Author Archives: heavenliner

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About heavenliner

a twisted little soul... people see me to be so delicious they sometimes want to eat me...

A Proud Moment for Filipino Basketball Fans

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In sports, a nation would normally get so proud when their athletes win a game, earned a medal or was judged a champion.  But in the recent bid of the Philippines to host the 2019 FIBA World Cup, no medal was won, no victory was claimed, neither did my country was declared a winner, yet, my country’s bid was an astounding feat that my very being was truly very much proud of.

We may have lost the bid to superpower China, but the fact remains that I and my fellow Filipinos’ obsession and adoration for basketball is unmatched around the globe.  My country in the present generation may have yet to win a major international basketball competition, but one thing is for sure, embedded in our genes are our passion and love for the game.

Though for sure the organizers recognized that we have the heart, perhaps they were too afraid that we might not have the adequate facilities and operational necessities.  They failed to realize that every Filipino would be very much willing to conjoin and combine forces and resources in attaining the needed infrastructures and technical abilities so as to achieve success in the hosting of the games.  They failed to fathom the fact that every Filipino knows and understands by heart that the FIBA World Cup is the basketball of all basketballs.  They failed to recognize that their basketball could be the seat and turning point in the improvement, progress and unification a nation.

it's in our genes...

it’s in our genes…

Losing to China after such a moving presentation by the Team Philippines during the bidding program felt like me and the rest of the Filipino people seem to have bigger hearts for basketball as compared to those of the organizers.

Too bad, the movers and shakers of FIBA seem not yet ready to feel the thunderous cheers and roaring merriment that Filipinos exudes during basketball games.    It could have been one big infectious  party around the world and it could have been one momentous history for basketball.

Tri poynt shat ang prawdnes ko sa presenteyshon! Super!

Keeping, Serving, Enjoying The Traditional Kare-Kare

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kare-kare overload

kare-kare overload

The Filipino cuisine is at its renaissance in the present generation.  And because of this global upwelling, it is frustrating to note that there have been lots of Filipino restaurants popping up in the metro that has gone modifying and fusing the tasty traditional Filipino dishes with the western or other Asian cuisines.

The grassroots and nature of the Filipino cuisine is about being economical.  Ingredients were based on what the environment offers.  Filipino dish is not about just taking, using and eating the best part of an edible fruit, plant or animal.  It is about the development of dishes utilizing every edible part of an edible element present in the environment may it be a fruit, a plant or an animal.  That is why western world would often perceive Filipino dishes to be bizarre and outright disgusting.

Because of this perception, to tweak Filipino dishes in terms of plating and visual presentation so as to not scare people and achieve global marketability is okay for me.  But the complex taste and palatal balance of the traditional recipe that Filipinos of the past has concocted and developed must remain.

the chosen one!!! the authentic good old kare-kare

the chosen one!!! the good old traditional  kare-kare (i obviously erased the labels…)

It is good to know then that the LJC Restaurant Group, a leading group of restaurants in the country continues to serve traditional Filipino dishes.  Though I am not the final authority regarding the taste of traditional Filipino dishes, I have been fortunate to be chosen as one of the lucky Filipinos to taste and determine which among their Kare-Kare is the best!  Aside from adopting the chosen best Kare-Kare for all their outlets, this project by the LJC Group in way ensures that the good old Kare-Kare (stewed oxtail in peanut-based sauce) is available for the present generation to enjoy.

This project only shows how the LJC Restaurant Group is serious is keeping the traditional Filipino cuisine.  No wonder the LJC Restaurant Group operates the leading and best Filipino restaurants in the country, i.e. Abe (which now has 6 branches) and Bistro Remedios located in Malate, Manila.

With the rousing global interest about the Filipino cuisine nowadays, it would be sad to know and would be hard to imagine in case the best Kare-Kare would not be found in the Philippines.  So, good job LJC Group!  At least for now, the best Kare-Kare is still found in the Philippines!

Yami parang ako!

The Superbook Knows That Love Always Wins

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A considerable amount of my time growing up during my pre and early teen years was spent by watching the original cartoon animation series The Superbook.  It is an anime series that chronicled the events in the Bible’s Old and New Testament.

joym chris and gizmo

joy, chris and gizmo

The Bible in its written form can be so intensely deep and enormously ornate in words, idiolect and terminologies.  Because of this, its thoughts, teachings and philosophies can be at times so difficult to understand.  Because of this, The Superbook then was my early basis and reference on how to understand the stories and teachings of the Bible.

And from among all episodes of this valuable anime series during the 1980s (including its re-runs dubbed in Filipino language), never did I saw Christian, Joy and their toy robot Gizmo encounter an episode that being gay and falling in love with a person of the same sex or gender is a sin.

Maybe it is because the creators of The Superbook series knows that it does not take a person to read, know and understand the Bible to realize that falling in love is not a sin.  I guess The Superbook creators knew that love is universal and that love is beautiful.  I guess The Superbook knows that there’s no book on “how” and there’s no book on “who” when in comes to love.

The same thought that this music conveys…

Ay lab Superbuk! Ang kumontra, Chaka!

At This Interesting Moment, It’s “Roxas Na, Oras Na”

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Living in the Philippines today has been very interesting.  In May 2016, the Philippine populace will exercise its right to suffrage so as to elect the next Chief Executive of the land.  As of this writing, there are two hot contenders who already expressed their interest, Mr. Jejomar Binay and Mr. Mar Roxas.  No other hot and interesting contender yet except for this two has stepped forward to express their intention of running.

Since Senator Alan Peter Cayetano seem not running, and if the election will be held at this very point in time, I would have to choose of course the “lesser evil”.  Honestly, I would vote anyone running for President except for Mr. Binay.   Mr. Binay’s character, reputation and even temperament has gone so interestingly shady.  And I would not lay my country’s chance, future and interest on those points and attributes.

mar roxas (photo grabbed from mar roxas' facebook page)

mar roxas
(photo grabbed from mar roxas’ facebook page)

Therefore, I would have to choose Mr. Mar Roxas at this point in time.  For me Mr. Roxas seem sincere yet misunderstood.  Unfortunately though, his deep sincerity and gentlemanly manners has twistedly been perceived by public as being a feeble, a limp and an inadequate.  Mr. Roxas for what I know has gone the rounds of various government posts.  So it can therefore be assumed that he knows the job.  In the eyes of a human resource practitioner (like me), he simply has gone through a lot of ‘cross-trainings’.

Mar Roxas actually gained lots of my respect when he forgo of his desire to become the President five years ago when he instead endorsed Pnoy Aquino to run.  And the rest of the last five years has been an interesting history.

Now, there are other contenders that the vehement public is still waiting to know if they would be running or not.  Two well-liked and interesting contenders are Senator Grace Poe Llamanzares and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

I personally believe in lots of political science personalities’ analyses that the more candidates there are, the more chances that Mr. Binay will win.  This is because the supposed solid anti-Binay vote from among all these camps of candidates will be dispersed.  But if there will only be one candidate going against Binay, the anti-Binay vote will remain robust, solid and sturdy.

working or candy crush? hahaha!

working or candy crush? hahaha!

This then will test the authenticity of Poe’s and Duterte’s desires for the country.  Besides, both admit that Mar Roxas is indeed qualified.  Would they be willing to forgo their personal cravings of becoming the President and let Roxas be their candidate so as to collapse an impending fraud, corruption and dynasty?  Would they be inclined to sacrifice their aspiration of heading the whole country like what Mar Roxas did five years ago?

The interesting answers to these interesting question will soon be answered. At present and at this very interesting hour of interesting Philippines, for me, the interesting slogan is “Oras Na, Roxas Na!”

Abangan and mga susunod na kabanata…

Sneak Peak at Madonna’s Rebel Heart Tour

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Bow down bitches!!! Her Madgesty is coming soon!!!  Here are two teasers of Madonna’s upcoming Rebel Heart World Tour.

Are those pole-dancing nuns?

It’s still seven months to go before Madonna performs here in Manila, yet this early, I am already freakin’ excited.  I still can’t believe that I already got myself a ticket!

Ay kent weyt!

The Journey On Madonna Concert Ticket

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I grew up listening to her music.  I grew up liking her ever changing image.  I grew up idolizing this woman who ignited an entire generation to express themselves.

photo from madonna.com

photo from madonna.com

Seeing a Madonna Concert is the only thing that is lacking of my being a die-hard fan.  Click this LINK for you to know how big a fan I am of Madonna: https://neillangit.com/2008/08/17/a-fan-of-a-golden-girl/

To fulfil my self-imposed requirement, I seriously considered travelling to Tel Aviv, Israel in 2012 to watch the Sticky and Sweet World Tour.  I chose Tel Aviv because that seem to be the nearest country where I can watch that concert.  Also, being a Filipino I need not apply for a tourist visa in that country.  But due to budget constraints I obviously was not able to go.

Then just about two weeks ago, my super friend Jesse who’s based in Sydney messaged me and invited me to see the Rebel Heart show in Australia.  He sent me the link on how the purchase should go.  This is despite the fact that Madonna performing in Manila is already becoming a big buzz.   I was so close to buying the ticket!  But for some weird reason, obviously I did not.

Until two days after chatting with Aussie Jesse, the big news was announced that Madonna for the first time will perform in Manila.  I did not believe it still, until I personally checked the official Madonna website.  And when I saw for myself that Madonna is indeed coming, I was like feeling so moved!!!  I know I’m not religious, but I felt so moved, it made me wanna pray!!!

the only one in asia!!!

the only one in asia!!!

Then, 4 days prior to the official selling of tickets to public, I received a text message from Citibank informing me that I got the opportunity to buy Madonna tickets because of their pre-sale program. I of course did not let this chance go! I moved my ass and bought 2 ticket seats.

I need someone to accompany me during the concert so I bought 2 tickets.  One for my dear sister Gaying.  My sister during the event has been assigned to pinch my nose and slap me in the face to remind me that what I am about to see and experience is not a dream.

finally!

finally!

Now that I got myself her concert ticket, one of my life’s bucket list will finally become a realization.  See you there…

Parating na ang sugo. Bili na ng tiket!

Wish Follow-up

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One common yet unofficial belief of religious and unreligious Catholics is that they can make a wish every time they enter a Catholic Church for the first time.  Others, may they have a religion or none, would take the opportunity to make a wish every time they came across a wishing well.

I love churches and wishing wells, these spots gives me the feelings of positivity, optimism and upbeat emotional strength.  Both feels like they have strange and mysterious healing powers!

one massive door of st. martin de tours basilica, the largest church in asia

one massive door of st. martin de tours basilica, the largest church in asia

Almost all people, I guess, after making a wish in these places would either forget about it or let fate and providence be the arbiter if such longing will be granted or not.  No one I guess ever thought or dared of going back to the church or wishing well to follow up his or her wish.  Relaying a reminder for the granting of a yearning is not part of the tradition or the custom of making wishes.  This is definitely something rare and uncommon.

And since I am rare and uncommon, I did the rare and the uncommon.  I followed-up.

Last Thursday, after touring a very interesting meat processing plant in Malvar, Batangas, me and my colleagues decided to go for a side trip.  We went to the old heritage town of Taal, Batangas.  For a very brief exploration, we went to 2 old churches and one mystical wishing well in Taal.

We went to the St. Martin De Tours Basilica, the largest Catholic Church in Asia and at the Shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay, one of the few churches in the world that was given the special privilege by the Vatican for plenary indulgence.  To cap our short Taal trip, we went to the old spring-fed wells of Sta. Lucia, a miraculous wishing well.

Since I have been to all these three spots just a couple of weeks ago, this means, I would not have the opportunity to make a wish.  Thus, to make this trip a more fruitful one, I simply expressed a reminder for the granting of my wish.  The same request I made the first time I went there.

a day to wish! (at sta. lucia wishing wells)

a day to wish! (at sta. lucia wishing wells)

At the miraculous Sta. Lucia wishing well, people are obliged to return to this site when their wishes has already been granted.  Grantees return so as to offer white or violet-colored flowers and to pray their deepest thanks.  Since my wish has yet to be granted, I did not bring with me any flower but nevertheless say a short prayer of thanks for being well and alive.

Still at the miraculous Sta. Lucia wishing well, while dampening my face, my neck, my arms and my hair with the banal na tubig (sacred water) fetched from the well  I was literally uttering in a sweet gentle tone, “Follow-up lang po… follow-up lang po…”.

a day to follow-up...

a day to follow-up…

Everyone was laughing when they heard me say this.  Maybe it’s because it’s unusual to follow-up.  My colleagues knew that I was just there few days ago, that is why they were giggling when I was making a follow-up.

So, to make my wish become more potent, I called for reinforcements! I requested my colleagues’ that part of their wishes is that they wish that my wish be granted!

Siguro naman matutupad na… Palow-ap lang po…

Banana Choco Lava Cake by Lorenzo’s Way Greenbelt

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When dining out, I always consider the dessert as the main course.  I admit, I love dessert and I have the biggest sweet tooth ever!

You may not know it yet, but if you happen to be in the Greenbelt area in Makati City Philippines, one superb dessert can be found at Lorenzo’s Way.  And I strongly suggest discovering what you might have been missing! It’s called Banana Choco Lava Cake.

It is the type of dessert that would not overwhelm on the first bite.  It has just the right amount of sweetness.  It’s a warm, moist chocolate cake that would make you feel like it just came out of the oven surrounded by a creamy sauce topped with thin slices of caramelized bananas!

banana choco lava cake

it’s insanely delicious!

It’s the type that would make you crave for more every time you have a bite.  This dessert is so unbelievably yummy!

Mapapamura ka sa sarap!