Historical

"Mama, makasaysayan na pala ako, kasi sumama ako sa burol ni President Cory."

(Si Rio, habang pinapanuod na sa TV ang mga huling kaganapan sa Manila Memorial.)

Tama naman, dahil tayo din ang gumagawa ng kasaysayan. Sana makabuluhan ang ating iwan gaya ni Tita Cory.

Salamat, Tita Cory.

This small yellow banner was tied to my head. Rommel wore a Cory shirt, Rio had a yellow balloon, and I some yellow beaded bracelets. Yellow was the new black, as in mourning. But yellow has also become the new green, a symbol of hope for the Philippines.

Only selected guests were allowed inside the Manila Cathedral for the final funeral mass. It did not matter. Crowds of people still went to pay respect. Some on top of the adjacent buildings, others in front of the church. We chose to stay connected through a big screen in the parking lot just outside. Rain was heavily pouring and typhoon Kiko's angry wind was pounding on our umbrellas. The rain-gears were quite useless, and we would end up drenched in tears anyway. Walang kaso.

When Lea Salonga sung Bayan Ko, we were singing just as loud.

It was a sad yet heartwarming day. Some friends from Canada, US and Malaysia were texting me -- they were watching from TFC or CNN. One asked me to sign on the message wall on his behalf. Indeed, even in death Tita Cory united the Filipinos around the world.

May this national awakening be a reminder to us all to guard our freedom and exercise our responsibilities. May it drive those who abuse power to humble themselves in repentance and seek real transformation. A long shot, but nothing is impossible.

1993 to 2009 -- a life well-lived. Thank God for you, Tita Cory.

Family Retreat Day 4

Rommel & Rio fulfilled their promise to jog around the neighborhood. That way they found the talipapa (mini-market) so we now have charcoals for grilling, and fresh calamansi for sauce.

General cleaning! Plants get extra watering and kois are extra happy because they were fed early.

Prayer journal now had stick figures -- my first drawing entry. Dream house and dream of another baby (!).

Final outcome of russian egg art very satisfactory. Rommel made a note of us needing to do the same project back at home. Yey!

Later in the afternoon, we had dinner with the Clementes. Kids bonding, parents dreaming together. Lotsa laughter. And tea. Awesome time.

Homeowners back by 10PM. They seemed exhausted by the long drive, but looked refreshed by the trip overall.

Some soft music to cap the night...

Family Retreat Day 3

For yesterday -- Sunday!

Went to DCBC in the morning. Butch led the worship. KC expounded on the crucifixion account. No one in the family had part in the service except sing, pray, and listen. A retreat, too, in that sense.

Finished the remaining 3 easter eggs - we had to make new ones, because one cracked and the two others won't dry! We used too much tinting color I guess. This time we resorted to liquid crayola instead. Cool pastel colors, and quick drying too.

Started a new sketch: a baby in a rotavirus info brochure, which I got from one Mommy Academy event.

Loaded some music onto the laptop. (Happiness found in Mr. C's The Sacred Works of Ryan Cayabyab, Chin-chin's Uyayi, and Josh Groban's Closer).

Taboo rematch: we lost, as in completely no chance of making a comeback, huhuhu. Score was 13 to 45 in favor of Rio and Papa's team. Go R-R!

Bought fresh and nice-looking bangus for grilling on Monday. It will go with pinakbet (glad we found eggplants in the round variety on our way home). Yumm!

Family Retreat Day 2

(This was supposed to be yesterday's entry.)

In between relaxation activities (yes, chores included ... the therapeutic ones anyway!) I checked mails for a concept paper being reviewed by a team of friends.

Anyways, the day was "light" in that there was no stressful moment, but it was full nonetheless:

- Sketching exercises by Rio and I (we'll be taking art lessons from a friend this summer). She did a sketch of the tissue holder's flower design and copied a girl face from a children's activity book.

I tried my hand at a cartoon (Sophia, the tenth muse in B. Amoss' book), a portrait (Ignatius Loyola), and a stylized art (african design from a coffee mug).


- The three of us tried to make Russian egg art (or easter eggs!?) as a thank you gift for the homeowners who made this retreat possible. On one side a lettering of the family name (one letter per egg) and a drawing of a Philippine national symbol that starts with that letter (e.g. A = Anahaw). Took most of the day and early night, trying to find designs, leftover paints, and searching the house for pentel pens and scrap lace. In the end we finished 2, while allowing the 3 others to dry. Fun!

- Rommel watched back episodes of GO Negosyo on youtube. GO mahal!

- Fave music for the day: Bahay Kubo (Timeless Filipino Folk Music in Classical Guitar), Acoustic Hymns Volume 2, Praise Music OPM Sampler.

- Lotsa green tea for me. Local herbal teas for Rommel.

- Rio ate 3 eggs for snacks (growing girl)! Will make sure to get her something to munch on tomorrow after church.

- Played Taboo! Team B (Leslie & I) won over Team A (Rio & Rommel). A rematch scheduled for next night.

- Made polvoron (Ninang Elaine's order from Rio; pasalubong for the Lolo & Lola in Cavite).

- Of course, at the end of the day, had to list our expenses separately. We're doing a 2-week daily list, then re-structure our budget. Larry Burket's advise. He's been our guru since day 1 of marriage. (Not that we were diligent pupils anyway, but we're trying. And now trying harder. Good!)

Family Retreat Day 1

More like Day 2, actually. Last night at 10PM we arrived at this warm and friendly home (Okay, I admit I'd like to call it a "dream abode". Major Confession.), which we will house-sit for the next 4 days. (Again, a misnomer -- we were actually given this treat, a vacation in a peaceful awesome place where we can relax and just be.) Got the keys, important phone numbers, and off to a very restful night.

Breaking out easily into a lovely morning that was today.

Rommel: Quiet time.Book Reading, Brennan Manning's "The Importance of Being Foolish". Errands (get Rio's report card , buy DVD, polvoron ingredients, fetch laptop and my sketch pad.). Taught Rio chores (feeding fish). Rest. Check emails. Read. TV.


Jing: Prepare meals. Book Reading, Berthe Amoss' "Pencil Prayer". Taught Rio chores (watering plants). Rest. Read. Draft a project brief. Check emails. Read to Rio "The Littlest angel". TV.

Rio: QT. Breakfast. Feed goldfish, feed kois. Water plants. Jigsaw. Imagination Game. Computer game. Prepare snacks. Rest. Read. Pretend play. TV. Bedtime story.

Nyt nyte! :)

Bacon-Mushroom Pasta

My attempt at the pasta dish which Rommel immediately loved (thanks, Ate Frances for the recipe!)



Cook bacon, set aside.
Saute finely chopped onions, garlic, and sliced button mushrooms in bacon oil. Add cream and evaporated milk, low fire. Mix with cooked pasta, crushed bacon, cheese, salt and pepper. Top with remaining bacon & cheese.
Serve with garlic bread.

Two Serenades

Hi friends! Heto na po ang excerpts from Ervin's recital. Isa lang ang puwedeng mangyari pagkatapos niyong "mapanood" ito. You will promise not to miss his graduation recital sometime in March 2009! See you then!



Elaine & I finally caught up with the star of the night, at the after-show cocktails...

...organized by DCBC and led by the wonderful Ilongga Powerpuff Gurls!

(P.S. Photos in AVP courtesy of Anelle. Thanks, meni!)

Nakindatan ka na ba ng pusa?!?!?

Ito si Kapitan.

Siya ang dahilan kaya ako ngayon ay nagpapakain ng pitong pusa. Samantalang noong bagong lipat kami dito, araw-araw ibang strategy ang sinubukan para lamang huwag makapasok sa kusina ang mga pusa(kal) na ito. Tuwing umaga kasi kinakalkal nila ang aming basura(!).

Hanggang isang araw, kami ay nagwagi. Sa wakas. O yun ang akala ko. Nang hindi na sila makapasok, nakikisilip na lang sila sa aming bintana. Kaya minsang nakatitig siya, aba nakititig din ako. At sa hindi inaasahan, ako ay kanyang --- tama ka --- kinindatan! Sa buong buhay ko ngayon ko lang nalaman na marunong palang kumindat ang pusa.

Niweys, fast forward ... dahil sa isang kindat na yon, isinuko ko ang batalan. Sige na nga, friends na tayo. Ha?!? O siya pati mga friends mo friends ko na rin (demanding ka ha).

At doon nga nagsimula ang isang panibagong relasyon.

Hmp. Pero bawal ka pa rin sa bahay ko ha. Pinag-iisipan ko pa. Kaya mula ngayon, sa bubong tayo magtatagpo. Doon kayo kakain, intiende?

At yun na. Bow. (Err.. Meow.)

We have moved!

From the former Student Center of the Diliman Campus Bible Church (where we served as houseparents for almost 4 years) in Project 6, we now rent a small apartment at San Francisco, Del Monte, in Quezon City.

Bagong bahay ... bagong parol!











... bagong tambayan!











... at bagong friends!











...welcome to our new neighborhood!:)

how i finished Prince Caspian

How could this happen?!?

I brought it with me, to read on the way to and from the dentist. Was halfway reading through it, & very much nostalgic about re-visiting this wonderful story (now a most-awaited movie too!). I'll surely finish it when I get home!

But wait ... Huwaaaa.. I left it in the tricycle ... NoOOOoh!!!
...
Mamang tryke, san ka nahhh po...huhuhu!

Went back to the terminal, but he was not there. Co-drivers were very helpful (at least I thought they felt sorry for me --- or maybe just found me silly, coming back for a mere pocketbook?!?!? Namasahe pa trenta y pesos, sayang.) Couldn't tell. Didn't bother. I just wanted my book back :( Panu na? Waaaa...

Sigh. So sad. I got that copy for half the price! (My friendly classmate Akbar bought it from India on his last trip this March.)

Besides, that was Rio's. Tough. Another thing to owe my lil girl now.

But but but ... whoa ... its bound to be a happy ending after all! Found a free e-copy online!!! Thank you, thank you intexblogger.com! Aieeeh!!! Mwah!

I ended up downloading other e-books as well. Splendid! :)

And now for my favorite part of the book:

"Welcome, child," he said.
"Aslan," said Lucy, "you're bigger."
"That is because you are older, little one," answered he.
"Not because you are?"
"I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger."

All things work together for good.

Rice Crisis

"Batang Pinoy: Tumutulong sa Pagsulong"

What can a seven-year-old possibly do?

Finish her plate -- in light of the rice crisis!


http://www.panibagongparaan.com/content.asp?ID=22

Takin' a break :D

Havana Family KTV here we come! Err..came, and went. We did visit a couple of days back, and found out that the hourly rate is non-consumable -- which is very reasonable, actually. But I was out for a good bargain, so no thanks this time :(

Driving off, moving on...Try Encore! Encore? Sure! Off to SM North ... huwaaat? No more Encore! The space was being re-constructed for a fastfood chain. Tongkantangtong para Chowking. Ok :(





But wait! There's more! How bout the KTV at the foodcourt? Aha! The video-game-arcade has come up with a fantabulous idea --- videoke rooms! Except it's limited to 10 songs at a time :) Good enough! Plus, you are right smack where the food is, baby.




Cheap thrill? Priceless fun! And oh, Rio had a blast 'coz she's literally a step away from the arcade games. (won some, too!)


Now that's a real good time!!! That's all folks :)

Aligando (Galikin!)

Masantos tan mablin oras
So inter na Diyos lawas
Umbangon tayon misalamat
Umbangon tayon misalamat
Ta inianac lay Dios Anac
Ta inianac lay Dios Anac

Galikin, galikin kapastoresan
Gali kayon, gali kayon manangigalang
Ed Ari ray, ed Ari ra'y catauaenan
Diad Belen so nianacan
Diad Belen so nianacan!

Last night a group of old folks (seven of them, between 50 to 70 in age) came by to sing this traditional Pangasinan Christmas carol (normally sung between January 2 to 6). It is something similar to the Pasyon chanted during lent, except that instead of telling about Jesus' life and suffering, it narrates in many stanzas the events surrounding and leading to Jesus' birth.

The chorus bids everyone to "come...to give respect...the King of Kings...born in a manger."

Regretfully I only know one verse and the famous chorus. I hope to teach Rio once I found the lyrics (wait...found it online, great!). She enjoyed listening to it (although she tugged my elbow after every line for translation)-- she even went to the next house to listen again!

Lantern Parade (19.Dec.2007)

What did I get from watching this year's UP Lantern Parade?

-Aching muscles from walking, standing, tiptoe-ing and maneuvering to see the different gigantic creations;

-Aching heart for NOT being able to have a good vantage point;

-Aching neck for watching the amazing fireworks after the parade. AWESOME must be the right term, because it left me feeling "I had enough fireworks memory to last a year". (I heard the UP Centennial kickoff fireworks would even be better. Can't wait!);

-Aching tummy, because the food stalls were still a five-minute walk away, and I dare not lose my (by this time) already nice spot. Also, who would want to miss the next presentors - CFA! (Hahaha, obviously biased for College of Fine Arts. Initially I thought their obras this year are soooo simple compared to what they can do -- but hey, surprise, surprise: they still made my night, especially with oblation dancing the Papaya!);

-Finally, an aching head from thinking "I hope my classmates are enjoying this!" In the end I had to judge by their grouchiness, and they showed none! I therefore conclude they must have thought it was worth their trip. Thanks Murty, Aleem, and Pratap for coming all the way from the AIM campus!.

What an achy-breaky night. But hey, no pain, no gain! :)

Some photos (more at Murty's Flickr):

barangay elections

Di ako nakauwi!

Pasensiya na po at may klase. Hay. Ito na lang ang natitira kong karapatan hindi ko pa magawang isakatuparan. Waaah.

Sa lahat po ng mananalo, nawa ay maipagawa na po ninyo ang mga kalsada, lalo na yung nasa tapat mga terminal ng sasakyan. Kakatakot pag tag-ulan, sayang ang laba sa Ariel.

Salamat din sa mga magpapatupad ng "for official use only" sa sasakyang pambarangay (at iba pang kagamitan). Paki-pulot na rin po ang mga batang papunta ng eskwela na walang pamasahe, para di sayang ang gasolina.

Higit sa lahat, MAGTANIM ng PUNO! At sana po may programang maipatupad para sa problema sa basura. Pramis.

Sa mga SK (dati din po akong tulad niyo) --- huwag sayangin ang nakalaang pondo. Sa totoo lang, kung makakapag-umpisa kayo ng negosyo para sa mga kabataang walang trabaho, yun na lang kesa sa mga palarong nauuwi sa gulo.

Yun lang, bow.

pagsabog at ekonomiya

Q: What is the effect of the Glorieta bombing on the GDP (Gross Domestic Product)?

A: Would you believe, it will increase! With the explosion comes increased consumption. Hospital bills. Transportation. Consultancy services. Water. Police expenses. Funeral.

That, my love, is macroeconomics.

I think I'll stick to the other Social Sciences for now.

Araw-araw

3.00AM Wake up to the cellphone alarm. Snooze. Another thirty minutes please!

3.30AM This will be the 3rd time the alarm goes only to be shut off.

4.00AM Ok. Real thing now. Read cases. Do homework. Doze off sometime midway, but not too long now.

5.00AM B-r-r-r. Ligo, fix up, breathe, & pray. Read some more.

6.00AM Still reading. Quick breakfast (coffee or oatmeal, or milk & banana).

6.30AM PANIC!!! Leave now. AS IN NOW na. Bye baby, labyu mwah mwah.

6.50AM MRT North Avenue Station. From here on, every second (and step) counts. Think "Hope For The Flowers" (Trina Paulus). Caterpillars squirming their way up [to third floor] MRT North Avenue Station. That's me and the entire QC working force on a Monday morning.

7.10AM There's my train! Seated or not, continue reading. Time is precious.

7.30AM Magallanes Station! Yey! Taho muna from Mang Jun, ten pesos. Walk, walk,walk to the jeepney stand. Biliiiiis!

7:50AM Get off at Greenbelt 1. Wear school ID. AIM! Just in time for class. Whew! If I'm lucky I could still pass by the washroom. :)

Another day to seize.

31 must-try foods

I am no food expert, but I know good food if I ever taste one – masang pinoy standard! :)

It just occurred to me that I can pass for somebody in her midlife (already!), so while I can, let me remember (ah, with much gusto and longing) thirty-one of my most favorite foods! Try them all!

1. Avocado shake (or mashed, if a blender’s not available. Be very generous on the milk!)
2. Balut! (The best places will be Dumaguete’s boulevard during sunset & UP’s Sunken Garden). But of course, a balut is a balut wherever you go. Absolutely the best.
3. Bayi bayi on your bus trip anywhere in Negros
4. Bicol express … oooosssst… grabe.
5. Bulalo ni Mang Tony sa Dagupan
6. Calasiao Puto at Chokolate-ah…..
7. Camote bread with pesto --- at Bohol bee farm!
8. Coffee, coffee, more coffee (Batangas, Canlaon, Baguio); special mention ---Davao’s Durian (flavored) coffee – of course, who can forget Café de Bohol? Nothing beats the homemade coffee, though! Roasted rice or peanuts in old fashioned claypots!
9. Colette’s buko pie (free plugging to ha)
10. Dinuguan. Try the kind they cook at a bisperas ng kasal in the North. If you see lots of Kamias, that’s the kind you’ll want to feast on. Try also Bar 21’s chicken dinuguan in Bacolod.
11. Empanada at mami ng Batac, Ilocos Norte (must try! Look for Glory’s.)
12. Ensaladang kamatis, mangga, talong, bagoong! (or ginamos in the South). Miss ko na si manang cart sa Kamia dorm ...
13. Inihaw anything fish! Dagupan bangus, nothing can beat. But coming close is inihaw na tahong at hito.
14. Isaw sa UP Diliman. Try mo malapit sa Kalayaan at Ilang-Ilang dorms.
15. Kinilaw na isda ng Iligan, Cagayan, or Davao (each own has its own special ingredient).
Kilawin! (kambing is the best, but do try other variations of meat and fish)
16. Labong at saluyot. Di ba, di ba, devah???? Anybody dare to disagree?
17. Latik (da best pa rin ang homemade, so maghanap na rin kayo ng Auntie Merly nyo like mine).
18.Mang Jimmy’s (Balara) unlimited rice and a variety of all time fave meat meals (aka pulutan for many).
19. Pancit habhab ng Lucban (?) Quezon.
20. Pancit Molo (huwag mag take two ha! maalat na.)
21. Pinakbet!!!! Walang kokontra.
22. Pinapaitang kambing (I used to eat this only when my Lolo cooks! Thank heavens he was able to transfer the family secret to uncle Bert..). Ilocos has a counterpart --- Sinaglao na baka. Sssssssarap talaga.
23. Sinigang na isda! Try malaga at hipon sa Lingayen.
24. Sisig ng Cebu (Golden Cowrie’s)
25. Steamed lapulapu ng Palawan, aw!
26. Talaba --- anywhere! Kabankalan, Hinigaran, Iloilo, and my all time favorite – Pangasinan!
27. Tocino (Pampanga’s pork, and Cebu’s fish)
28. Tupig ng Bayambang
29. Ube Haleya
30. Batutay (stuffed frog) ng Bulacan

31. Strawberry taho! marami sa mga kalye ng Baguio :D

Okay now, I think at this point this list thingy is becoming a torture. I am in an airport and nothing among these stimulating items is within reach. I will just settle for a bottle of water (gulp) but wait ‘til I get home … a bottle of tamarind pickled in Ilocos vinegar. This is definitely life. Kain na :D!