January 30, 2016 8:30 AM – It is my usual duty of looking after my store in the morning. One of our neighbors bought 6 pieces of chocolates for her son. She told me that her child still insisted on buying something from our store even though they already came from the public market. Out of curiosity, I asked how old her son is. She replied, “He is three years old”. “Isn’t your son will be in Kindergarten this coming school year?” she asked. I said yes.  And then she said that I must register him now at school. I was surprised because every day that I passed the elementary school near us, I haven’t seen any posts about the early registration. I was even told by the teachers that there are no announcement yet and just look at the billboards for schedules.

Just to make sure of the news, I asked my mother to confirm it before going to market that same time. She came back and told me that it is true after all. She was even told by a Grade 1 teacher that I just need to bring a copy of my son’s birth certificate and no fees will be collected.

Me and my son got ourselves ready and brought the requirements. When we got there, 3 sets of lists are on the table. One for Kindergarten and two for Grade 1 students. I talked to one of the teachers in charge and asked her where I should pass the requirements. She instructed me to give it to the person seated on the left. There are 2 parents talking to the teacher so I waited for my turn. After they left, I approached her and said that I would like to enroll my son for Kindergarten. Without looking at me, she took my son’s birth certificate (original and a photocopy) in my hand and asked me (still no intention of looking at me and sounding uninterested) “SPED or not”. I was unsure of what to say because I know that before a child joins the SPED class, he/she must take the assessment. I asked my son if he wants to be in SPED, since I already briefed him about what he could expect and should do if he becomes part of that class. He hesitated but after a while, he said yes. Then the lady asked for another requirement (still did not bother to look at us). I need to pass a picture of my son. Good thing I keep pictures of my son and my husband in my wallet. I gave it to her and she stapled the picture on the photocopy of the birth certificate. I saw her copying some details from the birth certificate on a yellow paper which I presumed is the list that they will pass to the Department of Education. I asked if we are done with the registration. She just told me that we can leave. I can’t help but notice that she wrote something wrong on the list, so before we go, I told her about the mistake I saw. She insisted that she only copied what is written on the birth certificate and there is nothing wrong. Even if I am already disgusted about how she entertained us, I still told her in a polite manner that she wrote it wrong. To prove that I’m right. I showed her what is written on the certificate and she just changed what is on the list and didn’t even bother to apologize or admit her mistake.

I am not used to complaining about things around me and let negative things pass my way instantly but this experience made me think twice about enrolling my son in that school. All my siblings and I went to the same school so it would be nice if my child will study there. But considering what happened yesterday, I have second thoughts. I’ve been an educator before, for secondary and college that’s why I know how a teacher or a school staff should behave towards people. I guess, Good Manners and Right Conduct is not just removed as a subject and also not practiced by some teachers as well. Plus the fact that the registration is not properly communicated to parents or in the community. We came to school before 10 AM but the list of children did not come close to 10 and we did not see any parents coming to register after we left. The registration is until 11 AM.

I’m happy to see old faces, friends and classmates. Every five years, my Alma Mater in High School conducts a Grand Alumni Homecoming. This activity and effort allows us former students of St. Catherine of Siena Academy to be together again and remember the years that we had fun, learned, loved, gave our teachers headaches and pride, and prepared us to become what we are right now.

Every five years that we are able to meet each other in one single event, allows us to see the changes in our lives. Those who are single five years ago are now having their own families. Some who struggled during school days with studies are now the achievers on their career. Some honor students were not able to finish college and tried hard to make both ends meet. The rich kids when we are younger are the ones who struggle with their finances. And a lot more scenario to mention.

The status and achievement of each one of us is not a hindrance to enjoy the moment. Our batch seems to break the barriers of section and the feeling of indifference. I’m really happy that we are able to mingle without getting intimidated by social and personal projection. I may not know the names of every batch mates but at least am able to recognize their faces. Greet everyone with a genuine smile and take some time to ask how they are doing.

Talking to each other and starting to reminisce our past made everyone giggle and laugh about our silly stories. It just only shows how childish a matured person can be when we get to talk about things that we did (be it good or bad).

Another cherished moment for this day is when we get to see our past teachers whom we considered either as mentors or dementors (sorry for the word). The last word came to mind because as some of our teachers were roaming around and joins every batch for a photo op, one of my former classmates exclaimed that he does not approve of a group photo with a particular teacher. When we asked him why before that teacher approached us, he firmly stated that he does not like him simply for the reason that he never learned anything from that teacher and asked us if we feel the same. Almost everyone answered “yes”, including me. Then I laughed, saying to myself that after all these years, I didn’t think of having the same thought for that teacher’s contribution in molding our young lives. Anyway, that was in the past and we are able to live our lives until now carrying those memories.

One by one, we left, bid goodbyes and said to each other our sincere thanks of making ourselves available and joining the activity. A few hours shared story-telling, eating, drinking (for some), and laughing is one of the best days we will cherish for the rest of our lives.

The next homecoming is set after five years and will be more exciting for our batch because it is our Silver Year and the task of hosting the event is on our shoulders. I hope more batch mates will join us and be able to make it another milestone to remember.

See you on the year 2020 Batch 1995 of St. Catherine of Siena Academy!!!

Want to make egg pies? No oven, no baking pans.

We don’t have an oven. This is the reason why I always look for alternative ways to bake and experiment on baked goodies. My first recipe attempt was Lasagna. I will tackle the recipe in a different article soon.

I want to share my recent discovery on how to make egg pies even if you only have an oven toaster and leche flan pans (llanera).

The following are the ingredients:

Crust:

4 cups all-purpose flour

6 Tbsp sugar

1 tsp fine salt

1 ½ cup butter, cut into cubes and softened (I used Selecta butterfresh because it is not salty unlike other brands, and cheaper too.)

½ cup cold water

Filling:

1 cup evaporated milk

5 medium eggs and another 2 medium eggs with white and yolk separated

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp fresh kalamansi or lemon juice

1 can condensed milk 380g

How to Cook:

For the crust:

1. Combine flour, sugar and salt in a mixing bowl. Mix well. Add the butter and thoroughly mix with other ingredients. You can use a pastry mixer or a big spoon.

2. Gradually add the cold water to the mixture and continue mixing until every ingredients are well combined.

3. Shape the dough into a large ball and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

4. Sprinkle flour on a clean surface to flatten the dough using a rolling pin for about ½ centimeter thick and wide enough to cover 3 llaneras or a 9” pie pan if you have one.

5. Press the flattened dough on the pan and trim the dough using kitchen sears at about half an inch overhang. Save the scraps to bulk up thin areas later on.

6. The edges can be crimped by fork or pinch the edges with your fingers. Set aside the dough inside the fridge while making the filling

For the filling:

1. Heat the evaporated milk in a pan for a minute or two. No need to boil.

2. Combine and whisk the 5 medium eggs and the separated 2 egg yolks.

3. Gradually add the condensed milk while whisking. Add the vanilla extract and kalamansi juice, continue mixing until well blended.

4. Add the evaporated milk and mix well.

5. Beat the separated egg whites using an electric mixer to form soft peaks. This makes the upper part of the pie brown in color.

Baking the Pie:

1. Preheat the oven toaster for 10 minutes. Pour the filling on the refrigerated pie crust. Top with the beaten egg whites. Cover with aluminum foil* and cook for 20 to 25 minutes. (If you have a wider oven toaster, you can cook the pies all at once). You can check if the pie is completely cooked by inserting a toothpick in the filling and it comes out clean.

2. Remove the foil covering of the pie and spread the egg white on top and put the pie inside the oven and cook again for five minutes or until you achieve the golden brown top.

3. Allow the pie to cool down before serving. If you like, the taste is much better if you eat the egg pie after refrigeration.

*The use of aluminum foil gives the trick of cooking the filling without burning the top part of the pie.

There you have it. Enjoy!

I am overwhelmed by my everyday encounters with fellow virtual entrepreneurs. I am learning the tricks, ups and downs of becoming one with just joining every group that I see on different social media platforms.

As of this time, I struggle a lot because I know that my skills are not enough to become established in this field. There are moments that I doubted myself if I can continue searching for the right formula to become a good Virtual Assistant/SEO Expert/Web Designer/Web Developer/Online Entrepreneur.

I give special thanks to Sir Jay Pasana of Web Internship Program who is my mentor in Web Design, Social Media Management and future lessons that we will tackle under this program. A few years ago, I considered working online after I gave birth to my son but was not able to push thru with my plan because I thought that I need to give my 100% time in taking care of him. Now that he is 5 years old and will be a pre-elementary student next school year, I made my way to study Web Design under his coaching. If I didn’t try enrolling, I will not be able to see the benefits of knowing not just a thing or two about the Web and how I can earn using the Internet.

Another group that deserves a thank you from me is the Team SuperKaizen SEO Webinar. I attended the seminar last Saturday, November 28, 2015. The event was quick but I gained a lot from it. The never heard tools in determining the performance of a site are all new to me. It is really good to be taught by some of the bests namely Mr. Floyd Gonda, Roel Manarang, Fervil Von Tripoli and Nimrod Flores.

And lastly, thank you to Ms. Rochefel Rivera, the woman behind Professional VA Facebook Page. I recently found her group and been watching the tutorials on her YouTube channel. I get to learn a lot with regard to tasks of a Virtual Assistant. I think it is a relaxed and a natural approach of teaching especially to aspiring and first timers like me.

I look forward to having my own clients and be like all of the above mentioned personalities who motivate me every day to focus and reach my online career goals.

I often feel this way whenever I have interviews. Especially an hour or two before the actual time. Why? Is it because I am not prepared or I am not comfortable with my conversational skills? Maybe or maybe not.

I know that it is not just me who goes through the same situation. I think it is normal for a person to be nervous at some point. Even if you are the best applicant and have numerous accomplishments under your sleeves. A few hours before and until the moment you face an interviewer, that electrifying feeling is present. It seems like your last day on earth is now. Hands are shaking like there’s an earthquake. Suddenly forgot your name and where you live. Can’t speak straight, a lot of uhm’s and huh. The things you hold suddenly slip down. Everything is out of control.

Cold palms, palpitations, frequent urination, slurred speech or dysarthria (thanks Google for the extra knowledge) and disorientation are some of the manifestations of my interview jitters. It is too much to handle. I was told to breathe in and breathe out to release the tension. Can’t argue with that. I find it effective.

As explained in Science, “the primary role of breathing is to absorb oxygen and to expel carbon dioxidethrough the movement of the lungs. Muscles that control the movement of the lungs are the diaphragm (a sheet of muscle underneath the lungs) and the muscles between the ribs”. But make sure you do not overdo it. “Shallow over-breathing, orhyperventilation, can prolong feelings of anxiety by making the physical symptoms of stress worse. Controlling your breathing can help to improve some of these symptoms”.

I try to overcome this feeling every time. I have to, or else, I’m screwed and never get the job that I wanted.

If there is one kakanin or dessert that I like the most, it is Espasol. It is a cylindrical-shaped rice cake which originated from the province of Laguna. It is made of toasted glutinous rice flour, coconut milk and sweetened coconut strips, dusted with toasted rice flour.

I used to ask friends and colleagues to buy me some when they go to Laguna. Nowadays, I order from a local delicacy store here in our province when I feel like eating. The taste is similar with the ones bought from Laguna so it is much better if I have the craving attack.

I have no idea how to cook this favorite food of mine. Until I stumble upon a recipe of espasol on the net. I thought, why not try cooking it myself since the ingredients are easy to find and the process is simple as described in the recipe. I even watched different tutorials on YouTube to familiarize myself.

I took the challenge of cooking it today. Since I would like to rest from staring at the computer and do my assignments, I bought coconut milk from the market. I already have glutinous rice flour, sugar and other ingredients available in the pantry ‘cause I try to cook different delicacies and desserts when I have time. I’m not a seasoned cook but was able to achieve the taste of any dish I tried and this is the perfect time to test my skill.

First, I toasted 3 ½ cups of glutinous rice flour, set aside ½ cup of it for dusting the dough later. In a pan, I put 2 cups of coconut milk and let it simmer for a few minutes; put 1 cup of sugar while stirring constantly; after dissolving the sugar, I slowly put the toasted glutinous rice flour; added a teaspoon of vanilla extract and a squeeze of lime to add flavor. I also have the option in putting toasted shredded coconut but skipped this step as requested by my mother. I made sure that the fire is in low setting to avoid burning the mixture. Mixing the dough is a challenge because it is so sticky. I continued mixing for about 15 minutes and stopped when the natural oil of the coconut milk is evident and the dough is not loose anymore. While letting the dough cool down a bit, I prepared the banana leaves where I sprinkled the toasted flour. This is where I’m going to lay the dough flat and cut into strips. I rolled the strips to the flour one by one and the final product is arranged in a platter.

The taste test finally came. I’m not sure if I did the right thing. I’m worried about the result. It looked like the usual espasol I buy but the taste is still a mystery. My nieces, mother and son, took a bite. They looked at each other and said “SARAP”. It’s delicious in Filipino and that really made my day. I will never be afraid of trying a new recipe again because my family appreciates it and that makes me really happy.

In my quest for an investment and savings plan that can help me properly manage my finances now and in the future, I joined a local multi-purpose cooperative. This is not my first time to be involved in such a group. I totally removed the negative connotation of cooperatives in my system as “magulo” (riotous) and only involves “utang” (credit or loan). I treat it now as a way of saving money. My investment or share is what they call “untouchable money”. This is because, you cannot use your money anytime you want like deposits in bank where you just present a withdrawal slip or use an ATM card. If ever you have to, the only way to get your money is withdrawing completely including your membership and requires ample time to process. The share is designed to increase, not to decrease as time goes by.

Three years ago, I was persuaded by a former collector of a lending institution to try it. He quit his job from the lending company and was offered a job in a Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Bulacan and happened to have two branches here in Bataan. At first, I was hesitant. But when I thought about the benefits that I may reap from joining, I attended the pre-membership seminar. It did not last for more than an hour but gave me a brief and good impression of how cooperatives work for itself and the members. Cooperatives manifests the true sense of Bayanihan which was described during elementary days as the collective help of neighbors in carrying a house from one place to another. Members pool their resources into a common fund that is used to create different services and products that members can avail and derive income from. I agreed in joining and invested a few thousands as share capital. Like most cooperatives, loan service is the primary income generating product of the group. It is up to the member if he or she wants to avail it. Members derive multiple benefits from getting credit. The income generated from such loan will be added to the total income of the cooperative and will be declared as dividends and will be distributed annually to each member depending upon their share or Capital Build-Up (CBU). Another income is what they call Patronage Refund. A portion of the income derived from availing the service or product is computed and returned to the member. The more services and products I avail, the more patronage refund I get. Aside from the two, the third benefit is what I like the most. I’m proud to say that in almost 3 years, I didn’t just doubled or tripled my investment but is already 5 times my initial share. I achieved it through the capital build-up system. Every time I availed of any service or product, part of the interest I pay is directly added to my share, thus increasing it. The only way that a ladder goes is up, there is no down.

There are other benefits such as Insurance, Health Cards/Medical Assistance, Livelihood Training/Seminars and Continuous Education that a member can enjoy. I am making the most out of it and I am trying to look for other cooperatives with the same standing and performance. Like any other business or investment, we need to assess the feasibility of earning or saving since it involves money and time.

Joining cooperatives made me realize one thing. There is no small investment, only small knowledge. People has to learn how to make money work for them.