GINISANG BALAW-BALAW (Sautéed Balaw-balaw)

Balaw-balaw is a local food in Angono.  It is a fermented young shrimps dish in a porridge, making it a sharp taste of mixed salty and sour, and pungent smell but definitely delicious.

Eating Balaw-balaw is tracing back my root.  It is my identity as a native of my town.  It is a trademark that tells my origin.

Since the preparation of Balaw-balaw itself is a long and tough procedure, the easier way is to have the ready to cook one which can be bought from a town’s trusted and native family which peddled on the street.  This family has the legacy when it comes in preparing balaw-balaw.  As a matter of fact, this has became their moniker that they have known for.

In cooking Sautéed Balaw-balaw, you will need the following.

• 2 cups of Balaw-balaw
• ½ glove of garlic
• 1 medium size onion
• 1 small ginger
• 10 pieces of okra (lady’s finger) cut into two
• Water spinach leaves and its soft stalks cut 2 inches (from approximately 20 stems)
• Pepper

In a pan, sauté the minced garlic, chopped onion, and the ginger thinly cut.  Pour the Balaw-balaw and let it simmer for five minutes in medium heat.  Depends on your taste, you may add little water to subside the unique taste of Balaw-balaw.  Then add the okra let it for a minute then put the water spinach leaves and stalks.  Add pepper to taste.

If you want to make the Balaw-balaw the long procedure for yourself, you will need ¼ kilo of baby shrimp, 40 grams of salt and 6 cups of cooked rice, and Angkak for coloring.

Cook the rice into soft and slightly watery cooked with Angkak on to have the pinkish color, once done set aside to cool.  To achieve this, 6 cups of rice is to 8 cups of water.  In a big bowl, mix the shrimp and the first half of the salt then mash thoroughly until the shrimp absorbs the salt.  Let it there for 2 hours.  Then mix the cooked rice in the bowl and add the other half of salt then mash them to mix thoroughly.  Transfer the mixture in a sterilized bottle and cover tightly, then set aside for 10 days to ferment.

Balaw-balaw is best served while hot and it can be the viand itself or it can be a side dish along with fried fish and steamed leafy veggie during lunch and dinner.

Balaw-balaw is part of our culture in Angono where we are noted for this special dish.   And without eating this can’t be said a true child of Angono.

And lastly, just eat right.

Sautéed Balaw-balaw

By Alex V Villamayor

September 23, 2013

SHRIMPED PASTA

Coming up an idea of making an original dish, I immediately chose pasta since it is easy to blend in any ingredients.  But I never thought that I will be narrowed down to think of dish other than the popular spaghetti and carbonara and the unusual pasta with pineapple.  Well my friend has already done pasta cooked in pancit style, and this slimed my options.

At first, I immediately thought of Adobong Pasta, as my way of paying tribute to the all-time favorite viand of any Filipino.  But as I go on thinking, I came across to try pasta with the taste of shrimp.  I can figure it out in my mind some pictures of pasta with shrimp that I’ve seen but I assumed them as side taste or gourmet only.  I want to make a taste that will be entirely taste of shrimp for pasta.  This is how this dish goes which I called Shrimped Pasta.

You will need the following.

• ½ kilo of pasta
• ½ kilo of shrimp (prawn)
• 5 stalks of parsley
• 2 gloves of garlic
• 2 small onions.
• 200 grams whole mushroom

The very first thing I did is the preparation of shrimp extract that will serve as broth.  I removed its head and the shell (skin) of the lower parts then put them in pestle to crush and extract its juice until I have a 3-cup of it.  You may extract the shrimp two times in a half cup of water each.  Then just add water to make it 3 cups.

In a pan, I sauté the minced garlic and onion sliced thinly followed by the headless shrimp.  Approximately three to four minutes until it turned into color orange.  Then I added the mushrooms sliced thinly and pour the shrimp broth and bring it to boil until it cooked, approximately five minutes.  I put some flour to thicken the broth, season it well with salt and pepper and then set aside it.  This served as the sauce.

In a separate, I boiled the pasta according to the instruction on its package.  Rinsed it and sprinkled the chopped parsley finely.  Then in a platter, I put some of the sauce on, and then put a handful of the cooked pasta.  Then on top of it I pour more sauce, and finally sprinkled it with roasted garlic on top.

This makes good for 10 people.  And as usual, it is preferably better to serve and share while hot.  For good initial impression, I chose the long and flat shape of pasta.

And lastly, just eat right.

Shrimped Pasta

by Alex V Villamayor

POSTING IN SOCIAL MEDIA

In various social networking websites today like FaceBook, Twitter, Blog, Linkedin, WAYN, Hi5, YouTube, MySpace, Wikipedia, Amazon.com, etcetera, sometimes reading the comments in our news feed is quite irksome.  Some comments are just off that should not be posted at all, making the post to be blown out of proportion.  Either they are just abuse comments from irresponsible netizens or they are just merely blowing their own horn.  The phenomenon of FaceBook is too much to resist joining and opening an account.  Because it captures the very interest of the users in building connections and interactions with family, friends and those long-lost friends which are the core purposes of this social networking. Add as well are the making of new friends, establishing contacts, sharing of thoughts, news and multimedia content, making our world closer.   And since it is so accessible, easy and free to own, anyone can have account in any social media.  With the dominance of social media today, our communication is not the same as before that was face-to-face interaction, more personal, careful and responsible.

In today’s sophisticated, amazing and fast-paced world of computer age, surfing the net is selling like a hot cake that are smash hit from all genre.  Any news, images and videos that we posted in the internet are transmitted instantly in the cyberspace.  Many scams that surfaced in the internet were Goggled by the thrilled, fascinated and interested viewing public until it become viral.  That is why it is extremely important to be extra careful and responsible when posting our thoughts.  Remember that we are interacting not only within our circle of friends but with the rest of world too.  It is a shared world, expect different reactions when posting your 2-sents which can be interpreted in different ways, contradicted and offended to other’s point of view.  Different people, belief, personality, perception and emotion, you have to be broad minded and matured.  And since most social networks are open to public which can be accessed by minors, we have to be sensitive and considerate with our behaviour in cyberspace.  We do not post in these websites any materials that have sexual content and adult in nature.  We have to respect the youth not to corrupt their young and vulnerable mind.  Certain types of posts need to be cautious and need appropriate place, otherwise it will jeopardize you.  Post that depicts other people in compromising situation could lead to a potential detrimental consequence.  Posting controversial issues, political view, and religious belief is very sensitive topic that can be disturbing and offensive.

Social media is very powerful means of communication but there are just people pretending to be clever claiming of being straightforward and honest while in fact ill-mannered and rude who are capable of uttering such harsh, cruel and mean posts.  Many have been bullied by the mischievous netizens using freedom of speech as excuse to bully in cyberspace.  While other group of nuisance netizens are those attention-suckers who love posting images of gadgets and personal stuff to brag what they've got, expensive foods and restaurant, photos showing the places they can afford to go to, and changing of profile pictures every now and then.  While it is our choice and there is nothing wrong with these, and myself is not exemption doing some of these, but what it makes really big turn-off is our very intension.   Being narcissistic, dandy, and lecherous are awkward posts that are irritating.  Sometimes the feeling that is so personal should not be broadcasted.  A question in a contest was asked what should be made private in this age of everything is made public?  In today’s hype and prime of social media, there is still so much to keep private but our personal information and preference should remain private first and foremost.  As cybercrime is virtually roaming around the net waiting their prey thru hacking, phishing, pirating, fraud, stalking, etc.   With all of social media impudence, internet scams, cyberspace predators, and  all these events in websites; exercising appropriate discretion is the proper etiquette that should be practiced when using social media.  One should at least know what should and should not be posted.

POSTING IN SOCIAL MEDIA

By Alex V. Villamayor

September 16, 2013

WHISTLE-BLOWERS

In our world today of materialism and worldliness, many people are strengthening, enriching, uplifting and empowering themselves to become dominant, respected, untouchables, and fearsome.  And yes it is depressing to know that these have to happen at any cost, be it in right or wrong means.  But in spite of this, it is good thing to know that there are handful of informants who tell the wrongdoings – the whistle-blowers.

There have been many bursting scams involving politicians, businessmen, community and religious leaders, and celebrities surfaced in internet and headlined the news in broadsheet and television.  Relationship, crimes, and wealth, mostly are about money, the root of all evils.  Amidst of noise and disturbance in clashed with power and positions, like a referee has to blow the whistle to pacify the situation and fix the mess.  I thank the whistle-blowers.I give my salute to brave people who took the center stage to uncover the anomaly that should not exist on the first place.  I take my hats off to the whistle-blowers that came forward in front and boldly exposed before our very eyes about the wrongdoings of anybody.  Especially those high profile and big scams that may risk their lives, thank for their guts, courage and confidence.  We always need people like them to step in front and reveal the anomalies.

We may sick and tired to hear about their common sayings that no more they can bear their conscience.  We may have heard this many times nevertheless true or not, I believe it is still worth to owe their exposé. In some cases the whistle-blowers may have direct involvement in the crime to tag them as malcontents whose vested interest is just profiting from their accusations.  Add still is the people’s cruel perception that their admission is just a simple retaliation from swindling.  Either ways, we must acknowledge their revelation as turning point to pursuit the truth and justice.  People may still doubt, interrogate, and demand to ask their timing.  I think we should not condemn the whistle-blower for coming out late because we didn’t know what they have gone through.  Maybe there was risk not only in their life but for their limb too, are you going the do the same?  I am not questioning their late confession and revelation because I believe in right timing.  It’s all timing, maybe if they stepped their feet forward earlier and take the lead will not merit due to inadequate proof.  Maybe too soon to speak its content and size that will not earn support from majority people.  Maybe their late revelation is just in the right time to accumulate its size that enough to stimulate the general public’s awareness and support.

Or maybe we want to ask ourselves if they did not do it, who will do then?  If they did not do today, when it should be done?  I just thank their coming out in any given time because there should no late when it comes in seeking the truth.  I would like to give them a big applause for their advocacy of revealing the truth.  Let’s just understand their occurrence out of nowhere and out of time, and extend our sympathy to the whistle-blowers for it is no-joke on what they have undergone for the sake of truth and justice.  The fear of reprisal from personalities they implicated, false accusations of boosting their hidden interest, profiting the situation and peddling stories create a distressing effect on the willingness of whistle-blowers to come forward and expose wrongdoing.  Let us take care and do not neglect the whistle-blowers for it is in their hands the key to collar the culprits and the mastermind of scam.

  

WHISTLE-BLOWERS

By Alex V. Villamayor

September 10, 2013

CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS

Birthday is a significant day in our life that we always longed prepared for and waited every year.  This day means party, and in most cases it is celebration of festive foods, drinks and fun.  It’s only once a year, we can occasionally pumper ourselves with these birthday foodstuff.  And besides it’s our big day and we’re merely deserved to be indulged.  It’s the only day in a year we can act self-absorbed without oppose from our friends.  So celebrate the day you want it.  After all, it’s all our preparation, expenses, hardship and satisfaction.

But on my points of view, personally I don’t like birthday festivity.  I can toss a party to a family or friends but for my own celebration, I would rather not.  I found it superfluous which I don’t think need to be done every year.  In the past I may have done celebration with friends but they were purely for bonding and comradeship purposes only and not exactly intended as thanksgiving.  It is because I prefer do my thanks in private and solemn.

My parents raised us in very simple life, and we were trained not to crave for parties and celebration.  During birthdays, I remember only in some years we prepared foods to share but most of the years we do not have grandiose celebration or even a simple “pancit”, or ice cream and cake that delight every children.  Financial dearth and saving were the top wherefore but more than that, our life living in simplicity transcends over the top of us.

Since then up to now, I am not hunger after these celebrations.  On personal level, I don’t believe in choosing special foods for the day that meant giving long life.  I am not criticizing others’ opinion and practice but instead I’m just speaking out my own thought and desire.  I am sorry if I offended those who strongly adhere to the tradition of throwing brilliant feast but then again I am reiterating that this opinion goes to mine only:  it’s my two-cents and it’s for my situation.  Just pursue what you think is right.  But what I really found foul is celebrating it by all means to the point of just completing the celebration in spite of lack of budget.

I am not just really a follower of this tradition and I am not fond of celebration. There are other ways of giving thanks and sharing of blessings rather than fanfare and grandstanding, and I am into that.  I have already pen stories showing positive values and dated them on my birthdates to signify it.  In this way, I can share to my readers the given talent I have and believing somehow reach out and touch other’s lives.  There are other ways of celebrating birthdays.  You can stage a unique way of valuing your natal day like staging activities for your friends.  It is not only through foods and drinks you can show your gratefulness.

I admit, it’s a shared world and we’re not living alone for ourselves only.  And I know we should not always look at our own interest and perception only, we need to consider other people who want to be with us during the special day.  This is the mere fact why I anticipate calling a party in the future for my natal day, but if I will do it is definitely for friendship.  I will not oblige myself without guilt because at the end of all of these, it is only myself know how I really thank and share my blessings.

CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS

By Alex V. Villamayor

September 7, 2013