How To Build a Snowman

Snowman Building for Dummies!
Making a snowman is an enjoyable and creative experience, as well as a great way to get some fresh air (and nosebleed--do be careful) on an otherwise boring winter day. You'll need a few inches of snow on the ground--a patch of snow won't be enough,  gloves or mittens, patience, camera (for photo ops *wink*), and friends to share the fun...Here goes:

1. PLAN. Think about where you'll build it, and how big it's going to be. Check for "packing snow." It should clump together easily and isn't too wet. "Fluffy snow" won't work well.

2. Shape a handful of snow into a ball, packing it tightly with your hands. Roll the ball along the snowy patch to add more snow. Pack the ball until it's big enough.(Oops...more than a handful). Roll and pack the ball over and over until it is the size you want for the bottom of the snowman's body.
EHow's Tip: Stack snowballs up from largest to smallest. Pack some extra snow between the layers to make them stick together. Place sticks down the center where the sections meet if your snowman is having trouble standing erect.

4. Give the snowman a face. You may use coal, rocks, buttons or anything dark and round for the eyes. A  stick or twig will make a good mouth, and a carrot is ideal for the pointy nose. If you don't have a carrot, a banana will do...(We used a cork for this one).

5. Cover the top of his head with an old plant for hair, or give him a hat to wear. (Top hats will blow away unless secured).

6. Accessorize your snowman.Push sticks into the sides of the middle section and hang old mittens on the ends. You may also place boots at the bottom for legs. Also consider adding items such as a shirt, a scarf or sunglasses.

And there you have it!

The proof of the pudding is in the eating...

My verdict: yum, yum!

'The proof of the pudding is in the eating' is an ancient proverb.

The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations dates it back to the early 14th century. Although some would attribute the phrase to Cervantes (The History of Don Quixote), some scholars believe that this was not even known to Cervantes, and the earliest printed example of this adage is in William Camden's Remaines of a Greater Worke Concerning Britaine, 1605:

"All the proof of a pudding is in the eating."

In 1682, a  translation by Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux Le Lutrin (written between 1672 and 1674) reads: "The proof of th' pudding's seen i' the eating."

When used, this idiomatic expression means: to fully know or understand something (test), you have to experience it.

How to Wash a Teddy Bear

Cleaning a Build-A-Bear

How do you wash a stuffed bear without damaging it?

I got my furry friend from Build-a-Bear last summer. Because he is well-loved, it wasn't long before he became as dingy as an old sock. We also noticed how his furry body appeared "slimmer."

Ordinarily, we would send our bears to the dry cleaners. Still, when we have plenty of time to spare or when we're running on a low budget, we go for hand or machine wash and air dry them. However, if the stuffed animal has sound boxes (the ones which hold tiny electrical parts so your toy has a heartbeat, can laugh, and play a tune) these won't work. Immersing them in water might ruin the sound boxes, and the stuffing might get damaged when soaked.

Looking for the "best" thing to do, my sister came across a lot of articles. We read about putting the stuffed animal in pillowcases before cleaning them in the washing machines. Using a mild detergent,  it says put the pillowcase (with the toy inside )into the machine , and set on gentle cycle. Another way was making a slit in a side seam and removing the stuffing. After the stuffing is removed, wash the outer skin . Once the outer skin is washed and dried, refill the skin with stuffing and sew the animal back up. 

The first suggestion would have worked only if our teddy had no sound boxes in him. The second one--aside from being time-consuming--made us worry that our furry friend might look "different" , and the animal's shape and formation  might change.

Faced with the task, my sister went back to what the tag says, "surface wash and air dry."  The same "best advice" came from an aunt, who's been in the laundromat service for a long time:

1. Fill half a basin with water.
2. Pour in mild bath or detergent soap.
3. Dip the washcloth into the mixture and squeeze out excess water.
4. Rub your washcloth on your furry friend's body.
   
5. Repeat this until the whole body's been covered. Drain the dirty water and put in clean water.
6. Rinse the bear using a washcloth. Remember to squeeze out excess water.
   
7. Lay it down on the towel and gently squeeze the bear till excess water comes out. Rub the towel on the bear.
8. Dry the bear  in front of a heater or a hair dryer--but not too close.
9. Dry quickly and completely so it doesn't mildew.

Growing Years: Tambis Tree

"Not Like Any Other Tambis"

My father's almost always excited about his harvest from our little fruit and vegetable garden. Whether it's just a papaya, three hanging potatoes, five tomatoes, or a small tray of calamansi, he would proudly tell us how his little garden has produced enough for our household needs. You would constantly see him bringing in varieties of fruits and vegetables, and planting them in our yard. 

Another fruit tree added to our yard a few years back is the tambis. For the rest of us at home, waiting for it to bear fruits wasn't much of a thrill because we knew how the fruits tasted. They used to be abundant in the farm we have left. Still, he would insist that this one is of a "different kind" -- it would bear sweeter, crispier, and more succulent fruits--different from the ones we used to munch on during summer as kids. 

Tambis (Syzygium aqueum, Family Myrtaceae) is a small, bell-shaped fruit which can grow to approximately three centimeters wide. It is known as a water apple because it is a watery fruit. The storage of water gives the plant a more swollen or fleshy appearance. It has waxy skin which comes in pink, white, and green. After biting through its skin, your teeth will sink into its spongy, white and juicy pulp.  It is also known as watery rose apple but in the Visayas,  it is  called  tambis. It is  commonly  found all over the country and also cultivated in  India,  southeastern  Asia, and Indonesia.

The tree usually explodes with fruits towards summer. But having them all-year round is not surprising. Although it reaches its peak during the hot and dry season, the tambis tree bears fruits almost every month. At least that's what we can attest to with this tree that Papa has grown in our yard. 

Just last Wednesday, we had another taste of its sweet fruits. Indeed, they were sweeter, juicer and crispier than the ones before...

My Idiomatic Experience

What seemed to be an ordinary day of taking daily imprints turned into something educational:

rotten tomato in a barrel

a little bird told me

piggy in the middle

in the limelight

light at the end of the tunnel

(Click here if you want to read more on the meanings of these idioms and their usage.)

Benefits of Gardening

Sowing and Reaping the Good Things

A lot of people dislike gardening because they think of it as a chore--lifting shovels, pots and moving other gardening equipment, digging into dirt, weeding, watering and faithfully tending to your plants. Gardening requires time and attention. Moreover, for someone who do not like being under the sun's unfriendly rays, and being exposed to heat then gardening really seems like Still, there are those who think it's a pleasant pastime. They  indulge in it because they find it rewarding and stress-relieving. If you're the latter, you feel some sort of excitement seeing your flowers bloom around your house. If you're raising vegetables or fruits, you can enjoy a fresh harvest for your family or that you can share with some friends.

What are the advantages, aside from those already mentioned, can one derive from gardening?

1.  First, if you don't mind sweating and digging into dirt (there's a pair of gloves anyway), gardening can relieve stress and provide good cardio training that improves strength and flexibility. Health studies indicate that it is a good regular physical exercise which prevents heart disease, obesity, adult-onset diabetes and high blood pressure.
2. Second, it's also helpful to those who are recovering from illnesses. Being connected with nature reminds people of the beautiful things to enjoy and allows them time to slow down. This relieves stress. Meanwhile, the tasks involved in gardening develop eye-hand coordination and enhance both fine and gross motor skills.
   
3. Lastly, you always have flowers, fruits and vegetables that not only add vibrant and lovely colors to your surrounding. They also come in handy when you need flowers for certain occasions or a bunch for a friend's special day. In addition,you have a steady and reliable supply of fresh and healthy fruits and vegetables, which you can make into drinks and shakes or share with friends.

Starting a garden isn't that easy though...some plants require huge space, and you need to purchase the basic tools for gardening. Plus, it might mean an all-year round activity. But if you need something healthy to keep you busy, this might do. 

So it isn't too perfect all the time, but it can be pretty fun too!

(Here are photos of our not-so-secret garden--flowering plants for the front yard and vegetables for the backyard.)

Yayang's Kitchen: Stretching the Peso

 Tips on Buying and Storing Food

Having spent several years in the metropolis, I have learned how to (fairly) predict the lifeline of a P500. So I was very much surprised and impressed when Netnet (whom I mentioned in the previous post) came home with so much good food stuff with the P300 I gave her for marketing day. The supplies she got was enough to last the family for three days. Perhaps it was also an advantage that seafood wasn't sold at very high prices despite the storms.

As I helped her prepare for lunch, Netnet told me that "money isn't everything when planning and preparing tasty, nutritious meals." Well-balanced and highly-palatable dishes can be prepared just as well on a small budget as on a lavish one. 

As I helped her prepare for lunch, Netnet told me that "money isn't everything when planning and preparing tasty, nutritious meals." Well-balanced and highly-palatable dishes can be prepared just as well on a small budget as on a lavish one.

How is this possible? Let's start with these pointers she gave:

1. Check the available supplies at home before making your shopping list.

• You know how impulse buying ruins a budget so stick with your list.

•  Make only the necessary changes when a product is unavailable or the market has special offers.
  

2. Buy perishable goods as needed.

• If your budget allows, buy staples such as sugar, rice, and salt in larger amounts. You save a lot this way than going out every now and then to get them from the nearest convenient stores.  Just make sure to put them in airtight containers to keep them from moisture and insects (such as ants, bugs, and roaches).

3. Buy fruits in season.

•  They are cheaper, but they can provide you with the same vitamins and minerals needed by your family.

4. Buy and prepare just enough for the day's meals.

• Purchasing plenty of fruits and vegetables is not very practical because even with the fridge, they get easily over-ripe and spoiled.
  

• Minimize table waste by cooking and serving small to medium portions. You're the better judge of this; think of how much your family can finish. Leftovers deteriorate in nutritive value and reheating also reduces palatability. Your mom will not eat the vegetables have grown stale and soggy. Even if your sister likes pork, she will get tired of it when she sees it on the table for a whole week. 

• The same applies to canned goods. Buying in large cans is only economical if you need the entire content or you 'll be needing it for other dishes in the near future. But once the can has been opened, it's subject to spoilage.
  

5. Lastly, know where to get the goods.

•  Check out which stores in the market sell fresh meat, fruits, and vegetables.
  

• When buying canned goods, a-25 centavo difference still matters--as long as it's just in a nearby stall.

Well, there you go. Netnet has indeed a way of stretching the peso.

NOTE: The photos in this entry are all Netnet's purchase for the day. ;-)

Die 'Quitoes, Die!

A crackling sound, a flicker of light, and a smell of something burning...

"What was that? What is that?" I remember asking my sister as she swung a racket through the air. It made more crackling sounds.

It was December and we were enjoying our mugs of coffee while catching up on our lives. (As in most cultures, December is a time of homecoming and family gatherings).

This time, she came home with something that  really amused my mom and I. It is an Electric Mosquito Bat! Since some people at home suffer from asthma and allergic rhinitis, spraying insect and bug repellent products (no matter how odorless they promise to be) and lighting mosquito coils assault their sensibilities. So this...this electric mosquito bat is the new favorite. It's light and rechargeable! Press the button, swing it in the mosquito-infested area, and the crackling sound and the sight of mosquitoes burning in the "net" gives so much satisfaction. Die, 'quitoes, die!

What do I have against mosquitoes? Why do I want to get rid of them?

The 'quitoes buzzing alone is such a nuisance. (And it's equally irritating when they accidentally get into your mouth or nose or ears). Most of all, they're a menace! These little bloodsuckers bring malaria, dengue, encephalitis, and filariasis.


(photo credit: img.webmd.com/.../cdc_photo_of_mosquito.jpg)

I have known of these diseases but it is only recently that I discovered that filariasis is also caused by a mosquito bite.

(photo credit:

newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45089000/jpg/_..)

A threadlike worm, filaria invades the human body. In the human host, the female filaria gives birth to embryos which migrate through the body to the blood vessels and the skin. When a mosquito bites an infected person, the larvae get into or near the tiny wound. Eventually, they penetrate into the person's body and travel through blood or lymph vessels until they find a permanent living site.

The adult worm in the lymphatic vessels, cause severe damage and swelling (lymphoedema). A classic sign of the late-stage disease is elephantiasis – painful, disfiguring swelling of the legs and genital organs.

Although the infection can be treated with drugs, anti-filarial drugs may not work for chronic conditions. It will require other measures, such as surgery for hydrocele, care of the skin and exercise to increase lymphatic drainage in lymphoedema.

That is why, help me in my battlecry: "Die, 'quitoes! Die!

"The Drama" Continues

I can remember three telenovela's in ABS-CBN that my family,  a few friends, and I got addicted to : Meteor Garden 1, Maging Sino Ka Man and just recently--May Bukas Pa. (It's becoming more obvious that I'm more of a Kapamilya than a Kapuso.)

I rarely get hooked on TV soaps for several reasons. First, it can be frustrating when you've been all hyped to watch an episode, then your dad hogs the TV for a boxing match. Second, you're liable to losing episodes because of power shortage. (Eventually, it'll be back just after the most climactic part or as the credits roll in). Third, watching it can become an "addiction," and then, you later have to do some serious time management just to accommodate it. Lastly, you'll be faced with a dilemma--should you go out or come up with an excuse to stay at home and indulge in it?

Still, I must say that May Bukas Pa is indeed "something." I never got to watch its pilot episode, but my curiosity over what Ma and my sisters were talking about one evening, apparently lead to my sudden conversion into a "devotee."

Pa might be watching boxing; Ma's into news; my sisters and I might be chatting; but when it's time for the show, you'll know where to find us. Now, there's a new meaning to what  my sister would call as "family bonding."

And as we watch it night after night, I slowly begin to understand its appeal. (Or I might be at least speaking for myself):

• Most of their villains aren't "too evil." You can see each of the character's "humanness," which oftentimes lead them to impulsive and sometimes bad choices, high-strung emotions, rash decision-making, or vengeful actions:

Malena wants to prove that without her, Enrique is nothing. Enrique knows that he needs her to iron things out but doesn't want to acknowledge it... the two always trying to outwit each other. Enrique wants to become "good," but he compels himself to be bad, because the latter is easier to do. Besides, he wouldn't have a lot of explaining to do with his brother,  his wife, and the priests. Plus, being good will only make him appear weak and, eventually, unpopular.

Robert, Enrique's younger brother, has somehow developed a survivor's syndrome--doing anything he can to ensure that his own plans push through. (Besides, just look at him! Like most real-life villains, he looks innocent and inculpable).

•  Do you notice how the kids act? And how they converse? Kids talk like kids. And it's true when they feel helpless and defeated, they'll just either fight back or drop down and pray:

Santino:" Tulungan, natin sila... (Let's help them)

Alfred: "Eh anong magagawa natin, Santino? Mga bata lang tayo..." (But what can we do, Santino? We're just kids...)

•  Most of their actors have the natural look, and not heavily made up unless it's called for.

Stella and Anita have this close-to-authentic disheveled appearance... a look which Selda shares on a busy day in the precinct.

• The jealousy issues aren't too exaggerated. 

Selda understands Mario's plight but can't help but feel resentful when he spends more time searching for Stella...

• The priests aren't too condemning, and they often weigh things out.
  
• It portrays well how our emotions sometimes get in the way of making better choices.
  
• There are always life-changing experiences that humble the characters or lead them to change their decisions. And prayers are answered. 
• It shows you how you never realize that you need someone to talk to until a person (even a kid, at that) offers to listen. And yes, sometimes it's also easy to talk to strangers. (Just advice your kids not to meddle too much. Even Santino gets told when an issue is strictly off limits.)
  
• It's a good microcosm of society. In a small town like Barrio Bagong Pag-asa, most people feed on gossip.  They seem to always know what happened and how things should have been done.

The satirical element is effectively carried out. Following the soap makes you realize that the people who approve of you and cheer you on one moment will disapprove of you the next. (Kimberly, Rosalie, and Jennifer... layas!)

When a crisis hits a place, the people become one. At the same time, they're agreeable and encouraging.

So far, aside from the poorly computer-generated pests in some episodes, the mayor's mistress, and the fact that they didn't require a DNA sample from the "badly burned body" (supposedly of Stella), May Bukas Pa would make me want to see more.

I hope that the story writers will always have fresh ideas and provide for a satisfactory ending.  I really have to give credit to them. Already, their approach of bringing in weekly "guest stars" who have their own stories interwoven into the main plot is a breakthrough in Philippine TV soaps. As with real life, though people may come and go, their stories are just as important.And these people are bound to teach as something profound.

This task, with people's heightened expectations, would even prove to be more challenging, now that May Bukas Pa is extended until 2010. 

So the "drama" of my life continues...

Mom's Pacbet or Pinakbet

Another best-seller at home is Mama's pinakbet. We're always going for second, or even the third helping--as long as there's still rice in the 'caldero' (iron-cast cooking pot).

Originally an Ilocano meal, the dish gots its mane from the Ilocano word "pinakebbet", meaning shrunk or shrivelled. Adding chicharon or leftover lechon is another option.

Here's her recipe and a modified version of it, which I learned from  Netnet, our trusted companion at home.

Pakbet or Pinakbet (Pinacbet) Recipe
Serves: 5-7 persons
Estimated Cooking Time: 25-35 minutes

What you'll need:

•     1/4 kilo pork with fat, cut into small pieces
•     2 ampalaya (bitter melons) sliced to bite size pieces
•     2 eggplants, sliced to bite size pieces
•     5 pieces of okra, cut in bite size pieces
•     1 head garlic, minced
•     2 onions, diced
•     5 tomatoes, sliced
•     2 tablespoons bagoong isda or bagoong alamang
•     3 tablespoons of oil
•     4 tablespoons of soy sauce
•     1 1/2 cup water
•     Salt and pepper to taste

How it's done:

  *This is the fast-paced version of Pinakbet.

1. Sauté the garlic, onion and tomatoes. Add the pork and the bagoong.

3. Place the stringbeans, ampalaya and the squash. Then add 1 1/2 cup of water.

4. Simmer for 5-10 minutes. Put in the rest of the vegetables

5. Cook until vegetables are tender, but not overcooked.

6. Season with salt and pepper.

  If my Mom were cooking, she would:

1. Fry the pork in its own oil. (She has something against excessively oily food).Set aside.

2. Then in a separate saucepan,  sauté the garlic, onion, and tomatoes.

3. Add 1 1/2 cup water and  bagoong. 

3. Bring it to a boil and simmer for 5-10 minutes.

Beaten But Still Standing

Undang, Ruping, Rosing, Milenyo, Frank, Ondoy, and Pepeng. I've lost track of the other typhoons that had lashed out in our country, since an average of 20 typhoons strike us and our South East Asian neighbors each year. These few, however, have been ingrained in my memory, because I've seen how they adversely changed, not only our landscape but also our lives.

I was only a year old when Undang, recorded as one of RP's deadliest typhoons hit the country. Mama used to tell us how a floating bunch of bananas was carefully washed, boiled, and became their dinner.  Our eldest sister would now and then recall how the neighborhood looked like it was built on water. That time,  the Panay River rose, and with the continuous downpour, flooded our province.

In 1990, Ruping  killed 748 people in the Philippines, and later in 1995,  Rosing left with 936 deaths. When these typhoons came, each of them left with a whooping P11-billion damage and millions of families displaced. Both typhoons slammed on us. Although day and night we worry for our families and ourselves, the next mornings promised better, fairer days. So momentarily, our fear was gone. With some kids in the neighborhood, we were more preoccupied with going after catfish which made their way into our neighborhood when nearby fishponds and streams overflowed.

Reming, Milenyo, Frank, Ondoy, and Peping came years after. The recent onslaught of Ondoy and Pepeng have been all over the news and the Internet. For several days, we were glued to TV and Internet updates, hoping that our friends and families would be spared or that the convergence of the super typhoons as seen on the news would disintegrate altogether.

Strong winds have battered houses and the flashfloods have buried homes--again leaving thousands of our kababayan (countrymen) homeless and missing family members. Despite the damages and the losses, we have once again proven that nothing is too insurmountable for us. We are such hopeful people and a "happy race" as foreigners describe. Where else would you see evacuees waving and smiling for the news camera?

As typical to countries near the equator, our climate gives us high temperatures and high humidity during the hot and dry season, and abundant rainfall  (which average at 80 inches) between July-November. The most formidable of typhoons usually hit us in November. Because such is the condition of our country, we have somehow gotten accustomed to these "natural disturbances" and devised our ways of coping. For instance, in the Batanes areas, where typhoons mostly coming from the Pacific pass through, people have built stone houses which can withstand the monsoon gale. In the flood-prone areas in the cities, residents have makeshift rafts and bancas which are helpful during emergency situations. Still, you would see heavy rubber tires on roofs of some houses to keep the roof from getting blown away.

But onslaught after onslaught, how much can we really take? Watching the news somehow made me feel sorry that these typhoons have strained our resources for rescue and rehabilitation too much. Yet stories showing how people survived and how neighbors rescued and comforted each other have been overwhelming and encouraging. The outpouring support from our kababayan goes to prove that in the midst of  human suffering, there is compassion. And that faced with a crisis, people would exhaust ways to provide for their family's needs.

Perhaps an outstanding example of this is Carlo, whose story, aired at a local news channel moved me to tears. Carlo's family is one of the victims of Ondoy (Ketsana). They were only able to save themselves from the raging flood and mud that buried their village in San Mateo, Rizal. What amazes me about Carlo's story is that instead of wallowing in what has happened to them, he moves into action. It's as if  he was thinking, "This happened to me, what can I do?" In a day of fetching water for his neighbors, Carlo earns P20 (That's  roughly $0.42). With this money, he can help his parents buy food to feed his younger siblings.

For as long as there are kids like him, and people who willingly share, there is indeed a promise of sunshine and better days ahead. We might have gotten accustomed to nature's inconsistencies--beaten we may be, but hopefully standing stronger.

A Prayer

People may smile around me

And say or nod hello--

I may, at times, claim I know "me,"

But in the coldness, in the void--

No one else does but You.

Deep inside my being--

The very parches of my soul,

When I am frail and doubtful

You know, you know what's going on.

In the sea of loving faces,

How do I say I feel alone?

Reign over me

Let me shut out all the noise

Stop me from hanging by a moment,

Allow me to watch the time to go by

without a care in this world--

Liberate me.

Reign over me

Let the music seep in and reverberate in me;

To dance and sing and praise,

Unaffected by what others may think;

In the silence, I will listen only to your voice--

Pacify me.

Reign over me

As I gape up at the heavens

in wonder at all the stars in place

What is there beyond?

What have you laid out for us all?

Wash me--

Let the torrents and torrents flow down my face.

And with these tears,

Make me one with the sufferings of the Earth.

Reign over me

Lavish and bathe me in sunshine,

So I may know its warmth

And Love, in all its glory, bask in it.

Reign over me

Let me hear the laughter

resonate the hollowed corners,

Watch the walls crumble at my feet,

Hold on to nothing, live by Faith.

Reign over me

Let me make this right,

Surrender all my battles,

And begin to see Life for what it REALLY is.

And know what it's WORTH.