ArchInspire #028: Earth Chapel

The official promotional poster after the DOT 'More fun in the Philippines" meme.

Here's an overdue post from my not-so-recent visit to Bacolod City last March. It was one of the highlights of our sojourn aside from our ocular inspection and negotiation from one of the prospective donor's one-hectare site in the municipality of Murcia. During our visit, we stayed in the convent of the Recoleto friars inside the campus of the University of Negros Occidental - Recoletos. It was within the area of Greenheart Hermitage where we saw and held Mass in the Earth Chapel - a collaborative work from three Negrense artists anchored on their common advocacy of protecting the environment. Here's my review of the structure:

The chapel is the first solar-powered religious edifice in the country where it is envisioned both to have a sound spiritual and environmental atmosphere. The main material used for its walls were mud mixed with lime and rice straws. The posts and trusses were salvaged bamboo trunks and the roofing is made up of thatched cogon grass. During the day, the green-tinted old wine bottles incorporated in the structure lets in an ambient lighting aside from serving as an aesthetic recycled stained-glass window. LED lights were used to illumine the interior at night. Discarded tiles and wood slabs are only some of its notable recycled materials. The chapel was envisioned to be the center of the community's ecological reflection, owing to the spiritual inspiration of our Creator, in the hopes of transforming individuals in the community to be men and women of faith committed to protect and preserve the earth.

The collaborative project was from the brain juice of Marisol Alquiza (visual artist), who sketched and designed the chapel; Brother Tagoy Jakosalem (a Recoleto friar and an official presenter of The Climate Reality Project), who did the interior and conceptualized the incorporation of the use renewable energy to make the structure true to form and function in its liturgical scheme; and Nunenlancio Alvarado (a leading social-realist artist in the country) who designed the centerpiece of the chapel - a mosaic crucifix for the altar that depicts Christ as a suffering sacada.

The Earth Chapel adds another spiritual and liturgical venue in the island of Negros, aside from the "Chapel of the Angry Christ" in Victorias and the "Chapel of the Cartwheels" in Manapla. The chapel is a model of how a place of worship can maximize the use of renewable energy and indigenous materials in its structure.

Below are the original images I took during our visit. We also made history by celebrating the first Holy Mass in it after its official blessing from the Bishop of Negros Occidental :)

 

Christ as a suffering sacada. (Altar centerpiece by Nunelancio Alvarado)

Movie Premier: Cristiada

Behind the scenes (Image retrieved from Google)

After my last flick fest with There Be Dragons, I'm on the look-out for the premier of this cool movie that is currently in its post production. 

Cristiada is about the Cristero War in Mexico in 1926 to 1929 sparked by the anti-clerical and anti-Catholic persecution of the atheist government of then president, Plutarco Elías Calles. He ordered the massacre of Catholics and attempted to secularize the country by stripping away religion. The film follows the life of ordinary citizens who decide to stand up against the corrupt and poorly-directed government to fight for their religious freedom!

The movie stars heavyweight Hollywood stars such as Andy Garcia, Eva Longoria, Eduardo Verastegui, and Peter O’Toole. The film is directed by Dean Wright who is veteran visual effects supervisor on blockbuster films including The Lord of the Rings series The Two Towers (2002) and The Return of the King (2003). This is his directorial debut.

A favorite blogger writes, "Have this film known so you and especially your kids might know the atrocities committed against Catholics by those who tout "human rights" and "separation of church and state" as infallible dogmas."

Movie Premier: There Be Dragons

There Be Dragons is a drama which explores themes such as betrayal, forgiveness, friendship, and finding the meaning of life in everyday life. The movie is about 

people trying to find meaning about their lives.

Synopsis and Themes from Wikipedia: 

The epic film tells the story of a Spanish journalist, Robert, who is mending relations with his dying father, Manolo, who took part in the Spanish Civil War. The journalist discovers through his investigations that his father was a close childhood friend of Josemaría Escrivá, a candidate for sainthood, with whom he had a complicated relationship. Manolo became a soldier during the Spanish Civil War and became obsessed with a beautiful Hungarian revolutionary, Ildiko. She rejects him and gives herself to a brave militia leader Oriol. Manolo becomes jealous and takes a path of betrayal.

The film includes the early life of Josemaría Escrivá, a modern-day saint and the founder of Opus Dei, an institution of the Catholic Church which teaches that ordinary human life is a path to sanctity. Escrivá, who died in 1975, was canonized by John Paul II in 2002. Director Roland Joffé, who initially shied away from the project, was "ultimately intrigued by the chance to dramatize the life of a modern-day saint, particularly considering Escrivá's 'liberating' view that a path to God could be found in an ordinary life."

According to Joffé, they are "making a film about love, human love and divine love, about hate, about betrayal, about war, about mistakes, about everything it is to be a human being." The theme of forgiveness, says Charlie Cox, who plays St. Josemaria, is "always going to be a key when you're talking about Christianity at all, especially if you’re talking about a man who is canonized." Josemaria, Cox adds, "understood that the reason one must forgive is because that hatred and that anger and that resentment lives in you."

*******

Tara na sa Trinoma on Novermber 9! Haha. Who's coming with me to see this film?

Redeeming Halloween

Image borrowed here

Here's a repost from one my fave Catholic blogs :)

There is much confusion about the origins of Halloween, and about what the Church celebrates on and around this day. Sometimes it can be a little difficult to make sense of it all. As a result, I offer the following links to articles and other resources that will help you to learn more about these holidays, and to defend them against the oh-so-typical charge that Catholics are pagans (in case you're wondering, we're not).

• My High Holy Day by John Zmirak - crisismagazine.com
• Halloween: It's Origins and Celebration - EWTN
• All Hallow's Eve by Mary Reed Newland - Catholic Education Resource Center
• Ideas for Sanctifying Halloween by Jen Miller - Catholic Education Resource Center
• How Halloween can be Redeemed by Page Zyromski - AmericanCatholic.org
• Is the celebration of Halloween a pagan feast? - Catholics United for the Faith, Inc.
• All Saint's Day and All Soul's Day - New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia

Exhibit Review: ICONS – Traditions and Transformation in Philippine Architecture

Exhibit Overview:

THE Cultural Center of the Philippines unveiled an exhibition of architectural designs entitled ICONS: Traditions and Transformation in Philippine Architecture (CCP Architectural Design Competition winners) at the CCP Bulwagang Juan Luna (Main Gallery) in celebration of the CCP’s 42nd anniversary.

iReport borrowed here

• Background. The said exhibit is part of the CCP Architectural Design Competition held last March 2011 for the two new iconic structures: The Performing Arts Theater and the Artists’ Center, which is two of the seven iconic buildings that will form the centerpiece of the CCP Complex’s 62-hectare Master Development Plan to provide world-wide facilities and spaces for the artists and the core programs of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. 
• Public Architecture. What were initially considered as oddities and blots in the urban landscape, are now visited by millions. The design of these two structures must reflect the Filipino art and culture as well as address the disconnect and disparity between the iconic development and the people. 
• Finalists. Selected from 17 entries that included major architectural firms in the country, the five finalists are the following: Lor Calma and Partners, Syndicated Architects, Palafox Associates, Buensalido Architects and Leandro V. Locsin Partners, Architects.

Vizprint WIT Reader's Day Review

I was supposed to participate in a tree-planting event by the Luzon State jurisdiction at the La Mesa Reservoir in Fairview last Saturday when my alarm clock failed to fulfill its purpose of waking me at 4 in the morning. I was devastated that I was left by my brothers. Fortunately on a different account, I had read the day before in Will's blog an event where I could meet the authors of my fave pop comics and literature. So goes the spontaneous change of plans for the day for failing to wake up early.

Photos from the exhibit hall of the recent Visprint Writers in Talk first ever annual reader's day held at the SMX Convention Center in the Mall of Asia Compound last Saturday (Credit goes to Ate Mylene Reyes for lending me permission to use flicks of the event)

 

Was hyped to see them in flesh: Paolo Fabregas (The Filipino Heroes League), 

Manix Abrera (Kikomachine Komix Collection), Karen Francisco (Naermyth), 

Carlo Vergara (Zsa Zsa Zaturnah) and Alan Navarra!

My starstruck moment with Alan Navarra, author of Girl Trouble (2007) and the recently released dumot. Apparently, the latter title has not been released in the market yet. The first printed copies were introduced during the event. I had mine signed. And I think I'm the first reader to have ever laid an eye in these babies :) ayeee~!

Music and Architecture: Dos Bravissimos Concert

I had a blast last night at the Cultural Center of the Philippines with my brothers and sisters of Awit Papuri. Ate L (a Voice Major at UST) invited us in this wonderful rare joint concert by the world's most awarded choir from the University of Ljubljana, Akademski Pevski Zbor (APZ) Tone Tomšic of Slovenia and our very own Choir of the World winner, University of Santo Tomas (UST) Singers.

I was ecstatic because I had a lot of 'firsts' in that event. It was my first time watching a choir concert. Second, it was also my first time in CCP (I was literally and 'addictively' breathing and sniffing Leandro Locsin's concrete edifice paying close attention to the monumentality, intricacy, and 'sense of place' of the place). And last, who-are-you-freakin'-kidding-that-was-the-best-performance-ever! I tell you, there is a lot of reason to be jumpy because the theater I've been to last night was able to fuse two of my best love ever - quality choir music and quality architecture.

Refreshingly soul-stirring, I honestly had a deeper and more profound appreciation of the beautiful voices God gave us, and the ideas he continuously inspires upon the top stewards of built environment, our Architects. Swear I will never take these things again for granted. (Might as well check out this article and this article for more information about Dos Bravissimos).

Akademski Pevski Zbor (APZ) Tone Tomšič from the University of Ljubjana in Slovenia

University of Santo Tomas Singers

With Two Girl Friends

I had a fun ‘family’ day yesterday with two great friends (my high school wife and daughter) despite the non-stop freaking downpour and my anxiety over more thesis proposals that I have to conjure from the depths of my mind so have at least one approved study to work on for two semesters. 

The thesis forum did clear up my mind regarding computer-generated presentations versus manually done renderings but the agony has obviously just started. I’m dying to have my proposals submitted to the Thesis Evaluation Committee but classes were cancelled today due to the incessant raining prolonging my pain some more. 

It was raining when we met up early at McDonald’s Tomas Morato; raining when we decided to go to Trinoma instead of Luneta; raining while having delish Seafood Bento at Teriyaki Boy; raining while devouring our personally-made frozen yogurt at Fruitti Froyo; and still raining when we parted at around three in the afternoon. Bummer.

With J @ McDonalds Tomas Morato

with J and K @ Tokyo Tokyo - Trinoma

Model daw ng Marks & Spencer :)

Fooling around with J

Frutti Froyo with best friends :)))

we just love doing our dance routines. hehe~

HIV/AIDS Youth Peer Education Training

My father woke me up to attend what I thought to be an excursion. I prepared for half an hour to catch the carpool service waiting at the City Hall fully clad in summer beach attire only to find out blindfolded that it was going to be a 2-day-and-one-night training program. Though it looked like I was completely out-of-place to be attending something that I am not even a member of, I am now considering everything to be an unusual struck of fate that opened my eyes to so much.

Young participants of the Red Cross Youth - HIV/AIDS Youth Peer Education Training

It was like a spontaneous weekend encounter retreat. The venue was awesome, the mountainous vistas were breathtaking, the food was simply great, the facilitators were very approachable and accommodating and the topics discussed were quenching and easy to digest. It was truly and simply awesome.

I was on TV! Big deal...

I never looked good in camera :( O baka, bagong gising lang? Ahaha. 

Here's a video of the Healing Eucharist TV Mass (6th Sunday of Easter) presided by the Most Reverend Honesto Ontioco that aired in ABS-CBN yesterday (Sunday - May 29, 2011 - 6.00AM). It was the first time I ever got in a television studio or even witness first-hand a live broadcast so, yeah, it was somewhat nerve-wracking. Good thing it was a Eucharistic Celebration though. I'm glad my first time on TV was in a Mass singing with all my heart (even though I looked completely haggard and emaciated). Tsk-tsk.

An Apostle's Easter Triduum Celebration

Image borrowed here

Arriving home from our morning services, I can't help but to feel nostalgic with probably the best Easter Triduum celebration I took part with starting last week's Maundy Thursday. Oh the euphoria still lingers. And I already miss that sense of fellowship everybody coming from the different ministries and walks of life have created. Perhaps such form of united passion, hope and service is a common sight (and of course, a requisite) in every Eucharistic Celebration I've ever seen yet nothing can truly compare to that intense sense of communion during the celebration of Christ's Ressurection where everybody stops for a while in their daily lives to make that Easter journey regaining a new perspective of life and how to live its meaning in the Paschal Mystery of Christ's Passion and Ressurection.

To tell it flat, I truly had a blast having chosen by the music ministry to represent one of the Twelve apostles. It was something new which I have not pictured myself doing yet here I am point blank staring at mid-air reflecting on something I wish could've lasted a little longer.

{Some Reflections}

• For starters, I was able to avail of the Sacrament of Confession as part of our spiritual preparation a week before all activities commenced. And I tell you, the Lord's forgiveness truly is one of the greatest gift I received during this year's Season of Lent.
• Simply honouring and humbling. Almost cried when my Father R kissed my foot during the Washing of the Feet. For a milli-second there, I almost pictured him as Jesus and I as one of his beloved apostles. The experience is simply incomparable in any manner. We even had a closed-door agape reenacting the Lord's Last Supper where we first established the Eucharist.
• 'Behold the wood of the cross on which is hung our salvation. O come, let us adore.' - I just looove that song. It was playing in my head the whole of Good Friday. I'll surely miss this solemn chants when Easter arrives.
• I learned all about the salvific meaning and the redemptive mystery of our everyday trials and sufferings. It is true that there is no smooth road in becoming a faithful follower of Jesus. But let us all strive to imitate Simon of Cyrene who learned to love the weight of the Cross upon encounter with the suffering Jesus.
• The procession with the Santo Entierro was really tiring yet it gave me the much needed long walk of reflection with the rest of the faitful community while praying the Rosary. With lighted candles in our hand, we made our way thru the deserted commercial street of Timog Avenue to the slow neighborhood of the Scouters area silently reflecting on the Lord's Passion. The solemnity of it all is just overwhelming.
• I was touched by one woman's faith during our Black Saturday Pax Tecum Visit where we visited and prayed with the families of 8 chosen homes (we were assisted by a member of the Legio Mariae and a member of the BEC). She was teary-eyed and thankful saying in us she saw the real beloved apostles of the Lord - even asking for our blessings when she made the gesture of respect, the mano.
• And finally, I was able to meet with other faithful men from different ministries/walks of life and share a fellowship which by God's grace I pray will continue even after this Easter celebration. With the messed up perspective of manhood that for quite a time littered my mind, it is such a blessing to see other fellow men standing up (for whatever reason that lead them) to represent Jesus' beloved apostles. All this time in the back of my mind, proudly I say - 'ang isang tunay na lalaki ay malapit kay Hesukristo.'

As we get on with our daily grind, with the work place (and the university as for me), may we always remember that redemptive Passion of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. May we consider this as regaining of our sense of perspective in life where with great clarity, we know it has a meaning and we can live it out with a sense of mission.

We should rejoice for the Lord has risen! May the glory of Our Lord be known to all! Thanks be to God. Alelluia! Alleluia! Happy Easter to all! :)

Lenten Recollection: 3 Parables of God's Mercy

Rembrandt's famous Parable of the Lost Son painting. Image borrowed here

Parable of the Lost Coin. Image borrowed here

Last Monday, I attended a 2-hour Lenten Recollection by Rev. Fr. Froilan Briones of The Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament (SSS) organized in our beloved St. Paul the Apostle Parish. He prepared a very well presentation on the subject of 'Spirituality of Love, Sacrifice and Unity,' in relation to one of our parish's main vision which is COMMUNIO.

Key gospel verses discussed in the presentation were the three parable of God's mercy (the main theme of Luke 15) and are as follows: the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Lk 15: 3-7), the Parable of the Lost Coin (Lk 15: 8-10) and the Parable of the Lost Son (Lk 15: 11-32).

For once I did quite enjoyed the evening to bask in the silence and the solemn atmosphere of our church while listening to some truly Godly reflections.

The highlight of the talk was in the climax of the Prodigal Son's verse where all was challenged to identify oneself not with the Younger Son (representing the tax collectors and the sinners in Jesus' time) nor with the Older Son (representing the Pharisees and the self-righteous in Jesus' time), but with the compassionate Father - the true main focus of the parable who - exemplified his loving mercy and tenderness when he accepted back the repentant son.

The main theme here rather than conversion was the restoration of a believer into the fellowship with the Father after falling from grace. It paints a picture of how we must respond to our repentant brothers and sisters in our daily lives. Here we are reminded how the three parable of God's mercy came after Jesus' teachings about the demands of discipleship where we are shown that He is not only speaking of God's mercy and forgiveness but He is as well insisting his followers to imitate God's attitude.

Truths:

• We don't have to (and can't) earn God's love.
• He loves us because He considers us as His children. We are family.
• God won't force us to live by His rules. If we insist, He will let us go our own way.
• If we choose to do things our own way instead of the Father's way, we have to live with the consequences of our actions.
• God will ALWAYS accept a repentant sinner, no matter what the person has done.
• Those who have been GOOD should not resent those who have been FORGIVEN.
• No matter what we have done in the past, God is genuinely happy to see us come back.

Defend Life: Walk For Life 2011

The Knights of Columbus Luzon jurisdiction held its annual Pro-Life activity dubbed as Walk for Life on Saturday, March 26, 2011 with the theme “We value Life.” Five thousand members of the Knights of Columbus from Metro Manila and nearby provinces with their families and friends united in order to reiterate their stance against the Reproductive Health Bill and to promote life.

The Order of the Knights of Columbus is a staunch defender of life and the “Walk for Life,” is one of the actions taken to promote life in a national scale. In Manila the Walk for Life started with the Eucharistic celebration at 6:00 am held at San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila. The participants led by Luzon Deputy and Supreme Director, Alonso Tan marched from Gen. Luna St. in Intramuros, Manila to Rajah Sulayman Park in Malate, Manila.

Subsequently, a program was held where resource persons talked about the contentious issues of the Reproductive Health Bill and related topics on family and life.

@ Rajah Sulayman Park with brother Knights :)

Gen Luna St. @ Intramuros

Brothers!

Event Review: Architecture Student's Forum 2011

I had the a blast last Wednesday participating with my fellow mates at the first ever Architecture Student’s Forum held at Tan Yan Kee Auditorium and Beato Angelico AVR of the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas. With the goal of stimulating active participation in the revision of the current BS Architecture Course Program, participating universities who responded to the invitation include student delegates from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Manuel L Quezon University, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, College of Saint Benilde, Far Eastern University and the University of Santo Tomas.

Senior year student delegates from our college
(ako yung papansing naka-'peace' sign sa likuran. hehe.)

Panel of Reactants: Arch. Fernandez and Arch. Alarcon

Cluster Presentation of resolutions @ Beato Angelico AVR

The first plenary address entitled “Architecture Education: Its Current and Future State” given by Arch. John Joseph Fernandez, current Dean of UST College of Architecture, President of the Council of Deans and Heads of Architecture Schools in the Philippines (CODHASP) and the Executive Director of the Commission on Education of the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), was thorough in painting a picture of the current situation of our five-year ladderized curriculum based on CHED Memorandum Order 61 (CMO61) or the Policies and Standards for Bachelor of Science in Architecture Program. A hitch regarding the number of schooling years surfaced, the need for more hours in the architectural subjects to be taken, the seeming redundancy of GenEd subjects included in the course program, the superficiality of lessons being taught in Building Utilities and Building Technology subjects, and issues regarding the two-years worth of diversified experience to be taken as an undergraduate vs. Post-graduate.

The participating body was divided into four clusters that will discuss, assess and review the current curriculum as implemented in their respective colleges. They then formulated resolutions and presented these in the Panel of Reactants composed of Arch. John Joseph Fernandez and Arch. Norma Alarcon. After an open discussion, the cluster leaders together with the panel of reactants drafted the final resolution to be proposed to the higher body concerned.

An eye-opener in the sense that I would have never known such issues regarding the academe, the event was a success in making students aware, in lending an ear to our take on the matter, and in fostering camaraderie between architectural colleges represented by the delegates.

I certainly would love to participate more in these kinds of events. I’ve made acquaintances and probably have met my future colleagues in the industry :)

Becky University: Nowitzki Meets Theofratus and Superjaid

1.00AM. Just got home and am starting to feel a warm sensation slowly engulfing every bone and muscle of my body. Perhaps it was the XXX Cocktail Tower Theofratus Roussalier Aurelius, SuperJaid and I consumed as we sat in one corner at Padis Point Bar and Restaurant - Sky Garden SM North Edsa. It took long for the drink to take its effect on me proving how my body's becoming more tolerant at such beverages. The stenching smell of  lit cigarettes, the loud live band playing a mixed genre of pop, RnB and disco beat downstairs and the blinding LCD screen flashing commercials and movie trailers attached above SM Annex garnering much attention became our witnesses for this one very gracious night.

Padis Point - Sky Garden SM North Edsa.

SuperJaid and Theofratus Roussalier Aurelius :)

Theofratus was especially interesting in a way that we share a rather reserved personality (wari ko'y mapagnilay rin syang bata). I am glad to have met someone from my generation who grew up as well in the big QC, give a damn about books and writing as much as I do and with an odd predilection for all things Greek and mythological (Hehe. I was 10 when I started devouring every encyclopaedic article on Classical Greek mythology while making my own charts and family trees of divinities, heroes and monsters which I still keep to this day). It was fun as we started loosening our tied tongues sharing random musings about school, thesis, the city, and services (go tenors!) at our local parishes. Truly a worthy warm exchange I was craving for all night.

SuperJaid was super late (ahihi!) but nonetheless super warm and super inviting. The party hasn't even started when she came. With a spitting image of a close friend, I was the whole time wandering if she may have been a long lost twin sister of Jen. She was never awkward though we have only met and I loved how she shamefully lambasted Theo (which I suspect their way of exchanging terms of endearment) with a seasoned vocabulary that frankly blows my mind sending me guffawing all over the place.

(Update: Hindi rin nagpahuli si Theo sa pagpapakitang gilas! Mei talent syang out-of-this-world na pedeng pang-Ripley's Believe-It-Or-Not. Imagine a giraffe sticking his tongue right up his nasal cavity. ahahah!)


Ito nga pala yung mga nilafang namin :)

XXX Cocktail Tower. Hindi ko na na-jot down yung mga drinks na kasama dito. Basta ang alam ko parang sa gummy bears yung colors niya :) I liked the blue one (middle) that tasted like bubble gum with a pinch of tequila/vodka/ewan.

Club Sandwich na may French Fries and mayo-ketchup na dip :)

Popping Mushrooms. Spicy mushroom with garlic. Masarap na pamulutan :)

5 sticks ng Home-style Barbecue na may vinegar condiment :)

Highlight of the night was how I felt being with them was synonymous to attending Becky University applying for a crash course subject on 'becky linguistics and other-worldly terminologies.' I learned quite a handful of 'em (many I've heard for the first time in my life) that will send my friend, Feisty Feline a.k.a. Lady G wanna-be begging for tender mercy! I mean where on earth will you ever find a civilization that uses the following terms? Ahaha. Only in the Philippines.

• Potahkels! (used in a loving cursing manner. an instant personal favorite. hihi XD)
• Lech! / Liche! (a variation of the more popular Letse! / Leche!)
• Chor-chor (an addition to the wide array of sentence-enhancers slash word-replacers: Chorva, Chorvs, Chorvalu, Char, Charness, etc.)
• Papalicious (synonymous to the stereotypically attractive and admirable genus of the male specimen)
• Jabongga (ahm...)
• Boset! (another term for Bwiset!)
• At marami pang iba. (Juice koh. Sa sobrang dami ay nakalimutan ko na. hehe)

And yes, how can I ever forget the more explicit expressions of Theo's wordplay completely 'devoid' of any sexual entailments. *wink wink* Haha. Am not even sure I've the guts to write about them here that's why I highly recommend to my dear readers to watch out for Theofratus' blog entry on the subject.

Mga monsters sa kailaliman ng gabi XD

Gusto ko yung blurred effect. Ahaha. Parang sinadya lang :)

I was struggling at first to think of the right words to say but sooner when the liquor starts to kick in, I figured there really were no right words to think or say. It may be the last time I'm going to enjoy blogging before all my academic toxicity for this semester starts to butt in. Right then was the perfect time to unwind, hangout and savour in a couple glass of drinks with some good old bloggers. 

I am hoping it won't be our last :) Thank you again, Theo and Jaid, for satisfying my hunger for small intimate get-togethers :)