Mauie Flores

I have sung "Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush" so many times with my kindergarten students during circle time in the past. The song makes a good circle time for the kids. They love to just go around a classmate who we assign as the day's mulberry bush. I have never seen a mulberry bush. Have you?

Guess how surprised I am to know that the mulberry bush is not even a bush but is, in fact, a tree! I tried to research on the difference between the mulberry bush and the mulberry tree but the closest I have come to reference to mulberry bushes are those only of the nursery rhyme. On the other hand, I have read some references like "mulberry bush or tree." That only made me think that the bush is probably a tree! Mulberry trees can grow up to become big shady trees that can reach up to 20 feet tall.

Now, I wonder how the composer of the nursery rhyme came up with the idea of using "mulberry bush". Any idea?

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I was at the flu vaccine seminar last Saturday when my aunt-in-law called me up to ask about the shutdown of Intel Philippines' Cavite plant. I sadly confirmed the news to her. She was overly concerned about her friends and other neighbors who were working for Intel. I assured her that these people will be properly compensated for sure. Yet, I still feel bad because Intel Philippines is such a big part of of lives. My husband was part of the company for nine years. We had so many good times while he was with the company. Somehow, I felt relieved that he was able to move on to another company (a global beverage company this time around) in 2005, just nine months shy of his supposed to be 10th anniversary in Intel.

Still, I feel that there is nothing to be completely happy about it. We still have close friends who did not have the options to find another job before the company announced the shutdown. We expected that it wouldn't be during this year. Most people who have stayed still hung on to the hope that things will be better. I am so worried about our friends who still have existent car loans and housing loans and those who are sending children to school. They have bought their homes in Cavite to be near to the plant. What should do they do now? Approximately 1,800 employees will be affected. The Penang plant and also two wafer fabrication plants in the US will also be closed down. I guess there will be a surge of new members of the "Intel Outside" group.

As I said, Intel has been a huge part of our lives. Even now that my husband is with another company, the values and culture that he learned from Intel still remained. He even instilled their "Safety First" policy in me. We have so many properties that we may call "Katas ng Intel". Sitti (our Honda City) was acquired through the company car loan program. Our eight-year old HP desktop computer was given by the company during the good times in 2001. Every employee got a desktop computer package for their home use.

Reality bit my senses today when I read that Texas Instruments will be laying off 400 of their Baguio plant employees . I think it is about time for people in the semiconductor industry to think about other options before it's too late.

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In October of last year, my family was able to experience learning what goes on inside the human body through Grossology in SM Science Discovery Center. It was a fun way of learning everything there is to know about the human body. My son had so much time while tinkering with the different areas explaining certain processes in the body.

One of our most remembered activities in the Grossology exhibit is the one where my husband and son had the chance to make burps. You read it right - burps. The activity includes pumping liquid from a big soda can through a straw. The liquid goes inside the model's body and once the water in its tummy is full, it sounds off a loud "BURP!" that never fails to make all of the kids laugh out. Other areas of interest include "Barf Barf" where the mechanism of vomiting is explained and "Sniff, Sniff" that explained why people stink. There were also other educational spots that teach visitors about the mechanics that are involved in the organ systems of the body.

I do not know if the Grossology Exhibit that we visited is the same as Grossology Exhibit - Orlando Science Center. As I visited the site, I noticed that most of the activities are the same. What I am sure of though is that learning and fun is simultaneous when you are inside the exhibit. The Grossology Exhibit at the Orlando Science Center will be open to the public starting January 31.

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There's something in the aroma of star anise that we love so much. I put sangke or star anise on any soy sauce based viand if I want it to taste oriental. For example, to make Chinese Adobo, I cook my regular chicken or pork adobo but add sugar and star anise to the mixture.

Today, it is not my Big Boy who had Korean Beef Stew for lunch. The Bigger Boy, who works in Makati, bored with cafeteria food, and is super thankful for the microwave oven in his office's pantry, had this sweet dish. What we had was just the left-over dish from our dinner last night.

I cooked the dish last night because it takes so much time in making the beef tender. I do not use a pressure cooker anymore after the mini-accident that my helper had with our pressure cooker. After an hour of boiling the beef ribs over low fire, I added a cup of soy sauce, sugar, star anise, ginger, onions, sesame seeds, a little sesame oil to the beef stock. I let it boil for another hour until the mixture is reduced and then added a tablespoon of cornstarch to thicken the sauce a little.

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So I thought that it would do me much good just by being sugar free. I discovered that I have to be flu free also the whole year round. That I learned from the flu vaccine seminar initiated by Sanofi Pasteur in cooperation with Nuffnang Philippines. I came with my family and, together with other parent bloggers, we learned from Dr. Ruby Mendoza-Dizon how important the flu vaccine is for everyone, especially to a diabetic like me. I am, thus, sharing with you the key points from the seminar and some photos, too.




What is Influenza?

Influenza is a contagious respiratory viral illness caused by the influenza virus. Symptoms include headache, fever of 38 to 40 degrees Celsius, muscle and joint pains, chest pains, lack of appetite, fatigue and weakness, runny nose and sore throat, dry cough, restless sleep, chills and shivering, and vomiting or diarrhea. The illness strikes between the months of June and August. It can affect the patient for three to five days but the fatigue may last until two weeks. Because it is a viral illness, it cannot be treated with antibiotics although patients may be given antibiotics to treat the complications that arise from it.

Contrary to what we commonly think, the flu is not as simple as it is. It is deadly because of the complications that may develop from the illness. Possible complications include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or (uh-oh)diabetes. Now this is what really made me scared to death!

Is Influenza different from common colds?

Both Influenza and common colds are viral illnesses but the symptoms of influenza are usually more severe and life threatening. For example, fever is rare in adults who suffer from common colds.

Prevention

Preventive measures include eating a well-balanced diet, engaging in exercise, getting adequate rest, doing good hygienic practices, isolation, and vaccination.

The Vaccine

Vaccination should be done every year. The Southern Hemisphere vaccine (the Philippines is a part of the said region) is made available starting February of each year. Two weeks after you get the shot, you can be protected from Influenza. Because of this, it is recommended that you should get the shot once the new vaccine is available to and not to have it during the months of June to November which is the expected time when there is an increased Influenza activity.

It is also recommended that everyone should get the vaccine. Special mention, though, is given to children 6 months to five years of age, asthmatics, chronic bronchitis patients, diabetics, kidney and liver disease patients, adults 50 years old and above, the immunocompromised (e.g. HIV patients), and health care workers.

I was grateful that we got free shots of Vaxigrip yesterday. This is the brand of Influenza vaccine that Sanofi Pasteur produces. Just this school year, Ralph already had a total of 6 days of absence because of sickness. I was able to convince my son to get vaccinated so he can be protected. He especially regret the one time he missed their Music Festival audition because he was feverish. But when the time came for us to have our shots, he went into panic mode and even rushed to the restroom. I had to hold him tight (again!) when his shot was being administered. On the other hand, I am so used to injections so it did not bother me at all. The part still feels a little painful though as of today.


signing the waiver



The Event

I was able to finally meet my blogging Plurk friends Noemi, Cookie, and Girlie. It was also a chance for me to meet other parent bloggers like Earth, and Jeff and Jennie Aspacio and the Nuffnang Philippines staff. I also got to take home a desk calendar and kit of influenza information flyers and other freebies.




I do hope you consider getting your flu shots this early to avoid being hit by the flu later on. You can visit the Bakunado sa Flu site for more information and to help spread the word about the importance of getting a flu vaccine.

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Sunny days are here again! Haven't you noticed that lately? It was quite a disappointment for me because I am really enjoying the cooler evenings when we do not have to switch the airconditioner on. It saved me a lot of money last month. Imagine, our bill was down a thousand pesos!

Hotter days are a nuisance. At least to me because I leave the house for work in the afternoon. I realized yesterday how I needed my sunglasses when I went out my door and it almost broke my heart that I cannot find them. Actually, that pair has been with me for almost five years. I am used to wearing it outdoors on sunny days when the sunlight is too much for my eyes. I have prevented so many migraine attacks because of this pair. Now it's gone, or it could just be misplaced somewhere.

Because a pair of sunglasses is very important for me, I have done a little bit of window shopping for a new pair. I am eyeing a pair of Armani brown sunglasses because it looks casual yet classy. The price holds me back though and I just cannot afford it at this time. So for the meantime, and because it is so urgent, I would probably be settling for one with the same style but with a more inexpensive price.

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Buying a house is no joke. Before we made the big decision to buy one, we initially had to make our personal financial statement so that we could assess if we could meet the financial demands of the move. It has been almost two years since we moved in and I am glad that my husband and I carefully planned our finances before we took the plunge.

Our home is mortgaged under a 30-year Pag-ibig home loan. We opted to apply for a Pag-ibig loan instead of making a bank home loan because in 2007, Pag-ibig's home loan rates were lowered so we grabbed the opportunity immediately. Also, the principal loan maker, who is my husband in our case, has the security that just in case anything happens to him or he will be disabled, the loan is considered fully paid. We opted to apply for a 30-year loan f0r the meantime to give us the chance to pay the lowest ammortization possible. We will be restructuring it to shorten the loan period once we are sure that our finances can handle a more expensive monthly loan payment. Oh, another benefit of having a Pag-ibig loan by the way is that the member gets to enjoy a bigger dividend come retirement. This is another one of the agency's move to encourage members to loan from them.

I am not sure how home loans work in foreign countries. Here's a site though for readers in the States. Compare home mortgages online at Amerisave, the nation's fastest-growing retail mortgage company. Head over to Amerisave's profile for more background information. It always pays to make a research first before making the big move. As I said earlier, buying a house is no joke at all.

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Being a diabetic, I am so used to visiting the hospital now and then. I am grateful that I grew up having enjoyed the benefits of a health card. In our country, it pays to be insured. I equate not having a health card with horror stories in the hospital. In a hospital emergency room, the admitting nurse usually asks for the details of the patient's medical insurer. Oftentimes, when the patient is not insured, poor service is expected.

I read a write up recently about long waits in the emergency room. Daniel Neumeister cites an article that long ER queues are caused by the hospital administrators themselves. The available beds are usually reserved for the paying patients. Neumeister thinks otherwise. He reasons out that the dwindling number of health care professionals in the States could be the root cause of the problem.

I will not say anything regarding their current state of health care. What I am sure of is that, in our country, both the financial state of the patient and the lack of medical staff are just one of the causes of long queues in our local hospitals' emergency rooms.

For more ideas on hospital management and mental health services, head over to the profile page of Dan P Neumeister. Also, Dan Neumeister can be found here on Wordpress.

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This week has been another one of those weeks that just passed by without me noticing it. Time flew fast for me lately. I guess I was just too busy.

Still, I will never forget to thank My Lord for the wonderful week that was. Today I am especially thankful that my dad is finally sitting up with help from my mom and brother. Yesterday, I saw him already sitting on a couch in the garage. At least he finally had a few hours outside the house, his first in a month. Yes, it's exactly a month when he had his stroke. I know he's feeling better now. I also know that he's praying that God will heal him in His time. He even told me that he promised the Lord that we will sing as a family in the church choir once he gets better.

What are you thankful for this week? Write about it by joining this meme.



thankful thursday

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It's almost the end of the school year once again. During this time of the year, we usually get a lot of clients asking for tutorial services. Well, basically, most of our parent clients feel like it is the end of the world when they only have barely two months to go before their children receive their final marks. They mostly panic after receiving the not so favorable report card marks after the second trimester or second grading period. Most of the students that come in during this time are graduating high school students needing help in Math and Science subjects.

In our tutorial center, where my mom, me, and my other four siblings are the tutors, I delegate clients to the tutor who is most experienced in the subject. My brother and my sister usually get their hands full during this time of the year because of this. Yes, I cannot teach high school Math and Science subjects yet. I am not that confident with my teaching skills in those subjects yet as I feel the need to brush up on my Math. I guess I will need to buy the cheapest college textbooks I can find and self-study for a while. Hopefully, I can teach Math to the older students once I get to improve my Math teaching skills.

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This is a prayer and link tag started by Mel Alarilla of Filipinos Unite. Filipino bloggers, please feel free to repost the prayer.

<-----Start of Copy--------->

You are enjoined to utter this prayer for nine (9) consecutive days and to tag as many bloggers as you can with preference for Filipinos. But only bona fide Filipinos shall be included in the official registry of Filipino bloggers in this blog. Each time a new blogger makes a link, be sure to send me an email of the entire link through melalarilla@gmail.com so that the official list will be consolidated in a master list in this blog. For our Muslim brothers, you may make your own special prayer formula but you must never deviate from the formula of this entire post.

Prayer

Dear heavenly Father, we consecrate to you our beloved country- the Philippines and all the Filipinos around the world. We acknowledge Father that apart from You, we can do nothing and it is only your divine providence and grace that can unite all Filipinos as one nation. We therefore humble ourselves before your throne. We confess all our sins to you individually and collectively as a nation. Forgive us our sins Father and wash us clean by the precious blood of Your beloved Son- Jesus Christ. Mend our wicked ways and let us experience a strong and genuine spiritual revival for ourselves and for our country. Let the Holy Spirit imbibe us with power, love and wisdom to return to Your path of holiness and righteousness. Bless our country, heavenly father. Bless all Filipinos wherever they maybe. Let progress, unity, harmony, stability, justice, peace and prosperity reign in our country.

Bless our leaders, from the President down to the lowest Barangay official. Touch their hearts that they may serve our country with all honesty and with love and integrity. Bless our children and our future generation. And bless us all Father in all aspects of our lives. This we pray to You heavenly Father, in the mighty name of Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

Name Address Name of Blog URL

Name Address Name of Blog URL

1. Mel Alarilla Bulacan, Philippines

Filipinos Unite!!! http://filipinosunite.blogspot.com/

2. Angel Cuala Batangas, Philippines Father Blogger dot com url - http://fatherblogger.com/

3. Lavern Tan Las Pinas City, Philippines Pinoy Ambisyoso url- http://pinoyambisyoso.com

4. Francis Daniel Maning Cebu, Philippines Istayl Sugbo url- http://istaylsugbo.blogspot.com

5. Snow Philippines Dear Bloggery url- http://dearbloggery.com/
6. Bloggista - Marikina, Philippines - Bloggista - url- http://www.bloggista.com/
7. Chris A. - Cavite, Philippines - CMAQuest - url- http://cmaquest.blogspot.com/
8. Aisha - Eugene, Oregon, USA - The Holley Herald - url - http://www.theholleyherald.com/
9. Rowena - Davao City, Philippines - All Out My Naked Truth- Rowena - url - http://rowenabongabong.blogspot.com/
10. Icymar Tagimacruz - Cebu, Philippines - Kreative Myndz - url- http://www.icymartagimacruz.blogspot.com/
11. Pat Mangubat - Philippines - New Philippine Revolution - url- http://newphilrevolution.blogspot.com/
12. Empress - Cebu, Philippines - Empress of Drac.Com - url- http://www.empressofdrac.com/
13. Marilou Domingo - Philippines - Ibanag in the City - url- http://ibanaginthecity.blogspot.com/
14. Ester Besmonde - Canada - Walk Through Money Online Journal - url- http://www.teyonlinejournal.com/
15. Ramon Paulino - Quezon City, Philippines - FatherlYours.com - u rl- http://www.fatherlyours.com/
16. Mindanaoan - Mindanao, Philippines - Mindanaoan - url- http://www.maindaoan.com/
17. Bloggie - Davao City, Philippines - Davao Bloggers Network - url- http://www.davaoblogs.net/
18. Xerendipity - Dumaguete City, Philippines - Obnoxious Queer - url- http://obnoxiousqueer.com/
19. Viviene C. (Bingkee) - Connecticut, USA - I Love/Hate America - url- http://www.fliploveusa.typepad.com/
20. Roy - Angeles City, Philippines - The Struggling Blogger - url- http://thestrugglingblogger.168center.com/
21. Janette Toral (Ada) - Marikina City, Philippines - Blogging From Home - url- http://www.bloggingfromhome.com/
22. Milton Coyne III (Bluedreamer27) - Cavite City, Philippines - Bluedreamer's Top Five - url- http://bluedreamer27.blogspot.com/
23. Marites dlR - Davao City, Philippines - Me, the islands and the world - url- http://www.pinaylighterside.com/
24. Mauie Flores - Cainta, Rizal, Philippines - Living a Sugar-free Sweet Life! - url- http://www.maureenflores.com/
25. MsRay - Bacolod City, Philippines - Woman on a Journey - url- http://www.msray2008.com/
26. Pia Go Olano - Philippines - My Life's Journey - url- http://myblog2002.blogspot.com/
27. Jena Isle - Pampanga, Philippines - Random Thoughts - url- http://jenaisle-candidthoughts.blogspot.com/
28. Caca - Mindanao, Philippines - Mood Swings - url- http://blogecca.blogspot.com/
29. Pinoy Apache - Cebu City, Philippines - Pinoy Apache - url- http://pinoyapache.blogspot.com/
30. Jessie Simbulan - Philippines - The Reporter - url- http://www.jessie-simbulan.com/
31. Tony Roda - Manila, Philippines - MENstream - url- http://www.menstream.blogspot.com/
32. Fingertalks - Philippines - Fingertalks - url- http://www.fingetalks.com/
33. Wendy Lopez-Redaon - Quezon City, Philippines - From The Eyes of My Heart - url - http://wenlopred.blogspot.com/
34. Marlene - Davao City, Philippines - Potpourri of Ramblings - url - http://www.lemback.com/
35. Liza Cochico - Quezon City, Philippines - A Simple Life - url - http://mlizcochico.com/
36. Tricia Mazo-Galvez - Las Pinas City, Philippines - Proud Mommy - url- http://monliam.blogspot.com/
37. Wayne - New Zealand - Affiliate Crunch - url- http://www.affiliatecrunch.com/
38. Shiera Delusa - Osaka, Japan - Bisdak Babbles - url - http://bisdakbabbles.com/
39. Madz - Lunda Norte, Angola - Things I Did Not Know Before - url - http://madzlifesknowledge.blogspot.com/
40. Kcee - Makati City, Philippines - Barefooted Me - url - http://www.barefootedme.com/
41. Yani - Davao City, Philippines - Banicmanic - url- http://www.banicmanic.blogspot.com/
42. Rodaflip - Ontario, Canada - FlipAntasticWeb - url- http://flipantasticweb.blogspot.com/
43. Ramvie Santiago - Philippines - Philippine Blog For All - url - http://pinoyblogko.wordpress.com/
44. Russell Bravo - Caloocan City, Philippines - Russell Dot Com - url - http://www.russelldotcom.com/
45. Michelle Valenzuela - San Francisco, California, USA - Tumawa K Kabayan - url - http://twangpinoy.blogspot.com/
46. Pinay Wife - Cambodia - Pinay Wife Speaks - url - http://pinaywifespeaks.com/
47. Lei - Pasig City, Philippines - Moon Goddess Lae - url - http://moongoddesslae.com/
48. Shawie Gick - Orange County, California, USA - A Grateful Heart - url - http://anemptycup.blogspot.com/
49. Hariette Wendam - Iloilo City, Philippines - Praning's Shoutout - url - http://www.praningshoutout.com/
50. Joan Joyce Absalon - Navotas City, Philippines - Joan Joyce dot com - url - http://joanjoyce.com/blog/
51. Rashieka Estelle Absalon - Navotas City, Philippines - My Name Is Rashieka - url - http://rashieka.com/
52. Darlyn - Gen. Santos City, Philippines - Touched By An Angel With Love - url - http://darlyngemwords.blogs.com/
53. Kate Cancio - Marikina City, Philippines - Becoming Kate Cancio - url - http://katecancio.blogspot.com/
54. Ria - United Kingdom - Continental Fairy - url - http://www.continentalfairy.com/
55. Ginoray - Cainta, Rizal, Philippines - Profound Matters - url - http://profoundmatters.wordpress.com/
56. Penlighted - New York, USA - Light It Up (Blogging for Jesus) - url - http://lightedpen.blogspot.com/
57. Lyn (Moccalyn) - Manila, Philippines - Life Spices - url - http//moccalyn.blogspot.com/
58. Ana Lindenhann - Denmark - The Filipina Mom in Denmark - url - http://www.filipinamom.com/
59. Chris Red - Philippines - Christinchen's Soapbox - url - http://christinchen184.blogspot.com/
60. Richies 2Ts Inspires - Stockholm, Sweden - Richies Inspirational Designs - url - http://simchieinspires.blogspot.com/
61. Island Angel - Davao City, Philippines - Seashells Of Island Angel - url - http://seashellsofislandangel.blogspot.com/
62. Manilyn Tingcang - Iligan City, Philippines - LinGZ.spot - url - http://lingzspot.blogspot.com/
63. Joyoz Obsioma - Melbourne, Australia - Everyday Life...Generally Speaking - url - http://www.joydob.com/
64. Gladita - Bacolod City, Philippines - PromdiLiving - url - http://promdiliving.com/
65. Lesley Cucal - Tarlac City, Philippines - Bottomless Coffee - url - http://men-tality.blogspot.com/
66. Rose Cottrill - West Virginia, USA - Rose's Obstacles and Glory - url - http://www.obstaclesandglories.com/
67. Mys Lyke Meeh - Toronto, Canada - Mys Lyke Meeh - url - http://myslykemeeh.blogspot.com/
68. Gloria (Goyz) - Calamba City, Philippines - Good Health - url - http://goyz-greenapple.blogspot.com/
69. Mitch (Annay Butakal) - Cebu, Philippines - Ramble Baboy - url - http://annaybutakal.blogspot.com/
70. Ria Coleto - Cervantes - Dubai, UAE - It's My Party - url - http://www.riablahgs.com/
71. Luna Miranda - Makati City, Philippines - Miranda - url - http://bilogangbuwanniluna.blogspot.com/
72. Kit (Suplado) - Makati City, Philippines - Suplado Reviews - url - http://supladoonline.blogspot.com/
73. Rachel - Philippines - Heart of Rachel - url - http://mysoulfulthoughts.blogspot.com/
74. Josie Santos - Sydney, Australia - Fragments of My Soul - url - http://josie-santos.blogspot.com/
75. Wella Jane - Misamis Occidental, Philippines - Thinking Pen- Blogging For A Cause - url - http://thinkingpen.freeo.net/
76. Kelvin Requiroso (Kebelle) - Quezon City, Philippines - Spirituality Page - url - http://spirituality-page.blogspot.com/
77. Pusang Gala - Mandaluyong City, Philippines - Pusang - Gala - url - http://pakaleklalawak.blogspot.com/
78. Jason - Paranaque, Philippines - Pinoy Updates - url - http://www.pinoyupdates.com/
79. Onatdonuts - Taguig City, Philippines - OnatDonuts - url - http://www.onatdonuts.blogspot.com/
80. Ibyang - NSW, Australia - A Wife's Charmed Life - url - http://awifescharmedlife.blogspot.com/
81. Mike Avenue - Philippines - Mga Tagalog Na Tula Sa Filipinas - url - http://tagalog-tula-pilipinas.blogspot.com/
82.Jhay Gamba - Cainta, Rizal, Philippines - I Blog Mo! - url -http://jdesignzwww.jdesignz.blogspot.com/
83. Carla Farnesyl Fundales Idago - Malabon City, Philippines - Heterotripper: Anong Maskara Mo Today - url - http://lacarotica.blogspot.com/
84. Tet Garchitorena - Naga City, Philippines - The Life Of An Oregano Addict - url - http://www.piebuko.blogspot.com/
85. Rael Denoman - Imus, Cavite, Philippines - Manikang Papel - url - http://myblogjazzryl.blogspot.com/
86. Liezl F. - Valenzuela City, Philippines - Breezing My Confined Emotions - url - http://microporetape.blogspot.com/
87. Kengkay - Germany - Kwentong Kengkay - url - http://kengkay.wordpress.com/
88. Earthlingorgeous - Manila, Philippines - Earthlingorgeous.com - url - http://www.earthlingorgeous.com/
89. Pinay Key Point - Tarlac City, Philippines - PinayKeyPoint - url - http://pinaykeypoint.wordpress.com/
90. Ria Stevenson - Texas, USA - Live Love Laugh - url - http://www.riastevenson.com/
91. Pajay - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - Klasrum Ni Pajay - url - http://propesorpa-jay.blogspot.com/
92. Texas Sweetie - Texas, USA - My Virtual Diary - url - http://www.texas-sweetie.blogspot.com/
93. Aquamarine - Hongkong - Aquamarine - url - http://jhole22.blogspot.com/
94. Shemistry - Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, Philippines - Foolishly Overacting - url- http://shemshemistry.blogspot.com/
95. Dines - Winona, Minnesotta, USA - Kalei Dines Scope - url - http://paul-dina-kaleidoscope.blogspot.com/
96. Che (Chorva) - Philippines - Chorva Entertainment Blog - url - http://www.chorva.net/
97. Arnel Gara Artes - Cebu City, Philippines - A Hunter - url - http://www.arnelgaraartes.blogspot.com/
98. Donald Pal (Dhon) - Cebu, Philippines - Life Love Lust - url - http://dhonpal.blogspot.com/
99. Fermin Absalon - Navotas, Metro Manila, Philippines - Beyond Feron Dot Com - url - http://www.beyondferon.com/
100. Dzerom - Calamba, Laguna, Philippines - Blogging Without A Cause - url - http://blogging-without-a-cause.blogspot.com/
101. K (Knoizki) - Hongkong - A Dialogue With K - url - http://www.knoizki.net/
102 Orville Hitadle - Cebu City, Philippines - Downloader's Stuffs and Freebies for All - url - http://www.iamdownloader.com/
103. Cindyrella - Hongkong - Cindyrella From Hongkong - url - http://cindyrella-stories.blogspot.com/
104. Rimewire - Cavite, Philippines - Disproving the Genius - url - http://rimewire.wordpress.com/
105. Edelweiza Mabalay - Manila, Philippines - The Life of a Breadwinner - url - http://www.edelweiza.com/
106. Manolito Montala - Philippines - The Filipino Enterpreneur - url - http://www.thefilipinoenterpreneur.com/
107. Leona Khan - Pasig City, Philippines - Vanidosang Panda - url - http://ms-panda.blogspot.com/
108. Pepe Mckunat - Philippines - Life is Tough, but prove You are Tougher - url - http://katchupoy.wordpress.com/
109. Batopik - Taguig City, Philippines - Batopik - url - http://batopik.wordpress.com/
110. Gin E - Manila, Philippines - Mommy in Manila - url - http://mommyinmanila.blogspot.com/
111. B'ley Villones (Dyosa) - Paranaque City, Philippines - Blagalag - url - http://www.bl;agalag.com/
112. Donald Serrano (don_ser) - Philippines - don_ser The Feeling ProBlogger - url - http://www.doanldserrano.com/donser/
113. Love Lot - San Francisco, California, USA - Lov-A-Lot - url - http://lov-a-lot.blogspot.com/
114. Enchie - Manila, Philippines - Sweet Nothings - url - http//xtraordinarymom.blogspot.com/
115. Iceah Marie - Gen. Santos City, Philippines - Chicken Heart - url - http://www.pinay-chicken-heart.com/
116. Mee*I Velasco - Antipolo City, Rizal, Philippines - Waiting On The World To Change - url - http://mekinudolsoup.blogspot.com/
117. Kuyanin - Philippines - Kuyanin: Starting Afresh - url - http://www.kuyanin.com/
118. Chyng Reyes - Manila, Philippines - No Spam, No Virus, No Kiddin'! - url - http://riandrew.blogspot.com/
119. JuanDerPul - Philippines - JuanDerPul Pinoy - url - http://juanderpulpinoy.com/
120. Kenneth Mendoza - Laguna, Philippines - Kenneth Mendoza- Speaking Out, Blogging, Ranting and Fooling Around - url - http://www.kmendoza.net/
121. Grace - Michigan, USA - We Live To Tell God's "Amazing Grace" - url - http://grace1331.blogspot.com/
122. Carnation - Antique, Philippines - Carnation - url - http://sweetcarnation.blogspot.com/
123. Jed Chua - Mandaluyong City, Philippines - Reel Advice - url - http://reeladvice.blogspot.com/
124. Pammyboo83 - Dumaguete City, Philippines - Filipino Lifestyle - url - http://filipinotaste.blogspot.com/
125. Sagada- Igorot - Mountain Province, Philippines/Chicago, USA - Blog of The Sagada- Igorot - url - http://blog.sagada-igorot.com/
126. Bai Maleiha Candao - Cotabato City, Philippines - Soulful Images - url - http://princessmaleiha.blogspot.com/
127. Jehzeel Laurente - Philippines - Jehzlau Concepts - url - Http://www.jehzlau-concepts.com/]
128. Poohgahk - Philippines - Shout Out - Url - http://poohgahk.blogspot.com/
129. Norman Novio - Occidental Mindoro, Philippines - Pamatok - url - http:///nanovio.blogspot.com/
130. Bien Nillos - Negros Occidental, Philippines - The Freudian Slip - url - http://bayenn.blogspot.com/
131. Madelyn Basalo-Sells - Cafunfo, Lunda Norte, Angola - "The Pride of Hingotanan, Bohol"- My Life's Journey To Success - url - http://madzlifesdiary.blogspot.com/
132. Jannesse - Las Pinas City, Philippines - The Wifey Diaries - url - http://thewifeydiaries.blogspot.com/
133. Willa Stock - Ontario, Canada - Fickle Minded- A Life That Is Less Ordinary - url - http://fickleminded.net/
134. Aihara (Tessah) Ramintessah Sanchez - Japan - The Economics of Life - url - http://lifesmatterandeconomics.blogspot.com/
135. Ron Albert - Quezon City, Philippines - A Slice of Turon - url - http://ron-turon.blogspot.com/
136. Elyong - Davao City, Philippines - Elyong - url - http://elyong.blogspot.com/
137. Kokoi - Baguio City, Philippines - Blog ni Kokoi - url - http://blognikokoi.blogspot.com/
138. Fat - Japan - Anything Goes - url - http://247diary.blogspot.com/
139. Mye De Leon - Rizal, Philippines - Blog Appetite - url - http://blogappetite.blogspot.com/
140. Jan Geronimo - Oriental Mindoro, Philippines - salabasngmandaluyong (Rx For A Better Life) - url - http://salabasngmandaluyong.blogspot.com/
141. Chuva - Philippines - Chizmizan With Chuva - url - http://chuvachienes.com/
142. E. J. Bautista - Quezon City, Philippines - Bogcess - url - http://bogcess.blogspot.com/
143. Maree Tee - Philippines - I Am Mrs. Tee - url - http://mareetee.blogspot.com/
144. Alma Cafe - Davao oriental, Philippines - Reach Beyond Your Limits - url - http://luponfirehouse.blogspot.com/
145. Arlene Collado - Philippines - Joys in Life - url - http://sunshineleneforlife.com/
146. Juvy - Philippines - Pinoy Portals - url - http://pinoyportals.blogspot.com/
147. Jan Mckingley Hilado - Cebu City, Philippines - The Ultralife of Student Nurses - url - http://nursester.blogspot.com/
148. Carlos - Davao City, Philippines - Carlos Ideas - url - http://carlos-ideas.blogspot.com/
149. Mentor - Cebu, Philippines - The Image of Cebu - url - http://cebuimage.blogspot.com/
150. Emma Ballada - Laguna, Philippines - Life Momento - url - http://lifemomento.blogspot.com/
151. Darkspark - Philippines - Papermills - url - http://papermills.blogspot.com/
152. Jes - Philippines - My Little Angels - url - http://ishiethan.blogspot.com/
153. Mike Pamero - Laguna, Philippines - Such were some of you - url - http://www.mikepamero.blogspot.com/
154. Jerome - Calamba, Laguna, Philippines - Pinoy Blogger Online - url - http://blogging-without-a-cause.blogspot.com/
155. Your name, address, name of blog and its url

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I miss the days when we had cable TV. It is more than a year now since we moved here and still no word of cable TV subscription. I don't know why Sky Cable doesn't want to invest installing cables in our village. We have to wait until we reach the 100 household mark before they come in. The thing I miss the most about cable TV is watching the food channels. I am a frustrated chef. I love to cook and I am proud to say that I can whip up something delicious just by watching it cooked on TV. I substitute most of the foreign ingredients with ones that are locally available.

Because I still don't have cable TV, I just try to browse different videos of Italian cooking in the internet. I chanced upon some videos from a San Diego italian dining restaurant and somehow my craving for Italian cooking is resolved. I now crave for Italian food, though. I think I am gonna whip one one dish soon.

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Today, I am not featuring what's inside my Big Boy's lunch box. He just had fried chicken today and I let the helper cook as I lack sleep. I am still having that Sierra Madre thrill so I am sharing the food that we brought for our picnic last Saturday.

I cooked Chicken Adobo and prepared Green Mango Salad. Cooking Chicken Adobo is a long process for me as I abide by my mom's tried and tested method. I marinated the chicken in soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, and whole peppercorns for about 3 hours inside the refrigerator. Then I let the marinade boil before I turn the knob to low flame. That would be another 1 hour of slow cooking or until the sauce is almost all dried up. When I bring Adobo to a picnic, I like it dry and crispy. So I added canola oil and pan fried the chicken pieces until it was crispy. My departed maternal grandmother also cooked adobo this way. But she loved Pork Adobo so there was no need to add oil anymore.

For the Green Mango Salad, I just mixed up chopped pieces green mango, tomatoes, roasted eggplants, white onions, and salted eggs. I brought a bottled bagoong (salted shrimp fry paste) but I didn't mix it in because I wasn't sure if my brother-in-law was allergic to it or not.

We had sliced watermelons and some turnips for dessert.

What's in your lunchbox today? Write about it by joining this meme.

P.S. I was experimenting with photoshop and I cropped the picture with an apple-shaped cookie cutter. Coolness!

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