MANILA ROGUE

So I open up this month's issue

of my favorite magazine...

and I do a double-take and a spit-take,

I hear a snare drum bang out a punchline,

and I start feeling all warm & fuzzy,

(probably exactly how our brand new

NATIONAL DISASTRIST CARLO J. CAPARAS

felt when he learned of his latest massacre)

Seriously?

To be placed in the same category

as my Pinoy Foodie Blogger Icons:

LORI of DESSERT COMES FIRST

MARKETMAN

and my mentor,

ANTON of OUR AWESOME PLANET

as well as my friends

JOEY of 80 BREAKFASTS

and

IVAN ABOUT TOWN???

I. AM. DEEPLY. HONORED.

Exactly a year ago,

I wrote about my collection of ROGUE magazines

(complete and in near-mint condition from issue #1)

SMOOTH AS A SIP OF SCOTCH:

"... the only Men's Magazine that my Female Friends

don't throw like a discus aimed at my head

when they see me reading it in public!

And they actually end up borrowing it

after browsing through its pages."

"It isn't as sophomorically titillating as FHM and its ilk,

but then again, there's absolutely no need for it to be so;

ROGUE,

quite simply, is one of the best Philippine Publications around,

period.

The most articulate writers, the most interesting columns,

the most intelligent fiction, the most stunning pictures.

Yes, I really do buy it for the articles....

SMART is the new SEXY!"

As if appearing with my favorite foodies

in my favorite magazine wasn't enough,

NEIL OSHIMA,

one of the country's great photographers,

took the shots for the spread.

The last time I posed for him

was when I modeled for a Beer Calendar,

around 15 years and 30 pounds ago.

And then, to top it all off,

MANILA BOY

is the blog that the editors

choose to use as a preview of the feature on

ROGUE.ph

To the Rogues at Rogue,

once again, thanks thanks...

and special mention to

NIKKI

for making sure I showed up for the shoot with my pretzels,

and special mention to

CLIFF

for capturing the true essence of this blog in his write-up!

Oh, and if you want a taste of the

BEST DAMN PRETZELS

in all of MetroManila, just visit:

MICKEY'S DELI

on Jupiter Street in Makati!