Perhaps We Were Hungry

Remember Claire de la Fuente ?


"Karen Carpenter of the Philippines"
That was how she was dubbed in the 1970s-80's - what with a voice and singing style that bore a striking resemblance to that of Karen Carpenter - the iconic multi-awarded but ill-fated international singer'.
Claire's own Philippine career peaked, plateaued and faded away
She subsequently put her hard earned money in business - and set up a successful bus line, and a chain of restaurants to boot

But recently - with the advent of youtube and digital recordings, Claire was "rediscovered" by none other than Richard Carpenter , the late Karen Carpenter's brother, and composer of all their chart-breaking hits.
Charmed and amazed by the voice quality similarities, Richard got in touch with Claire and contracted her to re-launch the "Carpenters" sound worldwide.
Richard Carpenter came to Manila and was typically overwhelmed by the welcome and adulation that he received from the star-struck Filipino music lovers.

Claire de la Fuente - "rediscovered" and now an international recording star
Another fairy tale story that focuses on Filipino talent, perseverance, and never-say-die character ...

Good news about the Philippines
Such a rarity these days
That was certainly worth a celebration of sorts

How to celebrate?

There were two ways I could think of ...
One was to ride one of Claire de la Fuente's buses
Or I could go out and EAT in one of the Claire de la Fuente restaurants ...
Such a tough choice ...
A bus ride or food?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

























































Claire de la Fuente Grill and Seafood, at the San Miguel by the Bay is the latest of what is now a chain of " Claire" restaurants
I love this particular location to a large extent because I have learned to love the baywalk ...
It is such a social equalizer
Leave the pretensions of Makati's social structure behind
And just immerse in the crowd as one of the guys
Nobody is anybody
Everybody is somebody ...

I was with my Saturday wild bunch
A conglomeration of family and friends, young and old
Sharing stories
Laughing
Eating
Drinking
Just a Saturday chill-out, let loose, be yourself exercise ...

It was a "paluto" set up - (pick your ingredients and have it cooked)
The wives and girlfriends hied off to the adjacent wet market
And started picking the seafood that was to comprise our feast
Fresh, soft, alive, moving - still smelling of the sea
A seafood buffet in the making ....























































































The guys stayed at the table contented with San Miguel Beer,
And the bonus of ogling at all the luscious, attractive, delicious, mouthwatering members of the opposite sex parading down the baywalk ...
(We had to be careful though ... oftentimes the opposite sex was really the third sex)

Stories galore
Boisterous laughter
Endless camaraderie
Cementing of bonds
Enjoying the view
Tolerating the sounds of bands and entertainers
People watching
Waiting for the food to be prepared
Grilled, boiled, sauteed, "sinigang", "kilawin" (fresh, raw and mixed with vinegar and onions) ...

When the food came - everyone just jumped in
It was a frenzy of 15 hungry people attacking a seafood feast
Smiling faces
Contented looks
Licking fingers
Drinkin' beer
Arms reaching out
Lips smackin'
Picking from seatmates plates
Sharing portions
A large extended family devouring a delectable selection of food ...



















































































































It was a total wipe out
Like a tsunami had swept through the table
The food was THAT good.
Or perhaps ,we were that hungry ...

(see video below)




You should really try this "baywalk" experience.
Spread the word
We will be there quite regularly
We will be the happy bunch singing the songs of "the Carpenters" ...



Claire de la Fuente Grill and Seafood
San Miguel by the Bay
Pasay City

Enlightenment

I have posted about Baywalk several times on this blog.
It was an area that was so full of life ...
Every day of the week and more so on weekends
This "walk" by the bay took on the character of festivity
People congregated here
Played here
Sang here
Danced here
It was a happy place

Bands, mimes, performers, dancers, stage acts ...
Glitzy lights, people movers, gadget and flower vendors
Alive and jumping - all night long
Those who had less in life found in Baywalk a playground wherein they could vent their frustrations by aggregating ... much like the Pinoy "istambayan" has become a Pinoy social support group for those who suffer from the rigors of a hardened life

Today ...
Baywalk is no more
Quiet
Almost deserted
Killed by the rightist swing of an authoritative pen

Where once - I could walk late at night with little fear
Where once I could mix with people from all walks of life
Where once -the social strata was breached and people were equal and one
Where once was the happy sound of life

Now is an eerie silence
Shadowy figures in the dark
A fearful place to take a stroll at night
A ghost town compared to what it was

Why ?
Politics seldom provides any real answers - only validation of strong willed impracticalities
I guess we will never know
Never perhaps - until we see who benefits most from this precipitate act
Then we will nod with enlightenment - and say " ahhhh - kaya naman pala "

Buhayin ang Manila !!!!
Paano????