Max’s Restaurant in Dufferin

If there’s one thing that glues our family together, it would be our love for good food. We love to eat and explore different restaurants to try different types of food. Be it traditional Filipino cuisine, Chinese, Thai or Vietnamese food, we will definitely give it a try. Initially, our love for good food was just within the borders of Brampton. But as choices become so limited, we went beyond the neighbouring cities.

Last month, we chanced upon Max’s restaurant in Dufferin, Toronto. We were all surprised as we never had any idea that Max’s was actually just a good 30 minutes away from our house. Back home, it was our family’s (or clan should I say) favourite restaurant. So, when we saw the place, we went there right off the bat. Unfortunately, the queue was too long so we had to delay our visit.

We usually do not plan our restaurant visits. Whenever we find an interesting place, we just go there and try. When we passed through Dufferin and Steeles again, we tried to go there and voila! there are only 3 customers ahead of us. We decided to wait and after 25 minutes, we had our much anticipated turn. We sat on the table just across the door where we can count how many people enter every 30 minutes. I cannot say it’s a bad table location but, it makes me want to look up and watch the people come in. This distracted me from enjoying my sweet sago’t gulaman and the rest, there’s not much good for me to say.

The drink was just so-so. I suddenly missed my cousin’s sago’t gulaman which for me was way better than max's sago’t gulaman. We ordered each of our favourite platter and added pork sisig and lechon kawali. Food was fine. It did not have that “wow” effect. It’s not as good as it was back home. I wonder why... it’s probably because we were not happy with how the service went. We waited for 30 minutes for our food to be served after 25 minutes wait to be seated. What irritated us more was when we saw the other table being served already despite the fact that we came in first. I asked the server how that happened and he said that those people were there before we came. As I said, I was seated in the location where I can see everyone coming in and i definitely know that they came in after we were seated. Hummm... I let it pass.

Everyone was famished. When food finally arrived, I requested for a bowl of vinegar to go with our Lechon Kawali from 2 people. After a good 5 minutes, my request from the manager came in. And guess what? My original request from the server came in after 10 minutes. My mom just told me to let it pass and so I did.

This experience was not very remarkable but truly unforgettable. They have lost that “Max’s appeal”. Just when we were planning to hold every event we thought of at that eureka moment, our disappointment has gotten the best of us. They may need to improve their service and live by Max's tradition of good food and service. We will probably try again after 5 years, if they are still in existence...

Ms. Ester Asinas: You'll be missed (RIP).

Valentines Day 2011

I never had a chance to truly work with my supposed “new boss”. But in the rare occassions that I did (HP contract assessment along with Ms. Pinky Abellarda), it was truly engaging and unforgettable. She knew her craft very well and was very firm in what she believed to be right. When no one has taken leadership, she stood up and provided direction for everyone to follow. She does not take no for an answer. She tackles IT problems so eloquently and elegantly and provides practical solutions to complex IT issues. It would have been an honor to have worked directly for her but fate has its own way of leading me to where I should be.

I actually had the chance to work for Ms. Es ( as everyone fondly calls her). I did not hesitate and said yes right off the bat. The last time I met with Ms.Es was when she invited me to her office for an interview . That was the first time I witnessed how welcoming and supportive she truly is. She showed me where my supposed room will be, enumerated the perks that I will be receiving and kept me informed how the process of transfer was being done. It was truly touching as she called me every now and then to update me of the status of my transfer. I was truly elated and excited to be part of that department - to be in the Information Systems Department of the Universal Robina Corporation.

However, fate has its own way of directing me to the planned path. A week before my transfer, my visa came in. It was truly hard for me to break the news to her but, I thought that it would be a good decision to tell her immediately to avoid further efforts to process my transfer. I called her up and she was very understanding about my predicament. She congratulated me and wished me luck for my new journey. That was the end of it.

After 9 months, I was shocked by the news that she passed away due to pancreatic cancer. I was truly saddened upon hearing it. Never did it occur to me that the once beautiful and strong Ms. Es has succumbed to a sickness that she knew only 2-3 months ago. It was a very, very sad news. She truly is a nice leader and will surely be missed.

For the family that she left behind, I give my heartfelt condolences. I believe she is now in a better place. Ms. Es, I will continue to pray for you. May your soul rest in peace in the arms of our Lord.

Happy Easter!

It's my first year to celebrate Easter in Canada. It's not totally different from how it was celebrated back home since I get to do my annual Bisita Iglesia. The difference though was the company I had. Back home, I do it with my close friends where we visit 14 churches by foot on Maundy Thursday. Now, we only get to visit 3 churches on Good Friday with my mom and dad, my aunt Phennie, cousin Zhen and her daughter Angel who did a good job reading the Stations of the Cross (very good for a 6-year old kid).

We attended a Saturday vigil that lasted 2 hours. It was very solemn. But, it would have been better to have a separate Baptism and Confirmation ceremonies from the Easter mass. Most seniors may not be as adept as others in sustaining long time on their knees. Some kiddos are also on tantrums already and the parents could not concentrate going in and out of the church. Some didn't even bother to go out to pacify the crying kid while the loud shouts and cries resonated through the whole church. Best thing though was that the choir was really good. I suddenly missed singing. That, I think, will be my next project!

Happy Easter!