Swiss and Belgian chocolates

I’ve been lucky enough to be a recipient of chocolate gifts recently. Even luckier because they are some of the world’s finest chocolates, coming from the two of the top producing countries, Belgium and Switzerland. If you ask me to tell the difference, I can’t, although am sure one would claim to be better and sweeter than the other.

First is this trio of chocolate packages from blog reader-turned-friend Marissa, who is based in the outskirts of Zurich, Switzerland. One brand is familiar, Lindt, while the other is called Cocktailbar and are shaped like liquor bottles. Most of all, they contain real shots of alcohol! The Lindt was delicately packed itself in pink with the most attractive feminine graphics – so Paris Hilton Tasting the savory pralines was another matter. We simply couldn’t have enough of it.

I figure that chocolate-making itself is an art. Before these confectioneries become desirable, they must first become presentable, right? Coming up with nibbles like those in the picture above requires special molds and the most exacting process. According to Wikipedia, Switzerland (which is famous for Toblerone) has the highest rate of chocolate consumption in the world.
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When Katrina said ‘Binaboy ako,’ swine flu cases went up

This week in Barrio Siete, I speak about the ramifications of language and the many meanings it can conjure.

Take for instance Katrina Halili’s famous line in the Most Downloaded Video of the Year. Whereas other phrases can easily be translated from Tagalog to English, her utterance of “Binaboy ako” was lost on some experts. “I was swined” or “I was porkified” is kinda awkward and is just for joking. ” I was treated like a pig” is rather harsh for something that she probably enjoyed, if only it was kept more private.

Being “lost in translation” is something we always encounter. In this country of 7,107 islands, there exists several hundred dialects. A word in one province can have a nasty meaning in another, and this is where the riot comes in.

A few of the strange words that cropped up in the comments:

Utong sa Tagalog means nipples. In Ilocos, it’s perfectly okay to munch on utong because it means string beans
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Flores de Mayo sa MOA 2009: it’s Santacruzan time!

The merry month of May ushers in the Santacruzan festival across the country. This is the queen of all fiestas honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary. Even people from other faiths find reason to celebrate during this annual event as it takes on a significance other than the cultural and religious. Townsfolk usually ogle at lovely sagalas (with their escorts) and the beautiful gowns they’re wearing.

Manila’s annual Flores de Mayo is no exception. In previous years, it was held at the Manila Hotel and the Rajah Sulayman Park. This time around, the venue was the sprawling Mall of Asia.The much-awaited parade featured the city’s fairest ladies wearing the creations of top couturiers. It was time to practice with my camera again, and take a few pics. All of the ladies wore designer interpretations of the terno, the native Filipino clothing popularized by Imelda Marcos.

Resigned Bb. Pilipinas World 2008 Janina San Miguel was an eyecatching sign in this elaborate brocade gown by Jontie Martinez.

The hair and accessories of the beauty queens were really impressive. Look at the details. Of course, Filipinas don’t go out like this everyday. But hey, this happens only once a year!

This year’s theme was “Bellissima Filipina” and had the Venetian touch. Hence, the ladies carried Venetian masks. Above gown by in-demand designer Danilo Franco even had a painting of the Sistine Chapel on the skirt.
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Churches in Quezon & Laguna

Our pilgrimage to the Pahiyas festival also turned out to be a Visita Iglesia of sorts. We were able to visit at least four ancient churches! Ever since getting married in a 16th century church last January, I’ve been obsessed with their history and details. The Roman Catholic houses of worship in the Philippines may not be as grand as the ones in Europe but they’re still comparable in terms of historical value. They remain enduring symbols of Spain’s colonization of the Philippines, and some of them have housed revolutionaries fighting for Philippine Independence.

First on the agenda is the Lucban Church in Quezon, which is almost 400 years old. Said the inscription: ” The first church, built in 1595, was ruined in 1629. The second church was constructed between 1630 and 1640, but was seriously damaged by fire in 1733. The present church was completed in 1738 and the convent in 1743.”

The Liliw Church in Laguna is another thing of beauty, and dates back to the 1600s. It is notable for its orange-y brick color.

The church is the centerpiece of a town known for being the country’s premier slipper-makers. It is surrounded by a parking lot and a couple of pergolas or open-air quadrangles.

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Face-to-face with BB Gandanghari: out with the old, in with the new

A lot of girls had a crush with Rustom Padilla, way back when he was younger and married to Carmina Villaroel. I admit I found him attractive too. Here’s an old picture:

It was in 2003 that he came to full realization that he was gay and it wasn’t until 2006 or so that he admitted publicly about his orientation. Fast forward to 2009 and everybody’s talking about the birth of a new woman. Gone with Rustom, in with BB Gandanghari:

Pictures from the bloggers’ Meet and Greet with BB at mag:net Bonifacio High Street today.
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What I learned from… a sidewalk

The streets in Manila are crowded with vendors selling all sorts of wares. First picture shows a boy selling bubble toys and demonstrating it in the process by throwing bubbles in the air The second one is making her living telling fortunes of people. There are lots of fortunetellers like her just outside a church in Quiapo, a crowded district in our city. It seems an irony that you profess your faith and then outside, there are lots of old women claiming to tell the future, and more.
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Jollibee opens in New York, a first in the East Coast

Thanks to Spanx for giving Pinoy foodies a heads-up on this piece of news:

Philippines’ Most Popular Fast-food Chain Lands in Queens. Via Grub Street.

500 overseas branches, and counting? Wow! This is just positive news, especially as we don’ t really see too many Filipino companies going global. I did see Pancake House International during my last visit to Malaysia. I had to blink twice. Kudos to these firms for expanding.

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Litratong Pinoy 47: Bulaklak

Ngayong linggo sa Litratong Pinoy, ang pinag-uusapan ay bulaklak.

Kapag sinabi mong bulaklak eh wala akong maisip kundi ang magandang bouquet ng dilaw na calla lily na hawak ko nung kami ni WhizHeart ay kinasal kamakailan. Sobra akong nabighani sa bulaklak na ito kaya di ko sinunod ang tradisyon na itapon ito sa bouquet toss. Ganun na lang ang panunuksong inabot ko sa aking kabiyak at malapit na kaibigan. Selfish daw ako, hehe.

Ngayon ko lang naisip, nandun ang bulaklak sa bawat mahalagang bahagi ng buhay ng tao. Halimbawa na dito ang kasal, Valentine’s Day, pagkakasakit at pagkamatay. Ano ba ang ibig sabihin nito? Supposed to be nagbibigay tayo ng bulaklak para mapasaya ang isang tao. Bakit nga ba sa mga burol ay may bulaklak pa rin? Hindi naman siguro ito nagpapahiwatig ng kasayahan sa isang pangyayari. Ninanais lang ng nagbibigay ng bulaklak na sumaya ang mga nagdadalamhati.Ito’y sapagkat sa ating kalungkutan, nagbibigay ang bulaklak ng paalala ng kagandahan ng buhay.
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The budget bride’s guide to getting married: a salute to our wedding suppliers

For our wedding, I liked working on the budget given me by my then-groom-to-be. I was very much challenged with stretching every peso, without sacrificing the quality of the outcome. If we had all the money in the world to spend, it would have been so easy to scout for the most expensive wedding venue, priciest wedding videographer, or the tallest cake, but it wasn’t meant to be that way. We wanted a small, intimate wedding, and we had to be “creative” with the people who would work behind the scenes to make our dream wedding come true.

As a non-OC bride, it also paid to put my complete trust on our wedding suppliers . Our choices were a “leap in the dark” since we either just researched them or were referred to us by other people. Still, am very happy that they were able to deliver exceptionally well, and this post is our little salute to them. I hope this would also help would-be brides in scouting for their suppliers.

First, the sponsors:

Vintage Bridal Car by Danny Maramba of 249 Motors. Call or text: 0917-8100249

Danny was my colleague when I was still with Rotary and am glad he did me the favor of lending a vintage Benz from his collection. Actually, it was supposed to be a 1951 Oldsmobile, but at the last minute he proposed using the 33-year old red Benz 450 SL convertible instead. Using the topdown meant that I had to melt under the heat, as the vehicle drove me from the hotel to the church. It also meant that Mr. Z had to drive, instead of being driven, from the church to the reception.It turned out to be FUN, FUN, FUN. ’twas nice to see the happy faces of people on the streets as they gawked, waved and smiled at us. For a moment, we felt like movie stars, hehe. Mah groom looked handsome in his RayBan and I had a kick wearing my Rudy’s

WPD motorcycle escorts: PM me for details

Riding a top down car in the heart of Manila meant safety was our primary concern. So I contacted my “hagad” (police escort) contact who I dealt with in my previous work assignment. They were available and didn’t ask me for anything. They were more than happy to assist me. Right there, my impression of rogue cops was changed The escorts proved to be very useful in negotiating traffic from Binondo to Quirino Grandstand on that busy Friday afternoon!

The Wedding Emcee, Spanky Enriquez Call or text: 09285035137

Am glad this fellow blogger made it to our wedding, coz it seems he’s always fully-booked. Aside from being in-demand in the emceeing circuit, Spanx also shares his foodie bent in the group called Ultimate Philippines Tours where he shares stellar billing with travel aficionados Anton Diaz, Ivan Henares and Ivan Man Dy. Okay girls, he’s also an eligible bachelor, hehe. Once again, maraming salamat Spanx!

And the rest of the suppliers:

Church Venue, Bridal Entourage Flowers & Doves: Basilica Minore de San Lorenzo Ruiz ( Binondo Church) Call 242-4850

This church was highly recommended to me by someone for its no-fuss policy on weddings, unlike other Catholic Churches. Am glad we made the choice, because we were pressed for time. It was a plus that the parish priest is the Judicial Vicar of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila which decides on weddings of foreigners to Filipinos. Even a greater plus that the church is simply beautiful and has historical value. It was first erected in 1596 and its ceiling has been likened to the Sistine Chapel in Rome. We’re proud to be married in its hallowed halls.

The church staff is very nice and helpful, especially Lizel, the girl who assisted us. Their package of 21K already included the priest, soloist, coordinators, the flowers used in the church and all bridal entourage flowers. One can opt to have a simple wedding for a much lower price. I loved my bouquet of yellow calla lillies. Liked it so much that I opted not to throw it!

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The non-OC bride’s guide to getting married: post-wedding thoughts

I was a non-OC bride and just left it to God to make our wedding come true:) Never mind if I singlehandedly took over the planning, coordinating and implementing our wedding. A few months before, hubby made it clear that he was willing to spend on a wedding planner and I said no, we only had a small wedding and I could do it on my own. Never thought it would suck the life out of me, or it would be the cause of some arguments because of my mood swings. “Non-OC” does not always equal “non-stressed out.”

While it appeared that the major details were already ironed out, it was the last-minute details that got me. I thought I didn’t have decent pics for the bridal preps because instead of facing the make-up artist, I was writing the reception program outline an hour before. My manicure and pedicure was also done four hours before, and on the big day itself, there I was in the bowels of Binondo buying my son’s camisa de chino. I still regret that we weren’t able to print out our missalette, even if a well-meaning friend shared with us theirs.

Still, all’s well that ends well. Funny how some betrothed couple can fuss and plan 360 days in advance about something that happens only in one day, but that’s the way it is. In our case, it was only 59 days preparation time or so
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