Five on Friday: I Heart DFAT 2009

DFAT 2009 was a lot more than one would expect in a food appreciation tour that I just have to do a FoF installment for it. So here’s five things that make me say “I heart DFAT 2009”:

  1. Xcelerator
    The longest zipline in Asia, with speeds in the 70 to 120 kph range giving you the ultimate thrill and excitement. Now I do not want to sound like an advertisement but it truly is a wild experience especially on your first try — I was so excited I was screaming like a girl. At 200 feet above the ground, the view from the top of the small mountain is a sight to behold. Considering the short but tiring 15–minute trek to the top, you’d be thinking this better be worth the effort. After you take the shortcut down through the zipline and seeing everything below with a bird’s point of view, you’re hooked and craving for another run. Most of us did it thrice in two days. That’s my video at the beginning of this post while Hana’s is at the end.
  2. Good food
    Now this was the primary reason we were in Davao. After all, it was called the Davao Food Appreciation Tour. I couldn’t go into the details right now as I will be writing about the restaurants and their offerings separately, but I just have to tell you how good the food in Davao really is. And I don’t mean just the traditional tuna or durian or whatever picture that comes to mind, almost everything I tried was simply good.
  3. Cheap food
    I just told you how the food was, but now I’m telling you how crazily affordable they are. Some of the prices are so darn cheap you’d think it’s going to be bad, and you’d be pleasantly surprised to prove yourself wrong. Barkada treats wouldn’t be so hard on your budget if you do it in Davao, provided you get everyone to pay for their plane fare.
  4. Good people
    Collectively, we have never been pampered this well for a long time. Our hosts, both the restaurants and organizers, were downright spectacular. They took care of almost everything we could worry about that we just wandered around like tourists. Blogie had everything planned just right that we made it to our “official” destinations on schedule while still allowing for extra–curricular shenanigans (like going to the same restaurant twice, in one day). Andrew was mostly our designated driver and accomplice for all the unplanned surprises that we all went through (Nice new domain, btw). Chattee sure did take the PA role seriously and assisted us in everything, even with the shopping trip to SM Davao. Now we just couldn’t miss that one. Ria was also with us despite her having to juggle work with fun during DFAT 2009, and she sure did make us do the zipline thing by reminding us of the lonely walk back in case we chicken out. Jim, Migs, and Dom also joined us for most of the activities despite their busy skeds. I’m probably forgetting a bunch of other people right now but I’ll just say it this way — all you Davao friends are awesome!
  5. Lachi’s Sanz Rival Atbp.
    Okay the plan was to write nothing specific yet about food and restaurants, but this one I gotta get off my chest. Lachi’s should put up branches all over the Philippines to save our future. They serve food that is so good you’d leave with a big smile and a full stomach. If Filipinos eat food this good everyday then maybe we will all vote right come election time. (Okay, maybe that was a long shot.) Everything here is just right; a homey ambiance that gets you relaxed; food that tastes so good but never exaggerated that numbs your taste buds. If only they deliver their Sansrival and Unforgettable Spare Ribs all the way to Manila.

Cheers to DFAT 2009! See you all again soon. 😀

Distractions

A slow night at the new station in Mindanao Avenue.

We had a blast in Davao last weekend and what was supposed to just be the 2009 Davao Food Appreciation Tour was in reality a fun adventure sparkled with a romantic surprise (here’s my raw footage) and a lot more. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get myself to write about it, or anything at all — at least not at this moment. It would be best that I leave you with some unrelated photos and reminders for now:

  • There is a lot more to blogging than just events. If you’re blogging just to get into events and score freebies, I suggest you rethink your goals.
  • There is money to be made in blogging. For some people, lots of money. But never interchange desire for money with the hunger for beautiful writing or the chance to make a difference.
  • Don’t spam.
  • You are not the greatest blogger in the Philippines. Not one single blogger will ever be. Stop acting like a VIP. These days, some bloggers act like the world owes them just because they write a blog. Wake up, you’re just like everyone else.
  • Stop saying things you can’t say to anyone directly. Don’t you ever blog something just because you have the constitutional right to freedom of expression. It’s just like real life you know.
  • There is a lot more to life than just blogging. Go out and bask in the sun, snap and a photo and meet some new (and old) friends.

Now I’ve got those things out of the way.

A couple rushing past a book store.
Two ladies walking away from the day’s work.
Finally getting my overdue haircut.

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Five on Friday: Songs of a Happy Battle

Francis M and Ely Buendia.

On this Friday (030609) we are supposed to talk about the great mysteries of life — living and dying. With the news of Francis Magalona’s passing away, I went for my archives with a vague memory that I’ve written something relevant to my intended topic. And there it was:

Her story is one filled with never–ending triumphs, and not just once has she been so close to losing life, only to recover again and be an inspiring surprise not just for Filipinos but other cancer–afflicted people worldwide. The past few years, she has shown us how to face great adversity with hope and never–waning faith in the Lord. That no matter how bad life seems to be, there is someone up there that continues to direct the screenplay of life, and everything is part of His great masterplan.

…

Live each day like it’s your last, and don’t fear the challenges, don’t be afraid to love, and be loved in return. Learn to express your love for those around you, after all, we are all made for love. Lastly, love the struggles that rain on us, it really isn’t just about the destination, but the steps and strides in this journey called life.

You’ve got to read the rest of it. I don’t think there’s much I can write that I haven’t said in that old post before. So I just grabbed my iPod and searched for my top five Francis M. songs, for us to reminisce on this eventful Friday:

  1. Mga Kababayan
  2. Ito ang Gusto Ko!
  3. Nilamon ng Sistema
  4. Kabataan Para sa Kinabuksan
  5. Kaleidoscope World

“Cold Summer Nights” could easily makes it to #6 with “Girl Be Mine” at #7 if I had to expand the list, but I like the thematic nature of the first five songs.  It fits Kiko’s vision anyway since he was always known for writing the songs that shout three stars and a sun without being folksy about it. Not that folk music is bad.

Now thinking about this news and knowing that Francis M. was one of Ely Buendia’s closest friends, I can’t help but wonder how he feels about it. Wildly suggesting, it now feels like a curse — does someone close to Ely have to die just for us to have another Eraserheads concert? Oh well, rock mythology can’t be that dramatic and unreal; Ozzy Osbourne didn’t bite a bat’s head off and Keith Richards never had that transfusion. Or do I just have a wild imagination?

I’m sure we’d miss the man and the music. After all, he was the one who transcended both the local rock and hip–hop scene; the one who proved that you can be a successful musical act while (despite) being an actor before (and during) that; the one who sang of nationalism without sounding like a condescending politician; the father who showed how to raise a family without looking and acting like an uncool adult.

Keep on rocking, man. We’ll all see you in that kaleidoscope heaven, one day. You’ve made us proud to be in this land of three stars and a sun.

(I grabbed the photo above from a Google Image Search and just edited it to my liking; unfortunately I couldn’t find any information on the copyright holder. It’s not mine, despite the auto–inserted watermark. Also, if you’d like to listen to the songs I mentioned, I’ve got an imeem playlist for you. You have to signup for an account though.)

Thirty Years Ago

It was thirty years ago when the world’s greatest mother endured 28 hours of labor before finally going through C–section. After some time certainly not as long as the waiting before that, I caught my first breath of life.

Thirty years after, I can’t be any more grateful for everything. Everything.

This day ranks as one of my best days ever, along with all the others that still play in my head like a scene from a classic film. You’ve all been a part of it, and I’ll hold on to the memory and cherish it like it was just yesterday.

Thank you.