Baguio And The Monsoon Rains

Baguio And The Monsoon Rains

           Hard and drenching. But the monsoon rains did not stop us and by 7 a.m., we were exiting at Pozzorubio in Pangasinan, the farthest tollgate of the TPLEX. Kennon Road was closed and we took the wider Marcos Highway with its steep inclines made harder by thick fog that restricted our visibility. At the Green Valley area, approaching the city proper, traffic was moving at a snail's pace.

           Anticipating a high vehicle density at Legarda Road and Kisad, we decided to drive southeast by way of Military Cut-Off and South Drive. With our hotel check-in time still a few hours away, sight seeing was the order of the day. The horses were wet and out in the rain at Wright Park as there was no run-in shed. The stalls offering ethnic costumes for pictorials were not crowded. Here one could be an Ibaloi, Kankanaey, Isneg, Kalinga or Bontok. Even with intermittent rains, Mansion House had tourists crowding the main gate and taking photos. At the view deck of Mines View Park, thick, low clouds blocked the sight of the mining exploration sites that were active during the time of the Americans.

           At Outlook Drive, which is the enclave of the rich and famous, we stopped to do some routine check up. An eatery by the side of the road beckoned. And we could not resist. For Decades Fusion Restaurant, located on a ridge, has an ambiance no longer easy to find in the City of Pines. With varnished, hardwood tables and chairs, the main dining area provides a good view of tall Benguet Pines. The place exudes the Old Baguio. A fireplace, cage-like dining table, full bar and old-style lighting make the interior a cozy one.

           Decades resto serves good food. A standout is Strawberry Glazed Ribs with Lettuce and Onions. The meat is tender. Another excellent dish is the Beef Shank Steak with Gravy, Baguio Beans and Carrots. Waiting time for food to be served is about 20 minutes. Waiters are extra attentive to customers' needs. At Decades, it is fine dining without being expensive. 

            Next time, you need not drive to downtown Baguio where traffic is horrific most of the time. Simply drive to Decades at Outlook Drive, take a table by the window, place your orders and relax. Let Decades' staff do the rest for you.

- Konted

Decades Fusion Restaurant's main dining area

Good ambiance at Decades

View of Benguet Pines from the dining area. At this time of the year, it is often foggy.

Cage-like dining area

Strawberry Glazed Ribs with Lettuce and Onions

Grilled Pork Belly with Lettuce and Onions

Beef Shank Steak with Gravy, Baguio Beans and Carrots

Salmon with Aligue, Vegetable Salad and Red Rice

Fine dining at Decades

Decades' Full Bar

Too early for a drink?

Another group picture at the bar

Baguio is Konted's 2nd home

At the balcony facing the road

Where to dine al fresco

Baguio flower at Decades' front garden

Foggy Outlook Drive

Decades offers yummy food, fine service and good ambiance. Time to try it.

Sangkalan On A Monday Night

Sangkalan On A Monday Night

        I tried the deep-fried pig knuckles. It was crispy, with the dipping sauce enhancing its flavor. I tried the sliced squid placed on a sizzling plate. It was tender, not rubbery as I was expecting. Next was the Pompfret or Pampano. It was meaty. I stretched my hand to the right and reached for the oysters. With a fork, I pulled out the fleshy bits, dipped them in a mixture of vinegar and soy condiments. They were fresh, really fresh. In between were occasional shots of Wolf Blass red wine.

         I was not by my lonesome. I was with old friends at Sangkalan, a watering hole that took its name from the vernacular term that means chopping board. Up close, I was looking at their faces, hands, arms including their body movements. I could see myself in them. Looking at my old buddies, I could see my wrinkles, my grey hair, my bulge, my quirks.

         Just when the second Wolf Bass bottle was being opened, the chanteuse was adjusting her microphone while her co-performer was preparing the keyboard instrument. As additional stage lights were switched on, the duo belted out the first song of the night, with the male singer starting out: "You'll never find, as long as you live, some one who loves you tender like I do, You'll never find, no matter where you search, some one who cares about you." It was an old song by Lou Rawls popularized in the 70s. It was Monday and it was a night of songs of the 60s, 70s and 80s at Sangkalan.

         As if on cue, the "Remember when" moments began. Remember when we were cutting classes and watching The Good, The Bad and The Ugly instead? Remember when the Ateneo Blue Eagles had Marte Samson, Joy Cleofas, Chito Afable, Francis Arnaiz and Ricky Palou battling a DLSU squad that included Vince Misa, Ray Bautista, Ding de Villa, Jimmy Brown, Tommy Manotoc and Joaqui Trillo? I was listening intently to my old friends. At that moment, they seemed to have clear memory, with no signs of Alzheimer's yet.

         More drinks were ordered, San Mig Light this time. Somebody asked for Cheese Shrimp Rolls and Buffalo Wings. Everybody appeared to be enjoying the moment. The conversation was lively and shifted, at times, from one on one to two on two. At one point, everybody was talking and no one was listening. So engrossed were my old friends that they forgot the time. Sangkalan was about to close and the songbird was singing the last piece for the night, a song by Bonnie Bowden: "How foolishly we tossed away the buttercups, the time. Who would have thought we would have no more songs to sing, hills to climb."

- Konted

Sangkalan Bar and Grill is along Visayas Avenue near the Quezon Memorial Circle

A wide variety to choose from

Good music at Sangkalan

Listen to the music of the 60s,70s and 80s at Sangkalan

Crispy Pata

Stuffed Squid

Buttered Oysters

Sweet and Sour Pampano

Wolf  Blass red wine from South Australia

Enjoying the music at Sangkalan

Friends from way back

No Alzheimer's yet

Mann Yann

Mann Yann

            The face and arms of Prof Nong Umali were suntanned.  He spent several days with wife Lina frolicking under the sun on the pristine beaches of Bali, Indonesia. Though tight his schedule was, he managed to set a date for his old classmates Capt. Ronnie C, Francis P, Ted G and Prof Greg C.  The date kept on changing until it was finally fixed on March 9, Sunday.  Venue was Mann Yann in Makati.

Mann Yann in Makati

You will surely enjoy dining at Mann Yann.

             Yes, it is Mann Yann.  You got it right.  Mann Yann is different from Mann Hann.  And different from Mannang. But all three restaurants have the same owners. At Mann Yann, they serve delicious Chinese dishes such as Fish Fillet, Misua, Salt and Pepper Spare Ribs, Beef with Broccoli, Lechon Kawali and many, many more. Prices at Mann Yann are low without compromising quality and quantity.

Lechon Kawali

Tofu with Century Eggs

Salt and Pepper Spare Ribs

KangKong

Misua with oyster soup

Yang Chow Fried Rice

Free unlimited Chinese Tea

             Mann Yann is located at the ground floor of Anson Building which is near Landmark and Shangrila Hotel. There are ample parking slots at Anson Building.  And if you intend to dine at Mann Yann with your friends, try to be there early. The place is almost always filled to the brim.  Proof that food at Mann Yann is really good.

Prof. Nong Umali is based in Houston, Texas and spends his annual vacation in the Philippines.

Francis P. and Ted G.  Francis was patient enough to make adjustments as to date and venue.  Nice work again, Francis.

Ted G. and Prof. Nong U.  Nong was Ted's Math professor at  DLSU.

Lina and Prof Nong Umali.  Like Prof Nong, Lina is a good conversationalist.

The airline pilot and the math wizard:  Capt Ronnie C.(DLSU-Eng71) and Prof Nong 

Friends since 1957.  They are like vintage cars but still in mint condition. All four spent their childhood and teenage days at Santa Mesa Heights in Quezon City. At Mann Yann, they talked about the good old days, when "life was slow and oh, so mellow".

Prof Greg Calixto (DLSU-Eng 71) dropped by Mann Yann to greet Prof Nong.  He stayed briefly.

             Prof Nong is an actuary.  His wife Lina is an actuary, too.  An actuary, as explained by my good professor, is a person who gathers and analyzes statistics and then calculates insurance risks and premiums. Husband and wife, working in tandem, are doing well in Houston, Texas. And they have a happy family.  Both must have done a lot of analysis and calculation before tying the knot many years ago.  It turned out to be a good investment. 

                                                   

The Umali Family

                                                                                              - Konted

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