From a small nondescript stall at the state university campus, Mang Larry’s Isawan has grown into a money spinner and an icon of university life.
tetdefensor.ph
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Sunday, May 05, 2013
Jamie Rivera will mentor budding artists
I have known Jamie Rivera for ages. She was practically my neighbor, and I would see her in church every Sunday. It was funny because during my interview, she said that she has always wanted to join our choir. But somewhere along the way, she found herself treading a more exciting path.
Jamie with daughter Reine
Bukas Palad Ministry Inspires Others Through Music
Having gone through the saddest year of my life (and I mean this in every sense of the word) I found solace in writing feature article on Bukas Palad Music Ministry. The group's new song "In Love and Faith" was in line with the canonization of another Filipino Saint Pedro Calungsod, written by my former boss Norman Agatep, together with Lui Morano
I've been so familiar with the group, back during my choir days, when we would sing their songs during the Sunday 8 am mass.
Here's the article
Saturday, June 09, 2012
Remember childstar RR Herrera?
I had a chance to meet RR Herrera, yes the former childstar who starred in the weekly show "Eh Kasi Bata" together with Aiza Seguerra. Well he is now a successful motivational speaker.
Read the full article here
Read the full article here
Friday, May 04, 2012
"Will You Marry Me'" Moments at 22 Prime and Other Serendipity Perks
Proposals and 'Staycation Gimmicks'
Those who are planning to propose to their special someone must
check out 22 Prime, the fine dining restaurant at Discovery Suites.
Apart from the superb food, the staff are so used to staging such
magical moments.
Quite a number of "will you marry me" lines have been
22 Prime, truly worth the trip |
Quite a number of "will you marry me" lines have been
uttered this restaurant. And just like in the movies the
magical question is of course followed by an emotional "yes".
magical question is of course followed by an emotional "yes".
Unless one has experienced dining at 22 Prime, its intriguing appeal
will never be appreciated. Yes there are other trendy restaurants
in more convenient locations. 22 Prime is right at the midst of a busy
Ortigas district at the 22nd floor. No doubt is easier to park in
Serendra and Greenbelt, and just walk towards the
restaurant of choice.However engagement moments need to
be away from the maddening crowd. It also needs an exciting build-up and the elevator ride to might just do the trick.
From the elevator, guests will be led to an open lounge with a
bar, a main dining area and a soup and salad buffet.
If your on a date then chances are you will be given the table
by the window. A mini divider separates the table from the
rest of the diners. The only link to the outside world are waiters
who will be bringing in your food and drinks.
Hearty Surf and Turf Special |
To minimize the hassles of choosing your dishes, the Surf and
Turf special is highly recommended. It consists of soup, salad,
Grilled US Angus Rib Eye (200g), prawns potatoes and vegetables
glass of wine and dessert sampler all for P1695++ per
person.
The Angus steaks are prime cuts and USDA certified. The cuts
are unusually big, in face two people can share one piece. The
Steak prices start at 1695++ for T-Bone and Fillet Mignon and
P2200 for Wagyu Striploin.
For real value, two people can start with the soup and salad
buffet, which is P300 per person and then share a T-bone or
Filet Minon. This will amount to a first class steak dinner for
less than P2500++ without wine and dessert.
By the way the servers will be asking you to choose your own
steak knife, so don't be surprised.
By the way 22 Prime is listed among the top five Philippine
restaurants by the International Miele Guide.
The magic doesn't have to end after the proposal. Most of
the couples who got engaged in 22 Prime, usually celebrate
their anniversary in the same romantic spot. However with its
reputation as an engagement venue, booking
a table during the peak season might be challenging.
Serendipity
Discovery Suites maybe right in the middle of Ortigas but
if you do not have time to bring yur family to that much-
needed holiday, a weekened in one of their suites can easily
The hotel recently launched their Serendipity Suites, junior
rooms, one-bedroom suites, twobedroom suites, three
bedroom suites located at the sixth, seventh and eighth floor.
The suites are actually luxury homes, mixing five star
amenities with the warmth of a private home. Business
travelers have ample work space with direct internet
connection and wi-fi. The kids will likewise appreciate
the play space from the kitchen to the living area, not
to mention the 2 LCD TVs, sound system, ipod docks
and jacuzzi.
Guests at the Serendipity Suites will also be visited by
Never running out of welcome treats. |
Guests at the Serendipity Suites will also be visited by
the pillow concierge. To guarantee a good night's sleep,
guest can select the head rest of their choice - goose
feather, foam, cotton or hypo-allergenic pillows are also
available.
All units have fully-equipped kitchen, guests can actually
cook and have their meals in the room or they can head
to Restaurant 5 at the 5th floor which offers all-day buffet.
For late evening snacks the room service menu is
conveniently printed right behind the channel guide.
During the day, the kids can have fun in the pool while
the adults can check out Terra Wellness Spa's Hilot
Haplos, a local healing art which soothes aches and pains.
Five star 'staycation' |
Monday, April 30, 2012
Follow Your Heart and Write
Follow Your Heart and Write
If you enjoy travel tales, with a love story back drop, you will love this, plus the fact that it was made by a talented Mom. |
Samantha Sotto
For everyone else who is interested in writing I have
attached an article I wrote about Samantha Sotto author of the novel
"Before Ever After." Sam never studied writing, in fact she never wrote
anything except reports or power point presentations.
A devoted mom, she started writing while waiting for her son to finish his pre-school classes in Ateneo. She lives in the south, and she would be wasting
gasoline if she goes home, only to come back after three hours.
She wrote every day at as she waited at Starbucks Katipunan.
She wrote every day at as she waited at Starbucks Katipunan.
Full-Time Mom Turns International Author
(reprinted from The Fortnighly April 16-31, 2012)
By Tet Defensor
Prior to her famous book author Samantha Sotto was a
devoted Mom who faithfully drove her children to school
every day. Since she lives in Paranaque and her son’s
school is in Quezon City she would go to nearby Starbucks
and write to her heart’s content. The result is “Before
Ever After” a novel released by Crown Publishing a
division of Random House New York.
division of Random House New York.
“The book came about out of necessity. I had nothing to
do while waiting for my son and so I thought that making
up a story was fun way to spend my time .I thought of it as my daily three hour arm chair European vacation,”
she relates.
Samantha Sotto, during our interview in Starbucks |
Writing was the economical solution for the practical
Mom in '30s. “I did not want to spend on gas by going
back home. By the time I get there it’s time to pick
him up again. So I stayed in the same spot, everyday and
ordered the same coffee. I even brought my own food
because I did not want to spend.”
Breathing life into Max and Shelley the main characters
in “Before Ever After” proved to be a welcome break from
her daily routine. She described it as her daily
vacation "my break from Mommy duties; it was something
ordinary, something to amuse myself.”
vacation "my break from Mommy duties; it was something
ordinary, something to amuse myself.”
Sam never pictured herself as a writer. She was the
features editor of the college newspaper. However right
after school she went into marketing. “I wasn’t doing
any writing, just corny stuff like reports and
presentations. After my son turned one year old, I
decided to become a fulltime mom. ‘Before Ever After’
is my very first - creative work.”
The novel came to life when Sam was looking after her
brother in the hospital She read the “Time Traveller’s
Wife” to keep herself preoccupied. She finished the
novel but somehow the characters were still in her head.
“I kept on thinking about it. If I have to write the
story, I would have a character who would not die. All
of a sudden I had idea for Max, a character who has a
penchant for not dying. If he had a wife, what would life be like for her? By the time I got home ideas on
my head.”
She started writing in 2008, when her son was six years
old and finished the book after a year.“I was writing
every day. I was pressured to finish it within the school
year, because I will not have time to do once vacation
starts. Back then, there was no free Wi-Fi pa.
I would do all the research at home, because I didn’t
want to spend for internet. I would write on the same
spot every day with my lap top. I am so distraught if
someone stays in my place” she said.
She credits her writing discipline to her years of
corporate work. “Before, I was going to the office at the same time every day, whether you are not
inspired or not you have to go to work I guess it
carried on when I started doing the book, I just write
even if I don’t feel like it. You can delete it the
next day anyway.”
By 2009 the book was finished and ready to be published.
How it all came to be, Sam said “the universe conspired
once again”. While going around Baguio she chanced upon
a second hand book store. And right on top of a big pile
of bargain books was “The Idiots Guide to Publishing.”
“It wasn’t on the shelf. It was right there in the pile.
I believe the universe was telling me something” she
said. She followed the book’s advice and went online to
get an agent. She sent her work to a total of 30 agents.
said. She followed the book’s advice and went online to
get an agent. She sent her work to a total of 30 agents.
There were responses, which according to her was a sign
that she was doing the right thing. Of course rewrites
had to be done numerous times.
that she was doing the right thing. Of course rewrites
had to be done numerous times.
“My Dad refereed me to this site that gave writing tips,
which was really an eye opener. Things like stop
thinking of a million words to say ‘said’ that
so old school. And cut all adjectives. My first draft
had 120,000 words by the time I removed all adjectives
it was down 85,000, which is a safe number for a first
timer because each page costs money.”
In time an agent named Stephanie Kip Rostan expressed
her interest in representing Sam. “Again that was another
sign from the universe. Her name is “kip’, my family lived in Holland for a while and ‘kip’ in Dutch means chicken.” Those who have read the novel would know that
Max, the main character has a passion for chickens.
Stephanie Kip Rostan sold “Before Ever” in 2009 to
Stephanie Kip Rostan sold “Before Ever” in 2009 to
Crown Publishers, a division of Random House, Inc.
Sam embarked on a tour to launch the book. She had book
signing sessions in leading bookstores in the United
States, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines.
Amid all the applause over her international success
is her determination to keep her writing as a hobby.
Something enjoys doing on her spare time. Sam is not
about to be enslaved by the fame, or pressure to come up
with a new book every year.
“I wrote it for myself and I published it for my
children. This is all I wanted from it. It’s my way of
telling them that dreams do come true. I am not about
to change my life for all these. I'll continue writing
for as long as it is fun.”Asked if her children are
aware of her new “job”, she said
“I brought them to the launch so they know although
they asked me if I can write something like ‘Hunger
Games’. My husband has read every chapter, As soon
as I am done writing a chapter I would email it to him,
even if he is right beside me. He is my number one
supporter at the same time he doesn’t hold back on his
comments, which I really appreciate.”Sam has just
submitted the manuscript for her second book.
Games’. My husband has read every chapter, As soon
as I am done writing a chapter I would email it to him,
even if he is right beside me. He is my number one
supporter at the same time he doesn’t hold back on his
comments, which I really appreciate.”Sam has just
submitted the manuscript for her second book.
She is currently vacationing in Europe with her family.
In the mean time her fans await with bated breath.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Conquering 'High School Reunion' Fear
Thank you Pam !!! |
It sounds stupid but its true! There are women out there are weirdly
suffering from high school reunion fear. I actually thought I needed
therapy for such a disturbing 'disorder' only to find out that I am not
alone in my vain battle.
therapy for such a disturbing 'disorder' only to find out that I am not
alone in my vain battle.
There could be a million and one reasons for high school reunion fear.
I was in denial for months, perfectly comfortable coming up with reasons
why I couldn't go to all the meetings, reunions and the grand
homecoming of my batch.
homecoming of my batch.
In my mind my excuses were valid. I am busy working from Monday to
Friday. I spend the entire Saturdayin school, while Sunday is
my only time to breath.
my only time to breath.
There will always be more important things to do plus my reasons were firm. I was busy, busy, busy, and yet somehow I turn green
with envy, envy envy every time I see their crazy photos on Facebook.
Whenever I would learn of a dinner get together, I would initially get
so excited about going. I would even text some of classmates to ask if they are going. However on the day of the actual event, lo and behold I never show up.
It was like a most feared plague yet deep inside I knew I needed to
conquer it for my own piece of mind. I remember raising several points
as why it would be best for me to skip high school reunions.
One of the main reason was that I wouldn't know how to control my
passion should the conversation turn to politics or controversies involving
myself or members of my family. As my name suggests I have a tendency
to be very "defensive."
Secondly, I felt that such get-together is only meant for the ladies of
leisure, my fortunate batch mates who blessed with time on their hands.
It was illogical for busy working Moms like myself to find a place in such
pleasurable events.
Yes, it sounds stupid, which is why I decided to put an end to it.
Last night I attended my first high school reunion in 12 years.
The experience was most overwhelming. I wanted to stick a gun
to my head. How can I allow myself to be controlled by such idiotic fear.
I felt like a moron, a happy moron at least. Had I conquered such
chickenheartedness early on, then bliss would have crawled into my
stressful life sooner.
I purposely made sure that I didn't think long and hard if I should attend,
for if I dwell on this further, chances are, I will end up now showing up, again.
I never realized that reconnecting with high school friends can bring
joyous rapture to my routinary life.
joyous rapture to my routinary life.
There was such openness in the humorous exchange like endless
jokes about ..............
- Happy's hot flashes (sige na ga, ako din) plus her precision memory
- Jenny Tip's BFF (pa share naman daw).
- Vingle's nursing ability (yes, she is a registered nurse)
- Michaela's newly developed skill for circumcision (she's an orthodontist by profession)
- the hot loves and lives of ___________ guess who?
Don't forget the cutey chinito server who was nice enough to take
our photos with six cameras. No wonder everyone was smiling
with utmost radiance.
Yes, talks are underway for equally fun get togethers like the opening of Tribu in Riverside, Marikina (right Happy and Jenny?)
and all other events and opportunities which I now consider very
significant.
significant.
So what if I slave through graduate school on weekends,
for another evening like this I wouldn't mind losing sleep.
At least now, the feeling of envy no longer haunts me when I see
Facebook postings for MCHS '85 events.
Facebook postings for MCHS '85 events.
Here's to more exciting evenings girls! I will see you soon!
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