It was a simple ploy. We were supposed to act as if we weren't included in a birthday party that was set for Sarita by her sister. Sarita had planned to have dinner with us friends but had to scrap it and re-set our gathering for lunch. We pretended we were only having lunch with Sarita at a restaurant of her choice. We agreed to meet her by noon at Tapella in Greenbelt 5.
Having lived in Spain for several years, Sarita was missing Spanish food. We obliged her cravings... It was her birthday after all... There were only four of us Jojo, Mudra, myself and the celebrant. We pigged out on paella con mariscos, pinchitos (bbq skewers mariated in curry and spices, boquerones (anchovy fillets marinated in lemon, garlic, parsley and olive oil) something like ceviche, fritura ala malaguena ( seafood fritters with aioli dip, pulpo (octopus slices over potatos with spanish paprika. Boy, did we pig out. It was nearly 2 pm when we got to finish lunch.
After that, we decided to move from Tapella and have coffee at Cafe Breton. Our usual haunt when we have lunch, Cafe Breton started out as a hole-in-the-wall coffee shop in Nakpil street, Malate. Now they have branches everywhere. Of course, they are known for popularizing and filipinizing the French crepe. Jojo had and Adam and Eve crepe dripping with chocolatge syrup and served ala mode while the rest of us had coffee.
I guess if you're young and you haven't been to Makati before you probably will only notice how well developed the area is now. A far cry from its humble beginnings of swampy marshland and soft earth. There are two versions on how Makati got its monicker: 1) the area was host to thousands of flies and mosquitoes and when you went into the area the insects bit into your skin... prompting one to say..."makati" (it's itchy); 2)the next story tells about the tide that the mighty Pasig River brings in when the boats cruise along the area..."may kati" (there is a tide).
Seeing the financial district now, you wouldn't believe how much the area has grown. People probably don't even know that Ayala Avenue used to be the runway for Manila's first airplanes. The Nielsen Tower (now the Filipinas Heritage Library) was the control tower for these planes. Thanks to the vision and foresight of the Ayala family (originally residents of Intramuros)they have turned Makati into the prime commercial/ residential spot in Manila. Time was when real estate prices along the area in Roxas Boulevard cost P120.00/m2 and Makati's real estate price was P9.00/m2. Surprised? Don't be! Binondo's real estate prices cost almost next to nothing, now they cost more than Makati's prices...
Anyway, we had such a grand time over lunch that we had to make up excuses so we could ditch Sarita and get ready for the dinner that Lia planned. We left Greenbelt at 4pm and then rested a bit at June's house so we could freshen up for the dinner party. This time we had to get to Italianni's at Bonifacio High Street in Taguig way ahead of Sarita's arrival. This time Fides was in charge. She had to make up a lame excuse to miss the luncheon. Years ago when you mention Fort Bonifacio the image that comes to mind would be acres and acres of cogon grass covering hilly terrain and the American Cemetery occupying a portion of it and military facilities dotting the area.
Now shops proliferate in the area. It has blossomed into a well-developed community that now caters to the hoity-toity of Manila's plum society. So for dinner, it was Italian food that we gorged on. The pizzas and pastas were scrumptious while the mediterranean salad was fresh and crisp. They had the usual rowdy birthday greeting from the staff of Italianni's and a complementary birthday desert for Sarita.
There was good cheer all around with members from Sarita's family in attendance and her closest friends to add to the din. Well, it was fun for us... but i threw in a little history for you readers to appreciate it...
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