Backless

Last week, habang nakikinig sa briefing sa COMELEC, bigla akong tinawagan at sinabihang ako daw ang umasiste sa bossing naming sa Malacañang kasi may meeting. Kandarapa naman ako na umalis dahil: una, napapagod ako magpretend na naiintindihan ko ang lahat ng sinasabi ng software consultant sa COMELEC, pangalawa, kailangan ko pang alamin daan papunta Malacañang, and pangatlo, ang pogi kaya ng boss ko.

 

So sa madaling sabi eh umabot naman ako sa Malacañang. Hindi ako pinagpark sa loob ng palace grounds dahil daw para sa principals lang… pero ang hinala ko eh dahil nakita ng guard ang aking pick-up na si Trucky at nagdudang baka may karga akong pamalengke sa likod. Therefore, I parked down the road and had to walk a substantial amount of yards in my 5-inch heels to get to the gate and to the lobby.

 

Nag-intay kay bossing, chumika ng konti sa mga ibang alipores ng ibang pulitiko, sinalubong si bossing at hinatid sya sa meeting room… may biglang lumapit sakin na miyembro ng PMS. Cute naman, ganda smile, matangkad, at nakipagkilala sakin, sabay bulong,

 

“By the way Attorney, request daw ng PSG,

next time you visit, wag ka na mag-backless ha?”

 

 

Punyemas. In fairness to me ha, hindi naman malaswa suot ko, promise, sobrang balot na balot sa harap yun, ¾ sleeves, and pencil cut skirt waaaay below my knees… bawi nga lang sa likod. Eh hindi ko naman akalain na pupunta ako Malacañang noh! And ang init init kaya nun araw na yun.

 

After ng meeting ni bossing, nakiusap naman ako na kung pwede sumabay sa car nya hanggang sa parking ko sa labas. Mabait naman talaga kasi bossing ko, so sabi sakin “Of course!” Tuwa ko lang… Sakay sa sasakyan nya, then we went to my parking space… nung malapit na sabi ni boss “Which one is your car? That one?” and he pointed to this SUV parked in front of my pick-up, “No sir, the other one, the pick-up truck” I said proudly. At biglang tumawa si bossing, “Parang pang rambol ‘yan ah!” Smile naman ako… kung alam nya lang… hahaha!

 

Because I was at Malacañang I could not smoke at the grounds. I therefore called my yosi buddy B – naalala nyo sya? She organized the fashion show for a cause that TSN went to? Her family owns and manages Casa Roces (ancestral house nila B), a Filipino-Spanish cuisine resto right in front of Malacañang. Food is superb, ambience is serene, and B curates the gallery upstairs. So buti na lang andun sya at naka-yosi ako with her at Casa. If anyone should decide to go check out their food (which you should, the resto has been voted one of Manila’s best restaurants by several critics), don’t forget to try their cocktails (syempre yun ang focus ko). The sangria is yummy, but my favorite I must say is the Limon Basilica — I have no idea what’s in it, I think I remember B telling me it has rum. Limon Basilica looks like a mojito slushy — perfect for warm day, very drinkable and hits you like a brick, and you’ll still come back for more.

 

spot.ph

 

 There’s nothing better than ending a rough day with a friend, and a good drink in hand.