grill

one december evening, on a drive home from band practice, we were talking about how everyone suddenly goes quiet at the same time following a good laugh over a joke. so in order to avoid such awkward silence, or “gap” as we called it, kuya marlo proceeded reading everything he sees outside starting with “GRILL” - the led signage just outside a coffeeshop/steakhouse along banilad’s main road.

a few weeks later after constant self-promises to try out the place we finally managed to stop by after a game of pingpong. it turned out that grill is not its actual name but we call it such all the same and has come to be loved for its P98-baby back ribs, crispy sisig, choco lava, big mirror on the wall, and perfect ambiance.

it was, for me, a perfect place for gathering a small group of friends – it’s small and warm and happy and the food is great! it became the perfect place for get-togethers, birthday parties and the like, and we always tend to huddle at the far side on the table beneath the big mirror.

gradually we brought others into our little haven, and others brought others too. and for persons outside the little group above it is finally known by its full name, ATF (all time favorites) Grill. What makes it very convenient is that it is accessible, being near both offices (where i used to work), and in the early days before they wrote “ATF Grill Property” on their menus, we managed to get ourselves a copy and has been indispensable in placing advance orders for lunch-outs.

anniversaries, send-offs, birthday treats, farewell parties..you name it, we've all celebrated it there.

but then again some things just don’t last forever, no matter how good, it seems. i don’t know why one rainy afternoon it suddenly occurred to me that i miss this one place i always thought would last longer than it did. 

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