“Crazy” Ideas para maka-Survive (Crazy Ideas for Survival)

“Crazy” Ideas para maka-Survive (Crazy Ideas for Survival)

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Ang title ng blog ay para sa mga taong hindi maka-relate sa kahirapan kaya matatawag nilang “crazy” ang mga isi-share ko, pero para sa mga taong ginagawa ang lahat para makaraos lalo na sa isang lunsod tulad ng Maynila, maaaring makakatulong ito. (The title of this blog concerns viewers who may not be able to relate to poverty, hence, they may call this share as “crazy”, but those who are in this situation, may find the ideas necessary in order to survive in cities like Manila).

 

Ang mga sumusunod ay maaaring gayahin ng may malakas na loob, pero sa mga taong wala nito…mamangha o magulat na lang, sabay taas ng kilay at magsambit ng, “OMG!”: (the following may be emulated by others, but others may not be able to control themselves from raising their eyebrows in amazement, punctuated with an “OMG!”):

 

1. Makakagawa ng dalawang putahe ng ulam gamit ang isang maliit na lata ng sardinas. Gamitin ang sarsa na panggisa sa anumang gulay na magugustuhan tulad ng petsay, repolyo at iba pa. Ang lamang sardinas ay pwedeng gawing sauce ng spaghetti o pampalasa ng anumang uri ng pansit. (A single small tin of sardines can be cooked into two recipes. The sauce can be used to sautế vegetables such as pechay, cabbage, etc. The sardines can be prepared into a sauce to flavor pasta such as spaghetti, or different dry oriental noodles locally known as “pancit”.)

 

1. Kung nirarasyon ang tubig, maligong nakatayo sa loob ng malaking batya upang hindi masayang ang tubig na ibinuhos sa katawan dahil pwedeng ipunin para pang-flush ng inuduro. (When using rationed water in taking a bath, stand inside a big basin so that the water poured over the body can be saved and used in flushing the toilet.)

 

1. Upang makatipid sa mga panggisang rekado tulad ng sibuyas, kamatis at bawang, bumili ng maramihan (tumpok) para mura, igisa lahat at hatiin sa maliliit na plastic container at ilagay sa freezer, upang magamit “by batch”. Maglabas lang ng isang container mula sa ref kung gagamitin na. (To save on ingredients such as onion, tomato and garlic, buy the cheap ones that are sold by pile. Saute them in oil, apportion in small containers and store in the freezer. Take one container as needed.)

 

1. Kung magluto ng pasta (macaroni o spaghetti), gumamit ng dami ng tubig na tantiyadong masisipsip ng pasta habang kumukulo hanggang maging “al dente” o tama lang sa kagat, hindi lamog. Kung “al dente” na ang pasta, ihalo ang tomato sauce at iba pang pampalasa. Sa ganitong paraan, hindi na nagtatapon ng tubig na pinaglagaan. Ang sistemang ito ay parang “nagsasaing” ng pasta. (When cooking pasta (spaghetti or macaroni), use just enough water that can be absorbed, until it becomes “al dente” or just right to the bite, to avoid draining. Add the sauce and other ingredients, as the pasta has absorbed all the water, and cook for a few more minutes until the noodles have absorbed the flavor.)

 

1. Huwag itapon ang ulo at tinik ng daing na isda pagkatapos kainin ang laman. Ipirito uli ang mga ito upang lumutong at dikdikin ng pino upang magamit na pampalasa sa igigisang gulay o fried rice. Ang tinik at ulo ng isda ay maraming sustansiya. (Don’t throw the head and bones of the fried fillet dried fish after consuming the “meat”. Fry them again till brittle and pound into powdery consistency to be used later in flavoring fried rice and vegetable broth. The fish bones and head contain minerals needed by the body.)

 

1. Ang nakukuhang sustansiya sa paa ng manok o “adidas” ay “collagen” na gamot sa arthritis at pampalambot din ng balat ng tao. Ilaga ang mga paa at kung malambot na ay hanguin. Ang tubig na pinaglagaan ay paglutuan ng papaya o ibang gulay para maging “vegetarian tinola”. Ang pinalambot namang mga paa ay ilutong adobo. (The chicken feet have collagen which is necessary for the arthritis, and in helping our skin recover its suppleness as we grow old. After boiling the chicken feet, remove them from the pot and set aside. Add vegetables such as green papaya or other vegetables to the water, to come up with “vegetarian tinola”. On the other hand, cook the boiled chicken feet in soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, ginger and other desired spices to come up with “adidas adobo”.)

 

1. Kung iisa lang ang lutuan sa bahay at gustong maglaga ng monggo, pwedeng isingit ang paglaga dahil hindi naman kailangang tuloy-tuloy ang paglaga nito upang lumambot. Kapag kumulo na, pwedeng tanggalin sa lutuan upang makaluto ng iba. Kapag naluto na ang iba, pwedeng ibalik ang monggo upang pakuluan uli, at pwedeng tanggalin uli sa lutuan upang makaluto  ng iba pa rin. Sa ikatlo o ikaapat na pagkulo sa pasingit-singit na ginawa sa monggo, lalambot na ito. Sa huling salang ng monggo, pwede nang haluan ng kung anong gustong pangsahog na gulay. Kung buto-buto, pata, o langka ang ihahalo sa monggo, isabay sila sa paglaga. (If using only one stove but there is a need to boil “monggo” [mung beans], let it boil first then remove from stove so that another food can be cooked, after which, the pot of the monggo can be returned to the stove to let it boil again…do this, routine to give way to other foods to be cooked. On the third or fourth boiling, the monggo should be soft, and already be prepared as desired. When cooking it with beef bones, pork legs, or young jackfruit, boil the monggo with any of them, to save on cooking gas and time.)

 

1. Ipunin ang mga nalusaw at lumiit na sabon panligo at balutin ng face towel upang magamit na scrub sa katawan. (Collect the remnants of bath soaps and wrap them with face towel to be used as body scrub.)

 

1. Kapag namili sa grocery o department store, unang puntahan ang bargain section. Kung walang magustuhan, saka pumunta sa regular section. Tandaan na pagdating sa kasuutan, hindi kailangang mahal dahil ang magdadala nito ay ang katawan na binabagayan. Huwag magmukhang trying hard sa pagsuot ng mahal na kasuutang hindi naman bagay sa iyo. Huwag isipin na dahil nakita ang isang uri ng damit na suot ng idol na artista, ang isinuot niya ay babagay din sa yo. Sa pagkain, hindi dahil imported ay masarap na, lalo na yong galing sa Tsina na baka peke o may lason. (When shopping, check first the bargain section for items that you might need, before going to the regular section. Take note that apparels need not be expensive to look nice on one’s body. Never assume that what you saw your showbiz idol was wearing would also look good on you. For food, imported ones are not necessarily always the most delectable, especially, those coming from China which could be fake or laced with ingredients that are harmful to man.)

 

Sa panahon ngayon, ang kailangan ay pag-iisip na praktikal upang makaraos sa kahirapan. (At this trying time, we need to be practical-minded in order to survive.)

 

The Evangelizing Family of Pastor Allan and Sister Mayette Guerrero

The Evangelizing Family of Pastor Allan

and Sister Mayette Guerrero

by Apolinario Villalobos

 

The first time I took notice of the Christian church in an unpretentious ground floor room of an old wooden building, and that could have seen better days as a commercial stall along F. Torres St. was when I heard the song that the congregation was singing with the officiating pastor. I retraced my steps to take a look at the name of the congregation – “Jesus Christ Majesty Ministry” simply printed on a tarpaulin and attached to the wall above the elevated area that served as the pulpit. And, from where I stood in the middle of the street, I discerned the minister to be boyish, so I thought the congregation was akin to what volunteer young evangelists organize for a weekend, as it was a Sunday. I was expecting that after the service, the organizers would pack up and go to another place.

 

The following weekend, another Sunday, when I passed by the same building I was surprised the worship hall prepared for a service, though still empty of members. I was tempted to linger and gawk at the musical equipment in front of eclectic rows of plastic chairs. Just then, I heard somebody greet me and was surprised to learn that he was the minister I saw the weekend before. He was changing into a proper attire befitting a pastor. He introduced himself as Pastor Allan Guerrero and the lady who approached us, he introduced as his wife, Sister Mayette who was in-charge of the Sunday school which again caught me by surprise as I could not discern any trace of such, until I was told that it was situated just behind the worship hall.

 

The couple led me through a short corridor until we came out into a small “patio” surrounded with doors, one of which was that of the school’s. They showed me the well-kept school, very neat, with linoleum-covered floor, and walls pasted with patiently- cut teaching aids. Three layers of shelves served as the “library” stacked with a few books. The tough effort to make the small room become an effective breeding venue for Christian learning was very obvious. Sister Mayette told me that some of those who attend the Sunday school are children of sidewalk and pushcart-dwelling families around the area….real people who need the graceful touch of the Guerrero family.

 

The Sunday school has been in operation for twelve years and six months and depended solely on donations – books, school materials and trickles of cash for the rent which is five thousand pesos per month. A little more than two years ago, when the big room facing the street and through which Sister Mayette and the children wormed  their way to the school was vacated, Pastor Allan immediately did all possible to have it for his congregation’s use. From then, on every Sunday even the couples’ children:  Aillene Marie, who finished Music Technology; Katleen Mae, who finished Journalism; Heaven Leigh who finished BS-HRM; and Dan Joshua who is in Grade 10, join them in their spiritual crusade.  The whole family has to wake up early as they live in Meycauayan, Bulacan and must muster the traffic on their way to the church on F. Torres St. in Sta. Cruz district of Manila.

 

Pastor Allan and Sister Mayette confided that they started with a simple keyboard to provide accompaniment to their songs until friends who refused to be named started donating musical equipment. Donors also send Bibles, books and materials for the Sunday school. They glow with gladness as they related to me how their congregation that they continuously propagate with dedication, patience and hard work has grown.

 

The evangelizing Guerrero family showed that sharing the Words of God does not always need a grandiose edifice or impressive structure with heavenward pinnacles. All one needs is dedication tempered with unconditional love for fellowmen to become an effective mouthpiece of God on earth. In other words, all that such dedication needs is a big heart that throbs with LOVE.

 

I did not tie the couple up with a lengthy conversation as they had yet, to prepare the church for the ten o’clock worship…but I told myself that it won’t be the last of my visit.

 

“Lake Leman Lies by Chillon’s Walls”

Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley visited Montreux Switzerland in 1816 and sailed on Lake Geneva, then called Lake Leman. Byron toured Chillon Castle which stands on the lake, and wrote his poem,…

Source: “Lake Leman Lies by Chillon’s Walls”