Shawarma Bros Food Truck

Did you ever watch The Great Food Truck Race on the Food Network? I thought the concept of the food truck was clever. 

Today, I went to the Food Truck Market that opened recently in Glorietta 3 Park. That's across Makati Shang. It's open from Friday to Sunday 4pm to 3am. 

So anyway, I research online and I see Shawarma Bros. Mind you it's not "brothers" it's "BROs". I actually know 3 of the owners of the new food truck and I had to taste their creation. Rammy De Claro and his friends are a batch lower than me and they're actually all pretty cool bros. I asked him what to get and he said to get the Lamb Shawarma. (They serve Lamb, Beef, and Chicken) It comes with rice, tomatoes, onions and their secret Garlic Yogurt sauce and Chili Cheese sauce. I tried it and I had to go back to Rammy to say whole heartedly that it was really really good. LEGIT! I didn't tell him this but it's something The Avengers would go back to all the time. Shawarma? GO TO SHAWARMA BROS.

Photo taken from Shawarma Bros Facebook Page

Rammy serving customers

I read the mission of Shawarma Bros at the side of the truck while waiting and it was actually their love of Shawarma that made them move forward with their concept. They've tried so many already and they got all those learnings and came up with their own. What I liked is that they welcome you to their "broderhood" and everyone who goes to Shawarma Bros will be treated like a Bro.

If you love Shawarma, better go to Cucina Andare, the Food Truck Market and try the food from Shawarma Bros because it's LEGIT! Awesome awesome food!

50 movies in 2013: Here we go again...

Back in 2011, I forgot that I was able to hit the 50 goal. I forgot I saw 10 short films which sort of saved me. I did see 49 without the 10 short ones.

I'm giving some new rules for this year. I should watch in a cinema but I can watch an original DVD/BluRay copy if the movie wasn't shown here. (mind the word original and not pirated)

This month we'll have Life of Pi, Les Mis, Jack Reacher, and hopefully Zero Dark Thirty (?) just need to watch once a week and I'll be ok.

What am I looking forward to this year? These are on top of my list.

Anchorman 2

Jonty is the biggest fan of Anchorman and I'm more of an Elf kind of guy. But with Steve and Paul plus Mr. Whammy in the fold, this should be an instant classic!

Star Trek: Into Darkness

Benedict Cumberbatch is gonna kick the shiz out of this movie! He's so badass in the trailer and I'm mighty excited for this JJ Abrams sequel. Star Trek was the best movie for me back in 2009 so let's wait and see if this one will be better than the first.

Man of Steel

Here I'm a bit pessimistic because I wasn't too happy with Watchmen and Sucker Punch just sucked and punched me in the gut. Zack Snyder 3 for 3? Maybe not. Christopher Nolan producing? That should be awesome. The new trailer looks a lot better than the first and I'm hoping Supes does good here.

The Wolverine

I was surprised that this movie actually happens after X-Men: The Last Stand and not after X-Men Origins: Wolverine. I'm hopeful here because Hugh Jackman really does such an awesome job being Logan. If Downey is Stark, Jackman is Logan. Simple as that. But what I'm excited for is that 20th Century Fox is gonna make their version of the MARVEL Universe with the X-Men and Fantastic Four franchises. Will we see the start of an awesome crossover after The Wolverine?

Iron Man 3

Need I say more? "Nothing's been the same since New York." OK, I'll quote that line but it's true because after The Avengers, nothing's been the same! We want more of the Marvel U! Stark is back and he'll take on the Mandarin! A new director is taking the job so it'll be exciting to see his take on the Armored Avenger!

How about you? What are you looking forward to watch this year? :)

Luck?

Everybody wants to be lucky. Who would like to have bad luck? 

I'm hoping it's a lucky 2013. Really really hoping I don't get any bad luck. 2012 had its fair share of bad luck for me. 

There are some people who don't believe in luck. Wish them good luck and they say that they don't believe in it. I think that there is luck and "malas sa buhay". It can change in a snap. Complete 180 degree turnaround. 

I got this Lego Minifigure of a Leprechaun. My Celtics lost for the fourth straight game today and I haven't seen that before. Need a swing of good luck for the start of the year. Since the Celtics have a Leprechaun in their logo, I got this one for luck in 2013.

Do you believe in luck or do you make your own luck?

Trivia and not really important things

I've been playing this new app called IconPopQuiz and it's pretty addicting. My friends at work have been playing it too apparently and they ask me for the answers. I have this weird talent of remembering lines from movies, knowing logos, basically not really important things. I'm a self-confessed geek and I remember those things. Give me a line from a movie and more or less I'll be able to answer it. It just sticks to me. People find it either weird or cool. It's the former that I think  that is more often.

In teambuildings, when it's trivia time, "Bahala na si Jiggy diyan" is what they say. It's the only time I feel like the go-to guy when it comes to competition. Sports? Never happened. 

I've never joined a Quiz Night before but it would be interesting to test my memory. Movies, Comics, a bit of TV and music, a bit of the NBA/MLB/NFL, I'll be able to manage. But if it were match the movie to the actor and the line, I'm gonna nail that! 

If you know a Quiz Night in Metro Manila, comment here and let me know! I heard of this Geek Fight Night before and I was determined to form the greatest Pinoy geek team ever assembled. Kinda like Scott Summers and the Extinction Team. (That's reference to comics by the way)

So that's 2/2 in January! I'm off to a good start posting huh?

HELLO 2013

Photo taken from the LEGO Facebook Page

Happy New Year!

Personally, I'm very happy. I'm not usually a fan of the new year but this one is different. After a long, trying, and challenging 2012, all I wanted was a fresh start. Here we are. TWENTY. THIRTEEN.

Resolutions? I'm not into those but I do want to shed off some unwanted fat and pounds. Seriously. I also want to write more here. I forgot how relaxing it was!

If I can share something I read earlier today, the article was about 5 easy resolutions and 2 out of those things hit me. 

1. Be a little kinder.

It really doesn't hurt to smile, say please, or say thank you. The world can really use a lot of positivity. We should be happy! The Mayans got it wrong and the world didn't end. This year, why not be kind? Like what Conan O' Brien said, when you work hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen. So I'm asking you guys nicely, please do me the favor of being a little kinder in 2013.

2. Pray more.

I'll admit and won't beat around the bush. I don't pray as often anymore. Most of the time I'm really tired and go straight to sleep. I forget to pray. I realized that I pray when I need something and that's wrong. 2012 made me pray less and I want to change that. Whatever your religion is, it's always good to pray. Like what my Lola stressed all the time, we should pray for the country and one another.

With that, I wish everyone all the best in 2013! Have a great year ahead guys!

- JIGGY

2012 Recap

I'll be honest, it was a hard 2012 for me. I was tired often but that doesn't remove the fact that there were happy and memorable moments during the year. I'll give a rundown in no particular order.

So to cut to the chase...

5 Peat

This one was extra sweet. 2006 was the worst loss for me as a fan and loyalist of the Blue Eagles. It's Ateneo first and the Celtics second for me. Sorry to the UST fans but taking the 5 peat was extra special for me and my batchmates. Coach Norman is the bomb! Kiefer played phenomenally this season and it's worth remembering. This 5 Peat was for JC, Macky, Doug, and the whole graduating batch of 2007. Thanks to Coach Norman and the guys, this made a lot of us very happy!

3 Years

 

I'm not into the whole PDA thing that much honestly. But I have to brag that I have the coolest best friend in my girlfriend. Misha is just awesome. I can't ask for anything more. Really. She's taught me so much but more importantly, she has made me less uptight and more adventurous over the last 3 years. Sweet, Beautiful, Kind, and all the other positive adjectives rolled into one, that's Misha. She knows me too well and that's one of her best talents in our relationship. She's the commander! Haha!

San Diego 2012 

It's still the happiest place on earth for me and I'd go back every time if I can. San Diego is heaven for any fan of Pop Culture. It's just a bit sad that it's more of a Pop Con than a Comic-Con but still, it's a happy place to be in. Ask any comic book fan who has been there, I'm sure they'd say that they'll go back again and again and again. People who ask me "Comic-Con nanaman!?", they'll never understand.

The Avengers / The Dark Knight Rises

Comic fans were treated to fantastic movies in 2012. Marvel's The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises. Seriously, both awesome and I was VERY VERY HAPPY. Both are in different leagues but both were just made of awesome. Though a number weren't too happy with TDKR, I was still very much happy with it. Really loved how Nolan ended it. For the Avengers, it was the movie every geek was waiting for and boy oh boy did it deliver. The movie gave so many geek out moments from the unveiling of the SHIELD Hellicarrier to Loki being tossed around like a pansy by the Hulk. Who can complain?

Meeting awesome comic book people (Millar / Vaughan / Cebulski)

Mark Millar wearing my glasses 

       

Brian K. Vaughan - DAMN.

BEST. GUY. EVER. (CB CEBULSKI)

Now most people aren't comic fans but meeting all these people in one year was insane. Mark Millar wearing your glasses? That doesn't happen every day. Meeting BKV? Once in a blue moon. Meeting CB Cebulski and finding out he's the most awesome guy? Priceless.

It's not every day that you get to talk to your idols and heroes. This year was extra special that I got to meet these guys. I even got a special mention on Millar's blog! Thanks to National Book Store for giving me the opportunity to meet Mr. Millar and Mr. Cebulski! 

A real life Celtic

Now this was made possible thanks to my awesome brother who works for the most awesome magazine. RAJON RONDO. Me and my brother are probably two of the biggest and passionate Celtics fans in the country so this moment was priceless. Jonty had a great interview with the man and I got to shake the hand of a Celtic Legend. Though 2012 hasn't been good for the C's, I know they'll bounce back next year. Watch out haters. Never count out my Celtics!

New York with my bro

Brotherly Bonding. It can be chaotic and fun at the same time. NYC is still the coolest place to be in. Surprisingly, we never fought during this trip and that's what made it memorable for me. "Walang basagan ng trip" was the motto. I don't say shiz, he doesn't say shiz. Finally getting to try Shake Shack just proved that I found the best burger. 

Family Trips

This year was significant in terms of family bonding. A few days ago, the 4 of us Cruzes travelled together that it was just us 4 after so many years. It was fun family time for us. Food tripping, blind leading the blind, and taking so many photos. It was a great end to 2012. Also, it was the first time that me and my mom travelled together that it was just us 2. Mother and Son time in Malaysia. I've travelled with my Dad that it was just us 2. I also travelled with Jonty that it was just us 2. It was fun travelling with my mom plus it was cool since she's never been to Malaysia before. Good times for family time.

Surprise Birthday Party

I got the surprise of my life on the eve of my birthday thanks to Misha. No one has ever given me  a surprise party before and Misha pulled it off! She didn't think I was surprised but I was genuinely happy and surprised that she knocked it out of the park. She even had this amazing cake made. Person making the cake asked how many candles to put. 3? 4? 5? Misha goes "Um... 27?" That's one for the books!

Launching the Genio

I'm extra proud I got to launch the automatic Dolce Gusto machines. I bought a Black Genio for myself and it stands happily on my desk at work. It serves me excellent coffee every time. I usually have 3 a day. Seriously, I talked to people who own this baby and they totally love it! It's just too cool for a coffee machine.

======================================================================

Whatever 2013 has in store, I'm confident it's gonna be better. I'm sorry for not blogging that often in 2012. I was just way too busy. But hey, 2013 is a new chapter! I look forward to posting here more often.

Have a great year ahead guys! All the best to you and your families!

Comic Book ABC's: B is for BATMAN: HUSH

I'm a die hard Spider-Man fan. Peter Parker will always be my favorite in the world of comic books. Yes, I read MARVEL and people get surprised that I read DC. The only DC book I read is BATMAN. When I went back to reading comics in 2002, I read a lot of Wizard Magazine. In a particular issue of Wizard, I saw that Batman had been topping the charts. Batman? Really? I found out that it was because of this particular storyline called HUSH which is written by Jeph Loeb and drawn by none other than Jim Lee!

I still remember going to the mall and getting an issue but it was in Filbar's Katipunan where I got the volume 1 hardcover which you can see below.

BATMAN: HUSH is a story from Batman issues 608-619 and starts with Batman saving a kidnapped child by Killer Croc and then Catwoman steals the ransom money. As Batman chases Catwoman, his line gets cut and falls with  a fractured skull. This now triggers a secret message to Alfred with instructions to summon Bruce's childhood friend and surgeon Dr. Thomas Elliot. Of course, Batman gets well and hunts down Catwoman only to find out that Poison Ivy was the one who stole the money. 

The story goes on and he even confronts a possessed Superman! A lot of important Batman Rogues appear like The Riddler, Harley Quinn, Joker, and Ra's Al Ghul along the way and Batman then finds out that there seems to be a mastermind with all that's happening. A man with a wrapped face also joins in the fun and fights Batman. This is the guy called "Hush". Other than that, you also get to see the famous members of the Bat family like Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, and Jim Gordon. 

What really got me into the story was the mystery of who the hell was messing with Batman. Jeph Loeb presented members of Batman's famous Rogues Gallery and I have to admit that he has the best set of Rogues. (Spider-Man's rogues comes in a very very close second). It may have been a "villain of the month" thing but Loeb wrote this story so well. What contributed to its success was the gorgeous art of Jim Lee. It's just a damn good Batman design. Jim Lee knocked it out of the ballpark. He draws the Dark Knight so well that fans really bought the comics.

The story gets better and better with every chapter and all you'd want to know is who the mastermind is. 

My only concern in the story was that I did not read this particular Batman story called "No Man's  Land" and it's a famous story. There's one reference in the story and had I read "No Man's Land", I would have appreciated it more.

But don't get me wrong, HUSH is an awesome Batman story and to add to the whole Hush success, DC released a book uncolored with just JIM LEE's pencils! It's BATMAN HUSH: UNWRAPPED. Check out the sample interior.

All in all, if you want to start a Batman book. I suggest you start with this. It's a fun read and it has all the twists and turns that's essential in a good Batman story. This is probably one of Loeb's best stories and you can't go wrong with Jim Lee!

You can get BATMAN: HUSH and the UNWRAPPED version in National Book Store (Power Plant, Glorietta 5, Megamall)., Power Books, or Best Sellers Galleria. I got my UNWRAPPED in Galleria. They still have one or two left there. Better get it now because National Book Store has a nationwide sale going on. It's 20% off! You really can't go wrong!