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Summer Special

● I Love Philippines -
Summer Special
● Dazzling Davao - By Armie
Mania in Manila! Marie Chiu Bausas
Gino C Matibag ● Bohol Escapade - By Armie
Monday, May 5, 2008 Marie C. Bausas

● Finding Paradise - By Marlies

It was a tiring flight from Sapporo to Manila. The R. Bosch, M.D.
flight from HKG was delayed for 2 hours. So I arrived in ● Taal Trek and Tagaytay Trip -
NAIA at almost 2am. By Ari Luis C. Halos

● Backpacking Baler - By Ari

Luis Halos
A friend met me at the airport and we ate at the Aristocrat
● Captivating Camotes - By
Restaurant. I ordered lechon kawali yum yum yum. It is
Jesson Jumao-as Morata
quite humid and all but I can still tolerate it.
● A taste of Bicol’s treats - By
Jennifer B. Legaspi
I can’t wait whatever will happen next. ● In search of the Whitebeach
in Negros - By Irene Catalbas
*** ● The beautiful, loyal Los Baños
I love - by Frank A Hilario
I was amused with some road signs. What I saw upon arrival was this cute PED XING sign along Roxas Blvd and ● CompostelaValley’s hidden
fronting the Folk Arts Theater. It was written in black bold letters on a yellow background. For a split second I treasures… islands to the
thought it was a new street by a Chinese name, a relative of Deng Xiao Ping or whoever. But my friend told me that highlands - by Christine
it is short for pedestrian crossing lolzzzz What a genius! And since when did we allow abbreviated spelling to be Dompor
posted on a national road? But I think it's cool. May I suggest the City of Manila to create one for me? Waja tink?

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hahaha

The cars' plate numbers have changed. In 2002, it was a white against green background plate. Now, they have this
some sort of painting. It is W series now. I can't recall what letter it was 5 years ago. Plus, instead of Pilipinas alone,
Angat Pinoy or Matatag na Pilipinas is on the plate number.

Not so many things have changed really. A lot of e-load and auto-load phone cards centers could be found in almost
every corner of the Metro. Hey, I hope they will consider that some people do not bring their cell fone chargers or at
least they forget to do so everyday. What's 20 pesos for a 20 minute cell fone charge? Fair, right?

Wow. This early morning was a treat for me. Pork BBQ is really deli. Had a taste of siomai soup, lechon, sotanghon
guisado, pritong lumpia as of this time. I don't know. I tried to successfully loose a few pounds before I left Sapporo
thinking that I will surely re-gain it before I leave RP again. I think that it will work out just fine.

***

I went for a Pinoy hair cut and had some reflexology. It felt great!

I had Korean lunch with some friends. Koreans are becoming ubiquitous here. It's nice for our economy, I think. But
we were not able to finish everything we ordered. I think we didn't really know what to eat best. Most of them were
spicy but still no match with Sri Lankan foods. Anyway, they have something like nilagang baka which I enjoyed.

I feel that 7 pesos for a Jeepney ride was a bit too much. It was 4 pesos when I left in 2002. However, the taxi flag
down rate is still 30 pesos. And the drivers are still in their famous choosy behavior. Mamili ba? And the drivers
who go without their taxi meters? Oh no. Ang galing galing. And few minutes before writing this, I was shocked
when my taxi driver almost hit a crossing cyclist. Ang puso ko!

Pinoys are really fashionable. Uso na rin talaga sa masa ang anime-look. Kahit ang init-init ay ayaw paawat ng gel!
O laban ka? And their eyewear is like those that you will see in Elle and Vogue fashion mags. hmmm

The AM radio programs that I have been hearing in the net for the past few years, I could hear directly from its khz
source. Wow!

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***

My 4.5 years craving for Café Adriatico's Lola Ising's

adobo was satisfied last night. The long wait is over. The
well done meat with adobo rice and sunny-side up egg
with a separate sauce, capped with a really thick and cold
ripe mango juice completed the day. Caloric intake count
was set aside for the time being hahaha

A stroll along the Baywalk area is reminiscent of

Boracay. Stretching from the US Embassy to the CCP, it
was a festive mood to see Pinoys enjoying music, food and company of friends. Different music bands show off their
kind of music which caters to each interested viewer. Music from the 60s, 70s, 80s etc and the now are really a treat.

The lamp posts along Roxas Boulevard are exquisitely nice. But did the designer of the lamps realize that they look
like virus particles? Pretty cool.

Parking along the Baywalk area costs 30 pesos. There is also a Baywalk ride which looks like that of Singapore.
For a fee of 25 pesos, you can enjoy the ride along the whole stretch. The car should be renamed as Bayride
instead, I think.

There were also different kinds of Pinoy talents like these robotic dancers who would move and dance only when
you throw in coins. It was enjoyable to see. I just wondered how they could bear the heat inside their leather jacket
costumes and heavy make up.

Time with kins was something. We had lots of fun eating, singing and laughing together. Today, another cousin
came back from Kuwait. So it was really enjoyable. Pork was the treat of the day. Roasted spare ribs, lechon kawali,
adobong baboy made headlines today. Poor pigs lolzzzz and the diet was made un-healthier with the absence of
veggies. That was our diet. hahaha

My cousins asked whether I am taking glutathione

because they had the impression that my skin
tone improved. I told them that I do not have budget for
that. I further suggested that they live in a more polar
place to get better that complexion...naturally hahaha

My Orthodontist was surprised that I didn't give him too

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much tasks during my oral prophylaxis. Very little plaques

and nicotine stains since 2002. Thanks to Zact Lion and
dental floss. hahaha

The tropical heat really made doze off. Much to my

desire to leave my kins early and find the nearest mall refuge, the intense heat of the sun made me think otherwise.
My skin felt so sticky. It was a challenge indeed to go out under the sun during these summer months. I think that
my original color is back.

***

Westin Philippine Plaza is now known as Sofitel. I think it was only less than one year when they changed the name.

Some people taught me how to reach this or that place. But I told them that I still know my way. Not much has
changed since. Really. It's like I was just away...yesterday.

I did nothing yesterday but spend the whole day in spa. What a great relief to foot and hand spa, body scrub and all.
Naalis ang mga naipong libag, may tama ka jan!

Gastronomic delights were: pancit canton (amoy na amoy ang calamansi), daing na bangus (boneless siya, ok), at
inihaw na talong. tapos isasawsaw mo sa suka na may sili na hindi dinurog. sinangag na mainit. Green and yellow
mango shake (todo sa lapot). O ano, gutom ka na ba?

***

It is nice to watch on teevee again Pinoy classic movies from LVN and Sampaguita Pictures. Those were my
favorites since childhood when GMA 7 used to re-run these movies for afternoon siesta. I saw old films by Cachupoy
and Pugo to Ramon Zamora, Max Alvarado and Niño Muhlach, the child wonder, to Susan Roces, Amalia Fuentes,
Nida Blanca and Gloria Romero. Also seen were Pip, Snooky and Boy Mondragon. Natandaaan mo pa ba?

Today, I went to UST and was kind of impressed with the

façade of the Pay Hospital. It really was nice. Many things
have improved including those of the Main Bldg. There
were many food chains also within the campus.
McDonald’s, KFC and others were there. Smoking is
prohibited within the campus now. The entry and exit
points have changed. I saw some familiar faces like Dr
Tincunco, Dr Molina and others whose names I can
barely remember.

SR Thai Restaurant is still alive. I ate bagoong rice with

chicken pandan. Pati pandan leaves ay kinain ko. Kaya
pala hindi matunaw sa bibig, di pala kasama sa lafang iyon hahaha

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Lopez Canteen, where I used to eat during college days, is still very much alive. And all the xerox businesses are
very much intact. Ang dami na rin nilang napagtapos.

During 1990, the annual matriculation fee for my medical school was about PhP20,000. Last year, parents of
medical students had to pay about PhP75-80,000. What used to be a 400 student graduating class has now been
reduced to 270 students. What 15 years can do? Imagine?

***

It is a welcome surprise that it is raining now, short as it

was. Mabuti na yan at nang mabawasan ang alikabok at
mabawasan ang init sa Kamaynilaan.

I went to The Fort last night and had a sumptuous dinner

with some friends. The shabu shabu was truly satisfying.
Busog meals talaga. The Krispy Kreme donuts are a
diabetic's nightmare. You have to check your blood sugar
the morning after, ok? Sarap!

The Fort is much bigger now than it was few years back.
I was told that the Ayalas are the ones developing it.
Market Market was already closed during the time. I went
there past 9 in the evening. Many posh restaurants and upscale condominiums are being built. It's like extravagance
in the midst of poverty. How do you like that?

After that lovely dinner, met up with other friends. We went to Makati for some drinks and lots of eating sessions
again. I like the pizza, calamares and banana split. San Mig strong ice beer is another new thing to me. My stomach
was so stretchable last night. Pretty cool! I had sore throat the day after. Can't help but laugh hearing old stories way
back from high school.

***

Today is a bit cloudy. I hope that it will rain a bit to cool down the Metro. Since it is Maundy Thursday, most people
went out of town. I decided to remain in MNL since I will be going out of town next week. I’m looking forward to see
Davao, Laoag and Bohol in that particular order.

Yesterday, I had lunch at Hap Chan Restaurant. I think I didn't make a good order. The fried chicken was
oishiikunai. For dinner, the ulo-ulo at Glorietta was a gourmet's delight. It is still located at the second level. Ang
sarap ng sinigang na ulo ng maya-maya sa miso. Dalawang rice na nakahain sa bao ng niyog at may kasama pang

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Sarsi. Wow! And the after midnight treat was tapa and liempong prito with garlic rice at Rufo's. I even managed a
second helping hahaha Niño Muhlach's ensaymada is still a winner. For PhP14 apiece, you could enjoy the soft,
creamy and delicious ensaymada. I also had a taste of Beard Papa out of curiosity. I haven't tried the original from
Japan. It is PhP50 per piece.

The airconditioning system of Glorietta was not enough

to cool down the mall. Due to intense humidity, it's as if
I’m inhaling water lolzzzz I bought some CDs. Lani
misalucha's latest CD topped my list. Some oldies from
Rodel Naval and Ric Segreto were bought and Kundiman
songs as well hahaha There are quite a number of CDs
which can be bought for PhP150 only and the songs are
good, okay?

I went to the travel agency to confirm my flight bookings

and dropped by at Polymedic hospital (now VRPMC) to
meet colleagues. There have been many changes since the last time I saw the hospital. What used to be a parking
lot and residents' dormitory at the back is now a commercial center and a nursing school. It was nice to meet people
with whom I worked with before. All the smiles are there, balitaan, balitaktakan and all.

Even though the taxi's flag down rate has not changed, I think they charge the passengers more per kilometer.
Most of my fares do not go lower than PhP100. However, the bus fare is the same.

***

It's nice to travel within the Metro during the Holy Week.
No traffic jams to speak of and it makes MNL roads big
and wide. You can strut your way in and out easily.

I spent the morning in the spa again. I had my face done

to kill the time. After which, I enjoyed double cheese
burger (which tastes like the old style Tropical Hut
hamburger). Malasado siya at alam mong ayaw paawat
ng taba. Puto bumbong was another treat. Wow! Buti na
lang meron nito kahit hindi Pasko. I’m happy.

I met colleagues from the previous Polymedic hospital

during my friend's Dad's wake. Confused? So was I
hahaha A sort of mini-reunion came out of it. There were smiles and all that teeth were popping out of everybody
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lolzzz. Kakahiya tuloy sa pamilya ng naulila. Picture here, video there.

During visit to my friend, I had a taste of pancit ng taga Malabon. Ang sarap at meron pang nakabudbod na
chicharon. I also had puto, brownies, Coke classic (na siguradong mas mura kaysa Coke ng mga Hapon) at ang
bagong sikat na si Boy Bawang. Yes, si Boy Bawang ang bagong pride na cornick ng Pilipinas. May buu-buo pang
bawang, okay? Masarap na ka-partner ng Coke. At nagkaroon na rin ito ng award. Panalo! Check your armpits the
morning after hahaha

Something new to me are these call center agents. There was a time that I was traveling along Makati past
midnight and in every corner were so many yuppies, I thought there were rallies. They said that these are call center
agents on night shift, ne? And I was told that there are many centers which teach Koreans the English language.
Nice business but how long will it last? When they learn the language, they would not need our services further.

***

No traffic congestion, way to go around the metropolis.

How I wish that the flow of traffic could be like this every
day. Plus, it is not so warm and humid for the past few
days. Great.

I learned that YMCA Makati has closed since a year ago.

When I passed by the area, there was the demolition sign
board posted in the gates. How sad! The folks who swim
there every morning must be very, very sad. According to
my sister who swims there too, the oldies had some sort
of a farewell party. I empathize with them.

I didn't go out on Good Friday since no malls were open. I had late lunch at the Next Door Restaurant. It was lechon
macau. I like the black Chinese sauce seasoning. I also visited the nearby Shakey's Pizza and had the old style
bunch of lunch. And for dinner it was topping again with pork chop. I wonder what these will do with my blood chem
hahaha Last week, I remember having Chickenjoy from Jollibee. Sarap ba?

I went to San Agustin Church with a friend after which we proceeded to the Aristocrat Restaurant in Malate. The
pancit canton was not really a winner. But I was made happy by the bibingka and puto bumbong. Although I’m not a
bibingka fan, I liked this one because of its sweet and salty taste. Meron pang kasamang maalat na itlog.

I did not join the 3 hours walk to Antipolo. It will surely sore my heels.

***

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Because the Pahilipin Peso is strong, the foreign exchange is in the vicinity of JPY10,000=PhP4,800~ not good for
the yen. I think the prices of most commodities have increased by at least 20%. An economist might say that that is
really the trend of money everywhere. That the value of money today will be smaller the next year.

It was nice to meet friends from Mindoro. It seems that a lot of things have developed from the area. Cheers! The
KFC dinner was fantastic. Hey, Selecta ice cream has new 3-in-1 flavor. We had ube-strawberry-chocolate. Paborito
ko yung ube.

I went to Bed. This bar along Nakpil Street is like the Giraffe of Makati. Nice place and sounds. People are partying
during Holy Week. Entrance fee of PhP300 includes one drink. PhP100 for each subsequent local drink. Perhaps I
changed in this department because I only lasted for an hour or so. Or maybe I didn't know any soul there.

I dropped by at Café Adriatico because I craved for

something to eat. I enjoyed Vigan longganiza. I even had
another helping of garlic rice. Ang sarap isawsaw sa
suka. Tapos meron pang malapot na ripe mango shake.
When I ordered for this, I request that it be really thick. I
was given a free tsokolate eh in celebration of Café
Adriatico's 28th year. Wow! And they still serve the best
foods in Malate, that's something. I seldom order for this
cocoa drink because it is too strong for me. This time, I
like it better.

***

I went to Power Plant today and met a classmate during Micro days. This place is not new to me since this has
been established before I left in 2002. What is new is that the bars on the 4th level where I used to watch the band
called Q&A and Jaya perform live has been transformed to a book store which is now called Fully-Booked. Cute
name indeed!

Hey, I had a taste of balut. I can't remember how much it cost before, but the other night it was PhP10. Maliit lang
yung puti niya kaya panalo. I can only take 2 in one sitting. So I ate one. Binudburan ko ng konting asin. Medyo
nasamid ng konti dahil magaspang iyon. I had spaghetti with meat balls at Rockwell. The papaya shake which was
made thick-er is not something I will order again.

***

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Emergencies can be scheduled. It happened to me last

night when my dental retainer was fractured. I had to go
back to my Orthodontist to have it fixed and get a new
set. It's good that it happened while I’m here for these
things will cost me a fortune in Sapporo.

I was relieved that I bought my wrist watch in Sapporo

instead of RP. The same model was USD158 cheaper in
Sapporo than RP. So, not all things in Japan are
expensive, agree?

This is the last day of the looooooooong holidays. So

tomorrow, back to the usual life for most people.... except
me. The traffic jams and extreme sauna heat of the city are back. Well, at least we get tan for free.

Today's forex is lower. It was JPY10,000 = PhP3,970~ I am not happy hahaha

Davao trip was re-scheduled 2 days later so I had to re-sked some things also. And I am looking forward to meet
friends.

I had Lucban longganisa and buden today. The scarlet-colored sauce is truly a feast to my taste buds. The cassava
cake is a bit different now. I think it has lesser cheese and is less sweeter but it is still soft and delicious. I love these
foods from Quezon Province. I was told that there is Baguio longganisa? I wonder how it tastes. It must be
something to discover.

Another exciting food that I longed is palabok. Yes, Santa Ana's famous Aling Belen's palabok is now on limited
supply. It is good that Mickie's has the same taste. I’m happy about it. Aling Belen could retire anytime hahaha

I went back to the Aristocrat Restaurant with kins and then strolled along the Baywalk. I think I had too much food
for the day. It's okay perhaps. I better enjoy it till they last.

***

Although I have been sleeping for 4 hours a day since arrival, I don't know how I could manage myself to keep
awake.

Today, I subscribed to TIME magazine for my sister to keep her abreast with the latest in international events. I
always believe that reading will keep one's knowledge updated and the neurons in good condition.

I met with some of my doctor friends from medical school and I am happy that everyone is not only busy with their
private clinical practice but also to other things that interest them. After a short catching ups, reminiscences,
referrals and all, the dialogue went to politics, finances, spirituality and what have you? I learned many things from
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them and I hope that this will be the start of more active exchanges of ideas to keep us bonded together. Hey, the
internet is just a finger away, okay? Gow!

***

It was an exciting day. I met friends from high school during lunch time and fellow komadronas during dinner time.
Although we keep in touch through SMS and emails, nothing beats seeing them in the flesh. My sked became quite
toxic in squeezing time to meet people. The looong holidays prevented me from seeing them and I understand that it
is their family time.

Few hours from now, I’ll be going to Davao and then proceed to Laoag and Bohol. I shall be back to Manila by the
third week. I’m excited to see these places for the first time. Can't wait what's in store for me.

I watched the favorite noon time shows yesterday. It was nice to see Eat Bulaga and Wowowieee. The old gags still
amuse me. At least meron akong baong mga bagong jokes hahaha I hope that YouTube would allow the whole
show to be uploaded lolzzz

Since it is election fever, I had a chance to assess one voter during a bus ride along EDSA. There was this young
boy giving away Migs Zubiri's fans. Every passenger grabbed at least one. I asked the lady beside me if she will
vote for him. Without batting an eyelash, she said ‘OO, naman, gwapo kasi.’ There you have it.

End of Part 1

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