THAT JOYFUL OCCASION

I wanted to entitle this “The Wedding” but realized I already used that HERE. I thought of using “Dale Weds Aya” instead, but it sounded a little too dry. So, I ultimately decided to use “That Joyful Occasion”. Simply because... it was!

the handsome Groom

the beautiful Bride

Dale Satur & Malaya Manalang

I would like to tell a thousand stories about this day, but my mind is crapped out at the moment. So I’ll just tell you two things:

ONE, the event was EPIC! It was very dreamy that I felt like being part of a fairy tale story, watching the main characters swaying from one moment to another, so deeply in love, enjoying every second of their day.

And TWO, I was so haggard on this day due to the following reasons:

THE GUY WHO WROTE MY HIGH SCHOOL HYMN

"...and fit all thy sons with wings, to lend us flight in the sowing of our gifts..."

A couple of months ago, Philippine Science High School Southern Mindanao Campus alumni batch 2001 (batchname: Prodigy) who are based here in the Metro organized a gathering of PSHS SMC alumni from Pioneers down to batch 2002, which is my batch (batchname: Gods). The event was called HOHOL: Hang-Out Hang-Out Lang (yes that's how corny nerds can get), and it was a simple gathering and reminiscing of HS memories held in a bar in Madison Square, which is by the way co-owned by one of our seniors.

The night was really fun and very nostalgic. Most people have matured and become even more gorgeous. But anyway, the reason why I am writing this post and bringing up HOHOL is that there was a question in a trivia game we played that night which struck me now as I heard a very recent news. The question went like this: Who wrote the Philippine Science High School Hymn? We were all dumbfounded. For years we've been singing the hymn and even until now my housemates and I sing both the English and Filipino version when we're bored, but never has it crossed our minds to ask who wrote the song. Anyway, cheater me used my 3G to google the answer. *grin* It was Mario Taguiwalo.

Now, I really knew nothing else about this person until this morning, when I read about his passing away last Sunday. Jessica Zafra (a famous writer and columnist, see jessicarulestheuniverse.com, who is also an alumna of Pisay) wrote a pleasant tribute to Mario Taguiwalo. Apparently, the guy was part of the pioneer batch of Pisay Diliman. He was an excellent educator, a prominent think-tank of the government. He was also an ex-undersecretary of health, and many other different things, including being an actor. Yes, he appeared in films like Gangland, Unfaithful Wife, and even Shake, Rattle, and Roll. What an amazing person! If you want to read Jessica's tribute, click this link, or visit her blog.


To the guy who wrote my high school hymn, may you rest peacefully in Heaven. :)

Kimchilandia Chronicles: DAY 1 – ARRIVAL + SNOWBOARDING + MYEONGDONG DINNER

Kimchilandia Chronicles – Chronological recounting of Lonewulf’s great Korean adventure.
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Lonewulf, Shortstride*, and Arigato*

For the next few entries, allow me to recount my experiences in South Korea. I’m doing this for three reasons: (1) I was extremely awed by the beauty of this country and its culture, thus my strong urge to write about it; (2) I want to provide as much tips and other info as I can to those who are also interested to visit Korea; and, (3) That weeklong vacation we spent overseas was one of the greatest experiences of my life, and looking at our pictures never fails to make me smile (or laugh at times). =)

Okay, so let me start by recalling our Day 1 activities.

PART I – ARRIVAL

Friday, 9^th of March 2012. Straight from our respective offices, Shortstride, Arigato, and I dashed to our respective homes to get our respective baggage, and went straight to the airport, all giddy about the coming adventure. Four hours after take-off from Manila, with less sleep, we treaded on Korean turf for the first time in Incheon International Airport. YAY!

cute toilet bowl for kids - airport washroom

THE WEDDING

Okay, so I’m in a bit of a panic now that I finally received this.

It’s the official wedding invitation from Dale John Satur and Malaya Manalang. Say whuuut? This is real now. I mean, I learned about this happy occasion was that more than a year ago(?), but now that the invite is in my hands, I felt like, yeah, this is really happening. And I’m not yet prepared.

 

 

ADBENTYOORSAM

 

This was supposed to be ‘part 3’ of my Adventuresome series, the Zorbing bit. BUT...

the zorb

wanderlusts - loitering in the airport parking

ADVENTURESOME 2: ZIP IT!

To complete my Davao Extreme Adventure Weekend (ching!), I and my friends Jed, Sybil, Lesele, and Luningning went to Diversion Road to zipline! We chose Outland Adventure over Zipcity because we heard that Outland has a longer trail. Also, they have a double trail, plus you may opt to zip the line by doing a “Superman position”, i.e. prone position (lying face down) with arms spread sideways or at the front as if mimicking a flying Superman.

Me <-- all geared up for the zip

ADVENTURESOME: Wakeboarding in Davao City - The Real Deal

At the start of the year, I posted about my wakeboarding adventures in Davao. It was funny because I did NOT really participate in such activity at that time due to unfortunate reasons (read the blog linked in the previous sentence), and yet a lot of people /*mostly strangers I assume*/ visited that page, perhaps to gather some info about wakeboarding in Davao City. I know that for a fact because that post is the #5 most popular post in this entire blog -- see right panel for proof. *grin* I imagine the horror on their faces when they finished reading my post and not getting any relevant info.

 
So anyway, here's the real deal. Before August ended, me and my friends went to Deca Wakeboard Park, which is located at Deca Homes Resort Residences, Tacunan, Davao City. It's just a couple of miles away from my high school campus in Mintal, Davao City.

For those who are interested to wakeboard, I believe these are the rates:

HOME SICK HOME: Idiotic, Nostalgic, and Adventuresome

our family residence at Tagum City, Davao del Norte

IDIOTIC

It was the last weekend of August. I was pretty giddy while on that idiotic evening flight to Davao. I remember I was all happy and excited whilst reading the Sunday paper and sipping some house coffee. I will be seeing my family! Aside from seeing my relatives and friends, I will be meeting my high school batchmates for a day of extreme activities (ziplining, wakeboarding, etc.) in Davao City. I couldn’t even care when my flight seatmate noticed my odd grinning, I was just excited.

I tried to read my paper, just to be compliant with my Sunday routine. However, my eagerness made it difficult for me to focus on the articles. I only managed to remember two news clips.

HYPOCRITES' NIGHT OUT

Warning: Stale topic.

So I passed by Market! Market! this morning (as like any other weekday morning), and I discovered that that Gerald-Sarah flick is still on. Then I remembered that one funny night when Jap and I had a shameful dose of our own medicine.

One fortnight ago, Jap, TJ, and I decided to watch Catch Me... I’m In Love. Well, to be more precise, we decided to watch the movie upon seeing the trailer for the first time few months ago. *shudders* Yes, I know there were other more valuable movies out there, but can we really help it? The teasers were interestingly crafted. I mean, yeah, I shamefully admit that the movie teasers got me all giddy. Every, single, time. (1,2,3... barf!)

Roanna of Caloocan meets the President's son

 

Part 1. The Purchase.

And so, the hypocrites rendezvoused in Market! Market! cinema area, where Sarah and JLC were on, alongside Sucker Punch and Justin Bieber: Never Say Never. We were eager to watch the flick, yet reluctant to fall in line to purchase tickets.

We queued next to a couple who looked like they normally hangout in Serendra, but somehow accidentally made a wrong turn to Market! Market! that night. [TRIVIA: Serendra frequenters = Class A or B, Market! Market! frequenters = Class C or D]. We were exhorting each other as to who should do the honor of making the big announcement, “Three tickets to Catch Me... I’m In Love, please...” when Jap suddenly jolted and covered his mouth as if someone just performed the ‘thousand years of pain’ on him. He had just unsuccessfully stifled his laugh, while I was stoically staring at him. He then whispered to me in a grin, “The Serendra couple is watching Bieber!” Haha. We both retorted a mental Yikes. Then we turned to the ticketing lady and chorused.

“THREE tickets to Catch Me... I’m In Love, please!”

the tickets

Part 2. The Karma.

Okay, so we had the tickets. Next obstacle – the queue of shame.

As we stood a decent number of yards from the cinema entrance, we tried to figure out how to stand on the now lengthening queue. My genius solved the problem that time. I told Jap, “Here’s the plan: we will just tell that judgmental person who will ask us later why we were watching the show that we were actually watching Sucker Punch, but somehow we accidentally made a wrong turn to Catch Me... I’m In Love.”

Ingenious, right?

While on the queue of shame, the hypocrites made a few observations.

Look at those queue frontliners, their demeanor paints baduy all over.- Gosh, did we just fall in the same line as them?

In fairness to those two there, they looked... uhm... classy. -Yeah, too classy for a JLC flick!

Oh, the movie has just finished! -Here comes a huge wave of baduys. Pretend we’re not part of the crowd. –I’m just a tree, ignore me. Wait! In fairness, some of them don’t look baduy. –Oh, it’s our turn.

Lady Guard: Tickets please. *ogle* *ogle* What movie are you watching, Sir?

Hypocrites: Uhmm... er..

Lady Guard: Are you watching that Tagalog movie? It’s over there, at Cinema 6. This is Sucker Punch.

#^%!$@(^$*!!!!

Hypocrites: (shrank to unbelievably microscopic dimensions)

And that, kids, is the fascinating legend of how the hypocrites started to believe in karma.

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The hypocrites-now-turned-karma-believers then exited disgracefully the faux baduy line and heads-down paraded to the real queue of shame.

the real queue

Fast forward. The movie was fun! It was worth the shame and the lessons. Really.

 

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Part 3. Denouement.

This section is totally unrelated to the subject but I just want to share that that shameful night ended pretty well.

While heading home, the karma believers discovered Taguig’s version of Banchetto at the Market! Market! carpark, It’s called Kantina. [TRIVIA: Banchetto is a night food market that features endless stalls of yummy food of various origins and shapes. It normally opens on a Friday and Saturday(?) night at Emerald Avenue, Ortigas].

And lastly, our greatest discovery since we left Elbi... A PUB!

Nope, the pics not edited. The signage really looks like it's floating.

The bar at OVERTIME PUB

Sits just across Market! Market! Not as grandiose as most city people would imagine, but it is a pub nonetheless. One can drink, play billiards, drink, listen to live performers, drink, play darts, sing in the karaoke rooms, drink, and weep about how ex is a really mean mean person. Pretty much what any pub should be.

KTV Big Room (accommodates 15-20) = Php200 per hour. Pretty cheap, eh?

Small Room is Php150 per hour

It was no Red Box,  but hey, I don’t care. This is my place. I can drop by here every day after work. I can bring my friends here and chill ala How I Met Your Mother. This, is the place to be.

By the way, did I mention they have free WIFI?

Photo Credits:

http://www.whynotcoconut.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/CatchMeImInlove2.jpg

WAKEBOARDING IN DAVAO CITY

Wakeboarding on a man-made water arena completed my fun-filled Christmas vacation this year. It was the cherry-on-top of all my year-end activities, beating going to the beach with the rest of our neighbourhood or fishing for the first time. It happened in DECA WAKEBOARD PARK, a still being developed tourist spot in Mintal, Davao City. Holding onto the cable handles while keeping the correct composure was a tiresome yet exhilarating experience for me. And for the record, wakeboarding was the most fun extreme activity I've ever done.

Only it didn't happen.

Much to my disappointment, my high school batchmates scheduled our wakeboarding activity on the New Year's Eve. The exact same day when everybody rushes last minute shopping, preparing the Media Noche, entertaining relatives and other guests, or taking a rest in preparation for the loooong night. It was in our high school mini-reunion, a couple of days earlier, that we discussed about wakeboarding. And since I am too disappointed at this point, especially now that I have seen their pictures, I will not talk about wakeboarding any further. I will however talk about my mini-tour to Davao City on the 28th to meet my high school batchmates for a mini-reunion.


My first stop in the city was at Gaisano Mall. It was my favorite mall in Davao City. In high school, it was my place to be. Maybe because of its architecture, type of shops, and the vast strip of arcade games. The last one is a personal particular as I am quite choosy with arcade games. I only play Darkstalkers, King of Fighters, Puzzle Bobble, or that generic jet game with the aerial view. If any of these is present in an arcade, then you can expect me to hangout in that place very often. Sad to say, when I checked, the arcade place in Gaisano mall was moved to a smaller area and my favorite games were gone.

To compensate for my grieving, I decided to devour on something really really good. So I insisted my friend Jed to dine with me at Dimsum Diner. He gladly agreed even though he had dined at the same place just the previous night. Yes people, the dumplings were that good.

 

Yummy crab, beef, and shark's fin dumplings

DIMSUM DINER serves the best dumplings that ever grazed my palate, and I know that most of those who have dined here would agree. Too bad they don't have a franchise here in Manila. Do they? Please let me know if they do!

Before I went to our batch rendezvous, Jed and I went to DAVAO MEDICAL CENTER (now renamed to Southern Philippines Medical Center) to visit my bestfriend Sybil. She was not available for the reunion as she was on duty in the ER that night. Luckily, three other batchmates who were equally disappointed as Sybil, was also on duty. So I had a pre-reunion with them right there in the ER. I get to chat a little with Carl Uy and Marian, but not with Reginald as he was busy stitching a patient.

Sybil and me

 

Marian (L) and Sybil (R)

I was so proud seeing them in their scrubs. I felt a little disappointed as well, or maybe envious, as I could have been there with them doing some stitches. You see, in most of my high school years I was very sure I'll take up Biology in college. Yet I had a change of mind weeks before I filled out my application form for UP. (sigh). Oh well, I'm very happy with my current industry anyways so I'll just drop that thought.

Our next stop was at C-TRES, an all-you-can-eat buffet at Obrero Street. My batchmates have already started their meals when we arrived. Although I've never heard of this resto before, I sure will promote it as they serve scrumptious dishes. My favorite was the Fish Fillet, it was awesome.

I call this the dish pit. This is where people line up to get food.

Funky crabs. I forgot to ask if these were unlimited as well, as these weren't included in the pit.

(L-R) JC, Lesele, Martin, Aldbrian, Nina, Nikko, Ruel, Ephraim, Ian, Adrian, Carlo, Luningning

After dinner, these guys wanted to hit the karaoke so we went to BLUE POST. Too bad, the karaoke wasn't available. So we moved to CASA DE AMIGOS, a pub-ish sort of place right at the heart of the city. I like the way the place was laidback. There was a live band, there were billiard tables, and there were private karaoke rooms. And just when I thought things couldn’t get better, boy check out the menu. No, look at the right side. Yeah, baby! The cocktail drinks are waaaay cheaper. Woohoo! Had I been working in Davao, I would surely frequent at this place.

Before we called the night off, we went someplace else. Ooops. I meant, we went to SOME PLACE ELSE, a shisha bar and restaurant at Paseo de Habana. I had another round of not-so-pricey cocktails, and this place here has a lengthy cocktail menu my ears couldn’t stop flapping. And although I do not smoke, I didn’t pass up the chance to puff a shisha. If you are wondering what a shisha is, it is a pipe Egyptian in origin that allows the user to puff flavoured nicotine-free smoke. Ergo, shisha = smoking – health risk. Hmm... wait. Afaik, it’s nicotine-free. I’ll double-check on that.

We at the shisha bar. Shisha (center)

Whew! It was a long night. And although I wasn’t able to try wakeboarding, I care less. I had fun. And I can say that my Christmas vacation was complete.

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EDIT (10/13/11): For those who are curious about the REAL wakeboarding experience in Davao, READ HERE