The 'Clean' Dozen?

XXXXXXX

Last week a handful of Dirty Dozen guys met up at Treehouse, the alternative Batch63 hang out at Dian Street. Ed Oleta, Polding Arnaiz, Bert Saenz, Doug Marcaida, Oni Mayo and Balikbayans Nilo Villanueva and Gary Salcedo came for the event. The dinner hour gathering had the group famished and so there was a serious discussion on what to order. Initially, the group had fun with the waitresses when the items selected by the group were out of stock. Even the famous Polding's Kilawin was not available. The sarcastic gang then really gave it to management when they discarded the given menu and asked for the real menu with available dog food!

Eventually the group feasted on tuna belly (in tangy lemon butter and kalamansi sauce), crispy shrimps (fried with herbs and fully edible from tail to head), crispy pata (a hit as usual) and other pulutan sensations. But then where were the hard drinks? And the cigarettes? It was mind boggling to see none of these vices on the table! Has the Dirty Dozen become the Clean Dozen? Ed Oleta sheepishly said he has had an Angio and is cutting down. Lino is finally over the hump with his bronchitis and is keeping himself in check. Bert Saenz was worried about weight loss for a while and so is taking it easy.

I was about to praise the heavens for the transformation when the group got bored after a while. The guys ultimately headed for Justine's where finally brandy and beer were served on the table (among other products of the place). If GMA should "moderate her greed" in the words of Neri during the Senate hearing, the Dirty Dozen can "moderate their vice" when they have to, it seems. At least there were no cigarettes still when I had to leave the group ahead as usual.