Higit Sa Lahat, Tayo ay Pilipino

In times like this, it is good to know that there have been times like this.

Once again, the Filipino people's indomitable human spirit is put to test. We will, yet again, prove to the world that there is nothing that can put our nation down.

We are a country divided by various political affiliations, religious beliefs, scandals, intrigues, and whatnot. Apart from Pacquiao's fights, however, we are a nation united by calamities. When adversities come our way, we close ranks and pull all stops in helping those who were not as fortunate as us.

Here in the Bicol Region, we have had more than our fair share of calamities. Being the typhoon belt of the Philippines, we have experienced countless typhoons in varying degree of intensity. Over the years, we have lost thousands of family and friends to raging floods and landslides as well. Eventually, we have learned to accept typhoons as part of our life.

Although we may sometimes feign nonchalance at the threat of an oncoming typhoon, we will never be impervious to the sight of the victims of calamities in other parts of the country. Here is our small contribution to the victims of Typhoon Ondoy: Concert for A Cause.

Thanks to Naga City Deck for the link and the update.

N.B.

I heard on the news this morning that the Naga City Council passed a resolution yesterday to release Php500,000.00. This will be donated to LGU-Marikina, which is one of Naga City's sister cities. Vice-Mayor Gabby Bordado said that the fund will be released and forwarded to the City Government of Marikina within the week.

The fund is relatively small compared to the donations given by other entities. I am positive though, that it will still be of some help.

I hope that it will be put to good use.

Pasta with Creamy Tomato Sauce

Currently Enzo's favorite, this pasta dish is very simple and easy to make. Even a kid could make this. Afterall, Enzo did! =)

The ingredients are very common and can be found in any pantry or grocery (if you don't have them yet).


Cook pasta of your choice according to package directions. The sauce is kinda thick so you might want to use pasta of "sturdier" make such as spaghetti, penne, farfalle rigatoni and the like. I used rotini (swirl) this time since the kids find the shape fun and interesting.

For the sauce, roughly chop 1 onion and saute in olive oil until it turns translucent. Add 2 cups of tomato sauce and season with salt and pepper. Add a teaspoon of dried basil and least 5 cloves of finely chopped garlic and let simmer until sauce reduces and slightly thickens. Add half a cup of grated cheddar cheese and stir thoroughly to avoid lumps. Continue stirring until cheese melts. You may use other relatively soft cheeses and even Parmesan cheese as well. Once cheese melts, gently pour in a cup of all-purpose cream. Stir continuously and allow the sauce to simmer but never let it boil. Combine with cooked pasta. Serve hot and with some warm, thick bread on the side. The bread is best for mopping the sauce from your plate. =)


Buon Appetito!

Thank You.

"The imperfections of the human state are outweighed by the glory of human love..."

Thank you very much for loving and accepting this human state, imperfections and all.

924

To the good times and the bad. Cheers, old girl.

Bitter Swill to Pallow

I'm like a kid all over again.

When I was a kid, I used to get sick a whole lot. The hardest part of getting sick was having to take all the medicines prescribed my pedia. I have never liked the smell and taste of any medicine and I always have a hard time ingesting them

Growing up, I realized that there is an even harder pill to swallow. The bitter truth.

Fiesta Eats!

What's a fiesta without food?

Every year, mom endeavors to serve good food that our guests will love and appreciate. There are some tried, tested and popular dishes that she serves every year. Usually, though, since we have guests who come over every fiesta, she tries to change the menu every year and is careful not to serve the same dish over and over year.

Super Soft Pork Steak

Potato Salad

Pork Humba

Catfish in Hot and Spicy Coconut Cream Sauce

Crispy and Crunchy Breaded Chicken with Sweet Sauce

Australian Mixed Vegetables (that's what the recipe says, I swear!)

Spicy Hot Chicken Salpicao

La Piece de Resistance: Creamy Mango and Jelly (I couldn't get enough of this stuff)

Fruit, Wine and Beer!

Enzo lost a tooth today. One of his lower incisors fell to give way to the permanent tooth.

This is again, one of the many milestones in his life. As always, I have separation anxiety attacks whenever something significant happens to him...

That's all part of motherhood, I guess... =)

Fluvial Procession 09

The annual Fluvial Procession, as seen from our backyard.

The Fluvial Procession marks the end of the Peñafrancia Fiesta in Naga City. The image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia (Ina) is carried on foot from the Metropolitan Naga Cathedral by Voyadores until the Tabuco Bridge. She is then transferred to a huge barge manned by, ehrm, men from the Church, government and other sectors of society (traditionally, women are not allowed to accompany Ina). The barge then makes its way through the Bicol River until it reaches the riverbank near the Basilica Minore, the Shrine of Ina.

Huge crowds would gather along the riverbank, lighting candles, waving white hankies, praying and zealously shouting 'Viva la Virgen.'

**More pictures, courtesy of Dyehri.

Murphy Was with Me Tonight

Murphy decided to pay me a visit tonight.

There I was, all set to go home from work when boss called and asked if I could please be kind enough to update and send another report before I left? I had to acquiesce since it was either that or allow our unit to incur the wrath of the almighties. After finishing the report, I sent it to boss and asked if I could now leave and go home. He said that he forwarded my email to Makati and would I please not move a muscle until he receives word that no other info, data, and whatnot were needed. So I did. Or rather, didn't. Move a muscle, that is.

Oh, hey, he said after several minutes. We need to make some changes. Please edit the data accordingly. And I did. While I was in the middle of carrying out the instructions, I received yet another call. It was boss again. Turned out, there was no need to edit the report because the one I sent previously was already a-okay. Undo. Undo. Undo.

My team mates and I finally got the go ahead to, ehrm, go ahead and head for home. =) It was, afterall, already 1AM. We were at the office for almost 15 hours...time to rest the weary soul.

When we went out of the building, we were greeted by the deafening sound of pouring rain. It was raining so hard! We had to go back inside to grab some umbrellers. Each armed with an umbreller, we decided to brave the rain. We had to walk a bit (okay, more than a bit) since there weren't any available ride anywhere near the building.

It was cold. Our umbrellers didn't provide much protection from the water. There was a slight breeze so it weren't just our footwear and the hem of our pants that were getting wet. Almost every part that the umbreller didn't cover was starting to get wet as well. *sigh*

We have walked a substantial distance when we saw a chariot approaching. Okay. It was just a tricycle. But to a trio of drenched, cold, tired, and hungry workers, it seemed like it was a ride sent by the gods from the high heavens. When the tricycle stopped in front of us, we hurriedly scrambled in lest it turned into a pumpkin...and my team mates might turn into mice as well. Yes, Dyehri, I know that you'll be reading this. And when you do, kindly show this to JJ as well. Ha. Ha. Ha.

My rich  team mates got off at their stop in downtown Naga. They didn't have any change on them so I had to pay for their fare as well. You're still reading this, aren't you, Dyehri? =D

The rest of the ride home was uneventful (thank God for small miracles). I got off at my place. Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, I was proven wrong. It rained harder and when I reached our gate...It was locked! I contemplated on just climbing over the gate to get to the other side. Then again, the night (or early morning) wasn't really going so well that all sorts of things imaginable and unimaginable, even, might happen while I was climbing the gate. Not a good idea, I decided. So, I took out my phone and called my brother. Ehrm. Not picking up. I called my father instead. Good thing he picked up after a thousand rings. Okay, after just several rings. When you're out in the rain, tired and freezing, it would seem that way. Theory of Relativity. I think. Anyway, he picked up and told me to wait a bit while he got the key and went out to unlock the gate for me.

While waiting for what seemed like eternity (relativity, again), came the piece de resistance. A big Pajero came speeding by. When it whizzed by me, it brought memories of the uber fun Jurassic Park Ride at Universal Studios. What happened next was not fun, though. The Pajero was going so fast that it splashed tons of water as it sped by leaving a veeery drenched bystander in its wake. I wouldn't really have minded that much had that bystander not been me.

*sigh*

Eventually, my father came out with the key and let me in.

I am still seething at the series of events that Murphy contrived to happen to me tonight. I'm too worked up to go to sleep.

I am starting to calm down though. I see Khaled Hosseini on my side table. He'll keep me company until I drift off to sleep.

Toodles, then. Mustn't keep Khaled waiting. ;-)

Voyadores Parade 09

VIVA LA VIRGEN!!!

Some weeks after a school year opens, up until Peñafrancia Fiesta Week, schools, colleges and universities in the entire Bicol Region busy themselves with the preparations for the Annual Peñafrancia Festivities.

One of the much-awaited activities is the Voyadores Parade.

Loosely translated, voya means to transport something to another place. A voyador, therefore, is someone who transports something to another place. Makes sense?

During the Peñafrancia Fiesta, the voyadores are men who are responsible for bringing the image of the Lady of Peñafrancia (otherwise known to Bicolanos and other devotees as Ina or 'mother' in Bicol), on foot, from the Basilica Minore to the Metropolitan Naga Cathedral. Men from various socio-civic, religious and government organizations take turns in carrying the image until it reaches the Cathedral. This event is known as the Traslacion, which marks the novenarium in honor of Ina.

*Click here for more pictures of the Traslacion*

Quite recently, the Voyadores parade has been included in the long list of parades and activities during the fiesta.

Representatives from schools, colleges and universities re-enact the traditional Traslacion and incorporate songs and dances. The result is a wild display of color and festive music fill the air as well.

Truly, Bicolanos do everything to make their fiesta as fun and lively as possible...all in honor of the woman they love the most---the Ina of all Bicolanos, Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia.

More Murakami, Please!

Last night, I reached and read the last page of Haruki Murakami's collection of short stories, Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman. I started reading the first of the 24 stories some months ago...For some reason, whenever I tried to finish the book, I dozed off after a few pages...some people suggested (explicitly) that this could be a sign of aging. If so, then how come I stay wide awake and finish all the other books and reading materials that I've read recently? =p

No matter, I finished reading Murakami's book and that's what matters the most.

Reading Murakami's short stories leaves you with a certain je ne sais pas quois. You read a story. You finish it. Then you ask yourself, "What the ef just happened?"

Some of his stories are easy to categorize...they're either sad, depressing or poignant. Some left me speechless and stumped and...argh! I can't even describe it!

I finished the darn book. I enjoyed it immensely. I look forward to reading more of his works.

'S all! =)

The Sum of All Fears

What scares you?

Bugs, snakes, vermin, relationships, committment, death...we are afraid of a lot of things. Sometimes these fears are a result of various past experiences. Some, though, are totally unfounded and sometimes, downright preposterous. Some fears are manageable while some, unfortunately, manage to take control over your life.

Life is too short to be spent being afraid. There's a choice, really. You can spend your life being afraid or you can start taking control over your fears. You can either try to run away and escape from what you fear the most or you can face it, embrace it and conquer it.

September

I can't believe it's already September. Once again, time flew by with nary a glance at my direction...