Strangers to friends

Strangers of the world never minding,

each other full of individual grouping.

Walls of differences have been created

surpassing state of indifference brought to be connected.

 

Innocent nights as silent as deaf

painted red in laughter on the cliff.

Sunshiny days colorful and glee

with waves of never ending troubles for free.

 

Time has passed so fast,

memories together accumulated hope to last.

Beautiful strangers of the ugly world

springing one another to the best of nature thundered.

 

Glimpse of an Innocent Smile

 

 

Poverty has been a worldwide knowledge which is caused by a variety of circumstances or choices. Considering the idea that the youth are the hope of the future, there are things that people in the modern world regarded less and material possessions became an obsession. But, the question of how these children with no money and advancements smile without hesitation is something that ponders to the mind of those who witnessed their happiness in simple things.

Volunteer work is a great way to expand shallow perspectives of the real world, covered by the fancy dimension of technology and convenience. Being able to face the other side of the society together with international student volunteers, has been a fun and fulfilling experience.

For others who does not have the chance to avail these privileges of the modern society, happiness may come from the simplest opportunity of eating a good meal, playing with new found friends and even singing and dancing with strangers. Despite of a great wonder of how these children ended up with this kind of life, a bright and grateful face upon giving their thanks to the gift givers strengthens the positive vibe. Thus, inspiration to keep living a positive mindset along with the tons of challenges is materialized.

There is no exact action that any government can do to completely rule out the concept of poverty even in the first world countries as the gap between the affluent and less fortunate has been emphasized by material possessions. However, it can not be denied that, as can be seen, it is the capability of a person to accept the flaws of life as choices are made together with the optimism to execute a turning point are some of the necessary components in creating a better and contented disposition with a greener pasture ahead.

Little Bora

,Travelling costs not just a monetary allowance but a great experience as well. A vacation trip does not require someone to go abroad, sometimes good places can be seen only in nearby places and can be enjoyed with the great people, good food and enough time for adventure.

For our team outing, I together with my 39 colleagues went to Bantayan Island, which is located approximately 3 hours up north of Cebu, Philippines, has been blessed with various natural resources and this place is one of those with white-sand beaches we can enjoy. Thus, given the nickname “Little Boracay” of Cebu.

An overnight stay was just enough to have fun. A bus ride to Hagnaya Port is always available but we chose to go by van for its convenience since our team’s number and we also brought some food prepared ahead. The northern sector is peaceful and lush so it is very relaxing.

On our first stop, a ticket fee of 75 pesos is enough for a boat to carry us to the island. On board, we rejoice to the fresh pacific air welcoming us. After an hour, we reached Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island and head to the beach resort via tricycle for around 5 minutes. The vicinity was great with shrubs and trees and overwhelming white coast great for some pictorials as well as fun games.

Finally, we commenced our adventure by going to a popular resort named Camp  Sawi, which was featured in a Filipino movie about brokenhearted people trying to move on from there past.

Overall, this is another memory that would last and something I would be proud of. Thanks to the people who made it possible.

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Heavens and Hades

People are bound from any walks of life, bumping into each other in a junction of random chaos and mess.

Trying to know one another in the midst of nowhere, jamming to hearts content creating memories of endless wanders.

Discovering similarities and adapting differences while looking at the eyes of opportunities.

Together achieving the height of goal despite the challenges that came through the realm of the world.

 

Teaching one another the importance of living in honesty and reality, delivering the value of happiness and pain.

Giving solace to the one in agony, mutilating the other who gave misery.

 

For the ones who are true are those who pushes you to seventh heaven and shows you Hades in a form of reflection.

Making them the mirror of who you are and the consolation of life for you to behold and call FRIENDS.

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Grandma

Like a castle so long

for a pillar so strong

for fragments of heir

to recount and gathered.

 

Like a flower blossoming

the glimmering sun once shinning

above the implusing crowd

well-known and proud.

 

Now the time has come

to go back home dear madame

like a beautiful sun setting

to a paradise beyong reaching.

The dynasty of a thousand men

from you the’ve came

forever, this recollected souls remembers

the name of Antonia, our greatest grandma.

BRAVE SOULS

People chose their own destination and decide on which path to take. There are times that these may bring a greener pasture as well as betterment for those surrounding us, but in some instance, the choice we make may lead to misunderstanding to the extent of chaos.

Being aware of the strength of the Filipino heart, it can not be denied that we could excel in any diversities of life, may it be in the field of sport, recreation or innovation. Also, this is shown in the success in reclaiming the City of Marawi from the terrorist group, Maute-ISIS, who took over the whole area in the aim of creating their own sovereignty. Many of the soldiers were deployed to the battlefield and sacrifices were made from both sides to prove each target.

Blueberry Cheesecake

It has been a-must in my, metaphorically speaking, healthy group of friends to endulge with the decadence of a desserts whenever we hangout in our favorite shops. Coffee shops for us will never be better without the sweet and soury flavor of a blueberry cheesecake. 

Since I love to cook and experiment with some of my comfort food, I still prefer homemade delicacies that truly are mouthwatering. There are even people requesting for something different from their usual consumption or even ask for the recipes I use. Therefore, I will be sharing one of the endulgence we all love.

NO BAKE BLUEBERRY CHEESECAKE

Crust:

1 1/4 cup Crushed Grahams

1 tsp. Cinnamon powder

1/3 cup Unsalted Butter

lemon zest

Filling

1cup Heavy Cream

8 oz. Cream Cheese (preferably Philadelphia)

4 tbsp. Blueberry Syrup from the compote (or Blueberry filling in can) or honey

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

Whipcream (optional)

Blueberry Filling for granishing

Instructions:

To make to crust, combine grahams, cinnamon, butter and lemon zest in a bowl until sandy in texture. Chill until ready to use.

For the filling, whip the chilled heavy cream until soft peak.

In a separate bowl, whisk the cream cheese, Blueberry Syrup or honey and vanilla until well combined. Fold in to the beated cream and continue beating for about a minute or until smoothened. 

Transfer the mixture into a piping bag and pipe it over the prepared crust, layer with the Blueberry compote and to0 with whipped cream.

Note: 

Cream is best whipped when chilled while cream cheese is used better when left at a room temperature for at least an hour.

This recipe is good for those who does not like to have too much of processed sugar in their food and want to have more of the fruits instead. Also, it would be a great gift for special occasions given a creative presentation such as in a decorated mason jar.

Enjoy eating!

Backtrack

The wilderness has undoubtedly been the refuge of those who seek peaceful environment and calm mind. Looking at the luscious scenery of the mountains and the connection of water and sky brings back the memories of my hometown.

The name of Mindanao in the south of the Philippine islands is a stigma to people foreign to the place. There are some who thinks of negative due to the report they heard from the news. However, it is a fact to know that anywhere in the world, danger could come in any time. Knowing others perspective of the area discouraged the locals to show the beauty of the place, instead, they maintain it and kept if from the world.

Despite of the chaos happening in one district, the chance to traveling back to nature is something one should not regret. The long ride may be tiresome, but the welcoming blue and green colors encourage the idea of how beautiful the world is only if humans know how to take care of it. 

As one of my those people whose relatives are living far away, it has always been a mixture of exciting adventure to go on a long trip and a relaxation to take a break from work. Changes are always visible homecoming from using lamps at high and only car batteries for televisions and radios to 6-hour rotational electric and water supply. However, the treasures of the place is still kept like the spring, giant old trees and the abundance of food that one could survive even though you have not bought any daily consumption. Indeed, this is the place to retreat.

Glow

A start of partnership comes with new begginings as a star glows to be another sun growing to enlighten each other, understanding difficulties and difference in a union of two souls for the eternity and forever.

Source: Glow

Taste of the Street

Many of the food advertised are mostly based on the demand of having a healthy or delectable variations of popular cuisines anywhere in the world. But, to think about it, our food pallets were different from before, though we still lingers on consuming our childhood memories.

Strange

At a young age, my father already introduced my sister and I to a local taste of an egg called “balut“, which is a fertilized duck egg, popularly sold on the streets of the Philippines especially at night time due to the belief that it is an aphrodisiac. Despite its strange appearance and texture, it is well-loved and is being spread throughout the international communities such as Vietnam and some parts of US. Regardless of the number marked on the surface, which indicates the days of the chick in it, from 14 to around 22, the health consistency is undeniable that it has enough calories to boost energy, protein that helps in on body building process, iron and calcuim. Because of its uniques destinctions, this beauty is even enlisted as a strange food.

Balls and dip

There is no doubt that another favorite growing up would be the fish balls and tempura. This is  a contribution of the Chinese to the country and is a chip to its Japanese culinary ancestors.

Fish has been a staple to Philippine street food as well as the sweet and sour or spicy sauce giving an additional interest to it aside from the cheapest price of as low as 10 pesos per stick of 3-sliced pieces.

Experimented

In addition to the meat-batter-mixture snacks, kwek kwek is a newbie to the gang. At first, it was quite a hesitation to try these deep fried little oranges, but then a surprise took over that it was, in fact, a small egg of a quail covered with a yellowish orange batter. It has been already a trait not to waste food, thus, the start of its origins dates back when an experiment of a food vendor was conducted out of the left over boiled eggs, which was then its bigger brother called tokneneng.

Sweetened

A sweet tooth would never be contented without having a taste of another hand-in recipe from our Chinese visitors of “taho” or silken tofu sweetened with brown sugar syrup and added pearls. It would be a great breakfast substitute since it has a generous amount of protein and calories in just a cup of less than 10 pesos, which is best served warm or at room temperature. Realizing the long history, it would be a living proof of the rich flavor of the past generations.

History have claimed the uniqueness of a place and food is one of the witnesses of the ups and downs as well as the creativity and adventurous character of the natives. It can be true that delicacies differ in various locations but roots can be the trace how the country has been developed and nurtured through time.