This Made Me Sad

When you know an ugly truth it doesn't hurt as much as when that truth is being whacked right at your face. Here's a video that has been going around the web about Michael Goodman's 20 Reasons Why I Dislike The Philippines posted on ChannelFix. 

Jimmy Sieczka, the host, lives in Cebu for about three and a half years and he pointed out all the things that he doesn't like in the Philippines. This made me angry. No, actually furious. But it's the truth, a bitter truth that I need to swallow and suck it down to my throat. Yet, again, I chose not to dwell on the negativity and do every possible way I can to prove that Filipinos can be better than this.

20 Reasons I Dislike _____. (the Philippines)

By: Michael Goodman
About: If you think really hard, I'm sure you can come up with a couple reasons not to like something. In the land he loves so much, let Jimmy take you on a lighthearted tour of the negative aspects of living in a crowded country located at the earth's equator. On the flip side, check out 20 Reasons I Love _____. (the Philippines) at: http://channelfix.com/video/109/.

Hacobina and Some Other Things

I miss my childhood treats. Puto seko, bukayo, cherry balls, wonder boy, choc nut, that sweet soft pink and square thing covered with flour, and the squared layered biscuit which I have known only now as hacobina. Hacobina is my lola's favorite which became also one of my favorites. I would munch it layer by layer until I finally devoured it satisfaction!

This is the hacobina that I grew up with.

But, this is the hacovina I can't get enough of! Jacobina by La Noceda Food Products, Inc.

I bought this on our way home from Laiya, Batangas at Sto. Tomas. When my sister and I tasted it, we can't just seem to stop. We were able to finish one pack in minutes! It was crispy, delicious and zero trans fat. It was soo good that I asked my sister to go to Mendez, Cavite to look for it. 

We left about 1030am in our house and on our way to Tagaytay we got hungry so we stopped and had lunch at Pamana. Who doesn't know Pamana, which is owned by Happy Ongpauco? I guess everybody knows it because you can't miss it when you drive along Tagaytay Road.

I love the homey feeling of this place. 

Very nice for the nostalgic photo op.

It was just a simple meal. Grilled seafood platter and Pancit Bihon. The grilled seafood was ok. I like the marinade of balanced sweetness and spice. The only thing that let me down was it was served a bit cold.

After lunch we drive along Tagaytay road and turned right at Mendez crossing. We asked several people where Jacobina is. You wouldn't be able to find it the first time because it is behind the Plaza/Police Station. 

We hoarded several packs of Jacobina biscuits, some boxes of cassava cake and egg pie. Oh my the egg pie! It was soo good, too. Pure egg without that flour feeling as extenders. The crust is not soo thick either. The caramel on top adds the right sweetness once you sink your teeth into it. Egg pie just like the old days when quality and good taste was the most important thing. My sisters said the cassava cake was equally good and heavenly! Not so sweet and you won't worry the roots would get in between your teeth because it was finely made. And, oh, by the way, Jacobina biscuits are also available in the US at selected Filipino Stores.

When we thought we're going straight home, we dropped by Ilog Maria Honeybee Farm. For years I have been wanting to go to this place. Finally!

I bought myself some stuff to bring back here in SG. Few things to try out such as candle, honey cider vinegar, honey propolis throat spray, propolis bath salt with eucalyptus and clay soap for acne. I chose the clay type soap vs the glycerin based because it is said glycerin can be comedogenic. My friend  already gave me virgin honey, honey propolis shampoo, peppermint soap, face oil and peppermint oil so what I bought are great addition to my Ilog Maria stock. I love Ilog Maria products. I wish I can hoard all of them. I'll have to share my reviews on each products in a separate post because honestly right now, I feel sleepy.

I enjoyed that quick trip to Tagaytay with my father and siblings.

Jacobina - La Noceda Products. Inc.

78 Gen. Luna St., Mendez Cavite

Ilog Maria Honeybee Farms

Aguinaldo Hi-way, Silang, Cavite

Let Us Help The Kids Affected by Typhoon Sendong

Yesterday I posted on Facebook if we could also donate some toys for the kids so as to help them somehow forget even for a while the tragedy that they had. Today, I read the entry of The Filipina Mom Blogger about giving a hug to the children who had a traumatizing experience one could never imagine.

Here is an excerpt of her post:

Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining: How to help TS Sendong victims

Residents were caught unaware as the floods rose rapidly at around 2 a.m. Saturday, while they were sleeping. Many of the victims were recovered in mud.

When you hear this kind of news, one begins to ask is there a silver lining to all this? It may not be apparent yet but silver lining for the TS Sendong victims is collecting stuffed toys for the children and toiletries for the women affected by the wrath of Typhoon Sendong.
 You ask “not slippers, clothes, water?”..Yes they need all that too and I am sure everyone else is donating whatever they can. It’s good to feel empathy, post, forward donation centers and contact numbers — but it’s another thing to take action. The simplest would be to TEXT 2899 with the message RED (amount you wish to give 100, 200, 500, 1000) and the funds will go directly to Red Cross. There are a hundred ways to take action, and mine is collating credible sources of donation in kind and in cash.

My friend Cathy (my co-founder of our grief advocacy, The Compassionate Friends) shows another way. Let me explain first.

See, children in trauma experience a lot of nightmares. The power of a hug, or something that they can hug cannot be underestimated. I took part in Cathy’s project five years ago when she initiated the “Thousand Bears for Bicol Project”. It was also around Christmas time too. You cannot simply imagine the joy the children felt when they received these teddy bears.

Cathy contacted the Regional Missionaries of the Philippines -Northern Mindanao Region after she spotted a poignant poster of a father with his child on a friend’s wall. She took that as her cue. Under their wing in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan are thousands of displaced women and children. This is Cathy’s small way of helping out. This is something that she had done before which is to collect stuffed toys for the children in the evacuation centers and to put together toiletry kits for the women affected by Sendong.

How to donate to the children
Here are the simple guidelines :

1. For stuffed toys please send clean, friendly looking toys (no pigs please, owing to cultural and religious sensitivities) in any size ideally, big enough for a child to hug.

2. For toiletry kits, each bag will contain the following items : toothbrush, tooth paste, soap, sanitary napkins (10 pcs), comb or brush, underwear (2 pcs) face towel, laundry soap — just the basics so the women can also take care of themselves as they take care of their children.

If you wish to help, please email her at cathybabao@gmail.com

Cathy plans to assemble the toys and goods throughout the holidays and deliver them to CDO just before the new year. She will need volunteers for drop off points in various parts of QC, San Juan, Pasig, Pasay, Makati, and Alabang. If you wish to volunteer your homes, establishments or offices as drop off points, please send me an email.

Let us all do our small share to help Northern Mindanao.

Every bear or stuffed toy that arrives matters because it counts towards making one more child happy. To share and to give is the true essence of the season.

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For the full article you may check here.

Let's also offer our prayers and church services to the victims of typhoon Sendong.

May God bless your generous hearts.