Summer rain

and I am dreaming of the beach...

Quezon

  

Coron

Batangas

Pagudpud

Zambales

and Caramoan,
and Marinduque,
and Pearl Farm,
and Tawi-tawi,
and Zamboanga,
and Batanes,
and the 7000 others.

If only I can teleport, jump from one place to another and freeze the time, I'll do that in one weekend. I am just an ordinary mortal and can only dream of it, so for the mean time I'll sit here, listen to the rain and wait...

Worth it?

It's all over: on prime time tv, on billboards, on your Sunday paper, on four corners of the grocery, even under the escalator complete with a promo girl. You won't miss it as your friends are also talking about it on Facebook and some strangers on the MRT or the shuttle service.

Magnum Ice Cream.

Yeah, the P50 ice cream that's making the rounds of its media glitz and successfully caught the ordinary people's attention and curiosity. Some magnum lovers are all in chorus in praising it ("every peso is worth it!!!") while some naysayers are branding it as some glorified pinipig crunch ("so overrrrated!"). So, the curious me looked for it one Sunday, and while doing the grocery, I managed to see a freezer full of the Classic and Almond varieties. I took the Almond, and Lyn was like, "isa lang yan? bakit ang mahal?!" I paid for it so that settles the argument hehehe.

We didn't eat it right away, we waited until we're at home and I almost forgot about it until I unload the grocery bag. So I immediately took it, look at it, open it, took a bite, close my eyes, and scratch my head. Did I like it? Let me put it this way: If the word almond is not written on its glossy packaging and I just happen to have a look on the ice cream itself, I would confirm that it's like a pinipig crunch, only smaller. And if you are thinking that this is the ultimate ice cream, you're very wrong. I am not convinced, and my wife agreed with me this time, that it is not worth all the praise releases but the Belgian chocolate coating is sooo good, it's like I am eating a, well, chocolate. But I cannot say the same with the vanilla ice cream, it is just that: vanilla, and not an extra-ordinary one. The saving grace here is the chocolate coating, and it is the one that my tongue remembers. I even forgot that there are almonds LOL.

For most of us, the P50 price tag is expensive for some minutes of icy cold sweetness on our mouths. It can even buy five ice cream on stick, or 10 scoops of dirty ice cream. If you want to stay away from your usual sorbetes, this MAY be it, but for its price, there are some better alternatives such as FIC and even the Korean ice cream Melona!

I do not agree that Magnum Ice Cream is the best there is, but I do agree that they market it really well that we are here talking like it's the impeachment hearing. I wonder what will Sen. Miriam Santiago would say if she tried one...whaaa!

There are three flavors, I think I'll also try the other two hehehe...

One sunset (in a low batt camera)

We just had an event at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila a couple of days back.  We were asked to come at around 6 in the evening, and since Roxas Boulevard is notorious for a sudden build up of vehicles for no apparent reason/s, the traffic paranoid that we are came early, 5 o'clock to be exact!  We were seated at the lobby waiting for the clock to strike 6, I am almost feeling the call of boredom and the soft cushion of the lobby chair is making me sleepy. One of my colleagues who is also drowned with boredom came up with the most amazing idea I have heard in the last 60 minutes: go to the pool area and watch as the sun sets.  The mere mention of staying away from the lobby is enough to pull me off from dreamland.

Some minutes later, we were at the pool area, with people in their swimming attire and us in our tie and suits and the girls in their evening dress, and I still wonder why they are staring LOL.  Anyhow, the sun is still bright at that time, not the golden one I am expecting, but such brightness is also a beauty (sunset is always beautiful) and ideal for silhouettes. There's one catch though, my camera is issuing a warning: low bat!!! So much for being prepared hehehe. But despite the warning and before it fade out on me, I was able to take some shots to share.

Since my camera is near dead, I was glad to take everyone's camera and be the shooter, never mind if I wasn't included in any picture, I'd rather be the one taking photos than be the one being photographed.

When we're inside the hotel, I checked again on my camera and I was glad that it's still alive, got a few more shots of the food served, and then it's bye-bye.

To be fair to me, I normally check the battery and charge it if it need be, it just so happens that I cannot find the charger thereby low battery (nag-explain pa talaga hehehe).

:)

Makati Caracol 2012

Another first for 2012, at least for me. :)

 

I had my first taste of the Chinese New Year in Binondo, and now, I got to cover for the first time, the Makati Caracol 2012. This the financial district's version of the Mardigras, though it may not be as grand, it can be as colorful and as noisy.

I went to the Ayala Triangle a little past one, as I plan to shoot the participants while they are preparing for the parade as what I was doing at the Aliwan Fiesta every year. Alas! I was too early, so early that the participants are nowhere to be seen! I didn't know that the parade will start at 4 pm and that the participants will be coming only after 2 pm!  Talking about me being prepared hehehe.  At least, I had my exercise by walking the Ayala-Paseo-Makati Avenue areas at least five times!

bee-sy?

this one's not as busy as a bee

I was a bit shy at first to ask participants for a pose, but when I got the confidence, nanghaharang na ako hehehe.

 

 

As there are only several schools participating in the street dancing (nine, I think), after I had my fill of shooting spree in Paseo, I walked and stayed along Makati Avenue to wait for the parade, and I didn't wait long for it to start.

texting while street dancing

The barangays in Makati are all represented and they don't seem to mind the heat as they keep their smiles and waves.

Despite my not-so-good location, I was able to watch the street dancing competition of the first four participants. I would have finished all nine but the threat of rain stopped me from doing so and I run towards the nearest cover thinking that it will rain hard but it did not.  Ayun, parang sa Korea-Malta fireworks lang, naunahan agad ako sa pwesto ko hehehe.

Next year, I will make sure to be in the photographers/press area AND I will bring my trusted umbrella so I wouldn't be paranoid with the rain. :)