Foot and Fire

 Why Echegaray did not confess guilt until his death? (Reflections on how cheap lives are these days) Anyone can win any argument here whether he espouses Echegary's innocence or his guilt. But to put things in a proper perspective, under our criminal justice system, Echegaray was found guilty and thus, he was sentenced to death. But many firsthand accounts from his priest, lawyer and others who came to his side before his state-sanctioned death claim that he did not confess guilt. Since the supposed natural (and thus, expected) reaction of someone facing death is to say the truth, some believed in his innocence. But he did not confess guilt. I believe that he was guilty, and I always have in mind that his victim is condemned with the ill-effects of the gruesome crime of rape committed to her by her stepfather. But then, he did not confess guilt. If Echegaray confessed guilt, our society could have had let go of a sigh showing some relief that we did the right...

Mourning is a personal closure, since it brings humans to a full circle of birth and death, of comings and goings. When I saw the headline that a sister whose brother was missing during the Martial law era said that "Buti pa si Marcos may bangkay," (Lucky is Marcos, he has a cadaver) I just can't shake it off from my thoughts. I lost my father this year and I am still finding myself some comfort in knowing that he rested from the physical pains. I know he died and I know we ushered him to a resting place. These thoughts actually comfort me. Thus, putting myself in that sister's shoe, I just can't imagine myself mourning without a closure. Perhaps, she will always mourn until she can no longer mourn. There are many personal stories of loss and unnecessary deaths during the Marshal Law that we just cannot close our eyes and say that the past is past and we should move on as a nation. No, we cannot just do that because there was no positive action from the fam...

My friend in Paris sent me Pine nuts when she saw me posted pesto using almond s as the base nut of the pesto. Since the original pesto uses Pine Nuts, she wanted me to create the real thing. So when I had the chance to get fresh sweet basil leaves, I immediately used it. Pine nuts is quite expensive if found in our grocery stores, so I also recommend the almonds in lieu of this rare one. Almonds in the pesto is dry while pine nuts is much more nutty and blends well. At any rate, the aromatic sweet basil is the base of it all and I loved both ways! 4 cups sweet basil 3-4 cloves garlic 1/2 cup Pine Nuts Salt and pepper to taste 1/2 cup olive oil and 1/4 cup reserve 1/2 cup grated Parmessan In a food processor, place the first four ingredients. Blend well while slowly adding the half cup Olive oil. Transfer in a glass bottle and Add Parmessan Cheese. Put the remaining 1/4 cup of Olive oil on top of the mixture. Best served as as sauce for pasta. Also serve on top of crackers as appet...

Milkfish, cleaned and sliced Water Tomatoes Onion Jackfruit, unripe and sliced Chiles Salt and pepper Camote tops Boil water, add tomatoes and onions. Bring to boil and add the jackfruit and cook till tender. Add fish and chile and bring to boil again. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add camote tops and cover. Remove from fire. Use tamarind, batuan, lemon or kamias to add sourness to the soup.

Fruits

Small Fishes Apple cider Vinegar Ginger, chopped finely White Onion, chopped Chile, sliced or chopped Salt and pepper Soak small fishes in vinegar and debone. Discard remaining vinegar. In a glass bowl, place the deboned fishes, ginger, white onions and chile. Add vinegar up to half part of the mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Serve chilled. Optional Coconut milk, ground peanuts and tomatoes may be added. Use cubed slices of bigger fishes like salmon or tangigue