Cocktail Reception for ASEAN Delegates

My clothes have spilled over to my bathroom floor and around my bath tub. I don’t buy a lot of clothes kaya lang there are still A LOT of old clothes that I refuse to part with. Merong sentimental value. They remind me of a place or a trip or an event. Ma drama. My closets are full, wala ng space but I have nothing to wear. Masikip na halos lahat and maraming halatang luma na rin. Naluma sa cabinet hindi sa suot.

I saw this Marc by Marc Jacobs weird looking black and white dress hanging in my closet. I couldn’t remember when I wore it last. When I tried it on, it was very loose and the brand tags and price were still attached to the neckline, that means I haven’t worn it. I bought this dress last December 2016 or January of this year in the US.

On August 3, 2017 I attended the cocktails party for the ASEAN delegates at the Turf Room of the Manila Polo Club wearing that dress. I thought the event would be postponed or canceled because of the incessant rain in the early morning of that day.

I noticed the fuel gauge was low when we were at the corner of EDSA and Shaw Blv. Drivers always forget to look at the fuel gauge. They don’t pay attention to things. I am not comfortable having 1/4 gas left. Mahirap ng tumirik pag naipit sa traffic.
A—–“Yung resibo sabihin mo Ford EDSA”.
Driver—–“Ford EDSA mam?”
A—–“Ford EDSA”.
He got off the vehicle, then talked to the gasoline boy. He opened the door and asked me “Mam ano’ng ilalagay sa resibo Ford EDSA?”
A—–“Oo”.
After few seconds, he came back “Mam, sa Ford EDSA ba ilalagay yung resibo?”
A—–“Di ba nga yun ang sabi ko?”

I was informed that the event would start at 5:30 pm so I gave myself a few hours allowance for traffic. Traffic was moderate even along the normally heavy McKinley Road.
It was only 3:30 pm when we reached San Antonio Parish. It was one of those rare days when I wished there would be more traffic. Ang aga ko. Super!

I was at the Manila Polo Club grounds by 3:45 pm. I asked the driver to park first.

I stayed inside the vehicle till 5:10 pm. I tried to take a nap but I was paranoid that I could die from the carbon monoxide. I kept checking and breathing if I was smelling something funky.

Came 5:10 I asked the driver to drop me off at the lobby. I saw some of the ASEAN delegates sitting in the lobby and probably waiting for 5:30 pm.

I took a few photos of Manila Polo Club to kill a few more minutes.

5:20 pm

The reception area was empty when I entered the Turf Room.
Hellowww, anybody home?

Super aga ko. Early bird. Oops no, Early prek.

6 pm to 6:30
Atty. Opap Villongco, former Prime Minister Cesar Virata, Undersecretary of the Department of Trade and Industry Nora K. Terrado, Susing Pineda. Do you know that Mr. Virata is 85 years old? He walks with a cane but otherwise he’s still makisig. He said he does walking in the pool several times a week but lately because of the rainy season, the pool water gets very cold so he couldn’t do it more frequently. Bilib ako sa kanya. Mukhang aabot ng 98.

RP Manhit, Susing Pineda, Secretary Martin Andanar, Me, Union Bank of the Philippines Chairman Justo Ortiz, Atty. Villongco, Cesar Virata, Usec. Nora Terrado,

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar.
He leaves his house at 5 or 6 in the morning to be at the Office of the President in Malacanang by 7 am. He spends few hours each morning for radio /phone interviews.

US Ambassador to the Philippines, Sung Y. Kim, was recently interviewed by Jessica Soho about Duterte, China, US, North Korea. I told him that I’ve seen his interview.
Amb. Kim—- “They said I’m very positive”.
Ambassador Kim’s answers to Jessica Soho’s questions were safe, objective and diplomatic. I like Ambassador Kim.

Senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, Antonio T.
Carpio. It was nice listening to Justice Carpio’s insights about China.

It was past 7 pm and I would surely get stuck in two hour traffic going home so I decided to grab food.

And grab and grab

Chicken a la king is nostalgic to me.

There was no formal program. Former Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario was supposed to give a welcome speech.

Sliced pork belly with mango salsa. Masarap ito. Next time we have a party at home, I will order this dish.

Umuwi na lang, ako naiwan pa. Mata-traffic lang kasi ako kaya I took my sweet time.
Sec. Albert del Rosario, Susing, Atty. Opap Villongco, Gary Olivar, Felix Ang. We talked a little about politics. I can’t share with you.