My "Bakit" list for 2010

Bakit? Why? Why a list when you probably will forget it after a month? Well, before the year ends, I will make a new list for 2010. And no one can stop me, Yeah!

For 2010, since it is just around the corner, i have a list of 10 things I promise to do/finish/accomplish/achieve. Here we go! (teketetenktenk! - to the beat of Hey Boy Hey Girl of Chemical Brothers, hehehe)

1. I will stop smoking (see image. nuff said.)

2. I will bike again (see my bike? it's with all the crap i keep hoarding!)

3. I will take more photos (see #2 - same with my dslr)

4. I will travel more WITHIN THE PHILIPPINES...enough with giving money to other countries...i hope...

5. I will read more books (I have more unread books than read ones)

6. I will post more in my blog (hehehe...)

7. I will buy the Batpod scale model (saw one at Yamashiroya at Ueno, Tokyo. Just looked, didn't buy, now having wet dreams about it, hahaha!)

8. I will take my home renovation seriously - and this will include blood, sweat and tears and lots of money!!!! But first, a real architectural plan is in order - calling on my architect!!! Hans!!!

9. I will eat better....hmmmm... this has something to do with my blood sugar and cholesterol levels. (In which case, here is a sample of recycled food from the Christmas eve dinner - lechon turned into sisig, courtesy of my wonderful Dad! Who can resist this? It's lechon sisig - two wonderful things rolled into one - what more can you ask for??!!)

10. I will have more muscles literally. Well, we'll see about that!

Yes, we'll see about all these soon!  Happy New Year, folks!

bigboy promises to get back to you soon with new news! nunus!

New Year in two days!!!

I can't believe it is 2010. Some people say that 2012 is just around the corner and the end will happen on that year. Can't tell everyone enough that only God knows the time when everything will come to an end. I hope that people will focus more on their relationship with God - perhaps if we all do that, then the world will be a better place and we wouldn't have to worry about what will happen if the world indeed ends! I am also part of this blunder - i am a worry wart and it's good that most of the time, i can check myself, push myself and tell myself, hey, God said not to worry and that you cannot add or change anything by worrying. So this next year, there will be no worries for me! God is in control, no matter what situation we are in. We have to trust him that we are ok, and focus on why we are here - which is quite simply, doing God's purpose. The only way we would know is to get to know Him! Part of my resolution this year is to re-ignite my passion for God! That i will do! And by declaring it here, I am committing myself to it! Happy New Year to everyone! Thank God it's another year!

Merry Christmas, world!

This year has truly been one of the most trying and the most telling for me. Typhoons eat into the very fiber of the Pinoys' strength, famous people passing away, loved ones passing away, friends moving on and realizations rushing in full force, sometimes debilitating me. Whew! but it was also a good year of friends and loved ones, family love, fears conquered, relationships getting stronger and God always watching, no matter what and no matter what spiritual or mental state I am in. I am glad that this year passed and i am glad that this year is finally over - a new year is here in a few days! ready for the taking! and as part of my commitment for next year, my blog will be filled in a more regular basis! catch you on a weekly basis starting this week. To all (and I am not sure if someone has actually looked into my blog), my best wishes for the coming year - may you have the inner strength, the faith and the fortitude to carry on, whatever the circumstance and stay joyful and kind to each other and to the world that God gave us! Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Mommy Cory has left us

My early morning was greeted with a very sad, heavy news. Somehow, though, as much as I want to be too emotional about it, I wasn't. I was stunned, despite the fact that I knew it was going to happen anytime soon. We all knew Cory was sick. I had the same reaction when my lola from my mom's side and my lola and lolo from my dad's side died - dumbstruck reaction, wishing there were tears flowing from my eyes; this reaction is somehow reserved to people and family close to my heart. When my best friend from high school died too soon, it was also the same reaction i exhibited.Somehow, too, I wasn't too amused with the furor over Cory's passing. I wanted to be selfish and set the sorrowful time for myself. I guess the whole country was feeling the same way. Cory was my mother, my protector, my torch of courage! This sorrow is mine alone! But I guess this was also the same feeling for all Filipinos worldwide. For all her failings, courageous acts, resounding successes, fearless views and unconditional love for the country, I was exposed to much realities about the state of our country. It wasn't a good sight, but somehow, having Cory on our side, on my side, made it all alright. And it set my heart at once ablaze and comforted, knowing that she will always be there for me, for us! How I wish i could shed a river of tears now. But I don't. This reaction will only be for people and family close to my heart. And my heart will always have a part of it etched with her name, a part of it cut and taken with her to her peaceful rest. Paalam po. Mahal ko po kayo magpakailanman...

Puto Binan is disappearing

After a really long time, I was able to once again get a fill of Puto Binan over the weekend, and somehow, wanted some real true-blue Binan ones - guess what, according to my research, there is not much of these made in Laguna nowadays. What's more, less and less of traditional markets are carrying this unique type of puto. So I tried to look for recipes in the internet, and lo and behold, there were several that stated you need an INSTANT BROWNIE MIX to make Puto Binan!? What was that? Puto is a rice cake, essentially. So that already excludes anything that has to do with brownies and brownie mixes. I will try to check and see where to buy the best, if not, existing authentic Puto Binan on my next post. I will be in Los Banos this Saturday so it won't hurt to make a side trip somewhere to check out and see if there is still real Puto Binan that can be bought in Laguna or at least in the outskirts of the province.

Tamales and Rice desserts from Batangas

Last weekend, I was once again exposed to rice delicacies from the most strange place and from a province not so popular for it. First is the picture above which is all the wares of a Batangueno, and he usually sells his yummy tamales and suman at the entrance of Alabang Town Center at the back of McDonald's Alabang. You will surely see him there, especially during weekends. Though his products are quite expensive - P 75 for a tamales or a suman malagkit (that comes with a sugar dip, not the usualy sugary saucy dip but more a paste), but so far they taste superb! I wanted to come back for more but last weekend he wasn't there. Turns out that he leaves as soon as his wares are sold out.

The next suman delicacy is from Cauayan, Isabela, which is small and soft (covered with banana leaves, of course, and tied together a la sinturon ni hudas firecrakers, in dozens) - it has a nutty flavor and is not so sweet. Fantastic! I forgot how they call it but will post it when i get to talk to my sister-in-law who was responsible for bringing some hoome.

Galeria Fernando Artes

That's Jing, my art dealer, and the best art dealer in the world, well at least in my world. hahahaha!

Her shop, Galeria Fernando Artes, is in Alabang Town Center at the ground floor of Casa Vicente and Susana. She also holds art classes, so if you want to develop your inner artist, then visit them.

I am eyeing a Parker Encisa painting - it's in her shop right now. It's safe from frantic buyers though, because Jing is hiding it for me until I'm ready to unite with it. Thanks, Jing!!!

If you want to contact Jing, for inquiries on artworks by masters and young up and coming artists, just visit her at their shop or leave your contacts with me so I can refer you.

Musings of a Pinoy Bigboy

Hello people of the Philippines and the Universe at large! This is my first attempt at making a blog. I wanted to tweet, but didn't quite like the way it worked. So I decided to finally give in and create a blog. This blog is basically my adventures, which, quite easily, can be summarized into few things - food, travel, people, new finds! I will try to update this at least twice a week, so - Enjoy and hope to see you here more often! Mabuhay ang Pinoy!