Food Trip 90 - Nilagang Mais

During the summer season, mais is abundant in the Philippines.

I've been oriented that the best tasting mais is a freshly picked one.  Right after harvesting mais, you better cook it right away in order for you to enjoy its sweetest taste.  Mais will slowly lost its taste after a day or two.  What more if it will last for several days unattended?

I have been buying nilagang mais when my appetite calls for it.  In the city, one cannot really tell if he is buying a newly picked nilagang mais or it has already aged for several days before it is cooked.  And the proof can only be determined upon eating.  If one is particular how a newly picked mais tastes like, then, no amount of salt and margarine can ever replace its original taste.

   

Exploring Philippines 90 - Norzagaray, Bulacan (Post 5 - Pinagrealan Cave)

After covering some meters while soaked in muddy water, we reached a tapering part of the cave where we had to find our footing within the edges of the cave's floor.  The center of the cave's floor which is covered by water proved to be difficult to step on because of its funnel shape formation.  With the cave's floor edges that are only a foot wide, you've got to walk slowly and you'll have to walk sideways facing or against the cave's wall.

In another turn, we had to plunge again into the water. That time, the level of the water was higher and reached our navel or even higher.  We were already perspiring due to the warm temperature inside the cave.  But at that particular time where half of our body was soaked in water, it was a deliberate form of relief because of the coolness of the water. If it had been undisturbed and clear, we might be tempted perhaps for a nice and quick dip.  The narrow passage proved to be difficult for us because we had our backpacks and at the same time, some sharp stone formations are hanging within the walls just above our head and we need to be careful and cautious with each step we made.  With the water reaching our waist, we were forced to raise our back backs toward our head because the bottom of our bags were touching the surface of the water already.

The moment we hurdled the deep water on that part of the cave, another tougher challenge came into view.  We were given two options to choose from. One, we have to squeeze our body in a very narrow passage equivalent only to the body size of an average person and you have to pass sideways on bended knees.  Since we had our backpacks and the passage was not yet clear to us, we opted to take the second option.  Option number two seems like a high wall and you have to stretch your other leg higher in order to reach a safety ledge.  But prior to the idea of reaching that ledge, I tiptoed and looked at the other side of that wall.  The other side is tricky because one has to slide down but with all those sharp stone edges, one will end up hurting his ass.  I had my reservations regarding my ability to overcome this challenge.  But since the rest of them were able to get through it, so should I.  If I don't have a camera and a back pack to mind, definitely, I can hurdle this one easily.  But I had to live with my baggage since my main concern was to document this whole trip.

Before crossing that wall, I requested two of our companions to pose at the top of the wall in order to show the high rise wall.  From the pic, one need to fully stretch the reach of his foot in order to gain a strong footing on the upper part of the wall while holding firmly to a small protruding rock within the wall.  I had to pass my camera to Ron who crossed the wall ahead of me.  I found it hard to stretch my leg just to reach that ledge because my pants was somewhat tight, thereby restricting my movements.

My safe landing on that ledge was just the beginning.  It was good because the texture of the wall is smooth.  If the texture of the wall could have been rough and sharp, like the face of the wall on the other side, I will definitely end up with bruises. The next move will be to safely maneuver on the top of the wall and sit squarely on it.  The ledge was somewhat slippery and I really took my sweet time just to ensure my safety on that sitting position.  After sitting comfortably on top of that wall, my next concern will be to safely slide down due to the fact that the other side of the wall has uneven rough surface.  If it could have been smooth, it would be fun to simply slide down.  With the help of my colleagues, I was able to safely land on the other side.

Poem 90 - Burning Desire

The night is young
And the air is cold
It's nice to have you
Just within my fold.

I shiver with the passing breeze
Enough to bring me to bed
With you right beside me
I think I wanna get laid.

Baby, hold me tight
Don't let go, just stay close
Tonight will be a wonderful one
And I don't mind an overdose.

With your body next to mine
The heat is overwhelming
I guess we can start a fire
And set this place burning.

As I caress your tender body
Your moans pump with ecstasy
You make me perform wildly
Unleashing the beast in me.

The excitement is beyond compare
The way we make love tonight
It's hard to hold back anymore
I'll soon explode with all my might.

As expected, there's the big bang
Mighty as the roaring thunder
My adrenalin reach its climax
You're the best, more than ever.

The fire you set stays burning
And we've only just began
Time should not be put to waste
Get ready for a more explosive one.

Quote 180 - Beauty

Moment 90 - Ramnie

Yesterday, it was already late in the morning and I was still in bed, enjoying a free day.  Suddenly my phone rang and the voice at the other end of the line came from my best friend, Bong.  When he asked me if I have receive a latest news regarding someone we know and his choice of words were subtle, my mind was thinking of the unthinkable already.  And he dropped the bad news.

I have known Ramnie for more than a decade already.  Though I am not really that close to him, at some point in time, we mostly shared some fun moments together.  He was a person full of life, always smiling and warm. 

Two years ago, I happened to see him during the wake of his wife.  His college sweetheart and wife died a month after giving birth to their only son.  She suffered from a congenital illness.

August of last year, I attended the first birthday party of his son.  In the party, I was reunited again with his circle of friends whom I've known and have a good association also.  It was like traveling back to the distant past when we still used to share some good times together.  After almost a decade, though we have our own affairs, we still maintain the kind of friendship that we have since we've known each other.   

Since the time when I visited the wake of his wife, we began texting one another.  It was like rekindling our friendship.  Through time, I have not sensed anything wrong about him because he still have dreams especially for his son.  And I think that he has a good disposition in life despite of the loss of his wife.  But something went wrong. 

Though I am clueless about his dealings with his own family, work, and friends, it never occurred to me that he will end his own life.  As of this writing, the feeling of losing another friend has not yet sink in.  In the process, our community is reaching out to one another regarding Ramnie's untimely demise.  We are still clueless about the truth behind his death.  But one thing could be certain.   He had already reached and faced a wall so tall and strong that he could not conquer and he could not find his way out either.  And he just snapped.  He was 29.

To a good friend, Ramnie, I can only offer my constant prayers to you hoping and believing that you'll find peace where ever you are now.    So long, my friend.  May your soul rest in the caring hands of our Lord. Amen.


Postscript

Together with my best friend, Bong, we went this night (Oct 4) to the wake of Ramnie at San Juan..  When we arrived there, we were the only visitors.  And after several minutes, Ramnie's work buddies arrived.

Ramnie's mother sat with us and little by little she shed light to their tragic loss.  My earlier hunch was indeed true. With the opportunity to talk to his mother, more gray areas were cleared.   I knew she was trying to compose herself, pretending to be strong beside the coffin of his only son.  But from time to time, the lump in her throat and the tone of her voice revealed that her love, despite of what they both went through, is an undying one.  And her parting message embodied a true Christian who is firm in her faith.  She said, "If only my son embraced and put Jesus Christ in his heart, then, he could not possible gave in to the call of the dark side.  Sadly, he chose his own destiny."

Before we left the chapel, as I tucked in a white envelop on the plastic cup on top of the coffin's glass, Ramnie's remains came into a full view.  I have qualms over viewing remains for I oftentimes carry the scene in my dreams that could last for a long time.  And most of the time, my dreams are not good.  But this time, much as I wanted to avoid seeing Ramnie for the last time, I still managed to see him.  And he looked like having a deep sleep and at peace.  I bid him farewell for the last time and my tears started to form.  I felt a sudden thrust in my chest and if I spent more time in front of the coffin, most likely I'll cry in silence.

I'll definitely miss the man.  Though I saw his lifeless face, I still have a picture of him in my mind smiling.  This time around, I am not afraid to dream because I know that when I dream of him, I'll see him alive and full of spirit.  Again, sweet dreams Ramnie and may you'll rest in peace.

Quote 179 - Playground

Random Thought 90 - Fight Back

When people see you as a weakling, chances are, they'll just run over you and you could be the least of their concern.

It's nice to be good.  But being good all the time could be a liability.  Sometimes, we should let others see our other side.  That is, we can both be good and bad at the same time.  And when we turn bad, we should let them feel that we really mean to be bad.

Yes.  We should let other see our dark side.  We should let others see that we are also capable of fighting back.  In this world where personal interest and vendetta is the name of the game, fighting back would let others know that we cannot be scared easily.  As long as we know where we are standing and we know what we are fighting for, it is never a bad thing to learn how to fight back and being bad.