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How I taught my kids eat ampalaya (bitter gourd)
I love veggies! I was in grade school when I first learned the nutrients and vitamins we can get from them and I grew up benefiting from them. As a mom, Id like to share to my children the benefits vegetables give us to make us healthy. The kind that most children hate is the Ampalaya (bitter gourd/bitter melon) because of its bitter taste. I haven?t heard a single story from my friends that any of their kids appreciate ampalaya.
I have known thru my readings that ampalaya is a good source of vitamins A,B,C, iron, folic acid, phosphorous and calcium. I have seen a loved one taking ampalaya capsule to control blood sugar because she said it helps the pancreas to produce more insulin that controls the blood sugar in diabetics. I came across with some materials explaining that it helps alleviate some illnesses and now being used as herbal medicine which is good for rheumatism and gout, enhances immune system to fight infections to name a few. I had a sumptuous meal of fried fish with Monggo and ampalaya leaves. My brother has something to say about ampalaya leaves; had them juiced and been very good anti oxidant and has excellent purgative effect.
The challenge of having my children indulge themselves into healthier ventures, I encouraged them to eat ampalaya and I gradually introduced to them its taste thru Ampalaya con carne. They said its not savory at all because of its bitter taste, so I thought of lessening the bitter taste in the first serving and gradually increasing it as we go along and it worked. Now, ampalaya is a welcome dish in our dining table with so much gusto. Here is how I do it, this is a simple recipe which I think is enriched by ampalaya and tomato sauce, simple yet it served a grand purpose:
Ampalaya con Carne
½ kilo pork casim lengthwise 1 ½ x 1 ½ inches 1 medium size ampalaya (bitter gourd) cut length wise, seeds scrapped) sliced crosswise ( to lessen the bitter taste, sprinkle with salt, mash a bit then wash with a little water, sprinkle with salt again and leave for 5 minutes, wash and ready for cooking, the salt will put out a bit of the bitter taste) 1 medium size onion sliced 1 tsp. garlic minced 1 cup tomato sauce dash of black pepper 1 ½ tbsp. tausi (salted black beans) 2 cups water Vegetable oil
1. Saute garlic and onion 2. Add the pork, cover let it change it color to pale white 3. Add dash of black pepper 4. Add tomato sauce and tausi, mix let stand for a minute then 5. Add 2 cups of water and let it simmer till the pork is tender 6. Add ampalaya and let simmer for 5 minutes or till the ampalaya is cooked but still crunchy, don?t over cooked it.
Now, it is ready for a healthy and sumptuous meal.
My son has a delight for something Italian and his taste bud is discriminating, but he found this simple dish very promising and palatable, I can say that I had them appreciate ampalaya and taught them to eat and love nutritious vegetable that most people hate. Most times I didn?t mash the ampalaya with salt just had them sprinkled with salt since they didn?t notice the bitter taste been intensifying since they are used to eating it anyway.
I started appreciating boxing (as a sport) when I was a kid. I remember watching the fights of Mohammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman and Marvin Hagler to name a few. I was in grade school then, I used to go to my Grandmother?s house, with all the boys in the neighborhood, just to watch boxing in their black and white television set since they were the only ones who had that time. I said ?boys? because it was only me among the ?girls? who wanted to watch fighting bouts.
Who would ever forget the ?Thrilla in Manila?, dubbed as the ?The Greatest Fight of the 20th Century? between Mohammad Ali and Joe Frazier in October of 1975 at Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines. I was seated in the floor of my grandma?s sala where we usually watch TV with my relatives; to me it was an ordinary fighting bout, the loser would be bloodied or dumped in the floor while the winner will be jubilant to take all. I could hear people wishing for more action (since it is a physical game) and hoping for a knockout. Every fight was a showcase of skill, power and discipline of every fighter, but in the end, it was still scary, tough and gory like what Mohammad Ali said in his interview after his match with Frazier, "it was the closest thing to death that I could feel."
As I grew up, I shifted my interest to basketball, boxing was then buried to oblivion, until a Filipino boxer, Manny ?Pacman? Pacquiao hits the boxing arena with a bang. I first watched his fight in 2005 where he lost to Erik Morales. It was a big disappointment for me, he fought well but the cards didn?t go well with him. From then on, I stopped watching his fights live , I content my self in viewing the delayed telecast. I think I was doing him a favor since he won all his ensuing fights; not that I am treating myself a jinx but just trying to relieve myself of (would-be)disappointment or maybe what we call ?pamahiin?(Superstitious).
I was online the entire time that our champ Manny Pacquiao was beating up his opponent Antonio Margarito but wasnt directly viewing it on the tube. Thanks to my friends Rolly and Rudy in Canada for the update via Facebook and to Lito who is in the US for giving me a blow by blow update of the fight (including the comments of ringside commentators).
Yes! Delayed telecast here I come. The Filipinos ?Pambansang Kamao? (National Fist) Manny ?Pacman? Pacquiao emerged a victor. Every Filipino (where ever they maybe) is proud and jubilant of what our champ has achieved, 8 World Boxing Titles in different divisions. That was such a feat!
The fight in its entirety was an ordinary boxing scenario, the protagonists were definitely out there to pin down their opponents and had the ?belt? wrapped around their waist while viewers had their bets on their favorite boxer. Cheers were up in the air and I heard my neighbors shout in delight and amazement.
That Sunday night, while we were having dinner, my children and I were discussing about the fight. It wasn?t centered about the exchanges of blows and how unfortunate it was for Antonio Margarito; BUT, Manny Pacquiao is no ordinary fighter, he has the heart of a champion; God- fearing, confident, disciplined, humble, compassionate and worthy of his achievements.
What caught our interest was the interview made by GMA News Sports Reporter; where Pacquiao said in essence, that boxing is just a game, it isn?t about killing your opponent. It was also asked why he didnt take advantage of every opportunity offered to finish up Antonio Margarito in every round of the fight.
The 14th round of Ali vs. Frazier "Thrilla in Manila", where Ali gave hard and numerous punches on Frazier's left eye, fave the way to end the game. Frazier's eyes were badly beaten, his left eye was already closed and other can barely see. He was even guided by referee Carlos Padilla to his corner. Ali was equally strained and bruised. Mohammad Ali won by Technical Knockout. In boxing, things like these can happen again, in different time and with different people involved, possibility in the Pacquiao-Margarito match was not remote.
With due respect, I opined, that Pacquiao, in the later rounds, didn?t want to inflict Margarito more injuries at that point in time, (though he could have done so for his advantage, because he knew that his opponent cant bear more. His compassion overshadowed the manly greed for power and pride. It was also manifested in his kind gesture of giving the referee a hint that Margarito's condition must be checked by a doctor. How could a boxer thought of his opponent?s state of health in the middle of the fight where each one?s objective is to win?
To the boxing fans, it was an awe and delight for what Pacman did inside the arena as a fighter, but most of all, who could ever forget his display of humility and magnanimity? Truly, he has the heart of a champion.
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It was one sunny afternoon, I was walking briskly to catch up on my schedule for the day, I have to prepare a sumptuous dinner for my children as I will be attending a meeting later at night. My mind was preoccupied with what im going to buy for my menu until I heard someone calling me ?Ate?(a word of respect for elder sister), I assumed it came from a vibrant little boy. Yes, a boy about 7 years old, I assumed, his eyes glistening, his smile is heart warming and his physique is typical of his age. He was asking for some money, ?Ate pahingi naman o, gutom na ako eh?(give me some, im starving) , I decided to give him food than a few coins. That was the first time I saw him there, I have been living in the area for about 10 years that time. It was then an ordinary day, had the dinner prepared as I left to attend my meeting.
During that time, as almost all things for a full time mom like me, routinely, bringing my kids to school early in the morning, fetch them at late afternoon, housekeeping, playing the role of the most (un)appreciated stage momma and attending to some errands. Frequenting the vicinity where I live is an everyday task too, and giving that little boy a piece to eat became a duty to me; though I didn?t notice that its getting habitual. Until I saw him in a company of two other boys probably of same age, he had no slippers, he was wearing a dirty torn short and shirt as if he hadn?t taken a bath for a week, though still wearing the same heart warming smile.
I felt a sting in my heart, I don?t know why I was so moved that I wasn?t able to sleep tight that night, thinking of how I can help him. And for the rest of the days, he and his peers were a permanent fixture in a painting of innate poverty. We became friends, we have been eating in a nearby canteen, the owner called him ?alaga mo? (my protégée). I discovered that they were about 6 in the family and that he was already 9 years old that time and do not know how to read or write even his nickname. There were times my kids would ask me why he was always following me and calling me ?Ate?. I would only reply that he wanted to ask some food from me. I don?t know why I felt bad about him being sort of neglected and deprived. I can feel his plight opened the unexplored part of my being, his presence unleashed my intrinsic altruistic feeling. I felt so miserable thinking that I cant do anything for him and to those children in the same situation.
I can still remember the time when my kids and I were talking about on how to help destitute children languishing around the busy streets (near their school) begging for alms. My children would always put aside a peso or two for them. My son Dingdong, who was 4 years old then and my daughter Yannah who was about 6 years old once said, that they would want to put up an orphanage for them. I was elated to know my children has big hearts and just wished then that we be given enough strength and resources to do it so. Such was a bold exploit to involve into, though our resources are scarce, we still believe that we can impart to them our humble share; may not be a shelter but some other things beneficial to them.
My children and I have taken part in several outreach programs and continuously participating in projects sponsored by community based organizations, peer groups and NGO?s. To our mind, our involvement in humanity?s incessant quest for social justice is our way of thanking our Creator for what He has provided us. We resolved that we will involve ourselves in a project that will teach street children how to read and write; we have gathered some reading materials, writing pads, pencils and crayons already for our lessons. I believe that teaching them how to read and write will be their first step in liberating themselves from poverty, criminality and abuse. Its always been my dream of becoming a teacher. I came from a family of professional educators. Now is my time to stand tall and go hit my goal, Teacher Abet.
Some time ago, I wondered why I haven?t seen the fine little boy in my neighborhood. There came one of his companions, ?ate, wala na si Jomari? (Jomari is gone), I became upset, my imagination gone wild, I was thinking something bad happened to him till I was informed that he was brought under the care of a government agency. Such a relief, but how about them, his companions, they are still in the streets (growing in numbers day by day) exposed to every danger of whatever causes.
Time passed, the challenge is still there, now so imperative and substantial; are there some who would take it? I, as a person, as a citizen, accepted the challenge of doing my fair share for my fellows, and together with my children, we resolved that we will be doing what we believe is right and proper. Furthermore, blaming the government or anybody for another?s misfortune is a limp excuse of one?s inability to cope up with the demands of life.
Jomari is gone, I am hoping he is doing well where he is right now, but another frail body is prowling around, I heard his voice calling me ?ate?(elder sister), ?feed my mind and my soul?, please.
L- let a drop of blood to bleed
From your heart is a lot to plead
To dream of love to succeed
Is a hard work without greed.
O- Old and young aspire and crave
For provisions of life to live
But the zeal for love is always a craze
That all of us wanting to be ablaze.
V- Vent for passion is like a vehicle to take
That most people abhor to brake
Some triumph some failed
Taunted to prove that feeling is awake.
E- Emotion so gorgeous yet so not
Lovely is the feeling yet so blurred
It is in winning the battle of love we prayed
So is the conquest that we made.
Love is a war everybody dared to win
Victory seem so elusive to gain
Feat for love is not won by siege and invasion
Liberty and peace is the trophy of war
??..that you have won.
August 15, 2010...back to my blog! thanks to some friends who urged me to write something about love..uhmm..yeah right..love! I may sound mean with this but this is all for now! Yeah..LOVE IS FREEDOM...LET LOVE LIBERATE US! Happy reading!
"The Walk" by Joy T. Dayrit
Probably, many of us, women have already experienced ill-treatment by men. Even in little ways that we are not really aware of. Most of the time, our choices are disregarded, our efforts unnoticed, and worst, our dignities crushed. But have we acted upon it? Have we decided to bring up ourselves and fight for our rights? Have we?
Alma, our main character, a woman and a wife, lives in San Lorenzo Village, a first class subdivision and a home to the privilege few in the broad and vast Makati City.With such residence, it implies a happy, contented and fortunate living. But as the story begins, we see here a woman of great sorrow, laying on the floor--crying.
Unraveling the real events in the life of a woman, Joy T. Dayrit, author of this story, The Walk, opens her short story with such setting opposing the characteristic and behavior Alma should have in line to where and what kind of life she is living.
With such opening, traditional gender roles have been successfully utilized as justification for inequality. With culture?s perspective towards women, being weak and emotionally defeated at all times, Joy T. Dayrit tries to change such point of view as the story progresses. Her motivation to show that women are not of weak character and that they can achieve success too, Joy T. Dayrit changes Alma. From a wife with no say to her husband?s decisions and is willingly weak in terms of fighting for what is appropriate for her due to her love for her husband; and from a woman who is incapable of addressing her thoughts as shown in the lines ??I feel in my heart I may not love you at all anymore,? she wanted to say but did not,? Alma becomes a woman, a wife capable of uplifting herself as stated ?This battle?s been won. She loved her Ted. But now for war.?
As the story sets foot, difference between gender roles is evidently shown. As the story progresses, patriarchy and biological essentialism are portrayed. With these ideologies occurring in the text, drastic changes will be implied and revision of beliefs will be waged.
Patriarchy, by definition, promotes women?s inferiority to the men. Alma, being the other and of less importance, her suggestions and decisions were disregarded and are made of less essential to their living. Ted?s dominance, selfishness and less focus to her wife?s welfare showed Alma?s insignificance to the family and to Ted as well as declared by the lines ?What if there?s an emergency, you see, and I need it fast. But it doesn?t worry him? What if something happened to your car? I said, ?What good is a second car if it doesn?t run? If something suddenly happened to your Corona, how will you get to the office?? That?s when he called for a mechanic.? Alma?s welfare was not put into mind. Moreover, Ted just decided to have the Lancer fixed when his own welfare was placed in the picture.
Also, the fact that Ted, giving more importance to his work and newly-gotten car, the Corona, more than Alma as acknowledged by the line ?He loves his bluff work and ill-gotten Corona more than me,? gave the deepest and most painful depression Alma encountered. Ted, having been able to put his work and Corona before his wife made a unfathomable pain, sudden impact and sting to Alma?s heart. Them bound together by the sacrament of the Holy Matrimony, promised to dedicate their whole lives as part of the other, for the best and the worst scenarios of their entire lives and for the good of them both, made Alma incredulous and doubtful of what is happening. Expressing her disbelief, ?One hot tear rolled down her brown nose and hung trembling there at the tip.? Alma trusted Ted with all her heart believing that he was the right man to have her whole life together with. But in the end, after all, she felt beaten and is in disdain.
As traditional gender roles and biological essentialism strongly imply, Alma is bound to the home, receiving all the hurt she gets from Ted for not noticing her efforts, ignoring her welfare, and placing work before her while Ted is out for work, enjoying his life and his new car.
After twenty years of marriage, we see a woman emotionally beaten, thinking of the hardships and obstacles she has been through, realizing that she is over the magical spell of love that hinders her from seeing what is deeply hidden for the past twenty years. She then wakes up and starts a life anew. Having been able to awaken herself from the love?s spell, she decides to fight for what is right and justify what is initially wrong. As to how life awakens her, Joy T. Dayrit inserts a new character in the story.
As Alma walks in the old perpendicular streets of San Lorenzo Village, dreaming of a wonderful life, getting farther of reach, she meets an unano. This midget opened her eyes to what is really taking place and to what is needed to supply importance to. Having been able to awaken Alma from the fantasy she is into, this midget paved way for her to realize that there is something needed to be fixed. ??Unload,? said the unano. ?Your mind has full of unimportant details,? her emotions became placid, thinking of the lines the midget told her. With the midget?s line ?Unload,? Alma gained the guts to release what was kept potent inside her for the past twenty years.
Next, the fact them entering the ?exit? gate of the Paradise rather than the entrance, symbolized the beginning of bringing back the events that happened and the chance to change and fix what is needed to be aided. The stone, on the other hand, symbolizes the bond between Ted and Alma, changing and unstable as proclaimed ?If she gave the stone to Ted he did not see a frog in it, but a star, and a discussion between them began that took them to the four hundred corners of interpretation. But this morning Ted was off in his Corona, leaving behind him the car?s healthy new motor sound, and the stone in Alma?s hand.? It is as if the stone promotes discussion between the two, nonetheless, there will be nothing of importance to be talked about.
As the story moves on, we are to face the changes that Alma underwent. All of the sudden, the weak and emotionally defeated woman becomes empowered, defending what is right for her. Fleeing from gullibility, we now have a woman ready to justify what is needed to be justified and change what is needed to be changed. In line with this, the breakage of love?s spell on her had us have a woman now ready to redeem herself from the authority and superiority of her husband.
Indeed, Alma loves Ted. She even provides her with everything he needs and wants without any complains, ?Alma reset the breakfast in the way Ted expected it to be set. Coffee, rice, fish, eggs. She did that for him splendidly every morning, for breakfast?? She is with him for the past twenty years without any fuss heard. She provided Ted with much love she could. But as she long for equality and believe that it is not only Ted that needed to be provided with her love but herself too, we here encounter a woman, setting aside her obligation as a wife, her ceaseless love for Ted, now thinking about the good of herself and having a mind of her own.
Unlike any other story of a woman and a man, we here stumble upon a different and unique idea. Usually, women give in to the power of the men, falling and succumbing to male?s so-called superiority to the female without having even a little scent of redeeming herself and spice of reprisal. But with Joy T. Dayrit?s The Walk, we see here a woman instituting change, applying development education, putting into action what she learned and believes in and promoting no turning back.
Certainly, we all need each other to survive but if injustice is evident in the relationship, impertinence is being put into practice, and dignities are crushed, we have the choice, the right, and a mind of our own to live a live of freedom, of what we want, of what we need and of subsistence.
A Feminist Reading of Yannah Laluces-Lagasca
English III analysis paper, dated October 20, 2008.
?The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature.?
-Anne Frank
There are times that we feel unappreciated, hurt. More often than not, unnoticed in spite all the efforts we perform. Yes, I experience these. But because of this nature trip, I have uplifted myself and realized some things beyond what I have came to understand before.
As I walk by the hills of UP Los Baños and lost excess weight while going up the sort-of small mountain for the Philippine Raptors Center, I have become one with nature. The way the wind blew my hair and the way the trees have become my guide in making my way, made this trip more enticing. As I venture through the streets and beautiful sites of Laguna, I have asked myself, ?Why did God made this place so beautiful? He knows that man will just destroy it.? But as I meditate upon the attractive beauty and unique ambience these places give, I have answered my question. I believe that God made earth so beautiful because of His great love for us.
I have also came to understand fully that though He knows that man will only destroy what He have made, He still believes in the capability of men to be responsible enough in protecting his own home. Yes, indeed, our own home--beautiful and stewards we are. This beauty, giving an uplifting experience?setting aside all your worries and pain, making you feel better and wonderful about yourself is something we should all be proud about. We have these places in our country that shares and makes us experience God?s true love. We have these gifts that heal the heart.
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Yannah's composition for her English III class; February 04, 2009.
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Blog Description: moments of comfort...honest compliments...persuasive language...cold summer nights...two decades of loving and a day of loathe...spookily familiar...an ounce of sunrise...slice of pride...tons of hope...warmth of friendship...consummate desire..display of sultry sophistication...extravagance of womanhood...a chronicle of the wonders of the toughest battle called life.........
Blog Tags: Parenting - My Declaration of Self-Esteem - Valedictory Speech - Sports - cooking with mom - Mother's Day - Tribute to my Grandmother - Asian Pork Belly Barbecue
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Blog Owner: Elizabeth Laluces
Blog Added: May 25, 2008 03:31:32 PM
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