Pal of mine/ Palomino

I love this resto called Palomino. It's nice, this is where I saw Dale Harold of QAF once. It's a chi chi chain restaurant located in Westwood Village. The food is fantastic, the best starter in my book. That would be the crab dip. The mojito is sooooo yummmy. I learned to love mojitos here. For entree I had the seafood neapolitan salad. Yummmmo. Anyway, try this pal of mine.

Ala Paredes' , Rich brat or misunderstood?

Anonymous Says : January 27, 2009 10:18 PM
I really hate adding to this brouhaha as there are far too many comments over this blog entry. I can see why it touched a raw nerve. Ala came accross as insensitive and rather snooty. I mean, her big big mistake was saying she is rich. No one who is really rich will ever announce she is one. It is rather crass to say one is priviledged and is in fact rich. Wow! That's a big no no. That's why there are comments questioning her qualifications on whether she can call herself rich. I mean, if they are rich, why the need to move to Oz? Come on. And then to denigrate poor people. I admit, a lot of street urchins are terrible and scary but just keep your mouth shut. No need to rub it in. Unless you are going to do something about it, say being like Mother Theresa. Bri, go easy on her though since she has a few valid points and I'm sure she's a good girl. She just let her loose lips fly.

This was my comment on this thread reacting to Ala Paredes' blog entry. Brian Gorrel posted her blog soliciting comments. I was the 110th comment. I was ok to put my name but I couldn't get in using my blogger account. Anyway, I haven't heard of Ala Paredes until this time. She turned out to be Jim's daughter and they have immigrated to Australia. She blogged about her rich girl guilt on helping the poor of the Philippines and how she shouldn't do it that way since it's not the way to go about it. She also recounted her encounter with a 4 year old street urchin who was rude and was being an ass. Anyway, you can check it out yourself.

What I will miss the most.

I opened another checking account here in LA coz I want to deposit another check. So we went to Bank of America to open one. Boy, was that an easy task. It was so easy and pleasant. I remember trying to open one in Manila, I had to pull strings and had to sign so many forms. They really made it so difficult to open an account. Here, it took less than 20 minutes and they gave me $25 for opening one. They are encouraging people to open accounts I guess. I didn't even know of the $25. I got my temporary ATM pronto, we opened my online banking account, ordered my checks and basically got everything done. Afterwards, we agreed that this is the sort of thing I will miss in Manila. The efficiency of doing things. Returning stuff to the store too. I bought this automatic soap dispenser at Brookstone. It was $38, so kinda expensive. I decided to buy this 2 year warranty for $6 that would guarantee their product if it doesn't work. So far, we have returned the thing twice for brand new in the box replacements. No questions asked. You just tell them it doesn't work. They will replace it with a brand new one. Now, try doing that in Manila! They'll laugh you out of the store. I really hope Manila will reach a point where consumers have rights! With the saleladies good for more than just idle chitchat. Sigh...

Disturbing News

I just heard disturbing news. Louis just told me that his friend Chito who has been forwarding pictures to him which are then forwarded to me had just been murdered in cold blood. Oh my. A victim of another senseless crime. He said that Chito may be a victim of another gay crime. Again?! Please!? It's so distressing! Farewell Chito, although we never met, I feel like I know you. Sigh...

Rocky Salumides

This guy is a top ramp model in Manila even though he's from very humble background. He is even rumored to be a balut vendor. That I cannot really believe. I find him hot!

Doxie and Jabu

I mentioned in my previous post that Hon gave us a new puppy as Jabu's little playmate, I have the pictures! Doxie is a tiny dachshund. So cute! She doesn't really look like a rat like my Mom said. See for yourself!

Hunky Boi

Pink's

I had a great lunch at Pink's yesterday after attending Sunday service. I had 2 chili dogs and the best french fries ever! Pink's is an institution in LA. They have been in business since 1939! There is always a long line here waiting for all kinds of dogs. They have dozens of varieties. Their dogs are special since it's in this real casing. Not your regular dog. Yumm!!!

Doxie

We have a new puppy that Hon gave us. A purebred dachshund with brindle markings. That means multiple colors. I have been thinking of a name and have come up with Doxie. This is not her picture since I haven't seen her yet but I was told she looks like a rat! Hehehe. That's what my Mom said.

Zeke's Smokehouse

Zeke's is at the back of Target and Bevmo in Weho. We went here after it turned out that The Pig on La Brea is already out of Biz! Since we were already in the mood for great barbq, we turned to an old fave of ours a few blocks west. Zeke's serves Memphis style barbq which means that the baby back is dry rubbed and smoked. They will then serve it with 3 different kinds of sauces. I prefer the sweet kind instead of the tart and hot sauce. The barbq here comes with a side of slaw and potato salad (my choice). One complaint, they should serve the meat with corn bread gratis. We had to order the corn bread as a side. Anyway, you should try Zeke's especially now that the Pig is kaput.

Dondie

Spend People!

We are in the middle of a brutal recession. It seems like a lot of people I know are losing their jobs, have been forced into early retirement or are looking for work but couldn't find another job. It's aweful! If you are employed and are not in crushing debt, you should go out and spend. If you need a new car, go out and buy that car. Don't postpone it. This is the only way you can help the economy recover! I was at a Macy's the other day and it's spooky! No one was out there shopping! Come on people, spend!!!!

Vintage Dick- Rodel Velayo

Revolutionary Road

This is how I described the movie to a friend in Facebook:

Do you like yelling, martinis, a lot of smoking and nervous gratuitous sex in cars? If you answered yes, then this is your movie. It's very dark, not a single happy moment. Even when they show the kids it's humorless. I liked it and hated it! You wont be smiling leaving the theatre. It's the feel bad movie of the year.

Wasabi

There's a new place at the corner of Vermont and Shatto Place called Wasabi. It's at the subway station tih the brand new apartment buildings. This new restaurant carries ramen and other set lunches at really low prices. I mean the lunch box I ordered had a salmon fillet, California rolls, tonkatsu, soup. salad and rice. All for $8.95! Is that a deal or what? The food was good!

Cute Neighbor

Max's!

I have never been to Max's and not wait until tonight. It was the fastest they prepared the order, ever! I guess we came in at about 7:30 and on a Thursday night. The food we ordered are the classics from Max, pancit canton, crispy pata and of course, the chicken. How can anybody not order the chicken. Everything came in piping hot and delicious. I'm glad we went to Max's instead of the Italian we were thinking of. You guys should come to Glendale and try Max's. It's delish.

Apple Tarte Tatin

I want to bake this but it turned out we dont have any apples left. We had a lot from new year's but it's all gone.

Zorro!

This guy has a typical pinoy dick, don't you agree? hehehe Small but really hard when it gets going. Just the way I like it,

Cute Hotdog!!

I have 5 purebred dachshunds for sale in Malabon. 3 boys and 2 girls. They are really cute!

Aki

This Brazilian Japanese mix is just heating up the modeling world in the Philippines. Everybody's going crazy for this guy. Can you blame them? He's so hot!!!

Marmalade Cafe

Marmalade Cafe is scrumptious looking with great looking interiors. It's one of our favorite places at the Grove. It used to be a lot more crowded but with the Cheesecake Factory now competing, it's easier to score a table. We had lunch here today and got a booth. It's nice to sit outside too when it's not so cold. They give you warmersd but today was kinda chilly. After trying out most of the dishes here, we always go back to the roasted beet salad and the steamed mussels and clams. Yummy!

California Roll & Sushi

We went here after we tried Noshi Sushi which was closed, so we headed west to Larchmont to California Roll and Sushi. This is a trusted little restaurant that serves very inventive sushi at very reasonable prices. I had the caterpillar which had eel and avocado rolled up. It's really yummy,