Scavenger Hunt: A Tale Of Four Cities

Guadalupe: This Unholy Crusade

My good buds at KMC Mag and I went on a “Nickelodeon-esque” treasure hunt for our glam rock-themed Christmas party. We went to Guadalupe one night after work. The only thing I hate about Christmas season, aside from it being too commercialized, is the freakin’ traffic (people and vehicles alike). It takes an eternity to move in this urban jungle (somebody hand me a bolo!).

I envy my colleagues because they are comparable to the characters in AVATAR: The Last Airbender. They know how to bend the prices of the items. They have the power of haggling. One has to have great skills of persuasion or bargaining power to convince the vendors to yield. A leather bracelet that costs PhP 35 was lowered to PhP 25, and then a t-shirt that costs around PhP 150 was bought at PhP 120.

I needed chains for my costume, so I tried my very own "price bending" ability. It was tagged at PhP 40 each and I needed two of those. I asked the vendor if I can get both for PhP 60 but he declined my offer. FAILED. Sad to say, I went home "chain-less". On the other hand, I managed to purchase a belt with chrome skeleton hand for PhP 120 (priced at PhP 150) and a leather bracelet with rotating skull for PhP 50 (priced at PhP 60). Not bad, huh?

Exhausted from all that scavenging, we rewarded ourselves by dining at Andok's Restaurant. We ordered pork chop, BBQ, and liempo. It was a crazy adventure fumbling through those stalls but call it Day One.

Cubao: The Place To Be

I was aiming to cross out the majority on my costume checklist - cheap make-up, black lipstick and eyeliner, and the elusive chains. There are a lot of stalls in Cubao aside from the wet market but at the end of my day, I wasn’t able cross out anything on my checklist at all. Bummer.

I also went to Cubao to purchase the cosmetic contact lenses I saw on the internet. The vendor I spoke with on the phone informed me that they’re located at the back of Ali Mall, a prominent landmark in that area. I was sure I’d have no problems finding the store. To my dismay and again, blame my lack of sense of direction, I went there only to realize I was clueless as to where the freakin’ store is. It's nowhere behind Ali Mall but situated in a townhouse FAR from Ali Mall. Facepalm! Santa, give me a GPS, por favor! Long story short, I did get the lenses I needed. Happy ending.

Cubao is one of the oldest commercial area in the Philippines. There, one will find the Araneta Coliseum (home of the Philippine Basketball Association and historic arena for “Thrilla in Manila”) and malls like Gateway, COD and Ali Mall (named after Muhammad Ali). Just go there if you need furniture (new or antique) for your pad. Cubao is also a good place to dine in or hang out. Just a friendly warning - have tons of patience for traffic.

Trying on the contact lens for the first time

Araneta Center beside Gateway Mall

New Ali Mall

Old facade of Ali Mall

Sidetrack: Muñoz

On a rainy Sunday afternoon, I went to Muñoz to buy the remaining items on my checklist - makeup and chains. I was able to purchase black eyeshadow and eyeliner, acetone, nail color, rubber band and another skull bracelet. No chains, though. I didn't haggle because I know they needed extra income for the holidays. Total damage was PhP 100-PhP 120.

As I traversed through the busy streets (or alleys?), I witnessed a very disturbing scene - a couple (one of those people who have spent their lives in the street and making it their "home") was fighting each other ala UFC. The guy was pulling his wife’s hair while pounding her head on the steel door of a shop. I don't know if the guy was high on drugs but he wasn’t letting her go. The poor woman was fighting for her life by hitting him on the head with a chain (not the one I needed, BTW) and pulling his hair, but he won't budge.

I wanted to help by calling a cop or punching the lights out of the guy (if only I know Muay Thai). I know what people will say: It’s none of my business and I shouldn't meddle but that's purely BS. Nobody, especially a woman, deserves to be treated that way. Violence lurks everywhere and I just hope and pray that it would stop. We can't be mum or blind and we shouldn’t turn our cheeks away.

I raise my middle finger to the guys who treat their women as punching bags (physically or not).

(Super) Novaliches

Facepalm! I have entirely forgotten the closest place where I can get a good bargain: Novaliches.

So on a scorching hot Monday morning, I braved the bumper-to-bumper traffic (the area is very notorious for killer traffics) to seal my checklist. I finally purchased a black lipstick and a new eyeliner (the one I previously bought was poorly made). I also bought that decent black suspenders for PhP 120 (it was priced at PhP 130).

Remember the elusive chains I was looking for which were priced at PhP 40 each in Guadalupe? Well fellows, after a long walk, I got two of those for only...PhP 30! Good find, indeed! Steady Ped for the win! Booya! My reward before heading to Manila for my henna session? Jollibee Chickenjoy! Hoo-haa!

These are not for BDSM annual party.

One won't be having a hard time looking for illegal copies of DVD's.

Tengo suerte, traffic cooperated for awhile.

We're all stars now in the dope show!
My second time dressing up as Marilyn Manson.

Smorgasbord In Banchetto

A couple of Fridays ago, my close buds and I went to Sidebar in Ortigas to chill for a few hours. Since it was a Friday night, we were expecting that it would be jam-packed just like the previous times we've been there. Good thing our expectations weren't met; it was a slow Friday night.

We bonded over "tissue" jokes (shared by my good friend's brother), work dilemmas, "kodak moments", and of course, a good concoction of cervezas and music. If you're wondering about that tissue joke, I have to ask my friend about it again. I'll update you all in a separate post.

Aside from that "chillax" moment, we also had another agenda why we went to Ortigas. A few blocks away is BANCHETTO - a street fiesta which occurs every late Friday night until Saturday morning on Emerald Avenue. Banchetto literally means "feast" in Italian. It has been featured recently in several Filipino TV shows, magazines and blogs. Here, one can rummage through different stalls serving various cuisines that can satisfy every craving: Mediterranean, Mexican, Indian, Italian, and of course, Filipino. Popular Filipino street foods are also served here, like isaw (pork intestines), adidas (chicken feet), kwekwek (quail egg coated with orange-food coloring and flour) among others. There are also pastries and chocolate offerings for the sweet tooth. 

The appealing smoke of grilled beef has drawn me and I got myself a kebab. My friends got burrito, kebab, strawberry cheesecake and crepes. One can sit on the footsteps of nearby buildings or on the chairs of convenient stores to devour what they’ve purchased. It's not difficult to eat from the styrofoam containers per se. It is when the provided plastic utensils crack and break that eating becomes, um, challenging (duh!).

We could have further browsed through different stalls amidst the thick density of the crowd and rainfall but we were already satisfied with our meals. Surely, this isn't the last time we are going there for an appetizing post-dinner affair. Enjoying life’s simple pleasures with good friends is priceless. Who cares about getting rain-soaked?! It was all part of the fun.

You can find out more about Banchetto here. 

My meal that night: kebab!

Uhm, yeah...

Oh my, kebab...

Thanksgiving

This entry was supposed to be posted before Thanksgiving Day but blame my excellent time management skills: I'm 4 days behind schedule.

We celebrated our first thanksgiving at the humble abode of Grandma Frances and Grandpa John (our Ninang's in-laws) who live two houses away from where we are staying/living. We are so full from the scrumptious dishes Grandma has prepared: from turkey meat, partnered with mashed potatoes, beans and corn to cornbread and ham. Boy, that was just last year! We experienced the beautiful unfolding of nature one usually sees in wallpapers or postcards during our stay in the States. From the scorching hot spell during summer to the astonishing transformation of the trees come fall season and the fluffy, chilly, yet depressing white Christmas. Time really flies so fast! Cliché but true.

Celebrating Thanksgiving Day isn't really a Filipino holiday but gathering and dining like/as a family makes it exceptionally special. I was planning last Thursday to treat my family for our local version of Thanksgiving dinner but due to some unfortunate and plan-wrecking reason (my salary wasn't deposited to my bank account), the idea was scrapped. The following days made it clear (actually bitch-slapped me) that T.D. will happen a week later.

As I hope that this dilemma fades, I contemplated on things that I am grateful for.

I am thankful for the Good Lord that He has provided shelter, nourishment, good health and safety for my family especially last year. He never abandoned my family (though there are times I question Him/Her why do we have to undergo trials in our lives and I felt alone in my journey). I extend my/our gratitude to the people who are not really our relatives but treated and welcomed us like family in the States. They have lived up to the words of Christ which are giving/sharing sustenance, clothes, financial support and of course, a roof over our heads. We miss them so much and all we can do right now is support them and always include them in our prayers.

I am thankful for my family who's still with me. We are not a perfect family like you'll see in those happy, hyper-active TV advertisements. We have a huge share of ups and downs but hey, we're knocked-out cold. We acknowledge we have flaws but we aspire to be better. I am thankful for the times we eat together in our old, time-tested, wooden dining table and that for me are pure, simple joy. I just hope it will happen again.

I am thankful for my sister who, even though constantly drives me nuts, I know, is concerned with me. Believe me, I am concerned with her too. I know our Radioshack dinosaur-type communication needs an upgrade. I just hope and pray that she'd be happy in everything that the Lord has blessed her (traveling for free, enormous writing talent, looks and no fuck-up moments like me). Happiness, strength, success and independence: among the things I'm praying for her.

I am thankful for the Good Lord for blessing my mom good health, strength and always providing me her pieces of advice. Recently, I succumbed to life's harshest predicament but she has remained steadfast. That's a lot for a mother to take and probably, extinguish the life out of her but she told me to get up on my feet and face my problems like a man. She doesn't deserve any hurting that my fucked-up moments are giving her. I pray that my mom will feel and experience that our lives have improved and will see that we are successful in our respective fields. I pray that she'll get to hold and take care of her first apo/grandchild. Soon, mom, when the right girl at the right time comes.

I admire my father for his strength, wisdom, sense of humor and his success in life. His history is not pleasant either but one will greatly admire him because he surpassed those challenges and stood tall. I am thankful for the ass-whooping I got from him when I was growing up. That prevented me from being a great dick-head like those rich spoiled brats. I am also thankful for the fact that he still loves and accepts me for the same reason that devastated my mom. The SMS he sent me months ago gave me hope as I try to agonizingly stand up. I am grateful for the Lord for blessing my father health, success, and wisdom.

I am thankful for my adorable nephews and niece who are very talented yet still remain as good kids. Every moment I spent with them (even playing as a customer for a makeshift grocery store and changing my voice plus the time I almost run out of gas just to pull the “sled” because we are playing rollercoaster ride) reminded me that I have to live just to see them grow up and how wonderful it is to be a father. It melted my heart when my nephew Johann said to me: “Daddy, push me faster!” or “Carry me!” Of course, though my back was aching, I still pushed or carried him. Oh yeah, I forgot, I was hit on the face with a dart from that NERF gun. Also the time I fell face flat on the concrete from trying to be fast riding that scooter…It's a never-ending list, but I’ll forever cherish hearing their laughter, shrieks, playing games with them, and listening to them play the piano, guitar or just sing. I just hope that in their eyes and heart, I’m still a good Tito Raymond.

I am thankful for the people I rub elbows with, even the bitches and ass-holes. Good or bad, one will learn a lot from them. I don't like to judge people, contrary to those claims against me. To begin with, I believe that all people are good. The only time my perception will change about them is when they do terrible things to me like spreading false stories, backstabbing, taking advantage...you know the set-up.

I am thankful for the Good Lord for blessing me with reliable, old friends who have remained with me and accepted my shortcomings and flaws. They saw how I lost and reclaimed my groove back (though I'm still struggling) and in spite of that, they never took advantage of me. I just hope that I made a positive difference in their lives. I am thankful too for the new people who are introduced in my life and I hope we will become good friends (the definition of "friend" weighs heavy for me: it should stand the test of time, not superficial and no backstabbing, among other things).

I am thankful for the fan in my life who always encourages me not to stop creating and never compromise. I am grateful to my fan for helping me get up again, finding my voice and not allowing myself fade like fog. My feet are grounded but I’m still struggling to restore how I work. My fan reminded me too that no one has the right to put me down, insult me and that I am special and worthy. I also hope that I inspire you in return. You know who you are.

I am thankful for the talents that I get to share with the world. Just like the parable of the talents, I strive to increase what the Great Artist has blessed me. I am thankful that one of these blessings has provided what we need, put food on the table and made my family proud. The Lord and close friends know that I always aim to be the best (or one of the best) and make a positive difference. I am happy too that I was offered a job before Christmas time. Even though I am not yet back to my “fighting artist/designer form”, I am determined to deliver more what is expected from me.

I am grateful for the Great Redeemer for He is merciful. Just like the lost lamb, the Good Shepherd will look after me. He's given me lots of chances to redeem myself but then, I just find myself getting trapped in sin again. I got my ass whooped a lot of times, even blamed Him for my misfortunes, and never acknowledging that it was my own doing. Still, He makes His presence felt. Then I stumbled hard for the nth time and I considered this as the most fucked-up moment in my life. Even when I can barely stand, and death was the quick answer to my dilemma, He showed me reasons why I should still keep fighting and living. The reasons are my family (esp. my mom), my aspirations, the kids, my friends and my soon-to-be family. I recalled that I just slept the whole day, smoked like a chimney, and drink booze everyday. My smile was either fake or invisible, my stares are blank, and I walk like I'm dragging the Titanic. Life has no importance for me and I welcomed death with open arms. It was the easy way out. I’m still praying for healing and popular saying tells us, time heals all wounds. All I can say, God will be my Judge and I will accept the consequences.

Thanksgiving Day is not entirely about the banquet served with delectable dishes you are going to attend. It is a break from too much yearning; it's about counting our blessings. It is also one way of expressing gratitude to God and other people that we are still alive and share what we have, not only to our family but to our neighbors too. Come to think of it, every time we pray and talk to God, and raise our gratitude, everyday is Thanksgiving Day.