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It’s another Thanksgiving Celebration in the Philippines!

Yep another Thanksgiving celebration again here in the Philippines, American style. What I mean by that, we usually celebrate our Thanksgiving just like the way Bob’s family celebrated when he’s growing up. Then when I came to America I observed them and I liked it. So Bob and I decided to celebrate the thanksgiving the way his family did, and we can continue on the tradition. Hopefully our kids will follow and continue the Martin tradition. Woo, I’m just hoping that our to be daughter-in-laws likes to cook just like our daughter Jean. Jean can cook most of the food that we prepare during Thanksgiving.

We cook a lot of our food from scratch. From the stuffing mix (croutons & sausage), sweet potato, mashed potato, pies and other stuff. As you know a few years ago, it is hard to get the most of the ingredients here in the Philippines, especially we’re outside of Manila. Thank God for the sprouting malls now, lots of them carries the imported ingredients. But to be honest I hardly use the imported ingredients anymore, ever since using the local substitute it works for us and it just tasted the same as the real one. Bob and I decided that we’re not going to buy the imported and expensive ingredients since we can make a good one just a fraction of the price. LOL.

Thanksgiving Turkey

Thanksgiving Turkey

In the past years of living here we do our Thanksgiving 2 days after the Thanksgiving in America. Since Thursday kids have school here. It’s not a holiday here for that. So we do ours during Saturday so that the kids can help out and enjoy the whole day with the family. We did our Thanksgiving celebration a bit early this year. It was actually celebrated yesterday. Bob has some commitments to go to on the weekend after the Thanksgiving in the USA. So we decided to do it this weekend. The kids will be home and help us cook the turkey and other dishes. I usually decorate Christmas a week before we celebrate Thanksgiving. Thank God I’m done with decorating with the help of my kids, my nieces and helper. So everyday this week it’s going to be a busy day for us.

Starting with making our homemade squash for the pies and pumpkin roll, pumpkin pudding low-fat. We are also making chocolate chess pie, some of my kids would not eat the pumpkin pie. I’m thinking of making the yam (sweet potato early).  Mix the rest of the ingredients and bake on the day of the party. Have to make the croutons ahead of time too. It seems that the sourdough bread taste much better than the ciabatta bread, but it really all depends if I can find some sourdough bread near us. Sometimes the bread shop at SM carries them. Oh well, french bread and ciabatta works good as well anyway. So not a problem there.

So here’s our food for our thanksgiving here in the house: Turkey, Mashed Potato, Stuffing, Rice, Beans, Yams, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chess Pie, Pumpkin Roll, Pumpkin Pudding and ham (we have ham this year). Good for sandwich later and turkey soup too. :-)

So what about you guys? What are you preparing for the Thanksgiving holiday? To those expats here in the Philippines, do you had a hard time getting the ingredients? Do you celebrate just the way you do back home? Some restaurant here in Davao do some Thanksgiving lunch and dinner. I’m sure some restaurant in your area too.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL AMERICANS ALL OVER THE WORLD!!!

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Drinking, when is enough?

I was reading on my kindle and looking at the cover of the book. I thought it’s about a dog. I guess it was really about the dog too, because the dog was helping them heal from heartache. Then when I started reading, it’s also about the kids who will be losing their dad. He was charged with (DUI) driving under the influence. It’s already his 4th felony. He will be sentenced to jail for 6 months. The kids, who are age 7 and 5, had no place to stay so they will be put to foster care. It used to be that the aunt took care of them when the dad was sent to jail from his previous felonies. She was just tired of him putting the alcohol first over his kids. So she told the brother that if he won’t straighten up that she will not take care of the kids anymore. So at the end it’s really the kids that got the raw deal. They don’t have anybody then at the end. Can you imagine a 7 year old taking care of himself and his younger sibling? Luckily a stranger with a dog went to the shop of the dad to have his motor home be fixed. The dad saw that the guy was nice. The stranger was a teacher. So he asked the stranger to take care of his kids for a few months. He did and it was not an easy decision for the stranger since he also had some problems to take care of himself. He just lost his son from drunk driver.

Drunk Driver

Drunk Driver

So it dawned on me, what if the situation would have been here in the Philippines, like the one I was describing on top. Would the family turn away those kids? In my mind I don’t think so, but who knows. If the family also would give a lesson to the father to not put the alcohol first over his kids. I was thinking with so many extended families here, I’m pretty sure one of the families will definitely take care of those kids. Or even the neighbors would probably offer to help out. I’m sure in America the neighbors will offer to help out too, but they’re also busy working and busy with their own lives. So really the kids there will be easily put to foster care. Here in the Philippines if nobody will take care of the kids, they could easily end up begging on the street. It’s really a pretty sad situation in both countries.

I’m not giving other example. I will give some members of my family as an example. One of my family was just so irresponsible with his wife and kids way back when I was younger. Of course the close family of the wife steps-in and took care of almost all their kids. It was hard for the parents of the wife watching their daughter being abused by their son-in-law. Let me tell you, it’s really hard to all of the family watching their sister being abuse by her husband. The brothers of the wife really wants to strangle the husband when his drunk. But the parents of the wife always said that it’s going to be the decision of the wife. All of the family were really hoping that she will leave the guy and go somewhere. But I think it show that love is blind. :-) Some of my cousins really just wants to take care of him, I think you got the idea of what I meant by taking care. But it would never happened, because the parents of the lady, they would not allow the cousins be criminal. Later, when the kids of abusive guy and his wife got older. I think her husband got scared with the kids already. One of the kids that was raised by the parents of the wife and the other male kid threatens their dad that if he will be abusing their mom again that they will kill him. I think the husband got the message. He’s now a calm guy and just follow what his kids told him to do.

Another unending cycle not just the Philippines I guess but the world. I’ve seen too many people killed by drunk drivers. It’s just sad for the victims of the drunk driver and the people that they left behind especially the kids. I hope when those people drink they’re avoiding being behind on  the wheels. Bob sister was one of the victim, she was hit by a drunk driver and died instantly. It was hard on Bob for so many years. The pain was there still until now.

Guys I’m not anti drinking or anything. It’s individuals choice or in other words to each his own. Just make sure you’re not hurting others at the end. Just drink moderately or have somebody drive for you or take a taxi!

Cheers!

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Are you okay with refurbished or second hand items?

The reason I was asking you the questions. Bob’s fridge in the office has been working off and on. We had it fixed and spent big money for it. Just tired of having the fridge taken out and back again.

Finally a few days ago I purchased a small fridge for Bob’s office. We got it from a pawnshop in Matina. Bob told me about the place a few months back. A friend of ours bought a fridge there very cheap and still in good conditioned. Before buying the fridge my niece and I went and shopped around to different appliance centers here in Davao. We saw lots of refrigerators that’s been repossessed. Some people bought fridge for installments. They would pay for  only 3 months, after that they skipped paying. So then the appliance center will get the fridge back. The store will not put the items for sale immediately, they usually give two weeks before selling it again to give time for the owner to pay back. If the owner fails to pay for the allotted time then the store will sell it to the public again. We saw lots of the secondhand fridges on one of the appliance store. Only thing most were too big of a fridge for our liking. Plus its way over our budget just for the office fridge. Really the one that we saw on that pawnshop was just perfect for the office that’s why we bought it.

Second Hand - Are you OK with it?

Second Hand – Are you OK with it?

Over the years that Bob and I been living here we have been purchasing some refurbish and secondhand items. On top of my head right now that we purchased, just last year we purchased a used washing machine. The owner said they just used it less than a dozen times because they don’t want to pay high electricity bill. So happy to get it, it’s just like the washing machine I had in the USA that we used to have there, it’s a Whirlpool brand. We also bought 2  air-conditioners along with the washing machine too. We really got a good deal on that.

Other one that I can remember that we purchased secondhand. Bob he likes to have special keyboard that won’t make his hands/wrist sore. I shopped around here in Davao, Gensan, Cebu and Manila for it. Always out of stock, we’re just tired of waiting. I even ordered at the computer store here, they told me its takes weeks for the items to come. I’ve waited and waited still the items didn’t arrive yet until now. So when we look at eBay Philippines/Sulit and those other internet auctions here in the Philippines, we found the keyboard and its used but it’s still in good condition. Way cheaper than the brand new one and it still looked good. I asked the person that owned it, why he’s selling the item? He told me that it’s really from his foreigner uncle and since he is not around in the Philippines anymore and the keyboard just sitting in the closet, he decided to just sell it. Happy to be the recipient for the item. Still in good condition, Bob is using it now.

I guess no different than shopping for ukay-ukay too. They also had good used items there as well. We have few US Surplus stores here too. We even had here just down a few streets from us. It’s good to get excuse to go walking and see the new items they have there. :-) To be honest when I was in the States I’m really into going to Flea market/garage sale/antique shops. I saw lots of good decor there. Happy to buy good and useful stuff there for the house. I guess it shows it’s okay with me to use secondhand stuff or refurbished. Certain items that I’m not going to buy that it’s used by someone else.

How about you are you okay using refurbished or secondhand stuff? Would love to hear your thoughts.

Cheers!

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“The Pandesal Kid” named Delmer!

My daughter and I did our early routine, walking in our neighborhood early in the morning. When we were almost home a kid showed up on the corner and yelled “Ate you want pandesal? It’s still hot”. I said to Jean we will just buy later at the bakery shop  since it’s too early. While following the path of that kid, I told Jean I think we’ll just buy so that the kid will make a little bit of money. So we then called the kid and told him we will buy some. I asked him how much per pandesal? He said it’s 2 pesos each Te (kids here called the older to them female “Ate” or “Te” – short for Ate).  So we bought 20 pieces. I gave him 50 pesos and told him to keep the change.

Delmer

Delmer

Then I was asking him what’s his name? Where does he live? How old is he? And what school is he attending? He answered my query. His name is Delmer. He lives in Maa, a bit far from us. So I asked him if  he walk from Maa to our subdivision? He said yes. Wow, he must starts waking so really early. He said he’s 13 years old. He’s attending public school in Maa. The sad part is he already quit school before and now again because the mom gets mad at him every time he comes home late. He said he comes home late due to he had to stay later in school because the teacher still teaches the slow reader kids. And he is one of them. So to satisfy his mom, he quit school. I guess the mom would rather have Delmer sell pandesal than go to school everyday. Delmer looks like a really good kid and very respectful. He probably thanked me a dozen times.

Delmer the pandesal kid

Delmer the pandesal kid

I was really telling Delmer before we walked separately away from him that he should try to go back to school next year and not stop. I told him if he won’t finish up at least high school he will be continue on getting lower job since he had no education. His mom works as a stay out helper for somebody near their house. The dad’s job was collecting plastic bottles, cardboard and metal stuff (They call it here “bote bakal”). So really they don’t make that much. I think he said he has 2 other siblings.

It really makes me sad that so many kids here have to stop school because they have to help making money for the family at a young age. It’s one of those unending cycles going on here in the Philippines.

I wish those families that struggle to live in the city will go back to the province and try to raise poultry and pigs for meat. And make a small garden for a start then maybe expand later to sell. Sad part for so many of these people they don’t want to live in the farm. Even though they struggle living in the city, still they stay. I know for one family, our laundry lady, they have a farm not far from here in Davao. But she said she doesn’t want to live there because it’s too quiet for her. Her husband and kids said the same thing.

Anyway, I’m really hoping for the best for Delmer. By the way, he is a 5th grade student. I’m really hoping he will continue his studies next year and will continue on until he graduates high school. I’m crossing my fingers for him. So many kids like Delmer here in the Philippines. Hoping for the best to all of them too.

Cheers!

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A good women talk!

Myself, Bebe (Bob’s Bisaya teacher) and one more lady were talking a few weeks ago about getting together just to meet up for girl talk over lunch or coffee. We were set to meet up a week ago. But I had to bail out since I had a friend who came here from Manila. The day that me and the girls were getting together was the day that my friend from Manila had time to see me. My friend had business franchise and franchise seminars here in Davao City. I told my friend that I will definitely make time to see her while she’s here in Davao.  And the kids want to see her and her hubby too. It’s been awhile since the kids last saw them. The kids love them, so I had to bring the kids to see them. So Bebe and our friend understood that I had to cancel on them last week. Thank goodness for their understanding.

Feyma with her friend

Feyma with her friend

Finally yesterday we met up for the first time for our girls chat. It was really good seeing them and  just talking whatever is on our minds.  We decided to just met up at Swiss Deli, it’s just near our house, since the 3 of us live in this part of town. Big reason right now too to avoid the traffic going to the other side of town as you recall we have the bridge construction right now in Bankerohan. I hope the traffic will get better soon. :-) We also want to go and meet up at the other side of town. Maybe go for just window shopping. The 3 of us like different stuff. I like to shop and look for antiques, crafts and decorations. Bebe is into shopping for purses and fashion jewelries (affordable not fancy), our friend, she’s into fashion jewelries and gift items. I guess the 3 of us like to look at Ukay-Ukay too. We just get together to do some bonding moments.

Next bonding time might be in my house. Bebe was asking some easy recipes for her to make for dinner. She’s a busy mom, so she wants a quick and easy to prepare meals. I had a few ideas in mind but I had to show her how to make it. I’m going to be preparing some food too because this is the first time for that other friend to be at our house. Sorry guys I will not reveal the name of my other friend. I didn’t ask her if it’s okay for her to be named here. Maybe after our next get together I will ask her, if its okay for me to put her name here. I respect whatever she decides. Will see. We will invite Dr. Lourdes (our dentist) next time too. Hopefully she’s not so busy. She’s out of the country right now. Hopefully she’s back at that time.

Both Bebe and our friend are teachers. I had an idea how Bebe is in the classroom. I used to sit-in quite often when she was teaching Bob Bisaya before. She’s really good. I’m really applauding them because being a teacher you have to have patience. I think I’m a bit short of that trait sometimes. Talking to them really helped me a lot. I think I just have patience teaching somebody either my kids or my nieces in the kitchen. Even with our small kitchen still good for us to make something edible. LOL. Usually it turned out good.

Have a great day everyone!

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