WEATHER KINDS OF FOOD

It's not a big surprise that Filipinos love to eat. No wonder, according to the latest survey of  National Nutrition Survey (NNS) conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), there are 3 out of 10 Filipino adults are more likely overweight or obese. 

It is not bad to eat or taste delicious food in our daily lives, what makes it bad is how much and how often you eat them. For these past days that we just stayed at home because of the bad weather, (there were actually 3 typhoons) classes were suspended most of the time. So more or less, it was really a grandiose vacation for my daughter and for my youngest brother, and since it wasn't good to go out to go to the mall, do other things, etc. I've came up with a very good idea to prepare sumptuous meal for the family and try new foodie out there! Let's start with this meal below:

                                               Buttered shrimp in oyster sauce and garlic

My loving mother-in-law went to Zamboanga a few weeks ago to visit her father there and went back home with these lovely, huge, and very mouth watering shrimps. There is no perfect way to cook it but to saute it with a little bit of butter, Sprite, garlic, and oyster sauce. Believe me, you'll forget your name when you taste this dish that I cooked. :D

Pakbet Tagalog

There are so many varieties of Pinakbet all over the country. Actually, this dish is very easy and simple to cook but I prefer to only have several kinds of vegetables such as bitter gourd (ampalaya), okra (lady finger), eggplant, and string beans (sitaw). Do not also forget tomatoes, garlic, and some pork to make it tastier. What makes this dish taste differently is it's sauce. We usually add a little bit of fish sauce to add flavor. Make sure you don't put too much water because it's not a Sinigang that we are cooking. ^_^

Scrambled eggs, fried tuyo, and sinangag (fried rice with lots of garlic)

I don't know anyone who wouldn't like to eat these kind of food most especially during rainy weather. This is one of the ultimate foodie that you can have in bed weather like these days. Make sure you'll have a hot cup of your favorite coffee beside you when you eat this meal either for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. 

Nilagang Baboy

This dish isn't good for a faint-heart-ed person obviously because its main ingredient is definitely PORK!!! So if you're on a diet, this is not a good meal for you. Warm soup for a warm soul. :D

Pandesal, corned beef, egg, pork chop

This one is kind of a weird combination for a meal but it isn't bad for a brunch though. I don't regret having this meal because I am really a meat lover. Peace y'all! 

Champorado or Chocolate Rice Pudding

This is good for snack or for breakfast. It's simply made of sticky rice and some chocolate powder (cocoa), sugar and condensed milk for additional sweet taste. Again, if you're on a diet, please be advise that it has 97 calories for 1 serving of this very delicious snack.

Menudo

This is all-in-one kind of dish. It has pork, hotdog/sausage, vegetables, and other spices on it. One word that could describe this dish is.... AWESOME! You can have it with a rice or you can eat it as it is. Yum yum!

Pansit Bataan (as they call it)

I haven't got an idea why they call it like that but one thing's for sure. It was one of the best pansit I have ever tasted in my life aside of course for my mother's home-cooked pansit. As you can see, it was rich in a lot of seafood ingredients such as squid, tinapa (smoked fish), shrimp, tahong (mussel) and egg. It was served with a pita cracker that created a good taste of heaven. This is a must-try dish. By the way, we ate this dish at Pansit Bataan in SBMA beside Pizza hut. Their prices there are very reasonable for a very taste meal.

So that's it... Those are the food I have eaten so far for the past few days. I am very glad to have taken pictures of them before indulging myself on their incredible taste! Like what a quote says;

LAUGHTER IS BRIGHTEST, where FOOD is BEST

-Irish Proverb

Bon Appetit! 

Reflection

This is the typical scenario when we go to Sto. Nino Dinalupihan, Bataan in observant of Good Friday as part of the holy week. Lots of people will sacrifice walking on bare foot while hitting themselves with something that will make them bleed as their act of penitence. 

We really enjoyed at the same time lament within ourselves as we see people passed through us doing this. We see people willingly surrendered themselves to the heat of the burning sun with dripping sweat and blood all over their bodies and hearing no complains coming from them. 

One good reason of having this reflection helps us to go over within ourselves. If we did something good for the past days, months, and years? If what kind of person we become as of now. No matter how many of us celebrate or see this holiday, I think what's matter the most is the acceptance that Jesus lives and dies for saving us from sins. 

I hope everyone got a meaningful yet full of fun observance of the holy week.

May God bless us all!

Celebrating HOLIDAYS: The Filipino Style!

 This is how we usually celebrate holidays in my family.  We make sure to prepare delicious food in welcoming the most important occasion of the year. Not all people in the world celebrate Christmas. But here in the Philippines, most of the people (like around 90%) make sure that they make the most of it because it's just once a year.

 Mom cooked her very own specialty CALDERETA.

As a neutralizer, I made some vegetable salad because I know holidays are time we tend to eat a lot of meat.

Of course, this native delicacy never fails to attend the occasion.

Spaghetti is overrated so we tried to have Carbonara.

Who wouldn't like sweet like this little mouth watering desert LECHE FLAN!

Another familiar face of the night. BIKO (rice cake in brown sugar and coconut milk)

Barbecue for everyone!

The traditional fruit basket. But ours was kinda different because there's a small head of lettuce on top of it. ^_____^


Basically, December is really the month of celebrating a lot of occasion. From weddings, to christening, to birthdays down to Christmas. I pretty guess all really enjoyed their holidays as we can feel it around our belly. May 2015 be as prosperous to everyone. We may call it a new year but it all down to ourselves if we will make it as good as before.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! HAPPY NEW LIFE!

FRIENDS IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED!

Nakakatawang isipin na yung mga itinuturing mong kaibigan ay siya pang unang babalewala sa'yo. Well, it's not my lost anyway. Nakakapanghinayang lang isipin na I've wasted my time and effort making friends with people who don't deserve my friendship.

2014 taught me and made me realized a lot of things most especially when it comes to friendship and family. You can call other people "friend", "sister", and other endearments about friendship, but the question is, are you worth of being one to be called that way?

This 2015, I will let go and move on. If one person doesn't want me to be his/her friend so be it. I don't want to live with hatred, frustrations, and disappointments anymore. Nakakawalang gana lang. Sila na nga ang ginagawan mo ng favor but what happens at the end is you are the one hurting.

I promise myself to become happier as I can be with people who appreciates me the way I am and who I am.

LESSON LEARNED: It's not important how many friends you make, but rather how long you can keep the friendship going.

Priceless God's Gift

It's been almost two years of unemployment. But believe me or not, I don't feel bad at all. Not really. Why? Coz I'm a full pledged mom of a 1 and a half year old bright girl! Though being one of the club is very tiring and my whole energy is totally consumed. Nothing beats the feeling of being called "mother".


I know, I have been missing the life of success and opportunities, but my heart still have that little hope that God has something for me. I've been continuously searching for a job online and luckily, He is working on it. :) All I have to do is to patiently wait for the right time when He is ready to give me His surprise. Of course, I will not turned my back on it. Through that, I can also help my hubby on financial aspects though our daughter is far away from getting ready in school, we are already planning for it for we have seen she has a lot of talents and skills that we want her to develop like singing, (of course where would she be getting that :) ) dancing, (daddy's good at it), and she's absolutely smart! She can already sing at the age of 2 months! Believe it or not, we have the video!!!

So these are some of God's gift to us that I will never ever exchange of anything. He have given me my family, and even if it is so hard to build one from the start, I know that somehow, He let me know it smoothly with the help of my supportive parents. Though, motherhood isn't considered as a job literally, now I have understood that it is the most difficult yet very rewarding job that God will ever give to every woman.

Saluto a tutte le mamme là fuori!

Very Inspiring Stories from Pastor Bo Sanchez :)

Earn As Much As You Can, Love As Much As You Can

Yes, make 100%!
Don’t settle for 50% or 60% or 80% or even 90%–if God has given you the ability to make 100%.
Why try to earn more?
There are two very good reasons why you should earn more.

1. You Want To Give More

       Once upon a time, I used to earn P800 a month. 
I was a missionary and I was very happy. I loved God. Yes, there were days when I got hungry, but that hunger was very good for me. God taught me many things through my hunger.
Today, I’m still a missionary. But I’m also an entrepreneur. I run 12 small businesses.  Yes, I earn more now. And guess what: I’m still very happy. I still love God very much. 
The only difference is that I’m able to give more. And this gives me so much joy! I can now personally finance my ministry projects—like giving scholarships to poor kids or supporting missionaries or building the Feast.
But there’s a second reason for earning more, and I’m excited to share this with you.

2. You Want To Grow More

       Very few people understand this point.
When you earn money, it’s not the money that’s important. It’s who you become through the process of earning money that’s important.
       Let me give you an example.
       I know of two waiters. 
Let’s call them John and Lloyd. (Both are good looking too.)
Both of them receive tips. 
In one week, John gets P1000.
But Lloyd gets P3000.
       What’s the difference? Both serve food. So why is Lloyd tipped three times more than John?
       Here’s the answer: John serves food only. Lloyd serves food and happiness and friendship and fun and kindness and hope and affection… In other words, Lloyd serves food andfeelings.
       How does he do that?
       When you enter the restaurant, Lloyd literally runs to you with excitement. He greets you like the King of Saudi Arabia or the Queen of England entered the room. 
And while you’re eating, it’s as though he has ESP. He can read your mind. It’s actually scary. Sometimes, Lloyd knows what you want even before you know you need it. Water. Napkin. Salt. Ketchup. Toothpick. Newspaper. Diatabs. You’re just thinking of it, and it appears right in front of you.
Lloyd has a personal mission: To make you happy.
       Today, Lloyd is paid three times more “symbols of value” (money) because he has increased that value within himself—and is able to give that value to you.
One day, I met a wealthy friend who lost millions because of Typhoon Ondoy. His house and cars were destroyed. He said something that blew me away. I asked him, “How are you?” He said, “I only lost material things. Give me 1 year and I’ll earn it all back.”
Your wealth isn’t your money. 
Your wealth is who you are.
I love saying this: Money is merely a symbol of value.
       If you want to increase your money, you’ve got to increase your value. The more value you have, the more “symbols of value” (money) will flow into your life.
       How do you increase your value?
       You do it in three specific areas.

3 Core Ingredients Of Becoming Truly Rich

       After teaching financial literacy for 7 years now, I’ve realized that there are three core ingredients to become truly rich.
       Increase your value in these three areas and you increase your wealth.
Here they are:
1. Competence
2. Consciousness
3. Character

1.Competence

Many people want easy money.
Like many people dream of winning the Lotto. Or a huge inheritance from a rich uncle you hardly know. Or a nice job or business because of a favor from friends in high places.
But money like this is more of a curse than a blessing.
Did you know? A whopping 40% of Lotto Winners, 5 years after winning their millions, lose it all. Why? Because money, the symbol of value, has nothing to symbolize. There’s no value behind the symbol.
And how many rich kids lose the wealth of their rich parents? Reason: Because these rich parents passed on their wealth but not the competence to earn that wealth.
Many people dream of creating their wealth through political connections. But when their political backers lose their power, after awhile, they lose their wealth too.  
If you want to earn real wealth, there’s really only one way. It’s the old fashioned way: Develop real competence. Real competence that’s so remarkable, the world will stand in awe.
Be the best you!
Be the best waiter. The best salesman. The best dentist. The best cook. The best manager. The best writer. The best dancer. The best chemist. The best teacher.
Your boss may not recognize your best. That’s okay. Give your best anyway. If your boss won’t recognize you, someone else will. Another company will recognize you and promote you.
But how many of you know of people who are incredibly competent in what they do, but they remain poor?
Because competence isn’t enough.

2.Consciousness

There are many brilliant people who are poor. Gifted people who are poor. Talented people who are poor. 
Why?
Because to become wealthy, you just don’t need competence. You need a consciousness of wealth.
In other words, a truly rich mindset.
Many people are afflicted by a scarcity mindset. To become truly rich, you need to take on an abundance mindset. To enlarge your psychological wallet. To increase your money comfort zone.
If you think that to be rich is evil…
Or if you think you don’t deserve to be rich…
Or if you think to be rich doesn’t fit you… (“Hindi bagay sa akin ang yumaman…”)
Then you’ll never become rich.
To become truly rich, you need to think in a truly rich way.
Another point: A very important part of Consciousness is Financial Literacy—or understanding how money works.
That’s why there are doctors who can operate on the body but cannot operate their money. That’s why there are actors who can manage their careers but cannot manage their cash. They fall into scams and make terrible investment choices.
But here’s the truth. Even if Competence and Consciousness will make you wealthy, if you don’t have the third ingredient, wealth won’t last.

3.Character

Character is the most important value of all.
I’m talking about integrity, honesty, faithfulness, love…
Let me repeat what I always say: Money is a magnifying glass. Money doesn’t bring anything to the table. It simply magnifies what’s already there.
If you’re a good person, money will give you more opportunities to be good. But if you’re a bad person, money will give you more opportunities to be bad.
That’s why the Bible says, If, then, you have not been faithful in handling worldly wealth, how can you be trusted with true wealth? (Luke 16:11)
How you handle your money reveals who you really are.

How To Have A Mega Catch

       One day, Jesus told the apostles, “Push the boat out further to the deep water, and you and your partners let down your nets for a catch.” 
       Peter said, “we worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I will let down the nets.”
       They let them down and caught such a large number of fish that the nets were about to break. So they motioned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats so full of fish that the boats were about to sink. (Luke 5:4-7)
       Wow.
       I have a question for you: Do you want this kind of abundance?
Do you want to have your boat filled with so much fish, your nets are about to break, your boats are about to sink? (But for some miraculous reason, doesn’t?)
Jesus gave them this miracle and He can give it to you too.
How? Do these three things and you’ll receive the same miracle too:
1. Determination
2. Differentiation
3. Delegation

1. Determination

When the apostles couldn’t catch fish, Jesus didn’t say, “Okay, give up fishing. Try catching birds” or “Try catching rabbits”.
He basically said, “Don’t give up on your core gift.”
The Bible says, “Do not neglect your gift.” (1 Timothy 4:14). It also says, “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings…” (Proverbs 22:29)
In the past few years, young people took up nursing because so many people said, “That’s where the money is…” Today, those nursing graduates are call center agents—because many countries aren’t accepting our nurses anymore.
It’s crazy. Don’t just pick up a career because the money is there. You have to ask yourself the question, “What is my core gift? Where am I good at?”
But when you practice your core gift, you have to do it in a very special way…

2. Differentiation

          Jesus said, “Push your boat further into the deep water.”
In other words, Jesus was saying, “I know you’ve been fishing all night and caught nothing. But don’t give up. Let’s do it again. But let’s do it a little bit differently…”
If you want to earn more, you have to do it differently than what you’ve done before.
Remember this principle: What brought you to where you are now won’t bring you to where you want to go.
A wise man said, “Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result.”
You’ve got to keep growing. One of the mortal sins of employees and entrepreneurs is not innovating. You’ve got to keep innovating, going to where the market is going—not being stuck.
       In a previous book, I wrote about a masseuse named Ate Guy. I call her Ate Guy because when she massages, she has the strength of a guy. She’s phenomenal. She basically tortures her customers, inflicts untold pain, and then has the audacity to charge double for her services.
       Only insane people get her services.
       My wife is one of them. So Ate Guy visits the house and massages my wife regularly. And every time, she charges P750.
       Ate Guy’s schedule is fully booked. If you want her services, you’ll have to wait for 2014.
       I don’t like to be tortured, so I ask another masseuse to visit the house. Let’s call her Ate Vi. (Similarities to actual persons are totally coincidental.)
Ate Vi charges P250 only. She’s affordable enough that my three house helpers also get a massage from her. (Yes, they’re rich. Read my book My Maid Invests In The Stock Market to know why.)
       Ate Vi, like 99% of the masseuses, earn P10,000 a month.
Ate Guy earns P60,000 a month.
Why? Differentiation. 
Ate Guy isn’t like any other masseuse. She’s one in a million. She’s the only one who offers to massage you and almost murder you at the same time. 
But some people—like my wife—like that. And they’re willing to pay good money for pain. Ate Guy has discovered her niche. She ignores everyone else. And that’s what you need to do too.
Find your song and find your audience (who likes that song). God has given a song to sing—and an audience who likes that song. Focus on that song and that audience. Like Ate Guy, be a superstar!
If you’re income is “normal”, that means your work is “normal” too. If you want your income to be phenomenal, you’ve got to make your work phenomenal too.
Ask yourself: What can I do to differentiate myself, to stand out, to be remarkable? How can I be so excellent, so amazing, so magnificent, my customers will be my raving fans? Or my boss will remember me forever?
But if you want to earn even bigger money, you need to learn the last lesson…

3. Delegation

       When their nets were about to break and their boat was about to sink, they had to ask help from other fishermen to fill their boats with fish too.
       This is the key to massive abundance.
       To earn big money, you’ve got to share both your work and your wealth to others. 
       There are rich people I know who share their work but not their wealth to others. They find out that this doesn’t work. After awhile, your workers will leave you, compete with you, and ultimately destroy you.
       Let me close with a story.

Remove The Invisible Wall

       One day, a group of scientists placed a bunch of fish in a large aquarium. The fish were free to swim around their glass house. But one day, the scientists fixed a glass barrier in the middle of an aquarium. Because it was glass, the fish couldn’t see it. It was like an invisible wall dividing the aquarium.
       When the fish wanted to swim to the other side, they bumped on this invisible wall. Not only was it painful, it was also very confusing. For awhile, they kept swimming towards the wall and hitting it. It was very disorienting for the fish.
After a few more painful and jarring attempts, they finally gave up. And they settled themselves to live in one side of the aquarium.
When the scientists noticed that, they pulled out the glass barrier.
And this was what the researchers found out: Even if the glass barrier was no longer there, the fish didn’t even try to cross to the other side of the aquarium.
Because even if the invisible wall was no longer in the aquarium, the invisible wall was still in their minds.
That’s exactly what happens to people.
When it comes to earning money, there are two sides. You can earn small or you can earn big.
What separates the two is an invisible wall that’s no longer found outside you but inside you.
Perhaps your teachers in school told you that you’re stupid and you’ll never succeed in life. Perhaps your family told you that you’re no good and that you won’t amount to much. Perhaps your friends told that you’d never succeed in life. Perhaps your bosses told you that you’re inept and inefficient.
More common, perhaps you told yourself you’re small.
Like the fish, you’ve settled earning small.
But I’ve got a word from God for you: He is telling you, “You’re my child and I don’t make junk. I don’t make garbage. I don’t make trash. I made you great. I put greatness in you. And I gave you all that you need for great success.”
Everyday, that invisible wall in your mind is telling you, “You can only earn small because you’re a small person.”
But God is a big God and He doesn’t make small people. You need to remove that invisible wall from your mind.
How?
I can help. I believe in the trickle effect. 
Every week, read my Soulfood Letter each week. Come to the Feast (our weekly gathering) and hear God’s Word. Or join the TrulyRichClub by logging onto www.TrulyRichClub.com Hear the magnificent truth about who you are.
Today, create a new belief and say, “I can earn any amount I want to earn.”

God Is Giving You A Blank Check Today

       I believe that in life, God gives you a blank check.
       He’s already signed it.
       And He’s saying, “How much do you need? How much do you want to earn?”
       At the end of the day, it’s really all up to you.
       Go ahead. Get a real personal check.
       And write your desired monthly income or yearly income you want to receive 12 months from now. 
       Put this check in your wallet. 
       Everyday, pull it out and pray for it. Believe that it will happen.
       And during the next 12 months, grow your value. Grow your competence, consciousness, and character. Grow your determination, differentiation, and delegation. Be remarkable. Be phenomenal. Be a superstar.
       Earn as much as you can, love as much as you can.
       May your dreams come true,
       Bo Sanchez

Lost But Not Yet Found

From being close to twenty-three years of existence in this chaotic world. I have never been completely satisfied to state that I have already found myself. I still believe that my whole enigmatic sense of being is still lying somewhere. 

I don't know what will my life would be. No plans, no goals, I am free floating. I'm in limbo. I could not even recognized myself anymore. As if myself have been gone many years ago without coming back. Does myself already died from where it is used to be right now? I had no idea. Barely naked without any thoughts of becoming alive again.

I did many disappointments not only to myself but to those who expect too much from me. 

I have received many rejections as well that made my heart so cold as if it does not suffice enough flame to lit the darkest room. 

I laugh and smile, but it does not reflect absolute happiness instead mirroring an unknown sadness of one's ego. I do not know when the world will meet its final judgment. I also do not know when will I be free from this depression.

Depression that nobody could let go , insecurity that nobody could cure, and hatred that nobody could unleashed ---except me.

My nemesis is my own self. I slowly kill my existence with this dark, gloomy, unacceptable fact that I could no longer fathom. 

Myself is an inevitable disaster. I could no longer control the oblivion that continuously sprouting on my veins. My alter ego is eating my whole human being. 

Only divine intervention could perform a miracle to save me now on this very situation that I'm into. I hope before my exact 23rd realization that I've been in this life. I may find the real me. 

The true, bold, and 

free-spirit creation of God. :)