FOOD: Bicol

When husband goes to Bicol, I would usually ask him to bring home a jar of Bicol Express (Pork+TONS of Chilies + Shrimp paste + Coconut milk) and Laing, too.

But I found out there's a huge difference between those which are in jars and that which is packed in a food plastic container. The latter tastes more like home cooking so I now ask for it.

I love Bicol Express much that I want to achieve its authentic taste when cooking at home. Husband said I'm almost there :)

Authentic: you can see generous amount of shrimp paste. Coconut milk was cooked too well that all you can see is oil.

Home cooking: me, so glad husband allowed to have lots of chilies ;) He doesn't like to eat anything spicy except Bicol Express. But no shrimp paste for this though.

 

I added green beans to make it healthier. They say cooking coconut milk too much could cause an upset stomach so I just had it boiled for about 20 minutes.

 Long have I tried experimenting different methods just to get closer to its authentic taste, and this time I finally found what's missing: GINGER.

FOOD: Kidapawan/Davao

Husband travels a lot. I take pictures of food items that he brings home but my blog can't keep up. So, I might post those from his previous travels. Recently he went to Kidapawan, North Cotabato via Davao City. Here's what we got:

Chines Pomelo @ 100/kilo. I can finish 1-2 fruits a day. But now, I'm stopping myself from peeling the last one. I want it to last longer.

 Toddler is on the move. She loves playing with the last Pomelo.

 Mango Rolls @ 150 from and Durian candy @ 65 from the airport. Talking about "Smells like hell, but tastes like heaven", how I missed Durian candy!! I personally think it smells good :) 

 

The Game of Powerplants

I recently tried Philippine Stocks Exchange online game and virtually bought shares of AP (Aboitiz Power Corporation) and EDC (Energy Development Corporation). Having my husband in the energy industry, I somehow know the trends of these two.

Note: In my opinion it's better to invest in the energy industry since its trend will not be affected by epidemics (EBOLA). Instead for buying Meralco (MER), which is just the distributor, go for the producer.

EDC recently secured certification of commerciality from Department of Energy to operate the largest wind farm in Southeast Asia. I understand it's current price per share does not move up as fast as AP but it is actually rising. Especially that it just had its independence as a private corporation, used to be under the wings of Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC), a government owned and controlled corporation.


EDC's wind farm has more wind mills compared to Bangui but the latter looks more attractive to tourists since they are not scattered----they are aligned.


The giants in Burgos, Ilocos Norte

Someday, I'll take a picture of my self with a bunch of wind mills at my back under a blue sky like this:


Majestic. No filter.

AP on the other hand has long been established as a private corporation and with stable investors. They promote "cleanergy" or renewable energy.
 

Newbie

Quite anxious and scared at the same time. I feel like I'm losing this big opportunity just because I started late. I'm studying at my best. Eating threads for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I even dream about buying and selling. Trying to eat the language. But this is proven to be a man's world but still I will try. I hope I'm not too late. Please wait for me #EDC 

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/11/12/14/edc-gets-fit-eligibility-burgos-wind-power-project

MUSIC: Dayang-Dayang

If you are from Mindanao, then surely you'll love to hear this version of Dayang-Dayang. I think it's a song for a Muslim princess named Dayang-Dayang. Not sure though. The one who's singing is a good friend.

On motherhood

I realized that motherhood is more than making healthy meals, pressing clothes, keeping the house tidy and safe for your children. Because if that is the definition, then every one can be called 'mother'. If that is, then we can use money and still raise wonderful children. But our children needs a true mother who is not just bound by circumstance, but of love, of hope, of faith.

PREGNANCY: Toothache

I'm writing this because I suffered from toothache for almost 2 weeks, just every night, but now I'm FREE!

 

I know technology in the Philippines is not that advanced and so you encounter obstetricians who do not recommend you to have your aching tooth/teeth treated by a dentist. It's so strange because when you read forums from other countries, pregnant women can have temporary fillings and even extractions.

 

OB's here do not recommend any serious dental treatment to make sure the baby's safe. And no doubt, they just want the best. After all, in the Philippines lead aprons are not common (used to safely conduct x-ray to protect the baby from radiation).

 

But still I asked my OB on what to do with my aching teeth. These 2 teeth should have been treated via root canal but I got pregnant with my first and I couldn't do it for almost 2 years after giving birth because I'm exclusively breastfeeding (until now). I'm 6 months pregnant by the way. Could also be the biggest reason why I lack Calcium much.

 

She refused on having my teeth treated or extracted and said I should wait until I give birth. Instead, I was given a prescription for paracetamol.

 

I know it's safe to use paracetamol but researches relating it to infant illnesses are still going on. Taking it for an extended period of time is a risk I couldn't take.

For days, I had almost sleepless nights and would endure the pain but would succumb to a tablet of paracetamol. In some forums, some moms suggest to use TOOTHACHE DROPS, which is mainly composed of Eugenol. I thought it was the answer. But then it had negative effect; it damages nerves inside your teeth. At the same time, Eugenol is not good for pregnancy.

I thought of Sensodyne. But when I and my husband went to the grocery, I saw Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief and compared its ingredients with that of Sensodyne. It had Calcium so we went for it. That night I slept peacefully without taking paracetamol.

 

You know the pain is there, but the toothpaste's formula was excellent at blocking the nerves from feeling anything. So I give this a 5-star as a temporary relief until baby comes out. It says, you can only use it twice a day, and so I use Colgate Plax for lunch. I think they are a good combination.

 

Days before, we bought Colgate plus Sugar Acid Neutralizer but it didn't help. 

 

You can see in the picture that small bottle. It's Toothache Drops/Eugenol. I just bought it for future use. But definitely not for me.

When I see my OB again, I will ask her for Calcium supplement and tell her that Sensitive Pro-Relief works. priced at P115.00

You can't listen and talk at the same time

A good thought from wisegeek.com