1. Why sassy? When I think "sassy", I think "sssasaaayh". Are you "sssasaaayh"?

Because that is the closest translation of "mataray" which I am. :)

My note: Diba "snooty"?

2. In a previous interview, you said you blog because you "loved the internet" and that you "are a talkative person". There are a million people like that, but that's not how they got to being the "Sassy Lawyer". What is it really?

Perhaps I was just in the right place at the right time. My food blog was the first Filipino niche blog. The sassy lawyer blog "happened" when there were a lot of political upheavals -- first Oakwood, the Davide impeachment, then the 2004 elections.

3. Eight things every Filipino kitchen must have. Do not include the giant wooden spoon and fork.

Let's make this "Eight things every MODERN Filipino kitchen must have"

1) wooden chopping board 2) cleaver 3) a good quality multi purpose cooking pan with a thick bottom -- something shaped like a wok or carajay would be perfect 4) a good oven (not a microwave nor an oven toaster which I consider as non-essentials) 5) at least one non-stick pan 6) a good steamer, preferably bamboo steamers that come in two to three layers 7) suka, toyo, patis, salt and pepper AND 8) a good cook hehehe

Hey, I don't have the giant spoon and fork LOL but my grandmother did.

4. When you were starting out as a blogger, what were your main distractions? Detractors? How did you get rid of them, and what are they saying now?

When I was starting out, the biggest distraction was learning the technical side of blogging. I couldn't concentrate on the writing part so much until I had a good grasp of the technical things. Today, the biggest distraction... thieves, especially members of public forums who steal my recipes to post them in the forums. How do I get rid of them...?? Well, it's a case to case basis. With some, I am civil. With others, not.

Detractors, well, when I was just starting out, and considering that blogging was relatively new in the Philippines, there weren't any. It was after blogging became popular, and my blogs became popular, that the detractors came -- in the form of, tadaaaa... fellow bloggers, naturally. The ones who wanted to "make it". They provoked me thinking I'd rant publicly with links to their blogs. It is still happening today. Best course of action -- IGNORE.

5. As a parent, are you more like your mother, or your father? Why?

I'm a little of both, I guess. My mother taught me to hold my principles and my standards high; my father taught me that there's no one to rely on but myself.

6. On death row, what would be your last meal? Describe this once-in-a-lifetime dining experience.

LOL that's hard ha. Hmmm... probably Chinese dimsum. The really exotic ones that are not common items in Chinese restaurants here. You know, if it's the last thing I'd eat, it might as well be a final adventure too.

7. Five questions you'd ask me.

1) Why are you doing this interview? 2) Why did you choose me to be a subject of this interview? 3) Do you think that blog networks (like B5 media) are killing the notion that blogs are credible because they are personal and based on actual experiences and thoughts of bloggers? 4) Do you believe in "terrorism" the way America defines it? 5) Do you believe that, given the current trend that blogs and commercial marketing are becoming more intertwined, blogs will continue to be credible?

My note: #1 Because I can! #2 Because, maybe, you're interesting? #3 I know someone who works for B5 media -- I think the difference is that they are better organized than you and I. Nothing else. #4 George W. Bush scares me, so does Cheney and (before) Rumsfeld. I confuse the reality that they manufactured with my own. So, I don't know what "terrorism" is anymore. #5 I think at some point people will stop reading blogs and just spend all their time making them. We have to figure out how to get more people online.

8. Six present-day Filipinos we should all look up to as role models, and why.

Wala eh. I don't believe in role models. I believe in individuality and the courage to define one's self and dare to be different.

My note: By that definition, Kris Aquino is a role model. Thank you for this moment of clarity.

9. You talk about a lot of things on your blog (sex, Charlize Theron) -- really just about anything goes. Are there things you'll never ever blog about? What are they? Why not?

I don't know. I don't want to put limitations on myself. But see my answer to your bonus question.

10. Four things that break your heart. Every single time.

1) terminally ill children 2) seeing my kids get hurt

Wala nang 3 and 4. It's hard to break my heart, alam mo.

Bonus question: What's the closest you've ever gotten to breaking the law, if you haven't already? I want something special, like public indecency.

I won't tell except to say it's something I will never blog about MWAHAHAHAHA

My note: Dang.

Thanks to Connie.

Tags: Sassy+Lawyer, Philippines, Pilipinas, Manila, Kris+Aquino, Filipinos