New Year Firecracker Air Pollution in the Philippines

Smoke from firecrackers spent on the midnight of Dec. 31, 2010 linger the next day.

Here are a couple of pictures that show the aftermath of the new year celebrations for 2011 in the Philippines. At left is what the streets of a residential area in Rizal looked like about an hour into the new year, and the above photo shows houses the next day at 7:30 am shrouded in air particulates that resemble fog. The limited visibility is the result of millions of firecrackers that have been lit and exploded on the midnight of Dec. 31, 2010. That means a lot of smoke from burned firecracker powder and it can linger for days in many parts of the country.

Pinoy Carbonara pasta recipe

These are not your typical Peanuts ceramic collectibles. They are actually the Peanuts Holiday Salt and Pepper Shakers! Click here or on the image to place your order!

Write articles and earn continuously. No kidding! Hindi ito biro!

Bibingka and Puto Bumbong: Philippine Christmas Sweets

When it's Christmas in the Philippines, it's the time of year when you can buy lots of bibingka or sugar-glazed rice cakes baked under hot coals and puto bumbong, a pasty snack made from glutinous rice cooked inside pipes or tubes (traditionally made of bamboo). These two traditional foods are served and eaten hot, often served with shredded coconut. If you go to a local cathedral, you will likely find them being hawked in the streets in stalls with makeshift ovens that make use of hot coals on galvanized plates placed over either clay or concrete stoves.

Shown here is a bibingka and puto bumbong stall near the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Batangas City. Cooking bibingka cakes must be done carefully; in other words, it has to be timed. Otherwise, the cake can get burned and the customer may end up with one or two with blacked sugar glazing. Puto bumbong, on the other hand, must be cooked just right or it will turn too sticky and harden quickly if served too soon or too late.

If you are visiting the Philippines this Christmas season, getting a taste of these delectable and tasty treats is a must. Ask around so you know where you can get the best of these treats.

Delicious Tuna Egg Foo Young (Philippine torta)

Little girls can make their own sweet treats with this Girl Gourmet Cake Bakery Cake Maker kit. Yes, this will get your little doll on the right path to being a baker. Click here to order your Girl Gourmet Cake Bakery Cake Maker Kit!

Asphalt Overlays Sink Roadside Houses in the Philippines

Roads in the Philippines are slowly raised by repeated asphalt overlays that sink houses and buildings beside the roads and cause flooding inside residential and commercial lots.

Have you ever seen roads in the Philippines that are almost as high or even higher than the sidewalk? There's plenty of those in Metro Manila and even provinces like Quezon, for example, there are roads there that have been overlayed repeatedly with asphalt by local governments for years so some of the roads are now higher than the sidewalks! The same problem can be found in Rizal where asphalt overlays are applied over major roads even when there's no need for an overlay. During election periods, this practice is common.

At first, this practice seems helpful in that it keeps construction budgets to a minimum, but in the long term, it becomes a problem to motorists and to houses and other structures beside the raised roads. When the sidewalks are repaved, for instance, they are constructed at a higher level to match that of the road already elevated with too many asphalt overlays. This technically results in the "sinking" of the houses and other buildings by the roadside. The causes flooding in the rainy season in many residential lots that ended up below the level of the road and sidewalk. For motorists, the ditch created between the asphalt and the sidewalk becomes a motorist's nightmare. In one incident, a motorcyclist take a spill when his front wheel slipped into the ditch and he fell with his head almost getting run over by one of the front wheels of a jeepney.

Poor supervision of construction of overlayed or repaved roads and sidewalks sometimes lead to blocked driveways which was the case of the parking lot of a church in UP Village in Quezon City, which was blocked by a new sidewalk after the road was repaved at a higher level than the old one. One car which used to pass through the driveway ended up with the front wheels "hanging" and meeting only air. The driver wasn't aware the new sidewalk had blocked access. The church had to remedy the problem with a concrete ramp inside the compound. In other places in the same area, wheelchair ramps were added to the sidewalks (in accordance with the law), but some are useless because of their steep angle and some ramps even go up against an obstacle that blocks any wheelchair from getting through!

The Department of Public Works Highways (DPWH) engineers and construction people must consider the negative effects if the roads being maintained are raised with asphalt overlays along with the sidewalks. They need to consider two things: too much asphalt overlays cause flooding in the properties beside the roads, they affect accessibility, and they make the roads dangerous. Because of frequent asphalt overlays, some roads in the Philippines get higher by several inches every few years, and the roadside also continue to sink. Philippine lawmakers should pass a law that specifies that roads and sidewalks should not be made higher than the sidewalk and roadside properties unless there is a valid reason.

The Gotohan sa Hardin restaurant in Ortigas Road Extension in Rizal is already sunken due to multiple asphalt overlays and higher sidewalks. It gets submerged during heavy rains.

Boracay View from a Departing Plane

Barangay Yapak of Boracay Island from a plane departing from Caticlan.

It's hard to leave Boracay Island just when you're starting to have fun in the sun, sand, and shore! But when it's time to go, you just gotta go and the only final souvenirs you can get are the pictures of the island that you manage to catch as your plane departs. Shown here is a picture of Barangay Yapak of Boracay Island. It's where some of the more expensive resorts are located and you can see some of the condominiums and golf courses that go right down to where the white sand beaches are. See how the beaches are naturally partitioned in some areas? That should make the pockets created more private!

At the upper right side of the picture on top is part of Carabao Island, the larger neighboring land mass near Boracay that doesn't get as much media attention and hype. Here it is at the left in a picture that shows a complete view of the island. It appears more tree-covered unlike Boracay which has been developed into a mini cosmopolitan community. It was a fine day when these photos of Boracay and Carabao Islands were taken - one which came after consecutive days of dark clouds and rain.

What is Boracay in October like? Find out here!

Want to have fun on the beach in Boracay? Then take this canned beach ball along! Click here or on the image to order your own colorful Instant Beach Ball!

Bulalo Served in Tagaytay Is a Hot Treat

Tagaytay City in the Philippines is famous for it's meat market. It's said that the best meat in the province of Cavite can be bought at the Mahogany Public Market. The place is crude, but it's there where you can buy good beef meat that's affordable. In front of the market is a long row of eateries or turo-turo in the local language. The term literally means to point repeatedly, and that's exactly what a customer usually does when he points to the food he wants to order. In a turo-turo food store, what's on the menu is lined up front to make it easy for customers to see the food for themselves.

Shown here is the famous bulalo stew of Tagaytay City. It's basically a beef leg bone soup with long string beans and cabbages seasoned with salt and black pepper corns. It's simple, but it's delicious and perfect for hot, steaming rice. Everyone loves a bowl of bulalo in Tagaytay if the weather is cold. The bulalo meat may be dipped into fish sauce mixed with a local lemon called kalamansi. For some kick to the sauce, you can add some red chili. The bulalo pictured here was ordered from an eatery called Moi's Little Ronamar Canteen. It serves complimentary mini bananas on the table.

So you like beef? Then here is an item that you must definitely be salivating for by now! It's the beef bandage assortment pack! It's bandage that you use for scratches and other wounds on the skin. They look like real beef steak! Click here or on the image to order your beef bandage tin pack.

Sweet and Sticky Suman of the Philippines

Suman is a Philippine desssert or merienda that's made from sticky glutenous rice cooked in salted coconut milk extract (called gata) and water. It is conveniently wrapped in a cut banana leaf which makes it easy to eat like a banana. Suman is sticky and oily so one may need some napkins while eating them. Nevertheless, suman can be so delicious you may just do away with the tissue paper!

Suman starts out as rice that's cooked in coconut milk (gata) until soft and sticky. The coconut milk gives a pleasant and appetizing taste to the suman. If you want the suman to be sweet, you can add sugar to the mixture. A simple rice cooker can be used to prepare the suman. But the product wouldn't be "suman" is if isn't wrapped in banana leaves! If that's the case, that would be kakanin (local sticky sweets made of rice) similar to another Filipino delicacy called biko, which is laid on a bilao (flat woven basket) and sliced diagonally into square or diamond sections.

The banana wrapper can be sourced from locally-growing banana plants. Otherwise, the leaves can be bought already prepared from grocery stores and the community market (palengke). If you want to prepare your own banana leaves. cut them into squares just big enough for your suman. The pieces are then heated over an open flame to soften them up. The leaves will turn darker over the flames but do not let them burn!

To wrap the suman, take spoonfulls and drop them into each leaf. Each should appear like paste from a tube and should be big enough to be held in one hand. After the suman rice are all wrapped, place them in a pot filled with water and allow to boil. You should then let it simmer for about 30 minutes, after which the suman should be done. You may prefer to cook your suman rice without sugar. You can just add coco jam to your cooked suman for flavor while you eat!

Learn about the Philippine sweet potato or kamote

This freeloader fork is perfect for those times when you fear there won't be enough food left for you. It's ideal for hotdogs, sausages, and suman! Click here or on the image to order this fine freeloader fork that expands up to 2 feet!

How can you grow money with GeoString?

Cafe Bialetti near the University of the Philippines: Quaint Alternative to Starbucks

This is the Bialetti Cafe somewhere in UP or Teacher's Village in Quezon City. It's just a small establishment that's big enough for small groups of people who just want to chill out with friends and hang out. It's right inside the village near the University of the Philippines (UP) and the Ateneo University where students and teachers alike live and breathe so it's an easy place to visit. Businesspeople and office employees find this establishment to be a fine place to relax or to have small casual meetings.

The price of coffee offerings of Bialetti are competitive yet still reasonably cheap, which makes it a second favorite to Starbucks which has a branch in nearby Matalino St. It's a franchise, so you can expect a lot of fine coffee products here. The staff of Bialetti is small which may require waiting for an order to arrive, but hey, it's a cafe! You're expected to hang around a bit to talk or do whatever it is you do while in a cafe. You'll find the water served at Bialetti fragrant with flower petals. It may not be the kind of water kids will enjoy, but it's a real treat apart form the usual fare of coffee!

What are tabliya balls?

So you're a fan of coffee and Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, eh? Here's one mug you can combine the two. It's the Wizard of Oz "It's All about the Shoes" mug. It's fine piece with a classic appeal featuring the emerald shoes in the story! Order the Wizard of Oz mug here.

Cheap Visitors? Get into it!

Longganisa of Taal, Batangas in the Philippines

Pictured here are longganisa, a native sausage from Taal, Batangas in the Philippines. Here they are as they appear after cooking. Stir-fried, they serve as a satisfying meal, especially when served with rice. Different regions in the Philippines are known for their own version of longganisa, which originated from Spain centuries ago. As a former Spanish colony for 300 years, the Philippines adopted Spanish cuisine and longganisa is one prepared food that's kept its popularity over the centuries.

Longganisa is basically ground meat which may be pork, beef, or chicken stuffed inside intestines which are tied at the ends with a piece of string or reed. The size of the longganisa depends on the kind of animal intestine used. Tradition dictates whether each will be long, short, or balled. In Taal, Batangas, the longganisa sold in markets are dry, chunky, and meaty. They are sought by people from all over the Philippines for the distinct sweetness.

This is a t-shirt inspired by Abe Froman Sausage King of Chicago, from the classic movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off. If you're a fan of sausages, hotdogs and Ferris Bueller, then order this fine cotton shirt here!

How to cook Ilocano Lauya beef broth dish

Cheap Visitors will get you more web sales!

Fantasy World Castle in Lemery Batangas - Diokno Road Landmark

Cars coming to and from Tagaytay City that pass along Diokno Highway in Lemery Batangas can't fail but notice a fantasy Medieval castle standing majestically by the road. Travelers who see it for the first time blink and say, “I didn't know there was a Disneyland in the Philippines!” Well, they are correct! There is no Disneyland in the Philippines, but there is the Fantasy World Castle, which is a kind of exclusive amusement park generally for members and condominium owners within the facility.

Taal Volcano Tagaytay - 42"W x 28"H - Peel and Stick Wall Decal by Wallmonkeys 

 Tourists who aren't members of Fantasy World are said to be able to enter by paying a fee for a minimum of 10 persons. It used to be P1000 but you never know how much the fee is now unless you go there. You can of course, ask a member to accompany you inside for free. It's a common error to say that the Fantasy World Castle is in Tagaytay City. The truth is that it's in Lemery, Batangas.

Philippines, Tagaytay Mouse Pad

The Fantasy World Castle is something of a curiosity for many people since it's not really open to the public, and yet it's a known landmark along Diokno highway. Strangely, it always seems to be empty. Unlike other amusement parks, you will see no rides around the castle (at least not yet as of this writing) and no stores that sell anything. There's just the castle which always seems to have its doors closed. Because of this fact, people - kids mostly - wonder what's inside. Is there a lovely princess in one of the towers waiting to be rescued by a handsome prince? Unlikely, but few people know that the Fantasy World Castle was used before as a set for a local film based on the classic 1904 children's novel, A Little Princess, by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It's also been used for shoots of several fantasy television series, like Majika.

The Rough Guide to the Philippines

Picnic Grove in Tagaytay Is a Fave of Tourists

If you've long been a resident of the Philippines, you already know about the Picnic Grove in Tagaytay. For many of you reading this, it is a place filled with memories of yourself as a child running and rolling on the grassy slopes, basking in the sunshine with cool wind in your face, and immersing yourself in the grand view of Taal Volcano and it's lake. Picnic Grove is indeed, every Filipino's summer destination. in Luzon.

Picnic Grove has gone through a lot of changes through the years, but it's still doing good business with it's horseback riding experience for kids and adults alike. There used to be a lot more open spaces and facilities were better and less crowded way back in the nineteen sixties and seventies, but for the visitors who travel for hours just to get there, it doesn't really matter. They simply know that they are going to have a great time on the grass socializing with friends and family and enjoying a brief respite from the polluted city.

A new treat at the Picnic Grove is the zip and cable car line. If you are brave enough, you can take a ride and zip on a cable across a deep chasm like you're flying through the air! And it's not just one way, but back and forth!

If the zip line isn't for you, you can simply relax and chill out. Tourists can rent covered picnic tables, although during peak days, most will already be occupied if you come in late in the day. The only other option is to rent or purchase one of the picnic mats from the friendly peddlers roaming the facility. Make sure you get a mat that's clean and dry. Watch out for ants where you place them, because you never know where the ants really are unless you look closely!

Can't go to Tagaytay to go horseback riding? Here's something to cheer you up! It's the Haflinger Light Brown Plush Pony! It's soft, it's cuddly, it's cute, and best of all - it's a horse! Click here to order this fine plush pony stuffed toy.

Check out Cheap Visitors if you are into business over the Internet!

Balot Duck Eggs Bring Good Luck with "Bato" Fish

Balot is a common snack in the Philippines. It's boiled duck egg with a developing duckling chick inside. A balot is usually served with rock salt. It's said that eating balot can make your knees strong and prepare you for a lot of action. Here, a pair of balot that were bought from a roadside vendor are opened, revealing small dark-feathered ducklings still surrounded by the yolk and white. The third egg is called penoy, because it does not have an embryo inside. It just looks like a normal chicken egg with white and yolk.

The prized part of the balot is often the yolk, which is tasty, but some prefer the young duck, as long as it's not too big and the bones are still soft. Although popular as a nighttime snack which is often eaten with liquor during cold nights (balot sells well during Christmas), there are still a few who can't stand the sight or thought of the young duck inside being eaten. The appearance of the shelled balot is not actually appetizing either with the blood vessels and all stuck to the sides. Nevertheless, it's still a good meal high in protein and fat.

 
Duck Egg Production for Beginners

Your Duck Keeping Guide

Interestingly, the two balot eggs shown here revealed hardened egg whites called "bato" (rock) shaped like fish! This is an auspicious find especially in Oriental regions where brightly-colored fish are regarded as beings that can help you enter altered states of consciousness where good vibrations allow the materialization of prosperity in life. It's said that whoever dreams of or finds fish (such as golden koi carp fish) in unlikely places will have good luck in terms of abundance - in other words, there are riches coming!

If you're reading this post, then consider yourself lucky! Good fortune will come to you soon enough. Just gaze at the balot fishes, make a good wish, spread the URL, and link to this post. If you believe, your wish could come true and your luck will multiply! ;-D

Auspicious "good luck" golden koi fish at Nuvali (Sta. Rosa, Laguna) entertain tourists

If you don't like balot, then you will like this instead. It's a Steiff Willy Drake Plush Duck and you can own it! Just click here or on the image to place your order for this fine stuffed duck toy.