Markku Seguerra’s weblog on web design, photography, and other things of interest.
Sasha had this *brilliant* idea of featuring me and the shirt I was wearing last Thursday over at Style Manila. Jayvee is also featured with his “I got game” shirt, and he even makes it to B5media’s Tops 2 Bottoms in an entry on catchphrase clothing.
This is the second time I’m mentioned in a fashion blog, who would’ve thought? 
No, it’s not really something I’m proud of.
I’ve been meaning to resurrect my Five on Friday entries since I stopped publishing a few months ago. But as I struggle to keep up with my newfound busy sked, unexpected things happen. I realized, I couldn’t keep on waiting for the “right time” — there isn’t. At least for a lot of things. So I’m writing this now, no preparations, just straightforward old–school blogging.
I’m on my way back to Manila, with my brother and my dad, waiting for our 5AM flight, on a Friday. Technically, we’re still here at Mactan, with a few more hours to go before our flight.
It has been five long days without internet. I brought my laptop with me because I had a web app to finish, and I was only able to go online and upload my work Thursday afternoon, five days since Saturday lunchtime. I’m not really a WiFi–warrior type, I just had to try if Mactan airport has wireless connectivity. But now that I know they have WiFi, I might as well write something. On my blog!
Talisay City, our hometown, isn’t exactly that far from Cebu City but still retains a lot of the probinsya feel. Five days of promdi life has taught me how much of an excess city living is, especially in Manila.
Being a mango shake fan (again!) recently, I always tried to buy an extra–large serving of my fave shake. I got to do this a few times since we had to go out and buy supplies for the wake. Interestingly, most Cebuanos would prefer to buy the smallest or at most the regular–sized order. Maybe not entirely conclusive, I guess people in the provinces have a different outlook towards material “wants,” things that we classify as “needs” without any reluctance. A few days off a year to reacquaint with our roots and realign our perspectives can only do good.
And it really me took some time to finish that extra–large mango shake.
My Lolo Rodring wasn’t religious — I don’t recall him telling a Bible story nor lead what we in the Catholic faith practice as church traditions. He just lived life of service, one I’m sure cannot be equaled by most prayerful souls.
He was a policeman. He was Talisay’s Chief of Police back in the days when it still wasn’t a city, the same period from the past when policemen were honorable gentlemen who took servitude as their vocation, their mission, not just a day job. Later in his life, he was a police at the Bureau of Customs, when the culture of corruption was already humiliatingly unacceptable. He still served like a true honorable policeman.
He was also a Barangay Captain before such municipal positions were heavily sought because of the perks that come with it now. He wasn’t paid, but since it wasn’t his day job, he was content with the warm feeling of being of service to his kababayans. Calls for help in the middle of the night weren’t uncommon, and though sometimes his family questioned such dedication for an unpaid, unheralded public position, his blunt reply couldn’t be any simpler — it was his duty.
He was a father — not just to his children, not just to his grandchildren. Our closely knit community meant several families living in close proximity to each other, like one big happy residential compound. But fate wasn’t kind to some families, yet he (and my Lola) readily accepted their roles as parents to nieces and nephews and other relatives beyond their children. During our summer vacations in Cebu, dinner meant several batches of people on the dining table — siblings, cousins, friends, even people we hardly know. To say he supported five families under his roof would be putting it humbly, and I’m not boasting.
I was hoping to write a quick Five on Friday entry in under five minutes, but instead decided on writing something I could insert into my all–time top five favorites on this weblog, even if it took me an hour.
So here’s another five, on a Friday. Uniquely, each one a “fives” of sorts. It feels good to be back blogging. And working.
My grandfather just died a few days ago. I’ll be flying to Cebu and will probably be back before next weekend. Until then, everything is on hold. It’s quite unlikely I’ll have decent connectivity. To those I have deliverables/commitments with, I’ll do my best to get things rolling and update you guys.
Life goes on.
A few months ago, several bloggers attended the food blogging and photography class at the Serye branch inside the Quezon Memorial Circle. Since then, Serye has undergone a subtle re–branding to further emphasize its Filipino roots, to its advantage. Serye is truly Filipino, it being a product of the Reyes clan, surely more known for Aristocrat and several other popular food brands.
The new Serye, now dubbed “Serye Cafe Filipino,” puts a bit more emphasis on the cafe side of things. Serving a wide selection of Filipino desserts and coffee, you now have a truly Filipino alternative to the various foreign coffee shop brands that have sprouted like mushrooms all over the Philippines. The good thing about this is that Serye serves just as good or even better desserts and coffee. I know this for a fact since I got to try their new offerings before most of you could get your hands (or mouth?) on them.
The Mocha Manila cake pictured above complements the Mocha Manila range that includes both hot and cold variants of their Mocha Manila coffee, which I think is more apt to the Filipino’s sweet tooth. Unlike most mocha–based coffee, Serye’s Mocha Manila uses Davao tablea, the Filipino equivalent of chocolate. We also got to try other mixes like the Yema Latte and Cafe con Sorbetes though Mocha Manila is my personal favorite.
Filipino Fondue with assorted Turon is exactly what its name suggests, native chocolate served with Turon in banana–langka, mango–sago, and buko–pinya variants. Served smaller than your typical turon, it somehow takes away the fun of biting on the thick and crunchy wrapper with bits falling on your shirt, though tastes just as good.
A unique twist to the new Serye Cafe Filipino is their use of table art produced by local artists. By gathering the most promising local artists and have them make unique artworks out of every table, you wouldn’t want to be sitting on the same place every time you visit. Now wouldn’t it be nice if we photographers also get to exhibit our work on their tables?
October 20 will be our first National Thank You Day, a special celebration designed to promote a gesture now often taken for granted, expressing gratitude by saying “thank you.” A recent Reader’s Digest article lists Manila as one of the ten fifteen least courteous cities in the world, a crying shame. Still, I have reason to believe that their data is not consistent for all Philippine cities, and that there are things we can do make fellow Filipinos more mindful of their actions.
But think about it, when was the last time you said thank you to the ones close to you — your siblings, your parents, your friends? More often, those dear to our hearts are the ones we regrettably take for granted. But you can do something about it.
Popular chocolate–maker Toblerone is spearheading a “thank you movement” by offering a free concert on the same date, October 20, at the SM Mall of Asia. Salindiwa, Reggae Mistress, Mozzie, True Faith, and Cynthia Alexander will be performing, complemented by several exciting activities in the area.
Here’s the best part: You can join the celebrations! The concert is free, but tickets will be monitored to ensure security, and we’re giving away those tickets.
To make this activity a bit more exciting, write a thank you note or something similar on your blog or just somewhere, for the people you should be thankful for. It won’t matter who they are, we’re here to spread love and gratitude. Point us to your entry by leaving a comment and you can have two tickets, for you and your date. Now if you have a creative entry or one of those heavens–will–move type of one–liners, you just might grab some special prizes. Now write that little thank you post, quick and sweet.
Ga thank you. 
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