Scandal at Zambo Butterfly Park

During my trip to Zamboanga City last June, we were able to go around the butterfly park and we got to witness a scandal in real time!

I want an apple

an apple gadget, that is.

photo credits

All out call

... FOR PEACE IN MINDANAO!!!

I just saw UKG's PUNTO POR PUNTO of ABS-CBN and I could not help but be saddened by the fact that some of my country men would still go for an all out war action. I condemn what happened to the 19 soldiers in Basilan like the way I condemned the Ampatuan Massacre. I mourn with the families.

I applaud Leonen's way of answering Host A's deliberate leading questions.

It's easy for people to say, go! chase them. shower them with bullets. Haven't we all learned that war does not bring us any good. How many innocent lives will be put in the middle? The trauma. Is it really all worth it to spend for some gun and ammunition. What is hard is getting up after the war is over.

I am not a fan of PNoy, sometimes I even criticize him, but this time, I applaud his decision fro ruling out all out war. If he is being criticized for getting angry at what had happened to the marines, then he has by far shown fairness as he directed to investigate first.

Too bad History of Muslim Filipinos is not taught mandatory in all schools in the Philippines, whether public or private. Maybe then, we will see the other side of the story.

thai (inpired) mango salad

Yesterday, I passed through this street vendor selling hilaw na mangga or green mangoes. I bought a few pieces and thought of making a salad like what I've tried in a thai restaurants: Thai me up and Siam. I searched through the web for recipes and how-to videos in youtube.

I didn't get to find one in particular so I noted the ingredients and bought it at the local market. It's safe to say that I experimented. I could not point out the exact measurements of the liquid ingredients since I was tasting it and just adjusted everything accordingly.

the ingredients (photo searched via google) L-R: green mango, lime, fish sauce

hot pepper, red onion, cooked shrimp

nuts, brown sugar and water

oppss... not in photo: salt and vinegar (optional depending on your taste)

And the outcome? tadad!!! *I think I bought big sized shrimp though. The original recipe required dried shrimps but I would not go with it. haha...

The cost?

5 pieces green mango: 25.00 pesos

200 grams shrimp: 52.00 pesos

hot pepper: 2.00 pesos

onion: 3.00 pesos

lime: 5.00 pesos

nuts: 10.00 pesos

everything else is found at home. haha.

I spent 97.00 pesos for this. not bad since I've made more than a serving of order at the restaurants whose price is around 150.00 to 200.00 pesos an order :)

Bon appetite!

bee is angry at birds

Wednesday media: Angry Birds

I blogged about my addiction with Plants vs. Zombies before and here I am again to blog about Angry Birds. I am currently addicted to this game and I don't even have an ipad or iphone. hahaha. I patiently play using the online version. I am pathetic. haha.

I am happy when I get to unlock a new level. It challenges me to accomplish three star on this game. The red bird, which is the normal kind, is my least favored bird. I go for the big red bird and the black bird. The white egg laying bird and the boomerang bird is also helpful at times.

I guess I am not the only one hooked on the game since I've been seeing a wide variety of items adapted from this game like collectible cards, slippers, pens, stuff toys and more. The recent birthday of my cousin's son was even themed with AB.

Look at what other AB spoof that has been circulating in the world wide web :)

*a photo shared through FB*

What is even interesting is this video I found in youtube. Ammmaaazzinng!

Are you in on the bandwagon?

Ycey turns 4

My niece turned 4 yesterday and I was there to witness her happiness (and her sadness as well). I made her a promise a few months back that I will have a cake for her. I wanted to surprise her, so I connived with everyone. Before I arrived, she was saying that "I'm very sad" and "I don't love, tita".

Her facial expression was priceless. She stared at my cake and probably resentful of her statement, she wouldn't come near me. Later in the evening, we blew out some balloons when she came. We couldn't hide what we have been doing, her eyes widened and sparkled. She said, "Wow!".

The day of her birthday, she was saying "This week is my birthday." I was amused. On a phone call with my dad, She said, "I'm very happy." When asked why, she said "I don't know myself". Those who would hear would burst to laughter. Such a witty little gal.

Her mood shifted when the visitors arrived. It was the first time that she saw those people so she was not her lively self. Note to my bro, let her know next time. Obviously the niece loved her cake. It was what she ate that brought her mood back. Sweet does wonders to her activeness. lol.

Madam Ycey is growing. My oh my. how time flies.

Monday foodtrip: Isabel's Confections

Don't we just hate commercialized cakes? I admit, for any occasion the presence of a cake is eminent and to have a personalize cake that is not too heavy on the budget is a real score. Isabel's Confection is your solution.

I ordered my niece's birthday cake on a short notice, and God is good that Ms. Z was able to accommodate. I don't have much details regarding the cake except that I want it simple and I was on a budget.

When I picked out the cake, I was impressed with it. Ms. Z knows her craft and she does it well. She herself is a mother so she pretty much has the idea what kids love. She was the one who suggested the princess themed cake since she said it was at age 4 that her daughter love princesses.

*the birthday cake made by Ms. Zen of Isabel's Confections*

*my niece admiring the cake*

If you are in search of a one of a kind cake for your special event, contact Isabel's Confections.

For a visual view of her other cakes, look here. You may also add her at facebook.

A fellow blogger, Ms. C of cookie's corner, posted her tinkerbell cake made by Isabel's confection as well.

soul food: Why Women Cry

photo credit

A little boy asked his mother, "Why are you crying?" "Because I'm a woman," she told him.

"I don't understand," he said. His Mom just hugged him and said, "And you never will."

Later the little boy asked his father, "Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?"

"All women cry for no reason," was all his dad could say.

The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why women cry.

Finally he put in a call to God. When God got on the phone, he asked, "God, why do women cry so easily?"

God said, "When I made the woman she had to be special.

I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world, yet gentle enough to give comfort.

I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times comes from her children.

I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up, and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue without complaining.

I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances, even when her child has hurt her very badly.

I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart.

I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him unfalteringly.

And finally, I gave her a tear to shed. This is hers exclusively to use whenever it is needed."

"You see my son," said God, "the beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart - the place where love resides."

Author: Unknown