the article you are about to read is intended for female readers only...Unless you have joined the sisterhood--then I guess its okay.
I have been contemplating for a while about writing what I have learned and experienced about being a woman. I have issues as a woman, as I bet many other women have, and it becomes even more complicated when culture, race, and religion all intertwine itself.
Stereotyping women with regards to culture and race, does not help in a woman's individuality and self worthiness. Where many cultures regard women as lesser in hierarchy and that considering a woman as a ‘good catch’ would mean knowing how to cook, raise children and coming from a ‘Buena familia.’ In terms of religion, ‘the submissive one’, ‘the quiet and gentle spirit’, and one with ‘a noble character.’ would be the epitome of such description.
When I ponder at all these words many times over, I am faced with a mythical persona. Why? Because there is no such woman who fits all these things. It is WHAT we in society would want a woman to be--- NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! Unless one tries to be a faux damsel, then good luck! If and when someone tries to be the epitome of a perfect woman, then she is bound (kandado, de serrado --yale lock pa!) to all those descriptions and tries to be just that---- In other words, she tries to be what society dictates of her and therefore it is not her authentic self------she is a fake…..when a woman lives up to someone else’s connotation of womanhood, then it’s a fake….faux…hindi totoong tao…a dream…panaginip...
Earlier in my married life, fights with my husband often would be like this:
He: “the bible says you have to submit….AT ALL TIMES.”
Me: “is that so?
He “yes, just look it up.!”
Me: “then drop dead!” .
He: “why should I do that!..that’s not nice!”
Me: “di ba the bible also said, love your wife as Christ love the church and died for it…
So if you love me, drop dead….or in a nicer tone---If I submit, will you drop dead, please?!.”
TOO-SHEY (Touche)
But then I‘ve learned that in every good marriage, learning how to have a good fight without going overboard is therapy. Of course our arguments become hysterical and then historical at times, whose doesn‘t?!….but then as I said ,. ‘away nalang aron walay gubot!’
As I pondered and searched on the whys of these gender roles, I stumbled into something very amusing which I would like to share with all women. I found out that in the pre historic times, women were considered to be ‘godlike’ in the sense that they had a special ability to bring ‘new life’ into this world. Women were the Power! Women RULED!--In those days, women were very tribal among themselves. Keeping their secrets about them. They only chose the best males to propagate with since these will eventually lead to better races. The weaklings were discarded. Even the men where under their spell. …UNTIL….the men discovered that they had a role in this ‘new life’ process. There and then, there was a shift of power. Men realized they were the key to that secret…….Now I realize where the phrase, “the men think with their BALLS!”
came from.
So here’s the deal! Now with this shift in power, men started to come up with exclusivity, and that these men were responsible for removing women from their groups. Women had to give in, because they wanted to keep the race growing and moving. They had no choice if they wanted the human race to survive.
Here’s another catch into this survival thing. Men, because of their physique, were considered protectors and providers. But when there were no more lions, tigers and bears, their main focus now was to keep on having that dominance and superiority over the women. These ways of thinking were their comfort zones, and thus preventing their women from having higher level needs. Needs such as purpose, meaning and status in life.
Now let me bring you to our own culture before the Spaniards came. Pigafetta, the historian who came with Magellan, wrote in his journals, that the women (Cebuanas, although they weren’t called that yet) were on equal footing with men. They had their own cliques and own tribal system of government. The women had a say in everything to the point that when Magellan invited Humabon to be a Christian, Inday Juana wanted to be part of the deal too…She was not invited to participate, but she insisted to be part of the pact. And poor husband couldn't say, "for men only ni, inday!"..He had no choice but to succumb to his wife's wishes even if she was the only female ruler...So, poor unsuspecting girl, didn’t know what she got herself into. Embracing the culture where women were considered second class citizens, and putting her own life into submission, was a total mistake..……. but then you know the rest of history…
Moreover, fast forward many years later when we were bombarded with fairy tale stories about Prince Charming saving the helpless princess from the wicked stepmother, or from the evil witch that put you to sleep forever. Or have you heard about that dwarf stealing your baby unless you knew his name,just so you could keep your prince? Did you know that was one way to brain wash us into thinking that we owe our happiness to men who save us?! Yeah! Right!
But the fact is, THERE IS NO HAPPILY EVER AFTER, and we didn’t really need to be saved.
The reality is that after the saving---what next? Here's the real score. straight from them:
Snow White has to do more laundry now that the seven dwarfs are old and has no pension. She owes it to them for leading the prince. As for the prince, Snow White doesn’t know he has his own little princestress stashed away because Snow White is too busy washing clothes.
As for Cinderella, well Prince is always out of town, conquering kingdoms leaving Cinderella at home talking with her rats, horses and birds. She’s always bored.
Beauty just stopped her Botox treatment since the Beast lost in the stock market a few weeks ago. Now Beatuy looks so much like the Beast. For real!
So…what am I saying. Don’t put your hopes on your man to give you that happiness you think you deserve….but then, I don’t know your man. (Frankly, I think they’re all the same--they just have different names to tell them apart)…but then again,…..you fill in your own ending…
But as for me and my house…..I’m just rock n rollin’
Here’s something I think you women would enjoy and maybe think about…..
FOR WOMEN ONLY:
1. I have three sons and I know that sooner or later they will get married (my eldest is already married) and I often tell them this advise: “Your wife is always Right, unless your mother SAYS SO!”
2. If you have nothing nice to say, CALL ME. A good gossip won’t hurt a counseling ear.
3. Your husband need not know everything. Keep some amount stashed up for rainy days. That way he will think that you are a good budgeter. Otherwise if he knows about all the money you have, he might also plan on it.
4. Do not console a whiny kid or husband. Whine with them and let them see their reactions through you. Mirroring their actions will help them realize how ridiculous they look
5. Never contradict your husband. Just do what you have to do.
“ Making a damned fool of yourself is absolutely essential.So whatever you want to do just do it. Don’t be stifled by the fear of a good mistake.” Gloria Steinem
6. If you’re married to superman, why compete with him? Lilly Tomlin says, that for fast acting relief, slow down.
7. If you’re married to Juan Tamad, then don’t feed him There’s a saying, he who does not work, does not eat.
8. If you feel or think that you don’t fit in, it’s not you, it’s the culture you’re in.
9. Jane Fonda said when making a choice,they can do one of two things. It’s either to shut up (which many married ‘submissive’ women think its safer) or learn an awful lot very fast and stand up for yourself.
10. When someone labels you, don’t get stuck with it.
11. When you’re trying to woo a guy, act dumb. And when you marry him, boy! Don’t act anymore, chances are you are dumb for marrying him.
12. Nowadays, never judge the book by its cover, only the checkbook, you judge!
13. If you have to say no to having sex with your husband, come up with a more creative excuse. Having a headache and being sleepy are passe. here’s a hint: in a sexy voice tell him you’re going to take a shower and make yourself very presentable….(bring a book to the bathroom)…then stay in the bathroom for as long as you can until he falls asleep…then the next day, you can blame him for not waiting for you …sounds good?!
Okay, enough already…..I just feel like I want to ride on my broomstick….it’s the witching hour…if you know what I mean….'Adlaw man gud sa inatay.'
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
How to drink tequilla
The recently concluded Food and Wine Festival in New York left me with so many memories that even up to today, am still reminiscing from it. Who could imagine that a Cebuana like me would end up talking with celebrity chefs that only many can just consider a dream. But dreams do happen!
Because of my passion for cooking, I have been subscribing to food magazines many years now. Sometimes, I renew them, others I discard and get new sources. It’s in these magazines where I get new ideas, new recipes, people to watch and events to go to. And that is just what happened .
Most of the events easily sold out many months before the festival. I was disappointed when I couldn’t get those that my favorite chefs were on. But then, new events were added as the festival was nearing. To avail of the book signing with the celebrity chefs, I had to attend at least one paid event.
They had tours around the meatpacking district, symposiums on a particular produce like heirloom tomatoes, designing restaurants, and even a talk on the experiences of a waiter. There were also several wine tasting events, and many restaurants were featured on their specialties . Parties were held for a fee with the “who’s who” in the food industry. Every hour of the festival, there was an event. I got tickets for 2 events, one of which was the “Tequila Tasting and Food Pairing Event”.
So, what’s so special about tequila aside from having a high alcohol content and gives you hangovers like no other alcoholic drink can? Unless you‘re just in it for those purposes, you‘re missing a lot of information, so I learned.
Chef Sue Torres of Los Dados, NY was the speaker for that event. As a chef for Mexican cusine and owner of two restaurants, Chef explained very well the history and make of tequila. Tequila shouldn‘t be confused with mescal- which tries to imitate itself to the real drink. There is a criteria that has to be met before a drink can be called tequila. First, tequila is made only in designated areas, primarily in Jalisco, Mexico and it has to be made from the blue Weber agave plant. Both these criteria are not met by mescal. Mescal can be made from other types of agave and in other parts of Mexico, often in Oaxaca. So check your tequila when you purchase one, it might just be mescal
We were given 3 shot glasses with 3 different kinds of tequila. These were situated on a paper placemat which we also used for note taking As chef said, there are over 130 types of tequilas in the U.S. (and even more in Mexico). There are more restaurants serving a range of fine sipping tequilas made from 100% blue Weber agave
The first shot glass we had was the tequila blanco (white/ silver) or the unaged tequila. This type is processed from the plant straight to the bottle kind , thus its clear color. But before we could take a sip, Chef instructed us just how to drink it.
“To taste Tequila is just how you would taste wine. Check out the nose, see what you find, then look at the color while you let it sit for a minute to breathe. Take a sip and roll it around with your tongue and let it sit in your moth for a while, don’t swallow right away! Pucker your lips like you would do when you’re about to kiss. Let your drink mix well with your saliva. Aerate it in your mouth, and then swallow. Then, think about what you’re tasting after it’s left your mouth, and for how long and what flavors are staying in your mouth. If you taste right, there is a before, during and an aftertaste.”
I did just what she told me. And frankly, my amusement overwhelmed my taste buds. A bisdak like me trying to be sophisticated when in days of yore we would just gulp down any alcoholic beverage we could get a hold of. But, there’s always room for improvement. And I had to concentrate on what we were doing.
After I sipped my first taste, I immediately ate the first hors d’ oeuvres which were served.
The next shot was the the reposado or rested. After the tequilla is distilled, it is left to rest in a vat of some sort for about 6 months. The change takes on a lighter yellow-gold color and an there was a tinge of added flavor. The food paired for this drink had a citrus, spicy taste to go with the nuttiness of the drink.
And finally, the anejo (old) which is aged for one year and adds on a golden flavor. It is usually this kind that is served with sweets or dessert. And this one really had that nice taste especially paired with churros and chocolate/cream sauce.
.When making your margarita, Chef Sue suggests that it is often best made with real tequilla rather than what others call the mixto or (mixes). When going for the high scale mescals or the real tequilla, it is better savored slowly, rather than downed as a shot so that you can revel in the complexity of the spirit.
So , what did I learn from all this. A lot. But am thinking?!..How can Mexico be so famous for its liquor when we can very well also market our own lambanog and tuba? Then my mind is racing again to these coconut farmers who farm coconut, ferment them and turn them into sweet tuba.
If we were to go to the country and educate our farmers into becoming sommeliers---Call Manoy Mangtutuba into a master sommalier and teach him the art of puckering his lips while he sips the tuba in his mouth and lets him mix his drink with his saliva before drinking it, maybe we wouldn’t have too many drunkards. We probably will end up having quality tuba for the export market…And farmers will be earning dollars. Who knows, it only takes one real, excellent, doable concept before it becomes into an industry. Any takers?
Because of my passion for cooking, I have been subscribing to food magazines many years now. Sometimes, I renew them, others I discard and get new sources. It’s in these magazines where I get new ideas, new recipes, people to watch and events to go to. And that is just what happened .
Most of the events easily sold out many months before the festival. I was disappointed when I couldn’t get those that my favorite chefs were on. But then, new events were added as the festival was nearing. To avail of the book signing with the celebrity chefs, I had to attend at least one paid event.
They had tours around the meatpacking district, symposiums on a particular produce like heirloom tomatoes, designing restaurants, and even a talk on the experiences of a waiter. There were also several wine tasting events, and many restaurants were featured on their specialties . Parties were held for a fee with the “who’s who” in the food industry. Every hour of the festival, there was an event. I got tickets for 2 events, one of which was the “Tequila Tasting and Food Pairing Event”.
So, what’s so special about tequila aside from having a high alcohol content and gives you hangovers like no other alcoholic drink can? Unless you‘re just in it for those purposes, you‘re missing a lot of information, so I learned.
Chef Sue Torres of Los Dados, NY was the speaker for that event. As a chef for Mexican cusine and owner of two restaurants, Chef explained very well the history and make of tequila. Tequila shouldn‘t be confused with mescal- which tries to imitate itself to the real drink. There is a criteria that has to be met before a drink can be called tequila. First, tequila is made only in designated areas, primarily in Jalisco, Mexico and it has to be made from the blue Weber agave plant. Both these criteria are not met by mescal. Mescal can be made from other types of agave and in other parts of Mexico, often in Oaxaca. So check your tequila when you purchase one, it might just be mescal
We were given 3 shot glasses with 3 different kinds of tequila. These were situated on a paper placemat which we also used for note taking As chef said, there are over 130 types of tequilas in the U.S. (and even more in Mexico). There are more restaurants serving a range of fine sipping tequilas made from 100% blue Weber agave
The first shot glass we had was the tequila blanco (white/ silver) or the unaged tequila. This type is processed from the plant straight to the bottle kind , thus its clear color. But before we could take a sip, Chef instructed us just how to drink it.
“To taste Tequila is just how you would taste wine. Check out the nose, see what you find, then look at the color while you let it sit for a minute to breathe. Take a sip and roll it around with your tongue and let it sit in your moth for a while, don’t swallow right away! Pucker your lips like you would do when you’re about to kiss. Let your drink mix well with your saliva. Aerate it in your mouth, and then swallow. Then, think about what you’re tasting after it’s left your mouth, and for how long and what flavors are staying in your mouth. If you taste right, there is a before, during and an aftertaste.”
I did just what she told me. And frankly, my amusement overwhelmed my taste buds. A bisdak like me trying to be sophisticated when in days of yore we would just gulp down any alcoholic beverage we could get a hold of. But, there’s always room for improvement. And I had to concentrate on what we were doing.
After I sipped my first taste, I immediately ate the first hors d’ oeuvres which were served.
The next shot was the the reposado or rested. After the tequilla is distilled, it is left to rest in a vat of some sort for about 6 months. The change takes on a lighter yellow-gold color and an there was a tinge of added flavor. The food paired for this drink had a citrus, spicy taste to go with the nuttiness of the drink.
And finally, the anejo (old) which is aged for one year and adds on a golden flavor. It is usually this kind that is served with sweets or dessert. And this one really had that nice taste especially paired with churros and chocolate/cream sauce.
.When making your margarita, Chef Sue suggests that it is often best made with real tequilla rather than what others call the mixto or (mixes). When going for the high scale mescals or the real tequilla, it is better savored slowly, rather than downed as a shot so that you can revel in the complexity of the spirit.
So , what did I learn from all this. A lot. But am thinking?!..How can Mexico be so famous for its liquor when we can very well also market our own lambanog and tuba? Then my mind is racing again to these coconut farmers who farm coconut, ferment them and turn them into sweet tuba.
If we were to go to the country and educate our farmers into becoming sommeliers---Call Manoy Mangtutuba into a master sommalier and teach him the art of puckering his lips while he sips the tuba in his mouth and lets him mix his drink with his saliva before drinking it, maybe we wouldn’t have too many drunkards. We probably will end up having quality tuba for the export market…And farmers will be earning dollars. Who knows, it only takes one real, excellent, doable concept before it becomes into an industry. Any takers?
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Bata, it's okay!
After last weekend, I had decided to stay home for a much needed rest, bodily and purse. After work last friday noon, I went to the library and did some writing. I was so thrilled when I got an email from my school....Yes! that's right, at 50 years of age, I am taking a course!..and I am down to my last assignment after which I will be given a certificate of completion on Children's Literature. I have decided to write literature specifically for filipino children since I think there is a need to get rid of all those foreign books and come up with our very own.
My desire stemmed from the past experience as a child and having too many foreign books. First of all, who ever heard of having sleigh and snow in our country. But growing up, we did have those stories of children in thick clothes, riding on sleigh and having snow flakes for decorations. Or that making a snowman with carrot nose, a pipe and button eyes completed the christmas spirit. Much more we were singing "white christmas", which really doesn't relate to our seasons.
Next, whoever saw a big fat old man in red suit and a loud voice giving away gifts. Worst of all, we didn't have chimneys where this fat guy they called Santa, could slide through. What's a chimney? How will Santa deliver my gift without a chimney in our house?
And my first book in Grade One said, "Look, Dick, Look. See Jane run. See Jane run and play." Who is Dick?--Ricardo is much better sounding.
Moreover, our parents concocted stories when our curious minds needed answers. Remember the proverbial, "why mommy?" statement of a toddler? Why do we have to eat, mommy? Why do we sleep and not play the whole day? Why are we brown and Mr. Smith is ghost colored? Why, mommy, why? Parents sometimes will give absurd answers, but then it will ultimately lead to an existence of a spiritual being--because God made it that way, because God said so, because that's how God works. And thus, our belief system was established. Be good or God will get angry, Eat your food or magagalit ang Diyos. Brown ka kasi exacto ka lang linabas sa oven ni Lord. Yung mga puti, hilaw, tapos yung mas ma itim/negro, nasunog sa oven ni God.
Although some answers are absurd yet maybe logical, still more often than not, is far from reality. Limiting a child's understanding of a situation hinders him from gaining a better perspective of what is in the real world. We have to respect our own children, if we need them to respect us in return. And by responding truthfully with the right perspective makes you more respectful in the eyes of a child. And being sensitive and attentive to the needs of a child is the best way to do it.
A friend of mine here in America was chatting with her niece. In the middle of their conversation, the niece's toddler interrupted because she was upset that her little dolly could not be found. Instead of brushing the child away and telling her to play with something else, the niece excused herself to attend to her toddler. My friend was flabergasted because her niece gave more attention to the little child than to her. She fumed within her that if this child was in the Philippines, she would be brushed aside to the care of the maids. As an elder, she should be given more attention than the child.
One of the issues that filipino children encounter and which parents often overlook is the need to be honest with emotions. As a people, we are patient and forgiving. The core of People Power is the quintessence of such contained emotions that needed an outburst.
Growing up in a filipino household, anger and loud outbursts were signs of disrespect. Or that whining and hitting were grounds for punishment. We needed to control whatever emotions we had, because anything which is not contained, is a sign of weakness. No wonder, children channeled their outbursts either by being violent, overeating or had used some other ways as coping mechanisms.
That is why, I wonder if our society is the way it is because of how we were raised. I asked my auntie if the phrase, "children are seen not heard' was a norm in our family. She exclaimed that as kids, we were allowed to speak whatever we wanted to, however, we were not allowed to question the elders. I thought about what she said, although there was a form of liberalism, the issue remained the same.
This keeping quiet while elders talk has brought repercussions to the baby boomers. Cousin Luis confirmed just that. In one of his office parties in Manhattan, they were playing Trivial Pursuit, wherein there were 2 groups formed. An all Filipino was considered one group, while the other group consisted of all whites. Guess who won by a HUGE lead! Of course THE FILIPINO TEAM. After the game, Luis' American boss was surprised how the Filipinos knew so much information. The boss said, "I didn't know you knew so much since most of you are so quiet at work. I even thought most of you were dumb because you spoke so little." Either the Filipinos were afraid to make mistakes as part of growing up, or that was how filipino children were reared---seen, not heard.
Books are important tools in giving information. . It is informative, entertaining and even educational. It can even console a hurting child, when physical comfort is absent. It is through writing that I want to deal with the questions of every filipino child. I would want to tell him so many things like :
"it's okay!" that papa/mama is abroad. They still love you even if they're far away.
"It's okay!" to feel angry, and tell him how without hurting others as well
"it's okay!" if you have much less than what your classmate has
"it's okay if you're color is brown," and explain about melanin cells
"it's okay!" to be disappointed, because we all feel that way.
"it's okay!" to be afraid, but it's because we don't know any better........"IT's OKAY!"
Writing for children is a means to reach inquiring minds and be creative in the explanation without suppressing truth. Who knows?! While reading a book, even a child's own caregiver can learn, if he doesn't already know it. I want to be part of a Filipino child's life, it is part of my quest as a Filipino myself . And I hope to be.....SOMEDAY
My desire stemmed from the past experience as a child and having too many foreign books. First of all, who ever heard of having sleigh and snow in our country. But growing up, we did have those stories of children in thick clothes, riding on sleigh and having snow flakes for decorations. Or that making a snowman with carrot nose, a pipe and button eyes completed the christmas spirit. Much more we were singing "white christmas", which really doesn't relate to our seasons.
Next, whoever saw a big fat old man in red suit and a loud voice giving away gifts. Worst of all, we didn't have chimneys where this fat guy they called Santa, could slide through. What's a chimney? How will Santa deliver my gift without a chimney in our house?
And my first book in Grade One said, "Look, Dick, Look. See Jane run. See Jane run and play." Who is Dick?--Ricardo is much better sounding.
Moreover, our parents concocted stories when our curious minds needed answers. Remember the proverbial, "why mommy?" statement of a toddler? Why do we have to eat, mommy? Why do we sleep and not play the whole day? Why are we brown and Mr. Smith is ghost colored? Why, mommy, why? Parents sometimes will give absurd answers, but then it will ultimately lead to an existence of a spiritual being--because God made it that way, because God said so, because that's how God works. And thus, our belief system was established. Be good or God will get angry, Eat your food or magagalit ang Diyos. Brown ka kasi exacto ka lang linabas sa oven ni Lord. Yung mga puti, hilaw, tapos yung mas ma itim/negro, nasunog sa oven ni God.
Although some answers are absurd yet maybe logical, still more often than not, is far from reality. Limiting a child's understanding of a situation hinders him from gaining a better perspective of what is in the real world. We have to respect our own children, if we need them to respect us in return. And by responding truthfully with the right perspective makes you more respectful in the eyes of a child. And being sensitive and attentive to the needs of a child is the best way to do it.
A friend of mine here in America was chatting with her niece. In the middle of their conversation, the niece's toddler interrupted because she was upset that her little dolly could not be found. Instead of brushing the child away and telling her to play with something else, the niece excused herself to attend to her toddler. My friend was flabergasted because her niece gave more attention to the little child than to her. She fumed within her that if this child was in the Philippines, she would be brushed aside to the care of the maids. As an elder, she should be given more attention than the child.
One of the issues that filipino children encounter and which parents often overlook is the need to be honest with emotions. As a people, we are patient and forgiving. The core of People Power is the quintessence of such contained emotions that needed an outburst.
Growing up in a filipino household, anger and loud outbursts were signs of disrespect. Or that whining and hitting were grounds for punishment. We needed to control whatever emotions we had, because anything which is not contained, is a sign of weakness. No wonder, children channeled their outbursts either by being violent, overeating or had used some other ways as coping mechanisms.
That is why, I wonder if our society is the way it is because of how we were raised. I asked my auntie if the phrase, "children are seen not heard' was a norm in our family. She exclaimed that as kids, we were allowed to speak whatever we wanted to, however, we were not allowed to question the elders. I thought about what she said, although there was a form of liberalism, the issue remained the same.
This keeping quiet while elders talk has brought repercussions to the baby boomers. Cousin Luis confirmed just that. In one of his office parties in Manhattan, they were playing Trivial Pursuit, wherein there were 2 groups formed. An all Filipino was considered one group, while the other group consisted of all whites. Guess who won by a HUGE lead! Of course THE FILIPINO TEAM. After the game, Luis' American boss was surprised how the Filipinos knew so much information. The boss said, "I didn't know you knew so much since most of you are so quiet at work. I even thought most of you were dumb because you spoke so little." Either the Filipinos were afraid to make mistakes as part of growing up, or that was how filipino children were reared---seen, not heard.
Books are important tools in giving information. . It is informative, entertaining and even educational. It can even console a hurting child, when physical comfort is absent. It is through writing that I want to deal with the questions of every filipino child. I would want to tell him so many things like :
"it's okay!" that papa/mama is abroad. They still love you even if they're far away.
"It's okay!" to feel angry, and tell him how without hurting others as well
"it's okay!" if you have much less than what your classmate has
"it's okay if you're color is brown," and explain about melanin cells
"it's okay!" to be disappointed, because we all feel that way.
"it's okay!" to be afraid, but it's because we don't know any better........"IT's OKAY!"
Writing for children is a means to reach inquiring minds and be creative in the explanation without suppressing truth. Who knows?! While reading a book, even a child's own caregiver can learn, if he doesn't already know it. I want to be part of a Filipino child's life, it is part of my quest as a Filipino myself . And I hope to be.....SOMEDAY
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Ako at si Idol (Part 3)
The first time I saw him, I had such a huge crush on him. Did you know that I only knew him and about him, the day we met? My daughter has been telling me so much about him--gwapo and all....And tonight, I felt so sad because after 4 weeks on "Dancing with the Stars", he and his partner got booted out....He is a well known chef, of course and has been in the Philippines promoting his book. Very accomodating and as of now, very available!
Hain Na Chicken
Last week, our stove was dismantled because Mike wanted to clean the whole thing. So what was I to do for dinner? Mike wanted to grill outside but I felt that it ws so much hassle, so I opted to use the slow cooker.
I cleaned the chicken legs which were already fully thawed out.
Washed them very well, and then patted them dry.
I placed them in a bowl, placed about 3 tbsp. salt on top.
Then I grated about 2 inches of ginger on top of the chicken.
I massaged the chicken and ginger together and placed them on the slow cooker.
There were left over cut up leeks and poured it in as well.
I poured about 2 tbsp. water on top of it and covered with the lid.
Turning the setting at high Then left.
2 hours later, I came back and had the chicken..so good, ayos na ang kasunod.
I cleaned the chicken legs which were already fully thawed out.
Washed them very well, and then patted them dry.
I placed them in a bowl, placed about 3 tbsp. salt on top.
Then I grated about 2 inches of ginger on top of the chicken.
I massaged the chicken and ginger together and placed them on the slow cooker.
There were left over cut up leeks and poured it in as well.
I poured about 2 tbsp. water on top of it and covered with the lid.
Turning the setting at high Then left.
2 hours later, I came back and had the chicken..so good, ayos na ang kasunod.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Ako at si Idol (Part2)
If you know Mario Batali, you'd know this guy. I've been to his resto and it was really good.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Where's my digi cam cable?
Last weekend, I could have posted so many stories about my continuing culinary weekend making latik, biko, puto and budbud. Then there was the encounter with Giada de Laurentiis at the Mall, and then the street fair in our town. I could have posted my blog complete with pictures and all! But NAH! I couldn’t because I FORGOT THE CABLE of my digi cam at my son’s house.
How could I forget? The only link that proves to the world that I’m still alive, and I had to forget it?! OMG! The irritation of forgetfulness plus the realization that it could have been avoided equals frustration!
Call it senior moments, short span memory loss or unintentional forgetfulness, but take comfort, because we all go through this one way or another. We are so preoccupied with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia that are considered the signs of possible trouble. But we forget (there’s the bad word again) there is such a thing as normal memory loss and it happens to all of us, no exception.
Just think of these familiar scenarios at home with kids and hubby:
“Hay naku! Where are my glasses? I would ask. And the reply would be, “They’re on top of your head, mom!” Or when I’d ask again, “Oh! Where did I put my keys?” and the response would be, “You’re holding them, mom!”
Or the fact that you’re dialing your calculator , thinking it was a phone, or that you’re punching the numbers on your telephone thinking it can add up like a calculator.
Or what about those instances when you meet a friend, excited that you haven’t seen each other in ages, only to realize that you completely forgot her name. What do you do? Tell her if she remembered your name so that she can tell you hers. What if she did remember yours but you forgot hers. What would you do without sounding rude?
Or maybe in the middle of a discussion, you cut yourself short because there was something else you wanted to say. Then the proverbial saying, “it’s on the tip of my tongue.” Or that when going back to the discussion you just couldn’t remember what it was you were talking about earlier.
So here’s one other thing. Men and women have different ways of remembering things.
Yesterday, I asked my husband if he remembered the kind of car Steve McQueen rode that made him so famous. And of course without batting an eyelash, he gave me a whole summary of McQueens movie (Bullet ?) and the make of the car (mustang?). But when I asked him if he remembered what dress I wore on our first date, he just couldn’t remember. Would you consider that selective memory? Is a car more important to a man than his wife?ahhhh--Yeaahh?
Oh well! Nowadays, we are bombarded with brain food such as nuts and spinach. Or that we need to continue doing mental calisthenics to sharpen our mind. But even with all those cures and prevention, it is inevitable that our body mechanisms will malfunction and eventually cease.
Technology has made us more knowledgable than we can imagine by just a touch of the computer keyboard while surfing the internet. We do not need to memorize nor do mental gymnast because we can get information by just a touch of a key. We do not need to remember who called us because voice messages just pops up from our phones when we missed our calls, or that PDA’s are all we need to remember schedules.
Placing a chip in our brains is a probability more today than it was 50 years ago. There are people who have chips in their heads because they were deaf and needed cochlear implants. Some people even have chips implanted in their retinas and others have external cameras connected to chips implanted in the visual cortex. Technology in the coming ages will give us more access to memory.
Imagine if technology brought us to the point that we had virtual Web browser in our brains to find out what we need. Like: there’s that woman with short, pudgy nose, freckles, papaya boobs, recall name! And then you wait..downloading…downloading…downloading and then ..Aha! ADRIANA!.
That would be cool, wouldn’t it? We would remember everything, but it would not be able to relate to feelings of joy, laughter, pleasure and emotions such as love , hate, and compassion. Nothing beats the real thing.
So what if I forgot my digicam cable, at least I still got my sanity and my wits. In the meantime, life must go on. This weekend I will visit my son again, and get that digicam cable. There is also an exciting event I will attend in New York. That will even be a bigger blog. So I just can’t wait for that to happen and write about it in my blog. In the meantime………
How could I forget? The only link that proves to the world that I’m still alive, and I had to forget it?! OMG! The irritation of forgetfulness plus the realization that it could have been avoided equals frustration!
Call it senior moments, short span memory loss or unintentional forgetfulness, but take comfort, because we all go through this one way or another. We are so preoccupied with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia that are considered the signs of possible trouble. But we forget (there’s the bad word again) there is such a thing as normal memory loss and it happens to all of us, no exception.
Just think of these familiar scenarios at home with kids and hubby:
“Hay naku! Where are my glasses? I would ask. And the reply would be, “They’re on top of your head, mom!” Or when I’d ask again, “Oh! Where did I put my keys?” and the response would be, “You’re holding them, mom!”
Or the fact that you’re dialing your calculator , thinking it was a phone, or that you’re punching the numbers on your telephone thinking it can add up like a calculator.
Or what about those instances when you meet a friend, excited that you haven’t seen each other in ages, only to realize that you completely forgot her name. What do you do? Tell her if she remembered your name so that she can tell you hers. What if she did remember yours but you forgot hers. What would you do without sounding rude?
Or maybe in the middle of a discussion, you cut yourself short because there was something else you wanted to say. Then the proverbial saying, “it’s on the tip of my tongue.” Or that when going back to the discussion you just couldn’t remember what it was you were talking about earlier.
So here’s one other thing. Men and women have different ways of remembering things.
Yesterday, I asked my husband if he remembered the kind of car Steve McQueen rode that made him so famous. And of course without batting an eyelash, he gave me a whole summary of McQueens movie (Bullet ?) and the make of the car (mustang?). But when I asked him if he remembered what dress I wore on our first date, he just couldn’t remember. Would you consider that selective memory? Is a car more important to a man than his wife?ahhhh--Yeaahh?
Oh well! Nowadays, we are bombarded with brain food such as nuts and spinach. Or that we need to continue doing mental calisthenics to sharpen our mind. But even with all those cures and prevention, it is inevitable that our body mechanisms will malfunction and eventually cease.
Technology has made us more knowledgable than we can imagine by just a touch of the computer keyboard while surfing the internet. We do not need to memorize nor do mental gymnast because we can get information by just a touch of a key. We do not need to remember who called us because voice messages just pops up from our phones when we missed our calls, or that PDA’s are all we need to remember schedules.
Placing a chip in our brains is a probability more today than it was 50 years ago. There are people who have chips in their heads because they were deaf and needed cochlear implants. Some people even have chips implanted in their retinas and others have external cameras connected to chips implanted in the visual cortex. Technology in the coming ages will give us more access to memory.
Imagine if technology brought us to the point that we had virtual Web browser in our brains to find out what we need. Like: there’s that woman with short, pudgy nose, freckles, papaya boobs, recall name! And then you wait..downloading…downloading…downloading and then ..Aha! ADRIANA!.
That would be cool, wouldn’t it? We would remember everything, but it would not be able to relate to feelings of joy, laughter, pleasure and emotions such as love , hate, and compassion. Nothing beats the real thing.
So what if I forgot my digicam cable, at least I still got my sanity and my wits. In the meantime, life must go on. This weekend I will visit my son again, and get that digicam cable. There is also an exciting event I will attend in New York. That will even be a bigger blog. So I just can’t wait for that to happen and write about it in my blog. In the meantime………
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