SANDWITCHES BORACAY (PHILIPPINES) NOW OPEN IN DOWNTOWN STATION 3

The only sandwich counter and healthy food shop on White Beach Boracay Island is now open. This hole in the wall but cozy and funky shop serves freshly made sandwiches and vegetarian food. Everyday we also come up with daily specials which are always something to watch out for! So pay us a visit at Downtown Station 3 White Beach Boracay (beside Boracay Travelers and Dive Gurus on the beach front), call/text us at +63 912 8750 918, email us at sandwitches.boracay@gmail.com, or check us out on facebook groups: Sandwitches Boracay.

151

A shot, a gulp
That's all it took.
The moment it hit,
my brain just ticked.
An hour passed,
my body wanders.
Still another hour,
the energy still kicks.
The fuzzy feel
of warm drunkenness ---
Ah! Happiness for me!

REDEEMING VALUE

One can never run out of criticisms in this very colorful country we fondly call the Philippines. Visitors to this country will always have a pocketful (or baggage-ful even?) of horror stories and terrible experiences to share back home.

But as a Filipino, I don't have to save these stories. I live these stories in my daily life, and there's nothing to share "back home". Driving in bad traffic because drivers don't know the rules nor basic road courtesy. (Most of them can't even read or understand the traffic signs!) Service at restaurants here are by no means the most efficient either. But I have not really been very conscious of this until I've spent some time eating with visitors, who all but have comments about how poor customer service is here in this country, generally.

I've tried to be more conscious of that too. But recently, I've also tried to notice how there are still people who deliver very good service and deserve to be commended. One very recent encounter with that type of person is a server named JAN who works at Chef d'Angelo in Robinson's Galleria mall in Quezon City. Although this resto is a pay-as-you-order type, the food will still have to be sent to your table. Jan was apparently the designated server for that day. There were around 6 or 7 tables to be waited on at that time. My sister didn't order any drinks, but Jan was attentive enough that when he served my drink, he also had a glass a water ready for my sister, without my sister asking for it. Impressive. Then, I also asked for two extra plates as my sister and I were sharing what we ordered. I noticed that after I asked for the plates, the other table also asked for something else. But before I knew it, he was back at our table with two plates, and went directly to the other table to give them their request. I was expecting it would take him some time to give us the plates because there were other tables he was waiting on. Then, while eating, I figured I needed a spoon. So I asked Jan for it. Again, another table also asked for something. But very soon, he was back with the spoon and the order of the other table. I was really impressed! He kept on moving, and looking at the tables, and paid attention to everything in the dining area. Because his service was impeccable, I decided to observe him more. I noticed that when a couple left a table, he was immediately there to clean it up. It didn't even take him more than a minute to clear it and clean it. As quickly as he bussed out the dirty dishes, he was back in the dining area, paying close attention to the remaining diners. There was another waitstaff near the kitchen who was not doing anything from what I saw. But all the time my sister and I were eating, it was only Jan who would be moving around and taking care of the customers. When we were done, he was already mopping a portion of the restaurant's floor. And not one customer seemed left unattended at that. I wanted to leave a tip to Jan, but the tip box seemed the only way to do it. I think I would have to send a letter to Chef d'Angelo management to commend him for very efficient service.

It felt good to know that despite all the negative facets that visitors see in this country, there are these moments when you just have to look and discover that there are also good things, good service, good people, that just need to be recognized. Maybe that will be the start of improvement!

AN IMAGINARY WORLD

A woman walking down the narrow road
Stops to talk to the man boarding the jeep.
A child with sunbleached hair
Plays with a brown puppy,
busy sucking milk from its mother.

Further down an alley,
whites and browns,
tall and short,
fat and thin...
meandering from the light to the dark.

Neon lights and thumping music
invade the dusky scene.
The shores become busy with
stray dogs and stray cats,
strutting in and out of bars
like predators looking for play.

The echoes of the noisy room,
mix of pounding music,
loud meaningless chatter,
assault the eardrums of an innocent prey.

Dawn comes fast.
Further down an alley,
whites and browns,
tall and short,
fat and thin...
meandering from the dark to the light.

The man running down the dimly-lit road,
is stopped by the woman about to board the jeep.
A brown puppy with ticks on its head,
Plays with a child,
busy sucking milk from his mother.

BAD MIX

It was almost dawn
hazy polluted sky above,
blood pressure rising,
eyes swollen ---

I wasdriving home,
after having a beer
(or two or more)
tears rolling down,
or maybe sobbing,
while on the phone
texting away my f**king hang-ups!

A crash waiting to happen!

This life and me?
Bad mix.