As I was approaching one of my classes yesterday, I noticed that some of the students inside were in a state of panic. When I entered, they turned to me and started yelling, "Millipede!"
Oh, no.
This wasn't the first time it's happened in that class. The last time, they also panicked, and screamed when I calmly picked up the offending crawly, and tossed him out the door. And up to now, I still don't understand what all the fuss was about. I would understand if it was a higad, or a centipede, which both have their own deadly poisons, but a millipede is harmless. Sheesh.
Anyway, back to yesterday. I did the same to this millipede that I did to the other one a few weeks ago; I tossed it out. A few minutes later, one of the students beside the window violently shoved his chair away from the window, and, yes, another millipede had made its appearance, and was promptly picked up (amid screams) and tossed out.
And, as Dz would say, but wait there's more. As I made my way back to the podium, one of the students shouted, "Sir! There's one on the wall!" Which I also calmly disposed of.
What namby-pambies.
Of course, I have my own fears of things, but I don't get it why high school boys would be so afraid of a harmless creepy crawly. Maybe they should get out and get in touch with nature more.
After the three millipedes were thrown out, I wondered aloud to the class about how they were going to handle second year and biology, where they would have to dissect a frog.
More screams.
Good luck to the biology teacher.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Hectic Once More/ Our Lovely Government
Whew! It's been a while since my last post. With the end of another grading period rapidly approaching, it's checking, preparing for the exams, and meeting with the parents of those students who will probably fail the grading period. With all that, it's been near impossible to update the blog.
But, since the grading period is coming to an end, I'll probably be able to post more than this, which I believe D calls "guerrilla writing". Or was is guerrilla blogging? Oh well.
We had a long weekend this past weekend, due to the government's flip-flopping over whether yesterday should've been a holiday or not. Last Friday, the government spokesperson announced that Monday was a working day, because National Heroes Day normally is the last Sunday of August, whatever the date. And then, the next day, on ANC, I see on the newsbar that oh, dear, sorry, a mistake has been made, it's a holiday after all. What's up with that?
In my case, it couldn't have come at a worse time. This week is exam week, which means that I lose a day to prepare my students. Oh well. I should probably assume that they've been reviewing, and not wasting their time gimmicking. Not my fault if they're not prepared, is it?
The larger picture is the implication that our dear president is using this holiday in order to stave off the impeachment case against her, to prevent congressmen from convening and signing the complaint. Now if this is the case, it's just plain stupid. GMA already has a lot of aces in her favor; why be heavyhanded and bulldoze the complaint into the ground? If she was so willing to submit herself to impeachment in July, why is she throwing all sorts of roadblocks, which is reminiscent of her ousted predecessor? It just doesn't make sense. But, then again, nothing about GMA has ever made sense.
But, since the grading period is coming to an end, I'll probably be able to post more than this, which I believe D calls "guerrilla writing". Or was is guerrilla blogging? Oh well.
We had a long weekend this past weekend, due to the government's flip-flopping over whether yesterday should've been a holiday or not. Last Friday, the government spokesperson announced that Monday was a working day, because National Heroes Day normally is the last Sunday of August, whatever the date. And then, the next day, on ANC, I see on the newsbar that oh, dear, sorry, a mistake has been made, it's a holiday after all. What's up with that?
In my case, it couldn't have come at a worse time. This week is exam week, which means that I lose a day to prepare my students. Oh well. I should probably assume that they've been reviewing, and not wasting their time gimmicking. Not my fault if they're not prepared, is it?
The larger picture is the implication that our dear president is using this holiday in order to stave off the impeachment case against her, to prevent congressmen from convening and signing the complaint. Now if this is the case, it's just plain stupid. GMA already has a lot of aces in her favor; why be heavyhanded and bulldoze the complaint into the ground? If she was so willing to submit herself to impeachment in July, why is she throwing all sorts of roadblocks, which is reminiscent of her ousted predecessor? It just doesn't make sense. But, then again, nothing about GMA has ever made sense.
Friday, August 19, 2005
Restaurants I Love
A month or two ago, L, my foodie friend, posted her top ten restaurants on her blog. Back then, I decided that I would do the same. Then, school began, and, caught in the whirlwind of papers, projects and whiny students, the writing of the list was forgotten. With Quezon Day today, and having no classes, I thought I'd try to get it done today.
Below is a list of the restaurants, in no particular order, that I've come to rely on for good food and ambiance.
1. Mann Hann (Basement, Building A, Megamall) - I was first introduced to this place by my parents, and the first order I had was the oyster cake, which is an omelet-like dish. While I much prefer my oysters plain and nicely steamed, the cake had a wonderful flavor. The novelty of the oyster cake has died down, but H and I keep coming back here, mainly for the spicy spareribs and the squid, which comes with bagoong balayan.
2. Luk Yuen (Basement, Building B, Megamall, under renovation) - Beef mami (noodle soup) is one of my all-time favorite comfort foods, and Luk Yuen does it better than most. The restaurant's assortment of dim sum is very good, and I particularly like the asado siopao (very moist dough and flavorfully savory filling), and the steamed shrimp dumplings. Ever since the Megamall branch closed temporarily for renovations, I've been hard-pressed to get my fix of Luk Yuen, but, since H isn't particularly fond of the restaurant, the once-in-a-while trip is worth it.
3. Little Asia (Tomas Morato) - One nice thing about my parents is that they're very open to trying out new restaurants, and this was one of the finds. It's since become one of our favorite dining-out places. Regular orders include the Kung Pao chicken (spicy-sweet), and their Japanese Tofu Steak, topped with black mushroom and pork slices. G likes it because of the spiral staircase winding up to the second floor, and my after-dinner exercise consists of walking with her up and down the stairs.
4. Almon Marina (1st Floor, Building A, Megamall) - What I like about Almon Marina is the versatility of the menu. One can partake of a sandwich (pastrami is my personal favorite; H likes the Sydney Special, a roast beef sandwich), or a salad (H likes the one with walnuts and olives), or a soup (most of them creamy and savory), or something grilled (which I''ve never tried; the sandwiches get me first). All in the warm, comfy surroundings of a cafe-like ambiance.
5. Italianni's (Greenbelt, Makati) - One complaint L had (or still has?) about Italianni's is that the servings appear to be getting smaller and smaller. Since I haven't eaten there for a while, I haven't noticed, but if they have, then it's a crying shame. The restaurant serves really good pasta (Penne Arrabiata, and Angel Hair Pomodoro are my favorites), and their desserts, while pricey, are generally very good. What I like in particular is the bread that they serve at the beginning of the meal. It's best tasted in an olive oil and wine vinegar dip that comes with it. Italianni's seems to be on a major expansion move; there are now branches in Megamall and along Tomas Morato. Still, the cozy family restaurant ambiance of the Greenbelt branch is what I miss.
6. The New Kamameshi House (Quezon Memorial Circle, QC) - This is one of the oldest of my family haunts. Kamameshi is kettle-cooked rice with some sort of flavoring, and it is truly a great dish. What I like is that when the meal is almost over, I get to scrape the bottom of each kettle for the tutong, or the semi-burnt rice. Since a good amount of the flavor has caramelized at the bottom, I find the full burst of the taste there. An added bonus now is that Kamameshi House is one of the few restaurants that G enjoys, since she knows how to manipulate the chopsticks (a little).
7. A Venetto (Visayas Avenue, QC) - Ah, Italian food. Such wonderful memories of Italian Village. While that restaurant is now long gone, other establishments have taken up the slack. A Venetto is one of them. The pasta dishes come burgeoning with sauce and pasta, and for a relatively reasonable price. The A Venetto burger is another good find: a half-pounder burger with veggies, cheese and bacon; I normally wind up eating half in the restaurant, and the other half I take out and eat at home.
8. Chocolate Kiss (UP Bahay ng Alumni, QC) - While L and I tried out the branch along Roces, I find that the original location is still the best. Low lighting provides a cozy atmosphere, and every Wednesday and Friday (?) evening, there's live musical entertainment. The food is pretty good; L pretty much covered the basics in her post about our lunch, but I will say that the hickory smoked spareribs are nicely tender and flavorful. The only problem is that, sometimes, I do get more than a fair share of gristle with the ribs. Still, H and I count this as one of our favorite hang outs.
9. La Piadina (Robinson's Place, Manila) - This was a discovery shared with me by H, B, and Hg, who work in the Supreme Court in Manila. Their normal lunching is spent in Robinson's Place, which is a bit of a walk from the Court. Still, Italian food served freshly made can't be beat. So far, we've tried their Arrabiata (good) and their pizza (wunnerful). Instead of hot sauce, there's a container full of olive oil with hot peppers marinating in it; it packs a good kick. The price is pretty reasonable, so one can get a rich and filling meal for a good price.
10. Alba's (Tomas Morato, QC) - One of the perks of Alba's is that my cousin happens to be married to the son of Don Alba, the restaurant's founder. As a result, a lot of our family gatherings take place in either the Eastwood or the Tomas Morato branch of Alba's. This means that I get to sample quite a bit of their Paella, which is one of the most wonderful foods in the world. I particularly like the Paella Negra (is that what it's called?), which is made with squid ink, and is a great treat. Aside from the paella, Alba's also boasts of good Spanish cuisine, from callos (made with tripe and tomato sauce) to chorizos (sausage) to the very light and fluffy canonigo (a meringue-like cake served with caramel sauce). Of course, the price is also rather high, but the restaurant does serve buffets for lunch and dinner, so one can partake of various Spanish dishes for a reasonable price.
Below is a list of the restaurants, in no particular order, that I've come to rely on for good food and ambiance.
1. Mann Hann (Basement, Building A, Megamall) - I was first introduced to this place by my parents, and the first order I had was the oyster cake, which is an omelet-like dish. While I much prefer my oysters plain and nicely steamed, the cake had a wonderful flavor. The novelty of the oyster cake has died down, but H and I keep coming back here, mainly for the spicy spareribs and the squid, which comes with bagoong balayan.
2. Luk Yuen (Basement, Building B, Megamall, under renovation) - Beef mami (noodle soup) is one of my all-time favorite comfort foods, and Luk Yuen does it better than most. The restaurant's assortment of dim sum is very good, and I particularly like the asado siopao (very moist dough and flavorfully savory filling), and the steamed shrimp dumplings. Ever since the Megamall branch closed temporarily for renovations, I've been hard-pressed to get my fix of Luk Yuen, but, since H isn't particularly fond of the restaurant, the once-in-a-while trip is worth it.
3. Little Asia (Tomas Morato) - One nice thing about my parents is that they're very open to trying out new restaurants, and this was one of the finds. It's since become one of our favorite dining-out places. Regular orders include the Kung Pao chicken (spicy-sweet), and their Japanese Tofu Steak, topped with black mushroom and pork slices. G likes it because of the spiral staircase winding up to the second floor, and my after-dinner exercise consists of walking with her up and down the stairs.
4. Almon Marina (1st Floor, Building A, Megamall) - What I like about Almon Marina is the versatility of the menu. One can partake of a sandwich (pastrami is my personal favorite; H likes the Sydney Special, a roast beef sandwich), or a salad (H likes the one with walnuts and olives), or a soup (most of them creamy and savory), or something grilled (which I''ve never tried; the sandwiches get me first). All in the warm, comfy surroundings of a cafe-like ambiance.
5. Italianni's (Greenbelt, Makati) - One complaint L had (or still has?) about Italianni's is that the servings appear to be getting smaller and smaller. Since I haven't eaten there for a while, I haven't noticed, but if they have, then it's a crying shame. The restaurant serves really good pasta (Penne Arrabiata, and Angel Hair Pomodoro are my favorites), and their desserts, while pricey, are generally very good. What I like in particular is the bread that they serve at the beginning of the meal. It's best tasted in an olive oil and wine vinegar dip that comes with it. Italianni's seems to be on a major expansion move; there are now branches in Megamall and along Tomas Morato. Still, the cozy family restaurant ambiance of the Greenbelt branch is what I miss.
6. The New Kamameshi House (Quezon Memorial Circle, QC) - This is one of the oldest of my family haunts. Kamameshi is kettle-cooked rice with some sort of flavoring, and it is truly a great dish. What I like is that when the meal is almost over, I get to scrape the bottom of each kettle for the tutong, or the semi-burnt rice. Since a good amount of the flavor has caramelized at the bottom, I find the full burst of the taste there. An added bonus now is that Kamameshi House is one of the few restaurants that G enjoys, since she knows how to manipulate the chopsticks (a little).
7. A Venetto (Visayas Avenue, QC) - Ah, Italian food. Such wonderful memories of Italian Village. While that restaurant is now long gone, other establishments have taken up the slack. A Venetto is one of them. The pasta dishes come burgeoning with sauce and pasta, and for a relatively reasonable price. The A Venetto burger is another good find: a half-pounder burger with veggies, cheese and bacon; I normally wind up eating half in the restaurant, and the other half I take out and eat at home.
8. Chocolate Kiss (UP Bahay ng Alumni, QC) - While L and I tried out the branch along Roces, I find that the original location is still the best. Low lighting provides a cozy atmosphere, and every Wednesday and Friday (?) evening, there's live musical entertainment. The food is pretty good; L pretty much covered the basics in her post about our lunch, but I will say that the hickory smoked spareribs are nicely tender and flavorful. The only problem is that, sometimes, I do get more than a fair share of gristle with the ribs. Still, H and I count this as one of our favorite hang outs.
9. La Piadina (Robinson's Place, Manila) - This was a discovery shared with me by H, B, and Hg, who work in the Supreme Court in Manila. Their normal lunching is spent in Robinson's Place, which is a bit of a walk from the Court. Still, Italian food served freshly made can't be beat. So far, we've tried their Arrabiata (good) and their pizza (wunnerful). Instead of hot sauce, there's a container full of olive oil with hot peppers marinating in it; it packs a good kick. The price is pretty reasonable, so one can get a rich and filling meal for a good price.
10. Alba's (Tomas Morato, QC) - One of the perks of Alba's is that my cousin happens to be married to the son of Don Alba, the restaurant's founder. As a result, a lot of our family gatherings take place in either the Eastwood or the Tomas Morato branch of Alba's. This means that I get to sample quite a bit of their Paella, which is one of the most wonderful foods in the world. I particularly like the Paella Negra (is that what it's called?), which is made with squid ink, and is a great treat. Aside from the paella, Alba's also boasts of good Spanish cuisine, from callos (made with tripe and tomato sauce) to chorizos (sausage) to the very light and fluffy canonigo (a meringue-like cake served with caramel sauce). Of course, the price is also rather high, but the restaurant does serve buffets for lunch and dinner, so one can partake of various Spanish dishes for a reasonable price.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
'Avenue Q'
B lent me a copy of the soundtrack of the musical, "Avenue Q," which is like a very adult version of "Sesame Street". Or, better yet, it's a adult parody of "Sesame Street".
There are parodies of "Sesame" characters, notably Bert, Ernie and Cookie Monster. There's even someone playing Gary Coleman (as the libretto says, yes, that Gary Coleman), who's the superintendent of the main building of Avenue Q.
The play deals with the travails of one Princeton, who, along with the other various characters, trying to find his place in the world. He falls in love with Kate Monster, and the play moves from there.
It's a hilarious send-up, based on the soundtrack, and I would really love to watch this musical. I wonder what it would take to stage it here in the Philippines.
There are parodies of "Sesame" characters, notably Bert, Ernie and Cookie Monster. There's even someone playing Gary Coleman (as the libretto says, yes, that Gary Coleman), who's the superintendent of the main building of Avenue Q.
The play deals with the travails of one Princeton, who, along with the other various characters, trying to find his place in the world. He falls in love with Kate Monster, and the play moves from there.
It's a hilarious send-up, based on the soundtrack, and I would really love to watch this musical. I wonder what it would take to stage it here in the Philippines.
Monday, August 15, 2005
'Cyrano'
It's been a while since I've seen a good Dulaang Sibol play.
Acutally, it's been a while since I've seen a Dulaang Sibol play, period.
Aside: To the uninformed, Dulaang Sibol is one of the theatre groups of the Ateneo High School, and has been around for (I just learned this last Friday) 50 years. Led by Mr. Onofre Pagsanghan, Sibol has managed to come up with quality productions such as "Macbeth" and "Cyrano," as well as homegrown classics as "Sa Kaharian ng Araw" and "Sinta".
I'm glad that I reintroduced myself with "Cyrano". It was a wonderful play, from start to finish.
The key to the success of the play lay in the hands of Sibol alumni Justin Aquino, who essayed the lead role. The last time I saw Justin in a Sibol play, he was playing an extremely angry Cassius in "Julius Caesar". I remember being underwhelmed by his performance, as anger seemed to be the only emotion he was capable of showing.
In "Cyrano," he displays a full range of emotions, from comedic timing to righteous anger, to anguished sadness. Justin brought a roundness to the character that would make Jose Ferrer and Gerard Depardieu (other actors who have played Cyrano) proud.
The other characters also played their parts well, although I found the girl playing Roxane to be a little on the shrill side. Still, the play kept my students, and myself, riveted from start to finish.
Credit should also be given to Sibol's venerable director, Mr. Pagsi. His guiding hand is apparent throughout the play, and it is his motivation that keeps Sibol on an even keel.
I'm not sure if "Cyrano" will still be presented in the future, but, if it is, I'll edit this entry, and let you know. It's a must-watch.
Update: "Cyrano" will have its last presentation on Friday, August 19, 2005, at 6:30. Tickets are at P150.
Acutally, it's been a while since I've seen a Dulaang Sibol play, period.
Aside: To the uninformed, Dulaang Sibol is one of the theatre groups of the Ateneo High School, and has been around for (I just learned this last Friday) 50 years. Led by Mr. Onofre Pagsanghan, Sibol has managed to come up with quality productions such as "Macbeth" and "Cyrano," as well as homegrown classics as "Sa Kaharian ng Araw" and "Sinta".
I'm glad that I reintroduced myself with "Cyrano". It was a wonderful play, from start to finish.
The key to the success of the play lay in the hands of Sibol alumni Justin Aquino, who essayed the lead role. The last time I saw Justin in a Sibol play, he was playing an extremely angry Cassius in "Julius Caesar". I remember being underwhelmed by his performance, as anger seemed to be the only emotion he was capable of showing.
In "Cyrano," he displays a full range of emotions, from comedic timing to righteous anger, to anguished sadness. Justin brought a roundness to the character that would make Jose Ferrer and Gerard Depardieu (other actors who have played Cyrano) proud.
The other characters also played their parts well, although I found the girl playing Roxane to be a little on the shrill side. Still, the play kept my students, and myself, riveted from start to finish.
Credit should also be given to Sibol's venerable director, Mr. Pagsi. His guiding hand is apparent throughout the play, and it is his motivation that keeps Sibol on an even keel.
I'm not sure if "Cyrano" will still be presented in the future, but, if it is, I'll edit this entry, and let you know. It's a must-watch.
Update: "Cyrano" will have its last presentation on Friday, August 19, 2005, at 6:30. Tickets are at P150.
Friday, August 05, 2005
'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'
I've always been a fan of Johnny Depp, ever since his humble beginnings on the TV series, "21 Jump Street". Two performances of his which particularly I liked, and which displayed Depp's quirkiness and versatility, were Edward Scissorhands and Cap'n Jack Sparrow.
I have also liked Tim Burton's darkly humorous directing style, particularly, "The Nightmare Before Christmas," "Batman," and "Beetlejuice."
So, it is with no surprise that I enjoyed "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," based on the children's book by the late Roald Dahl, starring Depp and directed by Burton.
The movie doesn't disappoint; it remains faithful to the book without being too stilted ("Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone" comes to mind). It is visually appealing, and nicely paced.
Depp, as eccentric candy maker Willy Wonka, delivers a great performance, with his stilted speech and fluid facial motions.
The Oompa-Loompahs, played by Deep Roy (all of them; isn't CGI great?), were funny, although the singing tended to get on one's nerves after a while.
Freddie Highmore, who teamed up with Depp in "Finding Neverland," bring the right amount of innocence and goodness to the role of Charlie Bucket. Annasophia Robb, as Violet Beauregard, was also rightly annoying as her character demands.
All in all, "Charlie" is an interesting film, and worth the watch. It may be a little disturbing for kids, though, but that's Roald Dahl for you.
I have also liked Tim Burton's darkly humorous directing style, particularly, "The Nightmare Before Christmas," "Batman," and "Beetlejuice."
So, it is with no surprise that I enjoyed "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," based on the children's book by the late Roald Dahl, starring Depp and directed by Burton.
The movie doesn't disappoint; it remains faithful to the book without being too stilted ("Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone" comes to mind). It is visually appealing, and nicely paced.
Depp, as eccentric candy maker Willy Wonka, delivers a great performance, with his stilted speech and fluid facial motions.
The Oompa-Loompahs, played by Deep Roy (all of them; isn't CGI great?), were funny, although the singing tended to get on one's nerves after a while.
Freddie Highmore, who teamed up with Depp in "Finding Neverland," bring the right amount of innocence and goodness to the role of Charlie Bucket. Annasophia Robb, as Violet Beauregard, was also rightly annoying as her character demands.
All in all, "Charlie" is an interesting film, and worth the watch. It may be a little disturbing for kids, though, but that's Roald Dahl for you.
Monday, August 01, 2005
Addendum to "Idiot"
It didn't occur to me that Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez is still actually suspended from practicing law. This was pointed out to me by the Polar Bearball, and it stems from his being held in contempt by the Supreme Court in the late 80s, if I'm not mistaken. So apparently, he was a loose cannon even then.
Also, recently, the esteemed (ugh) Secretary accused several party-list representatives of using their pork barrel funds to finance their anti-GMA rallies. Unfortunately, he didn't present any proof to support his allegations. And he's the Justice Secretary? What happened to innocent until proven guilty?
It seems to me that the sooner he's out of the government, GMA's burden will be a lot lighter, although not by much. Still, every little bit helps.
Also, recently, the esteemed (ugh) Secretary accused several party-list representatives of using their pork barrel funds to finance their anti-GMA rallies. Unfortunately, he didn't present any proof to support his allegations. And he's the Justice Secretary? What happened to innocent until proven guilty?
It seems to me that the sooner he's out of the government, GMA's burden will be a lot lighter, although not by much. Still, every little bit helps.
Lunch with Dessert
I had an agreeable lunch with L at Chocolate Kiss at Roces, and I'll leave it to her to write a review of the lunch, which will probably appear on her blog.
What I do enjoy when meeting with L is the affable conversation we have. Topics are wide-ranging, from food (our common passion), to problems, to blogging, to our daughters (our other common passion), and to life in general. The talk is light and rarely dwells on heavy stuff, although we do cover that if there is anything serious enough to talk about.
All in all, it was an hour and a half over food and talk, and, like always, there seems to be stuff left over to talk about. We'll probably get to it the next time we meet. Things always work out that way.
What I do enjoy when meeting with L is the affable conversation we have. Topics are wide-ranging, from food (our common passion), to problems, to blogging, to our daughters (our other common passion), and to life in general. The talk is light and rarely dwells on heavy stuff, although we do cover that if there is anything serious enough to talk about.
All in all, it was an hour and a half over food and talk, and, like always, there seems to be stuff left over to talk about. We'll probably get to it the next time we meet. Things always work out that way.
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