I was invited to the fundraising dinner for Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian who’s a candidate for senator. I initially said no but last saturday, I changed my mind. Narra Hill owner Chian Callaghan was texting me, confirming if I indeed was going or else she would escape because it’s not her scene. I understood what she meant. Events like that are so-so. But I was going not for the event mainly, but to see old friends, and to show my support to the PCCI guys who organized the dinner. The dinner was at P10,000 a plate or P100,000 per table. Mine’s complimentary so why would I not go? See friends, eat free, why not?
Besides my kids were both out on pre-Valentines night so I might as well go to Manila Pavilion in UN Avenue. For the very first time, I found a better way to use WAZE, not to look at the screen but just to listen. Go straight, turn right, then 200 meters turn left.
I borrowed Oyen’s driver because she was in Bataan. He didn’t want to listen to the WAZE. Mali daw ang sinasabi. “Mam, baka ma-traffic dun. Mali pati yung daan”.
When I explained to him what WAZE does, he followed the instructions but with some hesitations. Lo and behold, we reached Manila Pavilion in 40 minutes. Not bad.
I was late. Very. They started at 7:30 pm. I arrived at almost 8 pm.
There were only two seats available. One was reserved for me.
Sherwin Gatchalian was on the microphone when I arrived.
Sergio Ortiz-Luis, Jr. and Donald Dee were the punong-abala. Sherwin’s dad, William Gatchalian was conspicuously absent.
I was seated beside Chian and we were both hungry. Our game plan was to eat and run.
Chef’s Amouse Bouche
Chef’s make our lives more difficult by using words we don’t normally use to make the dish sound more sophisticated.
Translation = isang kagat/ isang lunok/ isang pirasong appetizer
Pea soup
One guest didn’t want to eat his soup. He was giving it back to the waiter, kasi daw hindi sya kumakain ng ham soup. Baboy daw. Hindi po sir, it’s pea soup. Translation – gulay
Pistachio crusted salmon fillet with potato gallette and saffron velloute
Translation – pilet, galet, bilot
Dark chocolate mousse with chantilly cream
Finished eating, Chian and I wasted no time leaving. She was going back to Narra Hill in Laurel, Batangas.
Good luck to Win Gatchalian. Thank you to PCCI and Philexport for inviting Chian and I.
I was looking at the recent SWS survey on senatorial candidates, it showed the old timers enjoying the top slots. Wala akong personal na tutol sa kanila pero I am just wondering why the old timers want to go back to being senators. Trabaho lang ba? Serbisyo? Retirement? Power? Stature?
Siguro ilahad lahat ng mga magagandang nagawa nila o naitulong sa daming taon na inupo nila sa senado. Ano ba ang mga nagawa nila para sa ikabubuti ng bayan? Ang mga yun ba ay katumbas ng mga daang milyong salapi na inilaan at ginastos ng mga opisina nila sa mga nagdaan na panahon na sila ay naka-upo sa senado? Nasulit ba natin ang mga ibinayad sa kanila?
Yung mga senador na tumatakbo sa pagka bise-presidente, daat mga nag-resign na muna pag nagfile ng certificate of candidacy. Dapat pag mga natalo, bawal ng bumalik sa pagka senador. Maghintay uli sila ng susunod na election kung gusto nilang bumalik sa pagiging senador. Wala kasing mawawala sa kanila kahit matalo sila sa pagka vice president, balik senado lang ang gagawin nila. Paano nila ginagampanan ngayon ang mga trabaho nila bilang senador eh ilang buwan na sila na nakatutok sa pangangampanya?
