Counting the days

This year I realized how much I Love New York. I have been working outside of the city for almost 7 months, and everyday I wish I can go back to the city. Plus, I miss my Wife, my baby boy, and my Home. I always tell my friends I will never leave New York as long as I can afford it, or at least live close to Manhattan. Every time I meet someone and they ask me where I'm from, I always tell them NY first before telling them that I'm from the Philippines. But seriously, I always get confused with the question. I don't know if the question is where I'm from naturally or where I'm from currently HEHEH. I miss NY especially now because it's the holidays, It's so festive just like my hometown. You see the biggest Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center, people Ice Skating below. Looking at those shops that has a Christmas window presentation. Everybody shopping, and just savoring the cold winter air. It's so NY! In the Philippines, I miss all the Christmas traditions. Waking up at 4 a.m. to go to Simbang Gabi (Dawn Masses), and eat breakfast afterwards with friends. There is a sense of accomplishment when you complete the 9 days of novena. Tradition says that if you complete it your wish will come true (World Peace!). We normally rush to buy those traditional Filipino Holiday food which is Bibingka (Rice Cake cooked in a coal) and Puto Bungbong (sticky rice dessert steamed in bamboo tubes), and pair it with Kapeng Baraco (Strong Radioactive Coffee). I'm more of a Tapsilog kinda guy, I don't like those sweet stuff. *Let me describe this food for a sec. "Tap-Si-Log" and it goes like this "Tap" is for Tapa (semi-dried beef season with Salt, Pepper, and lots of garlic.) "Si" is for Sinangag (fried rice with toasted garlic) and "Log" is for Itlog (Fried eggs in whatever style you like.) My mouth is watering as I describe this food. Anyway, these traditions is very different with each other, but the common thing about it is that it brings friends and loved ones close to each other. But I'm sure it's better there where all the TAPSILOGS are. :)

Toys, toys and more toys!

Back in the day, being the only child for 10 years. I was kind of a spoiled child growing up. Every time I ask something from my parents, I almost always get what I want with an extreme amount of begging and convincing. My Dad who is a "techie" himself, always get sent to Japan for work during the 70's and 80's. As we all know Japan is the technology capital of the world even in those times. Every time he comes back he always bring me new toys, but I can't even read the instruction manuals because it's in Japanese. I try to figure it out by myself most of the time, At a very young age (maybe 3-4 years old) I already have a fully functional Remote Control Car. He does not bring me cheap RC's that only goes on reverse to turn the car around, he buys me the good stuff. I guess he likes the technology behind those toys, and I'm sure he loves seeing me tinkering with it too. I use to have a robot claw that you can control and grab stuff. I had an RC Trailer Truck, Datsun Fairlady, and a couple of Buggies. A collection of Matchbox cars, that my neighbor in Pasay use to steal. A bunch of Lego's that I use to design stuff with. But I think the best toy I've ever had is the die cast Voltes V! They gave this amazing toy to me I think Christmas of 77' or 78', I don't remember. But I remember opening 5 gifts on that day, and it formally introduced me to Steve, Mark, Big Bert, Little John, and Jamie. If only I knew how much it's gonna cost today, I could have kept it in pristine condition. I saw a complete set in ebay and it's selling for 1,000 to 1,200 dollars! Now I know why my Dad bought a display case with lock for my all my toys. I think we're the only house in Manila that displays toys instead of encyclopedia and trophies. Up to now I think my Dad still keeps my old toys, one of these days I will see him with my own boy and talk about toys the whole day. We didn't have that much money before, but my Dad and Mom still manage to provide me with my addiction to toys. I blame my Dad for this because up to now I am still addicted to Toys particularly Remote Control Cars. Now I buy Radio Controlled Cars, which you need to assemble yourself. There is a lot of technology that goes on this adult toys nowadays. It's like having a tiny car, it has all basic mechanical tuning of a real car. I still have a few toy collections and I can't wait to share this with my boy.

Adobo in Cleveland

My current job takes me around the U.S., it sounds glamorous but it's not as glamorous as you think. It is still work, traveling is just one of the perks. Living in a hotel for months at a time is not fun at all, it's still not home. The good thing about this is you don't do house chores, someone always fix and clean your temporary home all the time. I just miss fixing food for my family, I love to cook and of course eat. Anyway, what I like about this job is the food. Different states, different kinds of food. The objective is to look for locals that can give you an underground knowledge where to find good cheap food. And voila, a culinary adventure that takes the boredom out. I've sampled a lot of food around, from European to different Asian foods. Even the hospital food here in Cleveland Clinic is not bad (guest food not patient food). But after sampling different kinds of gastronomic concoctions, my tongue still craves that one succulent taste. The taste of garlic, soy sauce, vinegar, black pepper, & bay leaves, it’s that Filipino dish we call Adobo.

Adobo is a very popular & tasty dish that the Filipinos invented. Other Latin countries also have this kind of recipe, they also call it Adobo. But they do it differently, not even close to what we make. In the Philippines, we have 7100+ islands, and every island makes Adobo differently. My mother-in-law always says that Filipinos are born with an Adobo gene imbedded in our blood; we practically go from milk to Adobo :). The basic Adobo recipe most of the time is made with Chicken or Pork, but sometimes it is made with beef, seafood, vegetable or other edible game meats (hint, hint hehe). Every "Adobo formula" almost always taste good whatever ingredients they use. You are not Filipino if you don't know how to cook this national dish. I can even cook this dish with my eyes close. I this job, we meet a lot of Filipinos along the way. As usual, they are hospitable and think that you are a distant relative. They always ask where in the Philippines/U.S. you are from, and what are you doing in this part of town. I guess it normal to ask this kind of questions. Anyway, to make a long story short conversation always leads to food. I don't have problems eating hotel or hospital food all the time (since it's free), but if someone will offer to give us Filipino food I'll take it with open arms. Every time they ask me what I want, of course the first dish that will come out of my mouth is Adobo. It feels so good whenever you taste that succulent Adobo, it's like being in a happy place. It's funny that even here in the it feels like being in my own country. Wherever I go I have tasted different versions of this dish, Since the Filipinos that I meet comes from different parts of the Philippines. Here in Cleveland we met some Filipino staff that works in the hospital, they gave us Pancit, Adobo & Rice this morning. Sweet!!! I discarded the free continental breakfast and went straight to Adobo and Pancit. Life is good! Sometimes I feel that we are abusing their generosity but being deprive of Filipino food will definitely make you numb. :)