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Have you tried Ginataan? How about binignit?

I am writing here about one of the famous dessert “The Ginataan in Tagalog Binignit in Bisaya”. It is  one of famous dessert in the Philippines!

Made most especially during All Souls Day and All Saint’s Day. You probably wonder what’s that event I’m talking about? Really it’s the day to remember and honor the people that close to us who passed on. It’s on November 1st (All Souls Day – they said for the adult that died), November 2nd (All Saints Day – for the young one that died). It’s one of the big holidays here in the Philippines. People will gather in the graveyard of the loved one. Some even stayed in the cemetery overnight or the 2 day event. Some offer food for the loved one that died. I think to some of you that are from abroad that lived here already and experienced the event, I’m sure you’ve observed that people will be staying at the cemetery overnight having a party. Big restaurants even put kiosks near the cemetery. I’ve seen Pizza Hut, Greenwich Pizza, Jollibee and others have booths there. Those cola companies sell there too.

Ginataan - Binignit

Ginataan – Binignit

But one of the desserts that almost every Filipino household has during that event, that would be the ginataan or binignit. I know it is present in my family. But in every family the recipe of the ginataan and binignit will not be the same. I know for certain in my household there are certain ingredients that I don’t and won’t include and that would be the taro root, ube and squash. But with other household that might be their favorite. So really to each his own. LOL. I will be sharing with you our recipe.

“The Bayoy-Martin Ginataan/Binignit Recipe“

Ingredients:

  • 6 cups coconut milk
  • 8 cups of water
  • 2 cups of brown sugar
  • 1/4 lb langka (jackfruit) julienne cut
  • 4 pieces of banana (Saba here in the Philippines) (plantains) cut into cubes
  • 3 pieces of sweet potato (kamote) cut into cubes
  • 1/4 lb landang (palm flour jelly balls in English, not sure what you call that in Tagalog))
  • 1/2 lb of ground sweet rice (glutinous rice balls)
  • 1 lb sago (tapioca pearl or tapioca balls) different colors (red,green, blue, beige, yellow & white)

Procedures:

  1. To make the glutinous rice balls, moisten the rice flour with water just until it sticks together. Roll the dough into 1/4 inch balls.
  2. On the side, boil water for the sweet potato and banana to be cooked. It is better to cook it separately so that it will be quicker.
  3. First put around 8 cups of water in the pot(big pot preferably) and let it boil. Then gently drop around half cup of sweet rice or regular sweet rice will do and the sweet rice dough balls, let it simmer until the rice becomes soft and the sweet glutinous rice balls will rise on top when its cooked.
  4. Next, put the palm flour jelly balls (landang). When the landang softens put the coconut milk about 4 cups and let it simmer for about 15 minutes. Then, put the one cup and a half of sugar, stir, add more sugar if needed. Keep tasting until you reach your desired sweetness. Then, add the rest of the coconut milk and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
  5. Next, drop the tapioca balls and let it continue to simmer for 10 minutes and keep stirring it, so that it will not stick to the bottom of the pan since the coconut milk makes it thicker. Then put the jack-fruit and let it simmer for maybe 5 minutes, then put the pre-cooked banana and sweet potato and let it simmer for another 5 minutes. Taste again if its the sweetness you desired. if lucking add sugar before it cools down. Enjoy!!!

What’s the food that you are preparing during the All Souls/All Saint’s Day? Ginataan? Binignit? It might just be for us here in this part of the country. This might not be so famous in your area. Would like to hear if this is one of the fave in your family? What you guys do during that day? Feel free to share here.

Have a good visit to the cemetery. Stay safe too. Many people drink there too. I’m not talking just drinking pop though. You know what I mean?

Cheers!

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A Helping Hand – Mission accomplished!

Those of you who have been a long time reader here in our website noticed that I’ve been writing here and doing different stuff over the years. I have been providing services helping people find a place for them to live here. I’m  mostly helping people who settle here in Davao City and Samal Island area.

Just these past months or so I’ve been helping people and we’ve become friends over the net. They want me to find a place for them to stay when time for them to  live here in Davao. We’ve been corresponding with each other for awhile and I’m passing to them the houses that my agents emailed me. Some house were really perfect for them but it’s already taken before they come here. Luckily my agents have more houses to show. Rental houses are really good during this time of the year. That’s what my agent told me anyway. Really they will tell me the specifics of the houses that they are looking for. I pass that info to my agent. Then I view the house that I think the person I was corresponding with would want. Then I will tell my agent to find me more houses to compare then when the person I’m corresponding with comes.

Feyma

Feyma

Some people that come here are single guys. They don’t know anybody that will help them on anything. One guy in mind here just came here a few months ago. He didn’t really know anybody here just me and Bob at first. He told me the house that he wants, how many rooms and how much was his budget. So I start asking my agent. Then when I saw the house that my agents gave me I pass it to the guy that was looking. He told me he really liked it and he made an offer even he’s not yet here. The owner of the house told the agent that there’s 3 other people interested to rent that house. I talked to the owner and gave my offer. She told me that she accepts my offer since we talked and saw each other in person. So when the guy came he went to the house directly from the airport. I have the house prepared before he came. I hired somebody to clean the entire house. Even the owner said that it’s clean. It took the whole day for my cleaning people to clean. I also had my kids and my brother-in-law work on something for him at his house. I know that the guy told me that he really appreciated my help. He even gave me something for his appreciation, a Kindle Fire HD. He knows I love to read. You know who you are – from the bottom of my heart “THANK YOU SO MUCH“.

House for a client
Kitchen in one of my recent finds
My latest find - scooped up by my most recent client

Like one guy he came from the USA. He told me he wants to rent a house near the beach. Even he’s alone he still wants a big house because he had so many things shipped from his house in the States. I found a perfect place for him. I helped him hire people to renovate the house to his liking. I had my carpenter built lots of built-in cabinets with nice moldings. Changed lots of features in the ceilings and put moldings too. Changed doors to French door. Built a nice swing that can carry his weight. Me and my carpenter designed the swing. It turned out really good. I guess my creative side came out on that project with the help of my carpenter and painter of course. Even if it cost him money but he’s so happy with the result. I helped him negotiate the rent too that both the owner and him were happy at the end. It’s been over 5 years now and he is still there renting that house.

Really I’m not just helping on looking for places for them to rent or buy. I’m also helping them going places to find stuff that they need for their house. Really it’s not just about money, it’s also about helping them adjust here. It’s not easy to transfer to a new place and you don’t know anyone. Most people that come here also wanted internet at there house. It’s easy nowadays, so many choices. You can go with any cell phone providers and also other DSLprovider like PLDT & SkyCable. Then I will tell them our experiences with those companies. We tell them what we are using. Most of them would go with the one we’re using.

Right now I am helping a young couple. I found a place for them here. They want to start a business here. They’re asking what’s really a good business. They’re thinking of something about food. Both of them are hard workers. They’re studying what’s a good business for them to start. I’m really wanting for them to succeed because they are a nice and lovely couple. I can really see Bob and myself in them. I’m just praying that they will stay here for good and be successful in the business they will get their hand on. Good luck to you both.

If want to buy land in Samal Island, now is a good time to buy there. I have agents there too. I also know some owners of land there. They email me about the land that whey want to sell there. But my agent usually has tripping to go there and see some lots there. You will have choices for land there the beachfront or the overlooking. Prices there keep going up. Every time I go there the place keeps changing. New building and new subdivision every time, it seems. We own land there that overlooks the City of Davao and Davao Gulf.

If you are coming to Davao, get in touch with me, and I will be happy to help you with the move too!

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Would you buy medicines at Generics Pharmacy?

I was really pondering over this very topic for a long time now. I noticed that a lot of Pinoys will not really buy their meds at Generics drugstore. Reason being they said that they don’t trust the place, Generics pharmacy selling good medicine. They really think that those medicine that were being sold there were all fake. I was shocked with their reasoning. You know who is really the one that doesn’t believe in the pharmacy? The people that can’t even afford to buy medicine.

I was talking to a few of my previous laundry ladies and helpers, they said they needed medicine and I told them to get it at  The Generics Pharmacy and even told them the nearest Generics, the location near their house. I could tell the sour faces. I asked them why they acted like that? They said their neighbors said and heard from somewhere that the medicine there were all fake and not good. I told them that we’ve been using medicine from there for a long time and we are still alive and okay. I even told them we know lots of doctors get meds from there. It’s really hard to explain to people when their mind is already made up. As if you’re talking to a concrete wall. I just continue on telling them that it’s their choice, not mine. If they have so much money to buy the branded meds then go for it. To each his one I guess.

The Generics Pharmacy

The Generics Pharmacy

We are buying lots of our medicine there. I was asking my family what pharmacy they’re buying their medicine from. They told me that they buy majority of their meds from Generics too and one other pharmacy that similar to Generics (I can’t remember the name of the drugstore) they sell cheaper meds also. Some medicine were not available with Generics then we’ll buy it in the other pharmacy like Amesco, HB1, Watson, Rose pharmacy and to name a few are good too. Many other good and reliable pharmacy all over the place  the Philippines. Mercury is the famous one here in Davao. I was thinking they’re the first famous pharmacy in the Philippines. I just Googled the company. The largest pharmacy chain here in the Philippines. Founded in mid 1940’s.

If a person is admitted in the hospital here mostly they will give the prescription to the patient’s family and they can either buy the medicine from the pharmacy at the hospital or go out and go to the pharmacy that you are comfortable buying it from. After buying the medicine just drop the medicines at the nurses station where your patient is assigned to. You can buy plenty of over the counter medicines there. Lately all pharmacy now are asking for the prescription for all amoxicillin/penicillin products. Really too bad some people just abuse the medicines. Then they get hooked and it so hard for them to kick the habit off. Not too many rehabilitation places here in Davao for the people that get hooked. I don’t think the government will pay for it. Not even sure if PhilHealth pays for it.

Anyway, is there a Generics Pharmacy in your area? Give them a try. By the way, I’m not paid from the company. I was just thinking too many expats talking about not so much money and can’t afford to buy medicines. So why not try buying at the Generics pharmacy and see for yourself.

Cheers!

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Scams abound!

I was just browsing through my FB news feed and saw the wall of my dear friend Sharon. Just reading what’s on her wall got me thinking. I’ve receive too many junk text too, mostly I don’t even read it I just deleted it automatically. It’s so annoying to received almost half a dozen text or more in a day. Sometimes you’re busy working on something then when you hear your phone beeping telling you that you got text and when you checked it’s just another one of those junk. Geez,you really want to scream. LOL

This is nothing but a scam!

This is nothing but a scam!

Anyway the message on my friend’s wall that she posted to the right said: As you can read on the big and bold writing. The  problem if you reply to the number that was given. Then you are sending the person the load that they are asking. See here in the Philippines you can call anybody with your cell phone just using a pre-paid sim-card. What that means, you will buy a cell phone and buy the sim-card (either SUN Cellular, GLOBE, SMART, TALK “N” Text) separately. Every cell phone provider had their own promotional ad to lure the customers. Like us in our household, we all have Sun sim pack because they had a good deal right now. For Php 150, you can text unlimited for the whole month with 4 hours call to the other  Sun cellular number. If you pay Php 200, you will get the same promo plus you have 1000 free text to the other network provider. If you pay Php 450, you can call and text unlimited to the other Sun cellular number plus free 50 text to other network provider.

Lets move on to the text at right: Wonder why it’s a scam? Well if you follow what the text were saying, you are giving that person a load worth Php 300 pesos out from your load or your pocket. If you are on the post paid account and if someone texted you and said what it says below to text the 300 to the number that they gave you. Then you’re giving.  You see, if you do nothing, you have actually lost nothing, it is all a lie.  If you follow the instructions in the text, then you are helping the scammer steak P300 from you!  See that big writing that says: Txt 300 8888 Send to 29771907587

The 300 pesos load goes to the number like that one sample they have. The way we know its passing load or they called it here pasa load because of the text 300 and the 8888 was the code for passing the load.  Plus the number 2 in the beginning of the cell phone number means that’s passing of the load. Regular beginning number of the cell phone number should begins with 0 or +63.

Too many scams going on the cell phone right now. Some they even says that they got transferred to other place or they got accidents and they want you to give them load. Some scam even text you in Tagalog. If you don’t know what the text meant have someone interpret for you. It’s better to know what the context of the text than assuming it.

Anyway, beware of the scumbag again. Don’t fall for it.

Cheers!

 

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Prejudices in the US & here!

I’m writing about the prejudices that I’ve experienced in the States while living there for 10 years. Not really too many instances but it happened to me. It’s not really shocking but in many ways I also wonder why would some people do that kind of thing.

Really it happened to me when Chris was about a year old or two. Bob and I really liked to go for a short drives to small towns in either Washington or Oregon area & the coast. We went near to the town where Bob grow up in Oregon. He was showing me the places that he and his sibling went for their grade school. It was a nice little town. Good to raise young kids. Plus he also was introducing me to the lady that was close to his family that resides in that small town. She’s kind of the lady to go to with the kids. She’s a good and special teacher. On the way there Chris was sleeping. As we were approaching the town Chris woke up and wanting to eat. So since it’s still not eating time we decided to get him some fries. So Bob stopped at a small restaurant. Its really just a take out place.

On the Oregon Coast - I loved my time in the States

On the Oregon Coast – I loved my time in the States

 

So Bob & Chris stayed in the car and I jumped out of the car and went to the small take out place. I was standing just at the take out window and wanting to order, there were 2 white ladies inside and they can see me. They’re just like a few feet away from me. I started talking to them wanting to order. I was being ignored. I figured maybe they didn’t hear me since they’re chatting. So I said it again and they didn’t listen they just continued on talking and ignoring me even though they saw me. I waited for another minute and still they didn’t turn around and take my order. That hits me, Bob & his parents kind of mentioned to me about some people in small town has tendency to be against other races. So it hits me that this must be one of those small towns that had narrow minded people. So I decided to just go back to the car.

At Mount St Helens

At Mount St Helens

Bob asked me where’s the fries? I told him they don’t want my money. They’re ignoring me. Bob was gonna go to that place and give them some piece of what’s on in his mind. I told him to just not worry and just let them be. They’re just idiots and uneducated. But honestly inside of me was already boiling. Bob told me to not accept that kind of behavior of others. I guess he taught me well. After that it really did change me a bit. I’m not accepting those kind of attitude anymore. Especially now with my kids being bullied. Not going to accept it.

But the sad one was Bob’s best friend in high school. Before I came into the picture, Bob was talking to his best friend regularly. He lives in different State. He would call Bob or Bob would call him. After he found out Bob was married to me and I came from different race., that really changed everything. Bob would call him and he never called back at the house. Not sure if he called at Bob’s work (I can’t remember). I did talk to him once just a few weeks after I got there in the US. He seems nice but I think because he grew up differently, its hard for him to change. We never met in person though. I guess not my loss, it’s his. Bob told me that whoever would not accept me as his wife, he is dropping them. So far that best friend of his was the only one. Every one in his family and friends were so nice and so friendly to me. With Bob’s cousins the kids especially and his nephew. Lord have mercy they go gaga over me. LOL… At least some were so loving with me aside from Bob. :-) All in all my stay in America its good. Love my time there. Was happy to be with Bob’s family and my friends and neighbors. I’m happy knowing lots of people there. Same thing if any of my friends/family won’t accept Bob, I’m dropping them too.

Here in the Philippines was another story. It’s funny now but it was hurtful at first though. We came back to the Philippines I was just a month after giving birth, C-section, to my youngest son. During my pregnancy I really gained. I had some problems with my pregnancy. After giving birth with the moving and packing and preparing to come here I didn’t think of losing weight there. So I came here I weigh like 145 lbs. It was a good transition. A friend already had a house ready for us to rent here. It was really nice and in a good neighborhood. Did you know that the tricycle driver told me that I had to pay double because I was big. Then my helpers told me that some of those drivers said to them “Oh your employer is that big lady?”. Wow, I was hurt but I can’t just blow them off. How can I get to them, they didn’t even pass grade school. If I get mad at them as if I’m also not an educated person. What will I gain on that? But OMG, I really would like to give them a piece of what’s on my mind. God knows how much I really held back. Thankfully I still had my self control. Thank God for that. LOL

I guess really anywhere we will experience prejudices in our lives. Just know how to handle it that it will not hurt your life. I know it’s not easy to say. Some people really suffered hard. I wish with the internet people are more open and accepting.

Cheers!

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