My APEC Experiece at GoodAh!!!

While many Filipinos and foreign observers from differet parts of the world are all eys on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperatio (APEC) Summit, I decided to avoid the Manila area and went to the “only” 25-hour food establishment in the world --- GoodAh!!! in Metro Walk, Ortigas, Pasig City.

I case you don’t know yet, GoodAh!!! has its own APEC--- Appetizing Plates Eating Challenge, that is.

I was ready to take on my usual order of the Original Tapsilog when I was informed that there are two new appetizing plates in the menu that are sure to challenge the taste and want of any foodie in town. Welcome their latest offerigs Tapa Flakes and Tapa Bacon. Collectively, the three irresistible meals are dubbed as “Tapa Festival.”

Choosing just one among the three beef treats was a not an easy decision. I have one hungry to feed but my taste buds seems can’t decide which one should I order since all looks equally delicious.

In the end, I accepted the challenge of taking on the three said meals in one sitting. After an hour of munching, I want to share my short yet honest review of each plate.

Original Tapsilog (P114) is 100% marinated beef sirloin served with garlic fried rice, sunny side-up egg with atchara. It’s an all-time favorite that  in every munch I’d subconsciously utter, “Iba pa din ang orig!”

Tapa Bacon (P199) is served in strips of pork belly marinated with powdered smoked flavor and spices served with garlic fried rice, sunny side-up egg and atchara. It is heavenly crispy and yummy that gives me a new reason to come back to GoodAh!!! more often.

Tapa Flakes (P129) are shredded beef flanks cook adobo style and dip fry served with garlic fried rice, sunny side-up egg and atchara. It is a delight in the mouth in every bite.

 

GoodAh!!! is open anytime of the day from Mondays to Saturdays. Visit any of their six locations namely Metrowalk, Eastwood, Gate 5, Market Market, Bicutan and Sucat. You can also order via 470-7070.

Now who says the APEC fever is just for those who have access to the special lanes along EDSA or head of states and the authorities. Experince APEC at GoodAh!!! and have one happy tummy like mine.

Where to watch Star Wars: The Force Awakens during the Metro Manila Film Festival

The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) has been a part of the Christmas celebration of many Filipinos. It is one of those sure things to happen every holiday season just like the parol, Christmas tree, bibingka and puto bungbong, and your ninong and ninang temporarily relocating homes.

After all, MMFF has been in existence for 41 years. Even older than your very much-married “feeling hunk” officemate who still preys helpless OJTs and new hires.

Anyways, for the curious souls, here are the eight (8) official MMFF entries (from 21 nominees) this year in no particular order (although obviously, I will mention last the one my family will watch):

Beauty and the Bestie – Vice Ganda and Coco Martin teams up with #JaDine and try to kick this action comedy to box-office success

All You Need is Pag-ibig – Kris Aquino and son Bimby brings this family/ romantic comedy with the help of Derek Ramsay’s abs.

Buy Now, Die Later – Alex Gonzaga and Vhong Navarro tries to resurrect their respective careers with this horror, suspense, thriller (terrifying redundancy with the use of words).

Haunted Mansion – Janella Salvador tries to OMG us with a cast of thousand newbies in this another horror, suspense, thriller (now It’s becoming creepier).

Honor Thy Father – John Lloyd Cruz gives everything (including his medicine kit full of Biogesic) in this (take a deep breath) action/ drama/ suspense/ thriller/ crime (breath out).

Walang Forever – Jennylyn Mercado and Jericho Rosales team up in this romantic comedy of two of the gorgeous faces in local showbiz today (I hope I did not sound bitter).

Nilalang – Maria Ozawa. Nuff said.

My Pabebe Love: #KiligPaMore – I’ll be lucky if I can get a decent seat any day during the first week showing of this first #AlDub feature. Might as well join the twitter party instead and watch on January.

Now if you feel not watching any of the films mentioned and you are about to start an online petition on for Malacañang to allow of J.J. Abram’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens to be shown during MMFF week, don’t exert any effort because I will tell you where to watch this much-awaited sci-fi giant in the Philippines this December.

Here’s a portion of the article “The Force awakens MMFF 2015” publish on The Philippine Star last November 8.  I would love to rewrite it but I got a call for a meeting now so I’ll just quote the “important” item.

“The seventh franchise of the Star Wars saga opens globally on Dec. 17 and closes on Dec. 24 in the Philippines as required by law. The MMFF opens on Dec. 25. Only new Filipino film productions are allowed to screen during its two-week run. Regular screenings resume after it ends on Jan. 7 such as The Force Awakens on Jan. 8.

With one major exemption. The Force Awakens continues screening in 3D and IMAX theaters as allowed by the MMFF rules. For about double the regular price of an MMFF ticket, it will continue to screen in IMAX Aura Premier, Cebu, Clark, Lanang Premier, Mall of Asia, Megamall, North EDSA and Southmall.”

So there you go. Now you know where to watch Star Wars: The Force Awakens during the Metro Manila Film Festival.

The UE Red Warriors, Forrest Gump and in Loving Arms

As a sports fan, I would sometimes associate the world to a basketball, not only because of their round shape but also from the lessons we can derive from them. They are actually wonderfully connected.

As we take on our journey on Earth, we should learn how to dribble our way towards our goal. However, in every drive we make, expect that there will be attempts to steal your chance to score or block you as you shoot for your dream. Just remember that if someone fouls you or forces you to commit a turnover, learn how to bounce back and rebound and for sure you will meet trusted teammates along the way who will assist you to victory.

I may sound like a sports geek but that’s how I love the basketball. Playing and watching games is one of the things that make my world wonderful. Imagine the heart-stopping game winning shot, the incredible plays of your idols, and the loudest scream of fans in every championship of your favourite team.  I have cheered for many basketball organizations but as hardcourt heroes who I admire retire, I would change teams. But if there is one sports team that I will forever follow by heart for as long as I live, it will be the Red Warriors of my dear Alma Mater, the University of the East.

Watching every game of the Warriors, either at home or live in the coliseums, brings me back the memories of my wonderful college years. Like my team, I struggle for years as I was forced to work while studying. Just imagine the difficulties I have to endure to juggle paper works and term papers. But I did not lose hope and eventually graduated because like a true warrior, I forever believe that if I want to achieve something, I should fight for it with all my might.

Aside from sports, I also love watching movies. It can be action, suspense, fantasy or comedy. I always find time to catch a film at home or movie houses and it serves as one way of relaxing from a week-long grind in the office.   I have a thing about the classics especially award-winning films because you are guaranteed that you will gain a lesson or two aside from the fact that it is high-quality and wonderfully made.

I have shortlist of my all-time favorite films but Tom Hank’s Forrest Gump is on top. For the longest time, I have always seen the movie as the story of a man and his epic journey through life meeting historical figures, influencing popular culture and experiencing first-hand historic events of the late 20th century while being largely unaware of their significance, due to his intellectual disability. But when I become a father, I learned to appreciate the significant role of Sally Field who acted as Forrest’s loving mom.

Mrs. Gump was Forrest’s pillar of strength. She was the only one who believed her son can be as good as other kids. She remained blind to discouragement and raised Forrest with a lot of “mother always says” lessons in life that may sometime sounds funny but had sense. Who can ever forget the classic line from the film, “My momma always said: Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” Or how about the smart and funny line “Stupid is stupid does?” I also have a Mrs. Gump in my life and her name is Nanay Conchit, the most remarkable woman in my life who has given everything she has and whatever she can just to make our lives wonderful.

At the end of the day, I would always thank God how lucky I am that despite of the many stumbles and failures I have experienced in life, I have two pairs of loving arms to embrace me whatever happens. I have a home in my wife’s hugs and kisses and I have something to look forward to everyday in my son’s sweet caress.

That’s how wonderful my life is today. And the better news is that I have my family to share a lifetime of more wonderful moments as we take on life’s ups and down, travel the globe and continue to search what are true purpose in this journey called life.

Philippine Airlines flies to Auckland, New Zealand starting December 2015.
Book now at www.philippineairlines.com.

Good Working Habits We Can Learn from AlDub

When was the last time you felt kilig?

You know that sudden feeling of an inexplicable joy one gets when something romantic or wonderful occurs. Remember the first time your high school crush smiled at you? Or how about the joy you get every time you receive a love letter? Can you still recall the sweetness of your first kiss or the moment you finally said “I love you” to your special someone? It feels good, right?

This could be one of the reasons why many Filipinos are hooked on what is now known as the AlDub fever. It’s hard to resist the highly #kiligpamore moments of the good-looking charmer Alden Richards and Yaya Dub, the role being played by YouTube sensation Maine Mendoza in the popular “Kalyeserye” segment of the noontime show “Eat Bulaga.” Many people consider watching the most popular Pinoy love team today as a way to escape stress even just for an hour every day because it offers good vibes, original and impromptu Pinoy humor and surprisingly, inspiring life lessons.

As a married man in his late 30s who is starting to experience memory gap from time to time, I am not ashamed to admit that I schedule my weekend activities only after Eat Bulaga and I was part of the AlDub fans who set the record-breaking 26 million tweets in one day that rocked the social media landscape. But if you think that this semi-scripted love story is all about pabebe and just for fun, I am sharing some good working habits that Filipinos from all walks of life can learn from ALDUB:

A-lways respect our elders. Alden and Yaya Dub could have written their love story the way they wanted it to if not only for Lola Nidora (played by comedian Wally Bayola) who believes that they are too young to fall in love with each other. In our respective offices, we sometimes disagree with the thinking and ideas of senior colleagues. We may think that their concepts and philosophies sound old school but we should never forget that they are the experienced ones who have seen the ups and downs of the company through the years. We should also continue the Pinoy good value of saying “po” and “opo” even to manong guard and ate from the canteen.

L-ess talk, more action. What’s magical about the AlDub tale is that you can feel their love for each other even though we have never heard them utter a single word. They communicate through dubbing or lip-syncing songs and exchange of love notes using pens and white boards. You might be familiar with this problem many offices still experience today: too much talking and not enough doing. This happens when people have already identified what is needed to be done but instead of initiating it, they would still spend time talking about it during endless meetings, write about it, and study and restudy it until things turn to worse.

D-on’t rush things. Because of the latest Eat Bulaga hit, Filipinos now have a “universal” answer to just about anything that don’t happen the way they want it to. If it’s not today, be patient because you will realize your dream… “sa tamang panahon,” as what Lola Nidora always remind the two young lovers. At work, the quality of your output is compromised if you do not allot time in planning and preparation. Manage your time so your work will be more achievable.

U-ltimately, it’s all about love. While watching AlDub do their thing and exchange sweet nothings through split screens, we can’t help but notice that there is something beautiful happening right before our very eyes. We’re actually witnessing a real love blossoming inside our boob tubes. You can see the love in their eyes and smiles. For working people, I’m sure this is not the first time you have heard this words of wisdom from Confucius, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

B-e happy. Have you seen in the news how many households, food shops, transport terminals and other business establishments look like during mid-afternoon these days, especially during Saturdays? People are in groups and having fun, laughing and exchanging stories that they can relate with AlDub. Plus, it’s like we have the EDSA that we dream of comparable every time Manny Pacquiao has a match. Everything seems awesome when we are happy. Do you wake up every morning with a smile and zest raring to go to work? Be happy while at work and you’ll realize soon how easy things can be accomplished.

We can never tell when the AlDub fever will fade away. Things are just simply unpredictable now just like how this phenomenon started. But whether it stays for good or would last only for a few months, we can’t deny the fact that it gave us the kilig that we have never felt for a long time. For now, let’s savor the fun and keep on learning new lessons in life that we can practice in our daily activities, both at home and at the office.

This article was published in the September 20, 2015 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer: http://business.inquirer.net/199460/good-working-habits-we-can-learn-from-aldub.