Maria Ozawa for FHM Philippines June 2015 Issue

I won't deny that I have indulged in porn at one point (Ok, Ok---many points!) in my life.  I believe all men go through their own porn phase one time or another.  Now, if you were into porn in mid 2005, you should know who Maria Ozawa is. Yes!  She's the Angelica Panganiban look alike! Anyway, she's out of porn already (based on her Boys Night Out interview) and now busies herself managing her bar in Japan.  Good for you girl!  

iHOPing @ Fairview Terraces

For all of you food-trippers out there, here's one of the restaurant reviews that I did at Tripadvisor.  Pictures posted at the site.

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Finally, the long wait is over. I think it was early 2013 that my boss talked about this new pancake house which opened in BGC and wanted our team to try it out. Unfortunately, the opportunity to do so did not come up.

Early 2014, an iHOP sign was put up in what was soon to be a branch at Fairview Terraces. I was Pavlov’s dog again salivating in anticipation of getting my first bite of the famous pancake. However, it proved to be a long wait---until last May 23 when their branch finally opened for business.

I knew opening day would be a disastrous time to go for a visit (besides, it was not payday yet and I’m expecting a big hole in my wallet given iHOP’s prima pancake prices) so I bided my time for the right opportunity. Such opportunity came last May 31, when, during a bookstore run at Fairview Terraces, we found open seats at iHOP and immediately got ourselves a couch. 

I ordered for a New York Cheesecake Pancake (Php 245 VAT-in) with bottomless brewed coffee (Php 95) and my wife opted for a Strawberry Banana Pancake (Php 265) partnered with Iced Coffee Mocha (Php 145). It’s a bit stiff for a coffee and pancake trip but the redeeming factor is that the pancake portion was enough to really fill you up. However, it was not the pancake texture that I want. It kind of reminds me of the pancake plate of Seattle’s Best: big portion and filling but dry and hard. If I’m to score Seattle’s Best’s pancake as a 4, then iHOP’s is a 6. You’d be filled but you won’t really be satisfied. Personally, I like my pancake “soft and fluffy”. 

So, will I come back for second servings of their pancake? No (Unless curiosity would get the better of me to try their Original Buttermilk Pancake.). 

Well, the pancake may not have been a good experience but the coffee was not. First, their coffee is always freshly brewed. Second, it is served in a thermos readily at your disposal (Each thermos contains two coffee servings; so if you’re a real coffee junkie you can always order for another fresh brew for a wait time of two minutes). You can actually trip on their coffee the whole day while you work on an assignment (I’m not sure though if there’s an outlet that you can plug your device into to actually make it through the whole day.). If you’re going to do this, I’d also suggest you bring along a headset to cancel out the buzz of the almost always packed dining area. 

Service is also quite commendable. Very accommodating and genuinely engaging staff. 

Am I looking forward to going back to iHOP again? Yes. I would like to try their Sirloin Steak Tip Dinner and their Specialty Fried Chicken Dinner (I saw a customer order this and got a glimpse of how big the servings were. Looks delicious too!) but it would not be on the immediate future. The timing would be for a special date or when bonus comes. As I’ve mentioned, the bill can be a bit pricey.

http://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/ShowUserReviews-g298574-d7380873-r277756754-IHOP-Quezon_City_Metro_Manila_Luzon.html#

JLo Amazing at 46

It has been more than two decades since Jennifer Lopez debuted on In Living Color where she strut her booty as one of the Fly Girls and yet here she is at 46 years of age looking better and sultrier than before!  

Mama mia! 

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

I heard about Gone Girl through my daughter who also happens to be a bookworm like myself.  The difference between the two of us is that I'm no longer updated as to what's read-worthy.  So I am now dependent on my daughter in terms of my reading selections especially with the newer authors.

A couple of months ago, she mentioned Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn as a must read and like Pavlov's dog I got me an ebook copy and started reading.  However, after three chapters, I got bored with the diary like narrative that I forgot about it for a while.

The thing is, I downloaded the movie and I don't want to see it without having read the book (I don't know if this makes sense to you but that's my process.)  So I started reading it again and as the plot thickened I got more and more interested until finally I got to finish it.

So, was it a good read?  Yes.  You just have to endure the first few boring chapters. It is somewhat of a misdirect especially in terms of what Amy's diary entries were versus what actually is.  Trust me.  Read on.

Anyways, I also finally watched the movie.  Not as believable as the book though. In my opinion, the movie failed to establish the amount of work done by the antagonist to perform all the forensic counter measures to influence the outcome of Amy's case.

Morale of the story:  A patient and meticulous sociopath can be a very dangerous predator.

Memnoch The Devil by Anne Rice

I have Anne Rice's Prince Lestat in my ebook list for quite a while but since I have not finished reading Memnoch the Devil I couldn't take myself to just skip the former to start on the latter. It just wouldn't be...progressive. Anyway, almost halfway into Memnoch. Still in the boring stage (main reason I did not pursue reading it in the first place). Hopefully, more action would be underway in the next chapters (kinda reminds me of the pacing of Gone Girl).

Stop babbling Memnoch and get it on!
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Finally finished the book...and it bored me with all the discussion of Heaven and Hell and the relationship between God and Satan (or Memnoch The Devil).  

Sad that Armand had to die in this book (spoiler alert).  At least he did so with a bang!

Next on my reading list:  Prince Lestat.  

Arni Ross: FHM May 2014 Cover Girl

Patricia Javier the Returning FHM Cover Girl

I can't say I enjoyed this return but others might.  Just not the same Patricia Javier spread I'm used to.  She seemed unaffected by time though.