Thirty One Days of Kindness V2.0

There are so many things that I should be thankful for but with the fast life I seem to live, I do not know what road to turn. Torn between my destructive leanings and the fondest memory of those blissful days when harmony used to be within reach, I came up with a decision which would even out the freebies I still receive.

Consider it a payback.

Thirty One Days of Kindness V1.0

August 3, 2009

The first hours of the month came, and I was terribly famished. I skipped dinner the night before, and it was already 2 in the morning. It was raining outside and the short bursts of wind impeded me from leaving the workplace. I could not bring myself to brave the two blocks of unlit roads for a grub at Ministop when other, pricier choices can ease my hunger.  

So I accessed my desktop's Chrome and keyed the letters that will take me to McDonald's home page. They offer 24-hour delivery service without the minimum purchase restriction imposed by rivals. The 45 pesos charge though was enough to hold back my tummy's grumbling. I even posted a Tweet venting how torn I felt.

What eventually changed my mind was the onset of dizziness. I still have hours to go and tons of work to accomplish before my shift ends. I no longer mind having to spend a fortune for a Spicy Chicken meal and an extra order of Apple pie - if the food items - and energy let me continue my task without the midsection furor. 

I hit the "pay now" button confirming my order, and minutes later, the fast food representative called my number.

"So that's 180 pesos sir JM," clearing my throat, I acknowledged my food spending. My purchase could feed another two mouths had I chosen to treat colleagues at the eatery behind our office.

"How much change do we have to bring?" I told the representative that I'd be paying 200 for my order. The sale was closed immediately after.

I knew from life experiences that there are two kinds of materially opulent people: The ones who show off, and the ones at pains to hide their plentiful disposition. I am not known for my generosity, nor my fondness for displaying what little wealth I possess. At times, I would even prefer skipping meals over sharing my food with those around me so as not to reveal hints of privilege. So strong was my resolve to show niceties, to spare myself the guilt of following my craving while a colleague toils without nothing to eat, that I was still indecisive even when the phone call - from the delivery guy waiting at the reception - tells that my food has arrived.

"Heto po ang order niyo, at heto po ang sukli." I told him to keep the change. He accepted it with hesitation.

"Ingat pagbalik." I looked at him as he walked out of the building. My last memory was of him smiling, before he disappeared behind the guard post.

There was certainty with my actions there - that long-overdue change in behavior to show gratitude for all the blessings I have received lately. I may commit some lapses (like when I bad-mouthed a boy who's known for toying people's emotions), but my heart is sincere with its intentions.

This was the first of the many random acts of kindness I would perform for August.

"Mac," I left the apple pie on his table. It was for him even when he politely declined my breakfast treat when I decided to have my late dinner delivered by McDonald's.

"Breakfast mo later." My subordinate was pleasantly surprised with the snack in front of him.

Profoundly pleased with my feats, I slumped into my chair, to eat my happy meal in peace.
  

The Staple

Previously: 


A Difference A Year Makes
Retail Therapy

Pork and beef, in its processed and preserved form, no longer take a chunk of the family budget. The matriarch, in her capacity to delegate duties, has tapped me to make rounds at the Puregold supermarket. The sole responsibility in food stocks replenishment belongs to me. And since it has become my vow to eliminate meat, other than chicken and fish from our menu, the acquisition of commodities reflects my nutritional agenda: cans of tuna and sardines have replaced corned beef, luncheon meat, and sausages. They have merely become token items so as not to raise a howl from those who refuse to be swayed to my diet.

But the grand scheme is deliberate, and even when I used to consume the forbidden delights, I make it a point to include 555 or Ligo sardines in our shopping list. Self-serving maybe some of the reasons, but tactical considerations apply when making my decisions.

Here are the five reasons why I overstock on fish products when I do the shopping at the supermarket:

Buffer Food. Appetites change depending on what dish is served. Sometimes, nobody eats what is on the table. Other days, when meals are cooked so well, the serving becomes inadequate to feed all.

In situations like these, the house staff are the ones to suffer. Laziness to cook another dish had forced some of our maids to skip meals. Sometimes, they would buy their own food at a nearby eatery with their own money, which is unfair. Human rights and labor practices aside, the cans of sardines guarantee that no one goes hungry in the house of Jomania.

Tunasilog. When home-cooked meals don't get along with my taste buds, or when I go hungry and the maid has yet to cook lunch, a generous serving of garlic rice, sunny side up fried egg and a bowl of Century Tuna Hot and Spicy (in some days Afritada) completes my day. The dish is not only easy to prepare, Tunasilog and its varieties don't claw on my pockets. Unlike the fast food meals, which are readily available in the neighborhood, there is comfort knowing I don't spend a penny for my indulgence.

Processed Fish is Healthier than Processed Meat. Any thinking being will have second thoughts striking out the merits of fish over beef or pork in its processed form. Sardines and tuna are low in fats and rich in potassium. They pack the essentials like Vitamin B12, which is good for the brain and Omega 3 fatty acids, which regulates the build up of cholesterol in the heart. 

Of course, there is the issue of mercury content and the presence of chemical substances. We are not even sure how fish stocks are managed to sustain the ecology of our seas. But a Hokkaido brand of Mackerel over Argentina corned beef? A smart and health-conscious shopper knows what to pick. 

Source:

Cheaper Acquisition. I went to a sari-sari store next to our house before writing this section. I asked how much is a can of sardines and then inquired about the price of the cheapest corned beef brand. 

What I learned startled me.

An average sardines cost P17 pesos, while the corned beef is double the retail price of canned fish. And that's the least expensive of the brands. Just imagine the feel and texture of the beef. The synthetic aftertaste sure is repulsive.

It goes to show that while our purchasing power enables us to make preference, a family on a tight budget gets more value for their money when picking fish over land-based animal food products. 

Emergency Rations for the Rainy Days. In the aftermath of Yolanda, I was at the repacking stations, lending my strength for the collective relief effort.

And you know what I found?

Cans of sardines make up the ready-to-eat provisions along with instant noodles and bags of rice.

There is a lesson there drawn from experience. One, that is suppose to tie a knot and weave the real purpose of this entry.

The photo above was taken the past month, the last time I was asked to make rounds across Puregold's aisles. I am certain my mom's assistant, who was with me kept wondering why I hoard cans of sardines when they seldom get consumed at home.

Behind the nonchalant passage from the canned fish section to the next corner of the supermarket, is a mind continuously distracted, and reminded of the scenes that might come.

"Better be prepared," I tell myself. "My love ones' lifeline depends on the foresight I make today."

A Difference A Year Makes

A Horrid Sight

Weakened and famished by a continuous gush of Diarrhea, I arrived home a bit disappointed - and amused at what the house help cooked for dinner. It was a mistake on my part. I didn't tell I'd skip my gym workout to recuperate. 

I was disappointed because of starvation. The last meal I had eaten was lunch, and Chowking's Fish and Tofu in Tausi sauce won't keep me running past 10 in the evening. I was given a piece of Mungbean hopia as snack in the office, but given my weak condition, it was barely enough to fulfill my energy needs. I still had two hours before the end of my shift. 

I was also disappointed because it meant buying food when I should be keeping my spending in check. Lack of appetite soured my mood even worse as my limited meal choices made eating more difficult. I no longer bite pork and beef, and given there's only Jollibee and Chowking across the street, I'd end up with Fried Chicken, which is not really a healthy alternative. 

There's no really choice at all.

Grumbling, my predicament was, I still found amusement at how a difference a year makes. Looking at the Menudo barely untouched on the Sauté Pan, a whiff of its aroma precipitate a flashback to a time when I'd ask the same maid to complement my meal with fried egg. Sunny Side Up. I'd require the Menudo to have more raisins and tomato sauce, and less liver, as I didn't like its bitter aftertaste. And when I'm done with dinner, I'd order the same dish to be served the following week.

There seems to be no end to my craving.  

But something has made me turn my back last year. And I would have a slew of reasons for the sea change. At first, the Mousey Incident was to blame. The imaginary sight of ground mice used as pork substitute culled my appetite. Another imaginary distasteful image would be the method of killing those animals have met with the butcher. Worst would be the idea that the pork or beef being digested inside my stomach turns out to be a double dead animal. A rotting, diseased carcass sold in the market to make up for the loss of the hog raisers. 

Kadiri, you say. The suggestions work for me all the time. However, the real trigger for the pork and beef refuse spring from health reasons. I had to cut my unchecked girth expansion.

And cut it did.

I stared at the dish for sometime and took pictures of it for posterity. When I'm done contemplating as to continue with my accomplishments - a feat unbroken in the face of a porky and beefy Noche Buena and Media Noche these holidays - or revert back to my old ways, the resolution remains that its best to decline the call of instincts and embrace the acquired taste still.

So I left the house, went to a nearby Andok's outlet, and ordered roasted chicken instead.

  

Calderon Cocina Tapas Y' Bebidas

Construction work has begun in the apartment unit next to ours. The incessant pounding and steel bar cutting, digging of the ground to make way for a new foundation, and dropping of construction materials in the driveway have forced me to find a quiet place to pursue my writing assignments. It's my rest day and going to the office to use my desktop to do some task unrelated to my job is an abuse. Truth is, the idea of working elsewhere turns me off. Not only do I find the venture expensive, bringing the laptop in public entails a lot of risks.

I would rather stay entrenched inside my room.

But there is a deadline to beat and I have already scouted a cafe that has WiFi connection. However when I got there, the attendants apologized and said their broadband Internet is not working. So much for my plans to write in-style in a place overlooking the glitzy stretch of Shaw Boulevard. I have no choice but to seek alternatives, which at that moment isn't present.

Wilson street is just ten minutes walk away from Liberty Square. And I always knew I'd find a hole-in-the-wall corner where I can write my articles in peace. As I brisk walk to my unsure destination, I was telling Buchok how underrated the area is. Wilson, like Banaue street in Quezon City is a modern twist of Binondo. Food entrepreneurs hatch their ideas somewhere in these streets before expanding mainstream. 

Gloria Maris, Alex III and even North Park have their foothold in Wilson. They have patrons who are the Filipino-Chinese living in Greenhills and Little Baguio. I followed the food trail to Jose Abad Santos and in one of the obscure streets intersecting this drive, I found rows of fancy restaurants. Small and incubating, one of these culinary establishments will make it big inside the mall.

I have one restaurant to pick, and I chose a place a bit closer to memory. Before I left the tree-lined avenues of Diliman for my indefinite leave of absence, I took up Spanish class. Passing the language exam was supposed to be the last hurdle before I could pen my thesis in the Master's degree. Our Spanish instructor was too kind to let us have a taste of Spain. And in another hole-in-the-wall cafe in Teacher's Village, I had my first bite of Churros con Chocolate.

So I walked inside the Spanish-themed restaurant in San Juan to relish some memories.

Chocolate (P80)

Calderon Cocina Tapas y' Bebidas is a forgettable name, unless you keep it short by reminding yourself of the street where the snack bar opens its doors. It is one of the few places in the city serving Spanish cuisine. From my rudimentary Espanol, Tapas 'y Bebidas mean snacks and beer. True to its name, Calderon has stocks of alcoholic drinks fermented from breweries in Spain.

A culinary adventure was never my intention. For when I walked in, the first question I asked is if the restaurant has WiFi. When the waitstaff answered in the affirmative, I requested for the menu and scanned the offerings - I have to buy something to complement my stay. The main courses are priced around P500 while the entrees begin at P150.

A bit pricey if you ask me.

So I asked for a cup of chocolate as I set up my writing space. The scene, reminiscent of a past reminds me of how times have changed. With the laptop switched on, and the Word Document ready to input the first words for my article, I could just imagine glancing the Other working across the table. It was him who introduced me to coffee shops. Now two autumns later, I find myself in a near empty cafe, being served with a warm drink in a tangerine ceramic cup.

"Not bad," a sip, and a whiff of almond complements the taste of real cocoa.

In one of the hardwood tables that can sit four people, I did my freelancing work. Guitar strung Spanish ballads played in the background, whose lyrics were being twisted by uninstructed attendants. The quaint furniture reminded you of some countryside pub somewhere in Catalunya. The dim lighting was in contrast with sprightly dining sets. It was the perfect ambiance for a European dining experience.

I was there from sundown to late dinner, and apart from the huddled guests in another table behind me, no one arrived for an evening meal. Another cup of hot chocolate and my stay is over. I asked for my bill: A measly P200 if I add my tip.

Indulgence didn't happen that night given my need to keep my resources in check, and with my solitary and unannounced presence, a feast may not be appropriate. Perhaps, another visit would be an opportune time to savor the dishes - the Paellas and Pollos Ibericos. And as I pay homage to a memory - of that someone who dreams of seeing the world and writing programming codes in a quiet cafe, I glanced at the empty chair across my table - believing that soon, a new experience will come along and I would go back for an intimate dinner, replete with life-changing conversations

- this time with another.

The Churros can wait and so are the Bebidas. Much still is to be written.


  

The Mousey Incident

In our ancestral home in Santa Mesa, there used to be a shallow, open canal separating our house from that of our neighbor. This murky passage holds memories, including kids falling into the pit, (and getting scabies as a result) to cats (pushed off the ledge upstream) jumping out of the pit, to complains of  floating feces flushed out from someone's toilet. 

One incident that got stuck in my head is that of a mouse, caught by one of the pre-teens being dropped into the canal. The poor rodent was supposed to drown, or get carried away by the current but since a yarn tied to its hind legs prevents the critter from running away, it gets dunked and dunked into the corrosive waters until it was too weak to wiggle.

Now the hell-spawned boys won't just leave the mouse alone. I don't recall how they were able to bait it to a passing cat, but the street-born feline just ate it. Whole. Now you think it was the end of the story but then, the canal-soaked rodent was too much for the cat's digestive track. After being regurgitated, the cat propelled the remains of the mouse from its stomach and into the neighbor's doorstep. The mouse's carcass resembled like freshly ground meat being sold in the market. The juvenile slayers were happy with the outcome and one by one they left - to spread the story. Meanwhile, I remained standing there to absorb what I just saw. The neighbor's house was unoccupied so imagine the maggots crawling out of the carcass a few days later.

This distasteful but comical account would be told on the table - like it was some traumatic episode I never knew it was - at a time when I was having a sumptuous meal of Lumpiang Shanghai. Not far from where I was sitting, mice squeaked under the cupboards. They got stuck on a fly paper laid out to break their trail. As the subject of mice went on, one of the maids confessed their method of taking the life out of the pest. They skewer them using a barbecue stick - sometimes right into their heads - before tossing the remains into the bin.

Looking at my half-eaten Spring Roll, I put liberal amounts of tomato ketchup over it before it was able to slid down my throat. I never leave leftovers on my plate. 

I don't know what just happened. But the next day, I would cringe at the sight of Pork Sinigang that the maid was about to serve as lunch. At work, I would pick vegetables over meat. It would be the beginnings of the Meatless Mondays campaign that still takes place every week. And when I am forced to grab a meal at a fast food, It's either fish or sometimes, a chicken fillet sandwich. 

Burgers, including pasta ceased to be a staple. 

Sometimes I would claim that the mice left a curse. For as they squeaked for dear life while their ashened furs lay on the adhesive, a revolt took place within my tummy. It would be the last time I would touch spring rolls - or any other pork or beef dishes. And if not for chicken, which I am forced to eat from time to time, 

I would have turned Vegan.    

  

Poverty of the Gut

III.

Spent the holidays food binging and gym procrastinating. Ergo, I gained mass. I feel it every time I slip in my skin-tight jeans, and wear my medium-sized tees. Family pictures taken showed a much wider girth. My face is puffy. My arms, sagging. 

I returned to Eclipse on the second to reboot my progress. Tough love as Coach Blakedaddy said. It will take some time to undo those nights of reckless drinking and gluttonous eating. And I am not done yet. Parties still line my social calendar. I am still itching to go clubbing. To counter the spooky signs of obesity, I started walking to work again. I've also been abstaining on sugar, leaving my sweet tooth craving for chocolate cookies.

It will be an uphill climb this time. Metabolism has slowed down, and the strength I once had - when I was 28 - is no more. But to stir life into a seasonal campaign; to remind myself that I am bringing back the old times, the presence of an oatmeal lunch box on my work station may induce a poverty of the gut.

A Familiar Sight

But it's an unmistakable reminder that I intend to hit my target no matter the sacrifice. 

Daybreaker

It was one of those nights, when one's body clock keeps a sleeper away from slumber. For me, it's those wretched midnight spells. Unable to repeat the REM after a three hour nap, I woke up, only to say goodnight to Baabaa and went on to finish the last leg of this season's raketship.

Writing the children's article took two hours to put to sleep. And when I'm done, I checked the time and it's already past 4 in the morning. "Time to start my day," I said while shutting down my laptop. No matter how dank and dark it was downstairs, I went to the kitchen to heat some water.

I have to be at the monasterio before sunrise.

It was raining when I left the house. Saw the next-door neighbor open her store for early risers inside the compound. The water puddles mirrored the lighted stairwell of a multi-floor apartment. My umbrella held its shade, despite the freezing rain pouring in. It didn't help that I wore a light shirt and a walking shorts going to my destination. The LRT Station, while still empty of human presence was already showing traces of activity. There was a lone teller who gave me the magnetic ticket and the security guards roaming the platform for any soul stupid enough to jump across

and fly. 

Inside the train, laborers and students were already filling the empty seats. Meanwhile I turned my gaze outside, to the distant lights of a waking cityscape.

"Indigo sky. Lovely. This is the reason I love daybreaks." I posted on my Twitter. I've always been a sunset person. The one you'd see staring blankly into space as the sun disappears on the horizon. But there are times I turn my back and crane my neck to the east. It's difficult for a nocturnal person to chase the sunrise, but seeing the world in slumber, about to open its eyes to a new day is a sight worth waiting.

The Santa Clara Church has always been a refuge in times of helplessness. The habit I got from my elders. I go to this place to seek divine intercession. Mom says I should write a letter to the nuns. But I digress. I tell myself,

God knows my reasons.

I used to go here late in the afternoons. To find bliss; to feel the earth moving as the sky swallows the sun. But these past two visits, I show up at sunrise, along with the geriatric flock who attends the morning mass. I skip the Eucharistic celebration because of personal beliefs. But one would find me at the spot where the candles give up their light.

A quiet reflection at the monastery and the hearty breakfast at Jollibee along Katipunan would turn out to be just a stopover. For what the early morning trip really gains to accomplish is to stay up late so I can wake up my partner for his job interview at 10.

What I didn't see in the pattern is that he can simply rouse himself from sleep and refresh his memory about the subject he will talk about. And that's what he did when I got a text message while chomping my Champ. Unlike the last time we both woke up late for his job interview, this time, he thought of reading his notes before showing up to the human resource representative.

"Uwi ka na..." He said.

"Opo." I answered, before having a bite of the criss-cut fries. The limited offer I learned from an online acquaintance early that morning.

But the truth is, I'm not done yet. Not when I'm fully awake, and has no plans of turning around and sink beneath the growing mass of cars and trucks converging along Katipunan Avenue. Instead, the passage took me to the last remaining trees of Diliman, where daisies bloom on concrete islands and hovels - once homes to humble families - become ruins of a road-widening project.

The sun peeked through the clouds when I reached the great highway. Suburbanites from the northeast line the intersection in hopes of finding a bus or an FX that will take them to their destination. The brutality of the chase; of grabbing an empty seat before a fellow passenger does might be too much for an unseasoned commuter. For someone who hardly goes through such an ordeal, the dizzying road scene makes him appreciate living accessibly to his workplace.

Most people I've seen that morning have already reached their workplaces and schools when I reached my destination. A place full of life, but often overlooked because of shopping malls looming over the horizon. Though my head was filled with dreams of turning my home into an oasis of greens. Learning from the past, the Eden project I had in mind must be approached with baby steps.

And I guess coming from this daybreak trip, I've figured where to start.  

Razon's Of Guagua

When I catch a glimpse of Razon's bright red logo, two things come to mind: Halo-halo and Kapampangan cuisine. Halo-halo, which has no direct English translation isn't really the kind of food I would eat as snack - given my undeveloped taste for local desserts. And as for Kapampangan dishes, I prefer meals served in its home province. 

After all, seldom do my gut find itself in the Cabalen heartland. Eating becomes part of the pilgrimage.

So imagine my excitement when a friend invited me to a food tasting event. He was asked to write about Razon's of Guagua for a local website, and he needed friends to tag along. Given that it was my rest day and I had nothing else to do, I said yes to the free dinner and readied my tummy for a feast.

Razon's Greenhills

Off I went to Razon's Greenhills to meet my associate. Together with our three other friends, we were welcomed by Ramon Baltazar Jr. He is the Vice President of Razon's Food Corporation and a direct descendant of the one who started the business. 

RB, as he preferred to be called, shared stories about Razon's past. As he recalled, Razon's used to be a family-run business with a quaint restaurant in Guagua. Forced out of Pampanga to seek new taste buds elsewhere, the elder Razons stumbled into Robinson's Galleria and opened their first kiosk at the mall's food court.

The business had already earned the goodwill of the Kapampangans, who found themselves wandering inside the mall. But what made them a household name was the free publicity they received after Chico and Delamar said they are the best Halo-Halo place in town.   

The Signature Halo-Halo

Overnight, curious RX listeners stormed their little kiosk to taste their mythical Halo Halo, and from just one little corner in Ortigas, Razon's grew to 31 branches in less than a decade.

RB continued to talk about the restaurant's proud heritage, explaining that what they offer are dishes they themselves prepare at home. 

"More than our Halo Halo," RB said as my droopy eyes scanned my surroundings "What we offer best are comfort food." 

"Comfort." I smiled. 

From the soft orange ceiling lights, to the plush vermilion seat covers and plates, the chill atmosphere inside the restaurant sets the mood for contemplation. I could almost see myself sitting alone at a table, facing the glass mirror overlooking Club Filipino Avenue with my plastic tumbler of Halo Halo.

While mixing the ingredients with a spoon, I would notice the thin slices of leche flan disappear under the very fine ice shavings. The layers of macapuno and sun-ripened banana - delicately prepared by Razon's trusted chefs - move from the bottom to the top of the tumbler, as the concoction becomes one, with each part complementing the taste of the other.

Sweet.

The Bestsellers: L-R Kapampangan Sisig, Beef Bulalo, Crispy Liempo

Meanwhile, the attentive waiter serves a plate of garlic rice and bulalo. Simmered in rich gravy instead of swimming in bland soup, the tenderized beef melts in your mouth leaving you spellbound with each bite.

The daydream-before-the-meal, as one would describe the brief moment of bliss, fractured into reality once our orders came. RB was gracious enough to let us pick the dishes we wish to try. He even cautioned us not to hesitate.

"Kain lang ng kain," he would remind us from time to time. "Huwag kayong mahiya."

And eat we all did. From the crunchy Sisig marinated and fried the Kapampangan way, to the tomato-based Chicken Pork Asado, it felt less like a food trip and more of visiting one's home, whose host proudly serve his family's culinary delights.

I had two cups of Garlic Rice. And on my plate were small servings of each dish Razon's of Guagua offers to their customers. RB insisted that we should have another round of crunchy-but-not-too-salty sisig because he felt that our minds were wanting. But in truth, our guts were already begging off.

Busog na busog na kami.

For my first taste of Razon's, the experience was beyond purging one's hunger. Not only did I get acquainted with my Kapampangan roots - through RB, the comfort food - no matter how cardiac-arrest inducing it is - is out of the ordinary. I say it's the closest thing I've ever got to an authentic Cabalen feast.

If only they'd add more vegetables on their menu.

I left the Greenhills branch and vowed to walk all the way to Shaw Boulevard just to burn those calories. It was just one meal, but it felt like eating the whole day. And just to make sure I could share the food experience with my family, I bought a sticky, bite-sized puto from another branch to bring home to my nephew.


Razon's Of Guagua Website
WhenInManila

Foodie

Manang's Chicken Velvet Sundae

A fitness advocate seldom confesses his love for food. For it is a sin to indulge his senses to gustatory delights. He would never tell the sheer joy of exploring the culinary wilderness, and share what he knows with fellow famished pilgrims. 

It's been ages since Souljacker became a food blogger. And because I get invited by Garppy to tag along when he goes around the city to feature the newest feeding places, I join the feast by trying to write the entrees that pleased our bellies. To wield the pen isn't really obligatory. But a gesture of goodwill to our generous hosts who only wanted their fast-food temples get known the 'net over.

So here I am, writing an introduction. I'd be putting words to places my taste buds have been.

  

Cheap

I was checking my Gmail account when I came across an e-mail from the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

And you know what my first reaction was? "Shit, did CBTL came across my blog? Is that why they are offering me free coffee?" 

You see, I use that Gmail address for online correspondence. I also do business with Bentusi using that account. While Nuffnang sometimes seed my inbox with their lame promotions, seldom do they offer freebies. To make sure the invitation came from someone else, I tried to look at the sender field. 

What I found had put a big, big smile on my face.

I won't deny that I have this HD to become a social blogger. Yes, the ones who write glittery reviews of restaurants or creating a buzz on the Internet to endorse a certain product. I want to put my writing and SEO skills to good use - to the benefit of local entrepreneurs. Since the Souljacker generates quite a traffic I thought CBTL was subtly requesting me to spread their marketing campaign.

Who am I to put down their favor. After all, I don't recall a time staying in their coffee shop and sipping a warm cup of coffee.

This might be a good experience.

So I went to the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf website to claim my free drink. There was the mandatory registration, of course. And you must also let them dig into your Google contacts for their system to send invites to your "friends." 

"I will include you, you and you," I was telling myself while checking the box to pick among my contacts the ones to forward the offer.

"No you're just a fake account, erase. erase."

While in the process of selection, I figured how the announcement got into my email. Someone was exactly doing the same thing before he realized (if ever) how CBTL mines his online account for information.

"You dirty bastard! Anyway I got a freebie so who cares."

And with that, I gave away my closest friends' and colleagues' email addresses. They say I could claim my espresso at SM Megamall branch only. 

No exceptions.

I can live through the thought that I was hoodwinked by CBTL's promotion. The data mining procedure already defies the goal of creating good impressions. Besides, a free coffee at a certain branch? Isn't it too inconvenient for its customers? 

But you know what rubbed salt into the wound?   

A few minutes after sending my registration, another e-mail came. This time, it was a confirmation that I have truly sold my soul and allowed Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf to use me as a springboard to reach out to more people. Included in the email are instructions on how to claim the prize:

1. Only one couple will be allowed per person.

4. Redemption period is from December 1 - December 31.

5. Please print out this e-mail and present your valid ID. Print-outs without the following fields will not be accepted: from, to, date, subject, name, store and code.

Swear! I was short of saying, "at namigay ka pa sa lagay na yan!" after reading the last item. At a time when using paper is being frowned for environment reasons, the nerve of the one who came up with this idea to require patrons for print-outs. If he had only used his brain to think - digitally - he could have sent the authentication through SMS to make the process easier.

Conventional wisdom say that when you wish to give something for free, and generate goodwill, you don't put the receiver at a disadvantage.   

And so I tell you, I won't get caught going to Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf with the e-mail printout. I won't fall in line along with paying customers and show my ID to claim their giveaway. To hell with their coffee. I'm not too atat to taste it anyway. 

Besides, I could afford a Venti at Starbucks anytime my cravings demand.

Banchetto

To become a foodie, one must have a passion for anything that is edible. A foodie must be prepared to appease his gustatory needs, and journey the ends of the city for culinary delights never sold anywhere.

These are qualities I hardly possess. Given my intense discipline to assert form into my sagging frame, eating to my heart's content was a pursuit I followed only at home. Starving myself, on the other hand, has always been my religion.

My body is already used to the punishment.

But something has changed before the past year was over. Baabaa came and his taste buds are eager to venture into places where food is plenty. Eager to share treasured moments with my partner, we went out, dined in, checked out restaurants featured in the blogs and sampled gourmet food whenever our budget would allow us.

Food has become our shared delight.

Banchetto was already a household name when Baabaa and I decided to leave the confines of Makati to the uncharted realms of Ortigas. It was past midnight, I recall, and the entire stretch of Emerald Avenue was packed with hungry mouths rushing to their "lunch breaks" from the call centers dotting the smoky, slobbery strip.

It didn't take long for us to modify the linings of our stomachs. There's a wide selection of dishes being offered at the stalls. There were pastas in different shapes and servings. Rice meals with fancy viands were laid out on the tables, and rich cakes and pastries as far as the eye could see sweeten the greasy atmosphere with their appetizing colors.

Baabaa and I helped ourselves engorging a large burger with patties as big as a small plate. To damp the lingering beefy aftertaste in his mouth with anything sweet, my partner bought a mango crepe which he shared with me while taking a stroll around Ortigas.

Meanwhile, the crowd at Emerald Avenue began to thin as stuffed patrons quietly lumbered towards their workstations.

Uno Burgers

Looking back, the Banchetto experience was regarded with less weight than the other dinner dates I had with my partner. The thought may have stemmed from the fact that it was a rushed trip, or the Al Fresco dining at the sidewalk was less romantic than sitting on a chair and staring at each other while waiting for your meal to arrive. It is only now, after overhearing the word Banchetto from a gym mate did the memory stream again.

Banchetto has a different feel from the more formal and ordinary eat outs we had. As the thought begins to return, I remember munching my burger while Baabaa happily tried to pass as a conyo who bragged in front of others about his BMW parked at the bend. I recall sharing my thoughts about the other food bloggers, wondering if they were in the vicinity that Friday evening. But most of all, Banchetto is cherished not for the sensual, diabetic, and cholesterol-laden food it offers, but for the thought of inviting my partner out and telling him it was my treat. The previous ones were all Dutch.

It was the first time he allowed me to foot his bill.

Pops by Summer

Heeding to the pangs of hunger, I decided to return and reclaim a memory I thought I had lost. The Banchetto we once knew had moved elsewhere. Now tucked in an obscure parking lot right next to a stadium, whose infamy is tied with the scored of starving masses trampled in a stampede, its faded glory is imprinted on the faces of those who stayed behind.

The kiosks, the grills and the ready to eat meals remain, and so are the handful of pilgrims eager to experience the tastes of the food market. Gone are the foodies, with their sophisticated DLSRs in tow. It was them who raved about the midnight feasts in Ortigas, but now they are nowhere to be found. The pervading smell of food being grilled, fried, or sometimes being baked is still there, but the spirit, which makes the Banchetto stand out has long disappeared.  

After taking some snapshots, and savor for the last time the tastes and flavors of Banchetto, a special longganisa empanada and a dice of carrot cake tried to fill my cravings. Of all the mouth-watering offerings laid on the table, I picked something with a regional flavor only to learn halfway through that the pastry has no taste.  

Some things would never be the same.

Losing my appetite, I left the parking lot and went home with a tummy still empty.

   

McDonald's Twister Fries

May isang bata na ang pangalan ay Kulasa. Siya ay marikit, makulit at sobrang adik sa McDonald's Twister Fries. Tuwing umaga kapag papasok siya sa Mababang Paaralan ng Santa Ines ay dadaan muna siya sa tahanan ni Ronald McDonald. Tuwing recess naman ay magpapasama siya sa kanyang teacher na si Ditas (na nililibre niya ng Cheeseburger Meal) para bumili ng Twister Fries sa McDonald's. 

Comfort Food!! Nomnomnom

Paborito niya ang Twister Fries dahil malutong at spicy ito. Ubod ng dami rin ng patatas ang ma-eenjoy sa bawat fries. Minsan ay sinasawsaw niya ang fries sa ketchup pero madalas ang gravy ang lagi niyang kasama. Ayaw niya ng Fried Chicken dahil allergic siya sa manok. Ayaw rin niya ng rice dahil siya ay parating nagdi-diet. Tuwing uwian habang iniintay sunduin ng kanyang yaya ay gumagawa siya ng homework sa McDo. Kasama si Bentong walang brip na laging bugbog sarado sa sanggano ng Santa Ines, doon sila nagdadate habang kumakain ng McDonald's Twister Fries.

Masaya na sana ang kuwento nila, subalit dumating ang araw na ubos na ang lahat ng Twister Fries. Limited offer lang kasi ito. Kaya itong si Kulasa na adik sa French Fries ay nagpalit ng food trip.

"My mami says its unhealthy!" Hirit nito sa kanyang mga kaklase habang katext si Bentong sa kabilang classroom.

Abangan na lang natin kung ano ang kanyang next kaadikan.

I should be doing Bentusi's work order.

But I found it too difficult to resist what Nuffnang has sent to my email.

Twister Fries is back.

Like everyone who has an intense love affair with potatoes, the fries is also my guilty pleasure. Love it when I dip it in gravy. Enjoy McDonald's Twister Fries while supplies last. As for me, might as well follow Kulasa's lead and invite the Kambing of my life for a dinner date at Mcdo.

Picture stolen borrowed without permission here

Fit And Right

"Uy parang lumaki ka yata?"

"Talaga, as in tumaba ako?"

"Hindi naman... pero bagay yan sa iyo... Muscles." Yeah right. Like truth bends when a person takes back his word.

"Honga eh. I'm gaining weight..." Sadness. There, there. Don't be upset big boy.



At 170 pounds, the fat explosion is alarming. Pants and shirts snug closely around my waist and body movement exacts great labor despite keeping an active lifestyle.

If not for the religious but waning addiction to head to the gym three times a week and lift heavier iron plates at a faster pace, I would have lost all my gains from the work-out program.

The present built is far from my body frame two years ago. I was transferred to the afternoon shift and heavy meals were eaten only during lunchtime. Dinner consist of a drab Quaker Oats meal without sugar then workout starts before midnight. I was directly competing with my gym-buddy, El Tigre for the weight lost award then. The result was astounding. My weight dropped below 160 pounds for several weeks and despite my large bone structure, I felt good.

The combination of a fast-paced workout, (the EDT program Coach Blakedaddy introduced as the new routine, which I will discuss in another entry) a Spartan diet plan and another element, which is Del Monte Fit N Right were my reasons for the sudden drop in body mass.

Information I have gathered about L-Carnatine was rather scant and unverified. There are no scientific claims to show (according to Wikipedia) that the compound directly triggers any fat-burning reaction. However, regular consumption of Fit N Right reveals a change in metabolism. I say regular drinking of the Pineapple variant for one week results in a 5 lbs drop in body weight.






Now that I started embracing the old ways, (including the oatmeal banana diet as my carbo-loader) Del Monte claims its place back. The Blueberry-Grape variant, which is 30 calories less than Pineapple promises a swift turnaround never seen before. Forget that it taste nothing close to Blueberry, the calorie itself is already a reward.



It took me less than a month to shed some fats when I first included the supplement in my diet. Confident that a repeat performance is as rewarding as the last, I give myself a month to make a dent and overturn my flaccid state.

The Abs Project

Saw a gym instructor binging on a large bucket of Nestle Fruit Yogurt last Wednesday. Let's call him Coach Leo and he's one of the most approachable guys at the gym. As he downed the pint-sized yoghurt with several gulps, I could not help but make a comment at how oversized it was.

"Coach ang laki niyan ah!"

"Ah oo, dinner ko na ito. Sulit na sa 100 pesos."

"Talaga? San mo nabili?"

"Diyan sa Puregold." The supermarket is just a street across from Eclipse.

"Ah sige! Masubukan nga."

"Oo mabubusog ka pa."

So I started eating yoghurt last night. It was meant as a complement to my ever-growing appetite. But its ability to satiate my hunger still has to take effect. The complaints of the stomach remains endless and I am growing concerned. As I searched for its nutritional value on the Internet (A small cup of Nesvita 0 Fat Yoghurt costs almost 40 pesos) I found a very interesting study which may prove its value for my money.

A study published in the International Journal of Obesity (11 January 2005) also found that the consumption of low fat yoghurt can promote weight loss. In the trial, obese individuals who ate 3 servings of low fat yoghurt a day as part of a low calorie diet lost 22% more weight than the control group who only cut back on calories and did not have extra calcium. They also lost 81% more abdominal fat.

My eyes shimmering with excitement, I think its about time I firm up my abdominals and eliminate this side handles once and for all.

Crossroads

And so I close the month of February rekindling ancient bonds with a straight past.

Napagdesisyunan ko ang dumalaw kina ex-girlfriend kanina matapos ang trabaho. Matagal na namin balak magkita. Hindi lang magtugma ang aming oras. Subalit dahil usapan na ang meet-up noong isang linggo, at dahil medyo malungkot si ex matapos mag-resign sa trabaho, naisip kong bumisita at i-console ang matalik kong kaibigan.

Bitbit ang isang itlog, dumating ako sa kanilang bahay tiyempong palubog ang araw. Tahimik ang paligid. Ang simoy ng hangin ay pinagsamang sinusunog na mga dahon at singaw galing bundok. Nagpabili siya ng itlog para sa cookies na aming meryenda. Ganun naman madalas, naghahanda siya ng espesyal na pagkain tuwing ako ay bumibisita. Sabi niya, ako lang daw kasi ang may tiyagang kumain ng mga ginagawa niya.

Masarap ang oatmeal cookies, lalo na kung may kasama itong Apple Fillings na ginawa naman ng kanyang nanay. Sa dinner table kung saan ang aming tambayan - kahit nung kami pa - dun kami nag-catch up sa aming mga buhay-buhay. Isang dekada na ang lumipas, ngunit ang openness namin sa isa't isa ay hindi pa rin nagbabago.

Nagpaalam ako kay ex-girlfriend pasado alas-sais. Magpapasama sana akong magsimba subalit walang kasama ang kanyang nanay kaya't hindi ito makalabas ng bahay. Nagpabaon siya ng prayer book at dilaw na rosaryo para sa aking ina. Nagbigay rin ng banal na libro ang kanyang mama at sinabing basahin ko raw ito. Bago umalis ay ginawan ko siya ng fitness program dahil balak daw niyang ang mag-gym. Matapos ang picture taking, hinatid niya ako sa may gate ng kanilang bahay. Isang mahigpit na yakap ang sinukli ko sa mga magagandang alaala bago maglakad papalayo sa kanyang kinatatayuan.

While culling the memory of the ex-boyfriend to let it remain a bad dream.

Nakatulog ako pagdating sa bahay.

Hindi ko man matandaan ang mga detalye, alam kong ang aking panaginip ay nakasentro kay ex boyfriend. Gaya ng mga sinaunang bangungot tungkol sa kanya, para siyang isang multong pilit nakikipagbalikan sa akin.

Ako naman ang layo ng layo. Tila takot na takot na para bang ayaw lumapit sa nakaraan. Umiiwas akong kami ay magkausap - gaya ng ginagawa ko sa totoong buhay.

Meanwhile, the arrival of a new guy on the eve of the new month may tip the balance between the past and the present. Learning the lessons of online attraction, I don't hope for the flowers.

"Busy ka siguro.
Sleep na 'ko.
Alam mo, interesado ako sa iyo.
Goodnight, J!"

The Killer Bagnet

To an uninstructed tongue like mine, a delicacy even those from the heartland of Cabalens will leave an exotic flavor on my taste buds. Being a Manila Boy for life - with no recent memory of embarking on a journey away from the city - denies me the chance to try local cuisines others have already savored and enjoyed. If a dish from lands as close as Pampanga has evaded my tummy, what more if the cuisine hails from far-flung realms of Ilocandia and Bicolandia? My entry is about gustatory initiation. It's about my first bite of Bagnet and how such sinful food could kill a person with one huge serving.

The department I belong loves food. I swear people there don't just worship things that are edible, they gorge anything that is oily and fatty. Even the desktop picture of an analyst reeks of cholesterol. Imagine the first thing we see in the morning is a blown-up image of a double-patty Cheeseburger. This alone would give the reason behind everyone's girth expanding every quarter.

Going back to the wicked Bagnet, my friend Ternie tried to sign-up my soul for a one way trip to perdition. He described the dish as the same as Pork Chicharon with tender bits of meat clinging to the crispy skin. His descriptions were mouth watering, specially when thoughts of Kare-Kare came into the picture. I could not contain my stomach's grumbling and my diet was inching towards getting betrayed. Telling myself - of the goal to get fit - was the reason for able to hold my mouth against the Bagnet's allure. Realizing I couldn't get swayed, Ternie backs off but promised to return with more forms of temptation under his sleeve.

The next day, a colleague announced that his wife came back from a trip to Pangasinan. To support his claims, this colleague took out a rounded plastic container from inside his bag. Pulling the lid to open, its contents reveal several big chunks of meat. I thought it was Lechon Kawali at first, but when he said it was Bagnet, the chat conversation with Ternie played inside my head.


Will I take it?


Will I?


Will I?


I was in the middle of a very important debate when the container landed in front of me. The colleague urged I take the last piece. Hesitation comes into play - specially when I learned at the gym I bounced back to 170 again. This time, curiosity prevailed. I took the last chunk, still dripping with oil from the meat. The oil stained my fingers but feeling how tender the chunk of meat was, I couldn't help but get mesmerized by the prospect of committing a nasty deed. I dropped the meat inside my mouth and without thinking twice, began to chew through the crispy skin.

Minutes after swallowing the piece, I was holding back my tears for I have found love.



Hours later, the analysts from my department discussed among themselves their out of this world experience with Bagnet. We were seated on a bench - me and the three stooges - while waiting for our task to resume. One compared devouring a chunk of Bagnet to tapping the bone marrow in Bulalo. Both offer savage delight to one's appetite, but the two contend in being the deadliest to one's already maligned artery. The conversation went on - like they were in an inuman - only without the beer. They cited all the embolism and myocardial infarction inducing pulutan beginning with Crispy Pata and ending with Aligue. As they went on thinking of ways to die by eating, one of the analysts came up with a morbid idea.

"Why not serve Bagnet wrapped in bacon strips deep fried in Aligue?" He suggested "Then the sawsawan would come from bone marrow and ox brain made into gravy?"

"Pare kelangan mo ng doktor kapag inupakan mo yun!" Chuckled another.

"Yung dessert, Brazo De Mercedes tapos Leche Flan na gawa sa egg yolk yung nasa loob."

They were laughing their assess off until our fifteen minute break was over. As for me who they thought was part of the crew, my thoughts were already stolen by some fleeting scenes of a market somewhere up north.


Anticipating..

.. expecting


my arrival.




Photo

Gaga Over Green Tea

An uncle who lives abroad returns home for a visit. The Balikbayan box we got includes a pair of expensive loafers, (I forgot the brand but it was for me) a huge tin can of biscuits (which my mom shared with a bachelor uncle who lives in our old house) and a box full of Green Tea bags for the whole family. The box is actually for my mom. Being a self-confessed coffee person, her brothers and sisters urged to switch to tea instead.

A week after the box of tea bags lay unnoticed beside the tin can of biscuits, I decided to bring two sachets of it to work. One challenge I face every morning is how to rev my head without depending on too much high-energy drink. You see, I had a missed date with Throatie and I suspect the consumption of sugar water before the signs appeared was the culprit. I was warned by a colleague before of the dangers of drinking Cobra, but stubbornness prevailed. Who wouldn't choose a packaged product - conveniently affordable and easy to bring around - over a bunch of dried leaves sealed inside a paper? The trouble of bringing your own mug to work already is a turn-off.

Yet, I decided to try substituting the processed with something more organic. I set the time of drinking just when my eyes become droopy and my focus on the verge of sailing away. Steam from hot water was still rising when I had my first sip. It triggered a panic response from my taste buds.

It hurts.

But the millions of nerve endings stimulated by caffeine kicks me back to blissful wakefulness. The state of alertness was immediately felt, and I was left smiling at the bits of tea leaves floating on the surface of hot water. The perky effects of tea stirred me to research about the beverage. C2 Green Tea had never attained this kind of effect nor its other incarnations easily available in convenience stores.

Research showed that drinking tea is a very ancient tradition. Its roots can be found in China, Japan and India, where different tea ceremonies sprouted from serving the drink. The leaves used to process tea is called Camellia Sinensis. Its exotic name suggests fragrant tea gardens surrounded by rolling hills and vast evergreens.

What caught my fancy was not the tea's proud history or how it was discovered by Kings and Queens of Europe through conquest and exploitation. What I found important was its health benefits long ignored by ordinary people. We know tea because of its derivatives such as Iced Tea. I confess that it used to be my favorite drink. However, the tea I drank was in its purer form. Closer to its essence, I may have found something that could reverse the abuses I did to my body.

Lets ignore tea having anti-cancer properties. Lets also forget that it can reduce the risk of heart disease or it can increase the metabolic rate of a person (yeah baby! Its a fatburner!!) It says it destroys bacteria around the gums preventing halitosis and boosts the immune system of the body. These claims will take effect once tea drinking becomes a habit. What I felt - almost immediately - without the aid of Wikipedia - was a decrease in fatigue which often takes a toll on my personal life after work is done. It must be the thought of going organic. But these days, I feel less grumpy and my attitude towards other people has become more serene.

Tomorrow is the third day of the tea-drinking habit. It will go alongside the workout program to see if the metabolic increase hastens my weight loss target. The box of sachets will last for over a month. After the tea bags run out, we will be on our own. No new supply will be coming from abroad - unless the favorite aunt gets converted to this new religion. In case I would be forced to search the alleys of Binondo, confident that in this brief moment of optimism, new discoveries sparking my interest will emerge.

Photo

Dear Procrastination

Kasasabi ko lang sa sarili ko - bago magtapos ang buwan ng Enero - na magsisimula ulit akong mag-diet para sa ikagaganda ng aking katawan. Sa dinadami-dami ng iniisip kasi ay napabayaan ko na ang aking sarili. Naroong ako ay lalamon ng pagkarami-rami sa tuwing tensyonado. Ang kalahating kanin ay nagiging dalawang tasa. Sa dalawang kain buong araw, ang hapunan, kasya sa dalawang dalaga.

Mabuti na lang at sa kabila ng pagiging busy ay hindi nawala ang work-out program sa aking schedule. Ito ang naging stress reliever ko matapos ang trabaho. Naroong nakabuhat ako ng 300lbs sa Deadlift ng tatlong reps at 140 lbs sa Benchpress ng limang reps. Nagkaroon rin ako ng crush na naging inspiration ko ng ilang buhatan. Nagkapalitan kami ng number isang hapon, nalaman kong tamad pala siya mag text back, at ang kalunos-lunos dun ay may girlfriend pala ang binata. Mabuti pa si El Tigre na pinahawak ako ng iphone, kahit paano ay nagbonding kami nang minsang magkasabay sa gym.

Going back to procrastination, hindi ko ma-gets kung bakit bumigat ang timbang ko ng ten pounds. Ang sabi ni head coach ay nag-gain daw ako ng muscles. Convincing rin naman ang kanyang paliwanag kasi tingin ko ay higit na naging firm ang chest ko. Subalit sa kabila noon ay puno pa rin ako ng pagdududa. Paano kasi ay biglang sumikip ang mga body fit shirts ko at lumitaw muli ang bilbil sa aking tiyan.

So much for an accomplishment.

Kaya ngayong buwan ng mga puso ay sisikapin kong maibalik ang dating ako. Sa halip na nagsu-sugar rush sa bisa ng Cobra Energy Drink, tsaang mainit ang magiging pampagising ko sa umaga. Muli kong ibabalik ang oatmeal sa aking diet, at dahil mahal rin naman ang asukal ngayon, bawas muna sa inuming matatamis gaya ng Nestea Iced Tea at Ovaltine.

Binalak kong simulan ang lahat ngayong araw subalit:

Umaga pa lang ay dalawang pakete na ng Cream-O Choco Sandwich ang aking naubos. Nagdala kasi ng pagkain si Mami Athena sa opisina. Ang bawat cookies ay nababalot ng makakapal na slices ng keso. Pagsapit ng hapon ay nakadalawang ham sandwich naman ako. Ang ham ay napapalamanan ng dalawang slices ng keso na siya ring inupakan ko kinaumagahan. Dumating ako sa bahay bago maghapunan. Nadatnan ko sa lamesa ang pancakes na breakfast ni utol noong umaga. Tatlo rito ang naubos ko sa loob ng sampung minuto. Hinain ang hapunan matapos ang isang oras. Nilagang baka ang luto ni yaya. Dahil paborito ko ang mais, dalawang malaking piraso ang binigay sa akin. Naroon rin ang mga patatas na paborito kong gawing mashed potato. Ang pira-pirasong cabbage ay naguumapaw sa bowl, pati na rin ang kasama nitong mainit na sabaw.

Mabuti na lang at nagwork out ako kanina.

Di bale, susubok ulit ako magdiet bukas. At kung mabigo man ay susubukan kong muli sa makalawa.

Ang mahalaga ay bago matapos ang buwan,

Malapit lapit na sa ganito ang katawan ko:

Photo borrowed without permission from the owner.
I don't know who the guy is.
But in the beginning of my workout program three years ago,
his naked image tattooed on my head served as my inspiration.

Oh My Gulay

The plate is laid on top of the table, next to the flat screen monitor and the qwerty keyboard she personally requested for her desktop PC over a year ago. Forcing the zip-lock bag to open, its leafy contents tumble down like an avalanche towards the gullible tableware. It forms a pile high enough to topple down and tossing the vegetables on another bowl spare us the guilt of letting morsels get wasted when it accidentally falls to the ground.

On the plate it sprawls like a hillside garden waiting for harvest. Romaine Lettuce - crisp and tender - serves as the base of the entrée. Dewdrops forming on the edges make the leaves more appetizing. Slices of Cucumber and Patola add character to the raw dish. It breaks the monotony of chewing leaves with plump fruits picked from capricious crawlers. Huge tomatoes brush new hues to the verdant monochrome. Its yellow seeds may pale in texture but finding them clinging on swathes of green, Ones imagination flies as we are reminded of our long lost childhood.

"Ubusin mo yang gulay sa plate mo o hindi ka maglalaro sa labas!"

Thin rings of onion and thick squares of cheese add flavor to the bland salad. Enhanced with garlic, soy sauce and vinegar dressing, it leaves a tinge of Adobo in one's aftertaste. The Garden of Vegan's Delight, brought this morning by my supervisor - to be shared and enjoyed by those in the room - reminds of time when such sight used to be a source of deep revulsion.

I don't remember the day I traded vegetables for fish, but when my taste buds have learned to get intimate with the evergreens, my mind reinvigorates as each thought of gustatory indulgence cleanses whatever is tainted within me.

Vegetarian

Ang tanong na nangingibabaw sa sikmura ko ngayon ay kung sino ba ang tunay na may sala.

Iyon ba ang limang cheeseburgers galing sa Wendy's at isang sausage sandwich na binili sa isang hotdog stand na kinain ko noong nakaraang "Christian Conference?" Hindi kaya naimpatso ako noong Lunes matapos lantakan ang isang "special siopao" sa Kowloon House kahit buong araw na walang laman ang aking tiyan? Hindi kaya ang Marty's Vegetarian Chicharon ang totoong salarin nang ito'y aking papakin bago matulog kinagabihan? Kung sabagay, sino ba naman ang hindi sasakit ang tiyan kung sabayan ito ng maasim na Iced Tea na aking pinatimpla bago manood ng porn at mahiga ng kama.

Ang resulta ay karumal-dumal sa sinumang may katawan. Nagising ako kinaumagahan na mabigat ang tiyan. Sa sobrang bigat, pakiramdam ko ay parang may dala-dala ako sa sinapupunan. Hindi ko matanggap ang aking pagdadalang-ulam kaya't anuman ang nasa loob na nagpapabigat ng sikmura ay aking puwersahang nilabas sa lalamunan.

At doon ay tuloy-tuloy na sumambulat ang Marty's Chicharon na aking naging midnight snack. Dala nito ang bahid ng asim galing sa suka na siyang nagpaumay ng aking panlasa buong umaga.

Sa opisina ay hindi naging magaan ang aking pakiramdam. Kasabay ng training ang makailang beses na pagtakbo sa banyo upang itae - ang brown na tubig - galing sa aking bituka. Naroon rin ang walang katapusang dighay upang pakawalan ang hangin na galing sa loob ng aking katawan. Maraming beses na sinabihan akong umuwi ng aking superior officer, ngunit ako ay mapilit. Nararamdaman ko kasi na higit na magiging karumaldumal ang aking pakiramdam pagsapit ng hapon at maaring ito ang maging dahilan upang hindi makapasok kinabukasan.

Natapos ang shift na ako ay inaapoy ng lagnat. Dala ng panghihina ay muntikan na akong mabuwal sa daan. Binalak ko ang magtaxi subalit dahil nagtitipid, nagpursigi akong sumakay na lang ng jeep at maglakad pauwi ng bahay. Pagkarating ng kuwarto ay tila walang malay akong nahiga ng kama at natulog. Pagkagising ay hindi ako makabangon. Wala rin akong mautusan sapagkat nag-Friendster daw ang aming kasambahay.

Dumating si mama kinagabihan na medyo maayos na ang aking pakiramdam. Nakapaghapunan na rin ako ng maayos kaya't nagkaroon ako ng sapat na lakas upang makapagrelax ng kaunti. Pagsapit ng umaga ay pinili kong lumiban sa pagpasok ng trabaho para makapagpahinga. Posible kasing nakadagdag ang stress sa aking matinding panghihina.

Ngayon ay nakakagalaw na ako kahit paano. Ngunit dahil malambot pa rin ang mga bagay na nilalabas ng aking tiyan, naroon pa rin ang panghihina ng aking katawan. Kapag sumasagi sa isip ang Marty's o kaya naman ang mga beef patties na aking kinain, hindi ko maiwasan ang pakiramdam ng pagkasuya. Siguro nga ay masyadong maraming impurities na ang nagci-circulate sa aking katawan at ito ay pansamantalang kailangang matuldukan.

Masarap ang bawal lalo na kung ito ay malansa at malangis. Subalit nagbigay babala na ang aking katawan. Mahirap man ngunit nararapat itong tugunan.

Kaya't ako ay nagpasya.

Ngayong buwan ng Disyembre ay sariwang gulay ang magiging bulk ng aking diyeta.