Vinegar for Stomachache

Don't get me wrong, I am not promoting Datu Puti vinegar. But because of its healing power, I don't have second thought against posting its image here. The title says it all. Aside from the fact that vinegar is part of our food habit, we just recently knew it is one best remedy for stomachache resulting from food poisoning or food contamination.

If you read my previous post, I shared to you about an episode of stomachaches I experienced one time. Not only once but countless times in the past, sending me to bed for two to three days.

That one time was the turning point. As I suffered from a stomache, my wife recalled what we had watched from the tv program "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 seconds I was amazingly relieved. That was the start, my kids learned the magic of the vinegar as 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 local 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 in  fruit stands and sold at P35 to P45 per kilogram. my wifey came home with a a pack of these fruits some info says the fruit came from tropical America brought here by the Spaniards. Thanks to our colonizers :-).

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.

Outing Photos

Every Sunday, afterchurch worship, we would drop by to take our breakfast at one of the cheapest restaurants in our place. This is another occasion for us to talk.

My wife is very particular about health. That is why she is always carrying her supplements and vitamins now.

Let me see if I can identify the menus we had last Sunday (May 10). Ginataang salad made out of young jackfruit and coco milk, tinolang tuna (fish soup), beef stake, pork afritada and pritong manok (fried chicken parts, not in photo) etc. were all time favorites of my kids.

This is my eldest Cooky helping out her mom in setting up the table for us as the restaurant is self-service.

One Rice Policy

That's actually one cup of rice policy that my wife imposed on me. I used to consume two to three cups of steamed rice before until the bill was passed into law at home that I should cut down on rice. Reason? There was none except that we felt we should do it. LOL.

The law is imposed during meal at home where my wife decides how much rice I should take. When I beg for more, she obliges to add two to three spoonful of rice. Health buffs are wary about eating too much rice as one of the reasons for sugar in our blood. Ours is just precautionary measures though.

Rizal Park and VP Parking Lot

One time, I had to wait for a friend for a small project to do. So instead of going up with her to the city hall of Davao City, I decided to stay in the Rizal Park. This photo is a snap at the City Hall of Davao.

Rizal Park is one of the places frequented by Davaoeños. During important celebrations in Davao City, the park would be one of the animated places to visit where entertainment shows are staged.

These last three shots I took in the parking lot of Victoria Plaza, one of the pioneering malls in Davao City, while waiting for the emission test office to open last Febuary 2009.

Mister and Miss Rabbit

My wifey Gemma was thrilled with her new wards at home - Mister and Miss Rabbits which we bought while going home from church one Sunday morning at Php150 each. While we planned to buy a pair of these pets, we never had an idea how to take care of these lovely pets. So, we surfed the net for rabbit's care and management.

At first, we thought that our rabbits would be home pets only. But when I stumbled on an information that their meat is sold at Php250++ per kilo in the local market, this stirs up my curiousity whether I can engage in small-scale rabbit production. Actually, I have a friend who is already into rabbit production but I never realized that rabbit raising is indeed another income-generating project to adopt. Of course, we have to learn all the proper care and management of the animal. By the way, Mister and Miss Rabbit are named Tibur and Ilyang.

Breezy Morning

Yesterday morning (January 6), we woke up to the cool windy morning as you can see in this video of our room's window. That's freeze air blowing into our room was cooler than those in the previous days.

In the night, would just open the window to allow freeze air - our natural aircon - to come in. I designed the second storey's room for this purpose.