Tomato Kick

I've been reading lots of good reviews for this restaurant for some time now, and given its close proximity to where I study, I've also been wanting to eat here for the longest time. I finally got to, one lazy Wednesday afternoon, after driving my friends around to do errands for Kythe's Kite Flying. We were in the area, so we finally decided to drop by.

It wasn't very easy to see, mainly because it was at the third floor of this building along Maginhawa in UP Village. BUT, there was parking. Yay! I didn't have to park along the street, because the building had parking space for around 4 or 5 cars. (Yeah, its not much, but... I'm happy enough given that THERE IS parking. Hahaha.)

The ambiance wasn't much. Actually, I wasn't expecting much anyways. However, the menu looked really good. Reading it felt like I was in a really nice restaurant, not just some hole-in-the-wall eating joint in the middle of nowhere. The food's very affordable to, with prices ranging from P50 to P200. The service was also fast, and the waiters were very attentive. Imagine, we were able to eat, drive to the tarp place, and get back to Ateneo in an hour. That means, the service was really fast.

Viva ate Chicken Alfredo, Karla ate Angelhair Bolognese pasta, Aisa, Quesadillas, and I ate Pepperoni Pita Pizza.

Viva and her food!

My Pepperoni Pita Pizza (which tasted more like 3M Pizza)

Viva's Chicken Alfredo looked sooooo good. But more importantly, IT WAS GOOD. I only got to take one bite of it, but nonetheless, I'm planning to order that next time. Well, according to Viva, the cream was really good, but not too heavy. Aisa and Karla were also very much satisfied with their food, especially Aisa, who got her Quesadillas for P50. That's way cheaper than the Quesadillas in Cantina, but with the same quality.

I, however, was not really satisfied with my food. Maybe I had set expectations that were too high, but my pita pizza felt like it was pizza from one of those cheap pizza stands.

But anyway. I'm definitely going back to this place. I want that Chicken Alfredo!!!

Suddenly surprised by the noise

This was what was written yesterday, January 20, 2008.

Three nights ago, I was getting mad at my yaya because the my toilet's flush won't work. And, being the irrational being that I am, I got mad at her, despite the fact that technically, she had nothing to do with it.

Two nights ago, my "sister" Yani and I were thinking of a way of how to pee in the woods. I wanted to get mad out of sheer frustration of being so in need of a decent restroom, yet not having one right then and there.

I just got back from my three day immersion from the Mangyans in Brgy. Paitan, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, just around three hours ago. One thing I realized the whole time I was there -- Ateneo never ceases to shock me. I think, this immersion was a fitting close to four years' worth of unique experiences that I know I would never have had if I didn't study here. Our immersion was like a leap of faith. We didn't know what to expect (because no one else has been there. We're the first batch of students from OSCI to go there.), we had no real background as to how things went in there.

Personally, it was the most challenging thing I've ever experienced in my whole life. Three days of no electricity, no running water, no place to pee (much less to do number two), mud everywhere, and limatik (small leeches) to battle against, each time we had to go somewhere. Funny, even the idleness seemed to get to me. I couldn't stand just sitting there and not doing anything.

There's so much to tell about what really went on there, but I haven't got the time right now, so I'll jump to the point of this. My immersion was a humbling experience, for me, at least, and for so many reasons. At the same time, it also left me confused. It's like suddenly, I didn't know what it meant to be poor or rich, and what happiness entailed. The experience made me compare my life to theirs, and sadly, I don't think my life (or the way I live my life) fared well, compared to how they lived theirs.

Valuable lessons learned -- One, that sometimes, people get caught up in the business of running their own lives that they forget the things that are really important. Two, happiness is a complicated matter, and its something that cannot be judged. Three, being in a city doesn't really mean that someone is "civilized." Four, its who YOU are that matters, not what you are.

I know I'm sounding a bit vague right now. Well, that's exactly what I'm feeling. All I know is, so far, this has been the hardest thing I've ever experienced, but I'm thankful, because it has taught me so much.

Me with Nanay Maryanne, Almira, Tao and Fidel

On the way back to the jeep

anticipating culture shock

Tomorrow I start living with the Mangyans in Mindoro.

What a way to start my 2008. Not that I'm not excited -- I am. It's just that... I don't know. It'll be a big change for me, even though it'll just be three days.

No restrooms, no running water, no electricity. Three days.

I'm guessing it'll be a really, really different place from where I grew up.

Anyway, wish me luck!

Hello 2008!

I officially ended my 2007 by reading blog entries of the past year. Well, 2007 was a good year. But, apart from a lot of firsts, it was a so-so year. It was good, not great, if you get my drift.

So now I'm waiting for 2008 to unfold. An hour and fifty minutes into the year, and I'm still waiting for something to happen. I hope this isn't a foreshadowing of how the year will turn out to be.

Anyway, hello, 2008! I'm looking forward to crazier adventures and more memorable days! Cheers!

I want more days like this. :)