MY 10-Day Affair with i-PHONE

Note: this is not a technical review of iPhone product. It is just another love story.

It all started with me, winning a Belkin Grip Vector from GandaEverSomuch.com's 1st Year Blogversary Raffle. Not at all a techie, much more savvy at that, I was'nt too happy with the prize simply because I do not own an iPHONE. I was eyeing for a book or a shirt that night. Then, the optimistic in me thought, "IT'S A SIGN. A SIGN THAT I WILL HAVE MY IPHONE SOON!"

"I'll be going home soon, how would you like to have blackberry?", my favorite aunt said while we were having one of those YM sessions. I was quiet excited for I might be getting my very own Blackberry Phone which is extremely hot these days. 

August 13, 2010, Day 1 with the iPhone. Expecting to finally get the blackberry i was told, my aunt changed her mind in giving me her Blackberry and lent me her 32-gig iPHONE instead. "While I am still here(Gensan), you may use that", she said. Hoping that she will still change her mind and give me the iPHONE, I slipped the sleek phone to my Belkin Grip Vector and boy, they are really meant to be. From that day on, I fell in love with the iPhone.

The 4.5 inches long and 2.31 inches wide phone weights 4.8 ounces. You must already know this but a cellphone and mobile computer rolled in one, drove me crazily inlove. If I can easily send text and can dial someones number without a fuzz, thats already okay with me. Plus you throw in a Wifi-able program in your 3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen Multi-Touch display is an absolute cloud 9 for an internet dependent being, which I am becoming. 

Today, is the last day with the iPHONE. I have to give it back to its original master. Honestly, I cannot let go of it but I do not have a choice. I'll never forget my 10 days having you around. The memories we shared cannot be deleted. Goodbye to you! Thanks for the 10 fun days with you!

making most of our last night together

the CONVENIENCE of the backyard MALUNGGAY

Before we say goodbye to the Nutrition Month, which falls every July, let me give you a special NUTRITION MONTH entry.


Rainy days is officially on for this tropical country. It is nice to include a soup dish in every meal to invigorate our wet and tired human bodies after a hard days work. In one of those type of days, I decided to prepare a simple "TINOLANG ISDA" or fish soup. Since it is raining hard, I was too lazy to go buy some vegetables to complete the soup, thank goodness for the MALUNGGAY from our backyard to the rescue.

moringa leaves

Known as an excellent source of nutrition and a natural energy booster, Malunggay or Moringa oleifera Lam is loaded with nutrients, vitamins and amino acids. In the Philippines, pregnant women and nursing mothers are advised to have a daily dose of soup with young malunggay leaves for it is helpful in increasing breast milk in the breastfeeding months. It also provides nearly all of the woman's daily iron and calcium needs during those stages.

Aside from its leaves and bods, other parts of Moringa have different uses as well. Commercially, the BEN OIL extracted from flowers can be used as illuminant, ointment base, and absorbent in the enfleurage process of extracting volatile oils from flowers. The oil, applied locally, has also been helpful for arthritic pains, rheumatic and gouty joints.

Our grannies made full use of the Malunggay in their backyard, by doing the following:

•  Pods for intestinal parasitism.
• Constipation: Leaves and fruit
•  Decoction of boiled roots used to wash sores and ulcers.
•  Decoction of the bark used for excitement, restlessness.
• Pounded roots used as poultice for inflammatory swelling.
• Juice of roots is used for otalgia.
• Seeds for hypertension, gout, asthma, hiccups, and as a diuretic.
•  Juice of the root with milk used for asthma, hiccups, gout, lumbago.
•  Poultice of leaves applied for glandular swelling.
•  Pounded fresh leaves mixed with coconut oil applied to wounds and cuts.
• The flowers boiled with soy milk thought to have aphrodisiac quality.

                                                                             Source: STUARTXCHANGE

As I was preparing the dish, I came to the realization, that poverty is not the ultimate reason for malnutrition and hunger. Growing vegetables in the backyard is only one of the easy ways to hinder the growing number of unhealthy children in the world. Moringa is one of the many vegetables that can be grown in our backyards or in pots (if you lack space). 

Let us not blame each other for what is happening with the world, better start doing something for the betterment of it.

Foodie XPRMNT - Chowking Inspired CRISPY FISH FILLET

Everytime I dine at Chowking, it's their Crispy Fish Fillet that I always go for. Its exact crispiness on the  outside did not dried up the juices of the fish. The white sauce it comes with is the perfect partner, complementing the fillet very well.

In one of my not so lazy days, I decided to prepare my version of Crispy fish Fillet for dinner. Praying for perfection, I came up with this:

For the not so master cooks like me, it is advised to have your fish, fillet at the market. For this one, I used TUNA BELLY (which is originally for the KINILAW of my papa...sssssshhhhh). Here are the ingredients used: fish fillet, bread crumbs, salt, pepper and other spices to taste and beaten egg. First things first, marinate your fish with salt, pepper and other spices you like, add the beaten egg. Then refrigerate it for 15 minutes. Then, roll it to the bread crumbs. Refrigerate for another 15minutes and it will be ready for frying. Insider tip: DO NOT FRY THE FISH FOR LONG, IT MAY DRY UP THE FISH. Once they are golden brown, take it out of the pan.


For the white sauce, you only need chopped garlic, parsley and mayonnaise. Put them together and VIOLA, you get your home made white sauce.


Perfect for a weekend meal with your family.


Bon apetit!