Family Outing

One of our family outings just within our locality. My two kids and Parekoy, my occasional errand, taking time to pose with the jiffy.

Vinegar for Stomachache

Nope, I am not promoting Datu Puti vinegar. But due to new benefit I got from it, I don't have any second thought of posting its image here. The title says it all. Aside from the fact that this vinegar is part of our daily food habit, we just recently knew it is one best remedy for stomachache resulting from food poisoning.

If you read my previous post, I told you about an episode of stomachaches that I had experienced one time. Actually, I experienced it not only once but many occasions in the past sending me to bed for two days at the most.

Then one time as I had suffered from a stomache, my wife recalled what she saw from "Salamat, Dok" of Sheryl Cosim, (ABS-CBN) about the healing power of vinegar against stomachache. As the wave of pain became unbearably intense, I took three spoonfuls of vinegar. Within few minutes after that, I was relieved completely. Since then, my kids learned the magic of the vinegar as a fast natural remedy to stomachache or as effective stomachache stopper.

Patrick Swayze

First off, give the credit where it is due. Thanks yahoo for the photo I lifted from your page. Anyway, I am posting this brief post about one of the best actors that Hollywood has ever had - Patrick Swayze - who recently died of pancreatic cancer, according to Yahoo News.

By memory, I could not name the other films that starred him but what stick to mind was his role in the 1990's popular and award-winning flick Ghost co-starred Demi Moore. Who could forget the very romantic pottery wheel scene? Anyway, this film relived the song "Unchained Melody" which would dominate the airlanes and videoke bars/joints.

Well, not that I like the film Ghost whose plot was similar to Steven Spielberg's film Always (Holy Hunter and Richard Dryefuss) in 1989 or whether it was one of the best pictures during the 90s but all because the film became part of my life or the life of my wifey. Sounds corny but our first date was in that movie. And three years later, we got married and now we are raising our three children who are all girls.

Needless to say that I was saddened also by the untimely death of Mr. Swayze. RIP, Mr. Swayze.

Kadayawan 2009

I missed the Davao City's 24th Kadayawan Festival celebration held this August 17-23, 2009. I had many projects to attend the reason why my family was not able to see major events during the celebration.

Indeed the festive mood of the city was marked with these buntings hanged in the city's main thoroughfares like this one along C.M. Recto Avenue. I took these photos while going home from an appointment.

The celebration was themed "Nahiusang Katawhan Nakigdait sa Kalibutan (One People in Communion with the Earth). Usual highlights of the festival derived from the traditions of the local indigeous people's cultures, included the colorful street dancing / competition which was participated in by representatives from various triabl groups in the region.

Go back to the theme, the people of Davao are always one in dream and aspiration. The emphasis this time is with their supposed "communion with the Earth." If that means with the environment, then perhaps the theme is true especially now that Davao City is faced with the challenged to protect its ecology from environmental abuses. For instance, the city is bent on putting a stop to aerial spraying method as practiced for years by banana plantations here but the case is being contested after the city council favored for the alternative pest-control method.

Another controversy involves the Tamugan-Panigan River system that a power company is planning to tap for a hydropower projects. The river system is a protected area being touted as part of the important acquifer of the city. ALready, the National Water Regulatory Board gave a go signal for the project but the Davao City Water District and the city council opposed to it. Where all this leads to that's a question but we know that this will remain an issue untill all parties will finally agree on common ground - that is what is good for city. Anyway, if you want to know more details about the recently-concluded festival, you can visit the site here.

Spanish Plum

These fruits in the bowl go with various names such as Spanish Plum, Spondias purpurea or locally known as Sineguelas. I should add the adjective "delicious" to it. With its succulent meat and sugary taste and a kick of little sourness, Sineguelas is one of our favorite fruits. The hard part is, of course, its hard hairy seed.

When I was in my elementary Grade 3, the word "sineguelas" was a fave word during spelling quizes. And when I had the chance to join a school division-wide spelling bee, the word was mentioned during the first elimination round. I was good only until the second elimination round. LOL.

Rich in Vitamin C, the fruit is grown all over the country no wonder that it is a common sight from fruit stands and is sold from P35 to P45 per kilogram. We feasted on these sineguelas recently when my wifey came home from work.

According to some info, it actually came from tropical America brought here by the Spaniards. Thanks to them :-).

Mastering Every Chord

Previously, I posted that my kids wanted to learn how to strum the guitar. So we bought an acoustic guitar from the Victoria Plaza, one of the pioneering malls in Davao City which is located in J. P. Laurel Avenue, about 13 to 14 kilometers from our place. When it was opened to the public, VP had become an instant star as far as the Davaoeños who frequented the mall were concerned. There various entertainment activities it offered that's why it was well-loved by the residents here and from other regions in Mindanao. But today there are other places as options to go after several malls opened in the city like SM City, NCCC Mall and the latest Robinsons in J. P. Laurel Avenue.

During the vacation this year, my kids started to religiously practice in strumming the guitar and now they have mastered about five hit songs of Taylor Swift. Here in the photo, my eldest Cooky is playing TS' Picture to Burn.

I am happy with the progress through online tutorials from the YouTube.

Cheap Watermelon

The other night my wifey went home with two large watermelons she bought at Php45 each. The watermelon was so fresh and we enjoyed every slice of the fruit.

Recovering from Stomachache

I grimaced in pain as I suffered from stomachache last night which I blamed from the water from our faucet. Davao City has a quality water but the supply we get from the Davao City Water District comes from Malagamot, another source.

It tastes funny compared to the water supply in the downtown which I enjoyed for long years before we moved to a new home place about five years ago. Our water supply was only installed this year and I still have to adapt to its funny taste.

This morning as I am fully recovering from the bout of stomach pain, I look for a menu to cook for my kids this lunch. As a home-based graphic artist, I have more time to share with my three kids during weekdays but not until they will go back to school come June 8 at Holy Cross of Academy (here in Sasa).

The Guitar and stand

With a borrowed guitar from the cousins of my father, I learned to strum the guitar when I was first year high school. I kept playing from borrowed guitar after. Last year, my eldest insisted on buying an acoustic guitar. So her mother bought one (Php1,500++) that came with a black leatherette case. Their interest to learn to play the guitar was, to my mind, dampened with the hassle of getting the guitar from its case and returning it in there when not in use. So the story is that the guitar clothed in its black case was left in the corner. To spark the interest of the kid anew, I decided to buy a guitar stand. True enough, the interest of my kids to learn to strum the guitar grew each time they saw the thing accessible anytime on its stand. Now, they are mastering fast the techniques on guitar playing with the help of online tutorials from site like YouTube.

Home Pics

My light of the house during her breakfast before going to work. I just stay at home where I have my home-office.

This is a take of our sala.

Stairway to the second floor.

Our sala, one of my favorite places in the house.