best director

I'm so glad that I'm still in Manila to catch Zero Dark Thirty.

Ever since I saw The Hurt Locker, I've been a huge fan of Kathryn Bigelow. I don't need no Academy to tell me that she's the best director, ever.

based on the novel by

Cloud Atlas was the last English-language movie I watched last year, and the first book I finished reading this year.

I was so enamored by the film that I immediately bought the book after coming out of the theater. The saleslady at National Bookstore apologized because they only had the movie tie-in version, but boy, did that turn out to be a good thing.

You see, the movie tie-in has David Mitchell's afterword, Based On The Novel By. An unexpected and wonderful bonus.

happy feet

It's the first day of the new year. I went shopping and bought myself some cute shoes.

I am now the proud owner of a pair of Mel Dreamed by Melissa Toffee Apple wedges in nude.

another year over

I can't believe the Ayala Triangle Gardens light show is over and I missed it. Again, gademit.

hap chan = comfort food

I can already hear some people out there scoffing, "Hap Chan?"

Try to imagine being in my shoes. Since I started living on Boracay in 1996, there had never been a decent Chinese restaurant. No fried rice, no sweet and sour pork, no wanton noodle soup. For more than a decade I was deprived and desperate. And then Mongkok came... and disappeared in a blink of an eye.

About a year ago, Hap Chan opened its doors at Boracay Regency Resort. Happy happy joy joy. In January, I celebrated my birthday there.

Shrimp siomai, P90++

Sautéed beef with broccoli flower, P265++