Is This Even True?

I got readers from Canada, Germany, Australia, Russia, Ukraine, UK, Brazil and the Netherlands?!?!

No shit!

Family Time

Losing the Battle

Seriously now...how could one say no???

Hermosa, Bataan

I have the strongest attachment to my hometown that in college, up until I was working in Manila, I went home religiously to Hermosa no matter what. Even now, I miss the simplicity of the place where I grew up and if I could have my way, I'd take any chance to go home for a vacation.

So when typhoon Gener hit the Philippines, I was so surprised to see my very hometown on national TV. It was amusing at first, seeing the familiar onscreen, but when the southwest monsoon kicked in, I couldn't stop the panic that heightened in congruence with the flood level.

I am so relieved that it's over, and that my kababayans have weathered the storm literally and figuratively. Here are some news reports on my beloved  town:

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/nation/regions/08/01/12/hermosa-bataan-submerged-deeper-floods

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/video/128623/unangbalita/update-ng-pagbaha-sa-hermosa-

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/video/128528/balitanghali/9-na-barangay-sa-hermosa-bataan-binaha-dahil-sa-pag-ulan-kagabi

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/video/129398/stateofthenation/maraming-barangay-sa-bataan-lubog-sa-baha-bunsod-ng-umapaw-na-mga-ilog

Sooooooo Excited!

Proof you're Filipino: you show up too early for the Bourne Legacy premiere thinking there would be a line and that you absolutely positively have to get the best seats in the house. 

Turned out there weren't a lot of people who were as eager as us to see it. But that doesn't dampen our spirits!!!!! Go go go Philippines!!!!!!

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UPDATE: What I thought of the movie I'll write later on but I just wanna share this.

We got home from the movies and we turned on the TV to see today's episode of Charlie Rose featuring the three lead actors and the director of Bourne Legacy. At the very end of the show the conversation went to why Manila was chosen for the film. Director Tony Gilroy only has this to say: That Manila is very Bourne-ish because it's so colorful and ugly and gritty, raw and stinky and crowded. I'm not even gonna argue about that but knowing the excitement and interest and hospitality of the Filipinos in welcoming this Hollywood production, I can't help but feel like this is a one-way love kinda thing. They needed Manila for the chaos that it is and they're done with it. Let's not be the pathetic ex-girlfriend that hangs on after being dumped!

The Return of My Japanese Obsession

I came across the Japanese discount store Daiso through Yelp and I thought it'd be interesting to see what it has to offer. I have fond memories of the 99cents store that closed down in Subic years ago. So when I realized that Daiso is less than 10 minutes from Sunnyvale and that beside it is a Japanes food mart, I dragged Gary (who was still in his Army uniform from his weekend duty) to do some spending.

Now Gary is your typical guy--he hates shopping. But since we haven't spent time all weekend, the boy obliged. We scoured Daiso and I got me some cheap kitchen tools--some cooking spoons for $1.50 each, a knife for $5 (I just hope that despite being dirt cheap, it lives up to its reputation, what with it being a Japanese knife and all) and a wooden mat for $1.50. I would've stayed longer at Daiso to ogle to my heart's content but I knew Gary was tired from his run this morning so I went on to Marukai, which specializes in Japanese food.

They have heaps of beef sukiyaki and yakiniku, ready-made bentos and aisles and aisles of Japanese snacks. I bought a sushi mat, some nori, sesame seeds and Japanese mayo. I can't wait to make me some California rolls! We also bought some treats, which we ate as soon as we got to the car. The visit was a little too short so I'm definitely going back!


My Daiso/Marukai haul--the other goodies vanished without a trace :)