WAITING IN CEBU FOR CARGO

I was supposed to have returned to the US early Sunday, but had to stay on because of delayed cargo from Manila, which I must receive here in Cebu.

I will point fingers here because this kind of mistake is unforgiveable, especially for an outfit that charged an arm and a leg. Never, but never use Lane Movers and Storage in Manila! I trusted them, contracted with them a door-to-door service to ship from furniture and household items from Manila to Cebu. The manager, Dennis de Guzman met with me once, and when I paid him, never showed up again. The packers did show up - and they seemed efficient. But Dennis never showed the day of the packing. The other thing Dennis did that was annoying was to give an initial quote, without mentioning that crating and insurance would be extra - and the costs were large - so the final price was a shocker. Insurance was mentioned to me AFTER the packers had whisked away my things.

But here's the really unforgiveable part. I made it very clear to Dennis that I was scheduled to leave for the US on a particular date and I had to receive the cargo in Cebu before then. He understood me clearly. Then this is what happened. I was told I'd get the cargo on Monday, then it was delayed, then I was told it'd get in Wednesday, then Thursday, and meantime, I'm scheduled to leave Sunday. The recent report from Lane is that my cargo will get in Monday - tomorrow. I had to cancel my Sunday flight to the US, with great difficulty as it is high season, not to mention the upset to my schedule and my family's disappointment.

So let us see if the cargo arrives tomorrow.

Meantime, Lane blames Sulpicio shipping for bumping off my cargo. A nephew said Sulpicio does do this. It seems unthinkable that I contracted Lane to send my cargo on July 16, and here it's July 30 and I don't have my cargo. This is not international shipping.

My big advice: DON'T USE LANE MOVERS AND STORAGE AT ALL.

People and Places I've Seen This Past Week

Mila and Sito Santillan, Lilu Gimenez; Cynthia Posa, Araceli Lorayes, Nadne Sarreal, Karina Bolasco, Marily Ysip Orosa, Ambeth Ocampo, Guia Lim, Ina Garcia, Titang Gonzalez, Rene Wage.

Places: Japanese Restaurant in Rockwell; Ermita's Remedios Circle; Las Pinas Boys Choir performing in Phil Am Life auditorium; Sentros in Greenbelt 3; Breton's in Greenbelt 3; Old Manila; Glorietta; Dusit Hotel; Greenbelt Chapel; Don Bosco Chapel; Landmark; SM,Katutubo.

and I'm sure there are more people and places which I've missed.


Photo Above l-r: Nadine Sarreal, Cecilia Brainard, Karina Bolasco
Photo Below l-r: Sito, Cecilia, Mila

What Does One Do in Manila?

And what does one do in Manila?
1. Eat at Fat Michaels - now, unfortunately I can't give you the address of Fat Michaels because it's in the middle of nowhere. It's not that far from Makati, but it's not in Makati. It's near a building that says something like Makati View apartelle. It's a 1950s house that's been converted into a restaurant - very homey, artsy, eclectic indeed. And so successful, you need to make reservations. So successful they've opened a Fat Michaels in The Fort - fine dining here, which means more expensive. Order their Black Paella, and their salad is very nice, also their iced tea.

2. Eat at Cafe Juanitas - This restaurant is in Pasig, owned by a doctor turned restaurateur. It's an enchanting place filled with flamboyant, colorful, and unusual items - I understand the things in the restaurant are all for sale. Every corner is filled with a surprise - quite a fun and magical place. Try their callos, and fried fish.



3. Have a drink at the Handlebar in Bel Air Makati - bikers' bar this one; then have paella in nearby Alba's and La Tienda.

Photo above shows Cecilia and St. Theresa's HS classmates and Sister Consuelo Varela dining in The Fort
Photo next shows Guia Lim (VP Union Bank) in Cafe Juanita

MORE OF CEBU

What does one do in Cebu?
1. Go South and visit the old churches in Carcar, Argao, Boljoon and more. Aside from the Spanish colonial churches, you'll see old houses, and the countryside is green and beautiful, the seaside pristeen;
2. Eat at S.T.K. Ta Bay on #6 Orchid Street where they serve the best authentic homecooked Cebuano meals. Order shrimp sinigang soup, not the mixed seafood because you end up with unedible shells and crablets. Also try their fried garlic shrimp, scallops, and grilled tuna belly. All very good!
3. Well, you have to do the Historic town tour: Santo Nino Basilica and Museum, Magellan's Cross, Fort San Pedro, Cathedral and Museum, Casa Gorordo Museum. Take a peak at the Cebu Malacanan near Fort San Pedro, and the Yap-Sandiego house on the way to Casa Gorordo. Between the Cathedral Museum and the Yap-Sandiego house is the Shamrock where you can pick "pasalubong" - native delicacies for gifts. The small street fronting Santo Nino Basilica has little outdoor stalls that sell Cebuano delicacies such as bibingka, budbud kabug (Fridays), tagaktak, masareal, and more.
4. Other restaurants to try: Ocean Seafood on Sanson Street, near Gorordo; Bols Arciaga Restaurant that also sells native products.

Photo shows Cecilia, Manager of Thai Restaurant, Erma Cuizon, Gavin Bagares, Susan Evangelista, and Bingo after great Thai food

CEBU CITY BOOK LAUNCH AND OUTINGS

Saturday, June 30 - Karina Bolasco, publishing manager of Anvil, arrives Cebu from Manila, 9:10 a.m. I go to Mactan Aiport to meet her. At 1 p.m. Erma Cuizon picks up Susan Evangelista at the Mactan Airport; she's flown in from Palawan. We lunch, then Karina runs off to meet with a librarian. There is a heavy downpour at around 3:30, and we are slightly worried because the book launch of Ala Carte: Food and Fiction is at 5 p.m. The rain stops at around 4:30, but roads are wet, traffic bad. When we get to the Aboitiz Center for the launch, the guests have not arrived. WILA, who is the cosponsor of the event, decides to let the guests eat merienda first, which initially puzzles some of us, but it turns out to be a wise decision, becuase it gives people time to arrive. The program starts at around 6 p.m. Gingging Dumdum is the emcee; Ester Tapia speaks on behalf of WILA, and Karina Bolasco speaks on behalf of Anvil publishing. Then the reading begins, and we have: Carlos Cortes, Erma Cuizon, Susan Evangelista, Karina Bolasco, and Cecilia Brainard (me). Brief words by me, closing by Gingging, and then book signing. Around 50 people braved the wet roads and awful traffic, but they are a fantastic audience and were also generous in buying books. Seen among the crowd: Lucy Franco Garcia; Helen Franco Misa; Inday Blanco; Louie Nacorda; Linda Alburo, Jun Dumdum, Juliet Basa, Gavin Bagares, Andy, Tina, Angel Manguerra; Jojo, Tanya, and Inez Manguerra, and many more.

After the launch, Erma, Susan, Karina, Jun and Gingging Dumdum, and I came to my place for snacks, wine, some unwinding, and literary talk.



Sunday, July 1 - Karina, Susan, Erma, and I go to Plantation Bay for brunch; Karina leaves noonish back to Manila. The remaining three of us spend the rest of the day lounging in front of sparkling blue sea and watching a man raking the white beach clean. Later, a trip to Marco Polo so Susan to give Susan a bird eye's view of Cebu; then dinner at Ocean Seafood off of Gorordo.

Monday, July 2 - Susan, Erma, Gavin Bagares, and I do a tour of Southern Cebu, visiting Boljoon, Argao, and Carcar - great countryside, and old churches! Dinner in a lovely Thai restaurant in Talamban.

Ahhhhh - no rain on Saturday and Sunday!!!!



Photo above,l-r: Erma Cuizon, Susan Evangelista, Cecilia Brainard, in Boljoon
Photo in middle show Susan and Cecilia kicking back in Plantation Bay
Photo in bottom shows backside of someone