mom, i remember…

Mom, I remember …

…how you loved Rogelio Dela Rosa and Carmen Rosales.

…that you were a fashionista way back in college — being the first-born among a brood of 8, you had the privilege of always having new things, and never had to wear hand-me-downs.

…how you liked wearing heels to help add precious inches to your 5′1” height.

…that you used to design and sew dresses by hand, including beautiful beaded wedding gowns, and had clients like veteran actress, Boots Anson-Roa.

…that you adored two of the most handsome (yet closeted gay) leading men of the Golden Era of Hollywood: Montgomery Clift and Rock Hudson.

… that you baked macaroon cupcakes, chiffon cakes, and apple cinnamon pies.

… that when you were a young college student in UP, renowned artist and Amorsolo’s contemporary, Ireneo Miranda (the “Dean of Filipino Cartooning”), took a liking for you (*ahem* since you apparently looked like his wife) and often invited you to model for his portraiture classes.

… that you valued the importance of reading and it was because your decision to invest in books like the Dr. Suess series and Companion Library Book Digests made a lifelong reader out of me.

… that you liked joining spelling bees in high school; and your tips on how to spell (close your eyes and ’see’ the word; spell by syllables not by letters) were quite helpful even up to now when I teach MY students to spell.

… that everyone said the same things about you… that you were the favorite niece, the favorite cousin, the favorite daughter-in-law, the favorite aunt… I of course didn’t bother to ask why. We all knew why.

… that I used to watch Nora Daza’s cooking shows with you every Sunday morning; I found it fascinating how you would be ready with your little notebook and pen, how you would jot down the ingredients but not the directions (which you mentally noted instead)…

… how I didn’t heed your suggestions on suitable career paths for me, but now I see. Moms are always right all along.

… the shape and softness of your hands and fingers as I held them in mine, and the contours of your face since I often caressed them when I was little.

… that you were not gifted with robust health even when you were young — reminding me to not take for granted my own health – to eat healthy, to exercise more, to sleep early.

… that we had you for a such a short time — reminding me not to take for granted my own existence, my own dreams, my own time, and the people around me – to live and appreciate life fully, and to love dearly.

… that you never had the chance to enjoy your grandchildren, but if you were still here, I’m sure they would have loved you to bits because I bet you would have made an awesome grandma.

Love you, Ma, and Happy Birthday!

 

remembering mom

This is MOM who also got to travel to Banaue in the 70’s.  The colors may have faded but this is still one of my favorite pics of her probably taken by an uncle (and this is the pic that taught me early on how to properly take pictures when traveling–that is, to include the background and not just yourself).  She may be smiling but it took some guts for her to pose so near the edge of this cliff. Well, that’s my MAMA! Miss you super much ƸӜƷ !!!

•*”˜˜”*°•. ˜”*°•♥•°*”˜ .•°*”˜˜”*°•.
**♥** Happy Mother’s Day! **♥**
.•°*”˜.•°*”˜.•°*”˜♥ ˜”*°•.˜”*°•.˜”*°•.

 

mmm is for merienda…

Bloggers are the New Powers That Be! Behold, we are the new commercial endorsers to be reckoned with.  Companies and businesses should tremble, kiss our rings, and kneel before us for we have the power to make or break your product. Unlike Sharon and Aga, we ourselves buy your products and actually use them, don’t get paid for what we have to say about them, we’re more believable, and definitely way cuter.

With that out of my system, I present some of my favorite meriendas…

Chocolate cake… like what mom used to make:

There are a lot of bakeries selling chocolate cakes in town.  The more established ones (oh, you know who you are!) sell ones wherein they obviously scrimp on the ingredients, resulting to dry, anemic-pathetic cakes that you are forced to buy for your kid’s birthday party for no one else is giving you anything better.  But along came Ms. Polly’s.  I had the privilege of being given these cakes as gifts, not just once but twice for the past two months. Theirs is as close to being home-baked–moist and rich.  It’s just like what your mom (well, at least mine did) used to make!  Great with black coffee on a lazy afternoon…

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Pancit Malabon… an all-time Pinoy favorite:

Pancit Malabon is a Pinoy specialty dish of noodles with an orange-colored sauce and seafood garnishings on top as well as sliced hard-boiled eggs. This one is from Amber’s in Makati (near Cash and Carry), an old food establishment that is already considered an institution around these areas.  I bought pancit from them twice.  Preferring fine bihon or sotanghon, I’m not much of a fan of thick noodles but I do enjoy a good pancit malabon (or palabok) once in a while.  Better to order ahead by phone and set a time for pick-up or delivery. If you don’t, you’ll have to wait a long time, just sitting at the counter, twiddling your thumbs and looking at Amber’s tired-looking, unsmiling attendants (at right) who seem to be comfortable with their “we don’t care if you wait, we’re already an institution!” style of service. Don’t forget their pichi-pichi and barbeque, too!  All great with ice-cold coke!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

And finally, Churros…a second time around:

Ever since I saw Mario Batali make authentic Spanish churros on the food network, I’ve dreamed of doing the same thing.  It seemed to look so easy! But my ill-fated churros experiment last Christmas taught me never to trust on-line recipes anymore, to not follow their recommended measurements or quantities of ingredients and, according to Paw, to just trust your instincts. However, it did not dampen my hopes of getting it right so I tried it out again… this time with much success.  They came out perfectly crisp on the outside and soft and tasty in the inside.  And the leftover chocolate fondue from Noche Buena sent me to a buzzy, sugary-high mode.

One thing I can’t solve though is dealing with the inevitable gooey mess that it could make.  Just don’t wear your favorite shirt when attempting to eat churros, maybe use a jicara, or lay out your cheapest table cloth, and be ready with napkins– lotsa table napkins, and you’ll be fine.

And if you want to be sure your churros will be a success (and to save time as well)… just get a hold of a trusty pack of ready-mixed Antonio Pueo’s Churros con Chocolate (at left) from the supermarket like what I did.  Daya? Success naman! Hehe…

 

2009: year of the oks na oks (sana!)

The year has come to an end and I’m hoping for a more fruitful year ahead.  2008 may have its good times but there are things that have happened that we would rather forget.  Many of us (which I find highly unusual) lost someone we know during this year mostly succumbing to illnesses and other health impairments.  I pray that things would be better somehow and all our loved ones will be safe in this Year of the Ox.

Just like the rest of the holidays, it also rained (slightly) on New Year’s eve (this is also the first rainy new year’s day in my experience).    And, for the first time too, I decided to try out several feng shui tips to bring in good luck.  I usually do not believe in feng shui but I know it won’t hurt if you put up a bagwan (a fortune mirror charm), a severed rabbit’s tail or something else on top of your front door.  Whatever rocks your boat, it’s fine with me as long as you’re not hurting anybody…

So this year, I experimented (and also just for the heck of it) to see if New Year feng shui tips really work (to see the results…well, I have to report about it at the end of 2009, I guess).  I tried out several feng shui advices that they say could bring in good luck while ushering in the new year like not sweeping the floor on New Year’s Eve (or you’ll bring out the good chi, um, I think); opening the windows to bring in luck; buying round-shaped fruits because they’re supposed to bring in money and harmony (?); putting money bills in an ang pao (lucky red packets) and placing it under your pillow, etc.  I maybe game with all these but I draw the line when it comes to lighting up firecrackers (deathly afraid of them) and wearing polka-dots (…just…can’t..do…it).

Here are some pictures taken at home during the Eve:

A feng shui expert who was interviewed on TV said that one should have 12 to 13 kinds…repeat, KINDS, not pieces, of round shaped fruits since 12 and 13 are considered lucky.  Was she serious or was it just bad grammar? Of all the feng shui tips, I find this to be the most idiotic.  Where can we possibly find 12 or 13 kinds of round fruits when December is definitely not the season for fruits?  But I went out and bought them anyway–ended up with eight kinds of fruits (8 is also a lucky number, right?).  Yes, I’m a sucker sometimes.  But hey, it’s for research, right?

Filling in a bowl of rice with 88 pieces of coins (and other lucky charms).  This advice includes cooking the rice after three days.  I had to break my piggy bank for this… Just kidding.

Serving sticky rice cake, biko (to improve family ties).  A combination of bread, wine and cheese were also served which is an Italian feng shui tip to bring in prosperity and good taste.  Of course, I’m kidding! If you fell for that last one, you’re a bigger sucker than I am.  They just happened to be in the picture, that’s all.

Here’s to a better and sparkling year ahead for all of us!  Grumba and I wish that 2009 will truly be a Year of the Oks na Oks! Cheers!