Jack’s Loft was the spot of choice, al fresco (and very windy at that) at the top floor of the Trinoma Mall. I ordered an Oriental Chicken Salad that I didn’t care for much But no worries, having these two for company was good enough for me:

They were having fries when I arrived, having finished lunch already. After awhile, they picked our dessert:

The mango mousse was brought out first. It was good. Real mango slivers on top of mango crème, and a pastry bottom. Not too sweet, and definitely not sour. I wonder how they made sure the mango was just right? I hate it when restaurants serve ripe mango for dessert and it turns out to be sour. That’s also what has kept me from using mango in any of my baking experiments. But I’d love to make something that channels Conti’s Mango Bravo. So I’d love to know the secret!

So a few minutes later this, uhm, decadent dessert was served:

It’s an eclair. But instead of regular cream inside, it has ice cream and a whole lotta whipping cream. Hehe.

I feel like we didn’t do a lot of catching up, we were there for just 2.5-3 hours tops. But it was nice, and something we should do more often. Not the eating a lot part, but the hanging out and just being there.

Oh and though I know Pauie won’t read this anyway, I do pray that things turn out well and there won’t be anything to worry about.

That's Beth in the middle, with her boyfriend, and one of her sisters.

We met in highschool and continued to be friends even when we were no longer classmates, and didn’t attend the same University. She lived and grew up in and around E. Rodriguez too. So back in the day, I would frequently visit her house, and she was a frequent visitor in ours. When we started working, we’d meet up every once in a while just to catch up.

A few months ago, I was surprised to find out that she was working in another country! What a friend, huh (referring to me)? I didn’t even know that she’d already completed 4 out of the 5 years in her contract. Imagine that? She’s been away so long and I didn’t even know. So when I found out that she’s home for vacation this month, I sorta ‘reserved’ a date with her. She would have been great company to the UPSA anniversary concert, but she had a full day planned for Friday. I remember seeing the Madrigal Singers at the CCP with her. It was a totally impromptu date because I got free tickets from another friend on the same day. I don’t remember what year that was!

So today (Saturday) we had a healthy brunch at the Pancake House along E.Rodriguez, a place that’s accessible to both of us. We didn’t eat much but talked a lot instead. She hasn’t seen Jo Arni yet, which I found really odd since they were already in the same country as of a few months ago. We talked about health issues, gaining and losing weight, our partners, our highschool batchmates who are now married and with kids,  and so many other things. We talked about our jobs, and how we can be passionate about the work, but how sometimes there are people around that just drain your life force! Haha! Like always, it was so easy to just get right into it. I guess when you’re good friends, you just pick up where you left off.

I am so glad we saw each other again after all these years. I look forward to seeing her when she comes home again next year, and hopefully, she’ll be singing at my wedding.

I can see that my friend’s in a good place, and it makes me happy. She’s happy. And I know it’s not just because she’s found someone, but it’s most probably a combination of so many good things happening for her. She wishes to come back home and stay for good when her contract expires. I hope she finds (or creates) an opportunity here that would allow her to continue helping her family without having to leave home. I hope she gets what she wishes for, she has a year to prepare for it.

Have a safe trip back to the Middle East dear friend, and stay safe and happy until we meet again Isip ka na ng kakantahin mo!

In the hours leading to the concert, I’d been hesitating to go, but only because I wasn’t seeing the show with my girlfriends and it was being held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines which would be a lucky hour away on Friday night traffic. But it’s been at least five years since I’ve seen the University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors in action, and having pledged as a lifetime fan of the group, how could I miss out on such a momentous event such as their 30th anniversary?

Besides, my colleague Ida was also in the show, and I’d told her even before she invited us that I was definitely going to be there.

The national anthem was being sung while I walked up the steps of the CCP. Leaving my Deena at the baggage counter wrapped up in my violet shawl took awhile because I was unwilling to leave her there. The few minutes of battling whether to leave her or have the boyfriend take her home cost me the seat with my colleagues. Because I was late, I had to sit at the back where it was freezing cold. Nice. My camera was snug and warm with my shawl wrapped around her, while I was shivering in cold!

But the music warmed my heart. My friend Pauie was in many of the numbers, and she again sang the solo (along with another alumna) for Light of a Million Mornings. Can’t help but feel proud of both her and Ida. My dad’s cousin is also with UPSA and he was on the show. Too bad I didn’t get to say hi after as the lobby scene was quite crazy already. Would have been nice to say hi to Carlo too, a friend we also met via Pauie and the UPSA.

I guess yesterday’s post was a bit inspired by the knowledge that I was going to see UPSA perform tonight. The UPSA experience, or the similar high of becoming part of a University-based group, or a cultural group, is something I also missed out on. Again, no regrets, because at the time there really were other things going for me. But if my future kids show even the slightest interest in learning to sing and being part of a choral group, I’d encourage them to join UPSA (assuming they get into UP in college of course). Talk about parents living vicariously through their kids. Haha.

Makahanap nga ng choir na pwede ko pang salihan ngayon… hmmm.. any ideas?

Anyway, here’s an old video of Pauie and the UPSA performing Light of a Million Mornings (previously posted here):

They weren’t together when we were still at the UP. In fact, Mayeen and I only shared one class with Gelo - Psych 180. We would sit very near the door, with the cool wind blowing through PHAn. I remember we’d talk a LOT, mostly Mayeen and myself, with Gelo occasionally joining in. Haha.  

The Officiating Celebrant at their wedding took the time to make his homily truly personal. He talked about the story of their love, and how it was all about waiting. Waiting several years after college before they finally became close as friends, a few months before they officially became a couple, a few more years before the proposal. And then there was the wait for the actual wedding day. 

I am super happy for Mayeen, someone I consider to be one of my very best friends. She has had her fair share of heartaches, but I believe it really was only Gelo whom she gave all her heart to. And though I don’t know Angelo all that much, I know he takes care of her and will continue to do so. 

The wedding was simply yet lovely. The reception was… wonderful. The food was great, and the company was awesome. We invited other N6 blockmates to sit with us at our table, but as it turned out, we should have been the ones to move to theirs, lol! Our table was so far to the back (granted, it was right next to the bar, and very near the food), but we felt left out in some parts of the program . There was pride though in knowing that we had the pleasure of being friends with both the bride and groom, haha. Among us too were the soloists from Church and at the reception, Carla and Pauie.  

I could see how close the couple were with both sides of their growing family. I think it was Angelo’s relatives who danced towards the end of the program. It was nice of them to really take time out to choreograph and practice!  That signalled the start of dancing too, at which point the ladies and I were ready to leave. 

We also made sure that Mayeen and Gelo got their money’s worth for the photo booth! 

Good thing too that this photo booth was available. By the time we were at the reception, my feet were in pain! I hadn’t broken in my new pair of high heeled shoes, so they easily brought me to such misery. Haha! I wasn’t on Paparazzi mode at the reception and took very few photos. It was a good thing that Alfred was with me at the Church and he did his photographer duties. He didn’t join us for the reception anymore, because he had shift very early the next day (3am) and needed to sleep. When I told him about the lechon and the bar though, he regretted leaving early.  

This is the second church wedding in our small circle of friends. Mayeen is the third to get married. I think Pauie will sing at all our weddings, so she’s got at least four more wedding marches to sing to (five, if Raech ever decides to get married in a church). I love these ladies! I miss them so, and I could get used to seeing them a lot, if only we really could. It was fun seeing Maye, Lynne and Carla again too. Except for Maye, I hadn’t seen them since 2002! 

All the best wishes to the newlyweds! They’re flying to their honeymoon tonight, and I wish them a safe flight and a very happy trip. I know they aren’t planning to get pregnant anytime soon, but I do look forward to seeing Mayeen and Gelo with an Ergo baby carrier holding their little one (or two) in the next few years

I took photos.  

And my girlfriends kept harping on me to post them. I never did.  

Until today.   

Here’s some of them:  

Before the bride and groom arrived though, it was just Arianne, Raech, me and Iskra. Okay, before I arrived, Yrish, her baby Sean and hubby Pao were there too. Since I have no baby pics of Sean to show (because I didn’t get to see him in person ), here are photos of our first baby. Iskra and Mommy Raech.

This kid has loads of energy! We were together the week before, for dinner at Max’s. She started out with a really bad mood, but then the playground fixed her up until very late that evening. Just when Max’s was about to close, she finally felt hungry. So napa-chocolate cake tuloy kami!

At Trinoma last Sunday, she was playing with some kid at the Activity Center when they arrived. We trooped to the paid lounge so her mom could try out a dress that Arianne had brought for her and you know what she did while waiting? Wash up! As in she washed her face and arms several times. It looked like she was trying to cool off While there, I remembered how, as a kid, I was half scared, half fascinated by the hand dryers in strange big restrooms like that one. Play wasn’t getting myself wet. It was getting wet so I had an excuse to dry off.

Iskra’s all grown up. She’s in grade school now and I could hardly believe it. To me, she’ll always be this little girl from two years ago:

Iskra

He is Adam, three years old. She is Vien, four years old. You might have seen her elsewhere, she’s appeared in magazines before Hehe. These kids belong to my girlfriends Anliza and Everth. I met those two back in grade school and I don’t see them very often. I crashed their party on Wednesday night just because I could. Haha!

They are so full of energy, and both were talkative (though in different ways). It was so much fun just watching them have fun and fool around. Of course, I also did get to catch up with their moms. Last time all three of us went out to just have a chat was more than a year ago (I think). And I’ve always just heard about their kids and looked at their photos. They’re more lovable in person

We got to talking about how expensive putting kids through school is. And how it might be hard to give the same things you’ve given to your first-born to kids that come after. And it isn’t because you play favorites, but because it’s just too expensive already. They both only have one child each.

Vien started school this week while Adam is still too young. Soon enough, they’d both be preparing for college entrance exams! Hay.

My eldest niece has just started senior year in high school. One time over the summer, her mom mentioned looking for an affordable review center to enroll her in. They want to prepare for the UPCAT (entrance exam for the University of the Philippines). Though I didn’t have to enroll in such classes, I do remember spending afternoons and weekends with my friends going through reviewers and sample exams. Those were enough for me, but yeah, it wouldn’t hurt to have more help.

For some of us, the UPCAT is the most important exam we’ll ever have to take. Others move on to take more crucial, life-altering exams like the LAE for UP Law, and the NMAT to qualify for Med school (it’s like the GMAT for business schools in the US), etcetera.  Oh and that’s not to mention the bar/board/licensure exams you need to take before you can practice what you’ve just spent years studying for. No wonder there is a huge market for review and tutorial centers. We need a lot of help preparing for the many tests we’d have to take. These centers specialize too. You have ones specializing for gmat prep, nursing board review prep, bar exam prep, and so on.

Oh well, life is a series of tests, one right after another.

Hey, how did I get here? One moment I was gushing over how cute Vien and Adam are, the next I’m talking about exams!

Anyhoo, I am so looking forward to meeting up with my girlfriends again and also seeing the kids. I don’t know when that will be, but I hope we won’t be waiting another year for it.

Oh I just remembered! He’s the same Adam on this infant layout, and here with the toys too!

And another thing. Not all kids can be as energetic as these two, let’s not forget them. Please reach out and do what you can for Baby Jon Angelo!