August 31 is Partyphile Pulutan Day!

Today is Pulutan Day! So grab some beer, make your favorite pulutan food, and party it up to celebrate this gluttonous day!

Semi-Instant Pulutan

Filipino drinking sessions are unlike those that are attended or initiated by our foreign Partyphile friends. The Filipino drinking sessions, more commonly referred to as "inuman" sessions, are less formal (although there aren't many formalities that go with foreign drinking sessions either) than those of our non-Pinoy counterparts. Our drinking sessions can take place anywhere, at virtually any time of the day, and may be attended by just about anybody dressed in just about any sort of garb. The Pinoy inuman session is definitely a no-brainer. All one needs to start is a bottle (or two...or more) of alcohol, a group of friends, some conversation (of varying degrees of sensibility), and some "pulutan".

"Pulutan" is the Pinoy term for anything that you eat with your alcohol. And in this country that isn't limited to nuts and crackers.

It is common to see Pinoy boozers enjoying a round of beer with that night's dinner-leftovers. Aside from the common sisig, fish crackers, and nuts, Filipinos enjoy eating anything-- from pizza, to sashimi, to lechon, to instant pancit canton, to Pinoy style barbecue, and so much more-- with their poison of choice.

And although these food items seem worlds apart it seems like the usual choices when it comes to pulutan choices have to be 1.) Savoury, and 2.) Convenient. Whatever may be in the pantry or fridge at the time of the inuman session is always a good pulutan. However, this may get a little tired. This is why I have gathered a few of my easy pulutan recipes and decided to share them with you. Here they are:

1.) Instant Tuna Sisig. All you need for this recipe is canned tuna in oil or leftover tuna meat, torn into bite-sized pieces (leftover grilled tuna belly works best for this), a white onion, butter, and liquid seasoning. All you need to do is mince the white onion and sauté it in butter. When it becomes translucent, add your tuna, and sprinkle with liquid seasoning. You may serve this on a hot plate with a piece of calamansi (Filipino lemon).

2.) Cored Beef Nachos are also a wonderful semi-instant idea. All you have to do is heat canned corned beef in a skillet, add frozen carrots, peas, and corn (which is available in most groceries), and then add some tomato sauce over it. Season the mixture to taste and then scoop some on top of a bed of Nachos or Potato Chips. Then, sprinkle everything with some quick-melting cheese and pop it in the microwave or oven until the cheese has melted.

3.) Meat Loaf Hash. Usually, people prepare meatloaf by simply slicing it and then frying it or by eating it straight from the can. This unique take on Meat Loaf is savoury and fried and makes for really good pulutan. All you have to do is slice the meat loaf into little cubes. Slice an onion and two potatoes the same way. Then, prepare a skillet and heat some oil in it. Pour the onion, potatoes, and then meat loaf and cook on high heat until the potatoes are cooked through. If you want to give it a little crunch, you may leave it in the skillet to brown a bit. It approximately takes 15 to 20 minutes. You may also dust it with cheese before serving.

4.) Leftover Adobo Flakes. This is the ultimate in Pinoy pulutans, although not may people know about. Seriously though, is there anything more Pinoy than fried adobo? Anyway, here is how you do it. Take your leftover Pork adobo and tear into small flake-like pieces (it should resemble larger pieces of Corned Beef). Then, let it sit in the sauce it previously came from for some minutes to help it absorb the flavour of the sauce. Meanwhile, heat some oil in a frying pan. When the oil is hot, cook the adobo flakes in it at medium high heat. Keep frying it until it looks golden brown and looks crisp. After this, remove the adobo flakes (at this point it will look like crunchy corned beef) and place on top of a paper towel. This will absorb the oil. As the adobo flakes cool down, it starts to get crunchy. Serve it in its crunchy state as the perfect Pinoy pulutan.

Catch Confessions of a Partyphile’s (The Radio Show) Pulutan Special this Wednesday (August 31, 2011) from 6 to 9 PM on 105.9 Mix FM or www.mixfm1059.com. For comments, suggestions, and more confessions, log on to http://party.i.ph or follow the columnist on twitter.com/zhaun

Partyphiles Confess: Potluck Parties

Koi Sevilla: Jelly Shots

Claude Dee: Pesto Pasta

Alvin Lagarto: Sushi

Chingbee Munoz: Shepherd's Pie

Charlene Suelto: Carbonara

Partyphile Clues You In: Potluck Parties

A potluck party is a type of celebration wherein individuals bring food or drinks for everyone at the party to share. Now, the problem is a lot of people do not bother to cook for potluck parties and end up buying food at the last minute. Thus, the most convenient options are usually the things we see on a potluck spread.

Too many people bring donuts, cakes, and lechon manok to potluck parties and it's getting kind of tired. Oh, and just so you know, everybody is getting tired of your secret Spaghetti recipe. Go for variety next time and choose a food item that you think nobody else will bring.

XOXO

Zhaun Ortega

Your Ultimate Partyphile

Drink of the Week: Citrus-Cucumber Coolers

This particular recipe is cool and refreshing and is easy to make even during potluck parties. The ingredients are easy to lug around if you plan to make it in someone else's home but i suggest that you make it at home and then transfer it to spill proof containers. Then transfer them to the punch bowl when you get to the potluck party

In a punch bowl combine:

• 2 liters of Lemonade
• 1 liter of lemon-lime soda or ginger ale
• 1 bunch of mint leaves torn diagonally
• juice of 1 cucumber
• one cucumber, sliced
• ice cubes

Partyphile Celebrates: International Potluck Day

It's International Potluck Day! So call your friends, ask them to bring some food and some alcohol for dinner tonight at your place and have an instant potluck party.

REACH ME!!!

Again, please listen to my RADIO SHOW every Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9 PM on 105.9 Mix FM (in Davao) or www.mifm1059.com (for the rest of the planet)

Also, please check out EDGE DAVAO THE BUSINESS PAPER and check out my weekly NEWSPAPER COLUMN. You could also check out www.edgedavao.net

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Thanks partyphiles!

Partyphiles Confess: Kadayawan

I asked how you plan to celebrate Kadayawan. Here are your answers:

Jong Atmosfera: Stay at home. I hate crowds

Exal Orilla: Avail of all the discounts and promos

Mark Ner: Ca't wait for Indak-indak

Marga Rey: shop! shop!shop!

Dexter Salazar: Catch super-sales in malls

Doy Bijis: Drink bottomless cocktails at Eagles Bar

Kadayawan Things to Do

I gathered up all the hottest events to give you a shortlist of the things to hit during Kadayawan. You may use this list to immerse yourself in the festivities or as a itinerary if you plan to tour friends visiting from other cities to experience Kadayawan.

1. The Kadayawan sa Dabaw Opening is happening on August 15, 2011, 4 PM, at People’s Park. Drop by for a refresher course about Kadayawan and discover how it came to be, what it’s all about, and what else to expect for this year’s festivities. Also expect cultural performances.
2. Hudyakaan sa Kadayawan is also happening from the 15^th until the 22^nd along the stretch of Roxas Avenue from starting 5 PM. Hudyakaan sa Kadayawan is the Dabawenyo version of a street party. So if you want to dance in the streets while enjoying good music and imbibing the vibe of the ordinary Dabawenyo “masses”, this is the place to be. Plus, it is bound to be a lot of fun for tourists.
3. Hab-hab sa Chinatown is happening from August 16 until September 22 at the Sta. Ana Wharf. This event is basically a food fest so expect a whole line of booths that sell every gustatory treat you can imagine! This is the perfect Kadayawan destination for foodies ad tourists in search of edible “pasalubong” items.
4. For the photography enthusiast, the Mindanow Photo Congress is happening from August 19 to 21 at the NCCC Mall Kadayawan Hall during mall hours.
5. If you are craving for a night of glitz, glamour, song, dance, and comedy, you might want to check out Follies de Mwah. This live show is based on Vegas style show-girl revues featuring some of the best performers from the capital city. This is happening on August 19, 8:30 PM at the CAP Auditiorium.
6. For a chillaxed time by the beach, you can hit the first Jazz Festival in Davao, happening on August 20-211 from 8:00 to 6:00 in the evening at Bogser’s by the sea, Seafood Restaurant and Tiki Bar at Times Beach.
7. For boozing with style while keeping well withing budget, you could hit Marco Polo Davao’s Eagles Bar and avail of their bottomless cocktails from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM for only 150 bucks. You could also enjoy the music of one of the best local DJ’s—Gary during Fridays and Saturdays.
8. For fashion finds, gastronomic treats, pasalubong items, little nothings, and a whole lot more, you may check out the Kadayawan Bazaar at the Davao Convention Center from August 18 to 21.
9. If the taste of old-school partying is what you lust for, hit Route 88 on August 20 along Roxas Avenue for the “Best of the 90s” Dance Party. On the deck wil be DJ Ritchie Ritch and DJ Maxxey Perez from Club Vudu, Cebu (who happens to be a Davaoeno!)
10. If you are into clubbing and video-mixing, you may check out the Sonique Rush Party Series at Hybrid from August 15 to 21. The party starts at eight in the evening and will feature resident DJs from Starr as well as Video-DJ Chrismyk from Manila. Chrismyk has played in Republiq, Manor, and Hacianda.
11. For clubbing in high-style, you may also check out Starr’s Kadayawan Party which still remains top-secret as of press time. However, expect the party to be crazy, posh, and wild as most of Starr’s events are.

Kadayawan Events

Kadayawan is a festival that every Dabawenyo holds close to his or her heart. Thus, when a change happens without prior knowledge from the lot of us, a little stir is expected to take place. Such is the case with the new Kadayawan logo and tagline. If you don’t already know, thereis now a new logo which is a lot less festive than the previous (in this columnist’s opinion), and they switched the tagline from “The Festival of Festivals” to “The King of Festivals”. Unfortunately, this piece of information was not disseminated earlier, thus several malls and hotels around the city still use the old tagline. Again, I do not agree with the switch (especially with the logo) but I am not one to complain. I am sure these changes were made based on some sort of study. More importantly, I think that the festival is more about the festivities, the culture, the experience, and the vibe, and less about the logo or tagline.

Now, here is the thing. A lot of locals complain saying that there aren’t many activities during Kadayawan. And although this is a legiotimate complaint, it is also one that is unfounded…or one that is based on pure opinion. Why? Because there are a lot of events. You just need to update yourself. And maybe this is one of the biggest challenges for the local government, or the handlers of the event. They must find away to promote all Kadayawan events, whether spearheaded by the government or by private sectors, to inform people about what they can do or which activities they may participate in during the “King of Festivals”.

But the fault is not only with them. The truth is, if you truly want to immerse yourself in the whole Kadayawan experience, you will look for events and things to do during Kadayawan. In fact, there is already a list of things you’ve missed last week including bazaars, concerts, tattoo competitions and exhibits, plant bazaars and exhibits, a fun run, cycling event, motocross event, among others. The good news is, I love you guys and wouldn’t want you to waste any more precious time just looking for events (instead of actually being there), so I gathered up all the events I could and made this list (or copied it from an office memo). So here are the things you can look forward to this week and the rest of the season:

Agro-Industrial Trade, Aug. 1-31, 2011. Mall Hours (Fair & Exhibit), SM City Grounds

Kadayawan T-shirt Design Competition, Aug. 1-21, 2011, Mall Hours, SM City Davao Mall Area

Hulagway sa Kaliwatan, Aug. 15, 2011, 9:00 AM – Onwards, Visual Arts Competition, Museo Dabawenyo

Kadayawan Hall Grand Opening, Aug. 15, 2011, 10:00 AM -12 NN, NCCC Promenade 2

Flora Mindanaw: Dish Garden Competition, Aug. 15-21, 2011, Mall Hours, SM City Davao

Indigenous Village Photo Booth, Aug. 15-21, 2011 Mall Hours, SM City Davao Event Center

Trajes de Boda Los Hijos de Davao, Aug. 15-21, 2011 Mall Hours, SM City Davao Event Center

Fruit and Floral Fair, Aug. 15-21, 2011, Mall Hours, NCCC Promenade 2

Kadayawan Fiesta Sale, Aug. 15-21, 2011, Mall Hours, NCCC Mall Davao

Kalumon Ethnic Band Performance, Aug. 15-16, 2011, 1:00 PM, NCCC Promenade 2

26th Kadayawan sa Dabaw Opening, Aug. 15, 2011, 4:00 PM, People’s Park

Agro-Industrial Trade Fair & Exhibit Opnening, Aug. 15, 2011, 4:00 PM, SM City Grounds

Hudyakaan sa Kadayawan, Aug. 15-22 2011, 5:00 PM, Roxas Avenue

Meet Iggy The Eagle and Dory The Durian, Aug. 15, 2011, 5:00 PM, NCCC Promenade 2

Lumadnong Gama, Aug. 16-21, 2011, 9:00 AM – Onwards, People’s Park

Sayaw Mindanaw, Prelim: Aug. 16-17 at 10:00 AM, Finals: Aug. 18- at 6:00 PM, SM City Davao Event Center

The Mannequins Got Talent Showdown, Aug. 16, 2011, 5:00 PM, NCCC Activity Center

Hiyas sa Kadayawan Talent Night, Aug. 16, 2011, 6:00 PM, Abreeza Mall

Open Bowling Tournament 2011, Aug. 16, 2011, 7:00 PM, Fair Lanes Bowling Center

Hab Hab sa Chinatown, Aug. 16-Sept 12, 2011, Sta. Ana Wharf

Hulagway sa Kaliwatan Visual Arts Competition, Aug. 17 , 2011, 9:00 AM – Onwards, Museo Dabawenyo

Magallanes Dance Troupe Peformances, Aug. 17, 2011 1:00 PM, NCCC Promenade 2

Taligsik Band Performances, Aug. 17, 2011, 5:00 PM, NCCC Activity Center

Hiyas sa Kadayawan Grand Coronation Night, Aug. 17, 2011, 6:00 PM, Davao City Recreation Center

7th Mindanao Statistics Congress, Aug. 18-19, 2011, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, UM Auditorium, UM Matina Campus

History Quiz, Aug. 18, 2011, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Davao City Library, 3rd Flr. Sangguniang Panlungsod Bldg.

Panagtagbo / Lumadnong Bantawan, , Aug. 18, 2011, 3:00 PM – Onwards, People’s Park & Rizal Park

Open Cheering Competition Screening, Aug. 18, 2011 4:00 PM, NCCC Activity Center

Open Bowling Tournament 2011, Aug. 18 -19, 2011, 7:00 PM, Fair Lanes Bowling Center

Davao Investment Conference (Davao iCon), Aug. 19 – 20, 2011 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Marco Polo Grand Ballroom

Skycable Event, Aug. 19, 2011, Mall Hours, NCCC Activity Center

Hulagway sa Kaliwatan Visual Arts Competition, Aug. 19, 2011, 9:00 AM – Onwards, Museo Dabawenyo

2nd Mayor Inday Sara Cup Level 3 Pistol Shooting Competition, Aug. 19-21, 2011 9:00 AM, Team Davao Shooting Range , Diversion Road, Maa


Mindanow Photo Congress, NCCC Kadayawan Hall, Aug. 19-21, 2011, Mall Hours

Kalumon Ethnic Band Performance,Aug. 19, 2011,1:00 PM,NCCC Promenade 2

NCCC Mannequin Mallwide Display,Aug. 19-21, 2011 2:00 PM,NCCC Promenade 2

IP dances and IP songs presentations, Aug. 19, 2011, 4:00 PM – Onwards, Tribu K’Mindanawan, Cultural Village, Crocodile Park

Kapuso Mall Show, Aug. 19, 2011, 4:00 PM, SM City Davao Event Center

Kadayawan Sensations (Day1), Aug. 19, 2011, 5:00 PM, NCCC Activity Center

Pahalipay ni Mayor ug Vice Mayor 1, Aug. 19, 2011, 6:00 PM, Rizal St.

Broadway Theatrical Show “Follies de Mwah”, Aug. 19, 2011, 8:30 PM, CAP Auditorium

1st Kadayawan T’ai Chi for a Cause, Aug. 20, 2011, 6:00 AM – 8:00 AM, Rizal Park, San Pedro Street

Bancarera 2011, Aug. 20, 2011, 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM, Sta. Ana Wharf/Beach, Sta. Ana 27-C, Davao City

Davao 1st Jazz Festival, Aug. 20-21, 2011, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Bogser’s by the Sea Seafood Restaurant & Tiki
Bar, Times Beach

Medical Mission by Opulence Wellness, Aug. 20, 2011 9:00 AM – 4:00PM, People’s Park,

Healthcare on the Road, Aug. 20-21, 2011, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM, Palma Gil St.

Indak Indak sa Kadalanan, Aug. 20, 2011, 12:00 NN, Magsaysay Ave. (cor. Guerrero) to Rizal Park

NCCC Supermarket Bingo, Aug. 20, 2011, 1:00 PM, NCCC Activity Center

Kapamilya Caravan, Aug. 20, 2011 4:00 PM, SM City Davao, Event Center

Davao’s Finest feat. Davao’s Best Talents, Aug. 20, 2011, , 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM, People’s Park

Tunog Mindanaw, Aug. 20, 2011, 6:00 PM, Abreeza Mall

Mascot and Mannequin Parade with the Open Cheering Competition, Aug. 20, 2011, 6:00 PM, NCCC Mall Area and Activity Center

Open Cheering Competition Finals, Aug. 20, 2011, 7:00 PM, NCCC Activity Center

Phoenix Run Series: Kadayawan Festival Leg, Aug. 21, 2011, 4:00 AM, SM Open Parking B

Classic and Sports Car Joyride 2011, Aug. 21, 2011, 6:00 AM – 7:00 AM, Around the City

Pamulak Kadayawan, Aug. 21, 2011, 8:00 AM, Magsaysay Ave. to Rizal Park

Ginoong Kadayawan, Aug. 21, 2011, 1:00 PM, NCCC Activity Center

Universal Reality Combat Championship, Aug. 21, 2011, 6:00 PM, Garden Oases Convention Center

Moda Mindanaw Finals Night, Aug. 21, 2011, SM City Davao Event Center

Pahalipay ni Mayor ug Vice Mayor 2, Aug. 21, 2011, 6:00 PM, Rizal Park

Kapuso Mall Show, Aug. 21, 2011, Atrium, Gaisano Mall of Davao

Mr. Handsome Davao2011, Aug. 28, 2011, 7:00 – 10:00 PM, Davao City Recreation Center

Partyphile Recommends: Photoqube

Since taking a lot of candid photos inside bars and parties can be quite controversial, I think the perfect solution is a photo booth. My personal favorite photo booth these days is Photoqube who sponsored my last Anniversary Party. They have gorgeous print-outs and personalize the photo, the costumes, and even the background or photo wall.

You may contact them at http://photoqube.multiply.com

Partyphiles Confess: Photo-taking

I asked: is it alright to take photos inside bars and clubs?

Here are the best answers:

Patricia Uy: It’s ok. You have to take pictures of good and crazy memories. It’s especially ok if the bar is nice too.

Monique Calimbas: I guess it is okay if you just take a few photos to document the night-out but to take photos when you are all drunk ad post everything on FB… that is another matter.

Dean Macavinta: It’s a free country. It’s a public place, so on is responsible for his own behaviour.

Adylon Marasigan: We should always practice responsible posting/social networking. If you are friends with the subject, better ask permission before uploading the photos. If the subject is a stranger, they should have known that what they were doing was in front of others and was done in public. Everyone should be responsible for his own actions

Partyphile Clues You In: Picture-Taking

Here's the deal. We have all experienced having embarrassing and less-than-flattering photos uploaded and tagged on Facebook for all our friends to feast on. This is somewhat of a new phenomenon as cameras have become cheaper and the means of displaying photos in public have become more accessible. In the olden days of partying, this was not the case.

What happened in the club, stayed in the club. Or "disco" as the Partyphiles of yesteryear would put it. So here is my two cents. I think, you should take photos within an hour of entering the club because that would ensure that you'd still look somewhat normal. After that, turn the cameras off and enjoy the night.

Taking too many photos would prevent you from REALLY partying, and you might catch strangers in uncompromising situations. I say, take photos right when you arrive and then party hearty afterwards.

How about you? What do you think?

Drink of the Week: Lazy Ride

Since we are celebrating Lazy Day, I'm giving out a recipe for something that will serve perfectly well for lazy chill-drinking. It is is nice, cool, and smooth, and is easy to make. It is called the Lazy Ride and here is the recipe:

In a blender combine:

• 1 cup of crushed ice
• 3 shots of Malibu Coconut Rum or Boracay Coconut Rum
• 3 shots of Vodka
• 1/2 Cup Orange Juice
• 1/2 Cup Lemonade
• 4 Pieces Canned Peach Halves

Blend the mixture until smooth and serve in your glass of choice

Partyphile Celebrates: Lazy Day

Today, August 10, is Lazy Day. So st back, relax, enjoy the music, and be lazy all night long. As you;d expect, chill drinking is the way to go if you wanna celebrate Lazy Day and I'll be dishing out a cocktail recipe that is perfect for lazing around in a bit. Stay tuned partyphiles!

XOXO

Zhaun Ortega

PArtyphile's Anniversary Party

I used to think that throwing a party was a difficult task. Well, to some degree, I still believe that. But I also believe that when something is meant to be, it flows easily. That is probably why the Confessions of a Partyphile Anniversary Party last July 30, 2011, at Marco Polo Davao’s Eagles Bar only took a week to organize. All I had to do was contact a really good DJ, a very accommodating venue, look for sponsors (which was probably the greatest challenge), and advertise it. The result though was something unexpected.

The Confessions of a Partyphile Anniversary Party, was in ways, small-scale. I had a little over 90 guests, the venue was definitely intimate, and the vibe was very warm and homey (which is something that you would not expect from a dance party). But something happened that night. At some point during the night everybody started to let lose, let their hairs down, and through some partyland miracle, just get down with it. I don’t know what happened exactly. I don’t know why the party turned from “friendly” to “wild” in a matter of hours, but I bet the Partyphile Gods had something to do with it. Or, it was the bottomless cocktails, that Marco Polo Davao’s Eagles Bar offered so graciously at a measly 200 bucks.

Obviously, my guests were tipsy by the second hour of the party, thanks to the bottomless cocktails, but “tipsy” for a Confessions of a Partyphile party just does not cut it. So we played a drinking game called “Black Out or Get Out”, a game that simply involves taking a shot of Rhum whenever the Partyphile (me) rings the Bell or Xylophone (or shouts “shooooot!’). The game ends when all but one contestant have backed out. It is simple, oh, but it is lethal!

The game ended when Kakay Sevilla, having consumed 15 shots of Rhum, gave in to the call of Partyland and blacked out for a minute or two (thus the name of the game: Black Out or Get Out). This made the final contestant standing, Doy Bijis, the winner. He won a pass to experience parasailing courtesy of Wind and Wave Davao (first in Mindanao!), Gift Certificates from Green Coffee, EY’s Tuna, Cellos Donuts and Dips, Project-D Auto Innovations, TGI Fridays, Denkat E-Cigarettes (available at Detailworx 101), and Stay N Touch Massages.

The next game involved three ladies (whom I refuse to name on this column) and four dares. The game was simple. I dared them to do four things, which they had to do in the sexiest manner to please the crowd who would eventually choose the winner. I can’t tell you exactly what happened due to censorship issues and stuff, but someone took her bra off. That’s all I’m saying.

We also played the signature “Confessions” game, which I invented myself. It involves me giving out a confession and the contestants taking a shot of brandy for every confession they admit doing. After consuming an epic 10 shots of brandy (without chasers or breaks in between; add to that the fact that he had consumed an overflow of cocktails prior to the game), Adrian Hui reigned supreme and won the game. And then, naturally, passed out. But in Partyland, that does not matter much. It only matters that he drank and won.

The oldest game in the book went last as I asked everybody to “Bring Me” the oldest text message in the room. Michael Tan took home a brand new cellular phone as he presented a text message from November 14, 2007.

But of course, the games were not the only things that made the party really spectacular. One of the most important factors that made that night epic was the cocktails. Eagles Bar served three types of cocktails, the deadliest of which was called Rated- X; a cocktail made with Vodka, Brandy, Dark Rum, Light Rum, and Gin. This definitely made my partyphile guests let loose like never before. It was evident on my Twitter timeline and Facebook wall the next day. Everybody was ranting about hangovers, instant-amnesia, and passing out. But of course, we all know, those are the things that make an unforgettable party.

Another thing that added fun to the party was the fun and crazy photo booth from Davao’s Ultimate Party Booth: Photoqube (check them out at http://photoqube.multiply.com/). The booth had costumes, a personalized layout for each client (mine was naturally party-ish), and instant print-outs that seemed to capture my guests’ varying states of drunkenness.

Finally, the music is always responsible for setting the mood of the party; and this is probably why everybody got so crazy. DJ Gary was the resident beat-mixer for the night and he played some of the best hits from the early 2000s. Imagine Hed Kandi, Milky, Moony, Bonnie Bailey, Modjo, Chicane, and all the early house music greats played back-to-back-to-back! All in all, the music teased the crowd, brought them back to earlier party days, and finally, gave them the uncontrollable desire to dance the night away, or at least, until the liquor ban started.

Thank you for everybody who made the Confessions of a Partyphile Anniversary party possible! Thank you to Marco Polo Davao, all the sponsors, DJ Gary, Photoqube, 105.9 Mix FM, and all the partyphiles who still believe in partying like crazy! Until the next party, partyphiles!

Partyphile Recommends: Flavored Beers

I recommend that you try out flavored beers. Expect that they won't get you drunk, but will actually taste quite good. it's perfect for chill drinking, or as something to help you cool down on a warm day.

If you wanna go local, try out the San Miguel Flavored Beers in Lemon and Apple

If you wanna hit the international selection, try Pink Killer, with hints of White Grapefruit

Partyphiles Confess: Most and Last Favorite Alcoholic Beverage

Now, I aksed my social network friends about their most faorite and least favorite alcoholic beverages and here are some of the answers:

Martin Buen : Loves- Vodka Kurant and 7-Up

Hates- Rum-Coke

JM Reyes: Loves: Guiness (Irish Beer)

Hates: Gin-Po (Gin with Pomelo Juice

Jen Calderon: Loves: Vodka Cruiser because of its fruity taste and low alcohol content

Hates: Bacardi 151 because it makes everyone pass out

Cyra Go: Loves: Tequila Sunrise because it is fruit and sweet

LEast: Beer, because it is bitter

Dorothy Falcon: Loves: Jose Cuervo Tequila

Hates: Boracay Rum

Jeremiah Yap: Loves: Mother Lover (Similar to Pina Colada but with Grenadine and Rum)

Hates: Tequila Sunrise

Dann Basilio: Loves: Tanduay and says it's cheap and doesn't give him hangovers

Duane Bacon: Loves: Screwdriver

Dux Rosales: Loves: Absinthe with Lime

Steff Kessel: Loves: Cipirinhia (A drink made with cachaca, a liquor made form sugarcane, and lime)

Partyphile Clues You In: Choosing Drinks

Now, here is the deal. When choosing a drink in a bar, choose something that you know. It is alright to experiment once in a while, in fact, it is encouraged to do so, but never get drunk on an unfamiliar drink. Why Because different alcobevs have different effects to different people. For example, I always get body pains when drinking gin, while another friend vomits every time she consumes vodka. So, to be safe, order what you know. For example, if you love vodka, and you swear that your body is okay with vodka, then order a vodka based cocktail. This does not mean that you must stick to one cocktail, it just means you should stick to one type of liquor.

Drink of the Week: Watermelon Vodka

Since we are celebrating National Watermelon Day, I decided to give out a recipe for the classic Watermelon Vodka. Now, this doesn't exactly follow a clean-cut recipe, but I'll give you a guide on the simplest way to go about it.

1.) First, bore holes in your watermelon. You can do this with the use of a corkscrew.

2.) Take out some of the watermelon meat right under the hole you just bored.

3.) Pour about half a cup of Vodka into the watermelon using a funnel and then stick it int he fridge.

4.) Let it set for a couple of hours and then add more alcohol until it can not take anymore.

5.) Slice it up and serve

Partyphile Celebrates: National Watermelon Day

When you think about a Watermelon, you think about it as a simple, refreshing, tropical, fruit. However, when I think about a Watermelon, I think about it as a vessel for alcoholic greatness!

Since we are celebrating Watermelon Day today, I suggest you make the classic Drunken Watermelon. I'll post a recipe for that later on.

In the mean time, just keep that in mind: Partyphile Celebrates: National Watermelon Day, another reason to party tonight.