No free lunch…just some Bona experience

Something is brewing at the Leaders Coffee Bar. And guess what was served?

“Prepare it hot or with ice, frothy or black, mixed it with cream, milk or chocolate or just plainly sweetened or brewed. Enjoy it with a company or spend time alone with it on cold and rainy days. Better yet, simply treat it as a trusted friend ready to calm and relax you, keep you awake and most of the time, to keep your senses working.”

Drinking coffee is not something that I enjoy alone. I’d prefer having it with a company, mostly over breakfast with my wife. But now that her doctor prohibits her from taking it, I don’t get to drink as much coffee now as I used to. And even though the company I work with offer free unlimited coffee, I don’t get to indulge with it that much. That’s because the coffee taste so ordinary and the preparation is calibrated by a machine. My wife prepares better coffee.

And as part of the company’s fifth year anniversary celebration, each employee was treated to a different coffee experience. Something was brewed at the Leaders Coffee Bar-the Bona Coffee Company served free brewed coffee with choice of muffins or oatmeal cookie.

Bona coffee is brewed coffee, served hot or iced and is best enjoyed with their chocolate-walnut or banana-cinnamon muffins. This comes as a welcomed treat for someone who is not an avid coffee drinker. In every cup served, coffee lovers or the not-so-avid-coffee drinkers are treated with the distinct taste of brew.

Again, I am not much of a coffee lover but I definitely enjoyed this. Again, the company is celebrating it’s fifth year anniversary that culminates with a Family Day on August 28, 2009…and yes, just like our unique Filipino culture, coffee is best enjoyed when shared with a family.




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For more info on Bona Coffee Company, you can check their website at www.bonacoffeecompany.com

wun manong: Tie a yellow ribbon

I am opening this blogsite on the day a former Philippine president died...Corazon Aquino.

I got home early from work today and as part of my usual routine, after changing clothes, I immidiately turned on the TV and getting ready for breakfast. Upon checking on the show, I was surprised to see 2 TV anchors discussing things about former president Aquino. The kind of show that the station does when there is something special or a big event is happening. I did not immidiately got the point. I even asked Bernadette, the househelp, if the president was dead..she said no and she's not aware.

I knew it coming that she will eventually die, but not this quick. She's been suffering from colon cancer, but she died of cardio-respiratory arrest.

Cancer is something that is close to my heart and to my family. My aunt Rhodora (motherside), died of cervical cancer and another aunt, Elizabeth (from my fatherside) is currently diagnosed of Stage IV breast cancer. Last week, we had a word from her doctor that she's not getting any better and we're only hoping she gets better. A priest has also administered the sacrament of annointing the sick.

I may not know the pain that cancer brings to the patient, but I can certainly relate to those people with relatives suffering from cancer. The pain when you see the patient enduring the medications is not for the faint-hearted, moreso, during "failed" recovery process. I say failed because after all the theraphy, medicines and hospital bills, they will eventually die.

But the good thing about cancer is that it is symbolic into binding families and relationships. Just like what the president did. And in my case, I knew I love my aunt but I never knew that I really loved her so much.

I am not a historian, quite frankly, I almost failed my Philippine history class. I hate memorizing names and events. But when you speak of Corazon Aquino, you synonymously speak of EDSA revolution, military coup attempts and the color yellow.

Like a mother to her countrymen, she endured 9 coup attempts during her presidency and was the strongest force who bought back democracy to the Philippines. But more that these, the greatest achievement of that yellow colored dresses would be on how she united the people of the Philippines even after her presidency and during her civilian years after.

Again, she was a mother, a wife and an ordinary woman until her husband made history...and along with it she carved her own place in the books and in the hearts of the people.