As I'm writing this, Sen. Trillanes and the other leaders of the group that just took over the Manila Pen earlier today have agreed to surrender, following the spraying of teargas and the Philippine National Police's ramming of an APC into the hotel's lobby.
What I find most remarkable is that the government did not even attempt to negotiate. I really couldn't think of any reason why this should be the case as clearly the lives of civilians were at stake. If the government had wished to avoid bloodshed, clearly it would not have done what it did. It's as if they wanted to force a showdown where a few of GMA's most pernicious critics could be silenced for good.
Take it as you will. But the fact remains that the government has came across as exceedingly desperate here. Why should this be so? Just let that sink in while you check your Friendster account or illegally download music.
Best Friends Forever!
For non-Hiligaynon speakers, the first part of the line means "Mango and Ginamus". These two together are considered to be quite the treat in these parts. If you're not familiar with Ginamus (also spelled Guinamos, Ginamous and whatever else way you could think of), you could Google it, since you're probably already online.
I just wanted to do something with the computer that didn't involve much typing. Anyway, I've wanted to make this a shirt with this design ever since I heard the line "Ketchup and Mustard are best buds" in a movie somewhere.
I Exercise Coffee Reviewing Muscles Now!
I find that I do not have much time for myself nowadays, hence the long period between this blog entry and the last. But whenever I have a little bit of free time in the morning, I find myself going to Libertad Public Market for some brewed coffee.
Kape Mabuhay (that's the name of the coffee shop I go to. I don't like the store's name for some reason though. it just grates my ears; I just can't explain) has been in business since 1950, according to the sign out in front. For good cheap coffee, this is THE place to go in Bacolod. It was once this really dark hole in the wall where kargadors get to rub elbows with local leaders and businessmen. It's had a facelift a few years ago but the place is still pretty dark, almost dank, with minimal lighting. They are well known in Bacolod for their house blend, which is marketed as the Menci variety .
I asked the owner, a lanky fellow in his early fifties who usually can be found minding the store, what beans they used for the house blend. He said that they were a variety of Coffea excelsa beans, a species that isn't much appreciated outside of Negros Island and some remote places in Africa, or so he says. Anyway, I believe him. Whatever. No sense getting all skeptical in this situation. They once sold Barako coffee (a cultivar of Coffea liberica) and native grown Arabica and Robusta blends but the owner said he discontinued selling these due to low demand. The people want their Menci I guess.
Upon Googling Coffea excelsa, I found that less than 1% of world coffee output are species other than Coffea arabica and Coffea robusta and considering there are quite a few other species of coffee plant, I guess it would be safe to say excelsa comprises a lot less than 1% of the world's coffee production.
The first time I had the Menci blend, I remember smelling contents of the cup a busboy gave me. I really did not think too much of it. The smell was not too strong at all. But after tasting it, I realized that the kargadors I was sharing space with were on to something. I really can't say it was the absolute best brewed coffee I've ever had, but it's definitely way up there. Definitely something I'd choose any day over the ordinary blends all the fancy schmancy coffee houses sell. And it's only 8 pesos a cup. The rent in Libertad must be really, really cheap.
It's so cheap it's insane. This coffee definitely hands down gives me the absolute most value for my money. And if anyone mentions instant coffee, I will punch them in the nose. If Starbucks sold this blend for 200 pesos a cup people would buy it, I'm totally convinced. The whole upscale coffee thing is mostly marketing, from what I've experienced.
This dark roasted house blend in my opinion is best taken as it is, with no milk or sugar. But whatever floats your boat is fine, I guess.
Unlike many of the much more expensive blends I've experimented with, excelsa coffee (not that I'm an uber expert) seems to lack texture in flavor so to speak. There aren't that many notes, so it's a bit boring. Plus you don't get too much of that pleasant coffee aroma. But the notes you do get. Man oh man. I buy a kilo of grounds from Kape Mabuhay every month for 75 pesos. I'd probably still buy it if it were double the price. I like it that much.
Kape Mabuhay (that's the name of the coffee shop I go to. I don't like the store's name for some reason though. it just grates my ears; I just can't explain) has been in business since 1950, according to the sign out in front. For good cheap coffee, this is THE place to go in Bacolod. It was once this really dark hole in the wall where kargadors get to rub elbows with local leaders and businessmen. It's had a facelift a few years ago but the place is still pretty dark, almost dank, with minimal lighting. They are well known in Bacolod for their house blend, which is marketed as the Menci variety .
I asked the owner, a lanky fellow in his early fifties who usually can be found minding the store, what beans they used for the house blend. He said that they were a variety of Coffea excelsa beans, a species that isn't much appreciated outside of Negros Island and some remote places in Africa, or so he says. Anyway, I believe him. Whatever. No sense getting all skeptical in this situation. They once sold Barako coffee (a cultivar of Coffea liberica) and native grown Arabica and Robusta blends but the owner said he discontinued selling these due to low demand. The people want their Menci I guess.
Upon Googling Coffea excelsa, I found that less than 1% of world coffee output are species other than Coffea arabica and Coffea robusta and considering there are quite a few other species of coffee plant, I guess it would be safe to say excelsa comprises a lot less than 1% of the world's coffee production.
The first time I had the Menci blend, I remember smelling contents of the cup a busboy gave me. I really did not think too much of it. The smell was not too strong at all. But after tasting it, I realized that the kargadors I was sharing space with were on to something. I really can't say it was the absolute best brewed coffee I've ever had, but it's definitely way up there. Definitely something I'd choose any day over the ordinary blends all the fancy schmancy coffee houses sell. And it's only 8 pesos a cup. The rent in Libertad must be really, really cheap.
It's so cheap it's insane. This coffee definitely hands down gives me the absolute most value for my money. And if anyone mentions instant coffee, I will punch them in the nose. If Starbucks sold this blend for 200 pesos a cup people would buy it, I'm totally convinced. The whole upscale coffee thing is mostly marketing, from what I've experienced.
This dark roasted house blend in my opinion is best taken as it is, with no milk or sugar. But whatever floats your boat is fine, I guess.
Unlike many of the much more expensive blends I've experimented with, excelsa coffee (not that I'm an uber expert) seems to lack texture in flavor so to speak. There aren't that many notes, so it's a bit boring. Plus you don't get too much of that pleasant coffee aroma. But the notes you do get. Man oh man. I buy a kilo of grounds from Kape Mabuhay every month for 75 pesos. I'd probably still buy it if it were double the price. I like it that much.
