Bikolanong Bulkan

LA Food: Roy's

2010-12-31T23:01:00.000-08:00

Wood-Grilled Szechwan Spiced Baby Back Pork Ribs

Edamame Soy Beans

Smoked Tomato Soup

Crunchy Golden Lobster Potstickers

Classic Roasted Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi

Hawaiian Blackened Island Ahi

Melting Hot Chocolate Soufflé

Hawaiian Guava Chiffon Cake

Macadamia Almond Tart Birthday Dessert

The Birthday Girl

http://www.roysrestaurant.com/index.asp

LA Food: Octopus

2010-12-23T22:32:00.000-08:00

Popcorn Shrimp

Soft Shell Crab

Dynamite California Roll

Unagi Donburi

http://www.octopusrestaurant.com/pb/

LA Food: Pizza Paul

2010-11-16T22:12:00.000-08:00

Organic Spinach Salad with Special Homemade Dressing

Sicilian Chicken Pizza

All-Meat Calzone

http://www.yelp.com/biz/pizza-pauls-los-angeles

LA Food: Jade Seafood Restaurant

2010-11-06T23:55:00.000-07:00

Hot & Sour Soup

Fried Sole Fish

Honey Walnut Shrimp

Sweet Mung Bean

http://www.yelp.com/biz/jade-seafood-and-bbq-restaurant-rosemead

LA Food: Lunasia

2010-10-26T23:35:00.000-07:00

Deep-Fried Seafood Salad Roll

Taro Cake

Sticky Rice Wrap

Roasted Duck Pie

Steamed BBQ Pork Buns

Shark Fin Dumpling Soup

Bean Curd Skin Wrap

http://www.lunasiachinesecuisine.com/lunasia

LA Food: Philippe The Original

2010-10-25T22:51:00.000-07:00

Lunch crowd

Tomato Bisque

French-Dipped Beef Sandwich

Potato Salad

French-Dipped Turkey Sandwich

Lemonade

Blueberry Pie

Lemon Meringue Pie

Carrot Cake

If they've been here that long,
they must be doing something good.
http://www.philippes.com/

LA Food: L.A. Rose Cafe

2010-10-23T22:10:00.000-07:00

Chicken Empanada with Sweet Mustard Sauce

Garden Salad

Pork Longganisa

Chicken Adobo

http://larosecafehollywood.com/

LA Food: Kazoku Sushi

2010-10-20T21:32:00.000-07:00

Unagi Bowl

California Roll

Baked Crab Roll with Soy Paper

http://www.kazokusushi.com/index.asp

WI Food: Schuster's Westside Inn

2010-10-15T22:59:00.000-07:00

Open Salad Bar

French Onion Soup

Baked Halibut and Mac & Cheese

With Lemon Butter Sauce kept warm by candle

Golden Shrimp & Fries

Fish & Chips

Round Steak and Mac & Cheese

WI Food: Genoa Junction Restaurant

2010-10-13T22:18:00.000-07:00

Boiled Cod Fish in Lemon Butter Sauce

Potatoes & Onions are boiled with the fish

Coleslaw & Rye bread made fresh daily

Homemade Apple Pie

www.fitzgeraldsfishboil.com

WI P.O.I: Animal Gardens' Baby Barn

2010-10-13T22:12:00.000-07:00

Baby Barn

Thumbnail photo is a link to an online album.

WI P.O.I.: The Dancing Horses Theatre

2010-10-13T22:04:00.000-07:00

Dancing Horses

Thumbnail photo is a link to an online album.

WI P.O.I: Pabst Mansion

2010-10-12T23:15:00.000-07:00

Pabst Mansion

Thumbnail photo is a link to an online album.

WI P.O.I.: St. Josaphat Basilica

2010-10-12T23:13:00.000-07:00

St Josaphat Basilica

Thumbnail photo is a link to an online album.

WI P.O.I: Lakefront Brewery

2010-10-12T23:07:00.000-07:00

Lakefront Brewery

Thumbnail photo is a link to an online album.

WI Food: Meglio Pizzeria

2010-10-12T21:38:00.000-07:00

That reads Triple Bake. We came on the right day!

Triple Baked All Meat Pie

Creamy Cajun Chicken Penne

Homemade Beef Calzone

www.megliopizza.com

WI Food: Fortune Chinese Restaurant

2010-10-10T23:34:00.000-07:00

Potstickers

Red Hot Chili Pepper Sauce

Honey Walnut Shrimp

Crispy Skin Chicken

House Special Chow Fun

Deep Fried Flounder

With (L-R) Jade, Wendee, Ate Weena, Candy, Mama & Paul

www.fortunerestaurant.net

WI P.O.I.: McKinley Marina

2010-10-10T23:12:00.000-07:00

Mc Kinley Marina

WI P.O.I.: Milwaukee Riverwalk

2010-10-10T23:08:00.000-07:00

Milwaukee Riverwalk

WI P.O.I.: Wisconsin Cheese Mart

2010-10-10T23:03:00.000-07:00

Wisconcin Cheese Mart

WI P.O.I.: Milwaukee Public Market

2010-10-10T22:58:00.000-07:00

Milwaukee Public Market

WI P.O.I.: Milwaukee Downtown Books

2010-10-10T22:55:00.000-07:00

Milwaukee Downtown Books

WI P.O.I.: Pfister Hotel

2010-10-10T22:18:00.000-07:00

Pfister Hotel

My Sister's Wedding 4 of 4

2010-10-09T23:59:00.000-07:00

Nup Chow

~ Photos are author's property.

My Sister's Wedding 3 of 4

2010-10-09T23:50:00.000-07:00

Post-Nup

~ Photos are author's property.

My Sister's Wedding 2 of 4

2010-10-09T23:33:00.000-07:00

Intra-Nup

~ Photos are author's property.

My Sister's Wedding 1 of 4

2010-10-09T23:20:00.000-07:00

Pre-Nup

Photos are author's property.

WI Food: Culver's

2010-10-07T20:24:00.000-07:00

WIsconsin prides itself in agricultural production, cheese and milk being two of the state's leading products.

Culver's, a Midwest-based fast-food chain, originated in Wisconsin.

It uses home-grown raw materials for its products like their signature butter burgers, and frozen custard which come in different flavors every single day of the month.

Butter Burger Single

Butter Burger Double

Onion Rings

Butter Burger Cheese

Mushroom & Swiss

Crinkle Cut Fries

Butter Burger Cheddar

Sourdough Melt

Culver's Deluxe

Culver's Bacon Deluxe

http://www.culvers.com/

The Phantom Of The Opera Live @ The Pantages Theatre

2010-09-27T00:05:00.000-07:00

After a devilishly delicious dinner, our party of ten took our masquerade mood from Delphine to the Pantages Theatre where we bid farewell to "The Phantom" as he performed his final overture.

The thumbnail photo below is a link to an online album.

Phantom

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Photos in this post are author's property.

LA Food: Delphine Eatery & Bar

2010-09-26T23:44:00.000-07:00

My friends and I went to Delphine for a little masquerade dinner. We savored some French-Mediterranean fare before watching the musical "Phantom of the Opera" at the Pantages Theatre right across the street.

Pan-Roasted Garlic Chicken

Duck Confit with Pommes Sarladaise

Sliced Steak Sandwich

Vegetable Minestrone Soup

Grilled Salmon

Steak Au Poivre

Trout Meuniere

Classic Creme Brulee

with Vanilla Ice Cream

Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream

Strawberry Cheesecake Sundae

Macchiato Tiramisu

Valrhona Dark Chocolate Tortilla

with Chocolate Caramel Sauce

LA Food: Mei Long Village

2010-09-19T20:00:00.000-07:00

Honey Fried Eel

Sauteed String Beans

Shanghai Steamed Dumplings

Steamed Fish with Ginger & Green Onion

Shanghai Chow Mein

LA Food: Thai Patio

2010-09-18T23:50:00.000-07:00

Chicken Satay

Golden Crab Bags

Chicken Larb

Earth, Wind & Fire(works) Live @ The Hollywood Bowl

2010-09-04T23:59:00.000-07:00

Thumbnail photo is a link to an online album.

Earth Wind & Fireworks

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Videos & photos in this post are author's property.

John Williams Year IV Live @ The Hollywood Bowl

2010-08-28T23:56:00.000-07:00

Thumbnail photo is a link to an online album.

John Williams Y4

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Videos & photos in this post are author's property.

John Mayer Live @ The Hollywood Bowl

2010-08-22T23:59:00.000-07:00

Thumbnail photo is a link to an online album.

John Mayer

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Photos & videos in this post are author's property.

LA Food: 888 Seafood Restaurant

2010-07-30T12:06:00.000-07:00

Taro Puff!

Shrimp Dumplings

Fried Spring Rolls

Tofu-Wrapped Shrimp

Steamed Spare Ribs

Shark's Fin Dumplings

Pork, Shrimp & Peanut Dumplings

Vegetable Tofu

Shrimp-Stuffed Mushrooms

Egg Custard

Sesame Balls with Red Mung Bean Paste

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Photos in this post are author's property.

Rihanna: Last Girl On Earth Live @ Staples Center

2010-07-22T00:55:00.000-07:00

Thumbnail photo is a link to an online album.

Rihanna

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Photos & videos in this post are author's property.

Ke$ha Opens for Rihanna Live @ Staples Center

2010-07-22T00:15:00.000-07:00

Thumbnail photo is a link to an online album.

Ke$ha

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Videos in this post are author's property.

Travie McCoy Opens for Rihanna Live @ Staples Center

2010-07-22T00:07:00.000-07:00

Thumbnail photo is a link to an online album.

Travie McCoy

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Videos in this post are author's property.

TRAIN Live @ Pacific Ampitheatre

2010-07-19T07:38:00.000-07:00

Thumbnail photo is a link to an online album.

Train

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Photos & videos in this post are author's property.

LA Food: Tea Station

2010-07-16T23:57:00.000-07:00

Coconut Grass Jelly Ice

Mango Shaved Ice

With Egg Custard, Boba Pearls & Lychee Cubes

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Photos in this post are author's property

LA Food: Ji-Rong

2010-07-16T23:37:00.000-07:00

Sauteed Assorted Mushrooms

Minced Beef Tofu Soup

Woodear & Crab

House Special Pancake

Honey Walnut Shrimp

Silver Cod with Basil Leaves

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Photos in this post are author's property

LA Food: Grand Lux Cafe

2010-07-10T23:27:00.000-07:00

Pineapple Martini

Duck Triangles

Blue Cheese Salad

Crab Cakes

Chicken Carbonara

Molten Chocolate Cake

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Photos in this post are author's property

LA Food: Yang Chow Restaurant

2010-06-30T23:17:00.000-07:00

Steamed Pork Dumplings

Kung Pao Chicken

Yang Chow Fried Rice

The best-selling Slippery Shrimp

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Photos in this post are author's property

South Pacific Live @ Ahmanson Theatre

2010-06-29T23:42:00.000-07:00

The thumbnail photo below is a link to an online album of pictures.

Click on it to be redirected.

South Pacific

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Photos in this post are author's property.

LA Food: Susina

2010-06-28T23:54:00.000-07:00

Red Velvet Cake

Berry Mix Cheesecake

The Americano

Carrot Cake

Brewed Coffee

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Photos in this post are author's property

LA Food: Pitfire Pizza Company

2010-06-25T22:53:00.000-07:00

Farmers Market Roasted Vegetables

Margherita Pizza

Folded Style Garlic Chicken Pizza

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Photos in this post are author's property

LA Food: Red Corner Asia

2010-06-24T00:14:00.000-07:00

Thai Iced Tea

RCA Sampler:

Egg Rolls, Shrimp Balls, Crispy Wings, Fried Tofu

Spicy Chicken Coconut Soup

Crispy Duck Larb

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Photos in this post are author's property

Hollywood Bowl Opening Night 2010

2010-06-19T02:32:00.000-07:00

This year's Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame inductees are: Jean-Yves Thibaudet, The Carpenters, and Donna Summer.

HBON 2010

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Videos and photos in this post are author's property

LA Food: Johnny Rockets

2010-06-16T23:58:00.000-07:00

Rocket Double

Cheese Fries

Onion Rings

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Photos in this post are author's property

LA Food: Hibachi BBQ

2010-06-12T12:35:00.000-07:00

House Salad

Green Onion Soup

House Side Dishes

Vegetable & Shrimp Tempura

Gyoza

Sizzling Unagi

Sizzling Chicken Teriyaki

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Photos in this post are author's property

Lalaki Sa Aking Tabi

2010-06-12T12:01:00.000-07:00

Magaspang ang mga pisngi
Pintado ang mga braso
Maraming bakas ng sugat ang puso
Ng lalaki sa aking tabi

Puso ko'y nasa alapaap
Isipa'y pinananatili sa lupa
Dasal ay 'wag malunod sa pag-irog
Ng lalaki sa aking tabi

Tumatagos sa aking
kalamnan at kaluluwa
Lagablab ng kanyang hininga

Nakapulupot ng mahigpit
sa pumipintig kong dibdib
Makikisig niyang mga bisig

Ako'y naninibago
Ako'y nababahala
Subalit ako'y nahuhumaling
Sa lalaki sa aking tabi

Maraming nangirog at inirog
Mangilan ang muntikang mahalin
Subalit walang pumantay o humigit
Sa lalaki sa aking tabi

Bukas, makalawa,
maaaring magkasama
Pero lahat ng bagay ay pansamantala

Pagbabago'y tila isang
rumaragasang ilog
Lulutang ka ba o sadyang lulubog?

'Di umaasa sa magpakailanman
Pero 'di rin sa panandalian lang
Basta't masaya hangga't naririyan
Ang lalaki sa aking tabi

Panalangi'y wala sa kinabukasan
Pangamba'y nakakubli sa nakaraan
Kaligayaha'y dito at ngayon kapiling
Ang lalaki sa aking tabi

Ika-31 ng Mayo 2010

LA Food: Legend Noodle

2010-06-10T00:10:00.000-07:00

Beef Stew with Rice Noodle

Mint Leaves, Bean Sprouts & Chili Slices

Vietnamese Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce

Charbroiled Pork Chop, Egg Rolls & Vermicelli

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Photos in this post are author's property

LA Food: Tasty Garden

2010-06-07T08:30:00.001-07:00

French-Style Fillet Mignon

Pork BBQ Chow Fun

Honey Walnut Shrimp

Orange Chicken

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Photos in this post are author's property

A Chorus Line Live @ The Pantages Theatre

2010-06-04T23:58:00.000-07:00

A Chorus Line

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Photos in this post are author's property

LA Food: Delphine Eatery & Bar

2010-06-04T23:28:00.000-07:00

Fritto Misto

Trout Meuniere

Steak Au Poivre

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Photos in this post are author's property

LA Food: Rosa Mexicano

2010-05-30T12:01:00.000-07:00

Soft Corn Tortilla

Chamorro / Pork Shank

Mexican Rice

Pescado Pibil / Chilean Sea Bass

Black Beans

Mango Tropical Margarita

La Pinela Margarita

Guacamole en Molcajete /
Freshly-made Guacamole

With tortilla chips, salsa Pasilla de Oaxaca

& salsa de tomatillo y habanero

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Photos in this post are author's property

LA Food: Noodle World

2010-05-16T22:28:00.000-07:00

Hainanese Fried Chicken

Green Onion Soup

Stuffed Chicken Wings

Vietnamese Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce

Chicken Satay Salad

Longan Juice

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Photos in this post are author's property

LA Food: Sushi Gen

2010-05-04T02:08:00.000-07:00

Cucumber Salad

Seaweed Salad

Miso Soup

Sashimi

Tempura

Japanese White Rice

Unagi

Salmon Teriyaki

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Photos in this post are author's property

Eagles | Long Road Out Of Eden Live @ Honda Center

2010-04-26T00:49:00.000-07:00

Eagles

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Videos and photos in this post are author's property

LA Food: O Dae San

2010-04-26T00:18:00.000-07:00

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Photos in this post are author's property

Chicago The Musical Live @ The Pantages Theatre

2010-04-23T23:56:00.000-07:00

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Photos in this post are author's property.

LA Food: Otomisan

2010-04-23T23:49:00.000-07:00

Red Cabbage, Green Tea, Miso Soup

Gyoza

Sesame Soy Sauce

Croquette

Mixed Tempura

Yamakake

Unagi

Nama Chirashi

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Photos in this post are author's property.

Taylor Swift Live @ Staples Center

2010-04-17T00:41:00.000-07:00

The thumbnail photo is a link to an online album of videos owned by the author.

Taylor Swift

Kellie Opens For Taylor Live @ Staples Center

2010-04-17T00:27:00.000-07:00

The thumbnail photo is a link to an online album of videos owned by the author.

Kellie Pickler

LA Food: Rock'n Fish

2010-04-17T00:01:00.000-07:00

Hot Bread & ButterSpinach & Artichoke Dip

Crab Cakes, French Fries, Coleslaw

Warm Chocolate Lava Cake

"Happy Birthday, Megan!"

Kona Pie

(coffee, vanilla & chocolate ice cream cake)

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Photos & video in this post are author's property.

The Black Eyed Peas Live @ Staples Center

2010-03-29T23:58:00.000-07:00

The thumbnail photo is a link to an online album of videos owned by the author.

The Black Eyed Peas

BEP's Will.I.Am Live @ Staples Center

2010-03-29T23:56:00.000-07:00

The thumbnail photo is a link to an online album of videos owned by the author.

Will.I.Am

BEP's Fergie Live @ Staples Center

2010-03-29T23:55:00.000-07:00

The thumbnail photo is a link to an online album of videos owned by the author.

Fergie

BEP's Taboo Live @ Staples Center

2010-03-29T23:54:00.000-07:00

The thumbnail photo is a link to an online video.

From Taboo

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Videos in this post are author's property.

BEP's Apl.De.Ap Live @ Staples Center

2010-03-29T23:53:00.000-07:00

The thumbnail photo is a link to an online album of videos.

Apl.De.Ap

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Videos in this post are author's property.

Ludacris Opens For BEP Live @ Staples Center

2010-03-29T23:52:00.000-07:00

The thumbnail photo is a link to an online album of videos.

Ludacris

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Videos in this post are author's property.

LA Food: Lawry's Carvery

2010-03-29T23:51:00.000-07:00

Roast Beef Dip
Carvery Turkey Salad

Barbeque Beef Brisket
Roasted Prime Rib Platter

Roast Beef Bleu

With the BEP tribe

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Photos in this post are author's property.

LA Food: Viktor Benes

2010-03-26T23:56:00.000-07:00

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Photos in this post are author's property.

Puppetry of the Penis Live @ The Coast Playhouse

2010-03-26T23:48:00.000-07:00

POP

I’ve never seen two men stark-naked wearing only sneakers, making amusing installations with their penis, scrotum, testicles and buttocks - and for a whole 45 minutes! That’s what audiences will expect with Puppetry of the Penis.

Tagged as the ancient art of genital origami, the Tony Award-winning show, consisting of an impressive repertoire of genital gesticulations, originated in Australia and has since played in major cities around the world.

It’s flat-out funny it will leave you in stitches. “The Eye” was a little spooky. Everybody cringed with “Yoda”. “The Bulldog” garnered the most hysterical shrieks. “The Hamburger,” the signature trick that started it all, received enthusiastic applause.

My personal favorites are “Anemone”, “Kentucky Fried Chicken” and “E.T., The Extra-Terrestrial”. Other memorable installations include “The Woman,” “George W. Bush,” ”Mollusk,” and “Baby Bird”.

It’s not crass. It’s a decent show for mature audiences regardless of gender. A word of warning from its producers: The show may contain traces of nuts. ;-)

Watching it on a Friday night definitely relieved a week’s stress of hard work, although I had a headache from laughing too hard. :D!

The show closed appropriately with “Windsurfer” with one puppeteer on a skateboard stretching his scrotum like a sail, and the other puppeteer providing a good, strong “blow” whisking both actors across the stage and off.

The thumbnail photo above is a link to an online album of pictures from the venue.

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Photos in this post & the online album are author's property.

LA Food: Tahoe Galbi

2010-03-23T23:24:00.000-07:00

Starters

Salad

Miso Soup & Grilled Corn Kernels
Beef Brisket

Dumpling Soup

Marinated Beef

Korean Chowder

Tiger Shrimps & Beef Rib Eye

With (L-R) Insoon, Jing, Ingrid & Dana

Sweet Ginger Juice

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Photos in this post are author's property

Tears For Fears Live @ The Wiltern

2010-03-21T23:51:00.000-07:00

The thumbnail photo is a link to an online album of videos owned by the author.

Tears For Fears

The Wiltern Theatre

2010-03-21T23:31:00.000-07:00

The thumbnail photo is a link to an online album of pictures owned by the author.

The Wiltern

LA Food: Hae Jang Chon

2010-03-21T23:22:00.000-07:00

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Photos in this post are author's property

LA Food: Fiesta Sa Barrio

2010-03-18T23:51:00.000-07:00

Baked Tahong

Laing

Crispy Pata

Mixed Seafood Bicol Express

Shanghai Rice

Kare-Kare with Bagoong

Fresh Buko Juice

Halo-Halo

With (L-R) Chris, Robin, Sol, Paul, Wen & Jade

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Photos in this post are author's property

CATS Live @ The Pantages Theatre

2010-03-13T23:51:00.000-08:00

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Photos in this post are author's property

LA Food: The Fabiolus Cafe

2010-03-13T23:29:00.000-08:00

Pane Italiano

Calamaretti Fritti

Tagliatelle alla Bolognese

Rustico Panini

Costolette d'Agnello

Pulire il piatto :)

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Photos in this post are author's property

Dreamgirls Live @ Ahmanson Theatre

2010-03-10T20:45:00.000-08:00

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Photos in this post are author's property

Bon Jovi Live @ Staples Center

2010-03-05T00:47:00.000-08:00

Bon Jovi

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Videos and photos in this post are author's property

Random Craving: Tenno Sushi

2010-02-21T21:43:00.000-08:00

Crab Roll Sushi

Miso Soup

Salad with House Dressing

Tonkatsu

Bulgogi

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Photos in this post are author's property

Valentine Brunch: Indra

2010-02-14T22:32:00.000-08:00

The image below is a link to an online album of pictures owned by the author.

Indra

Ghost In The Shadow

2010-02-09T10:58:00.000-08:00

F o r e w o r d

I wrote this piece exactly seven years ago, on February 9, 2003, so some time elements had to be changed.

It was an unexpected but, quite frankly, long overdue encounter with someone from the past that triggered me to put my thoughts and feelings into words.

It's amazing how one can write effortlessly when a fork in life's road makes you stop, think, look back, then move forward.

This is the product of one of those moments.

Ghost In The Shadow

I don't use to believe in ghosts, at least not in the supernatural ones. But there was one that was to haunt me for years, a ghost in the flesh, the ghost of a friend with whom I severed ties more than a decade earlier.

My relationship with Dino was unexpected. He was everything I was not.

Brimming with resentment at society for how it has treated me thus far, I was self-centered and wanted all the world to attend to me.

He, on the other hand, was generous and gallant. He knew the simple art of listening, and in his silent way he taught me how the simple gesture could make a person feel important.

I was a friend to few, and it was no wonder that he was a friend to most.

I was an advocate of clean-living. He had the vices. He was the one who oriented me to nicotine and booze.

In the circle of boys at the brink of becoming men, those who had a "tough guy" stance seemed to be looked up to. I savored every puff and gulp despite its ill-effects.

Most of all, he's heterosexual, I'm gay. He was totally homophobic and I was absolutely in the closet.

We crossed paths at a time I was struggling at coming to terms with my homosexuality.

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Despite these differences and more, we found ourselves constantly in each other's company.

Our conversations always struck a balance between the frivolity and gravity of the topic at hand.

We'd listen to each other's plans for the future. We'd talk endlessly about the complexities and trivialities of life and love.

I recall vividly the first time Dino and I were to set foot inside a "massage parlor".

It was an idea that came out of the blue while having late supper in a district that had an eclectic mixture of world-class cuisines and crass pursuits of the masses.

We casted a last glance at each other as our respective ladies-in-waiting escorted us through the narrow, rouge-lit corridors and into the insignificant cubicles of arbitrary pleasure.

Mixed feelings of excitement and anxiety filled us as we were on the threshold of becoming "men", at least how patriarchal society saw it.

They say a friend is someone whom you dare to be yourself. I never realized I looked up to Dino so much I almost forgot I was gay.

After our "flesh" encounter, we headed for a cheap beer garden and laughed off our failed attempt at getting laid.

Ironically, we were relieved to know none of us had taken the plunge.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

But his homophobia disturbed me no end. I was also struggling within. If I tell, I could lose him. If I go on with my little show, things will stay as they are. Still selfish as I was, I chose the latter.

And as if that mistake was not enough, I fell for my friend. My unwarranted affection was somehow oblivious to me until things blew right in my face.

Dino and I parted ways in the most bitter of ways – silence. It then dawned on me that by befriending him with a mask on my face I made a grave mistake one could commit in a friendship – betrayal.

Full of self-blame I vowed to make amends and redeem myself in the process.

A year after Dino and I severed ties and with the accumulative baggage of years of self-denial, I decided to come out of the closet.

It has not always been pleasant since then as society feared what it did not know and treated with contempt what it could not understand.

But truth was my constant companion, truth to myself and truth to others as well.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Surprisingly, I managed to build meaningful friendships with men whose emotional orientation and sexual affiliation are strikingly different from mine.

My homosexuality was never an issue with Gerard. I'd talk to him about the girls he's crazy about, he'd talk to me about the men I fancy, and we'd flippantly buoy up each other's frivolous ideas.

If we were paid for going on movie marathon dates, we'd probably be filthy rich by now. His family welcomed me with open arms. I would attend social events with them. Sleeping together on the same bed was never a big deal.

Our relationship was borne out of the universal principle that friendship does not require similarities but rather differences to help each other grow; It's not how you influence one another but how you bring out each other's best.

The difference in our object of attraction and affection became more a bridge than a hindrance.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Succeeding friendships with heterosexual men seemed to outdo the previous.

It has never ceased to amaze me how I managed to live for almost a year with Michael who was absolutely gender-insensitive. We were practically at each other's necks and nerves.

But he had his own issues of defiance against social conventions so to each other we provided not only help in paying the bills but also refuge in batlling society's rebuke of our idiosyncracies and individualities.

Our friendship defied the saying that familiarity breeds contempt. Rather, we were able to see the point of view from the other side of the fence and learned to acknowledge our individualities and rejoice in our differences along the way.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

There were still other victories at male bonding that came before and after Gerard and Michael. And through it all, Dino was at the back of my mind.

His ghost was lurking in the past, always there to haunt me, reminding me of a failed relationship and nudging me never to fail again.

It served me well. I learned that there is joy in truth no matter how unpleasant it may come across to others.

Most of all, I learned that being true to yourself and liking yourself is the first step at having other people genuinely like you. Being a friend to oneself is most important in becoming a friend to others.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

One evening, on February 8, 2003, Dino and I unexpectedly crossed paths. With only streetlamps to illuminate the dark pavement, I thought I saw him from a distance and dismissed it as mere mirage.

But my doubt betrayed me when he finally cried out my name. It was for real. It was the first time in ten years that we saw each other again.

I was suddenly thrown into a vortex of mixed emotions as the ghost of a dead friendship was coming towards me in the dark of night. Was I going to run out of fear, or face the wraith for my own salvation?

As I stood there before the friend I left behind, his very presence and the ghost that stayed with me suddenly became one.

And as we spoke, all those years of haunting seemed to have reached its end. I simply could not believe my eyes and ears.

The encounter was quick and tepid, and it did not seem a bit like nothing happened. We did not talk like we did in the past before we parted bitterly.

I wanted to hook up with him and laugh at the things that transpired between us but I was hesitant to make the initiative. I did not even dare ask for his number.

And although I was looking at him and listening to him with utmost delight, he could not look at me straight in the eye.

But it was alright not knowing whether he was still bitter at what happened or he simply remained homophobic. It was good enough that our paths serendipitously crossed.

Our chance meeting provided an end, no matter how vague, to an issue we left hanging.

Somehow I reached the curtain call of my little show for there was closure. It all ended that night ten years after.

The ghost had been silenced. And far had it been for me to realize, it was not just his ghost that I finally made peace with but my own ghost as well; the ghost of a faulty friend who made a mistake at one time but got back at life by coming to terms with the past, relishing its significance, and rearranging its elements to benefit the world around him.

As we bid goodbye and went our separate ways through the night, there was an assurance that I was no longer walking in the shadows.

I slept with a smile on my face. I was still beaming when I woke up to greet the next morning.

Mary Poppins Live at Ahmanson Theatre

2010-01-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

I grew up with Julie Andrews’s magical English nanny and have been looking forward to see Disney and Cameron Macintosh’s stage adaptation and now blockbuster musical hit Mary Poppins.

The set was a work of genius. The Banks family’s house seemed like it came out of a pop-up book.

The audience is first oriented to the front of the house. The humongous set turns around to reveal the inside replete with a living room, a kitchen, and a stairway to the bedroom which is another set altogether that sets the stage for the rooftop sequences.

The audience couldn’t help but give a rousing applause in amazement and appreciation as each section literally unfolds.

It was an absolute joy to listen and sing-along (in silence, of course) to familiar tunes and to hear new original songs created for the musical.

“A Spoonful Of Sugar” had a hilarious twist. The hymnal “Feed The Birds” still resonated with reverence. For the uber-popular “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”, the ensemble spelled out each letter using their bodies.

“Step In Time” is the musical’s highlight with show-stopping tap dancing from the floor to the walls and even up to the ceiling. Bert (Gavin Lee) was literally upside-down singing and dancing.

The adage “They saved the best for last” couldn’t have been truer in the finale. Mary Poppins floated from one side of the stage towards the center waving at the audience.

From there she bids the audience farewell as she flies over the entire auditorium from the orchestra section to the mezzanine and up to the balcony. The audience’s cheers grew louder and louder as Mary Poppins flew higher and higher.

I could see people with bugged eyes and slacked jaws clapping in disbelief. Shouts of praise resonated along with Mary Poppins’ flight and climaxed when she finally disappears onto the rooftop of Ahmanson Theatre.

Now that’s a finale!

The photo below is a link to an online album where my friend, Summer, and I had our pre-show supper.

The Boiling Crab

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Photos in this post and the online album are author's property

iPhone I Found

2010-01-21T19:15:00.000-08:00

I apologize for this belated post.

My thanks to all those who felt for me when I lost the item in reference which, for those who own one, is like a lifeline to family and friends, and an infinite window to the world beyond their immediate space.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Whenever I come in for work, I leave my bag in a small room where most of my colleagues leave theirs. It has two numerically-coded doors where every single employee who has access to it can go in and out.

Several hours before discovering my iPhone was lost, I went inside the room. I find a co-worker who was startled as I entered. He went out of the room hurriedly, a tad anxious. I wondered what was the matter for a brief second then went on with my busy day.

And then several hours later, as the story goes, I discovered I lost my iPhone. I kept searching for clues, retracing my steps, asking around. I found only consolation and an empty hand.

I continued working despite being constantly bothered by the incident. At the end of my shift, I called my family about it since I don’t have landline at home.

I also sent a message to my iPhone to alert whoever has it, tried to locate it through a special tracking feature, and reported the incident to our security.

At home, I kept replaying events prior to my discovery and envisioning several possible versions of the incident so as to acquire an insight into the situation.

It was not until several summoned flashbacks did I acquire an intuition into how I lost my iPhone along with its charger. I had the epiphany right before I went to bed the next night.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I chanced upon my suspect in a neutral hallway. I came up to him and said, “Are you going to my unit by any chance?”

“Yeah, later in the afternoon. Why?”

“I need to talk to you about something.”

“Oh, sure.”

“What time are you going there?”

“Uhmn... probably around... 03:45PM.”

“Good. It’s 3 o’clock. I have half an hour lunch break. I’ll be in my unit by the time you’re there. See you then.”

“Alright.”

I finish lunch @ 3:30PM and walked towards my unit. I enter the room where I last saw my iPhone.

Lo and behold - my iPhone sans charger was lying face down on a personal size fridge inside the very same room where I lost it - about 10 minutes before my suspect said he’d be there.

Few minutes before our scheduled rendezvous he calls. “Hi, Peter. I’m gonna be there in a short while.”

“Okay. I’ll be right here, buddy.”

When he came, he enters the room where I lost - and just found - my iPhone, and I follow. I calmly tell him that I lost my iPhone along with the charger. His brows meet to emanate a look of concern.

I gave him detailed description of the item and asked him to be on the lookout for it, emphasizing that the charger was attached to the phone. He said he will.

I waited some more days for the $30 charger to appear but it never came.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I don’t know why my iPhone was returned.

Maybe the culprit knew about the tracking feature. Maybe my sister’s voicemail about divine admonition convinced the culprit to do so.

Or perhaps my mother’s total of 8 voicemails, each plea becoming more heartbreaking than the previous, afforded the culprit a change of heart.

But it’s good enough I got my iPhone back. The only thing is, if my suspect really was the one who did it, he happens to be my co-worker.

And that’s very sad.

Looking Forward to 2010

2010-01-04T10:41:00.000-08:00

Most of the plans I will draft for this year are in alignment with last year's, with a little rearrangment and some additions.

1 Health & fitness is my top priority this year. Whatever I was doing the last 365 days didn't do much to change the way I feel about my body so there must be something I was missing or not doing right.

This year there's not to be a day without exercise. It has to be part of my life, part of my being; Like breathing, you can't do without it.

2 There's always room for improvement and there's always something new to learn. Education is incessant in the university of life.

I will always strive to be a better nurse whatever specialty I'm practicing. I want to be a better team member to my colleagues and a better care provider to my patients.

3 Who doesn't love to travel? Each year there has to be one new place, be it a US city or another country, that I will explore.

I actually already have three places in contention for this year which were planned last year.

Peru to Machu Picchu with my eldest sister; New Mexico to visit a HS friend and experience the state's hot air balloon festival; or Kenya where a graduate school classmate who is based there encouraged me to catch the wildebeest migration.

4 Michael Jackson passed away last year without me seeing him perform live. From then on I vowed to watch every artist that I like as much as possible.

But even before the king of pop bid farewell, there is one musical genius whose concerts I pledged never to miss.

I'm looking forward to another magical night of movie music with maestro John Williams at the Hollywood Bowl.

5 I am responsible for all aspects of my life, and that includes love & romance. I need to go out more as there is much to explore in the vast ocean of single gay men.

Wanting to see me finally get hitched, or at least laid (LOL!), a friend's encouraging rant went from "Go. Go. Go." to "D8! D8! D8!"

7 In line with getting fit, my spirit of adventure wants to experience a thrilling adrenaline rush. I hope to do indoor skydiving again in preparation for the real thing.

If not that, then maybe whitewater rafting. If life gets too busy, there's always Magic Mountain which I've never been to. :)

8 And who doesn't love to eat? As long as my bloodworks are still in the norm and my fitness regimen is on track, I shall pursue my gastronomic adventure with relentless pleasure.

All the best of 2010 to all & sundry!