Cooking up

Well, for the past 25 years of my life I did not cook. The recent 7 years I now have. Tried. Really, truly tried. And, it's only recently that I admitted to this. Or maybe it's only recently that I have enjoyed cooking up a meal. Not that I am a good cook. If there was an award I could come up for myself in this department it is the most ambitious and persevering trying-hard cook.

When I was in Manila last month I had a a good thirty or so must eat food listed down. I was able to accomplish eating about 25 of it which was good enough (well, if only I had eaten street fishballs!!). One food which I got to eat  but did not really crave was : bibingka. I saw that in the mall they were selling the old style ones and I was wanting to buy them (but opted for dunkin donuts' munchkins instead-hihihi). So, one time when I had lunch with my mum at C2 in Shangrila I ordered their Bibingka souffle for dessert. And, it was heavenly!!! Seriously! Now, having been back in Sydney I can still savour the taste. I even googled a Bibingka Souffle recipe, which I hope to make soon! And, hopefully it would taste at least close to C2's. The recipe I copied below: (photo from clickthecity.com)

Bibingka Soufflé

4 c coconut milk
2 c sugar
4 whole eggs, beaten
1½ c cornstarch
4 pc salted eggs, chopped
Combine coconut milk and sugar. Slightly heat until dissolved.
Combine the cornstarch with half of the warm coconut milk. Put back into the mixture, cook until thick, stirring continuously.
Off the fire, temper the eggs into the mixture and cook until thick.
Set aside to cool. Add the salted eggs.
3 c egg whites
2 c sugar
6 tbsp cornstarch

For garnish:
1 tbsp queso de bola
1 tsp toasted coconut
Beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar.
Fold in cornstarch and mix well. Fold in base to egg white mixture.
Pipe into buttered ramekins and sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 350º F.
Garnish with grated queso de bola and toasted coconut. Serve with Creme Anglaise on the side

Creme Anglaise:
2½ c fresh milk
½ c egg yolks
½ c sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
Scald milk, combine sugar and egg yolks. Temper egg yolks mixture into the milk.
Cook until thickened, stirring continuously. Add vanilla.

Bibingkang Galapong
1½ k rice, soaked for three to five hours
8 whole eggs, beaten
1 tall can evaporated milk
1 c coconut milk
1 k sugar
½ c butter

, melted
¼ c + 2 tbsp baking powder
2 tsp active dry yeast
Topping:
Salted eggs or cottage cheese

Garnish:
Butter
Coconuts, fresh and grated
Drain rice. Add water one inch above the rice then grind very finely to produce thick consistency.
Blend all ingredients together. Strain if the mixture becomes lumpy. Let the mixture rest for about 30 minutes to one hour.
Pour about ½ c mixture in a banana-lined round bibingka pan. Top with salted eggs or cottage cheese or combination of both.
Cook in bibingkahan, charcoal or electric bibingka oven.
Spread each bibingka with butter. Serve with fresh grated coconut.
Yields 18-20 pieces

Past expiry date?

Got back from our 15 day Manila trip last weekend and I still haven't fully unpacked yet. I'm still undecided whether to unpack or just wait for our next Manila trip. Not that we have one planned. Yet. The past trip confirmed our intention of moving home again. This time back home.

Like most 20something person I longed to leave home and live overseas. I've done so, now for almost 7 years calling Sydney my temporary home only to realise that it's no longer suiting its purpose. Now, seeing my family in Manila gave me purpose which hubby and I believe would be right for our baby Bella too. Purpose now is to be with family, spend quality time with both our parents and just 'BE' with them, one with them. We told our families our intention and plans. We now just have to move towards that goal and live happily ever after.

So, has life abroad reached it's expiry date? Well, for me/us, if it no longer serves its purpose then yes. On to more meaningful existence.

Pre Christmas Blues again

I’ve been feeling the pre- Christmas blues lately as it would have been the time of the year when I would have planned to travel to Manila to give birth there. However, things have taken a big turn, and we’re having the baby here instead. Weighing pros and cons during my first trimester and deciding in the second trimester was not the easiest decision we had to make. Having said that though, having the baby here means we will have slightly more money to spend for gifts. Should we have pushed to go to Manila, we might have had to use the services of those emergency loan lenders. Now, we don’t have to! We do have a lot of things to buy for the nursery though, but I amidst my online baby shopping I have been checking out Christmas gifts for family back home. I have been busy preparing those Christmas cards to send, and my other endless list of items to buy for the apartment. I still cannot fully comprehend the fact that I will be giving birth in about two months time! I guess my Manila Christmas dreaming will have to be downplayed this year to give way to baby thoughts (I am not complaining!).

The View

I used to see you every day

From my window sill

I'd stare

Thinking how busy you are

And how I would like to get away from it all.

Now, I look

And see nothing close

Nowhere near

It's just me alone

Wishing you're near.

(Photo from WikiPilipinas)

Where? and Why?

Where would I be if I had chosen to stay in Manila? Pondering on how life would have been if I was (still) there. I could be enjoying myself with the company of people I love. Hanging out at some place over crepes (at Breton) or beer perhaps. Sometimes I think of these things. What if I was a person who never wanted to leave my homeland? I would probably lead a comfortable life. And by comfortable, I mean emotionally comfortable. Knowing that day in, day out, in one phone call, a few minutes (or so) drive, I will be with people I want to be with, at that time. I would probably be blissfully satisfied with all those emotional cravings that my family and friends would offer. On the other hand, I would have a job that would not pay me well, and that which I would endlessly complain about (not much difference with here i guess!). I probably wont be able to afford to live on my own and fend for myself. I would most likely be dependent on my parents for financial support for a longer time. Part of me wants to put blame on the government for this, that so many people in Manila (and anywhere in the Phils) would like to leave the country to be able to achieve financial independence. Think about so many families divided because of this situation. But then again, this situation is present in other countries. A lot of the foreigners I have encountered here have the main motive of improving their economic status. Sometimes I wonder where I would be happier, here or there? Where is the right place for me? Where do I belong? There are so many endless questions that I could ask, and as much as I would like to make the best of what I have at present/at hand, it is very difficult. Especially when homesickness sets in. All the financial freedom, career goals, etc that I have seem to fade into a distant memory. There are moments when I would just like to pack my bags and head home. No questions asked, no future considerations, no consequences. But life is not meant to be lived that way. In everything I do, I would have to think twice, thrice and so many times about the implications it would bring on my future. My fiance's and mines for that matter. After all, I led him to this life.

My fiance and I often talk about life and so many things involved in it. Such as where to settle. Where to raise our kids, how to raise them, what our ideals in life are, and what our ideal life would be. Oftentimes we would have the same emotions involved, but sometimes totally different actual ideas. Life here would entail a lot of sacrifice. Especially when kids come into the scene, one of us (most likely me) would be a stay at home parent, taking care of kids and the family's needs. Raising a child here is not easy, as we cannot depend on relatives or helpers to give assistance in rearing them. Or, just to watch them for a few hours while I have my "ME" time. Unlike in Manila, relatives will be around to offer (if not request them to) take care of the kids for a while. Here, it could be very restraining. Having to watch them 24/7 for 365/year. It will mean being involved in the baby's life every step of the way. In some cases that I have encountered here, some of the Filo parents bring their child to the Phils and leave them there with the grandparents. This is sad. Parents not really being able to fulfill their role as one. But then again, life here is different and I understand where they are coming from. They have a choice, and their choice is to work hard to be able to give their child the best. It must be a very difficult decision to do that. I wish and pray I would never have to decide on that.

I am feeling a little bit better after writing my thoughts about being here now, and my what ifs if I were in Manila. Its not much, but I think in all this, there is a purpose of me being here. I need to learn about life. Initially I really came here to study about Tourism. I learned a lot more than the things I learned inside the classroom. I learned to live on my own. I learned to cope with homesickness (most of the time, but of course, i break down too). I learned to be strong, for myself, by myself. I learned that if I wanted something done, I had to do, and no one would do it for me. I learned that after sometime one gets used to the place they live in, but one never forgets where one came from. I learned that out in the world, there are real situations, real life events that are not always easy to handle. I learned that life is not always easy, and that after being spoonfed for 20 years, one must learn to look for their own spoon, look for their own food, scoop it, and learn how to eat by themselves.It was not a very smooth road, but one must appreciate that, at least, there is a road. I learned that there are a whole lot of different types of people alive. Not all of them are nice. Not all of them play fair. Not all of them want whats best for you. Not all of them can be your friend. But maybe, One of them may be there at the hardest time of your life. I learned and understood that life is about the journey, and that we should at least make it as pleasant as possible for oneself and for others. For all we know, it is harder for the other person across the road. ( I heard that quote somewhere, worded differently of course).

World Youth Day in Sydney is Happening

Have you ever participated in a World Youth Day event? I have. If you have then you would know and understand the hype that comes with this celebration of World Youth Day in Sydney.

Did you know that until now, Manila still holds the record with 4 million WYD participants... I think Sydney now is just expecting about less than 200,000 delegates.

Nonetheless, living in the city hosting the event, one would feel the spirit coming alive. Well of course there are others who are protesting against this. Not everyone can be all pleased with this imperfect world we live in. Even the olympics, the dalai lama, G8 summit (etc) attracts protesters.

Anyway, I have been seeing a number of people in the streets, train station, malls, coffee shops who are obviously attending WYD (some have huge backpacker bags, uniform jackets with the logo, etc)... Some of them try to find their way around, some are just in awe with the city... One thing common in them is their glow. They have this sort of excitement in them that you can see brewing inside. I feel excited for them too. I am sad I won't be able to participate, but I just think to myself and say I had my chance and my turn in 1995 in Manila. I can say I maximised my experience back then. And so I cherish those memories. Now, I live in the city and just watch the delegates 'move'. In a way I will be with them in spirit. Wishing them the same if not more enriching experience as I had experienced during my first WYD in Manila.

World Youth Day Sydney is from July 15 to July 20, 2008. Activities are held in different venues in and around the city parameters. Activites such as catechism, vigil, masses, stations of the cross, etc.

Fortunately for me, from my office window we would be able to catch a glimpse of the happenings at Barangaroo (which is where the pope will be arriving to, and where the opening mass will be held). I will try to see if I can take photos and share them here.

Moving out of home

Do you remember the time when you moved out of your parents’ house? I do. I actually moved out when I moved to Sydney. Initially I lived with a family who has been friends with my family ever since I can remember. When I moved in with that family friend, I had no say whatsoever in my bedroom furniture, or what I can or can’t do within the confines of my own space. It was all right though. I had a neat room with light or pastel yellow colored walls, big closet, my own computer table and computer, a bedside drawer, and a lamp. It was quite basic, but I appreciate them taking me into their home. It was a huge house with a swimming pool and a big garden, as well as two living rooms, a TV room, a prayer room and an office. Their home office furniture were nice and big. The office had it’s own receiving area with big fluffy cushion couches. My friends and classmates who would visit me says I live in a mansion! That was all before I moved to my humble home now. All on my own, I decide on what furniture to buy, in what color and in what style. My current space is a one bedroom which measures only about 50 square metres. It is quite big for one person, but I find myself always needing more space to chuck my things in. I guess all girls should have one room or closet dedicated to fit trinkets, clothes and other girl item essentials. It would be really nice if I could get storage beds that would have some nook and cranny filled in with more of my stuff!

World Youth Day Cross at St Mary's Cathedral

On Easter Sunday, we heard mass at St Mary's Cathedral. The WYD Cross was up in front near the altar. It's amazing that this cross has actually travelled across the globe so many times over, all in celebration of the Catholic Faith and that which unites Youth (and the once Youth) groups without discrimination from all over the world.

I remember my first (and only so far) World Youth Day in Manila in 1995. It was such a great experience. Well aside from not having classes for a few days to a week this was memorable since I actually participated in the activities. Back then I was active in my youth group and WYD was one of the events that I've led them. I was busy chasing the teenagers I was mentoring making sure they were all right, and attending the talks and all that. Imagine that was more than 10 years ago. I feel old. Were you at the WYD Tent city in Intramuros too?? Fun 'no?

Now that World Youth Day 08 will be held in Sydney, I don't think I will be able to participate. I was meant to volunteer though, together with my other friends, but we realised it required serious dedication and demanded a lot of our time. We couldn't do it coz we had fulltime jobs.

I will be in Sydney in July 08, and I'm sure I will witness thousands of youth from all over gather in the city. I would love to be part of this again, but for now I will have to appreciate just being in the city that will host this year's WYD. Where will you be this July?

Rafe Bags hit Manila this March!

Rafe Bags in Manila Rafe Totengco has always been a Bag Icon. He's one of the most popular fashion hits in New York supplying bags to Hollywood dolls such as: Jessica Alba, Sandra Oh, Vanessa Minnillo, Lindsay Lohan, Adriana Lima, Giselle Bundchen, Mischa Barton, Blake Lively, Paris Hilton. He's even done Eva Longoria's wedding clutch!

Finally he's opening his first store in Manila, his hometown! He is opening the first Rafe store at Greenbelt, Makati on March 27, 2008. Since there is no Rafe store in Sydney I will have to wait til I visit Manila, or perhaps NYC?

Together with Monique Lhuillier, he's become one of the most successful and well known businessman/designer from the Philippines. I've been quite a fan of his works and his writing style. You may read more about him, his travels and fun thoughts on his blog.