Phoenix Picks
By Ronelo S. Ladiao

“Hello and goodbye seemed to be the most lethal words I could say… hasta ma ň ana !” I die with pieces of shattered memories.

”Thinking of you seemed like drowned consciousness in breathlessness… frozen !” I felt the cold embrace of melancholy.

“Desolation: long after you've left my world without leaving me pieces of chances to try… burn !” I was burned into ashes of misery.

“Somehow my perplexed personality had this notion to runaway when it's time to confess what's true… Heaven ” I gaze the night sky with optimism.

“I looked (not, anymore) in your eyes, your silence vanished the faded lies, I'm a fool soul; you're a strong soul, reunited…in unseen destiny… soulmate !” I was reincarnated above the abyss where the Titanic lies in eternal slumber. A day after Valentines Day, these pieces of my poetry spoke of a story that lived to tell and was meant to be retold…      

Celebrity Pick 101:   Ethel and Alex, beyond Bluetooth!

If you were lucky enough to stay at home two weekends ago and you happened to flip your television to ABS-CBN's fiery hot talk show “The Buzz” then you'll probably saw the exclusive expose about a roaming “Bluetooth” video clip via cellphones about the alleged sexcapades of Ethel Booba and Alex Crisano. Yes, Christy Fermin, Kris Aguino and Boy Abunda were stunned with the sex video clip that roam like hotcakes via mobile phones. Indeed, it was a very offensive and shameful thing to come out in the open. It's even more explosive than Kris Aquino's controversy last year. So, I never hesitated to text my good friend Ronie Ara ñ a, Ethel's good friend and co-worker in various comedy bars, to get his reaction. Like me, he believes that this is just a fake “Bluetooth” video clip and he doesn't know where the “Hell” it came from. Whatever it is I do believe (with all my heart) that these two people who were madly in love are souls with big hearts. They were too positive, humble, nice, and does not have star complex when dealing with local writer like me. They even trusted me with their personal secrets and stories about their past dilemmas that both of them were trying to overcome. Amidst their busy schedules, they try to give time to their family and friends. Ethel is a good example of a woman who has great concern for her family and shares her blessing to other people even though she is really a star now via her reality show “Extra Challenge” in GMA. Alex is a cool guy, very honest and caring who doesn't know how to put others down. All that he wanted is to live his career, enjoy life and love his friends. During Ethel's concert in Leon , Iloilo few months ago, I was mesmerized by his amiable personality and undeniable humor to act crazy or wacky. Alex and Ethel's smiling face together with Ronie and Kiray still lingers in my mind. However, I personally failed to fulfill a promise for Alex but I know he understands that my life is so busy. So, I'm showing you dear readers our picture together as a proof of how these couple took care of me amidst our brief encounter, from our sensible chat to our memorable dinner in a famous hotel in the city. Don't worry guys I'll always be here for you and tirelessly telling the world that both of you are good-hearted people beyond the malicious “Bluetooth scam”. I'll pray for your good fate and successful careers.

Dinning Pick 101: A magnificent week and Valentine treat from Days Hotel's Promenade

You better dine and try The Promenade of Days Hotel, a premier and sought-after place in the city these days. Not because I was able to have a free treat from them for more than a week but believe me the place serves excellent and luscious international menus that will keep your taste buds looking for more. In fact, prior to the well-celebrated Chinese New Year last week they politely invited me to dine and taste their culinary masterpieces to be reviewed from February 5 to 11. Yes, almost one week of unforgettable dining galore and discovery that ceaselessly tickled my senses and taste buds for a long time. Their ever-amiable, down-to-earth, and prolific Hotel Manager Mr. Rey Ponsaran treated me well and appreciated my previous restaurant features here at TNT. I say this again, their everyday menu will surprise you from Japanese, Korean, Mongolian, Chinese, American, French, Filipino and other mouth-watering dishes that will fill your senses with what excellent dining really means. Their staff and waiters were affable as well. Anyway, these are the best culinary masterpieces that I've tasted: Mongolian dishes, pork barbeques, beef steak, Japanese sushi, yummy desserts such as cathedral window, Mango trifle and “Tikoy”. Hehe! So, every time I finished filling my tummy I was really in bliss and satisfied. So, try their great buffet everyday for 195 pesos only. In fact, my fashion model friend Sheryl Daine Are ñ o and JCI Tamasak prexy Loriza Deroy loved their food very much. So to all the staff of Days Hotel and The Promenade “thank you” from the bottom of my heart for your exceptional and one-of-a-kind service.

Oh, I'm starting to think how to morph my column soon into something bigger soon. Thanks to my dear cousin Lawrence Ladiao for the photos of Miagao's Salakayan Festival, my friend Marcel Millian, Wilson Mones (for your nice text), Maybell Mantiquilla of Robinsons in Manila , Noel Garcia and my ever-loyal readers. God bless and take care, I love you all. Belated Happy Valentines, bye-bye!