The Bell, The Bridge, and The Binalatongan River Maiden

In the country of the Philippines lies the kingdom of Pangasinan, so named because of the riches borne forth from the Asin (salt) that comes from its earth. There is a town named San Carlos in that land. This town was built in the 18th Century, rising alongside and across the San Juan River from the older village named Binalatongan.During that period, Spaniards still ruled the land and a rebellion was taking place. The freedom fighters were in retreat. The Spaniards were better armed, better organized, better led, and more numerous in their number of soldiers. They were fast approaching Binalatongan.In a church of that village, there existed what was then the largest bell of the country, the Bell of Binalatongan, wrought of iron, laced with copper and gold flakes, and etched with strange, unknown markings. It was prized by the entire community and admired by all who came to visit.

It was said that this bell originally had been taken from an Aztec or Mayan temple from the newly conquered America and had been transported by the annual galleon’s voyage across the Pacific. Legend also had it that the Bell was originally a sacrificial altar, and when the Conquistadors brought it to the Philippines they turned it upside down and changed its purpose to that of a church bell. Villagers whispered that it still retained its magical powers.

Facts and Figures: San Carlos City, Pangasinan

Population density of San Carlos has reached 92.26 persons per square kilometer as of 2003 statistics. Classified as a second class city, with an annual income of P289 million (as of 2001), employment rate is 86 percent with many establishments and a potential trade area. Literacy rate is 93 percent and the student population has gone up to 46,359 with 91 public and private elementary and secondary schools which provide education to pupils and students. The major universities are the Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation and the Pangasinan State University, and there are other institutions like the San Carlos College, Palaris College, STI, and Marian Computer College. As of 2004, the student population in the city was about 47,000 or more out of the total population.

Baking Soda as a Pimple Buster and Skin Whitener

When your budget is tight or you simply want a more environment friendly beauty regimen, sodium bicarbonate might be your best deal.

Sodium bicarbonate, more popularly known as "Baking Soda" is a naturally occurring chemical compound. It is a known additive to baked products and as a powerful natural house cleaner. What some people do not know is its use as a pimple buster and skin whitener.

I am writing this not as a research but more of a testimonial. I was a pimple-faced teenager when I was in first-year high school. Those who've seen me after that year might never imagine how I actually looked like. I came to learn about the product during our chemistry class. Our teacher said, "Synthetic chemicals usually have side effects. So, its is better to use natural chemicals which is also environmentally friendly." 

Onward San Carlos City

San Carlos City, formerly Binalatongan, the first town in Pangasinan, was established by the Dominican friars in Abagbagan in 1587. It was where the first Dominican Provincial Capitol was held in 1617. It was the seat of the revolutionary movement of Andres Malong from 1660-1661, of Juan Caragay in 1718-1719, and the rebellion of Juan dela Cruz Palaris in 1762-1764 against the Spaniards. After the rebellion of Juan Palaris in 1764, the town was named San Carlos upon the Order of the King of Spain. In 1870, the Casa Tribunal was established and on June 17, 1965 was declared a city through Republic Act 4487.

Let us recall that San Carlos, the biggest and most populated town of Pangasinan, became a city by virtue of Republic Act 4487 signed on June 19, 1965, after an overwhelming ratification by its residents, since our city has suffered from negative lapses of progress and development. Up until about seven years ago, many of us San Carlenians, especially us, people who lived in San Carlos in the fifties or sixties, are witnessing just recently tremendous changes including an improved skyline. This maybe due to the fact that our town, which has become a city, is starting to improve its looks, charm, and hum. Jane Claudio, scholar, civic leader, and community organization worker from Quezon Boulevard, remarked about "the big transformation and progress in the former city of dust: new commercial establishments have mushroomed around us, business is picking-up on its feet and new multi-story buildings are also being constructed."

Source: San Carlos City: A Celebration by Fe Casillan Garcia.

How to Cook Pinakbet

Pinakbet is one of the most poular dishes of Ilocanos (if not the MOST popular indeed!). So here's how to cook our authentic Pinakbet Iloko

Ingredients:

1/2 cup squash, cubed
5 pcs string beans, cut 3 inches long
5 pcs okra, sliced lengthwise
1/4 cup patani (optional)
6 pcs eggplant, halved
3 pcs tomatoes, quartered
1 tbsp. ginger strips
3 cloves garlic, crushed
2 pcs onions, quartered
1 tbsp. fish bagoong
1/4 kilo bagnet or pork belly, fried until crispy ( for vegan, replace with fried gluten )
1 cup water


How to cook Pinakbet Ilocano Style

In a saucepan, arrange the vegetables in the following order: squash, string beans, okra, patani, eggplant, tomatoes, ginger, garlic and onions.

Top with bagoong and bagnet. Add water. Cover and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer.

Slowly stir with a ladle to make sure that all portions are cooked. Simmer until almost all the liquid is conserve hot. Serves 4cook our authentic Pinakbet Iloko

Ingredients:

1/2 cup squash, cubed
5 pcs string beans, cut 3 inches long
5 pcs okra, sliced lengthwise
1/4 cup patani (optional)
6 pcs eggplant, halved
3 pcs tomatoes, quartered
1 tbsp. ginger strips
3 cloves garlic, crushed
2 pcs onions, quartered
1 tbsp. fish bagoong
1/4 kilo bagnet or pork belly, fried until crispy ( for vegan, replace with fried gluten )
1 cup water


How to cook Pinakbet Ilocano Style

In a saucepan, arrange the vegetables in the following order: squash, string beans, okra, patani, eggplant, tomatoes, ginger, garlic and onions.

Top with bagoong and bagnet. Add water. Cover and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer.

Slowly stir with a ladle to make sure that all portions are cooked. Simmer until almost all the liquid is conserve hot. Serves 4

Manang Biday: An Ilocano Folk Song

Manang Biday, ilucat mo man
Ta bentanam icalumbabam
Ta kitaem toy cinayawam
Ay matay acon no dinac caasian

Siasinno ca nga aglabas-labas
Ditoy hardin co pagay-ayamac
Ammon ngarud nga balasang ac
Sabong ni lirio, dipay nagucrad


Denggem ading ta bilinenka
ta incanto diay sadi daya
agalacanto't bunga't mangga,
ken lansones pay, adu nga cita


No nababa dimo gaw-aten,
no nangato dica sucdalen,
no naregreg dica piduten,
ngem labaslabasamto pay laeng


Daytoy panioc no maregreg co
Macapidot isubli nanto
ta nagmarca iti naganko
nabordaan pay ti sinampuso


Alaem dayta cutsilyo
ta abriem toy barucong co
tapno maipapasmo ti guram
kaniak ken sentimiento

32 dead, 78 injured during Lenten break according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council

For many, it has been a tradition that the lenten season serve as a time for happy family reunions. However, lenten related accidents and fatalities have also been part of the trend. This year,  about thirty-two (32) people died, seventy-eight (78 ) injured and three (3) were reported missing during the Lenten break according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

John Estrada and Priscilla Meirelles' Celebrity Wedding in La Union captured by Nice Print Photo

Thunderbird Poro Point Resorts is one of my personal favorite destinations in my home town - San Fernando City, La Union. It is such as paradise for me where the sea meets the plains and the hills. But what made this place more exciting is the recently held John Estrada and Priscilla Meirelles celebrity wedding on February 26, 2011. 

Advantages of Becoming a Stay-at-Home Mom

When I was still in school, I told myself "I will never be a stay-at-home mom!" My rationale before was--- if I have to be confined in the house taking care of  the kids, of  my husband and the whole household, I'd rather stop studying now. If you come to think of it, it seems that becoming a home-based mother would simply imprison you and waste all your efforts to finish your college or even post-graduate degrees! Becoming a home-based person doesn't really make sense to an ambitious woman like me! By the way, I am a believer that one should be ambitious enough to reach a certain goal that is why I don't really mind calling myself ambitious. Now going back to the topic --- despite my earlier view, I am now a stay-at-home mother and I could say, this isn't easy for me.

I will discuss more about it in my future blog posts. But as of now let me tell you the perks of becoming a  stay-at-home mom:

Revival of the Estero de Paco: A model for La Union's "Mabaho Beach"

As the managing director of Creative Alliance Services, which covers trainings and events production,  I typically visit potential venues for different types of events starting from Pangasinan, La Union, Baguio, Ilocos Sur , up to Ilocos Norte. The last place I scrutinized was the Ortega Sports Complex, which is located  few steps from what is popularly known since we were kids as "Mabaho Beach." This coastline area is where many families thrive in their shanties. From the name itself, I believe I don't need to explain more.