ONE SATURDAY with FRIENDS, FAMILY and CHARICE

I was expecting a busy yet fun day last Saturday... and I was right. The much-awaited FCA 55 get-together finally happened. Although, most our classmates were not around (but promised to be present on next month's meeting), we still had a great time.

BUFFET ATTACK!

FRIENDS AND FOOD!

TRANSFORMERS PHOTO OP!

Then, to our "headquarters"... Deby's condo unit... hehehe

Ate Agnes and I had to leave early because we were going to watch the first major concert of Charice at SMX, Mall of Asia.

But of course, we had dinner first... yup, kainan na naman... at HOLY COW!

Kuya Alan, Ate Marlene, Ate Gina and Ate Agnes

Salad and Calamari

Cheese Sticks with Garlic Dip (I looooovvvvee this!)

Rockefeller Oysters

Pasta (don't know the name... didn't order it)

Now, THIS was my meal!

Grilled Pork Chops and Beef Steak with Onion rings and Mashed Potatoes

About to make them disappear... hehehe

on our seats inside SMX

I didn't take a lot of pictures during the concert because I wanted to enjoy the musical experience... besides, I'm pretty sure it will be shown on TV (there were TV cameras all over)

Charice... opening with "And I'm Telling You"

Christian Bautista sang "The Prayer" with Charice

the finale... "Note To God"

MUST LOVE DOGS... and a massage

I was at my sister's house in Marikina this weekend. Ate Marlene, who is the third eldest member in the family, decided to cook up a feast of scrumptious dishes for... uhm... well, no reason. She just fed us. That was it.
This occasion (or non-occasion) gave me a chance to get close to the most cherished members of their family--- their dogs. I was a bit intrigued because I have heard my sister mention that these cuddly creatures cost an ample amount of money to maintain. Their shampoo cost P800 and their toothpaste P300. There were times when I used shampoo and toothpaste strictly on sachets... hence, the intrigue factor.
I'm not really a dog person (I mean, dogs are okay as long as they don't smell and they don't see me as a meal) but, somehow, I found this group of canine quite endearing...

MEET THE CANINE CLIQUE!

This is NEMO

... a cocker spaniel

well... okay, he's a bit camera shy...

Princess, another cocker spaniel, seems to love the camera

Me carrying Princess with my niece, Diane

The seemingly scary wolf-like member of the group, BLUE

She is a Siberian Husky

okay, I was not strangling Blue. I was just trying to make her look at the camera (Note: No animals were harmed during the photo shoot).

Now, this one is just adorable... Smoochie!!!

... a snorting Bulldog

Smoochie isn't a fan of the flash of the camera though...

I was already sweating at this point because Smoochie is a darn heavy pooch!

I also loved this non-canine addition in their family...

The Massage Chair!

I was cynical at first because I thought that it's the same thing that I saw inside the malls. You know, the ones that just shake and vibrate. But this one is different. It's actually a bit scary. It's as if there's an actual person doing the massage.

ahhh... but it was like fifteen minutes of heavenly bliss...

THE FINAL DAY... THAT WON'T END

(IMPORTANT: To fully appreciate the contents of this week's blog entry, you are advised to turn your speakers on as it contains several videos. Also, if your internet connection is slow and takes time to load the videos, it would be best to click the pause button after you hit play to allow the video to fully load so you can watch it without interruptions.)

The class was extra special last week. Yes, It was the final session for FCA batch 55. It was bitter-sweet but, being the positive bunch that we are, we focused on the festive side of the moment. Everyone was excited about the class picture and the graduation party scheduled that afternoon.

But of course we still had work to do...

Chef Gerd was the last Chef mentor for FCA 55

We grabbed every opportunity to take pictures with our friends

PER GROUP ... one more time

GROUP ONE

Dundee, Hyuri, Lani, Jackie, Tita Myr & Deby

GROUP TWO

Jun, Jane, Jiji, Mommy Brij, Donna & Joya

GROUP THREE

Jay, Dang, Jane, Liezel, Jong, Grace & Dave

GROUP FOUR

Mae, Kuya Toto, Emily, Ditas, Agnes & Denley

MORE GROUP PICS!!!

FCA 55 FINAL MASTERPIECES... well, for now anyway...

Beef Stroganoff

Spaetzle

Beef Wellington

Baked Tomato

Potato Gratin

Green Asparagus Sauteed in Butter

Horseradish and Smoked Salmon Crushed Snapper Fillet

AFTER ALL THAT WORK AND FOOD, WE WERE READY FOR OUR CLASS PICTURE...
NO WAIT... CLASS PICTURESSSS!!!

WE WENT STRAIGHT TO FRESKA TO PARTY!!!

OUR GRADUATION CEREMONY

WE HAD OUR VERY OWN GAG AWARDS

THE WINNERS...

DUNDEE
VIAJERO AWARD

LIEZEL
PANAWID-GUTOM AWARD

GRACE AND JAY
LOVE TANDEM AWARD

EMILY
LUBOG-LITAW AWARD

DEBY
HIGH-ENERGY AWARD

LANI
HIDDEN TALENT AWARD

AGNES
BALOT AWARD

DANG
STRIKE-A-POSE AWARD

HYURI
TURISTANG HAPON AWARD

WHATTA SURPRISE!

I was given a surprise token of appreciation by the class...

.... muntik na akong maiyak... huhuhuhu

.... but enough drama... LET'S PARTY!!!

FCA 55 is not just a batch of culinary arts students... As the weeks went on we became a family... Though we might not be able to see each other week after week like we used to, we are assured of a deep, loving friendship from each other... wherever we may be...
and this we shall always treasure and remember..

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."
~Anais Anin~