In closing: eat, eat, eat, cook, and eat some more

Hi Readers,

First of all, I'd like to thank you Readers for following along.  Even if the comments were infrequent; I'm still glad for your support in making this blog #4 or #6 in the Google Search Engine ( "Michael Diezmos/ Mike Diezmos" ) as of 11/14/10.  #1 is still that annoying entry -- often taken out of context -- which I wrote in college.

There were times when I was discouraged, and times when I didn't feel like eating.  This lasted for less than 5 minutes, and then I devoured the food before me making sure to savor everything about that experience (6).  I accomplished most of my goals ( plus incorporating photos I've taken in this blog ) even if I didn't do a lot of home cooking.

One of my hopes for writing in this blog is to remember, and in a song sung by Lee Ann Womack: "I hope [I] never lose [my] sense of wonder; [I] get my fill to eat, but always keep that hunger ... I hope [I] dance."  I'll especially remember: the minute before I jumped from a cliff, my island for a day, the early mornings, the beauty, the delicious food, and most importantly, eating with friends and family. 

Prior to this trip, most of the eating I've done were strictly done to function in daily living ( just to get through life instead of honoring the blessings bestowed upon me ).  With most all having different schedules, it was a bit difficult to just sit down together and enjoy the communal aspect of a meal.  During my gastronomical adventure, I'm reminded that eating together makes life delicious.

My attempt at photo layering in Adobe Photoshop...



Indulgence: Junk/Fast Food and Party of Parties

Hey Readers,

With waning funds and one last chance to try something different and difficult to find outside the Philippines, it's no-brainer why I'd splurge in junk and fast food in my last week here in P.I.

Monday: Shopping for pasalubong can be tiring so to recharge, we ate at a Japanese restaurant in the SM Mall of Asia.  We ordered the set for 4, which included appetizers and dessert ( coffee jelly with ice cream ).  One cousin was teaching another cousin how to use chopsticks.  He was too hungry to have the patience ( next time na lang ).  It was funny how we were the last customers in Penshoppe ( clothing store ), and my cousin kept changing her mind.

Tuesday: I didn't finish shopping, so the next day, I recruited another cousin to go with me.  For merienda, we just went to Jollibee.  I liked their slogan: "I am young, I am pinoy, I yum."  I ordered a jolly spaghetti with yum.  My cousins ordered the big burgers.

Wednesday: After helping my cousins with their new home, we had lunch in Chowking.  We ordered a set again, and added sago't gulaman and pork tufo.  At times "Bahala na" could be trying, but I never forgot to "enjoy it".  Instead of waiting in traffic/in the rain, we stopped by SM Mall of Asia.  We ordered the Supreme Overload thin crust pizza with Pineapple juice at Greenwich.

Thursday: I went to the mall again to buy the other things I forgot to buy.  In between shopping sessions I had an energy drink consisting of natural sugar cane juice.  I passed by Red Ribbon and remembered: when my aunt and I had ube mamon and a mocha frap; my cousin and I had lunch of crispy chicken with s'mores cake after hiking; my cousin and I ate macapuno, pastilias de leche, and Braso de Mercedes in the bus.  Thinking about these experiences made me hungry so I ordered fried icecream ( pandan with chocolate and mini-mallows ); the only thing fried about this dessert was the way it was cooked ( look lang ).

Friday: After the gym, I did "Chocomania" then I ate at Inasal.  Before leaving the mall, I bought polvoron from Goldilocks.

Saturday: I was more tired than I thought so I drank a protein shake ( mango yogurt flavor ).  First thing in the morning my aunts are running around buying ingredients for the dishes, which would be eaten for the night's Party of Parties.

Originally I was going to help cook but I became tarantacious ( distracted to the point of confusion because I had to pack my luggage making sure I didn't forget anything / any pasalubong ).

We had spaghetti, rice, Chop suey, shanghai, squid, pork in a broth, and hot dogs on sticks with pineapple bits and flower mallows.  For desserts we had Black Forest cake, Braso de Mercedes, Gelatin, and Leche Flan.

This party celebrated all types of party one can think of ( Bon Voyage, reunion, congratulations, new job, etc. ).  It was one last get together before I return to the States ( my home? ).  We had shots with chasers ( fermented coconut juice ) while we watched a talent show and a scary movie.

Some cousins couldn't make it; nonetheless, I was grateful for those who came.  In the words of Carly Simon ( ? ): "We can never know about the days to come ... [but] I'll tell you how easy it is to be with [them]."

One sweet chocolatey day

Que Pasa Readers,

A favorite food and pasalubong for Pinoys is chocolate.  Chocolate rice ( champorado ) is eaten for breakfast.  Chocolate blood ( dinuguan ) can be served for lunch or dinner.  Chocolate cupcakes, cakes, and ice cream are popular merienda and desserts.  So when I saw a promotion using chocolate in the spa, I was intrigued; I had to try "Chocomania".

I was greeted by my masseuse, and -- I'm not kidding either -- her name happened to be Candy.  Low lights, piano music, and decor with earthy textures ( pebbles, tiles, banana leaf, bamboo, and others ) made the environment serene.

The session started with a body scrub.  After it dried on my skin, it smelled like hot chocolate powder.  Then I rinsed, and the chocolate wrap was applied.  I always had this image that the wrap, which the spas used, was banana leaf.  However, this spa just used a sort of plastic and this thermal blanket, as heavy as those X-ray blankets used in a dentist's clinic.  The wrap supposedly helped the skin to absorb all the antioxidants from the chocolate.

The pampering ended with a massage and tea ( flavored lightly with chocolate ).  "Chocomania" was a good way to unwind from all the eating and adventuring ( who knew that such activities can be tiring ;).  My cousin was right: "Good chocolates only come by once in a while [so] enjoy them!"

Relax...

Home is where the stomach is

Hi Readers,

While my relatives are moving into their new home, I'm being busy finishing last minute business before I return "home".  Growing up bilingual and bi-cultural, questions about home surfaces every now and then.  Like Disney's Belle, I wonder where home is: "Am I here for a day or forever?"

1:30 am.  A few more hours/minutes and the new moon would disappear.  Cooler weather and less traffic were good reasons to be moving in at this time.  Convenience and tradition were others.

My aunt was adamant about keeping alive lola's beliefs.  The first person[s] to enter the house should bring with her a lighted lantern, a crucifix, a pot brimming with rice grain, and a jug filled with water.  After the ritual, I was instructed to turn on all the lights.

Then the rest of the stuff followed.  Hours passed by.  Snacks were given to the movers.  Refurbished dining table set arrived ( table inherited from lola ).  Cable TV was installed.  Showering, napping, and babysitting.  The 2 breathing native chickens were killed.  Their blood sprinkled in strategic spots around the house ( as an offering ).

I helped my aunt make Bilo-Bilo ( consisting of glutinous rice flour, pearls, and coconut milk ), and questioned her about this custom.  With a Mona Lisa smile, she said: "It's good to eat this sticky and sweet dessert so family will stick together."

Our Bilo-Bilo didn't turn out as planned ( nature of improvisation ), but we ate them still after a dinner of rice and tinola (  consisting of the cooked native chickens, green papaya, ginger, and a leafy vegetable in a broth ).

I've been here in the Philippines for almost 6 weeks; I feel at home here and there, where ever my stomach gets filled with deliciousness.

Left: Lantern, crucifix, dining table set, pantry filled with cooking accoutrements.