Generally, the year 2010 had been a good year! Despite the gloomy economy, most Vancou­ver based Filipinos were happy and glad to welcome the year 2011. Filipino positivity is char­acterized by optimistic outlook in life. For every success or positive action received, an act of grateful­ness or simple acknowledgment of saying ‘thank you’ or ‘maram­ing salamat po,’- a positive affir­mation of welcoming ‘good vibes’ or energy. In every failure, a les­son learnt that allows one to take another chance to succeed and move forward.

Speaking of good vibes, our own media family, Rey Fortaleza threw-in a thanksgiving party for ‘PNT stakeholders’ (designated management position/title), staff members, contributors and vol­unteers last December 26. An annual double celebration of The Publisher’s birthday and get-to­gether as one family became even more memorable and FUN with Kentizen’s Restaurant dou­ble-booking function and double program rendered to the guests of both functions.
It was my first time to attend the party that usually coincided with my eldest daughter birthday which we celebrated earlier that day. A double celebration, first a lunch in a Japanese Restaurant in Downtown Vancouver then a Japanese buffet dinner offered at Kentizen’s.

While seated and observing guests, suddenly, I felt so grateful for indulging into the best cuisine that I learnt to appreciate when it was introduced to the Makati diners in the 80’s. Seiji Ka­mura, owner of Don Juan Japa­nese restaurant at Makati Pasong Tamo now A. Arnaiz St. and be­hind the success of Tokyo-Tokyo, first Fil-Japanese fast-food chain and still very much around, check it out at Seaside Market, Tukwila Seattle. The Fernandez’s original Kamameshi Restaurant at Vito Cruz Ext., Makati was among the brave souls to introduce Japanese foods to mainstream market. Then, Saisaki Restaurant chain and other Japanese Specialty restaurants sprouted like mush­rooms in Manila.

A special number of the pro­gram was the awarding of Jun Cordero, PNT columnist, for rec­ognition of his 12 years of ser­vice. Rey Fortaleza thanked Jun Cordero and wife, Ollie for their contribution to the business. Jun received a Plaque of Appreciation and a gift from the Fortaleza fam­ily.

The party’s peak of celebration started close to midnight with a special raffle number kicked in. Thank you, Mel Tobias, Editor and Creative director of Living Today Magazine, who constantly reminded me to stay for a good chance of bringing home big raffle prizes. He mused, ‘no pain, no gain!’ A good and welcome idea, bringing free stuff will be an excuse for violating home ‘curfew hours’. True enough, that night I brought home a Samsung Mini Stereo Component, one of the many major prizes of ReyFort Media Group raffled off plus Best Buy’s Gift Certificates traded off with Lafflines Comedy Club Gift Certificates won by Wilbur Vic­toria, Reyfort Media Marketing Director, and wife, Evelyn. Thank you for carrying the mini com­ponent down to the parking area and for the short drive to my car.
2010 ReyFort Birthday Bash and ReyFort Media Group Christ­mas Party, truly a fun-tastic duo celebration to remember!
Thank you very much and more power!

********************
Looking for a place for a good treat of Filipino food with an Indonesian ‘twist’? Check out Pondok’s Restaurant at 950 West Broadway. We were invited to this resto by the Alvarez children to celebrate their dad, Edward, 65th birthday. Ed and Gloria are the only relatives we got when we came here in Vancouver. We were treated with an exciting se­lection of Indo-Filipino menu. As a starter, interesting peanut-coco salad dressing for shredded let­tuce salad with fresh fruits top­pings; Sautéed shrimps in tasty garlicky sauce; Super fine Pancit Bijon noodles; Spring rolls with tofu and beef filling with peanut– coconut sauce (mild spicy) were served. For our dessert, freshly fried ‘Turon’ a la Mode (Turon served with Ice Cream) was so good till the last bite! And for the extra calories we feasted on, we tried burning them by dancing the ballroom to modern dance steps! Happy Birthday, Ed and

< Prev		Next >