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Batanes: Expectation vs Reality (Part 2)

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Two imposing rocks on a circumferential road while we were on our way to villages of Sumnanga and Nakanmuan in Sabtang Island Expectation: Batanes is prone to typhoon Reality: Yes, but not all typhoons are feared in Batanes I heard from a cousin that the best time to visit Batanes is in fact after a typhoon. That stuck in my mind so that I fearlessly booked a PAL flight in October, and of course, led by the fact that it was booked as seat sale. We were supposed to fly out to Manila on the eve of October 18 and take the first flight to Basco the following day. The Manila-Basco Trip was cancelled due to Typhoon Ramil and we had our flights rebooked and chose to fly out of Iloilo/Bacolod on October 23 and on that day, Typhoon Salome cancelled the Manila-Basco flight and we were monitoring weather updates. Flights to Basco resumed on the 24th and we were able to fly. Like this Arius Tree in Itbayat, the Ivatans are fearless when it comes to typhoons for they are res...
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Batanes: Expectation vs Reality (Part 1)

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   The Secret Arch, Itbayat Island Yes, Filipinos can be found everywhere. I’m sure one can be found trekking and lingering in the outbacks of Australia or partaking a whiff of breeze in Ireland’s Cliffs of Moher while I am writing this piece. But Batanes is in the Philippines, and as Filipinos, we should all at least experience it once in our lifetime. Where else can we experience saying Hello as “Kapian capa nu dios” that translates actually to “God bless you” and random children ask for your hand to touch their forehead asking for blessings and as a sign of respect? So I write this as an open invitation for everyone to have a full sensory experience of Batanes, our very own outback and cliffs.        Racuh A Payaman or the Marlboro country as part of South Batan, Batan Island Batanes has always been at the back of my mind for a long time already. But one can never be too prepared for it. Imagine a laidback town, beaches to swim,...
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Umami Salad Dressing

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I love long introduction but just like this dressing, this blog is very straightforward when it comes to kitchen inventions straight from the whatever-is-in-my-fridge shelves.  1T miso paste 1 t anchovies 2T Japanese style soy sauce 1T honey 2T mayonnaise Pinch of salt & pepper Mix and beat all together with your trusted fork.  I used a tablespoon for my dressing today and reserved the rest. Oh, yeah, Caesar who? 
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Rice cooker Bibimbap with lots of mushrooms

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Well, stormy days call for easy cooking. This rice cooker one pot meal is highly recommended. It has lots of mushroom so I enjoyed it.  Beef-wrapped Enoki mushroom  1 carrot, julienned 3 T oyster mushroom 3 T dried sliced shiitake mushroom 2T miso toppings (seaweed & tofu) 1 mug rice, rinsed 1 mug water Sesame seeds Sauce 3T Japanese Style soy sauce 2T rice wine 2T honey 3 T sesame oil 1T nutritional yeast In a bowl, mix the sauce well and set aside. In a rice cooker with rinsed rice, top the rice with all of the ingredients and add the water then the sesame seeds. Let cook.  After the rice cooker shifts to warm, add the sauce. Do not mix yet. Let cook again. Make sure the liquid reaches the bottom. Let stay in the Warm for 5 minutes. Mix well, let warm again. Serve as a one-pot meal. Add soy sauce, kimchi, and chili paste, if so desired.  
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The Match (2025) and The Dig (2021)

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Watched two "based on true story" Netflix film features, The Match (2025) and The Dig (2021). As in all artistic license in fictional biographies, the true story must only be ten percent like limited alone to the names of the protagonists, but these two are really entertaining, and indeed great directorial accomplishments for turning difficult subjects interesting.  THE MATCH Baduk or Go, the sports interestingly presented in this film despite it's a boring boardgame.  I must have said that because I am so ignorant of this game and experienced an online version of it once out of sheer curiosity.   The true story herevmust be limited on Korea's D-9 level teacher Cho and  pupil Lee, who both eventually played against each other & beat each other in the matches.  THE DIG.  This ultra fictional film based on ultra fictional novel. This "based on true story" is worth the fictional personal tales if only to present one of England's important ...
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Park Bo-gum's Good Boy, Yun Dongju and Philippine war against corruption

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         Disclaimer:  I am a self-confessed Park Bo-gum fan. I mean, he can be a believable Olympian boxer here, and also a silly pet puppy at the same time.  But that does not mean I watched the series solely on that ground. I watched his latest TV series Good Boy for another icing on top of the cake: a good story line. The central story of Good Boy is pursuing good to defeat the evil that is corruption. The former athletes, who were at one moment in time hailed heroes when they got their Olympic medals, joined the police force only to be discriminated against as "privileged," "no guts," "poster girl," "no good" and so on. And since, we are on this, let me say that the story line has some potential to be a classic but the comedy in an action K-series ruined that potential. But well, I'm not surprised. Disappointed? Yes, a bit because I love the reference to the poem of Yun Dongju.           The character of Pa...
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Instantpot Spanish-style Bangus in Olive oil

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BANGUS IN OLIVE OIL. In a bed of banana leaves, I pressure-cooked in my Instantpot two kilos of milkfish in Spanish-style condiments.  It has been a very long while since I cooked bangus using a pressure cooker. Well, it's all worth it.  I enjoyed eating the bones, especially the head since it's all melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. This is a welcome break to our fried fish or fish soup fare. I made 2 kilos as I want to have them as part of my packed lunch. I slowly placed the 2-3 sluces of fish in a tin container add the oil & spices so I can just heat it when it's time to eat. Made four containers even after eating this for lunch and dinner. Caveat: more cups of rice is needed. 2 pcs (about 2 kilos) milkfish, cut in pieces Black & Green olives, 10 pcs each 2 pcs Carrots, cut round 1T Baby Capers 9 pcs Chilis 20 pcs Bayleaves 1 head of Garlic, peeled 2T Paprika powder 2T Himalayan salt 2T Peppercorns 2C Olive oil Water Prep: In a bowl, put Water & diss...
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