A Stroll Along Ayala Avenue and Ayala Triangle on Christmas Night

I joked with my friend and former colleague, Mario, who now lives in Canada, that we must have memorized all the names of the buildings and familiarized ourselves with all the street names in the Makati Commercial District during our days as young accountants working in an accounting firm in Makati City, Philippines.

One of our duties as junior auditors was to deliver confirmation letters to financial institutions, law offices, and other entities as part of the audit process, and their offices were mostly scattered around Legaspi and Salcedo Villages, and along Ayala Avenue. And this was pre-Google Maps!  To make sure we wouldn't get lost, we would call the addressee's office if it was in the labyrinth of streets inside Legaspi and Salcedo Villages, or ask our colleagues in the office who knew the location. 

Those days were fun because we could stretch our legs outdoors instead of just sitting in the office the whole day among piles of working papers, and we could also stroll around Makati like it was our park! Even on hot days, walking seemed fun!😎 

             (The Ayala Avenue pedestrian tunnel)

A few times, we would ride a jeepney going to Pasong Tamo when it was in that area, and once, I took a cab because the addressee's office was at a residence inside Dasmariñas Village! I just told the cab to wait for me.😋

And before we headed back to the office after one of those 'legwork' (that's what we call the task), we took a side trip with my film camera and went to the rooftop of a building at the corner of Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas and had our own photoshoot! I still have the photos!😂

And during all those Christmases that always brought really bad traffic jams on Ayala Avenue, Makati Avenue, and Paseo de Roxas, our busy work lives would be momentarily distracted by the Christmas lights and decorations of the buildings in the Makati business district and on the island along Ayala Avenue.🎅🎄 

So, when I was in Makati City lately, I did not pass up the chance to stroll once more along Ayala Avenue and the Ayala Triangle to enjoy the Christmas decorations that bring the Christmas spirit to the busyness of the place.😋

From the Greenbelt area, I simply walked towards Ayala Avenue, not via Paseo de Roxas, but through the De La Rosa Street side using the pedestrian tunnel near the PLDT building. I decided to go there before 10PM when I thought there would be less people on the streets. A few times that night, I stood still and just looked up to the tall buildings, and reminisced the days of my professional life (and legwork days!) as well as the fun Christmas memories with friends and colleagues.😍  

Looking at those office buildings, I could almost see deadlines, work pressure, and stress!😂

The best time to visit is late in the evening when there are less vehicles cruising along Ayala Avenue, and make sure you enjoy, not only the lights and decorations, but also the spirit of the holidays.😀 

These are the photos and videos of my 2023 Christmas stroll along Ayala Avenue and Ayala Triangle.😀

Merry Christmas! Maligayang Pasko!😎

#christmas #pasko #AyalaAvenue #AyalaTriangle #paskuhan #Philippines #travelblog

The Doreen Gamboa Fernandez Food Writing Awards @ Chef Jessie's Place

All those years of living in Seoul and writing about the Korean dishes, and desserts and delicacies I had for lunch or dinner must have prepared me for this writing competition.

Since 2009, the year when I set up this blog, I have been writing about Korean dishes and my experiences with Korean cuisine. From my Korean lunch favorites like soondae, altang, mandu, and buddae-jjiggae, to desserts like hotteok and patpingsu, the flavors of these Korean dishes and delicacies would once more dance in my mouth when I blogged about them.😋

And whenever I was home in the Philippines, I would also write Pinoy delicacies that I missed when I was away from home: chicken inasal, bibingka, Manapla puto, batchoy, and those famous Silay delicacies.

I guess being home now in the Philippines has allowed me to discover the Pinoy cuisine, not just the different flavors of our favorite dishes, but also the history and the evolution of Pinoy food. Thus, this better understanding of our cuisine provided me with a different perspective on how to write about it.

In May 2023, when the winners of the 20th Doreen Gamboa Fernandez Food Writing Awards (DGF) were announced, I was thrilled and honored (read blog here).

And on November 22, 2023, I flew to Manila to attend  the awards luncheon at Chef Jessie Sincioco's Place in Makati City, Philippines. I told myself I had to attend as this may be my first and last time to win.😁

It was the right decision to travel to Manila because I met the food writers extraordinaire and chefs behind the Doreen Gamboa Fernandez Food Writing Awards: Ms. Micky Fenix, head, Mr. Alfred 'Krip' Yuson, Chef Myrna Segismundo, Chef Datu Pendatun, Ms. Ana Ozaeta, Ms. Maya Besa, Mr. Ige Ramos, and Ms. Nina Daza-Puyat. Ms. Felice Prudente Sta. Maria and Chef Jessie Sincioco were out of the country that day. Mrs. Clara Reyes Lapus, representing the Mama Sita brand of food products, was also there to share some Mama Sita goodies with the winners. We're grateful to these individuals who organized the DGF in honor of Doreen Gamboa Fernandez, and at the same time, for championing Pinoy food!😋

I was able to meet my fellow winners, Reynadel Cayetano (1st prize) and Kaye Leah Cacho-Sitchon (co-3rd prize), while Jeanne Jakob-Ashkenzi (2nd prize), based in Spain, was not able to attend.

Before I received my award, Mr. Alfred Yuson, one of the judges and a Palanca hall-of-famer, read an excerpt from my winning essay. Having a legendary writer read my written words is an honor and a highlight of my years of writing.😎Thank you, Mr. Yuson!🙏

With treasured book prizes like the Flavors of Iloilo by Chef Rafael Jardeleza, The Ultimate Filipino Adobo by Claude Tayag, Sangkap, Table for Ten, and the brilliantly conceived, bilingual book, Ang Alamat ng Lumpiang Shanghai written by Ms. Nina Daza-Puyat, I am inspired and encouraged to continue writing about our Pinoy food and cuisine, lending my words to the efforts of preserving and promoting our culinary heritage.😊

The link below is the Facebook page of the Doreen Gamboa Fernandez Food Awards. The deadline for the essay and short video competitions is March 31, 2024.😍

https://www.facebook.com/DoreenGamboaFernandezFoodWritingAward

The awards luncheon was even more memorable with special dishes whose flavors my palate still remembers. The charcoal-grilled lemongrass chicken and the milkfish belly roll were amazing! And the ube panna cotta was sublime! These were all curated by Chef Jessie herself. Thank you, Chef Jessie!😀

Here's the clip where Mr. Alfred Yuson reads an excerpt from my food essay. I was over the moon with pride and honor as he was reading my piece.🙏

Mabuhay ang Pagkaing Pilipino!🍴😎