Tinubong :-)

tuklasin at lasapin...

http://ricerecipe.pinoyrkb.com/tinubong.html

Nai Cha-rap! (to infiniTEA and beyond!)

fruit infusions tea (2 tbsp.)
















steep for 5-7 minutes in hot water





















pour into glass with condensed milk waiting to be charmed!

shock with ice!
















you may add black gulaman or tapioca pearls.


yum!

To be or not Tupig?

made from ground glutinous rice,

grated coconut,

coconut milk

(you can't really go wrong with coconut),

brown sugar,

wrapped in banana leaves,

and cooked on a flat rectangular piece of GI, over blazing coals!

what sets this delicacy apart from your regular suman

(which is not even comparable) is the fact that it is

char-grilled in a very special way.

you may want to pair this with sliced mangoes, yogurt, or a scoop of vanilla ice

cream. but enjoying Tupig in its own unique

whiff and taste is already a delight to smile about.














yum!


Tupig is a native delicacy of Camiling, Tarlac and Pangasinan. So if you're traveling north-bound, get ready for this yummy treat sold by local hawkers in bundles.

More Tales to Add in My Trove of Adventures!

Time runs swiftly... yet Camiling seems to have its own timezone.
People are pretty meek and speak one same language-- kindness.

after the preschool science fair...

teacher: yesterday, when the winners were announced and your group did not win, what did you feel?

student: happy.

teacher: really? you're happy even if you did not win?

student: yes, teacher.

teacher: why?

this is exactly what she answered...

student: because it's not about winning, it's about doing your best.

(this girl is only 5 years old and used to have issues with her being overly competitive.)

:-)

"Never be mesmerized with a Nobel prize."

-F. Sionil Jose

yumMagnum!

this thick bar of silky vanilla ice cream on a stick,
embraced with pleasantly delicate and crispy
Belgian milk chocolate coating,
made me so up and about til 3 am yesterday
while i was working on my children's portfolios.
got the classic first.
will try almond and truffle later.
yum!

:-)

Available at 7-eleven and hypermarkets.

Rice Vermicelli with Lobster Balls and Peppers

oil
butter
bell pepper
lobster balls
salt and ground pepper
chicken stock
simmer
add vermicelli (presoaked in water)
simmer
plate it!
serve it!
(you may want it soupy or not so soupy)

yum!

Mint Chicken

February 5, 2012
Sunday

today, i cooked herbed chicken with fresh mint leaves.

it turned out pretty tasty since i was able to

give all my attention to the

chicken during its frying stage.

tender and moist.

bursting with goodness from all

the spices and fresh herbs

and the mint leaves,

which create a distinctive, subtle, minty but very friendly taste to the palate.

i thought all i need in my life to be able

to cook such a yummy chicken dish is a set of my favorite herbs.

today is a "minty revelation."

a jar or much better, a pot of fresh mint plant

adds not only charm to any dish but

brings out a very relaxing mood in the kitchen.

here's my recipe:

2-3 skinless, boneless chicken breast or thighs

1 fist-size freshly squeezed lemon (don't throw the peelings!)

salt and pepper

1/2 block of butter (use half of it in the marinade, the other half for frying)

basil, thyme, rosemary, and mint leaves

(i usually get fresh herbs at Manila Seedling Bank. dried ones though

are sold in cute bottles at any hypermarket)

what i like in most recipes i cook is its "you can really cook it with ease and smile

in your heart" element.

in short, no need to complicate things, just toss everything together in a medium

bowl (yes, everything. even the lemon halves! put them to work! in fact, the good

stuff is still in its rind and oil in the peel. so go! go! go!)

before frying this lovely domesticated creature, allow it to rest first for about 10

minutes. just enough time to let the acid and herbs infuse their purpose in the

world.

in a skillet, heat the oil and butter until they have known each other well enough.

now it's time to introduce our lead star,

followed by a crucial question,

how can you tell if the chicken is tender and moist-done already?

answer: trust your senses. use medium to low heat. remember that you are not searing

it. just let it get a little golden on each side. plate it. eat with your mighty

rice or pesto.

yum!

:-)


(Manila Seedling Bank Foundation, Inc. is located at
Quezon Avenue Extention Corner E. DeLos Santos Avenue, EDSA Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. it's just beside Trinoma.)

Ham and Cheese Pull Apart

@ Krispy Kreme

yum!

http://www.krispykreme.com.ph/page.php?page=New%20Products

On Grandma Julia (Child)

pearls and floral scarf.

who wears them while deboning a duck

or tossing an omelette?

funny and witty.

that's grandma julia!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWmvfUKwBrg

omelette omelette

how to cook a fluffy and moist omelette?

crack the egg in a bowl and beat it with fork

then add a little water while whisking it.

season.

pour into pan.

let it sizzle.

shake it back and forth.

flip it.

plate it.

serve it.

yum.

(you may saute first a cupful of white onion rings

then pour in the beaten eggs.)

:-)

tinapay na may palamang kamote at kalabasa

http://www.tlj.ph/

freshly baked sweet potato pie

(tinapay na may palamang kamote at kalabasa made perfect

with coffee or tsokolate de batirol)

@ Tous Les Jours

yum!

tous les jours: french word for "every day"

but not so surprising, this french-asian bakery was established in korea.

http://www.touslesjoursusa.com/about.asp?smnu=04

:-)

Opia Like It!

I first saw this amazing pastry from San Juan, Ilocos Sur featured on a magazine t.v show. I asked my good friend from the same town if he knows about it and surprisingly, only few residents make them today (ill tell you why and how later) and so the research, interview, and craving for this crispy, crusty, half moon shaped filled with perfectly roasted sesame seeds delight began!

to be continued...

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!

:-)

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...

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.

:-)

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

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

"Look, teacher i have two growing teeth!"

teacher: congratulations!

:-)

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.

:-)

it's all part of a grander plan

"magiging maayos din ang lahat."

-nanay

OGTT

it's really the food.

atsi

the yin in my yang,

my spongebob,

froyo buddy,

and super friend

in good times and in good times!

:-)

friends and froyo

always have something to look forward to.

:-)

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.

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.

:-)

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!

:-)

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

Education in Today's Flat World: The Implications of Globalization and the Action Philippine Schools Can Take

July 8, 2011

"teach the children to learn how to learn."

"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)

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


:-)

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

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 :-)

JM and KG Walkabout with Ninang Pretty :-)

"Ninang Pretty, ito yung pinakamasayang bakasyon ko!"
- KG

Frisbee, Rafting and Lunch By the Falls :-)

"learning the art of letting go."