craving for pork humba

We Filipinos some times spend our Sundays with our family. I seldom experience it myself because of my family's hectic schedule, we barely find time to eat together you see. So, I kind of figured out to prepare humba for lunch. 

Never really wanna be the one in charge for it however things change. I am now so eager to learn it.

Humba is a sweet pork dish that resembles the famous pork adobo in terms of appearance. This is popular in the southern parts of the Philippines and is considered as one of the delicacies of the region. This dish uses all the ingredients of pork adobo; however, certain ingredients such as brown sugar, salted black beans, and banana blossoms make this dish stand out. There are also other variations wherein pineapple juice is used – this gives more life to the dish (as what i have done on my humba mastepiece for lunch earlier). 
source: http://panlasangpinoy.com/2010/01/27/filipino-food-pork-humba-recipe/

Here's the link of the recipe i followed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aktoj6jGfo

Photo of my humba masterpiece

Humba Recipe - Ingredients of my masterpiece

• 2 lbs pork belly
• 1 cup Pineapple juice
• 1 large onion, diced
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons salted black beans
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons vinegar
• 2 ½ tablespoons brown sugar
• ½ cup dried banana blossoms
• 2 pieces dried bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon whole peppercorn

For my humba, i forgot to buy the dried bay leaves. Anyhow, my "humba" masterpiece still tastes so good, as if you can't get enough when you start eating it.

Cooking Procedure

1. Heat the cooking pot then brown the pork belly
2. Add the onions and garlic and cook until the onions are soft
3. Put-in the soy sauce, peppercorn, bay leaves
4. Pour-in the pineapple juice and let boil. Simmer until the pork is tender (add water as needed)
5. Add the vinegar and wait for the mixture to re-boil. Simmer for 3 minutes
6. Spoon-in the salted black beans and brown sugar then simmer for 5 minutes
7. Add the dried banana blossoms and simmer for 5 to 8 minutes
8. Transfer to a serving plate and serve.  

Happy eating! Share and enjoy! You all have a nice day! ;)

Mother's Day: celebrated every second Sunday of May

The modern holiday of Mother's Day was first celebrated in 1908, when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother in Grafton, West Virginia. She then began a campaign to make "Mother's Day" a recognized holiday in the United States. Although she was successful in 1914, she was already disappointed with its commercialization by the 1920s. Jarvis' holiday was adopted by other countries and it is now celebrated all over the world. In this tradition, each person offers a gift, card, or remembrance toward their mothers, grandmothers, and/ or maternal figure on mother's day. (Wikipedia)

I haven't really figured of giving something for my biological mother on this day because she doesn't seem to act like a mother to me. 
She, rather, acts like my toughest best friend. 
She's seldom on the right track however i adore her for being tough. 
She may have flaws, that i have always been wanting to sort out, but hell hopeless as it seem, she's human anyway who's bound to make mistakes.
She doesn't show that she does have some affection to me, nevertheless, she's trying some times.
She's rather irrational in most ways yet she tries to make up.
She's damn insensitive most of the time, in any case, i totally understand because she has problems too that she needs to patch up first before anything else.

That's my mother and I know there's no way that i can change her. 
She is unique in her own ways and she knows best!

A pat on the back, for the toughest mother!

midterm election; vote wisely on may 13, '13

MAKE SURE YOU VOTE and VOTE WISELY!!! 

The 2013 Philippine general election on May 13, 2013 will be a midterm election, as the officials elected will be sworn in on June 30, 2013, or midway from President Benigno Aquino III's term of office. 

I had my follow up check up last Friday because i'm beginning to feel pain again in my abdomen. I got paranoid so i went straight to my OB-GYNE. All lab tests were done on Thursday and got the results the next day. Went to my OB-GYNE's clinic, she simply interpreted the lab results were normal and the pain i felt was just associated to "Mittelschmerz" which occurs on the side of the ovary that's ovulating. The thing is, both of my ovaries are ovulating so it's really possible for me to get pregnant if i want to. My physician asked me then, during our conversation, "kompleto na ang line up nimu sa election?", which in English means, Is your line up this coming election already complete?  I laughed. I didn't know what to tell her. It's really no big deal for me to VOTE. i honestly vote just because i have to. And i have to because of no particular reason behind it. 

Until yeterday when i browse on recent articles related to this upcoming election, I came across the VOTE WISELY quote, 

"Realistically you have but two choices and how you vote is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make. One of the candidates will lead you to total despair and utter hopelessness. To other, to total extinction. I'm sure you'll have the courage to vote and vote wisely!" 

After reading the writer's quote, I stopped and thought about it. We certainly need to think a couple of times to vote for the best candidate, however, on another point of view, how can we pinpoint on the best ones when we don't know the candidates by soul? 

Anyhow, the quote above follow through. Though we ain't that convinced enough as to who we should vote for and who really deserves your VOTE (that counts!), we should contemplate on who really is best among all the candidates who are vying for their respective positions and we're left with no choice but to choose the best and to VOTE and to VOTE WISELY! 

I'll leave this to Him then. God i pray that you help me pick the best leader, who would lead the nation rightfully, fairly, and befittingly. God please hear the Filipino people's prayers! 

summer party 2013 @ Cordova Home Village

We had our summer party yesterday May 5, 2013 (Sunday)  at Cordova Home Village. I wasn't planning to be there but i remember last year's summer party, my workmates admit, was the best party ever. I might again regret of not joining the party this time, especially that i haven't gone to the said place yet and that i now have this passion to travel.haha! At 2:46 PM, I texted my team lead that i was on my way to the office to ride with the service bus at 3 PM. But the thing is, i lied! I was not on my way to the office yet. She texted back that the bus will be leaving the office at 3:30 PM. I didn't know that there were 3 buses. Anyhow, I still went to the office hoping that i can still catch up with the bus ride. Left our house at 3:40 PM and arrived there at 4:20 PM. LE tours tourist bus was waiting in front of the office. I honestly thought it was not the service bus since there were only a few people who were in it and that i didn't know the people who were in there. Glad that there were 2 team leads for online and they advised me this is our third bus. Indeed, i was sooo lucky enough that it was the third bus to give us a lift to Cordova Home Village. It really pays to wait... hmmmm... i mean, to be late! lol.....

Here's the photo of our lift to Cordova Home Village which i only had the chance to take when we get there at the said place. I was upset coz i left my cam, no choice but i have to use my phone cam :c

a pic taken inside the bus while we were waiting for the big bosses before we left the office! ;p

Here i have as well, taken some pics of the place.

please bear with me for the "not so splendid" photos.

For the very first time, during the raffle draw portion of the affair, my name was picked. I was asked to go up stage to claim it, that i almost slip near the pool when i ran to claim my prize. I thought it was an electronic device but was so happy i got a laundry basket. I never dared to buy this although i badly need it. My reason is, I don't find it worth the price. lol...

I ride with the first bus that arrived at Cordova Home Village on my way back home. The bus left the place at 9:45 PM and i arrived home at 10:30 PM. It was a fun experience though there were not enough food to eat (wala ko ka kaon sa salad). Nevertheless, i had enough food to satisfy my starving tummy. 

Thank God for the blessings you always shower upon me. My good friends who were there to enjoy the night with me, good food and easy to get along office mates. Many, many, many thanks! ;)

cruise to santiago bay resort, camotes island

I have checked out in Philstar.com, here in Cebu, summer's gonna be hotter than usual as temperature is expected to rise, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). A weather specialist II in PAGASA said that it is hotter in urban centers due to some factors like concrete roads and buildings. She added, however, that even with the hot season,Cebu can still experience rains in the afternoon and nighttime. PAGASA advises the public to bring water with them to avoid heatstroke and for beach lovers, we should only expose ourselves to the sun for not more than 15 minutes. And that we should avoid exposure from 9AM to 3PM   but anyhow temperature is at its highest between 1-2PM.

We had our summer getaway to Santiago Bay Resort, Camotes Island sometime mid of March, 2013. Indeed, it's really hotter than the usual heat. We stayed there for just a day and a night. We rented the room worth Php1000 just so we can keep our stuffs inside the room and so as we can enjoy the whole night away.

Here, i have taken some random photos of the place.

the second room from the left side is our room

glimpse of the beach before lodging in

peaceful huh?

at the poolside

another glimpse of the white sand and the blue and green waters of Santiago Bay

 

stairs to their cafeteria

Here are some of them who tagged me along with them to enjoy SUMMER...

i am hoping to experience the best of this season before it ends by the last week of May, 2013, as what has been anticipated by PAGASA.