The Anatomy of Lechon

My sister Joy passed the Nursing Board Exam in February and had her Thanksgiving Party last Saturday. Since I couldn’t go home, I just called her up and asked what food were served to the guests. She said, “oh, you should be here, I know you’d love the adobo, pork chop, pancit, shrimps, crabs, salads, etc.. and of course, the crispy lechon. You know naman nanay when it comes to preparing a bash, she goes all the way man jud. “ Sigh. I missed eating lechon.

When I was about to ask Mark to buy me lechon for lunch (so as not to deprive my craving which I qualified as "paglilihi"), the SMS came like an apparition, “manang, if you happen to crave for lechon, forget it, it’s bad for the baby, you know, it’s fatty.” Ahhh, when it rains, it really pours. So I didn’t try to push my luck for the reason that I don’t want to harm my baby in any way.

But mind you, luck was on my side because yesterday, after Mark and his staff had their field exercise in Talisay, they brought.. guess what?.. lechon for lunch! Yes! Lechon.. slurrppy.. finally. I couldn’t resist the temptation because its smell was too good for me to deny. And so I ate with my hands like everyone else seated at the long table and I ate with gusto, wiping out everything including the bones (our cat had its own fair share as well). It was indeed bad for my health but certainly good for my soul. However, I promised to myself not to eat lechon as often as I want to because it’s really rich in fat and cholesterol.

Yet it’s hard not to yearn for it especially I’m living in the Queen City of Lechon (errr.. the South). Cebu’s lechon is really the best in the country, you know. It’s crispy, tasty, and flavorful. It’s said that Cebuanos in the lechon business guard their methods and recipes like gold that’s why one can find the yummiest lechon only in Cebu.

In Market Manila (my favorite source of food insights), it is said that the secret lies on the tanglad (lemongrass) which is stuffed inside the pig (it explains why it smells so enticing) and the pig skin is rubbed with knorr sinigang mix, salt, pepper, and olive or canola oil. Or herbs are injected to the meat and then the skin is basted with milk or soda or coconut milk. Also, Cebuanos use native pigs and they roast them gradually over open fire until it's tender inside. They put into effect the virtue of patience well that’s why their lechons are crispy to the bones.

Well, enough for lechon baboy talk today. I’m now wanting another roasted delight, another Cebu’s best - lechon manok! Hmmmm. Sr. Pedro here I come!

20 Things You Don’t Know About Me – Yet!

1. When I was in grade school, I had a big crush on McGyver. Not the actor Richard Dean Anderson himself but the character he was playing in the series. I thought having a mind with almost infinite scientific resourcefulness was way too cool. I even had a life-size poster of him in my bedroom back then.

2. My mother gave birth to me in my great grandmother’s old house, delivered by a quack midwife, and my placenta was buried in the backyard. My four younger siblings were all delivered in our town hospital by the same town doctor.

3. If there’s one house work that I do best, it’s doing the laundry either with my hands or with a washing machine. On the other hand, I do worst in ironing clothes.

4. I am a frustrated painter and novelist.

5. I am afraid of total darkness, ghosts, and slimy animals.

6. I have this thing about restrooms. I can’t pee in smelly dirty restrooms. I judge a house, mall, restaurant, park, or any public or private place by its restroom.

7. I am claustrophobic. Though not severe but I seriously avoid being confined to tunnels, prison cells, caves, very crowded places, and small locked rooms.

8. I’m closer to my father than to my mother. Thus, I’m proudly tatay’s girl.

9. Two most prominent physical assets that I love in my husband are his broad shoulders and his chinky eyes.

10. Next to red and white, I like the blend of green and cream colors.

11. I am a certified Kapamilya. I love watching ABS-CBN’s programs and artists more than its major competitor second rate trying hard boring copycat GMA Network and any other network, for that matter, on free TV.

12. There’s only one person I can confide with anything – my sister Jill. We’re like salt and pepper. One is incomplete without the other. Though she’s five years younger than me, I feel that we’re twins.

13. I literally drink ten glasses or more of water every day. I started this habit when I had kidney infection in 2007 and the doc said I had to fill my body with lots of fluids as I can. Then it has easily become part of my lifestyle.

14. I want to grow old gracefully that’s why I don’t sulk on frustrations, hatreds, and failures.

15. I can be maldita when I am crossed BUT I don’t hold grudges against anyone and I can easily forgive and forget.

16. My mother, two younger sisters, and I have the same shoe size – 5.

17. I have four active email accounts, three blogs, and three YM's.

18. I love my two nephews – NJ and Daniel – more than their dads, my younger brothers. In the same way, I think, lolos and lolas love their apos more than their own children.

19. I dislike monotony. That explains why I change the theme of my blog every now and then and why I tell my husband to learn the art of taking the wind out of my sails from time to time. Otherwise, I’ll get bored to death.

20. I secretly (now it's not a secret anymore) wish for a hot balloon ride.

Another Day in a Military Wife's Life

The sound of rain drumming on the rooftop woke me up around ten this morning. “Tap tap tap”, said the rain as if cuing me to get up, take a shower, and have breakfast. My growling stomach (or my baby pushing the gases out from my digestive tract) made me pull myself out from bed thirty minutes later.

I was in for a treat at breakfast. I feasted on fried fish, boiled egg, seasoned okra, and red apple plus the necessary anmum milk and folic acid. Our cook is not only good in the kitchen but also considerate about the health and wellness of the troop especially with me after he learned my condition. Every menu is well-thought of. My most favorite amongst his special dishes is katuray, a mixture of vegetables and shrimp which only a true-blooded Ilonggo can concoct.

After that.. alas! My eyes were slowly and involuntarily drooping again. Was it because of the gloomy weather or the effect of having a baby growing inside me? Hmmm.. I guess it’s the latter. My mother must be right when she said, “liwat jud ka nako magbuntis day, di maselan, but sige lang katog and kaon.” And so while half the world is on the go, I nailed myself into our tiny yellow bed once more.

At one thirty in the afternoon, I roused vaguely from the half sleep which I had finally succumbed. I half opened my eyes and shut off the incessant sound of my alarm. Then I had lunch of sinabaw na baka with cabbage and freshly squeezed orange juice. Slurrpy!

Right now, I’m fighting off my droopy eyelids yet again but I need to feed my mind and so after posting this I'm going to blog hop, check mails, catch up with my friendsTER, and keep myself abreast with events in the tennis world particularly the ongoing ATP Masters Series in Indian Wells. I’m such a tennis fan, you know. I even mentioned to hubby that our child is going to be a professional tennis player someday. (Ops, stage mother is in the making!) When we’ll move to our new house inside the base, the first thing I would like to install is cable TV so that I can watch a match as it happens.

Speaking of hubby, he is still in a nearby island accomplishing an assignment for the glory of God, country, and people. He will be back on Saturday yet. It’s his first time to be away from me since we learned that I’m expecting. The upside is I could cheat on my curfew which is 9 pm. Last night, I watched "The Other Boleyn Girl" and slept around midnight. One thing I can't do if honey is around. (By the way, I download movies via Mininova using uTorrent.) The downside is I’m feeling so alone. I miss my hubby na.

Oopss.. I can’t fight my drowsiness na naman. It’s time for me to go back to slumberland!

ZZzzzz..

Smokin' Hot

One of my perks on being pregnant is that I tend to get all my cravings in just a snap. It seems like I have a magic wand that makes people eager to please my indulgences. Like I ask for pizza or sundae or kinilaw na squid and then it would be on my table right away.

Lucky me? Not so, because my tummy gets bigger and bigger!

As a result, I need to have a fashion overhaul. Hubby said I shouldn’t wear my old fitting jeans again as it might throttle our baby. Instead, I should buy new suitable clothes for an expecting mom. I totally agree. Shopping here I come!

Being pregnant doesn't mean I shouldn't feel confident, stylish, and desirable. So, I envision myself to look smokin' hot like my celebrity style twin and also a hot momma of two - Nicole Richie!

Easy Like Sunday Morning

When I was fresh out of college, I was burning with desire to be part in the world of work straight away. I was overly idealistic and optimistic. I wanted career growth, challenging experiences, and financial freedom all at once. The burning desire eventually became like a vampire that sucked out almost all of my blood. At one point, I felt something was missing and I thought I already reached the cul-de-sac.

Then my knight in shining armor came into my life, and he swept me off my feet!

When I married him, I made a U-Turn and promised not to go back to the bumpy road again. Not that I don’t want to desire growth, challenges, and freedom, but I want to be more realistic and grounded this time around.

However, being a Sagittarian, sometimes I can’t help fast tracking my way toward my goal. My best antidote is my husband. He is so cool and composed. He’s a Scorpio, by the way. Yet more than the zodiac signs, we really complement each other.

This morning I wanted to do lot of activities but he didn’t allow me due to my delicate condition. (My period is six days late and I could be pregnant.) And so right now, I’m on relaxation mode. I’m feeling easy and breezy with the quiet aircon keeping me cool in the summer heat, my bar of Cloud 9 keeping me full, and a movie that I’ve downloaded exciting me.

I like my day this way – easy like Sunday morning, but not always though.

Please Spare the Bontogs!

After hearing Mass at Pink Sisters Convent last Sunday, my husband and I headed for a pig out at Matias Food House in Mandaue City. It was our second time to go there and we were in for a surprise! The reason? They added a new specialty of the house – grilled Bontog bird!

I thought it was a chick when I held the BBQ stick up, but it was bigger than a chick so I asked a staff what it was. He said it was a Bontog bird. I exclaimed, “A bird? Why would anyone eat a small bird in a well-known food house?” My daring husband ordered one as he wanted to know how it tasted.

Though I felt pity for the little bird, I thought of having a bite of it as well. It was yummy, tender and crisp. My prejudice against the one who sold it was suddenly washed down with its tang.

But not until I decided to research about the bontogs on the internet.

February 18, 2009—A rare quail from the Philippines was photographed for the first time before being sold as food at a poultry market.

Found only on the island of Luzon, Worcester's buttonquail was known solely through drawings based on dated museum specimens collected several decades ago, and is known to be extinct.

Michael Lu, president of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, told AFP the bird's demise should inspire a "local consciousness" about the region's threatened wildlife.

"What if this was the last of its species?" Lu said.

(Source: NationalGeographic.com)

Poor little birds!

But I can’t uneat the bontog which I attacked with gusto from Matias, can I? My only consolation for now is that I can do my share to save extinct birds from human threats which of course includes not eating grilled bontogs again.

Wait, what about tokmo and dimodlaw? (It's my hobby to hunt birds using an air gun in our province.)

I guess I really have to research further what kind of birds that can be freely hunted and what should be fiercely protected.

A Day in a Military Wife's Life

“As I rouse from deep sleep, I offered a prayer to God for a good day ahead. Just then, a voice over the PA system announced: It is now recall. It is now recall.”

As a military wife, I can't help being like a PA system that sounds off at five in the morning to remind my military husband to get up and prepare for the day at such an awful hour.

That’s basically when and how my typical day begins.

I figured that it would be all right to let you know my daily schedule. Though, I must add, that it does not apply to every military wife’s life because every family in the armed forces is different – some have working moms while others stay at home, and some have no children while others have one or more. So, all of these schedules would definitely look different.

0500 Reveille (means hit the alarm and wake hubby up)

0515 This is the final warning and he has to get up. Otherwise, I set the alarm beside him so he would be rudely awakened. He leaves our bedroom, do some exercise or inspection at the unit, and I hit the pillow once again.

0630 Time to forcefully pull myself out of the bed and take a bath ahead of my husband.

0645 I prepare his uniform as he showers. This is also my time to watch the news on TV.

0700 Breakfast (I have to eat with him at the dining area with some members of his troop and I make it to the point to look at my best. I dread this part sometimes because there are days when I just want to look like a simple Jane Doe, you know just wear my old worn out shorts and tops, but I can't.)

0800 Hubby does his duties as Commanding Officer while I clean our room which happens to be just adjoined to his office. Convenient no? Nah, not at all times because I have to give him all the space and time in the world even if he is just arms’ length away from me. Then, I do the things I love to do such as reading books, surfing the net, eating, and doing feasibility study for a business.

1200 – Lunch (Thank heavens someone from the troop is cooking our meals otherwise I would run around the kitchen on my pumps. Remember I have to look presentable at all times? I wonder if I could even roll my eyes in front of someone.)

1300 – If I don’t go out, I usually head down for a long nap.

1900 – Dinner. After that, I surf the net or watch the news. Hubby would still be working at this time.

2200 – Taps. Woo hoo! This is my bonding time with my Mark. Usually, we just talk and talk until we get sleepy and call it a night.

Now this is just a regular day, nothing exciting and I haven't really explained completely what I do during the day. It’s not as easy as you think, trust me. As I’ve said, this is just a typical day, wait until you hear about inspection week or when he must work late (late means wee hours in the morning). That's a whole other blog though.

A Trip Down Memory Lane

My young and moving experiences definitely happened in high school. It was there that I prepared myself in the process of growing to maturity. Also, I went through the trying days of a teen’s life when I was constantly tested on how well I made the right decisions and did the right thing.

Recently, I visited my alma mater – Central Visayas State College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Technology (formerly Bohol School of Fisheries), and I took a couple of pictures that reminded me of my high school days.

Field

Stage

SAC (before it was a pagoda for hang-outs)

Gym (used to be an open tennis court)

High School Building

More high school buildings

Info Tech Center

Flagpole and Admin Building


Gate

Covered Walk

College Buildings

Library

Bulletin (i used to be a staff in our school paper called The Harpooner)

Friends since first year high..

Thanks for viewing!

Musings Aboard Superferry Five

It’s nine in the evening. I’m mulling over the fact that if I didn’t take this trip, I would have missed the splendor of the sea. Its sights, sounds, sensations, feelings and thoughts have embraced my awareness throughout this journey.

The Sights – From the sea, the land becomes a mass of dark contours – with mountain looming majestically at a distance. The skies, so blue and enchanting, beckon the connoisseur of beauty. The birds riding the breeze punctuate the marvelous natural kaleidoscope.

The Sounds – The rhythmic splashing of the waves and the crisp hum of the breeze are like an orchestra. Out here, music is not so much of the ears but of the mind.

The Sensations – Akin to a fickle person, the sea exhibits many moods. Sometimes warm, bright and especially calm then it could become brooding, dark, and foreboding. Like an awestruck child, I can be filled by a sense of wonder one moment and dread in the next.

The Feelings – Amidst the sea’s immensity, I could sense my vulnerability. The sea could bring joy and gladness, a feeling of well-being and unbounded optimism for the beauty and majesty of nature.

The Thoughts – With time in my hands, there is no greater pastime than pensive introspection – pondering the essence of my existence and destiny. On certain moments, I seem to see my life unfolding – at once looking at the highs and lows of life and about what could have been and what could still be.

Feeling the elements and communing with this great panorama, I am at once made aware of the human condition, in fact, my own.

At sea, aboard Superferry 5 going to Bohol, January 27, 2009, inspired by Musings of a Sea Wanderer by Cav. Suarez, The Cavalier 2008

Home Sweet Home

It has been a little over a month since my last post. The reason for my silence is that I and my husband wanted to fully enjoy our extended rest and recreation in our hometown. We made a deal to make most out of it through steering clear of internet, cable TV, and yes, even cellphones. In other words, we just took pleasure in the total simplicity of life, warmth of home, sumptuous meals, sound of crickets, and lush green all around.

Allow me to fill you in with some of the events that made me feel that I have the best life ever.

On the 24th of January, after we settled the bill of lading of Mark’s bike (he said we could literally leave all our packed possessions behind except his beloved bike) at Manila South Harbor, we went strolling at Luneta Park as our weekend date.

water buffalo at quirino grandstand

the famous rizal monument

my man, my lover, my date

Then we visited Kalikasan Park at Fort San Felipe the following day. (Mark and I love to discover a lot of things together and one of our favorites is history.)

the gatekeepers

the weapon and the beauty

april and datski

In the evening of January 26, we went through thorough body and baggage checks by machine, human, and sniffing dogs at Manila South Harbor as we boarded Superferry 5 departing to Bohol. Week before that, I booked a PAL flight for myself (Mark has to take the ship because of his bike) since I was afraid to take the sea trip due to the disaster of MV Princess of the Stars.

In the end though, I decided to travel with Mark because I was inspired by Titanic (the movie) particularly when Jack said to Rose, “Why did you do it, Rose?” and Rose answered, “You jump, I jump, right?”

Anyway, it seemed we had a second honeymoon on board. The food served for our accommodation was so appetizing and our suite was so conducive for sea romance. We just spent most of our time making love if not watching the Australian Open. (I was happy because Nadal won yet my heart went out to Federer when he cried during his runner-up speech as well. Better luck next time, Rog.)

musings aboard superferry

in the middle of the deep blue sea

caught in the act (playing chess titans)

When we arrived at the port of Tagbilaran City (after a short stop in Cebu where Mark dropped off his bike and some of our luggages), I felt dizzy and exuberant at the same time.

My mother, mother-in-law, and Mark’s cousin fetched us.

Mark drove to Candijay right away as he had to attend the funeral of his aunt while I accompanied my mom to one of her appointments in the city.

Afterward, I treated my mom, brother, and the apple of my eyes, NJ, at Jollibee. While choosing our meals at the counter, I unexpectedly bumped into my friends, Chuck and Karen and their daughter Chy. (Karen and Chuck, if you happen to read this, sorry I wasn’t able to talk with you longer but it’s just a small world, right? I hope to catch up with you again one of these days.)

family treat

nj, mom, and bro

my jolly bee

Eventually, I was able to attend the funeral of Mark’s aunt because it was moved in the afternoon. It was bittersweet; bitter because I attended a sad memorial service and sweet because I took in the loveliness of our place during the interment.

six feet down under

the rice field and the scarecrow

enjoying at the backyard

Aside from just bumming around the house (some days at my parents’, other days at my mother-in-law’s), I also reread some of my favorite books until the wee hours. I got into the worlds of Stephanie Meyer’s Breaking Dawn, Sheldon’s The Stars Shine Down and Sands of Time, Robin Cook’s Outbreak, and Nicholas Sparks’ The Notebook (I read it for the third time because I simply never get enough of it).

Indeed, coming home is always being on cloud nine. Mark and I even plan to retire in Bohol after we are fulfilled in traveling and working in other places.

visiting my high school

relaxing at the beach

babysitting my nj

driving around with our doggie isay

spending quality time at bohol tropics on valentine's day

Vacation is unfortunately over for now. I am obliged to set in motion the next episodes of my life - city life, that is.

Keep posted!

Parable of Frog in a Milk-Pail

Life is not always fair so I need to be strong when everything goes wrong. One of my ways to arm myself with solid strength is to read inspiring stories. Today, I read parables and this one inspires me most..

A frog was hopping around a farmyard when it decided to investigate the barn. Being somewhat careless, and maybe a little too curious, he ended up falling into a pail half-filled with fresh milk.

As he swam about attempting to reach the top of the pail, he found that the sides of the pail were too high and steep to reach. He tried to stretch his back legs to push off the bottom of the pail but found it too deep.

But this frog was determined not to give up, and he continued to struggle. He kicked and squirmed and kicked and squirmed, until at last, all his churning about in the milk had turned the milk into a big hunk of butter. The butter was now solid enough for him to climb onto and get out of the pail!

The moral of the story is "Never Ever Give Up!"

Introspection

I was running wild gasping for air, asking heavens for release from the gnawing pains inside of me. I know I couldn’t endure more as the nights were getting colder and the days were getting fiercer. I had to make a life-changing decision before it was too late for me to be free. I stopped and looked the other way. Eventually, I found the end of the dark tunnel and had become emancipated again. I then realized that happiness indeed comes in broken pieces. I couldn’t have it all, no matter how hard I persisted.

Making Marriage Work

OK.. (Sigh) It was our longest fight ever. Four days. Yesterday morning, Mark kissed and hugged me then I gave in. We’ve decided to just learn the lesson from our rift and take it from there. Go figure.

There are five things that pretty much keep our marriage working.

- Number One –
We always say ‘I love you’ to each other.

-Number Two-
We don’t fight much and long. If we do, we simply give each other space and time to contemplate.

-Number Three-
We go on romantic dates from time to time. It helps us escape from routines and reminds us that we are lovers above anything else.

-Number Four-
We keep our communication open. My husband's job demands so much of his time and concentration that’s why communication is very important to us.

-Number Five-
We center our marriage to God. This way, we feel secured that nothing can go wrong to our marriage because we are always taken care of by the Big Guy up there.

Rendezvous at Greenwich Pizza.. Yummy!

Moving House, Anyone?

With the kind of job my husband does, I am expected to move with him from one place to another. I have become like a rolling stone that gathers no moss but honestly, I am cut out for it. I don’t fear changes. Instead, I like to welcome new surroundings that bring fresh feelings and I love meeting new friends. Most of all, I am pleased to revolutionize erstwhile routines that has been dragging me to monotony.

There’s one thing I dread so much though – packing!

I’m so stressed out and I’m in constant struggle to settle on what to bring and what to forego. No matter how it is done, it’s back-breaking and it takes more time than I wish to spend on such a task. I’m also amazed of how much junk we have accumulated through a short period of time.

Thankfully I have my sister to help me put prized possessions in boxes and throw away what I consider rubbishes to the dumpster. I just bribe her with brownies and Tropicana juice. She’s not whining yet, I don’t know in the next days.

Some of our clothes are now in luggages, pasalubongs in canvas bags, books and shoes in boxes. I haven’t loaded yet the curtains, beddings, PC, Mark’s cherished gadgets, and yeah, his bike too.

I’m thinking, how about if we just live in a boat like the Badjaos (sea gypsies) so that if we have to move again, we’ll just simply sail away! How about that, huh?