H&N

Don't you just love this weather?
I spent the day getting lots of things done at home, while watching Piers Morgan interview Oprah Winfrey on CNN.
I would not have wanted to get out of my sweats today, if not to attend the exhibit opening of one my favorite local artists, Nikki Luna.



I've known Nikki since I was a shopgirl and designer at Grocery. Now this 30-something artist gets her work sold at Sotheby's.
As soon as I arrived at the Blanc Gallery, Nikki said, "I'm so glad you came" and immediately introduced me to Hubert Webb.
Well, the blogger in me just had to take footage.



After taking photos, I almost sat on Hubert Webb, who had taken a seat on the couch with my friends Jay and Grace.
I was also in Piers Morgan mode, so out came the notebook and as many questions I could think of.
What a moment.
I introduced Jay, Grace and myself as writers for the Philippine Star.
"Oh good," he says. "I love the STAR."

Me: First of all, you've been spotted holding hands with a girl. Are you dating Nikki?
Hubert: (Looks at Nikki) "Nikki, she wants to know if we're dating."
Nikki: "No we're just really good friends."
(Ok, if that's all, I have to say they look really good together.)



Grace: Do you know you have that fake Twitter account?
Hubert: "No, but I know all the Twitter jokes."
(That was a brilliant Twitter account by the way. Too bad it's dead.)



"I do have Facebook," Hubert added.
(As of this posting, Hubert had 1,252 friends on Facebook. And Nikki says he does read this Twitter account.)

Me: Name something you've eaten that's really, really good.
Hubert: "Well, I always eat good because my mom cooks really well."
"Have you Bonchoned at all?"
"What?"
"Bonchon chicken."
"No, but I've tried Hainanese chicken rice," Hubert says.
"Wee Nam Kee?"
"Nope. Toast Box at Greenbelt 5. The best."
(Really? Must try that. Jeroen let's gow!)
"I love Greenbelt," Hubert adds. "I think it's the best mall."
(A far cry from Shoppesville, I wanted to add. But I held my tongue! Hubert says he likes Topman and the watch stores.)



Me: Do you get stared at a lot and are you used to it?
Hubert: "Not really, but if it happens I greet them and say, 'Magandang umaga po..."
Nikki adds that Hubert hardly goes out and stays home a lot.
"One thing I don't really need is TV. I think it's a waste of time," Hubert says.

That's something I have to agree with. TV is one of my last priorities. Most of the time I turn it on when I'm by myself, so I don't feel alone.
Another thing Hubert doesn't seem to dwell too much on are material things. I try to ask him what's the best present he got for Christmas, but he can't name any objects.
Everything he treasures is about friends, family, God.
I could not sense any bitterness in him.
"The best gift," he said thoughtfully, "is meeting good friends—many new friends."



Me: What's the best thing that happened while you were in jail?
"I got closer to God."

Hubert expounds and describes what it's like in jail.
For the nth time I wanted to kick myself for not bringing my Flip video, which I use during interviews because they are so much easier to transcribe.
I express regret and try to tell him what a Flip video is.
We talk about meeting again for a real interview and Hubert agrees.
With that we say thanks and leave Hubert to talk to other guests at the gallery.

"Not too shabby for someone who just spent 15 years in jail," Grace remarked as we left the venue.
Jay agrees. "Ate, hindi kita kinaya," Jay says.
"Ako din, I'm such a dork. Should've brought my Flip video."

I go home to Jeroen and tell him we just interviewed Hubert Webb.
Jeroen wants to know, "Has he been to Pepper Lunch?"
Ugh. I forgot to ask.
"Let's give him some GCs!" Jeroen says, excited.
My husband is so Pinoy.