Dec. 27..2003 For breakfast, we went down to the Cafeteria at the ground floor of the Penn. A smiling receptionist took our room number and brought us to a table. Most of the guests were Filipinos staying in the place for reasons of their own. Didn't want to chat with them or anything, privacy to me is important whether at home or abroad. We went straight to the food counter where an array of Filipino and International cuisine were on display. Some menus were being cooked right before your eyes. There were Filipino sausages, tocino, fried tinapang bangus..I leveled my sights on the Filipino cuisine; a few days from now, I won't be tasting these recipes anymore..! I also had mango juice plus coffee, of course. I can not face my day without any coffee..We ate enough to last us until evening so that we will be saving on lunch. We will be out there in the Malls anyway and food would be the last thing in our minds.
We were expecting my sis Aurora to arrive that day with Ester and her party; they have a room of their own adjoining to ours. Their ETA ( expected time of arrival ) is 2:00 pm. In the mean time, we went to Glorrieta and entered a Filipino movie entitled FILIPINAS. There was a long line up. A small TV monitor was telling us how many more seats are available for that particular screening. This is something we do not see in Toronto..only in Makati. The ticket price is not so bad either: at that time it was 100 pesos only! Its about 2.50 $ Can..The lobby of the theatre looks as elegant as the Coliseum type movie houses here in Toronto. Right now Toronto movie tickets cost 10$ Can ( about 7.70 $US ).
In a while, we were able to get in..The theatre is almost full so we had to stay at the front row..But even at the front row, the image looks OK..The first class theatres in Manila have adapted the same architectural styles used abroad.. The screen is also huge, the image is bright, the sound is clear ( although being a Pilipino movie it is not in Dolby Surround sound or DTS or SDDS like the other theatre sound systems abroad. But we sat in comfort and enjoyed the whole show. It is like inside an American theatre watching a Filipino film..
Its funny how the characters talk about going abroad. It seems it is so easy for them, just like hopping on a bus.."I am going to Canada next week, either come with me or stay behind..!" one father was telling her daughter. I was wondering what kind of visas those guys were holding. Then one movie character said.."I wonder how much is the current exchange rate of Pesos to canadian $?" I was almost tempted to shout out: "It is 40 pesos to 1 Canadian $, you moron!" In Filipino movies, you are either too rich or too poor, too intelligent or too stupid. Some characters are either too rich and too stupid, ha-ha! Filipino audiences just love those guys...
The movie was over at 12:30 pm..A new line up was forming at the lobby. The movie was good! It was recommended as one of the FAMAS contenders for the next ceremony..We went back to the hotel, not after we dropped by a Take-out snack bar to buy some of those really fine smelling goodies they had. The layout in Glorrieta is so complicated that it is so easy to get lost. Four different storeys and each storey have four alleyways exiting to different streets..You need a map to find your bearings in this place. But then holding a map and appearing TA-TANGA TANGA will make you an easy prey for the unseen hoods around waiting to pounce on you!
We just walked fast, crossed Ayala, took a side street that would eventually bring us back to the Penn and the comfort of an air conditioned room. When it gets hot out there it is really hot! Half of the day is already gone!---#
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