Market Day

Market Day

A Saturday morn, it’s more than usual
A respite from my daily grind of work
A little late in waking up for cereal
A measly reward for a tired bloke

The highlight of the day is march my way
The busy marketplace some distance away
The multitude of vehicles the ply the route
The procession so slow and brute

A crowd of busy people, a good mix of class
A throng of sweaty carters paraded in the mess
A good man’s merchant for fruits and veggies
A butcher’s knife carving some beef cubies

The fishes from all shapes and sizes, dead or alive
The stinky air and slippery pavement all in sight
The chorus of traders persuading you to buy
The haggling for bargain is a welcome delight

A wet and a dry section of food and general goods
A cacophony of sounds and colors alike
A real labyrinth of alleyways to here and fro
A true newbie’s skill and temper will be tested fully

The market’s energy is always a zenith high
The elated mood of people to bargain and trade
The distinct smell and the livid colors of new catch
The sight to behold is always a shoppers’ delight



Dennis P. Maitim
June 10, 2008

Emotions

Emotions

The sleepy one
Denuded with energy
It wishes one thing
Be allowed to rest and tire away

The grumpy one
Doesn’t care at all
Its snide remarks
Will hit like a lighting bolt

The happy one
Smiles and sings a happy tune
Infectious at times
It lightens the afternoon

The pensive one
Immersed in a deep thought
With life hanging in a balance
Don’t know which way it turns

The carefree one
Is loud and lonely
It swings proudly with the wind
And drifted aimlessly

The lover one
Is proud and hopeful
The glisten in its eye
Can blind a thousand eagles

The profound one
Discerns the life’s meaning
Yearns for an eternal being
In a surest steps of journeying


Dennis P. Maitim
June 10, 2008

Life as I Know It

Life as I know It

A cat with a fiddle
It can’t be true
I know a creature more loved by you

A cat may cry, she meows my way
With Its collar made from cowhide
Swings in her neck of furry grays and white

The cat will wander into my yard
She loves to sit in the entranceway
As no creature gets in her prima donna way

In the quiet of evenings
I may hear her sobbing-like cry
Maybe it’s a mating call, I will never know why

At times when a vicious dog
Gets out from a neighbor’s gate
The cat will hide inside my cape

A cat with a fiddle
It can’t be true
I know a creature more loved by you


Dennis P. Maitim
June 10, 2008

Rejuvenate

Rejuvenate

Sunrise in late summer is always a pleasure
It comes a little later and starting to be cool
The east will glow in crimsom yellow
With wisps of clouds radiating the brightness
To announce the new beginning

The birds will sing a thousand times
Today, tomorrow I do remember
Some gathered for breakfasts, some stretched their wings
Perched on the lone stately palm tree
In the yard of ebbing morning dews

The blue grass are growing denser
A sight to behold in early morning
With my barefoot, I have trodden
It feels like a luscious carpet of the Turks
Only it is green all over

The patch is compact but full
With pockets of morning star and golden box
Arrange in the ethereal beauty of symmetry
Plants in topiary forms of mounds and spikes
Creates a dreamlike paradise

Denrobiums abloom in various colors and hues
Gives a hint of eden amid metal bars
A gated garden ensures to protect the flora
With a growing apple mango tree surely creeping
And dominate the shade underneath its being

It feels like home, it invites you to stare
If only for a moment, you’ll be caught in a spell
Green grasses, sturdy plants and trees a growing
A real oasis, thriving with life - a garden enchanting
A sight to behold and truly rejuvenating!



Dennis P. Maitim
June 10, 2008

She Winks at Me

She Winks at Me

The joys of life
A thousand ways in between
To each its own
Makes heaven a place within

A man takes a woman
Clings to a union as sacred as time
Promises to cherish
The love, the truth and the passion

Their feelings undivided
Through gladness it’s shared abundantly
In due time, life begins again
A miracle that God has blessed unfailingly

Anticipation grows
The songs of lark are singing
The rounded belly
Proud cradle to the bundle of joy

A day would not pass
Without a new experience
It’s always a telling
The sweetness of young parenting

It dawns on you
How great a responsibility it is
A living being
Totally dependent on you

Would I measure up?
The man will feel at times
Anxiety sets in
Renewed fears magnified

It is today, she will arrive
Mixed emotions you can hardly contain
You hear her cry
And you cannot help but smile

To hold her tight
To kiss her good night
All doubts are cast aside
The minute she winks at me.


Dennis P. Maitim
June 10, 2008

Drive

Drive


Streets are narrow and poorly lit
Potholes and cracks all over the place
Sewer and garbage are scattered around
So much for cleanliness in this side of town

If not a house, an ambulant vendor squat the sides
They’ve snatched the streets from proper use
With children playing ball and old women gossiping
It’s hard to tell - where’s the pedestrian’s crossing

It would have been fine when everyone
Respects the law and follow the traffic signs
But not in Manila, don’t be a fool
It’s anyone’s guess how you can drive it cool

Perplexing to mind how one gets to move around
Streets littered with vehicles in monstrous number
Busy people that are on there way in hasty paces
Order is the least on everyone’s consciousness

The gridlock fault, it stems from lack of urban planning
Shortsightedness and too much politicking
Rapid population migration compounded the problem
One has to live with it to eternal flame


Dennis P. Maitim
June 11, 2008

Ramblings of a Confused Soul

Ramblings of a Confused Soul

The sunlight is brightest when it is raining.
It is my hypothesis. I haven’t had the chance to verify this thesis.
The bases for this hypothesis are the following:
• Water and water vapor act as magnifying glass or prism that increases the intensity of the sunlight that pass through it
• Rainwater cleanses the air of pollutants and particles that could block off the sunlight
• Rainwater scattered off a pavement will reflect the sunlight that touches the surface and its intensity is brightest at the reflection angle

I love the rain with its refreshing effect on the human soul. It’s like the body is cleansed inside out with water dripping back to the ground. However, it feels quite differently when the rain falls down with the sun shining brightly. You get the feeling of being robbed of your body warmth and comfort. It is an unusual feeling to get caught in the rain in the middle of a mid-day sun. Maybe this is the reason why more often than not, a person catches a cold at this instance.


Dennis P. Maitim
June 11, 2008

Together in Solitude

Together in Solitude

The stillness in the air
Creates the warmth too comforting to ignore
Soothing to the soul, reaching depths within
It permeates the zen-like feeling
In the tail end of summer

Dreams in the pursuit of happiness
Levitates around pillars of granite beauty
Marble floors reflect the emotions
When strength begets surreal understanding
Complementing the balance of perfection

The gentle breeze that sways draperies
Inspires an illusion of shimmering sky
Too distant, well lit by the sparkle of stars
Disturbed by droplets of a dying waterfall
Through the rooms’ remarkable pip-in music

Little by little, the murmuring floors
Echos the faint sound of some many a feet
Trickling the ear to listen closely
But shutting down the remote feeling
That no being is ever alone today and always


Dennis P. Maitim
June 6, 2007 (1:15pm)
The Conservatory, Peninsula Manila

In The Stillness of the Night

In the Stillness of the Night

In darkness there is silence
There is the air of mystery
Fear breeds with not knowing
The heaviness in pitch black night.

The sound of silence
The chorus of chirping night crawlers
Or the croaking of frogs and toads
Lends credence to an eerie nightfall

To some beings, darkness is freedom
One can hide behind shadows
Slip into anonymity without being too obvious
And get to flirt with danger and adventure

To some beings, darkness is bondage
It limits depth and movement
Castrates ones eyes from looking far and wide
And cause the tired soul to sleep if only for a while

Why do we have to have the nightfall?
Why can’t we have daylight in eternity?
Why can’t we live life for always?
And be joyful all the time
Without the stillness of the night.

Dennis P. Maitim
June 18, 2008

Torn

Torn

Tell me, who’s the master, the heart or the mind?
It’s easier if you’re the outsider looking on
But harder if you’re the concerned person

Reason above all, transcends principles
It shines off objectivity and is good for all
Even at closer scrutiny, it flies intelligently

Emotions have colors beyond normal comprehension
Outsiders are blinded because it defies reason
Yet the heart digs deeper meaning and appreciation

You always longed for good company
A friend, a mentor and conducive environ
To advance a career and pursue the passion

An opportune presents without much announcing
Laying out a career and handsome pays
With a perceived professional upbringing

You got them endeared to your naïve ways
Being good natured in your unpretentious display
They want you badly courting surreptitiously

Then, you tried to thank a good ole boss
Whose trust and friendship was quite generous
And said goodbye for fruitful years behind

After much talk and closed consultations
You’re not let go and convinced to stay on
Your value and self worth has so much affirmation

It pains to choose between two good ways
Especially when you’re torn unexpectedly
No rhyme or reason can ease the journey

Dennis P Maitim
June 25, 2008

About Dreams

About Dreams

If dreams are made to make us wonder
To inspire us to strive even harder
And make us resolute to continue further
Then it’s okey to dream always to forever.

If babies could dream dreams with less care
And imagine things only momma had bare
To smile uninhibited in sleep while your stare
Must be good visions and pictures everywhere

Dreams do happen in really deep slumber
Others more vivid and can go in numbers
While some are sketchy you hardly remember
Fruits of a fertile mind, the subconscious seer

Some people dream while awake in ponder
Seeing their lives unreeling and in great stir
A collage of the past, incoherently bare
And see new things unimaginable sans surrender

Dreams may provide an epiphany as you get older
A realization that there is indeed a great order
A new purpose in life as you head yourself clear
Build a new you and make a proud believer

Dreams get you the déjà vu feeling louder
As dreams reflect on your experiences here
Make things familiar and sort ideas better
And realize life has made you a lot wiser

Dreams do make us a lot cheerful and happier
Hopeful of the future, a destination we care
Wishing the journey will be great and not bumpier
And shared with our love ones forever and ever

Dennis P Maitim
July 4, 2008

Mantra

Mantra

The bible says, With God nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37).

I say, Nothing is impossible, if others can do it, so can I.

This mantra keeps me going. It makes me work harder and made me believe in my dreams. I did not make what other people have achieved as my benchmark of success, but rather, an indication that my dreams are not shooting aimlessly at the stars and it’s not a hopeless cause. I have the capability to steer my life and mold my journey the way I can as long as I keep my eyes on the prize. It gave me a purpose, a focus and the determination to push the limits of what I can achieve and attain.

My other philosophy in life is less caring and aloof – I don’t care if my shadow is crooked as long as I’m walking up straight.

I lived in an environment where society can be ruthless in its rules of living, castigating the non-conformist as social outcasts and promulgating rules slanted towards the few who cared less for the poor, unfortunate souls. Founded on firm Christian beliefs and family values espoused by my strict and disciplinarian mother, my character was strong with heaps and bounds of resiliency and steadfastness – a greater storm could not easily break to pieces. I have a firm grasp of what’s good and bad and a zealous fire of idealism burning inside my heart. I realized the value of integrity and the preciousness of having an untainted name, as these are the only possessions of value our family can treasure.


Dennis P Maitim
July 4, 2008

About Love

About Love

Love is a wonderful feeling it gets you intoxicated
You day dream in June and wish it were spring weather again
The smell of flowers arouses your keen and funny senses
Even the sweet songs of birds suddenly becomes your aria
You become oblivious of a hurried past as you stay and wonder
That life is truly beautiful when shared with your love one.

Love is a many splendored thing, so the Lettermen sings
You suddenly don’t know its meaning or it means everything
It defies your reason or it becomes the reason for being
Life suddenly becomes a contradiction, a paradox of sorts
Where love can be so simple yet we can hardly fathom its meaning
No one understands truly, except that the love birds are singing

Love can be like a river, it flows endlessly without selfishness
It can get you wet in return or drown you when you’re not careful
It will flood your ultra huge ego and bruise your calloused heart
It will force you into submission and bring you to your knees
It will get you down and dragged you to uncharted territories
And make you sing unfamiliar tunes and chorused lullabies

Love is so much real you could almost touch it
But it is precious and fragile you could easily break it
And it takes a greater love to bring back the same old feeling again.
It is very patient and kind; it gets abused by uncaring individuals.
It will rock your world and send you spinning out of control.
But love will keep us together as the world goes round and round.

Dennis P Maitim
July 4, 2008

Soms Noodle House

The well kept secret
Now out in the open
Soms Noodle House
A frequent diner's recluse

It was a long journey
We tried so many times
We failed miserably
Getting a seat when lunch on the way

Today we came back
Knowing it's way beyond lunch
Glad to find out its deserted
Just a few diners left

Banana Leaf

Banana Leaf has opened its branch in Greenbelt 3. It is the usual full fledged dining resto that offers a la carte orders, just like how this restaurant started in the old Greenbelt. However, I do miss the 4 kinds of mushroom specialty that it used to have and now visibly taken out from its menu.

Banana Leaf
An asian resto in contemporary design
A fusion of indian, thai & malay cuisine
Often referred to as Singaporean's own
Both spicy and sweet, you can't go wrong.
Borrowed curry flavor leaves the mouth wanting
With intense chili and spice, you know its thai
Complementing better with nan or roti channai.

The group decides on an easy diet
Some meat, some fish and veggie please
All agreed to try the roti but order some rice
Forgo a separate curry suace on the side
Pick instead a green or red curry dish
Never the beef but may the chicken thai
Just to break the monotony the last time we tried.

Indeed its harder to choose the fish
For we are constrained by our budget's purse
The sambal looked appetizing in pictures
Not knowing for sure what's coating its exterior.
Informed we were, it will take awhile
Considering that the fish gets fried
Polished in the oven it gets some better pride.

The veggie was a trick at first
Undecide between the water spinach
Versus the malay noble leaves
Getting adventurous we often missed badly
Half expecting the vianed that came our way
Sated we were, glad the noble veggie
Sauteed in garlic, indeed it was healthy.

We came too hungry, any food well done
The fish cracker - an on the house welcome
Consumed fast, we could have wanted more
Discouraged only, the next serving not free
Pondering on what our bill would be
No one budged to spend more on appetizer
As we often go over our Php150 buzzer

The sambal fish was a big hit
Despite the long wait, its crispy and sweet
A certain smell emanates from its skin
No wonder - it was shrimp paste within
We never knew just by the picture we viewed
For sure it was tasty like we envisioned
Any day, we knew, this fish will be consumed.

We came famished, we left satisfied
A meal not too expensive with Gentley's card
Glad there's promo,there's more discount
When divided, we cannot help but smile.

Chicken Bacolod

September 11, 2007

Our lunch was taken at Chicken Bacolod in Greenbelt 1. Gentley was kind enough to drive us to the mall today, as the Company vehicle was banned from the streets on a Tuesday. We decided to eat cheap today and we picked Chicken Bacolod.

Chicken Bacolod serves the ever famous chicken inasal or grilled chicken marinated in yellow ginger root extract that gained prominence in the Manokan Country somewhere in Bacolod City. Aside from the grilled chicken, it has the ever tasty and delicious La Paz Batchoy, a noodle stew served with lots of garlic, pork skin and whole egg.

I would always order the chicken breast at Chicken Bacolod with garlic rice. Today, however, I cajoled the group to try out the crispy crablets as a side order. Mimi did order the chicken leg and a bowl of hot La Paz batchoy, which she willingly shared with the group. I opted not to partake of the batchoy as it is cholesterol laden and I am on a quest to lower my cholesterol as I'm feeling the dizziness and symptoms of high blood pressure this past week.

I did enjoy my grilled chicken breast but the crablets was a disappointment. I did expect the crablets to be baby crabs, but these were a bit bigger already. It did not came out as crispy and crunchy any more. The claws were a bit bigger and harder to munch on. This sentiment was shared by the group and we vowed not to order this again in the future.

I was amazed when Gentley made a confession that he had not tried making the calamansi - soy sauce dip before to go with the grilled chicken. As filipino as we are, this is almost disfunctional as we filipinos are so used to having this dip with lots and lots of chili to spice up the dip. Anyways, Gentley never claimed to be a fan of grilled chicken and he found the chicken and the dip to be a good complement.

I paid only about Php130 for my meal, including the soda which I also ordered.

Afterwards, I went out to Ace Hardware to buy some knick nacks, some screws and other stuff. Maidette, Mimi and Gentley however, went to Razon's to get some desserts, the ever famous halo-halo of Razon's.

Yum Yum Tree

I missed to update my food blog for the past two weeks. However, today, I will try to update my blog just as I had done these past two months.

September 10, 2007

We had lunch at Yum Yum Tree in Rustan's Supermarket in Glorietta. We me during the lunch were Mimi, Gentley, Maidette and Chay.

I ordered the sizzling bangus steak (milkfish steak). What came out was a huge bangus fish split open and served in a hot sizzling plate. Loads of tasty mushroom gravy were spread on the deep fried fish. It came served with carrot sticks, baguio beans and corn bits.

It was a heavy meal indeed. I liked the way it was cooked, I almost licked my fingers while devouring the entire fish. I could described the food as something that goes well with rice. In fact, one could almost consume two cupfuls of rice servings because of the saucy fish viand. I had one good lunch that I cannot complain about. I believe, if I remember right, I paid Php300 for the fish and a can of soda.

After lunch, we went out of our ways for some shopping. I chose to go with Maidette as she went shopping for baby things. You see, here sister is delivering her baby in Toronto, Canada and she has been tasked to source the baby needs here in the Philippines. Maidette's mom is leaving a two week's time for Canada and her mom will be bringing all the baby things with her.

Today, Maidette was looking for that stove-top feeding bottle sterilizer. Her sister was quite specific about getting the non-electric variety as gas prices are cheaper in Canada and the bad reviews of the electric variant. They tend to break down easily after only several months use. And the sterilizer are a constant need to a family with a new born baby until about two years thereafter. Hence, the need to have a reliable sterilizer is a must.

Me and Maidette went to Rustan's department store to see if the store carried the stove-top sterilizer. We learned that not much inventory is carried for this type as people tend favor the electric powered variety already. We went to Landmark, on the other side of Glorietta which Maidette knew for sure would have lots and lots of choices on baby products. Maidette was right. She found what she has been looking for. She bought it at once while I shopped for breast pads and baby bath tub screen. I could have bought the sterilizer then which I would be needing soon myself, but I hesitated as Lani would not be too excited for me to be shopping for more baby stuff this early.

Anyways, my plans to the afternoon to get some fruits did not push through. We spent a lot of our time in Landmark, it was time to return to the office. Alvin picked us up in G4 entrance and drove us back to the office.

Mongolian Stop

Alvin, our Company driver had asked for a vacation today. He went over to his family in Bicol for his usual coming home schedule as it takes about 10 hours by bus just to reach the place where he took up residence.

We decided to have our lunch at RCBC Plaza as it was a walking distance from our office. We trooped out early as Maidette had early afternoon meetings. Me and Rene meet up with Mimi at the RCBC Tower lobby as she was at UCPB bank earlier. Maidette and Chay went ahead to withdraw money from the bank as well.

Upon seeing most of the restaurants were full with diners, we decided to have our lunch at Mongolian Stop. Mongolian Stop is the franchised version of the origina Mongolian Barbecue, a joint that serves eat-all-you-can mongolian food. Mongol food is a combination of rice, noodles, vegetables, meats and spices and sauteed in very hot oil and served in a deep bowl. A diner can choose how to spice up his food, by adding more chili, sugar, garlic, ginger or the mongolian hot suace or the sweet and spicy sauce. It is one truly simple meal where all the ingredients are dumped into one dish and one can savor the melange of flavors infused in one great meal.

I ordered the mongolian bowl single, where I had the freedom to choose what food ingredients goes into my meal. I chose a spoonful of rice, some heap of vermicilli noodles, egg noodles, chinese pichay, cabbage, young corn, a good amount of carrots, some shallots, ginger and garlic. I also added some chicken meat, beef and what remained of the sliced squid meat. The lady who assisted me asked for my flavor and seasoning, so I told her to make mine, sweet and spicy. She took care of adding the different spices and seasonings to make it sweet and spicy as I took my place in a nearby vacant table.

We all got settled down and my food was served first, freshly cooked from the kitchen. The clear soup with noodles was bland but, this one was served on the house. My Mongolian food came and I thought it was too sweet for my pallet. I guess, their standard for adding sugar was a bit more than what my serving should have considering that I only took too few of the cooked rice. I don't want to add more rice in my bowl, hence, I was not complaining anymore for the sweeter taste than what I had expected it.

Mimi relayed her reunion practice the other day where some jubilarians, especially those celebrating their Golden Anniversary were septuagenarians already. She told us the concept of their presentation where the older ladies will be singing and dancing on the Alphabet song with words all associated with later years in life. For instance, A will stand for Arthritis, while B will be for Bones and C for Cancer, etc. These ladies even have Hot flashes for H, imagine that, at that age, they still experience hot flashes, or may be imagining it altogether, hehehe.

I paid Php145.00 for my meal today.

Terry's Selection & UCC Vienna Cafe

This is not one of those lunch escapade blogs, but, nonetheless, I am including it here as it involved a best friend's birthday treat to me.

Allan's birthday is on September 7th but his schedule will be toxic he decided to treat me on the day before instead. It was a good coincidence as my wife will have a late video conference meeting in her office, hence, I'm free for the evening to dine away for Allan's birthday.

After a quick haircut at Ystilo Salon on my way home to pick up my car, I drove to Allan's flat in Valle Verde. You see, it's Thursday, my carless day, can't drive my car until after 7pm. Allan decided to try out Terry's Selection, a wine shop that's noted to serve sumptous meals in Podium. This was our first time at Terry's so Allan asked for the shop's specialties. We tried the fabled cheese croquettas, the pumpkin soup while I had lamb stew for my main course. Allan, in keeping with his stricter plans to lose some poundage, ordered the solomillo fish.

The cheese croquettas were good, it oozed with gladness and hints of blue cheese. However, we waited for the mayo herbed dip that came later. Thank God, the croquettas were served really hot, we can't bite until after we passed sometime catching up on what had happened lately with our lives. The soup was a bit salty and no amount of pepper could save it. Then my lamb stew was served. It was cooked in some iron pan and the tomato base sizzled as it was served to me. Oh how tender the lamb meat was, it almost melted in my mouth. I love the way it was cooked, the creaminess of the tomato sauce, the slices of potato, the garlic, bell pepper and other ingredients, all enhanced the distinct taste of the lamb. Had I not been watching my blood pressure lately, I would have ordered a cupful of rice and wipe away the stew sauce in the iron pan with rice. I was able to consume the served mashed potato in no time at all. That's how delightful this dish was.

Allan's solomillo fish tasted salty because of the generous capers put into the dish. Nonetheless, it tasted good and fresh. It was a truly refreshing meal especially with the lemonade drink that were squeezed fresh that I had. I did not check the cost of this meal. Allan collected the tab as it was his birthday treat.

We walked to the lobby side of Podium to get our coffee and dessert at UCC Vienna Cafe. We knew we could not eat more after the heavy dinner we just had. But we need to pass time and wait for Lani to be off her meeting. We settled to order the Velvet Coffee cake while Allan ordered the decaf coffee. I got myself a Havanna Blue soda. The Velvet Coffee cake was more mouse than cake. And we had a great time devouring the mini cake. It cake was as soft as the angel cake while the mouse tasted coffee cream. It was nicely presented and it never failed to give our thumbs up for a superb dessert.

I picked up Lani thereafter at the World Bank.

Suzukin & Cheesecake Melliza

It was a quite Thursday morning. Just one uneventful day at the office. Maidette went on a personal errand to fetch the TMX toy for her son, while Mimi was out on leave. That left me, Gentley and Chay as lunch buddies for the day.

We all love cheap and good food. Hence, today, although we originally planned for Fat Micheals to try out for lunch, we decided against it becuase our group was not complete. Instead, we wanted to be adventurous and eat at Suzukin.

Suzukin is a little known Japanese kitchenette in the area of Makati. It used to be the unique hole in the wall type of dining place, where good, authentic japanese cuisine is served day-in, day-out. I've known the place since 1995 when my friends from La Salle introduced me to this place, and since then, I have been a diner on occassions. Gentley has also been a patron for quite some time now. He claims to have admired a pretty waitress in the place, sometime ago.

Anyways, we all ordered the lunch specials. It included a soup bowl of japanese miso, shrimp tempura, chicken tonkatsu, tuna steak, pork teriaki, bean sprouts and dilis on the side. It's like a sampler of certain japanese cuisine that's adapted to filipino pallets.

The miso soup, according to Gentley, traced its origins to provincial japanese cooking. It included cubes of tufo, eggplant cutlets, hints of nori and the miso. It tasted good and everyone seemed to be agreement. I traded my chicken with Gentley's tuna steak and I had one good meal of the day. I finished early the bowl of rice and downed in no time, the bottle of soda that I ordered, as well.

We casually talked about the bickering in Couples For Christ and how certain christians behave - seemingly becoming more self-righteous than their catholic brothers. Gentley talked about the indoctrination in Iglesia ni Cristo, whereby, it was taught that in the end of days, its members are taught to rush to their churches or temples, as literally, it becomes a spaceship and will fly the devouts to heaven. In fact, the spires architecture of the Iglesia churches have a reason - in the end of days, these spires are supposed to pierce through whatever may hinder, block or stop the churches from flying through the heavens. I was dumbfounded, I never realized that the Iglesia's were taught this doctrine of flying churches.

Then we talked about ghosts and spirits. Everyone seemed to agree that ghosts and spirits are real and nothing but manifestations of the devil himself. However, Chay respected the fact the dwarves and spirits are there but could not harm human beings provided you are strong in your faith. Then we talked about life after death. Chay and Gentley were in agreement that a man's soul leaves the body, right after death and goes directly to either heaven or hell. I seemed to disagree on this. To me, there is life after death. However, the soul or spirit, does not get judged and face God, not until the end of days or Judgment Day. Hence, the heaven and hell thingy does not happen until the judgment day comes. Chay will not believe that at some point, the soul or spirit will be left in limbo. She planned to consult her christian friends on this one.

Anyways, we settled our bill and I paid Php125.00 for my meal. We left for Cheesecake Melliza, a pastry shop some two blocks away. Gentley was delightful enough to treat us for desserts.

Cheesecake Melliza has a wide assortments of cheesecakes and pastries. However, we ordered the Caramel Walnut Cheesecake, Blueberry Cheesecake and the Triple Chocolate Cheesecake. Alvin was invited by Gentley to join us for desserts. Of the three cheesecakes we tried, I liked the Caramel Walnut the most. It was creamy to the taste and easy on the pallet. It didn't hit me like those cheesecakes with soury taste when the creamcheese gets heated in the oven and mixed with sourcream.

It was a beautiful ending to our lunch escapade for the day.