Simulan natin sa agahan. Sinong makakalimot sa paborito nating pandesal? Malambot, mainit, at malasa. Para sa inyong mahihilig sa kape, subukan niyong isawsaw ang pandesal dito. Juice, gatas, o tsokolate – lahat masarap kapag may pandesal. Kung gatas at tamis ang pag uusapan, champorado ang bumubuo riyan. Pwede rin itong sabayan ng tuyo o daing upang mabalanse ang lasa. Kung maalat-alat naman ang natipuhan, nandiyan ang arroz caldo. Katakam-takam ang simoy nito kapag hinaluan ng piniritong bawang at itlog. At syempre, ang pinakasikat sa agahan nating mga Pilipino: ang mga “silog”. Tocilog, tapsilog, bacsilog, longsilog. Isama na rin ang paboritong nating mga isda: daing, tuyo, at tinapa. Hindi maikukumpara ang kombinasyon ng sinangag, ulam, at itlog kung agahan sa Pilipinas ang pinag uusapan.

Lalong sumasarap ang mga handa para sa tanghalian. Ipasok natin ang kare-kare sa usapan. Kasama ang bagoong na alamang, lasap na lasap ang sarap nito sa kanin. Sino rin ang makakalimot sa dinuguan? Maging kanin o puto man ang kasabay, tiyak na nakabubusog. Para sa mahilig sa maanghang, subukan ang bicol express. Sa tamang kombinasyon ng gata at sili, tumpak na tumpak ito sa mainit na kanin. Bistek, mechado, at kaldereta. Sinong aayaw sa mga handang ito?

Pumasok naman tayo sa merienda. Sa mga mahihilig sa tinapay, pwede pa ang mga natirang pandesal mula sa agahan – lagyan lamang ito ng palaman. Ube, peanut butter, o maging ulam, tiyak na sakto ito sa panlasa niyo. Walang merienda kung walang pansit. Nasa mga sangkap at sarsa ang sarap ng pansit. Tamang kombinasyon ng toyo, gulay, karne, at maliliit na hipon ang tiyak na magpapalasa sa handa niyong pansit. Isama na rin natin ang ating mga paboritong kakanin: kutsinta, suman, puto, at bibingka. Ang sarap ng merienda!

Para sa hapunan, ilabas na ang lechon! Hindi magiging kumpleto ang isang Pilipinong selebrasyon kapag walang lechon. Maghanda lamang ng maraming sawsawan at tiyak na kumpleto na ang gabi niyo. At dahil lumalamig sa gabi lalo na ngayong pasko, isama na natin ang sinigang na hipon na may maraming gulay. Kung gulay rin ang pag uusapan, sinong hindi makababangit ng pinakbet? Bagoong at gulay kasama ang lechon at sabaw ng sinigang. Ayos!

Para sa dessert, nariyan ang leche flan, palitaw, biko, sapin-sapin, ube, at buko. Tiyak na magugustuhan din ng mga mahihilig sa malamig ang kombinasyon ng ice cream at pinipig. At sa mga manginginom (na alak ang natipuhang panghimagas), ilabas na ang sisig at chicharon. Pero syempre, huwag kalimutan ang pinakapulutan sa lahat: ang paborito nating mani. Mula gabi hanggang umaga, swak na swak sa tiyan.

Ang sarap ng Pasko!

Here are some of the things we should remember once in a while.

1)      The longer one carries a problem, the heavier it gets.

2)      Realize that it’s never too late!

3)      Take time to wish upon a star.

4)      Remember that friendship is a wise investment.

5)      Don’t take things too seriously.

6)      Live life of serenity and not regrets.

7)      Your presence is a present in the world

8)      Your life can be just what you want to be.

9)      Take the days just one at a time.

10)   Count your blessings and not your troubles

11)   Within you are so many answers.

12)   Understand, have courage and be strong!

13)   Decisions are too important to leave to chance.

14)   You’ll make it through, whatever comes along.

And my personal favorite:

15)   Nothing wastes more energy than worrying J

Remember, life is too short! Lets make the most out of everything!

Grabe one wherever you go because there is no snack like JnJ Chippy O’s

Bakit hindi tayo maging aktibo sa sports katulad ng basketball, water sports, or mga board games nang mahasa naman an gating isipan. At dahil ang mga kabataan ngayon ay mahilig na magbabad sa computer dahil lumalaganap na ang mga internet websites, meron na din akong gusting i-recommend ng interesting site. www.oddee.com. Bakit hindi?

Dito makikita natin kung gaano ka-labo ang mundo natin. Sari saring larawan ng mga extraordinary people, places, happenings at hayop ang nandito. Madami ka din malalaman na istorya ng mga tao sa buong mundo. Kaya imbis na nakatambay ka lang at walang magawa, search ka lang sa net ng hilig mo. Ayos yan!

During our last trip back (just got back to Toronto a 3 week stay in Manila), I had one of the best trips back! Here are some of the highlights:

We got to beach it up at the Blue Coral Resort in Batangas! The resort was soooo nice! Esthetically very pleasing and awesome amenities! The accommodations were pretty awesome (awesome night’s sleep after a long day at the beach)! The beach was a dream : ) Clear water and white sands – we spent our afternoons chasing fish in the water!

Changing Lives: Timbaland Shock Value II Tour in Manila – the good times had by all are beyond words! Great to see big stars like Jojo, Timbaland and (of course) Justin Timberlake! Very cool to see them live in Manila… Energy was fantastic, and the hype in waiting for Mr. JT was almost painful, but well worth it when he walked onto the stage!!! Couldn’t ask for a better night (and the finale performance of “Sexyback”?!? HELLO!?!?!??!)

Pagsanjan Falls.. Seriously, how many people can say they’ve gotten to go underneath a waterfall??? For those who think it’s small, I assure you that it is not small nor weak (especially when you’re riding a wooden raft and it’s slowing passing underneath the falls)! Aray!!! Even lost my anklet! Also got the opportunity to swim underneath (more so, near) the falls! Veryyyyyyy cool. The 45 mins kayak ride between the mountains to and from the falls was a bonus (especially for nature lovers).

Of course, hitting the local scenes like The Fort, MOA, Makati and Greenhills (a bargainer’s dream!) and the food! My god, the food! Filipino food CANNOT be beat! From yummy chichiria, delectable sweets, and to die for ulams… Greatest choice of fast food joints and restaurants anyone in the world, bar none! When it comes to food, pinoys know where it’s at!

Most of all, spending time with my wicked awesome cool family who I miss everyday! They put the “sweet” in HOME SWEET HOME : )

-Jen Mariano

But last night, I found an old book that made me realize that there is nothing wrong with why I am like this. I have just learned to teach myself good etiquette, and my belief in them is so passionate that they have become ingrained to my everyday manner, a part of parcel of who I am.

Last night I was instantly relieved for:

- spending so little time inside the rest room (I used to think that I am missing a girly gene because while other girls take 10-minute weewee breaks, I take 2. It’s true, ask my boyfriend)

- throwing minor trash inside my bag instead of outside the car

- saying sorry when I dialed a wrong number

- refusing to really gossip, either to tolerate or pass along one. Hey, I wouldn’t want myself to be a victim of one! Why tolerate it when it happens to others?

- while crossing the street, expecting a man I am walking with to be in the side where the cars are coming from (so that he can save me from being hit first by renegade, reckless and stupid drivers)

- in the escalator, expecting a man I am with to be in front when going down, and behind while going up (just so he can catch me if my 4-inch heels fail to keep me upright, but I make my boyfriend do this so that people below couldn’t see through when I’m wearing a short skirt :p)

…and many, many others

Conclusively, I feel better knowing that I generally treat people and the world with respect. I admit that I have my bitchy-moments, but those are things that I am working very hard to curb and stay away from. And more often than not, those happen only when provoked, so they don’t count haha! Seriously, I am good. Promise.

Thanks to Julie Yap Daza for publishing a no non-sense guide to etiquette, “Manners for Moving Up”.

Cheers to a better world!

-Isa Dumandan

Timbaland with Jojo will visit the Philippines and have a concert in MOA concert grounds sa March 27, 2010. At may bali-balita na si Justin Timberlake (oo, Si Justin nga) and kanilang surprise guest. Totoo man o hindi, gugustuhin ko nang abangan ang concert na ito, kaysa magsisi sa huli.

March 27,2010

SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds

Ticket prices:

Gold -   PHP 4,651.20

Silver – PHP 3,100.80

Bronze – PHP 1,550.40

General Admission – PHP 310.08

Tickets will be available in all Ticketworld outlets.  Tumawag sa 891-9999 sa mga iba pang detalye.