Boracay: Trying to Save the Sunlight

I had just spent three days in paradise. All because my sisters M & V were visiting from the US together with M’s hubby and son. Another sister, G, and her hubby plus my son and his girlfriend completed the reunion entourage of 9.


After more than 20 years, I was once again looking at the powdery white sands of Boracay. Fat cumulus clouds rolled over the blue, blue sky providing the perfect cover from the harshness of the tropical sun. At that very moment, everything seemed perfect.

I was willing to overlook the flight delays; the collision of our banca with another banca;

fumes from tricycles weaving dangerously on the narrow road;

the haphazard mix of sari-sari stores, massage and tattoo shops and the resorts—high and low end of every conceivable design and concept —squeezed tightly together.

All of these dismal sights and sound were nothing compared to that eventual glimpse of paradise.

In those three days, I pondered this question: Is Boracay better off today than it was 20 years ago?



20 years ago: not much resorts on the beach



Dinner by Kerosene Lamp

Do the changes justify the improvement of the financial standing of the majority of the local folks?


Eager kids rush to our boat in the hope of making a sale


Alex, our tour guide/banca owner/cook was a poor fisherman twenty years ago. Today, he owns 2 motorized bancas that he rents out to tourists. His three kids are college graduates and earning decent wages.

Need a guide? Call Alex- 0918 324 5075

Hawkers walk up and down the beach with their wares hoping to catch the eye of an interested tourist. Many coming from nearby provinces and as far as Mindanao.

Sun hats: P150

What of the environment?

Towards early evening, resort employees come out to rake the sands—picking up trash and sea weeds washed ashore. At night the tides come in and give the sands a once over. In the morning, everything is untouched and new again.

Surely the great number of visitors must be putting a strain on sanitation.

While walking on the soft sand, I saw bits of broken glass. While island hopping, I noticed a plastic bucket bobbing over the waves.

What of the moral fiber of the community?

There are many sad stories of the local youth being taken advantaged by island guests. Alcoholic beverages are consumed more than water; parties have been the jump off point to rowdy behavior; and, modesty is set aside while prancing around the island.

A photo shoot for a Men's magazine

While attending Sunday mass, I noticed that the church was overflowing with Filipinos. Force of habit or not, I let God be the judge. Still, it was heartening to see that the Catholic faith was strong in Boracay.

The choir did a fantastic rendition of “The Prayer”.

Is there a middle ground where the well-being of the community will not continue to be compromised in the name of progress?

Ahh, the road to paradise is truly filled with challenges.

xoxoxoxoxoxox

 

Doesn’t it make you feel like
Tryin’ to save the sunlight
Surely you feel the way i do

We’re not gonna last forever
Blue skies and sunny weather
The problem is up to me and you

We shouldn’t be so careless
Think of the things we cherish
Think of them all gone away

                               As Sang by Lani Hall & Herb Albert

xoxoxoxoxoxox

When on vacation, do as the locals do. Feast on seafood and some pork belly. Splash some local vinegar on some chopped tomatoes and onions for a salad.  Slice up sweet mangoes for desert and give your belly a taste of paradise.

 

For most grilled seafood, the only seasoning you need really is salt and pepper. A squeeze of lemon or calamansi is optional. Throw on a hot grill and in 10-15 minutes it’s done. Overcooking makes for a tough fish or shrimp. Besides, no one ever died from eating raw FRESH fish.





Flower Power

Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul. Luther Burbank


Whenever I find myself thinking about a problem, I can’t help but sometimes get deeper and deeper into a bottomless abyss of despair and anxiety. It’s like an addiction of never ending what ifs and whys.

I remember the many times I would knock myself out with worry. Before long my fertile imagination would paint a guesome picture of the worse kind of accident. Then time passes and I marvel at how quickly these worries go “puff”.

Of course, there have been close calls and it would have been unnatural if I did not worry. But it’s dwelling on them far too long that causes havoc to tranquility. And so before I realize that dwelling on a situation is not going to help, I have already died a thousand imaginary deaths.

It’s a good thing that every now and then I get a wake-up call that puts everything into perspective. Sometimes it takes the form of a song, a passage in a novel,  and, sometimes it’s a shared story.

Just yesterday, a friend pulled me aside to share his wake-up call. Let’s call him R.

R is an early riser. At 4AM, he is up and busy sweeping the dry leaves that had fallen in his yard. As he sweeps the leaves into a pile, his mind is preoccupied with a financial problem. What should he do? Who can he ask for help? How will he continue to support family members who depend on him? These questions go round and round in his head as he moved on to water his plants. He is very passionate about his plants but lately, his focus had been on his problem. He was about to enter his house, when his attention was caught by a Trumpet shrub that was in full bloom. The morning sun was shining on it just like a spotlight on a stage actress.

He had been so anxious over his problem that he was losing all hope. He had buried himself in his own misery and had lost sight of the beauty that was around him. With new resolve, he got ready to attend the early morning mass. Then and there R accepted that he had done all he could and was leaving the rest to God. A God who never fails to send us reminders of hope in the form of flowers-- if we care to to take notice.

xoxoxoxoxox

I remember being served deep fried stuffed squash flowers in one of those provincial heritage tours. As I recall, the flowers were stuffed with a mixture of ground pork and shrimps; dunked in a batter; and deep fried. Unfortunately, I don’t have the recipe. But I will not dwell on my limitations.   Instead, I share with you some eye-catching beauties from my garden.

Periwinkle (suppose to cure cancer)



Lantana: a butterfly's delight



My Summer Blooming Lilies

Hibiscus aka Gumamela= a herbal tea

  These are my everyday reminders of hope.

Feel at Home

If there is one day in the week that I so love, it would be Saturday. It’s the day I leave the dust in peace and the laundry for Monday. It’s the day that I linger over breakfast—in my housedress. It’s the day that holds exciting possibilities of discoveries— checking out a nearby farmer’s market, a romp around the neighborhood, or simply a good book to read while curled up in bed.

But last Saturday was extra special. I and a group of very close friends were invited to spend the whole day in the new homes of two other friends. It was a coincidence that both homes were located not far from each other in a neighborhood that was still lush with vegetation.

I always believe that to be invited to someone’s home is a privilege. It is not only an invitation to set foot inside the person’s “castle”, but it is very much an invitation to see the homeowners as they truly are.

And what a privilege it was indeed! We had lunch at the first house at a very leisurely pace. The hostess making sure that our needs were met. Good food made for good conversation around the table. In between bites of King Seafood Roll, I could not help admiring the tastefully arranged interiors as the sunlight poured in from floor to ceiling windows.

But I believe that the loving relationship of the family within made for the brightness in the home.

With the long lunch over, we moved on to the tour of the house. Every now and then, we would pause to comment about the wallpaper or a particular artistic treatment of the floor in the outside balcony.

Again, I felt fortunate to be allowed access to my friend’s private sanctuary.

Then it was time to move on to the second house for afternoon snacks. When we arrived, I already felt a welcoming warmth envelope the group just by walking up to the front door. Just like the first house, the second house was tastefully furnished. Just like the first house, the second house radiated with a very positive energy. We moved from one level to the next—stopping to glance inside the rooms. Again, I felt honored to be invited into the heart of my friend.

We then settled in what I felt was the best part of the house. A balcony that overlooked a view of distant mountains. Here we continued our conversations on life and love over plateful of delicious pasta and smile inducing desserts. Before we knew it, night had descended and a concerto of sounds filled the darkness.

We dilly-dallied with our good-byes. We lingered on the roadside before reluctantly climbing into the car that would take us home.   As I look back at my friend’s house, I could not help thinking that a day spent with good friends always seem too short.

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Housewarming Prayer

O Lord, bless this new home with your presence.

May your angels always hover over it and keep it safe.

May this home be filled with laughter and love.

And may Mary, your mother, help keep

this home a haven of peace.

Amen.

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Through my writings, I have opened myself to many of you. Through my musings, I have allowed you to take a peek at my life. And each time you visit, I will continue to welcome you with life’s stories and virtually serve up dishes you can prepare for your love ones.
The following is a recipe of a dish served up at one of my friend’s home. I marveled at how each ingredient complimented the other—just like true friends.


King Seafood Roll

250 grams sliced fish fillet (creamy dory will do)
2 t minced ginger
1 ½ t salt
1 egg white
1 t sesame oil
5 crab sticks, sliced in half (you can find this in the freezer section of your grocery)
5 dried shitake mushroom (rehydrate in a bowl of water)
10 pcs shelled and deveined shrimps
10 pcs Chinese cabbage leaves (pechay Bagiuo)

In a bowl, mix the sliced fish fillet, ginger, salt, egg white and sesame oil. Set aside.

Remove the hard stem from the softened mushroom and cut in half.

In another bowl, place the washed Chinese cabbage leaves and pour very hot water on it. Remove the leaves as soon as they wilt and drain. Set aside.

On a plate, lay one Chinese cabbage leaf. On the leafy part, place a piece of fish, mushroom, crab stick and shrimp.

Roll up toward the soften stem part of the leaf. Repeat with the rest until you have wrapped up everything.

Place in a steamer and steam for about 10-15 minutes depending on how large your roll is.

Serve piping hot with soy sauce and calamansi or lemon juice.