SIDE TRIP AT ETON CENTRIS

That same "Dampa" night, with still a lot of extra cash because the sumptuous meal we had was not very expensive at all, we decided to go on a night cap at Eton Centris at Quezon Avenue cor. EDSA. The coffee shop of choice was Coffee Bean. 

We spent a couple of moments there appreciating the Christmas Theme set up in that place before deciding to head home and call it a night. 

DAMPA NIGHT

Last 13th of December, MSC was supposed to have an extra rehearsal night at my place. But with the poor response of the members because of their erratic scheds and misled priorities (it happens), the elders of the group, AKA the "MACAO delegates" decided to just spend the night at a shanty resto/eatery located at Timog Avenue in Quezon City. 

The place can be very decieving. It may be dreary and relatively unglamorous but they serve great food! One of the reasons of going there in the first place was for their famous baked oysters. The oysters were simply topped with a generous helping of a mixture of butter, cheese and garlic that is so unexplainably to die for!!!

We actually ordered three platters of those and it was indeed a blockbuster!

It was a seafood extravaganza thus the title, "Dampa Night" right? The best part was that the price is very much affordable!

BACK IN BUSINESS

After almost three months of non-service at the OLHRP church, MSC finally has gotten back on track. Weekly Practice Sessions have commenced and of course the weekend gimmicks with the group that come after are back!!!

We kicked off this month with a "two-venue" breakfast. First was at a newly renovated restaurant along McArthur Highway (my apologies, I forgot the name).

The food was nicely plated, the restaurant, large and roomy with different functional areas to dine in and it's a shame on my part for forgetting the name of the place. Hopefully, we'll have a chance to come back there again soon. The group chose to dine in a chozy nook on the upstairs part of the place which you'll be able to enjoy the view of the very cluttered and polluted McArthur Highway.  

While we're at it, what is breakfast without some fancy Grandes and Ventis? So our next stop was to the not so farther north, at Starbucks along NLEX, Marilao.

It is always nice to splurge a couple of dough to endulge on one's cravings once in a while surrounded by the people you could genuinely laugh and spend meaningful time with. It is always worth it.

ADIE AND COCOY'S BIRTHDAY BASH 2011

MSC's February Birthday Bashers, Cocoy and Adie had their COMBINED celebration at Mr. T's Inasal along McArthur highway on the evening of 13-Feb, 2011.

Kuya Arnel, Ryan and I arrived a bit late at the venue. Our assigned table was already packed with an overwhelming array of food that Adie took the liberty of ordering for all of us! The other celebrant, Cocoy, had prior engagements that she arrived a bit late that night. There was Chicken Inasal (of course!), Kare-kare, BBQ Liempo, sisig among others! 

  

It was a party well attended by both the younglings and the elders of the group. I was so pleased seeing my group once again happy and at ease with one another, sharing dinner in that one long table. These are definitely those  moments that keep MSC's fire burning!  

CHEERS TO ADIE AND COCOY!

CONGRATULATIONS FOR A VERY NICE AND MEMORABLE PARTY!!!

MSC ALL DAY, ALL THE WAY

My long day with MSC started at 3AM when I was awaken by my cellphone alarm followed by a call from Cocoy, MSC President telling me to rise up from bed and get dressed for "Simbang Gabi". With an ample amount of an hour at hand, I moved quickly as I could to make it on time before the start of our "two-tier" mass services of the day. I went out still dark and the sun hasn't even shown the very tips of its rays.

We had two, tiring consecutive Mass services that day and some of us, including me were still sleepy and hungry after finishing the second service. Since it was still early and we doubted that our favorite resto/hangout (Hilario's Sizzlers) was still not open for business yet, we opted to go for a brief joyride to a nearby 24-hour eatery called Glyca's just across SM Valenzuela, along McArthur Highway, where they serve noodles, beef and fried rice. The perfect "pick-me-up"!

Then, the pack went back to my place for our weekly rehearsals followed by a short briefing about our upcoming Christmas Party and exchange-gifts activity. While meeting was still in effect, some of us are already starting to whisper amongst each other about an imminent visit to Greenhills for some shopping for gifts and a Buffet Dinner that will follow after...    

Cocoy, Mark, Oyet and I instantly signed in! It was a perfect opportunity for me to finish off my christmas chores to buy gifts for my godchildren at very reasonable prices! There were so many shoppers in Greenhills that day that you just rely on the steady stream of people to get you from point A to B. All the alleyways were packed! Lucky for us, we had only a few things to buy. But still, it was quite exhausting. A quick snack at Krispy Kreme for a little glycogen reload helped in boosting up our energy enough to get us out from this vast mob of shoppers. Glady followed and met us at Krispy Kreme.

After Greenhills, we headed straight to Saisaki Restaurant in Quezon City for our Ultimate Buffet Dinner.   

 (Japanese themed plate for Tito Oyet)

 (Mackoy, going for another helping of ice cream.)

My tummy felt like it would burst anytime but I'm pretty sure my companions felt the same way too. We spent almost two hours of eating, non-stop! The only break we get were quick trips to the bathroom and back to the bufftet area to get some more food! I had a good plate filled with my favorite Kare-kare and the other meals almost didn't matter to me anymore. My co-foodtrippers opted for fruits, Japanese food and sweets. 

It was such a tiring yet fun and gastronomic! And I would certainly do it all over again with them next time.☺  

CHRISTMAS PARTY MEETING

On December 12, Sunday,  the officers and some elders of MSC decided to go for another food jamming session after rehearslas, this time at Starbucks Marilao, Bulacan, along the North Luzon Expressway.  

The core wasted no time for this was also the perfect chance for us to talk about our upcoming traditional Holiday fellowship. We chose to have it post-yuletide since most of the members have their own company/family parties as well. What's  essential is the aim to celebrate the birth of our Lord, the day of our salvation whenever it may be. ☺ 

MSC FOOD TRIPS

Long time, no blog...

Yes. I've been away (again) for a bit, due to some personal reasons. I find it very ironic since I already  got myself  a very nice DSLR camera and now I don't highlight my shots here on my blog site, especially that MSC is my subject most of the time.

I had to admit that I missed seeing this interface and typing my heart out. That is why I decided to come by and drop another entry about what my MSC agree upon the most... FOOD!

After being vacant from church service for almost two months, MSC still continued to meet up for weekly practise, fellowship and group bonding. And another addition to the wide array of wholesome vises MSC has is food-tripping to other nearby restaurants in the metro!

It can get expensive sometimes. But nothing beats the company of really great friends. ☺

3-IN-1 BOYS UNITE!

After the affair at the Daughters of Saint Paul Convent in Pasay (and a traffic violation), we headed for coffee at Tomas Morato Avenue, QC to unwind and evaluate our most recent gig.

The 3-in-1 boys finally had their wishes come true at last, after months of clammoring to go back to Starbucks and hang out! No more 3-in-1 for Jaypee (BASS) this time, though! (ahaha!).  After landing a great job at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Ortigas, he'd probably afford to buy coffee for all of us now!   

CONGRATULATIONS, EVERYONE!

For a job well done at the Convent!

MSC SUMMER 2010 PART 7

THE TRADITIONAL PITT STOP(S)

SUBIC

MSC chose to go up north this year, 2010. Apparently, the next neighboring province is Olongapo City where the SUBIC Naval Base (now named SUBIC Bay, SBMA) is at.  MSC was in for a lot of opportunities to get to appreciate this sophisticated province!

The former American Military Base was transformed into a modern, tourist-friendly City after the Americans left the provinces, Pampanga (where the Clark Air Field was) and Olongapo City at the onset of the Mount Pinatubo eruption. Even nature had its own way of getting rid of overstaying guests! But I must say that it is truly admiring to see how the people behave here. How they manage to maintain their cleanliness and discipline. And  I would like to believe that the Americans had a lot to do with it.

For me, it was priceless to see our younglings' reactions whenever they see the giant bats clinging on tree branches and even soaring with their talons stretched widely, flying across the Olongapo skies and the monkeys that freely roam along the roadsides to and from Bataan. Even the lush forests that line the face of the mountains of Olongapo was simply astonishing. But most especially, the Duty Free shopping places and Gimmick spots.

One stop was at the Royal SUBIC mall in SUBIC Bay. The place to be when you're looking for stuff to give out as "pasalubongs" and PX goods at very reasonable prices... 

JOLLIBEE NLEX

With sufficient funds left in our group budget, the pack decided to make another stopover at a gas station along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) bound to Manila for bathroom breaks and to grab a bite at Jollibee!   

MSC had the ultimate adventure this year. And the elders will not stop to think of other things that would help rev up the group spirit even more for next year.

FUEL UP!!!

Fuel up! A phrase used to power up automobiles. But how about fueling up long lost friendships??

A few days after our infamous Coral View, Bataan adventure, we headed to the city for a night to unwind with another group of MSC alumni. Lynet Danao (ALTO, Alum) and Len de Leon (SOPRANO, Alum) joined in this time. Very good friends of Gigie (Serzo-Ibayan, ALTO) whom she hasn't seen for ages! We headed to a bar located in Don Antonio, Commonwealth, QC called "Fuel Up!", owned by famous filipina celebrity actress, Angel Locsin. But she was not there that night. Too bad... 

The place was dark but cozy, filled with familiar beats and jives of the 80's new wave music. Both the crew and the guests were friendly and game! The girls from the other table even invited us to dance with them when dance music started to be played by in-house band, "ARKO" at the latter part of their set.      

Another unforgettable experience I had was when my table requested the band to have me on stage to sing with them. I had no choice but to do what they wanted for I won't hear the end of it for sure! Not because I was a show-off but I was simply ever so ready to please my friends especially Gigie and Leo whom I haven't seen for almost three years!

 

The suave, warm night got even warmer by the love and happiness we felt amongst each other. All in all, it was a perfect night.