Luwalhati sa Ama or Glory be to the Father in Filipino

Luwalhati sa Ama,
Sa Anak,
At sa Diyos Espiritu Santo.
Kapara noong unang-una,
Ngayon at magpakailanman
Sa
walang hanggan.
Amen.

Exploring the Traditional Pinoy Diet Part 1

by TYason, O.D., M.A. Ed.

Pinoy occasions would almost always involve food.  Birthdays, baptisms, graduations, weddings, promotions, family gatherings – all the way up to funerals and trips to visit our beloved departed would undoubtedly have the presence of some sort of mini-feast.  No Pinoy gathering would be complete without food and shame on the Pinoy host if there would be nothing edible to offer his guests!

Our recipes are a fusion of the East and the West – rich in tradition and calories, steeped in a complexity of sweet, salty, spicy, sour or bitter combinations, and as varied as there are many provinces and regions in our country.

Households would have specialties taught to members of the clan from one generation to the next.  Some are closely guarded and have sprouted many a business or home business.  Some are generously shared and have evolved as new variants are made by the ever-creative and innovative Pinoy.

Raising Pinoy Kids with a Pinoy Palate

Living in the United States has posed a challenge for my family – given the abundance of processed foods and the easy availability of microwaveable treats straight from the freezers of Walmart, Kroger’s, Marsh’s, et al.

A recent trip to the dentist has revealed that my kids, born and raised for most of their years in the Philippines, have excellent and lovely teeth albeit the need for orthodontic treatment.  The dental technician was herself from Guam, a US Army veteran, who was assigned to the Philippines for some time.  We immediately connected as she compared the Pinoy diet (not-so-many sugary treats and drinks) vs. the common American (fats, carbo, sugar and whatever-else-can-kill-you-later-on diet).  And so, she compared my sons’ teeth vs. a majority of kids raised in America.

The difference is in the sugar and processed food.  Pop or softdrinks were the number one factor affecting many American kids/kids raised in America as they gulped them down in lieu of good ole H20.  (Alas!  I guiltily recall the many purchases of instant noodle, chichirya, hotdogs, chicken nuggets, soft drinks, powdered drinks, etc. I made back when we were in Manila and even now, in the US where the temptation to save on time has led us to purchase tv dinners, pop, and extremely sweet morsels of what-have-you.)

But we are noting the dietary changes and preferences of our boys.  One son indulges only in bacon, processed fried chicken or fish (never the home-made ones), sugary cereals, pop, candies and chocolates.  I see a cavity-ridden problem ahead and who knows what sort of lifestyle disease lies later on in life.  (And this was the kid who ate anything I put on his plate back in Manila – our staple pinakbet, munggo, kangkong, adobo, ginisang gulay in season, giniling, steamed or fried GG, tilapia, bangus, tinola; homemade canton, bihon or miki-bihon – all downed with no complaint and washed down with water.)

Hubby and I have a challenge ahead as the boy absolutely avoids these now and has reveled in the American fastfood diet.  Traditional Chinese and Japanese recipes have not been able to entice him from the junk.

It is sad, too, to note that more and more Pinoys back home are seduced by the ease of preparation of these processed foods now ubiquitous in Pinoy supermarkets and sari-sari stores.  Our tastebuds are changing.  Factor in Jollibee, McDo, KFC, Pizza Hut, Shakey’s, etc.  Factor in Knorr Seasoning, cubes, Magic Sarap, ready-made powders of adobo, kare-kare, guisado, etc. Will our traditional diet and palate ever survive the deluge of artificial flavors, preservatives, extenders, sweeteners, flavor enhancers, etc.?

We know that, at some point, health will be affected.  Yet, here it is, staring us in the face and it is quite tempting to relish the extra time given to us so that we don’t have to take so long to prepare each dish or the extra zing in our tastebuds from indulging in the forbidden.

An Anatomy of a Good Friendship: Knowing What to Keep and Walk Away From

by MRevilla

 

I’m sure. You and I have friendships to talk about. Young or old, there are others in their circles that make days extraordinary. We don’t seem to see them as friends the first time you meet, but there are those who make your days extra happy and bright every time they are with you.

I have met many potential keeps but not many made it to my lifetime list. I realized that people come and go. Some are a blessing; some become surprise lessons.

I could count in my fingers the number of friendships I have been keeping through the years. There is nothing extraordinary with my long-time friendships. However, they are those I would like to keep for life.

Have you ever thought of what consists of a good friendship?

Let me share with you points to remember as to the kind of friendship that you can keep. A true friendship is-

Present. Children and adults treat friendships differently. The younger ones need their new friends to be constantly around to establish the bond. On the other hand, adults consequently maintain friendships amid busy schedules. The need to be together like high school days is outdated. Distance is not a problem; in fact, it enhances ability to wait for one another and be excited at each other’s stories. Friendship is always present in spirit and never goes off even at the worst times.

Truthful. Real friends are truthful to one another because they are truthful to themselves. Truth begins with oneself so if one is untruthful to another, chances are, he is first untruthful to himself. Truthfulness in friendship requires genuine humility. To quote Mother Teresa, ‘humility is truth’.

Faithful. Faithfulness is not only for romantic relationships. It first exists in friendships where friends stand by each other especially at tough times. Faithfulness means the ability of a friend to trust his judgment when another friend is unstable. When you love a friend, you accept everything about him. A true friend trusts that the other can go past the clouds. If a friend cannot do this, it reflects his lack of faithfulness to his friend’s capacity to fight adversity. Faithfulness in friendship requires trust in one’s judgment of the other’s greatness despite weaknesses.

Trusting. One cannot be faithful to a friend if he does not trust him. Trusting someone may have differing results: a blessing or a lesson. A friend who is truthful is a blessing to keep while one who is dishonest and unfaithful may turn out to be a lesson to learn. Being trusting is a positive trait. However, if one chances upon a ‘friend’ who secretly resents him, then entrusting one’s life may not be a good idea at all times. Nonetheless, the one who trusts is blessed to have trusted completely, while the one who betrays proves himself not worthy of being trusted. Friendships are safeguarded and sealed with a certain degree of secrecy. If this is violated, it is time to let go. True friends do not betray one another.

Respectful. A friend who truly loves accepts everything about the other. It does not criticize, undermine, resent, gossip about a friend’s weaknesses or entrusted stories. Moreover, a real friend stands by, consoles, understands, keeps quiet and prays for a friend’s situation from afar without trying to fix it. He keeps away from dipping his fingers into his friend’s situation and respects what he is going through. He never judges and he simply stands back and trusts that his friend can overcome the difficulty.

Sensitive. No one is never without a problem. A friend respects the thoughts and feelings of another. One does not insult, laugh, or play with somebody else’s situation or feelings. If such is the case, then, the friendship is a fraud. Normal people do not go around destroying others. If this is happening in a friendship, then, it is time to leave it behind. True friends will never laugh at one’s struggles. True friends take care of each other’s hearts.

Nurturing. Good friends look after one another. They achieve balance in the relationship and see to it that they are sensitive to each other’s needs. Nurture means care and this requires a certain degree of entrusting one to the other. At crunch time, friends come to help. When one is in pain, the rest listens and whispers a prayer clandestinely. There is no room for envy, only sharing. In friendship, there is suspended judgment. It does not bully or put one to shame. A nurturing friendship is a result of one’s total acceptance, respect for and trust in another. The aim is to love, bond and understand no matter what the situation is.

Loving. Friends protect through each other’s embrace. When one tips off, the other stands by to help and listen. Despite the closeness, each backs off from the other’s issues and silently means well. Friendship brings about oneness. If friends think in unison and does not discriminate in challenging times, there is a danger to corrupt the relationship. At one time, it may erode the friendship. Therefore, good friends decide to love in spite of being. This is the ultimate goal of living for others.

Is there a friendship that hurts? Any friendship that does not have any or any more than one of the characteristics mentioned may be in danger. These are the foundations of a good friendship. So when a friend shows otherwise, think twice. Friendship is mutual. If a friend does not serve you right, bring the relationship to an end to prevent more pain; to avoid destruction. Friendships encourage love; it is not exclusive to the good of one. This way, know what to keep and when to walk away. Either way, it is for the good.

 

graphics by TYason

Travel Taxes FYI

  Travelling to another country requires that you be aware of the extra expenses that you will have to pay beyond the cost of your plane ticket and accommodations. 

 

   Pinoys and then some are subjected to travel tax when they leave the country.  So who are the ones required to pay travel taxes? 

 

• Filipino      citizens
• Permanent resident aliens whose immigration status      maybe any of the following:

Sec. 13 Quota or Preference Immigrant Visa
Sec. 13 A Visa issued to an Alien Spouse of Philippine Citizen
Sec. 13 B Child born outside the Philippines by a 13A Mother
Sec. 13 C Child born in the Philippines by a 13A Mother
Sec. 13 D Loss of Citizenship by a Filipino Woman by her
Marriage to an Alien
Sec. 13 E / RP # Returning Resident
Sec. 13 G NB Former Natural-born Citizen of the Philippines who
was Naturalized by a Foreign Country
TRV (LI #33) Temporary Residence Visa
RA 7919 Alien Social Integration Act of 1995
RC /RFC /IC Recognition as Filipino Citizen
RA 7837 Permanent Resident
EO 324 Illegal Aliens Who Entered the Philippines Before Jan. 1, 1984 and Continuously Resided in an Unlawful Status
MCL-07-021 Granting Permanent Residence to Chinese and Korean nationals
MCL-08-003

PD 730/PD 419 Granting Permanent Residence to Certain Alien Non-Immigrants

• Non-resident      aliens who have stayed in the Philippines for more than      one(1) year.

 

Who are exempted from paying travel taxes and what documents should they present?

the following are exempted from the payment of the travel tax:

Foreign diplomatic representatives

1. Certification from the Office of Protocol, Department of Foreign Affairs or their respective Embassy/Consulate

Employees of the United Nations (UN) Organization or its agencies

1. UN passport or
2. Certification of employment from the UN office or its agency

Note: Dependents are also exempted if travel is paid for and certified by the UN. For dependents of employees of other UN agencies, a certification and proof from the organization/agency is required.

United States (US) Military Personnel including dependents and other US nationals with fares paid for by the US Government or on US Government-owned/chartered transport facilities.

1. Government Transport Request (GTR) or certification from the US Embassy.

Filipino Overseas Contract Workers

1. If hired through POEA, Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) from POEA
2. If directly hired abroad, a Certificate of Employment issued by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate in the place of hire or an employment contract authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate

International carrier crew

1. Certification from the Bureau of Air Transportation that crew member is joining his aircraft, indicating name of crew member, position and location of aircraft

Filipino permanent residents abroad whose stay in the Philippines is less than one (1) year.

1. Copies of the ID pages of passport and stamp of last arrival in RP
2. Proof of permanent residence in foreign country (e.g. US Green Card, Canadian form 1000, etc.)

Philippine Foreign Service personnel assigned abroad and their dependents

1. Certification from the Department of Foreign Affairs to this effect

Philippine government (excluding government-owned and controlled corporations) employees on official travel

1. Certified true copy of travel authority or travel order from the respective Secretary of agency or its equivalent

Grantees of foreign government-funded trips

1. Proof that travel is provided/funded by a foreign government.

Students with approved scholarships by appropriate government agency

1. Certification from concerned Philippine government agency

Note: “Student” is defined as a person attending formal classes in an educational institution for the purpose of taking up a course leading to a diploma the duration of which is not less than one year.

Infants (2 years & below)

1. In case where original passport cannot be presented, original Birth Certificate and photocopy of ID page of passport.

Personnel (and their dependents) of Philippine offices of multinational companies not engaged in business in the Philippines

1. Certification from the Board of Investments

Those authorized by the President of the Republic of the Philippines

1. Written authorization from the Office of the President which explicitly entitles the passenger to an exemption

B. RA 6768 provides for the exemption of the following from payment of the travel tax:

Balikbayans whose stay in the Philippines is less than one (1) year

1. ID pages of passport and stamp of last departure from and arrival in the Philippines (duration of which is at least one year)

2. Ticket used in traveling to the Philippines

Family members of former Filipinos accompanying the latter

1. Foreign passport of former Filipino or other evidence of former Philippine Citizenship
2. Birth certificate or adoption papers of children and/or marriage contract of accompanying spouse

Note: Exemption under RA 6768 is available only if the individual does not fall under any of the exempted categories provided under Sec. 2 of P. D. 1183, as amended.

C. Section 2-A of PD 1183, as amended, states that the following are entitled to a standard reduced travel tax rate:

Minors from 2 to 12 years

1. In case where original passport cannot be presented, original Birth Certificate and photocopy of ID page of passport.

Filipino journalists on journalistic assignment

1. Certification from the Office of the Press Secretary and
2. Certification/Accreditation from the journalist’s editor or station manager

Those authorized by the President of the Republic of the Philippines

1. Written authority from the Office of the President which explicitly entitles the passenger to a reduced rate

D. Section 2-B of PD 1183, as amended, states that the following are entitled to a privileged reduced travel tax rate:

Legitimate spouse of overseas contract worker (OCW)

1. Passport
2. POEA Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) / balikmanggagawa form
3. Marriage contract

Legitimate unmarried children of OCW below 21 years old

1. Passport
2. OEC / balikmanggagawa form
3. Birth certificate

 

Bibliography: http://www.tieza.com.ph/pages-travel-tax.php

Our Lady of Fatima: Our Last Chance

To Jesus through Mary

 

by MRevilla

Ninety-five years ago, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three peasant children in Fatima, Portugal with secrets crucial to the salvation of souls.

Lucia de Santos, Francisco and Jacinta Marto were shepherding lambs when a woman in her grandiose beauty and brightness appeared. The woman appeared to the children 13 times in 1917 revealing secrets that bore the destiny of mankind.

In the last apparition of the Blessed Virgin to the seers on October 13, 1917, God’s power unleashed through the Miracle of the Sun. Over 70,000 people witnessed the event where believers and non-believers were amused by the dancing of the sun. There were stories of conversion and healing that landed on the front pages of French and American dailies.

The Fatima prophecies spoke of events that beset the human race if man does not repent and return to God. The first secret reveals the end of World War I; the second secret speaks of the surge of World War II; and the third secret apparently describes the spread of the errors of Communism throughout the world, the raising up of wars and persecutions against the Church, the apostasy in the Catholic Faith and the Great Chastisement upon mankind for its disrespect, dishonour and disobedience to the Father. The only way to prevent these events is for the Holy Father, together with his cardinals and bishops all over the world, to consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Russia was chosen by Heaven to be the instrument of God’s chastisement to mankind. Russia has spread its errors to the world till this day. Unless the consecration is done, according to the Blessed Mother, there will be no peace. In the end, the Immaculate Heart of Mary will triumph.

In October 2012, Father Nicholas Gruner, founder of the Fatima Center and expert on the Fatima chronicles brought to the European Parliament the Blessed Virgin Mary’s Peace Plan. Supporting Fr. Gruner were some members of the parliament who were devout Catholics and a lawyer from the United States. The motion invites the 700+ members of the European Parliament. The Fatima Center is challenged to complete the signatures that hope to convince the Pope to consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in a ceremony where it only needs 5 minutes to save the world.

In one of the apparitions of Jesus to Sr. Lucy, one of the seers, He said that the consecration will be done by the Holy Father but it will be late. The requests of Jesus to His Ministers have not been heeded till this day and this has gravely offended the Lord.

What comes between the consecration of Russia and the awaited triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary depends on us. The Blessed Mother, time and again, has requested the praying of the rosary, the strongest prayer against heresies and sin; the wearing of the Brown Scapular, Our Lady’s promise of protection against danger and evil; and the observance of the Five First Saturday Masses in reparation for the sins committed against Our Lord and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. These requests need obedience. If we do not heed to her call, the wrath of the Father is not too far. Remember that the Lord told Sr. Lucy that the consecration will be done but it will be late. These words of Our Lord bring chills to the spine and fear to the soul and one who understands the call of Fatima.

The Blessed Mother as co-redemptrix and mediator of all graces sends her love to her children as Mother and Queen of Heaven and Earth.  God is glorified by Mary as mother of Jesus and as witness to His Son’s birth, passion, and resurrection. She has had apparitions for centuries to chosen ones and has consistently delivered messages from Heaven if only to bring back souls to God.

In 1984, Pope John Paul II had attempts to consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary by mentioning the country alongside its consecration of the world. But because of political pressure that surrounded him, the Pontiff did not mention Russia. In the 1960’s there had been a pact signed between Russia and the Vatican indicating that Russia cannot be mentioned in any consecration rite for it is offensive to the state. In as much as Russia has been chosen as God’s instrument of chastisement to the world, it has also been chosen as the one to bless the world if consecrated.

The United Nations aims to foster peace and order among member countries. At one time, it claims that it is the only organization that can bring peace to the world. However, it is evident that it cannot do much for warring countries in the Middle East and the Far East. The UN has exerted much effort on world issues like hunger and poverty, but it has not fully coped with political, economic, religious and moral problems. Why? The UN is an able arm that helps member countries in many ways, but it is not the answer to peace. The Blessed Mother has said time and again that world peace is achieved only by the consecration of Russia to her Immaculate Heart. God has given her the mission to save the world from its century long diabolical tyranny. When Our Lady appeared to Juan Diego of Guadalupe in the Tepayac Hills in the 14^th century, she introduced herself as Santa Maria de Coatlilupe, which means ‘one who treads on snakes’! Indeed, the Blessed Mother is the enemy of Satan. Scripture has it that God has put enmity between the Woman and the Serpent. Our Lady has crushed the head of the Serpent many times over in history. The Black Madonna of Czestochowa, Poland, has protected kings from invasions. One of its assailants writhed in pain and died instantly after it struck the throat of the Madonna with an arrow. It has also sent darkness to attackers that saved one of its kings from being outnumbered by a formidable fleet. These instances in history are not coincidences but are strong historical proofs that the Blessed Mother protects her children from evil.

God so loved the world that He has sacrificed His Only Begotten Son to save mankind from its wretchedness. Our Lord Jesus Christ paid a handsome price to save us and has commissioned his Mother at the foot of the Cross to be the Mother of All. The Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary work together to bring back souls to the Father. They are called the Twin Hearts of Jesus and Mary. The hearts of Jesus and Mary are inseparable. They are both in love with souls and they want to bring all to God’s throne.

“To Jesus through Mary”. Nothing comes closer to Jesus than his Mother. The Wedding at Cana is a strong indication of Jesus’ love and obedience to his mother. Even when Jesus said that it was not yet time to do a miracle at the wedding where wine was nearly scarce, he heeded to his mother’s request to make wine for the guests. Mary is special to Jesus that he could not say ‘no’ to her. So when we pray to Mary, we are assured of Jesus’ attention. In Jesus’ passion, on his second fall, he promised his mother that He will ‘make all things new’. Such is Jesus’ obedience to the Father and his love for his Mother. He promised Mary the greatness of his love. If the Lord has assured his Mother of such love, then, we can be assured of the same love through Our Lady. Jesus entrusts much to Mary. So when we pray to Mary, she intercedes or mediates for us and brings our hearts close to Her Son’s. God commissioned Mary to be the mother of Christ. Christ, at Calvary, asked His Mother to be our mother. In the ascension of Mary, she was crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth, a prize God has given her for being a perfect symbol of faith. Mary, they say, is the best saint.

Pope Paul VI said that ‘the smoke of Satan’ has entered the Vatican. The consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary has long been postponed by the several pontificates gone past. The Blessed Mother gave the specific instruction to open the Third Secret of Fatima in 1960. Till this time, the Vatican has not yet unfolded the secret and has not been heeding to Our Lady’s request. The Third Secret, as experts say, reveals the forthcoming apostasy in the Church and will begin within the hierarchy of ministers. A bishop in white will be gunned down by soldiers and will be annihilated at the foot of the Cross. The Holy Father has much to suffer and many will be martyred. Once, the King of France, Louis IV, refused Jesus’ request to consecrate France to His Sacred Heart. As a result, Louis VI, Louis IV’s great grandson, was beheaded. It was the end of Louis IV’s descent on the throne. The Lord said that the same misfortune will befall the ministers who will delay the consecration.  But the Blessed Mother in one of her apparitions in Cova de Iria (Fatima, Portugal) told the children not to be afraid for in the end, Her Immaculate Heart will triumph!

There are believers and non-believers of the Blessed Mother. However, the truth prevails: only She can save the world! To Jesus through Mary! No one gets close to Jesus except through His Mother! Five years to go before the 100th year of the Fatima apparitions. What is there to lose if we listen to Our Lady this time?

Let us pray the Holy Rosary for the forgiveness of sins, salvation of souls, for the Consecration of Russia by the Pope and his ministers, and the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. There is no other recourse but through the help of Mary! Listen to her. Please, pray the rosary every day, wear the Brown Scapular and do the Five First Saturdays for the reparation of sins.

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!

(June 7, 2013)

 

Prayers to Our Lady: The Hail Mary in English, Filipino and Some Native Languages

Prayers to Our Lady to teach and share in English, Filipino and some regional dialects.  Please feel free to contact us and share your region’s version.

‘Hail Mary’ in English

Hail Mary, full of grace.

The Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

‘Hail Mary’ in Tagalog Translation

Aba Ginoong Maria,

napupuno ka ng grasiya,

Ang Panginoong Diyos ay sumasaiyo.

Bukod kang pinagpala

sa babaeng lahat

At pinagpala rin naman

ang anak mong si Hesus.

Santa Maria, Ina ng Diyos

Ipanalangin mo kaming makasalanan

Ngayon at kung kami’y mamamatay.

Amen.

‘Hail Mary” in Ilonggo Translation

Maghimaya ka
Maria
Nga napuno ka sang grasya
Ang Dios yara sa imo
Ginadayaw ka
labi sa manga babaye nga tanan
Kag ginadayaw man ang bunga sang imo tiyannga si Jesus.
Santa Maria,
Iloy sang Dios
Igampo mo kami nga
makasasala
Niyan kag sa oras sang amon pagkamatay
Kabay pa!

“Hail Mary” in Bisaya Version

Maghimaya ka Maria, puno ka sa grasya.Ang Ginoong Dios maanaa kanimo. Bulahan

ikaw sa babaeng tanan, ug bulahan

man usab ang bunga sa tiyan mo nga si

Hesus.

Santa Maria Inahan ka sa Dios, ig-ampo

mo kaming makasasala.

Karon ug sa oras sa among igkamatay.

Amen.

How do you pray the Hail Mary in your dialect?  Send us your version!

The Lord’s Prayer in English, Filipino and the Native Languages

A prayer that each Pinoy Christian knows by heart.  We carry our spiritual life to wherever we go around the world.  A prayer to teach in the native tongue to our children, many of whom are growing up far away from their homeland..

English Version

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.
Filipino Version

Ama Namin

Ama namin, sumasalangit ka.
Sambahin ang ngalan mo.
Mapasaamin ang kaharian mo,
Sundin ang loob mo dito sa lupa
para nang sa langit.
Bigyan mo kami ngayon ng aming kakanin sa araw-araw,
At patawarin mo kami sa aming mga sala,
Para nang pagpapatawad
namin sa nagkakasala sa amin
At huwag mo kaming ipahintulot sa tukso,
At
iadya mo kami sa lahat ng masama.
Amen.

Ilocano Version

Amami, nga addaka sadi langit,Madaydayaw kuma ti Naganmo.Umay kuma ti pagariam.Maaramid kuma ti pagayatamKas sadi langit kasta met ditoy daga.Itedmo kadakam ita ti taraonmi iti inaldaw.Ket pakawanennakami kadagiti ut-utangmi,A kas met panamakawanmiKadagiti nakautang kadakami.Ket dinakam iyeg iti pannakasulisog,No di ket isalakannakami iti dakes.  Amen.

We are looking for:

Cebuano translation

Bicolano translation

Chavacano translation

Ilonggo translation

+++Other Pinoy dialects

Aren’t we a wonderfully diverse country?

Feel free to post the other prayers in the comment box so we can add them later and credit you as the source.

Making It Perfect on a Holiday

A day off from work because of the annual city holiday gets JDineros creative in the kitchen and the frying pan…

The Wattah Wattah Festival is the annual celebration of San Juan City.  Held in honor of St. John the Baptist, the practice of the revelling cityfolk is to douse everyone with water – a wacky and wet day for all its citizenry and visitors.

I was home Tuesday because of the Wattah, Wattah Holiday in San Juan City. I had left over saging na saba from last week (I always include it in my palengke list. I just love it and it is also what I eat during break time in school).

The saba was overripe but my penchant for food drove me to make maruya again. For the last time, I told myself, “I always fail in making this work.” So I went to the kitchen and looked for ingredients. I got some flour and evaporated milk (I had some left over from the chicken macaroni soup yesterday afternoon).

Here’s the rest of the recipe: a sprinkle of sugar…..water….the thinly-sliced saba and presto! The mixture’s ready! Then, I kept my fingers crossed.

I fried one. When it was a bit brown, I carefully turned it over. Success! It was a perfect one! I tried another…. and another… until I had all fried. It was really perfect!

I was so happy that I took shots of the end product. I tasted one and it was really good! As you can see in the pictures, I really enjoyed my maruya….. thanks to the holiday today.

What’s your recipe makeover?  Write us!! (JDineros)

Contributors

Pinoys and friends who generously share their thoughts, ideas and experiences…

  JDineros is an educator and a mom to three bubbly and energetic kids. During weekends, she cooks for her family and creates dishes which are not just ordinary, but aim to be nutritious and affordable.  JDineros’ recipes always appeal to her husband and kids. She is sharing her recipes to all Pinoys and Pinoys-at-heart because she knows that family bonding is always the best and home-cooked food or lutong bahay is the way to make family bonding stronger.

The Courage to be Modest

Modesty encourages the male brain to look beyond the physical and discover the treasure within.

As a child, I often browsed through the pages of a well-worn report in a yellow office folder made by my aunt many decades back when she was in her teens. It was a simple cut-paste-and-put-a-caption kind of project made in the 1950s or 1960s. It was a report on the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Rosary and the devotion to her.

I enjoyed looking at the stampitas my aunt probably sourced through Catholic Trade in the Tayuman area. It was an extensive collection showing the different ways Mother Mary was referred to. They were the bases of many a sketch or portrait I did when I wanted to work on my artistic skills as I went to high school and college.

Amply covered does not mean frumpy.

I recall the work having a short pledge in the end where my aunt, signed her name at the bottom, promising to be Mary-like in her actions, words, decisions and choice of attire. What particularly struck me was that what she had written was very specific. The choice of fabric for her garments, the cut, the length, the depth of the neckline and the presence or non-presence of sleeves.  I had wondered how she had made it through the period where they had the mini-skirts in mode or the halter.

Over the years, we have seen the sheer become more sheer. The shorts even shorter. Practically nothing was left for the imagination to ponder as girls wore what they thought would attract male attention. And attract attention, they did.

Female Body Parts = TOOLS

Is It the Right Kind of Attention? Is It the Kind of Attention A Woman Would Really Want for Herself?

A study about men’s brains in 2009 or 2010 by Princeton psychologists revealed that men react differently to an image of a woman, scantily-clad, to a woman, fully-dressed. The subjects reactions were recorded via MRI. The results? As the male subjects looked at a woman, fully-clothed, the portion of their brains associated with social cognition were activated. When viewing sexually-dressed women, everything else shut down but only the part of their brains associated with tools were activated.

As the rest of the brain shuts down, the portion associated with tools is the only one activated as a male brain processes a sexually-dressed female figure.

Are women tools?

Is a woman just a tool? Does any female aspire to be just a tool in a man’s eyes?

Go figure….

In another study, when scantily and/or sexually-provocative photos of women were presented to a group of men and women, the subjects in the photos were perceived as personas “with ‘less human nature traits’ ” as compared to when the same women in the photos were fully-clad.

Is the casting of stereotypes to the fully-clad and the sexually-provocative-dressed female (and/or male) from a human being to an object societal or otherwise?  What role does nature play in this?  Perhaps some future study will reveal a correlation.  At least now we understand the need for certain cultures to cover their female members up to the point of obscurity.  At least now, I remember my aunt, happily married, now in her twilight years, sticking to a schoolgirl’s pledge on modesty and the choice to make oneself perceived as a witty and talented woman deserving of your awe and respect.

Modesty encourages the male brain to look beyond the physical and discover the treasure within.

The courage to be modest is not about being frumpy. It is about taking charge of how you want others (males and females) to treat you. It is how you perceive and express yourself through your choice of fashion. That provocative bikini or revealing décolletage can only get a woman so far… and then what?

A tool? or a human being worth discovering and cherishing?….. The choice in fashion is much in a woman’s hands and less in the fashion dictates of the season.

Is modesty still being valued by Pinoys? Are our value systems changing? How? Send us your feedback!(TYason)

References:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/02/090216-bikinis-women-men-objects.html

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-big-questions/201008/sexualized-women-are-seen-objects-studies-find