ANG AKING AMA (PARA SA ARAW NG MGA TATAY)

Ang mga kapansin-pansing katangian na nakuha ko sa aking ama ay ang kanyang pagiging tahimik, mapag-isa, at pagiging payak.  Kung minsan ay nagagaya ko ang kanyang pagiging makaluma pero magkaiba kami ng aking ama sa maraming bagay – sa pananaw, kasiyahan, at mga personal na pakikibaka sa buhay.  Sa aking pagkabata ay nariyan siya sa mga pangangailangan ng isang bata ngunit nang lumaki na ako ay bihira ko siyang mahingan ng tulong dahil naging mas gusto ko ang kumilos sa sariling paraan.  Memorable oo mayroon pero iyung maraming ala-ala ay hindi dahil hindi kami madalas nagkasama.  Marami kaming nalampasang mga bagay na maganda sana kung magkasama kami tulad ng pag-aaral ng paglangoy, pagbibisekleta, at mga leksyon sa eskwelahan.  Bilang ama sa isang anak, inasikaso niya ang paglaki at ang pag-aaral ko pero hindi kami iyung nagkakasabihan ng mga problema, mga plano sa buhay at pagpapalitan ng kuro-kuro tungkol sa mga nangyayari.   Ipinagtitimpla ko siya ng kape, ipinaglalaba ng mga maong na pantalon, nang makapagtapos ako ng pag-aaral at makapagtrabaho, pagkakataon ko na sana na bumawi sa kanya upang maging malapit ang aming relasyon. 

Pero hanggang sa pag-aabot lamang ng kaunting pera ang naipapakita kong pagpaparamdam ng pagmamahal sa kanya.  Hindi naging makulay at mahigpit ang aming relasyong ama-anak dahil siguro sa pagiging mapag-isa at indipendiente namin.  Pareho kami kumikilos sa sarili namin kapag may problema ang isa.  Ewan ko, hindi ko mabasag ang pader na namamag-itan sa amin upang maging bukas ang loob namin sa isat-isa.   Nuong mga panahong ang aming pamilya ay may pinagdadaanan sa buhay, pagkakataon na sana iyun na maging malapit kami sa isat-isa sa na magkakadamayan at maipahayag ang mga sariling niloloob.  Marahil ay dahil na rin sa kahit nasa hustong-gulang na ako nu’ng panahon na iyun ay hindi pa hinog ang aking pag-iisip sa mga buhay-buhay.  Siguro ay dahil sa ugali namin na hindi masalita.  Kaya nang panahong bagsak na bagsak ako na naghahanap ng masasabihan ng bigat ng loob ay hindi ako makalapit sa kanya.  Hanggang pumanaw siya nang taon na yon sa edad na limampu’t walo nang hindi ko man lang nagawa ang gusto kong gawin sana sa kanya tulad patigilin na siya sa pagtratrabaho, isama sa paglalaboy, at ibili ng mga damit, sombrero at alpombra upang maging posturang-postura kapag nakatambay sa tindahan. 

At bagamat hindi kami iyung naghihingian ng tulong sa isat-isa ay marami rin naman naibigay na mga payo sa akin ang aking ama.  Marami siyang mga pangaral sa akin na nagagamit ko sa buhay ko ngayon tulad ng “huwag magpapaalipin sa tawag ng salapi”.  Totoo, ang mga bagay na binili mo sa pera na hindi mo pinaghirapan ay walang matagalang kasiyahang ibibigay sa iyo.  Sa huli, pagsisisihan mo kung bakit nagpatukso ka sa pera.  Matuto kang makuntento kung ano ang meron ka at huwag mong pilitin makuha ang hindi mo kaya.  Sa halip magpalakas ka muna upang makuha mo kung ano ang gusto mo.  Kung hanggang saang-layo man daw ang marating ng isang tao, maganda kung hindi siya magbabago kung paano siya nakarating sa kanyang kinalalagyan.  Ang aral na nakuha ko mga salita niyang ito ay iyung matutong maging mapagkumbaba.  Ang pagiging isang simpleng tao ay sa kanya ko natutunan.  Ang totoo, hindi ko talaga kailangan ang magarbong buhay.  Hindi ko kailangan ang luho, matutunan lang ng tao ang maging isang simpleng pamumuhay ay mawawala ang inggit, kasakiman at takot sa buhay. 

Naging isang halal na opisyal sa aming bayan ang aking ama, magkaganunpaman ay hindi niya pinanghimasukan at inimpluwensiyahan ang aking pananaw pagdating sa politika kundi hinayaan niya akong matiwasay at malayang pumili.  Sa sitwasyon ngayon ng politika sa Pilipinas na ang hindi naniniwala, hindi kapanalig at ang pumupuna sa pamahalaan ay binubusalan, pinagkakaisahan o kinikitil, sana ay pairalin natin ang pag-galang.  Sana ang mga nanumuno sa pamahalaan ay tulad ng aking ama na pinapahalagahan ang karapatan ng isang indibidwal dahil ang tao, gaano mo man pilitin o turuan, matuto yan kapag nakita na niya ang kamalian niyang ginawa.

THE UNCOOKED DISH

I got my cooking interest from my father.  My mother does the cuisine too but I found my father was the better cook maybe because he usually does the cuisine which got used to my taste, while my mother was usually more on other household chores.  I followed more on my father’s blend of cooking and some from my mother.  So occasionally, I explored myself in the kitchen so I would able to know this one basic household chore just when time comes to live independently.  I was planning then to work abroad and true enough I made it.

As an overseas worker, one of the ways I get closer to my mother from a long year of absence is cooking or foods.  Father had gone earlier so every time I am at home, I want to make sure to give my mother the foods that I feel she will amaze either I cooked or bought.  I know she’s a kind of foodie, it may not dinning in from one cozy restaurant to another but I’m sure she always wanted different and tasty foods.

Once I cooked a local menu named chopsuey, a veggie dish with cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, bell pepper, and snow peas sautéed with garlic, onion and mushrooms seasoned with chicken stock, breast and liver.  It was the thick and tasty sauce that made it remarkable and I cannot forget her genuine reaction when she liked it, it was such an overwhelming.  While at one time I prepared stew made of tofu.  Clueless, she never realized that she was actually eating tofu and not chicken as she thought.  Until there was this one dish that I promised to cook for her but I failed her until she died.

One time, I told her about Chicken Cordon Bleu.  She had an idea how it looks and tastes when I told her how I prepared it.  I pound the chicken breast then seasoned it with salt and pepper.  I placed the thin slices of cheese, hard boiled eggs and cooked ham on top of it, then rolled and coated with bread crumbs and bake it in oven.  By the look if, my mother easily liked it and one day she even told me to make one.  I wanted to make one before I go but tiring times did not permit me instead I made other easier dish and told her to do the cordon bleu in some other time.  Until I was about to leave again for another year of work out of the country, I did not able to make Chicken Cordon Bleu.

Another year had passed, it’s another homecoming but I really did not able to make the Cordon Bleu.  I know she was waiting for it. Until soon she passed away without seeing the Chicken Cordon Bleu that she’d longed for.  My mother never tasted the dish, and in this I feel the guilt of not making her wish come true.  I feel I have taken for granted her.  I just thought I should tried then to find a way to make the Cordon Bleu.  I wished I have done the dish no matter how busy I was because you can never take back the times.  No matter what I do I cannot do it anymore.  Sometimes we tend to forget about the people around us or those who are close to us thinking that we can always make-up but we do not know time is running out until it’s up.

Sometimes we deprived simple enjoyment that can bring big smile to people.  If we can do it now, better do it than never and sorry.

DIARY OF A HIGH SCHOOL GIRL

The following article is a school project of a high school student. 
"In a class, we were asked to write a story which is so close to my heart - about family.  I am a 14-year old young girl happily living with my family in a place we called The Promised Land of Philippines.  I am the second child in a family of four children, one older sister and two younger brothers.   I grew up in the simplicity of our home where I never asked anything else except to always be with my family.  That is my father, my mother and my siblings.  I always love playing with my father especially when he has no work during Saturday and Sunday.  Being younger to my sister, I have so many privileges that have been given to me by people surround me which of course I like so much.  I am lucky to have a sister who I can look up to and run to in times of need.  I have learned so many things from my sister from school kid into going to a teen age girl.  We are sharing rooms, secrets and goals and it is always nice to have someone to talk like my sister".

"Aside from my sister, I am indeed thankful to have younger boy siblings.  This makes my changing life from child to young lady balance.  Just imagine how my sister and I go around and all of a sudden to playing with my annoying but funny brothers age 11 and 1.  For more, there were always my cousins to play with.  The playground was perfect, we used to chase around the spacious lawn.  I am blessed with very supporting parents for all my community and school activities.  Living in a family like mine is an inspiration to pursue my studies.  From my childhood, I grew up in an environment of not being with my dear father most of the times especially those important days.  In 2007, my father decided to work abroad.  That was the first time he will left his children not just for weeks or months but for years.  I remember the sadness I felt when I had to say goodbye to my father.  Yes he promised me toys and chocolates but deep inside I preferred those playtimes with him especially when he carried me on his arms while cradling like a swing under the tree.  I wanted him to stay with us but in my young mind I remember he said it was for us – for my sister and my brother.  That made me inspired to make my best in school.  I knew that was the way to make my father happy so I made every day in school so special".

"My family had to make sacrifice.  While my father is working away from our home, my mother stayed at home to look after us her children.  I am blessed to have a family like mine who value the future of their children.  While growing up, I witnessed how difficult it was to be away with the head of the family especially in times when the presence of the father is needed most.  But my mother, to the very best of her capacity tried to do multi task just to cater the needs of her children.  It is thru in this set up of my family that makes me inspired to drive away the tiredness and sadness of my parents.  I told to myself, I should not fail my father and I will not disobey my mother.   I see the values that my parents taught not only to me but also to my siblings.  These are the love and respect to each and everyone in the family.  My mother and I have good times together.  One great thing that influenced me so much of my mother is my interest in culinary.  In my young age, she already shared me some basic knowledge in cooking that made me so happy every time she brought me in the kitchen to watch and learn new things.  Cooking is fun.  The ladle, frying pan, pots, chopping board and the stove are beautiful things for me that give me charm to always be with them.  I want to cook and when I grow up to choose a career for me, someday I wish to be a great chef that my parents will make proud of me.  I have already the passion about food and cooking.  I just need to keep and enhance them until I am ready to take them.  But while dreams are still far from today, I am trying to live by the days as they are.  I know to get that dream is to enjoy and prepare my life today.  I have always the excitement to convince people who I really care about to like the foods I prepared.  And soon the other people".

"While I am preparing that dream, I am focused on my studies because I always believe that the best time to shape our dream is today.  Being a third-year high school student, I have to choose extracurricular activities that truly appeal to me.  Today is the great time to develop a deeper focus on my interest.  I have been in many activities during my first and second years so I think I can narrow down them to come up to what I truly want.  Do I really want to become chef?  Then I have to read more about it so that I can learn more and be ready. Right now, part of preparing for that dream is to learn disciplines that I can get from two of my choice sports, the volleyball and dart.  Volleyball is a team sports that can help me to improve my coordination and socializing with fellow team players".

                                                 

"I believe, volleyball can push me to improve my motivation and ability to succeed in achieving a pre-determine goal.  As a team player, I should learn cooperation and work as a team to lead into success of the team.  When the team wins, I have share to that win too because I have to learn team work which is important to achieve the goal.  In volleyball, the emotional connections to the whole team will make stronger interaction among each and everyone.  As we walk forward to our dream, the process could be difficult and emotional.  The experience that I will get from volleyball will help me to provide an emotional network of support from my friends.  As to playing dart, I think the indecency to build success is in the experience of playing this sport that my father is my greatest influence.  Like him, I want also to learn good decision making skills, individuality, competitive abilities and build self-esteem".

"My life is inspired by all of these things that are happening to me.  In the past years, the little success that I can personally consider a humble achievement will help me to become a better person I am today.  The experiences I went through, the good bonding with my family, the places I have been trough, the friends that I spent days with, and the schools activities that I joined, all of them gave me lessons that I will cherish until I grow up into a full pledge woman".

MENU EXPRESS: KAKANIN

STEAMED PUTO

2c all-purpose flour

1c sugar

1¼tbsp baking powder

2c water

1 can evap milk

1 egg

¼ c melted butter unsalted

Cheese for toppings

Mix well all power. Mix well all liquids. Combine the mixtures. Pour in molding pan and steam for 10 minutes. Add 1 minute for cheese on top.

BAKED PUTO (small size)
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup Sugar
½ cup milk
¼ cup Water
2 tsp Baking Powder
1 tbsp Melted Butter
1 Egg
Quick melt Cheese for toppings
 
Combine all dry ingredients and mix well
Combine all liquid ingredients and mix well
Mix the dry and liquid ingredients
Pre-heat the oven to 350 degree Fahrenheit (180 degree Celsius)
Pour the mixture to mold
Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes
Top with cheese and bake for another 2 minutes
And lastly, just eat right.

CASSAVA CAKE

2c cassava

1c gata

¾ can condensed milk

2 eggs

Buko

Cheese

Mix gata, condensed milk, eggs, and buko. Then mix cassava. Pour in molding pan almost full, steam for 45 mins. Add some cheese for garnish.

BIKO

2c malagkit

4c gata

1c brown sugar

Ginger + salt

Put some salt and steam the rice intentionally half cook (tip: instead of plain water, extract some juice coconut pulp). In a pan, mix gata and sugar and bring into boil until thicken. Then mix the half-cooked rice and stir continuously until the liquids gone (about 20 min).

MAJA BLANCA

2c gata

¼ can condensed mild

¾ can evap milk

½ corn starch

Kernel corn

Mix gata, condensed milk, and corn and bring to boil 10 min.  Dilute corn starch in evap milk.  Pour in boiling mixtrure of gata and milk then mix well continuously until thick – more or less 10 min.

BANANA BREAD
Ingredients
3 banana
2 eggs
¾ cup sugar
¾ cup oil
1 cup milk
½ tsp salt
1.5 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking power
1 tsp baking soda
 
Procedure
1. Mash the banana
2. Mix egg sugar and oil,
3. Add milk vanilla salt
4. Add flour, baking powder and baking soda using strainer
5. Add the mashed banana
6. Bake in 338 degrees at 35 – 40 minutes
7. Lastly just eat right

CARROT BREAD
Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
2 tbsp baking power
1 cup milk
½ cup oil
4 eggs
4 medium carrots
Almonds – optional
Raisins – optional
 
Procedure
1. Mix the all powder ingredients
2. Mix the eggs, milk and oil
3. Combine the 1 and 2
4. Add the shredded carrots
5. Add the almonds and raisins
6. Pre-heat the oven at 340 degrees
7. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes
8. Lastly, just eat right

FRUITCAKE

Ingredients
Powder:
2 cups flour
1/2 cup mascuvado sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
 
Liquid:
1/2 cup juice or brandy/rum
2 teaspoons vanilla essence(optional)
1 cup melted butter
6 beaten egg
1/2 cup water (back-up)
1 cup sugar for caramel syrup (optional)
 
Solid:
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1/2 cup candied pineapple chunks
1/2 cup red and green maraschino cherries (seasonal)
 
Procedures:
1. Soak the dried fruits overnight
2. Mix all powder, then set aside
3. Mix all liquid, then add all solid ingredients (keep 1/3 of soaked dried fruits for toppings)
4. Combine the mixed powder and mixed liquid/solid
5. Pre-heat the oven at 300 degrees F.
6. Grease the mould
7. Pour the mould with mixtures
8. Bake for first 20 minutes
9. Top the remaining soaked dried fruits and bake for another 40 minutes
10. Lastly, just eat right

 

LEMON BREAD

WHAT ARE NEEDED:

BATTER

1 ½ cup flour

1 cup sugar

1 ¾ tsp baking powder

½ cup melted butter

¾ cup milk

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 tbsp lemon zest

2 eggs

DIZZLE/GLAZE

2 tbsp lemon juice

3 tbsp milk

½ cup melted butter

1 cup sugar

½ tsp salt

(Option: caster, confectioner, icing sugar)

HOW TO DO:

BATTER

Mix well all powder ingredients

Mix well all remaining ingredients

Combine the two mixture

Preheat the oven at 350⁰

Bake at 30 – 35 minutes

DIZZLE/GLAZE

Mix all the ingredients and slowly boil until thickened.

Or mix lemon juice and any of the option sugar

Wisk until desired consistency

Lastly just eat right

Tag: FAST TRACK, EXPRESS