Awit Sa Panginoon Song book

Members of the Bukas Palad Online Community are set to launch soon their collection of liturgical and inspirational music via their songbook, AWIT SA PANGINOON.

The book puts together the works of talented musicians, themselves members of various choirs, who met online at www.bukaspalad.com and collaborated to complete this project without the benefit of face-to-face meetings.

Do await details on the release of their songbook. The materials within are certain to help enrich the celebration of the Eucharist if not our personal prayer lives.

What I hate most about gas price increases

I have come to terms with the fact that gas prices will never be the way they were when I started to drive to work. Heck, back then, P500 could last me a week and slightly more.  Today, P2000 can't even hack it.

But what pains me more? Driving home and running on empty, pulling over at the nearest gas station, rolling down my window, and being greeted by the gas attendant with, "V-Power, full tank sir?"

To my mind, this is pure mockery, and I am not amused.  I am tempted to drive away except that I am out of gas.  Instead, I meekly respond, "P200, Super Unleaded."  I wish gas attendants could be more sympathetic about the gas price situation and not be so interested in making a big sale.  But I guess this a business.  

In fairness to Shell, though I have used the company as an example, I have experienced the same in the 2 other companies that comprise the Big Three.  And in fairness to Bobby Kanapi, Shell spokesperson, he has often been quoted encouraging motorists to save gas and has been advising us all on how to spend less when it comes to fuel.  Switch to E10, he says, which gives us more mile for the buck, or avail of credit card promos that offer a rebate on fuel purchases.  Sure.

I just can't wipe the image of the fully-grinning gas attendant waiting for my response to his foolish question.  It's just as bad as the image of Lorna Tolentino's billboard for Potencee--the same one where, with the sweetest smile, she suggests that vitamin C can help skirt cancer. Why the billboards were up even after Rudy Fernandez's death escapes me.  Shame, shame.  

When life becomes tough, we all need a little sympathy.

License to Drive

Rica has just advised me that after 3 years of not having visited the LTO, she has finally been able to renew her license this time around.

I do not know how I would have survived 3 years without my driver's license. That's why dutifully, on the month and year when my card expires, I head over to the LTO along East Avenue to battle it out with the hundreds of others who have trooped to the same location for the same purpose.  This year, however, I did not have to do all that.  Credit this to the fact that I work beside a mall, and that here, in Park Avenue of the Robinsons Galleria, there is now a satellite outlet of the LTO.  

My first trip to the LTO here was most pleasant--it is fully air conditioned, with relaxing piped-in music, and ample, comfortable seating.  But truly, what is most encouraging is the ratio between LTO staff and clientele.  There were like 4 of us in the office with maybe 8 people attending to our needs, all accommodating, courteous and helpful--a sharp contrast to the usual scenario at East Avenue.  Everything from the eye exam to the collection of urine was a breeze.  The result?  I was able to renew my license in 45 minutes. And since I was on my lunch break, I had plenty of time to grab a sandwich still.

Because Rica has had no license for 3 years, she was compelled to take a driver's exam, or so I understand.  Now, teacher Rica is lucky to once again own student permit.  Oh well, I suppose for some, the advancement in systems and procedures of government offices isn't working yet.

A Chocoholic's Vexation (more variety please...)

I am a confessed chocoholic. 

Chocolates are among my favorite addictions, and my colleagues at work know I get weak in the knees and give in to their petty requests whenever they bribe me with a bar or two.

My regret?  If only we had the wealth of varieties other countries enjoy. Even if I do not tire of treating myself to a choco snack, I sometimes tire of the limited choices available here.

A recent trip to Hong Kong led me to a grocery where I was bound to grab some sweets to bring home to friends and family.  And here's what I found.

While in the Philippines Hershey's Kisses come in

our fave milk chocolate, milk chocolate with almonds, special dark chocolate, and cookies and cream, other markets like Hong Kong carry strawberry (pictured above).  In special pink foil, these Kisses are a refreshing surprise with their sweet fruity essence. Incidentally, in the U.S., Kisses also come filled with peanut butter, caramel, and chocolate truffle.  I must plan a trip soon...

Nestle Kitkat, on the other hand, has gone beyond the milk chocolate and white chocolate (oh, there was cappuccino variant once as a special offering) we have come to know.  In other markets, the famous crisp wafers have also been enrobed since 2004 in rich dark choco, choco-orange and choco-mint.  Mmmmm.  And what about my recent discovery?  Kitkat Vanilla Bean pictured here.  These are essentially wafers dipped in vanilla-infused white chocolate.  And you've got the vanilla caviar specs as evidence.

Ok, here's another. I am a major Meiji fan.  I think for its price, Meiji delivers outstanding quality.  I particularly delight in the creamy texture of its chocolate bars (especially its Dark variant), and the same is true for the Meiji Rich Matcha I came across.  Don't be distracted by the asparagus colored chocolate. Yes, it can be off-putting. Meiji Real Match is essentially white chocolate flavored with Japanese green tea. Think of it as Haagen Dazs green tea ice cream in a bar. Sure, maybe this variety isn't for everyone. But you see, I'm also a confessed matcha addict.

Imagine my enthusiasm when I found out that Swiss brand Lindt had become available in some supermarkets in the metro.  But do these stores carry such variants as the one pictured here?  You read it right.  Lindt Chilli is a 100g dark chocolate bar, rich and creamy, but with a distinct kind of heat that lingers on one's tongue and throat.  It carries none of the flavor of jalapeno or habanero, or any of the more popular varieties of pepper. But count on the Lindt Chilli to provide a subtle yet spicy hit that will stun you and make you ask, how did they do that?  Lovely.

It frightens me to think what my colleagues would bribe me with had all these chocolate treats been available to us in groceries and supermarkets.  But it bothers me more to wonder what other chocolate wonders are waiting for me out there but are for now are under my radar.  Pity me.

FREE International and Domestic Flights from Cebu Pacific. Book Now.

Dinner last night with advertising industry colleague and fellow BP member, Barok Gutierrez, has made we wonder when the best time would be to visit Ho Chi Min.  After all, Barok has been stationed there for seven months now (but is in town briefly), and I need a respite from my daily routine--so what the heck, I figured a trip to Vietnam soon would be ideal.

Ah, such luck.  Today I got wind of Cebu Pacific's latest promo: ZERO COMES BEFORE JUAN.  read on, and book now.  You have till Sunday...

CEB offers ZERO fares to all domestic and international destinations; More than half a million seats available 

Low-fare leader Cebu Pacific (CEB) is offering more than 500,000 domestic and international seats at zero fares.  The promotional seat sale will run from May 15 to 18, 2008 or until the allocated seats are sold out.  Travel period is from June 9 to December 31, 2008. 

  

CEB allocated more than 100,000 seats for its international routes that include:  Bangkok, Guangzhou, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kaohsiung, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Taipei, Shanghai, Singapore and Xiamen. More than 400,000 seats have been allocated for all of CEB’s domestic routes. 

  

Candice Iyog, CEB vice president for marketing and product, said, “This is our biggest seat sale, to date.  We are offering yet another first in Philippine aviation history by offering zero fares to international destinations as well.  This is to further stimulate domestic and international travel in spite of rising fuel costs.  We hope that the riding public will take advantage of this promotion.” 

  

The airfare is free.  Passengers will only pay for taxes, as well as fuel and insurance surcharges which are non-refundable.  Iyog explained, “The best way to book flights is via CEB’s website, www.cebupacificair.com.”   

The airline continues its expansion with the delivery of its 18th brand new Airbus aircraft last week, which brings its fleet to a total of 20 aircraft.  CEB also has a sub-fleet of 2 ATR 72 aircraft.   

  

Now in its 13th year, CEB operates flights to 21 domestic destinations.  Its international destinations will soon increase to 16 with the addition of Kaohsiung and Kota Kinabalu in the coming months. 

  

Alay Kay Fr. Honti Tonight

Dear friends,

DAKILANG PAGI-IBIG: ALAY KAY FR. HONTI is on tonight and tomorrow night at the Church of the Gesu, Ateneo de Manila, 7pm.  

Let's pay tribute to the man who has selflessly devoted himself to the service of God through music.  For many of us, it is because of or through him that we have found our own voices and have thus created for ourselves a life of prayerful song.  Performing will be the Pansol Choir, Canto Cinco, Tinig Barangka, Himig Heswita, Barangka Choir, Tanong Choir, Bukas Palad, Hangad, Hontiveros Family, Musica Chiesa, and the UP Filipiniana Dance Group.

We hope to see you there.  Admission is free.

Alay Kay Fr. Honti Tonight

Dear friends,

DAKILANG PAGI-IBIG: ALAY KAY FR. HONTI is on tonight and tomorrow night at the Church of the Gesu, Ateneo de Manila, 7pm.  

Let's pay tribute to the man who has selflessly devoted himself to the service of God through music.  For many of us, it is because of or through him that we have found our own voices and have thus created for ourselves a life of prayerful song.

We hope to see you there.  Admission is free.