"You are lucky there is Waze and Google Maps now to help you navigate when driving," I told my children and their cousins one brunch gathering. But there were also benefits of not having one. During the Stone Age -when too many in our generation were stoned, we, out of necessity of avoiding traffic and traffic police alike, took left and right turns exploring unknown areas and streets to get to our destination easier, faster, safer, and more importantly, still smelling fresh. And in so doing, discovered places of interest like stores that sell this and restaurants that serve that and neighborhoods to keep away from.

New techs are both a bane and a boon, you must agree. GPS, for example, is a bane to husbands and a boon to wives, or vice-versa -depending on the need and usage. And oh, don’t get me started on the health benefits and hazards of IP cameras.

"Smile, you’re on candid camera." Oops, is that even legal now?

Here’s to technology, cheers! #MyCafeNotes

Our IKEA can opener finally gave its last spin yesterday. Some good things never outlive a light bulb even if you’ve paid a hefty sum for it considering it’s just what it is -an elementary can opener. Am I supposed to have an extra or a spare? The question not only goes for the everyday can opener but for many other basic tools or gadgets in the house, office or car. The question matters heavily to me because for the past 5 different levels of this pesky pandemic querulous quarantine that I’ve been through, decluttering and minimalism have been my game plans. It somehow opposes the very basic idea of elimination and offloading that the plans espouse.

While this malfunctioning brain does its work in trying to find answers to the question ("don’t buy canned goods anymore" or "borrow from the good neighbor") I’m currently at peace with a sharp Santoku knife, unless, of course, it breaks -it’s blade and my skin included.

In times like this, one has to make do with what he has -creatively and carefully.

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

Tagalog as a language can be a bit strange, you agree? Case in point: “Siblings” translated to Tagalog is quantity-dependent. Two sibs is 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙠𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙙. Three sibs is 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙠𝙖𝙠𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙙. My sis-in-law who has 14 brothers and sisters are not actually 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙠𝙖𝙠𝙖𝙠𝙖𝙠𝙖𝙠𝙖𝙠𝙖𝙠𝙖𝙠𝙖𝙠𝙖𝙠𝙖𝙠𝙖𝙠𝙖𝙠𝙖𝙠𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙙. They are still 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙠𝙖𝙠𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙙. Quantification ends at three. Unfair, I know but that’s how it goes. But if you consider all of us as God’s children, then 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙠𝙖𝙠𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙙 should suffice.

I’ve worked abroad where more than a dozen languages were spoken due to the number of expatriates from different countries. And for those who speak only very little English, we get by even without conjugations. If you don’t get choked in getting your message across, then you’re good. Grammar was never noticed and grammar nazis were out of commission.

If only the whole world tried harder in understanding others, then maybe we can better drink our cup of coffee in peace.

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

They say "Little learning is dangerous." With me, little experience and little exposure are equally hazardous. Ever since my son Andre doing his barista skills in our kitchen with a variety of coffee beans, I’ve been a bit critical when offered a cup outside my home. Like when visiting clients or kings and queens in their palaces, I get coffee offers. In my mind, I’d ask, "Single origin or blend?" "Cold-pressed or espresso?" "Americano or Flat White?" I feel so coffee-learned, so coffee-cultured. But that’s just in my mind. I’d usually say, "Just black, pls." Because otherwise, I’d get five-in-one, all-in, where five is sugar and one is anything but coffee. Arnibal, actually.

But I do take pleasure in this -for me, novelty. Like golf, web design and Hangeul -never too late to learn, to experience, to bleed, to agonize. Yet, to enjoy.

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

"𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤." 𝐉𝐧𝟔:𝟓𝟓

Our dear 𝙄𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙜 left us 17 years ago while our dear 𝙏𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙜 nearly two years ago. Their memories are forever engraved in our hearts and minds. We only see their pictures and hear their voices through videos taken when they were alive -in our cellphones, gadgets, computers and photo albums. Not the real thing but it’s the next best, I guess.

Totally different with God.

When the Lord Jesus ascended to the Father, He said that He will be with us to the end of time. No pictures, no videos. He is with us in the Holy Spirit (Divine), He is with us in His Flesh and Blood, in the Holy Eucharist (Man). We also hear Him speak to us through His word, the Gospel.

We encounter the real Him, in every church tabernacle, in every adoration chapel, in every mass. This is my faith, and this I believe. Happy Sunday!

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

I ordered an #omroncomplete portable BP and ECG machine online that measures, um… excitement level. It hasn’t arrived yet but everyday, for the past several days, I’ve been asking Andre to track its delivery.

Andre: "𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘴, 𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩, 𝘰𝘳 #𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘉𝘗/𝘌𝘊𝘎 𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦!"

Me: "𝘠𝘦𝘱, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺." Not yet cranky, not yet grouchy, not yet incontinent, but old. Old in the eyes of millennials. But young in the eyes of contemporaries who challenge gravity with botox and facelifts.

Maybe I’m still young. I still get excited.

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

Let me tell you about a 4-year old neighbor we have. One day, playing with his new toy 𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘦, I asked him,

"What do you see?"

Without hesitation, he regarded my presence and answered, "You!"

Switching his attention back to his toy which is now pointed towards a visible celestial object in the sky, he proceeded to give me a lecture on astronomy:

"Do you know what’s that (pointing to the moon), that’s Earth!"

Kids. They know too much.

Ain’t it great to be a kid again? At my age, it may not be long before I’d be one again.

Haha…

…Huhu.

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

Holed up inside our home (and village) for more than two weeks already due to new pandemic quarantine rules, I decided to join Andre in an errand to a client in Makati, a mere 18kms away. I put on a good pair of trousers, collared shirt, and yes, perfume. Game plan was I’ll just drop him off while I stay in the car, drive around the area ’til he’s done. Then drive back home. Why the need for the trousers, shirt and perfume? Raise your head and look at the ceiling, there you’ll find the answer.

Driving back, we opted for EDSA. I wanted to feel again the traffic, see the usual buildings, the 8-to-5 grind of metro folks whose lives refuse to mind the virus or due to dire need are forced to do so. I wasn’t disappointed because I saw them all. In equal measure, I was disappointed because I saw them all. Through the windshield of my car, nothing seemed to have changed. But I could have been deceived. I couldn’t see beyond the face masks and building facades. Perhaps, better news, better sights and better sense are holed in there.

I’m back holed up where I started. It’s safer here for now. With this coffee cup.

Short story of my pandemic life.

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

This morning, I volunteered to wash the wine glasses in reparation for breaking one two wine-nights ago.

"That may not be a good idea, dad." Nikkei, my daughter bantered respectfully.

For a fleeting while, I almost agreed. But just like the bubbles in my hand, the thought quickly disappeared.

And so with extreme care reaching to the highest degree, I carried on with the slick, slippery task at hand.

It took longer -maybe just a bit longer than a bit, but I finished the job well without multiplying the glasses.

Some tasks require effort. Some entail precision. Some demand super skills beyond astrophysics. This one just needs TLC and a humble, contrite heart. These I’ve got.

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

E-book or paperback? A million-paged question.

I wanted to buy a Catholic Study Bible online and was just about to when I found myself at a crossroads. The online store sells both format. I made a comparative analysis:

A real book offers the OG feel of reading -licking a finger, flipping pages, smelling the pages every now and then, bookmarking creatively, warding off insects, keeping crisp bills crisp, battery-free reading, among others. But I can’t share it with others without giving it away. I can’t read without light. Pages can be torn out.

The e-book offers reading at any desired font style, size and color, multi-tasking is easier when using the same phone or tablet or desktop, multiple device, multiple user (I can share or give away without losing a copy), read without ambient lighting. But I can’t use it to kill a cockroach and if not charged, can’t do any reading. People who see you reading will think you’re spending too much time on FB, IG or KD on Netflix.

The latter offered a free sample for testing so I took it. The former has not sent a single page for trial.

I know the Good Book tells not to pass judgment but I will soon have to make one. In order to avoid being judgmental, I’ll just toss a coin. I could flip a real one or use an app. Oh dang, crossroads again.

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

"…𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒌𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒆𝒚 𝒍𝒐𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒔…" 𝑱𝒏6:13

#CommunityPantry

This was circulated in many social media pages recently: A resident in this city placed a bamboo cart full of veggies, rice, canned goods, alcohol and other basic necessities in a sidewalk near a market where many pedestrians, pedicab drivers and their passengers can see and help themselves with. Note written on cardboard says, "Take only what you need. Give what you can." People in need took only a little every time. But a lot more contributed to the cart. Last update, there were more goods than the sidewalk can handle. As of today, many others did the same in their communities.

Amidst the bad and the fake news that pepper our daily existence, there is hope in the goodness of man. I know this because the Source of all things good will never forsake His people. I believe we are His people.

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes #CommunityPantry

What do you call those plastic tubes or plugs to fix screws into masonry after drilling? Andre and I didn’t have a name for them so we just call them by their color. "𝘎𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨." "𝘋𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦?." "𝘕𝘰, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦." We understood.

While my wife was chopping veggies, I was asked, "𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘳, 𝘱𝘭𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭…" - it’s the think-of-your-own-ending-to-the-sentence request. No problem. I gave her three cloves of garlic. We understood.

When you’ve been living with homo sapiens in the same household for centuries, a new language is developed. One that only you and the household members understand: hand signals; eye movements; tongue twisters; eyebrow raising; mumbles; strange and familiar bodily sounds. Even complete silence.

Actions and silence connect us in a way that words never could.

It’s called familiarity. And understanding.

I raise this cup to family. Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

When I was new in this industry, a Japanese company was one of my biggest clients. In one appointed visit, I got in the meeting room just in the nick of time.

"Good afternoon!" I cheerfully announced.

But was opposed with:

"You’re two minutes late!"

Japanese sense of time, I know, right? But there’s another trait the Japanese are known for: nationalism.

I answered back, "But according to my Japan-made Seiko watch, I’m on time!"

It was immediately back to a good afternoon. I thank God for a quick mental reflex.

When pushed against a wall, know that you can still kick where it hurts. Then you’re pushed no more.

𝐾𝑎𝑛𝑝𝑎𝑖! #MyCafeNotes

P.S. As I was escorted to where I was parked, I showed them my Japan-made car that helped me arrive there on time. 𝐻𝑎𝑖!

Accidents do happen, and almost always, like a flash. A few years ago, I was walking cautiously towards a local Internal Revenue office to pay my quarterly taxes on a rain-wet sidewalk that was still being paved. I took a misstep, slid without control with my head landing 3 inches away from a re-bar sticking out of an unfinished pedestal. I suffered minor bruises. A few weeks ago, my wife slipped and fell on the bathroom floor. She also suffered minor bruises. We were both thankful that, although these accidents could have left us with broken bones, or worse, lifeless bodies, we escaped serious injuries. And lived to tell this tale.

Those accidents could also have been avoided: if only I skipped paying taxes that month or if my wife skipped taking a bath, we may have avoided them.

You do good, you do bad. Same results, different results. It’s always a choice.

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

I found some old chocolates in one of the drawers in our fridge. I knew they were not new because I remember where and when we bought them from one of our travels. They’re one of my faves that I really enjoy. I immediately checked for the Best Before or Expiry date. It says 30.Mar.20. Now, I know that dates are written differently depending on the country of origin.

So this one can either be March 30, 2020 (past) or March 20, 2030 (future).

I never bothered checking the country of origin. It was crystal clear, obvious. A no brainer. They’re still good for 9 more years! Yummy.

It’s pointless arguing with an active appetite.

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

This happened pre-online days. There were 5 of us in the car going to a fish market in a nearby port. Got there safe. Did some chit-chatting and hag-haggling with the locals. And got what we wanted. After loading our catch, we took off. Halfway on the road back, it was noticed that only 4 of us were in the car, not counting the fish. I was the one driving and hence, absolved from the guilt of neglect. Or was it my duty to ask, "All in?" before driving off? What happened next is what you usually see in movies in fast-forward: car pulling over, passengers getting out, opening the trunk, checking the fish container (just in case), looking at each other mouthing OMG, going back in, speeding back in the opposite direction.

We got back faster than a sailfish in the open sea. And there he was, no doubt with his self-esteem lowered by the abandonment. Spotting the car, he immediately jumped in, relieved to have been given importance, delayed despite. Before driving off, I looked at the rearview mirror in front of me and bellowed, "Count off!"

How would you feel playing Kevin (Home Alone) in real life? Forgotten, disregarded, overlooked, neglected. There were only 5 of us -not 50, not 500. Not too easy to process in the mind of the one dismissed, albeit unintentionally. I guess if you take what others think of you more seriously than what you take yourself for, then that’s tough.

It could be an entirely different perspective if you’re the one left out. But, if ever, I’ll give myself more credit and sulk less.

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

Meal planning is one that the mommy requires all members to contribute in esp this mad writer, being a loony vegetarian. It ain’t easy doing the balancing, structuring and mathematical projections. It’s a weekly exercise: meats, fish, veggies, fruits and metals (𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘰𝘴 𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘢, 𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘰𝘴 𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘵𝘦, etc.). But not every plan is followed, though. Many times, we think on our palates and underarms. Like a few desserts ago, the master of the kitchen had a meeting that ate up cooking time. The rest of the crew were all hands on deck:

-The girl-sous chef took out a pan-sized pompano out of the freezer, thawed and pan fried it;

-The boy sous-chef prepared a bowl of salad that would challenge Jamie Oliver’s: chopped romaine lettuce, walnuts, sun-dried tomatoes, honey and shaved pecorino cheese;

-The senior busboy set the table with extreme accuracy, a most exhaustive part of the production that deserves recognition here.

And in the spirit of excess, add a previously mommy-prepared dish: sautéed 𝘬𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘬𝘰𝘯𝘨 with tofu in oyster sauce. Fiesta in the house!

With 𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘶𝘯𝘰 for dessert, the only thing missing is the brass band. 𝘖𝘭𝘦́!

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

Over one dinner, my daughter Nikkei quizzed me on my knowledge of who’s who in the reality TV industry: Name the Kardashian siblings. Yeah, I know, right? I labored thru dinner using the clues given such as: begins with K, sounds like Turkey, e-book reader, three letters only (I’ve got K so 2 to go), Paris Hilton, etc.

I must have mentioned several dozen K names before getting the right ones, evoking a greater sense of senselessness, mediocrity, meaningless and laughter. At the expense of those named Kakawai, Kalulua, Kakasuka and Khabag, I got to play my second best role in this family: the funny entertainer. My best role is being the corny entertainer. Many times, the roles are fused to confuse my audience.

Here’s to a father’s role, cheers! #MyCafeNotes

I’ve got a volume of anecdotes on the benefits of having good neighbors. Even better, relatives as neighbors. Let me just tell you about one day -yesterday. My brother bought a new AV Receiver unit for their surround system, one that is similar to ours. And since it was my son, Andre who wired and installed ours, he was asked to assist in setting up. Thanks to Andre, it now works like a charm.

I remembered my brother telling me he had an extra flexible P-trap which I needed for my toilet lavatory. I asked Andre to remind him of it. When he returned, he brought it along.

This morning, water flows through the pipes without leaks in our bathroom while 𝙃𝙚𝙮 𝙅𝙪𝙙𝙚 plays beautifully in the airwaves of my brother’s living room. Quid pro quo, they say.

Some days, we run out of eggs for breakfast. Some days, they need better internet signal. No problem, we have good neighbors.

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

Stress is spelled S-T-R-E-S-S. Did I stress that enough? Yesterday, I found out I didn’t. Yesterday, it was bold, bloody red, underlined, highlighted, italicized and blinking. On days like these, am glad I don’t have a yaya to ask, "Yaya, am so stressed. Pls wash the car," or "Do the dishes." So I stepped out from where work is, pulled the hose, and relieved myself of the tension. I did a bit of waxing, too. It pained my back, got me all wet and tired but that’s just physical.

I like it when the physical trumps mental. Muscle pains, too, give me the good feels a day after a workout. I ain’t normal, I know. But these days, where is normal?

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

A full moon ago, I was asked to man-up and admit a wrongdoing I did not commit. Doing so will probably ensure my business with this client. It will also save some Pontius Pilates from the guillotine. I’ve seen plenty of movies that played this scene before. Never did it occur to me it will happen in real life. My life is full of drama and adventure as it is. But such is life, I guess. New blockbusters every day.

You know what I did? I did man-up. I stood my ground and said NO!

The truth will prevail. Even now that I’m on the edge, I know God is on my side.

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

I have long ago accepted that fact that I will go bald, just like my father and my 2 older brothers. But not without a fight. By fight, I mean minoxidil, coconut oil, aloe vera extract, rubbing of nails and prevent prayers of a desperate man about to lose it. And by lose, I mean hair and sanity. But at the turn of the new millennium, I was becoming more afraid of electric fans than bullets and picture-taking ceremonies were keeping me awake at night wondering how they will turn out. Stress was making me, well, lose more hair. Turning wavy -waving goodbye.

So I took bold steps -hairiedly. I summoned my comb, hair brush and mousse, said a teary alohair, grabbed the razor, and in 10 minutes flat, mowed my scalp to freedom. I’ve never felt so bare naked but actually good as a cool breeze dashed across my top. A new me was born. No hairicane will ever make me feel insecure anymore.

I am being true to myself: changing things I can, letting go of what I can’t.

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

When I was still working in Saudi, I belonged to a clandestine Christian group that met regularly for food, prayers, food and fellowship. Did I mention food already? It was also a venue for Filipinos to look out for one another. One prayer that constantly came up every meeting was that for the country -betterment for Filipinos, end to corruption, end to injustices. Years passed on, the same prayer was still being raised. Even then, we were hoping that a time will come when our prayers will be heard. Hopeful, we all agreed, "in God’s time."

But is God taking His own sweet time? Because even now, we still hear ourselves raising the same prayers. In hindsight, I’d like to believe that this is beyond hope already. This is faith. We may not be able to see the answers in this lifetime yet we hold on because we believe that our prayers are heard. That there are answers standing at a near distance. There are just three days that separate Good Friday and Easter Sunday. It’s just that 3 days in God’s time may mean longer in ours.

I rest my faith in the God of Easter -Jesus Christ! With hope renewed and faith strengthened, we wait for God’s time. Happy Easter!

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes