19 IN THE TIME OF THE EDSA PROVINCIAL BUS BAN

To celebrate the occasion of Balong's 19 birthday, Lord Grantham of Downtown Abbey was kind enough to lend his chauffeur to Pugad Baboy for their trip to Cubao via Baliwag along with his butler who initiated the celebrant into the pleasures of the Mojito, Evita, Smoked Rum Coke and Tanglad Cocktail that were mixed by the first footman in the hallowed grounds of Cubao Expo; and Sex on the Beach, Tequila Sunrise and Cheesy Beer as brewed by the second footman from the village of Tomas Morato Avenue that were enough to drown the sorrows of Solicitor Matthew Crawley and Lady Mary Grantham in Season 1.  

Of course, the drinks came with a meal of fully loaded nachos, spiced cheese penne, tacos and patatas pritas from Mrs. Patmore of the INT.Bar as well as imitation lechon that the assistant cook drenched with buro and wrapped in mustasa leaves from the larder of the Habanero Kitchen Bar where Pugad Baboy took off to join the servants at the Araneta Times Square Food Park for a simple supper of crispy crablets, fish cake and tteokbokki.  

There was however only one proper dinner over the three nights at HOPP INN Hotel and that was to celebrate Balong's birthday with a spread of beef nachos and quesadilla from the Silantro Fil-Mex Cantina, a disappointing kebab platter from Babaghanoosh and a blueberry cheesecake dessert from Starbucks where the streets of Kapitolyo emptied into the Capitol Commons. 

The first born of Downtown Abbey did became Lady Mary Crawley in Season 2 as a lovestruck valet and head housemaid met at Tropical Hut to plan the breakfast menu which started with Vigan longganisa, roast beef pares, a pancake platter and breaded porkchop at Kanto Boy Freestyle on Friday; what turned out to be a brunch of xiao long bao, hakaw, chicken feet, pork and shrimp siomai, beef tendon claypot rice and congee at the Great Buddha Cafe on Saturday; and concluded with Bicol express, lechon Cebu, igado and empanada at the SIDCOR Sunday Market where Lady Sybil Crawley announced her engagement with their chauffeur and the resumption of regular bus trips from Cubao to San Jose City.

But it was too late for the future Earl of Grantham who have to die in a car crash after being endowed with a substantial inheritance by his ex's father and having his heir born in Season 3, which threw Downtown Abbey into mourning so dark that Pugad Baboy can only manage one stand-up luncheon of hotdogs and fried chicken wings at a Swedish Bistro after turning away from a 2.5-hour waiting time for a table at the Swedish Restaurant where the gay head valet manage to pilfer a cup of Swedish meatballs for Balong. 

The Phantom Biker had only three days in the trails, supped on roasted pork ribs and bihon guisado with the Mistahs on Monday, tokwa't baboy and inihaw na bangus with the Thursday Group on Tuesday and sisig with the Tuesday Group on Wednesday but the buses are finally back and that is what matters after Balong's birthday trip and three wonderful nights in Kapitolyo, Cubao and Morato.