Mitchi Chronicles 3, Part 1: A Journey Out Of A History Book

Spoiler to my third day:

My chronicles for the third day is comprised of two parts: my trip in Dapitan City, and my bonding with my friends.

Here goes...

December 9, 2012, Sunday.

The next day, after the mass in Misamis Occidental, my cousin, my niece, my nephew, and I set out on a journey to Dapitan. Instead of moping around and doing my plans, why not get into this I-don't-have-a-plan type of thing? Maybe I might enjoy what I will get to see, and bring home fresh memories from my travels.

First off. There was one restaurant that is situated  near a long river that one can see in Dapitan. This trendy restaurant in Burgos, Dapitan goes with a rather "chill" name, "Inato Lang." I cannot literally translate what the phrase "inato lang" means, but it can be translated to something as one that is intimate, cozy, and homey... something like, you can be yourself and be comfortable.

The lawn's neat with all the coconut trees sprouting from the ground, and the field carpeted by green grass. Of course, this is what you will see by the time you enter the premises of the restaurant. It does give one a homey feeling. Inato lang.

My niece and my nephew as the models, candid, right? Anyway, this is how Inato Lang looks like. Because the travel down the road from Dipolog to Dapitan to Rizal is long and exhausting, one needs to stop and rest, especially if you have a vehicle and you are the driver. The Chinese-style design of the roof is one indicator (or can I say, landmark) of Inato, and that you are almost near Rizal. 

My nephew and my niece about to enter Inato Lang

We did not stop to eat here, just to admire the scenery. Of course, when you get to dine in here, all you will ever see is grandeur, and all you'll ever experience is dining like royalty. With an open space and fresh air, I doubt you will forget Inato Lang.

I had fallen in love with the river in Dapitan ever since I laid my eyes on it back in 2008. It was my first time to see a river because in Cebu, I had not seen one. What amazed me was the luxurious green wallpaper of trees and plant life that adorned the mountain and the plains and the fields by the river. It was paradise, and it was like a promise land. 

This river is a view from Inato Lang.

Because the river stretches long, passengers can enjoy the view during travels and watch as the river empties into the  Dapitan Bay.

Finally! After all that admiration for the river, we finally reached Dapitan City. The first destination we had was the restaurant that my cousin had been telling me about: Kamayan ni Manay. When I mean "kamayan," I mean that you can literally eat with your hands. If other cultures utilize utensils, if most Eastern countries use chopsticks, many Filipinos eat their meals with their hands. It is a cultural thing, and it is something that I am certainly very proud of. 

If you are in Dapitan and happened to pass by Kamayan, do not be intimidated by its luxurious appeal. Though grandly decorated and built, the place is actually very homey and comfortable to dine in.

Let's get in, shall we?

The one thing I love about Kamayan is due to the fact that it is sprinkled with the local atmosphere and heavily decorated with the native materials to give that authentic Filipino feel. If you are one looking for Filipino-style restaurants in Dapitan City, you definitely should put Kamayan on your list, and the first priority at that.

Do not fuss about all these richly decorated tables. It just means that we, Filipinos, know how to dine in style.

Because this is a native restaurant, it will showcase native food as well. We have been accustomed to eating our native food, so native food served in a native restaurant is just a wonderful celebration of the culture that is already imbibed in us.

Manga-on ta na!

That is one common expression Filipinos have when eating at the table. You might be familiar with the Japanese "Itadakimasu," or the Korean "Jal meokgetseumnida," expressions which mean thanking the server or someone cooking the food. In a Catholic nation like the Philippines, thanking the food means praying before meals. And usually, after prayer, people will say the expression, "Manga-on na ta," which means, "Let's start eating." In Tagalog, this is, "Kain na tayo." This is an expression you use when all of you are at table, and someone says this to commence eating. You also say this expression when you are eating and someone passes by... just a way of calling his attention and inviting him to eat. In this situation, the most polite way of responding is actually not eating with the person inviting you to eat. Just say, "No, thank you." It was just said out of respect, as the people eating might think that the person who passed by might not have eaten something yet.

Don't think of it as something weird. This is just a part of our culture.

Anyway, sorry for shifting gears, but finally, let's get to the food. This is just a sample of some of the food served at Kamayan. Sad to say, I cannot eat all of the food served due to food allergies.

As a way of inviting you, "Manga-on na ta!"

Kamayan is situated near Gloria de Dapitan, the one and only commercial hub in Dapitan, housing Zamboanga del Norte's one and only theme park, Fantasyland. I will not dwell into the details of Fantasyland, but I had a really enjoyable memory of that park when Riza, Yang-yang, Dodoy (my nephew), and Eugene (Riza's boyfriend at that time, now her hubby) went there for an early Christmas treat back in December 23, 2009. One interesting trivia: Gloria de Dapitan is located near the beach. And oh, Dapitan City is also the home of the famous Dakak Park and Beach Resort, which I got to visit only once when I was only six years old.

Moving forward...

Next stop was Dapitan Shrine. Every Filipino student who had studied Philippine history knows that our national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, was punished heavily by the ruling Spanish government during his era, and thus, was exiled to Dapitan. I really had no idea how the shrine looks like, but it amazes me that I can finally visit the place that I only get to read from history books.

Once you get to the place, you just park your vehicle outside the gates of the shrine. Anyway, this wide lawn is the first thing that will greet you the moment you get in. Because it is a heritage site, you will get to see the Philippine flag, flying high and proud while being hoisted on the flag pole.

My cousin certainly had been to the place several times that she was my personal tour guide. Now, how cool is that? First building we entered was the museum of the shrine. It looked like a local library to me, but it houses, not books, but memorabilia and everything else that give more than what you can just read straight out of the history book.

This is the entrance to the shrine museum.

The first thing that I saw was a gallery of pictures of men and women, all of who were the ancestors of our national hero. Lo! You can even see Rizal's picture at the upper right side!

Jose P. Rizal (top right) and his ancestors

More picture of Rizal's ancestors

Ehem, ehem.... Jose P. Rizal might be famous for being a scientist, linguist, doctor, hero, patriot, painter, and others, but he was also certainly famous for a lot of ladies being linked to him. A number of Filipinas were linked to him, such as his (you gotta believe this!) distant cousin and first love, Leonor Rivera. Maria Clara, the heroine in Rizal's novel, "Noli Me Tangere," was said to be patterned after Leonor Rivera. However, ladies of other nationalities were also linked to him, such as his Japanese interpreter in Japan, O-sei-san, and his common-law wife, Josephine Bracken. So you see, it does not matter what nationalities people have when it comes to friendship and love. ^_*

Leonor Rivera, is that you? Yes, she's the first girl at the left side.

Note: Rizal was said to be a playboy, which is really not true. His first love was Leonor. The others were just flings or friends. One of them girl friends was Usui Seiko, popularly known as O-sei-san (upper right in the big picture). And who would forget Rizal's final love and common-law wife, Josephine Bracken? (lone picture at the right)

Rizal was not only a doctor, for he was also a teacher. In Dapitan, he spent time doing worthwhile things and made use of what he had. It was a lonely exile, yes, but he had produced a lot of things to use his time.

One of the things he had while on exile was this blackboard. See, it's rather different from the blackboard that we use nowadays.

Rizal's blackboard

There will be no teacher if there will be no students. During Rizal's exile, he had organized a curriculum to teach his students. And yes, even the name of his students appear on the list.

List of the curriculum, oral examiners, and students

Remarkable pieces of history in the museum, such as Rizal's clothes, replica of the carved images, and even the pictures of his students were displayed. If you get to visit the shrine, you should not miss going inside the museum.

And all these men were Jose Rizal's students...

Jose Rizal's pants

Replicas of the carved images

"Mother's Revenge"

Finally, after examining and admiring and studying the pieces of historical items inside the museum, it was finally time to go stroll around the property. 

The first house that we chanced upon was the Casa Residencia, where Rizal retired at the end of the day during his exile. Most of the structures were made of wood. It is, therefore, a fact that most of the structures here are already replicas of the original. Like most wooden structures in the olden times, the Casa Residencia was elevated. 

This is how the casa looks like from afar. In the property, there are a lot of structures constructed such as that one on which sat my niece, an obelisk of the Freemasons, and a statue of Jose Rizal himself.

Casa Residencia as seen from afar

Oh yes! Who would not be contented with just looking at the Casa from the outside? If you want to use your time in Dapitan wisely, you should not be intimidated to get inside the Casa.

Let us?

I noticed that the living room is so spacious and neat. This kind of house is easy to maintain compared to houses adorned with lots of furniture. Another room that intrigued me inside the Casa was Rizal's room. I had not talked with the caretakers of the shrine, but I noticed that the entrance to the room was barricaded with ropes...maybe to prevent illegal entry. On the elegant bed was placed a picture of the national hero himself.

Inside Rizal's room

This is the replica of Rizal's kitchen. It is comfortably situated a few feet from the house. Clay utensils used for cooking were also preserved well for display.

Rizal's kitchen filled with love, love, love

In college, the book that we used was the one authored by Gregorio F. Zaide. It was entitled "José Rizal: Life, Works, and Writings." I hope authors will forgive me, but I am not really one who has a long attention span when it comes to reading. This comes as an exception when I am talking about Zaide. He told Rizal's life in a way like he was simply telling a story. Because I am a story writer myself, I am entertained with stories. 

One of the things I remembered during Rizal class was about the aqueduct that Rizal had engineered while in Dapitan. He had found water source from the mountain, and he directed it to flow to his property. With his knowledge in science and technology, he was able to put water to good use. I had never imagined that this wild mind of mine could ever see the aqueduct for real. Even for more than a century, the water from the aqueduct was flowing still.

I can only imagine the thrill that the European explorers must have felt when they saw new and unknown lands. The feeling of ecstasy filled me when I saw the structure. 

I love you, aqueduct!

By the way, that white figure at the left side of the picture is a bust of Ferdinand Blumentritt, lecturer, author, and Jose Rizal's confidante.

Zaide had mentioned about the aqueduct in his book, and this was one thing I never imagined that I can see in my lifetime. I wonder, why do I love anything about water?

No matter how exciting your day is, there will always be times when Mother Nature does her work. If you are looking for the restroom, you have two options inside the shrine. The first is located in the museum, and the second is located in the field. You will find a figure looking like a huge rock, but in reality, it is the restroom in the shrine. I had used the one in the museum, but I had also used the one inside the artificial rock.

This is a spoiler.

The restroom in the artificial rock is air-conditioned, and each toilet bowl in a cubicle is equipped with the bidet. Such a super cool john!

This is the pond located inside the shrine. From afar is the sea. The collaboration of the waters in different basins, the rocks, trees, plants, and the sky all made up this relaxing abode. Located in this spot near the pond is a giant rock which was called "Mi Retiro" rock. 

I can only imagine Rizal retiring on the rock and writing stuff after a long day at work.

This is the "Mi Retiro" Rock It was said that "Mi Retiro" was a poem which Rizal wrote when he was sitting on this rock. Because of the height of the rock, there installed was a flight of stairs for tourists to climb up to. I myself had been up the rock, and I could see much of the property which I cannot see on plain field.

The view from the top was so breathtaking.

Imagine sitting on the Mi Retiro rock while contemplating and watching the wonders of nature in the yard.

Mi Retiro... my retreat...

A lot of other structures such as the hexagonal and the octagonal houses stood on the property. Each structure had functions of its own, like one of the wooden structures served as the classroom. After lingering for more than an hour, we decided to hit the streets to get to Dipolog. 

Before we reached the shrine, we passed by the monument which was erected to commemorate Rizal's landing on Dapitan. My cousin promised that we would go and take pictures after the shrine tour, and she did kept the promise!

The landing site, which is located in Sta. Cruz Beach in Dapitan, is a historical landmark that is so strategically located that it can be seen by anyone passing or driving around the location, or going to the Rizal Shrine. Another marker across the site, standing at the intersection of the roads, is a large cross.

The landing site was barricaded during my tour, and if I had asked locals as to why, I would have gotten an answer. But if I were to use my common sense, maybe the landing site was barricaded or closed to prevent urchins from vandalizing or degrading the heritage site.

The Rizal Landing Site

Another famous spot could be seen in Dapitan: the map of Mindanao, which was made by Rizal and a teacher of his from Ateneo de Manila. I could have gotten a good picture of the map if it were an aerial shot... Nevertheless, the green grass that you see is the map.

The map of Mindanao

My historical tour ended early afternoon, so it was time to hit the streets and get back to the hotel in Dipolog. 

Soooo.... this day was Manny Pacquiao date for the Filipino people, but it was a historical tour for me.

What surprises await me in Dipolog?

Stay tuned for the second part of my third day! ^_^

좋은 하루 되세요!!!!

Mitchi Chronicles 2: Of Food Trips and Land Trips

December 8, 2012, Saturday.

Because it was the feast of the Immaculate Conception, I did not miss mass. Even if I slept late, it was not an excuse not to attend the solemnity. So there. If I had to catch up on sleep, I had to do it after the mass. But before that...

I checked in the hotel. And the hotel offers room service. Why not take advantage of it? It was a good thing that Sunburst is located downstairs. Otherwise, I would have to go out to eat elsewhere. It was worth the stay.

My apologies. I was not able to capture a photo of the breakfast that I partook inside the room. I think it is all right. I will sound so narcissistic if I post everything, and I mean, everything. Anyway, I took my meal while enjoying the show on TV. And it happened to be "Showbiz Korea," which featured the latest and juiciest scoops in and out of Korean showbiz. Thank you, thank you so much, Arirang Channel, for saving my life! One of the news that got me giddy was the news about Song Joong Ki and his 2012 hit movie, "Werewolf Boy." I mean, I love Joong Ki since his Goo Yong Ha days, but I can say he really is a good actor. Not bias much, but really, he's good. You may think it's easy to portray the part of a feral boy, but it isn't a piece of cake at all.

Anyway, moving on...

One of the reasons why I traveled to Dipolog was because of the restaurants only found in the city. My cousin, however, invited me to Rizal, my father's hometown. Of course, it had been years since I last went to Rizal, so it is time to go visit the town. Before the travel back home, I met with my cousin, my uncle, and my nephew to Lee Plaza, my favorite mall in the city. Things get boring if you decide to eat in the same fastfood chains that you happen to eat in Cebu, so we decided to have lunch at Big Joe's.

I have to tell you this. If you happen to be in Dipolog City, you should never, ever miss Big Joe's. This chic restaurant is the home of affordable super burgers. When I mean super, I mean that your burger will have a lot of toppings, depending on the menu. Name affordable, and I'll spell out Big Joe's. For less than Php100, you can buy a scrumptious burger that will leave your tongue asking for more even if your stomach can no longer take it. See how amazing it is?

But Big Joe's is not only the home of the big, luscious burgers. They also offer a variety of other food like how a ritzy yet affordable restaurant should. My nephew is fond of sisig, so he ordered one. Sisig, by the way, is a dish comprised of parts from the head of the pig, such as the fat and the skin, and other meaty pork products. Sisig will not be complete if there is no slice of kalamansi (the native lemon) to bring out the sweet sourness that one is looking for. The dish is also commonly seasoned with some pepper to give that extra kick.

Big Joe's luscious sisig... Why did I not try this????

Here in Cebu, there are also a number of restaurants offering baby back ribs, but I had not tried eating them. When I sat down at Big Joe's, I asked my cousin for a recommendation. She related that baby back ribs is a must here at Big Joe's. Instead of waiting to get back home to Cebu, why not try Big Joe's baby back ribs? But of course, due to trade secrets, one menu will not taste the same as the other, right?

Baby back ribs at Big Joe's

My uncle ordered the chicken in the menu. I had not tasted the Big Joe's chicken, but the looks of it, I can tell that it is crispy and tasty. If I can go back to Dipolog someday, it should be one of the entries in the menu that I should try.

Big Joe's chicken

A meal will not be complete without desserts. During my last food trip at Joe's some years ago, I just ordered tea to finish off the meal. For this occasion, however, my cousin recommended the choco lava flow. I don't know what was so hot with it until I realized that it was the cake that was literally hot. She ordered the one with strawberry ice cream, and I had chocolate on mine. Double chocolate much? ^_^

Hot fudge care of Big Joe's

Anyway, this is how Big Joe's will look like from the exterior. And see that green cab? If you do not have any vehicle, you can just take the cab and tell the motor cab driver to bring you anywhere you like. Just say, "Big Joe's," and he will drive you to the spot.

Big Joe's.... only in Dipolog!

Before we traveled to Rizal, we visited an elderly distant relative who was confined at Dipolog Medical Center. We also had other errands after that. Then, we stopped over to Cafe Isabelle. If I were to describe this place, Cafe Isabelle has a really chic ambiance. Just imagine any TV series or Korean dramas wherein the characters would meet at a certain resto even just to have coffee. Sort of like that. Adjacent to the cafe is the bakeshop which sells not only bread but also souvenir items. How cool is that?

One of the things I love about Cafe Isabelle is that the desserts not only look presentable, they also taste heavenly. They are the kinds that you would want to bring home and give to family members as gifts, or as items for pasalubong. Not only that, the store also showcases different souvenir items like those available at the bakeshop. For me, this is a gourmet pastry shop and souvenir store in one.

This shop is located in Turno, and not too many cabs pass that way. If you are planning to lounge at Cafe Isabelle, you need to own your own vehicle, or you need to talk it out with a cab driver.

This is how Cafe Isabelle looks like from the outside. Ritzy, isn't it, Darling?

From the left side, you can see the souvenir items ranging from bonbons to notebooks to planners. Far by the glass display are the tasty cakes.

The item that caught my eye first was the red cupcakes.

This is the planner that I bought and gave to the owner of Topokkiman as a Christmas gift.

A wide variety of sweets cry out for attention in that saccharine way of theirs, making customers marvel and give in right away. Who would not?

Finally, after an hour of travel, we reached Rizal. I stayed in my uncle's house, in my cousin's room. Sweet! And what could be sweeter than being able to get back to the farmhouse which had formed some of my fondest memories? Langging, the caretaker of the farm, was almost due for delivery at that time. Though her status in life is a far cry from mine, I still have high regards for her because of her brains and her diligence. And she did surprised me with a promise: she made mangosteen jam for me! Now, all the grocery stores will envy me for not being able to have a friend such as Langging who can cook home-made jam with so much devotion. For me, that was one memorable Christmas gift that I will never forget. And because it was also marang season, she also promised to make marang jam. Wait, wait, that was a bit too much, I said.  To her, making marang jam was just a piece of cake. Nothing can also compare to Langging's stubborness (if I have to call it) when she wants to do something for her masters, but I greatly appreciate her for it. It saddened me, though, that she would not allow me to carry the jam back to the town proper because she was doing chores here and there with her round belly. Ay, Langging, can I just bring the jam by myself, pretty please?

Speaking of sweets, my day was loaded with a lot of 'em. Hot fudge, candies, jams, and whatnot.... My pancreas is screaming to me to shut up already! And I promise you, my dear pancreas... Let me just indulge in this red scarlet cheesecake, and I will not touch another one for this day... please?

Red cake is rare, I suppose... and this red scarlet cheesecake from Cafe Isabelle had earned a spot in my memory.

One of the habits that my cousin, my aunt, and my nephew do every Saturday evening is to attend the anticipated mass. My uncle used to attend the mass, but surprisingly, he just stayed home. I informed him that I will be attending the mass the next day (a Sunday), so he invited me to attend mass in Misamis Occidental. Ha! My vacation was more than I actually paid for, I guess. Not only did I enjoy Dipolog to bits, I was also invited to attend the mass in the next province. I don't mind, though. Travelling, they say, is a good experience, so why not?

As the next day would be Manny Pacquiao's fourth bout with Juan Manuel Marquez, my uncle and I just stayed at home talking about the fight. He chose Marquez, and so did I. Well, the reason? Why don't you look around for signs?

It would be boring to just spend the rest of the evening in Rizal at home and lounging on the sofa while watching the show on the tube, so my cousin told me to go see the lights at the park by the municipal hall. I remember the park so much because it has a statue of the legendary Maniway. The statue was craftily designed in a way that her body parts (head, hands, legs, and feet) surfaced from the ground, making it look as if she was bathing in the pond or river. By the time my niece, my nephew, and I went to the park, there were already lots of youngsters loitering around to enjoy the evening and the sights. Well, I think it is indeed much better than watching too much TV. And for these younger folks, keep it up! It's much better than playing DOTA the whole day! Showcased below are some of the Christmas designs (manger scenes and all). I applaud the people of Rizal for their brainchild.

Well, what can I say? My day was filled with unexpected and pleasant surprises! Of course, I told myself that if I always stick to a plan, I might not enjoy. Truth to be told, I did myself a favor, and enjoyed my second day of vacation.

What else awaits me for my third day?

Check out soon!

좋은 하루 되세요!!!!

Mitchi Chronicles 1: From The Queen To The Orchid Garden

Paper planes aren't meant to fly high....

Because if they do, I would not have been able to fly to the Orchid City of the Philippines, Dipolog City. Technically, riding on an airplane was my second time, but doing so on my own was a first. It was also my first time travelling by myself.

I will not share the whole story as to how I was able to familiarize Dipolog City, but I will just put in my chronicles of my Mindanao journey, which occurred last December 7 to 10, 2012. It took me this long to write this blog because I was also waiting for something else, but I never got to do it, so I thought of just sharing exactly what I had compiled.


December 7, 2012, Friday.

I will not give the entire details of my flight because I might sound ignorant, but the first thing I felt when I entered the aircraft was I felt suffocated. I know. I do not like closed spaces which I think have less oxygen supply, which is why I hate dressing units and tunnels. Nevertheless, the flight went fine because I was able to get a glimpse of Cebu island from my window seat.

First stop after the airport was Hotel Camila 1. I got in room 330, the room that my friend and boardmate, Marife, who is working as a cashier in Sunburst Fried Chicken downstairs, had booked for me. Because I was travelling on a conservative budget (and I dare not consider this as shoestring budget), I booked the cheapest room, the one which costs Php750 a day. When I got inside the hotel room, I was surprised to see how elegant my room was. Not bad! And for a price of Php750, it was like hitting the jackpot.

Room 330 of Hotel Camila 1, Dipolog City... 2 beds for only Php 750? 
대박!

I stayed in my hotel room for a couple of hours until Riza, my other friend and boardmate, and I decided to hit the streets. Marife aka Yang-yang was not able to join us because she worked straight till ten at night. It was just me and Riza bonding.

At first, we decided to visit our former landlady's house, which was located at the back of the Capitol building, but she was not around as she attended her daughter's school activities. I guess that if Christmas is coming around the corner, schools are going to get busy with different activities such as Family Day. Because I was not successful in meeting our former landlady, Riza and I decided to chow at Jollibee.

Dipolog is relatively a small city, and if you ask me, one can cruise or stroll around most of the top spots in the city proper in a day. Personally, I prefer strolling in the morning when I can see where I am going. Anyway, Riza and I strolled near the city hall. The city hall in Dipolog is one of the few political arenas where I want to hang out during the Christmas season for its decors that spell magic. The city hall is located a few meters from Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Cathedral. By the way, just a trivia. The altar in the Cathedral was designed by the national hero, Jose P. Rizal during the time when he was in Dapitan as an exile.

Imagine if stars were that close... and form a bridge of arc above your head...

The manger scene near the city hall

If trees should bear stars for fruits, there will never be dim nights.

One of the places where we often hang out some years ago was the boulevard. Because the vicinity stretches long, there are a lot of businesses such as barbecue stalls opened to accommodate space. There is also some kind of a "park" where different themes are put up during the Christmas season.

Yang-yang told me years prior that when she and her friends would gather at the boulevard, they would plan to gather around a certain landmark, which actually bears the details of the Seawall and Foreshore Development. As the landmark has a very unique appearance, it will not be hard to locate it and gather around. Due to the length of the boulevard, it is necessary to meet at a certain landmark.

The Seawall and Foreshore Development landmark.

This is the caption stated on the face of the landmark.

No matter how much I would love to stroll around for some more, my body could not take it anymore. I had a long day, so the next thing we did was hit the hotel room and bond. What better way to bond than to chatter and catching up while watching TV shows?

What goodies awaits me for the next day? Stay tuned?

좋은 하루 되세요!!!!

When "Piccolo" Is More Than Just A Wind Instrument

I am not talking about a character from the anime "Dragon Ball Z" either. 

I am talking about a firecracker that has been the hazardous toy of kids during the Christmas season. Despite the warnings sent by the Department of Health every year, many kids (and grownups) still do not heed. And lo! They get injuries of all sorts.

So much for the weird title, though.

Anyway, when most people were staying up late to greet Christmas day, my family and I slept early. What is more important to us than staying up late and playing with dangerous firecrackers is the Holy Mass on Christmas Day.

The abundance of food and the expensive gifts do not make Christmas special. This day is special because it is Jesus Christ's birthday. He as God came into the world in man's image in order to save us. 

For many Filipinos, Christmas is a time of giving, sharing, and loving. The song "Give Love On Christmas Day" is not just a cliche. It is true. My Aunt, Uncle, and cousins dropped by to give their gifts, and we invited them for some snacks because they would not stay for lunch. They had their own agenda too. But the highlight of our gathering was inviting a poor neighbor, the son of my godmother.

He had been staying in the mountain for long to study, and he only goes down the mountain to the city during vacation days. For the rest of the year, he and his mother would only be eating vegetables and fish. When they have no money at all, he would go out of his way to look for meager jobs in order to earn money to get by. My mother used to say that when my neighbor was in his early years of high school, he would catch some spiders to sell. That's how poor his life has been. For us, inviting him for a Christmas lunch will make it memorable for him, that, at least, even just a few days in a year, he could feel love and he could feel comfort.

I don't mind receiving gifts and stuffing my mouth with lots of food anymore. Just seeing him with a smile and contented with our simple meal is a great accomplishment already.

Another great accomplishment for me is cooking a Korean dish called tteokbokki. I had been wanting to cook this for the longest time, and finally, I made it! ^_^

Christmas tteokbokki ^_^

메리 크리스마스입니다!!!!

Mag Love

It had been years, and I forgot how it all began. I think it was during the day when my sister and I found an old copy of a March 1996 edition of a Reader's Digest magazine. We were enthralled with the stories in it, most especially the death-defying, heart-stopping, jaw-dropping, and very inspiring story of a surgeon who performed tube thoracostomy on a woman who was injured in a motorcycle accident ("Emergency on Flight BA 032," by John Dyson, March 1996). However, take note, the procedure was done inside the airplane! And utilizing improvised materials at that! Who would have thought that one can use cognac to sterilize materials?

After reading that story, I got hooked.

My reading life revolved around reading Reader's Digest. Of course, I read school books, but I had fallen in love with Reader's Digest that I was thrilled when my father bought two more copies. Soon, my aunt from the United States, when sending items from there to here, also included a lot of the magazines inside the balikbayan box.

When I became patient enough to read novels, such as the Twilight Series, I began to read them. But I am mostly impatient with novels, and you may say I am not really a wide reader. Between novels and Reader's Digest, I prefer the latter.

There were a lot of fine stories that I loved that were published in Reader's Digest. The stories were very inspiring because these gave me insights and realization about the world. Here are some of the stories that were noteworthy.

* "They Never Came Home" (by Per Ola and Emily D'Aulaire, March 1996) is an account of different teenagers who died from car accidents. There were different reasons why their trips ended up in tragedy, and it got me thinking to always pray before I leave the house. This also made me realize that such accidents can be prevented, but sadly, still happened many times.

* "For The Love Of Music" (by Linda DeLibero, August 1998) is about the impossible shot to the moon done by the pianist, Jon Nakamatsu, and the wings that took him there, his piano teacher, Marina Derryberry. Indeed, if you have a dream and pursue it, you will get what you want. This is a story that shows that dreams can come true.

* "The Family That Never Forgot" (by Joseph A. Reaves, August 1998) tells us that no boundaries, not even the war between North and South Korea, could tear down the hearts and minds of a separated family, with the hope that they will be reunited one day. This story tells me that, in the end, everybody will find their hope.

* "A Mother's Love" (by Joseph A. Reaves, July 1998) is a story of how a mother's love can defy every impossible thing just to save the life of her offspring with thalassemia. Erma Mata did not have the means to pay for the medical bills of her sick son, Caesar. She and her family, who were residing in the Bicol region, did all means possible to earn money for the treatment though they were poor. They were told that the best option was to fly to the United States. The hopeful mother looked up at her hopes to the then President Ronald Reagan, Cheche Lazaro, and other good Samaritans who reached out in order to give back the life of her son. Indeed, a mother's love is a strong force that can make the impossible possible.

* "Finding My Way Back" (by Ekaterina Gordeeva, March 1997) is a beautiful and romantic story about how two single skaters, Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Mikhailovich Grinkov, got paired up, and how they fell in love with each other. This is like a fairy tale to me, so wonderful, fantastic, but yet so sad. In the end, Sergei died of a heart attack, and all that was left of Ekaterina was her skating ability and their daughter Daria. Even in death, love still conquers all. 

There are book sections and featured stories that got me hooked, and no matter how many times I read them, they still mesmerize me. Here are some of those.

* "Nothing This Family Can't Do" (by Yvonne S. Thornton, M.D., March 1996) is a story depicting the power of dreams. The Thorntons were poor African-Americans. Their father, Donald Thornton, though poor, believed in the dream that his five daughters will grow up to be doctors. Though not being able to achieve the dream, all his daughters, including their sixth, an adopted daughter, became successful professionals. This story reminded me of the Japanese manga, "Dragon Zakura." Just be amazed at how powerful dreams can be.

* "The Seeing Glass" (by Jacquelin Gorman, July 1997) recounts the terrifying experience that Jacquelin Gorman had when she got blind one day, and how a tea-colored glass that her autistic brother used to use while catching crabs got back her sight. The best line I read in this story so far is that one can imagine his perfect age.

Even some published short entries also showed how a mundane life can be made special, like how some things so ordinary can be made so memorable. Here are some of the short selections that had captivated my heart and soul--and even my interest.

* "The Loves We Leave Behind" (by Lisa Bain, August 1998) tells us how some unexpected twists of fate or incidences of our lives turn out to be blessings in disguise. Sometimes, we dwell in the "what if's" and the "what could have been's" of life, and we can see that our lives are better than if we had ever been in the "what if."

* "Unforgettable James Michener" (by Lawrence Grobel, August 1998) tells us of how a renowned author put encouragement to a young girl, and allowed her to dream and write like he did.

* "God's In My Basket" (by Christopher de Vinck, March 1997) is a story about a student who was tasked by his teacher to write about an elderly person. This story teaches us that even the sick and the old still can give us some lessons to ponder and to live by.

* "What A Coincidence!" (by Sylvia Fraser, October 1998) is about the weirdness of things and how things unrelated can be connected by some occurrence we call 'coincidence.' Many have known about that tragic incident that happened to the so-called unsinkable ship Titanic that sank after colliding with an iceberg on its maiden voyage in April 1912. But does anyone have an idea that years prior to the incident, in 1898, an author, Morgan Robertson, wrote about the demise of the so-called unsinkable ship that sank after colliding with an iceberg on its April maiden voyage? Title of the book is, "Futility: or The Wreck of the Titan."

Who would not forget about some funny anecdotes? There has never been a dull moment with "Laughter, The Best Medicine," "Life's Like That," "Campus Comedy," "Humor In Uniform," "All In A Day's Work", and "Quotable Quotes." Get to improve your vocabulary by trying your brains with "Word Power Made Easy." Another entry that I love, but mostly found in the Asian RD version, is any entry by Nury Vittachi. I commend his wit when he writes. Just when I thought he was being serious, he inserted some punchlines that could elicit laughter. For example, do you believe that the world wide web is produced by a really large spider? Or that his father never came home for four months because he was a perfect description of a workaholic? It is his serious writing with some (or many) insertions of exaggerations that I really, really enjoy.

There are a lot of Reader's Digest magazines at home that were just hand-me-downs, but there are those that I received as Christmas gifts. Other people opted for new shoes, new bags, new gadgets, or even new boyfriends (if there is such a Christmas wish as that). I preferred Reader's Digest. If someone will ask me what Christmas gift I will want to receive every year, it will be this magazine. I like to buy mine rather than read the mag online, but if someone will give me a gift, Reader's Digest will always be the best.

The first Reader's Digest I received as a gift was back in 2009 while I was shopping in a grocery store. I saw this December copy, and I was thrilled to see Diether Ocampo on the cover. And why not? Diether is one of my showbiz crushes! Another thing that got me thrilled is due to the fact that a Filipino icon had been featured in my favorite magazine. Now, how cool is that?

Part of the 2009 pack was a December 2008 copy with Manny Pacquiao on the front cover. I am not a fan of Pacquiao, but I admire his discipline. Anyway, enough of Pacquiao. This copy was a freebie that came along with the December 2009 issue. I cannot forget this gift because my board mate gave this to me.

I received this foodie issue last December of 2010, and my manager gave it to me. He was thinking that I was the other employee, but I was really thankful that he gave me this as a gift. Do you know how happy I was to receive this? You can say I am greedy and a sucker for this magazine, but I really do enjoy this one. A lot. A lot. A lot.

Ehem.... Who would not fall in love with the Younghusband brothers? I like Phil, and my sister likes James. (But honestly, my favorite Philippine Azkal player is Chieffy Caligdong, the sly soldier on the soccer field). This gift was given to me by an officemate December of last year, 2011. I had twice the reason to rejoice because I also received a copy of Edith Hamilton's "Mythology." While my officemates enjoyed dipping into the pool, me and my thoughts (and my annoying cold) flew away to Neverland while reading my favorite magazine. The simplest way to whisk me away to travel is to hand me this magazine. As simple as that.

I am not advertising or anything. Anyway, if you want to read Reader's Digest online, you can visit their site at http://www.rd.com/. If you want the Asian edition, you can visit their site at http://www.rdasia.com/. If I am online, I find time to read my fave magazine, but I will still wish to have a hard copy of Reader's Digest to accompany me when I am alone or bored, or when I am waiting for something, or when I am falling in line, or just to cover my eyes before I take a nap.

Indeed, nothing can replace the joy of being together with this magazine. It is the most inexpensive way for me to travel around the world, to outer space, and even to realms unknown to mankind.


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