5 Reasons I Miss Watching SHAMELESS

The TV series Shameless is currently in hiatus and as we wait for the coming of season let me just show you why there's an itchy feeling of anticipation going through this excercise. 

Here's Emmy Rossum for Esquire!

 

Alice Dixon for FHM Philippines

Just when you were thinking what you want for Christmas, here comes FHM Philippines to deliver the best Christmas ever!  You'd not imagine that she'd go for this but she did---ALICE DIXON in FHM!  Nuff said!

 

 

 

 

"Roundtrip ba kamo?" An MRT Experience

 

I'm not fond of riding the MRT.  Personally I think it's always a survival of the fittest when you travel via this mode of transportation.  The long line, the shoving, the pushing, the stench, and the hot headed commuters who seem to think that riding this sardine can of a train offers a modicum of comfort.  However, I remember an MRT "expert" friend of mine tell me about a strategy to skip some of the salient features of the MRT experience.  He told me that if I'm going northbound during the afternoon rush hour it would be better for me to do a round trip ride and go south first where it's more light in terms of the volume of commuters.  Hmmm...interesting...

 

Yesterday, I had to meet my wife at the Trinoma and only had 45 minutes to get there for our 6pm rendezvous.  I guess it was time to test that MRT stategy!  

 

I was able to get into the southbound train around 5:25pm.  True enough, I was able to get into one on the first train that passed me.  So far, so good.  I was expecting the train to get a little lighter on the passenger after the Ayala station but it didn't.  On the contrary, it seems to be getting fuller after each station.  Deym!  Apparently, everyone going north are going round trip like me!

 

By the time the train arrived at the last stop (Taft Station) I stayed put for the soundbound trip and hopefully get a seat (unfortunately, there was no vacancy).  So as I stood there I heard a lady saying, "Lumipat na po kayo sa ibang coach kasi paaalisin po kayo dito."  What?!  I was at a loss!  Why do I need to transfer?!  Then it dawned on me that she was referring to the men only.  Deym!  Since I got into the last couch on the southbound train, I'm now on the top coach of the northbound trip!  Then I remembered that the first two couches of the train was reserved for the women!  It has been a while before I realized this and I was on panic mode looking for another coach to get in to.  Fortunately, I was able to squeeze in to one just in time before the door closed!

 

The thing is, the train did not leave after the door closed.  We waited 15 minutes before the train finally got moving.  I packed tight like sausage in a can.  Good thing that the aircon was cool and not have the dire situation be compounded by the stench of perspiring humanity.  Needless to say, no new passenger got in until the Shaw Station but not much since the number getting out is not much as those attempting to go in.  Hayyyyy buhay!  What was supposed to be easy riding turned out to be more than an hour of standing in a tightly jammed train!  Dapat nag BUS nalang ako! 

Danita Paner Graces FHM Philippines' November Issue

Danita who?!  Either she's a newbie or I have not been reading the taboids much!  Well, according to her interview, she's the lead vocalist for the pop alternative band, Ferown, and sister to Tina Paner.  Can't say I have heard of them though. Anyway, I'm at full attention right now looking at her spread for FHM Philippines' November issue.

Peri-Peri: An Affordable Dining Experience

 

My wife and I went on a SatuDATE yesterday at SM City North Edsa and found ourselves famished by all the window shopping.  We were at the Annex going floor to floor trying to find a place to satisfy our growling stomachs when we found Peri-Peri at the ground floor level.  They cater to a Portuguese-inspired menu highlighted by their roast chicken.  It was the first time that I had a taste of Portuguese cuisine and I must say that I liked it. 

 

We ordered for a Seafood Marinara, Grilled Chicken Quesadillas, and half chicken of Lemon and Garlic Roast Chicken.  It was a divine gastronomical experience at an affordable price!  To top this off, for a minimum of Php 150, you can avail of their bottomless drinks for only Php 49.  This is not an ordinary bottomless offer because it's a buffet drinks of juices, softdrinks, coffee, and soup!  Saan ka pa?!



 Half order of Lemon and Garlic Chicken

and Grilled Chicken Quesadillas @ Php 240

and Php 178, respectively.

Seafood Marina (good for sharing) @ Php 265.



Jollibee's Cheesy Bacon Mushroom Champ---YUM! YUM!

I was on my way to fetch my daughter from her work at SM Fairview when I got to a screeching halt in front of the Jollibee poster featuring their latest product offering:  The CHEESY BACON MUSHROOM CHAMP!  It was such a delectable sight that it triggered an automatic response and like Pavlov's dog I started to salivate as my feet autonomously dragged itself towards the counter and my hands reached to retrieve the HappyPlus Card from my wallet. 

 

I have long dreamt of a Jollibee Aloha Champ version but I guess this is close enough!  If you're a CHAMP lover as I am, the Cheesy Bacon Mushroom Champ puts it on another gastronomical level!

 

Big, affordable, premium burger---A GUARANTEED MUST TRY!!

 

 

Ray Donovan and The Blacklist---MUST WATCH!

 

I have finally grown tired of how the Vampire Diaries storyline is going and dropped it from my list of TV series that I watch.  This and Dexter's season ender prompted me to look for other potential TV series that would entertain me while doing my weekend ironing chores.  Here's what got my fancy:

Not really a fan of Liev Scheiber but after watching the first episode I got intrigued at the story.  Ray Donovan is a very interestng character. He is a Hollywood "fixer" who's got some serious skeletons in his closet.  He is the go-to guy when things get hairy and too close for comfort.  He can be cruel and at the same time compasionate.  Sometimes you'd get lost if he's the villain or the hero.  Another intruging character in this series is Mikey Donovan played by Jon Voight. 

Mikey is Ray's father who recently got out of prison after serving 20 years for murder.  Ray's deep animosity towards his father is one of the many story lines that would keep you hooked and look forward to the next episode.  Real good acting by these two guys!

Season 1---assuming there is a Season 2---has 12 episodes and seemingly ends with a closure. As of this time, no announcement yet from Showtime if another season will be fortcoming.

 

If you've watched the movie Silence of the Lambs you'll surely see the a similarity in terms of the characters:  The FBI's most wanted criminal and a rookie FBI profiler working together to catch the bad guy.  But instead of a serial killer it's a mobster whose long list of criminals and terrorists and his deep knowledge of how they work is his bargaining chip to get his way with the FBI.  The series stars James Spader as Raymond "Red" Reddington and Megan Boone as FBI Special Agent Elizabeth Keen.

The nagging question in this series is "What is Red's relationship with Elizabeth?"

Three episodes so far and it gets intruiging each time.


 

Bangs Garcia Makes October a Little More HOTTER!

October is my favorite time of the year because it's my birth month!  It is the time when I expect to be given extra loving from family members and friends.  Since I don't get the usual birthday gifts when I was younger (much, much younger I should say), I guess I'd have to settle for MORE LOVE.  E bakit kamo?  Because everytime I ask what my birthday gift would be my wife and kids would always say, "PAGMAMAHAL".  Well, I guess it's better than nothing, right?

 

E ano naman ang kinalaman ng birthday ko kay Bangs Garcia?  WALA.  Emote-emote lang pag may time! 

 

Anyway, here's Bangs in her spread for FHM Philippines October issue!

 

Four Reasons to Like Marvel's Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.

 

 

I read a couple of conflicting reviews about this TV spin off of the Avengers movie and I wanted to decide for myself.  Well, the pilot storyline was a bit drab but I found a couple of reasons why I need to tune in to this series:

Chloe Bennet was born Chloe Wang. I guess her father loved her mother so much that she looks more Caucasian than Asian. She plays the role of Skye a civilian consultant of S.H.I.E.L.D. and computer hacker. 

 

 Elizabeth Henstridge plays the role of Jemma Simmons a S.H.I.E.L.D. tech agent who specilizes in both human and alien sciences. She is the other half of the Fitz and Simmons technical team of Agent Phil Coulson (Oh yes, he's not dead as the film suggested.) Love that British accent!

 

 

 

 

Ming-Na Wen may no longer be the hot chick she used to be 25 years ago, but she's still a hot momma! She plays S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Melinda May ace pilot and weapons expert.
 

 

 

Cobie Smulders reprises her role (although recurring only) as Maria Hill.