It's been a year, Premier Team!

With our SME Gavin and Shannon. 

March 15 marks the anniversary of this picture, this photo was taken at Pan De Amerikano for our 2 SMEs. For some, it was just an early dinner, good food and good laugh. For me, it was a celebration of friendship.

On the 14th of March 2014, another photo was taken at Don Day to celebrate another year of blessing, a friend's promotion and a reason to go home late. Haha. But for me, it's a different way of celebrating yet another year of friendship and for being ourselves again despite the differences, changes and challenges that had gone through the year.

Don Day Korean dinner with the Premier peeps.

If there's half-Aussie half-Pinoy, I'd be half-Prem and half-KANA, to which I have been grateful. More than anything, being with these people gave me the opportunity to know and to let me in in their world. We may have had our share of misjudgments, immaturity and misunderstandings but at the end of the day these are the things I'd say made us a better version of ourselves.

Send off party for the SME.

Thank you.

Angel G. for explaining "Balance Offset account" in layman's term, for putting up get together and for giving sensible advises when all else is about to fail. Thanks for introducing chap chae and melona ice cream. Congratulations on your promotion!

Angel M. for the many things we have in common, for the "letting go-moving on" moment. The crying galore over Starting Over Again, for the videoke session and for calculating the interest for me. I look forward to the many things and adventure we will soon to have.

Baj for "wala lang moment". End of story. Haha. For the trauma you have caused me when I wore the "pang-mahjong outfit". I swear, I stop wearing that top again when you told me its a mahjongera outfit. For the many "off-the-record" kwento and for showing how you truly care and love your father :) and still, I am not goin to wear that mahjongera outfit. Maybe in another lifetime. Hah!



Carlos (+) for the never-a-dull-moment days, your dance move, the quick banter and politically injected sarcasm. I hope you see us from your "earthworm's eye-view" wherever you are.

Chris (+) for sharing the same passion and interest for films and plays. Thank you for introducing MUBI.com and for the word "somnolent". You ended your own "film" with such grace and I am proud to be part of it.

Dhang for being our "financial advisor", for letting me know that Aussies financial tax year starts on July and for showing how it is to be "grace under pressure" mode despite the chaos around her. Literally, with the "chaos" around her? :)

Erin for patiently putting liquid eyeliner on me and for giving me the idea that despite wearing glasses, your eyes should always look sexy and made up. Every. Single. Day. For the many pictures taken in your high-tech camera and for the pep talk on hyperthyroidism.

Kaye for the 'I don't care attitude', the bathroom size mirror in your station, and for being such a hot-momma to a wonderful daughter and that kabogera hot pink swimsuit.

Kat Tiu for teaching how to hoard iced tea and apple juice when everyone else is having orange or melon juice in the diner. For your "minsan-lang-humirit-pero-sablay" moment and for saying, 'ang payat ko'. I thank you. For showing how strong a person can be despite the odds of losing both your loved ones unexpectedly.

Mommy Mhel for your motherly instinct, the 'pugal currency' and eating nilagang kamote with nutella. For giving me an idea of wearing 'binaha-kami-outfit' on a weekend shift. And that, basang-basa-sa-umagang-kay-ganda-swimming-on-my-own moment in Sariaya, Quezon, truly memorable. Lets cross our fingers guys!

Phil for the ruffaness in you. I meant, finesse. For sharing the same interest on big bags and for saying whatever you want to say without the intention of hurting others and still hurting others. Hehe. From the 'pangkabuhayan showcase, provincial and pang yosi lang rate, Manpower school of achara making to motorcycle package. Haha!

Roma - I think this would have to be on my next blog entry, the space is not enough. Char! Thank you for introducing me to the world of ansha, hanash, warla, okane etc. with you, I have learned how to be as patient and understanding as I can be. For the many MRT and bus rides we've had, for the food trip and craziness and for always stooding me up kapag may lakad, salamat! Haha. And I thank you for challenging me when you said, 'Ano bang sabi sa PIMS?'. That I cannot forget.

TL Ron, for letting me speak and be heard. We may not have a perfect 'leader-follower' relationship because you gave me away (Char) but I'd say I learned from you how to take things easy and learn it the hard way. For the 'what-if' question and answer portion, for the laughter and mood swings Thank you. :)

To the Prem Team (tranche 1 and 2) for making me feel I am still part of the team and for making me do my "job" and still remain friends with you guys. Cheers to all the wackiness, the laughter and for the friendship and for the things I have learned from you and for sharing a bit of your world.

P.S.

Please do not read this in the office (or get caught for that matter) or you guys will receive an email from me and Ness. Hahah.

Dyown

Sariaya, Quezon

Well done, Vikings. Well Done!

I have been to 3 or more buffet resto, and one of my fave was at The Heat, Shangrila. But when I was invited to an all-you-can-eat feast with my former KANA team, I think I have a new addition to my fave glutton adventure.

The team went to Vikings to celebrate the 100 Club's Service Excellence award. I personally knew the architect and I am not being biased, but I must say I was impressed. More than the food and the chaos, I would say we all love the vibe and the ambiance. Oh, and the first thing I checked was the washroom. It was love, their wash bin sink and the mirror! As much as I would like to take an obligatory mirror selfie, I had to stop myself or I will end up being the butt of a joke.

I like that the owner did not only focus on the food, but the whole place. The interior was great, from their ceiling to the flooring. Even the plates (not just the ordinary white plate, it got details) and their cute miso soup pot that I wish I could take home as a souvenir. Haha. 

Can I bring you home?

And this chandelier was a sight.. 

The chandelier

The food was awesome, and the choices were not bad for the price. I literally went around the place to check all the food. I would want to try everything but I had to stop myself from overeating. I fell in love with their Thai Pomelo Salad, and the grilled salmon was a hit for the whole team. The cheese pizza was another team's favorite, but I wish they would serve more because I had to go back twice to get myself a slice. 

I had this twice. 

When I'm still part of the KANA Team, we all bonded because of food and even call ourselves the Breakfast Club, but I never thought that the boys all have the sweet tooth. The dessert station (and this, I missed to take a photo) was a surprise. They went back literally 2 or 3 times already before I finish my third plate (yes, I'm on a diet). They all love this 'mysterious cake', I call it mysterious because the boys can't figure out what cake was that. JR says it must be dulce de leche, the other one says it's brazo de mercedes and the other says yema cake. Aren't they all the same? They all can't tell because it was hidden under a huge serving of yogurt which they all love. It was probably that good because when I get to the cake station, i see no sight of brazo de mercedes, yema or dulce de leche. It's either that the cake goes by a different name, or that the boys were just playing another joke on me. I have yet to find out. Even without the mysterious cake, I did enjoy the crepe and their puto bumbong for dessert.


The whole dining experience was great, and I can't wait to go back to try other dishes though I wish some of the crew were all attentive and efficient. I had to ask twice to follow up on my shabu-shabu soup before I get the hot pot and have to ask few times to clear the empty plates on our table. And I think they have to train some of the crew how to respond on situation like this:

At the steak station: 

Foreigner: Well done.
Crew: Your welcome Sir. Thank you. 
Paul: Lutuin mo daw maigi yun steak ni Sir! 

Funny and amusing. Despite that and some missed opportunity, I will definitely go back to Vikings and recommend the place to family and friends. Besides, I still want to try the 'mysterious cake'. 

Well done, Vikings. Well done!

VIKINGS

SM North EDSA

4/F The Block, SM City North EDSA Quezon City

376-3888, 376-4888, 376-5888