#BeyondValenzuela: Ugali ko na talagang icheck ang label kung saan gawa ung binibili ko - literal na binabasa ang ingredients at location kung saan nanggagaling.
Friday, March 15, 2024
Made in Valenzuela: Theo & Philo Artisan Chocolates
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Valenzuelano Reads "Wild Song" by Candy Gourlay
Read Wild Song by Candy Gourlay |
Reading has always been a part of my daily life. With a filled up schedule, I usually bring a book or two wherever I go so just in case there is some idle time (i.e. falling in line at South Supermarket or at the ATM), I can easily flip open a book.
Thus, I am truly thrilled to be part of a book blog tour hosted by Ms. Zarah Gagatiga. The book sent to me all the way from Laguna was Candy Gourlay's Wild Song. I have read Candy Gourlay's previous books, Tall Story and Shine, which I enjoyed. The said titles are also part of the recommended title pool in our LIS 114 and 115 classes at the University of the Philippines School of Library and Information Studies.
Wild Song shares with us the fictional story of the Bontok community set during the Philippine colonial period. It centers on Luki, who is described as a fierce Bontok teen who is not your stereotypical village girl and Samkad, a young village warrior. It talks about their travel from Bontok to the United States, their stay and experiences at the Saint Louis World Trade Fair, and then their trip back home.
Let me share with you three realizations that I had while reading Wild Song:
Be proud of your roots. "It's our way of life. I am proud of it!", Samkad said. An argument between Samkad, the young warrior who loves Luki, and Kinyo, who has been working with the American Mr. Jenks, was on. Kinyo described the Bontok life as a tiny life but Samkad views it the other way around. As I was reading this part, I have to say that I am leaning towards Samkad's side. Yes, I believe that each one of us must develop and improve ourselves but we should also think about the community which raised us as we try to achieve our own personal advancement.
Mothers are our anchor. "...Mother, I was so tired..."."It was incredible, Mother". All throughout the book, one can read how Luki narrated her daily life to her dead mother. It showed how close she is to her mom. Close family ties has been known to be a Filipino trait thus the personal conversations that Luki has in every chapter made it more evident.
Home is where the heart is. The last chapter entitled "Home" struck me to the core. The journey back home of Luki, Samkad, Sidong, and Tilin resonated deeply in me. I asked myself - why am I so affected?
We lost our father to COVID. Tatay was living in the United States then and has expressed that he wants to go home for good. Valenzuela, for us, is home. But then the pandemic came and hit the family badly. It was truly difficult for us not to be physically there for him. Bringing Tatay home was a challenge. I had to stop reading and wipe off tears when Sidong said "We didn't leave Tilin behind." - Tilin who passed away while at the United States too. We bring our kin home no matter how difficult it might be.
Wild Song is a sequel of Bone Talk, a book focusing more about Samkad. I haven't read this one yet thus after enjoying Wild Song, I knew that I got to read the other book too. For now, I hum the story of this Bontok girl - powerful, brilliant, and brave.
---
My sincerest thank you to Candy Gourlay for this book and Zarah Gagatiga for the opportunity to be part of a Book Blog Tour. Such a great a read!
Monday, September 18, 2023
Carnivorous Plants in Your Science Classroom: Fyukinta's Flants x Monster Mama PH
The Science class will receive the following:
1. 2 pitchers plants
2. 2 sundew pots
3. 1 grow kit
4. 1 small grow light
5. Care sheets
Mechanics:
1. Recipient Science class must be:
- Grade 4 and up (Private or Public)
- Within the Northern Area of Metro Manila (Quezon City, Marikina, CAMANAVA)
- Be able to provide brief group observations and photos of the plants in a simple log at least thrice (3x) in a period of 2 months (Upon receipt, Middle, Last week of the 2nd month).
3. Students are encouraged to make content (photos. videos, journals) about the plants and attach these to the logs. You may go beyond the 3 minimum logs mentioned in No.1.
4 . Shipping / delivery will be handled by us.
5. The chosen teacher and class must send their weekly log to us via email.
6. The teacher and class will allow permission for the logs to be shared on both Fyukinta's Flants and Monster Mama PH social media accounts.
7. The Google form will close by September 30, 2023, Saturday. The Recipient Science class will be announced on the first week of October 2023.
Wednesday, March 9, 2022
Reading the Carnivorous Plant Newsletter's 50th Anniversary Issue
Carnivorous Plant Diseases, Pests, and Cures with Damon Collingsworth |
Growing Byblis Successfully with John Ende, February 22, 2022, 8pm-9pm EST |
Carnivorous Plant Newsletter: Journal of the International Carnivorous Plant Society Volume 51, No.1 (March 2022) Allen Lowrie (1948-2021) is on the front cover - taking a close up photo of a Drosera. |
The contents of this landmark issue. |
Saturday, September 18, 2021
2021 UP SLIS Freshman Welcome Assembly
Nung isang araw, nung pauwi ako mula sa SM North EDSA, napabili kasi ako ng laptop ng bata, sumakay ako ng Grab car. At karaniwan, para pamatay buryo sa mabagal na traffic, nakikipagkwentuhan ako sa driver. Buhay pamilya, kumusta sa trabaho, may love life ka ba o wala. Nung malapit-lapit na sa bahay, nabanggit ni Kuya, “Nakakatuwang makipagkwentuhan habang nagraride, ano? Nasasabi natin yung gusto nating ikwento hanggang matapos ang byahe.” Sa dulo ng biyahe, karaniwan nasasabi ko “Kuys, salamat sa pagshare ng kwento mo sa akin ha.
Minsan pa nga, may show and tell.
May manong na nagpakita ng picture sa wallet niya, nakatoga ung babae sa lumang
picture – proud na proud siya na nasa Bangko Sentral na ang anak niya,
nagtatrabaho. Kaya napaisip ako – sa loob ng labinglimang minuto na pwede akong
magbahagi sa inyo, na parang maikling Grab ride mula UP Diliman papuntang
Trinoma kapag hindi rush hour, ano ang pwede kong ishare sa inyo?
Hindi ko malaman kung saan
magsisimula pero susubukan kong tahiin ang mga kwento.
Simulan natin sa pinaka-basic. Anak
ako ng isang masipag na taxi driver, hindi siya college graduate. Si nanay
naman ang siyang nakatapos ng kolehiyo – isang med tech. Magkatulong nila
kaming itinaguyod na magkakapatid. Sabi nga sa biruan noon, nagsimula lang daw
na eskinita ang noo ni tatay. Nung naging tatlo na kami, abay level up na sa Paliparan
ng eroplano. They tried all they can to provide the best educational opportunity
for us three. Noong fourth year high
school ako, nastroke ang tatay habang bumibyahe, buti nalang pauwi na sila noon
nina Nanay. Isa yun sa mga naging dahilan para ilagay ko bilang first choice na
kurso ang Occupational Therapy sa UP Manila– para makatulong kay Tatay. Sumunod
ang Veterinary Medicine dahil sa likas na hilig ko sa pag-aalaga ng hayop,
bagamat ayaw ni Nanay ito dahil sa Los Banos pa, mapapalayo ako sa pamilya. Sa awa ng Diyos, nakapasok ako sa UP sa aking
first choice na isang quota course. Pero sa unang sem palang, ramdam ko na na
hindi laan para sa akin ang daang tatahakin ko, kaya sa ikalawang semester ay
naghanda na ako sa paglipat. Geology o Library Science? Ung pag-iisip na
mapapalibutan ako ng libro at mga kwento ay pasok na sa banga. Tsaka simple
lang naman akong estudyante noon. Tahimik lang. Medyo di aprub noong una si
Nanay sa kinuha kong kurso noon dahil hindi niya pa ito masyadong alam. 2001
was among the years kung saan unti-unti palang na nakikilala ang Library
Science. Library Science? Ano yun? Ahhh, okay. Mga ganyang gaming na Q and A ang madalas kong sagutin kumpara ngayon. Noong ininterview ako ni Mam Faderon, malamang
nasabi ko rin, in one way or another, I love books. Pero that very interview,
noong nameet ko ang isa sa mga hinahangaan kong tao hanggang ngayon sa larangan
ng library science, I knew it sealed the deal. This is where I belong.
Isa sa mga di ko rin malilimutan ay
ang makaubos hiningang hagdan paakyat sa SLIS, sa Main Library. Matinding
cardio performance sa tuwing aakyat para sa mga klase, kapag kakain bababa ka
papuntang canteen o kaya sa Beach House (kung saan masarap kumain noon ng
barbecue) tapos aakyat ka ulit para sa susunod mong klase. Kapag malelate ka na
para sa susunod mong klase dagdag na calories burned dahil sa pagmamadali.
Maattribute ko ang pagiging fit and fab ng batch namin noon at kahit papaano’y maayos
kong creative shot noong pagraduate na ako dahil sa apat na taong staircase
training na ito. Kahit sino siguro sa mga prof ninyo ngayon sa SLIS would agree
to that.
At lahat tayo magkakaroon ng
kanya-kanyang kwento sa mga subjects natin sa LIS. Isa sa mga pinakaunang
subjects (malamang) na kukunin ninyo ay ang LIS 51. Nagkaroon kami ng
assignment noon na magdala ng bagay o simbolo na related sa library science.
Noong sumunod na klase, nagdala ako ng logo ng FILA shoes na ginupit ko mula sa
pares ng lumang sapatos. Nashook ang prof ko dito. Gusto ko nalang lumubog sa
silya na kinuupuan ko noon haha – IFLA pala, hindi FILA ang sinabi sa klase.
Kung sa online class pwede tayong mag-off cam saglit, haha, ito live and alive.
Isa ito sa mga di ko malilimutang epic fails na nagawa ko noong nasa kolehiyo pa
ko na wag na nating alalahanin dahil mahaba-habang ang listahan. Mga bagay na na
nakakahiya noon pero pinagtatawanan ko nalang ngayon. At kinukwento pa. Ayun, kahit
papano sumabit sa dulo na may bling-bling, cum laude po.
Sa bawat Librarian Licensure Exam
Review naman sa PATLS hindi nawawala ang kwento ko tungkol kay Nanay. Nadiagnose
po kasi siya na may cancer noong panahon na malapit na ang exams. Sa mga araw
mismo ng exam ang Philippine General Hospital ang nagsilbing hotel ko noon. Nabutasan
pa ng gulong si Tatay noong hinatid niya ako sa MLQU. Pagod ka na mentally,
emotionally drained pa. I think I was experiencing my first super lowest point
during this time. Isa lang naman ang
wish ko noon, gusto ko lang talagang pumasa. One take lang. Wala ng iba. Noong
nirelease ang results ng exam, binigyan ako ng cake pero di ko akalaing may
icing on top pa. Sa isip ko noon, kahit papaano naging masaya si Nanay.
Eventually, ayun, nagtake rin ako
ng MLIS. Gabi ang mga klase at sadyang nakakapagod ang biyahe mula Valenzuela
paQC at pauwi pabalik. Nakikipagbunuan para makasakay ng bus kaya minsan, o
madalas, feeling ko amoy mandirigma na ako pagdating ng bahay. Ilang taon din
bago dumating sa puntong nagiisip ako ng thesis topic. Hindi ko akalain na sa isa sa
mga simpleng pagpasok ko sa klase noon ang magiging susi para magkaroon ako ng
isusulat. Literal na pagpasok sa mga pintong dilaw noon sa SLIS kung saan
nakakita ako ng papel, isang ad, na may guhit ng isang bumbilya sa gitna. Sa
isip ko, may gumagamit pa ba ng bumbilya sa mga library? Kumusta ang kuryente? Kumakaway
rin ba ang Meralco? At mula doon, naisulat ko ang thesis ko tungkol sa library
sustainability at greening na hindi pa masyadong napag-uusapan noon. Kaya kung
sino mang org yun o estudyante during that time. Salamat at nakagraduate na
best thesis.
Bitbit kong lahat ng natutunan kong
ito sa trabaho bilang head librarian sa aming local na pamantasan hanggang sa personal kong buhay. Hahasain kayo sa maraming bagay ng bawat klase
na kukunin ninyo sa SLIS. Namulat ako sa blogging sa huling sem ko sa MLIS noon
– assignment na pinagawa sa amin sa klase ni Mam Sharon Esposo na isa sa mga
lodi sa larangan ng Library Science na sadyang hahangaan ninyo rin. Effort ito
para sa akin kasi wala pa namang maayos na internet connection sa amin sa
bahay. Noong mga panahong din yun sinimulan ko ang pagsusulat ko online
patungkol sa Valenzuela, bilang isang Valenzuelanong walang alam sa kanyang
siyudad. May isang dekada ang lumipas, kinilala ng lungsod ang blog na One
Valenzuela at pinarangalan po ng Gawad Dr. Pio Valenzuela para sa Social Media.
Ang nasabing award po ay siyang pinakamataas na iginagawad sa isang
Valenzuelano para sa kanyang ambag sa lungsod.
Magulo ba ang mga kwento ko? Doesn’t
makes sense po ano? Dahil ganun naman talaga ang kwentuhan sa Grab car – patsi-patsi.
Talun-talon hanggang makarating ka sa destinasyon mo.
Pero sa totoo lang, sa dulo lang
natin madudugtung-dugtong lahat kapag nadaanan mo na ang mga highlights at
lowlights ng adventure mo. Sa dulo mo lang malalaman at masasabi na, “Ay, kaya
pala”.
Kaya ung mga assignments at
projects ng mga prof ninyo? Gawin nyo lang ng maigi – madalas obvious kung
bakit pinagagawa, pero minsan hindi. Sa case ko, naging mas obvious lang siya
at tumatak higit sampung taon matapos kong makuha ang aking diploma.
Ung kwento tungkol sa bumbilya na
ad sa pinto na naging bright idea sa
thesis ko noon? Doon ko narealize na, ung mga simpleng bagay sa paligi natin,
sa buhay natin, ay nagtataglay ng halaga na di mo lubos akalain. Hindi lang
natin madalas napapansin.
Ung kwentong ospitel namin nina
Nanay ay mananatiling istorya ng pag-ibig at determinasyon. May mga pangyayari sa
buhay na di natin hawak pero dapat daanan. Palalakasin ka ng panahon na
inilagak mo sa UP, magtiwala ka lang.
Ung kwento ng FILA na IFLA pala? Ang
mga pagkakamali na gaya nito ay ebidensya na sinusubukan mo, hindi ka naggive-up.
Ang mga pagkakamali ay mayroong kapangyarihan para gawin kang mas maigi at mas
mabuting tao.
Ung staircase training paakyat ng
SLIS? Isa lang ang masasabi ko rito. Walang easy access na elevator para
mareach natin ang goals natin sa buhay. Kailangan nating umakyat ng hagdan. At
habang umaakyat ka ng hagdan, masayang may kasama. Chika-chika lang paakyat, di
ninyo pansin sablay time na.
At ung pagpasok ko bilang isang
estudyante noon sa SLIS? Pinakikita nito na ang buhay ay hindi isang diretsong
linya. Minsan kailangan mong lumiko pakanan o pakaliwa upang makita ang daang sadyang
para sa iyo.
You might sometimes feel lost at
some point during your travel. But do know that it will all make sense in the
end.
Kaya, dear freshies, enjoy the
ride until you reach the destination. Kwentuhan tayo ulit next time. Warm hugs
at welcome to UP SLIS.
Tuesday, September 8, 2020
Valenzuelano of the Month: Chef Mark Joseph Bartolome of Brgy. Malanday, Valenzuela City
Food is life and One Valenzuela believes that you will also agree with this notion. With that said, isn't it also interesting to know life behind the plate? Today we got the chance to know more about a young and vibrant chef of Valenzuela City who is making waves in TikTok - Chef Mark Joseph "Marky" Bartolome.
Can you tell us more about your culinary journey?
“I first started when I finish schooling at De La Salle-College of St.
Benilde with the course of BS-HRIM majoring in Culinary Arts. Then I got absorb
by our school's full operating hotel upon completion of my Internship there.
Worked there for a couple years as a full-time, entry-level cook.
Afterward, I applied and got hired as a chef in a 200-seater restaurant in Singapore which specialized in Mediterranean Cuisine. Did my time, and went back home to work at a 5-Star Hotel in Ortigas Center called EDSA Shangri-La Manila.
After some time, I thought about working as a chef on a cruise, so I applied to an Agency called Magsaysay. I did all the necessary requirement process and got accepted in a German-based Cruise company called AIDA Cruises.
From then on I worked my way up and finally went home to settle down and open my own restaurant called 171 Bistro.”
Your videos po on TikTok are really super cool! What made you try the app?
"My TikTok handle is Chef Marky under the link @chefmarkjoseph and my total number of followers as of today is 50.1k with a total of 270.7k likes. My video with the highest views now has a total of 1.53million views.
My videos are all about cooking and being a chef. I do cooking videos, tips in working and applying as a chef on land and sea, and other stuff related to my profession. I strictly stray away from doing Tiktok challenges like dancing and more dancing, simply because I wanted my page to look and feel professional as it is.
The only reason I could really think of on why I started doing videos on TikTok is because of boredom really, boredom brought by the Community Quarantine and the threat of Corona. I never thought about documenting what I cook before, but when I saw some videos made by other chefs I suddenly had the urge to do it as well. It was hard at first, nagkakakanda bulol-bulol ka in uttering words, pero in time talagang masasanay ka.
Honestly I enjoy it really - everyday iba ulam namin. What I actually shoot is our lunch and dinner for the day.
My goal right now is to inspire younger generations na you can be anything you wish to be as long as you work really hard for it, especially sa mga younger aspiring chefs, I always tell them that you really need to be passionate in order to be great kasi most of the days talaga, love for your craft is the only thing that would get you by."
You own a local restaurant in Valenzuela City. Please share more about it to us.
Honestly I grew up eating KFC, fam-favorite siya talaga. Word to describe it is unique, sila lang gumagamit talaga ng pressure-fryer kaya soft and juicy on the inside while crispy on the outside."
How does cooking make you feel?
"As written in my social media profile: Cooking is not just my passion, it is also my obsession.
Cooking for me is a way of expressing myself to others. It is actually forming to become a bridge for me to inspire others especially the ones who wish to undertake the same track as mine."
Thursday, April 23, 2020
RAMADAN 2020: Fibering up the Vital Suhoor Meal while Staying at Home
The overnight oat bowl is a fitting suhoor meal. |
Oatmeal porridge as a pre-dawn meal. |
Monday, April 13, 2020
What to do, What to do: Life during the Enhanced Community Quarantine
In Photo: Lucky Me Pancit Canton na ni-level up! |
Some of the books that One Valenzuela is reading. These are from Big Bad Wolf 2020. |
Completed: Run with the Wind. Being a running enthusiast, One Valenzuela just loves watching this. |
Exercise. Magkaka-abs na yata ako sa pisngi kakakain! Yes, we're developing some mean abs on our cheeks as we kept on overstaying in the kitchen and munching on food. Kidding aside, do not forget to do some cardio and stretching exercises to burn some of those calories.
Do home exercises, para galaw-galaw rin pag may time! |
Stop and smell the roses. Tend your garden. It is therapeutic to talk to plants. One Valenzuela has been into urban gardening for quite a while now and producing some leafy vegetables and tea leaves for home consumption is very rewarding. Nowadays, she has been into carnivorous plants like Venus Flytraps and Pitcher Plants which are now part of her small scale urban garden.
Stargazing. The skies are clear during the summertime. Do you have a balcony? If yes, why not lay out a mat and look for constellations?
A post from Twitter where fellow Valenzuelanos help out medical frontliners. Maraming salamat po! |
Wednesday, December 25, 2019
Hinahanap-hanap Kita! Where to Find Your Favorite Food after the Fiesta
Address: 198 Coloong, Valenzuela City (near Malanday)
What to Find: Authentic Japanese Food | Recommended: Ramen, Bento Meals, Maki and Takoyaki!
See Facebook page here
Arch Shawarma Express
Address: Marulas, Valenzuela City
What to Find? Cardiac Bulalo and Pares
See Facebook page here
Teatas and Teatos Milk Tea House
V Sports Bar
Address: ARCA North Center, McArthur Highway, Karuhatan, Valenzuela City
See Facebook page here
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