work food palanca

What a long day. Up at the crack of dawn for an early meeting with the president of the huge bank across from Roxas Blvd. And once again, despite the fact that I've been there a couple of times before, I got lost in the Doom-like lower levels of the sprawling building. After I found the right spot, I had 5 minutes to spare (leaving 2 hours early has its benefits) and picked up today's Inquirer, and was delighted to see the printed results of the National Book Award and my better half's name. So, of course, I stole the paper (from my client!) and went to the meeting with a silly smile (which I tried to pass off as my natural charm LOL).

Lunch at G3. Checked out Nuvo, the trendy new bar whose owners spent something like P25M to create (good luck on their ROI). Cena was there too (which is good because we've heard raves about their buffet when their Libis branch was still open). Had food from Shinzaken (if you like the subway station menuboard design, that's by Racky) and Circo - bland, bland, bland. I was disappointed by the mall when I took a little time to walk around. Lizzie's shop of course has a great location (if you were JAZA, could you decline this lovely lady anything?), but nothing stood out. They don't even have bookstore yet, though I hear Daez's not Page One will open there. To be fair, it's barely occupied, but shop-wise, its same-old, same-old. Funny thing: there is a strip of grass and stone that separates the jologs from the bathed, between the old Greenbelt with its oh-so-unfashionable Greenwich/ KFC and the fuck-you-we're-high-concept-bars/restaurants like Temple and uva (or whatever it was really called, couldn't read the terrible font).

Gah. I'm such a foodie snob, it seems. I hate these trendy places. I'm glad Mati at Rockwell is in decline. I loathe places like that. But if you have to try the latest food place/lifestyle tienes, go to Ebisu along Jupiter St. where someone's brother spins chillout music (if you're in a Wasabi-ish mood), or Magnum at G3 (if you're in a Shiraz-ish mood) and tell me if you liked it. You can guess what I'd say, right? Remind me to tell you all the horror stories my family and friends have of me in the restaurant enviroment. It's good or a laugh or 40.

After lunch, I went off to another large bank, did my thing, left with a smile and since I was in the area, I walked over to the Palanca Foundation and took back my entry - because, I said, "Sayang naman ang green dayglo folder". I took time to peruse the books, and soothed my bruised "oh-how-how-how-did-I-lose-this-year" ego and looked at the copies of the faded glories of my past work, so of course I'll mention it here for all to see that I was, to quote liberally from Cobra Commander, "oncccce a maaaan!".

And my babies where there - Fragments of Memory, Short Time, Loving Toto, Island - growing old with all the other winning plays. And the nice custodian-lady, no doubt used to the year's losers visiting the repository of the victorious to sadly touch the work of winners, told me "Dean, ang daming nagpapacopy ng plays mo, ha". Thanks, thanks, -sniff- So, with a confused heart ("I hate losing" and "oh-how-nice-that-people-are-paying-to-get-copies-of-my-work"), I left the Palanca place and headed back to my office, green dayglo folder tucked under one arm.

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Pantoums
(Let's just hope that the blog doesn't fuck up the formatting much). You do know what a pantoum is, right? Right.

Pantoum: Room

When you empty out our room
At the quiet end of things
Make certain that nothing remains
I will not pick up after you

At the quiet end of things
Keep what you think is yours
I will not pick up after you
I don't want your boxes, cartons or cases

Keep what you think is yours
Just leave me the empty space
I don't want your boxes, cartons or cases
Don't ask me anything anymore

Just leave me the empty space
Don't ask me how I'll manage
Don't ask me anything anymore
Don't look at me with wordless eyes

Don't ask me how I'll manage
Make certain that nothing remains
Don't look at me with wordless eyes
When you empty out our room

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Pantoum: Spoil

I never wanted things to spoil
I froze you, stuffed, zip-locked
Fresh as the day you said you loved me
Bottled up, seared and sealed

I froze you, stuffed, zip-locked
I kept in stasis that silly grin
Bottled up, seared and sealed
I know it’s a little uncomfortable

I kept in stasis that silly grin
I edited the script of our goodbye
I know it’s a little uncomfortable
Me: "Of course, of course"

I edited the script of our goodbye
You: "I'm sorry", "I'll stay", "I'm sorry"
Me: "Of course, of course"
You: "Thanks"

You: "I'm sorry", "I'll stay", "I'm sorry"
I play this scenario over and over
You: "Thanks"
I'm glad you understand

I play this scenario over and over
Fresh as the day you said you loved me
I'm glad you understand
I never wanted things to spoil

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Pantoum: Boy


You're showing your age, at last
Despite my protection, my conversation
You've lost that innocent appeal
In spite of my precautions, my illusions

Despite my protection, my conversation
Your smaller feet could not keep pace
In spite of my precautions, my illusions
My friends knew you for a charlatan

Your smaller feet could not keep pace
Too many things went over your head
My friends knew you for a charlatan
I could not keep talking for both of us

Too many things went over your head
I'm getting tired of our monologue/dialogue
I could not keep talking for both of us
Maybe its better I let your hand go

I'm getting tired of our monologue/dialogue
When all you can say is "No"
Maybe its better I let your hand go
Even if I remain behind, still longing

When all you can say is "No"
You've lost that innocent appeal
Even if I remain behind, still longing
You're showing your age, at last

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