Friday, December 30, 2011

Dinengdeng

aside from the kapampangans, i think our ilocano locals

have the most gastronomically wealthy sense of taste.

i just had one of the best lunches here in camiling.

prepared the old fashioned way.

boiled organically grown vegetables.

seasoned with so much love.

as interactive as eating crabs,

the malunggay fruit (bunga ng malunggay)

among the ensemble of

sitaw, bataw, okra, ampalaya, talong, kalabasa, saluyot,

kamote, kamatis
, plus your char-grilled bangus (milk fish),

and the secret ingredient--

the mighty and savory bagoong halubaybay is a total rockstar!

and the only way to celebrate its goodness (and nutrients)

aside from eating it with bare hands,

is to run your teeth through the green pod's squashy and tasty meat.








































yum!

:-)

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Indescribable

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming...























































Tuesday, October 25, 2011

sem break mode and random musings

October 24, Monday

Sinigang na bangus sa tunay na sampalok with gabi, organic tomatoes, and perfectly blanched kangkong for lunch. Prepared and cooked with so much love.

Im not a bangus fan, just a soup buff.

Food can tell us many things.

For me, it narrates everything.

It's a gateway to the undiscovered.

a chronicler to a myriad of tales untold in one place.

It's not really about the dish but the entire dining experience that would always create memories.

:-)

Thursday, October 20, 2011

You First Believed

How many times did I pray you'd find me...
How many wishes on a star,
Gazing off into the dark
Dreaming I'd see your face
Safe at home unafraid,
Captured in your embrace.

So many times when my heart was broken,
Visions of you would keep me strong.
You were with me all along,
Guiding my every step.
You are all that I am
And I'll never forget.

It was you, who first believed
In all that I was made to be.
It was you, looking in my eyes.
You held my hand and showed me life.
And I've never been the same,
Since you first believed.

There were times when I thought I'd lost you,
Fearing forever was a dream.
But it wasn't what it seemed,
Placing your hand in mine,
You could see in the dark,
You were guiding my heart.

It was you, who first believed
In all that I was made to be.
It was you, looking in my eyes.
You held my hand and showed me life.
And I've never been the same,
Since you first believed.

It was you, who first believed
In all that I was made to be.
It was you, looking in my eyes.
You held my hand and you showed me life.
And I've never been the same,
Since you first believed.

How many times did I pray you'd find me...

How many wishes on a star...

You First Believed by Hoku

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

what matters to them, matters even more to me :-)

"Look, teacher i have two growing teeth!"

teacher: congratulations!

:-)

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Bata, bata















The year was 1989. Life was simple. It’s all about the basics.
Apple was only a fruit to many. OFW were just letters.
Wellness was not the “in” thing yet because
people know how to eat right. Everybody knows everybody in my old town
and they talk to each other (real time and touchable). People help each other.
Kindness is contagious. My childhood, oh my childhood days…
my kababata will love this…

Sources of nourishment:

Chocnut bars (better known as Chocobot), Pom Poms, Zeb Zeb,
lechon manok/baka (monosodium glutamate-rich and false meat-flavored chips), iced candy, tira-tira (pinoy toffee), saging con yelo, sago’t gulaman a.k.a samalamig, mangga/singkamas slices on stick with the ultimate bagoong, turon (banana fritters), banana/kamote-que, tubo (sugar cane stalks), adik (pastillas-like bar. I don’t really know who and how it got its name), Bazooka (loud pink gum in very ingenious wrapper with comics strip), Pritos Ring, Chippy, halo-halo, home cooked alas-tres merienda, taho, binatog, mais, yakult, kornik and butong pakwan, sorbetes.

Sources of fun and laughter:

Piko (hopscotch), tagu-taguan (hide and seek—forever!), Nintendo, Game and Watch, moro-moro/ agawang base, patintero, shato, mataya-taya, ocho-ocho, Chinese garter, ten-twenty, langit-lupa, bato-batopik (rock-paper-scissors), nanay-tatay (gusto kong tinapay), sungka, goma, pick-up-sticks, teks (character cards trade), lutu-lutuan, biking during hot summer days (skipping nap time with take home broken elbows or bruised knees), catching tadpoles during rainy days, shadow play during brown outs, watching Batibot, playing sand and mud (turning them into traps when bored), making homemade clay dough, paperdolls and puzzles (creatively self-made), bubbles (self-made using The Standard Gumamela and Soap Concoction), climbing up the mango/aratilis tree, chasing butterflies, catching dragonflies (there’s a technique to catch the prey without breaking its wings).

Was it really simple?

Life is a gift that we unwrap each day.

:-)

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Monday, August 15, 2011

Sunday, August 14, 2011

atsi












the yin in my yang,

my spongebob,

froyo buddy,

and super friend

in good times and in good times!

:-)

Monday, August 8, 2011

friends and froyo

always have something to look forward to.

:-)

Sunday, August 7, 2011

unloading sentiments

what do you do when you feel like giving up?
when your life is shattered?
when you can barely process what is going on around you because
you find yourself drowning in your own tears and your low EQ
just keeps on shutting your options down?
when for the first time you dont really know where to go?
when you cant even pause for a moment to think about your next step?
then you suddenly realize the answer. it's always been there.
you were too engulfed by your sentiments to even notice or remember.
but it has always been there.
you unload your baggages
and go back to the heart of worship.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

it's a marathon, not a sprint

i finally had my BMI test last week.

the result says it's going to be a marathon, not a sprint.

:-)

Thursday, July 21, 2011

kinder

teacher: goodbye children.

danielle: goodbye teacher!
thank you for loving us and the Philippines!

every day is like no other.
when the children are happy it makes my day!

:-)

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Sampaguita (Dolores Paterno, 1879)

Sampaguita
(Tagalog version by Levi Celerio)

Sampaguita ng aming lipi,
bulaklak na sakdal ng yumi
Ikaw ang mutyang pinili
Na sagisag ng aming lahi,

At ang kulay mong binusilak
Ay diwa ng aming pangarap,
Ang iyong bango't halimuyak
Sa tuwina'y aming nilalanghap.

O bulaklak, na nagbibigay ligaya,
O! paraluman, mutyang Sampaguita,
Larawang mistula ng mga dalaga;
Ikaw ang tanging bituin
Hiraman ng kanilang ganda.

Ang iyong talulot
Ang siyang tunay na sagisag
Ng sa dalagang puso'y wagas,
Kayumian at pagkamatapat.


The Flower of Manila
(English version)

Lovely bloom of the Sampaguita
By my Philippine maid beloved,
Not a flow'r in the world is sweeter
As you circle her lovely brow!

In the daintiest collar clinging,
With one bud like a pendant swinging,
Round the neck of the gentle and beautiful one,
How happy and fortunate now!

Beautiful flow'r Enchantment of fair Manila
With happiness fill her,
O bright Sampaguita Beautiful flow'r
O rest on her hair so lightly!

Softly caressing, touch her with blessing
Dear Sampaguita flow'r Green of the Garden!
Beloved symbol of my dear maiden,
Pure Sampaguita, Entreat her to smile again
My flow'r of flow'rs

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

"take courage!"
















It's a long long journey
Till I know where I'm supposed to be
It's a long long journey
And I don't know if I can believe
When shadows fall and block my eyes
I am lost and know that I must hide
It's a long long journey
Till I find my way home to you

Many days I've spent
Drifting on through empty shores
Wondering what's my purpose
Wondering how to make me strong

I know I will falter
I know I will cry
I know you'll be standing by my side
It's a long long journey
And I need to be close to you

Sometimes it feels no one understands
I don't even know why
I do the things I do
When pride builds me up till I can't see my soul
Will you break down these walls and pull me through

Cause it's a long long journey
Till I feel that I am worth the price
You paid for me on Calvary
Beneath those stormy skies

When Satan mocks and friends turn to foes
It feels like everything is out to make me lose control
Cause it's a long long journey
Till I find my way home to you
To you

(Corrine May-Fly Away album 2001)

Monday, June 6, 2011

The World is Flat, lah!


the highlight for me was in the last chapter.


for educators, parents, business leaders, and young adults.


shifting sand. noodles and curry vs. mcdonald's


:-)

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Awesomeness Part 2!




















"Your story may not have such a happy beginning, but that doesn’t make you who you are, it is the rest of your story, who you choose to be…"
--Soothsayer

Monday, May 30, 2011

27 Years and Counting


My most cherished and extraordinary childhood days were spent mostly with these two amazing girls.

:-)

Growing Up


(a chunk of tita pretty and rafael's conversation today.)


Tita Pretty Ni Hannah
hello there
hi

Rafael Padua
hi

Tita Pretty Ni Hannah
still up?
wheres hannah
what are you doing

Rafael Padua
hannah is in the room watching

.....

Tita Pretty Ni Hannah
tell hannah i said kamusta

Rafael Padua
okay
and thank you (for the package)

Tita Pretty Ni Hannah
have you seen Kung Fu Panda already?

Rafael Padua
not yet

Tita Pretty Ni Hannah
watch it! very nice :-)

Rafael Padua
yah i will
i heard its nice

Tita Pretty Ni Hannah
by the way, were you able to form the wooden puzzle?
hehe :-) challenging, huh? :-)

Rafael Padua
yes i was able to fix it
it took awhile

Tita Pretty Ni Hannah
wow! really? did all the pieces fit exactly together inside the square board?
amazing!

Rafael Padua
yah

Tita Pretty Ni Hannah
you'll get another reward from tita pretty for completing it!!! :-)

Rafael Padua
YAY!!!

Tita Pretty Ni Hannah
hmm...ill tell you about it next time. by the way, how's school?
are you now preparing for the state test?

Rafael Padua
um...

Tita Pretty Ni Hannah
AP TEST, right?

Rafael Padua
yah its good
thts for highschool
3 more weeks of school
and then im going to highschool
freshmen

Tita Pretty Ni Hannah
wow! are you excited or what?
it will be a totally different world.
more challenges. more learning

Rafael Padua
yup

Tita Pretty Ni Hannah
zo, i want you to know that tita pretty will always be here for you and hannah. you may tell me anything, as in anything about school, your life, crushes, anything. even if we are miles away from each other, know that you and hannah are always in my heart and prayers. E-MAIL ME ANYTIME!
is that cool?

Rafael Padua
cool:-)
thxs tita pretty
love u



Photo by Kuya Ron :-)

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Teach. Inspire :-)

Musmos

walang araw na di ko naaalala ang nanay, inang at tatang ko.

sa kwento ng kanilang buhay at pangaral natutunan ko

ang maraming bagay.

saya.

lumbay.

kung paano maging payak.

kung paano magbigay at maghintay.

sa lilim ng kanilang karunungan

natuto akong tumangan.

dalisay ang kanilang puso

na ang tanging hangad lamang ay

ang makapagdulot ng sigla

sa aking musmos at nangungulilang mga mata.

:-)

Up to this day, I can still vividly recall how our moments together were like.
Small talks. Big laughter. Tatang’s hilarity was incredible. Afternoon coffee.
More talks. More laughter. More coffee.

"Uncommon thoughts on common things"


ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN by Robert Fulghum
(excerpt from the book)

All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sand pile at Sunday school.

These are the things I learned:
Share everything.
Play fair.
Don't hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don't take things that aren't yours.
Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
Take a nap every afternoon.
When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.
And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.
Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.

Take any one of those items and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or your work or government or your world and it holds true and clear and firm. Think what a better world it would be if we all - the whole world - had cookies and milk at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had as a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess.

And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out in the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

"World of Color"


"At any given moment, no matter where you are, there are hundreds of things around you that are interesting and worth documenting."
--HOW TO BE AN EXPLORER OF THE WORLD by Keri Smith

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Why Even Our Best Schools Don’t Teach the New Survival Skills Our Children Need—and What We Can Do About It


Tony Wagner's 7 SURVIVAL SKILLS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY:

1. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
2. Collaboration Across Networks and Leading by Influence
3. Agility and Adaptability
4. Initiative and Entrepreneurship
5. Effective Oral and Written Communication
6. Accessing and Analyzing Information
7. Curiosity and Imagination

Monday, April 25, 2011

a tranquil morning


"Teach your children what we have taught ours, that the earth is our mother. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. The earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children."



:-)

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Aidanic Moment


Yesterday's delight was when I met for the first time one of the most adorable tots on the planet and Facebook. My nephew from Irvine who happened to be just as awesomely cute as Hannah (yes, it's the genes) finally set foot on brown soils. We just played and laughed and giggled the whole afternoon. We're crazy teasing and tickling each other and unfortunately, there was no single indication that he'll run out of serotonin. Haha. He has no idea that I was also geared up that day with "Tita Pretty-I Can Make You Laugh the Whole Day-Powers!"
(wink!)
Then we had a nice and sweet storytelling time which he really loved. I initially tried to push him a little to read but the texts are written in Filipino, quite a foreigh language to him. But I'm pretty sure he'll learn it well soon.

I can't wait to see him again and tell him about The Rich Island.
We had a pinky promise (a promise made between very close friends by entwining their pinky fingers) that he'll call me and we'll meet again in winter break.

For now, I'll just dream of beautifully created gardens of love and laughter for my dearest pamangkins.


"Tita Pretty, you're the best tita in the whole...
(cover your ears mom!)...WORLD!"

:-)

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

My Little Sunshine

all I can remember were our galactic laughters and earsplitting screams as we play and jump and run and sing and dance and eat together.
I can't wait to see you.

love always,

tita pretty :-)

Thursday, February 10, 2011

CakeLand rocks!



Fluffy.

Buttery.

Cheesy

and bursting with unpredictable richness.

A subtle blend of icing and all its goodness that

befriends your palate right before you know it.

A box of taisan from CakeLand will promise you

THE taisan experience of your afternoon!

Happy eating!

:-)


Edna's Cakeland is at
#1 Don Manuel Ave., Kapt. Pepe Subd.,
Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija

(More Than Dish: A Culinary Journey is Carmela's official food blog)