Thanks 2015, Yes to 2016!

A lot goes down in a year..but as life goes on you discover it's better to dwell on the good and let go of the bad. 

Let's keep the goals for 2016 simple: to make our world (even our little patch of home) better than it was in 2015 -- be kinder.. Be more generous.. be not jealous, nor indifferent.. work hard, but don't forget those that mean a lot to you.. play harder, and make good memories.. make things.. listen to music.. see places.. forgive more.. call old friends you haven't seen in awhile.. read good books.. cook.. declutter.. eat healthily.. laugh heartily..and ALWAYS let peace and love rule.  

HAPPY NEW YEAR, friends! Let's rock 2016!

Ogawa

If there is one thing I can say about #Ogawa, it's that they offer good value for money. In an increasingly cluttered restaurant field - that's always a good thing.😁 Well done, @ogawa.manila

Uni

Pretty decent tebasaki (chicken wings) at Php60 a pop -- a few of these and you're good to go!

Tebasaki

Toriichi

Was tipped off about this new yakitori joint in BGC called @toriichiph .. Pretty fun! More upscale (and a bit more refined) than my other local yakitori love @nanbantei_ph -- it has an eclectic menu of chicken parts. Yummy stuff - I rather liked it! Sitting at the bar where the Japanese yakitori master is might be the best way to go here!😍

Juicy tsukune - chicken meatballs - are a yakitori bar classic!

Morsels of chicken thigh wrapped in aromatic shiso leaves

One of my favorite things at @toriichiph is this skewer of chicken cartilage (like what you get from a chicken breast). It's crunchy and peppery - I can see what the appeal is in this.

To round things off - a bowl of egg rice.

This Union

I must say, this December 2015 has been all about taking leaps of faith for me. As a lot of you close to me know, music has always been a great passion of mine - so I took a leap again a few months ago by forming a new band -- after years of not being in one -- called This Union. For my annual Christmas "mix tape" gift, I decided to actually record something and share it because well -- we share music, right? It's a bit of a raw recording, and it ain't perfect, but it's a start: a cover from a band I stumbled upon called The Majical Cloudz (forgive the spelling. haha!). I'm putting us up to all sorts of judgement -- if you don't like it, don't tell me. HAHA! But I sincerely hope you do. Here's to making - and listening to, and sharing! - more music. Merry Christmas all, and peace be with you!! smile emoticon (PS This is for all the people I've taken my musical journey with: the collaborators, the songwriters, the ones I've followed and admired.. thank you for all the music that fills my life)

Just Jonesing Star Wars

Last night, a wish I made 3 months ago came true. 

I closed a theater to watch Star Wars VII mostly with people I knew - people who's company I enjoy, people from my faith family, people from the food industry, people I love and respect. I'd say we filled up 270 seats or so (maybe maybe a bit more).. a lot in awesome costume! .. and we managed to raise a good amount to give to our cause -- the PGH Pedia Ward, as well as the storm ravaged town of Pinamalayan. Not only was I able to have a LOT of fun together with some of my favourite peeps, I selfishly FORCED myself (get it? hehe!) into my idea of Christmas this year. I hope this all planted a seed in the hearts of all the kids in the audience -- that one day it'll be the giving that will make Christmas special. 

Screen cap. of the FB post last September. 9/11.2015

I'm a happy Jedi. THANKS EVERYONE WHO SHOWED UP, donated, came dressed for the occasion, and whooped and hollered. Blessed Christmas to you all!

This young lady won the ‪#‎JustJonesingForStarWars‬ Best In Costume award for making her own R2D2 costume AND CODING AN APP that makes droid sounds when you press it. AMAZING! Her prize - dinner care of Chef Denny Antonino over at Your Local. You're in good hands with this Jedi, little droid.

For those of you who know me well - you know I'm quite scatter brained. Having admitted that, I'd like to introduce you to my two OC partners-in-crime, Mitch Chopitea and Rina Ledesma Villalon. Believe me - without them, you'd all probably be chasing me with light sabers, wanting to chop me to pieces! Take a bow, ladies!

To make the screening even more fun, some of my friends gave away raffle prizes! Thank you to Din Tai Fung, Your Local, Digital Walker, Risa Chocolates, 3 Hungry Tummies, Spice Bird and Hobbes & Landes!  May your force continue to awaken!

Sugarbee

Been getting great gifts these last few days -- THANK YOU, awesome friends! -- but this is definitely one of my favorites: a traditional Spanish/Latin American cookie sandwich called alfajores, stuffed with a not-so-sweet dulce de leche. Oh my goodness. Evil.. but so good! Take a bow, #Sugarbee

853.0557; 502.1150; 0905.3784774.

Bring Them Home

Two weeks ago I was in Hong Kong. Sundays are our kababayan's (Co-Filipino's) day off - usually spent spread all over Central's public spaces. As I was walking along the footbridge that connects all the major buildings, I saw that they used simple boxes to claim their spots. They would spread out the boxes and used the flaps as "dividers" -- and lay out in the middle to do whatever: play bingo, cards, chat, nap, I knew that they just wanted to hang out and be with each other and be reminded of home, even for just a few hours.

For some reason, that particular walk I had on the footbridge really resonated with me. I guess I got sad because as someone with kids of my own, I realize that a lot of these ladies lying around the floor of Central - far away from their families - had their own brood. And they really do just swallow their pride and do whatever it takes to provide for their family.

Can't help but think how cool it would be if one day they could find good enough work here to not have to leave everything they hold dear.

But in the meantime, they are my heroes. Bless you all out there all over the world.

Well done, Biogesic.

Watch Kakaibang Pasko

New at Le Petit Souffle

If you're looking for an indulgence today, you may want to venture to Le Petit Souffle in Century Mall and taste this crazy roasted bone marrow with steak tartare. NUTS

If the that isn't enough, you many finish with this #Echire butter mille feuille. Yes, NUTS. CHECK IT!