Bubba and I had an early Saturday as we head off to Antipolo at 6am. October 18, 2008, it was the day of the Canon Photo Marathon and the venue is at MMLDC, Antipolo. Upon arrival at 7am, we were just in time for the registration. They looked for our names on their list. The areas were segregated to Abueva-Castillo, Celeste-Diaz, and so on, which made it easier for the participants to locate where to fall in line. But because of this organized process, there was no line at all. They provided us with a race kit that includes a red Canon shirt (and vest to boot! I like the black vest with pockets), Lipovitan and race guideline.
The program started at 845am which means we waited for almost 2 hours. During the 2 hours wait, Bubba and I bonded in our sleepy state, laughing at ourselves while eating Lay’s Salt and Vinegar for breakfast. So much for power breakfast. As we look around the huge room of about 300 people, we can’t help but snicker at how ridiculous my guts are for joining. Almost 90% of them looked like professional photographers. I look at their long telescopic lenses and latest Canon Digital SLRs and softly caressed my small Lowepro bag, where my Canon 350D hide in shame. Every time we caught a new person stroke his bad a** camera, we looked at each other with a glint of a smile. I lean over and whispered in Bubba’s ear, “I really feel so insecure.”
Canon Photo Marathon officially started about 9am. The first theme was Incredible View, where you capture nature’s most breathtaking scene/object. 30 minutes after (and 30 more high class lenses in sight), I raised the white flag. Bubba and I sat in the car and thought, “Let’s go to Pink Kitchen”
1115am, we arrived at Rockwell Tent and registered. It was only 35% full when we arrived but around 12nn, the place was packed! There was no visible vacant seat for the new flock coming in. Pink Kitchen is one of our more memorable food events of 2007 and we were just excited to partake in IcanServe’s 2nd installment of this annual event.
For some reason, my mind was in a whirlwind from all the fantastic food spread in front of me that I might have chosen the wrong dishes this time. Wrong in the sense that I have tried these dishes before and could have tried them anytime from their original location after the event. We had Chelsea’s pumpkin soup with goat cheese, Café Juanita’s beef rending (which I just had 2 weeks ago), morcon (I forgot where, this is Bubba’s order) and 1 whole frozen brazo to go (from Dimpy’s).
The whole set-up was so much prettier this year!!! Prettier set-up with bigger and longer tables. I love the pink and white drapery that billowing from the ceiling and crystal viney chandeliers. Even the huge white screen projector is prettified with a white framing. The stalls are in a garden fence theme. Tables are adorned with a pink table runner, a centerpiece of flowers (green apple and flower, stalk arrangement) and a vase with butterflies inside. I felt sorry for the butterflies though. I was glad that 2 were able to escape. Gold chairs with white cushion was same as last year if I remember right.
Pink Kitchen has really made a mark in our food calendar with the best cuisines from local chefs and the benevolent cause behind the gastronomic event. Visit the ICanServe website.
How was it? I feel really bad I missed it!
Hi Maver,
I like Pink Kitchen better this year. There are more tables and chairs. You can buy the cheats in different parts of the tent. I wish I were able to stay longer well until dinner.
Wynn Wynn Ong has a sign on her board that says all proceeds go to IcanServe, which is really uplifting to know that your purchase of food actually helps in cancer awareness.
I almost wasn’t able to go! The Canon Photo Marathon was supposed to end at 9pm. The following day was my friend’s wedding. But I’m so glad I went. Why weren’t you able to go?
Jane