PAANO NA ANG TINOLA KUNG WALA KA?

Isa sa mga gusto kong ulam ay ang tinola.  Gaya nang nasabi ko noon, paborito ko ang masasabaw na ulam.  Kaninang tanghali lang ay tinola ang aming ulam.

At isa sa nagpapasarap sa tinola ay ang dahon ng sili.  At nag-aaway kami ni Diko Amiel kapag ayaw niyang lagyan ng dahong sili ang tinola.  Minsan nakita ko na lang ang dahong sili sa basurahan dahil itinapon niya.  Kaya ako naman, pinulot ko naman sa basurahan.  Hahahahaha! Huwag kayong mag-alala nakaplastic naman.

Minsan, naisipan ko uling magtinola.  Dahong sili na lang ang kulang ko.  Mahirap kasi pagtagalin ang dahon sa refrigerator at madaling masira kaya hindi agad ako bumibili kung hindi naman agad iluluto.

Kaya pumunta ako sa mas malapit na talipapa at sad to say, wala silang tindang dahon ng sili.  Sarado pa kasi ang mga groceries that time.  Kaya ang ginawa ko ay pumunta na ako sa palengke.  Mas nadagdagan ang lungkot ko kasi yung malayong palengke na mas malaki sa talipapa ay walang tindang dahon ng sili. Hello?  Kumusta naman ang palengke at talipapa na walang dahon ng sili.

 Ang nangyari, nagtiyaga na lang ako sa tinolang walang dahon ng sili.  Kaya, kulang sa sarap.

Pero ayaw ko nang mangyari uli ang ganon.  At hindi na rin ako aasa sa grocery, talipapa at palengke. Ito na lang ang aking binili ngayong hapon:

Sili Plant

O di ba?  Hindi lang dahon ang aking binili.  Pati buong halaman.  Huwag kayong mag-alala, hindi ko naman ilalagay ang buong halaman sa aking tinola. Hahahahahahaha!

Siyempre ang mga dahon sa tinola at ang bunga ay pipigain sa patis na magsisilbing sawsawan.  Ang sarap di ba? Matipid pa.  Aalagaan ko lang ang halaman at pipitas-pitas na lang ako kung kailangan.

At kung lumago siya ng bongga, baka ako na ang magtinda ng dahon ng sili sa talipapa o kaya ay sa palengke.  Hahahahahahaha!

Panalangin ko lang ay mabuhay ang aking bagong halaman.  Kasi, paano na ang tinola kung wala ka? Huhuhuhu!

UNLICHAT

YAHOO MESSENGER

TWITTER

FACEBOOK CHAT?

BLACKBERRY MESSENGER?

WINDOWS LIVE MESSENGER?

GOOGLE TALK?

BUZZ ME AND WE WILL TALK.

CHAT?

COUNSELLING?

CHIKA?

PRAYER?

REQUEST FOR IT AND I WILL RESPOND.

What is the use of my unlimited internet subscription in Globe Telecommunications kung unavailable naman ang status ko? Hahahahahaha!

 Ika nga ni Boy Abunda, "Usap tayo?"

ACRONYM

Post birthday mode ako with an acronym that BFF Joy sent to me as her birthday greeting.  Here it is:

Happy birthday BFF!

More than being a good friend, you are a man of

Action     - you walk the talk.

Reliable  - I can always count on you

Noble      - You have high moral principles and ideals

Excellent - In everything that you do.

Loyal       - Stays true til the end.

Happy birthday BFF!

God bless and establish the work of your hands.

In response to this touching gesture, I would like to tell my BFF:

More than the gift that you have given me are the words you use to describe me.  When times I feel that I don't matter and make sense, this affirmation is refreshing to the ears and to the heart as well.  Thank you very much BFF!

My BFF may be mistaken with her acronym of me but what she wrote is a great inspiration of what I could become someday.  Hehehe!

What about you my friends?  Do you have something to inspire me too?

BELATED CELEBRATION!

I had an advance birthday celebration (mere gift giving though) and a double celebration posts in this blog.  And to cap it all, I am posting my belated birthday celebration!

My birthday cake

Notice how the giver spell or respell my name.  Para naman daw maiba.  Kakaiba kasi ang pastor nila.  Parang hindi pastor.  Hahahahaha!

Actually, it's a celebration of all August celebrators and one of them is me.  Having a monthly celebration is becoming a tradition in our vesper worship.

Praying for the meal

Some of the foods

The other cake

Dolor's Kakanin

Below are those who join the celebration:

This celebration would not be possible without the generous hearts of the following:

1.   Valdez family for the one big bilao of pancit malabon (my favorite!) one big bilao of kalamay, one big bilao of vegetable salad.

2.   Desalisa family  for the one big bilao of Dolor's Kakanin.  We missed you though.

3.  Racquel Bernardo and Grace Malubag for the birthday cake.

4.  Regala family for the cake roll.

5.  The rest, I thank myself.  Hahahaha!

6.  Anonymous photographer and gift giver.  You know who you are. Much, much thanks!

7.  For my angels and vesper family who joined in this celebration, salamat ng marami!  Let us see each other again on the last week of September.  Hehehehehe!

NAUGHTY AND NICE

Naiwan na naman sa akin si Aiah.  Actually, I told my wife that my princess can stay with me for another week since my class this week was postponed.  Kaya, here I am, keeping my watch on her while doing my other works.

Aiah is already a toddler.  She is so curious about the things and people around her.

While inside the office, she was playing with the cards in my wallet.  She was holding a scissor but I was not afraid because I know that the cards are too thick to be cut by a little girl.  But I was wrong, there was a thinner card that she was able to cut that upon seeing it, immediately sent me into panic.  This was the card I got from her:

A discout card from Nice Hotel

When I looked at the card, my panic had changed into perplexity.  What the hell of a card  am I keeping in my wallet.  Hahahahaha!  I started looking for reasons why I kept it.  Having not found any reason, my shock was changed into a feeling of relief that the card was cut.  Who knows, I might be tempted to use it in the future had it not been cut? Hahaha!

Still in the office, done playing with the scissors, my daughter shifted her interest to the  built-in cabinets.  She played close-open with the cabinet doors.  

Moments later, she got something from the cabinet and gave it to me:

DVD Writer

We've been looking for this dvd writer for three months now.  My wife hid it inside myoffice because three months ago, there were constructions and renovations being done in the church, including our bedroom.  Thus, she looked for a safe place to hide the dvd writer.

Happy for finding the long lost dvd writer, I texted my wife:

Me:  Mahal nakita ni ni aiah dvd writer mo.  Dito pla sa sa mga cabinet sa office mo tinago.

Donna:  Office? Pero nwei ...yipppeeeee!

Me: Yap.  Sa office ko.  Malikot kasi si aiah.  Hahaha!

Donna:Buti n lang at may malikot akong anak ...hehe ..lam u b na nglilinis ako ngaun house ... hinahanap ko yan ...

Me: Hehehehe

Having a daughter like Aiah can turn things messy and  me, weary.  But what she has accomplished today by being "naughty" had made me so happy!  

By the way, do you know that the remark of my teacher in grade 1 on my report card is that "I am a naughty boy."  May pinagmanahan pala si Aiah.  Hahahaha!

SOMETIMES, IT IS NICE TO BE NAUGHTY

42+

Today I turned 42 years old.  In celebration of my birthday, I am posting 42+ things that you might not know about me.

1.  I am the eldest in the family of three boys and was born to a  poor family in Tondo, Manila.
2. I was sexually abused when I was a child.
3. I am a late bloomer student, started grade 1 section 17 to grade 6 section 2.
4. I prefer Social Studies for a subject and I got two perfect scores in our periodical test when I was in grade 5.
5. I felt rejected when my teacher in grade 4 was always picking on me and had me transferred in the afternoon class.  For many days, I was crying on my way home because of the feeling of rejection.
6. Our neighbor, hearing me sing, told me that I am out of tune.
7. I use to play with my "tool" when I was a child even in public places.  No, I am not an exhibitionist.  It is rather an indication of insecurity I guess.
8. I am not a picky eater but I love soupy foods.
9. I eat fast. I walk fast before I got a knee problem.
10. I grew up having coloring books of Voltes V, Mazinger Z, Daimos, Mekanda Robot etc.
11. I grew up watching Lito Lapid films.
12. I got a taste of an apple, pear, grapes and hot chocolate and a new dress mostly during Christmas when I was a child.
13. One of my teachers in grade 5 told me that I could have been the first honor of my class had I behaved like the most behaved girl in our class.
14. I am a thrifty person.  I saved money in Banco Filipino with P1 as my daily school allowance during elementary.
15. I won third place in  folkdance competition division level when I was in grade 6.
16. I grew up dancing the songs of John Travolta.
17. I hate Mathematics but could follow the lessons once I try hard.
18. I was replaced by our adviser on the last minute of a SportsWriting Contest.  Good thing, the she won.
19. I was the poor third in the friendship of four back in highschool.
20. I have written a drama play when I was highschool and college.
21. I hate Music subject although I love the stories behind the songs.
22. I was rejected by the first girl that I courted.  Since then, I let the girls court me.  Hahahaha! Joke
23. I am gullible person.
24. I spent my highschool years listening to Air Supply.
25. I love to read.
26. I love period films and like a protagonist that die in the end.  I am not into horror and fantazy films.
27. My favorite color is green.  Symbol of hope and life.  I love looking at a grassfield.
28. My favorite number is 2.
29. I favor the underdog.
30. I am a loner.
31. I am an introvert  person.
32. I am a reluctant choir member.
33. Base to baritone is the type of my voice.
34. Growing up, people always mistaken me to somebody else.  Lately, to Mike Enriquez and Ed Lapiz.  They are both blessed to be likened to me.  Hahahahahahaha!
35. I hate my toe nails and fingernails.  I cannot cut them to the max.
36. I dreamed of studying in Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) but was late in enrolment.
37. I was disqualified to take up Computer Science course in PUP because of a low grade in Math.
38. I have a beautiful love story.  I married twice and people could not believe that I have many children.  Hindi ko rin akalain.
39. I am a teacher killer. Hehehehehe!
40. I had same sex relationship before.
41. I am a feminist.
42. I am pro RH  Bill.
43. I am pro legalization of prostitution.
44. I am against death penalty.
45. I love people who are not afraid to commit mistakes.
46. I love travelling.  Israel is my dream destination.
47. I have no plans of working abroad. No offense to our OFW's.
48. I am a procrastinator.
49. I love literature.
50. I love chatting.
51. I bore easily.
52. I am an artist
53. I have written some songs.
54. I am liberal in my outlook.  I have thrown my conservatism long ago.
55. I lead by following.
56. I am rich in friends.
57. I have proven that I am a forgiving person.
58. I have a violent tendencies.
59. I have proven that I am not hungry for power.
60. I learned how to be bold and brave.
61. I have a weight problem
62. I am thinking of being a bi-vocational pastor.

More addition to the list in the coming days.  Right now, I just would like to praise the Lord for the life that God has given me.  It is far from perfect but I am growing and learning.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

THE JOY OF FRIENDSHIP

Friends come and friends go but there are friends who remain.  And this friend of mine stayed with me through the years.  Our friendship started when we became classmates in college.  On our first day of school, she started befriending the whole class.  She has the blood of Miss Congeniality in her.  And friendship attracts friendship.  And so we became friends.  The friendship they call forever.

She was one of the secondary sponsors when I got married.  Back when we were both skinny.  Hahahahahaha!  She is also the godmother of my son, Amen Learn.

Joy and I at the Iceberg, Robinsons, Ermita

 We decided to meet at 7 pm at Robinsons, Ermita.  I was on time.  She was one hour late.  As usual.  Hahahaha! That is her trademark.  That is the one I have learned to love in her.  Because this BFF (Best Friend Forever) taught me how to be patient.  Why does an on-time person click with a time-less person? Well, bestfriends do not have to be totally alike to stick together.

But mind you, this person, is one of the most dedicated that I know.  I know that back in college, there were so many things that destruct her.  But once she focused herself to a given task, she will give you a run for your money.

I remember when we had this radio play presentation in college.  There was a scene that required the sound of a person "passing out."  She was in charge of the sound effects.  And she literally dived on the floor to create the needed sound.  Hahahahahahaha!

Another instance, this time, a drama play.  She was one of the main leads.  She was burning with fever during the first day of show.  I thought she was not coming.  And she had all the reason not to.  But professional as she is, she came with a passionate acting.

That was her order. Joy is a food lover.  It is through her that I came to know the latest and the best place as far as fancy restaurant is concerned.  But since I am the one who is giving a treat, she has to bear with my choice and my budget.  Hahahahahaha!

My order, the best seller in Iceberg, Pork Sisig

Mango Iced tea

This meeting was rescheduled for so many times.  Sometimes we plan according to the date of our birthdays.  Her birthday passed and mine was about to come.  Finally, our schedules met.  

There was no obligation in us to remember each other's birthday or special occassions.  All we know is that, as if it was just yesterday, when we last met.  We lose track of each other for a while but renewed our friendship and have been meeting now at least once a year.

Joy and Me at the Starbucks

We transfered to Starbucks for a coffee after dinner.  She is a coffer lover or a Starbucks lover.  Hahaha!  There are so much to talk about.  We have developed through the years this great degree of openness.  We exchange notes.  Hahahahahaha!

Her birthday gift to me

Right now, Joy is a full-time mom.  Her choice.  She used to work but for some reasons, she stopped.  When she was working, her wallet is always busy giving all her friends and loveones a treat.  That includes me.  This friend of mine is sweet and generous.

While I was waiting for her, I was thinking that she is not comfortable being on a receiving end.  I knew that she will definitely have something for me.  And I was not wrong.  She gave me a birthday present.  I was so touched by her gesture.

She reads my blog and rereads it.  Thank you so much Joy!  I told her I will blog about our meeting ... about her.  And I am sure that her heart is telling me a lot of "thank you's."

I thank God that God showers and enrich me with friends.  And this friend of mine put so much "JOY" is a relationship called friendship.

UNTIL OUR NEXT MEETING BFF!