Homemade Pancakes (The Walang Hilamos Edition)

Small circle, small circle... big circle!!!

Good morning everyone!

This is one of those days that I woke up hungry (okay, that's most of the days). From bed, without washing my face or brushing my teeth, I asked Nanay (who was still in bed) to make pancakes. I have been wanting to eat pancakes since we have an abundance of maple syrup at home (that's good reason enough to want pancakes, right?). But I think she was still tired from yesterday's baking. She didn't respond.

So, I went back to bed. But, after a few minutes, she asked me to get up and help her make pancakes! (Mothers are the most self-sacrificing beings in the planet.)

It turned out that she still wants me to do it. She just gave me her very old, fusty notebook which contains the recipes of our well-loved foods (actually, this notebook would pass for an heirloom).

AND, I'm gonna share it with you! This is the "walang-hilamos edition" since all the ingredients are readily available at home, very much suited for those who just woke up one morning and want pancakes:

1 cup of all purpose flour
2 tsp of baking powder
1 cup of milk (evaporated or powder - whatever you have in your kitchen)
1 egg
water (estimate, depending on your desired consistency)

Just sift the dry ingredients and blend in the wet ingredients (wet doesn't sound good). And mix.
Pour into non-grease pan and wait until it turns golden brown.

You may opt to put butter and sugar with the pancake mixture.
Since we have a Tatay who is diabetic, we decided not to. Instead, we generously smothered our pancakes with slabs of butter and teaspoons of maple syrup (we have many at home - bleh).

Make sure to have a younger sister who can assist you so you can eat pancakes ahead of everyone. (See photo. Thanks, Beng.) Have a happy day ahead!

When God Tells You To "Wait Around"

We live in a world where things have to happen or else, nothing will happen. If it doesn't happen now, it will not happen later.

But what if God tells you to "wait around"? What will you do?

I discovered this verse from Isaiah 30:18:

But God's not finished. He's waiting around to be gracious to you.
     He's gathering strength to show mercy to you.
God takes the time to do everything right - everything.
     Those who wait around for him are [blessed]. MSG

Isaiah 30 is actually God’s message for Judah, the southern kingdom when Israel split into two. Judah was a stubborn nation. It made agreements (in businesses, personal relationships) without inquiring the Lord. These wrong moves piled up and added more sin. As a result, this had brought them shame and embarrassment - with no help given to them.

So, the Lord told them the verse above. And He asked them to wait around.

Picking up from the entire chapter, these are the things God is inviting us to do while waiting:

We inquire the Lord. We seek the Lord when we make decisions and plans. (vv. 1-5)

We should never, never get into something without asking the Lord. Whether that be a career move, a financial decision, or a personal/romantic relationship. Seeking God's guidance should always be our first step.

We listen to the prophets. We listen to the voice of God. We want to hear God. (vv. 6-7)

It is just unfortunate that this generation does not want to talk about God anymore. We find God corny, jologs, and even offensive. We even feel God is “blocking our path.” (v.11) We refused to accept the Lord's message for us and, instead, want to hear cruelty and lies (grand illusions of ourselves and what makes us happy). (v. 12) Frustratingly, a lot of us will be successful. But this success will be hollow, "like high walls with many cracks in it" (v. 14) unless we hear from God.

We accept God's will. (vv. 15-18)

The Lord invites Judah: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.”(v.15) 

When God tells us to wait, He is actually giving us time to check our decisions. He wants us to reconsider things. He is giving us a second (third, fourth, and perhaps even more) chance so we will not make the wrong choices.

Waiting around? Take heart: God is taking the time to make everything right.

The Boy with an Oversized Slippers

I was on a bus to Batangas pier last weekend for a music enrichment class with the young people of Mindoro. As we were waiting for passengers in Lipa, I saw a little boy who was walking on his way to school wearing slippers big enough to fit his father's feet.

I closely looked at the boy, his small frame and tiny feet, and his over-sized slippers until I lost sight of him. I can't help but ask myself: wasn't he embarrassed or even uncomfortable about his slippers? Self-pity, perhaps?

Oftentimes, life has become too big to wear. The things we see on TV, internet, gigantic billboards lead us to believe in "larger-than-life." We try to be wise, visualizing ideals for ourselves. But in reality, we see nothing.

The prominent 20th century Christian author, Oswald Chambers wrote, "Simplicity is the secret to seeing things clearly." That weekend, I saw things clearly. It was a picture of a boy at peace with himself. The boy walked steadily and purposefully. He was going to school, and thank God, he had slippers on.


Abruptly, Jesus broke into prayer: "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that's the way you like it to work." (Matthew 11:25-26)

"Ang Surot"

(Photo from:  http://enelym001.wordpress.com/tag/dubai/)

Dahil Buwan ng Wika pala ngayon, nais kong magbahagi ng isang tula na pinamana pa sa akin ng yumao kong lola noong ako ay tatlong taong gulang pa lamang (ibig sabihin, 23 taon nang nasa kukote ko itong tulang ito).

Noong bata pa ako, binibigkas ko ang tulang ito (with matching actions pa!) tuwing may bisita sa bahay. Pero sa pagtanda ko, minsan ko lang ito naibahagi: nung nanghingi ng malupit na joke ang propesor ko sa isang pagsusulit katumbas ng karagdagang sampung puntos. Salamat naman, natuwa siya.

Kaya, heto, pampasaya lang:

Ang Surot

Ako'y napaupo

sa lumang bangko

Lintik na surot

Sundot nang sundot

Sa kakasundot,

ako'y napa-utot

Kawawang surot

namatay sa bantot

Hayaan niyo, sa susunod, may video na ng actions. Haha.

Maligayang Buwan ng Wika! 

Wala Yata sa Planetang Ito ang Lalaking Para sa Akin (A Repost)

Meet my boyfriend. :p

"She's taking her time making up the reasons
To justify all the hurt inside
Guess she knows from the smile
and the look in their eyes
Everyone's got a theory about the bitter one..."

Kanina, nakakita ako ng isang estatwang astronaut. At siyempre, kagaya ng mga nakaraang panahon, hindi ko pinalampas ang pagkakataon na magpakuha ng larawan sa taong galing sa buwan.

Buwan. Heto na naman ako. (O heto na naman kami?) Ilang buwan na rin akong nakikipagsapalaran sa ngalan ng pinaniniwalaan kong tunay na pag-ibig. Paminsan nga, pakiramdam ko, kontrabida na ang papel ko.

Papel. Siguro masyado na akong nagiging ma-papel. Pero, hindi naman din siguro masama kung magsalita ka sa mga taong nakakasama mo araw-araw, yung mga kasama mo sa pinaka-pangit at mababang panahon ng kanilang mga buhay. Katulad na lang nang kapag nakanganga sila sa pagtulog, magulo ang buhok kapag bagong gising, kapag mangungutang sayo tuwing kulang sa pamasahe, kapag nag-away sila ng nanay niya (na nanay mo rin), kapag wala silang makasama sa isang mahalagang event na gusto nilang puntahan (kahit alam mong aabutin na naman kayo ng madaling-araw at sa may Quiapo pa yun). Siguro hindi naman masama yun.

Masama. Masama ba akong kapatid? Masama ba akong kaibigan? Masama bang ipaglaban ko ang alam kong nakabubuti para sa kapatid at kaibigan?

Kaibigan. Lahat ng mga kaibigan ko, tinatanong kung kelan ako magkaka-boyfriend. Kesyo masyado daw akong pihikan - mataas ang standards. Nakaka-intimidate daw ako - masyadong strong personality, outspoken, at matalino.

Bakit? Kelangan bang magpaka-tanga para ibigin? Wala na bang lalaking makakatapat sa kadaldalan ko at likot ng isip ko? Kelangan bang babaan ko ang panuntunan ko - ang sariling pagkatao ko - kasama ng paniniwala ko sa Diyos, sa pamilya ko, sa sarili ko, para lang umibig at ibigin?

Siguro nga, may karapatan silang mainis at magtanong. Wala yata sa planetang ito ang lalaking para sa akin.

"But somewhere in a private place
She packs her bags for outer space
And now she's waiting for
The right kind of pilot to come"

- Savage Garden, To the Moon and Back

Why Filipino Gospel Music?

There is a good reason why I am so passionate in promoting the ministry of music, performing arts, and/or praise and worship here in the country: I am a product of one.

It was in 1999, when I was beginning to feel an insatiable void inside me to the point that I was adhering to the principles of absolutism (yeah, I was 13 then!). I had been living a highly ethical and upright life (at least according to my parents and the society). I was a consistent honor student and had never been involved in any troubles. I had it all coming for an ideal good daughter.

But I was not happy.

I unintentionally attended a worship service one morning of July, thinking that it was my uncle's birthday celebration. (My uncle is a pastor of the church where I am part of now.) There, I was intrigued with the worship leader's way of singing to God.

Why does it seem that the worship leader knows the God to whom she sings for intimately? 
Are you just more than a concept of good and bad?
Can it be possible - that I can know You intimately, God?

Those were the thoughts running in my head as I awkwardly stand amidst a congregation of people who were likewise singing and raising their hands passionately.

Two Sundays after that, I attended Pastor Rommel Guevara's worship concert called "I Am Healed." At the end of the concert, he invited people to come and receive Jesus as personal Lord and Savior. Already caught by what I saw in the worship service earlier, I responded to the invitation.

That was August 14, 1999. And my life was never the same. I felt liberated. I knew I have a purpose. I believe that I was not just created to follow a set of rules - but to freely speak and sing of God's love and hope to all.


What if Ptr. Rommel didn't take his calling seriously?

What if you, fellow music minister, didn't pursue what God has intended for you to do?

What if Gospel music, as it is a struggling work now, just fade away in the Philippines?

I may not be able to thank Pastor Rommel enough for how he has unknowingly touched my life, but one thing I know and will hold closely in my heart and even guard my life with: I will not allow this generation to pass without giving it a chance to experience the saving grace of God through anointed and excellent music - just as it was given to me through the life of one Filipino Gospel music minister.

with Pastor Rommel Guevara

Back to Zero (Kilometer)

My family doesn't really participate in national holiday celebrations. But for the past years, my Tatay had been prodding us to go to Rizal Park (formerly Luneta) because he wanted to personally witness the gigantic Philippine flag raised during the Independence Day.

As one of those first generation of Filipino seamen who work abroad, my Tatay spent most of his life outside of the country. But despite that, he was my first teacher in nationalism. I remember him buying Philippine-inspired caps and t-shirts  and emblem pins of the Philippine flag whenever he arrives from his tour of duty. He would always say that, of all the countries he had ever been to, nothing compares to the Philippines.

Tatay: "Hindi kaya napapagod na yang kalabaw na yan?"

Going back to Luneta with him and Nanay was thus nostalgic. I think the last time I went there with them was in 1990. I can't exactly remember anything from that "pasyal" aside from the well-kept pictures of my sisters and I in various landmarks in the park - just like that kalabaw. I don't know, but I was just plain happy when I saw that good ol' carabao like it is a good friend. Haha.

Now, as an adult and a government employee, roaming around the park of my childhood was going full circle for me. It was even made more meaningful with all the flags flying and kababayans at the park who were there to celebrate the nation's independence day. 

See the Philippine flag emblem pin on my chest? 

There were soldiers, police, families, groups of young people, lovers (haha), art enthusiasts (like one man who did nothing but blow bubbles to provide a festive feel at the park). And though they may seem to be just plainly enjoying themselves, I would like to believe that this park provided one of the most important landmarks in their being Filipinos - just like what it did to me.

I was a kid when I last visited this place, but Rizal Park became a big part of my consciousness as a Filipino. This has led me to pray for my country, study hard so I can contribute to nation-building as much as I am helping my kababayans, and eventually work in a government agency. It has also led me to sing songs that speak my love for this country. 

If you haven't really had the chance to visit Rizal Park, I hope you will. Bring your family or friends along. And discover for yourself why, in spite of the challenges and hardships life in this country brings, you still can't help but love the Philippines.

Mahal ka namin, Pilipinas!

Happy Independence Day!