Tales of our Anawangin weekend

Aug 2-3, 2008

Ang Mahiwagang Alhambra

Hindi na ako nagsisigarilyo. Ayoko nang sunugin ang baga ko habang sinusunog ko din ang perang pinaghirapan ko (Kung libre siguro, pwede pa! He he he he). Habang nagbibilihan ang mga kasama ko sa X-odus sari-sari store sa San Marcelino, wala akong maisipang bilhin kaya napagdiskitahan ko ang isang paketeng tabako na nakalagay sa sulok malapit sa mga posporo gitara. “Magkano to?” Tanong ko sa cashier......” eight peso po.....” Talaga!!? Uuuuuuy.....at sa 30 pcs na laman ng isang kaha....panalo to!!!!!!

Binuksan ko agad, kumuha ng isa at nakisindi kay manong. Wow!!!! brown ang kulay niya! Parang cigarillo de mexico. Galeng, galeng......ayos ang laruan ko! Habang hithit-buga kong ine-enjoy ang Alhambra........bulalas ko sa lahat......”ilabas ang mga alipin at pasayawin sa harap ko!!! Ha ha ha ha ha...... mala-hari ang dating ng drama pag nagsisigarilyo ng Alhambra. Super galeng ng bago kong laruan!!

“Companero.....meyameya lang ay pede na nating pag-usapan ang atin na mga negosyo, ehhhh....? At patango-tango pang kinakausap ang kasama kong si Deng.
Nakarating na kami sa beach at matapos makapag-ayos ng lahat ng kailangan.....wala nang magawa kundi magkwentuhan. Umentra na naman si Alhambra..........dyaran!!!!! Si Eric, bumili din pala???!! Hala...supsop ng tabako at para maging mayaman din kayo kahit drama lang lahat ng ito!!!! Ha ha ha ha ha...... “Uuuuuy kunan mo naman ako ng larawan...trip lang habang hinihit-hit ko tong Alhambra” Malay pa niya kung ano ito sa larawan, di ba? Me makapagsasabi ba na otso pesos lang ang halaga ng isang kaha? Wala...!!!!! So ayan.....pwede mo na ako kunan.........yehey!!!!









Alon

Wag kang aalon, wag kang aalon, pero pedeng umulan...."Nagpapasikat ba kayo bat di kayo sumabay sa AM...i" hihihihi. . .

Pagsalpok ng ikalawang alon, ayun! puno na ng tubig ang banka! abandoned ship were sinking! nyahaha si bulet panic mode! hano ka ba, ayan lang ang pangpang!!! hihihihihi.. .so lipat sa isang banka, "pag sabi kong sakay, sakay kayo lahat ha!" sigaw ni koya.

Di pa sya sumisigaw nakasakay na kami lahat mapwera kay bulet and eric anong ginagawa nyo dyan sa tubig? hihiii

Akala ko buo ang loob ni koya, nun nasa laot na kami bigla syang kumapit sa balikat ko at bumubulong "ayan na ang ga simbahang alon!" hahaha teka koya, kelangan na bang umakayat ng itlog ko sa leeg? hehehe

Ibang klaseng bangkaan experince yun man! mala perfect storm. Kakanta sana ako ng iisang banka kaso baka ma challenge yun alon. . Salamat lang talaga kay Jah at ala namang nangyaring masama except very late lunch sa gapo, parang mga sabik sa pag kain! hehe tiran nyo kami ng buto at isisigang ko pa yan! hahahaa..

(Salamat kay Deng)

Mt. Mabilog Climb Account

Umakyat ako ng Mabilog last weekend. Nabalitaan ko po kasi na may aakyat daw na mga mountaineers doon kaya immediately gumawa ako ng sariling plano para umakyat din. Manila-based guests ang balak umakyat: 40 pax, diumano. Claim ng advertisement ng ilang members nila na "bagong lugar". Open climb pala iyon para sa mga gusto ng bagong lugar.
Pumunta po ako doon para i-welcome ang mga bisita. Sinabi ko na hindi naman bago ang lugar, hindi lang kami conscious na magugustuhan nila dahil mababa lang ito (428m asl). Pangatlo na sila sa naging bisita namin doon ngayong 2008. May 360 deg view din naman ang Mt. Mabilog. Dahil nagustuhan nila ang lugar..... pwede namang puntahan ulit ito ng kahit sino. Pakiusap lang na panatilihin ang lugar kagaya ng pagkakita nila dito.

Madalas ang ulan ng mga nakaraang araw bago mag-climb. Maputik ang daan. Late na kami (with some locals) umakyat dahil wala naman kaming partikular na gagawin sa summit kung maaga kami. Pag dating namin sa summit, wala pa kahit isang bisita. 5pm na ng hapon. Pumili na kami ng lugar ng mga tents namin. Hindi kami makapili ng magandang lugar. Mahirap pumili ng lugar kapag sobrang laki ng campsite (halos 1 hectare). Pumili na lang kami ng tabi since may advance information nga po ako na madami ang mga bisita. Pagkatapos naming mag tayo ng mga tents, 5:30 siguro...dumating na ang mga bisita. 40 katao nga! Kasama ang 2 kabayo, dala ang mga water containers, cooking gadgets at mga tents na provided lahat ng outdoor addicts.

Matapos makapag-settle ng mga tao sa campsite, sinimulan na iprepare ang dinner. Nauna na kaming kumain since nakapagluto na kami ng mas maaga. Around 8pm ang socials. Dala namin ang 1 putaheng tilapia na pinahuli namin sa lake Yambo at 3 boteng gran matador na inilaan namin para sana sa sariling socials namin. Maganda ang panahon. Napagbigyan ang mga bisita ng payapa at maaliwalas na gabi para makapagsaya. Hindi na namin tinapos ang socials. Natulog na kami ng mga kasama ko nauna sa mga bisita. Alas dos daw natapos ang socials.

Kinabukasan, mas maaga din kaming nagising at nagluto ng breakfast. Dahil maaga kaming nakapagligpit, nagpaalam na din kaming mauna na sa pagbaba. May plano pa ang mga bisita na mag-swimming sa lake Yambo. Hindi ko alam kung may plano pang sumama ang mga kasama ko. Habang bumababa kami, madami kaming nakuhang mga bunga ng niyog. Bago pa kami makarating sa ibaba ay may 50 pcs na niyog ang dala namin. Ipinagbili ng kasama ko ang mga niyog sa pinakaunang pamilihan na nadaanan namin. Sa pamilihan, nagkaayaan na ubusin pa ang mga natira naming pagkain habang inumpisahang inumin ang 1 boteng gran matador na natira kagabi sa socials. Mukhang doon na din uubusin ang perang napagbilhan ng mga niyog. Iyon na siguro ang plano ng grupo ko. Bago pa maubos ang pinasasaluhang inumin, umuna na ako at nagpaalam sa kanila.

Habang papalayo, naisip ko ang iba pang bisita. Mahaba pang kasiyahan ang naghihintay sa kanila sa lake. Welcome din sila sa kubo namin sa tabi ng lawa. Pwede pa rin sila tumigil ng isang gabi sa lake campsite na ginawa namin kung gugustuhin nila. Meron ding balsa na pwedeng gamitin. Habang nagsasaing at nag-iihaw ng sariwang tilapia sa mismong balsa, pwede ring dumako sa gitna ng lawa para doon kumain. Sariwang isda, bagong pitas na buko, sariwang saging at mainit na kanin sa balsa. Sana magustuhan nila.

Jojo:09179488362

Ho Chi Minh Culinary Tour

Years ago, I noticed this Pho bac Vietnamese restaurant at Festival Mall Alabang. Remote to my taste pallete still I decided to try eating at the said restaurant. Their pho (noodles soup), cha gio (spring rolls) dipped in nuoc mam (sweet chili fish sauce) was mild, smooth and light which became my instant favorite. I told my wife then and asked her to try it too. And she agreed and gave me two thumbs up.

After our Singapore trip, I told my wife to get ready to taste more of viet food because we are coming over for a real culinary trip to Ho Chi Minh City May 2008 to celebrate my birthday. And we did!

One whole week of vietamese cooking experience. Traditional and modern preparation as one could easily find in the streets of Ly tu trong and Le thanh ton, food stalls inside and around Ben Thanh Market and basically all streets of HCMC. Very interesting to see those native food carriers at the side streets where everybody, local and foreign tourists alike enjoys eating. Delicious Pho ga (chicken noodles) and com ga (rice chicken) is everywhere. Goi cuon ( rice paper rolls with herbs, cucumber, pork, shrimp, lettuce) with peanut sauce is amazing. And yes, those tiny stools and tables set-up at most street corners were a great “free-and –easy, watch-the-world-go-by” late afternoon trip. Was really one heck of good experience! Quan An Ngon is unforgettable. There, I got to taste heaven in banh tom ho tay (shrimp cake)! Fresh coconut is available all over. And prawns..............yes prawns ( tom hap dua-tiger prawns in coco milk) are just as exciting!

I would not have a second thought of coming back to Vietnam to do it again. It just feels wonderful! dac biet!

Our own San Isidro feast

Early hour of May 15, 2008, while having breakfast with my wife at our P. Burgos residence I heard knocks on our front door------it’s "aling talia" (Natalia) saying “ihahanda na namin ang kubol”
( it’s time to prepare the altar).

Oh yes, it’s time! Our one-day San Isidro (St Isidore) celebration has to begin.

So I opened the gate of our garage as children and neighbours eagerly waits to make native “pahiyas” (decors) bringing “palaspas” (young coconut leaves) to adorn the improvised altar of San Isidro. As everyone twists, curls, cut “suman-like” shaped coco leaves and cut banana trunk to pick some fresh flowers taken from neighbors’ gardens and where else but from the municipal cemetery and central elementary school located just adjacent to our place. In about an hour, the kubol is ready so my wife and I (the annual host of the celebration) prepared snacks for everyone. This year it's chilled almond jelly with raisins and pinipig and lots of “jacobinas and paboritas” bought at a local bakery.

After the kubol, it’s also time to set up the “tungko and tulyasi” (big wok) at the side of the street. Bedside the tungko is a table for all the ingredients, some chopping board and kitchen knives to be used in the preparation of this year’s handa: 10 kilos of macaroni shells for sopas and its traditional ingredients: chicken, hibe (dried shrimps), cabbage, potatoes, carrots, milk, some peppers and patis (fish sauce). Meanwhile, back at our house, some of our neighbours are busy preparing another set of food for the afternoon’s handaan: 4 kilos of native sticky rice with beans, corn, tapioca and coconut milk. We call it “tutong”. Another traditional delight is the suman to be served for the elders after the prayers.

As everyboy enjoys preparing, three of our neighbours help me set up another highlight of the celebration: the “hampas palayok” (hit-the-pot) traditional Filipino game. Rope ends were tied at the electrical post infront of our house and the other at the handrail of our veranda. I asked kids to buy 6 pieces of palayok at our palengke (market). Later, the palayoks will then be filled with coins, candies and some flour to have it ready for the game.

Weeks before the celebration, my wife and I have to prepare for the main highlight of the annual feast: “The paagaw”. Several thousand peso worth of coins and a few thousand peso worth of twenty peso bills. Aside from money, we also prepared goodies like old toys, clothes and old personal collections (rag dolls, bags, jackets) we already decided to give-away. For the past three years, my wife’s stuffed toys collection was the special treat for everyone. This year is my baseball cap collection that I finally opted to give in the name fun and sharing. Understanding the joy of the celebration, our relatives residing outside the country contributes goodies by sending us balikbayan boxes once in a while.

Interesting idea we devised to include bills in the “paagaw”. We placed a folded bill inside a knotted plastic (small icecandy-size). Then put the knotted plastic (with a bill) into a bigger plastic filled with water then sealed again with a knot. These are one of the several special treats for the paagaw. The effect of the water filled plastic when thrown is to break on impact leaving the catcher wet but not assured if he gets the bill inside (lol). It’s so interesting that everyone seems to like it and love to get wet. It’s summertime, remember. And getting wet is very refreshing.

At about three o’clock in the afternoon, the neighbourhood elders then begin prayers for San Isidro. “Dalit” and songs for the patron saint were then delivered. It is interesting to note that some young adults and kids are showing interest in learning the prayers reciting the dalit and songs together with the elders. Good thing though that the interest will then be transferred to the next generation to continue this simple tradition.

Next to prayers and adoration is the much awaited "handaan". After some “paputok” or firecrackers prepared by a neighbour who happened to be celebrating his birthday, both the sopas and sticky rice kakanin is served. First, to the elders, then to everyone in the area. So if you happened to pass by at our neighbourhood around the time of our handaan...you will be delighted that everyone would accommodate you and care to give you food.

After about 30 minutes of handaan, more paputoks will then be fired to signal the start of the “hampas-palayok”. The first palayok will then be readied.

We prepared 6 palayoks in different categories: we have 2 palayok for senior citizen (for lolos and lolas), 2 palayoks for Adults (for tatay and nanays including dalagas and binatas) and the remaining 2 for kids (inengs and utoys). The game hampas-palayok merges with the paagaw highlight. The cue to start the paagaw is when somebody hits the palayok. The fun and excitement is indescribable when someone is about to hit the pot (Imagine the yells and shouts and what not!) This year’s prizes for the lucky palayok hitters are: Stanley cooler, bath and body works toiletries, Kipling travel pouch, Paul Mitchell Shampoo and Conditioner, a battery operated toothbrush, and John Parker body spray plus fifty pesos more for each of them. All senior citizens who joined the game were given additional metal key chain which my wife bought from our last trip to Singapore.

At the verge of fun on the paagaw, interesting to see that our neighbours also prepared water filled plastics (though empty of twenty pesos bill!) that were also thrown while everyone is crazy scrambling for the paagaw. Water is thrown from all directions too, using planggana and plastic balde from someone elses’s bathroom. I let my nephew take charge of the water hose being pointed at the crowd while we were throwing goodies from our veranda. It was really a blast!

The celebration ends around 6:00 pm. After which, very noticeably you can immediately expect everyone to clean the area while the Patron San Isidro will be staying with us for the rest of night. Early hour next day, we will be bringing the patron back to our barangay chapel and thank him for another year of joyful celebration.

"Lambanog"

I grew up in a place where anything from a coconut tree has countless functions. It’s a haven, that I remember my “Acharing”, our yaya uses variety of “walis ting-tings” for our front and backyard, our “kural” (pig pen) and our “kamalig”(barn). “Bunot” (husk) is used to bring our narra tablon flooring to a shine. In our living room, we have a coconut husk sculpture of a monkey smoking a pipe. In the kitchen, we use bunot to wash the plates and “uling na bao” ( coconut shell charcoal) at our “kalan” (stove). At a young age of 14, I’m proud to say that I personally make our “uling na bao”. While making the “uling” I was joyfully playing “pusoy” with a neighbour in their house far from my charcoal pit. And between each game, while cards are being shuffled I run fast to the pit to add a batch of coconut shells. Honestly, I was not always successful making good “uling na bao” while playing pusoy. Good thing though, my tatay would not know until after 1-2 weeks when my “Acharing” starts using the uling in the kitchen and finds out later that my uling were all in tiny pieces! Lagot...!

During the summer we always go to a nearby river named “Talahibing”. We have an exclusive-secluded area that we in a way developed for picnics, campings etc. “Ilog-batis” a special name we call this hideaway where we could bathe and wash our clothes and let them dry in the sun as we delight ourselves even more playing pusoy. Sometimes, when pusoy is not the mood of everyone......it’s barikan ng lambanog naman!

Lambanog is our version of Mexican tequila. Other’s said its more like a local vodka. Whatever it is, we never care to know but just enjoy it’s goodness for its taste and price. Mura lang kasi because it came from coconut. Real value for our money!

We buy lambanog by the “gatang” (size of a pale pilsen bottle). We bring our own bottle when buying. We have a lambanog “dama juana” container in our house with lots of raisins inside for added flavour. My tatay always buy lambanog during the summer when all lambanogs being made are of higher quality than those made during the rainy reason. As much as possible, my tatay keep our lambanog and use it only on special occasions or when we have out of town visitors who eagerly would like to try it.

We drink lambanog with a “pulutan”, be it a dish or an appetizer that goes very well with it. Anyone can be fancy on preparing a pulutan for the lambanog. It can be as grand as “kalderetang kambing”, as simple as fried cornik or just plain “sipol” (whistle) after a “tagay” (shot). Either which, drinking lambanog is an exciting experience that each “tagay” is worth waiting.

We are fortunate that we still have good lambanogs these days. Like lambanog, we still have “tuba” (coconut tree nectar) and sukang puti (vinegar) at our barrios. We still patronize and enjoy drinking the lambanog with or without a “pulutan” even at the brim of its endless popular bottled competitors. You can still buy them by the gatang, just don’t forget to bring your own bottle when buying.

Lambanog is still here and its here to stay .....................at least in my lifetime.

Memories are lost if not shared

I just thought of creating my own blog, finally. Memories are lost if not shared, di ba? I will try writing down slices of events that happened as I personally experienced it. It's a good feeling I guess. And remembering it someday is another treat!

I oftentimes went out-of town when I'm off from work. It made me feel easy and recharged. But never did I try documenting my adventures. I always think I don't have time for that. Reading beautiful blogs lately made me think again.

I' m cooking up something this summer. Siguro it's best if I start jotting down bits and pieces of them as I slowly prepare myself for its launching. I will finish my contract project by May and after that..............whoallllaaaaa!!.....here comes my adventures.......