Check Out Amazon

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Jeepneys Enter the Green Age in The Philippines


Jeepneys, those crazy-looking public transport vans in the Philippines, appear to be on the threshold of a new age when the engine pollution, the noise, and the undisciplined drivers, will be no more. A band of environmentalists, public servants, and non-government organizations (NGOs) have succeeded in giving the old iconic jeepney (left), more than just a facelift. After some sixty years since they came into existence coming from American jeeps of the second world war, they are now getting a new look and a new engine.

Take a ride in the Philippines' jeepney of the future (top)! It's manufactured by Philippine Utility Vehicle and it's not fueled by diesel but batteries, which allow it to run clean on electricity. It's also ergonomically designed. Before, passengers bump their heads on useless contraptions on the ceiling and whenever they need to see where they are on the road, they have to crank their necks low to look out the window, the opening of which is often below the level of the eyes. Compared to the old jeepney, the new one gives a pleasant ride.

The electric jeepneys can seat up to 12 people and can travel 70 kilometers at 70 kph. The range is not great but it does the job for inner city travels. Charging the batteries take as long as 8 hours, or practically all day, which is perhaps the downside to this novel transportation, but according to Director Red Constantino, of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities in Metro Manila, it's very important to have solutions on the ground "to show people that these types of things are viable."

The electric jeepney is getting a pilot run in routes in Makati that are dubbed "green." Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, says the technology helps reduce the smoke-belching problem. Interestingly, the Clean Air Act is supposed to be the solution to smoke-belchers and other air polluting factors in the country, but so far, the pollution coming from vehicles hasn't changed. With only 15 unites currently serving Makati City, the Philippines still has a long way to go to replace all 60,000 in Metro Manila alone.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Slice 'N Dice Steakhouse Rice and Gravy Meals in Quezon City


Slice 'N Dice is a steakhouse in Metro Manila that's getting to be popular because of it's gravy rice meals. There's one along Kalayaan Ave. in Quezon City. People often pass by it but seldom take the time to check what it has to offer but it has its gravy rice meal that come with sirloin, pork, and chicken sliced and diced toppings mixed with the rice.

The meal comes with a generous helping of gravy, which is something that Filipinos have grown to enjoy with chicken as a dip instead of as a side to rice. The gravy with the rice meals of Slice 'N Dice is to be poured on top of the rice while it's still hot. Then, you eat! The rice meal of your choice is light yet filling and its simplicity makes is a quick meal of choice if you're in a hurry or need a quick fix to get you going. If you wish, you can order one with fried or even scrambled egg. The gravy goes well with the diced and sliced beef, pork or chicken, but some people may simply prefer it with the chicken.

  

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

New Species of Giant Tree-Dwelling Philippine "Bayawak" Lizard Confirmed


There's a six-foot-long dragon in the Philippines and Science was only able to identify it as an unnamed species only now. Back in 2001, scientists first saw the skinny but long lizard in photographs. It had brightly-colored skin which differentiated with from a ground-dwelling lizard that's also eaten but less sought-after. People like to hunt it for its delicious meat in the northern part of Luzon island. No one really knows why it tastes so good but it's probably because it likes to eat pandan fruit (left), the leaves of which are used as an aromatic flavor enhancer of steamed rice. Now it's called the forest monitor lizard of Northern Luzon and is of the genus Varanus.

In a quest to find the creature, Rafe Brown of the University of Kansas set out with graduate students to the Philippines where hunters heard of their interest and brought a male that's barely alive. It was then that the team confirmed that it was a new species through genetic testing. Brown commented on how timely the discovery was since the team was already short on money and food.The tests showed the wide genetic gap between the forest monitor lizard and its closest relative, Gray's monitor lizard, which lives in Southern Luzon. This one is what most people there would likely identify as a bayawak (left).

In Southern Luzon, like in Batangas and Quezon provinces, bayawaks are sold by roadsides as a delicacy. The eggs are also cooked. At $4 per egg, this is a meal you can pass. Bayawak eggs are strange in that they will not solidify 100% if you boil them. But those whove tasted boiled bayawak eggs say that it's really delicious. You can also scramble or fry the eggs. For the courageous, other recipes can be tried. But sticking to chicken and duck eggs will probably help save the bayawak lizards from extinction - unless a way is found to farm them or they are already farmed and harvested like chicken eggs. The image at left is from a post in the MacGyver's Kitchen blog which describes one Filipino's experience in boiling the eggs. There are more photos of bayawak eggs being cooked here.

Anyway, back to the forest monitor lizard of North Luzon (top; left). So it lives in trees and is being hunted for food likely made it elusive enough for biologists to realize they've been missing something all these years, or at least that's what Brown concluded. Brown also theorized that the lizard does not grow as large as the Komodo dragon of Indonesia because it likes to live in the trees, which needed it to be light. The locals only see it as food. With the forest habitat of the lizard already shrinking with the encroachment of people, it easy to say that this poor lizard is already in danger of being extinct.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Perfect McDonald's Hotcakes


Here are two hotcakes ordered at a MacDonald's branch at a mall in Quezon City the Philippines. It's rare, but hotcakes can sometimes be so immaculately perfect in shape and color that you just have to take a picture of them. These hotcakes only have a slightly darker and mottled center, which make the one on top look like an eye. But that's okay, it still tastes like a hotcake!

Pancakes or hotcakes, as they are called by McDonald's, have become a popular fastfood breakfast item in the Philippines. They are served with thick syrup and a sachet of Anchor butter. Each order has got a good serving of sugar and fat so you do have to watch your diet if you decide to order some hotcakes. This serving of hotcakes comes with a plastic fork and spoon and placed in a styrofoam container (like the one shown at left). Some years back, the food court of the mall had stopped using regular washable plates in favor of styrofoam and plastic utensils.

Holy Week Catholic Procession in Quezon City


Holy Wednesday night at a church in Sikatuna Village in Quezon City (earlier photo, top and left). The procession of the holy icons is ready to begin as the mass inside concludes (photo; bottom). Such processions are held all over the country during Lent in the Holy Week. Procession like these go around the community of the church with the participating parishioners carrying candles and praying in recollection of the sacrifice and death of Jesus Christ as the savior of humankind. In some processions, the faithful also sing, even when the usual church songs are sung in a different tune.

Unfortunately it is also during the Holy Week that Filipinos also flock to the beaches to unwind and spend time with family in outings planned months ahead. For many Filipinos who have to work, the four days of holy days are the only time in summer that they can have a break apart from any leave of absences they may still have left. It's a commpn quandary in the Philippines, whether to focus on the spiritual first or to satisfy the needs of the body and mind in order to recuperate from the stresses of work.


Philippine House Lizard Learns to Eat Rice Lightning-Fast

We all know that house lizards eat insects, and house lizards in The Philippines (known as butiki ) are no exception. But there was this...