Saturday photo

Milestone... and it isn't just years.
It's all about faith, love, passion... mission.

Just five years ago, I had a great fortune to climb up the stage to receive something, which many considered to be a recognition of an exemplary achievement, but which I had mixed feelings for that time (and more so now)... just because I've never had big feelings about recognition and stuff like that.  I always believed that God sent us here with a 'mission' to accomplish... and, as such, He gave us a few 'gifts' that we could use to 'get the job done'... and have great fun, too, in the process.  He continues to give us more 'gifts' if we worked hard enough to improve ourselves to be worthy of more by using well those that we already have. Therefore, only Him who sent us can tell whether we are doing a good job or not.  So, we work very hard, hoping every single day that we are doing enough to accomplish our mission... and helping others accomplish theirs.  We hope that we are doing enough to please Him... and bringing happiness to others, too, in the process.  We sincerely hope, from the bottom of our hearts and from the depth of our souls, that we are helping to make this world a better place for everyone.    

Of course, in some cases, I give in and join the 'recognition' stuff if that would mean inspiring people to stay committed to their own mission given them... and strive to make Him happy with how we are all doing.  Last Thursday (26 March 2015) was such a day... and to be honest, just like five years ago, it wasn't all that bad.  It was a good ceremony... straight-forward, no ego-buttering, just plain show of appreciation for those who the University felt served its stakeholders well.  And, I felt truly a part of it... probably because I knew there were many men and women on that day who went up that stage who sincerely felt the same way I did - reluctant to step into the limelight and receive attention, but wanting to be a part of a 'crusade' that brings humanity closer to Him who is the greatest Teacher of all... and that felt absolutely reassuring.

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Photo credit:  I took it.  It's a medal for the recipients of service award (20 years or longer) given to faculty members of the University of Santo Tomas.

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"One Duration"...

...get out, get out, get out of my head!
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by PAM

A student called me a "One Duration" fan because I am a Duran Duran (the "crushable bunch" of the '80s) fan who went to watch One Direction (or, 1D, the undisputed teenie bopper 'World Crush' of this generation) in the Manila leg of their "On the Road Again" World Tour... just a few hours ago, actually. :)  My student believed that I was 'fan girling' over their generation's crushes, and sounded (jokingly) disgusted by it. =)  The student was (exaggeratedly) perplexed by how the crushing generation cannot afford to pay the hefty concert ticket price of their crushes, while our generation who are too old to stand and dance for one-and-a-half hours to the "best song ever" bought many of the tickets instead! =)  Of course, most of us bought the tickets for our kids/nieces/nephews... and I did spend my one year worth of savings to watch Duran Duran live in Manila, too, back in the '80s - and it was worth every single cent!  

I have to say that attending the 1D concert was fun, too, regardless of the (big) difference in generations! :) 

  

"Everybody wants to steal my girl... she belongs to me."

The euphoric glee and energy of the kids in the audience was absolutely infectious. :)  It can make one feel (very) young again.  And the 1D boys were just adorable... all the while sounding kind and considerate of their fans. Seeing them reminded me again of the fact that, if I got married at a young age, I'd probably have kids their age... and I'd probably be a 'shameless' stage Mum! ;)  Anyway, the 1D boys performed well, obviously trying very hard to please their fans... and, perhaps, trying to work a bit harder to make up for the absence of one of their members, Zayn Malik, who had to go back to the UK after the BKK-HK leg of their Tour to allegedly "recuperate from stress".  Zayn was controversially photographed with a girl, who was not his girlfriend, while in BKK.  Apparently, this hurt many feelings, and it stressed out Zayn, unable to perform in the remaining venues of the Asian leg of their Tour.

So, while Zayn recuperates, I got rejuvenated by 1D's energy - mixed well with their Manila fans' impressive show of support.  

"...everyone else in the room can see it, everyone else but you... 

...that's what makes you beautiful."

Speaking of impressive support, it was fascinating to see so many parents and grandparents accompanying their kids and grandkids, respectively, to the concert. Others went to watch with the young people, others just escorted the kids to the gate, took souvenir photos, and then waited for them after the concert at the gate... with take-out dinner on hand. :)  I went with my nephew.  He is a Script kind of a kid, so I thought he was not really into it and was just being nice to his aunt, but he did appreciate 1D's performance, too, which is good.

"...baby, you light up my world like nobody else...
I can't believe you don't know, you don't know you're beautiful."

So, yeah, it was a nice Saturday.  And, yeah, it was money well-spent.  "One Duration"?  Sure, why not?!

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Video credit:  I took the videos, but thanks, YouTube for the video links.

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Rewind...

"Now that she's back in the atmosphere with drops of Jupiter in her hair..."

"...she listens like spring and she talks like June."

Ugh, dang!  Why can't I write like that... and sing like that?  While life is truly happiness, sometimes when I think about Patrick Monahan, I'm compelled to agree that life ain't fair. ;)  He is too talented... and funny!  Yep, I know... this is my second time to feature this song, "Drops of Jupiter", by Train on this little corner of mine.  Well, can you blame me... especially now that I'm dying for some "soul vacation"? :)  

Anyhow, just listening to this song, marveling at its awesomeness of lyrics (and Pat's funny antics on stage) is some sort of "soul vacation"... so, just wait, I might just start 'talking like June' now - even if I'm missing the "best soy latte that I ever had, and...." :)  Yep, dude, 'I made it to the milky way'... flew, and about to land now.  It's indeed overrated. :)  Hurry up with that real "soul vacation", will ya?  And then, I'm sure there will be more room to grow.  So, we proceed.  It's another week... of growing. :)

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Video credit:  Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.

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"Eco-ing"...

...with the boys.

'Saturday Engineering' = Eco-friendly innovation + fun

It's always great when you see these "kids" - "your kids" - playing big boys' game.  Fresh from high school a few years back, they came to the University with their playfully enthusiastic eyes all lit-up... College boys already, and it's Engineering, baby!  You see them over the last few years, looking awkward at first, trying to be "one of the big boys"... and failing miserably.  And then, they start fitting in... not so awkward anymore.  They start to master "the walk"... the Engineering kind - cool and humble... but, yeah, with some subtle swag.  I know, that's not easy to master... you need to pass through the eye of the needle to learn it... first, some humbling moments - lots of those!  

And then, they begin to understand that they can't survive without giving up the "glamorous" teenage life.  Realizing that affording to walk with the "Engineer's swag" comes with a cost: some sweat and blood!  It's all about spending most of their waking hours doing the most "uncool thing" ever in the history of teenage life: study like there's no tomorrow!  But knowing that the tallest structures and the fastest cars in the world can only be built by them who lost "coolness" in their early years in the University, they know, too, that it's worth it.  And, so, they submit themselves to "the process".

Voila!  A few years later, here they are competing in the "big boys' game"... and winning, too!  I'm very proud of our boys!  They call themselves UST Eco-Tigers. They built the T400H - the prototype, hybrid gas-electric car, which is the entry of the University of Santo Tomas to the Shell Eco-marathon Asia 2015 in Manila, Philippines. It won the 7th place in Asia, and first place in the Philippines with a mileage of 137 km/liter of gasoline. 

Not bad, boys!  Let's do even better next year!

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Video credit:  It's my video, but thanks, YouTube, for the video link.

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Context

"...if I could, I would... I'd go wherever you will go."

I normally like some rough throaty texture in my music even when I wrap myself in lovely silky musings and contemplate sheer spiritual mysteries.  So, singing the same song, contemplating the same lyrics as Alex Band of The Calling... but on another context.  Right now, I'm thinking, "where my Lord is, I'd like to go there."  I'm sure it won't be easy, but we try.  That's all that we could ever do in our want to see Him face-to-face at the end of it all - keep trying.  While I don't know what the feeling would be like once that day comes, I'm sure it would be incredibly beautiful.  Therefore, we set out... and try!  If we fail now, we pick ourselves up... and do it all over again.  Just keep trying.

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Video credit:  Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.

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Welcome, 2015!

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Here's to a joyful and more meaningful year... cheers!
God bless us all!

It's 2015!  A decade and a half into the 21st century... woohoo!

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Going pop in 2015

Wow, fifteen years after fearing Y2k... and here we are, our lives couldn't be more entwined with the Internet... and it's great!  Therefore, I wish to use this 'treasure' more in 2015.  I wish to put in greater energy in re-orienting things so that the internet becomes a main 'vehicle' in transporting 'public thoughts'... thoughts that can be shared publicly, that is... and connect with the world more that way.  I guess, what I'm saying is I wish to use this little corner of mine here more often in 2015, as a I noticed that I visited my blog site only 65 times in 2014.  Yep, the last two years have been very 'serious' and pretty intense for me... there were too many challenges to overcome, I feel like I aged a lot!  While the results are very satisfying, one does not live on too much seriousness, and seriousness alone. :) Therefore, I wish to be able to manage my time more so I can 'flex' the other side of my brain using this platform... and enjoy life more by affording myself some 'pop life' and 'www fun'. :)  

One of my "pop inspirations" for this year is this group of London-based boys...

"Everyone else in the room can see it... 
I can't believe you don't know...

...you don't know you're beautiful."

Yep, One Direction!  Who would have thought that they would be able to continue to thrive through 2015... traversing the critical fine line that divides awkward boyhood and responsible adulthood under constant public scrutiny while bringing entertainment to the new e-generation of pop worshipers.  They slipped here and there, that's for sure... but, c'mon, they were those eager kids trying to shed off their awkwardness and be "pop cool"!  And now, four years later, here they are...

"...that's what makes you beautiful!"

I know they've been strutting their stuff for only four years or so now since their stint in the X Factor-UK... but they're doing it with such dominance... and, at a time, too, when because of the internet, everyone is - and can be - a "star"! 

There's a word to describe these boys' staying power... 'resilience'.  And how they show their resilience is simply admirable.  It's undeniable that what they do is hard work, too, especially what and how much they have to sacrifice to stay on top of their game: their youth and schooling.  How many are willing to skip life's "best years"... and go hopping from one lonely hotel room to another across the globe, away from family and friends, enjoying a moment of stardom in exchange of an uncertain future having foregone formal education, instead?  But in that loneliness, they do spread good cheers and give young people something 'fun and crazy' to remember their youth by - like most of us adults.  In my case (and my siblings'), it was Duran Duran... and the late Michael Jackson! :)  Those guys were our "pop heroes"... our "guilty pleasure" when we were young.  Our "crazy devotion" tried our parents' patience to the extreme as they put up with our "childish fanatical stunts" to balance a strict rearing from our parents that put education and spiritual growth on top of our priorities.  Oh, boy! ;)  Those memories always give us something to talk about during reunions... or, on those days when we are simply pondering our sibling love. :) 

I know these One Direction, or 1D, boys earn a lot of money by doing what they do... but, at 20-21 years of age, how many people understand the true value of wealth anyway?  I'm quite sure they are doing what they do for the sheer joy of it.  I know they're no Beatles, and no Rolling Stones either, that's for sure... but, man, how they are using whatever God-given talents they have to make many people smile... that's just wonderful!  Therefore, I don't care how shallow people would think of me by praising these boys as "pop inspiration" ... but theirs is one tough act to follow in everyone's respective fields of calling.  I just hope and pray that they stay 'smart'... and avoid things that might mess up their hard-earned fame and fortune.  

Uh-hmm... I speak like I know them, right?  Well... if I had kids, they would be of the same age as these boys... so, consider that as my "stage Mum" side talking, whatever! :)

So, carry on, boys!  All the best in 2015! :)

"...we're only getting older, baby.  And I've been thinking about you lately.
Does it ever drive you crazy... just how fast the night changes?"

Now, let me see if I've got that "one thing", too... I'm sure finding out is worth the try! :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!  :)

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Video credit:  Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.

Photo credit:  I own the photo.

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Thanks, 2014!

Incredible year... that's what you are, 2014. :)
Do us a favor...
Tell 2015 to pick up where you started, on your way out, will ya?
That's my buddy.  So long....

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Happy Christmas to one and all!

Joy to the World!

To Him who is King...
...we raise our voices in Thanksgiving as he brings the gift of Love and Hope!

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Foodie-ing...

...in between holiday shopping.
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by PAM


For the longest time, my nephew and I had been looking for the "perfect liempo".  We have gone to many eating places, trying their versions of liempo.  Some were good while others were lame excuse for good old liempo.  So the search continued... until recently.  

We were Christmas shopping for fresh produce and sea foods in one of the newest malls in Quezon City - Fisher Mall.  So, while joining the Metro crowd Christmas rush, we got

Limited choices in the menu... but all are very good.

hungry.  As the more popular restaurants were all crowded, we found ourselves eating in a small restaurant on the third floor of the Mall. 

The restaurant is called Sweet Chili Thai Fish and Noodle House, and it's a part of the Gerry's Grill Group. It's small but tidy and with a pleasing ambiance of understated neighborhood-restaurant class. The service was satisfactory, too.  The staff showed concern for their guests without being too annoyingly eager.  The menu was quite limited for our liking.  However, as we discovered later, they are merely starting (they opened only last September 2014, and the Fisher Mall branch is the first) so, perhaps, they don't really need an expansive menu at the moment.  Besides, as we pleasantly discovered later, all the dishes they currently offer were very good, not to mention very affordable!  The restaurant features Thai dishes with Filipino twist, or Filipino dishes with Thai twist.  My nephew and I were very surprised to have found grilled liempo in their menu.  Naturally, as Sweet Chili is supposed to be a Thai restaurant, we did not have much expectations... therefore, we were pleasantly surprised when the liempo we ordered was served.

Grilled liempo: tender, juicy...
...and with the lemon sauce, it was perfect!

The meat was grilled just right - tender and juicy, and it looked and smelled absolutely mouthwatering.  When we tasted it, it didn't disappoint. It was delicious and satisfying on its own.  And, when dipped in the mildly spicy lemon sauce - the Thai touch, we supposed - it was perfect!  So, yeah, it seems that the search is over... we have found our "perfect" liempo.  We went back twice after our first visit, and tried the liempo each time... the quality was consistent - delicious, perfect for our taste.      

My nephew and I also tried their bagoong fried rice, which was jasmine rice, fried and

Bagoong fried rice - a big hit.

made to taste with one of Philippines' fave condiments, bagoong (fermented fish with salt).  It was topped with small slices of freshly cooked and tasty pork adobo, sliced fried scrambled egg, green mango strips, thinly sliced red onion and a twist of cilantro.  The adobo heightened the exotic flavor of the fried rice while the mango strips and the onion brought contrast to the smooth saltiness of the rice and the meat.  Just like the grilled liempo, the bagoong fried rice serving size was large enough to be shared by two adults.  In fact, if we did not know that they served liempo, we would have been contented with the bagoong fried rice.    

As I am a big fan of Pad Thai, we also tried their version of this well-loved Thai dish.  We

Pad Thai - "old dish", nice touch.

opted for that one with fried scrambled egg. Needless to say, we were not disappointed at all. The balance between the sweetness and sourness, and how the mild spiciness bound the two for a satisfying gastronomic experience was spot-on.  The variation of textures, starting from the noodles that were cooked just-right to the crunchiness of the vegetable ingredients, made eating interesting and fun. Yep, it was delicious!  Even my nephew, who was not a fan of Pad Thai, became a 'believer'. :) 

We finished our meal up with Thako - a Thai dessert.  It is a soft pudding wrapped in banana leaf, and topped with browned grated mature coconut meat.  The Sweet Chili version had two pudding layers, a green translucent one (tapioca) at the bottom with the distinct flavor of pandan, and a white opaque layer on top with a rich flavor of coconut milk but with thinner consistency. One order of Thako came in six pieces, therefore, it was great for sharing. And, when shared by two people only, it can indeed be a sweet treat!  Yep, it was a perfect ending to a truly satisfying meal.    

Thai Thako - perfect ending!

As I said, after our first visit, we visited again twice within the same week, with different companions.  In one of our visits, we tried their Tom Yum soup with shrimps.  It was awesome - one of the best I've tasted so far.  Needless to say, all our companions were as gastronomically satisfied as we were.  

If Sweet Chili is trying to become a "neighborhood eating place" with an easy-going ambiance and with budget-friendly food choices as well, I believe they will find success.  The mix of Thai and Pinoy tastes is a good formula as well... but Sweet Chili's real ace is that they found the perfect blend of these tastes to appeal to most Filipinos. As we observed a number of seemingly satisfied foreign customers during our visits, I believe their blend also captures other cultures' fancy.

So, are we going to visit again? Aw, definitely!

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All photos used in this post are mine.

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Reunion with FPAAA, and re-discovering Ilocandia...

...where the Filipino culture is immensely preserved.

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by PAM


An opportunity to connect with old friends, while learning a good deal of new technologies in Agriculture, Engineering and Food Science presented itself a few months ago in the form of a conference: The Fulbright-Philippine Agriculture Alumni Association

(FPAAA) National Conference on Agriculture and Fisheries and 10th Anniversary Celebration. 

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FPAAA... bending towards my root

Receiving the invitation/announcement on my e-mail a few months ago made me feel a bit nostalgic... the memories of those days when I was making a big decision whether to stay in the Academia and, therefore, pursue doctoral studies, or cross to the 'other side'

Reminiscin' how it all started 12 years ago.

and practice in the Industry, came rushing in.  I remember praying very hard for guidance. It was tough in the beginning... and then God answered my prayers.  A number of very good opportunities to study abroad came knocking on my door... I was overwhelmed!  But the one thing that made me decide to go for doctoral studies was when I received a letter from the Philippine-American Educational Foundation (PAEF), the Fulbright Commission in the Philippines, in the Summer of 2001.  I was told that I got the scholarship grant that I applied for, commencing Fall 2002. And then the Cornell University opportunity came, too.  The rest is history.

Needless to say, it was truly frightening to be making such a big step... but my PAEF friends were there to walk me through it all... and so were my Cornell friends and mentors later.  Therefore, when the opportunity to meet with my PAEF friends and mentors came, I just had to grab it!  So, I did.  

This year, the conference had the theme, "Sustainable Agriculture Productivity and Entrepreneurship through Science and Technology".  As the FPAAA members are leaders in their respective fields in the country, it was easy to get lost in the beauty and fluidity of discussions - very, very satisfying... both in content and manner of discussion, not to mention the inherent idealism and sense of humor of FPAAA members. Yep, I'm proud to be a member, and I'm glad I joined the event!

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Ilocos Sur... a beautiful transformation

The FPAAA event was held this year at the Teatro Ilocandia at the Don Mariano Marcos State University in Batac, Ilocos Norte.  I had a choice between flying over there for less than an hour, or driving for seven to eight hours.  As I haven't visited the Ilocos region for

green + blue + some brown = relaxing drive.

about a decade now and I was curious how it progressed over the years, I decided to go for a roadtrip with my sister.  As it turned out, it was a very good choice! :) 

Before reaching Ilocos Norte, we had to go through Pangasinan - where I was born, La Union and Ilocos Sur.  The roads are terrific... so much better than a decade ago - a real progress, I must say.  The green scenery along most of the way was intoxicatingly beautiful... a welcome respite from the 'concrete jungle' that's Metro Manila.  The long drive through La Union was relaxing, with the beach - Philippine sea - on the left side of the road, and the green Ifugao mountains on the right side... both sides of the road were lined by a row of pretty houses with their front yard sprayed with

Vigan... a blend of the past and the present.

foliage of tropical colors.  Oy, it made me think of retirement! :)      

Vigan, Ilocos Sur was something else though... ah, beautiful beyond words, that's what it is!  The old houses, especially along Crisologo St., were fascinating.  I remember being awed by them a few years ago... I was awed again this time.  They pretty much mixed up old with new stuff now, welcoming progress... and yet, the rustic beauty that define Philippine Architecture of the not so ancient years were as defined as they can be.  There were more colors this time... and yet, the charm of the old bricks and the inviting call of the decaying woods of the old structures that seem to say, "come, I have a story to tell you," were as irresistible as ever!  My sister and I were completely drawn.  Just beautiful! 

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Ilocos Norte... ah, Philippines, my Philippines!

Seeing Philippine heritage and cultural artifacts being preserved like a beauty in a time capsule in Ilocos Norte can bring tears to any sentimental Filipino's eyes - it was beautiful!

Fort Ilocandia... full of luxurious 'secrets'.

My sister and I stayed in the famed Fort Ilocandia in Laoag City.  The Fort is a place where Ilocano cultural heritage, including Ilocano cuisine and vibrant tropical foliage, are showcased.  The structure of the hotel is massive... like a fortress.  It seems to hide something behind its walls. And, indeed it does!  It hides a beautiful dwelling, an oasis for the tired and spent... far away from it all that ones zaps energy.  A relaxing and rejuvenating environment that you can privately own, albeit temporarily.

The corridors echo luxury... they were all lined with classy works of art that seem to remind you to walk with a mixture of graceful elegance and curiosity of your surroundings.  It was like being in a different world.  But, it was still a hotel first and foremost... therefore, amenities for relaxation, entertainment and adventure were in place... and luxuriously, too!  But that's without

Laid back beauty.  Aw, retirement...
...I'm so looking forward to enjoying you!

having to spend a "king's ransom", mind you.  And so, my sister and I enjoyed our stay immensely.        

The beach at the back of the hotel was absolutely alluring at sunset, and it beckons with a cheerful greeting at the break of dawn.  It offers a breath of fresh air and a chance to forget your worries by offering its fine sand where one can walk barefoot - without a care in the world. Just irresistible!  

Paoay is a completely different story, except that, like the other places in Ilocandia, it also teaches its visitors with the rich history of the Philippines.  It is home to one of the most photographed churches in the Philippines: the Church of Paoay, which has been the symbol of Catholic worship in the region since the early 18th century. The church is also of historic significance as it was used by the Katipuneros during the

The Church of Paoay.

Revolution against Spanish rule, and by the guerilleros resisting Japanese occupation in World War II. 


The short drive from Fort Ilocandia to Paoay (about 15 minutes) go by faster than it really is because of the "little-town-charm overload" as one takes in the surroundings.  The lazy expanse of green land that separate the two towns relaxes one's eyes to sleepiness, and the quiet elegance of the little town is too beautiful for words.  It cajoles one to want to stay on an extended vacation, that's for sure! :)  Too bad, I cannot stay long... too many things await me in my work place... not that this trip is not work either. 

Ah... retirement, what is taking you so long??

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What's for next time?

Nope, I haven't even covered half of my fascinating short trip to Ilocandia... haven't even spoken about the other ancient churches in the region, and the food... but I have work to do! :(  Therefore, I'll stop here and pray that I find time to write more about my trip in another post... and perhaps, share more photos.  Later....

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Photo credit:  I own all photos in this post.

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