Quote 222 - Best Moment

Moment 111 - Goodbye

I can still vividly recall that particular moment when I bid goodbye to my friends and colleagues.  It was like carrying a heavy heart with all the withheld emotions ready to burst at any given time.  But there was something more.

We all know that along the course of time, our dealings with people around us are based on a bed full of roses with all those thorns and protruding springs.  We may not be able to count and remember all the hurts, pains, and inconveniences we caused on them.  Although, at some point, our colleagues may all remember these especially when they are mad.  But through it all, with all our shortcomings, we still manage to endure and live it all and continue to share our life with them.

Since it was time for me to say goodbye and start something new, I just asked for forgiveness to one and all.  Maybe it was the right thing to do, to say sorry and step out with a clear conscience.  At least, if there are some ill feelings, it could be iron out with my humble gesture.  

Upon hearing my what-seem-to-be-a-final-parting-gesture, some of my colleagues got mad.  They were not mad at me but with what I said to them.  They said that it was like I am going to die with my parting act.  Maybe.  But I did not entertain the thought of dying.  I just want them to know that if it would be our last moment together, then, I'll have no regrets afterwards because I have done my part.

Quote 221 - Brave Soul

Random Thought 111 - Broken Bond

Maybe, one time or the other, we had some close association with certain individuals. An association that forms an unspoken bond of friendship. And only time can tell as to how long this bond will eventually last.

Over time, as you try to hold unto this bond and prosper it with countless and enormous efforts in order to keep it alive, there are some bonds that will eventually draw to an end.  Sad to say, there are some things that we have to learn to let go because for all we know, we are already hurting inside.

When you let go of people who are close to your heart, it feels like a part of you is breaking apart. But it is always a brave act to learn to let go when you feel like there's nothing to hold on to anymore. Any form of bond or relationship is always a two-way process. Though it is not good to ask for something in return, you can somehow feel it that you are in a disadvantage at times. And when you eventually notice that it is a common scenario, then, it is but a good move to leave behind those people that forms the habit of being user-friendly. 

A broken bond it is but it is way much better rather than tolerating those people to use you and pretend that everything is okay.  Good friends look after each other and take good care of each other.  Good friends do not take advantage of the other.

Food Trip 110 - Marina's Sea Food Noodles Soup

It was my second time at Marina, an Ilongo grill and restaurant in Panay Avenue, Quezon City.  I tried to order some sea food dishes but they were quite expensive.  I thought that what they have in their menu, like for example a 100 grams ulo ng maya-maya and 100 grams of tuna belly, are readily available.  But the availability of these items depend on their weight.  Since I'll end ordering up to 400 grams a dish, I just brushed aside my desire for expensive dish that night.

As I scan the pages of their menu book, a sea food noodles soup caught my attention.  Actually, there are several noodles soup in the menu but I opted to try a sea food noodles soup.

A bowl costs 99 pesos.  At first glance, the abundance of sliced squid and medium-sized shrimps are evident.  Vegetables are not included which are common in other noodles soup.  And the rest of the ingredients like garlic, onions, to name a few are very much present.

Just like what others used to say, the proof on how good the food is through its taste.  Though it looks like an average serving of noodles soup, its taste was overwhelmingly exciting.  It was my first time to encounter such taste and I must say that it was fantastic.  

Any food establishment has its own secret recipe while some are merely copycats.  What makes a restaurant stand out from the rest is the unique taste of its food.  And in this part of Quezon City where restaurants are almost everywhere, I can say that Marina's sea food noodles soup is a must try.

Exploring Philippines 110 - Taal Volcano Crater (Post 2 - Around Taal Town )

If you are in Taal town, your eyes will feast upon the old structures left and right.  And it is really a tall order to maintain old structures like they are new.  But the return of this effort would mean an identity of the place and the influx of visitors which is good for the business.

Anyway, we found ourselves from one historical building to another.  It was like stepping into the history books and the era before us.  The furniture, utensils, peripherals, and the way of life of the people who lived in those grand houses were simply awesome.  It is good that the government is funding the maintenance and protection of these historical places so that people like us will be aware and be educated of the culture of our ancestors especially our Filipino heroes.

After sometime, we visited the nearby church of Our Lady of Caysasay.  We didn’t had any idea of its distance from the historical house of Leon Apacible and when we asked the locals, they will simply point to us the direction of the road as if the church is just around the corner.  Don’t be surprised if you are new to a place, especially in rural areas, because people are used to walking and when they say the place is nearby, expect to walk some distance in order to get there.

We reached the church of Our Lady of Caysasay under 10 minutes of walking.  When we got there, the place seemed busy.  We found out that there will be a healing mass afterwards. For this reason, excursionists and devotees from other provinces flocked to this church.

We asked for the direction towards the “apparition” site which is known to be Sta. Lucia wells.  We learned that a pilgrimage to this church, devotees don’t want to miss the opportunity to visit these wells and offer their prayers.  It is believed that the water on the wells and the nearby stream had some numerous healing accounts.

After returning to the church, the healing mass had started.  We were asked to participate in the said healing mass but we were not spiritually prepared that time.  Even though we did not participate in the healing mass, we spent some time inside the church to pray and to witness the ongoing healing mass.

Upon our return to the town proper of Taal, we entered the house of Marcella Agoncillo.  Marcella Agoncillo was the one who prepared and sewn the Philippine flag which was later used by General Emilio Aguinaldo in proclaiming the Philippine independence at Kawit, Cavite in 1898.  As we stepped into a museem like this one and learned some pieces of our history, it makes us proud and our being Filipino is slowly completed. 
 

Poem 110 - It Starts and Ends With You

I know a word

From a dictionary

It’s a beautiful one

Somewhat extraordinary.

Every time I see it

I can’t help but to smile

Coz it makes a big difference

This life becomes worthwhile.

Maybe you are intrigue

And you need a clue

It is not that difficult

It starts with you.

I use it every day

Too often, actually

It becomes my byword

For it comes out naturally.

I am always proud

That I have known this

Because when it’s gone

I will surely miss.

      

Maybe you are intrigue

And you need a clue

It is not that difficult

It ends with you.

I guess you already know

The word I’m referring to

It starts with you

And it ends with you.

Quote 220 - Break

Moment 110 - Rodilyn Madrigal (Lady Morion)

During my trip to Marinduque for the yearly Moriones festival, I had a chance to mingle with some Morion participants. And of them was a lady Morion.

Rodilyn Madrigal comes home to Marinduque every lenten season and participates as a Morion in this annual event of the province. Her roots are from this province and she said that she has to complete a number of years playing the role of a lady Morion as her vow.  In fact, she was the only woman participant that time and she really stood out among the participants.

Aside from being the only woman participating in the male dominated festival, her costume was unique and a real eye-catcher.  Spectators were in awe every time they saw her.  Though here costume was not the traditional Morion outfit, nevertheless, she carried herself with style and confidence.  And since she is charming and friendly, I had a good moment with her.

At a glance, she was like wearing an armor-clad costume. At a spectator's perspective, it looked like it was heavy due to its appearance and design. Given her built, she carried it well with no difficulty at all.  And here's the catch. Her costume was made from rubber and she commissioned someone from Bulacan to create that one for her. Its appearance made it looked like a real thing and the spray paint did some trick to the costume.  She said that she spent 10 thousand pesos for that costume alone.

Due to the uniqueness of her costume, a group of cosplayers invited her to join their events in Manila.  Given the versatility and graphic design of her costume, she'll definitely catch the attention of the crowd - just like here at Moriones festival.

Quote 219 - Humility

Random Thought 110 - Beauty of Life

The beauty of life is based on the experiences we learned.  There are cases where we experience the same thing all over again and most likely, there are reasons behind it.

As we grow old, as we earn that age, we become mature and wiser.  But age and maturity are not synonymous with one another.  There are young individuals that are more mature than older ones.  The bottom line is, it's all about the experience.  The more experienced you are, regardless of your age, your level of understanding and reasoning has more depth, has more sense.

The process of earning those experiences may come in different forms.  There will be an instance where we allow ourselves to a free falling experience in order to understand it.  And most of the time, the resulting agonies and pains make us treasure and value even the bleakest form of happiness.

Regrets? Of course, regrets are those missed opportunities and/or unfavorable results.  It will take sometime before we can finally claim that we have stepped out of the shadows of misery and regrets.  But the learning experience transforms us not just into a better person but somebody who has a clearer view of life and who is brave enough to welcome another learning chapter in his life.

Food Trip 109 - Fish Intestines

Since my growing up years, I come to love and appreciate fish intestines.  Of course, not all fish intestines are edible.  I am referring to the intestines of big fishes.

The common big fishes in our locality are tuna and salmon.  Whenever they are sold, they are being cut into slices which also include their intestines.  At times, these intestines are being sold separately.  

All the time, we prefer fresh fishes and that include their intestines.  Since I know how to prepare a fish dish, I am also particular how the fish intestines should be prepared.  The intestines should be opened first and using the blade of a knife, the inner walls of the intestines should be scrapped meticulously.  And in order to get rid of its smell, rubbing a good amount of salt on the cleaned intestines walls will do the trick.

A fried fish intestine is as good as its flesh but it tends to shrink once it is cooked.  I would prefer a dish with soup and it could be a plain pangat, sinabawan, or to a more lavish sinigang. 

Exploring Philippines 109 - Taal Volcano Crater (Post 1 - Casa Punzalan)

It was on April 2011 when we went for another summer getaway.  This time around, we planned to conquer the Taal volcano crater.  Everything was perfect except for one thing, the volcano was on alert level two.

Leah was the one who facilitated our place of stay in Batangas.  Before going directly to the volcano crater, we planned to spend a day in the town of Taal and explore it first.  Since it was summer time, almost all of the inns and pension houses in Taal were fully booked.  The only available place was Casa Punzalan located right across Taal church. 

Casa Punzalan is the oldest pension house in Taal, Batangas.  The people managing the pension house are warm and friendly.  It was an ancestral house converted into a pension house in 1998 and is part of Taal’s heritage village.  

Anyway, we were directed to the second floor for our room assignment.  There are five rooms to choose from where the names each of the room were taken from the names of the children of the owner of the house.  From these five rooms, (if I am not mistaken) there are two solo rooms, there are two rooms for couple, and there’s one family room.  The mentioned rooms are either ventilated by electric fan or air-con.  And since there were five of us, we stayed on the air-conditioned family room.

After settling our things inside the room, we roam around the second floor.  Actually, we had the whole second floor by ourselves because we were the only guests that time.  The open space in the second floor is quite wide and makes a good avenue to hold parties.  Since it is an old house, the floor of the second floor is made up of wood and its posts are authentic hard wood which are rare nowadays.  One typical trait of a Spanish ancestral house is its large windows.  Most probably, during those times, they do not have problems regarding thieves that rob their houses by passing through the window.  From what we’ve learned, large windows were designed for ventilation purposes and for enough light to enter the house during day time.


We made use of our idle time evaluating the other vacant rooms in the second floor and taking pictures.  Actually, if you are going to look outside the window in the second floor of this pension house, the majestic and famous Taal church comes into a full view.

After our grand tour of Casa Punzalan, we went out in order to explore more of Taal town.  Since it was already lunch time, our order was to experience the local treat.  Thus, we went straight to the public market which is several meters away from the pension house.

We settled in one of the food stalls in the public market and we did not find any food that is alien to us.  We just made our respective orders and fill our hungry stomachs.