Mga Kwentong Kapos: Unang Kabanata - Sa Pamamaalam Isinilang ang Bagong Simula

At umalis na sya.
Pakiramdam ko ako si Obi-Wan Kenobi habang kausap nya si Anakin Skywalker sa Star Wars.



Hindi ko alam.

Pero, hindi ko naman talaga siya tunay na kilala.

Ngunit mabigat sa damdamin ang pamamaalam niya.

Mabigat at may kaunting takot akong nadarama.

Natatakot ako dahil baka hindi pa siya handa.

Natatakot ako dahil baka mas lalo siyang higupin ng kalungkutang gumagapos sa kanya.

Natatakot ako dahil baka mali ako.

Pero mas natatakot ako na baka tama pala lahat ng pagkakakilala ko sa kanya.

Isa lamang siyang guni-guini.

Isa lamang siyang karakter na likha ng utak niyang gustong kumawala sa nakaraan.

Pero higit sa lahat, natatakot ako dahil umalis syang kapos parin ang kanyang kwento.

Wala paring tuldok.

Wala paring pagbangon.

Wala parin ang mga halakhak na lulunod sana sa mga luhang datirati'y dumadaloy sa ngayo'y pagal niyang mga mata.

Hindi parin bumubukas ang mga ulap na tumatabing sa buwan na dapat sanay nagbibigay liwanag sa mahamog niyang gabi.

Natatakot ako na ang damdamin niya ay nakontento na sa kakaramput na liwanag na ibinahagi ng isang kakapiranggot na alitap-tap.

Pero higit sa lahat, mas natatakot akong hindi isilang ang isang katha mula sa isang karanasang ani mo'y isunulat nang may tampo ang tadhana...

At heto na nga... dito ko na sisimulang isulat ang kwento niya. Ang mga kwentong kapos...

The Padwan

Back?

You changed your skin.
You changed your face.
You changed your inner soul.
...but still pieces of you are scattered  on the floor.
...and when you faced that blank wall.
...and when you look into the crowd.
you still see yourself.
your young self.
writing.
prosing.
your heart trembling.
lonely.
weak.
longing.
for words to spring back into life.
but not from you--- no more.
then is it time to be back?
or is it time to move on?

Indian "Idiots" Invading China, US

If you love learning more over education, then this will be a great movie to conquer the world. This is one of my favorite movies and I’m happy that more people will share the experience.

According to Digital Spy Bollywood's award-winning comedy, "3 Idiots", starring Aamir Khan, will undergo treatment by Hollywood and China.

The film is about three individuals in search of friendship, learning, and of their dreams. This film was also successful in captivating the different sceneries of India as it uses an array of locations as its stage.

Read the Digital Spy article Here.

Carbonara: Black for White

Pasta alla Carbonara is one of our favorites and decided to included it in the list on our holiday meals. As a tradition we will be having this with families.

Which interests me about how did Carbonara came to the dish as we know it.

Like most recipes, the origins of the dish are obscure, and there are several hypotheses about it. As the name is derived from carbonaro (the Italian word for charcoal burner), some believe that the dish was first made as a hearty meal for Italian charcoal workers. The etymology gave rise to the term "coal miner's spaghetti", which is used to refer to spaghetti alla carbonara in parts of the United States. It has even been suggested that it was created by, or as a tribute to, the Carbonari ("charcoalmen"), a secret society prominent in the unification of Italy .

Carbonara was included in Elizabeth David 's Italian Food , an English language cookbook published in Great Britain in 1954. The dish is not present in Ada Boni's 1927 classic La Cucina Romana , and is unrecorded before the Second World War . It was first described after the war as a Roman dish, when many Italians were eating eggs and bacon supplied by troops from the United States.


To be honest I am not very good with Italian Cooking, so I browsed through the net and found this easy recipe from Rachel Ray:


Carbonara


Ingredients:
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 pound pasta, such as spaghetti or rigatoni
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (enough to coat bottom of pan)
1/4 pound pancetta (Italian bacon), chopped
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
5 to 6 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 large egg yolks
Freshly grated Romano cheese
Handful of finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, for garnish


Directions:
1. Put a large saucepot of water on to boil. Add a liberal amount of salt and the pasta. Cook to al dente, about 8 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil and pancetta. Brown pancetta 2 minutes. Add red pepper flakes and garlic and cook 2 to 3 minutes more. Add wine and stir up all the pan drippings.
3. In a separate bowl, beat yolks, then add 1 large ladleful (about 1/2 cup) of the pasta cooking water. This tempers the eggs and keeps them from scrambling when added to the pasta.
4. Drain pasta well and add it directly to the skillet with pancetta and oil. Pour the egg mixture over the pasta. Toss rapidly to coat the pasta without cooking the egg. Remove pan from heat and add a big handful of cheese, lots of pepper, and a little salt.
5. Continue to toss and turn the pasta until it soaks up egg mixture and thickens, 1 to 2 minutes. Garnish with parsley and extra grated Romano.

Wish List: Camiguin

(Image from: http://www.camiguin-island.com/white-island-camiguin.shtml )

""I am very happy that I am there. I think the Philippines is a wonderful country, and especially, Camiguin island where we are which is a beautiful, beautiful island," --- Wenche Thorkildsen, director of Sea and Sun Ministries International (SSMI), Inc

I recently read an article from www.abs-cbnnews.com which captivated me to the beautiful island of Camiguin.
This will definitely be on my wish list. I really hope I will have the time and means to visit this place soon.

To read the entire article, please click below:

Gushing about the country's beauty, she said she did not choose the Philippines as a site of her mission, but it was chosen for her by God.


"I am very happy that I am there. I think the Philippines is a wonderful country, and especially, Camiguin island where we are which is a beautiful, beautiful island," she said

Amici di Don Bosco (Amici)





 

(Image from http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/86/ee/a9/amici-counter.jpg )



History:

Amici was said to have evloved from the printing press canteen started by Salesian Italian missionary Fr. Gianluigi Colombo. Amici di Don Bosco was established in 2001. Today, Amici brings you the authentic Italian dining experience that your friends and family will always enjoy.


Locations:
Don Bosco. Tomas Morato. Megamall. Greenhills. Alabang Town Center. Ayala Triangle Gardens.


Type:
Cassual Dining


Website:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amici-Philippines/156901777655575?ref=ts&sk=info#!/pages/Amici-Philippines/156901777655575


Review:

The Experience 7/10:
Amici is the Italian for "Friends", hence this may be a nice place to meet-up with frineds as beer is also served here.


The taste of the food served was authentic, although I was looking for the vinaigrette and olive oil to start the good meal. The poignant scent of these two was quite missing for the complete Italian experience.


Value for Money 7/10:
The price was quite affordable though. Overall this is quite an affordable place where you can bring your family and friends.

The Service 5/10:
The place was quite crowded during lunch time. This was quite evident through the staff as they looked undermanned and you can hardly get a waiter for a follow-up order or for the bill.

Time to Get the Bill 5/10:
Around 10 minutes.

What we had:





(Image from http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amici-Philippines/156901777655575?ref=ts&sk=info#!/pages/Amici-Philippines/156901777655575  )



Mela Prosciutto Insalata

Value for Money: 6/10 (Fair)

Taste: 7/10 (Good)

Presentation: 5/10 (Passing)



(Image from http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amici-Philippines/156901777655575?ref=ts&sk=info#!/pages/Amici-Philippines/156901777655575 )

Spaghetti ai Tesori del Mare

Value for Money: 6/10 (Fair)

Taste: 7/10 (Good)

Presentation: 5/10 (Passing)

(Image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/princesah/4425435667/  )

Spaghetti Carbonara

Value for Money: 6/10 (Fair)

Taste: 7/10 (Good)

Presentation: 5/10 (Passing)

Capture the Moment

live forever young...
but learn.

Sampaguita

There was a strong rain outside and there's this little girl trying to sell a lace of sampaguita to church goers.