draft

Weary Monday

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It's the start of the week and I'm feeling worn out already. I've been complaining and sufferring for a week now because of lower back pain. I had a full body massage last Friday that I thought might somehow assuage the pain...Poor me, the pain worsen!!! I even told the masseuse to give me "hard" press. Aargh!!!

At lunch break I went to the doctor, Dr Victor dela Pena our company physician, for check-up. Doc immediately noticed the muscle at the left side of my back, just below the waistline, got swollen. Just what I expected, so I told him about the massage. He also noticed the curve in my spinal column. Actually, I do have dextroscoliosis. He gave two prescriptions: first, medicines for pain reliever 120mg Arcoxia (1 tablet a day for 7days);intake of Calvit(Calcium+Vit.D) and second, I need to have scoliosis test or xray to compare it from the previous xray done during our annual PE. So tomorrow, I'll drop by Med Central Clinic in Robinson's Galleria for xray. I hope and pray that there's no major progression in the curve...

dragon boat race

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I was earlier invited by Ava, a co-member in OCMI, to watch dragon boat race (rowing competition) today. Ava used to be a co-team captain of Aqua Fortis but now she's part of the women's national rowing team. She is a certified "atletang Pinoy". She's not there to compete but to officiate along with her team mates. It was raining this morining so I was a bit sluggish and had second thought of watching the race. I sent text message to Ava to confirm if the event will push through. She replied and the message read: "OO,mag-start na yung race d2 c papa Arthur" (Who the h____ is Arthur??!!, as if i know the guy,duh!). So i rushed and went off to the venue, Roxas Blvd near the Manila Yacht Club. I brought my camera for photo opportunity (trying hard to learn the craft c(",) ). And there's Ava, she introduced me to ARTHUR! The guy is a professional photographer and he's there to cover the event for free. What a nice guy!

I wanted to take more pictures but the rain was on and off so I just managed to take several photos. It'll be costly if the camera will get damage. I don't know if there are any good pictures. Anyhow here are the photos (the last photo shows Ava and Arthur)...

"forgive me please?"

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I’ve captured this photo using my cellphone. “Forgive me please?” that’s how the message read in the photo. The words “forgive me” were spelled out on each balloon and mounted at the back of the car. I would say that the owner of the car must be a guy. What would this guy have done to come up with an artistic way of expressing his plea for forgiveness?

Obviously, thumbs down, history repeats itself “lolokohin ka utlit nyan”, are my friends’ gesture of passing judgment on this ‘poor guy’ despite the effort. Perhaps, the guy deserves such carp. If only he can defend himself and prove us all wrong…

yummmy breakfast

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Suman is a Filipino dish of sticky rice wrapped in banana or coconut leaves. The suman on the plate in the photo,which I took this morning, is called suman sa lihia, so called because it is flavored with lihia or lye water. I'm a sucker for suman and I just love eating it at breakfast. Whenever I go out of town I make sure I buy suman in the market. There are actually numerous varieties of suman with each region having its own version of the dish. My mother also has her own version,suman with latik . She usally makes suman during mahal na araw or holy week. She would extract oil from the Latik which becomes an instant langis for pilay.hehe!!!

Suman Sa Lihia Ingredients:

2 ½ cups malagkit rice
2 teaspoons lihia (lye)
Sauce:
3 cups coconut milk
½ cup galapong
½ cup coconut milk
1 ½ cups brown sugar or panocha

Budbud:
2 cups coconut sapal
1 cup sugar

>> Wash malagkit rice three times. Soak in water for 20 minutes then drain. Add lihia (lye) and stir to blend. Wrap in 2 square pieces of wilted banana leaves. Tie in pairs. In a big pot,put some banana leaves at the bottom. Arrange the suman over it then top with more banana leaves. Weigh down the suman then add enough water to cover. Cook for 45 minutes to an hour.

>> Prepare Sauce: Put 3 cups coconut milk in a saucepan then boil for 10 minutes while stirring continuously. Dissolve galapong in remaining milk. Add to the boiling coconut milk. Add sugar or panocha and cook until thick.

>> Prepare Budbud: Put sapal and sugar in a skillet over medium heat. Cook until brown while stirring constantly.

>> To serve, top each suman with some sauce and sprinkle with budbud.

HOW TO WRAP SUMAN SA LIHIA
1. Cut 2 squares of banana leaf, one larger then the other.
2. Put a tablespoon of malagkit rice on the small banana leaf.
3. Overlap the edges at the center.
4. Fold the bigger banana leaf over to enclose the mixture.
5. Roll the banana leaf up to the pointed ends.
6. Fold the two ends underneath.
7. Using a piece of string, tie the suman in pairs.

the black team...

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Black Team, our team in bowling, survived the elimination round last week. Luckily, Black team was included in top five teams that will vie today for the championship slot. We've changed venue from SM Megamall to E-Lane located in San Juan. Seems that everyone has difficulty adjusting in the new lane. The floor was synthetic and slippery. The foul line was also activated that makes everyone so anxious.

From the five teams, four teams were selected based on the number of pinfalls. Sadly, we didn’t make it on the final four. Red Team won the championship round; Fuschia on second place and Yellow team was on third place.

Though we didn’t win the major award, the team bagged the most number of special awards that include the High Team Series, High Game Female, High Average Female, 210 Club Member-Male, 190 Club Member-Female and 3rd Place Trio in the fun game.

Mack and Me! Mack is from the Red Team. He was awarded the "High game & average - Male".

me with Katz!

Congratulations Black Team!

have you got a cab receipt?

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I flagged down a cab this morning going to office. The name of the cab is Shiro which according to the cab driver was named after the owner who is a Japanese. Anyway, I was surprised because in my entire existence as an urban dweller, it’s my first time ever to ride a cab that issues a ticket or a receipt, I usually see rate meter. I know that it’s not something new for I have seen one on print ads and TV but to have actually seen the bill printed on a receipt, that’s amazing! And the fare was just right, no rip off, same as the amount that I usually pay. I showed the ticket to my officemates,"my first cab ticket",i said in amusement..."Wow hi-tech!"

A collection head overheard my story and asked if she can get the telephone number of the cab’s company. She muses that this should be the type of cab that collection officers flag down when visiting collection agency. Transportation costs will be aptly reimbursed! Yeah, she’s right! I wonder if taxi companies in the Metro are willing to put in such apparatus, it wound mean extra cost on cab operators. Of course on the part of commuters like me, it’s beneficial! It will prevent taxi driver from ripping off fares and I would say it’s safer ‘coz you have the address and plate number printed on the receipt... Hey, I wouldn’t mind giving extra tip if the driver is courteous! :)

201...beat that score!

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Beleive it or not, I scored 201 in the second set of our bowling game last Saturday. First time ever to hit such number of pinfalls in one game. In the 3rd set my score chopped down to 151 not bad, isn't it? I just can't believe I did that! Must be the food (salmon sashimi, gyoza, california maki!) I ate at lunch, just before the game. Hopefully, the team will get back in the finals and with a bit of luck will qualify in Masters event. Goodluck to our team in the elimination game next week...

Amor’s bday treat at Oody’s

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We had lunch out today at Oody’s in Galleria as advance birthday treat from Amor Lazaro, my generous boss. Her birthday is actually on the 2nd of July. From left, Cristy, Amor, the birthday celebrant, Anna Marie, Alvin, Maureen and myself. Hmmm, I wonder what's on the menu??? :)

tam yam seafood soup

fried cat fish with mango strips

pandan and lemon grass tea

chow time!!!!

bowling time…let’s get it on!

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2006 RCBC intercolor bowling tournament has begun and we are in for a five-game series which started last June17 and will end on Aug05. It’s a company-wide tournament which is held annually at SM Megamall bowling center. This time, I belong to BlackTeam composed of 4 females (Katz Cruz, Jane Tan, Mila Robles and myself) and 8 males (Dante Maandal,Ferdie Naval, Mark Reyes, Jojo Ortega, Jerry Aranel, Gilbert Recabar, Edmund Baranda and Joel Salgado).

I wasn't able to attend the opening game as I was still frolicking in the beach of Palawan. I’d really love to stay for another week in Palawan but gotta get back to reality and that is WORK! Anyhow, the initial match was between Green team and Black. We didn't win this match because the other team really plays well!

Goodluck to us in the succeeding games!

Palawan trip

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Palawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City and it is the largest province in terms of land area. The islands of Palawan stretches from Mindoro to Borneo in the southwest. It lies between the South China Sea in the northwest and Sulu Sea in the southeast. Palawan is considered to be the Philippines' "last frontier". The province boasts of many splendid beaches and has two World Heritage Sites: Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park and the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park.

Two weeks ago, I was very fortunate to visit Palawan with my orgmates from Ortigas Center Mountaineers, Inc. or OCMI in short. This is actually my third time to visit the place and would definitely visit again and again. Thanks to our dynamic host, Anthony “Tonyo” Arquero,who’s also my batchmate in OCMI (batch1) and his wife mommy Mitch, whom patiently handled budgeting fares for this recent trip. How can I forget Mrs. Rebecca Arquerro, Tonyo’s mother, for being so generous and for such a warm accommodation. If it wasn’t for Mamang, as she’s dotingly called, we wouldn’t have seen and experienced setting our feet on the expensive sand and classy villas of Amanpulo.

I truly enjoyed this wonderful experience. What can I say about the food? Delicioso!!! specially the lobsters! Certainly gratifying are the warmness of those people that accommodated us from St Agustine Academy in Coron, to Agutaya and as far as Cuyo Island. The whole trip is of course very much enjoyable because I spent the whole 10 days with lovely, high-spirited and blissful camaraderie of OCMI and friends. Thanks Anthony, Mitch, Oros, Louie, Marge, Mellany, Abet, Joyce, Dory, Winnie, Divine, Rosahlee, Anjo and Sheng for this superb experience. Looking forward to next Palawan trip!!!

Here are some of the photos taken during my recent visit and previous trips in Palawan. Enjoy!(pls click the link on photo gallery to view other photos)

Port of Coron with Melanie, Sheng, Joyce, Dory, Vidal, Marge, myself, Anjo(partly hidden)and Winnie, a.k.a "SPO1".

St.Agustine Academy This is where we stayed upon arriving at Coron. Beside me is our host wearing blue striped T-shirt, Fr. Roderick Caabay, school director.

Siete Pecados marine park

island hopping...whoa! laban ka? ngek! :)

Kayangan Lake is touted as one of the cleanest lakes in the region. One can also have a great view of the nearby island and seascape as one ascends the trail leading to the lake

Agutaya port hey Ava, strike a pose and smile! she's unaware that i took a photo of her while she was busy taking video of the port. this turned out to be a nice shot, isn't it? c(",)

1959 church bell this photo was taken at a nearby church in Agutaya.

school girls paraded the Philippine flag in celebration of Independence Day,June 12. photo taken at the island of Agutaya.

Cuyo island sand bar

Manamoc island,Cuyo

Amanpulo Pamalican island Amanpulo means peaceful island. I never thought that I would set my feet on this island, thanks to Mrs.Rebecca! we had explored this beatiful island. Accomodation in this resort is very expensive! the like of Hollywood actor Mel Gibson is a typical guest. Too bad we didn't get the chance to see him...

our tour guide in Amanpulo

big lagoon, El Nido

smile little girl! she has very nice round eyes. this was taken at Canluboyan Island.

this photo was taken at butterfly garden in Puerto Princesa

Calauit Island, wildlife sanctuary of exotic African animals and endangered endemic animals of Palawan.

Tabon Caves known as the "Cradle of Philippine Civilization," Tabon Caves consists of a series of chambers where anthropologists discovered the remains of crude man and his tools. Anthropological significance came to the fore with the discovery of the remains of the 22,000 year old Tabon Man in one of its interiors, along with other artifacts decades ago. The caves are located in Lipuua Point, Quezon, Palawan.

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, reputed to be the world's longest,its 8.2 km.,navigable underground river.It was inscribed by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

construction hat...safety gear!

spell of a sunset

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photo taken ascending Mt.Banahaw, Quezon Province

SPELL OF A SUNSET
a poem by William E. Hardison

The twilight shadows cast their spell
by sunset's golden ray;
and I, in mystic solace dwell
'mid magic of God's way.

How beautiful this awesome sight
that fills my wondrous gaze....
Ah, the beauty of this spectrum light
just takes my breath away!

Across the water's silent span,
the flame reveals it's gleam,
a mirror of a grandeur land
in my celestial dream.

As creeping shadows slowly wane,
my troubles disappear,
for it is here in God's domain
I lose all my despair!

Now special shadows cast a spell
when shown by heaven's light,
and some are shadows of ourselves
which too, fade into night!

photo taken at Boracay

photo taken at Star Fish Island, Palawan