Welcome Home Marissa Siazon-Cassi! - Kanin Club, QC

We gave a warm welcome home hello to our blockmate Isay last June 2, 2010. She was out of the country for a few years to work in the Middle East. No other way to celebrate a homecoming but with some of the best Filipino foods in town via the famous Kanin Club.

The original Kanin Club was located at Paseo de Sta. Rosa, just beside the main shopping hubs and shoe depots. You can easily spot it especially when you are on your way to the scenic Tagaytay City. But thanks to its owners, they ventured into Metro Manila and found its second home in Ayala Technohub in Quezon City.

The homecoming will never be complete without a few servings of pork, one of the things Isay missed most. Of course we needed to try at least two kinds of fried rice, Kanin Club's specialties (thus the resto name! :))

Standing: Third, Me, Ken. Sitting: Noel, Dr. Val

Val (with Korean Hair), JJ, Isay, Vinne

Special Request: Crispy Pata!

Ginisang Sigarilyas. Anong English ng Sigarilyas?

Crispy Dinuguan, Laing, Sinigang na Sinangag

It's good to see the blockmates again! Some of us already have families, but still, some things will never change. Thanks to Isay, the UP Manila Devstud Block 6 of 1998-2002 once again had an instant get-together/reunion. Let's try to do another one when Bubbles comes back ok? :)

Puerto Galera's Lovely Sunset

The sunset of Puerto Galera never fails to amuse its viewers. During our trip to the island of Mindoro, the majestic sun has set gallantly once again. I've been to Puerto Galera many times now but the sight of its sunset is one attraction that you'll never get tired of seeing. This is one of the reasons why I keep coming back. :)

This time, I was fortunate to capture its beauty. Still with a digicam. Well, I may justifying my absence of a DSLR, but for me, a sight like this is beautiful even to the most basic of cameras. Here's a few shots:

The Eye of God... Beautiful.

A Sunset Worthy of a Jumpshot

New Year's Party 2009

It's good to see how things have changed with your college buddies. As for me, I was lucky to have seen them last night with the help of Third's (my blockmate and kumpare of 10 years) constant nagging of a get-together. Fortunately, 6 were available that night, so we decided to meet up.

It was good to see that we were able to build our respective careers. Two were into development work, the other media, the other into the legal career, and the other in pharmaceuticals, and with me in financial services. Despite our career differences the common denominator prevailed: We were bred by the best University in the country, bearing the inculcated principles of integrity and excellence.

But of course, another two great values that we also share are the value of good fun and camaraderie. :) And we exhibited those values in our one-night-only KTV Christmas Party. We reminisced the good old times when our tummies were flatter, our problems lighter, and our challenges easier.

See how things have changed among my Devstud brethren:

Before (Circe 2000)

December 29, 2009 (L to R: Me, Third Espero, Brian Novero, LJ Castel, Carrie de Guzman, Alvinne Pamintuan, Nikki

Circa 1998

Today

"Napakahirap malimutan and saya ng dating samahan. Kahit lumipas na ang ilang taon, magkakaibigan pa rin ngayon."--Sa'n Na Nga Bang Barkada, Apo Hiking Society

First Weddings

I have already witnessed two weddings from my Development Studies block. The first of which was last November 11, 2006 , when our dear college barkada Cyrile tied the knot with Stefan Hamilton. This year, JJ was married to Val Hemedes on January 12. Both weddings were set in lovely Tagaytay City. It's just amazing how swift life is. At one moment you were squiggling at the back row waiting for the end of a boring 1 1/2-hour class. The next thing you know, you're hosting a friend's wedding! Or attending a reception at Antonio's! Sigh...

It's a bittersweet feeling to see them take the big plunge into the abyss called Marriage. At one point, I am also sad to know the fact that after the ceremonies, I will seldom see them again because they will definitey be busy building families of their own. And this is also a sign that we are getting older...

But of course, I am extremely happy that they both have found their fairy tale prince charming, their knight in shining armor, their King. I just pray that they will both last forever, fulfilling their promises before God during their ceremonies.

And I am truly grateful and honored to have been invited to witness both truly memorable milestones in both Cyrile and JJ's lives. Thanks, Cy and Stefan, and JJ and Val!

Congratulations to all of you and good luck!