HOW ASAHI BEER STOLE CHRISTMAS

Not exactly "stolen" but "preluded" then "wrapped-up.

In 1889, Japan's first bottled draft beer rose with the sun in Sumida.

136 years later, it was promoted as a super dry lager, 60 pieces procured for Bakal 2 by way of SNR-Dau's "buy 1-take 1" offering of which, 48 ushered Christmas Eve and the remaining 12 closed Christmas Day. 

In other words, Asahi Beer did not steal but eclipsed Christmas by elevating the 24th's pork belly lechon and tokwa't baboy and the 25th's reheated dinakdakan and lengua. 

Sandwiched in between is a Christmas brunch of "unclean" bacon-loaded Carbonara Italiana and "clean" pan-grilled semi-Wagyu cubes. 

On the 4th day of Christmas, the law of Leviticus 11 as applied in Pangasinan was imposed in the kitchen of Bakal 2: kulitis and papait leaves were blanched; scaled maya-maya, salinas, tuna, and Bonuan Bangus were stewed, crisped, sashimied, and grilled respectively;  and two buckets of fried bird pre-ordered from Jollibee. 

But there was Cabernet Sauvignon because apparently, Jesus drinks wine.

In Munoz, holiday early morning lights blinked with an array of Microsoft Outlook correspondence about how the fish monger handed a present enclosed with recommendations for a regional component to Hogwarts where a story gathering and branding for The Convening was advertised as a contract for toolkit procurement that was auctioned in the market --- just too  much text for The Grinch who fled Christmas instead of stealing it.

The Ironman hoarded bank certificates and, during a regular ctach-up, thought of stealing New Year's Eve like perhaps repackaging beer as a tub of Spanish sardines, maybe like siomai in a paper cup, or an inihaw na liempo wrapped in styropor. 

THE BALI WORKSHOP

Is Kuta Beach worth a long walk under a soft rain?

Yes with the following conditions:

• it should be introduced as a project that will promote  inclusion; 
• it must adhere to partnership principles, employs effective communication to enable the thinking hats in  ideating a problem statement;
• it is ethical, with specific stakehoders employing feminist and participatory methodologies, and is sufficiently resourced.

The following can be the initial research questions:

1. How long will 3 kilos of batutay and 4 boxes of silvanas travel from Bakal 2 to 150 Panay Avenue?
2. Why must the Baliwag Bus make a stop at Dau?
3. Who changed the boarding gate for PR 537 twice?

The Orientals, they talk once a week and every three months but have no idea; and so are the harelip who drives a Grab in Manila and the airport transfer hitched through the streets of Bali where a sweeper collected Daily Offerings for the Temple Guards of the Prosperity Tree near a roadside take-out under the Bintang Tree of a tattoo shop.

But yes, it's worth getting lost and wet in Kuta Beach.

The dogs and surfers of Legian Beach concurred while conferring with a horde of tourists, mostly Aussies, at what was once the site of Paddy's Pub, a Balinese-owned Irish-inspired bar that contributed in transforming the Legian area into a thriving nightlife destination, which is probably why the Bali Bombers targetted it.

   

That Manila will host a meeting, a field visit, and a convening is definitive.

Procurement will be daunting as currently is, perhaps nose studed like the young lady aboard the bus to Bakal 2, a trek that is amply rewarded with 3 nights of babi guling (and bebek) because despite the bad reviews, Kuta Beach was a highlight of The Bali Workshop.

Back in Nueva Ecija, Bali is rememered to be sleepless as a caffeinated legislator yet intoxicating like a bottle of blended Scotch whiskey, warm despite the incessant rains) as a Sunday breakfast in Bakal 2. 

OUR 28th YEAR

First there was Anne, mother of Mary.

Then there was Mary , wife of Joseph, who "was free of original sin from the moment of her conception".

Her "Immaculate Conception", misconstrued as a "virginal conception",  actually refers to her own conception by her parents.

And there was Jesus, son of God the Father, God the Son himself, who is celebrated as Christ the Worker in Hogwarts where 28 years ago, on the feast day of St. John of the Cross, the progenitors of Pugad Baboy of Bakal 2 were espoused in his church.   

That was the story gathered, branded, but not told at a pre-Christmas celebration of pork, the King of Meats, as manifested in the pinangat, baked ribs, kaldereta with gata, dark tinumis, and a sinigang too sour. 

28 rice planters sent off the Phantom Biker as he raced his own 5-day tour where 28 dormitory residents cheered him on Tuesday, 28 college students saluted him on Wednesday, 28 fraternity paddles wlecomed him on Thursday, 28 clacking typewriter keys serenaded him on Friday, and 28 angels joined him in the podium on Saturday.

In Phnom Penh, the amendments segued to the initiation of an interim report and disbursements.

Melbourne got noticed with a survey and the confirmation of a risk assessment, 

The Manila Meeting and Field Visit entered into its procurement and digital phase. 

A catch-up preceded a conspicuous absence in Kuala Lumpur's network conversation. 

Oplan Malunggay netted peanuts, banana chips, fried catfish, a currency exchange, enveloped alms, and a suitcase of emails.

God's blessing was invoked in Hogwarts for what lies ahead after the past 28 years.

Lunch was served afterwards with the prayer that in the future, Pugad Baboy will also celebrate a couple of 75th birthday celebrations in Bakal 2 ala Kuya Romy.

THE [not so] INNOCENT AGE

The leader of the band is not yet tired but his eyes are growing old 

[onset of glaucoma]

Blood is absent in the band's instruments but beer is in their souls

[whiskey and brandy too]

My life is not a poor attempt, I imitate no one

[going Joaquinesque maybe?]

I am my own legacy of being the leader of  bands

(PM, PGLI, PDGL, PJGL)

That Saturday morning, only one suspension was gaveled and it's not Dan Fogelberg whose omnibus nomination was duly seconded and elected through a single vote cast as paper money into a poor box to effectively suspend a self-imposed rule on moderation.

That week, Bozo and Coco were reincarnated as pancakes and sausages to commemorate the Phantom Biker's capture of the year's last edition of "The Quarterlies" before he got stapled by Ronald McDonald's absence in Munoz...

 ...all in the name of four combo-meals-with-beer options: adobong guya and ensaladang pako, lumpiang shanghai and kalderetang baka, Christmas dinakdakan and adobong bibe, and sinampalukang ulo ng kambing and chicken nuggets. 

Definitely not for the innocents.

And just like that, a session with the Applanation Tonometer at a polyclinic got the Manila Meeting and Field Visit signed off with a date stamped upon a Regional Convening on the day the 5th amendment to an agreeent was initiated. 

Viva Engage tripped over Tuesday's trash.

A partnership pltaform was updated and a regional operations plan budgetted.

Cigna acknowledged, emails too, and a catch up.

One final look at the details then a submission before power went down...

HAI[na]KU 74-78

-74-

Peter and Paul, us

a prayer through the martyrs

saints of Calasiao

***

A delay in Wattay held-up Noi Bai, the bus driver in Manila showed up in an Ao Dai.

The Manila Meeting dodged confirmations to book the Bali Workshop and got rain checked on the field visit.

***

-75-

Ramon's church, refuge

a blessed kaleskesan

soup for the mortals

***

Phnom Penh convened to draft a survival plan for Asia before catching up with Australia.

A Code of Conduct refreshed Year 4's budget re-submission to update the monthly burn rate.

***

-76-

Kapampangan lunch

kuhol, sisig, and pindang

food for the non-Gods

***

Finance and energy were responsible for the eye doctor's transition into bloodletting. 

A pass-down exorcised from the inbox of credit card liquidations nudged a regional convening. 

***

-77-

St. James beheaded

ceiling painted, the choir sang

pilgrims in Betis

***

A lotto bet was placed in a forex transaction when the Phatom Biker changed tires while settling power in the market.

The Engineer from Singapore celebrated in Bakal 2 with a birthday cake of kilaweng kambing. 

***

-78-

47 years

hail to Lam-ang, to Hogwarts!

47 years