Omelette Pancake

The best thing about going to old coffee shops here in town is that they have breakfast food in all their menus. I mean who doesn’t like eggs over medium, bacon and toast at 6 pm? To me breakfast food is all good whichever time in the day. I love eggs! I eat it whichever way. When I get very hungry I would have to order the omelette with all the fixings in it. I get so intimidated cooking it on my own because of the fact that I can never get the trick of folding the vegetable/meat ingredient in it, so I’d rather have somebody make it for me… until tonight. You’re supposed to sautee the veg/meat first before dropping the eggs( I did the other way around before). Duh! But hey! You learn from your mistakes, right? Since I’ve been babysitting my nephew Lance lately, my Martha Stewart-like-sister, Fatima, introduced me to things like where to shop for bargained furnitures, second-hand clothing, and most of all where to shop for great and delicious foods. I bought some groceries to try out at Trader Joe’s the other day, boy I tell you. It’s the best so far. They have these puff paratha that are marketed by KGC of Union City, CA that I like. I can’t find the website for it, but the brand is by MIFT Raya. Puff parathas are basically asian pancakes. There are five pieces in each bag, & all you do is heat them up in a frying pan for 1-2 minutes until it’s golden brown. So this is what I had for dinner:

6 beaten eggs

1/2 tomato, diced

1/2 onions, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 portobello mushroom, diced

1 tablespoon olive oil

s & p, to taste

hot sauce( optional)

sautee garlic, onion, tomatoes in olive oil over medium heat. add s & p to taste. add beaten eggs, mushrooms, & let it stand for 2-3 minutes. fold over and let it cook for another minute; the omelette can also be cooked flat by flipping it to the other side by way of a plate if you have a weak wrist.

heat frying pan. remove plastic dividers, & place puff paratha onto frying pan. pan fry both sides of puff paratha for 1-2 minutes until golden brown.

place omelette over puff paratha & serve it folded. top it off w/ or w/o hot sauce or ketchup. yummy!

 

Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus

A History in Capsule

photo courtesy of Rose Paloma West

It all started when the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul of Colegio de San Jose founded in 1872 in Jaro, Iloilo, and having to commute daily by banca & calesa, extended their educational services to little boys and girls whom they taught in Kindergarten school in the City proper. It was in 1906 when the first school site was a rented room in the Mabini Street, Iloilo City. After some years the school was transferred to the residence of the Yulo family at Del Rosario Street. The third school site was Dona Pastora’s house in Zamora St. where it remained until 1917 when General Hughes St., became the final site of Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus.

It was on Sept. 14, 1917 when Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus was formally recognized by the Securities and Exchange Comission by officially approving its by-laws and constitutions, as a school offering Kindergarten and Elementary Education. In a few years it absorbed its seven grade graduate courses in cooking, sewing, typing,, stenography, and music.

The first Sister Superior was Sr. Teresa Fortuny who had been a Directress of Sta. Rosa College in Manila. It was she who built the bridge with gothic style facade to join the two residence houses of the Viaplana family. After a few years she worked for the acquisition of an adjacent lot owned by the English consulate.

The next Sister Superior was Sr. Fermina Saldana who bought the lot in front of the College for the free school. The present chapel was constructed at this time. Sr. Amparo Gomez was the next Sister Superior who extended the construction of the Auditorium and the Grade School Dept.

It was Sister Superior Ana Jimenez who succeeded Sr. Amparo, who built the “Escuela Gratuita” or free school building (now the Mother Seton Building ) and witnessed how the grade school and high school departments flourished. Shortly before the outbreak of World War II, Sr. Felicidad Camomot, the school Principal launced a new milestone in the college by opening the two-year Elementary Teacher’s Course, the first two-year of Liberal Arts and the Junior Secretarial Course.

Sr. Inocencia Sancristobal succeeded Sr. Ana Jimenez who left for India to start a mission house of the Daughters of Charity. On Dec. 18, 1941, ten days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Japanese planes bombed Iloilo City and Sagrado was a target, but providentially did not receive any direct hit. One girl died and two Sisters were wounded. The Sisters had to evacuate and stayed in San Jose College for some months until the Japanese landing on April.

During the Japanese occupation classes resumed and even had one one high school graduation in 1944. It was Sister Inocencia’s task to rebuild the badly-battered buildings.

Sr. Gregoria Echevarria who succeeded Sr. Inocencia stayed only a year in Sagrado. After Sr. Ana’s return from India she was reassigned to Sagrado to relieve Sr. Gregoria.

During Sr. Ana’s term, the Music Conservatory of Colleges building were constructed in 1950 under the supervision of Sr. Celia Garganera, then Music Directress. The two-storey building stands on a lot acquired from the Galatas family in 1947. Also, a concrete bridge was erected by the seaside to connect the wing which includes the Sister’s residence and the chapel, and the wing which includes Our Lady’s Hall and the Grade School Dept.

Sr. Ana Jimenez was succeeded by three other Superiors: Sr. Clementina Iglesias, Sr. Carmen Laveaga, and Sr. Imelda Espiritu. They added improvements in the physical plant and school facilities. It was Sr. Imelda who worked for the acquisition of the 20-hectare farm in Oton, Iloilo.

Throughout the years the academic programs gained momentum in upgrading and enrichment. When Sr. Maria Bernardo came from higher studies in the United States, she organized a formal guidance program. A modern speech clinic was installed. Sagrado was reaping top honors at academic, literary and musical contests in the city and in nation-wide contests. Broadway musical and literary-musical activities were yearly presentations, to the delight of the public. Sr. Maria Bernardo was succeeded by Sr. Consuelo Custodio.

After many years of praying and waiting Sagrado was able to buy the Regalado lot and residence. It was under the administration of Sr. Maria that the College was able to realize its dream of expanding its ground and campus with the acquisition of this lot. On it now stands a four storey building which accomodates the High School Dept. Construction was made possible through Sr. Consuelo and Sr. Celia Garganera. Then followed the renovation of the Chapel and the construction of a farm and beach in Oton.

New courses were opened in the course of the years, in the late 50’s and 60’s, to cope with the needs of the region and the students. Such courses are the following: B.S. in Education, B.S. in Elementary Education, B.S. in Home Economics, B.S. in Commerce, all in full progress. The Consevatory of Music offered courses leading to Associate and Bachelor of Music Major in Piano, Voice and Violin, and later B.S. in Music Education. The course leading to B.S. in Nutrition and B.S. in Social Work were introduced in the 70’s.

Sr. Nelia Pacia, Superior from 1972 to 1975 saw through several projects. She established the Mother Seton Social Service Center, which was formerly the free school for deserving poor students; it was through her initiative and efforts that the High School Dept. earned its accreditation by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU ) in 1975 making the CSCJ-HS Dept. the first DC school to be accredited by PAASCU; she also saw the organization of the PersonalisedEducation program in the Grade School Dept.

Martial law years demanded administrative vision and leadership, and this was what Sr. Maria Lourdes Verzosa had been contending within her characteristic flair for venturing into progressive moves and trends to cope up with the formation needs of the present student population who will shape the future in the year 2, 000 and thereon.

In 1977, in response to the curricular imperative of the New Society putting emphasis on a work-oriented curriculum and in keeping with the socio-economic needs and demands of its clientele, the college department introduced innovative curricular offerings such as: Diploma in Catering Services, Diploma in Garment Fashion, Certificate in Cooperative Bookkeeping, and the two-year Hotel and Restaurant management which developed into the four-year B.S. in Hotel and Restaurant Management. In 1978 the High School was re-accredited and in January, 1979 the Grade School was also accredited by PAASCU.

It was during the incumbency of Sr. Maria Rey and Sr. Teresa Espedido which witnessed the continuous work for quality education. The first fruit of their efforts was shown in the reaccreditation of the Grade School in 1982 and the second reaccreditation of the High School in 1984.

During the incumbecy of Sr. Teresa Mabasa in 1985 the Grade School and High School were merged into the Basic Education Department to provide continuity of the program. Sagrado also turned co-educational by admitting boys and girls for basic education and males in all college courses.

Sr. Teresa who is a dynamic Social Worker and got her masteral degree in Social Work from St. Louis University in Missouri, USA, has introduced many programs especially for the alleviation of the Poor in collaboration with the Parishes of San Jose and Sta. Maria and other funding agencies abroad.

To povide wider base of community involvement in conformity with the institution’s mission of SERVICE especially to the deprived and the less privileged, the Mother Seton Social Service Center has been revitalized to serve as linkage to the institution’s clientele barangays and as a training ground for future social workers. Now the center in collaboration with the regional office of Ministry of Social Services Development( MSSD ) is a recipient of various local, national, and foreign agencies’ funding program geared towards social development. Likewise, civic organizations use the MSSSC in their outreach activities.

The latest notable step towards quality education has been on the college level. In July 1983, CSCJ’s college department was nominated by the PAASCU to be its pilot institution to test the validity of the accreditation instruments for common standards of the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines( FAAP ). Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus accepted challenge and went on an institutional self-survey analysis of the courses in Liberal Arts, Education and Commerce. The four-member PAASCU Team carried on the Preliminary Survey Visit on Feb. 9-10, 1984. The evaluation activities of the Team involved the review of the institutional self-survey and the verification of the data and findings drawn up the institution in the preparation of its self-evaluation. As a result the PAASCU Team gave the institution a period of six months to one year to prepare for the formal accreditation survey. A formal accreditation visit by PAASCU was done in aug. 1986.

Convinced of the commitment of her predecessors and faculty Sr. Virginia P. Nacional, DC, incumbent President-Superio continues to work for quality education. The first eight months of her incumbency marked the preparation for the PAASCU’s re-formal survey visit for the three accredited programs of Liberal Arts, Education, and Commerce scheduled on Feb. 1989.

As Sagrado moves toward the 21st century it continues to upgrade its own offerings and programs both co-curricular through the assistance of PAASCU.

 

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Text taken from The Voice( yearbook ) of 1989

 

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I will add some more information about the school as soon as I get to see some of my fellow classmates who has more information about the school after I left the island in 1989.

 

 

fishballs

I’m craving for fishballs at the moment, I don’t know why! Maybe because it’s so nice and warm outside, and I’m in a reminiscing mood. When I was a kid summertime meant playing basketball, “ins”, and convincing my cousin to let me drive his “trisikad” with my neighboring friends. I almost always don’t get to since he uses it to make money on the side for his short-distance transport business. At times I could sweet talk him by letting me drive it for him. And the money I make from him I always blow it off by buying Coke, & fishballs. As much as my parents prohibiting me of buying food from street vendors because of their concern of hepatitis, typhoid( w/c I had when I was 4 ), and stuff, it still didn’t stop me from buying it. Um, um! Nothing like a deep fried fishball dipped in sweet sauce! For years I wasn’t able to eat it, eventhough they now sell it in some Asian grocery stores found in the frozen section, until last September when I got the chance to visit my hometown for my old school’s foundation day. I was waiting for my friends right outside the school’s entrance when at the distance I saw this man setting up his cart..

Aaay! I felt like I hit the jackpot upon seeing it. As soon as everyone arrived I treated them to sticks after sticks of fishballs.

I would have eaten more, but the program was about to start. I’ll have to learn how to make it on my own.

Banig

A recent trip to the beach made me think of a way to make money off of a material I have in my possession. Or at least have a group of people start a way of marketing this material. Typically “banig” are used as sleeping mats , but I thought of using it as my beach mat as opposed to the beach towel mats that are sold in dept. stores for more than the bargain I paid when I bought the mat at Talipapa in Boracay for $0.99. I was rolling my mat after sunbathing when this woman approached me. She had been eyeing my banig the whole time I was religiously getting my tan. She said she used the same mat to sleep-in growing up in Belize. She thought I bought it around town in Carlsbad. Of course I told her the whole schpill & suggested to check it out on her next trip to Mexico. I’m pretty sure they use the same mat for sleeping. I felt like a dumb-ass when I walked away. I thought what a way to educate people with Philippine Art & Culture. I didn’t even suggest to check out the Filipino stores they might have around town if they carry the material.

So I’m proposing this idea to some of you Pinoys out there who’s reading this that maybe know of a way to market the buri mats. And to think they come in patterns, and in different shapes, colors, and sizes. For better description and origination of this unique material I suggest you read this article I found on the web:

http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about_cultarts/

 

sari-sari store

sari-sari store

Originally uploaded by ravissant74.
Ka gusto ko gid tani nga may tiangge man kami sa balay sa Lapuz sang una galing kay iwat gid pang kapital. Siguro kung may ara kami sari-sari store ang baligya namon siguro bugas, mga school supplies, kag siguro gani may carinderia pa sang mga linuto ni Daddy. May dyutay kami bal-an nga rice farm sang una sa Cabatuan, pero husto man lang pang mudpud sa mga pariente kay bilin ni Lolo Tulio antes siya na patay e-partidahon nga husto sa kada pamilya Almirez ang sinako nga bugas nga ga abot sa balay kada harvest season. Namit si Daddy pa-lutuon ka dinuguan, lina-ga, kag kung ano pa da nga suludanon. Galing kay pirme man siya ga obra. Ang pinaka closest nga baligya namon ay ice, kag ice candy mag summer. Avocado kag orange flavor amon specialty. May nag suya pa one time sa amon kay Tru-Orange nga soda ang guin usar namon pang ice candy. daw sa gago bala haw!

Nami-an ko na anay mag kadto sa balay sang paka-isa ko kay may sari-sari store sila. Na sadyahan ko na dayon kung may ga bakal ka pastries kay ku-ot2x pa na anay sa garapon nga guina butangan. Ang laban galing ga bakal ang mga naga panigarilyo. Mag summer na gani ga hungod ko na bugtaw temprano sa aga mag upod sa paka-isa ko mag kadto sa Tienda Mayor pang bakal pang baligya sa tiangge niya. Bayad niya sa akon mag bantay ko tiangge niya kung kis-a ay Coke solo kag Chipee, okon gani grilled pork barbecue.

Diri ya kilan-lan may lisensya ka gid mag abri ka tiangge maski sa puluy-an mo kay patay ka gid sa violation fees. Nami bala pag may tiangge ka kay hinali ma wad-an ka ka kape hindi ka na mag usik pa sang gas mag drive up sa dept. store.