The SteakLib presents "HUNGRY"

This is the pilot episode of SteakLib's new show, "HUNGRY". Enjoy!

Philippine Azkals vs Malaysia Tigers

Jason Sabio and Phil Younghusband

One of the best things about being able to attend press conferences (well, besides meeting the players J) is meeting and talking to the media especially the photographers. I just started getting into photography for less than a year now and being able to talk to the professionals really makes me want to learn more and maybe be like them in the future. Maybe J

I never really thought of going into media or even simply photography. I already had a specific idea on what I want to do in the future – to take up architecture in UP and at the same time teach children. I enjoy studying architecture and being around with kids but when I first experienced how it is to be part of this kind of events, probably I can add this in my list of goals.

Neil Etheridge

Denis Wolf

I don’t know if I can even get a chance to experience this in my other subjects, probably not. Thanks sir for giving us a chance like this which I hope will not be the last! (Hehehe! J)

I felt more comfortable this time in talking to the media men. Minsan feeling close na nga ako eh K Anyway… There were definitely more people now compared to the Kia Rio Cup last January. It did not really matter during the press conference but handling them during the game itself is quite chaotic.

We were asked to give out the bibs for the photographers. We had to make sure that they surrender a valid I.D. in exchange for the bib. The media protocol is stricter now. Sobrang nakakatakot magkamali (example, hindi nagsuot ng bib) kasi palalabasin ka immediately. Nevertheless, I think no one was sent out. The photographers followed the instructions to them.

Rick Olivares, Aimee Nepomuceno, Kring Lacson, Icko de Guzman, JP Manahan

Migo Salvador, Me, Arlet Coronado

Aimee, Icko, Kring

Migo, Me, Arlet

Aimee, Brosi Gonzales, Migo

Me, Arlet, Kring, Rick Olivares

Yes, there are a number of perks being in the media room: you get to talk and bond with the media men constantly updating their Twitter pages about the game. I was able to personally meet Mr. Anton Sheker, a photographer. I actually sent a message to him before about his camera and what lenses he uses during football games. I introduced myself then we talked about his cameras. He is a really nice guy! Thank you for the information sir! Hehe J I was also able to talk to Mr. Ken Koo, another photographer. I have seen his photos from the UAAP volleyball and Azkals’ games. WHAT.AN.EXPERIENCE. I felt like I had a free photography class in less than 8 hours. Haha. And I was able to meet Sir Francis Respicio, JP Manahan, Icko de Guzman and Roy Afable again (sana hindi pa ito ang huli J). I am more than willing to do this again Sir! :)

Sir Rick, sorry for being too makulit the whole time :| Hehehe :)

-- Meg Rementina :)

Here we go again.. AZKALS VS MALAYSIA!!!!! by Miguel Salvador

Here we go again! I am at another Azkals game where this time we are against Malaysia. Since this was my second time being here at Rizal Memorial Stadium, I already had my experiences of before that made me not expect too much about the glamor of being behind the scenes. But this time around, this experience was more fun than the game between Azkals and Icheon. Not only was the game better but the things happening in the Media Room was more exciting than my previous experience.

 

Sir Rick like a boss greeting the team

With sir Rick with us, we had more opportunities to see the players. He got us so close to them that we could almost hear them breathing...well of course I'm over exaggerating.  But it was a funny experience since i was with 4 other female classmates who got into their fan girl modes. The video above was one of the videos i took to show how close we were to them and this time around, i got star struck. This time, i knew more about the players and I wasn't as naive as before.

Photoboothing while idle

Still Photoboothing for fun! :P

This experience was more fun because there were more things for us to do. It may be a little more than the last time but i felt like i had more purpose this time around. This time around, not only were we tasked with registering the media people, we also had to ask the photographers to surrender their ID's to be given a bib with special powers that allows one to do more in the stadium than those who don't have it. I honestly don't know what the bib is for but i am assuming that it's to allow the photographers to come closer to the fields and such. During my past experience, we had more idle time because there were less people. Now, we just had enough time to have fun and do the work we were supposed to do because there was more people from the press to keep us busy. And once again, the media people were hilarious and made the whole work we have a lot lighter. Its really too bad i could not remember all their names but they will always be in my heart (there's like that?! hahaha!) Meeting a lot more people, and this time people who were top honchos in the press con area, was really intimidating. In the media room, there was a mixture of Filipinos, Malaysians, and Americans which made it feel like we were in the United Nations.

On the first half of the game, the Media Room was bursting with life already because of the goal made by Denis Wolf. I wanted to watch but my hunger was growling more than my interest for the game. But it was amazing to watch the writers in the media room jump for joy at first then dive into their laptops to create their articles.During at this time, what was actually happening was me and two of my classmates ate dinner while the other two went to watch the game with free tickets that was given to us.

There was a lot of people!

On the second half of the game, it was our turn to watch. I was really excited to because this would be my first time watching a live game of soccer. If you look closely in the picture, you could see me....just kidding. It was an exhilarating 2nd half. The ball kept going back and forth teams and there was a lot of attempted shots that kept giving us mini heart attacks. There were 2 instances that i could not forget in the 2nd half: one amazing attempt to shoot a goal by a player i forgot who and the amazing block of Neil Etheridge.

I really hate it that i forgot who made the shot but it was amazing because it was my first time to see a half somersault kick. What made it amazing was that i wasn't expecting a kick like that to happen because it was crowded and everyone was defended well. The other exciting moment was Neil Etheridge blocking, for me, an almost impossible shot. The ball was just an arm's length away and he was able to puch it out of its course in the nick of time. I was screaming like a fanboy who's been watching soccer forever. But ofcourse, the game ended with a tie and for me it was still a great game.

Malaysia Team Coach and player with sir Rick

Back in the Media Room, the Press Conference was ready to start and last minute reminders were being given. HUGE cameras were already set up and the place was getting warm because it was crowded with people. This was when i thought to myself that THIS was more like a press conference. You could feel the photographers eyes burning through the lenses of their cameras and writers scribbling in their notebooks. And as soon as the Malaysian Coach entered, everyone fell silent and the questions began.

Dennis Wolf, Coach Weiss, Sir Rick Olivares, Neil Etheridge , Jason Sabio

As the Azkals team came dripping in one by one (and as I collect the bibs dripping with sweat), the press showed more interest to question this team than the other. Actually, this also happened before against Korea and made me quite puzzled. Shouldn't we ask as much questions to the other team as well as our team? Well it may just be me who's complaining. There was a lot of good questions thrown in for the team and there was a couple of bad ones.

Once before i learned that there was such a thing as bad questions to ask during a press conference. During this press conference, i experienced, witnessed, and heard the most "wtf" question for a team. I suddenly understood what a stupid question was. The question basically asks the coach if the change of players during the last part of the game made a huge effect on the game to being a draw. Not only was my mouth open but my chinky eyes grew wide and felt embarrassed. The coach's reaction wasn't fun to hear to because you could hear the thunder in his voice (while on the other side of the table, Etheridge and Sabio was laughing and making fun of the situation. Kind of like when a little boy teases a younger sibling for being scolded! "NYE NYE!")

This experience has been a really great one. Compared to my last experience, there was more action, drama and suspense in this one. On a serious note, the very important things i should remember if i ever pursue journalism is research and critical thinking. Whatever branch of journalism it would be, research and critical thinking is what you need to truly flesh out the needed information needed to come out. Not doing so would be a huge waste of time and time for a journalist is of the essence and their careers are bound by time. On a lighter note, i did learn that there will always be time for fun even at the most serious of times (thank you Etheridge and other reporters and photographers for teaching me this).

As a last "field trip" for journalism class, i would have to admit this a great one. *not crying that this is the last*

Awww!

Azkals vs. Icheon by Miguel Salvador

It was after classes and I was rushing to go the the MRT to go to Rizal Memorial Stadium. In the back of my head as i traveled, all I could think about was the many star athletes I would get to see up close when I get to the stadium (and the many sweaty people I'm trying to avoid in the cramped up MRT). I was so proud and thankful to have an opportunity like this (thanks Sir Rick) that I kept bragging to my parents that I would get to watch an Azkals game live. My mom got so jealous and said i should bring her with me to the game.

Arriving at the stadium, my hair was rising because you could really tell that this was a big deal event with all the security guards around that looked like huge boulders on steroids. Even entry was hard. But as I got in, and met up with my classmates, and was briefed on the things we could do, and the limitations we had, it was then that i realized that we weren't here for sight seeing but to work and experience what it was like to manage a press con.

Our job was simple, to register the media and photographers who would go to the game. It was fine, but to be honest, it was boring. It was a job that could be done by 2-3 people and there was 5 of us. Everything in the Media Room was slow as well. People would come and go and would sometimes ask us about things we have no idea about. Later on as there were more and more people coming in, and more and more questions were being asked, it was getting more difficult for us because we started sounding like idiots who kept on saying sorry for not knowing what to say or do. This was, for me, the most frustrating part about not being completely briefed or at least being given more information on where to point whoever to answer their questions. As Christopher Lao said several times, "I should have been informed!" The briefing was also kind of a flop for me because most of the media people were late. I just hope they were able to know what they needed to know.

What was disappointing also was that not all the players were present on this game. I, myself, am not a fan of soccer nor the azkals and the only people I really knew in the team were the Younghusbands and Etheridge because of the hype they got on TV. So it was really a downer that the players here were kind of unknown.  But in the media room, you could hear reporters and media people talking about the players. It was here that I really got some information so that I wouldn't look like a total noob. Plus, interacting with these media people was hilarious because they cracked jokes and was totally friendly. It was the kind of ambiance that where it might be fun to be friends with all the people there.

The most exciting part was when i actually started watching the game. At first i was bored to tears because as i said, i really am not into soccer/football. As soon as the Koreans scored, i started dozing off. 70+min later, i started watching and Angeles scored all of a sudden! It was a total rush of adrenaline! I WAS HAVING FUN! From that moment till the end, i watched it till the kick out ended. It was sad that we lost but to experience this for the first time was great.

Icheon Player and Coach

The game ended, there we were rushing to ready the Media Room to ready the press conference. I was excited because i imagined this to be just like the ones in the movies where there were many reporters trying to ask a lot of questions. Once again, reality exceeded expectations because there was barely any media people in the room. The room was barely filled with the reporters. I just thought to myself that maybe the Filipinos were just late (as usual). The Korean couch with their team member entered and there was barely any questions asked.

Angeles and Coach Michael Weiss

When Angeles and Coach Weiss came into the media room, the place got more intense and more questions were asked to the seemingly shy Angeles. Coach Weiss on the other hand sounded very strong and seemed like a bad person to mess with.

As a whole, I was kind of okay with the experience. No doubt i learned something new about Press Conferences, soccer, football and the press. But what interested me was what Sir Icko was doing. I really would want to see what sir Icko or what sir Rick does in these press conferences. Them running around, checking if everything is going well is something i would want to witness first hand. I feel like the rush of blood of managing the entire thing is a more interesting experience. Someday, I hope I would get to experience or witness what sir Icko is doing. (Konting parinig lang! haha!) Or maybe I'm interested in what they are doing because i haven't seen them do exactly what they are doing. The mystery is so compelling! Till next time!

-Migo Salvador

Wawa Dam Trip :)

Maraming lugar sa  Pilipinas ang hindi pa at hindi na nabibigyang pansin. Nagkaroon na ako ng pagkakataong makalibot sa ilang kilalang tourist spots sa Pilipinas – Boracay, Bohol, Palawan, Cagayan de Oro, Camiguin at iba pa.

Nagkaroon na ako ng pagkakataong makapunta sa Coron (Palawan) noong 2009 at masasabi kong ito na ang pinakamagandang parte ng Pilipinas na napuntahan ko. Sabay na gusto at ayaw kong mapansin ito ng mga tao. Oo, nais kong mapansin ito ng buong mundo dahil sa angkin nitong ganda at paniguradong makikilala ang ating bansa. Sa kabilang banda, ayaw ko rin dahil paniguradong mag-uunahan ang mga malalaking kompanya upang makapagpatayo ng kani-kanilang establisyimento doon at makalipas ang ilang buwan ay mapapabayaan na ang kapaligiran.

Maraming yaman ang ating bansa ngunit tila hindi ito binibigyang importansya ng ilan nating kababayan. Hindi kasama sa mga tinutukoy ko ang mga naninirahan sa Rizal kung saan makikita ang Wawa Dam. Maingat na binabantayan ng mga naninirahan doon at ng lokal na pamahalaan ang mga bumibisita roon. Ipinagbabawal na ang pangunguha ng marble doon.

Maganda ang daan patungo sa watch tower. Naabutan pa namin ang ilang kalalakihang nagpipintura ng railings. Halatang binibigyan talaga ng halaga ng mga taga-roon ang tourism ng Wawa Dam.

Sa kabilang banda, sa tingin ko’y kailangan ng kaonting ayos ang daan patungo sa Pamintinan Cave. Wala sa akin ang mabatong daan paakyat ngunit baka mawalan ng gana ang ibang taong umakyat doon dahil na rin sa hindi pa sementadong daan. Isa pa naman ito sa mga importanteng lugar na parte na ng ating kasaysayan. Ang kakulangan din ng ilaw sa loob ay isa sa mga maaaring maging hadlang upang mabisita ang lugar na ito.

Ang pinakahindi ko makakalimutan sa trip na ito ay ang mga taong nandoon. Sa kabila ng bigat ng kanilang mga dinadala paakyat at pababa ng bundok, nakukuha pa rin nilang ngumiti at makipag-usap sa amin kahit sandali. Maraming bata ang naglalangoy at naglalaro sa dam, mayroong mga naglalaro ng billiards sa isang banda at may nagvivideoke naman sa kabila. Totoo ngang ang mga Pilipino ang isa sa mga yaman ng ating bansa. Sa kabila ng hirap ng buhay, nakukuha pa rin nating ngumiti at makihalubilo sa mga tao ng walang alinlangan.

     

Ang pinakahindi ko makakalimutan sa trip na ito ay ang mga taong nandoon. Sa kabila ng bigat ng kanilang mga dinadala paakyat at pababa ng bundok, nakukuha pa rin nilang ngumiti at makipag-usap sa amin kahit sandali. Maraming bata ang naglalangoy at naglalaro sa dam, mayroong mga naglalaro ng billiards sa isang banda at may nagvivideoke naman sa kabila. Totoo ngang ang mga Pilipino ang isa sa mga yaman ng ating bansa. Sa kabila ng hirap ng buhay, nakukuha pa rin nating ngumiti at makihalubilo sa mga tao ng walang alinlangan.

Nakuha pang makipagbiruan sa akin ng isang mamang nagbubuhat ng kahoy. Nagpaalam ako kung maaari ko siyang kuhanan ng larawan. Tumigil siya sa paglalakad at sinabing, “basta ba makakarating yan ng ibang bansa ha.” Natawa siya sa sagot kong, “kuya wag mo po ako kakalimutan pag sumikat ka na po ha.” :)

Kakaiba ang karanasang ito para sa akin. Oo, tunay ngang napakaganda ng lugar na ito. Nakakapanghinayang isiping hindi ito napapansin at pinapahalagahan ng ibang tao. Kakaonti na lamang ang ganitong lugar sa bansa at may pagkakataon pa tayong tumulong na maisalba ito at hindi masayang. Nais ko ring bigyang pugay ang mga taong patuloy na pinangangalagaan ang lugar, sana ay hindi masayang ang kanilang mga pinaghirapan.

--- Meg Rementina

The KIA Rio Cup Experience! :)

Days before Christmas, our brothers and sisters from southern Philippines were greatly affected by typhoon Sendong. The death toll has exceeded a thousand and hundred individuals are still missing. This has been one of the worst calamities to hit the Philippines for the past years and probably the worst that Iligan and Cagayan de Oro experienced.

Soon after the typhoon, help poured in from several groups and individuals. One of which is the Kia Rio Cup which is the Azkals’ second charity game for the benefit of ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya: Operation Sendong. The first one was against the Internacional de Madrid, a Spanish Third Division team, which concluded in a 3-1 score favoring the visiting team.

The friendly match between the Azkals and Korean’s Icheon City FC was held in the Rizal Memorial Stadium last January 21. This is the first time that our national team will be playing against a South Korean soccer club. The pre-press conference was held last Friday at the Discovery Suites.

Bin Tae Kwan scored the first goal for Icheon in the 21^st minute. There have been several attempts by the Azkals to tie the game in the first half. Denis Wolf, who played his very first game as an Azkals player, had a number of shots but were not successful. On the 89^th minute, Marwin Angeles scored a goal, forcing a penalty shootout to determine who wins the charity game.

#24 Marwin Angeles' goaaaaaaaal! :)

The Azkals lost the shootout, only able to score 2 goals from Chieffy Caligdong and Ruben Doctora compared to the 4 goals of the Icheon City FC.

           
This has been the third friendly game of the Azkals (first: against the LA Galaxy and the second: against the Internacional de Madrid) and sadly, this is also their third loss. Coach Michael Weiß is still optimistic about the Filipinos’ support in football by saying that we should take advantage of the enthusiasm and the euphoria going on in the country to encourage young boys and girls to play the sport at a very young age.

There were a lot of kids who watched the game.

They even got a signed Azkals shirt! (Nakakainggit! :| Hahaha!)

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I don’t really know how it is or what will happen in the Kia Rio Cup press conference and the game itself but I was actually nervous thinking about it. Haha! I really had fun learning and meeting new people especially in the media room. We were in charge of registering and releasing the media passes. Although this game wasn’t that jampacked compared to the previous ones, we got the chance to experience at least how it is to work and deal with the media and organize the press conference.

'Filipino time' is probably one of the most annoying characteristics of Pinoys but I think in certain events such as press conferences, we should definitely consider the limited time that the coaches and the players have. Maybe, one of the most difficult things to ensure in a pre-game press conference is whether there would be enough media to cover the event. It is necessary to get as much publicity as possible to make the event a success. Notifying and reassuring the media about the schedule of the press conference could be one of the challenges the organizers experience.

I watched and observed how Kuya Icko makes sure that everything was set. I must say that it is very difficult. He ran from one place to another, talked to the security to clarify things, briefed us with what will happen and what are we supposed to do, dealt with the media when they have concerns regarding their passes and tickets and organized the post-game press conference. There is definitely a lot of pressure being responsible for making this event a success and I think everyone did their best to ensure that all things fall into place. J

--- Meg Rementina

Lou's very very personal taste/sandwich contest review

As a foreigner in the Philippines, I experienced how much taste for food is based on culture. Reviewing food here means reviewing my palate as well. French food is told sophiscated. I would rather welcome you in my narrow minded culinary world !

When Chef Edward Bugia came to Ateneo on the17^th of January to judge students' innovative sandwiches, he was quite surprised nobody used mayo. My team mates straight looked at me. That's right I vetoed it. « I know it will look French and pretentious. But please guys let's not use mayo it will be sweet or at least I'll cook a homemade one ».

Many of my fellow country mate living here became « food pretentious » as well. We are frightened in front of any jelly, disgusted by the most common peanut butter and we are moved to pity for poor sweet bread. We did not grew up eating this kind of food. Our obsessive worry in front of a menu turned out to be sweetness present in so many salty eats.

My sweet/salty car accident 

Mantra of Sir Olivares sandwich contest was to be original. So on, originality efforts focused on sweet/salty compositions. When I tasted the Red Light District, burgers ingredients inside a Krispy Kreme doughnut, I couldn't help saying, « It's not good when it's too sweet, » to my sandwich's creator classmate. It was rude. It was also rude for my taste buds. Homemade beef patties were made from thick and tender meat. I crunched inside with pleasure. But this meat and sweet cake pastry combination was equivalent to a violent car accident for my palate. Collision of two tastes not expected to ever meet.

Lighter sweet and salty mixings

The Fili(pino) Cheesesteak and the Breakfast Club offered a lighter sweet/salty mixing. Longganisa, pan de sal with cheese for the first one and bacon, avocado and cheese for the other, those mixing are defenitely not included in French taste. Eating them, I felt the attachment I got to this food since I'm in this country. Still in France, I would have said, « Bread is sweet ! Meet is sweet ! It can't work ! » And now I do know I'll certainly miss pan de sal back in my country. I enjoyed as well the avocado creating a new spread with cheese.

Big sporty guys need meat

Peanut butter, ketchup, mustard and different meats between two sandwich loaf slices for the Buff Dude creation brought back my strict policy about sweet and salty segregation. Taste of each food was quite lost. But I do understand that's kind of sandwich big guys getting out of their sport training would crave for.

Rereading my review, I'm feeling French cuisine appears more conservative than sophisticated. What's salty must remains in the main meal while sweetness stays on the dessert list. Sweet/salty mixings are rare in France but when there are it's a matter of proportions. Sweetness is displayed by tiny touches to emphasize salty flavours. We like a honey drop on our goat chesse or few figs on foie gras.

The Nacocoloco sandwich reminded me those mixings. Contrary to Chef Edward's opinion, I definitely think coco jam blends with German roast beef. I enjoyed this soft taste meat which got emphasized by light mixing with this extremly sweet spread.

Jam is ready to be displayed. Just a bit. 

Keep it simple but keep it straight as well

As the session was ending, Chef Edward treated Journalist's students with his last original culinary creation. Between two large bread slices, he arranged lettuce leaves,  shredded kani sticks seasoned with Japanese mayonnaise, wasabi and pepper, strips of green mangoes, Japanese caviar topped with crispy dili . It was an interesting tasteful mix of salty/sweet flavours highlighted by the good quality bread.

He explained to the students sandwich making rule is K.I.S.S. Not kissing the bread but Keep it Simple, Stupid. And he definitely knows what's talking about. Adviser for cooking TV shows, creator of many restaurants in Quezon city, Chef Edward is a fusion food master. Pino, his restaurant near Manginhawa street arranges together oriental spices, Pinoy meals and European inspirations.

It gives a clue about his best sandwich choice. During Steaklibrary's brainstorming session, I insisted to avoid sweet sauce or meat. While we were preparing the Fancylog sandwich in front of the audience, Jiggy spoke with a weird well imitated French accent to present our multi cultural creation. We displayed on the bread a pesto tapenade made from sun dried tomatoes, olives and peanuts. The spread was covered by some Tocino and Beef Tapa meat cubes.

Contrary to our expectations, meat was sweet. And it did create this soft sweet and salty mixed that is certainly our sandwich key success. This last minute recipe change taught me I should avoid to be gastro fascist.

I often say everything labelled as « grown up stuffs » is disgusting at first taste. Coffee, cigarettes and alcohol. But people do enjoy it afterwards.

According to my personal proverb, everything is a matter of habit. I started enjoying the soft sweet taste of some Filipino eats. But with my 20 years French food education, it means I should eat tons of peanut butter before to like it. YUCK …. or yum according to different people tastes.

And those culturally subjective biases are certainly one of the most important limit for food criticism.