Long Hair

I just looked on my last blog and saw that I had a short hair in my photos. I realized how my hair grew so fast. I can clearly recall what exactly happened that day when I had my haircut. Funny because I never intended to make it short. I was working in the hospital and we have a patient whose watcher is a hairdresser. She used to own her hair parlor and she is really good when it comes to beauty and hair. I can tell because of the way she looks and I heard that she cut her own hair. One afternoon, I came early in our unit and was waiting for the shift in the pantry. This lady came in and asked if anybody wants free hair cut. Nobody answered her and out of nowhere I said I want to have a trim. Usually, it takes days for me to think if I want a haircut or even just hair trim. Well, in my thought it's just a trim, it'll be fine. So, she started to cut my hair. After few mins. I saw many long hair strands on the floor and I got so worried. It was months before my wedding and my hair should be long. Before I said anything, the hair cutting was done already. I got sad but I was trying to be positive that my hair will grow fast. Indeed, my hair grew quickly. Now my hair is as long as the way it was.

Photos as promised

I wrote about my experience in Samal Island the other month and promised to post some photos of it. Here are the pix of us that time. Windy afternoon

With my cuz'n Melissa in Gen. Moncado's House. Behind us is a nice view of Davao City.

Cool waters of Hagimit Falls.

Finally, my requested shot of the cave where the millions of bats are.

Filipino Terms

I was too hungry earlier and was looking for anything to munch just to feed my growling stomach. I saw a cracker and asked my mother if I could have "sky flakes". The brand of the cracker is not sky flakes though but I still called it that way. Before I had my first bite, I laughed at myself because of the term I used to call the cracker. This is one of the examples of Filipino Terms. We sometimes call things by brand names instead of the generic names or we simply have our own term to refer a thing.

Here are other examples of Filipino terms we use daily. I know some of you are using these words in your daily conversation with other people.

Xerox = Photocopy
Colgate = Toothpaste
Coke = Soda
Bachelor (or any known bus company in the area) = Bus
Auto = Car
Frigeder = Refrigerator

I forgot the other terms. You may add if there's more you can remember.

Filipino Wedding Dance

It is common in a filipino wedding that the couple will be dancing while the guests will be pinning peso bills on the couples' dresses. But wouldn't it be great on that special day when the couple will be having a rare and an astounding production number??? Let me share to you a video clip of a couple dancing tinikling in the tune of "Bebot". I was really amazed how they did it. Enjoy!

Millions of Bats

The other week, some relatives came all the way from USA to visit their homeland, Philippines. I spent a day with them in Samal Island. My aunt invited me to go with them on an Inland-Tour. There were 3 destinations for the said tour. First was the Moncado Old White House of General Moncada, it was built on top part of Samal Island wherein I was able to see the nice beaches below and as well as the beautiful city of Davao right from where I stood. Second was the Hagimit Falls, a nice place for swimming and even camping. What fascinated me most was the Monfort Bat Coservation Park. I never expected to see bats that day. All I thought there will just be couple of them but never in my thoughts to see millions of them in one cave. There's no enough space for everyone on the wall of the cave and some were fighting to get a space to rest while waiting for the sun to go down. It was past four when we arrived in the area and all the bats were ready for their night flight. It was an extraordinary experience for me since I'm really scared of bats. They look like rats with wings. It's so disgusting to watch them but before the tour ended I realized that that was such a great wonder of the world to see. Bats are part of the nature and play a great role in the eco-system. They help eliminate insects by eating them. They eat some fruits, specifically that of from Talisay and they will drop the seeds just anywhere allowing another Talisay plant to grow. There must be more profound reason why they do exist. Though I was too scared looking at them and hardly breathe when I get near the cave because of their unexplainable smell, I still asked to have a picture taken as a keepsake. I still have to contact my cousin to e-mail me the photo once they get back to the USA. Meantime, you can check the Bat Sanctuary Website.

Toothpick Made Me Cry

One fine afternoon after work, I was walking in the street alone. The surrounding was so calm and it seems time went so slow. Suddenly, dark clouds covered the shining sun and the rain started to fall. I passed by a grocery store so, I decided to go inside. There was nothing in my mind on what to buy but I just killed the time and waited for the rain to cease. I started to walk in and came into the section where the cellophanes and paper pouches were placed. After taking few more steps, I stood in front of some nice scented candles in different shapes and colors. I picked one and examined how it was made. I was thinking to create one of those when I will have time. I saw more of the sold items but I did not get anything to buy and continued to walk around. I enjoyed looking around. I did not realized that it took me half an hour looking around and I noticed that the rain outside subsided already. I started my way going to the exit when someone held my right elbow and whispered to my ear, "follow me." My eyebrows met, wondering what that meant. I turned and saw that it was the security guard of the store. I heard my heart beating fast and pounding hard. My palms were sweating though the place was cold. I hardly opened my mouth to ask, "what is happening?” I heard no answer from him. My thoughts were playing on what exactly happened awhile ago but I couldn't think of anything that I have done wrong. My knees were trembling. Tears covered my eyes and were about to fall. As we came into the office on the second floor, there were two other people who were waiting. I saw several monitors for the different parts of the store. One came close and asked me to get something from my pocket. I was like, "what?!" He repeated, "get that thing in your pocket." So I slowly placed my hand to check what he wanted to see. To my surprise on my hand was a box of toothpicks. Oh my! How did it get in there? I cannot remember that I placed something inside my blouse's pocket. I was about to explain but it was as if there was a lump in my throat that I couldn't speak but sob. In my mind I was asking "what must I do?" I was not able do anything but cry so hard. How I wished that I would be swallowed by the ground and that I would just disappear. I kept on mumbling to myself, "God, please spare me from this trouble". I was praying so hard. I was still crying and crying until I realized that......I was actually on my bed and that I was just dreaming. My pillow was wet already with tears and I felt my heart was aching. Hayyyy.... Thank God! It was just a dream. I don't want to be put to jail and be on shame just for toothpicks.

(Extracted from my other blog.... Al-t's Domain)

Craving for Siopao

One of the most favorite things I like to do is "eating". (LOL) I think it's not only me, most of us love to eat but I observed something about myself. When I am not able to eat what I am craving for in an instant that I am so hungry, still I will not get full until I get what my taste buds need.

When we were strolling in the mall earlier my tummy started to complain and wants "chicken siopao." Not again! Even I was a kid I already love siopao. It's a complete meal for me. It contains both carbohydrates and protein and no need for me to eat rice and viand. It's been awhile that I was not able to savor one of my favorite filipino delicacies. For those who don't have any idea what siopao is, it is a steamed bun with fillings. My most favorite filling is chicken but there are other varieties, like beef, pork, mongo beans, ube (purple yum). I remember my grandmother, she loves cooking and out of all her recipes I only asked her to give me a copy of her siopao recipe. Her own version of bun is not that super white compared to siopao sold in the market but it is so soft and tasty. Her fillings are not also the usual ones, one of those is sweetened coconut meat. The other kind of filling she put in is vegetarian meat, with potatoes, pineapples and spices. Those are super delicious. Though I was not able to keep the recipe she gave me, I am compiling some links you can refer to if you are interested to make your home-made siopao.

Siopao Recipe: Method #1
Steamed Dumplings
Pinoy Recipe
Kusina ni Manang (Manang's Kitchen)