297 – On The Manam Experience And A Birthday Post (Part 1)

Today is ironically my birthday, but I don’t want to celebrate it. I chose not to celebrate it mainly because I still live with a family that infantilizes me.

Look, I’m already 31 and these people still think of me as a kid – a seven to 10-year-old kid who can’t decide for himself. It pisses me off, seriously.  Much as I want to just let it slide, no. My day has been ruined enough and I know ranting about it doesn’t do much since it’s already happened, but at least it allows me an outlet.

First day of my 31st year of existence here on planet Earth, and it’s ruined. Times like this, I prefer going back to my job and working my ass off because people don’t know how I feel, people don’t listen, and that’s what pisses me off. People don’t know how to listen. It’s always their way or the highway, and when you try to insist on your way, you know what happens? You get the short end of the stick, and that pisses me off.

I know it’s bad form to rant on my birthday, but I just can’t let things slide because people ruined my day. Can’t I live life on my own instead of answering to other people all the time? I’ve always lived under the shadow of other people and when I try to assert myself, I get called different names and branded as an ingrate.

This is the problem with living in a conservative Filipino family: You don’t have a say. That’s one big factor as to why I’m having doubts whether to have a family of my own. If anything, I don’t want to pass the bullshit that’s happening to me right now to my future children. Just thinking about everything that I’ve gone through, I don’t want my child to go through that.

If you’re 31 and people still throw a children’s party for you, with the balloons and party hats, you’re going to have your day ruined.

(Edited transcript of a now-deleted video, 3 November 2021)

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A rather bad start for my 31st birthday. Good thing I never celebrated it on the day itself; this is the first time in years that I stopped celebrating it. Why limit yourself to one day when you have an entire month to celebrate and be thankful?

I found an opportunity to celebrate my birthday twelve days after the actual date. It mainly consisted of me eating out and shopping for new things – which I haven’t done for some time now. Being fully vaccinated also helped, as I was able to dine in. The fact that it was the 15th of the month, which meant my salary was in, also contributed to making this belated celebration possible.

For this belated birthday meal, I opted to have lunch at Manam Comfort Filipino at SM Fairview. This restaurant made its name through its unique takes on Filipino cuisine – and fortunately, I no longer needed to venture far. Manam is one of the restaurants under homegrown restaurant operator The Moment Group. It counts 8 Cuts Burgers, Ooma and Din Tai Fung – in partnership with the restaurant’s Taiwanese parent.

Manam’s House Crispy Sisig Silog.

Three Cheese Ensaymada ‘Wich with Shaved Raclette Topping.

Ordering the same dish on another trip.

This is not exactly my first foray at Manam, having visited it in two previous instances during my short tour of duty at the Ortigas central business district. Before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, I managed to visit Manam Cafe at the Podium Mall for two reasons: It opened early, and it was right across my office that time. I even had breakfast there on two instances.

Little did I know that it would take me almost two years before I could return there. Manam used to have two locations near me, but the other one at Fairview Terraces closed. The SM Fairview branch, which was the last branch standing up north, was where I dined.

Here’s for the first part of this entry. Keep your frequencies on The Monching’s Guide for the second part of this entry – where I talk about the food I tried out!

(EDIT: And as promised, the second part is now up and running. Click on the image below to read more about it!)

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