Happy Easter!

“Christ is risen; Christ is truly risen.”



and it's meat time too! :D

DIY Holy Week 2010: Black Saturday

nothing much really...fed on corned tuna fried rice with mushrooms, baguio beans, and egg...slept...sufed the net...watched a bit of Brothers and Sisters on Studio 23 and Agua Bendita on Channel 2...ate instant noodles for dinner...and watched American Beauty.




back in the day, i remember how we siblings would sneak out of the house one by one once my mom leaves the house for her church service only to find ourselves meeting up again in our usual hang out area in the city. :p

=======

Black Saturday or Holy Saturday is actually the last day of Lent. this is when we start waiting for Christ's resurrection which is on Easter Sunday. as we wait in anticipation for that wondrous event it is but fitting that we thank Him for not having left us even in our darkest moments.

Thank You for the pains You took
in order to enter the dungeons of our lives.

Thank You for entering
the innermost, darkest chambers
of our dungeons.

Thanks to Your loving self-sacrifice,
now I know that no distance is too great,
no dungeon too dark,
and no sin is too great
for Your love and light.

Help me
to love You back as You deserve.

AMEN.

DIY Holy Week 2010: Good Friday

Good Friday is generally the time for fasting and abstinence. I have somehow succeeded in abstaining from eating meat the past Fridays this Lent except for that one time when i had a meeting with my staff and not one of them observes abstinence anyway.

I have noticed though that the abstinence rule has kinda changed even at home. i remember us not having any meat for the entire week then starting Monday up to Saturday. imagine how much we'd be craving for meat come Easter Sunday, lechon anyone??? these days though, my mom says we only need to abstain on the Paschal Triduum or Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Black Saturday. it's not really a mandatory thing. i just don't see anything wrong in sacrificing a little bit, besides it can be healthy too.

Good Friday is also that day commemorating Jesus Christ's crucifixion and death in order to save us from sins. quite mushy for kids nowadays but whenever you think hard about it you're supposed to feel extra special.

Faith is indeed a gift one has to receive (Robert Langdon, Angels and Demons). It's either you have it or you don't. or there will be times when you do question or even get angry. My faith has always been a more personal, more unorthodox one. it's like having a father, a brother, a confidante all in one. it's like having an enemy too. i'm not one who religiously follows rituals though i have been finding myself going back to church and attending mass each Sunday. and praying the rosary whenever i can. but there are more times when i would choose not to listen to him like some bratty kid. i guess this is the beauty of the Catholic faith really, we get to design our own faith, how we live our life, how we practice our faith. the basic tenet would really be to do what is basically and intrinsically good as a human being above all else. I don't know, maybe the elders and the more religious ones would frown at this practice. but for now i am at peace. i am loving the thought of being loved and basking in His glory.

i failed to attend church services today and have found myself listening to Jars of Clay almost the entire day...and here is my most favorite:



I look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
and wipe away the crimson stains
and dull the nails that still remain
More and more I need you now,
I owe you more each passing hour
the battle between grace and pride
I gave up not so long ago
So steal my heart and take the pain
and wash the feet and cleanse my pride
take the selfish, take the weak,
and all the things I cannot hide
take the beauty, take my tears
the sin-soaked heart and make it yours
take my world all apart

this song never fails to rip my heart apart. it's just so meaningful and beautiful i couldn't help but cry or stop whatever it is i am doing and drink up each word, each melody of this song.

DIY Holy Week 2010

Holy week and most special events make me miss my family more. I couldn't help but feel nostalgic at what we do together during those special times. I miss it when my mom would forever remind us to go to church, join the processions or at least light a candle and say our prayers as she serves us non-meat dish every meal. I long for her malagkit and ginataan dishes too which we would enjoy even if were supposed to fasting and abstaining from too much food.

this year I am not home for this event though. The last time that i didn't go home for the holy week i found myself shocked and bewildered in the island of Puerto Gay-lera. we all know what Galera is like during the holy week, ayt?! which is exactly why i chose to just stay home and try to recall our usual activities back home and at least have my own peace and quiet for the solemn observance for this year.

Holy Thursday's Visita Iglesia

Holy Thursday however was spent for Visita Iglesia. this is my first Visita Iglesia ever and i'm glad i have my friends i could join for this activity. Visita Iglesia or church visit is a Catholic tradition wherein 7 churches are being visited as we recall and reflect on the on the sufferings of Jesus Christ leading to his crucifixion. we initially listed down 11 churches around Quezon City and Manila areas though we actually made to just 8.

after having late lunches for some of us at Mc Donald's Quezon Ave., we hopped on a cab to take us to our first church which is at Sto. Domingo Church.

First Church: Sto. Domingo

Sto. Domingo also known as "Our Lady of the Rosary" or "Our Lady of La Naval" is built by the Dominicans in the 1600s. The main altar has a mosaic of St. Dominic designed by Architect Jose Zaragoza. Galo Ocampo designed the stained glass windows.

we bought our Stations of the Cross guide at the peddler in front of the church and agreed on 2 stations per church. From St. Domingo we then rode a jeepney to take us to the University of Sto. Tomas campus where the Santisimo Rosario Parish Church is.

Second Church: UST

here we prayed and reflected on the 3rd and 4th stations of the cross.

Third Church: San Sebastian

from UST, we took another jeepney to San Sebastian. San Sebastian church also known as the Basilica Minore de San Sebastian is the only all-steel church in Asia. Its interiors feature a Gothic architecture style with its high spires and columns.

from San Sebastian we hailed a tricycle to take us to our fourth stop which is Quiapo Church.

Fourth Church: Quiapo

Quiapo church is officially known as the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene. every 9th of January, thousands of devotees of the Black Nazarene would flock here for their yearly procession.

from this church we walked though Plaza Lacson and found Sta. Cruz church which is actually built by the Jesuits in the 1600s. this church is also home to Our Lady of Pilar.

Fifth Church: Sta. Cruz

farther down the street passing through Chinatown, we made our way towards Binondo to our 6th stop which is the Binondo church.

it was an added delight passing by the Fire Brigaide volunteers offering us free mochi and water from Eng Bee Tin.

we finally reached that end of the road where the Binondo church is.

Sixth Church: Binondo

Binondo is predominantly populated by Chinese settlers and used to be the business and finance district before Makati. Binondo church is officially known as Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz for this is where San Lorenzo Ruiz was born along with Mother Ignacia del Ispiritu Santo, founder of the Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary.

from Binondo we rode a tricycle to take to Intramuros which has our final two stops.

Seventh Church: Manila Cathedral

the Manila Cathedral is also known as the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and is the official seat of the Archbishop of Manila.

the late President Corazon C. Aquino had her wake and burial mass in this cathedral making her the first woman to permitted to lie in state here.

we finished up to the fourteenth station here before we headed to our final stop which is the San Agustin also in Intramuros since it was already getting too crowded.

Eighth Church: San Agustin

San Agustin Church is actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines with its ornate carvings on the wooden doors.

its ceilings and walls have this trompe l'oeil or "trick of the eye" art technique creating an optical illusion in which objects appear as three-dimensional.

We finished at around 8pm, tired, hungry yet feeling blissed-out and sated. we then proceeded to Dampa in Macapagal for a much anticipated seafood feast. Kudos to us all.

Flavor (Tori Amos)

i'm ecstatic the video is finally out!



Battle of the minds
cries Below cries Above
You must pick a side
Will you choose fear?
Will you choose love?

What does it look like,
this orbital ball from the fringes of The Milky Way?
What does it feel like,
this orbital ball on the fringes of The Milky Way?
Raining flavor
Icing flavor
flavor love

Whose God then is God?
They all want jurisdiction
In the Book of Earth
whose God spread fear?
Spread love?

And what does it look like,
this orbital ball from the fringes of The Milky Way?
What does it feel like,
this orbital ball from the fringes of The Milky Way?
Raining Flavor
Icing Flavor
flavor love
Turn up the frequency
What does it look like,
this orbital ball from the fringes of The Milky Way?
What does it feel like,
this orbital ball from the fringes of The Milky Way?
Raining flavor
Icing flavor
Spread that flavor
flavor flavor

****

i so love how the words seem to roll off my tongue every time i try to sing it. her voice is just deliciously lyrical and gorgeous.

The Underground River Tour

Sabang, Palawan


i admit it, i am slightly claustrophobic. i have been left inside a freezer (it was turned off, don't worry) for hours as a kid when we were playing hide and seek. well, i was told to stay put no matter what and that's just what i did. masunuring bata. part of our childhood games with my siblings was crawling through a rolled mat (banig) but everytime i'd get to crawl through they would trap me inside and it's just so dark and i could hardly breathe! *shudders*

till now, thinking of being in an enclosed dark place still gives me the shivers. i'd most often find myself gasping for air when a room has no windows or the curtains are fully drawn.

this is one reason why i haven't really tried going inside caves or any more enclosed places.

this is one exception though. i've been to Puerto Princesa several times and though i have shunned the idea of braving the Underground River tour i knew i must have to try it out somehow. i'm not getting any younger after all.

located in Sabang, about 2 hours from the Puerto Princesa proper, the Underground River also known as St. Paul's Subterranean River National Park has about 8 kilometers stretch of underground navigable river.




a paddle boat will take the tourists inside for a 40 minute round trip up to the designated stretch and back to the cave mouth.





it is totally dark inside save for the the spotlight provided by each boatman. nothing is heard but light splashes of water, the low murmurs of each tourist and the booming voice of the boatman who also serves as the guide.



i had to breathe more deeply and deliberately and tried to calm myself down as i listened to the guide. he would point to us different rock formations like the holy images, some vegetables and animal shapes. and he would constantly remind us not to raise our heads and open our mouths lest droppings from numerous bats on the ceiling would find it's way to it.




there is nothing but mystic serenity inside the cave. but i could not help but heave a big sigh of relief when we could finally see the mouth of the cave again. ahhh, open air!




we are once again greeted by the lush scenery of blue skies, deep blue and green waters and heavy forest.

at least i can finally say i've been to one majestic cave my entire life and a World Heritage Site at that!

next stop, Sumaguing Cave in Sagada???? Let me think about that a thousand times over hehehe....

splendid Coron!

let each photo be a testament.


waiting for the sunset at La Sirenetta Bar and Restaurant.



finest white sand and the clearest blue waters at Banol Beach



from the Kayangan viewdeck, one can see this majestic view of limestone cliffs and deep greenish-blue waters.



the very clean and serene Kayangan Lake.



the marine park of Siete Pecados.



The Lambingan Bridge.

Darayonan Inn

Coron, Palawan




i have stayed here years before which is why i looked this up at once when i knew i'm supposed to go back to Coron.

i stayed at their standard room accommodation which is located in the main house where the lobby, office and kitchen is. i guess the owners live there as well






rate is at 800 for two persons including breakfast. it has an aircon which i rarely use since it's a bit cold already and the electric fan could suffice. it has hot and cold shower too.




there's free wi-fi in the area which could reach up to my room as well. they also offer unlimited water and coffee refills.




there are newer rooms in the area. the compound also has a restaurant and a bar.

i love it here, it's so homey and comfortable and food is good enough even for the most discriminating palates.

contact info:

www.darayonan.com
dipulao@yahoo.com.ph
Phone (632)7105484
Fax (Manila): (632) 7004519
Contact Person: Francisco P. Fernandez Jr.
Mobile: 09178811151

rediscovering coron

there is now a certain charm these small planes have for me. it gives me the promise of being able to explore un-popular, less developed destinations. it may feel a bit cramped inside the plane, i could almost hear its groans and whines as we slowly cruise towards unchartered territories.

Coron reminds me of Batanes, rustic yet heavenly, and i feel like hearing tribal beats resounding in the air as i face the prospect of more adventures.

this is the cheaper version though especially when the airfare that i got only costs around 2500 roundtrip from PAL Express. ;)


Coron beckons!

time whizzes by kinda quickly....

no, it ZOOMS!!!!

Blue Christmas

a blue and white christmas for ateneo's back to back championship and my kinder to high school alma mater's school colors too haha! and yes, world peace! merry christmas to all!

baked parmesan crusted pork chops

you may want to try this out for the new year or whenever.



• 1 1/2 cups fresh breadcrumbs
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (about 3 ounces)
• 1 tablespoon dried rubbed sage
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 4 bone-in center-cut pork loin chops (each about 1 inch thick)
• 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Lemon wedges (optional)
• Orange wedges (optional)

Preheat oven to 425°F. Mix breadcrumbs, cheese, sage and lemon peel in pie dish. Whisk eggs in medium bowl to blend. Place flour on plate; season generously with salt and pepper. Coat pork chops on both sides with flour; shake off excess. Dip chops into eggs, then coat on both sides with breadcrumb mixture.

Melt butter with oil in heavy large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork chops to skillet and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer skillet with pork to oven. Bake until pork chops are crisp on the outside and meat thermometer inserted into pork registers 150°F, about 20 minutes.
Transfer pork chops to plates. Garnish with lemon wedges and orange wedges, if desired, and serve.




i'm not fond of religiously following recipes though especially as far as measurements are concerned. i just lumped them all and there it is. i love how the crust is flaky and tasty and crunchy and the meat so tender and yummy. sweet surprise, we all love it. happy eating!

Mga Napapanahong Bayani

To launch our new search for the Bayaning Pilipino Awards 2010, we conducted a mini search for local heroes the typhoon Ondoy has produced. This was mainly inspired by the story of Muelmar Magallanes, the 18 year old construction worker who risked his life to save many. Upon careful research by our staff, we managed to name 14 personalities each exhibiting unique stories of selflessness and heroism. This once again proves that our country is indeed never in dearth of noble people. Below are our Top Ten personalities with their stories. They were given apt recognition last Dec. 8 at the Dolphy Theater of the ABSCBN Complex.


CARLITO PABON, 27



from Montalban, Rizal is a tricycle driver who with the aid of an empty mineral water bottle and rope managed to save almost 5o people including little kids who were already trapped on top of their roofs. Their house was already submerged in water and the streets all flooded. His neighbors eventually helped him out and they were able to help more.

ERIC BOQUIRON, 33



I am pretty sure that you have seen this much publicized video:



Eric and his family including his wife and 2 kids aged 3 and 6 were in that make shift raft. He unfortunately lost them when their raft collided with some debris. He also struggled to save and old woman with them but he lost her just the same. Eric is still on the process of accepting his loss and dealing with the trauma the family has encountered.

CATALINO MERCADO, JR., 44



Mr. Mercado saved a family trapped inside their hut by using a raft made of banana trunks which he propelled crossing to and from a flooded area about 50 meters away. He also had with him some empty mineral water bottles and rope to tie little children and brought them to safety.

He is already 44 years old and makes a living mainly by accepting lotto bets. This humble life didn't deter him from not thinking about his own safety and proceeding to help out others instead.

SALVARIA BROTHERS



In two different areas, Joel and Joseph Salvaria who are both electrical repairmen in their neighborhood proceeded to cut off electric lines in their areas after having sensed the danger of the fast rising waters.
They then went on to save their neighbors trapped on their rooftops using rowboats and life jackets. This they did until dawn and till most of their neighbors helped out too.

VICENTE ORDOYO, 43



works as an equipment manager at an ongoing construction of church building at the Holy Family Parish in Provident Village, Marikina City.
On September 26, 2009 at around 10:00 that morning, he was to go home to their residence in San Joaquin, Pasig. However something was stopping him
until he saw the water rose up. Meanwhile around 50 or so senior citizens were having religious activities when the waters rose trapping them inside the church.
Vincent climbed rooftop, made a hole on it and took as
many old folks as he could. Using a rope as life line, one by one they swam from one fence to the other until reaching a higher building for safety. His story was featured in ABS-CBN’s The Profile, Oct. 03,2009 segment.

ROSALYN ALBERTA, 46



trapped along with hordes of others in Robinson's Junction in Cainta due to highly impassable roads, Rosalyn waited it out and had to pass along her mobile phone to those who had to call or text their loved ones. Unmindful of who she passes her mobile phone to, she was able to help them out communicate with their families.
She didn't also hesitate to charge her phone inside her car if only to accommodate more callers. The following day, she went around their neighborhood to ask them what they need. She gave them extra clothes and food and even mineral water from her own filling station.

ROGER CABALIW, 38 (+RIP)



Mr. Cabaliw was a vegetable farmer who after relocating his wife and children went ahead to save more people by transporting them to safer areas. Their house was heavily ravaged by the floods but this did not stop him from going out and helping other people. A few weeks after, he succumbed to leptospirosis which he contracted after having waded in flood waters in spite of a wound he got while saving more people.

His family did not know about his heroism till they all went to his wake to pay their last respects and show their gratitude for having him saved their lives.

MATTHEW GALANG, 31



Matthew Galang first saved his family to higher grounds and went back to save more people in spite of the dangers the high waters posed.

Being a resident of a rather secluded area, rescuers had a hard time reaching their place but using an empty mineral water bottle and some rope, Mr. Galang went back to their place and was able to save at least 50 more from their neighborhood.

ALBERT ROMMEL MENDOZA, 41



Using some rope and life jacket, Rommel swam from house to house to save stranded residents in their area in San Mateo. Some people even offered to pay him but he refused such offers. The following day, he also went to Provident Village to help out more people in need even if their own house was also submerged in flood waters and he had to relocate his family.

MUELMAR MAGALLANES, 18 (+RIP)



known to people close to him as Toto, he is but an 18 year old kid who was full of dreams and aspirations for his family. On that fateful day when Ondoy raged, Toto helped out and saved almost 30 people mostly women and children from drowning. A fast swimmer, his lithe an agile body wasn't enough to save himself though when a part of a wall collapsed and buried him alive after saving one last person. His body was found a day after floating in flood waters. His heroic act made it into the front pages and became an inspiration to many. He was also given several posthumous recognitions the latest of which is from Time magazine.