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MEME award

I got this MEME award from my online friend the lovely Shie of Shie’s Asylum. Thank you, sis!

What does meme mean? In the context of web logs / ‘blogs / blogging and other kinds of personal web sites it’s some kind of list of questions that you saw somewhere else and you decided to answer the questions. Then someone else sees them and does them and so on and so on.*

Here are the rules of acceptance:

1. Acknowledge the person who sent you the award.
2. Share your 7 personality traits so we can get to know you better.
3. Nominate 7 other blogs.

* I’m married with two children.
* I used to have an interesting job, but decided to quit in the hope of putting up a small business and personally attend to the needs of my children.
* I love to watch feel-good movies, thriller and horror flicks.
* I’m a procrastinator, a bad habit I know.
* I enjoy being alone. That’s why I only have a handful of friends.
* I wish to travel as far as my feet can take me.
* I enjoy blogging and meeting new friends online.

I hope that tells something about me. I’m passing this tag to the following belles of the blogosphere:

Food Trip Friday: Fish fillet and Potato Chips

I always get excited whenever I try a new dish for my picky-eaters. For today I will be sharing with you my version of Fish Fillet and potato chips. What I did was I soaked the sliced fish fillet (I bought a kilo of Yellow Fin Tuna already sliced) in a bowl of soda (Sprite) before dredging the fish in a separate bowl of all-purpose flour with a dash of salt, pepper and Vetsin. I pan-fry it in a hot-cooking oil until its golden brown. This is the finish product. I also added a sliced fried potato to serve as side dish. The whole thing was done in less than an hour.

Fresh from the pan

My children’s lunchbox

I cut the sliced fillet into smaller bite size and laced it with a mixture of mayonnaise and catchup to enhance the taste. My kids love the simple presentation and gave my latest dish two thumbs up.

In my previous post I discussed about preparing nutritious food for our school-aged kids where we can add three or four food groups to their meal to fuel them through a lot of school day’s activities. This include rice, fried fish (chicken or pork), buttered or boiled vegetables, and fruit in season.

This dish is not only nutritious but also easy to prepare.

Now, if you are craving for more dish you can find them all here. Have a nice Food Trip Friday!

Getting to Know Each Other Tag

source

Sis U. Pink, thanks for this tag.

To do this, Create a New Blog Post, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your title as “Getting to Know Each Other!”, then tagged as many people as you like Don’t forget to leave a message to those you have tagged so that they will know

1. What time did you get up this morning? 4:00 a.m. (on school days)

2. How do you like your steak? well done

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

4. What is your favorite TV show? none at the moment

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? U.S.

6. What did you have for breakfast? Sliced bread with triple berry jam, coffee with milk

7. What is your favorite cuisine? Filipino dish

8. What foods do you dislike? Ampalaya (tolerable)

9. Favorite place to eat? Shakey’s, Yellow Cab

10. Favorite dressing? the one served at Shakey’s for mojos (i forgot the name)

11. What kind of vehicle do you drive? we own motorcycle, but I don’t drive

12. What are your favorite clothes? slightly loose shirts/blouse and straight cut jeans

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? General Santos City and then Palawan.

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? 1/2 full

15. Where would you want to retire? anywhere near the sea or mountain

16. Favorite time of day? nighttime

17. Where were you born? Muntinlupa

18. What is your favorite sport to watch? swimmingl

19. Who do you think will not tag you back? no idea

20. Person you expect to tag you back first? I’m not sure

21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this? Not really sure

22. Bird watcher? most likely

23. Are you a morning person or a night person? night person

24. Do you have any pets? none at the moment

25. Any new and exciting news you’d like to share? none. life’s a bit boring

26. What did you want to be when you were little? a flight attendant

27. What is your best childhood memory? I’ll skip this one

28. Are you a cat or dog person? dog person

29. Are you married? Yes

30. Always wear your seat belt? Yes (in privately-owned cars) public transport never enforce seat belt use.

31. Been in a car accident? almost

32. Any pet peeves? can’t think of any

33. Favorite Pizza Toppings? ham and cheeze calzone

34. Favorite Flower? Sampaguita and Ylang-ylang

35. Favorite ice cream? Mango and vanilla

36. Favorite fast food restaurant? Henlin, Chowking, Shakey’s, Burger King, Yellow Cab

37. How many times did you fail your driver’s test? Haven’t take any

38. From whom did you get your last email? Entrecard

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Grocery

40. Do anything spontaneous lately? Like what

41. Like your job? jobless since 2007

42. Broccoli? hmmm

43. What was your favorite vacation? We never had any out of town vacation yet

44. Last person you went out to dinner with? Husband

45. What are you listening to right now? radio news

46. What is your favorite color? pastel color

47. How many tattoos do you have? none

48. How many are you tagging for this quiz? three only

49. What time did you finish this quiz? 8:17 a.m.

50. Coffee drinker? with two scoops of powdered milk, yes

I’m passing this to three of my online friends namely Onlinemommy, Chris, and Clarissa. Have fun girls!

FTF: Homemade Spanish Sardines

My version of homemade Spanish Sardines

I got the original recipe from delish.wordpress.com, but made a few changes/added some ingredients to it. This is what I’ve got after more than one hour. My version may not be as good as the original recipe, but am proud to make my loved one’s tummy full (again). Not bad cooking eh. More FTF entries here.

You will be missed Cory Aquino

SO long President Aquino.

Mrs. Aquino, the simple housewife who lead the country achieve its democracy two decades ago once again revives our love for democracy and for the country as a whole. Only this time she will not be able to thank everyone in person and flash a sincere and reassuring smile for she is laid to her final resting place today.

Mrs. Aquino for me is not just a symbol of democracy she personifies a remarkable woman - determined, generous, sympathetic, compose and religious. People who were given the chance to speak at the Requiem mass held at the Manila Cathedral today shared all the beautiful things the former president epitomizes.

We mourn her loss. But let us keep the lesson of her death. Maybe this reminds everyone that our country is still a better place if we try to emulate the life she lived.

Maybe today is the start of something new, a realization of better things to come for the country and for the Filipino people.

Mrs. Aquino’s life should be a reminder to those who are planning to run for elections next year. They should reflect on her death and keep in their hearts and mind the substance of nationalism and good governance.

Thank you Tita Cory for sharing your life to us. Farewell…

Top 10 EIB nomination: Thank You!

ONE prolific writer in the name of Luke who writes A Walk in the Dark is too gracious to nominate my site for this popular Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs for 2009 Writing Contest. It’s just overwhelming to be with the line up of nine seasoned bloggers whose writing prowess cannot be underestimated. I’m a newbie, what more can I say. Thanks, Luke! Visit his site and find yourself smiling at how he come up with his top 10 picks. Congratulations to other nominees!

Thanks also to Club Tourists for their invaluable nomination to this site.

I, too, have already made my nomination to the writing contest. I hope you can visit their site as well.

A feather in my cap

Mommy Moments: Bonding with Lola

My mother with her three grandchildren. Naomi, Mariel (my niece) and Khalil

This was taken during Naomi’s Recognition Day. My mother took care of my kids along with their yaya when I was still working. My eldest (Naomi) is my mom’s first grandchild, so she was kind of being pampered more by my mother. Then came along two more grandchildren, Mariel and Khalil, who were born eight days apart.
My mother lives with my sister, who now have four kids.
I can’t just leave my kids’ welfare to a Nanny, I’m just so grateful my Nanay was there to look after my children when I was away.

Mommy Moments: Silly Moments

My husband and kids share a natural talent for silly pranks. And I’m their usual and willing victim. They would try everything to make me laugh when they see me on a ’serious mode’ - peeved or stressed out.
They have no idea that I will be posting their photos as entry for this week’s Mommy Moment’s silly moments. Anyway, I’m sharing with you their snapshots when they make a funny face in front of the camera. I hope they won’t get mad when they see this. Love you guys!

2009 Friendship Award

I’m thanking fellow Mom Blogger Chris for giving me my first Friendship Award. Thank You!

Now I’m passing this award to A Day In The Life Of RJ, Earthlingorgeous, Shie’s Asylum, Her and History, Jean sQuared, Life Addict, Raising Irish Twins

Rules:

1. Take your award here

2. Put the logo on your post

3. Link the person who awarded you

4. Nominate at least 7 other blogs

5. Add links to those blogs on yours

6. Leave a message for your nominees on their blog

EIGHT Amazing and Terrifying Holes!

(Source: Forwarded email)
These holes are not only amazing, but some of these are really terrifying - especially the last hole! The sheer scale of these holes reminds you of just how tiny you are.

1. Kimberley Big Hole , South Africa

Reflection for the Lenten Season

God works in wondrous ways.

Instead of the usual prayer of forgiveness during the Lenten Season. I am reflecting on the miracles of God in my life.

I am sharing the highlights of these unforgettable experiences.

* During the early part of my married life, I fervently pray for a child. God answered my prayer. My eldest was delivered safely despite the difficulties I went through in the early part of my pregnancy. In medicine, they call it threatened abortion.

* I was a holdup victim twice. I was with my husband when the first incident took place. We were riding a jeepney on our way to work in Port Area, Manila, when at least four men in their 20’s announced a holdup.

I was trembling and suddenly had a flash back of my life with my children as the robbery ensue. At gunpoint, the looters amassed the passengers a large amount including pieces of jewelry and cellphones. What if one of the robbers shot at us? What would happen to our children who were very young at the time? God must be on our side that nothing bad happened to anyone of us.

* My son suffered a rare disease called Kawasaki Syndrome. We had no one to turn to for help. The medicine should be transfused immediately to avoid complications. Through God’s mercy we were able to raise the fund from our meager saving and some loans. My boy went home safely after 10 days in the hospital. But until now we are praying that my son has fully recovered from his ordeal despite the lack of the needed check up from a heart doctor.

* I was out of job since 2007. The company where I and my husband served for several years is in financial hitch. But we manage to cope. Just before my budget runs out, some blessings would come. God indeed works in mysterious ways. We are not regular chuch-goers, but I always remind my children to always pray and thank God for the big and little things that we have at home. God provides and I am thankful for that.

A milestone

In a few hours I’ll be accompanying my daughter to her graduation ceremony. Today’s event will mark another milestone in my daughter’s life. She’s a little fidgety earlier today maybe because she’s anticipating the presence of so many people at the school ground witnessing the important occasion. My husband and I are excited because she’s going to receive the Model Citizen Award and another certificate for the Best in Essay Writing Contest. I’ll be posting photos in a while.Oh, by the way, I found her kindergarten graduation photo. I promise to post the same memento here.

Sister of Disaster, Sister of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)

(I slept for only four hours this morning. I don’t feel well because of the flu bug, nevertheless, I just want to put this piece to bed. I’m sharing an article about a person worthy of remembering. Her name: Sister Aurora Macabebe, a nun who care(d) for the dying and the dead, literally. I’m reprinting the story as it appeared in Courier.)

FROM rampaging lahar flows in Pampanga to the great flood in Ormoc, Sister Aurora Macabebe was there to care for the dying and the dead.

“Isa ako sa mga namumulot ng patay, bringing their bodies to the funeral parlor,” the (then) 64-year-old nun said as she recounts her six-year stint as part of the disaster management team of the Daughter of Charity.

(Note: During the time of interview Sister Aurora is the spiritual counselor for patients afflicted with the deadly AIDS virus at the Halfway House in San Lazaro Compound in Sta. Cruz, Manila.)

Sister Aurora works for the AIDS prevention program of Caritas Manila. Aside from teaching hobby-craft to patients to temporarily relieve their minds of the inevitable (that is death), Sister Aurora conducted one-one-one counselling sessions with each patient.

But oftentimes, they walk an extra-mile for many “special cases.”

One such case is that of a patient whose only wish was to meet his mother whom he had not seen for a long time.

“I called up a fellow sister in Sorsogon to let the mother visit his ailing son. They hugged and kissed upon seeing each other. Now he’s very happy and seem to get stronger each day,”

The soft-spoken Ilongga sister, said doing social work entails equipping one’s self with KASE - knowledge, attitude, skill and experience.

She added that one must have self-discipline, good values, maturity, and knowledge of cultural values to be able to interact with different kinds of people.

“Before we really don’t mind about ourselves, but at this point in time, self is very important because you cannot give what you don’t have. So if we lack these things, we don’t know how to listen to them,” the nun stressed.

Citing her 15 challenging years as a social worker, Sister Aurora said she and others in the same profession perform a very unique role in the community as far as bringing individuals to the mainstream is concerned.

“When you see a sick person, whom do you call, a doctor; when somebody is at fault, you call the police or lawyer to defend; so when somebody is dying you call a priest to save his soul; but when somebody cannot interact with others or if somebody is maladjusted to his environment or his community, who is the one answering, intervening? It is the social worker,” she explained.

“My work here is very challenging, you only need a lot of patience, generosity and compassion. You cannot expect something from them but give them compassion and this can bring them back to God. In their last days, they could die a happy death,” she shared.

Sister Aurora said she has learned to love each of the patients at the half-way house.

Sister Aurora said a patient who ws not even a Catholic requested that the receive the Holy Communion before he died.

“He cannot find peace of mind, he later became a born-again Christian. He joined group sessions and activities like group singing. But when his time came, I asked him if he wants to see a priest, he agreed so we prayed for him, he took a communion that night at about 11 p.m. the man died. Hindi mabibili ng pera ang nararamdaman naming kaligayahan ng mga oras na ‘yon,” she narrates. Miriam V. Torrecampo

This article was one of the few articles I did for Courier, the flagship publication of PJI, before it fold up in 2000.

Images are found in these sites:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3272/3004668324_6f1150aaaa_m.jpg
http://en.wikipilipinas.org/images/thumb/a/a0/San_Lazaro_Hospital.jpg/200px-San_Lazaro_Hospital.jpg

Achievers

My youngest was grinning yesterday when he said that he is included in the list of Harvest of Achievers come Recognition Day. The Achiever’s Award is presented to those who got an overall grade of 91 percent and above. An awardee is given gold medal and a cash incentive.
On the other hand, my eldest is eyeing the Model Citizen Award on her Graduation Day next week. Students recognized as Model Citizens are those who have earned marks not lower than B in the school’s list of behavioral assets (including self, interpersonal and work habits). Although my eldest did not make it to the top graduating candidates this year (mahigpit ang labanan sa academics at extra curricular activities) she grabbed first place in the Essay Writing Contest this year. Anyway, she hopes to better her performance in high school. Way to go kids!

I got this cute cartoon image from http://image03.webshots.com/3/9/63/78/11396378itUcHcDILf_ph.jpg

© 2009 Pen, paper, pan Header & Footer by pehpot. Coded by kAyE.