Food Trip 89 - Fried Chicken Skin

Fried chicken skin is one of the popular street food in the busy city streets of the country.  

Along with the growing population is also the demand for food.  Through time, the ingenuity of people about food is always surprising.  Who could have thought of raising a chicken purely made of skins? Haha

Kidding aside, the taste of crispy and tasty fried chicken skin cannot be questioned.  Anyone who is a meat lover will definitely give in to the temptation of fried chicken skin.  And with the growing number of vendors of this stuff, fried chicken skin becomes readily available at a reasonable price.

I, too, had my moments with this food.  A modest serving of rice or two, and an order of fried chicken skin made me survive a day with minimal spending.  Truly, it was a great help during those days when I was trying to make both ends meet.

But my glory days of enjoying the fried chicken skin was cut short because a friend of mine warned me about the ill effects of this food.  The cholesterol of her father who is also fond of this food rose to an alarming level.  It was scary because her father had to undergo some expensive medications.  Since I was afraid to suffer the same fate, I disassociate myself with this kind of food right away.

Exploring Philippines 89 - Norzagaray, Bulacan (Post 4 - Pinagrealan Cave)

Before we enter the cave, we were advised to take off our shoes because we will definitely get wet in the process.  On my part, it was my intention to wear a pair of shoes as a safety gear above all else.  I knew that the rocks inside a cave cannot be easily trusted and for this reason, I had to wear shoes for my protection.

The mouth of the cave is wide but it narrows down while we explore further.  At first, the cave floor is flooded - enough to feel that there is water along the way.  Since the cave floor is uneven, each step must be well-lighted, calculated, and finding the right stone to step on.  At certain parts, it is much better to get wet and enjoy the cold water of the cave rather than balancing yourself along the sides of the pathway  because in the end you will still get wet.

A few meters away from the entrance, the darkness was overwhelming.  If I hadn't prepare for this trip, it will be no fun exploring the cave in total darkness.  For others who would like to follow our footsteps in this cave, better bring something that would emit more light because it is hard to take pictures with so little amount of light.  Aside from this, one should be extra careful with each step because one wrong move could be a disaster judging from the structure of the stones of the cave.  The rock formations inside the cave are treacherous and are uneven.  If spelunking is not your thing, this cave will definitely offer a worthy experience because of the challenges all throughout the way.

Since there were so many of us, the atmosphere inside the cave was full of fun and the group's excitement could had awakened whatever is inside the cave including some bats who were flying above our heads.    But after covering some distance, half of the group came to a halt because they did not expect the kind of passage they had to hurdle.

There were only the two of us who were left behind, Ron and me.  Since some of the group members did not want to plunge into the water, we bravely made our way and tried to follow those who were ahead of us. Our first plunge on the thigh-deep muddy water made our loud voices echo all throughout the cave because the water was cold.  Our plunge was so sudden which made us react in a funny manner the moment our manhood felt the cold water.  We just laughed out loud on that experience.

Poem 89 - Rain On My Parade

The sky is fairly clear
A perfect time for my parade
The atmosphere is festive
It is such a beautiful charade.

Smile is overwhelmingly present
The crowd cheers merrily
Everyone is rejoicing today
All of them, except me.

Please don't rain on my parade
And ruin this festive mood
Spare me this beautiful day
I pray that you could.

I tried to smile as well
To the happy crowd along the way
Though deep inside I am hiding
The pain that's haunting me.

It is hard to be a clown
And smile all day long
I don't want the people to know
That something must be wrong.

I hope it will not rain today
This parade means everything to me
I hope that I have all the courage
To hold back my emotions all the way.

After a while, the drizzles fall
Everyone starts to feel anxious
I feel that I'm starting to let go
Revealing what really is obvious.

And it rain on my parade
The crowd begins to flee
I just watch them scatter
Allowing myself to break free.

Together with the falling rain
I let go of my own downpour
The rain will shield me
It will provide a good cover.

It is raining on my parade
But I no longer care
I guess it's a perfect time
The moment is wonderfully fair.

Quote 178 - Fly

Moment 89 - Garlic

Several years ago, we were on our way home to Visayas.  It was our first time to experience a roro (roll-on, roll-off) ride. Along the way, there were several stopovers and one of them was in Mindoro.

Whenever there is a stopover, local folks including the children would get on the bus to offer something - mostly food.  It was summer time and garlic is one of the abundant produce of Mindoro during this season.  And we'd been offered a bunch of garlic as pasalubong (something to bring home as a gift or token).  Since the folks at home are fond of using garlic in our everyday dishes, garlic would be much appreciated.

One of the bus passengers innocently asked us if there are really aswangs in our place and if garlic is indeed an effective means of driving away these creatures.  Aswangs are mythical creatures and are part of the Philippine folklore.  Aswangs are said to be persons who possess the ability to change their appearance at will to any creature they wish and would victimize helpless people.  Thus, whenever individuals hail from the Visayas region, they are often associated with aswangs.

Upon hearing the inquiry of that passenger, I coil around my neck the skewed garlic which we had just purchased and faced that person.  Then, I jokingly asked her, "Do you really believe that garlic is effective in driving away an aswang? Because it seems garlic has no effect on me." And I gave her a wink.

Quote 177 - By Heart

Random Thought 89 - Season of Plenty

We are thankful the moment the season of plenty is at hand.  During the season of plenty, it seems like blessings keep on pouring to our hearts content.  Suddenly, the world becomes a bountiful and wonderful place to live in.

If we are going to consider the experiences of the past, especially what had been written in the bible during the time of David, after the season of plenty came the season of drought.  Also, we keep on hearing from our elders to learn how to save for the rainy days.  

When we experience the season of plenty, we must learn how to give importance to the blessings that we receive.  Therefore, we should learn how to educate and discipline ourselves how to set aside a portion of what we earn.  We must bear in mind that our lives are full of uncertainties and we don't know what tomorrow may bring.  If we learn how to save for the coming days, then, problems relating to financial matters can easily be minimized or dismissed.

We can enjoy each and every blessings that we receive. But we should also learn how to guard and treasure it. 

Food Trip 88 - Fried Siopao

One time, I chanced upon a stall in Divisoria selling fried siopao.  I am not a siopao lover but that time I got curious how a fried siopao tastes like.  I then asked the sales lady about the difference between the steamed siopao from a fried siopao.  I guess she was caught unaware by my inquiry and with all confidence, she declared that it is fried.  Yeah, right.  Hehe.

Asado and bola-bola are the common siopao variations.  I just don't know about cat siopao if it is true.  But one time while watching the news, the authorities in the neighboring country of the Philippines uncovered that brown boxes are being used as siopao fillings.  Bad cheetah.

Anyway, a couple of orders of fried siopao proved to be heavy on the stomach.  What I love about this one is its taste.  The taste of pork and its spices are evident and completely different from the usual asado or bola-bola.  The filling is way more fresher and the texture of the meat is not overcooked.

Whenever I am in Quiapo, Binondo, or Divisoria, I always make it a point to bring home fried siopao which I learned to appreciate.  Actually, I also introduced this one to some of my friends and they happened to like it also.  Yummy.

Exploring Philippines 88 - Norzagaray, Bulacan (Post 3 - Pinagrealan Cave)

The path to the cave is a total green.  Even if it was high noon, the heat of the sun could not be felt.  The canopy of trees provide a shield and the temperature is really cool.  Though we did not experience the rush of the blowing wind, the scorching summer heat could not be felt here.

Upon approaching the entrance to the cave, some work improvements and renovation are right away noticeable. The gutter that provides an enclosure to the running water coming out from the cave during the rainy season was somehow built in a manner that is totally alien to the cave.  The steps that lead to the cave as well as those  in the entrance of the cave were not built in order to mimic the texture and appearance of the surrounding environment. These were the only obvious undertakings that can right away be noticed and the rest of the cave remain as they were centuries ago.

Before this trip, I had my first spelunking at Sagada.  From that experience, I had already some idea on what  to expect once inside a cave.  The available posted experiences on the net of some spelunkers who were able to visit this cave gave me more insights.  In addition, I bought a small flashlight and a head light - a necessity for spelunking.

Pinagrealan cave had its part in the Philippine history when Katipuneros were revolting against the Spanish oppressive rule before the end of the 19th century and they used this cave as their hideout.  The first president of the Republic of the Philippines, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo who hailed from Cavite, used this cave as his camp during the Filipino-American war.  And lastly, Japanese armies made this cave as their sanctuary when they were losing the battle during the second world war.

With these bits and pieces of our history, I got more curious how the cave really looked like.  The experience will serve as a time machine where I will be transported back in time and feel the kind of life during those times. I am praying and hoping that I will be able to successfully conquer this challenge and be one with those cave dwellers before me.

Poem 88 - Babe

The day is gloomy
The sun feels sleepy
I wake up feeling lazy
This will be a boring day.

I reach for my phone
Expecting a message from you
Coz, baby, you're all I need
To brighten this morning so blue.

There's no message posted
Not even a missed call
I stare blankly at the screen
In my bed, I just want to roll.

I close my eyes once more
I guess I will sleep again
A warm hand touches my cheek
There you are, babe, full of grin.

You join me in my bed
And cuddle me to slumber
I pull you closer to me
Feeling your warm body so tender.

The rain starts to fall
It's gonna be cold outside
But here in my bed
Our body heat starts to collide.

I don't want to get up anymore
Now that you're here with me
I just can't hide my excitement
Babe, you always make my day.

Quote 176 - Eyes

Moment 88 - Dancing Fountain

For quite some time, I had been seeing in the news about the dancing fountain attraction in Luneta.  Since the show commences after the sunset, I am a bit apprehensive about my security if ever I’ll bring my camera and take some shots of the dancing fountain.

One time, I would like to give it a try.  But before I went into the action, I consulted first the resident photographers of Luneta.  According to them, during daytime and until 6pm, policemen and security guards are patrolling the park.  By night time, the security personnel of the park are assigned to maintain the peace and order of the park.  Since the time policemen and security personnel are deployed and become visible in the park, the crime incidents inside the park were reduced dramatically.  With this assurance, I patiently waited for the night fall and bravely took pictures of the dancing fountain to my heart’s content.

And with the setting of the sun, the show started. The fountains dance in accordance with the music.  The fountains glow in different array of lights and move accordingly to the beat of every song that is being played.  The crowd, young and old alike, exclaimed with much delight and excitement.  You can only hear praises and exaltation from the crowd, especially the children.  This show delivers a new life to the park and makes it enjoyable even during night time.

Quote 175 - Happiness

Random Thought 88 - Fruit of a Poisonous Tree

The end does not justify the means, no matter how noble the intention is.

I know someone in authority who has this character to flaunt his "godly" facade and tried his very best to be popular in everything that he do.  He speak of his own truths and pleases everyone along his way.  He is like a movie star, so eager and determined to earn his own piece of fame in the glittering world of entertainment.  But to some who knows him very well, he is just a mediocre.

Since he has this command over his subjects, he would never accept that he may be committing a mistake from time to time.  He is presenting himself as someone who is knowledgeable in everything and speak of those things like a true master.  When argued, he will never accept defeat nor consider acknowledging his shortcomings.  He is projecting a foolproof persona.  Out of respect or perhaps out of respect to his position, some people just shrug off their shoulders with the thought that a blinded person is not capable of understanding and seeing the wisdom of others.

In this regard, as he enjoys all the powers with respect to his position and blinded by his own self-righteousness, he can no longer determine the kind of fruit he is picking.  Actually, he can determine which one to pick.  He will pick a fruit which he thinks is best for him with the idea that if it is best for him, it will also be best for the majority.

Even if the person in authority has all the powers over his subjects, it does not follow that all his actions will not be governed by the existing policies of the organization.  When he will exercise his power, it does not also follow that he can just trample the rights of others.  If he wanted to find out the "truth" of some issues, it does not follow that he can squeeze the neck of the person in question nor hit him helplessly below the belt.  And the worst thing that could happen is, he will never believe the responses because he had already his own predetermined conclusion on the matter.

The fruit of a poisonous tree is a legal doctrine but it can also be applied to our daily affairs. It does not follow that when a person has the authority, he can just make his subjects dance or sing according to his command.  It does not follow also that he will be ignorant of the policies of the organization and by his will, he has all the rights to exercise his authority whatever the means maybe.   

If the subject happens to know that some policies had been violated, ignorance of the law on the part of the person in authority is not an excuse.  In this instance, the aggrieved subject can now question his superior about the taste of the fruit of the poisonous tree.  That anything that is illegally acquired has no bearing especially in the court of law.  And it would be a rewarding moment on the part of the subject to see an embarrassed superior once slapped with his illegal and self-serving actions.  Hmmm.  What a shame!

 

Food Trip 87 - Bicho Bicho

During my childhood days, I was not aware of donuts.  Those were the days when commercial stuffs from the city do not reach our locality. That time, I was not aware that bicho bicho is a local counterpart of city donuts.

One time, out of the blue, I passed by Merced bakeshop along EDSA near Quezon Avenue.  I was on my way home and since I knew I'll be hungry soon, I entered the store to find out if there are some good stuffs inside. One familiar thing on top of the food counter caught my attention and I ordered a couple of packed goodies.

What's good about Merced's bicho bicho is its taste and texture.  Compared with the traditional donuts, the bicho bicho has less sugar thereby one would not easily feel satiated(?).  I guess this bakeshop is using a first class flour because the texture of bicho bicho is soft and it remains soft and tender even for several days.

Exploring Philippines 87 - Norzagaray, Bulacan (Post 2 - Pinagrealan Cave)

From their conversation, we learned that the place is privately owned and the cave was turned over to the local government of Norzagaray but the surrounding area is still owned and maintained by its private owner. The permission to the cave is not within the owner's jurisdiction but to the caretakers.  Since there was already an order not to allow the visitors to enter the cave until the rehabilitation and maintenance activities is over, until then, no visitors will be allowed for any spelunking activity.

While they continued their conversation, we tried to take pictures to make the most of our spare time.  Big rock formations lined up within the surrounding area of the owner's place and we did some little fun in the process.  In moments like that one, where negotiations were ongoing, patience is the key and all possible means should be exhausted in order to overcome the hurdle.  If ever our intent will not be granted, then we had to consider some other possibilities instead of going home empty handed.

Luckily, one of the visitors happened to be a resident of Norzagaray and she knows some people connected to the NCHAT.  She tried to contact the person and the group waited for that person to arrive in order for the group to gain access to the cave.  And if they can go, it would not be a problem if we can tag along since there were only the two of us.

In the meantime, while waiting for that key person, we spend our waiting time in the duhat tree.  Duhat trees are plenty within the vicinity and anyone is free to climb a duhat tree and pick duhat fruits to his heart content.  It's been a long time since I climbed a tree and since it was an easy climb, I joined some members of the group who were already enjoying a good spot on top of the tree.

After some time, the contact of the group arrived.  The person is connected to the one in-charge of NCHAT and after some pep talk, we were given permission to explore the cave.  We were delighted upon hearing the good news.  We were required to sign in at a log book, the monitoring guide for the visitors.  During ordinary times, a visitor is charge 20 pesos for the entrance fee and an additional fee of 150 pesos if a guide will be hired.  On our end, tagging with the group was a good idea and we were not charge even a single centavo.  Our tricycle driver, though he is a native of that place, joined us because it was his first time to visit the cave.  We told him that if wants to earn additional amount, he should explore the tourist spots of the town so that he can be a driver and a guide at the same time.

Poem 87 - Tamang Panahon

Tuwing nakikita kita
Buo na ang araw ko
Ikaw ang bukod tangi
Na bumihag ng pusong ito.

Sadyang napakasaya
Ng nag-uumapaw na damdamin
Pilit na ikinukubli
At napakahirap na aminin.

Oo, gusto kita
Simula ng unang tagpo
Mahirap ipaliwanag
Ang kilig nitong puso.

Hindi kayang ilarawan
Ang kasabikan ko sa iyo
Kapag hindi kita makita
Hindi kumpleto ang araw ko.

Laging ninanais
Ng umaaapaw kong damdamin
Na sa bawat sandali
Ikaw lang ang nanaisin.

Marahil ay ikaw na nga
Ang mahal ng puso ko
Dahil tanging ikaw lang
Ang nagpapakabog nito.

Ako ay maghihintay
Na umayon ang pagkakataon
Sana sa iyo'y palarin
Pagdating ng tamang panahon.

Quote 174 - Mask

Moment 87 - Gecko

In one of our out-of-town sorties, we happened to share stories about geckos.  This topic was injected into our conversation because we happened to encounter several geckos by nighttime when we were about to sleep.  Usually, geckos come out during the evening but in the province where I grew up, I had some moments with geckos even during the daytime.

For first timers, a sighting of a gecko could be frightening.  The old folks would normally tell us that once a gecko will land in your skin, it is like a glue that cannot be remove immediately.  Once forcefully removed from a person's body, it may leave scratches or perhaps cuts on the flesh.  And to those who have not seen a gecko, its sound during nighttime is somewhat scary.

Anyway, we shifted our topic to the different sounds of geckos.  Different animals do have different sounds depending on the region. For example, the sound of a rooster in the Philippines would be tik-ti-la-ok.  While in the western countries, its sound would be cock-a-doodle-do.

We had an American companion that time and up to the present, he has yet to see a real gecko.  He said that in the states, no such creature exists inside their house.  Most probably, if he was able to share a place with us, then he could have seen a real gecko first hand.

And so we shared to him the different gecko sounds. If I am not mistaken, in the island of Sabah, Indonesia, a gecko sound would be tika.  In the Philippines, Tagalog geckos sound is toko. In the Visayas region, the sound is taka. And in places in Batangas, the sound is ala-eh-toko. (This is just a joke, of course).

Afterwards, we asked our foreign companion if he happened to hear a sound of a gecko but he said none so far.  We tried to determine what a western gecko would sound like and we came out with a slang gecko.  How about tokow, tokow? ;-)

Quote 173 - Angel

Random Thought 87 - Simple Joys

Life’s simple joys could be one of those happy moments which we fail to recognize.

If you will be asked about those simple moments that made you happy, do you still have a good recollection of them?  Or what could be those happy and unforgettable moments that linger in your memory up to the present time?  How many of those happy memories were not so grand and yet you still cherish them?

With our everyday affairs, we might be able to experience some things that are worthy to be labeled as part of our happy moments.  Yet, with the passing of time, we tend to forget them.  I guess no one is spared from this concern.

For this reason, as much as possible, I tend to document some part of my existence in order to preserve those happy and unforgettable moments.  I would like to immortalize those moments together with the people I am with because my memory may fade together with the passing of time.  We cannot brag about having a good memory all the time and we may tend to forget them as we age.  Therefore, some pictures and maybe some notes will help us recall those happy moments.

If you can afford to take pictures as many as you can and preserve them as one of your most cherished possession, you may soon find out that your life is actually made up of happy moments.  And even with the passing of time, the pictures will always serve as your time machine of those happy days alongside with your friends and loved ones.

Food Trip 86 - Black Grapes

It was one of those ordinary days when something good happened.

I was on a look out for some fruits as part of my diet.  As I scout the place, one particular fruit stand caught my attention.  It was selling black grapes.

Not all grapes are grown the same.  For quite some time now, I am always looking for a variety of grapes that are elongated and firm.  Usually, this kind has a thicker skin yet crisp and tastes sweeter.  And the moment I approached the said stall, the lady vendor readily offered me a piece to taste it and it was the one I was looking for.

The black grapes were imported from Chile.  The vendor oriented me that this variety of grapes usually comes from Chile or California.  During the second half of the year, this variety comes abundant. Though its price is much higher than other varieties, still, a good stuff comes always with a price and it's worth it. 

Exploring Philippines 86 - Norzagaray, Bulacan (Post 1 - Pinagrealan Cave)

One Saturday morning, Ron and I went for an out-of-town adventure in the nearby province of Bulacan.  Ron got excited when I told him that I wanted to go for another spelunking and he wanted to tag along.  That would be his first ever spelunking experience.

We took a bus ride at EDSA-West Ave, where Del Carmen buses have daily trips to Sta. Maria, Bulacan.  The fare is 40 pesos.  Since it was 7am, the vehicles were light along EDSA and the North Expressway.  The moment we reached the Bocaue exit, the bus slowed down because of the heavy build up of cars, buses, and trucks.  As of summer this year, there are so many road work activities from Bocaue to Sta. Maria. 

We reached the terminal of Del Carmen bus at Sta. Maria in Bulacan before 9am.  From there, we took a jeepney ride to Norzagaray.  A jeepney fare from Del Carmen bus terminal to Norzagaray is 10 pesos.  Our drop off point is at the marker of Norzagaray that is erected at the center of the road.  Since Pinagrealan cave is 9 kilometers away and I don't have any clue to get there, the easiest way would be to hire a tricycle.  We hired a tricycle for 300 pesos on the condition that the driver will have to wait and accompany us for the whole duration of our trip.  We were lucky to find a kind, courteous, and patient driver in the person of John.

If you are on a tight budget, though I am not particular with the respective fares, from the Norzagaray marker you can hire a tricycle going towards the Norzagaray municipal building.  From the municipal building of the town, hire another tricycle going to Pinagrealan cave. For sure the fare would be much cheaper compare with what we had done.  You don't have to worry about the ride back home since tricycles are plenty the moment you trace back your route towards the town's marker.

Upon our arrival at the holding area to the cave, there were already some visitors who were ahead of us and they were waiting.  The moment we got out from the tricycle, we were told that we cannot go inside the cave and the notice had been hanged in the branches of duhat trees, just right above our heads. According to the recommendation of Norzagaray Culture, History, Arts, and Tourism (NCHAT) Council, Pinagrealan cave will be temporarily closed starting April 12 of this year as recommended by the cave experts from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of Region 3.  Likewise, the cave must first undergo a complete rehabilitation and maintenance due to some issues and will be open again to visitors starting on May 16, 2012.

A bomb of disappointed exploded before us, a total epic fail once we really can't go inside the cave.  The group who had been patiently waiting for some time, hails from a company in Makati and it was some sort of their company outing.  They tried to convince the owner of the place since the land is privately owned but the owner declined to allow them because there had been an incident some weeks ago.  He said that he and the caretaker of the cave allowed some visitors to go inside the cave on the condition that the visitors will keep mum of their visit until its reopening come May 16, 2012.  But due to some lapses on the part of those visitors, they carelessly posted their pictures on facebook and it so happened that someone from DENR got noticed of the posting.  The caretaker had been warned not to entertain some more visitors within the designated time frame of the rehabilitation or else she will be fired from her work.  Hence, no matter how we beg them, they stood by their position. So sad.

Poem 86 - Fate

I saw you from a distance
Your looks captivated me
I smiled upon seeing you
Wondering if you're still free.

I could not take my eyes off you
Fearing I might lost you
My heart beats so fast
Could you make my dream come true.

I looked funny for a while
When you looked at my direction
I pretended not seeing you
But deep inside, I was in jubilation.

I did not have enough courage
In making a move to know you
I just consoled my silly self
Admiring the beauty of you.

And in a moment you were gone
I lost you among the multitude
I felt sad when you were out of sight
Now, I'm back to my own solitude.

I tried to look for you
Hoping that I'll see you once more
But I guess you're too elusive
You gave me a moment to longed for.

Here I am, mingling with the crowd
Always on the look out for you
If fate really mean it
Then, it will lead me to you.