January 18, 2014 Saturday
Travel time to Ongpin (Chinatown) yesterday afternoon was faster than I expected.
I used to walk this road from end to end when I was still a student. I would walk from Dapitan, cross UST campus to Espana, walk a kilometer to Morayta, turn right to Recto, past Central Market, straight to Avenida Street, cross to Aranque, to Divisoria. That’s actually a long walk. But now, I would feel uneasy walking in this areas.
The place looks more crowded and dirty. Edmund said the place looks the same, it’s my surroundings that have changed.
Pero nuong araw, there were no pedicabs along Recto. Only jeepney, buses and mini-buses called “Teyms”.
Marami na ring mandurukut nuon at mantsa-tsansing.
I believe there are really more squatters here now.
We had difficulty after we entered Masangkay Street from C. M. Recto because there were parked vehicles on both sides of the street.
I also had to pay attention because my driver was not familiar with the area.
Ongpin is one left turn from Masangkay. There’s a small parking lot there. I always paid double because of the size of my van.
Parking is in front of the sibuyas and bawang vendor.
Nadito na si Horse.
So many full-blood Filipinos crowded the stores selling lucky charms.
I like this pineapple, I can re-use this next year and beyond. P160. It now adorns our front door.
Gold fish din, pampaswerte din.
Last year I made the mistake of buying this rice stalks. Sobrang makalat, nalalagas.
I bought this mini plastic Chinese Lantens. They come with 16 Christmas lights.
When I showed it to Edmund, eh di ano pa, Chinese na Chinese daw.
Lucky charms, one string is P50, this one’s for good health.
Lucky arinola
P300 package, includes the red caldero, bigas, and the lucky charms. If you are a Filipino and would have something like this at home, you might as well shorten your name, for example, your name is James Paterno, cut it to James Pa. Or you are Joaquin Talakitok, make it Joaquin Ta. Para Chinese-sounding.
It’s been a while since I’ve last read Lao Hu Tsi’s comic book. I couldn’t find him.
The Koreans have invaded the Chinese.
Hindi naman ako napagod but after I’ve bought the mini lanterns, parang sumama ang pakiramdam ko. Ewan if my blood pressure or sugar was up. The only decent and comfortable place I knew was the President Tea House. This is aside from the bigger restaurant that they have along the main road.
It’s newly renovated pala. Buti naman.
This regular customers were disappointed when they didn’t find any more dimsum cart.
I sat down for a long time flipping through the menu pages but I didn’t have any appetite. Masama talaga ang pakiramdam ko. I asked for cold water and I took a tiny slice of Bonamine. I can’t sit there and not order. Kaya I ordered asado siopao, siomai, and gabi dumpling. Naubos ko rin naman.
The siopao dough was very soft. I didn’t like the pork siomai that much. It was recommended by the waiter, best seller daw.
First time to eat gabi dumpling. Delicious but there were a lot of pork taba inside.
I stayed for five more minutes after my meal. Then when I went out of the restaurant, I was feeling okay na.
I bought pasalubong for my son.
Half kilo pork asado for P300
I bought kaymito (star apple). Two pieces for P75 (half kilo). Parang ang mahal.
I devoured them as soon as I got on the van.
Edmund helped me hang the lucky charms on our Christmas tree. I couldn’t reach the higher part.
Ang cute nya talaga.
I bought 10 pieces. One for my son, my daughter, and for our Chinese New year guests.
For our dinner last night, I cooked pasta with mushroom sauce, and the asado from Ongpin.
