Cool Tuguegarao Adventure 2016 Video

Posted on June 28, 2016 by heavenliner

Worry. That is my initial feeling when the plan to go to the province of Tuguegarao has finally been confirmed. I was worried that my super hot body might assimilate with that of the hottest place in the Philippines. I was worried for it might have an effect on mankind and the environment I was worried that the integration of my mega hot body with that of the blistering climate of Tugegarao may cause the planet to explode!

my gosh… that is one hot dude! (in my dreams) hahaha!

But I was wrong because by the time I stepped on the tarmac at Tugegarao airport all I could feel was coolness. I knew right away that this super hot spot in the Philippines would be one cool place to stay. I was wrong because the only blazing hot was the weather everything else were sooo cool and refreshing. The people, the food as well as the beautiful scenery were something to chill about!

To summarize my adventure with colleagues MJ, JB and Willie, here’s one refreshing video. I hope that Ben Rector would equally be cool about my using his awesome song entitled Brand New (no copyright infringement was intended) in this video…

It was a blast!

Sa sobrang init, gusto ko nang mag dyaket!

Cool FB Friendversary Video

Posted on May 29, 2016 by heavenliner

Facebook surprised me when I saw an awesome post among my feed that pays tribute to the 6^th year anniversary of my being connected with my brother Wreigh in Facebook. It is so damn cool, I of course have to “share” it. (It garnered 20 likes, by the way)

This post along with the ‘On This Day” feature in Facebook makes you feel nostalgic and sentimental. It also makes you realize how far

you’ve been for the past few years… from your being nerdy to charmingly sociable or from being horribly ugly to being drop-dead gorgeous. This Facebook feature is so amazing and heartwarming!

Being the wicked and crude that I am, this Facebook recollection makes me wonder when will Facebook pays homage to the time when you “un-friended” or “blocked” someone on Facebook. I am so looking forward to seeing that kind of a tribute on my Facebook feed. I will definitely share that!

Tenks Peysbuk!

Shut Up! That’s How Nengkoy Loves Me!

Posted on May 8, 2016 by heavenliner

My mother loves me. Case in point is what just has happened.

I was too lazy to answer my phone. But after ringing like a million times, I knew that it’s my mother who’s calling. She’s the only one whom I know who has the patience and tolerance to wait that much amount of time of allowing numerous ringing of a telephone before finally giving up. But this time, I was starting to feel a headache out from the unstoppable ringing, I did not have the choice but to answer it.

And when I answer “hello”, Nengkoy’s first utterance over the phone was a question of what time will I be going to her house. I did not answer her question but instead greeted her warmly by saying “Happy Mother’s Day!” She answered back by saying an annoyed and sarcastic “Tse!” (English translation: Shut Up!)

She started telling me stories over the phone, who were already in her house at that moment and what food she has prepared. We concluded our conversation by assuring her that I will be in her house later in the afternoon. That’s how Nengkoy loves me!

Happy Mother’s Day Nengkoy!

Hapi Mader’s Dey sa lahat lahat!

Boyfriend by Tegan and Sara

Posted on April 9, 2016 by heavenliner

The music of Tegan and Sara has accompanied me for a significant amount of time during exhausting hours of workout in the gym. This duo’s music is in my playlist blasting through my earpiece when I’m cursing the treadmill or gagging on some heavy weights.

Let me then show a little piece of gratitude by featuring their latest tune entitled Boyfriend from their upcoming album Love You To Death.

I particularly loved the gender twist in the lyrics as well as the dance-y 80’s-like vibe and groove of the tune. The supreme catchiness of the tune is super fun! This will definitely be an awesome add-on in my gym music playlist.

Parang gusto ko tuloy mag-jim!

A Refreshing Day at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art

Posted on March 31, 2016 by heavenliner

hunter’s moon 2007 by jim dine

With the rich and complex history and events that took place that resulted to a worldwide belief, culture and conviction, Israel in itself can be revered as a living or breathing museum. Every street corner seem to have a history connected either to Islam, Judaism or Christianity. Every crook, bend or junction seem to have something interesting to tell.

And when I was in Israel, I thought visiting a museum seem no longer noteworthy unlike the way I would usually require myself to visit at least one museum every time I got to go to a foreign country. The feeling of being in Israel itself was like being in a museum 24/7.

But when I got a good window of a time to go to an actual museum, I was hesitant at first but nevertheless, pursued with my commonly known “cultural day”. I did visited the Tel Aviv Museum of Art.

The vibrant mix of pieces featured in Tel Aviv Art Museum are poles apart from the arts and artifacts seen in the old streets of Israel. The art pieces were not of a biblical, dogmatic or spiritual in nature. Instead, featured art were more of an intense personal expression, more of an eclectic retrospect and view and more of a strange emotional articulation. Its novelty-ness, freshness and innovation are awesomely high!

awesome collection!

super pop art entitled “shit boy showers” part of the rosenfeld gallery collection

sensory overload!

refreshing!

cool ink works by justine frank. i want these printed on shirts and wear it!

my personal favorite entitled: “construction workers” by moshe matosovsky

the hallways of the museum are already a modernism form of art itself

the massive entrance hall along with some of the awesome art pieces!

The modernism are so breath-taking I could not control myself from saying “Wow!” The visual art pieces were so cool and fresh, I want it printed on shirts and wear it! Tel Aviv Museum of Art indeed is a remarkable representation of modern Israel.

Kakaiba ka!

Xoho Café: A Funky Treasure in Tel Aviv

Posted on March 22, 2016 by heavenliner

One of the many beauties of travelling in a foreign land without a set and pre-arranged tour package is that you got to explore and discover treasures of the city that you visit.

Case in point was the first breakfast me and my sister had here in Tel Aviv. Armed only with a google map, a dash of courage and heaps of appetite, we walked through the city streets of Tel Aviv to get to Xoho Café, the ranked number one recommended breakfast café in Tel Aviv by Tripadvisor.

Discovering Xoho Café was a bliss. As soon as we entered the café we were barged with a laid back yet cool and hip ambiance and deco. And from the funky interiors itself, it looks like the owner is someone who is so young, vibrant and creative I stopped wondering why this establishment was ranked number one by Tripadvisor.

thank goodness we arrived early, people were queuing up when we left the cafe

nice…

lata!

a collage of the super funky toilet

My beautiful first impression of Xoho Café was even substantiated by the divine dishes that me and my sister ordered. When I asked the young server what to recommend, she simply stated that the Juanito Burrito was something not to miss in their café. My sister on the other hand settled for the delectable Sunny Side Up served with a bunch of toast, labaneh, olive oil and zaatar. The food was fantastic!

heavenly, juanito burrito!

yum!

xoho cafe experience!

Upon stepping out of Xoho Café with the smile on my face, I can simply say that this café is a perfect combination of good food and funky design. Thank goodness to Tripadvisor, google map and our heaps of appetite, we discovered a treasure called Xoho Café.

Mapapa-shalom ka sa sarap!

The Rustic Mornings in Marikina

Posted on March 5, 2016 by heavenliner

During my childhood, my perception of Marikina is that of a faraway place from metropolitan Manila. One of our neighbors in Pasay, Tita Linda and her family, were actually from this bucolic county. And every time our family is invited by Tita Linda (one Nengkoy’s ‘mejor amiga’) to go to their place in Marikina for some party or gathering, the travel and journey seem so arduous and tiring. I can still remember the exhausting hours it took for us to reach this green and tree-filled but faraway suburb.

During adulthood, the only time I got to Marikina (now a city and part of metropolitan Manila) was after the deadly flooding and wreckage brought about by the most devastating storm to hit Metro Manila known as tropical storm Ondoy in 2009. I got the chance to go to Marikina then because the company I am working for did some charitable activity. Our company prepared and distributed away hundreds of boxes of hot cooked food to the affected residents of Marikina, which was the most hardly hit area of that year’s deadly typhoon. That memory was not a good one because Marikina that time was all mud, sludge and debris.

But just last Wednesday, I had a beautiful morning in rustic Marikina. I was actually at awe because my childhood perception that it takes ages to get there has been erased. It only took us 45 minutes to get there (from Malate in Manila). And the ugly clutter brought about by the deadly Ondoy of course are all gone. What’s present is a highly urbanized zone with remarkably clean roads and civilized communities.

The reason this time why I was able to get to Marikina is because of breakfast. I and my colleagues decided to have breakfast at Rustic Mornings.

the menu

lovely interiors

outdoor dining area…

greens and shells at the patio area

This restaurant can be considered one precious gem of Marikina. The ambience is one-of-a-kind. It makes you feel like you are not in crazy, hectic and stressful metropolitan Manila. Once you entered their gate you’ll feel a sudden change in impression. It’s quiet, calm and relaxed. The restaurant is actually decorated with beautiful pieces of art and décor. You would actually feel like being in a vicinity full of stunning and charming clutter.

But what is most important for me that morning was the food. Rustic Mornings serve heartwarming and mouthwatering breakfast dishes in a suburban-like setting. And from among the breakfast dishes that we ordered, I had two personal favorites. The Crispy Waffle Churros and the Banana-flavored Pancakes. These dishes are simply bliss! The waffle churros was crispy outside yet heavenly soft inside! While the pancakes I would say would be one hell of a pancake! It was insanely delicious!

the smell and taste of heaven!

those coffee cups were like pieces of art

hearty filipino breakfast dishes

Because of Rustic Mornings, I can now say that I have a beautiful experience in Marikina. This restaurant definitely gave me a reason to return back on a rustic morning in this rustic city.

Parang ako lang yung wapol nila… masarap!

That Liberating Feeling Channeled by Queen Madonna

Posted on February 26, 2016 by heavenliner

I may not be aware but as far as I know, I don’t curse. Uttering expletives and swearwords is really not my cup of tea. That is why while I was watching the first night of Madonna concert (Rebel Heart Tour) here in Manila I was surprised and was in disbelief by Madonna who generously peppered us with the “Mother F” words. It initially felt awkward.

What is even more uncomfortable is that Madonna wanted us (the audience) to answer her questions in the affirmative by shouting “F@#k Yeah!” It was indeed super unpleasant at first. But as the show develops to become more spectacular song after song, answering Madonna with such profanity seem so liberating.

I was like un-caged for a while and did not care who would react to such profanities that I was blaring. And since everybody was in such a happy mood and because everybody else is doing it, no one cared, no one got offended and no one was hurt. And that is the beauty of being able to scream out something that is unusual yet astonishingly redemptive and unshackling.

liberating aside from being spectacular!

happy!

My shouting “F@#k Yeah!” that night actually became a bit of therapeutic. It is because I was luckily able to channel and vent out all my worries, anxieties and desperations in my screaming! I did not seem to care what Madonna was asking her audience but when it was time to respond and shriek with the rest of the spectators, I was pouring out all my angsts!

Madonna’s Rebel Heart tour I guess lived up to the title of the concert. My heart indeed became temporarily rebellious from the norm because my civility would seem fly out the window every time I shout to respond to the Queen. But the cathartic effect of screaming expletives that night was really comforting in the end. No, I did not changed by starting to utter expletives from now on, but that night, I left the concert cheering and ecstatic yet deep within me I was feeling calm, quiet and free.

I don’t know if my troglodyte-like writing and relaying these thoughts makes any sense but my shouting “F@#k Yeah!” that night was indeed one unusual liberating experience!

Pak Ya! Hahaha!

A Song For The Person At The Final Gate Of The Last Mushroom Kingdom

Posted on January 21, 2016 by heavenliner

It’s eight in the evening on a Thursday. I am (again) alone with no intentions of doing anything except think of the last couple of decades. Yeah, in the last couple of decades, I did not seem to have encountered the right timing for me to meet my supposed correct and destined significant other.

It may have been a lifetime, but this will not discourage me from constantly praying and hoping that the right one, in God’s beautiful time will simply arrive. And yes I guess, when it comes to love — same as when buying ice cream — some actually prefer to wait in line even if they can get the same thing from another store without queuing.

But waiting and working on this for the last couple of years seem to become quite more of a difficult task. Each time I got to meet someone, work on a possible connection and ends up with nothing was like playing Super Mario Brothers all over again. I was like the Mario (of the Nintendo arcade game) jumping on top of Koopa Troopas, breaking bricks and climbing flag poles, crawling through sewages and kicking Goombas only to be told at the end gate of the Mushroom Kingdom that the person I am looking for is in another castle.

And yet, may I already be on the latest Super Mario Galaxy Deluxe version or not in the stage of my life, I will not stop playing. I will never stop wishing, I will never cease finding and I will never tire hoping until I meet that partner who is meant for me at the ultimate and final gate of the Mushroom Kingdom.

And when I got to meet that person at the final gate of the last Mushroom Kingdom I will definitely gonna sing this song…

ken ay bi yor…

Keeping Up To The Pinoy Underwear New Year Tradition

Posted on January 1, 2016 by heavenliner

Late in the morning today, Jan 1, a new friend whom I met in New York shared/posted in his Facebook page a video and article that highlights the tradition of what underwear color men wears when welcoming the New Year. Interestingly enough my country, the Philippines, is included in the video feature. And I was not surprised to find out that men in my country wears polka dots!

get lucky!

The researchers of The Underwear Expert really did their homework. To support this claim, I am exactly one of those who wore polka dot last December 31^st and when I welcome the year 2016.

nice booty!

The round shape being a symbol for money, wearing anything polka dotted in the Philippines during New Year’s Eve is believed to bring prosperity all year round.

This tidbit of a tradition has been instilled upon me by my beautiful and fashionista grandmother, Lola Teray (Nengkoy’s mom). I remember during the early years when Lola Teray was still alive, she and her sisters (Lola Sario and Lola Beheng) would make sure to wear polka dot “daster” (house dress) every New Year’s Eve believing that it would bring good fortune in the coming year.

Pwet kung pwet!

Nengkoy

ruminations & travesties of the favorite yet naughty son of Nengkoy

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