MEGA LOTTO: P228M, Biggest Lotto Pot in RP History

I'LL BE A MILLIONAIRE TONIGHT

I've been thinking of what best to feature in our blog today, on a Sunday morning (Philippine time). Should it be about the earth hour last night? (I did switch off all the lights and appliances, and even "rested" my laptop at 8 to 9 pm. I sweated it out inside my cramped unit but I must have contributed only an insignificant amount to the campaign to arrest global warming. My electrical consumption does not even reach P2,000 per month, and I don't have a car to burn fossil fuels.

A good news to write about is the final resolution of the Sumilao land problem. The farmers and San Miguel Corporation came to an agreement with the assistance of His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales? But.... how many of the members here are really interested in agrarian reform?

All the others seem to be bad news. And when they are unfavorable to the Glorietta Administration, they are branded as "political" and we are admonished to stop "politicking" and to just focus on the work that needs to be done. All questions about anomalies, corruption, etc. are swept under the rug. Besides, aside from Danny and sometimes Ed, nobody seems to react to any of the "political" posts in this blog.

I wanted to post something about the absence of a crisis in the country, but that too, may be negative. But just a quick review of what's been in the news.

Rice prices increased by P10 to P20/kilo. (No, there's no rice shortage; no rice crisis - hindi yan dahil sa law of supply and demand, kundi dahil sa pagtaas ng cost of production, like fertilizer - Sec. of Agriculture Arthur Yap)

Vietnam finally agrees to sell 150 million metric tons of rice to RP. (Earlier, Vietnam could not make a commitment) -

People line up to buy NFA's subsidized rice on Friday at its Central Office warehouse along Visayas Avenue. Only 3 kilos are allowed each person. - Sinabi ng walang krisis sabi ni Glorietta at ni Yap, ang KUKULIT NINYO!

Nilalagyan ng indelible ink ang daliri ng mga bumibili ng bigas sa NFA outlet sa Albay para hindi pabalik-balik. O baka sabihin na naman ninyo may krisis!

Licenses of all NFA rice retailers cancelled. They all have to re-apply. All warehouses closely watched. May mga hoarders kasi, saka iyong nag-re-repack ng NFA rice into commercial rice. Pero walang krisis.

Yap asks fast food chains to serve only half a cup of rice. Ang dami kasing nasasayang. Pero wala itong relasyon sa sinasabing krisis. Ang KUKULIT NINYO!

There's no rice crisis, no rice shortage, but we will experience some price increases in rice. (From GMA. So, that's final, walang krisis! Pero sa totoo lang, natatarando silang lahat sa Malacanang because rice is a very political commodity because that is the most basic food item. It is the staple food. If corruption hasn't brought down Glorietta, the rice crisis might just bring her down!)

Okey, so i won't write about this rice crisis anymore!

As an economist, I know very well that our economy can not grow without transparency and without addressing the problem of graft and corruption. That is why, this Administration is taking the issue of corruption very seriously! - Glorietta speaking before the World Bank, ADB, and other officials of funding institutions at the Philippine Development Forum. MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! no comment.

So, I'll just write about how I'm going to be a millionaire tonight. I bought two lotto tickets for tonight's draw. If I win, I'll keep the P28Million and give the rest of the P200 Million to charity - Charity includes my brothers and sisters, nephews and nieces, grandchildren, and friends. Kayo, gusto rin niyong balato? I may go and visit you in the US and Canada, if I find the time, para maambonan kayo ng grasya!

Seriously, queues at lotto outlets are non-stop. It was reported that ticket sales last Thursday reached P176 million, just for one day. Signs of the times. By the way, this is only the second time I bought lotto tickets. The first was last Thursday. I also bought two tickets..... but none of the eight numbers that I chose (six numbers per ticket, pinalitan ko iyong 2 numbers dun sa isang ticket) came out! So, I came back and became part of the long queue, who will once again try our luck! Magagalit nito si Archbishop Oscar Cruz. Purist iyon. To him, any numbers game is gambling which should be outlawed.

By the way, I learned that another one of us has given up on Pinas and is set to migrate with the entire family to the US this May. Do you all know about this? Baka ako lang iyong huling nakaalam a!

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Advance Happy Birthday Rory Serra

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Our Prayers for President Cory Aquino

We join the nation in praying that God give Tita Cory the strength to fight and win her battle against colon cancer. She has done a lot for our country. Thank you Tita Cory and We pray that you overcome this challenge.

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Thanks to Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales for the Victory of Sumilao Farmers

Although I expressed disgust over the Bishops ambiguity in their position on the Filipinos' search for truth, justice, and accountability from the President Evil, I would like to acknowledge the role played by His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales in helping the Sumilao farmers negotiate with the giant San Miguel Corporation to get back the 144 hectare property previously awarded to them.

The Sumilao farmers are the farmers who marched from Bukidnon starting October 10 last year with a few churches and non-government organizations supporting them. But throughout their march, they have gathered enough strength, from ordinary people in the countryside wishing them well to the Roman Catholic hierarchy with no less than Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales joining their cause.

The Cardinal said it all: “Kung mga tunay na Kristiyano ang mga taga-San Miguel, ibibigay na nila ang lupa. Yan ay kung tunay silang mga Kristiyano.” Maybe they should also be reminded that their company was named after a saint. But this is not to say that their fight doesn’t have any chance in court, it’s just that the legal processes may take years and it would have been better if the company gave up their claim to the land.

Thank you Cardinal Rosales for helping the farmers win back their dignity and their right over the land.

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HAPPY EASTER

In his rising from the dead, Jesus has given us the power to rise above ourselves; may we walk in the light that brightens the path of faith.

Happy Easter to Everyone !

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ANOTHER TAKE ON THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS

I am reprinting in full, the letter to the editor published in today's issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer by my idol, singer, Gary Granada (some of his compositions are Bahay, Holdap, Kahit Konti, Salamat Musika, etc).

Confusing Calls from Catholic bishops

I am neither a Catholic nor a Protestant. I do not belong to a huge organization, much less represent one. At best, I am a volunteer of Kaalagad, a small interfaith community. I am writing this letter in the hope that the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines might reconsider its stance regarding Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her government.

But primarily I am writing this letter out of confusion. In previous pronouncements, the CBCP deplored a "most corrupt President" whom, it said, the Church helped install; at the time, it urged everybody to take communal action.

Two weeks later, the CBCP asked the very same President to take the lead in combating corruption. I understand that this was the result of a process of discernment on the part of the bishops. God must have spoken to them and told them to ask a most corrupt leader to rid her most corrupt government of corruption. Do you see who is cheering?

Discernment must be a supernatural mystery, I wonder if it involves executive privilege between God and the CBCP. "Discernment" reminds me of one of Christ's disciples. When he announced that one of them was about to betray him, the culprit himself asked, "Is it I, Lord?"

It is very difficult to discern what is already clear. As a fan of Jesus, I did a bit of discerning myself. Something tells me that the Gospel itself - the good news to the needy, the reign of hope, sufficiency, justness, and goodwill - is being undermined by the very institution that owns its franchise. The CBCP has made the Gospel like tasteless salt, no longer good for anything except perhaps to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by people.

Dear CBCP members, two years ago you could have helped prevent a most corrupt President and her gang from continually getting away with lying, cheating, stealing and murder. But you chose to sit it out, and thus helped instead to save GMA and Garci. Despite the odds, the people went ahead anyway and marched. And "lost".

Now the CBCP is doing the same. And again the people will march to oust GMA and her conspirators. The triumph of public good might be uncertain. They may not prevail. Just the same, the people will march, in a sense trampling on the tasteless salt of hierarchical religion.

The bishops may want to join them, not as bishops, not as CBCP, but as average believers whose untrained spiritual eyes neverthless discrn God's Will in the obvious.

- Gary Granada

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SHAME ON CARDINAL VIDAL AND THE 300 PRIESTS OF CEBU

It was reported that not one priest in Cebu City was willing to officiate in the mass for truth and accountability requested by Jun Lozada to be held tonight. Hence, an inter-faith prayer assembly will be held instead. There were earlier reports that Cardinal Vidal directed the priests not to entertain Lozada's request. The Archdiocese of Cebu denied this.

"The burden of truth is on them (Lozada's camp). Let them show that, indeed, Cardinal Vidal (gave the directive)," Msgr Achilles Dakay, Archdiocese of Cebu media liaison officer, said in a radio interview on Monday.

Sounds like a Malacanang apologist!!! So, no one ordered the priests not to say the mass. Not one of the priests then has B_LLS!!

Just an aside, this Cardinal admitted meeting the first couple in Wack Wack early this month of March. It was not a secret meeting but an accidental one, according to him.

Meanwhile, in Bicol, another Church leader, ARchbishop Leonardo Legaspi of Nueva Caceres has barred priests from celebrating the March 24 mass to be attended by Jun Lozada. So, right in the home court, Jun Lozada will be turned down. Will all the Bicolano priests be like the Cebuano priests also who will obey the order of their superior? What, Bicolano priests have no BA_LS too!

I WOULD LIKE TO PERSONALLY EXPRESS MY DISGUST AT THESE ACTIONS OF OUR CHURCH LEADERS. I HOPE MANY OTHER CATHOLICS WOULD LIKEWISE CONDEMN THIS COWARDLY ACTS OF VIDAL, LEGAZPI AND THE REST! LET'S EXPRESS OUR COLLECTIVE OUTRAGE INITIALLY THROUGH OUR BLOG/WEB SITES!

TOTI

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Congratulations Manny Pacquiao!

Congratulations Manny for bringing honor once again to our country.

It is Saturday afternoon here, later tonight, there will be the live bout of Pacquiao and Marquez. I'm having a little party at my place to watch the fight. Na request ulit na magluto ako ng "pospas" and this time I will make tokwa and baboy with my arrozcaldo con pollo. Regards to you.

Danny

Hello Classmates,

Katatapos ng fight ni Pacquiao. Off course, Pacquiao won! Pero for me it is still an unfinished business. Pacquiao is an early starter and Marquez (unfortunate for him) is a late bloomer. Malas! Anyway, great fight! I am so happy to watch it free and without all the hussles of the ads and commercials. I watched it infront of my lowly laptop. One of my Brods sa Frat gave me the site. I downloaded the software... then lots of technical issues have to be resolved.... we consulted his son (13 years old lang)... he is great! humble at mahihiyain nga lang sa cell fone... he gave me lots of nggeeks and geeks and more addresses. Oooppssss, crushed my laptop three times.... I came back. I was severely under pressure because the laptop is connected to a projector and the community is here trying to watch the fight coz I told them that we will use technology to bypass all these commercialism. And watched it as if we were paying a US$ 400 seat sa Mandalay in Las Vegas. They were patiently waiting. I was panting and perspiring! Called my Brod again, he said that the fight will start in a few minutes... my laptop started...I went to the site again...no results. I went to Google, almost beg for the channel. Nahihiya na ako but I could not show… Buti na lang me pan-de-sal kami. Got three suggested channels. Tried one by one and then, out of the blackness… whammy. I got Pacquiao and Marquez and the referee. Rooouuunnnddd 3! Truly amazing! We were transported to Las Vegas and on the spot and with a large screen. And we were actually in the comfort of my house here in Novaliches. With a crowd of 15 kapitbahays who are all having sidebets…. One as high as 15K. Sayang hindi ako masyadong interesado as they were but I was truly fascinated by the technology.

Ed

Danny,

I'm sure you're anticipating PGMA's UNITY WALK with Manny! Abangan mo na lang sa TFC when Manny comes home, you'll love it!

toti

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vote for RAMIELLE MALUBAY in American Idol

We're posting some pictures of Ramielle. I would have wanted to post her studio-recorded version of the song "In My Life", which she sang last week, unfortunately, I don't know how. From the internet, I learned that she's only 4' 11" ...... just like our "luckiest bitch" (who else but the glorietta).

Hi everyone,

I'm forwarding you a recording by Ramiele Malubay, an American Idol finalist who happens to be my daughter's childhood friend. They belong to a Hula group composed of Fil-Am girls here in Orlando. For the US based classmates, American Idol is being aired every Tuesday at 8 pm EST just in case you don't watch the show which I doubt. She needs your vote as well. The song In My Life is very popular during our HS days. Regards to everyone!

Danny

Will campaign for her, my friend. I guess she deserves to win…pero talagang bitin pa ang performance niya! Lots of huggggssssss….

Ed Canela

Insan,

Well done, ang ganda! That song is one of my favorites - very memorable. Been watching American Idol religiously every Tuesday and Ramiele is really good, maipagmamalaki. Haven't voted though pero para sa iyo, boboto na po, Hahaha!

Ingat and talk to you soon.

Men

Hi Dan,

I think I have reached 135 Filipino friends and Fraternity Brods and Sorority Sisters today and they are all in full support. They will likewise tell their sons and daughters to call…so she can get at least 300 or so… Tsk, mahina sa pag pili ng kanta and I need her to give much more passion as if making love sa stage no? (pilyo ka talaga Ed no?) Well, I hope she delivers more next time. My warmest regards to your daughter whom we briefly met sa banahy ninyo. Please lots of huggggssssss din ke Beth….

Ed Canela

danny,

i do watch American idol because my niece watches it. She also loves to sing. Yes, we've been rooting for Ramiele.

In my Life, a beatles song is one of my favorites. If you recall, I used it as a background music in the CD of our high school solo graduation pictures.

the judges thought that ramiele didn't maximize the potentials of her voice when she sang the song. they felt that she stayed on the safe side, so they thought it wasn't exciting.

how do we vote? the host rattles off the number so fast, I don't really get to understand.

toti

yes danny, i agree with your daughter. Mas magaling sya dito sa recording. Kinabahan sya siguro doon sa actual performance. Ang galing!

toti

Hi Toti,

Is American Idol being aired there Live? If it is, then regular number is 866-436-57.. and whatever number the singer is. If she is the 3rd singer, then it is 5703.

I know that In my life is practically a favorite among our age group. Anyway, you are right in your observation, Ramiele is lacking a little bit in confidence. Hopefully, she can stay in the contest longer, para naman sumikat din tulad ni Jasmine Trias.

Danny

Hi Ed,

I will tell Beth and my daughter that you said hi to them. As I mentioned to Toti, you were right on your observation. Ramiele lacks the confidence yet but that's the way she is. She is a shy girl. But no doubt, she sings great. A lot of her friends here are trying to communicate to her these observations. Thanks for your support. Her winning will put the Filipinos and the Philippines in the limelight again, in a good light that is. Regards to you and your family especially Glo.

Danny

We are all in full support for Ramiele from NJ to LA… he, he, he.

Ed

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WORLD SILENT DAY - March 21, 2008

This was posted by Ed. Let's support this!

Bali Collaboration on Climate Change Takes you into a journey of Silence
We ask you to SWITCH OFF ELECTRONIC APPLIANCES FOR FOUR HOURS
on 21st March 2008 at 10.00 – 14.00 hours

As a first step towards WORLD SILENT DAY 21 March 2008

You don’t have to be a superhero to tackle climate change.
We can reduce green house gas emission by doing nothing!!! Through Silence.
This is inspired by the Nyepi or Silent day practiced by people in Bali for many centuries, even now.
For 24 hours people do not travel, work or light the lamps at night.
One Silent Day in Bali is estimated to reduce at least 20,000 tons of CO2,
the largest contributor of green house gas. Please see www.worldsilentday.org.

We invite you to contribute to green house gas reduction by reducing energy consumption on 21 March.
SWITCH OFF YOUR ELECTRONIC APPLIANCES (computer, AC, TV, radio, cell phone, etc)
FOR 4 HOURS ONLY !!

REMEMBER 21 MARCH!!!
GIVE THE EARTH SPACE AND TIME TO BREATHE!!

PLEASE SEND THIS CAMPAIGN SHEET TO OTHERS!!
OR YOU CAN FIND YOUR OWN WAY OF SILENCE

PLEASE LET US KNOW THE SILENT HOURS THAT YOU UNDERTAKE ON 21 MARCH TO:
mysilent@worldsilentday.org

For more information, please contact:

info@worldsilentday.org
www.worldsilentday.org

Bali Collaboration on Climate Change

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GLORIA JOKES

Various women's groups marked Women's Day today, March 8 with an anti-GMA Rally. Here are some pictures from Reuters.

Next Friday, March 14 pm is another big Oust GMA/GMA Resign/Search for Truth and Accountability Rally. I think the venue is UST. Let's stand up and be counted!

"People use jokes as outlets for their frustration and anger. They know they may not be able to remove an undesirable person from office. But they at least want to shield themselves from further harm from the undesirable person. So, they joke about her; they make her a joke—someone to laugh about and to no longer take seriously," Bishop Ted Bacani.

Sige tumawa na lang tayo. Magpalitan na lang tayo ng mga jokes na kumakalat ngayon sa text at sa internet.

Ito isa: May pumasok na magnanakaw sa Malacañang. Bigla niyang nasalubong si Gloria at Mike Arroyo. Kumaripas ng takbo ang magnanakaw at nagsisigaw ng “Magnanakaw! Magnanakaw!”

Ito pa rin: May pumasok na palaka sa Malacañang. Nang bilang kumukak, galit na galit si Gloria Arroyo kasi ang sabi ng palaka, “Korap! Korap! Korap!”

"BOOM CORRUPT CORRUPT,
BOOM CORRUPT CORRUPT,
KURAKOT, KURAKOT,
BOOM BOOM BOOM!"

Ito matindi: “Sa umpisa, ang tawag sa taong walang hiya, “Makapal”. Nang lumala, naging “Garapal”, Ngayon na lalong lumulubha, ang tawag ay “Macapagal”.

Ito naman isa, “Pumunta raw si Mike Arroyo sa im­pyerno. Tinanong niya kay Satanas kung pwedeng tumawag kay Gloria. ‘Di tumawag na siya.

“Pagkatapos tinanong niya si Satanas kung magkano ang bayad kasi siyempre long distance ‘yun. Sabi ni Satanas, “Libre kapag devil to devil.”

Galing kay Bing ang mga jokes na yan. If you have other gloria jokes, please post.

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More About Women

Since it's Women's Day, here are two posts about them. (With apologies if the humor is politically incorrect!)

The woman and her 3 wishes

A Woman was out golfing one day when she hit the ball into the woods. She went into the woods to look for it and found a frog in a trap. The frog said to her, "If you release me from this trap, I will grant you three wishes."

The woman freed the frog, and the frog said, "Thank you, but I failed to mention that there was a condition to your wishes. Whatever you wish for, your husband will get times ten!"

The woman said, "That's okay."

For her first wish, she wanted to be the most beautiful woman in the world. The frog warned her, "You do realize that this wish will also make your husband the most handsome man in the world, an Adonis whom women will flock to".

The woman replied, "That's okay, because I will be the most beautiful woman and he will have eyes only for me."

So, KAZAM-she's the most beautiful Woman in the world!

For her second wish, she wanted to be the richest woman in the world. The frog said, "That will make your husband the richest man in the world. And he will be ten times richer than you."

The woman said, "That's okay, because what's mine is his and what's his is mine." So, KAZAM-she's the richest woman in the world!

The frog then inquired about her third wish, and she answered, "I'd like a mild heart attack."

Moral of the story: Women are clever. Don't mess with them.

Attention female readers: This is the end of the joke for you.
Stop here and continue feeling good.

Male readers: Please scroll down.
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I said only male readers
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The man had a heart attack ten times milder than his wife!!!

Moral of the story: Women think they're really smart. Let them continue to think that way and just enjoy the show.

PS: If you are a woman and are still reading this; it only goes to show that women never listen!!!

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No Sex Tonight

I never quite figured out why the sexual urge of men and women differ so much. And I never have figured out the whole Venus and Mars thing. I have never figured out why men think with their head and women with their heart.

FOR EXAMPLE: One evening last week, my girlfriend and I were getting into bed.

Well, the passion starts to heat up, and she eventually says "I don't feel like it, I just want you to hold me."

I said "WHAT??!! What was that?!"

So she says the words that every boyfriend on the planet dreads to hear... "You're just not in touch with my emotional needs as a woman enough for me to satisfy your physical needs as a man." She responded to my puzzled look by saying, "Can't you just love me for who I am and not what I do for you in the bedroom?"

Realizing that nothing was going to happen that night, I went to sleep.

The very next day I opted to take the day off of work to spend time with her. We went out to a nice lunch and then went shopping at a big, big unnamed department store.

I walked around with her while she tried on several different very expensive outfits. She couldn't decide which one to take so I told her we'd just buy them all. She wanted new shoes to compliment her new clothes, so I said lets get a pair for each outfit. We went onto the jewelry department where she picked out a pair of diamond earrings. Let me tell you...she was so excited. She must have thought I was one wave short of a shipwreck.

I started to think she was testing me because she asked for a tennis bracelet when she doesn't even know how to play tennis. I think I threw her for a loop when I said, "That's fine, honey."

She was almost nearing sexual satisfaction from all of the excitement.

Smiling with excited anticipation she finally said, "I think this is all dear, let's go to the cashier."

I could hardly contain myself when I blurted out, "No honey, I don't feel like it."

Her face just went completely blank as her jaw dropped with a baffled "WHAT?"

I then said "honey! I just want you to HOLD this stuff for a while. You're just not in touch with my financial needs as a man enough for me to satisfy your shopping needs as a woman."

And just when she had this look like she was going to kill me, I added, "Why can't you just love me for who I am and not for the things I buy you?"

Apparently I'm not having sex tonight either.

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Felino's Kare-Kare

Remember last Jan 24 when Ed posted the recipes of many pili nut delicacies, and I asked if he also had kare-kare recipe? It was Fely Jacobs who shared with us his recipe. I'm posting it here to become part of our Cooking Section. While looking for pictures of kare-kare in internet, I came across another recipe and decided to grab it. The pictures and recipe came from www.marketmanila.com (visit the website for a lot of other recipes). What was it that Danny cooked that I read somewhere in this blog? paki post na lang danny!

Jan 24

Bilib na ako sa variety of consulting services offered by Ed! Pati mga recipes! Meron bang recipe ng kare-kare? I love kare-kare but until now, I don't know how to cook it. Baka meron ka rin, pa share.

he he he... - toti

Para Sa Gabos Na:

Supposed to be addressed to Toti who sounded like he likes Pili roll so much but with the reply from others also the reason for the change. Pili roll is easy to prepare, I used to gorge it and buy for pasalubong every time i'm in town. I used to buy the flat pianono from Times bakery but of late i began to dislike the texture. I inquired for it from another bakery at the front of what used to be Vimar theatre, they have it but i didn't try. The filling is very easy to prepare, the secret to good quality is to load it with tons of crushed pili. Happy eating courtesy of Alot? Hello there. Next topic is the recipe of kare kare Toti asked from EdC, will beat him here. Familiar with the movie Pay It Forward? It took effect on me with EdC's huge pili recipe favor.,

KARE KARENG BUNTOT NG BAKA

1 buntot ng baka 3 talong katamtaman ang laki

1 puso ng saging 1 sibuyas

2 puno ng petsay 2 butil ng bawang

1 taling sitaw 1 litrong (maliit) mani

1 pusuwelong bigas atsuete, asin

Palambutin ang buntot ng baka sa tubig. Puwedeng samahan ng bituka, gilagid at pata ng baka kung gusto. Habang pinalalambot ang buntot ibusa ang bigas at dikdikin. Dikdikin din ang mani. Puwedeng ipalit ang peanut butter sa mani. Kapag malambot na ang buntot igisa ang bawang at sibuyas. Isabaw ang kaunting tubig na pinaglagaan ng buntot at kapag kumukulo na ay ihulog ang sitaw(4 na pulgada ang haba ng bawat putol) at puso ng saging (hiwang 2 pulgada ang haba). Kapag malasado na ang sitaw at puso ay ihalo na ang petsay(hindi na kailangang hiwain ihiwalay lamang ang tangkay) at talong (2 o 3 pulgada ang haba). Papulahin ang sabaw sa pamamagitan ng katas ng atsuete. Dagdagan pa ang sabaw at kung malapit na maluto ang lahat ng gulay isama ang buntot. Palaputin ang sabaw sa pamamagitan ng dinkdik na mani. Halu haluin hanggang ilalim pagkat baka manikit sa ilalim ang dinikdik na bigas at masunog ito. Ang sawsawan ay ginisang bagoong na alamang.

Toti, when you try this can you invite some of us to your place so we can judge the quality? Served best with some 'botels' of beer after dinner. It appears men of class 67 are one by one beginning to gravitate into the kitchen, Danny d first, Toti here now, am into it too, who else?

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from www.marketmanila.com

I read somewhere (perhaps in the Inquirer a few months back) that some folks attribute kare-kare to an Indian curry either by early migrants from India or elsewhere in Southeast Asia where Indians had moved. It is believed that the curry was adapted to locally available ingredients. There is also a view that this dish is somewhat similar to the Indonesian gado-gado and influence may have come from there as well. Whatever its provenance, we now know it’s a pinoy favorite. So I wanted to attempt to cook it. I referred to several recipes before I decided to attempt to make kare-kare. I cut and paste ingredients, methods, proportions from several of the recipes and added a dose of my views on what it should taste like to result in this recipe that can feed up to 12 hungry folks. First, make a nice flavorful broth from scratch. Put 2.5 kilos of good oxtails and about ¾ kilo beef shank on the bone in a wide bottomed pot and cover with cold water (about 2-2.5 liters). Add one chopped onion, one small rib of celery and about 15 peppercorns. Bring to a boil and let this simmer for about 2-2.5 hours or until the oxtails are quite tender. Remove the oxtails, strain out the other ingredients and reduce this broth further to say 8-9 cups of fragrant and tasty (albeit no salt) liquid. Set this aside.

Soak your achuete seeds in about 1-1.5 cups of room temperature water for 30 minutes and mash them a bit with a spoon. Strain this and discard achuete seeds, set the colored water aside. In a good food processor, blitz about a cup of white rice (uncooked) until it looks like a coarse flour. Toast this powdered rice in a dry pan over medium heat until it turns a light brown but do not burn it. Set this aside as well. Assemble your cleaned vegetables and blanch the banana blossom if you want. Cut the beans, bok choy and eggplants into nice serving sized pieces. Heat up a large pan and sauté 2 chopped white onions until soft. Add about half a tablespoon on chopped garlic and stir. Add the achuete colored water and the cooked meats and stir.

Add about 6-8 cups of the beef broth you made earlier and have it reach a boil. Add about 2/3 of your toasted rice powder, about 6-8 tablespoons of smooth peanut butter, and about ½ cup of ground freshly roasted peanuts. Add more rice powder or peanuts to taste and to your desired level of viscosity of the sauce. I found I had to add a bit more rice flour because the pot I was using was just huge… After about 10 minutes boiling and mixing together, add all the vegetables except the bok choy and simmer for another 5-7 minutes. Season generously with salt and pepper. Add the bok choy last and the juice of about 8 kalamansi and about 2 minutes later you are ready to serve it with some nice steamed rice. A condiment of cooked bagoong alamang (shrimp paste) is an absolute necessity for this dish. Without it you might as well eat something else. How did it turn out? Pretty good, if I may say so myself. It had terrific soft and flavorful meat, a less than mud-like consistency for the liquid, and a pleasant peanut taste. However, I must say this is not one of my favorites…I find it isn’t too distinctive at all. Give me a nice Indian or Thai curry any day instead. Kare-kare is always at risk of being overly sweet, lacking in flavor (other than peanut butter out of a bottle) or possessing a bizarre mouth feel. It can come across as tasting paste-y and I think it is the bagoong that makes the dish more than anything else. As always, I gravitated more to the vegetables and had just one large oxtail. Don’t misunderstand my negative streak, it was good. But I don’t think this dish will ever be great, in my opinion…

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FOR PILI NUT LOVERS

Maiba naman tayo. Let's talk about cooking. Remember Fely Jacob's request for recipe for pandecillos and pili tart? .... and Ed Canela's post of the recipe provided by his friend from ADB, not just for the two but for numerous other pili delicacies?

I'm heeding the advice of Ed to post the memorable, worthwhile emails into our blog for easier retrieval. So, I'm creating a new label for our archives entitled "Cooking". Cooking ng ina mo! (That's the name of a restaurant. And what's the name of a competitor who opened a resto a few meters away - "Cooking ng ina mo rin!"

Here are the recipes. At the end of this, I'm re-posting Fely Jacob's kilometric but entertaining email for everyone to relish.

I grabbed the pili nut pictures from http://lafang-mikemina.com. Thanks!

PILI RECIPES

PILI CHOCOLATE CRUNCH Ingredients: ½ kilo pili nut 1 kg. chocolate premium Procedure: 1. Toast the pili nut in an oven at low temperature. 2. Cool and set aside. 3. Melt the chocolate bar in a double boiler. 4. Distribute the nuts in moulders. 5. Pour the melted chocolate while hot to coat the nuts. 6. Place the mixture inside the freezer for a few minutes or until the moulder becomes cloudy. 7. Unmold 8. Wrap using chocolate wrapper. 9. Pack and store.

POLVORON Ingredients: 1 kilo flour 2 bar fresh butter 1 cup toasted pili nut (pounded) 2 ½ cup refined sugar ½ kilo skimmed milk Procedure: 1. Toast the until golden brown 2. Melt butter and set aside. 3. Combine sugar and skimmed milk into flour and mix until well blended. 4. Add the melted butter and pili and mix well. 5. Mould the mixture and wrap in colored cellophane. 6. Pack and store.

PILI BUTTER SPREAD Ingredients: 1 kilo pilinut - toasted 2 cups sugar 2 cups toasted flour ¾ cups corn oil Procedure: 1. Toast the pili until golden brown. 2. Mix the first three ingredients. 3. Grind and add the corn oil gradually. 4. Pack in sterilized bottles. 5. Seal

PILI TART Ingredients: Crust Filling 1 kilo ordinary flour ½ kilo ground pili 2 bars fresh butter 1 can condensed milk 1 cup sugar 1 cup sugar 1 cup cold water Packaging Material: Colored cellophane P.E. Plastic Procedure: 1. Measure ingredients needed for crust and filling. 2. In a bowl combine sugar and flour, with a pastry blender or two knives, cut in fresh butter until it is the size of small peas. 3. Add cold water a little at a time, moving to the side the pieces of dough as they hold together. 4. Form into balls. Roll each ball into 1/8 inch thick. 5. Press dough to shape of tart. Prick sides and bottom. 6. Bake for 20 minutes. 7. In another bowl, combine condensed milk and sugar. Mix well. 8. Fill up baked crust tart top with sliced pili. 9. Bake until golden brown. 10. Let cool before wrapping, pack.

CRISPY PILI Ingredients: 1 cup pilinut ¼ cup sugar 4 tbsp. karo syrup ¼ cup water oil for frying Procedure: 1. Blanch the pilinut and remove seed coats. 2. Combine sugar, syrup and water. Stir until dissolved. 3. Soak pilinut syrup for 10 minutes. 4. Drain. Fly until golden brown. 5. Let it cool down on a piece of cheese cloth. 6. Pack in P.E. plastic or jars of desired size and seal. 7. Store in a cool dry place.

SPICE GREASELESS PILINUT Ingredients: 2 cups pilinut 1 cup water salt powdered pepper garlic powder Procedure: 1. Boil pilinut in water until soft. 2. Add salt, garlic and pepper when most of the water has evaporated. 3. Cook over medium heat until nearly dry. 4. Dry further in a mechanical dryer or in oven at 50 degrees Fahrenheit until pili become crispy. 5. Cool and pack.

PILI EMPANADITAS Ingredients: Crust Filling 3 cups flour ¼ kilo pilinut 1 cup margarine or butter 1 small can condensed milk 4 tbsp. sugar ¼ cup sugar ¼ cup cold water ? Combine and cook until thick. Procedure: 1. Prepare and measure all the needed ingredients. 2. Sift together the flour and sugar. 3. Cut in the shortening with a pastry blender or blending fork until pieces are size of small pass. 4. Sprinkle water, one tbsp. at a time over part of mixture. Gently mix with fork, push to one side of bowl. 5. Sprinkle next tbsp. water over dry part, mix lightly, push to moistened part at one side. Repeat until all are moistened. 6. Gather up with fingers, form into balls. 7. Flatten slightly and add the filling. 8. Seal edges. 9. Bake in an oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 25-40 minutes until golden brown.

PILI KISSES Ingredients: 1 cup pilinut-roasted 2 pcs. egg white ½ cup refined sugar or confectioner sugar ¼ tsp. cream of tartar Procedure: 1. Grind the pilinut. 2. Separate the eggwhite from the yolk. 3. Beat eggwhite till fluffy. 4. Mix cream of tartar. 5. Continue beating until mixture form bubbles or foam. 6. Add sugar gradually while beating the mixture. Beat until stiff foam is formed. 7. Add the ground pilinut and fold the mixture. 8. Place small cones in baking sheet. 9. Bake for 40 minutes at 135 degree Fahrenheit. 10. Cool and pack.

PANDECILLOS Ingredients: Filling ½ kilo ground pili 1 can condensed milk ¼ cup sugar 1 pc. egg yolk ¼ box Dough 8 cups all purpose flour 1 bar fresh butter 6 pcs. egg yolk 1 can evaporated milk 1 ½ cup refined sugar 8 tsp. baking powder Procedure: 1. Combine the needed ingredients for the filling except the cheese. 2. Sift together the flour and baking powder. 3. Blend the melted butter with egg yolk and sugar. Mix well. 4. Add the evaporated milk alternately with the flour mixture. 5. Gather with fingers and form into roll. 6. Spread the filling on top and sprinkle grated cheese. 7. Roll and cut into desired length. 8. Place in a greased pan and bake in oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes.

PASTILLAS DE PILI Ingredients: 1 cup pilinut -roasted 1 cup skimmilk 1/3 cup suagr 1 tbsp. vanilla 1/3 cup water pinch of salt Procedure: 1. Grind the roasted pilinut finely. 2. Mix sugar and skimmilk thoroughly. 3. Add water and mix well. 4. Stir in pilinut and vanilla. 5. Continue mixing until homogenous. 6. Cook on medium heat with constant stirring until such time that the mixture stick as one ball. 7. Spread on greased trays and cut into desired sizes. 8. Roll over sugar and wrap.

SUGAR COATED PILI Ingredients: 1 cup pilinut (roasted) 1 cup sugar (refined) ½ cup water ¼ tsp. flour 2 tsp. margarine Procedure: 1. Mix all ingredients in a cooking pan. 2. Cook over moderate heat and continue mixing until syrup is almost dry. 3. Remove from heat when pilinut are coated with syrup.] 4. Spread on tray. 5. Let cool and pack.

PILINUT CANDY Ingredients: 1 cup pilinut ½ cup sugar 2 tbsp. karo syrup ½ tsp. margarine ½ tsp. baking powder 2 tsp. water Procedure: 1. Remove outer skin of pili. Grind coarsely. 2. Combine sugar, water and syrup in a pan. 3. Cook on medium heat until the sugar us dissolved. 4. Add the ground pilinut. Mix thoroughly. 5. Cook until sticky. 6. Add margarine and mix well. 7. Pour on greased tray. Add baking soda and stir thoroughly. 8. Spread immediately and cut into desired sizes while hot. 9. Cool and wrap.

PILI BAR Ingredients: 1 cup pilinut ½ cup sugar ¼ tsp. vanilla Procedure: 1. Blanch pilinut and remove seed coats. 2. Boil pilinut into soft, then drain. 3. Grind the boiled pili finely. 4. Mix pilinut and sugar thoroughly. 5. Cook over moderate heat until boiling. 6. Remove from fire spread on a wooden board. Continue mixing until the mixture stick as one ball. 7. Knead the mixture while hot by using a rolling pin. 8. Cut desired sizes.

MAZAPAN DE PILI Ingredients: 1 cup pilinut - roasted ¼ cup water 1 tbsp. cheese 1 tsp vanilla 1.4 cup skimmilk 1/3 cup suagr 1 pc egg Procedure: 1. Grind pilinut coarsely or chop using mortar and pestle. 2. Mix sugar and skimmilk very well. 3. Add water equal to the weight of skimmilk and stir thoroughly to a smooth consistency. 4. Stir in pilinut and ¾ parts of total amount of beaten egg. 5. Add cheese and vanilla. 6. Cook on medium heat until sticky. 7. Distribute the mixture on greased paper cups place in muffin pans. 8. Brush beaten eggs on top of each mixture in the cup. 9. Bake at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes.

PILI BRITTLE Ingredients: 1 cup pilinut 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. margarine 8 tbsp. sugar 4 tspb. Water 4 tbsp. corn syrup Procedure: 1. Dry pilinut under the sun or in a mechanical dryer. Cool and remove seed coats. 2. Combine pilinut, sugar, water and corn syrup in a pan. 3. Cook over medium heat until syrup turns golden brown or when threading occurs. Remove from heat. 4. Add margarine and mix well. 5. Add baking soda and stir thoroughly. 6. Spread on grease wooden board and cut while hot into desired sizes. 7. Wrap in cellophane when cooled..

PILI CAKE Ingredients: 1 kilo pili (chopped) 2 can condensed milk 2 cups refined sugar 4 pcs. egg yolk Procedure: 1. Mix ingredients all together. 2. Cook over moderate heat until thick. 3. Mold. 4. Bake until golden brown. 5. Cool. 6. Wrap in colored cellophane.

"Feast your senses on unique and exquisite delightful treats! Pies, cookies, cinnabuns, tarts, carrot cakes and scones. Freshly baked with Bicol's pride: the PILI NUTS. Everything's coming up Pili! Guaranteed to satisfy your cravings for one-of-a-kind gastronomic experience!"

Mocha pili nut pies - Ps. 350/box Pili Carrot Cakes - Ps. 400/box Pili Cinnabuns - Ps. 150/box Pili Drop Cookies - Ps. 80/box Pili Sultana Scones - Ps. 20/pc Pili Swedish Pilla - Ps. 20/pc Pili Boat Tarts - Ps. 15/pc Pili Coco Jam - Ps. 90/jar Pili Brittle - Ps. 140/jar

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Fely Jacob's Request

Holed up here at the outback of Tralala(not necessarily Australia) I chanced upon your message complaining about the skyhigh price of pili nut nowadays. Am coming out from lurking in the dark (hello EdC) for this. Maybe I can offer you a good deal by supplying your pili needs hopefully regularly as a raw material for delicacies you process. But before i go any further I may need a short reintroduction, i'm sure am not familiar to you. Am a bonafide member of Class 67 from the 'bundok' of San Vicente, the quite type in class, a member of the bunch like Bert best described by him as the guys who can't completely turn our heads 180 degrees (forgot the symbol) to our right in the direction of lady classmates. Back to my offer my price for you per kilo will be 350, low enough? That's the lowest I can afford and your minimum order should be 5 kls. to save from transport and delivery cost. Lesser order means higher cost. Will make a small profit from this but this is also to encourage you to continue with your generosity giving away pili candies per Bert’s mention. Another purpose is to help lower your cost of production so you in turn can offer lower price for our classmates who might be interested to buy. If I knew how to make the candies myself I’ll gladly do it. For selling you low priced pili I’ll request for a trade off, please provide me with the formula for making pandecillos and pili tart. I know they are baked nothing more. If you are interested please post your reply here soon so you’ll have all the time to prepare the delicacies some of our classmates particularly those coming from abroad might want to order for them to bring back home. Of course samples must flow freely during the grand reunion. For now I have about 5 to 6 kilos I can send you in 2 days time.

Looks like adrenaline is rising when the grand reunion nears. Per Marybeth’s latest post no more welcome party for Fechie’s early morning arrival? Just asking, who knows my flying ‘walis’ might obey my command and touch down at the doorstep of the coffe shop not at the airport you guys will go to after Fechie’s arrival if the original plan is still go.

Here’s another service I can offer mainly for classmates coming from abroad. If you have jewelries genuine or otherwise needing repairs or plating(tubog) bring them with you and I’ll take care of the job. Will charge you absolutely AT COST, a cup of coffee is good enough compensation for me. Am offering this only for dear classmates who’ve been away for so long para naman may souvenir sa akin. I’ve been doing this for years for some relatives from the US and Canada that’s why I know how expensive it is to get them done in those places.

If Boboy is really good and will find Roberto Manly in two weeks time before the reunion then he really deserves to be given a reward and am sure Fechie will be more than willing to shoulder the cost.

Mayo na, sarong kilometro lang.

FAJ

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