Focus Weekly

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

What about Instagram?

Hey, you know what’s not actually a new thing, and that people can all stop going crazy about? It’s having camera on your phone. I mean, getting excited about it is a bit like getting excited about ordering spaghetti with meatballs, or playing a song off your laptop which factually is one of its many functions.

It ain’t a thing.

Still, half the advertisements I see on the television are for cameras and phones. There’s where we’re usually told that life is passing us by and that if we don’t take pictures of every banal moment in our lives, these moments will be lost to us forever. It’s like we’re being told not to trust our own memories.

Also, we’re not just being encouraged to be the official club photographers of our own existences; either we’re being told that we should be documenting every meal as if we were preparing for a retrospective. This idea finds its epitome and is perpetuated most fervently by something called Instagram. You might have heard of it – or have used it.

I don’t know what it was about the turn of the century. Maybe, we all got carried away and thought we were the “chosen ones” because our lives spanned two different millennia. Maybe, it’s just a way of trying to get a grip on a world that’s passing us by…that capturing those seemingly mundane moments, when assembled, begin to make some kind of sense from our existence.

Or maybe Instagram does have some kind of worth.

I think the problem is that there’s dishonesty at its core. All photography of worth captures some kind of truth, something that you wouldn’t have picked up on with the naked eye. At the very least, it presents an interestingly distorted view of reality. (Louie dela Vega/FOCUS)

Xmas staple flavors hands down: Tsokolate and Hamon

It's the most wonderful time of year…as Harry Connick, Jr. whispers in my ear. The Ber months has tipped off good news to humankind. Yes, Christmas is just around the corner as the world's longest Christmas season unfolds!

Stockings and ornaments are readied with care in hopes that St. Nick soon will appear for a plateful of cookies. It’s the time when everyone becomes generous, and pulling out their friendly plastic rectangles called ‘credit cards’ isn’t confronting. Then, come January, when they look at their bills, they utterly wonder why they lose half of their savings.

Go figure!

But there is more to Christmas than bills. For example, everyone is happier. Then, there is the king of all decorations, the big enchilada, the head honcho, and the trees! Tell me what is more fun than standing the tree up, putting it together, and decorating it? It's a hustle but in it, it’s all fun!

However, if there’s one reason why the holidays are “more fun” here in the Philippines, it must be because of the way we celebrate: with food, lots of it. It's Christmas for heaven's sake! Just don't have too much eggnog though!

Who doesn’t love chocolate?

The centuries-long Spanish colonial period introduced us to numerous concoctions that were so delectable they earned a well-deserved place in Filipino celebrations, like the Filipino Christmas feast. One of the most scrumptiously pleasant tasters by the Spaniards was the Tsokolate.

Tsokolate is a hot chocolate drink made of tableas. Tableas are chocolate tablets made from pure cacao beans that are ground, dried, and roasted. Some families add different flavors to the tsokolate, and these recipes are passed on from generation to generation.

Chocolate de Batirol

Hot chocolate, and the Filipino take on its tsokolate, is best enjoyed in cool areas such as Baguio. The summer capital’s best known haunt for tsokolate is none other than Chocolate de Batirol at Camp John Hay.

Though the place is rather low-key and casual, their signature drinks make it a city hotspot that shouldn’t be missed. Two in particular stand out: the Chocolate de Batirol Traditional Blend, which is perfectly rich and thick with little bits of cocoa that you can enjoy; and the Chocolate de Batirol Baguio Blend, which adopts as well- known element of the City of Pines–the flavor of strawberry. (Photo courtesy of findgoodbaguiofoods.wordpress.com)

Tsoko.Nut

Proudly nationalistic, Tsoko.Nut Batirol is known for cooking all their food with a slight Pinoy twist This little café haven has been popping up in many places in Manila, but as their name suggests, they’re still best known for their traditional and innovative takes on the Pinoy favorite, tsokolate batirol.

Tsoko.Nut has an extensive list of tsokolate variants, from the classic Tsokolate Ah Batirol to several sugar-free offerings. (Photo courtesy of thepeachkitchen.com)

All about ham
Filipinos channel Western influences in naming ham as one of their Christmas feast must-haves.

No Noche Buena or Christmas basket would be complete without a whole glistening slab of ham peeking out. Since lechon is much too impractical and expensive to give away, ham takes its place in many Christmas parties at the center of the table.

The history of Christmas ham may be traced all the way to England and brought in the Philippines in the Spanish era, but there is no doubt the Filipino way has been perfected through the years.

Sweetened, glazed, and dipped in pineapple sauce, eager diners pair it with rice, bread and pasta, or nibble on it by itself. Different variants can be bought from the market, but a few popular types–and brands–can definitely be counted on year in and year out as favorites.

Hamon de Bola

This type of ham is very familiar to the Filipinos, who may find themselves digging into in every time December rolls around. Hamon de bola is characterized not just by its round shape but also its sweetness. It has become a Christmas tradition to present a good-sized hamon de bola during Noche Buena, and Pinoys often stick to tried-and-tested brands.

Chinese Ham

Chinese ham is as popular in the country as hamon de bola, maybe even more so. This cured ham has the sweetness that most Filipinos love so much, but combines this with a distinct saltiness that people seem to prefer over other kinds.

Monday, October 27, 2014

Appreciating arts and culture Baguio as a flourishing ethos, and #Espasyo is just the beginning

BAGUIO CITY - Elevating one’s lifestyle is a goal shared by many Filipinos. For some, this means being able to afford a life of leisure. For others, it’s simply about stepping out and stepping up. And where else to get that proposition than in Baguio?

Baguio, lodged in the middle of a highland and integrated into natural landscape, is an aesthetically unique place; a haven for artists that spurs creativity and inspiration; and a mecca of diversity where people are unbound of expressing themselves through art, music, and collected works.

It is true that to be able to know how rich a culture is, and how manifold a community is, one needs to experience its facets, meet its locals, and just embrace its oral history.

Baguio has always been that place I visualized to be settling in one day. It provides more than a patch of green. Consistently back and forth, I consider the place my second home. Just picturing the heap of opportunities ready to chance puts me in rapture. Even if I decide to put down roots and build a house, I won’t shed things–to put it flatteringly. In fact, the surroundings tell much of my personal histories–the clutter, an inventory of freedom travels and food eaten (whether in its strawberry shortcake or Pinikpikan reiteration).

The point is this–Baguio is spectacular in photos and to experience it is exponentially better.

Cultural identity & advocacy for change

#Espasyo envisions Baguio as a city of flourishing cultures depicted in all art forms. A network of community volunteers, visual artists, musicians, and performers coming from all walks of life drawn together by sincere aspiration, rediscovering Baguio has been a quest.

They believe that it is imperative to revisit and celebrate Baguio not only as a tourist destination, but also as a forerunner of the creative industry in the country which translates to added economic benefits to the city in the long run.

On September 7, Rose Garden was filled with arts and people who’re passionate about it, and who’re disposed to its importance towards the city’s cultural identity empowerment. With the help of the Baguio community and some organizations, the event was a success.

Espasyo’s Communications person Calypso Alaia said that providing value to the city’s local talents and the creativity they can bring is important.

“Artists in Baguio, using different art forms can redeem Baguio. When people create, they get inspired, and inspiration can defeat negativity; it creates a stronger and better community”, she added.

Dance performances, instrumental humming, poem delivery, cosplay, and fashion showcase are some of the activities on the event.

The moment my taxi ride pulled over, skim past the shanty ukay stores, the scene hit me with exhilaration –how lucky I was to witness an ingenious idea happen before my eyes.

You may shiver through an image of these youth in Benguet native costumes gamboling in an Igorot descant accompanied by cheerful observers. Tailing them are performances from independent, and University student groups. Watching them makes Baguio an exciting prospect for a journey, both eye-opening and entertaining.

Being in the middle of a flamboyant crowd can sometimes become too lively (a euphemism for noisy), so wandering around the area helped me found my inner peace and a grateful heart (thus the ‘cryptic’ Feels like home, song title). I also get to take photos of dogs in costumes and cosplayers channeling their character heroes.

The organized chaos of chalk art near the dancing floor fountain was a prolific treat to anyone. I instantly became Picasso that day, as I hastily draft my attempt to do an abstract piece, but failed. Getting your hands dirty in calling for art is always a seal of satisfaction.

By providing support to our local artists who play significant roles in propagating culture, Baguio could become one of the most character-driven city in the country, if not the most. So, give Baguio the chance in spite all the cheesy stereotypes it may or may not deserve.

If you want to learn more about humanity, Baguio is the best place to watch it unravel. (Louie dela Vega/FOCUS)

Young Pangasinense athletes all set for Batang Pinoy games

Hundreds of young Pangasinense athletes will again vie for dominance in 19 sporting events as the Batang Pinoy Pangasinan Elimination Games unfold on September 27 to 28.

Executive Assistant III Modesto Operania said the provincial government is now gearing up for the province-wide sports activity in preparation for the Batang Pinoy-Luzon Leg slated on November 11-15.

Operania said the province-wide elimination games will be an “open eliminations” as he urged the participating local government units (LGUs) to select and send their best players.

He said the young athletes will be competing in various sporting events such as arnis, archery, athletics, badminton, baseball, boxing, chess, cycling, futsal, karatedo, lawn tennis, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, taekwondo, table tennis, volleyball, basketball 3-on-3 and dance sports.

The Batang Pinoy sporting spectacle, which forms part of the sports development thrust of the present administration, has become a training ground for young and promising Pangasinense athletes.

The Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) here will serve as the main venue for the tournaments while other events will be played at the Capitol Resort (archery), Pangasinan State University (arnis and taekwondo), Maramba Boulevard (cycling) and Capitol beachfront (baseball/softball).

Batang Pinoy, a grassroot sports development program for young athletes launched by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), serves as base for sports specialization including training for higher level leagues, national and international tournaments.

The provincial government led by Governor Amado Espino, Jr. has been an active participant in this annual sports spectacle.

In the 2013 Batang Pinoy National Games held in Bacolod City, the province emerged as 10th over-all winner in a field of 129 participating LGUs from all over the country.

Ranking fifth in 2011, Team Pangasinan notched the over-all championship of the 2012 Batang Pinoy Northern Luzon Leg held in Lingayen town.

In 2013, Pangasinan ranked 3rd in the Batang Pinoy Luzon Leg held in Iba, Zambales from out of 140 LGU delegations.

“Athletes who will win in respective sporting events during the elimination games will undergo a series of trainings to keep them in momentum for the Batang Pinoy Luzon Leg,” Operania said. (MCA/AMM/PIA-1, Pangasinan/PIO)

Get your fruit fix

If the produce at the supermarket looks like it’s seen better days this time of the year, hit the other aisles. The Journal of the Science of Food Agriculture found that canned and fresh peaches had similar levels of antioxidants; folate; vitamins A, C, and E; and other nutrients.

Dried

Often higher in fiber than fresh varieties, dried fruit is ideal for snacking and a great source of instant energy. But it’s also higher in sugar and easy to overeat, so make sure to practice portion control.

Squeeze pouches

Fruit purees make it simple to get your recommended daily allowances on the go. Look for 100 percent-fruit varieties without high-fructose corn syrup or preservatives.

Leathers

These chewy strips of dried, pureed fruit may have added sugar, but as long as it isn’t the first ingredient, they’re a healthy alternative to candy.

Frozen

They are often flash-frozen in the field, which locks in nutrients, and are sometimes even healthier than fresh produce that’s been tucked across the country. Add them to smoothies or muffins.

5 reasons to start a company in the Philippines

The Southeast Asia is a key player when it comes to startups. It’s a market of 600 million people, a third of which in one country alone, with 17000 islands. But the Philippines is a stand out.

It’s a fast-growing middle-class region, with 24% of the Philippine population in this category as of 2013. Dubbed as the social media and selfie capital of the world by Times, Philippines has the fastest smartphone penetration.

You’re not alone to find it difficult to position this land on a map, as it is still quite unexplored by many. The opportunity to launch a business in the country is huge. Here are 5 good reasons to start up a business in the country:

It’s more fun in the Philippines!

This official campaign of the tourism board of the Philippines says quite a lot. The entrepreneurial spirit of Asians is truly infectious.

The Philippines is an amazing melting-pot of an Asian-Pacific set of islands, which has been conquered by the Spanish, freed from the Japanese later on by the Americans, and with a huge diaspora across the world.

The result is a very social and friendly culture, where karaoke, laughter and time for friends are omnipresent. As innovation often comes from diversity, you could not dream of a country with more different faces and cultures and acquiescence to new changes.

Growth is firm in the Philippines!

With the second best performing economy of Asia behind China, the Philippines is doing well. Their GDP recorded 6.5% growth in the fourth quarter of 2013, compared to 7.7% for China (IBT)

The exports of the country are also amazing, with the top chunk held by Electronic products, far beyond the bananas people think too often of.

The stock market also increased its main index by 61% over the last two years.

It’s archeologically empire-building in the Philippines!

If the history of the Silicon Valley or Israel is better known than the one of the Philippines, you can still find a lot of examples testifying their entrepreneurial spirit:

The country opened its Asia’s first University back in 1611. The University of Santo Tomas was set up by the Catholic, and it is still boasting some 42000 students as of 2013.

It carved the first rice terraces some 2000 years ago with an advanced irrigation system to drive water from the rainforests.

It resisted the Spanish invasion, with Lapu-Lapu, the omni-present soldier statue you can see in Cebu Island, being then recognized as “the first Filipino”, back in the 16th century.

It survived wars and typhoons, and has rebuilt the country after each catastrophe.

It is preparing a Startup Bill which many compares to a move as bold as the one made by Chile a few years ago (with Startup Chile being now a world famous program for foreign entrepreneurs).

It’s innovative in the Philippines!

The local startup scene in the Philippines is recognized to be leading innovation in two important fields:

Bitcoin and crypto-currencies, as the regulations are light when it comes to these new virtual currencies, and as their huge diaspora need a better way to send money back home. A few American startup-ers came intently to know how the Philippines bitcoin community was faring.

Social enterprise, as 62% of the population lives with less than three dollar per day. This population, called “the bottom of the pyramid”, is often referred to as a market as people there still have ways to consume goods and services. A social enterprise such as Rags to Riches in Manila, offers an e-commerce platform for craft made by remote populations.

These two fields are key innovation drivers where the Philippines can lead the way.

The startup network is vigorous in the Philippines!

The Philippines has its own main tech event and international hackathons and competition such as Seedstars World or AngelHack, training and mentoring centers. The Digital ICT Congress in Pangasinan is now on its 4th year tapping huge universities and institution in the entire province.

It’s definitely vivifying to visit the tech scenes of the Philippines, both in Cebu, and Pangasinan, an island better known for its nature spots.

With a unique positioning between Asia, the Pacific, and the United States, this is a big 100 million people country not to forget about. (Louie dela Vega/FOCUS)

Monitoring your child thru smart parental control apps

Being a parent is a tough job and assuring a better future for their children is a priority. But in today’s world where everything is accessible thru the use of modern technology, parenting becomes tougher given that the Internet can now be easily accessed on smartphones and tablets; the possibility of reaching offensive contents heightens. Gone are the days when the only medium to explore the web is thru desktops and laptops where parents can easily monitor their kid’s activities.

In addition, smartphones which are now the most popular gadget in town, also, have applications in them that may influence your kids. Addicting games, sexually explicit apps, and unmonitored use of social media are some of the many frightening possibilities on using smartphones

But parents shouldn’t worry anymore as technology, which created these devices, also has a solution to this problem. Listed are the apps and gadgets that parents must use to monitor their kid’s activities on the Internet and their smartphone devices and even offline activities by using GPS trackers that trace your kid’s location.

Phone control. This app allows you to monitor every activity of your child’s phone. It will forward outgoing and incoming SMS messages, photo taken, contacts, phone calls and location of the device. And you can do this without even noticing by your child because it doesn’t have an icon seen on the phone.

Norton online family. Allows you to monitor which sites your child has visited and automatically sends you an email when your child attempts to visit blocked sites. Also, it shows the apps downloaded on the phone and choose which apps they can use. Hone habits.

The app also has a 90-day history of your child’s phone activity allowing you to double-check your child’s

Kids place. If you want to select what app your children can exactly use, this app is the best for you. Kids Place lets you customized the home screen feature of their phone that will feature child-friendly apps like puzzles and quizzes. This app also has a healthy feature because of its capability to disable the wireless networks that will avoid your child in radiation exposure.

Canary. This is for parents who want to track their child’s phone activity while driving. Canary alerts parents with the details on calls, messages driving speeds and locations. It also sets a maximum driving speed and creates a perimeter map and alerts you when your child exceeded on the maximum speed or your child is outside the perimeter during curfew hours.

Canary is a Free app that can be downloaded on Appstore and Google Play; $14.99 for a lifetime subscription.

Footprints. By using this app, parents can monitor their child’s whereabouts in real time, anytime. Using GPS, this app helps parents to automatically locate their child’s location. If they’re travelling, you can confirm if they already arrived at a specific location.

This app will surely help parents to monitor their kids while using their gadgets and internet, also, their activities thru this GPS tracking apps. Source: www.mashable.com, www.androidpit.com, www.footprints.net , www.thecanaryproject.com. (Reginald Agsalon)/Focus)

Romana’s sweet and nutty pleasure

It seems, I am comfortably aware; a perfect metaphor for much of Mangaldan’s food diversity. From meaty gracious to going nuts.

One of the things I’m always looking at as I travel is the stories that are yet to unfold. And if there’s a regular feature, a common thread wherever you go, it’s that the best chronicles come from the most challenging backgrounds. And it is without doubt that the greatest, most beloved, and iconic dishes in the pantheon of gastronomy originated with the hard-pressed, hardworking people—all of them began with the urgent need to make something good and reasonably sustaining out of very little.

Romana De Vera is an example. She is the woman behind the peanut brittle enterprise, and from whose the brand name is used. In 1958, she made peanut brittle just for the family and friends but started cooking for a townful of hungry mouths when demands were realized.

Filipinos like peanut brittle (sugar-coated legumes) that are hard to bite and addicting to eat—my own childhood version of chocolate. Romana looks deceptively simple; thick, rough chunks of brittle with large, whole peanuts that shatter easily, and tastes awesome—it is buttery and caramelly at the same time, and the peanuts definitely add that extra layer of greatness to the package.

Serving consumers for the past 5 decades, Romana still maintains the same homemade quality it was known for. The only choicest ingredients and meticulous procedures are used and observed.

“The procedure in making the peanut brittle from when I started this business until this day up is still the same; only the formula is developed,” Romana said. Nothing less from the pioneer in Philippine peanut brittle confectionery!

From peanut brittle, they’ve also branched out to manufacture other Filipino treats which now include peanut adobo, greaseless peanuts, homemade peanut butter, Spanish chocolate, ube halaya, etc.

So when you finally succumb to its temptation, and it’s unlikely about minutes later that you realized you’ve already eaten half the container, do not worry. Because the guilt you feel doesn’t take the edge off your enjoyment; it is just that good.

Eating disorder impelled by media influence

Eating disorder can become anyone’s adversary. A well-coped and rational man is unguaranteed safe from meeting, and eventually, having the condition. It is a hinged belief of the physical, mental, and emotional credence on mere dieting, where in fact; it hasn’t been so, cleverly.

We are being battered daily with facts about everything from everywhere with the outburst of information technology. We are being attacked with new information at every turn with this entire media. We are told what is new, what is popular, what is good, and what is bad. And whether we acknowledge it or not, it influences our choices.

This health indisposition is deemed to be a serious behavior problem, as it is generated solely on their urge to losing weight: media influence.

Though culture, as one of the etiological factors leading to its development is part of the craze, it is seen less controlling than that of the media, which most, on the subject agrees that both are directly connected. The media and body image have long been dependent upon each other to set styles and trends. For years, society has let the media set the standards of how men and, particularly women, are supposed to look in order to be attractive, and all-well effective. Unfortunately, many of these standards are unlikely for a normal person to achieve. In the depths of despair, as they say.

When actors and models, or any individual aboard in a profession that relies largely on appearance are depicted as idyllic, (because they are thin), eating disorder and media are once again solidly linked. Typical women feel pressured to do whatever they feel is necessary to emulate and live up to these criteria. They won’t see themselves desirable unless they are wearing a size smaller than their original number.

There may be an index of pressure to look a certain way, and that we can’t reproach these individuals for succumbing because we’re all, anyway, guilty of feeling vulnerable, but the fact that health is taken at risk; that is alarming. We should always be reminded that this is not strictly vanity issues, and encouraging the act is exclusively misconduct.

One of the many ways that the media and body image promote eating disorders is through the constant display of women wearing next to nothing or tight fitting clothing; or men fancying the 6-packed abs. Aside from these outlandish spectacles are comments spawned regarding the advertisements. It is such as these that give people the impression that unless they are 5’8’’ in height and 100 pounds in weight, they are perceived fat and ugly.

Eating disorders and the media have come under fire on more than one occasion in the past years. Even singers, who felt they had put on a pound or two, started using a slenderizing filming technique to shoot their music videos. The finished product came out looking unnatural, although the singers were certainly slender enough. This comes to show that when you interview a number of women, you would be hard-pressed to find one who is happy with their body because of the standards the media sets. In this respect, media may contribute to low self-esteem by promoting thinness as the way to gaining love, acceptance and respect.

The relation between media exposure and eating disorders is very constricted. Media continues to model unhealthy eating attitudes and behaviors. One of the ways we can protect our self-esteem and body image from the media’s often narrow definition of beauty and acceptability is to become a critical viewer of the media messages we are bombarded with each day. If we assent to the media messages about attractiveness and body shape and size, then it will have an effect on the way we think about our bodies and ourselves. We should be prompted that dieting doesn’t make us a happier person, and overall successful.

The underlying, and funny question though is “What would happen if all of a sudden, “thin” wasn’t “in”, would people then pig out to gain weight?” (Louie dela Vega/Photo courtesy by: www.huffingtonpost.com)

Dragon fruit farm in the foot of Mount Balungao

Known as the goat capital of Pangasinan province, and recently crowned for having the longest zipline in Southeast Asia, Balungao’s tourism industry continues to blossom.

And to further raise the Municipality's treasure, the 2.5-hectare dragon fruit farm in Mt. Balungao is seen to attract visitors.

Dragon fruit or Pitaya prefers free draining soil with sandy to clay loam types or sandy soils like the land that can be found in Balungao.

Dragon fruit farming is widely popular in Central and South America. But thru research, it has reached different countries in Asia including the Philippines.

The Mt. Balungao Dragon Fruit farm is located in Napudot Road. The farm was developed in 2010 but the hefty harvest started just 2 years ago. According to Johnny Espe, owner of the farm, an expansion is planned due to the higher demand.

Espe is a nurse in profession but when he learned about the different benefits of dragon fruit, he started growing a few in their ancestral land in Balungao. Her sister who's in California has helped him research on ways how to grow dragon fruit. And now, the whole family helps in the business.

"From June to November po ang fruiting season. Hindi mahirap itanim basta't gamay mo siya. Kapag mainit ang klima, mas maganda ang tubo. Kaya swak na itanim dito sa Pilipinas kasi tropical country tayo", he explains.

The potential of dragon fruit is very much brighter because it commands a very high price in the local market. It costs around P120 - 150 per kilo. Espe said three-year old dragon fruit can produce 5 - 6 tons per hectare amounting to P720,000 in the local market alone. It is no wonder that dragon fruit is now dubbed as the new money crop–truly, a high revenue earner.

"Marami kaming mga standing orders sa Manila. May mga kumukuha dito para ibenta sa market. Sa ngayon, P120 ang bentahan namin at nagbibigay kami ng discount kapag bulk order ang kukunin", says Espe.

The Espe family plants different varieties of dragon fruit including red, white, and yellow variety. The red varieties are used to combat anemia. While the yellow is sweeter in taste and contains the heart tonic called ‘captine’.

The Mt. Balungao DF Farm is open for public where sightseers are free to pick their own fruits, and then pay afterwards.

"Enjoy ‘yung farm tour pati ‘yung fruit picking. Feeling ko, sa amin ‘yung farm. Pati mga bata, nag-enjoy. Syempre, aside dun sa experience, ‘yung benefit na makukuha mo sa dragon fruit, maganda kaya kumakain kami nito", says Nathaniel Gancenia when he visited the farm.

The deep pink almost bright red scaly skin of the dragon fruit may be weird for some and looks like just a cactus, but the benefits are numerous. Some say that dragon fruits are called "priceless treasure". It can be taken as fruit, flower, vegetable, health product or medicine.

Named the cleansing fruit for the whole body system, the dragon fruit is rich in vitamins and minerals and the fruit, including its flowers and peelings, are edible as well. It is also effective for weight loss, and it helps reduce risks of cancer. (Jing Vallejos/Focus)

Friday, September 5, 2014

Baguio City leaders to limit the use of Athletic Bowl

Photo courtesy: impactsocialmedia.net

The Athletic Bowl has been known to be the venue of vibrant festivities like the annual Baguio’s Panagbenga celebration to smaller gatherings like a city’s senior citizens conventions.

On a Monday’s session, City Councilor Faustino Olowan has set forth a motion that would make the Athletic Bowl an exclusive venue for sports only.

"We should stay within the purpose of the area which is intended to cater to athletes and sport activities and not any other events which can destroy or damage it," Olowan said.

The city has geared up a notch higher on its tourism strategy by tapping sports as one of tourist magnets especially with the proposed refurbishment of the sports arena. In an attempt to make it a world class facility, city leaders are working out the possible funding for the development of Baguio’s Athletic Bowl.

The new and sprawling development has an estimate cost of P31 million and P14.7 will come from the funds of Representative Nicasio Aliping Jr.

“This is on top of what the city is planning to infuse into the Athletic Bowl refurbishment,” Representative Aliping said.

For the meantime, the 14.7 million rehabilitation is underway after the Department of Public Works and Highways has started the bidding process for the development project.

Photo courtesy: edgarnievera.com

“We very much wanted to fix the Athletic Bowl so regional, national and even international sporting events could be hosted by the city,” he added.

The planned rehabilitation of Baguio’s Athletic Bowl promises to be the most significant development in the city’s sports tourism drive. If rehabilitated under the projected time plan, it will cater the upcoming sporting events like Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association and Palarong Panlungsod.

“Rest assured that by next year another P20 million will be made available for the continuation of the rehabilitation of Athletic Bowl,” Aliping said.

The project provides a capstone to a redevelopment effort ongoing in the area as it includes the installation of tartan tracks in the oval, the concreting of canals, and changing of roofing and posts in the view deck.

Talks are also underway with a US based company in the utilization of renewable energy of the sun in heating up the swimming pool. (Romulus Gutierrez III) FOCUS

Don Armandos: Your destination resto in Pangasinan

It’s all about food from Pinoy realms–the spaces where succulent flavors and spices meet.

There’s so much rejoicing in chowland, and it takes place in one of the most exceptional diners in Calasiao, where crushed seasonings, and food gen and passion, seem to appear from all directions.

Don Armados is an “ihaw-ihaw” restaurant, located in San Miguel, Calasiao that feels like an old-school sanctuary for people who want to just relax and enjoy the pleasure of company and eating good food.

The brick wall design brings in a calm sense of Mesoamerican sophistication, and yet customers partly realize that authentic Filipino cuisines are served in this place.

Fact is, I chose to focus on eating—and meandering through the aroma of dishes because I was fortunate enough to go there with a uniquely qualified guide. Actually, it’s one of the things that hooked me earliest and most irrevocably about Don Armados: the spices, the strong flavors, the mouth searing sauces and dips, and the delicate interplay between sweet and sour. Everything, yum!

When the owners brought a wealth of Pinoy kick to the aristocracy of their dishes, a new food exploration took hold. Worth their weight in gold, Don Armandos sparked good reviews, and changed the way Calasiao residents eat. They hoped to cross culinary boundaries of their own with the flavors they put on their dishes. And they strive to provide that responsibly.

Husband and wife, Teng and Architect John Paulo Bauzon are as different as night and day. She’s the feisty personality; he’s the gentle giant. Her food interests unquestionably come in a slice of pizza, and he’s are predominantly Pinoy, fashioned by the cooking of his supportive parents who started out an eatery in Dagupan, and whose brother’s exposure to the world of food is communicable.

“We want people to walk away feeling good about what they’ve eaten...physically and mentally”, said JP Bauzon.

Bauzon understands that people want a plethora of choices. He has seen the evolution of Calasiao from a primarily commercial district to the next rising industrial gem of Pangasinan due to the greater awareness of the public to diverse culinary styles, which he deemed is a good thing to offer variety of food in the restaurant.

Wanting nothing more complicated on a hot day, Don Armandos’ feel-good food is scrumptiously light; not overly-filling, but not skimpy either. It’s exactly everything you would want: from bangus bathed in fresh coconut water to savory binagoongan meat, creamy leche flan, and doughy pizza generously topped with pepperoni.

The desire to restore and preserve Filipino cuisine was the inspiration of the couple-partners. They don’t copy recipes, instead, take concepts and later indigenizes them to suit Filipino tastes. It is this diversity and history that Don Armandos seeks to preserve by offering a menu in a manner which is authentic as possible—living up to is namesake as an expression of greatness and uniqueness in Pinoy flavors.

Perhaps, the greatest example of Calasiao’s status of a growing food hub is Don Armandos
emergence. And with its successful home-cooked specialties, it is poised to take its place amongst other destinations in Pangasinan as the next great foodie paradise.

It is truly the pinnacle of its owners’ vision of creating their creative masterpiece in the province.

Top picks

For appetizers, one can try the Crispy Kangkong. This recipe is very much like your
typical vegetable tempura. But the quality of relish comes from the batter.

Don Armandos seems to have perfected their concoction because unlike other similar
recipes, it does not make you want to forget about the freshness of the vegetable.

Among their signature dishes are their “Nakabuyangyang na hito” (fried catfish in butterfly style) and Sizzling Pork Binagoongan.

The slow cooking process prepared with the freshest ingredients makes both meats tender while giving individual dishes a very savory taste. The sauce’s creaminess adds another
complexity.

There’s no denying the love affair Filipinos have with all things sinfully sugary. And if there ever was one dish that embodies this, it would be the leche flan.

Don Armandos’ Leche Flan is fresh and delectably tempting: from the creaminess of the custard to the heapful of caramelized sugar. There’s definitely that melt-in-your-mouth-goodness moment.

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Internet of Things (IoT) in the North

Photo courtesy of www.control4.com

In the Tech scene, only Baguio is the city that is on the radar for IT. It has a good track record for business process outsourcing (BPO), manufacturing hardware parts, and providing web services for various industries.

In the southern part of the Philippines, Davao and Cebu are tech superstars. Of course, tech companies abound, tech industry is at its most promising stage — who could ask for more?

But the North seems more laid back, it has this watch and see attitude, and even though the national government is pushing the envelope in the provinces it seems that a lot of things need to be done first before we finally embrace technology and modernisation.

Why is this?

Most of the local officials are not open and exposed enough to technology. I know of a few influential officials that squirm at the word. They say that they were born and raised without and that their constituents do not need it or are not aware of it. Such people deserve a perfect slap on their faces to wake them up to reality.

Whoever said that technology is not necessary yet and their community can live without it must be living in a rainforest or is a caveman, Mayor.

****

Today, we are entering the era of interconnected devices. The Internet of Things (IoT). Google acquired Nest Labs - a company which manufactures and sells intelligent devices running on Big Data or cloud technology that connects other devices to it.

Google will soon launch Android One, an Android phone that will also communicate with other devices at home like the television, the door, your zircon or coffeemaker and your ref. It can also talk to your car, the Android Car.

With all these up and coming, the people in the North can just not afford to watch things as they happen. We have to be in. We have to join the bandwagon and create things that will make our future a better place to live in.

The 4th DICT Congress in Pangasinan on October 9-11, is themed “ The Internet of Things- Star the future now”. The congress aims to open up and involve the Pangasinenses to the future of technology which is the IoT. It wants to encourage citizens to build their own IoT contribution and specialise because there is no place in the Philippines that is niching on it.

Pangasinan is full of talents and its labor force is huge. A big portion of the urban workers come from Pangasinan. And we are trying to create our own opportunities here.

By introducing IoT and what the future holds to our students, we envision our digital natives to go and create software or devices hacked from ordinary things we see around and convert it to more useful devices that the entire community can benefit of.

Learn more about the Internet of Things and DICT 4 on my next column. The congress is scheduled October 9-11 in Lingayen and Dagupan City Pangasinan respectively.

Tweet me @vanjpadilla for more stories and conversation.

La Union, revisiting its past grandeur

Aside from the most famous surfing sites and mesmerizing white sand beaches of La Union, the province also boasts its historical landmarks. These landmarks showcase the history of the province since the Spanish era. They played important role on how and what the province is in the present

PINDANGAN RUINS

About 500 meters from the National Highway at Brgy. San Vicente, San Fernando City lies the ruins of a church which serve as evangelization area to the locals. But due to its location, near the sea,which is prone to attacks by the Japanese and Chinese Moro Pirates, the Frayles decided to transfer the Church to Brgy. Tangui then to Brgy. Cabaroan and afterwards to its present site in front of city auditorium.

Today, the ruins’ buttresses and walls are still standing. An old well which supplied the area with cool water through the centuries, can still be found at the side of the church. Made of corals and bricks, the enchanting well is still in good condition. The Carmelite Sisters, whose monastery stands behind the ruins, are the caretakers of the glorious landmark.

They called the structure Pindangan ruins, derived from San Fernando City’s old name. An Ilocano dialect for a place where meat is sun dried and salted to preserve.

THE CENTENNIAL TUNNEL

Built in 1913 during the American regime this 40.4 kilometers long tunnel was really intended for Philippine National Railways (PNR) bound for Baguio. Because of the threat of the Second World War the structure was abandoned by the Commonwealth Government. The tunnel was also used as the headquarters of Japanese Imperial Army because of its durability to bombings. Although according to locals, the tunnel already exists during the Spanish era and was developed in the American occupation.

There are also speculations that there are treasures buried in the tunnel.Similar structures could also be found in Tuba, Benguet which were supposed to be part of the ambitious railway system.

BALUARTE WATCH TOWER

Located at the pebble beaches of Luna La Union, Baluarte Watch tower was built by the Spaniards to monitor threats and danger in the sea from the Japanese and Chinese Moro Pirates.

Because of its towering height it serve as a shield for the locals. Also, Guardia Civils can warn the residents in advance in case of forthcoming danger from pirates and colonists. Also to prepare to defend the locality. This historical structure has successfully defended the people in the past for countless times.

Today, Baluarte stands in disarray, vertically cut in two because of eroded base and foundation, its two halves stand through concrete post supports on its sides.

Indeed, La Union is not only blessed with beautiful sceneries but also, with historical pieces that showcase the rich culture and history of the province. Reginald Agsalon (FOCUS) Source: www.launion.gov.ph

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“We want people to walk away feeling good about what they’ve eaten...physically and mentally”, said JP Bauzon.

Internet of Things (IoT) in the North

La Union, revisiting its past grandeur