How to make a Buko Pandan Salad

I am not a good cook and I don’t know how to bake, so the only thing I could do if there are family gatherings or special occasions is to eat. But last July, during my birthday, we (me and my bf) tried to do something different, something that we have not done yet, that is to make a Buko Pandan Salad.

The number 1 ingredient : GULAMAN. I am sorry I forgot to take a picture of the Buko. Two sachet of Magic Jelly or Mr. Gulaman is enough for more than 10 people already. And I have realized that it is cheaper to prepare a Buko Pandan Salad than a fruit salad.

You need to gradually mix the Magic Jelly powder to 8 cups of water, after mixing you need to cook it and stir it. When it comes to a near boil, it is ready to be poured to the square pans in order to let it cool, if you are in a hurry, you can put it into the refrigerator.

If it is cold and became a jelly already, you cut it in perfect squares (okay, you cannot do that, it keeps on slipping). So, after cutting the jelly, it should look like this:

You just add at least 10 fresh Buko’s and mix it with Cream and Condense Milk, and voila :

Your very own, Buko Pandan Salad.

Baranggay Elections 2010

Last October 25, 2010 I have exercise my right to vote, again. From the time I was able to vote, I see to it that I don’t miss that right every year that there is an election, may it a national or baranggay election. The first time I have voted was when I was 17 years old for the SK election in our little town, though many people told me to run for office, SK Chairman that is, I didn’t. Why? I know I am capable for being an SK chairman and that I have the skills and capabilities to be a good leader, but I didn’t run because I was an Accountancy Student at that time and it requires a lot of my time to study. I won’t let my education suffer in order to be a good public servant, or let my being a SK chairman suffer because of my studies. Back then, I know what is more important to me than anything else.

This is my second time to vote for Baranggay Elections and I voted for the people who I think are capable of being a good and wise public servants. The Baranggay Elections were better than the National Elections last May, 2010. There are no PCOS machines; no precincts merged together, no commotions. It was easy and not time-consuming. When I got there, I simply told the BEI what my number and name is and she asked me for a thumbprint and a signature, gave me a ballot where I can write the names of the candidates I chose to vote for. After that, she put an indelible ink in my right index finger and put my ballot to the ballot box and that’s it. It just took me five minutes to vote I think.

The result of the Baranggay Elections was awesome. Though not all of my chosen candidates won the race, I think the Baranggay Captain and his Baranggay Councilors deserved to win. They are capable of running our town smoothly.

Jollibee and JB

Jb loves Jollibee so much.

We spent two birthdays of him at Jollibee Valencia, it was a blast, a kiddie party that Jb truly enjoyed so much. The picture above was taken last October 10, 2010 when we attended Tracy and Lyle’s joined birthday party at Raftsman. I though Jb will not mind Jollibee at all, simply because he had his time to play with Jollibee during his 2nd and 3rd birthday but I was mistaken. Jb’s love for Jollibee have not faded. Jb always follows Jollibee wherever he goes, and Jb would always kiss and hug Jollibee.

Oh my, I think Jb’s 4th birthday will be another Jollibee party.

Late posts

I have so many ideas on my mind right now, and I have not written a thing or two. Our town fiesta ended well last October 24, and there were so many activities I have yet to blog about. The Baranggay Elections was peaceful aside from the vote-buying issues again. And I have learned how to make Buko Pandan.

I need to blog about these stuffs and I will but right now, I am still very busy.

H2

Well, well, well, what do we have here? Are you familiar with the car above? That is what we call Hummer H2. I didn’t know how much it is until I Google it. H2 is worth $60,000 or higher and this one right here has the same price with the ones posted in some websites who offers prices and reviews for the said car.

I want to drive and try this one out but we were too busy these past few days because of our town Fiesta. But don’t think too fast, I don’t own this car, it is owned by my Tito and I don’t know if I can even buy an H2. It is so expensive you know, more than 2 Million pesos???? Where would I ever get that. If only I can earn $1000 per month in blogging, I could buy an H2 in 5 years time, probably.

Thailand=Elephant

When you hear the place Thailand, what comes to your mind? Elephant is it? Well, well, well I do not know why when the place Thailand is mentioned, elephant always follows maybe because Thailand has many elephants.

I have visited Thailand last March and I can say that it is the shopping capital for sassy and chic women. I even have my share of shopping sprees when I went there. I have bought dresses, t-shirts for my brothers, sandals and I even bought Coke in a bottle and brought it home. And let me tell you that I have seen a true elephant too, it is so big and I was able to feed him with sugarcane (if I only knew it loves such crop I should have brought a lot of it from my place).

I failed to see the floating market or the Buddhist temples in Thailand but I have met my friends in high school that were working there. The picture above is what I have bought as an object from different places that would remind me that I have visited that place.

Malaysia’s Petronas Twin Towers

I have been to Malaysia twice, both for FREE. The first time I went there is for the Southeast Asia Youth Engagement Summit last year and the second time was last February just for a tour.

When I went to Malaysia for the summit, I was able to visit the PETRONAS Twin Towers at night and had my picture taken. The view was awesome because of the lights that lit it at night. And when I went to Kuala Lumpur for my Malaysia-Thailand tour last February, I experienced PETRONAS Twin Towers at daytime. Though I wasn’t able to cross the bridge that links the two towers I am still happy and contented because I was able to visit different shops inside the KLCC.

The Entrapment movie starring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sean Connery has a scene in this famous PETRONAS Twin Towers and I every time I watch it now, I feel so overwhelmed because I can imagine myself walking at the movie scene.

And the picture above is my first collection of objects from different places that I have been to.

Writing Skills

From the time I have learned what “essay” means, I detested it. Why? Because I don’t consider myself an intelligent being who can form a story or an article out of different words that is scattered everywhere. Yes, I don’t know if it is just me, but I am not confident of my knowledge with regards to English grammar and composition. I have never failed any English subject when I was in high school and in college, I have great grades with the subject but I still think that the way I write couldn’t be called a very good write-up.

And then, there is blogging, I started through my native tongue, Tagalog but I realized that I need to write some articles in English too. At first, I am hesitant but now I love it. Maybe my English writing skills just needs a little practice. So here I am, bear with me, as I write and you read.

Versatile Blogger Award for Zoan

I was supposed to write something about Vera of Verabear last night but I can’t figure what topic I would talk about but when I went to her blog just now, I found out she pass to me a versatile blogger award. Thank you so much Vera for the award.

And as part of that award I need to tell you, my dear readers, seven things about myself that you don’t know yet.
• Ever since I was a kid, I know I have a versatile personality or character because aside from being in the top ten, I dance well, I am part of the governing body in school and I love to play. I know I am not that multi-talented because I don’t sing well, but I try hard to be a part of every school activity that I even joined the school band (not the one with the guitars and vocalist but the band with drums and lyres and twirlers).
• When I was in high school, particularly fourth year, I am the school organization President, school seal of the drum and lyre corp, candidate for Valedictorian, cheer leader and declaimer, and still I have time to be a part of the church’s choir ( I am not a good singer but I still can sing).
• During college, I tried to lie-low in too much exposures to different organizations and clubs, so I just choose two, a social involvement program and my course’s club Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants, but I can’t keep myself from being a leader so again, I signed up to become a volunteer for the council.
• Maybe not all people who read my blog know that I tried to work before, but just for 3 months. I work as an accounting clerk in a company that buys chicken and sells dressed-chicken however I have to resign because I am pregnant (and being single that I am) and it shocked my father to death that he wants me to go home and stay home.
• Most bloggers already know that I own a small farm and a small business here in our town but they don’t know the story behind it. I was 7-9 months pregnant at that time and given that I don’t work anymore I tried my luck in sugarcane farming because my father has a 3 hectares land of no use. I drive the commando (a jeep mostly used in American soldiers and became a hit in the Philippines, a 4wd surplus) with a big tummy and I helped in planting the sugarcane.
• My business came about when my son is already 9 months old. Back then, I have no choice but to grab the opportunity life has given me. We need money so I loaned my father’s 2 hectare land (not the one I tilled) and his ten wheelers truck as well to start my business.
• And now, after 2-3 years I have already paid the monthly amortization for the ten wheelers truck and the truck’s registration is already ours again, I only need to pay back the loan for the 2 hectares land of my father. I think I am on the right track of my business.
So, that is me. That is all about me and the truth behind this woman’s smiles.
The rules are simple:
* Be sure to thank and link back to the person who gave you the award.

* Share 7 things about yourself.

* Pass the award to other bloggers who you think deserve it.

* Be sure to let the bloggers know you chose them to receive the award.

I need to pass this award to bloggers that I think are versatile so here they are:

Mariz of akosimariz.

Riz of Imriz.

Mona of workingathome.

Didi of chubbymommyme.

Wedding Dress

There is a song that keeps on playing in my mind right now, Wedding Dress by Tommy C and the chorus goes like this:

Chorus:

Baby, can’t believe that you are not with me
‘Cause you should be my lady
All I want is to set your heart free

But if you believe that you belong with him
Promise me, you wont let anyone hurt you
Remember, I will always be here for you
Even if it kills me to see you

In that wedding dress
Oh see you in that wedding dress
See you in that wedding dress
Oh see you in that wedding dress

So, while this song kept playing in my head, I am reading Annpod’s post about her idea for her own wedding, I said to myself that I should blog about my wedding dress-to-be too. Here it goes.

If I am a typical bride, I would choose something like this one:

But I am not, so my choices would look like the two below:

Yeah, I know my husband-to-be or the groom wouldn’t like it, but who cares? if he loves me, he should accept my choices of dress, right? (just kidding)

It still depends, in the future, who knows, maybe my mind will change about wearing a black gown on my wedding day.