I love you, goodbye

Goodbyes and farewells remain to be the hardest thing to say. It entails bucketful of tears and a whole lot of moving ons. 

But it still wonders me why something has to end? 

Career moves are different from what love has to endure when it comes to saying goodbye. With the former, there's a lot of things to consider - may it be financial, professional, or you just simply want to shift gears. With the latter, it's simply just your feelings.

I am about to shift gears and move on to a higher level in my career path.

This is such a huge risk for me. I have started my career in an industry totally different to where I'll be moving on and I know it would be very hard to start all over again. 

But I'm positive and firm that I can make it through.

Believe.

That's the way to go.

However, what's eating me is the love and care that we developed not just as working mates but as a family here in my present work. 

I gained not just friends but a family.

But friendship will stay as long as you take care of it, and I know that what we have here will always remain. So no matter where life will take me, everything that I gained here will remain and be cherished for the rest of my life.

Tween Dora, on the loose

Dora, now...

Dora, tomorrow...

I have never seen such change from a cartoon character before - except for Rugrats team, including Tommy, Chuckie, Phil, and Lil, to which I grew up with.

But I never realized what phenomenon such change would be until Tween Dora came.

Just last week, Mattel and Nickelodeon formally announced and revealed to the public their release of a grown-up Dora, a tweenage to be exact.

Which the blogosphere reacted of various ways - some agreed, but some were disappointments.

Moms were the most affected with such move by the aforementioned companies. According to them in a petition entitled "Let's Go: No Makeover for Dora," this tween Dora might cause a 360 degree change to their sons and daughters.

In an interview, a concerned mom said, "I don't want my child to come asking me to buy her a mini skirt and lip gloss to continue her Dora obsession,"

In defense, both companies released a statement saying that they wouldn't at all change the characteristics and personality of Dora. With four of her girlfriends, Dora will continue to solve mysteries involving the environment, wildlife, and school. 

What added to the spice is that Dora will be attending middle school with a more positive attitude. 

Both companies aim to continue the growth of the children watching it through tween Dora - besides all children grows up.

* * *

Jolly Jeep agrees and supports Mattel and Nickelodeon's move to release a tween Dora - plus the pearl earings, and minus the back pack.

With both companies assurance to never change Dora's journeys and positive characteristics, this will help the children develop in themselves that love for the environment, wildlife, and school. 

They will sure to have a company with them through Dora.

No matter where Dora will go and how Dora will look like, that personality that moms and children loved will surely continue to spark as long as the character remains faithful to its purpose.

Korea invades our taste buds

I wonder what one does on a Thursday night.

One can drink a bottle or two with his/her friends in their favorite bar, dance the night away, or just stay in a quite, solitude restaurant where no one else can hear you but yourself.

We did the latter just last night - not in a five-star hotel resto, but in Kalayaan Ave., Makati City.

Not your ordinary dinner night, should I say. It's a Korean food trip with my partner.

It all started on our first trip in Baguio. We had a bountiful lunch in one of the many Korean restaurants in the city. 

From there, our taste buds craved for that authentic Korean delicacy.

Luckily, Makati has its own Korean district.

Makati Avenue is the place to be when you want the real taste of Korean dining.

What I like when dining in a Korean resto are the side dishes they serve which will surely perk you up for the main dish.

They usually serve the sought-after Kimchi, those beans spiced up with sesame seeds, and the nerve-wracking cucumber wrapped with egg.

And so we chose the main dishes.

Our favorite Samgyupsal was our first choice. Being one of the most popular dishes, Samgyupsal consists of grilled pork strips served with garlic and onion, no marinating involved though. For that authentic Korean dining experience, you dip the strips in sesame oil and Korean spicy paste, wrap it in a lettuce, and top it with Kimchi or rice. 

For another mouthwatering dish, we tried Bulgogi. Similar to the Teriyaki in Japan, it is a marinated beef strips served with sesame oil, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, onion, wine, and sugar. 

To top the Korean experience, we ordered Dak Gui. It might seem to be your usual grilled chicken but i'd rather say, it's not. Dak Gui is marinated and put together with that authentic Korean sauces and oil to give your taste buds a roller coaster ride.

It might be a usual dinner night. 

But the Korean dining experience made it special by an extra mile.

Kung buhay pa si Ninoy

Paano nga kaya kung buhay pa at humihinga si Ninoy ngayon?

Paano nga kaya ang buhay ng mga Pilipino?

Hindi ko alam kung walang crisis, di ko rin alam kung aangat ang ekonomiya ng mga Pilipino. Pero ang alam ko, sa tapang at galing ni Ninoy, may pag-asa tayo.

Sa ipinamalas niya talino at husay, maaaring may pag-asang umangat ang Pilipinas at bumalik sa dati nitong ganda at galing sa harap ng ibang bansang nakapalibot dito.

Pero bigla kong naisip, magiging "corrupt" kaya si Ninoy tulad ng ibang nasa posisyon?

Maaaring oo. Maaaring hindi.

Alam nating mayaman ang pamilyang pinanggalingan ni Ninoy, pero hindi ibig sabihin nito na hindi niya maaaring gawin ang ginagawa ng kasalukuyang gobyerno.

Pwede nating sabihin na kaya ni Ninoy iangat ang bansa, kaya ni Ninoy lumaban sa gitna ng walang katapusang problema sa hirap at korupsyon, kaya ni Ninoy mamuno.

Kaya ni Ninoy lahat ng to.

Ang tanong?

Kaya ba ng mga Pilipino tumulong?

Dining with Marilyn Monroe

I am a fan of the oldies.

I love the vintage wheels that I can drive around the city, it's music that calms down my intense day, or just the mere feel of it.

More than anything else, I would want to live during the 50's, 60's, or 70's.

I would want to wear those bell bottom pants, those very tight shirts, and smoke weed like there's no tomorrow.

But guess what, in the heart of Baguio, I experienced 50's just the way I like it. I may not have worn those bell bottom pants, but I had a taste of it, literally.

50's Diner, located a few steps away from Teacher's Camp and the Pink Sisters Convent, will treat you to an ambience of the era as its business name; the name speaks for itself.

If you're familiar of Diner Dash, the computer game, then you'll find it quite the same with its setting.

At a cheaper price, you'll get to taste what Baguio has to offer when it comes to the American side of your taste buds. From steaks to huge burgers, from milk shakes to American-style shrimps, you will love everything that the resto has to offer.

Cap off your meal with the perfectly crafted dessert that will make your world turn upside down. It might be the usual, but brace yourself for the twist.

So when you visit Baguio, spend all your time going around the city, but spare an hour or two at 50's Diner and experience the 50's at a most comfortable way.