Kung Hei Fat Choi!

It's the year of the Fire Dog! The Chinese New Year is a much-anticipated event here in Bacolod City. This is the time when certain rituals are observed: traditional rounded fruits (putting a plate of oranges or apples stacked in the shape of a pyramid at the center of the table), red clothing, decorating homes with fresh flowers and small trees to ward off evil and bring in good fortune, etc. Fire works and the awesome dragon dance along the streets highlight the joyous occasion.

To celebrate the Chinese New Year, our good friend Ofelia Gonzaga, treated our group - Buddai Piccio, Marili Tacardon and Jessie Wong (the only thorn among the "roses"!), to an authentic Chinese dinner at Imelda's Restaurant. The owner, Imelda, greeted us, "Kung Hei Fat Choi!" with a big smile. Red was the color of the night and everyone was in a party mood.

The buffet table groaned with luscious Chinese culinary wonders: Crab and Corn Soup, Lomi, Spicy Crabs, Golden Fragrant Chicken, Pata Tim, Steamed fish with cracker nut topping, Hongkong-style lumpia and for dessert - Tikoy, Crème Brulee with lychee, good luck fruits like kiat-kiat, oranges, apples, etc. We were told that the dishes would "fill a wise man's mouth with delicious flavors as he is enlightened in heart, in soul and heavy in the belly". What a truly delightful evening. KUNG HEI FAT CHOI!

* * * * *

Romantic fools that we are, we couldn't help sighing over the power of love as proven by the capture of renegade Marine Capt Nicanor Faeldon, who risked everything just to be with his ladylove, Capt. Candelaria Rivas (JAGO military prosecutor). Elusive as he was, Faeldon could have remained a fugitive for a long time except for one deadly mistake - he had to see her (and no power on earth could stop him!). Where can you find greater drama than that! My goodness, this is the romantic story of the decade!

Already, we can see movie producers drooling over the plot - A handsome, be-medalled Marine officer who is in detention for a failed mutiny. An attractive military lady lawyer whose eyes meet his and then, wham! A thunderbolt. They fall in love. After that fateful moment, they only had eyes for each other. The plot thickens as he escapes and is the object of a massive manhunt. But the call of love is so strong that he disguises himself as a woman just to be able to see her. Unbeknownst to the lovers, agents of the ISAF, who had been trailing her, saw them kiss (why or why couldn't he wait until they were alone!), and after a brief chase, caught up with them and promptly arrested the two.

He is now back again in detention while she is facing multiple charges and might even be disbarred. As we eagerly await the next chapter of this riveting love story, we can only ask, was it worth it? You tell me.*