My First Buko Pie..I'll dare myself to eat the whole pie next time!

Sunday : Mother texted me that she has some buko from San Jose and asked if I was interested to turn them into pies. I said yes and went there late in the afternoon. But turned out they have to go somewhere so raincheck for the scooping out.
Monday: I planned on going back again but didn't make it to their place to pick it up.
Tuesday: My son caught a fever the night before so I had to cancel my baking plans. Too late, they already brought me the buko stuff so I had no choice but to really do it til midnight. I started before dinner and resumed after dinner until one A.M.

Here's what happened. I made my first buko pie, a dozen of mini-buko pies and a loaf of not-so-moist banana bread (I've done better ones before).

The filling. It was almost overflowing in my little sauce pan.

After two trials on going for the dough, I finally figured out that it need some egg yolk to make it stick together. My previous trial easily crumbled until this.

Still will not qualify as pastry chef but at least I can make what I want to eat.

And have my family taste and enjoy it too!

It was such a delight to see and eat these small thingies. Yum...

The buko pie turned out good, almost great to my hubby's taste. (It's been years since he last tasted one, hahaha!)

Stem Cells Research in the Philippines: Existent?

Stem cell research has been the rise to fame and downfall of a famous Korean scientist a few years ago. It rocked the ROK and the world. In the Philippines, stem cell research are almost unheard of in the common people except a biology class and medical sciences. This recent article in Inquirer gave me a glimpse on where the stem cell concept/research is in the Philippines.

It also talks about a Fil-Am jack-of-all-trades (brainy and cutting-edge biotechnology realm, that is) who is a Physician (oncologist), chemist, Lawyer, molecular biologist etc. I'm not sure which description would really bring the ultimate Wow or what?. Individually, these "descriptions" would be impressive enough but to roll them into one person, that is something. Now, wouldn't you say some people are more than blessed with their brains, hmm. On the note though, one thing that should be added to that list is "cancer survivor." I believe it would be the most meaningful one, in my own humble opinion. Let me put a name to that list now, and it would be Dr. Samuel D. Bernal of The Medical City in Pasig. It would be interesting to meet him, I think. I do have great respect for oncologists and molecular biologists. ;)

A series on Stem Cell Concept in the Philippines was written by Ma. Ceres P. Doyo.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

When this thing picks up speed, I bet the whole "religion-concerned country" will have their say.

Newspaper reading has been a good habit I've picked up through the years. Even though not everyday, I do find myself looking it up at least twice every week.

As much as I not a big fan of the subject of politics, here are some interesting columns under opinions of Inquirer;

On the Expat's stake of Estrada's bid for presidency

On other possible presidential candidate giving way for Ninoy Aquino
(The joke for the day also left me thinking for the fill-in-the-blanks.)

a brief LP background and ideas for the future election

Aug. 16th '2009

A Thousand's Splendid Sun
by Khaled Hosseini

My eyes are still red and puffed, my head is starting to throb but my mind and fingers are itching to write something. I started reading this book last Friday night after arguing with my husband who let me had the chance to get a hold of this one in the first place. I chose to read this first over another which I had no idea what it was exactly about as to a synopsis or something of that sort. For this book, hubby was able to, at least, tell me more like a sentence or a brief description about it. It wasn't just "it was top ten recommended books to read" or something to that effect. In order to for someone to start something to read, there should be at least a background or something of a pre-reading part before the actual reading. You just don't go bungee jumping without knowing what's below you. Err..is that too much of a comparison,now? It was well late into the night and I seriously don't have any plans of turning on my laptop to check for the background of the story online.

That left me starting to read Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand's Splendid Sun. The setting started in an all-too-innocent backdrop of a place in a country far from civilization. Meaning, no electricity, a couple of farm pets in the scene, -- a very simple living. There was a girl. And an eccentric mother. A little girl of fifteen years of age, and strange words that signals the reader that this wasn't an average English written novel. It continues on with these local words, giving it some spice. It isn't straightforward English and sometimes, you'd get lost in some terms. Nonetheless, looking at the other side of the coin, it gives the reader a glimpse of the language and culture of where the story begins. From the innocent setting that it has started, the story unfurls into almost excruciatingly painful changes that takes place in the young life of the protagonist. As the story moves to the city of Khabul, I wonder what kept me reading it. If somebody has told me that most of the story takes place in Afghanistan, I am not sure if I would have the interest of finishing at all. I am not going to attempt to retell the storyline or much less give out spoilers, pray forgive me. Perhaps in another entry I might, or might not, after all.

This will only be my reaction. I cannot share this with my DH coz he hadn't finish it yet and I might give out some spoilers.

Reading the book made me thankful, again, that I was a girl born in a country where I have rights. I am not really one patriotic citizen, with all the shams going on in my country but for being born and brought up where women have more right, is more than a good fortune. It is a privelege. I don't think I can live in a culture where women are thought less of any more than a possible wife, mother or househelp. Don't get me wrong, all of those roles are beyond repproach but THAT isn't all. The author dedicated the book to two names and the women of Afghanistan. Women. Yes, women. Not to the scantily-clad women of tabloids, of TV's and movies but my guess would be to the burqa-clad women who have no choice but to live in their husbands shadows, along with the violence that women around the world endures. This I must reiterate. I am open to the fact that it much of the culture that some women in certain countries live that way. It is their culture. Yes, but if the women should have a choice if they wish to follow their culture or another. I perfectly understand women who have a great respect to their own culture and I DO ADMIRE them for that. I can only be be grateful that they have a heart like for I myself may not have any for such. Go ing back to the story, it tells of a tale of two young girls who later on grows up in front of the reader's eye's into women, made sterner through all of the wars, bloodshed and the simple ramifications of living a life in Khabul, under the different political disturbances for a period of a decade or two. Or is it even three? I can only sigh. This is indeed a good read, not for the faint-hearted but for anybody who has a heart, a man or woman for that matter.

P turns Five!

Yesterday has been a great day! It was a bit busy for me but it turned out fine.

After three years of planning, I was finally able to bake my son his birthday cake. A first for me, I'm afraid. We've always bought cake from stores before and just come to think of it, he has always had a cake on his birthday. Small maybe but still a cake.

I started around 10 AM after my morning routine. I made two batch coz the portions were not that enough. After two hours, a total of 6 C of flour, 2 C of mayo, 3 C of sugar, 12 T of cocoa and a number of sifting, the mixture did get into the oven and out to start cooling while we had our lunch. Having it cooled a bit, I went back to it to make the fudge and finish up the irregular turn out of the cake. Ha! It sure was time consuming for a first timer like me. I still had to run to the market to get some peppers for the spaghetti. It was about 4 when the grandparents arrived with their gift. ;)

Since not everything is still settled, we all went out for some playtime for the birthday boy and while I run for additional candles and peppers and other stuff needed. SOS from my bro who took care of the finishing touches for the cake which was wanting some colors save for the brown chocolate fudge covering it.

Things to properly note down on DIY cake: NIPS, or MnMs, mallows, sprinklers (which I have to go to a special party store and not just at the only mart in town!), small stick'o, pretzels, hmm...it should look better next time. ;)

Some more notes on the things I learned:

a. I may someday consider using the confectionaire's sugar on the frosting or even fudge. I did buy it and it's rotting in my cupboard. The very conscientous of sugar for the teeth really gets in the way of my baking. Tsk, tsk. I keep on thinking of the very fine confectsugars that is just perfect to melt in our mouth and at the same time melt our teeth! There should be a balance somewhere.

b. Take care of the candles way in advance. This is a second for me coz I do remember one of my friends who had the same problem last time. I almost had the same, except that mine was easier solved. I didn't have to look for a very special candle. A stick was enough except that I needed one more. My reuse-reduce-and-recycle-thing kicked in and what I did was just add one more from the last set that we had last year. Ah! I did buy two this time for next year. Hmm..kidded the clerk about it but I was actually dead serious. LOL..

And now, off to make our thak you cards for our guests yesterday. My son sure had a great birthday thanks to them.

August 20th, 2009

Things that make me happy in the morning...

Waking up to see my boys sleeping beside me,
catching the rays of the early sun reflected onto the wall from the floor that catches the sun from the window,
(it only happens sometime around seven or so),

having the moment of being alone before the numerous tasks that have to be done gets rolling in,
and seeing the torrents speed hitting 40's up to 50's kbps. With our net service provider usually hovering around less than 10 kbps, this is something. Now, isn't that fast and enough to make you happy?

Three Men and a Maid

Upon searching for an audio book to download for my aunt to listen to, I checked out this book. It's pretty short, light read and funny. I might have seen this plot on movies/tv a lot of times before but it sure is a good try to listen to an audiobook for a change.

From librivox.org, I started to listen to it. It actually made me laugh out loud at times. Good thing I am listening while doing chores at home and not in somewhere in public. It is not really hilariously funny but it does have the occasional humor to it. I loaded it up in my mobile player yesterday and hopefully finish it up on the 4th or 5th of this month. Then I can move on to another book. ;)

Blog Face-off

This is the first entry. A big trial. Another attempt to write something. Anything. As long as we're writing. For only 15 minutes, we have to write something.

This exercise has been brought up before, without the timer thing, but never made it to a second or even an decent one entry. We talked about doing a writing exercise every week before but it NEVER materialize. It seems that if we put it in the schedule for another time, the "another time" never comes. This time, we did it the "Flylady way". And what's the flylady way that I learned? It is setting your mind on to something, being able to do it in fifteen minutes and doing it NOW. That sure sounds quite easy, but for people who can't really concentrate and tend to over concentrate ;), that is almost an impossible task.

So for now, I will just have to leave it to my fingers to keep moving until the bell rings. It reminds me of writing exercises at school which I never really appreciated. I mean, I never saw the importance of using the remaing time for the class to sweat on something to write about. Somehow, there was no consistency on the writing exercises, and I never saw the connection.

Fast forward to more than ten years since high school, I find myself having to retrace my steps on learning to write. I'm not talking of the basic pen-holding things, and grammar of course. This is creative writing. Well...at least an attempt on it. It might be a good exercise for the brain, if not necessarily physically for my fingers for my typing skills. An exercise nonetheless which I hope I can continue on doing as I try to keep a decent flow of entry in my blog.

Looking back to my previous blog entries, I've pretty much kept a regular entry every month since I got my own laptop this year. I'ts quite liberating to be able to write something when you feel like writing. The only problem is finding the time now.

Time's up!

Secret Adversary, by Agatha Christie - A book report of sort

might have started a new one to read without writing anything about this. Nevertheless, for the sake of writing exercise, and future reference on what this story is all about, I am writing it now.

This book, it seems to the the first book of Tuppence and Tommy. The first, or probably the only one I've read of Christie's books featuring this duo, was "What Mrs. Mc Gullicudy Saw" or Flatform 9:13 or something like that. It was quite a light read compared to the books featuring Hercule Poirot. It must have been not very easy to write a male protagonist. I believe it's pretty complicated compared to writing about a woman protagonist.

Back to Tuppence and Tommy, this book introduces the reader to the two childhood friends who ended up meeting each other in their lives. At one point during the war where Tuppence was working in a hospital as an all-around attendant (from dishwashing to attending to the patients) and Tommy as one of the soldiers/patients injured in the war. After their VAD stints, they met again while both looking for opportonity to earn something. It is in this situation that they teamed up to take up anything. After laying out their plan on advertising themselves in the papers, Tuppence stumbled onto a very interesting case of a catchy name.

Jane Finn. What's in name?
Seriously, it didn't strike me as anything special. It's just a name and there are other countless strange names across the globe. Well perhaps not during that time of writing. I mean, the war has just ended and all that.

So going back to the story, I really won't be going into the nitty gritty of it all. I would just like to take into notice how the characters were painted. There were other big characters which at one point was in my list of suspects. Sure there were a lot of other characters involved but with the build up of an apparent mastermind behind all of the complications in the story, a mysterious Mr. Brown is always the culprit. Upon realizing that this Mr. Brown is most likely one of the active characters in the story, living in another name, I was out for a possible name. As I read, I developed a hunch that it was Suspect no.1. Almost all throughout the book, my money was on him. The thing was I wasn't really that sure as I later found out because I did a doulbe take around the end when the Suspect No. 2 was pointed out as the One. But of course, all the deductions and various offhand suggestions that was built up against Suspect No. 1, indeed added up and in the end, it turned out that he indeed the one posing as Mr. Brown. Now what points led me to form that hunch? Hmm..the way the character was build up. It was so attractive, I'm not referring to the aesthetic here. Although there was another character described as interestingly but it died somewhere in the story. That brought me back to No. 1. I really admire how his character was build up. There was the instance on the mysterious poison administered, inside knowledge of things that the protagonist will be doing and such and such. It seemed that the protagonist are always one step late of what the anagonist has done. This case simply led the reader to believe that the culprit is among the people trying to help the protagonist as they solve the case. SOmething like an inside knowldge of the pursuants. Ah! This was one entertaining read for me.

I can finally move to another book and see for myself how another story plot thickens, how the characters are built and how well can I make guesses.

Now, what will be my next one? Perhaps a Ms. Marple book. I don't think I'm ready for Poirot again.

Happy Day Today!

Hubby got his first online shopping package this month. And....I got myself a new Mp3 player! Although I'm not sure if it was originally for me. Haha! My previous one was long gone and I'm just tickled to get a new one. Thanks dear. :) It might take a while for me to get use to it's relatively simple functions.

Anyway, I browsed through some repair/mending ideas today. I tried to update the clothes in my drawer and I found some shirt that I hardly wear but cannot afford to throw out yet. It seems that I do have ideas how to make them wearable. I just need some more info and knowledgeable skills to make it. I already have one finished product which I did a few weeks ago. Sometime early this month, I finally cut the Korean Mask shirt and sewed it on to my kiddos plain red shirt. I started that one in a no-power night until the next morning when there no power again. All hand-sewn! I am not that very fond of needlework coz of my sweaty hands and this was really a BIG accomplishment for me. I was just driven to save the print, and put it somewhere it can look better and add more to it's lifespan.

The

Having found another shirt in my drawer, I surfed for info how I can make my imagination into reality. I do have idea on what I want it to look like but doesn't really have enough guts and skills to snip and put it together again. This is way harder than the "cut and paste" I did earlier. Sigh. It's worth saving coz the shirt is still looks new. I hardly wore it coz I felt it was a little too loose for my frame. Why I bought it more than ten years ago is still lost on me. Except that I really like the print. A bit too flowery but there are days that I like to wear one, you know. Specially when it's bright and sunny and the weather is just great! I think I need to resize it, or if I go insane, totally redesign it. ? Haha! That's gonna be an interesting thing to watch out for.

As I was looking for ideas on sewing, I stumbled on an interesting crafty blog from a gal in Cebu. Finally! Something that is within the geographical territory. I mean, crafty stuff are usually from other lands and seldom would I find local crafty bloggers. It can be a start. ;)

20th of July

Hubby got his first online shopping package this month. And....I got myself a new Mp3 player! Although I'm not sure if it was originally for me. Haha! My previous one was long gone and I'm just tickled to get a new one. Thanks dear. :) It might take a while for me to get use to it's relatively simple functions.

Anyway, I browsed through some repair/mending ideas today. I tried to update the clothes in my drawer and I found some shirt that I hardly wear but cannot afford to throw out yet. It seems that I do have ideas how to make them wearable. I just need some more info and knowledgeable skills to make it. I already have one finished product which I did a few weeks ago. Sometime early this month, I finally cut the Korean Mask shirt and sewed it on to my kiddos plain red shirt. I started that one in a no-power night until the next morning when there no power again. All hand-sewn! I am not that very fond of needlework coz of my sweaty hands and this was really a BIG accomplishment for me. I was just driven enough to save the print, and put it somewhere it can look better and add more to it's lifespan.

The shirt was almost unused more than 6 years ago. Then I think I gave it to my Bro or Pops when we left. After 3 years, we got back and found the shirt back in our things. It was a little loose, almost a candidate for a rag if it weren't for the print. It was a comfy sleeping shirt for a while but...hey...not all the time. I finally found a new home for the mask print.



Having found another shirt in my drawer, I surfed for info how I can make my imagination into reality. I do have idea on what I want it to look like but doesn't really have enough guts and skills to snip and put it together again. This is way harder than the "cut and paste" I did earlier. Sigh. It's worth saving coz the shirt is still looks new. I hardly wore it coz I felt it was a little too loose for my frame. Why I bought it more than ten years ago is still lost on me. Except that I really like the print. A bit too flowery but there are days that I like to wear one, you know. Specially when it's bright and sunny and the weather is just great! I think I need to resize it, or if I go insane, totally redesign it. ? Haha! That's gonna be an interesting thing to watch out for.

As I was looking for ideas on sewing, I stumbled on an interesting crafty blog from a gal in Cebu. Finally! Something that is within the geographical territory. I mean, crafty stuff are usually from other lands and seldom would I find local crafty bloggers. It can be a start. ;)

7-8-9

Another date I can't resist.

If last year, I went for the 7-7 date, this year, I will go for the 7-8-9. Bro informed me to attend some seminar today and I jokingly suggested to have his gf join, which she gamely accepted. We spent quite some time together with P. It was quite cool, so to speak.

What's going on my mind now? I am actually sleepy and can't think very straight. Ah! My shining sink!

I have finally started "flying with my sink">. I've found this nice site a few weeks ago but I just didn't get on with it till I had my kitchen fixed last Tuesday. I was off to a better start with a newly fixed water taps, etc. I don't have any excuses anymore. So far, I'm on my second night now. Tuesday, after starting off with my sink, I also did the 1st room's bathroom. It was such a tremendous job. Both didn't have any big clean up for awhile. At the end of the day, I was barely able to get my sink cleaned up before tumbling into bed. I was really tired. But the feeling of accomplishment was really worth it. I am finally starting.

This week, I had also started back into my physical exercises. Ah, upon checking up on my calendar so far, I had started on the 1st of July. I kind of tried this around New Year but slacked off. My goal at that time was at least 3x a week. This time, I will try to do at least 30 mins, 4 or 5 times a week. I have yet to wake up more early too. So far, after hitting 10 AM wake up time a few weeks ago, I have tried to regain control and slowly worked my way back into 8:30, then 8, and finally 7:30 this morning. Bad thing though was I didn't jumpstart at that time today. SO far, things are looking up. Eeny weeny baby steps. Eyelids are really drooping...or dropping? Duh..too sleepy. Signing off for now.

The APO; My Nostalgic Musings

Contrary to the common generation of those who love the APO Hiking Society, I was not born in the 70's. I didn't exist yet at that time. The Martial Law, and everything that happened in the country at that time. Even when it ended with the First People's Power Movement, I wasn't aware of such historical events.

The APO existed during that period and after that. They continued to live on through their music even if they are not very active in the music scene nowadays save for their anniversary bash last year with a series and one big concert.

I was listening to some of their music today as I do my house chores and it was kind nostalgic. After the highly volatile political period of the 70's and early 80's, the group emerge through it all and went on to do noontime show on TV. Me, being raised on watching TV (ha! I wonder what my Mom had to say on this;-), had watched this group on the tube. From once a week Sunday noontime shows, they went on to do the weekdays. "Sa Linggo nAPO Sila" to Isang Linggo nAPO Sila. At that time, the reigning noontime show on TV was "Eat Bulaga" and they did make a quite a competion. Since both main groups (the APO and TVJ) are remarkably good singers, the shows were filled with music, games and fun. I believe it was a non-comparable quality to what I see today on noontime TV shows filled scantily clad back-up/background dancers and trying hard "singers." But of course, this era has more money at stake to win for the locals/common tao. I myself can be part of it if I am desperate enough to stand in line at the station everyday.

Going back to the APO, their show had four main female hosts. From what I can remember, they had Bing Loyzaga, Ilonah Jean, Agot Isidro (I think she started TV on that show) and ...mmp, the last one escapes my memory just now. Ah! de Leon - Melissa de Leon, I think. All of them CAN SING. Of course, a few other hosts drifted in and out of the show like Amy Perez, and even Ariel Rivera, who was the "crush mga kolehiyala" at that time. It was really an interesting musical variety show, far from the current trend of noontime game shows that fill the boob tube every afternoon.

Ah! The world is getting wicked. And I am just feeling nostalgic. Hahaha! The APO rocks! Their songs are really timeless and brings back the old town feelings, even if I really didn't exist mostly at that period. More reminiscing next time to the like of Three Coins in the Fountain era.

Hello MS Office

After months of figuring out what and how to go about the Unit plan file that I have to do, I finally found that the cd we have is still working. How come when I tried to install it before, right after we've installed the OS, it didn't work. I never tried again after that. We ended up installing the open office which worked just fine until this Unit Plan file from school. Luckily, hubby suggested to try it again. My big hurdle is now over. I can finally start listing up my own plan.

Hmm..back to the drawing board.

Anne Frank, Holocaust, Schindler's List..etc.

I have recently started listening to an audio copy of the Diary of Anne Frank. Even though I have read it before somewhere, a second "reading" is not really a bad thing. I have more chance to twirl the story in my mind now, unlike before that I simple devoured reading it. This time, I have extended my reading.

This brought me to youtube, and found some comments and videos about questioning the authenticity of Anne Frank's Diaries, or worst, the existence of the Holocaust involving the Jews and the Nazi's. I mean, really. It's nice to know that there are other ideas about that one but come on, this seems like too real to be reel. There seem to be a movie or something about Anne Frank and I have yet to find it.

This reminded me of the movies of the same topic; the Schindler's List, and the Pianist. Although I think I've seen the first one and I do remember the synopsis and the book where the story was based from (aside from the real person, of course), can be a good read. But the movie, it wasn't something that I would want to watch again. It's just so terribly depressing. Regardless of that, I would still strongly recommend to anyone to watch it, even just once, for their own existence's sake. It's just up to them if they would like to question if the holocaust really existed at that time.

A bit about Schindler. His first name is Oskar, a German, who was not very lucky with business but somehow was able to use his business to save at least 1200 Jews during the holocaust.

My goodness, the web really has a lot of interesting things to bring into a classroom. Anyway, I may have this for my lil' one later when he's old enough to understand. He finds the Anne Diary audio book interesting (at his age now), though.

Just for Fun...

Good one to click to make it bigger and start staring.

Sigh...a relief on the book tax issue

Due to my own papers to write last week, I wasn't able to follow how the book tax issue went. it seems that I missed the most important update on it here. Philstar covered it, thank goodness. There's still hope for our nation to start reading again.

I am not entirely a big fan of politics, but thank you Madame President for puting your foot down on this issue.

A time for Introspection

Today is a day to introspect.

School enrollment season is here again. I have been contemplating if I should enroll again this sem or take a break for now. My son is going to be 5 soon and and I have only a year or two to prepare him for schooling. I am not really sure if I should forgo my own education for now that he is still under six. I have been considering and hoping to try to homeschool him instead of regular school. I am not very enthusiatic in the regular set up of school, starting with the unimaginable fees, uniforms, enrollment systems, school stuff shopping, and others. As usual, I always end up going against the grain.

If we are goingto homeschool, I should study now to improve my teaching skills some more and while he' still doesn't require great attention in studying. If he's going for the regular, I can study later when he starts grade school.

That brings me to the decision at hand. I have to clean up some subjects I left unfinished. I may take a break this term or next. But I only have three more subjects before I can qualify for the comprehensive examination and start wring a problem paper. That is still a thing for me to consider. At least, I finish the subjects and decide the next step later on.

On the other hand, it saddens me to think that something is missing in my little boy's childhood life. It might be almost same or even worse than mine. I don't think if he would have any "childhood friend" to consider. Perhaps, I really should take my hubby's proposal of letting him attend that neighborhood center. Or another would be make my own center at home. I like the idea but would it be something I can do? How will I start? Can I keep it up, along with my own studies if ever I decide to do both things? sigh...

What will I do?

From birthdays to children's day and culture contrasts

A conversation on planning how to spend one's birthday spurned a thought on the stark culture contrast.

Culture wise, when it someone's birthday, the celebrant is sort of expected to throw a "bash" or some sort. Well, of course, it could be just a one-dish affair to share with family and friends. And having one that is sometime between Mother's day and Father's day can be tricky. In a span of 30 days, there would be some sort of that kind of "dilemma." Why? hmm...

DD was just pointing that out and mentioned how come there isn't a big Children's Day here. Uhmm..I am not really sure when but I think it's sometime around the 4th quarter of the year. Googled it up, one site mentions Oct 17 (Christian site), another one has Nov. 20 (Universal Children's Day). This is can be confusing. But the reality, there's isn't really much hype to this day in this part of the world.

In comparison to my hubbys home country, it is a big one for the kids. That is something that he always points out. This is what I have to say. It may not be that big here for a day but it is everyday, or culturally.

Case point no. 1. The local culture here is usually in favor of children. Take the simple food serving on a meal. In our culture, the youngest ones are served first and given their choice of share. Perhaps, this is because kids can be very "demanding" at times or it can be quite convenient for the adults to satisfy the wee ones first. But of course, when it is a "really old one," like grandparents, the kids are also taught to honor to get granny's plates filled first. On the other hand, it is an exact opposite with their culture of serving the oldest ones first. Uhmm, I may haven't seen a lot but with my hubby and family, they do point out that older ones gets serve first, as the culture has been. Of course, I do remember some occasion that they chose to forego that culture.

Case point no. 2. My country's population consists of a great number of children. It's quite easy to take that fact for granted. It can even be blamed for the widespread poverty of the nation. Hubby's country has a very limited and dwindling birth rate. No wonder they have to make the Children's Day big. (;-) Although, I do believe there was a story on the importance of that regard.

Kidding aside, there is really a stark contrast on culture between two nations. It takes an utmost care to balance the similarities and differences in order not to start the 3rd World War.

On Women's Surname

This issue came up again today as I fill up my voter's registration application.
Do I get to keep using my maiden name or what?

Google up the phrase about it and found contrasting ideas.

On the point of keep the maiden name, here are the sites.
(1) from a senate site, pdf file of Sen. Flavier's (dated 2004)
(2) from a consular's office website in Sweden (date Mar. 2003)
(3) from National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (Mar. 2009)
with RA 386 download, 3 options, and a more liberating interpretation of the Law.

Now, this law is usually interpreted in another way as shown in this site run by religious lawyer. Which one is it really? I am still at loss.

This issue may be trivial but this is legal. ;)