UN: climate change may cost $20 trillion

By JOHN HEILPRIN, Associated Press Writer
Wed Jan 30, 5:26 PM ET

UNITED NATIONS - Global warming could cost the world up to $20 trillion over two decades for cleaner energy sources and do the most harm to people who can least afford to adapt, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warns in a new report.

Ban's report provides an overview of U.N. climate efforts to help the 192-nation General Assembly prepare for a key two-day climate debate in mid-February. That debate is intended to shape overall U.N. policy on climate change, including how nations can adapt to a warmer world and ways of supporting the U.N.-led negotiations toward a new climate treaty by 2009, U.N. officials said Wednesday.

The treaty, replacing the Kyoto Protocol when it expires in 2012, could shape the course of climate change for decades to come. The Kyoto pact requires 37 industrial nations to reduce greenhouse gases by a relatively modest 5 percent on average.

Much of the focus has been on the United States, the only major industrial nation to reject the treaty, and on fast-developing nations such as China and India. Many are looking to next year, when a new U.S. president takes the White House. The leading contenders in both political parties favor doing more than the voluntary approaches and call for new technologies that President Bush espouses.

In his 52-page report, Ban says that global investments of $15 trillion to $20 trillion over the next 20 to 25 years may be required "to place the world on a markedly different and sustainable energy trajectory." Today, the global energy industry spends about $300 billion a year in new plants, transmission networks and other new investment, according to U.N. figures.

Srgjan Kerim, a Macedonian diplomat and economics professor who is president of the U.N. General Assembly, told The Associated Press that cutting greenhouse gases alone will not be enough to pull island nations, sub-Saharan Africa and other particularly vulnerable parts of the world back from the brink of irreversible harm.

"Cutting emissions is a very important dimension, but that's not enough for this equation," Kerim said in an interview this week. "Inventing new technologies, renewable energies, investing more in research and development, is also a very viable way and remedy for resolving the problem."

In December, under the auspices of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, the 186 nations that attended a climate meeting in Bali, Indonesia, agreed on a "Bali Roadmap" of principles to craft a successor to the Kyoto treaty.

Last year, a Noble Prize-winning U.N. network of climate and other scientists warned of rising seas, droughts, severe weather and other dire consequences without sharp cutbacks in emissions of the industrial, transportation and agricultural gases blamed for warming.

That network, called the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, advised that emissions should be reduced by 25 percent to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020.

"Climate change and its implications is a broader process, more profound than negotiations among member states," Kerim said. "So our aim, our goal is to support that process, not to replace it."

Kerim said he wants to encourage partnerships between businesses and governments, and that he would refrain from encouraging nations to assign blame — and added responsibility — to the United States and other rich nations for their historical pollution.

"To approach the issue must be a forward looking way," he said. "We have to now try to find a way out. And to find a way out, you don't look in the rear mirror which shows you the back of your car."

British billionaire Richard Branson, who has decided to invest heavily in "biofuels" along with his Virgin brand of several hundred companies, will be a special guest at the assembly meeting, Kerim said.

"He was one of the first who reacted and who said that he's prepared to finance projects for clean energies and technologies," Kerim said.

Like Ban, who told the AP in December that his No. 1 priority is persuading the world to agree to new controls on global warming gases before the end of 2009, Kerim calls the challenges of climate change "my flagship topic."

In his report, Ban warned that global warming would probably affect women more than men. "The challenge of climate change is unlikely to be gender-neutral, as it increases the risk to the most vulnerable and less empowered social groups," he said.

Annie Petsonk, a lawyer for the advocacy group Environmental Defense, said global warming will most affect poor people and minorities, because the wealthy can spend more to adapt. "Women in poorer communities are going to face greater challenges protecting their children from the spread of diseases, polluted water, water shortages and so on," she said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080130/ap_on_sc/un_global_warming;_ylt=AlS8xxV2rIKe2Z1ityh8colw24cA

GREEN

Doesn't it look really beautiful? Ruther took this photo when we were at the top of the viewing area at Chocolate Hills. It was really amazing to see all these endless green. Really wonderful.

Photo taken last January 19.

ALMOST BETTER

My cold is almost gone. I'm quite happy about that. I really think that drinking all those calamansi juice helped. Really. Now I can sleep better at night without the stuffy nose.

.....

Ruther spent the day with us today. In case you think that he's irresponsible, I beg to differ. My sweetie will be leaving for Japan in 11 days. Can you believe that? ELEVEN days. Just thinking about it shrivels my insides. A few days ago I was already feeling the stirrings of a looming depression. I just want to stick to his side 24/7 for the next 11 days but of course, I can't do that. It's times like this that I always feel that life can be so unfair.

BEEF TAPA

200 grams thinly sliced beef
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
2 cloves garlic, pounded
1 tablespoon peppercorn, pounded
1 tablespoon patis
oil for frying

Marinate beef in the rest of the ingredients for at least 3 hours.
Stir fry in a small amount of oil. Fry until done. Serve with sinangang or hot steamed rice.

HOUSE BLESSING PHOTOS

Here are some photos from the blessing that took place last Saturday. =D

Opening prayer. This is the living room. You can only imagine the candle drips on the floor...

Father blesses our room. See that clock? Ruther got that from Saudi as well. It really looks nice with our Asian theme, I must say. =D

In the boys' room. We had to keep this room locked before the blessing which was a great idea because once we opened it and after Father blessed it, it was all messy in 5 minutes flat.

With Ruther's officemates and friends.

Ruther and me with (L-R) my brother Ernest, his friend Lovely and my sis, Sherry.

PROBLEMS

I just heard from a good friend of mine today. I've known her since I was 5 and to this day, we remain great friends. However, we only get to talk and see each other when I go home to Zamboanga. She is also quite busy with her life there (work and taking care of her family) so she rarely has the time to sit in front of the computer, let alone check her emails. So I was surprised and delighted to see an email from her today. However, it was not as happy as I expected it to be.

She told me that she was pregnant again - two months along the way. She already has 2 kids and even if she does consider this latest surprise a blessing, she really doesn't know how to handle it because according to her letter, things are just so crazy in her life right now that she feels she's not ready to be pregnant again. I really felt so sorry for my friend. A pregnancy should be met with celebration and joy, but with her, she feels all the more burdened. She was asking me when I was going home to Zamboanga because she didn't want to tell me her problems through email (it would take forever, probably) and I told her we might be there sometime in April. My friend is very sweet, responsible, thoughtful and devoted. I cannot understand why she is constantly given struggles in life when she deserves every happiness. I really feel so sad for her. But of course, I didn't tell her this. I reassured her and told her to be positive and focus on the happy aspects of the pregnancy. I feel I already know some of the problems she did not mention in her email. We've known each other for so long, I know some of the things that happen in her life even if we are mostly apart. I really do hope that she will be hopeful and positive about her pregnancy. And I also hope that whatever problems she has right now will be resolved soon so that she could be 100% focused on her baby.

.....

My sweetie is having some work problems. Nothing biggie. It's just that Ruther rarely talks about work. It's not that he doesn't want to (I used to bug him before about work which irked him) but he reasons, he just doesn't want to be further burdened by it when he comes home. He just wants to be relaxed and free of work stuff when he's with me and the boys. When he told me this, I understood. Ruther is very capable. He was wonderful work ethics and is very professional. Which is why, when he shares some of his problems at work with me, I know that those problems are really getting to him and are really affecting him. (Good thing that rarely happens, though.) So I was really worried about him last night when this nagging problem he's had for a few days now is affecting him a lot. I know that he will find some answers to it eventually but please help me pray that he will find resolution soon. I really do believe in the power of prayer and I know that every prayer you say will help my husband. Please also say a little prayer for my friend so that she may find some peace in her heart despite the troubles surrounding her. I really appreciate it. And thanks so much in advance!

STARVING WORLD

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080129/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/haiti_eating_dirt;_ylt=AvvUTByYJpDIKswY3ZQyW5Cs0NUE

Poor Haitians resort to eating dirt
By JONATHAN M. KATZ, Associated Press Writer

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - It was lunchtime in one of Haiti's worst slums, and Charlene Dumas was eating mud. With food prices rising, Haiti's poorest can't afford even a daily plate of rice, and some take desperate measures to fill their bellies. Charlene, 16 with a 1-month-old son, has come to rely on a traditional Haitian remedy for hunger pangs: cookies made of dried yellow dirt from the country's central plateau.

The mud has long been prized by pregnant women and children here as an antacid and source of calcium. But in places like Cite Soleil, the oceanside slum where Charlene shares a two-room house with her baby, five siblings and two unemployed parents, cookies made of dirt, salt and vegetable shortening have become a regular meal.

"When my mother does not cook anything, I have to eat them three times a day," Charlene said. Her baby, named Woodson, lay still across her lap, looking even thinner than the slim 6 pounds 3 ounces he weighed at birth.

Though she likes their buttery, salty taste, Charlene said the cookies also give her stomach pains. "When I nurse, the baby sometimes seems colicky too," she said.

Food prices around the world have spiked because of higher oil prices, needed for fertilizer, irrigation and transportation. Prices for basic ingredients such as corn and wheat are also up sharply, and the increasing global demand for biofuels is pressuring food markets as well.
The problem is particularly dire in the Caribbean, where island nations depend on imports and food prices are up 40 percent in places.

The global price hikes, together with floods and crop damage from the 2007 hurricane season, prompted the U.N. Food and Agriculture Agency to declare states of emergency in Haiti and several other Caribbean countries. Caribbean leaders held an emergency summit in December to discuss cutting food taxes and creating large regional farms to reduce dependence on imports.
At the market in the La Saline slum, two cups of rice now sell for 60 cents, up 10 cents from December and 50 percent from a year ago. Beans, condensed milk and fruit have gone up at a similar rate, and even the price of the edible clay has risen over the past year by almost $1.50. Dirt to make 100 cookies now costs $5, the cookie makers say.

Still, at about 5 cents apiece, the cookies are a bargain compared to food staples. About 80 percent of people in Haiti live on less than $2 a day and a tiny elite controls the economy.
Merchants truck the dirt from the central town of Hinche to the La Saline market, a maze of tables of vegetables and meat swarming with flies. Women buy the dirt, then process it into mud cookies in places such as Fort Dimanche, a nearby shanty town.

Carrying buckets of dirt and water up ladders to the roof of the former prison for which the slum is named, they strain out rocks and clumps on a sheet, and stir in shortening and salt. Then they pat the mixture into mud cookies and leave them to dry under the scorching sun.

The finished cookies are carried in buckets to markets or sold on the streets.

A reporter sampling a cookie found that it had a smooth consistency and sucked all the moisture out of the mouth as soon as it touched the tongue. For hours, an unpleasant taste of dirt lingered.

Assessments of the health effects are mixed. Dirt can contain deadly parasites or toxins, but can also strengthen the immunity of fetuses in the womb to certain diseases, said Gerald N. Callahan, an immunology professor at Colorado State University who has studied geophagy, the scientific name for dirt-eating.

Haitian doctors say depending on the cookies for sustenance risks malnutrition.

"Trust me, if I see someone eating those cookies, I will discourage it," said Dr. Gabriel Thimothee, executive director of Haiti's health ministry.

Marie Noel, 40, sells the cookies in a market to provide for her seven children. Her family also eats them.

"I'm hoping one day I'll have enough food to eat, so I can stop eating these," she said. "I know it's not good for me."

WADERS

Took this photo on our first day in Panglao. This was around 8 in the morning and we had some late breakfast at the beach. The sky was overcast and along the shore were these 2 waders who just strolled and talked along the stretch of the beach. I think they look really romantic.

Photo taken last January 18.

GOOD DAY

I am done with my Mary Higgins Clark book so I have started with the Monk book and so far, it's pretty okay. I am about halfway through the book and maybe it's because I spent the afternoon reading and resting because of my cold and drinking lots and lots of calamansi juice. I think it's nice to actually just lay back and relax and just read a good book. Where were the boys at this time? They were outside making a mess as usual but I didn't mind. I mean, they're allowed to make messes once in a while just as long as they put their toys and books back. But it was nice just laying in bed with my book. I should have an afternoon off every week.

We also went to the playground this afternoon. The boys had fun and I was really pleased when Ethan patiently waited for his turn on the slide. Ethan is a very impulsive boy and waiting is really not his forte, but this afternoon I was so proud of him when he was third in line and when I told him to wait, he put out his hand (palm facing me) and echoed me, "Wait first." He was so cute. Of course, I was happy. I told him after that he was a good boy for being patient and a good boy. Hopefully, there will be more surprising days like this...

BEEF CALDERETA

1 kilo beef, cut into chunks
1 big can (350g) liver spread or ground liver
5 onions, minced
5 cloves garlic, minced
6 tomatoes, sliced
1 cup tomato sauce
3 green peppers, diced
3/4 cup grated cheese
2 cups beef stock or water
1/4 cup cooking or olive oil

In a casserole, sauté: garlic and onions in oil. Then add tomatoes, and green pepper.
Add in the beef, tomato sauce, liver spread and water or stock. Salt to taste and let simmer for at least 1 hour or until the beef is tender.
Add cheese and olives (optional) and continue to simmer until the sauce thickens.
Serve with plain rice.

CALAMANSI JUICE

I am back to drinking calamansi juice. Because of my cold, I decided to go all-natural again and simply take my Vitamin C my usual way. I really don't mind. I love drinking calamansi juice.

Last night, I was not able to sleep well. Not only did my nose feel stuffy, my head was terribly heavy as well. I was really in a sore mood but it was a bit more of self-pity. I just hate getting sick. Anyway, I'm hoping all this Vitamin C will help get rid of this cold soon. I don't anyone here at home to catch this from me.

.....

It's quite overcast today. I love it. I don't have any plans of leaving the house so the cool weather is really nice. I just hope it won't rain later. Ruther commuted to work today. It would be really irksome if it rains on his way home.

My day will be a slow one. We will of course, be doing some lessons but nothing too strenous because of my disposition. I might curl up with my book later. Looking forward to that...

LABANDERAS

Labandera is derived from the Spanish word lavandera which means washerwoman or a maid who does the laundry by hand. In the photo you could see some women washing clothes in the river. This is a common thing in rural Philippines where a lot of areas still do not have plumbing.

Photo taken last January 19.

ANTIPASTO WRAPS

8 ounces light cream cheese, slightly softened
2 tablespoons fresh basil, snipped
1 garlic clove, pressed
6 (8 inch) sun-dried tomato tortillas
6 romaine lettuce leaves
3/4 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup roasted red peppers, diced
4 ounces salami
4 ounces ham

Mix cream cheese with the basil and garlic.
On each tortilla, spread about 2 tablespoons of this mixture on the tortillas to within 1/4 inch of the edge.
Layer with romaine, salami, ham, and cheese.
Next, layer on the roasted red peppers.
Tightly roll up the tortilla and cut in half on the diagonal.

6 servings

DINAGYANG FESTIVAL

The Dinagyang Festival is celebrated every fourth weekend of January to commemorate the Christianization of the natives and to honor the Holy Child Jesus. It is a very colorful parade coupled with a dramatization in honor of the patron Saint Sto. Niño as the object of dramatized offerings and prayers amidst the cracking of drums and shouts of "Viva Señor Santo Niño." The thundering of "Hala Bira" by the tribe members makes the celebration a lively one. http://www.nscb.gov.ph/ru6/dinagyang_festival.htm

People wake up very early in the morning, paint themselves in black, wear very colorful costumes and headress, and dance to the hypnotizing beat of the drums.
Tribes circle the entire city proper of Iloilo, performing in 5 judging areas. The streetdance competition starts at 8 in the morning right after the Holy Mass, and usually ends in the afternoon.
Because of the extreme heat and the physical demands of the streetdance, only few women dare to join as an ati or warrior. http://www.pinoytravelblog.com/roadtrip/96/dinagyang-festival-2

A COLD

I seem to be suffering from a littel cold today. I'm not sure if it was because it was a bit cold last night and it did rain early this morning. Maybe I kicked off my blanket mid-sleep. I don't know but one thing's for sure, I have a runny nose today. Sigh. It's a bit irritating but well, I have to be glad that it's nothing serious.

.....

Since we're talking about health, I'm kind of worried about Nikki's. He seems to be so unbelievably thin these days. I could really kick myself for trying to wean him when clearly, he was not ready. I should have trusted my instincts before succumbing to pressure from people here in the house. Never again. I'll always think twice (nay, three times) before making decisions about my boys. Anyway, I hope Nikki recovers soon. I am on patrol everyday and monitor his food intake. I try to make him eat or drink milk every 3 hours or so. He eats so little, that's why. Hopefully, he will be less thin by next month. I just don't want him to be this thin at all. It really does worry me.

SOLITARY

I love this photo because it's very peaceful. I used to think sunrises were a bit blah compared to sunsets but after an hour at the beach that Saturday morning, I was happy to be mistaken. I think this photo is wonderful. The lonely boat on the right makes it very thoughtful. It's not a really empty beach after all.

Photo taken last January 19.

ROOM PHOTOS

Here are photos of our room at last! I took the photos before the priest blessed the room and we were all rushing and I just took 4 photos. When I uploaded/downloaded them, I realized that they weren't really nice shots but I suppose they will have to do for now.

There's the wardrobe that Tita Nicki loved so much when she was here. It's very Asian (the theme of the room) and I love it. And the tall brown cabinet on the right is where we keep my bead necklaces and bracelets, lotions, perfumes, medicines and toiletries and other stuff. I used to own a dresser but I realized that it would take too much space in our very limited room, so I opted for a full-length mirror and this tall cabinet instead. I think that was a good move. Anyway, the small table in front of the window is where the laptop sits everyday. That's where I pretty much blog and check mails and surf. It's actually nice because it's quite relaxing to look outside once in a while when I'm in deep thought. That's our bed. It looks so comfy, doesn't it? I really really love our bed. That's my favorite part in our room. =D

This is on the other side of the room. It kinda looks messy, doesn't it? I suppose the flash from the camera highlighted every messy detail. There's the Samsung tv that we bought when Ruther arrived from Japan last year. The frame with the butterflies on it (under the airconditioning unit) and a smaller frame with a scorpion (not too visible anymore), Ruther got those when he was in Saudi years ago. So it's nice that there are some things in our room that holds certain memories. The refrigerator on the left was owned by an aunt of mine but when she left for Canada, she gave that to my sister to use. It's however too small for her room (she shares the ref with my brother too) so when my mom bought them a bigger ref, she gave this smaller one to me. The cute lamp on the ref, we bought that at Regalong Pambahay. It was only P600 and it looks really cute in our room. =D

When I get the chance, I'll take a more detailed photo of the room but at least now, you have an idea of what it looks like.

ALL DONE

I am pooped! The last of our guests have just left and the house is still in chaos. I don't even have the energy to fix the mess in the boys' room. So much has just happened today I'm so exhausted and ready to hit the sack.

We began the day early. I was up at 7am. After a quick breakfast, I started cleaning and dusting our bedroom. Then I bathed the boys and then took a bath around 9am. My college friend came over for a visit because she needed a dental reviewer book from me. We chatted for a bit then after she left, I continued with the cleaning and the prepping of the house. By 2pm I was kind of tired. We put the boys to sleep and then I was able to doze off. We awoke at 3pm and I hurriedly got dressed. By 4pm, the priest arrived and then we had the blessing. A lot of people were already present by then, thank goodness! Anyway, after that, everyone lined up at the buffet table and Ruther sat with his officemates and I sat with my sis, brother and his girlfriend just nearby. We chatted for a long while and as more guests and relatives arrived, I had to approach them for mano (read more about this Filipino tradition below). Then we took photos and then chatted some more. Ruther's friends departed at around 6pm or so. Then I chatted with Ruther's cousins (who are always a lot of fun) and then at around 930pm, they left as well and it was time for us to settle down.

I must say, everything went pretty well today. For that, I am so grateful. And now, it's time for bed. Good night!

.....

MANO

When meeting elders, we usually do the Mano. What basically happens is we approach the elder, hold out our hand to ask for theirs, say "Mano po" and when they give it and put it in our hand, we raise it to our forehead (palm down). "Mano" means "hand" and "po" is an addage we say to elders that connotes respect. More about this below...

http://www.puc.edu/Faculty/Milbert_Mariano/MANO/origins.html

The Filipino Ritual of Showing Respect to Elders by the Salutation of the Mano

From youth, Filipinos are taught to respect those who are older than them. Not only have the elders given birth and raised many, but in their age, they have grown wiser, more experienced, and have, by tradition earned the respect of younger generations. Several symbolic ways in which respect is given to elders is in the use of language by calling older Filipinos "Po" and older siblings, cousins, and family friends "Kuya" and "Atee".

The most fascinating and ritualistic custom of showing respect to elders is of the greeting or salutation, the Mano. The Philippines is the only country in Asia that holds this specific tradition and its origins evolved from the mixture of western and eastern tradition. The Mano [Spanish for hand] evolved from the traditions of respect for ones elders which comes from Asian cultures coupled with the respect for the clergy during the Spanish occupation of the Philippines. In certain parts of Asia, it is respectful to bow to another person to show your repect for them. The bow takes several different forms throughout Asia, and is part of the origins of the Mano.

DEEP-FRIED SQUID RINGS (CALAMARES)

900 g (2 lbs) medium squid or small cuttlefish
3 tbsp lime juice
60 g (1/2 C) flour
185 ml (3/4 C) water
90 g (3/4 C) flour for batter
1 tsp salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
250 ml (1 C) oil

Garlic Mayonnaise Dip
4-5 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1/2 C mayonnaise
1/2 C sour cream


To prepare the Garlic Mayonnaise Dip, combine the ingredients in a bowl, mix well then set aside.
Clean the squid or cuttlefish, discarding the ink, heads and tentacles. Slice the squid into 1 cm rings. Marinate in lime juice for 30 minutes.
Sprinkle 60 g (1/2 C) of flour on the squid and mix lightly. Combine the water remaining flour, salt and egg in a bowl and mix to form a smooth batter.
Heat the oil in a wok. Dip squid rings in the batter. Fry in hot oil in batches until golden yellow, about 1-2 minutes, being careful not to overcook the squid. Remove from the wok and drain on paper towels. Serve with Garlic Mayonnaise Dip.

Serves 6-8.

HOUSE BLESSING

Before I continue with Day 3 of our Bohol trip (I know, it's just taking too damn long!), I just want to report that we are finally having the house blessed tomorrow! Yay! Isn't that great? Mama wanted the blessing to be done while Ruther was still here so that the family was complete. I actually think that's a great idea. Anyway, I have been cleaning like crazy and I have yet to clean our bedroom. I'm planning on locking the boys' room until tomorrow just to keep it spotless but I don't want to feel too much like a witch so maybe I'll let them in later (when I feel like it). I think many people will be coming because Mama is hiring a caterer to provide the food (yummy!) and her relatives alone are already many. Ron, my brother-in-law is inviting 25 friends, can you believe that? Ruther will only have a handful and none of my friends could make it. (Yeah, I know...) So we're all in a frenzy today with cleaning and dusting and sweeping and changing the bed linens. A lot of work to do later...

Anyway, Mama told the guests to come at 3pm. The actual blessing will be at 4pm so that when the priest comes, there will be people already present (aside from the immediate family of course). Knowing how it is here in the Philippines, when you say 3pm, they start arriving at 330 or 345. That's just how it is. But I'm not like that. I'm a punctual person. I usually arrive earlier or on time. (Does that mean, I'm not Filipino?=D )

Hopefully everything will go well tomorrow. I promise to post photos. And this time I'll post some of the room. I know I said I would before but the room has just been messy since Ruther arrived last November it's simply embarassing. But don't worry, Becky, I promise you'll get to see our room soon. =D

BOHOL -SATURDAY - LAST PART

When we got back to Alonaland it was a little over 4 p.m. Ruther and I were getting a bit hungry so we decided to head for the beach in search of a new place to eat. The rain stopped but the wind was still chilly. Thankfully, it was only a little breeze. Despite the overcast skies, the beach was still beautiful.

We decided to get some pizza while the boys played in the water nearby. A signboard nearby said: "Hayahay Pizza, the best pizza on Alona Beach. Try it!" It was funny so Ruther and I decided to get a pizza for the both of us. We ordered the Senorita Tati and got some mango juice The waiting took forever and the place seemed understaffed. I don't know if it was because it was still early or if this was the usual thing but I really did not like waiting too long for service. Ten minutes was okay, 15 minutes tolerable but 20 minutes and more is just outrageous. Fortunately, our pizza was yummy (they only served thin crust pizzas) and Ruther and I enjoyed it. Ruther and I were supposed to take a dip in the water but when we tested the water it was cold (REALLY cold for me). The boys were also very tired and so we decided to go back to our rooms for some rest. We showered the boys and they fell asleep almost immediately. Ruther was able to doze off as well but I woke him up at 730 p.m. so we could get some supper. I was getting sleepy myself (I was up at 545 a.m.!) so we really had to eat. We woke the boys up and I was horrified to find out that Ethan had fever!! I suppose the cold dip in the water earlier in the afternoon just took its toll on his body and he was feverish. I was getting worried because I did not bring Tempra with me. I bundled him up and put on his hat.

I carried him all the way to Alona Tropical restaurant. We decided to eat there again because it was conveniently near and there were only a few diners. We got a table and Ruther ordered fried chicken, shanghai rice, camaron rebosado, pineapple shake for him and orange soda for me. While waiting for our dinner, a couple of men with guitars entertained us with songs. Our foreign companions enjoyed them so much they would sing along and once, even danced to a fast song. They were all well-known and loved songs by international artists like the BeeGees, Beatles, Frank Sinatra. They always received applause after every song. I liked that the diners enjoyed the entertainment. It was all very laidback, very informal and very relaxing. During this time, Ethan was on my lap and I said a little prayer that his fever would subside so he could enjoy the rest of our vacation. When our food came, the fried chicken was tender and seasoned just right. The camaron rebosado was a bit on the heavy side (too much batter) but other than that it was another fufilling meal. A few minutes after that we headed back to Alonaland.

When we got back to our room, I checked on Ethan from time to time. He was a bit sleepy so I just lulled him to sleep and then bundled him up. Since Ruther got some zzz's earlier, I decided to sleep early to be fully rested for the next day. We had another full day ahead because in the morning, we were going dolphin-watching and snorkeling and then in the afternoon, we had to check-out from Alonaland and go to the airport because our flight back to Manila was at 2pm. I told Ruther to watch over Nikki and not to sleep late. After brushing my teeth and preparing the stuff for the next day, I dozed of beside Ethan into dreamless sleep.

SEA AND SKY

I took this photo in the plane, a few minutes before we landed. I think it's a nice photo. The sky is all cloudy and messy but when you look at the water, it's all calm and smooth as a glass. Very contradictory, don't you think so?

Photo taken last January 18.

GARLIC PRAWNS (GAMBAS)

450 g. (1 lb) fresh medium prawns
3 tbsp lime juice
30 g (1/4 C) flour
2 tbsp olive oil
1 whole head of garlic, chopped
1-2 chilies, thinly sliced
1 tsp salt

Peel prawns, remove the heads and tails and devein. Marinate in lime juice for 30 minutes.
Sprinkle flour on prawns and mix lightly. Heat olive oil in a wok. Saute garlic over low heat until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add prawns. Stir-fry for 1-2 minutes or until prawns are almost cooked. Add the chilies and salt and heat through for 1-2 more minutes or until prawns are fully cooked. For a spicier taste, crush the chilies lightly before serving.

Serves 6-8

BOHOL - SATURDAY - PART 3

and so the story continues...

The tarsiers we visited were still in Loboc. I know (based on my map) of a tarsier sanctuary farther away but I think we will eat up a lot of time if we go back and forth. Also, it started to rain already. So Manong brought us to this place that took care of tarsiers just along the road. It was small and there was no entrance fees. Tables filled with souvenir items greeted us as we went in. We walked in a bit more and there were these tall potted plants. The caretaker pointed to something brown on one of the stems and wouldn't you know, it was a teeny little tarsier!! He was so cute and very cuddly. I forwarned Ruther not to take photos with the flash on because their eyes are very sensitive. The little thing was getting sooo sleepy, his eyes were opening and closing. He was funny! Then the caretaker told us that we could take photos of the tarsiers up close and we were ecstatic!! We took turns of course! Nikki was really enthralled! Ethan called it a "mouse"! Ruther was afraid of putting the monkey close to his face but I told him it won't do anything to him, silly man! =D Nikki loved the tarsier so much he wanted us to bring one home!! Haha!! Silly boy! I told him, if we did that, he would most probably die because tarsiers live in the mountains and I'm sure he didn't want that. He was sad but I bought him a tarsier keychain and ref magnet to remember his friend. We also gave some money as a donation for the food and care of the tarsiers. They were really really cute!

Shortly after that, we were on our way to our next stop. The rain became stronger and I got worried about that. We made our way to this hilly area just off the main road of Alburquerque. A guard was there and we paid P10 for the entrance fee. Getting to our destination was a bumpy ride. When we got there, it was raining really hard but a girl with a huge umbrella met us and we let her umbrella us to the entrance. We paid a fee but I forget now how much it was. When we got there we found out that we were going to see a python! Yikes! This python is said to be the biggest and the longest python in captivity. It was caught last 1996 and it was 5 feet long and 5 kilos heavy then. In 2005 it was 23 feet long and weighed 200 kilos!! My goodness! Anyway, Ruther and Ethan did not want to enter the cage so Nikki and I braved the snake and Ruther quickly took photos of us. A caretaker was with us of course otherwise I would not even dare get inside that scary cage. When we got back to the car, we were still escorted by the umbrella girl so I gave her P20 as a thank you.

Our next stop was the Baclayon Church. From http://www.bohol.ph/ site:

The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Baclayon is considered to be one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. It is one of the best presevered Jesuit build churches in the region, although in the 19th century, the Augustinian Recollects added a modern facade and a number of stone buildings that now surround the church.

Next to the church is the old convent, which also houses a small museum with centuries-old religious relics, artifacts and other antiquities, dating back to the 16th century. Included in the collection are an ivory statue of the crucified Christ looking towards heaven; a statue of the Blessed Virgin, said to be presented by Queen Catherine of Aragon; relics of St. Ignatius of Loyola, old gold embroidered ecclesiastical vestments, books with carabao skin covers, and librettos of church music written in Latin on sheep skins. Here you can also find the cuadro paintings made by the Filipino painter Liberato Gatchalian in 1859.

Since it was raining very very hard at this time, we just looked at the church from the car and we did not go inside the cathedral anymore. The boys were getting really sleepy and cranky and I did not want them to be cranky and noisy inside. So, regretfully, we had to be on our way.

We stopped by a souvenir store a distance away from Baclayon Church and I bought a shell bracelet, some more keychains and Nikki got a small guitar. We also bought some delicacies as pasalubong for my sis and bro and Ruther's family. After this, we headed for the Blood Compact Site which was just nearby. The rain slowed and I was glad. Some facts about this tourist spot from Wikipedia:

The Bohol Sandugo Celebration or Sandugo Festival, also known as Blood Compact Commemoration, is an annual historical event that takes place every year in the island province of Bohol, Philippines. This festival commemorates the treaty of friendship between two people of different races, culture, religion and civilization: between Datu Sikatuna, a native chieftain and the Spanish conquistador, Miguel López de Legazpi, representing the king of Spain. This treaty of friendship occurred on March 16, 1565 through a blood compact. This blood compact is the first international treaty of friendship between Filipinos and Spaniards and is known today as "Sandugo", meaning "one blood".
The "sandugo" or blood compact began with the arrival of Miguel López de Legazpi in the shores of Bohol in 1565 and the swearing of allegiance of Datu Sikatuna to the Spanish crown. The two people were believed to have made a cut on their left arms with a dagger and sprinkled their blood into a cup filled with wine, which both drank in honor of their friendship and brotherhood. This was 44 years after Magellan was killed attacking a Philippine village in Mactan Island, about 50 miles north of Bohol. The blood compact was a traditional way to formalize treaties of friendship in the Philippines. Magellan himself took part in several of these ceremonies before attacking Mactan Island.

It was really rooted in history and I was glad to step on that place and to be there. I hope that when the boys are bigger, they will learn to appreciate such things and to be interested in Philippine history. Shortly after that, we headed back to Panglao Island and despite all that happened earlier in the day, our Saturday was not over yet...







last part coming soon...

OOOOH! COFFEE!

http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/080123/starbucks.html?.v=4&.pf=banking-budgeting

Seattle Starbucks tests $1 coffee, free refills
Wednesday January 23, 1:03 pm ET

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Starbucks Corp is testing $1 coffee and free refills in its Seattle outlets as the global gourmet coffee chain grapples with slower consumer spending and rising competition from fast-food rivals.

Company shares were up at midday on the Nasdaq, rising 2.3 percent, or 43 cents, to $19.11.
Starbucks is experimenting with a smaller, "short" $1 cup as well as free refills for brewed coffee. Starbucks charges around $1.50 to $4.00 for a coffee, depending on size and flavor.

In a statement, Starbucks said, "This test is not indicative of any new business strategy."

The company said testing is part of its ongoing business and that the company will not comment on specifics of its test campaigns until a final decision is made.

Shares in Starbucks have lost around half their value over the past year amid worries about U.S. consumer spending, over-expansion and competition from fast-food rivals such as McDonald's Corp that offer specialty coffees.

Regular coffee prices at both McDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts, a unit of Dunkin' Brands Inc., start in the low $1 range.

Starbucks announced a management reshuffle earlier this year, bringing Howard Schultz back into the chief executive position. It also said it would close underperforming U.S. outlets and speed up international growth.

Starbucks has around 15,000 stores around the world including over 10,000 in the United States.

(Reporting by Ritsuko Ando and Lisa Baertlein; Editing by Brian Moss)

RAINBOW

Do you see the rainbow? I walked to the beach the morning of our second day in Bohol. I thought of taking some sunrise shots. It was drizzling but after a while it stopped and when I looked to my right, I saw a rainbow. It was really wonderful.

Photo taken at Alona Beach, January 19.

BANANA FRITTERS

6 small bananas
185 g (1 1/2 C) flour
1 tbsp sugar plus additional for dusting
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs, lightly beaten
125 ml (1/2 C) fresh milk
1 tsp melted butter
250 ml (1 C) oil

Slice bananas lengthwise into half, or into thinner strips to form a fan. Sift together 1 cup flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Blend in the eggs, milk and butter, then mix to form a smooth batter. Dip each banana slice into the batter and turn over several times to coat well.
Heat oil in a frying pan. Spread remaining 1/2 C flour in shallow dish. Dust the banana slices lightly with flour. Fry in hot oil until firm and fully cooked. Repeat with remaining batter. Drain on paper towels.
Dust cooked fritters lightly with sugar before serving.

BOHOL - SATURDAY PART 2

The Chocolate Hills were a sight to behold. Scattered before us, the hills just seemed to fill the horizon. Since it is still early in the year, the hills were green instead of brown, but they were still amazing. All the green before me was just very relaxing. According to Wikipedia: Estimated to be at least 1,268 individual mounds to about 1,776, these cone-shaped or dome-shaped hills are actually grass-covered limestone hills. The large and numerous perfect domes vary in sizes from 30 meters to 50 meters high with the largest being 120 meters in height. Really astounding, isn't it?

While we were there, it was quite cloudy but there were times when the sun shone brightly and made the boys a bit cranky. I suppose in future visits to this viewing area an umbrella will be necessary. I must remember that. I can only imagine how hot it was going to be in the summer. Anyway, we took a lot of photos and then made our way to the souvenir shops below. We got some cute shirts for the 4 of us and I think they were nice souvenirs for this trip. There were still a lot actually but Manong said that he would take us to a place where we could buy more souvenirs and trinkets. We left Chocolate Hills and made our way to our next stop. Manong pretty much kept us in the dark about our stops which was a bit thrilling. We just did not know what to expect next.

It was around 11 a.m. and we were all getting a bit hungry so we were relieved that Manong took us to Loboc River as our next stop. (Loboc is a 5th class municipality in the province of Bohol - Wikipedia) There are these boats there that serve a buffet meal as it cruises the length of the river. It's like a floating restaurant. The fee was P280 for adults and half of that for kids. There were several booths (around 4 or 5) there and Manong pointed to one of them (Long River Cruise). These booths are where you get your meal tickets. It's like picking a restaurant. You can actually get to see what they are serving because there are photos of the food on these large poster boards. But we were so hungry we just wanted to get into a boat and have lunch. And since we didn't know where Manong was going to have lunch, we invited him to eat with us and paid for his meal. There were already a few people on board the boat when we climbed in. We also ate almost immediately and I was glad for that. I got some grilled fish, agar salad, grilled squid, pork barbeque, vegetables, and lots of fruits and maja blanca. Ruther got almost the same. Nikki ate some noodles and Ethan was not interested in food. There were still other food served on the buffet table but I thought if I ate any more, I would look like I was pregnant. While we were eating, the boat started to move and we headed upriver. Almost everyone took photos and videos and we were serenaded by this man who played a guitar. He was a lot of fun. But most of the time, we just took photos and admired the view. It rained a bit as we cruised the river but it made the mood all the more relaxing. I also spotted this group of women washing clothes in the river. Now that is very rural to me. Many people used to do that in Zamboanga but well, times have changed. Seeing those women just brought back a lot of nostalgic feelings. Anyway, we reached the end of the river and made our way down. Before reaching our stop though, we paused before this small covered dock where people young and old were sitting. When we approached, they started singing and dancing and pretty much entertained us. Again, we did not have to pay any fees but donations were welcome. After 10-15 minutes, we were on our way again and shortly thereafter, we reached the terminal. Taking a quick stop to the wash rooms, we then proceeded to Loboc Church which was only a few meters away from the Loboc River terminal.

The St. Peter Parish Church in Loboc is the second oldest church in the country. (Wikipedia) It actually looks old so I would not doubt that at all. I really love old churches. Ruther and I were married in an old church and it was wonderful. Anyway, we did not go into the church anymore because we still had more places to visit and we were pressed for time but I told myself that the next time we drop by Loboc, I'll get inside the church and light a candle. After taking a few more photos, we boarded the car and made our way to the wonderful tarsiers.

to be continued...

BOHOL - SATURDAY - PART 1

I woke up at 545 a.m. to get an early start to our day. I slept earlier than usual the night before so I felt refreshed and ready to go. It was raining when I awoke but by 615, it slowed to a drizzle and I told Ruther (who was half-asleep then) that I would go to the beach to take some morning photos. I was so glad I decided to do that. It is rare that I get to experience something so wonderful. Yes, I see sunrises everyday but truly, sunrises at the beach are so dramatic. It's like everything seems to be more powerful, more exciting, more moving. I just snapped away. As the minutes ticked by, the rain stopped and the beach just slowly came to life. Even a playful dog went to the water for his morning swim and dried himself in the sand. It was really all so peaceful and wonderful.

We told Manong that we would leave Alonaland at 8 a.m. and Ruther wanted to have breakfast first so by 630 I headed back to our room. The boys were awake and fortunately, we got enough rest the night before so at around 710 a.m., we were heading for the beach to get some breakfast. Since Alona Tropical was the nearest restaurant, we decided to eat there. Seeing the beach one more time, the boys were really not interested in food but instead, they wanted to walk on the sand and throw pebbles into the water. Ruther ordered some banana pancakes and brewed coffee and I just got the plain pancakes and mango juice. The food was yummy and really satisfying. When we got back to Alonaland at 805 a.m. Manong was waiting for us so we immediately left the resort. It was such a cloudy day and I prayed that it wouldn't rain soon. Once in a while, the sun would peek through the clouds and I would be hopeful. Checking my map, I saw that Chocolate Hills was going to be the farthest place we would be going to. What I did not expect were the hilly winding roads. Hurriedly, I took my motion sickness medicine just to keep myself from getting too dizzy.

The first place we passed was the Bilar Man-made Mahogany Forest. Bilar is the name of the place and it was quite hilly. We did not stop for photos anymore because Chocolate Hills was still a long way away but Ruther did take some shots of the beautiful trees. They were really tall and shady. It really looked like a forest. I wonder how long it took for those trees to reach maturity. I hope it would be preserved so people could appreciate nature more.

Our first stop was at the Hanging Bridge at Sevilla. Sevilla is an interior town located some 36 kilometers east of Tagbilaran City. I could tell that this bridge was made of bamboo and ropes. I tried to go across it but it moved too much and Ethan was too excited and was hopping a lot I was scared we would fall into the river so I told Ruther to take my photo (quickly) and then headed for solid ground. Ruther and Nikki had their turn on the bridge too. We left some money in the donation box (there was no entrance fee) and then we were on our way to Chocolate Hills.

Aesthetically extensive, Chocolate Hills are scattered throughout the towns of Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan in Bohol. (On left - Locator map of the Chocolate Hills. Dark brown indicates the greatest concentration of the Chocolate Hills in the Bohol municipalities of Sagbayan, Batuan, and Carmen. Light brown indicates a lesser concentration of the hills in Bilar, Sierra Bullones, and Valencia.)We made our way to the viewing area which was somewhere in the town of Carmen. When we reached our destination, it was around 930 a.m. We had to climb this flight of stairs to get a good view of the Chocolate Hills and we took photos as we made our way up. When we did get to the top, a sea of green met my eyes...

to be continued...

PLANE RIDE

On our way to Tagbilaran City. It was very cloudy but Nikki enjoyed it so much because we have been studying the different types of clouds. So once in a while, he would chirp at me, "Look Mommy! It's a cumulus cloud! And there's a cirrus cloud!" Oh boy.

Photo taken last January 18.

BOHOL - FRIDAY PART 2

And there we were, stepping on the sands of Alona Beach.

The morning light made everything look so bright and vibrant. The sky was an electric blue and the wonderful coconut trees along the shore made everything look so lush. The water was calm and the boats and bancas adorned the sea. It was exhilarating having to inhale the sea air. I could tell that mornings are slow on this beach. On Alona Beach, you did not have to bring a watch. All you needed to do was to let go and live.


The boys were suddenly alive, running to and fro, checking the sand, the water, the shells, the pebbles. They just wanted to take everything in. They waded in the cool water, checked out hermit crabs (who scampered away as fast as they could), and basked in the sun. While they frolicked, Ruther and I breakfasted nearby in the restaurant of Alona Tropical. I loved the ambiance. It was just all so relaxing, to eat and look out into the sea. After breakfast, Ruther and I changed and then pretty soon, all of us were in the water. While wading into deeper water (knee-high) I found some sea cucumbers and they were gently swaying with the water current. At first I thought they were trash but when I looked more closely, I realized they were sea cucumbers. I told Nikki and Ethan to tread carefully but of course, they were too busy swimming in their floaties to care. We also found lots of shells (but we put them back into the water) and also saw some fish in the water but they were sand-colored that they were perfectly camouflaged and unless they would swim fast, the boys had a bit of difficulty seeing them. The water was a bit cold so we headed for shore and while I made our names on the sand, Ruther took photos and the boys played with their beach toys. At around 1030 a.m. Nikki got sleepy and since it was still some time before we could get our room (it was occupied), we told him to just stay in a shade for a few more minutes. At 1130, we headed back and thank goodness, our room was ready. We brought all our stuff into the room and then I bathed the boys and in an instant, they were asleep. I loved our room. We ended up with Room number 15A and our neighbor in Room 15B was a foreign couple. Actually, I noticed that most of the vacationers at Alonaland were foreigners. Anyway, we have 2 twin beds, cable tv, air conditioning, refrigerator, a kitchen, and hot shower. Not bad for P1500 per night, right? Some resorts charge per person per night and I find their prices ludicrous. I mean, we're not all born millionaires! So anyway, after having a quick bath ourselves, Ruther and I headed for the canteen to get some water (the big gallon costs P60) and other necessary things. After unpacking some of our things, we were tired out so we drifted off to slumberland.

We woke up at around 4pm and Ruther and I were so hungry because we missed lunch. So we went to the canteen and they only served sausages there. We therefore had no choice but to order that. Ruther got bratwurst and I picked veal sausage. A plate cost P120 which includes the huge sausage, a piece of wheat bread and some mustard. I was skeptical about the price and the serving but when I tried the sausages, they were yummy so I didn't complain anymore. =D

At 730 p.m. we decided to take a family stroll along the beach. While strolling, we also tried to check out the restaurants that looked okay so we could pick where to have our dinner. We decided against eating at Alona Tropical restaurant again just so we could try something new so we walked along the shore to see which restaurants had customers and which had none. We decided to sup at Pyramid Grill (which has good reviews) and we ordered the chicken fingers and calamares with garlic rice. I wanted to get the grilled squid but I was afraid I could not finish it and it would simply go to waste. I didn't want that. When the food arrived, we tried it and it was yummy. After supper, we headed back home, rested a bit and then slept to recharge ourselves for our second day in Bohol.

BOHOL - FRIDAY PART 1

I woke up at 245 a.m. last Friday (January 18) ready to begin our Bohol adventure. I woke Ruther up, got ready, checked the bags and then woke the boys up. At around 315 a.m. we were ready to leave. Russell (Ruther's younger brother) drove us to the airport and we were grateful that we did not have to get a taxi.


You would think that since it was a Friday, there would only be a few passengers/travellers. But when we got there, there was a queue leading to the entrance and then another queue towards the x-ray machines. Fortunately, there was a short line in the check-in lane so I felt that we were making good time. We paid the terminal fee (P200 each) which I personally thought was kind of too much, then passed through the final check-in. The waiting area was filled with people that there were many of them standing. This kind of worried me because I knew that the boys would want to sit down eventually. So we first bought some breakfast and then looked for a place to sit. We found a nice out-of-the-way place which was okay. The mood in the waiting area was kind of sleepy yet busy. Some passengers were so bored, some were busy chatting with family or friends, some were tinkering with their gadgets, some were eating and some were fast asleep. Occasionally, the paging system would break the restless mood urging the last few passengers to please board the aircraft now or requesting someone to come to the customer service counter or announcing the boarding calls. Shortly after we sat down, we saw this kiddie lounge and thought that maybe the kids would want to play in there while waiting for 515 a.m. to arrive. They did but only for a bit.


Then it was time to board the plane and we hurriedly made our way to the line. We were seated on rows 20 and 21. Nikki and I sat in front and Ethan and Ruther sat on the back. I SMS'd my mom and sister that we were in the plane and that I had to shut off my phone. The flight was uneventful maybe because I slept almost the whole time. During that time, the sun slowly came out and it turned the sky into different shades of blue. Nikki and Ethan were quite behaved and I was glad for that. The flight took only an hour and fifteen minutes so pretty soon, we landed at Tagbilaran Airport. It was quite small. When we disembarked, I turned on my cellphone and SMS'd my mom that we made it safely. We quickly took some photos of our arrival. It was a bit funny because many of us were snapping away and the guard was busily trying to shoo us to the arrival area but no one seemed to heed him. We just wanted to take as much photos as we could. So anyway, after that, we went to the terminal and then got our bags. I hired a pick-up service and I just had to look for my name and then we found our driver. Respectfully, we called him Manong (which roughly means "older brother" and a hierarchal marker, it is to be used to refer to anyone who is older than you within an individual's family, but could also be used for non-family -Wikipedia). We were pleased to see our service was quite new, air-conditioned and not old and battered down. Even Ruther was impressed.

We made our way through the city and then as we left Tagbilaran, the scenery slowly transformed itself. Gone were the small buildings and houses and the busy streets. Along the way were fields of green, coconut trees, banana trees, lush hills, nipa houses, cows and carabaos here and there. It was very rural. And I loved it. It reminded me so much of Zamboanga. Anyway, it was quite a long ride. It took us about 30 minutes and Manong was driving quite fast. We got to Alonaland okay but check-in time was at 12 noon and it was only 8am. Since they did not have a restaurant (only a canteen), we decided to go to the beach, have a meal and spend the morning there while waiting for noontime. We walked down a path leading to the beach. I did not know what to expect and as we got nearer, palm trees shielded the beach from view. When we stepped out into the clearing, it was breathtaking...




to be continued...

I'M BACK

So I'm back!

The whole Bohol experience was FUN! I can't even begin to express how wonderful it was to just spend time together as a family. Anyway, I was able to check my messages/comments last night but I was too exhausted to blog, so my apologies. I thought that once I got back I would be able to post something but when we got home, we had to unpack (it's not even 100% done yet), and then we had a family dinner at Dampa. When we got back home, I was just too tired to do anything else but read your messages. Thanks to everyone who said a little prayer for our safety. I'll tell you how that went and how your prayers helped. You'll be interested, I'm sure. Once I upload/download the photos, I'll give you the blow-by-blow. =D For now, I have tons of chores to do so see you later! =D

CATERPILLAR

I took this photo for Ethan. I found this little bugger in a garden while Mama was looking for some plants to buy for the house. Isn't it cute? I should have kept it until it turned into a butterfly. Oh well...

BYE FOR NOW!

So, you won't probably hear from me til Saturday. Our flight tomorrow is at 545 a.m. so that means, we'll have to be at the airport at 345 a.m. Since I won't have time to sit in front of the computer anymore, I'm going to say my goodbyes now. We will be back around 4pm on Sunday so I might say hello then. For sure once we're back, I will regale you all with all the things that we experienced in Bohol. Help us pray for a safe trip! =D

Hear from you soon!

TASTY SPRING ROLLS

300g (3 C) bean sprouts
200g (7 oz.) fresh prawns
375 ml. (1 1/2 C) water
200g (7 oz.) lean pork, diced or minced
1 small onion, chopped
3-4 garlic cloves, crushed
1 medium carrot, cut into very thin strips
1 medium sweet potato, cut into thin strips
25-30 spring roll wrappers
250 ml (1 C) oil

Vinegar Garlic Dip
250 ml (1 C) vinegar
1/2 head of a whole garlic, chopped
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 red chili (optional), thinly sliced

To prepare the Vinegar Garlic Dip, combine all the Dip ingredients in a bowl, mix, then set aside.
Wash and clean the bean sprouts well, removing the tails. Peel and devein prawns, then reserve the head and shells. Cut each prawn into 2-3 pieces. Pound the prawn heads and shells lightly. Pour in 250 ml (1 C) of the water and strain liquid into a bowl to obtain prawn stock. Set aside the prawn stock and discard the heads and shells.
In a large skillet, simmer pork in remaining water until fat is rendered. Remove pork from skillet and reserve the rendered fat. In a wok, heat this fat and saute onion about 1-2 minutes. If fat from pork is not enough, add a little oil. Add garlic and saute until fragrant then add carrot and sweet potato and saute for 1-2 minutes. Pour in reserved prawn stock. Stir in bean sprouts and pork and simmer until vegetables are tender. Remove from heat and let cool for about 30 minutes.
Steam spring roll wrappers for 2-3 minutes. Put about 3 tablespoons of the bean sprouts mixture into each wrapper. Brush the edges of each wrapper with water and roll wrapper to enclose filling completely. Make sure wrappers are well sealed.
Heat the oil in a wok. Fry the wrapped spring rolls until golden brown. Remove from heat and drain on paper towels. Serve with Vinegar Garlic Dip.

FORGING CHARACTER

A wonderful read. I encourage everyone to take the time to peruse it. It's very insightful and inspiring...


FORGING CHARACTER
by Mark Hamby

Over the past twenty-four years I have observed many students who graduated from Christian schools and homeschools yet still lack the confidence, purpose, and skill to follow their dreams. In fact, rarely do they even dream about their God-given destiny. As a young college student, I changed my major numerous times. During that very critical time in my life, I lacked both direction and character--the two important elements that awaken a person’s drive to become all that God intended him to be. Contrary to popular opinion, this kind of character is not determined by one’s actions, but by one’s values. Focusing and modifying a child’s actions apart from their values leads only to hypocrisy, distorts reality, and clouds one’s judgment for a life’s calling. One of the least understood concepts in life is the connection between inner character and the development of skills to pursue one’s purpose in life. Inner character, skill, and purpose are the driving mechanisms behind true greatness. If what I am saying is true, then the development of one’s character is the foundation for life, assuming, of course, that one has a real relationship with the God who created him with a designed purpose.

Character is formed, or rather forged, on the anvil of life. I can distinctly remember an event which genuinely forged my character in the area of work ethic. I was twelve years old, and we needed a new sewer line for our house. Rather than digging up our newly paved driveway, my father decided that a trench could be dug under a thirty-foot-long concrete patio, thus redirecting the sewer line. My dad was an iron worker, and since this was his busiest time of the year, he asked me if I would dig this trench before he came home next week. With a smile, he assured me that it could be done, “one shovelful at a time.” Immediately I began to plan how this could best be accomplished, or rather, how I could do the job with the least amount of work. I remember thinking that there must be a machine that could burrow under this patio and with the press of a button—presto! Finisio! Because I feared my dad, I didn’t dare refuse this task; but I knew that Mom would come to my rescue when she saw the hardship that had been placed on her only son. I really had no intention of digging this trench knowing that it was an impossible task; if I complained and held out long enough, Dad would surely come to his senses. Two days before his arrival, I hadn’t found any solution to my dilemma, and Mom wasn’t ‘cooperating’! In fact, she kept reminding me when Dad would be home.

I remember this as if it were yesterday. Just a few hours before Dad came home, I began digging into the solid clay (it seemed like clay). I dug one foot under the patio and knew that this was impossible and impractical. Surely Dad would understand. Well, Dad didn’t understand! In fact, as soon as he came home, he went out to inspect my work. Without saying a word, he began digging. “What’s wrong with him?” I thought to myself. “Go ahead and dig, you’ll see!” But the dirt was flying and Dad was digging. He had worked hard all week while I worked hard trying to figure out how to get out of work. After about twenty minutes I couldn’t take it anymore. I went out, took the shovel out of his hand and began digging. Again, he reminded me that if you persevere and don’t give up, you can accomplish anything.

It was one o’clock in the morning, but I did it! That entire time my dad was watching from the bedroom window, and when he saw me break through there was a grand applause of royal encouragement. I will never forget that moment. In fact, something happened to me that day that has remained with me ever since. Part of my character was forged that day and to this day has been an essential component to my life. That experience fortified my determination to accomplish whatever task God calls me to, no matter how difficult or impossible it may seem. In fact, I believe that those six hours spent under a patio prepared me to do what I’m doing today. You see, “the testing of our faith works endurance. But let endurance have its perfect work...that you might be perfect and entire, lacking nothing.”

Do you see the spiritual significance of enduring difficult tests? It is significant because when we endure, there is a “work” that is being accomplished—the work of forging our character which prepares us to be complete (perfect), lacking in nothing. Now that’s one reward worth pursuing. And there should be a reward. Our children need to learn that God gives special rewards that are the result of forged character. Forged character prepares us for our future, and galvanizes our determination to accomplish any task. “See a man diligent in his work? He shall stand before kings…” The Hebrew word for “work” carries the meaning of “polished.” When our work reaches a level of excellence—a polished work—we will receive our greatest fulfillment, reach our highest goals, and truly represent our Father as we should as a son or daughter of a King!

Though it is true that children need to learn that endurance forges character, prepares for life, and propels one to persevere, there is also a danger that must be addressed. The danger that I speak of is the root cause of many fallen leaders—pride. From our examples, our children must understand that the character traits of endurance, perseverance, and determination leading to great accomplishments cannot bring true fulfillment apart from humility. There is something very appealing about a diligent, skillful worker who is smiling, appreciative, and thankful. Without humility, determination will lead to accomplishments void of relationships. Humility is the recognition that all of my abilities and opportunities are gifts from God. Humility is portrayed in an attitude of thankfulness even for difficulties, with the realization that this, too, is a gift of God.

May the qualities of inner character, skillfulness, and humility unlock the door to a prepared, purposeful, and powerful future.

Mark Hamby is the President of Lamplighter Publishing. Their latest resource for parents is "Character to the Core". Take a look! You can pick a character trait to learn about... and also get a great corresponding list of recommended books.

http://familyclassroom.net/hsboys/articles/19.html

BEACH ACTIVITIES

Since we will be heading to the beach on Friday, I think it will be a great opportunity to sneak in some lessons while the boys are having fun. So, I researched some activities and I found these things that we could do or learn while we're at Panglao:

1. Build sandcastles or shapes
2. Make footprints
3. The sun (harmful rays), using sunblock and how shadows move as the sun moves across the sky
4. Things we could find at the beach
5. A close-up look at beach sand
6. Pirate treasure hunt
7. Pollution and the environment

I think that's not too bad. We will still be having the nature and historical tour as well so I guess that will be a learning experience in itself. I have been feeling a bit guilty for not having a schedule for lessons these past weeks. I just figured, the boys need time with their dad so why should I plan lessons when it's more important for them to play and bond and spend time with their father? Anyway, I guess it's just a bit different because before, I would pre-plan lessons and activities for the boys. These days, we just go with the flow and are more spontaneous and perhaps I feel we're not doing a lot. Anyway, the most important thing is for the boys to have fun while learning and with that in mind, I'm sure they will enjoy this family trip! =D