most of time roused from our sleep to go there. 

Afternoon snack was either barbecue or pancit from Royal Seafood.   I still don't know what the lure of these noodles is but it seems there's is no other pancit to eat but from there.  Once again, this noodle dish and hot pan de sal = perfection.  Another afternoon snack staple was the bibingka along T. Claudio.  Anton wasn't able to try the bibingka but I am glad to know that its still in operation and prepared still the same.  I will say it again, nothing comes close to it for me.  The only bibingka I will eat with so much gusto will be the one coming from here.  Its real rice, no shortcuts (I hope so) and none of those added flavors like salted eggs or cheese or sugar.  Its plain and simple - rice cooked in banana leaves.  Its best eaten fresh from the "pugon" (oven) and butter smeared all over it and watch it melt away.  Its only available at a certain time and it is usually gone so fast.  I wonder how much the recipe would cost or if they are even willing to sell it.  I am willing to buy it, that's how much I love this bibingka.  Or learn how to make it at least.

There are a lot of new restaurants in Tacloban now, a very diverse group at that.  It seems they can already meet whatever you fancy and I am glad.  I can already see and expect to gain weight when I go home.   Calle Z for the bulalo.  The "purbidang kangkong" from Ocho.  I have heard so many good things about Ocho and I know the owner.  Rafael Farms too, my family was just there.  Jose Karlos, I think my sister Camille is always there.  

I am such a foodie.  I thought its only now but reading Anton's posts, I realized I have always been a foodie which I have to credit my parents, especially Papa for.  We ate out a lot even before and we were not afraid to try new dishes.  My parents enriched us about our culture through food which is so not a bad thing at all.

There are so much more so..here it is, discover the foodie secrets of Tacloban.

Our Awesome Planet:  Tacloban City - - Top 10 Foodie Secrets of Tacloban (Part 1)
Our Awesome Planet:  Tacloban City - - Top 10 Foodie Secrets of Tacloban (Part 2)  

Anton walked the San Juanico Bridge from one end to the other.  I grew up there and I have never done that.  I am not sure I would want to either.  Just made me realize how much we don't value the things and places around us because we think it or we will always be there.  Or sometimes we seek those that are far and wide not realizing that what we had all along and all these times was the real beauty, the real gem.  Reading other people's views, a stranger even, changes our perspective about the things we have but take for granted.  But its not too late to change that.  

 

One Christmas break from college as Papa and I were driving along Kankabato Bay in Tacloban, he turned to me and said "be thankful you grew up in the countryside".  I didn't know then why he told me that and for what purpose.  Looking back now, some 10 years has passed, I get what he meant.  Tacloban will always be home and looking at pictures and getting updates about it makes me feel close to it no matter how geographically away I am.

Last June 27, the Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival was held.  Back in 1986 when it was first conceptualized, it was then called Pintados Festival.  But nowadays its called Pintados-Kasadyaan and its also called the "Festival of festivals" since festivals from all over Leyte converge in Tacloban City to compete against each other and to give the people - residents and tourists alike a colorful, vibrant and merry celebration that is reminiscent of our history and culture.   I learned from someone that its not as easy as mounting a dance presentation, even those are thoroughly researched and it is a must that the choreographers are aware of the history and the spirit of the municipality and incorporate it to the overall history of how Sto. Niño of Tacloban came to be.

This year however, there were two festivals in the span of 2 days I believe.  Yes, two festivals - the Pintados-Kasadyaan and the Sangyaw.  Sangyaw was a project of then First Lady Imelda Marcos which was revived by her relatives who are now in power in our city.  Pintados-Kasadyaan is sponsored by the Pintados Foundation and the Province of Leyte. 

Political biases aside, I have greater affinity to Pintados-Kasadyaan because it is the one that I got to experience and boy what an experience it was.  Also, I was a witness to its conception being that my dad was part of it.  I remember, my siblings and I running around at VOR Hall in DWU after classes as Papa was deep in meetings with the rest of the committee.  To say I grew up with is an understatement because now 22 years later it has done so much from its humble beginnings.  It was an experience - good, fun and painful ones that I shared with my friends.  Those were fun times.  Oh, the painful part came when its time to clean up after the festival.  Its pretty painful to remove paint from your body and hair but then it goes with the experience.

So many things have changed.  Its no longer a "free-for-all" when it comes to putting paint on people.  But, nevertheless, the spirit still lives on and more.

Here is a glimpse to what Leyte Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals is through the amazing lenses of Gerry Ruiz.  My siblings - Nicco and Camille were home for the weekend too.  They still have to upload their photos.

Brings back so many memories.

 

Three debuts and one fiesta down..I have a few more that I am excited about in the coming months.

Journey concert in July.  I may have been young then when Steve Perry was with Journey but I knew about their songs in high school.  I remember singing along to "Open Arms" and "Faithfully" when bands back home would cover their songs.  Now that they have Arnel Pineda as lead singer, it is going to be a double treat.  There are 13 of us watching so it will be fun, never mind that its on a Wednesday.

When I was a sophomore, my cousins, Ate Joyce and Kuya Justin went home for a vacation.  Ate Joyce brought as "pasalubong" magazine clippings of New Kids On The Block (NKOTB) and also a NKOTB watch.  I had tapes of their albums and listened to them a lot.  I wasn't a big, big fan but I was a fan so it will be a fulfillment of a childhood wish to watch them in concert.

And now I am.  They will have a concert at the Staples Center on October 8 and Chrissie and I are watching it.   She already purchased our tickets.  I cannot wait! 

After reading about Randy Pausch's "The Last Lecture" and him talking about his childhood dreams and how he was able to fulfill them in the course of his life, it made me reflect on what were/are my childhood dreams.  He said that it has to be specific.  I cannot think of all of my childhood dreams are off the bat but I have one that I cannot forget.


When I was 5 years old, I started taking ballet lessons for the summer and did so for the next 5 summers until I was 10.  Every end of the summer, we would have recitals, like our graduation and we would have prima ballerinas like Lisa Macuja, Anna Villadolid and others as guests.  If not during our recitals, they would have ballet concerts in our province and I remember watching pretty much all of them growing up.  I think in one I was the one who gave a bouquet of flowers to Lisa Macuja.  I would read their biographies and they have danced with really big and famous ballet companies like NYC Ballet, Atlanta Ballet or Academy of Russian Ballet or Munich Ballet.  I have stopped dancing ballet but I still dream of being able to watch a performance of any of the famous ballet companies.  Sometimes, some of them have performances in either L.A. County or Orange County but its for a limited run and by the time I find out its either sold out or already passed.  One of my childhood dream was to dance in a big ballet company but since that's not possible now, I will be satisfied with being able to watch a performance of either the New York City Ballet or the Atlanta Ballet.      

But, this is what I am excited about now..

I read on Monster Muncher's blog about a Kyochon Chicken in Orange County. YAY!! Kyochon is this Korean fried chicken.  A year ago, Chrissie and I went to the one in Koreatown in L.A. after watching a screening of "Lust, Caution".  I have read about it from Wandering Chopsticks and she read about it from "Best of L.A." magazine and for some strange coincidence that day we both felt like trying these famous fried chicken.  We went and there was a wait for those chicken but it was sure worth the wait.  We ordered a large (about 15 pieces) of mixed wings and drumsticks and we finished it all, just the two of us.  It is delicately battered and double-fried but oh so delicious.  It has hints of sourness and saltiness and sweetness that we cannot really point out for sure.   It came with a bed of cole slaw drizzled with mayo and ketchup and a side of pickled radish.  We came out of there very, very satisfied.  I have photos but its in my camera phone.  I will upload it as soon as I can.  I have been craving for it but Koreatown is just too far.  So, I am really excited to know that they already have a branch in Orange County and I googled it, its only 12 minutes using surface streets from my cousin's house. Yay!  They deliver too but I have to know up to what distance they will deliver.  I wonder when our next party is and I will order these chicken that I have been raving about to my cousins.

Traveling light is a personal option.  But for Filipinos, traveling light is not an option, its a waste.  There have been so many jokes about Filipinos traveling not with luggage but with boxes.  If you want to know where the Philippine Airlines counter is amidst the chaos that is the airport,  just follow where all the balik-bayan boxes are headed.  This is a no-fail strategy because for sure behind mountains of boxes would be the PAL counter.  Hey, we have to take advantage of the two free 70 pounds luggage allotted for each passenger.

How many times have I heard my relatives say "sayang yung space." when the box has reached its maximum weight - 70 pounds but the box isn't full yet.  Or  "sayang yung weight." when the box is busting in the seams and is way below 70 pounds.  I think my family have nailed the art and the science of packing down to a T.  When I say family, I mean my mom, my sister and myself.  Well, its more my mom and my sister now.  I try to veer away from it as much as I can.  Its a lot of work and they do a better job at it than I do.  We have done a lot of lifting, moving around of stuff to pack to be able to achieve a full box with exact weight, the perfect balance.  Its not the easiest thing to do but for some strange reason we feel a sense accomplishment when we are able to do so.  Or maybe because at least my sister and I wouldn't be hearing the "sayang ang space", "sayang ang weight" comments from the peanut gallery (translation: our aunts, uncles, lola etc.).

Well, that's all going to change.  I just read over at PDI - PAL to limit baggage weight on North American route.  Uh-oh!  The dozens of sardines and corned beef have to be cut down.  The packs of Knorr Soup will have to be less.  The papaya soaps will be one for each now rather than a half a dozen.  The shoes, the clothes, all the pasalubongs would have to be reduced.  This is going to need some getting use to.  I have a ton of relatives going home this month.  Thought their flight home is not going to be affected, its coming back that will be.  This policy is going to take effect after July 1 and it didn't say travel to Philippines, it said travel to North America.  So my relatives will be going home with 70 pound boxes but coming back with 50 pound ones.  This is going to be tough.  My mom will have a crazy task of packing their boxes back with 50 pounds maximum in mind.  I bet there will be many that will be left behind that are most often than not are enough to fill another 50 pound box.  How that will get here is a question that really doesn't have an answer yet.

I actually welcome this for some reasons.  I have always wanted to travel light but I know that it was just not possible having a family that I do.  But now at least its just not going to be an option for me but a requirement, something that I or them cannot do something about.

I wouldn't want to work at the PAL counter on July 1.  I can already sense the confusion and chaos.  Not to mention the irate passengers.  Boy oh boy!  Good luck!  Well, at least they will sure earn from all the excess baggage fees that they will be able to collect.        

the biography was done and so was the layout of the program for Kat's debut.  It took me almost 3 hours..geez.  It shouldn't have taken that long but then again it wasn't as if I didn't have any distractions.  Kat was asking for my help with her homework as I was writing the bio.  What was the homework? Oh making a sentence using the vocabulary words assigned to her.  Nice! I was having difficulty putting the words into her bio and I was coming up with sentences for her at almost the same time.  But important is I am done with the bio.  I made true to my word that I have to be done with it by last night..well okay past midnight since it was already past 1 AM when I wrote the last sentence.  I will read it again today and edit if it needs editing.  Knowing myself, I will find something to edit.  I am that critical of my own writing to a point of getting a red pen sometimes to check it.  I was too tired and sleepy to really check my satisfaction level of what I wrote.  I have to read it aloud to hear the tone of voice, if its pleasing to my ears.  I have to double check the tenses, grammar. *sigh*  It turned out my aunt can wait until tomorrow to bring it to the printers.  She just needed to know how many pages there will be so she can ask for a quote from the printers.  So I have all of today to double check everything. 

Biography..DONE
Programme layout ...DONE

Next on my agenda is the script to introduce the members of the court.  This one has to be ready by tonight as well so they can time their entrance during tomorrow's practice. *sigh* This is easier to do since I will just be writing into paragraph forms and summarizing the bios that the members of the court already wrote.  I just have to reduce the information to the simplest and most basic.  It shouldn't be like a book since there are other parts of the program. 

Court introduction..DONE

Another item on my agenda is the timeline of the whole event - from the moment Kat has to wake up to the end of it has to be carefully timed so that no time is wasted.  With the program done, this is easier to do.  I have started it and I have the skeleton so it just needs to be filled.  The checklist will fall under here as well.

Timeline....Almost Done

I still have to write my message since I am one of the candles.  Knowing my other aunts and my cousins and my sister, they will most likely come to me for their messages too.  It shouldn't be so hard since we are limiting it to 1 minute per person.  How to make each of the messages unique and original is the hard part. *sigh*

Messages .... 2 requests so far..3 including mine. 1 minute tops!!

I also have to make the ribbons for the chair covers.  250 of them but then May 26 is a holiday and I think I can make all of it in one day with less distractions that is.  If there will be, then maximum of 2 days for all of it.

Dress has been picked out but needs alteration.  Shoes is still undecided but that's not too hard.

Okay..looks like I am in good form for this.  But then again this is only for the event on May 31.  Not to count the other debut on June 7 of my boss' daughter.  Well, with this one I just need to have my dress fixed and altered and shoes to decide.  The other aspects are being taken cared of already.  Just a little help in coordination here and there.  Nothing major. 

Next is the Sto. Niño fiesta on June 14.  I will see an overlap of activities on the last week of this month with debut preps and finalizing fiesta plans plus printing of souvenir program plus preparation of costumes for the Agta Festival project for the same day and also choir practice. *sigh*  My days are so full that I don't have any sense of space and time anymore.  This will all dwindle down after June 14...I hope.

I am not complaining, not all.  I am actually enjoying all these flurry of activities albeit bordering on exhaustion.  I am learning a lot about myself..about other people.  Its fun because these are not forced upon me but what I want to do.