My Refrigerator Door

I got my first Mastercard some eighteen years ago, I never left home without it ever since. And just like in the TV commercial, it has provided me with many priceless moments. Last night, at the Salon de Ning of The Peninsula Manila, the BDO Bench Mastercard was launched. A happy celebration as it is also Bench's twenty-fifth year. Of course, the card comes with extra privileges, like 10% off on shopping at Bench and its many, many sister establishments on your birthday week. Also, you get invited to many of Bench's grand events. Now, I no longer need to worry about scrambling for tickets to their Underwear Show. It's always good to see friends, Rissa Trillo 's growing belly, Randy Ortiz and Bernard Banares teaming up for a new restaurant, Callum David on the DJ booth.. Priceless! And for everything else, there's BDO Bench.. Mastercard. Salon de Ning DJ Callum Bench's first endorser, Richard Gomez Tres belle! Isabelle Daza Ra...

I grew up watching Julie Andrews' movies. Day in and day out, I've listened to her recordings of Cinderella, Camelot, My Fair Lady and of course, Mary Poppins and The Sound Of Music. That was in high school, today, I can still sing along with her any given day. Oh, no one spoke English more clearly like Dame Julie Andrews. Many thanks to Ms. Doolittle and Professor Henry Higgins, I've developed an accent not faintly boarding school. Ha, ha, ha! Perhaps, I was an Englishman in a former life, I'm fascinated with brick townhouses, coat of arms, bicycles even. I've devoured English history books in the library, and after finishing DVDs of The Tudors, I went on reading Philippa Gregory novels. Spring was a delightful time to visit London. It was perfect for long walks, sipping tea or coffee and speaking with an accent dear old Henry Higgins would have been very proud of. Morning coffee. Bicycle friendly weather. Potato chips heaven! Energy food...

It was my first time in London and I was excited to see it's famous landmarks. It was also my first time to try the Big Bus tour. I've seen those double-decker buses in New York and Sydney, but I've never hopped on into one. My friend Rey and I carefully studied the tour map a night before, choosing only five stops to hop off for our Facebook photo albums. The hotel concierge cheerfully told us that it was a beautiful sunny day to take the tour - no need for heavy jackets. And so merrily, like kids, we hurriedly went up the upper deck to get a better view and enjoy the Spring weather. Oh! It was a good thing Rey brought his wool jacket, coming from a tropical country, a 'beautiful sunny day' in London still felt like winter to him. Luckily, thanks to excess fat, I didn't feel as cold. Traffic was particularly heavy in Oxford St., it already took us three hours before reaching our first chosen stop, the Trafalgar Square. Mid-afternoon and we were only half...