This blog post was supposed to be filed under What Made My November but the endeavor of returning back to the workforce after almost three years occupied  a lot of my time and kept me busy the past month so I only had the chance to create this post just now – when we only have a few more weeks left before December ends. While it’s enticing to report about how my life is doing lately career-wise, that one deserves a separate post and I am saving it for a more suitable day. For now, this post will have to be all about art and an exciting reunion.

Despite being from the Art Capital of the Philippines, I confess I am not really an art enthusiast. But lately, going to a few art exhibits to check out art works has been a routine that I’ve been doing. If you are a reader who also follows me on Instagram, you will see a few art-related posts there of various exhibits. When one of my longtime friends, Elizabeth Castillo sent me a heads up and invited me to an exhibit in the nearby town of Cainta, I didn’t hesitate and immediately said yes.

The exhibit was participated by the artists of ARTipolo and was held at Daburu Ramen which is located inside Village East Executive Homes in Cainta. Last month's trip to Cainta was my first time to visit Village East again after my ESL teaching stint for an English academy ended sometime in 2009. Next to the ramen that Daburu is known for, what I loved about the place is the interior design with all the artworks that adorned the venue. Literally a feast for your senses!

Art is a snapshot of your experience.

I can’t help but agree. Such apply not only to those engaged in visual arts but for those in other art forms – and especially true to those who dabbled in literature as some writers use their own experience as part of their works.

But the highlight of this meetup was to be reunited with Beth who I haven’t seen in ages! What was originally a reunion scheduled for September during the opening of  Pakig-Angay 2.0 at Blanco Art Gallery materialized two months later. And it was a reunion that was worth the wait because aside from discussing Beth’s art-related engagements, we had the chance to catch up with our personal whatabouts as well!  

Next to an art-filled adventure, Beth surprised me with a belated birthday present which is now a prized gem that sits in a spot within my bedroom and mini-office library: a painting called Moonlight Sonata which she painted herself!

Funny but after catching up with Beth, I was left with the thought that 2022 seemed to be my "reunion year" because I've observed that every month, I've been having catch up sessions with people and friends that I haven't seen for years! Well, there's still days left before December and the year 2022 ends, and I just hope that the Universe will save the best for last. If you're looking for a place worth visiting during the holiday break, Artipolo's exhibit will run until Jan. 14, 2023 at Daburu Ramen located at #4 Champ Street Village Easty Cainta, Rizal.

Among the things that I did after the one-week house arrest was to watch the movie The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin. I have been raging to watch this film and upon feeling better, off I trooped to SM Megamall Cinema 9 with my friend Beth; my constant movie date.

The story revolves around Benjamin Santos (played by Vice Ganda), who was forced to to enlist and join the army in behalf of his ailing father and save his grandfather from the hands of the terrorists threatening to dominate the country.

All seems to be well, if not for one thing -- Benjamin is gay!

Of course, I won't tell you what happened next. And while it's prohibited (as much as possible) to asthmatics to engage in too much laughter, I had to give in and laugh to my heart's content. Nothing still beats Vice Ganda's punch lines.

As to the moral of the story, I guess I can share at least two: 1) Being gay doesn't mean you can't contribute, or even do a heroic deed (I'm just wondering what runs in the mind of people in the military if they watched this); and 2) The best way to uncover someone's well-kept secret is by having a bottle or two of beer.

Over the weekend, I spent some quality time girl bonding with pals Celine and Beth to watch Sex and the City 2. It was an out of whim invitation as Beth was really urging me to go while I was really having second thoughts because for two reasons--the paycheck wasn't around and I was unable to see the first Sex and the City so I don't know what's up for me in its second installment. But likewise, I said yes on the day itself.


This is me and Celine while we were hanging out at the Food Court. We had to wait as the movie was for 4:40 pm. One of the reasons I also decided to say yes to Beth was also to see Celine and Mela Vinarao (who unfortunately was unable to go with us so the girls of Sex and the City is incomplete during that weekend). These girls were my chums during my days as ESL teacher two years back.

Beth has been my work buddy both in Highlights and once in ESL teaching. Nowadays she's been a constant movie date. You know, single girls have each other for events like that. Though I'm literally bridging and in a way pushing her to go date one of our former co-writers AP. I'm glad I decided to accept the movie invitation as I learned a lot in the movie--particularly from Carrie Preston (the former Carrie Bradshaw).

I'm saving that for another post.


photos courtesy of Celine Jayoma.