Flowers For The Dead...And To The Living

November 1 is fast approaching and it seems to be that I was in a time warp this afternoon as I saw the busy sidewalk of the Libertad Market, swarmed with flowers, baskets and hopeful vendors that they would be able to make a profit out of their business venture. I had to double check my calendar to make sure what date it is because somehow I felt so idle while others are busy shopping for the coming All Saints' Day.

One thing that struck me is this photo where a man and his daughter, eagerly wait for sales to come in. I can see that they are tired but they didn't seem to mind for as long as they wait on the opportunity to earn for the day. Competition is stiff as they sell only local flowers from Mambukal while others poured more capital to sell flowers from Cebu. 

I met Nene and her daughter Rubielyn. As the mother work on her arrangements, the 11 year old calls on customers to check out their merchandise. I was very fascinated as the young girl would courageously peddle as people walked by their stall, so unlikely of kids nowadays. 

When I asked Nene the price of a bundle, she was actually shy to answer, maybe hesitant that I may find them expensive. Little did she know that her price was reasonable and competitive, way cheaper than those selling flowers coming from Cebu. Just for the Baby's Breath, a common add on to basket arrangements, she sells them for P10 a bundle, approximately 1/4 of the exact same flowers sold by capitalists for P100. If customers would canvass first, I guarantee that she would sell everything before Tuesday comes. 

To be fair with those who invested more capital, their flowers are of course more vibrant and better quality as they range from P80 - P100 per dozen, (P80 for those fortunate ones like me because I know the seller and of course it comes with free arrangement. Good deal huh?) 

As everyone spends hundreds to offer flowers to their dead, for sure those up there are smiling as they are remembered but to these peddlers, it means another assurance that they can sustain their family's needs for the next couple of weeks. Everybody can put a smile on their faces in these holidays because of then flowers and that goes for both the dead and the living. 

Have a safe All Saint's /Soul's Day!

Here Comes The Long Weekend!

“I love weekends!” A common concept especially of those who work from Mondays thru Fridays. I don’t usually have the same feeling despite the fact that my days off are Fridays and Saturdays. But since it’s my kids’ school break, I’m surely going to have the weekend of my life and I can’t wait to decide where to go and what to do with my Friday that I woke up 4am and started cleaning up to free my hours when the whole family is awake.

The chores are almost done (80%) and while finishing the rest, here I am browsing on the endless choices online. Let me share what I’ve found out so far.

     For a hot yet windy day, a glass parfait will be the best treat for me. Scoops Ice Cream Bar offers the best parfaits and sundaes here in Bacolod and take note, it’s powered by FIC (Fruits in Ice Cream) where every scoop is guaranteed the value of one glass of milk. I’ll take milk that way, any day! That’s not all, their tuna melt and Chili con Carne is to die for. Great food, vibrant ambience, warm staff and accommodating owners Will and Agnes Villar, the bill is all worth it!

This tuna sandwich can melt a heart!

Such a Perfect Parfait!

This spaghetti is just unforgettably good!

    

Movies, Movies, Movies – Indulging on others’ imagination and witnessing how they are portrayed, why not? It’s not fun to watch DVD all the time where one is just cooped up like a sick couch potato. At least a trip to the cinema means good exercise at the mall. Here are the movies available at the SM Cinemas.

The Three Musketeers

Synopsis:

In the 17th-century, famed Musketeers Athos (Matthew Macfadyen), Aramis (Luke Evans), and Porthos (Ray Stevenson) steal highly coveted airship designs from a high-security vault, the sweet taste of success is short-lived. Their beautiful partner-in-crime, Milady (Milla Jovovich), drugs the trio and sells the designs to a higher bidder, the ultra-cool Englishman, Buckingham (Orlando Bloom); a major blow to the famed swordsmen. So one year later, the devil-may-care young D'Artagnan (Logan Lerman) journeys to Paris to realize his dream of becoming a Musketeer, but he finds them a shadow of their former selves, working menial jobs and seeking a cause worth serving.

The conniving Cardinal Richelieu (Christoph Waltz) hatches a deadly plot to overthrow the young King Louis (Freddie Fox). Employing the double agent Milady to do the dirty work, he frames the King's new bride, Queen Anne (Juno Temple) in an affair with Buckingham. If the King buys into the lie, war with England will follow, the Queen will die and the people of France will demand a stronger leader – Richelieu himself – to see them through the crisis. If the King doesn't buy into the lie, peace may yet stand a chance. So The Three Musketeers along with D'Artagnan undertake the mission to retrieve a priceless diamond necklace from the impregnable Tower of London and return it to the Queen in time for an all-important ball.

Cast:

Matthew Macfayden, Orlando Bloom, Logan Lerman

Cinema 3 

P120.00

October 28, 2011

12:40 PM , 2:45 PM , 4:50 PM , 6:55 PM ,9:00 PM

October 29, 2011

12:40 PM , 2:45 PM , 4:50 PM , 6:55 PM ,9:00 PM

October 30, 2011

12:40 PM , 2:45 PM , 4:50 PM , 6:55 PM ,9:00 PM

Cinema 2  

P250.00

October 27, 2011

1:15 PM , 3:50 PM , 6:25 PM , 9:00 PM

Puss In Boots

Synopsis:

The story takes place before Puss met Shrek and Donkey, when he was a swashbuckling hero who protected the innocent. A bunch of old pub thugs tell him that two murderous outlaws called Jack and Jill have discovered an ancient power that can destroy the world. Puss then sets off on a journey with his old friend Humpty Dumpty who also introduces him to Kitty Softpaws, a sly black cat who takes an interest in Puss's journey. With his new sidekicks, Puss sets off on his most adventurous and dangerous journey ever. P250 for 3D, expensive yet promises a whole package of FUN. It would surely be exciting walking on Puss’ Boots.  

Cast:

Antonio Banderas

Cinema 2  

P250.00

October 28, 2011

1:30 PM , 4:00 PM , 6:30 PM , 9:00 PM

October 29, 2011

1:30 PM , 4:00 PM , 6:30 PM , 9:00 PM

October 30, 2011

1:30 PM , 4:00 PM , 6:30 PM , 9:00 PM

·         The LINALANGS of Waxworks: SIETE PECADOS - ‎7th year. 7 nights. 7 kingdoms. 7 sins. The Performance Laboratory in cooperation with The Negros Museum presents Waxworks: SIETE PECADOS, the haunted Halloween interactive exhibit & performance written & directed by Fundador Mytor Tipon II, on October 25-31, 7-9pm (children's hours) & 9-11pm (freaky hours) at The Negros Museum-Bacolod. Tickets at P35 (adults) & P25 (kids).

Enjoy your Weekend!

Photo Credits:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Scoops-Ice-Cream-Bar

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Owen-Segovia-Bayog-Digital-Photography-OSB-Digital

All movie photos and other details, courtesy of smcinema.com

Attention: Teenagers! Parent Consideration… PLEASE! (A Repost)

Writer's Note: I am reposting this as my way of extending my message to our present youth. I know it's not much but as I continue to witness the immoderate shindig of these teenagers to the point of reaching the indecency and inconsideration that their parents do not expect from them at all, I am continuing to remind these young people to be more conscious of what reality has to offer and where they are bound to go as they continue making the wrong moves. This semestral break would be the best time for parents to save money and for kids to spend their valuable time with their families so I am continuing to encourage everyone to spend your most quality time with family.

http://deadlevel.wordpress.com/2011/07/27/attention-teenagers-parent-consideration-please/

Sometime early last week, my 19-year old told me that she is attending a birthday bash of a classmate and as far as I can remember she mentioned of going home 12 midnight.

The party was last Friday and guess what? She came home 12 o’clock! I was even about to text her and ask how things are going, in case she might forget to go home to the time she promised or better yet to give her the chance to ask for an extension. But nope! Not my Nadine! She truly kept her word.

Often times, I would see teenagers on the streets at an indecent hour, disregarding danger, laughing loudly sometimes, enjoying the world as if it’s the last night. I would start to wonder, how are their parents taking it? For most, I bet they just don’t know much to worry about their children’s whereabouts. For the others? Maybe they just don’t bother checking anymore.

One of my hangouts after shift is the Coffee Station at Robinson’s Mall. There was one time when I and Muskeeterette Joanne decided to de-stress with mocha granita and pizza at the joint and we noticed a group of teenagers, probably college students, and they were all loud and acting up like typical brats or wannabe brats. Because of their uncontrollable voices, we can’t help but overhear the whole conversation.

There was this one who was bragging about how he told his mom that he needs an P10,000 apartment here in Bacolod. As he puffed his cigarette, I checked him out. He doesn’t really look like an haciendero’s son. He doesn’t even have a single branded item on his wardrobe, nothing spectacular in other words. And then all of a sudden he said, “we’re all going to flow right? I’ll text mom that I can’t go home coz we have to work on a project…” After a while, he read his mom’s reply, “do you still have pocket money and clothes left?”

My heart broke into pieces because I could just imagine how his mom is trusting him to be honest with her and diligent to his studies. I told Joanne that I feel sorry for the mother because for sure she is working hard in order to sustain his son’s needs.

Teenagers nowadays seem to brush aside the value of family, hard work, even value of money. Spending for cigarettes when one is not earning is simply a vanity that he or she is not deserving of. Demanding for a bigger allowance just to have enough for partying is such an inconsiderate thing especially to those whose parents are laborers, who do not bother to rest from the fields just so to finish their work and earn not only for themselves but of course to finance the long list of “school requirements” that their “loving” children send them. Having a spokesperson do the sales talk of how a laptop should be a necessity so that their mediocre-earning parents would squeeze every centavo in their pockets to produce an Acer at least, (China made notebooks are never an option, by the way).

Paging ingrate college students! Please bear in mind that you are sent to the best schools that you’re parents are trying to afford because they want you all to have an opportunity in life, something that maybe some of them did not have the luxury back then. Even if they have overflowing budgets for you, remember that they worked hard for it and it doesn’t give you the right to splurge on unnecessary things. You are sent to school to earn a degree and not concentrate on how to put on a masskara for an “emo” look.

I just hope that one day, you kids will realize how to value the right things, the right people. It’s not all about projection! It’s all about what you will become and how you will face the real challenges of living independently, sustaining your every need and survive the ferocity of life.

Just a thought from a concerned parent who hopes that this will be something worth pondering on.

Photo credit:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&biw=1138&bih=564&q=smoking+college+teens&gs_sm

Rolling With Pork & Beans Spring Rolls

I always like to munch on spring rolls or lumpia. May it be Chinese, Shanghai, Ubod, Ngohiong, Rollos Primavera, anything that is rolled and fried is a winner to my palate.

Recently, my fancy in this dish was caught again by a unique recipe from a food magazine called Pork & Beans Spring Rolls, sponsored by of course, a manufacturer of pork and beans. The goal of this recipe is to make a tasty spring roll at a much lesser time as well as budget friendly.

Pork & Beans Spring Rolls

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon cooking oil

2 tablespoons onion, chopped

6 pieces longganisa, chopped

1 cup cabbage, shredded

1 can Pork & Beans (230 grams)

1/3 cup cheddar cheese

8 pieces lumpia wrapper, cut into halves

Procedure:

1. Heat pan with oil, then add onion and longganisa. Fry longganisa until well cooked. Add in cabbage and cook until wilted.

2. Add Pork & Beans and mix well. Simmer until almost dry and pasty.

3. Spread a tablespoon (about 40 grams) of mixture over spring roll wrapper, add cheese then roll.

4. Deep fry until crispy. Serve with ketchup if preferred. Recipe costs only P110.00 and makes 16 rolls.

With Pork & Beans, spring rolls get a tasty twist.

Allow me to add some tips on this one.

1. Instead of just cabbage, you may add shredded carrots as well. This is the best chance that your kids can get their molars on veggies.

2. Other than longganisa, you may want to use chorizo recado if you want a more complex taste other than just sweet meat.

3. Make sure to appropriately chop the longganisa. If you notice, mine are bigger coz I didn't chop them well. (I just didn't have enough time to cook the longganisa and chop them.) It easily tore my lumpia wrapper, so for a hassle-free rolling, make sure the meat is chopped well.

4. My life was easier because I got my veggies at the mall and requested the very accommodating merchandisers to shred the cabbage and carrots finely for me. (God bless their hearts.)

Happy Tummy Thoughts everyone!

The Living Remembers

I was growing up looking forward to every November 1^st. I can’t wait to get my taste buds on my mom’s delightful valenciana, a dish made of glutinous rice, chicken meat, liver, gizzard and of course the raisins. And also, talk about the holiday, no school, get the chance to wake up late and just taking it easy. It’s also thedate when we would parade to different cemeteries to visit our dead. It didn’t occur to me though the essence of the whole thing.

Eventually as I grew older, I realized that it’s not all suman that matters, but the thought of remembering our loved ones that have passed away . Remembering them while they were still alive, the happy moments that were shared, the priceless knowledge that entailed every unique experience we had with them and even just the appreciation of life.

Now that I have children, I try my best to teach them the true value of All Saint’s/Soul’s Day. It’s not just the fancy-shmancy  face makeup, Halloween costumes, food trips at the cemetery and perhaps another day to lay back. It is a privileged date for us to reminisce the wonderful times that we shared with our loved ones who are no longer with us.

Don’t get me wrong. I still tag along with their caprice to fun things but I make sure that by the time that we get back home, they are reminded of how they became who they are, living well because of the care and love of family, both the living and the dead.

Ten days more to go and once again it will be Nov. 1. For sure my mom will cook her famous treat, prepare flowers and visit Lola Meding and Daddy. Cassie may give her best shot to charm me into getting another face paint, Nadine would probably munch on every food stall we pass by. Owen may focus on taking photos of the celebration.  I have work on that day but I surely won’t miss the get-together with my family and enjoy the memories that will be forever in our hearts by the end of the day. 

Photos courtesy of Owen Segovia Bayog 

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.171277196221874.48932.165973370085590&type=1

My Masskara Day Off

Oct.14, 2011 - It was a hot midday when Cathy and I decided to taste the Masskara Fever. Since we like to do a lot of malling, we thought of starting at the plaza and occupied ourselves with the different merchandise offered on the sidewalk. We had good food, new discoveries, new experiences and most of all FUN FUN FUN! 

Let me tell my story with photographs courtesy of my friend Cathy's point and shoot camera, my Nokia C3 and of course my hubby's keen eye and dslr. 

The first stall that I spent at was selling shades and different kinds of key chains. I never expected to find one of a pig from the popular game "Angry Birds" and guess what? It was only P20 and with a personalized lettering too. I know I got more than a good deal.  

SM was our sanctuary amidst the scorching heat and Kaisei Restaurant save us from hunger after an hour of strolling. A bowl of Gyu Yakiniku Don for me and some California Maki did the trick.

This foil-pressed souvenir shirt is worth every penny for P300 pesos. I tried to haggle but since this was sold only at the mall, it was next to impossible to get a discount. This is manufactured by entrepreneurs from Iloilo City.

  This stall at the plaza sold their souvenir shirts at P150 for the regular sizes and P180 for the bigger ones. As early as 1pm, people swarmed the stall to get their hands on the shirts. Although, the material of the shirts are not so special yet it was definitely pocket-friendly.

I had a feeling that I won't be at the Masskara Dance Parade so I decided to get at least a glimpse of the festive costumes at the mall

Next stop was the all-time favorite "Karnabal". It was a bit early when we checked it out so it wasn't jum-packed yet. Except for one or two who rode the Octopus Ride, young and old fascinated themselves betting on the color game, I hope they were winning. :D

At around 5:30pm we decided to invade Lacson Strip. After picking up Joanne, we strolled the 19th St. and back to LFisher and ended in front of L Sea. Check out the juicy inasal of Chicken Deli (photo by  Cathy A.)

For more photos of the Electric Masskara just check Owen's blog: 

http://myshutterlife.wordpress.com/2011/10/15/an-electric-masskara-experience/

Puppet Masskara: A New Window For Bacolod's Creative Youth

My festival experience became much more colorful after I witnessed the newly conceptualized Puppet Masskara. 

City Officials are flocked by photographers and spectators

As Cathy and I roamed around the tattoo stalls, we met some co-workers that told us about a show going on at the heart of the Public Plaza, sort of like a "Moriones show." 

Of course, after spending like 4 hours at the mall, we felt that at least we'll have an authentic Masskara activity and not just posing with the costume displays. 

It came to a surprise to me that a lot of people were there to witness the event together with the city officials and lots and lots of photographers. I think I was one of those who never really digested the posted schedule of the festival. Nevertheless, thanks to Cathy's P&S, I was able to capture some photos of the Puppet Masskara.

The Corpse Bride (My Personal Fave!)

ARFIEN students eagerly await for their turn to perform

This student gives life and grace to the puppet

Puppets' own rendition of the Masskara Dance

Big thanks to the ARFIEN students of La Consolacion College-Bacolod for sharing their creative juices (and also their resources) in order to contribute to the success of the festival. I just hope that in the years to come, these gifted students won't have to shell out from their own allowance just to give the festival more variety.

Happy Thoughts, Happy Masks

What would become of the Masskara Festival without the smiling masks? The vibrant colors that seem to uplift even the heaviest spirits, the wide smiles that can erase ones worries and the ingenuity of the designs that further boost the Bacolodnon talent are truly worth celebrating.

As much as I would like to show all of you my concept of what a happy Masskara Festival should be, through the help of my C3 phone, the displayed masks for this year's festival will definitely be understated if I take the photographs .

Once again, I am privileged to showcase my husband's gift in photography as he presents the different masks that are commonly seen on the streets of Bacolod.

More photos on Owen's very own photo blog:
http://myshutterlife.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/masskara-festival-street-scenes-002/

Happy Tummy at “Little Corner”

Open Tacos At Its Best

Tintin works magic on the Corn Shake!

For those who don’t know my nickname since birth is Little (please avoid relating it to my size…hehehe) and when I first noticed an eatery in 888 China Town Square called “Little Corner” I had an instant hunch that I will have good experience with this establishment.

It’s a simple stall that offers common treats but with a different twist.

I have two favorites that I could never resist of not having everytime I am on a window-shopping spree. The open tacos, for only P45 offers tasty home-made shells with onions, tomatoes  and their unique sauce which is a mixture of mayo and pineapple juice that gives such a tangy taste to the palate.

Thirst-quenching Halo-Halo

The other one is the powerful corn shake. Ordinarily, it’s just crushed ice and evaporated milk and like two spoons of canned cream of corn. Theirs is jump-packed with corn kernels, cereals making it “yummier’, only for P25.

They also serve the all-time favorite Halo-halo @ P25, abundant in “dulce nga saging” and ube, of course not to mention the cereals on top.

Fried noodles, becoming a potential superstar in the “world of snacking” comes with 2 siomai as toppings at P30 only! The best part, it’s cooked in front of you and served hot! It is such a divine feeling for a hungry lad to feast on at a very reasonable price.

Joy Serves the Fried Noodles With a Smile!

All in all? Thumbs up to Little Corner as it caters to the budget-conscious Negrense with its friendly staff, ready to serve you with a smile.