Madge Café: Where "The" People Meet

I remember a good friend tell me that there’s this ‘kapehan’ or café at La Paz public market. Like all public or wet markets in the Philippines, the market is a place of trade for all kinds of products ranging from basic commodities to those commonly found in department stores. They have stalls for almost anything and the best part of it, they have Madge Café.

I don't know if there's a secret ingredient. People just keep coming back!

For nearly 20 years now, I’ve been passing the same pavements of our public market and it never occurred to me to actually try to check what’s going on inside where Madge Café had been situated for years. From the outside, it looks like that typical coffee shop where senior citizens meet up and reminisce and talk about their lives and the current issues in politics. I found that a little boring as a child and I always thought about why they always hung around those places.

Judging from their outfits, I think they came from exercise or jogging.

This was what I was talking about. I overheard the guy in yellow's a doctor.
Cool, huh? Haha.

But after 22 years now, I find ‘hanging around with friends’ the best remedy to a tired mind and body. We usually hang out in coffee shops. Thus, my addiction for coffee. Yes, I’m addicted to coffee but not really the exaggerated type. I just like smelling and tasting [of course!] coffee. I don’t know where my craving for coffee started but it has really made me wacky. I hear the word, smell it or even see a mug and I’m immediately reminded of coffee.

Since I don't know what to order, I asked if they had native coffee. The polite waitress said 'Yes' and so I said I'll have one. She asked, "How would you like it? Strong or mild?" I said I'll have it mild while looking at the owner at the bar counter mixing coffee and milk with her mugs and a wooden dipper. I wasn't sure of the outcome and so I just patiently waited. I drank it when it arrived and it was like having espresso but I like it better in Madge. Must be the mixing and the wooden dipper. Haha!

This is a pandeciosa. I'm not certain about the spelling.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Anyway, back to our topic on Madge Café…

San Jose Parish Placer

I have always been fascinated by churches especially their Byzantine architecture. I just love to look at the arcs and the seemingly towering columns inside them. I like how they illuminate such grandiose atmosphere, and the peace and quiet that they give will surely leave every lost and wandering soul a place it can finally call home.

Yes, I'm a Catholic but a half breed. My father's a non-Catholic and his ways have influenced me to believe that there are some truths the church will never accept and continue to falsely spread. Nobody's perfect and before anyone dares to debate with me on that make sure you know your Bible well. I haven't read the entire Bible yet but I've read important truths I have to live by and these truths have opened my eyes to many realities.

As for now, I am a Catholic. I will continue to be, but I will refrain from doing things the Bible did not give me the permission to do and do things it didn't require me to do. 

I don't know if anyone has ever heard of this church in Negros Occidental which dealt away with graven images, but I admire the priest behind this church. I don't know if it's still existing but I hope that during one of our visits to Negros, I will be able to visit the place and see if it's still there. It had been featured in our local TV station and you can see that the entire structure looks so bare yet simply sacred.

For now, enjoy these shots I took from San Jose Parish Placer, the church nearest to the pier for ferries crossing Iloilo to Bacolod City and vice versa:

Tae Bo

The ‘No pain, no gain’ slogan is one fact we cannot deny. Healthy, gorgeous bodies are attained through constant exercise and discipline unless of course you opt for easy and effortless surgical procedures to shape your body. Working out in the gym will definitely yield good results but after a not-so-impressive period of time. Patience is a virtue and by that I mean months and even years of constant and quality exercise. 

How wonderful! Chit chat over Tae Bo.

There are many reasons as to why people do not exercise or maybe exercise yet stop in the middle of their programs. A popular reason is of course disinterest in having to suffer painful exercises to burn out those unwanted and excess baggage. Another is the stress of having to pay much for gym exercise. People constantly give excuses such as being unable to exercise because of financial constraints; the pressure of having to wear good clothes so as to ‘fit in’; that their hectic schedules and jobs wouldn’t allow even an hour of allocation for exercise and so on. 

Some people are just born fashionistas.

I don’t know how these *Tae Bo dancing exercises ever surfaced [I have yet to research on that] but it’s doing much good to the constituents of Panay. I first heard of this program through a friend saying that there’s this group of people who gather around E. Treñas Boulevard at Mandurriao, Iloilo to do Tae Bo exercises and that payment isn’t compulsory. Sometimes you can opt not to pay but I don’t think that’s a good idea. Haha. And so my mom and I tried it out. I saw some figures in the business industry sweat their bods out in the exercises, which [to me] is a good sign that people of different walks of life unite for one purpose: to live longer and better lives through exercise.

These kick-punch moves will surely sweat you out.

This grandpa is doing Tae Bo at his own pace.

Daily Buns Café and Bakery

Oblivious to all the bustle and hustle of the city life, a café and bakery sits along the frequented street of General Luna. Daily Buns Café and Bakery is a home to patrons of coffee, pizza, pasta, pastries and all kinds of bread. It’s a place where you can unwind and just get away from all the stresses and noise of your daily life while enjoying sips of coffee served hot or frozen [just the way you like it] and the food of your choice.

They have a variety of foods to choose from.

It’s a great place to meet up for appointments or simply enjoy nonstop chit chat with friends without having to spend too much on a single food. The ambience is simply cozy and not ‘at all’ intimidating. The staff and crew are always smiling, making you feel very comfortable. They have another branch at Diversion Road which I would [hopefully] visit some other time.

For now, here are a few shots of our visit to the place, just trying some food out:

Cong. Janette L. Garin: Her Stand on the Philippine RH Bill

A brief run through on what I can still recall from the seminar, The RH Agenda: Clearing the Controversies held last August 27, 2011 at the Philippine National Red Cross Building, Bonifacio Drive, Iloilo City

That while the church believes on the Malthusian theory proposed by Thomas Robert Malthus that there is no overpopulation but only a congestion of individuals in a certain area of land due to untapped resources and spaces in the Philippines, Congresswoman Janette L. Garin believes otherwise. 

A devout Catholic herself, she says that she has nothing against the Catholic church but as a concerned citizen and politician, she deems it necessary to educate the people about what the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill really is. She divulges truths, insights and misconceptions about the controversial bill that she now co-authors along with other politicians namely House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman, Akbayan Representatives Kaka Bag-ao & Walden Bello, Muntinlupa Representative Rodolfo Biazon, Iloilo Representative Augusto Syjuco [who has previously declined due to issues with the church] and Gabriela Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan.

Food Equals Endorphins

It was raining cats and dogs and I was definitely in no mood for some outdoor activity like going to the mall [if it's even considered 'outdoor' for that matter] or anything that involved having to feel the tiniest bit of rain on my skin.

I hate it when it rains so hard and the skies all want to pour their tears out on me. I hate it when it's gloomy because I feel unhappy. Well, yes. Sunlight makes a person happy and if you haven't noticed when it gets dark and gloomy, your mood starts to be affected as well.

I need sunlight. I need something to make me feel a lot better, but not coffee for now. Haha.

Then, my mom told me she received a text message from my Aunt Cora saying she'll be dropping by to visit us then would be off her way back to Bacolod City. That painted a smile on my face. I was thinking... F-O-O-D! Haha. I know she's going to buy something for her son, Christian and I just think I know where his favorite food could be bought. At Perri Todd's.

And so after lunch and about half an hour of chit chatting about useful stuff, we headed to Perri Todd's to buy Christian's favorite Grilled Burger with Bacon.

Well here are a few shots I got...

Grilled Aloha Burger

Dissecting the inside. Haha.

Pasta Carbonara

There are just plenty of burgers to choose from. To remind you, these burgers are humongous! [Kidding! But really. They're huge!]

I wonder what's behind the tape. Hmm...

If there are about four or more of you, try to have the Iced Tea Tower instead of having to buy individual drinks.

Jinky's Platter

A lover of food, fun, adventure and football. Meet Jesslyn Kate Gubatanga. She's currently hooked to three things she considers very crucial in her life right now:

Study

[She's taking up her masteral's degree at the Central Philippine University (CPU) and nearly gets time to sleep. But now that duty days are over, she can definitely allot more time for sleep.]

Football

[She's been playing the game since college and continues to take on the sport, joining various competitions versus alumnae at the West Visayas State University and CPU.]

Food

[She's really into food. If you don't find her in school, at home or elsewhere, she's definitely having the time of her life, trying a new entree, dessert or any other treat she hasn't tried eating yet.]

I named this page Jinky's Platter to honor her undying love for not just food but great tasting and quality FOOD! This is where good food takes her. Take a look and enjoy!

Coffee House Beanery's Tuna Mac & Cheese

Dulgies' Banana and Strawberry Cake

Dulgies' D'Club Sandwich

Dulgies' Red Velvet Cake

Reminiscing Childhood Past

Perhaps nothing beats a business strengthened by ties, molded by love and tested by time. These are but a few of the many reasons why family businesses in Iloilo continue to flourish despite the growing and dynamic changes in the food industry.

My fondest memories as a kid were limited to food, travel and play. Other than those mentioned, I have effortlessly dealt away with in my short-term memory, waiting to be forgotten. After class, I would find myself scurrying over to a small branch of Biscocho Haus beside our school at Gen. Luna Street or eat banana split or halo-halo at Try Me restaurant corner Gen. Luna and Quezon Streets. 

At Biscocho Haus, I sat along with friends as we delightfully consumed pastries or ice creams of our choice, and the place was what we claimed as our alternative “tambayan” since we also get bored of playing hide and seek at the same grounds and places in school.

Birthdays were what I loved the most and my classmates often liked to celebrate parties at McDonald’s at the Atrium and Jollibee and Shakey’s at SM Delgado. These places really bring back the old times and it’s just heartwarming to find these places in their exact locations with the interiors hardly changed and moved. However due to developments and  changes brought about by the city’s continued progress in business and trade, some of these places have been moved and closed.

Now that I’m an adult, legally past 18, I can only reminisce about what used to be and perhaps what I consider the best memories indellibly marked in my temple. Some of these places are still existing today and it’s amazing to know that they’re not run by some big time corporations but by humble families with very strong bonds.

An example would be the Biscocho Haus known for its Ilonggo delicacies such as the pinasugbo, barquillos, butterscotch, biscocho and many more. They have extensively distributed their branches in Iloilo and one of my favorite is their branch at Cuartero, Jaro near Perri Todd’s. It looks like a typical residence only that it’s got an opening immediately below its signage. I just love the interior and the relaxing ambience.

I'm not sure if this is a chandelier,
but it looks good where it's at.

Perhaps the owners of Biscocho Haus

Really cute antique furniture.
They look like chairs for small kids.

What Boredom Does to Individuals Like Me

Boredom can be mortifying. [Yes, as in like it deaden the body.] I'm stuck at home with my family with nothing else to do than our usual weekend routine of eating, sleeping, watching tv and chit chatting about my cousin's seemingly adventurous love life. He's our number one entertainer but he's kinda busy talking on the phone with a potential lover (like for half of the day!) and so we silently eat our food when he's hooked on the phone, hoping he'd quit it so we would have something to laugh about. He's gay by the way and he's proud of being one. He's handsome and you'd never mistake him of being gay at first glance maybe because he does not cross dress and walk the way most gays do after a successful coming out.

Sick and tired of doing nothing at home and forcing food repeatedly into our seemingly bloated bellies, we decided to go out and buy some supplies needed at home. My brother and I were left with nothing else to do but eat (for the nth time!). Do we have the right to clamor when all we have to do is eat while waiting for them to finish doing errands? My mind's telling me yes, but I guess we don't have a choice.

I had coffee and Chocolate Chip Cookies

I'm not sure if I can live without having
a cup of coffee in a month or so.

The face of boredom! Sleepy and bored.

See? Rafa's sleepy too!