Bagtikan food trail

I’m acquainted with Bagtikan street in Makati for two reasons  One being that landmark street for Cafe Saguijo. The other because avoiding Gil Puyat traffic using Kamagong street will always make me cross Bagtikan. But Bagtikan looms to present itself a third reason to be more than just a pass-through street: foodie heaven.

Quantum Cafe

Nestled in the corner Kamagong and Bagtikan streets is Quantum Cafe. This resto is a popular haven for veggie lovers. A vegetarian all-you-can eat lunch buffet costing P250 every Monday and Tuesday is also available.

In the evening Quantum Cafe is home to trivia junkies and music folks thanks to their quiz nights and gigs.

Can’t wait to try the buffet and join the quiz nights!

ClicktheCity.com has a recent post about Quantum Cafe.

Hong Kong Roast – HKR Food Express

Walking deeper towards Bagtikan-Sacred Heart extension streets, you won’t miss HKR’s giant door sign. If you’re craving for some HK cuisine, this is a worthy turf to set your bellies on.

HKR’s Roast Pork Rice (P99) wonderfully marries the sweetness of honey into the finely cooked pork. Being soft and braces friendly adds points to its value.

Another favorite in HKR is their Hot Lemon Coke (P65). Served in old-school metal mug, this drink is heaven especially for those with ailing throats.

Purple Oven

From HKR, tread into Sacred Heart Extension and turn right at the end. You’ll spot Purple Oven on your left.

Though no one has officially confirmed, this bake shop has been long rumored to be  Starbucks’ pastries supplier.

Looking around one can easily spot the usual suspects – chocolate dipped doughnuts, chocolate dome cake, tuna turnover and banoffee pie (just larger).

Cakes are sold in whole quantities while cookies and pastry bars (e.g. choco revel, lemon, and food for the gods) are available in boxes. Freshly baked breads however can be bought in singles.

IMO, the rumors are true. Their honey glazed doughnuts (P35) confirmed it with my taste buds.

***

Quantum Cafe
FERON Building
9590 Kamagong corner Bagtikan Streets,
Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines
Landline: (63 2) 519-0757
Website: http://www.quantumcafe.ph

Hong Kong Roast – HKR Food Express
7467-C Bagtikan Street, San Antonio Village,
Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Landline: (63 2) 553-7846

Purple Oven at Sacred Heart
YMCA Building Dau Street,
Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines

Zombadings invade UP!

UP Diliman students (and nearby QC folks) are very fortunate to have Cinemalaya films in their backyard for the seventh year. It was very eventful that I was in the area to catch one of the raved closing films – Zombadings 1: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington.

Me and my bro attended the 5PM screening as the 8PM has already been sold out days before. But the 5PM schedule was also a full house. Students were the major population, but there were also office folks and even celebrities (e.g. Euguene Domingo, Aiza Seguerra, Juris, Joyce Bernal).

Head writer Raymond Lee – who also wrote Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros – delivered a short intro. He informed us this is the first time that the film was to be screening in 35mm film.

The whole theater was laughing at every pun and joke delivered. The plot is highly commendable. Standouts for the film were Roderick Paulate (side note: the original Petrang Kabayo was showing at the adjacent theater) and John Regala. Eugene Domingo can do comedy effortlessly. Young stars Martin Escudero, Kerbie Zamora, and Lauren Young did not disappoint as well. Even the supporting cast are highly capable of inducing laughs, especially the Zombadings and Supernatural Macho Dancers.

OFFICIAL TEASER # 1: ZOMBADINGS (Patayin Sa Shokot Si Remington)

It’s a very amusing movie that spells fun at every drive and turn. Everything has life, even the supposedly dead cast. Zombadings is very smart to showcase subplots stay faithful and connect to the main plot.

The film speaks of love and respect regardless of labels. Beyond the comic elements are applicable life lessons snucked in with flamboyance and wit.

After the screening, a Question and Answer segment was held. Lee, together with main stars Kerbie, Martin, and director Jade Castro were there to cater to the viewers’ questions.

As an added treat,  Zombadings were roaming around UP theater during the Q&A.

We left the theater with happy hearts! The crowd of the sold out 8PM screening were already lining up when we got out.

Zombadings 1: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington is a film of substance that is light and has high mainstream value. Award! Indeed.

It will be shown in theaters nationwide is on August 31.

There’s a certain comfort in being on the road and surrounded by strangers. Where staring outside the window conjures miles of conversation that was not possible to be discussed vocally.

My thoughts miss me and they are amusingly chatty.

Lightyear goal

I am of positive faith that before I breathe my final breath, all my past friendships will be restored.

It would be so cool to just enjoy everyone’s presence. After all, we are all human beings, built to co-exist.

Extra-ordinary to extraordinary

I was about to give up on this day. This ordinary, dull, monotonuous day.

So I tapped my usual uppers to jumpstart a flatlining day – blogs, social media, personal email, work email. I even munched three packs of Tiger Energy Biscuits Choco Extreme, in the dire hope of bringing out the tiger in me. All sparks, no boost.

When I had nothing else to deal with, I finally dabbled into my daily devo. It speaks of Moses’ ordinary 40 years outside Egypt. But one ordinary day, through a burning bush, God broke his silence. He ignites the extraordinary journey of Moses to draw his people out of Egypt.

This could have been one of these dull days where it starts with nothing and seemingly will end in nothing. But as God’s ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9), this ordinary day is surely packed with a greater purpose. Maybe to rid me of all the distractions. Maybe this is just to clear my head. Maybe this is to empty me so that I will finally be so thirsty for the living water (John 4:10).

If I did this day in reverse, it could have already been an extraordinary day, rather than just an extra-ordinary (a.k.a. exteremely ordinary) day. But I aimlessly wandered first and exhausted myself. Now I’m refreshed and pumped for this wonderful day!

²⁸ Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

God, thank you for letting me know my purpose.

For with knowing my purpose, boredom becomes futile, peace is within arm’s reach, and love is as abundant as the air that embraces us all.

Amen.

I had these two in my movie queue:

But ended up watching this instead:

Mindless comedy for a drained brain.

Sweet dreams everyone!