FOOD: Louie's Recipe for Pork Binagoongan

by Louie Ross Perez

I used to cook this for my family when I was in high school, then to my teammates, then in went international when I prepared this for my Filipino co-project members in San Ramon, California. Well it became popular with my friends since I'm always cooking this for them. So now, I'll be sharing with you my recipe. I'm gonna use some tagalog words here para mas maexplain ko yung ibang terms.=) Alright, here are the ingredients:

1 kg of pork (chopped in adobo cut)

2 gloves of garlic (minced)

1 big onion (minced)

5 red tomatoes (sliced)
Bagoong

Chili

Pepper

Sugar

1) Pakuluan natin ang pork with water, garlic, pepper and a little bit of sugar to insert some flavor to the pork. Let's do this from 30 to 45 mins or until the meat is tender

2) Once the meat is tender, prituhin natin yung baboy until maging golden brown sya. Then ihaon natin from the kawali.Set aside muna natin.

Golden Brown Baboy

3) On a separate pan, saute the minced garlic and onions, once they're cooked, put in the sliced tomatoes. Hinaan natin yung apoy then cover the pan.  

tomatoes, garlic and onions

4) After a few minutes, check natin yung kamatis kung malambot na and if its natural juice has been extracted. Pisain natin yung kamatis para lumabas pa yung juice nya,then cover the pan again.

5)Once nakita na natin na nagkukulay red na sya because of the tomato juice, its time to add the bagoong.

6) Now it's time for you na magtimpla if what kind of bagoong would like to have. You want it sweet, add some sugar. You want it sour, add tomatoes or vinegar, or if you want it hot and sweet, add a little bit of sugar and chili.

7) Cook the bagoong for at least 5 to 15mins, haluin natin from time to time para di sya magstick sa kawali

8) After the bagoong is cooked, ilagay na natin yung baboy then haluin

9) Let's add yung siling pangsigang to add some color 




Louie's Binagoongan

 

 I like my binagoongan hot so I'm slicing siling panigang and mix it with the bagoong. Once you're done, plate it then serve it to your loved ones.

Simple right? So start cooking then let me know of the results. Well I just cooked one while watching the game of Azkals, and I hope I can still bring some in the office tomorrow because my brother and father are already into it and by experience 1 kilo is not enough for us! Chow! Till my next recipe.

LIFE: Five things to be thankful for even without a lovelife!

I sometimes find it amusing to listen to stories of young professionals that they are getting depressed by the fact that they don't have a lovelife right now. Sometimes I can't help but be irritated by people who joined singlehood for just 1 to 3 years and some of them even just for a few months and fret to their friends about it like it's the end of world.

I think that this kind of mentality of yuppies hinder a lot of us to be happy and have a positive disposition in life. Neglecting the things that we should be thankful for.

Well, I have written 5 things that we should be happy about even without a lovelife.

Disclaimer: This is my own opinion, you can have yours, this is my blog so create your own if you want to add or delete something=), or better yet post your comments:

5. You have a job - you can still buy your favorite starbucks drink, buy your cigarette, ride a taxi, buy Tshirts, that other people can't afford.

4. You're still healthy that you can still sit in your computer and read this - other people cannot even speak or see, but they're happy, so please don't complain when you don't have a date on valentine's day.

3. Earn extra savings - smaller phone bills, no need to buy gifts every monthsary, no expensive dinners, it will save you thousands. Save it for the rainy days, or for your next one!

2. You've experienced to be an ex and have an ex -  at least we have tasted one of the greatest meals that world has prepared for us, and there are other peole who haven't, the NBSBs and NGSBs, well in their case, I'm willing to listen to them all day.

And the number one is!

1. You're still alive! Please, it's not the end of the world, it's not like the world will eliminate the people who are single. We, take note, we, including me, still have hope.
There are a lot of things that we can do while we're still alive.

My only advice is while we are single, let's do things that can improve ourselves, enroll in a class, learn how to play a musical instrument, take workshops like photography, travel around the Philippines or if you can afford even abroad.  Let's do things that we can't do if we have a boyfriend/girlfriend, because I tell you, once you're taken, that's when you'll start missing the things that you  can do when you're single. So make the most out of it.

Travel: Close Encounter with the Butanding!

by Louie Ross B. Perez

I haven't heard of Donsol, Sorsogon until I researched the net for the things that I should do when I go to Bicol. While preparing my itinerary I encountered a blog mentioning the experience of swimming with the Butandings.I was so excited to know that it's really possible for a simple traveller like me to experience such things that I thought I cannot afford.



With my Girls, also with me in the boat

  The best time to go to Donsol is from February to May and you should do it early in the morning so that you will have a big chance to have sightings of the gentle giants. So when I woke up at 6am, I immediately went to the Butanding Visitors' Center for Donsol Tourism to pay  P100 as registration fee for locals. You also have to rent some snorkeling equipments, mask, snorkels and fins included for only P300.  A boat costs P3500 per boat and a maximum of 6 persons can be on board. I was alone that time so I was looking for some groups that needs additional tourists. It was a blessing that one foreign looking woman was shouting that they need one more for their group so i joined them.We didn't waste any time so we started the tour immediately.

Guidance Counselor from the US, and a British Army Officer.

 Each boat has a well trained Butanding Interaction Officer who will actually swim with you and be your guide while chasing the Butanding. Also on board is a spotter who will look for the creatures for you. He will be the one to give you a signal to dive into the water and swim. If you're not a swimmer, please make sure to wear a life jacket, because it is deep down there, like you cannot see the bottom. The first time he said jumped, I jumped immediately excited to see the creature.  But I was not successful. But the second time I jumped, the creature was swimming just below my feet. And it was an experience that until now gives me chills and pride at the same time. Butandings are effingly huge. The one that I saw was like 25 to 30 feet.  I was scared to death  but it was amazing. It's a shame that I didn't bring underwater camera to document. But I encountered the picture below and it was the same exact scene that I was into by that time.

(Picture from Yahoo)

This experience has been my source of pride for a long time. Not everyone has experienced this, so if you have not, please do so. For a small amount of money, you can have this experience and at the same time help Philippine Tourism.

Transportation - About P300
Snorkeling Equipments (Rental) - P300
Tour - P585
Room (Overnight) - P900
Food - P300
Total: P1,785 (not bad right?)

Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 - That's the way to end it!

by Louie Ross Perez

We all know that this monster franchise will come to an end. Everyone is very anxious how the movie will depict the ending of one of the most beloved books of all time. As a movie fan, HP7 lived up to the expectations.
The movie started to where the part 1 has ended (which I always like by the way, LOTR remembered), Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and his friends continue their search for Voldemort’s horcruxes. Their quest brings them back to Hogwarts, now in control of Severus Snape (Alan Rickman). Harry’s presence inspires the faculty to defy the Snape and his master, and they quickly gain back control of the school. But Voldemort’s forces are massed around the castle, and while Harry unravels the mystery of a long lost item, the students and faculty of Hogwarts must fend off a siege of powerful dark magicians. As his allies fall, Potter is soon faced with his immutable destiny: he must battle Voldemort and settle things once and for all.

I was amazed that this movie did not just concentrate on giving some scenes that will put you in awe because of the images, the effects and the sounds that most of the blockbuster films do. But the movie is quite well in depicting quite moments in the film that proved to be more powerful. I also like the way they portray the chemistry between the characters, even in the smallest of moments, I really like the kiss of Hermione and Ron after they destroyed one of the horcruxes.

Credits should be given to the director. He did not disapppoint especially those who read the books. But even if you did not read the book you can still follow the story because the decisions of the characters and the story itself is not that complex for the non readers not to understand.

It is understood that the main characters especially Harry, Ron and Hermione have already been in character for ten years and they played their part really well. Worth mentioning is Ralph Fiennes who played Voldermort because he was really effective, there are times that even I was scared of him. Also, Alan Rickman (Snape) gave a very sensitive performance that you would believe the feelings that he had from the experiences he has gone through.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is a really great film. Just by the appreciation of the non readers (like me) of the film is pretty astounding. Very remarkable and this is a franchise that will not be forgotten and will still be seen by the future generations.

Rating: 5 stars

Travel:Halung Iloilo!

by Louie Ross Perez

I arrived in Iloilo late in the afternoon and checked in at my pension house. I stayed at Le Chateaue de Iloilo, it's a pension house in Molo. My room is only for P490 overnyt. Not bad, but dont expect a classy room and the best service. "Sakto" lang for the price. But I'll tell you the place is really accessible to all sorts of neccessities, food, supplies, church, etc.
Since I don't have time to tour Iloilo that afternoon, I rested for a while and start preparing for dinner and go to Smallville.

Smallville is a place where there are bars, clubs, restos around. It's like the Eastwood, Greenbelt and Malate of Iloilo. The crowd is mixed, from HS students to yuppies to some middle aged ones. If you want to chill go to the coffee shops. If you like to listen to music and drink ala Bagaberde or Dencios, go to Pirates or MO2, if you like to dance some House or R and B music, you should go to MO2 ice.

I went home really late from Smallville so I really have to make an effort to wake up early. My breakfast is the bibingka being sold at the sidewalk, I asked the vendor, what its made of and she said it's made of coconut and some flour, every tourist should try this, it's different from the ones being sold here in Manila.

My mission for the day is to visit all the popular churches in Iloilo. My first stop is the the UNESCO certified Miag-ao church. It was a 1.5 hour ride, just get into a jeep with Miag-ao signboard and you wont get lost. During the ride, you would be tempted to stop at some churches, but please don't because you would get to visit them on your way home.


Miag-Ao Church



As I arrived in Miag-ao, I was in awe to see the beautiful fascade of the church with banana and papaya leaves, which is very Filipino.  It's original name is St. Thomas of Villanova Parisch which was built last 1786, it served as a fortress of Filipinos during the war in that era. While taking some pictures,  I stumbled by some photography students so they took my photos, talk about great timing!

Next stop is the Guimbal Church. Built in 1774, this is a must visit too. But I realized that the church is not well maintained like Miag-ao. The local government should really make an effort to preserve it. I had some realizations visiting the church, but I'm gonna save that till my next blog.=)

At this point, I feel really tired and hungry, I was really exhausted because of my Smallville experience the night before that's why I passed on visitng the other churches.Mission failed!  But for those who will be travelling, the following are the churches you should not miss aside from the ones I mentioned:

San Joaquin Church
Campo Santo
Tigbauan Church



White House of Ramon Lopez

 I went home to the pension house and just took a 1 hour sleep before doing my walking tour.Yes, walking tour. Just ride a jeepney going to Jaro. Tell the driver to drop you off to Nelly's garden along E. Lopez Ave., it's your starting point. As you walk straight, you will see at your right the famous White House of Ramon Lopez. Continue walking and you would see the Old Antillan House, and some other ancient houses, which someone told me, were homes of some of the richest in Iloilo back in the days. Your end point is the Cathedral Church and the Old Belfry, bibingkas are also sold here, so you could stop by and grab a bite.



Old Antillan House



Then it's time for dinner, I was in a jeep going to Tatoy's, the place is really famous in Iloilo because of good food. It was a grueling, 1 hour or so ride. I was really hungry that time but when I arrived, I learned that the prices are too high for a solo traveller like me, 260 for a boneless bangus? Hmm...so I bailed out and ride a jeepney again going back to the pension house, where I ate at Andoks nearby.

It was a really tiring but fulfilling day for me. I went to a lot of places and of course met a lot of people along the way. I lost track of my expenses but I can give you an estimate.

For transportation (all jeepney, no taxi) - about P100
Food (canteen, bibingka, Andoks) - about P250
Smallville (1st night and 2nd night) - about P600
P950? For all the tours and the night outs? Not bad right?

Tip: Talk to the locals to learn more about the place, know the prices, the locations, the jeeps going back and forth and of course know their stories. Till next time. Halung!

Travel: My Guimaras Itinerary

This is my second time that I went backpacking alone. I enjoyed by Bicol experience last May of 2010 that when PAL advertised their sale, I immediately researched my next destination and booked my Guimaras-Iloilo-Bacolod Trip.

My first stop is Guimaras. I rode a plane from Manila to Iloilo, when I landed, I immediately asked a guy in the airport where the terminal of vans going to SM iloilo are located. Don't ride a taxi cause it may cost you a good P500, just ride the van and you will just pay P50. Once the van stopped at SM, find a cab going to Ortiz Wharf . There you will find pumpboats going to Jordin Wharf, Guimaras, the ride will cost you P14, just dont forget to sign the manifesto, oh well...just in case. In a matter of 15 minutes you will find yourself stepping to the beautiful island of Guimaras.

Guimaras is not just a place wherein you can find the sweetest mangoes in the world, but it also boasts unexplored, not commercialized but wonderful white beaches. From the Jordin Wharf, you should ride a jeepney going to Nueva Valencia (1 hour ride, P38), get off at Guisi(Gi-si) crossing and there you can talk to the habal habal drivers to take you the resort. I chose the Guisi Clearwater resort and I have no idea what's in store for me there.

The habal habal drive is 15mins and you will now feel the cool breeze in the island. We stopped at the top of the hill and the driver told me that I have to go down by foot to get to the resort. From above I already saw the view of the beach, and I'm telling you it's amazing. The lady, whose name is Sally, accompanied me to my room and I was surprised but thrilled to know that my room is made of sawali, no aircon, no TV, and I'm the only guest in the resort. I was skeptic at first but I told myself that this is what I'm looking for and I got it. The CR is also shared, and the shower is outside, so people can see you taking a bath.=).

A different view of the beach

No ready food is available, no 711, so you have to ask for the lady to cook for you. And I advise everyone to bring something to eat in case you get hungry. In my case, I brought some cookies and hopia.

Now you have to get ready to wear your boardshorts and bikini for you to explore the beach. I went beach bumming for almost two hours. Swimming, wandering around the island, talking to the fishermen and shooting the violet skies come sunset time.

I woke up in morning, and I went island hopping. I was in awe looking at the rock formations, the little uneplored islands, the caves and the water was crystal clear. I saw some pictures of El Nido from the honeymoon of one of my previous officemates and I can say that they are at par.  When I saw the corals from my view, I asked the boatmen if I can jump and swim, he said don't because even if you could see the corals, he estimated that the water is 20 to 30 feet deep, so I bailed out.=)

Once you have experienced the islands, the caves, the sunset, the sea, don't forget the most important part of the journey, talk to the people around and discover their own stories. You will be surprised that there may be big differences with the way of living... the feelings, the experiences are surprisingly the same.After talking to a lot of them, I have learned one important lesson, that my own problems, frustrations are nothing compared to them but if you will look at their faces it seems like they are just striding along through all the trials. I'm still lucky. Just to quote one of the fishermen "Ang buhay parang goma lang yan, pag mahirap, iunat unat lang, tingnan mo kakayanin mo din".=)



Both some mangoes for pasalubong



Now you are ready to go back to Iloilo and explore the city. Just track back how you got to the island and you will find your way going to Jordin Wharf. Just don't forget to buy some mangoes along the way.... Below is the summary of my expenses in Guimaras:

Van going to SM city  50
Taxi to Ortiz Wharf  120 (with tip)
Ortiz Wharf to Jordin Wharf 14
Jeep    38
Habal Habal   25
Accommodation  800
Island Hopping  400
Food   200
Total   1,647