Food Trip 115 - Tupig

I was riding a jeepney towards Manila when I saw in front of Santo Domingo church in Quezon City a couple selling tupig. After several passengers alighted in front of the said church, I was contemplating whether I’ll take pictures of the couple selling tupig or not.  And before the jeepney driver could fully accelerate the jeepney, I decided to go for it.  I quickly stepped down from the jeepney.

Tupig is a local delicacy made of sticky rice, mature (niyog) and young (buko) coconut meat strips, and brown sugar.  The young coconut meat strips provide a better taste compared with just the plain sticky rice.  Whereas, the mature coconut meat strips produce coconut oil in order to prevent the mixture to forcefully stick to the banana leaves when cooked. In some instances, nuts can be added.  Likewise, a vanilla flavor can make it even more enticing.

The couple have charcoal burners and they simply line up the wrapped raw tupig over the burner and turn them over occasionally in order to evenly cook them.  One piece of tupig costs five pesos and when I tasted one, it was totally different from the tupig which my friends would bring home as pasalubong.  Since it is freshly prepared, it is tastier and somewhat heavy on the stomach.  The lady vendor, Ms. Marissa Fernandez, added that their tupig could last for three days or even longer if it is refrigerated.  

For the Lenten season, they are selling in front of Santo Domingo church because of the heavy turnouts of parishioners.  During ordinary days, they are selling in front of the Trinoma Mall along EDSA near the MRT station.  On a lean day, their estimated daily sales is four thousand pesos and could reach as high as seven thousand pesos for a busy day.  Furthermore, Ms. Marissa has been in the business for 30 years and this is the source of their livelihood which enable the couple to support their three children and send them to school.

For orders, you can reach her on this number - 09076010888.  She resides in Fairview and deliveries are free within the Quezon City or nearby areas for a minimum order of 200 pesos only.  They are also willing to deliver in other areas with an additional transportation charge.  You can make your orders a day before.

     

Exploring Philippines 115 - Taal Volcano Crater (Post 7 - The Crater)

We were oriented about the water inside the lake’s crater.  There are some parts of the lake where acid is not so strong where one can take a dip.  But the readily available shorelines within the landing area are not the ideal spots for swimming.  In fact, we’d been warned to be careful about touching the water because we might get hurt and it’s no joke.

Our guide then brought us to a higher ground where orange, white, and yellow are the dominant colors.   As usual, we were inquisitive about the composition of that part of the island.  We found out later on that the orange, white, and yellow colors were acid volcanic emissions and they continuously pile up over time.  There are also huge boulders of black rocks in the area that are similar to the ones in Capones island in Zambales which made me think that the island of Capones is a result of a volcanic eruption also. 

A few meters away, a couple of isolated heavy smokes could be seen.  Looking back in retrospect, these smokes are visible on the view deck at the top of the mountain on the other side of this crater.  Right that moment, they were a few steps away.

Since Taal volcano is an active volcano and at that particular time was on alert level 2, we did not imagine that it would become dangerous at any given time.  We did not entertain the thought of its eruption because our guides along with the locals in their community offered some comforting situations why they were not bothered at all.  And standing on the very mouth of the active volcano and watching the smokes rose to the sky was a remarkable moment for all of us.  I never imagined myself to be brave enough and conquering the active volcano this close.

Anyway, there were several open areas where the smokes come from.  The farthest ones were on the steep side of the mountain which is impossible to visit.  The other one that emits a huge volume of smoke is located several meters away and is surrounded by grasses, shrubs, and short trees.  The nearest and most accessible one is several steps away.  As I came near to the smoke emitting part, the smell of sulfur was overpowering which made my eyes watery and it was hard to breath.  One of our guides told me that Korean visitors simply love the smell of sulfur and they are very appreciative of this volcano.  On my end, what’s there to love with the smell of sulfur when it is suffocating in the first place.

As I came nearer to the source of smoke, the smell of sulfur was intense.  Since I was already here, I made use of the opportunity to see what lies beneath the smoke. And right before my eyes is the boiling water of Taal volcano.  It is hard to imagine why on this part of the crater the water is boiling that much and not the rest of the lake.  Could it be that the crack on the ground receives so much heat from the bottom of the volcano which makes the water boil and generate smoke in the process?  If it is boiling 24/7, why is it that the supply of water in this crack never runs dry?  Actually, just like what I watched on tv about volcanoes, I was entertaining the idea of seeing a lava inside this crater.  Most probably, it there’s a lava flow, we will never be allowed nor accompanied to this part of the island volcano.

The immediate area of the crack where the smoke is passing through reveals a heavy build up of sulfur.  Some parts of the ground are actually made up of rocks that withstand the passing of time as well as being tolerant to the effect of sulfur.  The natural discoloration of the environment could further reveal the different activities that took place since the last time this volcano had erupted.

By 10am, under an hour of scouting the place, we made our way back to our waiting boat.  But the agony of climbing the mountain, given the condition of the trail and the heat of the sun, was really a tough job.  Adding to the difficulty of the situation was my poor stamina condition which made me run out of air given a climb like this one.  It was good that one of our guides has a horse and I gave in to a ride up to the top of the mountain. It was a total relief reaching the view deck at the top of the mountain without experiencing so much hardship in climbing up.  The moment I got off from the horse, our guide had to go back for several times in order to give a ride to my already exhausted friends.

We took our sweet time on the view deck before going down the mountain.  Since we were already out of drinking water, we were offered fresh buko by our guide for 20 pesos each.  It felt like heaven when your thirst is quenched and the perspective around you is spectacular.  And being tired but happy under the shades of the shed along with the coolness of the mountain air, we were laughing on the idea about lying down on the bench and doze off for a while. 

After the much needed rest, we went back to our waiting boat guide.  Going down the mountain was already easy for all of us and in a short span of time, we were already on the base of the mountain and a couple of meters away from our waiting boat.  We thought that our boat guide got already tired of waiting for our return. But we were wrong.  In fact, he was enjoying every minute of it since we were gone.  He was enjoying a morning of drinking spree alongside with his old time buddies as well as the rest of the locals. 

Upon our return to the holding area, we were actually expecting that we will be leaving right away.  Our boat guide told us that there was some sort of a celebration because the daughter of the barangay captain graduated from high school as a valedictorian and that day was the celebration for her achievement.  Even though we were strangers to the place, our boat guide told his peers that one of our colleagues is the godmother of his son.  Since there was a celebration, we were obliged to join and we had our free quick lunch with the celebrant’s family.  In fact, we were amused because the family was so apologetic of their rice for it was brown and not white.  Actually, it was their produce on the slopes of this volcano island.  Little did they know that the price of brown rice is much more expensive compared with that of the white one.

We were thankful for the food and the experience with the folks in this community.  Maybe because of our boat guide, we were treated nicely.  And most likely, they are nice to tourists because tourists contribute a lot to their income.  And by 12pm, we left the place.

The moment we boarded the boat and about to set sail, the engine died suddenly.  A rope got tangled with the propeller and luckily, no damage had been done to the propeller.  Unlike our experience the first time we visit the island volcano, the ride home was smooth and there were no alarming waves to worry about.  When we were nearing the floating fish cages, the engine stopped for the second time around.  We were alarmed because we were still far from the shore.  Our boat guide has to get off from the boat and swim under it to find out what caused the problem.  He told us afterwards that a water hyacinth was the cause of the problem.

We arrived safely on the same spot where we boarded the boat that morning.  We were directed to the main road which is not far the shoreline and from there, we took a jeepney ride back to the town of Lemery.  We had our late lunch by 2pm and took another ride towards Mahogany market to buy some fresh fruits before going home.

 

Poem 115 - Goodbye

I hate to say goodbye
For I don't like seeing you cry
But eventually I have to go
This is the truth you have to know.

It is never easy leaving
Especially if our hearts are grieving
Separation is a dreaded thing
Now that you've become my everything.

My heart and soul cannot find peace
Though I find solace in your embrace
Each passing moment, my sadness doubled
Through it all, my spirit is troubled.

Goodbye to you, my sweet thing
I'll bring with me your sweet loving
Though far apart, you are with me
My solitude can be eased this way.

I know I will be struggling too
Because I will definitely miss you
The more I think of our separation
The more I am challenged by my emotion.

So goodbye it is and all the best for you
The only best thing is letting you go
Though our feelings remain unwavering
If we cling on, we'll just end up suffering.

Goodbye to you, my sweet one
Cry not when I'll be gone
Just think that I'm on a journey
So you will not miss me terribly.

Quote 230 - Beauty

Moment 115 - The Devil's Advocates

It is not really hard to determine if the person you are talking too is truly sincere or just playing tricks on you.  

After several years of working in a community where the Catholic religion is the foundation, it is a big let down on my faith and my respect that the people and their minions who are running it are the very ones who will transgress someone at their own discretion.  Damn.  I thought I am working and serving in a community of faithful and God-fearing but shocking realities tell me otherwise.  

It is a frustration when you are dealing with tricksters because they tend to show their overwhelming concern and the smiles on their faces will tell you that indeed they are sincere but on the contrary, it is just a facade they are trying to paint.  And when you are trying to settle some issues, hoping for an honest and  straight forward answer, they will bounce you from one cohort to another pleading their innocence and washing off their hands when the blame-game begins.  And the answer that you've been rearing to hear will remain an elusive one.

The devil's advocates, indeed, they are.  It is a hard realization thrown straight to my face by the very people who are running the show.  Everyday is like walking on a tight rope, hoping and praying that I will have a fair and just treatment.  But at the end of the day, I am just a nobody whom they can kick out at their disposal.  Well, even if I am a sinner, heaven also sets eyes on them and their devilish plans and actions will not go unnoticed.  And as long as I am able, giving them a good fight is what I intend to do and I TRUST THEM NO MORE.  

Quote 229 - Brave

Random Thought 115 - Crush and Love

It is nice to experience all over the again the kind of feeling we used to treasure when we first laid eyes on our high school crush.

Remember the days when cupid’s arrow hit us unexpectedly and love blossomed at our young age.  That time, love and crush were interchangeable terms but one thing was certain.  We were never that happy.

Time and age are variables and only then, we can determine if our feelings at our young age remain the same.  More often than not, we just laugh about it.  But there are instances that a portion of that feeling cannot be erased from our heart.  And the moment we see that special someone, only our heart knows if the feeling is still there.

Food Trip 114 - Batchoy

It doesn’t really matter what time of day it is.  The moment your stomach feels the hunger, batchoy will provide the quickest remedy.

Batchoy is popular in the Visayas region.  To some, batchoy is also known as mami.  Depending on the region in Visayas, batchoy also defers.

I found a restaurant in the Visayas that offers a great tasting batchoy at a modest price.  Since the owners of the restaurant are the ones who prepare the food, they make sure that the quality and taste of their food is not compromised.  Since the owner of the place is a friend of mine, I willingly accepted his offer for a free batchoy.  A hefty bowl serving of batchoy was already enough for me to skip my dinner.

A fresh mami, cooked pork meat and liver, chicharon, egg slices, onions, garlic, and a tasty soup are the key ingredients of their batchoy.  The serving is abundant and above all, the soup tastes great. 

The bone marrow of beef is cooked and prepared until its soup runs out.  The moment it runs out of soup, they have to prepare a new set of bone marrow to cook.  They will dispose the old one and they won’t refill to reheat it because it will lost its taste.  For this reason, their batchoy is a blockbuster among the locals. 

Exploring Philippines 114 - Taal Volcano Crater (Post 6 - Touch Down at the Crater)

It was in October 2009 when we had a view of the crater on the opposite side of the volcano.  And this time around, we were in another view deck, still admiring the beauty of the crater.  Our difficulties in climbing was rewarded by the beautiful sight and the rush of the morning wind that continuously swept the mountain provided a good relief and refreshed our sweating body.  As we took our sweet time resting on the bamboo benches, we gazed cheerfully on the full view of Taal volcano crater.

After we had our fill of the much needed rest, we asked our guide if we can go down to the crater.  Without much protest, he led the way.  At first, the path on the side of the mountain is well covered by the shades of  tall trees which favor us.  But we’d been warned to be careful and watch our steps because the trail is covered with small rocks and with getting slipped would mean sending somebody to the ravine right below the trail. From time to time, a support coming from the vines or branches of small trees made our downhill climb easy.

At first, we thought that a downhill journey is easier compared with our uphill climb.  But we were wrong.  The downhill trek proved to be tough and it was no laughing matter.  Because the ground was dry, the small rocks that covered the trail made it even harder for us because they add up to make the trail slippery.  Some parts of the trail are steep and if one will not be careful enough, it could send him down rolling or sliding.  And a good footwear is also crucial to this journey.  One would definitely need a sturdy pair of flip flops because the dry and slippery ground will definitely challenge one’s footwear.

After more than 10 minutes of ordeal on the dry, slippery, and steep grounds, we were lucky enough to reach the flat ground unharmed.  Since it was summer, as we followed the path towards the crater, dusts were all over the place.  Some plants that were not able to withstand the heat of the sun turned brown and some trees lost their crowning glory.  But as we gazed around, there were still a lot of greens around us.

What we thought as a walk in the park trek towards the crater of the volcano proved to be rather difficult and full of challenge.  After the skid, balancing while running downhill, firm grasp on the twigs and vines, and at times, almost sitting to the ground while advancing our steps in a turtle paced manner because of the difficulty of the trail, we managed to reach the crater after more than 30 minutes.  Our downhill journey was no joke and we were able to prove that not all treks going down are piece of cake.

Upon the sight of the sleepy lake in the crater, we all rejoiced.  It was like a trophy for all of us.  The undisturbed and the beauty of the place was a spell-binding moment up close.  If the water in the lake is not an acid-water, a well deserve plunge could be a rewarding activity for us to enjoy.  Unluckily, all we could do was to keep a good distance at the shoreline because fumes could be seen within a close range like an acid in contact with a metal.     

I must say that it was a privilege to touch down at the lake’s crater.  Out here, the place was peaceful.  Actually, this is one beautiful but dangerous paradise to visit.  A book by a foreign author named this as one of a must visit place in the world before you die.  Well, after my visit here, I don’t want to die this early because I still want to explore other beautiful places of my country.

Anyway, after our group pictures were taken, we immediately gave in to our curiosity and explored the crater.  The landing area is a dry land and is actually a combination of soil, sand, rock, and volcanic materials.  By just looking at the place, some composition of the dry land can easily be related to volcanic materials for they are not readily available near the body of water anywhere else.