I'm wishing...

It is exactly 55 days before Christmas and soon the spooky decorations of Halloween will be replaced with the frenetic mood of the Yuletide season.

Just as the vibrant mood of Christmas will inch its way to every aspect of human activity. Coffee drinking won't be spared either.

Starbucks Coffee in the Philippines will be bringing in the Christmas season with the 'Permission to Wish' campaign starting November 4.

Coffee junkies like me will be having their fill of the festive beverages that will be available. These include Peppermint Mocha, Toffee Nut Latte, and my personal favorite Dark Cherry Mocha.


I fell in love with Dark Cherry Mocha last year and I had my heart's share whether it be a hot or cold beverage. I was disappointed when it was gone after Christmas. I even e-mailed Rustans Coffee Corporation, which holds the exclusive Philippine Starbucks Coffee franchise, about getting it on the regular line-up. I got a response that my plea was duly noted. It didn't make the cut in the regular menu but I'm just as happy that it will be back.


I was really intrigued by the 'Permission to Wish' so I asked my barista friends about it. They were mum about the idea that I started to consult Lord Google. Thanks to the Starbucks Coffee Singapore website and now we can sure get a glimpse of what COULD be in store (pun intended) when November 4 comes.


Starbucks Coffee Singapore has launched their campaign today starting with their 'Say The Magic Words' Promo (from 31st Oct 2009 to 1st Nov 2009) which entitles complimentary tall-sized Starbucks festive beverages for the first 50 customers per day per store. They also have the 'A Taste For Every Wish' where customers can order Starbucks' whole cakes like 'Coffee & Chocolate Log Cake', 'New York Cheesecake' and 'Oreo Cheesecake'.

Starbucks Coffee Singapore and Philippines are part of the Asia-Pacific market. I can only surmise that they may share the same offering. I just wish the Howard Shultz franchise here will.

Methinks that, as the adage says, it's just a tip of the iceberg or shall I say, tip of the whipped cream of surprises for everybody at Starbucks Coffee.

So on November 4, "Say The Magic Words: Can I have my permission to wish?"

(Images courtesy of Starbucks Coffee Singapore)

Missing MJ

Finally saw the much-awaited posthumous rehearsal concert documentary of Michael Jackson, 'This Is It'.

What could have been the 50 "unprecedented sold-out concerts" at the O2 Arena in London was turned into this documentary film after the untimely death of the King of Pop. 'This Is It' could have been MJ's final curtain call in the music scene and the film caught a glimpse of how magical it would have been.

I practically grew up listening to MJ's songs. From the time I heard 'Ben' while watching the movie with the same title on our Sony Betamax, to music videos shown on Video Hit Parade to the dawning of MTV where I have seen 'Billie Jean' 'Beat It', 'Thriller' among many other hits, I am just bewildered by his talent. I didn't even care about those accusations hurled against him. It just outweighed what MJ accomplished. Still, MJ is just AMAZING.

As I said, the documentary was just a glimpse of THE concert. Though MJ tried to save his voice and also his energy when he danced in the dress rehearsals, one could still witness the magic that MJ casts on his fans. Just as my brothers were when they saw him perform live in Manila in 1996. My brother Eric described it as if 'a god coming down from heaven' and right there, he knew the reason why MJ's fans all over the world cry when they see him perform.

But what was astounding about this documentary was MJ's passion for his craft. He knew his songs very well even into the minute detail of a note, a lyric or a vocal effectation that he wanted. It was as if his passion for the work that he did ran into his veins like air that is life-sustaining. 'This Is It' clearly showed this passion and the more that I revered MJ. The music and the man that he was.

If 'This Is It' is a celebration of MJ's passion for his work, it is also with deep sadness that I watched this film. 'Man in the Mirror' is my ultimate favorite MJ song because of its universal message. And MJ always performed this song at the end of his concerts. When the few strains of the notes were played in the movie, I knew it was 'Man in the Mirror' and I knew that the concert/film was about to end. I can't help but feel sad that I won't be able to see another version of MJ singing that song ever again after this film.

I sorely miss Michael Jackson but whenever I listen to his songs, I just close my eyes and the King of Pop lives.

Family Noteworthy

Happy Birthday to my brother Eric who celebrates his birthday today. Can't wait to have a taste of the much sought-after Elar's lechon.

Belated birthday greetings goes to Tita Susan and Tita Luz (Oct. 9), cousin Luis Benedict (Oct. 5), nephew Kevin (Oct. 7), Andrew (Oct. 8), godson Matt (Oct. 17), best friend Owen (Oct. 21), nephew Ram (Oct. 22), and uncle Rod (Oct. 23).

Advance Happy Birthdays to my nephew Rylan (Oct. 24) and former classmate Gyemma (Oct. 25).

I wish you all the best and God bless.

Somewhere over the fence...

"Come to our Coffee Seminar at our store tomorrow from 11 am to 1 pm. Bring your friends," reads my SMS from Noel who works at Starbucks Petron NLEX Marilao.

Uh-huh? A coffee seminar? Is there more to coffee than just what we know about its anti-oxidant properties or its caffeine benefits as a stimulant, diuretic, and a headache remedy?

I was proven wrong when I attended the Starbucks Coffee Seminar this morning.

I hauled my cousin, Camille, fellow coffee addict, JJ, and myself over at the Starbucks store along the North Luzon Expressway. JJ who is also from Bulacan would even commute as far as Trinoma just to have her dose of frappuccino. She didn't know how to get to Petron NLEX so I gave her detailed instructions that she had to prepare herself by going over a fence ('bakod'). She didn't believe at first and I told her, I wasn't joking.

So we got there early and had my tall caffe mocha just to keep me awake as I only had my cup for the day before we left home. I was surprised to see familiar faces of baristas from Shell NLEX Balagtas. Later did I know that they were having their certifications conducted.

There were only four of us, including Carms who is barista Ivanne's friend, who were there for the coffee seminar. Resident coffee master JR introduced the topic which was "Expresso Roast: A Starbucks Shared Planet Coffee."

He started off by asking us about what we thought about Starbucks' Shared Planet. I pretended I didn't know anything about it (see 'Musings on a Starbucks Tumbler Design') but still I was asked about it and had to give my answer. So, I blurted out about the campaign's vision of "ethical sourcing, environmental sterwardship and community involvement." JR expounded on the campaign and discussed about the sources of Starbucks' whole bean coffees. Thereby, introducing the Espresso Roast which was the main topic.

Cups were distributed around for the coffee tasting to commence. Astro taught us the 4 techniques of coffee tasting: smell, slurp, locate the sensation on your tongue, and describe the experience. What I really found amusing is the second step which is "slurping".

I admit, I've been drinking coffee since I was 7 years old and been afraid of scalding my tongue because of inadvertent arrogance of drinking coffee lest be caught by my parents not drinking full cream milk instead. After years of coffee sustenance, I just discovered that slurping coffee is the sanest way not to burn your tongue because air is introduced and thereby has an effect of cooling the coffee and making it palate-friendly. The louder the slurping, the better. Now, I understand why that late night radio announcer on the AM radio always slurps loudly when drinking coffee. I thought it was just his way of annoying his listeners.

We compared the aroma and taste of Caffè Latte and Caffè Americano. I particularly liked Caffè Americano because it gave a rich aroma and dense, smooth texture I always like in my coffee.

Then off with the pastry pairing because good coffee warrants good pastry. Again, I gave Caffè Americano a thumbs up for the complementary taste it brings with the brownies.

Soon came the part where we get to answer questions and take home some goodies. There were 4 loot bags and there were just 4 of us. So naturally, we just answered the question correctly and bring home a Starbucks shirt and a bag of ground coffee. Also had my complimentary tall Caffè Americano and my day is on a roll.

I came home informed and educated about my top-of-the-list-beverage and realized how much respect goes with this industry where 65,000 metric tons of coffee are consumed by Filipinos annually.*

I left the seminar wanting for more like how to use a coffee press, and methods of brewing coffee. Well, I guess I have to wait for another coffee seminar or ask the friendly barista when I get my caffeine fix.

Just as there are wine and cheese connoisseurs, I guess, coffee junkies like me can transcend their energies and study in becoming coffee experts in the future.

In the meantime, JJ just texted that she's looking forward in having a coffee klatsch and hopefully with our other friends at Starbucks Petron NLEX Marilao. She will take the liberty and spare me of telling them that they need to go over the fence to get there.

*Facts about coffee from Sunday Inquirer Magazine (October 18, 2009)
Photos courtesy of Noel dela Cruz.

Waiting Game

When 2009 ushered in, I kept a mind of utmost optimism that things will turn out the way I have planned and prayed for.

Now, on its last quarter of the year, I am still in limbo.

I can enumerate as many things I have been hanging on like a sword of the proverbial Damocles waiting to fall but am still waiting. Waiting...

Oh, when will this waiting game stop?

Photo source: "Waiting" by FriXedAirwave from deviantart.com

Kape!!!

October has been declared as Coffee Month by the Philippine Coffee Board and they have lined up activities such as seminars, coffee tours, and conferences for this caffeine-induced celebration.

Aww! I missed the seminars on coffee last week. I may have dozed off because I didn't get much coffee as I want to because my coffee maker got soaked from the floods. Need to get a replacement. Perhaps, I will have to visit the exhibits in Makati this week.

Starbucks' Secret?

My brother's sister-in-law, Eng, told me about an interesting piece of information she read from "The Element Encyclopedia of 500 Spells: The ultimate Reference Book for The Magical Arts by Judika Illes" on how the double-tailed mermaid brings fortune.

On page 172, it reads:

Mermaid Money Increase Spell

The image of the double-tailed mermaid allegedly inspires financial reward. Recently it's been fortunate for Starbucks Coffee houses, however as long ago as medieval times, merchants stamped metal charms with the image and placed there with their wares and cash for protection and prosperity.

1. Draw the image on a square of parchment paper.

2. Place it in your cash box to help the money grow.

Eng gave me a printed copy of the double-tailed mermaid and she instructed me to fold it with the image out and keep it inside my wallet.

Try it. You might be the next Howard Schultz.

I'm a Gleek!!!

I have joined minions who have been heralding this more than a month-old television series from the United States. 'Glee' tells the story of a struggling high school glee club in Ohio which hopes of competing in the nationals.

But how can they do that with members who thinks she is a diva; a football player who can sing but dance awkwardly; a wheelchair bound guitar player and singer; an American African girl who thinks she's Beyonce and not Kelly Rowland; a bashful Asian; a gay football kicker; and a glee club moderator who wants to relive the glory days?

Throw in the bitches of the Cheerios headed by a publicity hungry coach, a stingy principal, an obsessive-complusive guidance counselor, and a football coach who is the only one who can operate the school's shredding machine and then, spin a couple of cover versions and dash of good 'ol choreography and what do you have? A High School Musical Zach-arrine free, Grease-induced weekly television spectacle that is GLEE.

'Glee' started airing last September in the US and has also made its way into the Philippines via ETC channel on free TV every Tuesday nights or on Jack TV on cable. I get the new episodes every week from torrent because the ones shown on Philippine television are two episodes behind.

I'm a Gleek and what I love about the show are the cover versions of songs like "No Air", "Take A Bow", "It's My Life" and "Don't Stop Believing." One would think that their glee clubs should have sang contemporary songs and gave a twist in their own versions back then.

Okay. I need to download episode 7 (Throwdown) and I hope I can find someone who can make me a shirt like the one shown here.

Musings on a Starbucks Tumbler Design

A few weeks ago, my friend Noel asked for my help if I could assist him in coming up with his tumbler design.

Noel is a coffee master a.k.a. über barista from the Seattle-based coffee company, Starbucks Coffee, here in the Philippines.

Baristas, or in Starbucks lingo are called 'partners', were tasked to design a tumbler about the Starbucks Shared Planet campaign. The partners must design a tumbler which should encompass the BIG IDEAS of Starbucks Shared Planet of ethical sourcing, environmental stewardship, and community involvement.

The tumbler design should be printed on a 12-oz tumbler template and will compete against other tumbler designs from 23 districts then on to the national. The one that will emerge the winner will be the tumbler design that will be given to all 'partners' in the Philippines.

His creation called "Scrapbucks Brochure" is in itself a scrapbook of the brochures found in Starbucks store. He had in mind the concepts of recycling, reuse, and reduce in order to save from costs of design and execution.

There are 4 separate spectrums which represent the elements of fire, water, air, and earth. These are represented by the background colors of red, blue, yellow, and green respectively.

Each spectrum is grouped according to the shareholders that are involved in the Starbucks Shared Planet campaign.

First, the coffee farmers which is represented by the red background spectrum and the images of the different whole bean coffees from around the world.

As the coffee beans are harvested, Starbucks, which is represented by the second spectrum ascertain the highest quality standards for environmentally sound and ethical sourcing of coffee.

On the forefront of the Shared Planet tumbler design are the 'partners' who will introduce and reinforce the ideas of encouraging the use of commuter mugs and tumblers; energy and water conservation, recycling and green construction. These activities are committed by partners towards environmental stewardship.

Lastly, the fourth spectrum are the customers who are encouraged by the campaign to do their share by volunteering to supporting local events and national programs that Starbucks come up with in helping create a better future for coffee farmers as well as working towards helping the environment.

Just as the elements intertwine and interdependent, the four shareholders of the campaign must work hand-in-hand continuously. The Shared Planet campaign is not just for today but like the four seasons, must be today and and for the future.

It may sound like I'm lobbying for Noel's entry. But more than just raving about the tumbler design; as a coffee addict myself, I must do my share in helping the environment even if I'm just sipping caffeine or tryptophan.

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If you like the tumbler design, you can download the 'Scrapbuks Brochure' tumbler design by Noel dela Cruz (in pdf) here and print it out on a good high-quality 8.5" and 11" photo paper and insert it nicely on a Starbucks 12-oz tumbler which can be bought at any Starbucks store.

Family Noteworthy

Family comes first so I'd like to greet my li'l sistah Rhea a very Happy Birthday!

Love you and I miss you a lot. Give my kisses to my artistically-inclined niece, Gabby.

Whew! Good to be back

After almost 3 weeks in absentia, it is so good to be back.

Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy) was the culprit as it drenched my cousin's modem and our wi-fi router. I was already experiencing withdrawal symptoms as I thought of my ruined farms on Facebook, blogs to update, forums to visit, torrent files to download, television series that need to be followed.

I need to buy a new wireless router.

Finally, I had it replaced and we're back.

Of flood waters and ice cream

You probably heard so much about what happened on September 26, 2009 when Typhoon Ketsana (local name: Ondoy) wreaked havoc on Central Luzon and Metro Manila which claimed 729 lives and thousands of homes and livelihood to flood and mud.

The Philippines is said to be blessed because it is "strategically located as the gateway to Asia". Little did propagandists know that it is not economics that the archipelagic nation would progress but because of proximity. The FACT is that the Philippines is bound, fated, and located strategically to be as the "welcoming party" for any catastrophic typhoon that would make its way to Asia. In simpler terms, this nation is bound for disaster.

I have lived and breathed through different typhoons that has visited this country. I have seen images and read stories about how families lost their loved ones because of floods. How their houses were destroyed, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

But it's different when something like these happen to YOU. That is a different story.

I live in Bulacan and I know you know how our province was also devastated by Ondoy's wrath.

I remember waking up on a Saturday morning because of the continuous rains that have been going since Friday night. I even did my routine of going online and tend my virtual farms on my Facebook account. By mid morning, the rains did not falter. It wasn't "raining cats and dogs" as that obsolete adage say.

My aunt screamed that the dam in Angat will be releasing their gates so as to prevent further catastrophe from occuring. So we just placed some of our stuff in higher ground like on top of high tables and cabinets because we expected it would just be below knee floods.

By 1 p.m., we had out lunch but the rains still poured incessantly. I accompanied my 90-year old grandmother to my room so she could stay there before the floodwaters would come into our house. By 1:30 p.m., I could see murky brown flood outside the gate of our house. We switched off the main power supply to prevent any electrocution and death. And in a few minutes, the floods came rushing into our house already. So my aunt and cousin hurriedly saved whatever we can to my room in the second floor. From televisions, electric fans, stereo, clothes, documents, and other stuff that we could save from the floods.

My uncle and her daughter who were the only ones left in the other house were saving what they can. They did not have any second floor so they just placed their stuff where floods could not reach them. By 2:30, the floods were already waist deep and we were panicking already as to where my uncle and cousin were because they should be on our second floor rooms or they could drown inside their home. Finally, they emerged from the rooftop of their house and walked towards my room's veranda.

The rains continued and the floods rose to levels that we never expected. Now all 7 of us cramped in my small room and we monitored how floods ate up the levels of our stairway. By 2:45 pm, only 8 levels left before floods enter the second floor. By 3 pm, 7 levels left.

We looked outside the veranda and we saw how our street became a virtual river suited for white water rafting. It was rampaging waters and in it carried doors, LPG tanks, plank of wood that used to be houses and just about anything that was buoyant. It was just shocking.

The rains still continued in the late afternoon. The floods still continued to rise and we could see how our sofa, tables, piano, and other stuff floated downstairs. It was totally a screen shot from 'Titanic' where everything floated and you could just hear the water rushing in. I could even hear the haunting music of James Horner in my ear as that scene materialized in my eyes at that moment. It was horrifying. Could this be the end? Could this be what Noah experienced?

Though we had no electricity and no television, we were so thankful we had power in our mobile phones and we updated our families in the US and Canada what we were experiencing. We shared dinner which was just a leftover from our lunch and had my cousin's baon of chips and crackers.

By 8 pm, the flood waters began to subside and by 11 pm, we could see our things drenched in mud. We couldn't do anything because it was dark so we had to forego til morning.

By 5:30 in the morning, we were up. We didn't get a decent sleep because we were thinking of the cleaning task that was ahead of us. With all the mud around, it was slippery and dirty and I couldn't care less. We just need to clean it all up or else it would be more difficult to clean the mud when it's dry.

Lack of sleep and rest gets you down and by 8 am, we were already tired and hungry. Until the neighborhood store which sells ice cream began distributing popsicles and ice cream cups around. It was breakfast. We even cared to laugh at ourselves as we devoured near-melting dairies to sustain our hunger.

Cleaning after neck-deep flood waters that rushed inside the house is no joke. It is daunting and frustrating. From appliances that are in no way to be resuscitated to its normal condition, to books that are virtually ruined but also photos that are destroyed completely and sentimental knickknacks that are gone forever.

With these devastation that has happened to my family, I still realized how lucky we were because nobody was hurt or died unlike other families who have lost their loved ones from this tragedy. Things can be lost and recovered but lives cannot be restored.

I have found respect for nature and how these powerful elements: fire, earth, air and water can be life-giving but can be omnipotent to become life-taking.

It is no wonder why God made Filipinos resilient and still smile at the face of disaster though the Philippines is forsaken to embrace catastrophes.