My first journey- THE VEGAN PRINCE

After I clicked my choice and the enter button, I found myself in a place that familiar to me. Yun bang feeling mo nakapunta ka na noon sa lugar na 'to. Pero iba eh. Talagang nakapunta na ako dito dati. And I realized I am in rizal boulevard. I am in dumaguete again! Wow, I miss this place- The city of gentle people. Wala pa rin nagbago sa lugar na to aside from new buildings and some new establishments. Tahimik pa rin ang place. Napakaromantic pa rin dito pag gabi. It's passed seven. THIS WAY TO VEGAN GARDEN RESTAURANT-------->, as I read the sign board. I followed the way kung saan nakaturo ang sign. Bumungad agad sa akin ang napakagandang tanawin, isang garden restaurant nga. Ang ibat-ibang kulay ng lights ang dumagdag sa ganda nito. This is the place of MARK XANDER FABILLAR- THE VEGAN PRINCE. To my excitement, pumasok agad ako sa nakabukas naman na gate. Bakit Vegan Garden Restaurant? Wala namang ni isang halaman at gulay dito na nakatanim. My question was answered by a small wood sign board hanging beside the door. A VEGAN (pronounced vee-gun) is someone who, for various reasons, chooses to avoid using or consuming animal products. While vegetarians choose not to use flesh foods, vegans also avoid dairy and eggs, as well as fur, leather, wool, down, and cosmetics or chemical products tested on animals. So sa garden ang setting ng resto na to. Pagpasok ko nafi-feel ko agad ang maaliwalas na venue mula sa decorations hanggang sa mga muebles sa loob. Feeling mo u r so welcome talaga. May karatola na DINE WITH THE VEGAN PRINCE. Kaunti pa lang ang mga bisita. Sa left portion may isang babae na nakaupo. Maganda, mataas, at may kurbada. May design ang nail polish na colored green. Nakita ko kasi pinipindot niya ang kanyang pink colored motorola mobile phone. Pasip-sip siya ng iced tea. Tapos may kinuha siya sa kanyang bag. Another mobile phone, N70. May tumawag sa kanya at tumayo siya. She is really a venezuelan beauty. I guess, she is Angel, Mark's best friend. Sa bandang kanan may grupo ng mga tao na nakaupo rin. Nagkukwentuhan habang nagbabasa ng dyaryo sa dim light huh. Ang isa naman nilalaro ang kanyang kamera. I guess, mga media men. Maybe from the visayan daily star. Sa kanilang corner, nakaagaw pansin sa akin ang sign board sa pinto, PET KINGDOM. I am walkin to that area ng nasulyapan ko ang mga memorabilia na nakalagay sa mesa sa isang sulok. May family picture na nakaframe. May maliit na caption na nakasulat: Me, Dewey, Love and Mom. Nakaframe din ang pictures niya with his dad and his sister love na may caption na: We miss you Daddy! Mga photo albums: childhood pictures and before and after Vegan pictures nya. May nakita akong nakasulat sa cover ng isang album. "I am Mark Xander Fabillar, 23 years old and hold a degree in business marketing. I enjoy blogging, the vegan lifestyle, debating, taking care of my pets, and watching talk shows. I am the reigning Hari ng Negros- a title I had won in July of last year." Gusto ko pa sanang i-scan ang mga photo albums pero naremember ko ang time na binigay ni Master. Baka lumagpas ako. Papunta na ako sa Pet Kingdom...I was surprised to see a lot of pets. Para akong bata na lumapit sa bawat cage. Ang cute ng mouse- "Cynthia", as I read the name tag na nakakabit sa cage. Dalmatia and Runtasia. Alfalfa-favorite mouse, Shiloh, tom and jerry. Wow, beautiful carps! Sharky, Goldy, Brady brunch. Syrian- shandi. Oh si Iman! Oh russian dwarf hamsters: Coffee and Cream! Ba't may mga cage na empty? "In memory of Jay, Alicia, Sush, Ash and Lara" as I read the message. Natigilan ako sa pagmasid na sa mga alaga ni Mark nang may pumasok na dalawang lalaki. Ang isa mga 5'9" siguro, slim and of course gwapo, I guess he is Mark. Ang kasama niya ay isang matipunong lalaki in his early 30's, tisoy. I guess, he is Ian Rosales Casocot-the Palanca-winning writer. Mark was receiving a call on his mobile phone. I can hear him saying, " My name is Heath. Is there a reservation I can help...." Naputol ang linya. Pak! Kasunod noon nakita ko ang wasak na Nokia 6111 sa sahig. "It really sucks!", Mark exclaimed. "Bibili ka na ng bago", Ian calmly advised. Bumalik na ako sa dining area at umupo na malapit sa kusina. I was scanning the menu book.

It contained: grilled veggie kebab, pizza and vegetarian pasta, adobong kangkong, medley of squash, string beans, zucchini, cabbage, and a wee-bit of okra cooked adobo-style with a bit of soy sauce, tofu tocino, cherry tomatoes, tofu adobo and steamed water spinach (kangkong), mung beans with ben oil tree leaves, sauteed mixed vegetables, carrot spaghetti, steamed pechay, sauteed potato strips, a wee bit of homemade fries, corn grits, breaded tofu nuggets, sweet and sour tofu, fresh garden salad and variety of fruits.

I want to order na sana pero naremember ko ang isa sa mga rules ni Master. Kinain ko na lang laway ko. Itinuklop ko ulit ang menu book ng may lumabas na babae galing sa kusina. She is 53 years old I guess pero she looks mga early 40's. Pwedeng pwede pa maging isang ballerina. "Maybe she is the off-beat mom of Mark ", sa isip ko. "Mark, who ordered the sweet and sour tofu?", the lady asked na ang direksyon ng tingin ay sa akin. Magsalita na sana ako na di Mark name ko pero there was a deep cool voice I heard behind me. "Oh mom, it's me. I love ur sweet and sour tofu. Thank you." Tumayo na ako. Mark approached me. "Sir, don't you want to try our food? Sinisiguro ko na magustuhan nyo." I know magustohan ko. Naging effective sa'yo. You are the model", I smiled at him. "Kaso lang nagmamadali ako. Next time na lang." Nahiya ako sa sarili ko. Labag kasi sa rules. But Mark is so accommodating. I know, he welcome everybody na pumupunta sa restaurant niya with sweet hello and kind words. "Sige next time ha. Pagbalik mo. Ito na lang, would you like to adopt one of my puppies?, he offered. "Oh my, I want to but....", Natigilan ako dahil bawal nga sa rule. "Just next time. Thank you", I replied shyly. "Ihatid na lang kita", his mother offered a ride. "Where do you stay here?", she asked me. "Ma'am you're so kind but thank you." (Laptop sinasakyan ko", gusto ko sanang sabihin sa kanila. Pinigilan ko lang sarili ko.)It's an honor for me that I found Mark's place- The Vegan. Utang na loob ko ito kay Master. And then I clicked the exit button.

this is the information I typed for Master. I know, babalik at babalik ako sa place ni Mark. I bet you guys, it's really a kewl PLACE. A lot of people visit there. This is the way to VEGAN PRINCE