Life Under Construction

Major confusion! hahaha… that’s how school started.  Went to Fatima Tue am only to find that the so-called orientation for duty happened weeks earlier and that duty sked would be available only by next week. The only good thing that came out of it was that I met with previous classmate Neri Lorenzo=)  At last, a friend to help me sort out Fatima life all over again.  Went back Thursday - at sinulit ang tuition ko heheehe…  from 3:30 to 7:30pm.  hmmm, I thought I’d have it easy at least for the first day.  Found new friends/classmates - Jalene & Roselia.  The girls easily poured out their life stories leaving me wondering if I really look that trustworthy.  Heck, may be they’re just that open.  I almost forgot - went with Tin grocery-shopping before school.  Had to mention it just to give you an idea how bangag i got during my shift.  Hindi na sanay sa konting tulog ang katawan ko.  So when I arrived at home around 10am the next morning.  I overslept by an hour! jeez, had to take a taxi to edsa lrt station. was still late but at least 15 mins lang=) I arrived to find my prof already giving a lecture— sheesh! good thing I can just give him a diskette to save lectures to. My last prof - Sir MJ, has to be one of those angels sent down by God. Well, this is my first impression - all around nice guy, OC and kinda cute. And so another schoolgirl crush.  Hmm, not bad;p  All my profs seem nice and accomodating.  Finally got my sked for nursing duty.  Thank God I start out with Skills Lab.  You have to remember I’ve been out of the running for a year so it would be nice to start out w/ lab setting before going to hospitals with no clue.  Got to the office in record time.  Bangag pa rin… but i’ll get used to it.  Gave my sked to my AMO, Mama Mi who handed it to MO Carlo.  Honestly, didnt like the guy at the start.  Seems like such a snob, but hey, right now I could kiss his feet & Fabs’ too (yeah right!)  They got me into another team because of my sked needs=)  Yipee! and they’ll be able to do flex overrides;p  now i dont have to resign ahead of time…  yes, i still plan on breathing and living a normal life hehehe… i’ll probably do it once lm graduates.  I cant honestly tell.  I’m too dependent on my moolah.  It’s tough enough with my budget and bills.  Paano na lang kung di na ko nagtatrabaho? No more gimiks (they’re rare as it is).  And my dad breathing down my back over household chores…. uh-uh no way!  After feeling blessed, time to go back to stress=P Right after Fri shift went to Tito Pedring’s interment.  LM and I sang with a choir of older ladies in traditional pasyon vocal groove.  Sheeks, na-twilight zone ata ako.  In between shedding tears, I found the music ridiculous and laughable.  Can you imagine a band/musiko playing happy songs during a burial while my Lola Itang keeps shouting "Anak ko! Anak ko!"?  Despite the musical farce, I got to bond with relatives I havent met in a long time.  I’m thankful that after that heartbreaking scene in church and memorial Lola was pretty calm back at the house.  We had picture taking w/cousins and other relatives. Finally had some sleep - 2 to 3 hours I think.  Then Don wakes me up so we can go back down to Manila.  On the way down, we had Tita Deling and Tito Jibby with us who had us laughing over their escapades w/ Ma and Pa back in younger days.  Hmm, ang galing ng bonding ng pamilya ni Mama - kahit yung magpipinsan parang magkakapatid… unlike our generation.  We (my siblings and i) tend to keep to ourselves since we only see our relatives around twice a year.  I’m not into the family tree either if you know what I mean.  I don’t trace how I’m related to a certain person. I’m more into friends who I meet often and meet minds with. We finally got back to the house and planned to watch the lake house.  something came up with don and when roj, lm & i reached greenbelt ala ng seats.  lm and I tried atc but the line was soooo long.  im totally bangag at this point.  Just went to SB (finally used that last stub for banana fraps) in BF and read Preview & Marie Clair with LM.  Went back home midnight and downloaded songs.  Now Im back at it.  Phew, such an eventful week!  Cant wait for the next week - this one’s really gonna be my initiation.  a full week of classes (egad!) + work (new sked/ new team).  I hope i make it out of this unscathed;p

My earliest memory of Tito Pedring is welcoming us in the kitchen.  Asking us what we wanted to eat.  It was always a feast when we went to Luisiana.  Hotdogs, ham, ice cream cakes, freshly-baked bread, ice candies and a multitude of hard candies that had all these sayings.  He used to manage a candy factory;p hehehe, so you get how I became such a foodie.  We were always on a tight budget when we were kids - kaya payatot dati.  So you can imagine, how much we enjoyed going to the province.  Now I can’t imagine him not being there.

Tito was the resident Ernie Baron of the Edeza-Co clan.  He didnt graduate from college to work - making sure all his siblings got to finish college w/ the exception of Tito Amor who’d rather work.  He was always thinking of his family and yet never had his own. Ironic isnt it?  The family brain not finishing his studies.  I could still see him looking at all these appliances when we went to Duty Free - reading all the labels, figuring how they worked.  The house in the province was a place for his experiments.  I remember drinking this chemical thinking it was water in the ref.  Upon swallowing a whole glass, that did it.  Had to down a gallon of water just to make sure i didnt get poisoned.  Hay, the absent-minded professor.  Anyway, he’s always full of ideas.  A few months before, he was trying to convince me to become a doctor after going through nursing.  Sabi niya, ‘Kahit saan ka magpupunta, hindi ka magugutom.  Parati kang in-demand.  Pagbubuksan ka ng pinto.  Di katulad ng mga attorney, maraming kaaway’  hehehe, sorry lawyers… 

Going back a year or so, we thought he was finally getting married… He was secretly seeing Tita Lynn. I don’t know about you but i now detest this secrecy.  I felt she was ashamed of him.  Inalok siya ng kasal tapos last-minute siyang bibitiw.  Anong klase ba yan?  Of course, it might have been for the best.  Given what has happened after.  Anyway, we’ve already paid the downpayment for the church.  Jesus the Way, the Truth & the Life - wow, bongga si Tito ah…. Sabi niya nga, kahit saang simbahan basta gusto ni Tita Lynn…  Didnt know, he was a romantic too till then.  I was looking forward to a genius cousin from him.  Well, sometimes things just dont work out…

Diabetes has been with him most of his life - ever since he was 15.  Mahilig kasi sa pagkain.  It wasnt what killed him though.  We found out there were tumors in his brain last year.  Mama and Tita Lorna were told that it could be come and go.  Tita Lorna, as a doctor, knew it was going to be a couple of months.  It didnt make it any easier that he had to suffer amputations… first, a big toe; then, two more… only to find the whole lower leg has to go.  Dang it, these so-called specialists!  So, he stayed at our place for a couple of weeks.  Got to have a couple of conversations with him, circling around the miracles of virgin coconut oil, the hydration method of raising vegetables, career moves, transforming the Luisiana house into a retreat house.  Everything always made sense.  Everything a good idea. 

Now, I could only sigh, shed a few tears for the great man has passed. Yesterday afternoon. Ma was in a hurry to go up the mountain before lunch.  May problema daw.  Never thought that it was going to happen.  The Edeza-Co bunch are a bunch of positive thinkers.  Parating may paraan ang lahat.  My bro Don told me Mama was shedding buckets of tears over the phone.  Roj and I were asleep when she called.  Mama is a very strong woman.  She’d only shed a tear or two over anger or frustration.  But yesterday was something else.  I cant help worrying over Lola.  Lola Itang has always had a good constitution for an 80+ year old woman.  She can live on her own but I’m hoping she can make it through the death of her eldest.

Tito Pedring was not a very religious man, but he believed in spiritual beings.  A regular fan of Licauco (?).  He prayed for members of the family who would go through board exams and the like. Did church offerings each and everytime.  He now has under his belt 5 engineers, a CPA and a doctor. Pinaaral niya pa rin kasi pati mga pamangkin.  What an accomplishment!  Mama’s the CPA;p Simple lang ang kanyang pamumuhay dahil dito… I pray that wherever he is, he’s happy and contented.  May God open his gates and throw him a party when they meet.  Only a few people will merit such a welcome and that would be my Tito Pedring.  Here’s to a life lived for your fellow man=)   

Spicy Tuna Carbonara - a dish I’ve always looked forward to during breakfasts at Mito’s place. Nobody makes it better than Tita Tetchie;p  Since I’ve always been lazy when it comes to writing, I’ll type this instead. Why am I doing this?  It’s really for me.  I’m such a Dori that I forget even my best cooking moments hehehe…  Ingredients and directions to my favorite carbonara=) Good for 10 -15 pax. 

Ingredients: 1 large can Hot & Spicy Century Tuna, garlic, 1 small Ques-O bar or any cheddar cheese (shredded), salt & pepper to taste, 2 cans Cream of Mushroom (condensed), 2 cans of water, 1-2 cans of mushroom (pieces & stem), 1 tetra pack all-purpose cream (not really into milk but if you want, 1 small can of evap alternative), 1 large pack Royal spaghetti noodles

Warning: The directions are intended only for moi… Reminders for the forgetful, remember?  So, follow at your own risk heeheehee….

Directions: Dikdikin ang bawang hehehe… Strain tuna and use tuna oil to sautee garlic. Cook garlic until only the oil part is left (you notice that there’s this brown watery substance at the beginning, make sure it disappears; of course, garlic is still there- dont wait till garlic gets brown. baka sunog na yan!) Add tuna then sprinkle w/ salt and pepper to taste.  Halu-halo…  Add two cans of condensed cream of mushroom.  Mix well.  Add in shredded cheese & pieces of mushroom.  Cook in low-medium fire - Just to melt the cheese.  It’s better if you take some time.  I gave it 30 mins - mixing the sauce once in a while so it doesnt stick at the bottom.  (Swear, I love the cheesy mixture!)  When the mixture’s smooth already (as in no lumps, pls!), pour in all-purpose creme.  Mix well for a minute or two then presto!  I usually put a bit of rosemary and thyme, but it’s not really necessary.   

I’m waiting for LM to finish the dishes…  Another Sunday has passed me by and I feel like a giant clock is ticking away in my head.  I keep ignoring it but it’s just there.  School is coming!  And as any student will admit, the first sign that it’s coming is when you buy …. school shoes=) hehehe, there’s the dread and there’s the fun.  I’d choose to look at the fun side anytime.  After mass and lector meeting (which was actually dress-bashing affair), PILE w/ LM agreed to meet and watch ‘All About Love’.  While waiting,  LM and I went shoe-hunting.  Finally, got a serious pair of white nursing shoes for a bargain price!  umm, nevermind that it’s a size larger (hey, what are those corks for?!)  LM as usual didnt find anything… yet. LM’s feet are reeeaallly long… jeez, they’re thin and long.  Daig si Ronald McDonald;p  Nakanuod na kami ng sine at humiwalay na siya w/ her barkada when I found 2 good pairs of giant femme shoes at Rockport.   I was already congratulating myself only to find that LM was on her way home.  Things happen for a reason, they always say.  So I go home; then, subbed for another lector.  Fortunately my partner, Jim, was a nice dude.  There are just some people who are good friend material — magaan lang talaga yung loob mo kahit di mo gaano kilala.  Anyway i rushed after mass to get LM back to the mall and thank goodness both pairs fit her so she actually had a choice.  Doesnt it feel better when you have at least one other option?  Anyway, ate’s mission is accomplished. I got my little big sister her school shoes.  Have to admit they cost the earth for me - but, mama’s doing the other half hehehe… And this night ends with me browsing endlessly thru friendster getting updates on (who else?) friends.  LM’s done with the dishes… Ciao!

Suddenly came up with the idea of writing my adventures on cooking as I was staring at my strawberry milk and pink sopas.  Yes, I was seeing pink for lunch;p   I’d never thought much about cooking.  I was more of an eater to tell you honestly.  At the start, nobody in the family showed much interest other than Mama.  Always necessary to feed the family delicious but affordable fare.  Don followed suit.  Pa was into the nutritious but weird mixtures that were supposed to be edible hehehe…  Why get into something that you don’t have talent in, right?  I guess fate has a way of steering you into it.

I’ve always loved Italian and Japanese food.  Ma was into Pinoy and Chinese.  This is where it starts.  I could only go out so much.  I didn’t want my parents to think I was wasting my money.  And, sometimes, there’s that wish you can share it with family and friends.   Good thing my best bud, Larsky cooks so I got some simple instructions and there you go….  I did my version of marinara; then, carbonara.  As a teen I’ve been forced to cook your regular Pinoy ulam but didnt have much heart into it.  As I said, forced. Last year when I started at HSBC, I had the luck of having cooking teammates, Tin & Kaye.  Both were into cooking veggies - simple pero masarap.  Tin shared that it was in the Italian seasoning.  Clueless ang lola nyo but I filed it away in my head.   Then, came the Ragu tomato sauce which I loved looking at in Makati supermarket.  I had to try it;p  Now here I am doing experiments in the kitchen.  Pa already had thyme and rosemary (these two are my secret weapons!)  I was into veggies so I thought of all the veggies that were ok in pasta - mushroom, olives, white onion, garlic, bellpepper.  Daig pa ng pizza ito.  The herbs were accidental.  I just happened to see them wasting away on a shelf.  They reminded me of my much loved oregano so there. Cheese is a must.  Of course, nothing less than olive oil. Maarte ba?  hehehe, ganyan talaga….  Hindi ako masipag na tao pero mahilig lang talaga kumain.  Di ka naman magsasayang ng oras sa di mo kakainin di ba?  Next thing you know, baon ko ito sa office.  Teammates appreciate it.  Who doesnt love free food right? hehehe..  So on special occasions, I cook.

Today’s sopas was instructed by seasoned (as in all ways hehehe) officemate, Daddy Berns;p  For some reason, I cook on a large scale.  Parating sobra sa pamilya ko.  Jeez, para akong ginutom nung bata.  Kaya nakikinabang ang mga ka-opisina’t kaibigan.  Sabi ko nga, there’s nothing like free food. Since my last attempt was too salty for Papa (just went thru bypass last year kaya di pwede masyadong maalat), I tried less salt and just added hotdog (got it from mama).  Put in the evap and there you have it — pink sopas!  The accidental pinakbet happened when I came from work to see that there was a plastic of mixed veggies, a few slices of pork and garlic on the kitchen counter.  It goes without saying that whoever finds it first will have to cook it.  There I was thinking that it was going to be a boring fare… then, boom!  May alamang nga pala sa ref… yippee, I miss pinakbet.  I don’t know how to cook pinakbet.  All I know is that it requires alamang.  Kaya yun hinalo ko lang, pakbet na=)  The mechado-ba-ito happened when I had leftover sauce from my tomato chicken viand.  Sinama ko kasi lahat ng parte ng manok – pati yung innards (hmm, tinola can never be complete w/o balun-balunan and liver).  I slow cooked beef (soup bones); then put in tomato paste; then the leftover sauce.  In the end, it tasted like mechado— must’ve been the chicken liver hehehe…