Instead of Totally Relying on the Government, We Should Also Do Our Share of Action

Instead of Totally Relying on the Government,

We Should Also Do Our Share of Action

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

The Philippine government in general, is corrupt. Even with Duterte, known for his abhorrence of corruption is around, the grime that for long has soiled the image of the country still sticks. This is because those who are being used as instruments in the perpetration of this hideous anomaly are still in place, “licensed” by the civil service eligibility. And, that is the sad reality….

 

The aforementioned fact should make us realize that it is futile to be always blaming the government for everything that we find not pleasing to our eyes. It is true that the government should take care of our needs as tax payers….short of saying that we pay ALL government employees from the topmost down to the lowest rank to serve us using the tax we pay. But, are we doing our share of action FOR SOME MATTERS THAT WE CAN DO AT OUR END?

 

We blame the government for the obnoxious public market and uncollected garbage…but are we cleaning our backyard of the long-abandoned and rotting garbage or ridding our front yard of the waist-high grasses that for long have grown thick or cleaning the street in front of our home or planting flowers or shrubs to help prettify our community or reporting to the police anomalies that we observe around us? Have we tried segregating our garbage and keep the recyclables and bury for composting those that should be, to lessen what are collected for dumping at the garbage site? Etc. etc. etc. Some of us even put fish scales and entrails in the garbage instead of burying them outright…simple act, yet, intentionally disregarded.

 

We blame the government for the drug problem in our community..but have we disciplined our children enough to veer them away from bad barkadas that introduce them to drinking, smoking, and finally, drugs? We blame the government for the internet cafes that are frequented by students who skip classes….but have we ever thought that such addiction started when we gave in to their whims to have expensive  “touch phones” that developed their fanatical adherence to this woeful technology?

 

We should realize that every time we point our forefinger to somebody as an act of accusation, our three fingers are pointing at us. There is a need to take a second look at ourselves…there is a need for a reflection to know, if at least, we have been or are….GOOD FILIPINOS! IF NOT, WE SHOULD STOP CALLING OUR GOVERNMENT BAD, BECAUSE WE ARE PART OF IT…INSTEAD, WE SHOULD DO OUR PART OF ACTION!

 

WE ARE THE PHILIPPINES. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT IN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS, PARTICIPANTS ARE CALLED BY THEIR COUNTRY’S NAME.

 

Resourceful Cooking

Resourceful Cooking

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

With the soaring prices of various food items that include vegetables, fish, meat and spices, one must be resourceful to be able to scrimp on these. Along with the effort, one must also use ingenuity in coming up with recipes that make use of cheap ingredients and quick cooking to save on fuel, such as gas, electricity, wood or charcoal. The following are some suggested and simple recipes with cheap ingredients:

 

• “Okoy” or fritter using strips of singkamas (jicama, turnip), squash and monggo sprouts (toge), flavored with dried krill or kalkag. This can be eaten as snacks or as viand (ulam).
• Vegetable combo using all kinds of indigenous vegetables – camote tops, alogbate, eggplant, saluyot, okra, tomatoes, onions and ginger, especially, those wilting in the ref.
• Pickled radish, eggplant, string beans, mustard or cabbage using cheap old stock of the said vegetables, the prices of which could be 50% less than the fresh ones. The mentioned vegetables can be pickled separately using vinegar and salt. As a salad, they can be prepared with slices of fresh tomatoes and onions.
• Mashed eggplant using the old, hence, cheap ones. Boil the eggplants into soft consistency, mash and sauté in oil, chopped tomatoes and onions. This can be used as a bread filling or as appetizing main dish.

 

Other cheap ideas are:

 

• Steaming vegetables by placing them on top of about-to-be cooked steamed rice. Remove them when ready to be served. Dips or sauce can be soy sauce mix with vinegar, chopped onions and tomatoes. This is the cheapest way to cook steamed vegetables and is more nutritious than boiling.

 

• Flavoring vegetables or fried rice with the sauce of canned sardines while saving the whole fish for pasta dishes or as a separate dish sautéed in plenty of tomatoes and onions.

 

• Preparing skinless tomatoes by freezing ripe ones after which bringing them out, and as they start to thaw or soften, starting to peel them. Skinless tomatoes can be frozen again to be used when preparing salad or sauce for pasta dishes, or can be mashed and cooked in oil, little vinegar and salt, to make tomato paste. The traditional way of peeling tomatoes is by soaking them in boiling water for a few seconds, but could be messy.

 

• Preparing ready-to-use tomato and onion sauce using cheap old stock of the said vegetables. Cook the chopped vegetables in oil after which, apportion in small container for freezing and bringing out only the needed portion….this is a time and fuel saver.

 

• Not continuously boiling monggo beans. Upon boiling, remove from stove and allow a few minutes “rest” to give the beans time to absorb the water, then return to the stove for another round of boiling; remove again…and on the third time, cook over slow fire until the beans become mashed in boiling water. This technique is best if only a single-burner stove is being used, as other dishes can be cooked while the monggo pot is “resting”.

 

The problem with most Filipinos today is that they refuse to think of ways to live on a tight budget, yet, they have the gall to waste food such as a spoonful or two of rice left on the plate or throw the left-over instead of recycling them. Also, they have the courage to blame the government for their travails due to low wage and soaring prices of commodities but they do not exert effort to save! They forgot the adage, “kung maikli ang kumot dapat ay mamaluktot” (one should exert effort to be covered with a small-sized blanket by lying curled on his side.)

Rene Pastrana: Grocery Store Manager Who Can Melt the Anger of an Irate Customer

Rene Pastrana: Grocery Store Manager Who

Can Melt the Anger of an Irate Customer

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

One morning, when I purchased some goods at Isetan grocery store along Recto Avenue in Quiapo, I had an unfortunate experience that almost spoiled my day. Rather than talk to any of the rank-and-file staff, I looked for the store manager, whom I found to be Rene Pastrana. Before I could blurt out my complaint, he broke the ice by asking with a smile, what he can do to make my shopping comfortable. His stance immediately pacified me. After relating to him my dissatisfaction, he gave me an assurance that he will do his best to patch up the “loophole” in their operation.

 

What touched me was his unabashed confiding that he knows what to do because he started his career as a “merchandiser”, which actually, was the focus of my complaint. Instead of anger, what I felt was sympathy while listening to his story. It could be a ploy on his part to divert my focus, with which he was successful. On the other hand, I selfishly thought, that his story could be another blog material that could inspire aspiring Filipinos.

 

According to Rene, he left his island-province of Marinduque after graduating from high school. When he arrived in Manila, he immediately looked for a job, with a plan to proceed with his college studies by all means. He fortunately found a job as a “merchandiser”, which sustained his studies, until he finished Computer Science.

 

His diligence in job, pushed him along his career path with unusual expediency until he became manager of Isetan’s grocery store, charged with its overall operation. He has been in the job for the past twenty years, his earnings from which have also helped his family back home, in Marinduque.

 

Rene could well be considered as a self-appointed “ambassador” of his province in his own way because he does not hesitate to promote it as a veritable tourist destination every time he gets the chance. This he did to me, when he shared touristic information about the island. His effort proved helpful to me, as what I knew about the island have all been updated, especially, about the islets with resorts.

 

In appreciation of all his effort to pacify me and giving me updates on Marinduque, I told Rene to count me as among the convinced patrons of Isetan grocery from then on. He practically “captured” another patron for their grocery because of his amiable and brilliant sales technique not found in sales training manuals…I know that, because, I have also been a “sales person”, myself.

 

 

 

Lito and Inday: Couple Who Toils Every Precious Minute of the Day

Lito and Inday: Couple Who

Toils Every Precious Minute of the Day

by Apolinario Villalobos

 

Lito and Inday Balanay who have two beautiful daughters, are a typical couple who literally makes use of every precious minute of the day to earn an honest living. They start their struggle as early as 5AM. A mug of coffee for each, serves as breakfast. Whatever solid food they take becomes their “brunch” for the day. Inday, using a “traysikad”, pedals her way to the bakery in the neighboring subdivision, a kilometer away from their home, while Lito uses a bike…both, to pick up their respective stock of pan de sal (bread of salt), a popular breakfast staple of Filipinos. Starting their rounds at 6AM, they are finally through peddling at about 7AM.  After turning over their earnings to the owner of the bakery, out of which they get their meager “commission” for the day, they go on their separate way back home.

 

As soon as she has arrived home, Inday prepares her wares for her sidewalk ambulant store, still using her “traysikad”. She positions herself for this other endeavor in front of a big and popular grocery, one kilometer from their home. Her clients consist of drivers who buy sticks of cigarettes, biscuits, and candies. Lito, on the other hand, prepares his tools for his sideline – scheduled minor repair jobs of homes around the subdivision. Meanwhile, their two daughters are left in the care of a trusted niece. Sometimes, the two girls provide their mother company, as she sells her wares on the sidewalk.

 

The couple confided that they have to double their effort in earning for the future of their daughters, as the eldest, Kristine, is already nine years old and the youngest, going seven years old. They are lucky to have found a vacant lot which they are renting at Php1,500.00 per month, and on which they built a shack using junk materials, some of which were given by friends. Only half of their home’s floor has been cemented thinly, and the rest of the painstakingly leveled ground is covered with a junk sheet of linoleum. Despite the inadequacies for a comfortable life, the family is a picture of contentment.

 

Lito and Inday, both in their early 40’s, are “Bisaya”, with the former being a “Waray” and the latter, a Surigaonon. The Bisayans are known for their resourcefulness and diligence. When asked what she wishes for to make their life more comfortable, Inday, who refers to their home as “bahay ng kalapati” (pigeon hole or cubicle), replied, “a cooking gas tank”, while letting out a hearty and crisp laugh. Although, they already have a single-burner stove with a gas tank, she wants a standby one, in view of the fluctuating price of this basic commodity. Besides, Inday also plans to cook rice cakes, hoping that she could earn more. As for Lito, he would like to have more tools to help him in his trade. Meanwhile, the two girls just want umbrella.

 

While the family of Lito and Inday are happy in their rickety home assembled from junks and with their wishes that they treat as just such – wishes, other families who live in air-conditioned homes can’t seem to find contentment and happiness if they have not capped their summer with their regular jaunts – weeks in Disneyland (America), shopping in Hongkong, or sunbathing in Boracay, or they don’t have the latest gadgets that their kids could boast to their playmates.

Gutsy and Self-Confident Maricar Oliveros of Cd-r King

Gutsy and Self-Confident Maricar Oliveros of Cd-r King

By Apolinario Villalobos

This is not a paid advertisement. It has been my advocacy to write about people I meet on the street, in malls, in restaurants, or any unusual place. I have written about a solicitous supervisor of a McDonald joint in Quiapo, a compassionate technician of an internet café-Bacoor, a teacher, a vendor, local government officials, government employees, and many others.

This time around, it is about Maricar Oliveros of the SM Bacoor’s Cd-R King outlet. Petite and morena, with a gentle face punctuated by expressive eyes, she may not elicit much attention, except that because she is one of the store attendants, you really have to seek her. My encounter with this young lady was when she attended to me when I bought a pocket wi-fi. As the gadget had to be set due to the required code, she tried her best in the absence of their technician. Unfortunately, that morning I was not in a good mood and sort of in a hurry. I was irritated by her explanations which I interjected with questions. Several times we did not meet on certain points of my inquiry, so that, unknowinglhy, I was already raising my voice.

Despite my impatience and ill-temper, she was very much in control of herself, not even rattled a bit. She even smiled while looking at me straight in the eye. Her courageous posture brought me to my senses. In other words, she was able to make a sale triumphantly, while I was short of breath due to my bad temperament. She successfully taught me how to use the gadget, and with a smile closed the transaction with some precautions, such as taking note of the power bar, overcharging , etc.

The following day, I brought back the gadget to the store thinking that it was defective because I could not connect to the internet. I saw to it that I was the first in line in their store by waiting until the doors of the mall were opened at 10:00. When I arrived at their store, I found her fanning herself with a piece of cardboard as the aircon  system was not yet of much help. I explained to her the problem and without any question, she tinkered with the gadget to make it effective again.

She did a remarkable series of testing because I gave her the idea that I am amenable for a replacement. She practically spent almost an hour attending to my problem, until finally she reset the gadget as a last resort, doing which she used her resourcefulness because she had no tools. I cannot divulge such “resourcefulness” here, as it could be her “trade secret”.  I ended up with the same gadget that I bought, as she found out that replacement was not necessary. Her effort saved the store from replacing a purchased gadget, unnecessarily.

I was touched by her effort, silently trying to do her best to satisfy me, an irate customer who ruined her morning, the day before. She was a sales attendant, not a technician, yet, with a knowledge that she, perhaps, gained by observing their technician, she was able to put to use an admirable resourcefulness. Her self-confidence and guts can put a guy to shame. Do we ever wonder now why Filipinos are loved by their employers abroad?

Michael Quirante: Tenacious and Resourceful Branch Manager of McDonalds-Hidalgo (Quiapo)

Michael Quirante: Tenacious and Resourceful

Branch Manager of McDonalds-Hidalgo (Quiapo)

by Apolinario Villalobos

Lately, MacDonalds has been hugging the limelight because of the incidents on food poisoning. This seems unlikely as the food chain is known for being finicky as regards their products and service. I had the chance to test the trademark for which it has been known one morning when I dropped by their Hidalgo Branch in Quiapo for breakfast.

As usual I ordered the pancakes but the Cashier, Love Castaῆares smilingly suggested their new product, launched just that morning, the cheesy egg pandesal. I gave in to her insistence, but I was disappointed as it came in the size which was not my type, so I rejected it. At this instance, the Branch Manager, Michael Quirante volunteered that I still try the pandesal if only to check its taste. I declined, and perhaps in an effort to prevent me from getting irritated, it was promptly changed with the pancakes.

While I was enjoying my pancakes, I saw Mr. Quirante slicing the sandwich into bite sizes, and offered them to the few customers at the time, as it was still early. He had such kind of persuading approach that no customer ever declined his offer, and all of them practically gave their thumb up, to confirm that their new product tasted really good. In just a couple of minutes all bite-sized pandesal slices were gone, and Mr. Quirante was smiling from ear to ear.

What touched me that morning was the persistence of Mr. Quirante in introducing a new product of the company, by personally, offering it to the customers. He was not downhearted with my rejection. Also, I supposed that such gesture was not really part of his routine, but rather his own kind of personal gimmickry that put his resourcefulness to the fore.

My interest in the attitude of Mr. Quirante made me talk to him for a few minutes before I left. I asked him if he was aware of the latest impression on their company due to the issue on food poisoning, to which he answered in the positive, that is why, he told me that they are trying their best to maintain their image. Just then, a service crew came in and greeted him. He told me that the guy was a Muslim. I was surprised because I thought only Christians were being hired by their company. At that, I was told that they want to be fair to all those who seek opportunity to help them with their studies, that is why their outlet has hired four Muslim staff. I was not surprised by what he told me as McDonalds is known for its penchant in helping working students. In fact, Mr. Quirante told me that he went through the same stage, as he was himself, a working student when he worked initially with the company.

Quiapo is one area in Manila, a historic one, yet, which is being shared by the Catholics and Muslims who live side by side harmoniously. MacDonalds contributes to this harmonious co-existence by hiring service crew members from the area, regardless of their religious affinity. Mr. Quirante’s attitude on the other hand, has enhanced the effort of the company in his own way, by doing his best as part of the company – being nice to the clients and his co-employees. He told me that his rising from the lowest position, that of a service crew, until he became manager, gave him the opportunity to understand the entire nature of his job.

While it is true that employees of service-oriented companies are mandated to smile their best to attract customers, the difference lies in the “sincerity” in how it is done. Being an employee myself that handled customer needs, I know if smiling is candidly done or words that are muttered are meant to help or appease irritated clients or not. Mr. Quirante did more than all those…he made use of his resourcefulness to help his company to show that the golden arc does not only symbolize excellent service, but superb products, as well.

Ridiculing the Police on the Issue of the Diaper is Senseless

Ridiculing the Police
On the Issue of the Diaper is Senseless
By Apolinario Villalobos

The plan to let the police use diaper as an option to effectively carry out their responsibilities during the papal visit, has basis. Other countries use this option, and discreetly, this was also used during the past big events in the country. It was only during the planning stage of the operational strategy for the papal visit that the police agency was vocal about it, after having been egged to come out with detailed plans.

The thousands of police from the provinces were “billeted” in public venue facilities such as stadiums which are uncomfortable due to limited facilities, yet, they patiently persisted in maintaining their poise despite the lack of rest. This Spartan life was endured for five days. The police went through a lot of sacrifice, although they expected it as part of their job, no question about that.

But despite all those sacrifices, some conscienceless Filipinos, still had the heart to ridicule the police. It is a common knowledge that the rank of these law enforcers also reeks with graft and corruption but to ridicule them despite their selfless effort during a significant papal visit smacks of insanity on the part of the blogger who abused the use of the social media. If the blogger uploaded a photo of a police sniffing shabu or accepting bribe, it could have been acceptable.

Bloggers should show decency, fairness, and as necessary, some restraint in expressing themselves.

TESDA Trainings should include Resourcefulness

TESDA trainings should include

Resourcefulness

By Apolinario Villalobos

The trainings of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) are geared more towards jobs overseas. But there is one particular training that should be injected with resourcefulness – baking. The training agency should not only expect that graduates of the seminar are bound to fill up jobs in hotels and restaurants in the country and abroad, or embark on a business complete with baking equipment, but will also start a small home-based business, or just bake cakes and bread for the family. Regarding the latter option, trainors of the agency should include in their module how to be resourceful in case a “standard” sized oven is not available in the homes of these housewives.

This observation is based on TESDA training in the barangay level in which participants are simple housewives most of whom do not own a standard-sized oven, and whose interest is to bake bread for the family. The TESDA should have a module for this particular of group.

In the internet, some shares on baking are about those done on top of stoves using the iron pot. Another is even about baking cakes with the use of rice cooker. But since most wives do not even touch a computer or much more, have computer at home, these knowledge should be shared by the trainors, themselves in seminars. TESDA should get trainors whose knowledge on baking is not limited in the use of the standard oven.

The TESDA training programs are allotted with substantial budget. In this regard, the agency should see to it that the modules of their trainors are not coped within the western-type knowledge, but should also cater to what the Filipinos need aside from landing a job in big companies in the country or abroad, or a big-budgeted family business. Knowledge learned from the agency should also be geared towards its usefulness in the Filipino home.

Ang Diskarte

Ang Diskarte

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Ang salitang “diskarte” ay isa sa pinakapalasak na salita sa diksyonaryo ng Pilipino. Maaaring ito ay mangangahuhulugan ng “paraan”, “ginagawa”, “gawin”, at kung anu-ano pa na pandugtong ng mga salita, tulad din ng “kung saan”. Sa mga ayaw magsabi ng maraming bagay tungkol sa kanyang ginawa, sasabihin lang niyang “diskarte lang yan”, tapos na ang usapan. Kung baga, “mayamang” salita, literally din, dahil marami ang yumaman sa napakasimpleng salita na yan.

Sa lahat ng panig ng mundo, kailangang dumiskarte upang mabuhay, maski sa pamamagitan man lamang sa pagkain isang beses isang araw, kesehodang ang kapirasong pagkaing isinubo upang mapawi ang gutom ay galing sa tambakan ng basura. Sa Afrika, ang isa sa mga paraan upang mapawi ang uhaw ng mga katutubo ay sa pamamagitan ng paghiwa ng maliit na bahagi ng leeg ng alaga nilang hayop upang tagasan ng dugo na kanilang iniinom. Pagkatapos mapaampat ang dugo ay pinapakawalan uli ang hayop, na parang walang nangyari. Sa Pilipinas, ang mahirap na mga Pilipino ay para na ring hayop kung ituring, sinisipsipan din pero hindi lang ng dugo kundi kapirasong buhay – ng mga gahamang opisyal sa gobyerno at mga pulitiko. Pagkatapos ng “ritwal”, bibigyan kunwari ang mga Pilipino ng “tulong” upang madugtungan ang buhay, na parang walang nangyari.

Maraming tao ang dumidiskarte upang makapasok sa trabaho. Mayroong nagpapa-impress sa interview pa lang na sila ay graduate ng mga kilalang university o college, sinasabayan pa ng pa-“wers wers” na English. Ang iba, pa-emotional, sabay banggit ng kahirapan nila sa buhay kaya kailangang kumita. At, ang iba pa ay binabanggit si “uncle” o “auntie” na malimit ka-lunch ni presidente, ni senador, ni congressman, at iba pang opisyal.

Malaking bagay ang may tiwala sa sarili pagdating sa interview. Ang isa kong kaibigan, naging tapat sa pagsabi na graduate siya sa isang hindi kilalang college at ang natapos niya ay simpleng kursong Bachelor of Arts, subali’t pinagdiinan niyang hindi dapat limitahan ng kurso niya ang iba pa niyang kaalaman na mahahasa kapag nakuha niya ang trabaho. Nang matapos ang pagsulit, pang-apat siya. Ang trabaho sa Department of Budget and Management (DBM), malayo sa kanyang kurso subali’t hindi naging hadlang sa kanyang tuluy-tuloy na promotion. Ang nangyari sa kanya ay nangyari sa akin dahil sa kabila ng kurso kong Bachelor of Arts din, ay napasabak sa sales and marketing nang mapasok sa isang airline. Ang isa pa naming kaibigan na ganoon din ang kurso ay naging Assistant Secretary ng Department of Social Welfare (DSW). 

May isang magandang sekretarya akong nakilala, na ang ama ay ginawan ko ng talambuhay, ang hindi nahiyang nagsabing nakatulong ang maganda niyang mukha at seksing katawan upang matanggap sa inaplayan. Walang sekswal na nangyari, kundi dahil sa pangangailangan ng kumpanya ng isang talagang magandang sekretarya para humarap sa mga dayuhan nilang kliyente, siya ay tinanggap. Ang babae ay hindi lang maganda kundi magaling din magsalita ng English at may kusa sa ibang gawain, kaya ang mga kasama niya sa opisina ay bilib sa kanya. Ibig sabihin, ang diskarte niya ay tumulong sa mga kasama niya sa opisina at hindi siya mayabang.

Yong mga batang nakatira malapit sa Divisoria, ang diskarte ay pamumulot ng mga itinapong gulay ng mga biyahero madaling araw pa lang. Ang mga gulay ay  hindi naman bulok, kundi mga lamog at lanta lamang. Binibenta nila ito pagkatapos tanggalan ng mga lamog o lantang bahagi. Tumpuk-tumpok kung ibenta nila ito sa bangketa at ang kita nila ay ginagamit pangbaon sa eskwela at pambili ng mga gamit. Ang iba ay inuuwi upang pang-ulam.  Ang mga nanay naman nila, nagtatalop ng mga reject na sibuyas upang matanggal ang mga bulok na balat, at ang mga tatay ay nagkakargador sa Divisoria, at nangangalkal sa mga tambakan ng basura upang makakuha ng mga mabebentang mga bagay.

Sa mga naging kaibigan ko na kapos sa buhay at nakatira sa depressed areas, nagsa-suggest ako na haluan ng tinadtad na kamote o saging na saba ang sinaing. Maliban sa nakakapagparami sa sinaing, masustansiya pa. Upang makatipid sa oras ng pagluto at kahoy, ipinapasapaw ko sa painin na sinaing ang mga gulay na malimit gamitin sa pinakbet, pati kamatis at sibuyas. Isasawsaw na lamang sa bagoong kung kakainin na.

Nang minsang naimbita ako sa tanghalian ng isa kong pinasyalan, napansin kong kulang ang pinggan, baso, tasa, at mangkok, kaya ang kumpare ko, takip ng kaldero ang ginawang pinggan. Nag-suggest ako na huwag ibenta, sa halip ay gamitin na lamang nila ang mga mapulot na dating ice cream container para magamit na mangkok at pinggan, ang mga garapon lalo na yong may takip ay gamiting baso, at ang iba pang plastic container na maliit ay pwedeng baso at gamitin sa kape. Ang mga dating ice cream container, maliit na espasyo ang magagamit kung itatabi dahil pwedeng salansanin o pagpatung-patungin, ligtas pa ang tirang pagkain dahil may mga takip na. Ang mga garapon, ligtas din sa mga ipis dahil may mga takip din. Pero, paalala ko hugasang mabuti bago gamitin. Ang mapulot na buo pang  kahon na gawang kahoy o crate ay  pwedeng gamiting mesa. Nang mamasyal uli ako sa kanila, nakita kong may bagong mesa (dalawang crate na pinagtabi) na may cover na tarpaulin may mukha nga lang ng natalong kandidato, mga nakasalansan na mga dating  ice cream container, mga garapong may takip na nakasalansan din, mga dating cup ng instant noodles para magamit na coffee mug, at may flower base pa na dating porselanang garapang nilagyan ng burong black beans, galing Tsina.

 Huwag maliiting ang mga lantang gulay. May mga gulay na sadyang pinapalanta bago buruhin tulad ng labanos at mustasa. Sa Italya, isa sa mga produkto nila ay kamatis na pinatuyo sa araw o “sun dried”. Sa Thailand, Tsina at iba pang bansa sa Asya, pinapatuyo ang kalabasa, singkamas, gabi, kamote, talong. Sa India, ang langka na panggulay, pinapatuyo din. Ang pagpapatuyo ng sili ay hindi maikakailang ginagawa ng halos lahat ng bansa na meron nito. Iyan ang paliwanag ko sa mga kaibigan kong nais makinig.

 Hindi kailangang maraming pera upang makaraos sa buhay. Ang kailangan lang ay simpleng diskarte.