WHICH ONE WOULD YOU RATHER BE?

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and poured it into a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see...." "Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?" Her mother explained that each had faced the same adversity: >>> boiling water .... But each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong and hard; however, after being subjected to the boiling water it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water. "Which one are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?" *****Think of this: Which am I? >>>>Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? >>>>Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart? >>>>Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst you get better and change the situation around you. ****** .When the hour is the darkest and trials are greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? .How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? * The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches. * When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. * Live your life so at the end you're the one smiling and everyone around you is crying. * *It's easier to build a child than repair an adult. *

APPLES OF MY EYES....

AUTUMN always make me feel great.I have stated these lines so many times in the past. I LOVE almost everything in Autumn and one of these is the fact that 'TIS APPLE-PICKING TIME! * AROUND this time several summers ago, Hiroko and I went to AOMORI-KEN. Yeah...THAT place famous for its super-duper delicious RINGO[s] [APPLES]! I had the best time of my life roaming around the hilly ORCHARD with apples all around me...... APPLES here are several notches up as far as taste is concerned. I know....I have had enough of Washington Apples up in the NW; I never enjoyed that when I was there. This may be borne from the fact that BIO-TECHNOLOGY is the culprit... or is it? ** DID YOU KNOW that there are APPLES that have been "cured" with HACHIMITSU [HONEY] inside? It makes the APPLE sweeter and better. ALTHOUGH I like eating the 'HONEY' variety, I also enjoy the Green ones. They taste milder and sweeter [for me, at least]. *** EACH apple here is tended with TLC. This is obvious in every apple harvested by pickers across the North: AOMORI, AKITA, NAGANO and other nearbyPrefectures/Provinces. **** ORCHARDS are now bustling with activities. JIJI [LOLO] said so. He just arrived from AOMORI and delivered the steel STEP-LADDERs to one of the companies that sell them there. And he brought home a box-full of APPLES! He bought it for 300 yen! [Translated, around 75 PhP!] One box-full, Ja, one box! Kung baga, sa tatlong barya [coins], meron siyang isang kahon ng mansanas... .Kung mura lang sanang magpadala sa 'Pinas,eh si sana nagpadala na ako. ORDINARILY, one can buy apples in supermarketsall over Japan for 100yen each. ***** APPLES are best eaten fresh....and they stay that for so long. This reminds me that the apples we buyas part of our Christmas table fare are from the US and China....they are a far cry from the goodies here. The "DELICIOUS" variety aren't that delicious. The China variety seems bland. ****** I LIKE my apples eaten fresh. But sometimes, I cook them in honey over low heat, until the pulp has grown soft and the honey absorbed. AN APPLE A DAY.... .... * APPLES, ANYONE?

BAGAHE BLUES

SENDING packages to Inang Bayan is quite easy these days. With no-weight limit policy among the companies vying for attention from foreigners living in the Land of Ichiro Suzuki.... it is so convenient! Indeed! * KNOWING that I would be tied up in the Winter with the arrival of so many KENSHUSEI[s] [TRAINEE[s], I decided to take out my DREAM BOX [this one is where I keep all my purchases which I intend to be my pasalubongs] today and made a listing. Besides, I have the mornings free for cleaning the house; I work in the afternoon,usually after school hours. ** I WAS astonished to find that my NIMOTSU [BAGGAGE] have blown this much! All these time, I have not noticed all these things. They have piled up and filled the closet. Goodness! I have enough already. I need to send this by late November in time for my arrival in December. Good timing? Naaahhh...just proper planning. *** WHY so much? Well, most Bags were given by Shiseido,the cosmetic company which I patronize. Then most "samples" are free.[read: LIBRE!]. So I have horded brushes, foundations, lotions,ad indinitum.... Then the "End-of-Summer Sale" usually offer bargains and these things [tees, shorts, blouses, blah3] are wearable in the Tropics. Small toys are likewise LIBRE, if you eat with kids. My friend always get them for me....while I pay at the Cashier hahahah!!!! That would be good as give-a-ways, right? Mr. Donut here gives a lot of "presents" , PRESENTO they say.... From plato to cups to tabo to mugs,door mats, diaries,.... Likewise the PAN-YA [BAKERY] which sells my favorite HOKKAIDO MILK PAN [BREAD] gives chinawares for purchases made on the 15th of each month. So there! **** MADALI lang makaipon ng anuman dito. In fact, kapag nagsawa na yung mga Hapon, itatapon na lang. ISTORBO lang kasi sa bahay. Dati kasi, pwedeng magtapon ng TV sets, o ref, o anumang appliances sa GOMI-BAKO [ BASURAHAN]. I made "pulot" in Tokyo when I studied there. I had this nice table and a bookshelf. Maganda pa and sturdy, but I had togive it up also when I moved to KYOTO. ***** Two years ago, binago na ang rule kasi ang daming basurang nagkalat. NOW, one has to pay the DENKI-YA SAN [APPLIANCE STORE] a certain fee for every appliance we throw. Yung ibang Pinoy na taga-Davao always wait for news if we will buy a new one. This means we will discard the old ones....so meron silang magagamit sa apartment nila. OK din, db? HINDI nmn sira ang mga itinatapon...lumang model nga lang. Most Pinoys even pack the old bicycles they picked up and sent them via BALIKBAYAN BOXES. Great ideas, indeed. Yun nga lang, kailangan, talagang GOMI [BASURA]or given by someone...or else, baka matulad doon sa isang Pinoy na pinick-up ng pulis dahil he was using a bike that was reported missing. Tinawag ako ng pulis para mag-interpret sa nahuling Pinoy pero wala ring lusot. ****** OLD AND NEW. GIVE AND TAKE.

*

CENTRAL AIRPORT, NAGOYA

================= TODAY IS A RED-LETTER-DAY HERE: With nothing much to do [unless I stay home the whole day and watch that MARATHON which is broadcasted LIVE on TV], and be with my lonesome self [again!].... my friend and I decided to spend the day DRIVING AROUND. * WE BOTH opted for the New CENTRAL AIRPORT or the CHUBU KUKO somewhere in NAGOYA. I have never used this new airport since I arrived here early this year. I thought it would be best to familiarizemyself with the new terminal since I'll be going back homethis Xmas Holidays. ** WE STARTED early. We wouldn't like to be caught in the familiar traffic, you know... "THE EARLY BIRD CATCHESTHE WORM" thing.... ONLY, what we caught was the intermittent rainshowers all dayfrom SHIZUOKA to AICHI-KEN. *** I was up at around 3 A.M., and had enough time to get ready before NAOKO came with her TOYOTA NOAH. She drove all the way to the AIRPORT. We stopped in some PARKING AREA where we had WASHOKU [JAPANESE CUISINE] Breakfast: grilled SANMA [TAURY], NATTO [that foul-smelling [!]FERMENTED SOYA BEANS ], MISO SHIRU[MISO SOUP], and SHIRO GOHAN [WHITE RICE]. She enjoyed it;...... I didn't. **** THE WEATHER didn't cooperate, so we had to drive carefully and reached CENTRAIR [short for CENTral AIRport: you see, the Japanese have this thing about short-cutting some words... ] at around 8. ***** IT WAS HUGE! It was built on reclaimed area in the middle of MIKAWA BAY.... just like KANSAI AIRPORT in OSAKA. The airport was imposing and can beseen from afar, before one enters the area leading to the long Bridge that connects the Airport to TOKONAME City. ****** It boasts of its own HOTEL right at its doorstep! I took all the Brochure I can get, just in case no one brings me to the airport. Iba na raw po ang HANDA, db? ******* THERE WERE 2 PARKING AREAs, each one can accomodate as many as 1600 -1800 vehicles. Despite these,there was a long queue at the Gates; I wondered why, and Nao remarked that most who go there are just like us:for sight-seeing! Hee-hee! Apparently, we were not alone in the Curiosity Department, huh?!! ******** WE went around... and feasted our eyes on all things, especially the SHOPS....which sells everything: from OMIYAGE[s] [PASALUBONGs] to Food Stalls: STARBUCKS, BAGEL & BAGEL [NY Style], to JAPANESE CUISINE of all sorts... .There were BAGS, and GLASSES,CRYSTALS.... lots and lots both men and women would crave for.... And yeah, you're right! The DUTY-FREE is located INSIDE, AFTER ONE CHECKS IN with the IMMIGRATION. ********** I can't help but buy some small things:hair pins/ornaments, crystals, SENBEI [Japanese Crackers], & TSUKEMONO [PICKLED RADISH & OTHER VEGGIES]. I also found a red pair of glasses [good for costume parties: It's HALLOWEEN soon....], MASK [purple cat-like one/good for CostumeParties with my students...] et cetera.. My friend bought lots; she had oodles of wads,anyway! ********** FINDING something for lunch was quite easy: there were lots of shops to choose from. I had a BAGEL with SALMON AND CREAM CHEESEand a cup of LATTE. Nao had a cup of Japanese Soup and a freshly-baked MELONPAN [BREAD din yan, noh!]. I didn't think it was a heavy meal, but we both felt we were full. Why is it so I will never understand.... Kapag nasa bahay ka, sunod2 ang kain, yet never felt satisfied, ei? Ah..Ewan! *********** ANYWAY, after walking through the SKY DECK and viewing the TAKE-OFFs and LANDINGsof a number of HIKOKI[s] [AIRPLANES], we decided to call it a day. .......'Nga pala, sa a tin, may bayad na yung makapasok sa "VISITORS LOUNGE" kaso nga lang, parang nasa kulungan ang siste if you're looking from the ARRIVAL area. ************ WE paid the PARKING FEE [300 Yen/hour]and headed for home. It was unbelievable, but the rate stared us right into our eyes:900 yen! Translation: we were there for three hours! Ho-hum..... ************* I am just wondering... HOW COME WE CAN'T COME UP WITH WORLD-CLASS AIRPORTS like this one? What happened to our own? WHEN are they going to honor their words and give Caesar his due? WHY can't we be as precise and as high-tech as our neighbors? So many questions: So many remain unanswered.... *************** RAINY DAY. WALKING THROUGH SHOPS. EATING BAGELS. DRIVING ALL DAY. *************** *

EAT CAMOTE====> Part 2

=============:* CAMOTE [SATSUMAIMO]: Part 2:============= EAT CAMOTE.... I remember that old lines we used to sing during CAMPFIRES with boys and girls at Day Camps and Live-in Camps of both the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides and the FPP several summers ago..... What great fun we had as we guffawed at how some naughty ones would pfft at the last words.... >>>>"EAT CAMOTE, THE MUSICAL FRUIT,THE MORE YOU EAT, THE MORE YOU PFFFT...."<<<< * Those were the days...... It was then that we always eat CAMOTE CUE, that sweet mid-afternoon snack we all love as a kid.... It was part of our youth.... It was the food the MASA all loved because it is affordable and filling... ** I NEVER REALIZED how important CAMOTES are to the Japanese until I came here. AROUND THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.... it is CAMOTE-HARVEST TIME. There are CAMOTEs everywhere: inside the supermarket, the roadside farmer's stall [which, btw, sells the cheapest;it is untended and there is a box where the buyer places a 100-yen-coin per packageof produce], and even in Talk Shows! *** ASIDE from the wide range of benefits one gets from eating CAMOTEs, farmers share the farming techniques and 'other secrets' with the hosts. Soft, loamy soil is needed to bring out the best produce, so they say..... Apparently, the BEST CAMOTE comes from the South, mostly in KYUSHU, the southernmost island in the Land of the Samurais. **** There is a range of CAMOTE VARIETIES, each one distinctly superb and with varying qualities. They revere the MURASAKI [VIOLET] variety as it is only grown in KAGOSHIMA-KEN, that Prefecture at the tip of KYUSHU Island. ***** COOKING CAMOTE is one great experience. The best one can get is that cooked over BLACK STONES under which, COALS are kept at a certain temperature. This one tastes better than the STEAMED ones. CAMOTEs here are seldom boiled. CAMOTE-CUE here [minus the stick, Lolah!] seems odd, though. SALT is added and honey or black sugar is used and sprinkled with BLACK SESAME SEEDS. IT IS the best season to eat CAMOTE especially now that the weather is getting colder. ****** ONE Pinay saw me buy CAMOTE cooked over those STONES in one Supermarket near my place. She offered an unsolicited snide remark: "BADUY! PAGKAIN NG POOR!" which made me smile in exasperation. It left me shaking my head as I headed back home. POOR soul! THAT is the reason why I seldom connect with Pinays here.... So now you know, ei? Besides, I seldom find someone who think in the same wavelength as I do, not that I am a snob....no, not that..... but I would rather be with a selected few people I consider MAJIME [SERIOUS] rather than be with MANUKEs [STUPID FOOL]. ******* CAMOTEs, ANYONE? ********

HOMESICK BLUES*

....WHEN I'M FEELIN BLUE.... all I have to do is take a look at you then I'm not so blue.... **************** Goodness,........ of all times! Kung kailan nakatagal ako nang ganito, saka pa ako nakaka-feel ng LONELINESS... ASUS! * FOR reasons I cannot fathom,I feel down and out these past week. Can I categorize it as LONELINESS for family members who are away from me? OR is it just one of those blues? ** I can imagine the lonelinessand homesickness our OFWs are suffering.... just like that of the image that I see staring back at me in my hand mirror. *** ...ANYWAYZ, I was sooooo lonely I helped myself to some pints of new O-SAKE [RICE WINE], heheheh... For a teetotaller, this is a big NO-NO! So how did I feel? Well, I feel a bit not myself, but then I resorted to crying myself out [again!]. I texted Makoy and he answered right away...sending soft words to ease my loneliness. ..God, I love that lil Angel! **** Am off the usual track and I sometimes question the rationaleof this all... I could stay with my family and live happily ever after... Goodness! Nevertheless...I feel pain inside.... I don't know how to say it... ***** Who knows? God may grant a soul who'll have the patience and the guts to love a fool such as I. ****** ...AM I ALONE in this world? Is this my FATE? TO WHAT EXTENT will I make TIIS here? ******* Weighing things altogether... I don't think the happiness of being in familiar grounds commensurate to what I earn here. Nothing can compare to being with those you love and who love you in return. ******** Please God... Grant me the PATIENCE to take all these.......... ====================== * My apologies for the rantings and ramblings of a lonely soul who live far away from home....... *

HANABI

WITH EVERY MATSURI [FESTIVAL] or great gatherings here HANABIs [FIREWORKs] surely follows. IT STARTS AS EARLY as 6:30 A.M. and as late as 9:00 P.M.. Small HANABIs or FIREWORKs will be featured in-between the two-day event. I first noticed the first HANABI early this morning, around 6 AM.... and I thought: "Woooo! MATSURI DA!"[IT'S MATSURI [ TIME!]] But the best one will be tomorrow evening: this one is BIG-TIME since it culminates the entire festival. The SAIGO HANABI [FINAL FIREWORKS] lasts some thirty minutes. The final ones come one after the other and capped by themost beautiful ones. Hence, even if I do not go near the TEMPLEat night...., I have a good view from the comfort of my bedroom window. MATSURI. HANABI. YATAI. WASHOI! *****

MATSURI

ON SPORTSFEST AND MATSURIs....

THE SECOND SUNDAY of October is supposed-to-be SPORTS DAY...

or what some say THE HEALTH DAY.

Hence, the next day, a Monday is a holiday in the Land of the Rising SUN

[although the Sun is barely in the horizon today...DOSHO? ]

TONIKAKU, the setting is ready [I saw the Temple area glittering and spruced up last night as I was driving from work] and today, all roads lead to the SPORTSFEST.

BUT FOR SOME REASONS, our group seemed fit to incorporate the MATSURI [FESTIVAL]ALONG WITH THE SPORTSFEST this week. Why they did it, I have no idea....Perhaps to economize? Hmmm...

*

THERE is the program for the three-day affair distributed last week. It is filled wth activities from sun up to sun down. There is even a KARAOKE TAI KAI [A KARAOKE SINGING CONTEST], some food stalls, and more....

Food sold are, of course, cheap and beer sells for 100 Yen ONLY!

There is YAKITORI [CHICKEN BARBECUE],YAKISOBA [PANCIT-Japanese style],YAKIMOCHI[ inihaw na MOCHI -parang TIKOY, only this one is pure w/no sugar, hence, tasteless; they just use SOY SAUCE],

TAKOYAKI [SQUIDBALLS], COTTON CANDY [meron sa atin nito],

ODEN [this is a combination of BOILED EGGS, TOFU, KONYAKU, etcetera].

ODEN is something best eaten on cold winter nights. Not only is it healthy,it also appeals to my palate.This one is prepared way ahead of time and boiled for a long time.

**

LEADERS have been assigned to watch over each section and program.

The schedule is quite hectic.The last entry is supposed to start at 2115! Fantastic!

***

YATAI [SMALL SHRINE/parang CAROSA sa atin] will make the rounds of the area and will converge at the TEMPLE area.This will be done especially at night, for the residents to see the beauty of the YATAIs.They are fully decorated with kids atop, playing some tunes [ala-banda style].Eager parents take pictures while bystanders pose as they use their mobiles to record the moment....

****

I have seen so many MATSURIs here: each place have distinct way of celebrating theirs.

Ours is a small town,hence the YATAIs and the MATSURIs are small-time [if one may call it that!]

*****

MATSURIs are celebrated as a show of GRATITUDE to the Gods for a GOOD HARVEST.

That is why,most MATSURIs are done AFTER HARVEST-TIME, which is about this time.

Note that Japan has only one planting seasonwhich starts in Spring. Unlike ours which can accomodate two, this country has four-seasons, hence...

******

WHILE MATSURIs are good ways to celebrate the communal spirit of the people,

some youngsters see this as a way to drink liquor away from the prying eyes of their parents. Since most youngsters are involved in dancing in the streets wearing those famous "HAPI" coats, it is AFTER the dancing that these teenagers stay longer and help themselves to the OSAKE [RICE WINE].

I have seen lots of street fights involving these kids.Hence, the security is beefed up by the presence of policemen who make themselves visible especially in the TOKAI [capital] region.

*******

In our place, there were incidents of group wars and street fighting as well.These are GAKIs [ BULLIES, BRATS]who perhaps, need some beatings from over-busy parents. Or is it love they need? I wonder....

THIS is also the reason why JIJI has ceased to participate activelyin these activities.

He says his conttribution only make some kids go berserk after drinking rice wines....

********

MATSURI.

HAPI COAT.

YATAI.

OSAKE.

*

ON COLD NIGHTS.....

...................EAT SINIGANG! AT LAST.... after several days of gloomy weather,the sun crept out from behind the clouds.... It's a welcome treat, even for half-a-day only, if we are to go by the weather prediction [which is, btw, almost always perfect]. After all those laundry needs to be done and the rooms need some air. I always go for airy clean rooms. * HOT SOUPS on cold days [or nights] always make each meal a great feast for me. Last night, feeling cold and alone,I made some SINIGANG. I still have that Mix I brought from homelast time. Some pork, veggies [radish,tomatoes, leeks] and hot new rice made my dinner superb. There are lots of left-overs,so my lunch wouldn't pose much problem,would it? As usual, I gave a bowlful to the nearest Oba-San, to which she wasgrateful...I hope! She always liked that 'EZU-NIK' [translation:ETHNIC] concoction since she liked the SUPPAI [MAASIM] AJI [TASTE]. I remembered that and her many YASASHI [KIND] gestures to me in the past, so there. ** Here, the people live like the Barangays of old. People in the community share some of the harvest and in return, recieve those from others as well. I guess this works [still] in the small towns and cities. Perhaps, it does in big cities and the Metropolisamong old friends and neighbors. With the proliferation of "MANSIONS" [ that is the Japanese version of CONDOs], and apartment-housing, most modern-day Japanese no longer know the art of socializing. Same is true, I guess with most Pinoys, huh? *** TODAY, I'll be a bit busy.That is, I need to go to the Bank for some transactions. Jiji can't do it since he's been busy in his business and no one except I can negotiate [yabang, ano?] his Bank account transfers, ad infinitum. **** GOT TO GO and check where that fire trucks are going... The sirens have become louder.... must be near here.... somewhere.... *****

NAKU !

ONE OF MY STUDENTS,a senior High lass wanted to come with me [that is, if she can escape the hectic winter SHUKUDAI..] when I go back home for the Holidays. As I was wonderin where I'd take her, I decided to browse the net for some tips. * I WAS SURFING for some travel tips when I stumbled upon this intro in one travel.org. or somethin... >>>>"Introduction: The 7000-odd islands that comprise the Philippines are the forgotten islands of southeast Asia. Off the main overland route and with a recent history of martial law and endemic corruption, the country has struggled to attract tourists in the numbers many of its southeast Asian neighbours have."<<<< ** Grrr... at grr... pa! Nakaka-turn off ako kaya tinigilan ko na ang paghahanap ng magagandang lugar. Hah! *** So this is HOW these travel organizations abroad "SELL" our country! No wonder less tourists come to visit the Philippines despite the 'effort' exerted by the DoT [as if there is any!]. **** ON SECOND THOUGHT, ...I can't help but think...maybe....just maybe... they may be right. Ours have the reputation of being KORAP and THE SUPPOSED "PUBLIC SERVANTS" are robbing the country's coffers left and right. To add salt to the wound, these people who robs us go unpunished. Classic examples are the marcoses and ERR-ap. ***** Today, the pidal family continue to pillage the economy and they stay in power via transactional politics. SAD BUT TRUE. I wonder when we'll ever achieve BETTER GOVERNANCE THROUGH CLEAN, HONEST PUBLIC SERVANTS. Most good men in government have bade their goodbyes. A good number of those left have the reputation that stinks to Hades. ******

ODE TO EICH

ANATA GA HOSHII Anata ga hoshii Ai ga subeta ga hoshii... ***** HONE MADE hone made Hone made aishite hoshii no yo... *****

CAMOTE AND OUR SKIN....

WANNA HAVE THAT MUCH-COVETED FAIRER SKIN? EAT CAMOTE! So they say..... * I was tidying up things when I heard a food expert and nutritionist explain the fantastic benefits of SATSUMAINO [oo, Ate, ito yung walang kamatayang KAMOTE...] on a TV program. ** KAMOTE, CAMOTE.... WHATEVER WAY YOU WANNA CALL IT.... This one is really, really GREAT! ...SIMPLY GREAT! *** Most women want to have fairer skin....oh, well, much fairer than the ones they have. It's the same the world over. Call it vanity or whatever you like. But the audience were one in saying they want fairer skin, too. The guest-expert detailed the benefits and how to achieve those. He enumerated steps, recipes and guided the viewers regarding preparation and basic facts about KAMOTE. **** I never realized that the 'DAGTA'of these KAMOTEs ARE GOOD FOR THE SKIN..... ... NOT ONLY THAT! I used to believe that EATING LOTS OF KAMOTES would be a big NO-NO for those who want to stay slim. ON THE CONTRARY, EATING JUST A MERE 10 gms of KAMOTE would mean we are bound TO LOSE 200 gms of BODY FAT! UNBELIEVABLE...BUT TRUE! ***** SO many concoctions were discussed and here are some: 1. CAMOTE JUICE- In a BLENDER: MIX STEAMED CAMOTE,A TSP. HONEY, YOGURT, LEMON EXTRACT:Presto! Great for the skin.... 2. CAMOTE TARTS [with less sugar/or better still, substitute honey] 3. CAMOTE CUE -only here, they add a pinch of saltand sprinkle them with black sesame seeds; and more........AND MORE.... ****** Wanna have clearer, fairer skin? Why not try eating KAMOTE from here on? You'll not only lose fat, you'll have fairer skin, too! Sounds cool, huh!? ******* Worried about that gas your body would likely give out? WEll, that's part of our biological functions,kiddo. Besides, it's great for the body system. ******** SO....KAMOTE, ANYONE? *

THE BATTLE IS RAGING

........................and the verbal exchanges flared... BRENDA is at it again! Why now, I wonder.... Perhaps she may have thought she has lost her name recall 'value' [as if she is valued at all!] and felt she must grab the headlinesonce more... .....0r...is it another ploy to divert the attention from the VENABLE transaction entered into by the arroyo people? I wonder.... really! 0r...maybe it is another way to ingratiate herself to her political benefactor, without whose machinery, she wouldn't have had the chance to be included in the administration slate and make that 'win' in a national election. That is, if most Pinoys deem that electionto be fair and honest. ...ha ha! * The PROBLEM in INANG BAYAN has been endless, and pidal's wife has done another faux pas, e.g., aside from the VENABLE contract. THE EO 464, according to Fr. J.Bernas,S.J. is illegal. This Executive Order was issued by Mrs. pidal and aims to gag all government people. It prohibits them from testifying, 0r saying anything about what they know, WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL FROM MALACANANG. This is now being echoed in different government agencies by way of implementing guidelines to be drafted by the corresponding heads. GAGGING her allies made one presidential adviser's BP jack up, and his heart condition worsen.Pity that "poor" guy! He must have been bothered by his conscience evading the truth in front of the Senate Probe and broadcasted live via national TV. ** THEN there is the "revelation" of BRENDA that Cory and Drilon are up to assasinate mrs. pidal! Cory? ....in a plot to assasinate? She must be kidding! GOODNESS! *** QUO VADIS, PILIPINAS? Where are we going? OUR COUNTRY HAVE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS... AND THE MOST DANGEROUS ONES ARE THE LEADERS.... What I mean to say is...those illegal ones. They spin tales and yarns so well that even they, themselves, believe that they are indeed....telling the truth, sabi nila!--------------------

NUMBERS & PEOPLE

TWO WEEKS AGO, an old man came aroundand asked how many resided in our house. I was wondering why an old man, maybe in his 70s would do that. So I asked him politely who he was. He replied he was from the KOKOZEI CHOZA... and he showed me his ID card hanging on his neck. * YEAH,....you're right! I didn't know that! Oh well..... He promised he'll be back after a couple of days. I dismissed that as some weird salesman or somethin... EXACTLY TWO DAYS LATER,he did come back! Goodness! I was out working on the hedges and cutting the ones fronting my room when he rang the doorbell. Apparently, he didn't notice me on atop the step-ladder on the far side of the main house. He said he was leaving something [an envelope] and will pick it up after a week. I took it and thank him for his efforts. Here, you HAVE TO say something to thank everyone's efforts: to the PostMen, the Meter Readers [electric and gas]and even the Newspaper Delivery Man/Woman, practically EVERYONE! It's part of that gratitude thing. I left it for JIJI to see. As usual, he said he'll do it next time. ** DATA-GATHERING STARTED here again. That's what all those envelope was all about. The Census-taking is done every five years just to UPDATE THE RECORDS. Most services like the LOCAL POLICE, the CITY HALL, the CENSUS AND OTHERS...here go around and take note of the change: in telephone numbers, the number of residents, the names of additional members, and so on... I guess this is good; it updates its record once every five year and sets their record straight. Doing this also makes them aware who resides where and thus makes regular contact with the corresponding agencies. *** Take the example of those illegal/non-visa foreigners.. The policemen regularly visit the residences ON FOOT and thus keeps track of the people in the community. Thus, if they suspect some illegal residents there, they contact the IMMIGRATION officers and these IOs work from there. These results in numerous raids and arrests of those "Os" or what most Pinoys here call "BILOG". **** I WONDER.....do we have updated STATISTICS in INANG BAYAN? .1. do we still have FOOT PATROLS [THE POLICEMEN WHO GO AROUND WALKING AND CHECKING HOUSEHOLDS FOR CRIMES, SAFETY, ET CETERA? ..2. do we say THANK YOU to POSTMEN, METER-READERS, POLICEMEN? ... 3. do we HAVE CENSUS/STATISTICS PEOPLE GOING AROUND [BY FOOT] AND CHECK THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS IN ANY GIVEN AREA? I WONDER.... *****

HELPING THE COMMUNITY

The TIME: 8:00 A.M. The Place: JINJA- [the LOCAL SHINTO SHRINE] I GOT UP early today for the scheduled KUSAKARI [GRASS-CUTTING] at the local JINJA [SHINTO SHRINE] near our home. AS USUAL, JIJI didn't go. He never does. BUT I DID. * IT WAS a sight to behold:men and women all walking towards the TEMPLE. It was as if everyone were united and determined to do something for the community. ** INSIDE THE SHRINE is a TEMPLE: very similar to our own CHAPEL. The only difference is that it is bordered by large trees. The EVERGREENS offer shade in the summer, which is good. The fresh air it gives is a welcome treat, indeed. It also offers a sort of spiritual refuge for those who want peace and quiet. For these refreshing greeneries, it is always easy to spot a SHRINE wherever I go... in fact, anywhere in The Land of the Samurais. *** OUR AREA is composed of several GROUPS. ALL these groups converged today and cleaned the Shrine in preparation for the MATSURI [FESTIVAL] scheduled on the second Saturday& Sunday of October. These MATSURIs are done as a form of GRATITUDE FOR A GOOD HARVEST, quite similar to that one we have somewhere in Laguna.[sorry, I forgot the name of the place]. **** WHILE the meeting was primarily intended for the cleaning and sprucing up of the area around the Temple, most women, as well as the men in the community used the time to exchange pleasantries and revive friendships among the participants. ***** THE WOMEN mostly took care of the small grasses along the path leading to the TEMPLE; THE MEN took care of the trees and the big bulk of dried weeds and placed them in small trucksto be deposited somewhere. ****** ME? I stayed with the OBA-SANs [TITAs] in our group, and well....talked for a while with some of them. But mostly, I limited mine with the AISATSUs [GREETINGs]. I was hoping I can catch up with the Sunday Mass in IWATA... but due to the volume of grass and other 'talk'...I failed to. ******* AFTER that, area leaders distributed the drinks: a can of juice/tea/coffee. It was also one way to check the attendance. That spells a penalty/fine of 1,500JpY [PhP 750.00] for each absence. Some areas impose a bigger amount. ******** THEN ALL HEADED FOR HOME. ON THE way home, one of the OBA-San in our group asked me to accompany her to her HATAKE [paddy]. She handed me a couple of bags with GREEN PEPPER and a kilo and a half [maybe] of SATOIMO [TARO/GABE sa 'Pinas]. ********* I ONLY WISH we have similar activities like this in Inang Bayan. Working together in any endeavour would surely benefit the area we live in. Giving money or making donations is a good deed. BUT GIVING SOMETHING OF YOURSELF IS BEST. WE must not only take; we must also give. ********** GOOD DAY. GREAT SWEAT. HAPPY INTERACTION. PLEASANT SMILES. *

STRANGE, BUT TRUE.....

STRANGE, BUT TRUE.... ----- Isn't it strange how a 20 dollar bill seems like such a large amount when you donate it to church, but such a small amount when you go shopping? * Isn't it strange how 2 hours seem so long when you're at church, and how short they seem when you're watching a good movie? ** Isn't it strange that you can't find a word to say when you're praying, but you have no trouble thinking what to talk about with a friend? *** Isn't it strange how difficult and boring it is to read one chapterof the Bible, but how easy it is to read 100 pages of a popular novel or ZANE GREY book? **** Isn't it strange how everyone wants front-row-tickets to concerts or games, but they do whatever is possible to sit at the last row in Church? ***** Isn't it strange how we need to know about an event for Church 2-3weeks before the day so we can include it in our agenda, but we can adjust it for other events in the last minute? ****** Isn't it strange how difficult it is to learn a fact about God to share it with others, but how easy it is to learn, understand,extend and repeat gossip? ******* Isn't it strange how we believe everything that magazines and newspapers say, but we question the words in theBible? ******** Isn't it strange how everyone wants a place in heaven, but they don't want to believe, do, or say anything to get there? ********* Isn't it strange how we send jokes in e-mails and they are forwarded right away, but when we are going to send messages about God, we think about it twice before we share it with others? ********** IT'S STRANGE ISN'T IT? Now that you've read this message, STOP and THINK A-WHILE.... AND SINCE IT IS SUNDAY..... GO TO THAT PLACE AND TRY TO TALK TO GOD ! ....YOU CAN DO IT! GOD BLESS, EVERYONE !!!

GOOD FOOD & INSTANT PARTIES

************************************************************************************************* PREPARING A MEAL ISN'T AS GREAT as when you have all the necessary ingredients around..... BUT WHAT MAKES ME WORRY MOST is when you have to prepare something for unexpected visitors! No notice at all ...and not all ingredients are available! AND I have done just that! The result?Well, I'd like to think it's great. JUDGING by the way they all lapped it up, I'd rate it a success [ am I just patting my OWN back,here?]. Or is it just the fact that these hungry hordes are lapping it upfor sheer lack of 'other things' on the table? * DIFFERENT PEOPLE offer varying ways of recipes. But I have prepared mine the way I deem good. You see, I follow instincts rather than the cleanly-laid steps often written in great books of sorts. I simply use my taste buds to guide me. PREPARING A MEAL offers me the power to do as I will. I guess it points to the fact that I have complete control of my 'kingdom.'... Not that I am a good cook...no, not that. ** MY DAD was a great Chef. He worked in different Hotels and cooked at home as well. He loved cooking for us meals which are only found in ChinaTown Restos. MY MOM also cooked well. Hers was a continuous learning... assisted by Aling Bening, who, up to now, serves as my cook whenever there are gatherings at Casa Montebello. We always had great meals at home. It was those meals I now sorely miss. How I wish I paid more attention to Nanay's cooking.... Alas, all that is impossible now. *** WHAT PLEASES ME MOST is that all my repertoire have been wiped out in a sec. .Altho none were left for myself... I was sure glad other people,those not of my own, appreciated my efforts and amateur attempts at PORK ROASTS,CHICKEN&PORK ADOBO, &PANCIT BIHON. SINCE NONE was left for me, I had to settle with two pieces of PAN and a glass of milk. **** INSTANT PARTY. GOOD FOOD. HUNGRY STOMACHS.

*****

WHEN YOU FEEL DOWN: SHOP!

I FELT SOMEWHAT UNEASY.. I don't know how to say it... But I just can't stay at home and watch TV. Besides, I can't even say what I feel: somehow, I feel out. I can't even voice an opinion. Goodness !!! I am lonely! * ....So... I decided to go out after my last class. I remember a line in one of the Reads I have encountered a zillion years ago... It says: "When you feel down, wear bright clothes and face the sun. Affirm: I am good, I am loved, I am beautiful! ** "What better way to make oneself beautiful than to start with how I look? So...... I went to the Parlor first and looked inside. I asked if I can be accommodated. I know, I know... I didn't have an appointment. But it's too late for that now. I need to pamper myself and start with my hair. OK? Good. I was lucky to be taken in. After sitting for two and a half hour:being shampooed, rinsed, cut and blowed-dry... I was off to my next destination: THE SHOPPING PLAZA: Step 1: The SUPERMARKET! I SAW ON TV that there is a YUSHO [VICTORY] SALE in almost all Supermarkets, department stores that have connections [that is, partly owned by Hanshin[ with the TIGERS. So there. I went to ITO YOKADO first. Yeah, this one is owned by the 7-11 Group here... THE DISCOUNTS ranged from 10-20% ....It was fun, indeed....especially if one has oodles and oodles of dinero to splurge. After several bags,packages...I stopped and wait for tomorrow....at another one: JUSCO. I heard they, too, are offering 20% off.Cool. *** THE TROUBLE is that it IS Autumn. Most Summer things have been swept out of the counters and locked for next. So I was able to buy only the left-oversummer tees, sizes LL and L for the guys back home. WHEN I passed by the ColdCut section, I saw some BLACK TIGER SHRIMPS which was up for sale at 70 yen each!Down 30. And 'twas from the Philippines! It says so in the tag. At least, kumikita ang 'Pinas if I patronize Philippine products, eh? I did take 10 for future use: EBI TEMPURA. **** HAVING EXERCISED MY LEGS by walking here and there... looking for the best buy,I grew tired and decided to call it a day. ***** IT WAS DARK OUTSIDE as I emerged from the covered roof parking. And the traffic was bumper-to-bumper. Gosh! It was nearly six and most employees and workers are going home. Just like me. ***** SO...SHOPPING BOOSTS ONE'S EGO? NAAAH! IT only lightens your wallet! ******* GOIN' SHOPPING ? COME WITH ME! ********

WINNING & LOSING....

GRRR......IT'S THE TIGERS!!!! LAST NIGHT, the HANSHIN TIGERS won.... They capped the BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP for the Central League this year. Oh yes, we knew that days [weeks?..no; months? oh yeah!] that the win is inevitable. Why,.... the Team has been leading way ahead of their opponents since the start of the season. THE GIANTS which, btw, is the Team I was rooting for since some years back, stays second to the last. Grrr.... * ALTHOUGH I am not a TIGERS fan, it never stop to amaze me whenever the HANSHIN TIGERS win. The same thing happened a couple of years ago. The river which is in the heart of the city makes for the focal point for fans and spectators alike. YOU SEE, these fans go to the streets and celebrate in wild frenzy. To cap the street celebration, they go and jump to the river. This has caused some death in the past as a result of the stampede. One drunk old manalso jumped and died. ** IN an effort to keep some semblance of order, the police imposed measures to keep law and order. They have threatened to arrest people who'll jump to the river. They have made steel contraptions and put up tall fences to ward off those who would try to jump. ALL THESE MEASURES proved inadequate to contain the wild celebration of HANSHIN fans. AGAIN...last night, fans went to the heart of OSAKA and celebrated. Shops closed early in preparation for the hullabaloo. The police came in full force. The color blue dominated the scene as early as 5:00 p.m. Yet when the game was over, the men in blue were helpless .....NUDE young men jumped from the roof of shops, ..men in boxer shorts jumped to the river, ...some men were dragged from the fence as they prepared to climb it; ....and more.... ALMOST ALL WERE FANS: Fans who were willing to shed some 16 lapad[translated to pesos: 80,000 PhP!!!] for one ticket for that one night game!I call that malaking ka-eng-engan! Why, that amount could feed the whole Barangay in some desperate neighborhood somewhere! *** I understand their joy and happiness of the moment. IMAGINE THE TIGERS wresting it all in homeground at the KOSHIEN [the place where all High School BaseballChampionships are played and where they are eyed for recruitment to become PROs; it is the HOME for Hanshin Tigers, too]. ....and from their long-standing rival: the GIANTS! That spelled double victory, eh? That must have sparked more daring frenzy among the fans. **** MY FRIEND NAOKO, who hails from KANSAI [that part where OSAKA, KOBE, KYOTO, HIMEJI-KEN, NARA are...] was naturally overjoyed and lost her voice shouting and cheering as she gulped cans of beer while watching the Games on TV. Since she is employed in Shizuoka, she has just to content herself with the tube. I doubt whether she feels good today as she tackles her job at the local SHIAKUSHO [CITY HALL]. Poor one, she must be reeling from the hangover... ***** AS FOR ME, I have accepted the fact that sometimes... we can't have everything in life served to us in a silver platter. Oftentimes we can have our cake and eat it, too. On lean days, we might as well be contented with what is on hand. GOD IS GREAT. I MAY NOT HAVE WON THIS TIME, BUT THERE IS ALWAYS TOMORROW TO LOOK UP TO. That much I know.... ****** OMEDETO [CONGRATULATIONS] HIROKO! YOUR TEAM WON! I know you are happy... CONGRATULATIONS HANSHIN!

*******

CPR: THE SAVING TYPE or the DEADLY ONE?

I read with disgust the news today.

IT'S ABOUT THE CPR!

OH, NO...not that one; that one one used to save lives.

I know how to do that.

It helps people, rather than kill them.

*

What I am talking about is the CPR

or the CALIBRATED-PREEMPTIVE RESPONSE

which took effect last week in lieu of the "MAXIMUM TOLERANCE"

imposed by the forces loyal to the "illegal occupant/tenant" by the Pasig.

Goodness!

**

ANO ITO?

MARTIAL LAW?

OR

THE BEGINNING OF MARTIAL RULE?

HA-HA!

***

Garci's caller must be soooo DESPERATE,

that the Great Pretender have to impose such measures,

in order to force people to stay away from the streets.

****

THIS MORNING,

I saw a news report that says Lomibao resportedly said in an interview that

even former President Cory and Susan Poe, the widow of FPJ, are not exempted.

"All will be treated equal under the Law."

So he says.....

NOW, "WHO IS THE LAW"?

Yun lang bang nasa poder ang may karapatang lumabag ng Batas?

At yung ibang ordinaryong mamamayan, eh,

..."magdusa kayo!"

Ganun?

MALI BANG MAGTANONG AT MAGHANAP NG KATOTOHANAN?

MALI BANG MAG-USAP, MAGSALITA NG KAMALIAN O KATIWALIAN

NG MGA NAMUMUNO SA GOBYERNO?

MAY DEMOKRASYA PA BA SA BANSA?

O MAY DIKTADURA NA?

SINO ANG DIKTADOR?

SINO ANG TAMA?

SINO ANG MALI?

SO many questions, but the Malacanang 'resident' is evasive.

She prefer to sail in silence as the people wonder whether she truly is truly

the legally elected President of this once-Great Nation.

*****

Whatever happens,

the People will not be complacent anymore....

******

Go on, make heroes of those who dare say the truth...

Arrest them and let us see the reaction of the majority of the people

who view everything from the sidelines.

As they say,

"We will cross the bridge when we get there..."

*****

THIS one doesn't administer the cure to the ailing Republic and its People;

she administers the lethal poison to eliminate her opponents,

especially those who sound the alarm

and those who do not agree with her

dark ways.