incessant rambling

what do richard gere, fernando zobel de ayala, jaime augusto zobel de ayala II have in common? salt and pepper hair. i've always been fascinated with that particular look as it gives an air of sophistication. in the same way that dreadlocks inspire visions of "kuto" that my scalp instinctively itches when i see someone sporting that do. i was on my way to the mall this morning to meet up with a friend and i looked up to check the rearview mirror and saw the amount of salt and pepper colored hair starting to grow out of my temples and beard. upon closer inspection, i noticed a few white hairs sticking out of my nose. ah, that's a litte bit freakish as i didn't realize that nose hairs can turn white as well! nothing classy about that look! yuuuck. i have to run and get my clippers. for the moment, i glanced around to see if anyone is checking and i quickly pushed the white hair back up my nostrils. darn.

friends left for london last saturday. i stayed in a coffee shop and read books. i've had my share of goodbyes but it doesn't make the next one much easier. so i comforted myself with the memory of friends sharing food and hearty laughs rather than standing in a crowded airport and waving teary bu-byes.. if mama inday took my advice, am sure she brought adult diapers with her to the airport. you see, they're more absorbent than the usual hankies. her eyes were a bit puffy when i saw her in ayala with papa dodong and ron. dinner was in the agenda and when i got there they were waiting in line to be seated in teriyaki boy. bad decision really. the previous night we stood for almost 30 minutes before everyone trooped over to harbour city. we ended up falling in line for sbarro. i was happy really, you see i've always loved italian food but was a bit disappointed as they didn't have my roasted chicken and spaghetti combo that night. i decided to order the lasagna as i w...

the newspapers claim there's a global recession. really now? drop by ayala and people are literally lining up for expensive restaurants. walk inside and you behold a 40 foot tall christmas tree decked in opulent gold. even the dragonflies swarming around the tree are made up in gold with ruby eyes. yup, dragonflies. then again, christmas if often an escape from reality.

japanese, korean, chinese, mexican - i've munched on a pretty wide selection the past few weeks (there goes the diet) because ivan and darryl are bent on having dinner (practically every night) with family and friends before they fly back to london. good thing i really can't join lunches otherwise it would be an eating binge the whole day. am just about ready to say "no" the next time they called for an invite but dinner last wednesday was special. you see, they wanted to get together family members and friends in cafe laguna. local food. i realized i haven't written anything about local restaurants although majority of my favorites are the ones that serve the naytib kind. and cafe laguna is one that no one should miss if they get the chance to visit cebu. the formula is old, the menu a bit of a cliche but it's something you'd want to do again, and again. and again. start off with crispy kangkong (swamp cabbage leaves) dipped in tartar sauce to whet the ap...

September 1, monday, eight in the morning and the jeep was crawling through the traffic that started from fuente all the way to downtown. it was a good idea not to bring my car, the hassle of going through morning traffic and finding parking in UC is enough to induce anxiety attacks. my half-sleepy reverie was disrupted by the jarring sound of Oh da weder outside is PAYTpol, (with extra emphasis on the syllable just before the last) but the fire es so BELATpol, (i am sure i heard this one) and since hmmm.. hmmm... hmmm. hmmmm... (i think they forgot the lyrics at this point) LEEEEET EEET SNOW LET EEET SNOW LEEET EEET SNOW! (chorus SHOUTING) that reminded me that Christmas season starts the first day of the BER months and the horde of boys hanging by the backside of the jeep serenading the passengers with their delightful caroling. curiously, the street lights and decors are late this year. even ayala, set up their tree late into november. if you want a feel of a grand Christmas, don...