Road Rage

I was taken aback when I saw the flash news about the killing of jeepney driver by another jeepney driver along Taft Avenue in Manila this afternoon.


It was reported that both drivers were trying to get ahead of each other and were speeding through Taft Avenue as if they were on a race. When the alleged suspect caught up with the other driver, a gun fire was heard killing the latter on the spot. The former fled the crime scene and remains at large as of press time.


The slain driver was only 19 years old.

Obama on Osama

The office scene was suddenly put to a halt when we learned that USA has finally toppled bin laden. With so many going ons around the world today, the royal wedding, the beatification of pope john paul II, the national elections in canada, and the death of gadaffi's son and grandson, I was at loss for words when I heard that bin laden was killed.

All I was able to utter was that america is finally vindicated.  Me and my canadian boss were discussing office matters in his room when obama's speech was aired around 11.45am, manila time.

My boss commented that obama is surprisingly eloquent despite the short time he had to prepare for this address. I told him in reply, that this one is heartfelt may be that's why it flowed smoothly.

The USD value may rise as a result of this "good" news but the world should be wary of possible retaliation from extremist. I hope to God, not.

It might have taken america 10years to eradicate the perpetrator of the mass killings on 9-11n but it is nevertheless sweet. As justice is served, I hope that the world will hopefully attain peace.

Pizza Time at Alvin's!

This pizza parlor is probably the longest standing pizza house in cainta, rizal. It started operations around 1998 and has grown since then.

I've been craving for home-made pizza that's why I ended up at alvin's on my way home. They now have loads and loads of pizza flavors, with prices ranging from P98 to P137. Quite cheap for an eight-sliced treat!

Next time you pass by Cainta, make sure you treat yourself to the goodness and yumminess of Alvin's pizza! :)

Definitely two-thumbs up! :)

It's time to put a lid on my robust appetite!

I always blame the vitamin supplements I take for any uncontrolled eating or endless cravings.

But I'm putting a stop to it NOW! I admit that it's my won doing and I deserve the unwanted 6 lbs.

What do I do then? Lessen couch potato-ing and avoid junk foods of all types.

When do I start? Lord, help me! I still can't resist temptation!

When I finally do find my resolve, I'll give you a complete account of my journey to a leaner body and healthier lifestyle.

By the way, I was just given a 5-pound kettlebell and the original instructional dvd. Is my dear friend trying to subtly tell me something?! Hmmm. :)

Aling Lucing's Sisig!

I have been a "suki" of Landmark grocery and food court ever since I started working in Makati. The grocery is well stocked and has very, very competitive prices to offer. Though, there's nothing much going on at the food court. Just your usual spread of fast food varieties.

That's until I spotted Aling Lucing's Sisig! Hailed as the mother of sisigs, I was surprised that I haven't set eyes on this store despite my countless trips to Landmark.  I am a fan of sisig and have been craving for the "authentic" one. I'll definitely try this one out on my next visit.

See you then, my sisig!

Cravings!

I was just supposed to do my errands quickly without any sidetrips, but I ended up dining out and ordering a calorific greenwich meal.

I've been having cravings for pizza for weeks now. The reason being is that it causes my migraine attacks. Of all the food, why does it have to be pizza?!

Annyhow, I gave in and ordered myself a big time lunch meal.  It's a combo of a pizza slice, lasagna, fries, and cola. 

Who cares if I am weak? Who cares if I have bouts of migraine after?  :)

The Burning Bush.

The sun was out and it was truly a fine day to go swimming. Since my niece likes to waddle much in water, we decided to bring her to club manila east for a swim.

We spent the entire day under the sun and had tons of fun.  It was almost half past five when we reached home. I immediately noticed the thick smoke coming from the back of the houses across ours.  Judging from the thick smoke, I knew right away that it was not the usual "siga."  I tried the guardhouse phone but no one's answering.  It was then that I decided to call the nearest fire station.

True enough, the blaze continued to rise and had engulfed everything on its path. My neighbors living across were in panic state and there was little I can do to appease them. 

At long last, we heard sirens blaring! There were three fire trucks which came to our aid.  It was only when the blaze was finally put out that my neighbors calmed down and stopped crying. 

No one was able to give a clear recount of how the fire started.  They claimed that they saw a man lighting up the dried grass and thought that it was just our other neighbor clearing up the vacant lot.  Later did we find out that the neighbor they thought who was clearing the lot was out the entire day.  The true “culprit” will forever remain a mystery to us all.

I am proud of how my sister and I reacted to the incident.  Our quick thinking has probably saved us all and properties from being gutted down by the fire. 

A Deep Sense of Deja Vu.

It's scorching hot outside. Summer has indeed arrived.  I would prefer to be indoors at this weather but I have to be somewhere else. 

On my way to my destination, I saw a group of three going down the flights of stairs at the ayala-buendia underpass.  Their gait looks familiar because the girl's companions were hanging on either side of her shoulders.  Even at about 30ft from where I stand, I know that the girl's companions are visually impaired.  when we were about to pass by each other, I smiled fondly at the girl because I suddenly saw myself in her, protectively  holding on and guiding my late father's steps. 

Yes, my late father had lost most of his eyesight when I was 10 years old and had relied on my siblings when his condition worsened.

I was once like the girl I saw and was never, ever embarrassed nor felt inconvenienced by my father's condition. I was proud to hold the hands of a very loving man and very grateful to have been given the chance to do so.

Our Own Cross to Bear.

I just learned that my 3-month old nephew (by my kuya - a first cousin) will undergo eye surgery. He was born pre-maturely and was in incubator for about a month.

We thought that he has gone past the critical stage when we saw him gaining weight.  But my uncle noticed that my nephew was not responding to sounds nor was not giving out signs that he can make out the figures placed before his eyes.

A trip to the pediatrician confirmed that our little boy has impaired vision. 

I can feel for my nephew's family because my late father had been visually impaired.  It takes a lot of courage and unwavering faith to accept the Lord's wishes.

Our prayers and fervent hopes remain with my nephew and his family in this trying times.

Holy Week.

My family and I have been preparing for the week-long observance of Christ's passion.  I personally feel that every Christian should take this opportunity to contemplate and assess oneself.

I was asked by my colleague where I'm headed for because I took time off from 18-20April.  She was suprised when I replied nowehere.  We never went out of town during the Holy week.  Probably because my relatives stayed with us during this time.

Nevertheless, I am looking forward to the coming week of repentive silence and enriching experience as I observe the holy week with my family.

A Case of Bad Headache.

Anxiety is getting the better of me since yesterday.  The persistent headache I have been having for sometime now has led to me to consult with a neurologist.  Fortunately, work was a bit down yesterday so I was able to leave early for Makati Medical Center.

The neurologist was very thorough with the preliminary examinations and was very patient in answering my questions.  She noticed though, that my right hearing is not as sharp as my left.  I was advised to have a MRI to rule out the possibilities of a stroke.  My genetic make up is not that ideal, with hypertension and brain stroke in the list.

The MRI procedure itself was not uncomfortable, save for the IV inserted at the back of my elbow.  I was even expecting worst, since most of my colleagues who have undergone MRI were telling me that the machine made them claustrophobic and the level of noise—seemingly endless banging of hard objects, was unbearable.  Fortunately, it was the opposite for me.

I think what’s more taxing is the time I’ll spent thinking (and worrying) over the result of my MRI.

I am hopeful that the results will be favorable.  Nothing can come between me and my faith.

Comedy of Errors.

i woke up late this morning because i dreamt that it’s a saturday. i was somewhere between consciousness and dreamland when the insistent ringing of my three alarms finally roused me from slumber.  lo and behold! it was already 5:45 am! there’s nothing much i can do about my showering time so i ended by rushing through dressing up and fixing my things.

i woke my sister up and asked for her help in packing up my lunch bag.  i was out of the house five minutes after and still arrived at work thirty minutes early.

i couldn’t help but be thankful because i really dread being late for work.  but reality set in when i opened my lunch bag and saw that all i had inside was an empty lunch box! :-( apparently, my sister thought that my lunch bag was ready-to-go.  good thing i had leftover from yesterday’s lunch.

lesson learned:  check your lunch bag before heading out the door! lol!

Summer-sarap is Here!!!

i know for sure that summer is finally here because i dreamt of eating my favorite summer treat--halo-halo!!!

halo-halo is summer. they must always come together, one never without the other.

a satisfying tub of halo-halo is filled with sweetened sago, saging saba, roasted pinipig, langka, nata de coco, gulaman, finely-shaved ice, topped with ube and leche flan, and drizzled with gracious servings of creamy, creamy evaporated milk!

i find digman, razon, and milky way's halo-halo the best by far. the waiting and craving will soon be over, for i'll be officially ushering in the summer season with my first tub of halo-halo this coming week.

(photo grabbed from Google)

Datu Puti…Mukhasim Talaga!!!!

walang mas katakam-takam at nakagagana para sa akin, kung di ang tamang-tamang timpla ng suka,pa-anghang, at paalat.

para sa isang pihikan kumain na tulad ko, walang mas sasarap pa kungdi ang meron sawsawan na suka na kasa-kasama ng kahit anong ulam.

kaya perfect gift ang 2 bote ng datu puti, pinoy kurat na nakuha ko kahapon! nag-iisip na tuloy ako kung anu-ano ang pede ko kainin at isawsaw sa aking mahal na datu puti suka! pritong isda, porkchop, inihaw na pusit, hilabos na hipon, alimasag, fish crackers, chicharon, chippy...hay! ang saraaaappp!!!!

simpleng buhay pero naguumapaw na sarap dahil sa maasim at malinamnam na suka!

Your Taxes are Working for You!

after seeing many hilarious posters and one-of-a-kind food stall yesterday, i didn’t expect that i will see one again today.

there we were, riding a tricycle on our way to the market, when we saw this signage.  we even caused further traffic and delay when we stalled a bit because i was aiming for a good shot. 

no pun intended, just pure, unadulterated fun. :-D

When I Grow up, I Want to be A……..

among the few passengers inside the jeepney i was riding last friday afternoon, my interest was piqued by two newly graduates.  the first one, a young girl with the iron-curled hair was busy staring at herself at the mirror, while the other one, a young boy, who i have learned later on to be her cousin, was telling their grandmother about his filling out a bio-data.

i was shocked to hear that neither of them was planning on pursuing college! the boy wanted to start job hunting right away but cannot be persuaded by his grandmother to take on the job offer to tend a vegetable stall in the far town of tanay. the pay’s little and the place too far from their home, he said.  he would rather work somewhere nearby and be home everyday.  i was waiting for the girl to say something about her plans but all i heard after was about the “inuman” to take place at their home that night.

this made me pensive on the rest of the ride home.  i was really being too idealistic to think that every high school graduate wants to pursue college.  life was also tough when me and my siblings went to school but it never crossed our minds to ever stop and abandon school, altogether.  are these kids speaking their parents’ minds as well?  is it really their wish to start working and ditch college or is it their parents’?

i do hope that they will also be blessed and presented with the same opportunities me and my siblings had.  i hope that they may not suffer the same fate as those who ended up having families at an early age.  life is hard and even harsh, at times.  but to those who are prepared to give a good fight, life seems to be not that difficult after all.

Happy April Fool’s Day!!! (Part 4)

The gags and antics of this world are just so infinite that my sister and I ended having a laughing trip while we were waiting inside the flower shop across the street.

The question is, would you dare?

I wonder what services they are offer…Upholstery? Putty filling? Asphalt laying?

Happy April Fool’s Day!!!! (Part 3)

i literally took a second glance when i saw this after getting off the jeep.  though i was deep in thought, i can’t help but take out my cellphone and take a shot of this eye-catching mini poster:

it took me a while before i got the perfect shot because the man overseeing the table took advantage of my sudden interest in his flyer. or flyers? lol!!

i was really even tempted to record our conversation, which lasted for a minute or two, because it was so hilarious but i felt that it would be too much.  i’ll just hold the memory dearly to myself.  i doubt if it will ever fade. or fades? lol!!!

Happy April Fool’s Day!!! (part 1)

on rare occasions that i’m late for work, i always email my boss as a sign of courtesy and respect.  on this april fool’s day, i sent him a message because i was running late due to an early-morning errand. he replied that it’s okay and he thanked me for letting him know.  but this witty boss of mine last remark was if i was just pulling  his leg because it’s april 1! lol!

the day went on smoothly with no jokes until i set out of the office and headed home.  i took of at the ever gotesco-ortigas (yeah, i’m that cool!) because i was craving for kikiam, but only to find out that they pulled out the food stall weeks ago!  i was so devastated and was aimlessly prowling the food court when i spotted this stall!  skewers at their finest! 

i thought of giving it a try but decided against it after circling the stall thrice.  i mean, where’s the fun in eating isaw that’s sooo clean?! it’s like bruno without mars!

Happy April Fool’s Day!!! (part 2)

the next photo may not fall exactly under the craziness of this day, but it sure is, as far as i’m concerned.

i do not know how to play chess (God knows how hard i tried to learn this sport) and for the love of me, when i saw these huge pieces, i felt that i am again the object of my own ridicule and persecution.  i wonder if the men surrounding the board really knew how to play chess or were just pretending to look intellectuals while i was busy clicking the shutters away.

 Mate!!!

pronounced as ma-te! noy-ping, noy-pi!

C is for Courage over Cancer.

i've always thought of those courageous women who have combatted and withstood the pitfalls of breast cancer. i've seen women from my family struggled, succumbed and survived the ferocious c a few times.

i am no stranger to this fact, being a daughter of a survivor.  my siblings and i learned at an early age the severity that the illness could bring. the experience has allowed myself to feel for those women afflicted with the same condition. the invisble link binding women together is spun by our innate nature for compassion, nurturing instinct and need for belongingness.

i will share in a separate entry my personal journey to self discovery as i begin to protect myself and mitigate the high risks of it happening to me. i am saluting a strong woman whom i have had the pleasure of knowing during the my last year in graduate school. her unwavering strength and willingness to survive her ordeal for her family, children and herself make her truly an admirable woman. it's very different if you're hearing the person speaks personally of her journey to recovery. the truimphs are at their greatest when a person has learned to accept her situation and has a firm resolve in overcoming the big c.

my friend, carla sison, has shown me that a person can live a normal life and be the best she can be to herself and to those around her despite the challenges and uncertainty breast cancer brings. she has been an inspiration and a living testimony of how strong a woman is. she had to stop grad school for a year when she was diagnosed and had undergone chemotherapy.  she sped through the road to recovery and was back in her usual fighting form soon after.

she went back to playing badminton and topped up mba class of 2007.

i know that not all women who have been blessed and cursed with the big c are as fortunate as carla or my mother is. breast cancer has taken many lives and has left many families, motherless. but no one can discount the courage, willingness, and determination a girl or woman has in standing up for a fate she has no hold of.  for those of us who are lucky enough to talk about this tremendous and life-changing experience, let us continue to fight against the big c by pro-actively arming ourselves with the best care we can afford and let us remain steadfast in our resolve in uplifting those who have less, those who are not as strong as us.

(photo taken from Google)

Manic Monday.

today’s just been crazy.  when you feel that something bad is going to happen, it definitely will.

the usual grind at work is a given fact so i have learned to adjust myself to the pressure of deadlines and those around me.   admittedly, it takes a lot, for my resolve to crumble.  but i have to give credit to this contractor i signed on to do the spandrel roofing at our house.

i cannot tolerate delays, unpreparedness and lousy excuses for non-delivery of work promised.  i expect a lot from a person whom i have made a deal with.  you can count on me demanding the compliance of terms and conditions whenever i see fit.  i’ve dealt with all sorts of people from all walks of life that’s why i cannot be easily intimidated.

obviously, this day ended with the contractor becoming wiser.  the invaluable lesson of his life was taught by yours truly.

on a lighter side, i got a free starbucks drink after redeeming a free drink courtesy of a charged purchase using my hsbc card.  maybe they have noticed that i only have a starbucks drink in my hands whenever there’s a promo tie-up with my credit card. lol!

I am a Supporter of the RH Bill!

i am single, financially able and practical.  i know i will be able to provide and raise a child should i decide to have one.  but i wonder, truly wonder how it is for those who are not as fortunate as i am.  will their kids have the access to basic education and living necessities?  will the parents be able to sustain the pressure and growing needs of raising a family with limited sources to begin with?

i am all for the RH bill because it will enable each individual, born or unborn, the right to a good life.  parents should always reserve their rights to choose which family planning method works best for them.  i am devout catholic and have enshrined my spiritual growth to its teaching but i cannot side with her stand against the RH bill.  i am all for the right to be educated, to be given a choice, to be able to live a life i choose, to be empowered and to be heard.

if turn our backs now, how will it be possible for this impoverished and struggling country of ours, to align its goals and long-term plans for a sustainable economic growth capable of providing quality living for its people?  we have to start somewhere.  i believe that it is about time to include sex education in our health curriculum.  i beg the religious groups who find offence in this.  i didn’t learn about the “birds and bees” from home.  a trip to the health center for my physical education class taught me what i need to know about the human reproductive system and responsible parenthood.  was i ever grossed out with what i learned?  of course not!  things became clear in fact. 

do you want access to the same information?  do you, as parents, want to secure your family’s future?  do you, as a woman, want a life of informed choices, a husband or partner respecting your rights and needs, a society able to support your role in nation building? 

if you do, let your voice be heard.  stand up for change.  it’s about time.

Cleansing my Soul.

“new ways to fast this lenten season:

fast from anger and hatred.

give your family extra doses of love.

fast from judging others.

before making any judgment,

recall how Jesus overlooks your faults.

fast from discouragement.

hold on to Jesus’ promise that He has

a perfect plan for your life.

fast from complaining all the time.

when you find yourself complaining,

close your eyes and recall

the moments of joy

that Jesus keeps giving you.

fast from spending too much on useless things,

and give your savings to the poor!”

-         from alice canlas-avancena

a re-post from ms. deedee m. siytangco’s article, manila bulletin 20march2011.

a good reflection during this 2^nd sunday of lent. Jesus is teaching us to free our hearts of hatred and judgment in order to create more room for love and understanding.

for it is only when we forgive do we liberate ourselves and allow our hearts to love unconditionally.

New Bombay Restaurant

there’s a branch across our office which i’ve visited a few times.  the food is flavourful, ambience is relaxed and the service is about right.

my friend and i ended up eating at new bombay’s  in greenbelt branch instead, in our attempt to avoid the familiar faces lurking inside the branch across our office.

anyhow, we ordered chicken curry, fish tikka, basmati rice and chapatti.  the food attendant was very helpful when asked about their specialties.  however, if we haven’t tried this resto before, we wouldn’t have gotten inside because the place was empty!  the resto’s a/c was even off when we entered the place. 

we enjoyed the food.  the resto didn’t fail us with their signature flavourful curry and with their mediocre service as well.  i mean, the a/c was not on when we got in and yet, it was shut off the minute we settled the bill! how lousy can the service get?  i dare say, that I will not visit the place in a long, long time.  the service and lasting impression should always be part of a great gastronomical experience. 

The Best Things in Life are Free!

i’ve been a familiar face at starbucks lately. it’s not because i frequent the place nor i have an addiction to caffeine. truth be told, it pains me to gaze at the prices on the menu let alone spend P150 daily for the caffeine rush.  my hsbc card allows me to have that starbucks experience for free!

i think this is the second time that they had a promotion tied with starbucks. i was actually hoping for the sm gift cheque but i who am i to complain? lol.

i take advantage of the promotion by managing my expenses in multiples of P2,000.  relax, i never splurge and was never an impulse buyer so there’s no danger in me ending up with unnecessary spending.

my favourite by far is iced green tea latte.  i still have charge slips unclaimed to last me a week. til, my next cup!

Inspirational Sunday

“to receive something you never had,

you have to do something you never did.

and when God takes something from your grasp,

He’s not punishing you, but merely opening your hands

so you can receive something better from Him.

remember, the will of God will never take you

to where His grace will not protect you.”

-         lito casual, NAIA

above is a re-post from ms. deedee siytangco’s angel thoughts column in manila bulletin printed on 13mar11..

this thought is very striking for me as it is for my younger sister who is in a roller coaster of emotions. 

i would say, hold on to your faith dearly. faith is never trivial a matter.  in fact, i find it very logical.  i mean how can you hold more when your hands are already full? how can you love when you’re full of hatred? aren’t those things too elementary for us learned people?

faith is not subjective.  it’s more the person possessing or lacking it, who is.

faith is absolute. it’s either you have it or you don’t.  it’s a choice of believing or not in something or someone of greater power capacity.

though i’m still a work-in-progress, i can dare say that i have faith in me.  huge one, in fact.

Global Friends.

my work at a foreign mission enabled me to meet colleagues and counterparts from all over the world.  i’ve been fortunate to have seen and interacted with them personally.  four of these unique individuals, i’ve been closest to and have kept in touch since 2008 (the year i met them).

they come from china, switzerland and libya.  the bond among us four grew stronger with every story, milestone and difficulty shared.  i felt i’m the closest to them when i tell them about my country, my fellowmen and my family.  the world even seemed a smaller place when you have friends all over, when you get to hear the news straight from a local and when you are given a personal recount of what’s happening around.

i felt for the hongkong nationals slained during the luneta massacre august last year.  i personally expressed my apologies to lizzy, my friend from china.  though she sees and understands things beyond what the news shows, i felt i owe her an apology as a sign of respect for her fellowmen who perished in the hands of an anguished man.

then came the political turmoil in egypt and libya.  my friend emil, has been through a lot not only for his own safety and his family’s but also in the line of his duty.  i will forever admire his dedication and fortitude to remain in libya until the repatriation of our mission’s nationals have been completed.  this took precious time away from his family, who fled to egypt days before without him.  his country of origin, egypt, was still far from political recovery and stability when the upheaval in libya erupted.  my friends and i kept a close vigil of his whereabouts and remained on our toes for any news of his flee from libya. 

my other friend, stephan from geneva was the first one who had contacted me a day after the onslaught of ondoy.  i can remember how they commiserated with my situation and the whole philippines as well.

we’ve made our promise to see one another soon.  the bond we have is as strong as the ones i have with my friends close by.  the distance between us only strengthens the faith we have in our friendship.

Unwritten

by Natasha Bedingfield

i am unwritten,
can't read my mind
i'm undefined
i'm just beginning
the pen's in my hand
ending unplanned

staring at the blank page before you
open up the dirty window
let the sun illuminate the words
that you could not find
reaching for something in the distance
so close you can almost taste it
release your innovation

feel the rain on your skin
no one else can feel it for you
only you can let it in
no one else, no one else
can speak the words on your lips
drench yourself in words unspoken
live your life with arms wide open
today is where your book begins
the rest is still unwritten, yeah

oh, oh

i break tradition
sometimes my tries
are outside the lines, oh yeah yeah
we've been conditioned
to not make mistakes
but i can't live that way oh, oh

staring at the blank page before you
open up the dirty window
let the sun illuminate the words
that you could not find
reaching for something in the distance
so close you can almost taste it
release your inhibitions

feel the rain on your skin
no one else can feel it for you
only you can let it in
no one else, no one else
can speak the words on your lips
drench yourself in words unspoken
live your life with arms wide open
today is where your book begins

feel the rain on your skin
no one else can feel it for you
only you can let it in
no one else, no one else
can speak the words on your lips
drench yourself in words unspoken
live your life with arms wide open
today is where your book begins
the rest still unwritten

(gospel)
staring at the blank page before you
open up the dirty window
let the sun illuminate the words
that you could not find
reaching for something in the distance
so close you can almost taste it
release your inhibitions

feel the rain on your skin
no one else can feel it for you
only you can let it in
no one else, no one else
can speak the words on your lips
drench yourself in words unspoken
live your life with arms wide open *****
today is where your book begins

feel the rain on your skin
no one else can feel it for you
only you can let it in
no one else, no one else
can speak the words on your lips
drench yourself in words unspoken
live your life with arms wide open *****
today is where your book begins

the rest is still unwritten

the rest is still unwritten

this has song has been most instrumental and inspirational when i was in search of my worth as a person five years back.  i believed that i was capable of anything then because i live my life as i see fit.

i’m thankful for the opportunity, wise persons and hurdles i’ve had along the way. they made my triumphs even sweeter.

Civility in the workplace

Respect

but how does one show civility towards his superiors, colleagues or subordinates?  it’s basically dealing with others in a way that shows respect and propriety.  we are expected to extend basic courtesy and kindness even to those we personally find unkind and unlikeable.

“in many instances, we should tailor-fit or customize our approach or interaction with people depending on the social setting and level of our relationship,” says mich gorrospe, a human resources expert and regional talent manager of a bpo firm.

even during heated heated arguments and disagreements or when faced with a customer complaint, civility means not losing one’s temper or raising one’s voice and sticking to the facts.  this helps an employee look beyond the anger, frustration and negativity.

in the case of unlikeable co-workers and especially if one is a member of a team whose roles are interdependent, one should not be distracted by their unlikeability but should instead focus on the goals by getting things done and preserving status quo, so to speak.  it is not necessary to be intimate and overfamiliar with their personal life of a co-worker—sincerely greeting people with a nod or smile and acknowledging it makes for every civil behaviour.  one can also consider understanding or reaching out to an unkind co-worker…

an excerpt from ms lilia borlongan-alvarez’ article published on 06feb11 in panorama

Champorado Todo-todo!

Champorado is my younger sister’s comfort food.  She has the same reverence to this dish as I to my chicken sopas.  Here’s my mother’s Champorado recipe.

Ingredients:

1/8 kilo of Malagkit (Glutinous Rice)

¼ cup of washed sugar

4 tablespoons of Hershey’s cocoa mix

1 can Evaporated Milk

Preparation:

·        Dissolve the Hershey’s cocoa mix in 1 part water. Set aside.

Directions:

·        Place the malagkit (glutinous rice) in 1 Litre boiling water. Simmer until the malagkit becomes almost tender;

·        Add the Hershey’s cocoa mix.  Cover and simmer until the malagkit is cooked;

·        Add the sugar then bring to a boil;

·        Turn off heat;

·        Serve with swirls of evaporated milk on top

My sister likes her champorado best when it’s chilled.

Chicken Sopas

This series will not be complete without my all-time-favourite dish—chicken sopas!  I have tried a few other recipes but they all failed in comparison to my mother’s.  I guess the secret lies in the way she prepares and the ingredients she uses. 

Ingredients:

1 garlic clove

1 medium size onion

½ kilo elbow macaroni noodles

½ kilo chicken breast

1 celery stick

1 small carrot

3 small cans of Libby’s Vienna sausage cut in diagonical bits

1 tetra pack of Nestle All-purpose cream

olive oil

patis (fish sauce)

salt and ground white pepper

Preparations:

·        Boil the chicken breast to tenderize. Add a pinch of salt into the stock then cover;

·        Remove the chicken breast and set aside to cool;

·        Shred the chicken breast into fine strips;

·        Cut the celery and carrot into small bits

Directions:

·        Sautee the minced garlic and onion in olive oil;

·        Add the shredded chicken breast then continue sautéing;

·        Add the elbow macaroni noodles and add patis sparingly then stir;

·        Add celery then the chicken stock. Cover to simmer;

·        Add the cut carrot and Vienna sausage before the noodles become al dente;

·        Add the All-purpose cream.  Stir before adding a pinch of salt and ground pepper to taste. Cover to simmer;

·        Optional:  Add a few more drops of fish sauce to enhance taste.

Serve while hot!