Highlight: Ilocos Empanada

For foodies and travelers out there, a trip to Ilocos Norte will never be complete without having one of their famous Ilocos Empanada (there is a similar variety from Vigan, Ilocos Sur but this was the kind you'll usually find in Batac or Laoag, Ilocos Norte). Above are pictures of this yummy merienda I bought along the kiosks just outside the development premise of Malacanang of the North. 

Basic ingredients: rice flour for the crust with or without achuete; filling of egg and mongo sprout or parboiled mongo or grated green papaya for ordinary orders, and additional Ilocos longanisa for special orders. This is eaten partnered with a yummy condiment:  Ilocos [black] vinegar (exhibiting a taste of wine rather than a vinegar) with out without sili.

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Those feisty photographs were taken by Yours Truly :) See more of this Ilocos Norte trip with my case studies of Plaza del Norte here and Malacanang of the North here :)

Case Study: Malacanang of the North, Ilocos Norte

This is the part 2 of my recent trip to Ilocos Norte. If you haven't read the other case study regarding Plaza del Norte Hotel, click here. 

Neighboring the hotel development that we stayed for three days was this mansion-turned-museum that cradled another strand of history serving as a reminder of the Philippines' not-so-distant past - the reign of the infamous Former President Ferdinand Marcos that wielded power during Martial Law, ending with his ouster with the EDSA People Power Revolution in 1986 - the Malacanang of the North. 

"Malacanang ti Amianan" is the other term used by Ilocanos to describe Malacañang of the North. This is the official residence of the former President Ferdinand Marcos in Ilocos Norte, built on a high point of land projecting into the sea right beyond the coastline of the legendary Paoay Lake, this enduring structure is now a museum. It was designed to resemble a 19th Century “bahay na bato” with a mixture of Spanish and Ilocano interior designs. Complete with 9 spacious rooms which was used to accommodate upper class guests during Marcos’ term, 2 living and dining areas, a spacious ballroom on the second floor, and verandas for both the ground and second floor facing the Paoay lake. They even had an olympic size swimming pool but is now left unused. 

Despite the lapse of time, there is still a lot of impressive beauty one can find in this structure worn-out throughout the years - an aesthetic that maybe not even as close resembling the beauty and purpose it served and inspired back when it was still used as originally intended. It is only with an eye for detail that one one can see through this perspective of beauty. Photos take by Yours Truly :)

 

Case Study: Plaza del Norte, Ilocos Norte

As promised in my last post, I will be uploading for the next few days pictures of my recent trip to Ilocos Norte. It was not as special as the one I had two years ago which focused on the perspective of Spanish Colonial influences in the Philippine building design and heritage; nevertheless it became almost too nostalgic for me since a lot in our itinerary for that weekend trip was a familiar destination. Too bad that I only got to visit two churches :|

Moreover, am afraid that the trip we made (which was given as a gift) was more of political (fellowship-camaraderie-blah) in nature rather than the more reflective manner which one should have to appreciate the provincial beauty of Ilocos.

Anyways, the grueling 12-hour trip to the province was wiped away once I laid my eyes on the place we are to occupy for the next two nights. The architecture student in me churned as I feasted my eyes with the beautiful natural hills surrounding the master development. The style guiding principles and elements employed in the development was typical of the character of the buildings in the region; this is to preserve the continuity in the aesthetics of the old buildings in the region while giving it a modern twist worthy of luxury :)

Plaza del Norte (former Ilocos Norte Hotel and Convention Center) brings together the Spanish-style charm and grandeur of Ilocos with the modern design of today in its world-class amenities. The hotel features a chapel for private weddings, sprawling gardens for outdoor events, a swimming pool, hotel function room and in-room massage services. The property promises to appeal to business travelers because of its extensive facilities that are ideal for such functions and meetings. 

The location of the hotel promisesn ideal getaway for the leisure tourist because of its proximity to many historical and unique attractions such as Spanish colonial buildings, Malacanang of the North, Paoay Lake, Sand Dunes, white sand beaches of Pagudpud, Marcos-era mansions and the historical Paoay Church, considered a UNESCO heritage site.

Photos taken by Yours Truly :) For more information, check out their website here. Click another of my case study regarding Malacanang of the North here.

Update 10.9.11: Three Encounters

• Council Leader: Woke up last Monday with an urge to repair restrained relationships. I marched in our community center and talked uninhibitedly with our council leader. Expressed and unloaded diplomatically my true frustrations and disappointments as a young councilor with all the rumors and shenanigans going around. I realized that building lasting relationships truly takes time and effort but how I truly wish there really was an untainted ground to start with. It’s just so hard to grow in a toxic environment.
• Beggar: It was almost a week now since I had that spontaneous tender regard from a beggar that I encountered on my way to the university. I saw him in the footbridge in Cubao wearing only some rugged clothes in the middle of so many passersby. Barefoot and extending his hand to whosoever kind that will spare him some change, it was evident from his tears how exasperated and painful he felt. It was in this sight that I had a strong nudging urge to embrace him and tell him that God loves him so much. But I just walked past him with only tears welling up my eyes. I offered a prayer for him while I was on the jeepney. I wish I had done something to ease any pain that he had. I wish I had embraced him and whispered that everything’s going to be alright. I just wish I had…
• Blogger Friend: I have a blogger friend who’s also contemplating about entering the seminary. Can’t wait to meet up with him and just share stories. I’m glad that I’m not alone in this one. I’ve been downloading a lot of vocation stories in Youtube for some perspective. I’m also thinking about devoting 1-2 hours of my time every other day in front of the Blessed Sacrament and continuing with my parish visits on free days. I should deposit myself more in stillness and silence.

A Young Politician's Rant

Image borrowed here

I have always had a bad imagery of politics in the Philippines. All the talk on the widening gap between the rich and the poor, the different antagonistic political factions and cliques, and the long-lived facets of corruption and plundering on the various offices that makes up the government have always filled me with disdain. As a young lad with a father that has been actively involved in the local government scene spanning three terms of services, the only picture I could remember of him as a ‘barangay councilor’ is with his political buddies and ‘compradres’ I only see during his birthday drinking sessions. I honestly don’t even know what the heck he does for a living until the recent day I got elected myself in the office at a tender age of nineteen.

How I came to be where I am right now was fast and terrifying. An almost seven months of attending seminars, council and committee meetings – immersion, I might preferably call – still leaves me point-blank staring and questioning what am I doing? What the heck am I doing? I know it is wrong to stereotype, but perhaps it is this long-held conviction of politicians performing dirty and under-the-table transactions that is making it hard for me to accept the role that I am now supposed to play in our society. It is weird. But somehow I feel disgusted at myself for always being suspicious at my comrades questioning their morale and intentions at the back of my mind.

Update 04.29.11

Concerns littering my cranium cavity:

• Submission of Architecture Internship 2 Report: Daily and Weekly Log of Diversified Training Experience, Architecture Internship 2 Sketchpad, and Internship certificate of acceptance tomorrow;
• MMDA Flood Control Bayanihan Zone Consultation Forum 2pm-5pm @ UERM College of Medicine, Aurora Boulevard (which I won't be able to attend);
• Community Summer Excursion tomorrow @ Nasugbu, Batangas (which sadly, I'm about to turn down *sigh*);
• PULP Summer Slam tomorrow @ Amoranto Sports Complex, Roces Avenue whom my officemates are dying to attend to (well, they want me to get them an exclusive backstage pass, as if I had any legitimacy to do so);
• and the Fellowship Dinner invitation from Team Ubaldo @ Max's Restaurant, Roces Avenue later @ 6pm - oh yes~ another political gathering.

'Do not be awed by the greatness of your tasks; do not be cowed by the discomforts you have to bear while carrying them out; do not fear the obstacles that will come your way.'

Natatanga

Image borrowed here

May meeting na naman kami sa konseho mamaya. Pang-apat na linggo na ito pero nananatili pa rin akong nangangapa. Hindi maiwasang kumulubot ang aking nguso sa panglaw na aking nadarama kapag iniisip ko ang aking katungkulan. Sa lahat ng aspeto ng buhay ko ngayon ay dito lang talaga ako palaging natatanga...

Naalala ko nung isang gabi na naka-chat ko si Feisty Feline. Ayus ang usap namin ng walang anu't-anong kinamusta niya yung konseho. Pagkatapos nun ay namalayan ko na lang na bumilis ang pag-takatak ng mga tunog sa keyboard ng laptop. Nagra-rant na naman ako sa kanya. Sya lang ang tanging may kakayahan na ilabas ang aking tunay na nararamdaman.

Katapusan nung Disyembre nang matanggap ko ang aming unang katas. Nalungkot ako na ganun na lang kabilis dumating ang salapi sa aking mga palad. Nagnilay ng malalim kung karapat-dapat ko nga ba tanggapin ang ganoong halaga. Nagtatanong kung may nagawa na nga ba akong tunay na serbisyo para sa aking bayan.

Hindi magmamaliw ang aking paniniwala na si Lordy ang naglagay sa kung san man ako nakatungtong ngayun. Pero ngayong nandito na ako sa harapan ng laban, bakit ako natatanga? Paano ako maglilingkod ng may diwang nabahiran ng putik ng pulitika? Paano kikilos sa gera ng mga salitang umaaliw sa nagbibingi-bingihang taynga? Paano lalaban sa gitna ng mga mapanlinlang na pagpapakahuluganng nagkukubli sa likod ng matatamis na mga ngiti't dila?

Nalalapit na naman ang katapusan. Mararamdaman ko na naman ang pamilyar na panlulumong lumulukob sa aking pagkatao't isipan... Kailan kaya mababasag ang aking pagkatanga?

January Effect

Napatunayan ng aking pagbabasa sa mga blogs ang frustrations regarding New Year's resolutions. That's why this year, I resolve not to make any resolutions at all. Haha. Just kidding. The truth is never naman ako gumawa ng mga resolutions tuwing sasapit ang Bagong Taon. Even before I was completely aware na that all these resolution-making wave ay dala lamang ng popular tradition na hindi naman talaga natutupad or nasusunod pagkatapos ng January. I think the term that was coined for this was January Effect. Hindi lang ako masyadong sure. 

Anyways, hindi maikakaila na marami pa ngang dapat baguhin at ayusin sa buhay ko. Pero sa halip na gumawa ako ng list of resolutions, I think I'd rather make a list instead of the things I'm being hopeful for this coming year. Na-inspire (read: nainggit. haha.) ako sa title ng post ni Nielz (whooh! special mention) kaya gaya-gaya puto-mayang gumawa rin ako ng akin. Haha. Here goes:

• Sa council: Well, medyo natututo na ako. I believe hindi ko na kakailanganin ng honeymoon period para magsink-in ang katungkulan na aking ginagampan. I'd go with the flow, ipagdadasal ng mas mataimtim ang mga kasama ko at pag-aaralan ng mabuti ang mga dapat kong gawin. Gabayan nawa ako ni Bro sa marungis na mundo na aking pinasok. 
• Sa studies: Kelangang lumebel na ako this year dahil sobrang magti-thesis na ako  next sem. It would help na masuyod ko na ang hundreds and piles of articles  that I've accumulated in order to look for a prospective architectural design problem. Makatutulong rin kung babalikan ko ang mga past subjects ko na magsisilbing building blocks ng integration ng lahat ng aking natutunan sa loob ng limang taon. Gabayan nawa ako ni Bro sa kursong aking napisil. Kelangan ko po ng isang palangganang creative juices!
• Sa lovelife: Ewan. Haha. I might wanna learn the 'how-tos' of courtship. Torpe pa rin ako eh. Haha. In learning so, magiging handa ako sa kung sinoman ang dadating para maging wagas na kapareha ng aking wagas na pag-iirog. Aw! Hehe. Truth is, I'm done searching for the right one. I'll keep my aim straight ahead kay Bro. Kung sino makikita kong katabi ko na naghahabol din kay Bro... sya! Sya na marahil ang bukod tanging inalaan para sa akin :) wuju!
• Sa connections: Open ako in meeting new people just for the heck of it. Yung matino syempre like yung mga nami-meet ko ngayon sa blogosphere. Again, since 2007 pa ko nagba-blog (ng mga walang kwentang posts) pero ngayon lang ako nakaharbat ng mga readers. That's why am so so thankful and hopeful na maging malalapit na friends ko rin sila offline :)
  
• Sa pamilya: Well, going strong naman kami. Pag talaga tumatanda ka na eh mas lalo mong na-appreciate ang iyong mga magulang at kapatid. Especially sa mga kapatid na parang kahapon lang eh nagbabatuhan pa kayo ng upuan at naghahampasan ng walis kapag may isang asar-talong umiyak at napikon. Ngayon, well, syempre hinde na ganun. But we have learned to accept unconsciously the greatest brotherly rule of all: Ang pang-aalaska ay pagmamahal. Parang terms of endearment lang. Kapag nagtagumpay ka sa pagbibitiw ng mga salitang ikapipikon niya (kuno) eh mahal na mahal mo syang tunay :) Wala na akong ibang mahihiling pa kundi ang patuloy na pagtibay ng aming pamilya.
• Sa sarili: Bawas-bawasan siguro ang pagiging naughty. Hinde naman ito maiiwasan sa pagiging lalake pero priorities straight pa rin dapat. Hwag masyadong x-rated ang mga iniisip. Hihi. At syempre, hmmm... Ipagpatuloy ang walang puknat na pagninilay. Kapag napapagod na at hinde na kaya, lumuhod lang para magdasal. Hehe. Apir!

Appetizer

The Shutterbug - Wannabe is so back :)

I knew sooner or later I’d have to come into terms of what I really wanted in life; to stand still and re-examine the path I’m taking; to contemplate on the bigger role I’m about to play.

The Seminar – Workshop on Barangay Administration and Development for Quezon City Barangay Officials held last December 9-10, 2010 at Emiramona Garden Hotel in Tagaytay City is an appetizer seminar that was undertaken with the view to ensure neophyte QC Barangay Officials better appreciate their major roles and responsibilities in the barangay. It was conducted with the help from the staff of Barangay Operations Center and speakers from the Department on Interior and Local Government.

Highlights of the event are the camaraderie between fellow neophyte Barangay Officials and talks on

• Leadership and Management by Thelma Joson
• Barangay Governance and Administration by Clarisse Umangos
• Barangay Local Legislation by Dir. Lourdes Agustin, and
• Disaster Risk Reduction Management by Dr. Noel Lansang

The seminar – workshop itself is not perfect. There were points, specifically between the interpretations of the terms ‘concurrence’ and ‘approval’ in the Local Government Code, that sparked a heated kick between the rest of the attendees and the gobsmacked speaker from the DILG. The time was not maximized prompting the speakers and the topics jammed in a day which left us either unquenched or confused with what little information we had gained.

Nevertheless, aside from the numerous downside remarks (ramblings) I’ve heard after the evaluation on the second day, I am delighted at having able to made contact with people whom I’d say destined to walk the same direction. I’ve seen a few young ones just like me from other districts that share a similar story – running in place of a family member and having to deal with community affairs while studying. Given more opportunities like this for the next months, I’d most certainly want to establish a more stable ground for companionship.

In the end, the seminar-workshop succeeded in churning up my appetite to learn more about the field. My know-how is low but my motivation is most certainly high. I know it won’t be a breeze and heck it might get a little complicated but I know this is His will of equipping me for something much bigger.

I guess the appetizer brought forth true acceptance this time.

UDHA Commentaries

Photo borrowed here

Our Approved Specialization I subject focuses on socialized housing issues in the country. Below is a part of my homework after going over our reading assignment on RA 7279 also known as the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992.

Can we eliminate squatters?

Personally, I think UDHA was created to enforce the elimination of squatters. It’s an initiative wherein we must all comply to arrive at its established objectives. But then, enforcement of the law is much more different than its legislation. All local government units and government agencies concerned should work hand-in-hand to fulfil this. The problem in our country lies on politics and the many personalities who cradle informal settlers as they are a source of vote during elections.

Is eviction a humanitarian action?

My take on this question would be best illustrated by quoting an excerpt from the speech of Sec. Leila de Lima about human rights in the Philippines in connection with the decision of the Supreme Court regarding the Manila Bay Case.

Human Rights encompass several rights and cuts across several segments of society. After all, all rights are indivisible, universal and equally important. In an ideal world, all rights can be equally protected and with equal priority. The Supreme Court Decision in the Manila Bay Case is an example of the difficult task of balancing equally important interests. The issues of sustainable development and ecological balance are pitted against the right to live – the right to a have home, the right against unlawful evictions, the right to development, the right to a living wage and other rights.

The Commission on Human Rights has always been supportive of urban poor groups. We are concerned with the difficulties that the urban poor face, without even the specter of forced evictions. There is a need to ensure that the backbone of our urban labor force can live in decency and respectability in spite of their poverty. And where they face patently illegal eviction, we have to protect them.

However, we cannot protect human rights and at the same time, accommodate illegality. The delicate balance of upholding both human rights and other statutes have always been difficult – we cannot stop demolitions where they are legal and with basis. We cannot stop evictions where the purpose is to protect and promote another equally important right, which in this case is a balanced ecology.

Mudbath Not

Our council just had our very first joint meeting yesterday and boy was I astounded at the order of the assembly. I would most probably illustrate it as something you’ll see inside a Senate house only ours is much smaller. Okay crap. It’s either that or I’m making a fool out of every ignoramus words I’m saying right now. Anyway, I will undoubtedly take some time to get used to that but I’m up for anything so really I hope to get on board with the rest of the council members. There are negative bits of premature observations and commentaries regarding certain personalities though which I’d rather keep to myself. Let’s just see how things will go for the next three years. Yeah I’m hoping we won’t be running a bath of mud.

Oh Yeah, It's Official

 

The Mass Oath taking for the Newly Elected Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Officials of District 4 held at the Performing Arts Theater of Amoranto Sports Complex here in our barangay truly was a success. I was a bit nervous to say the least. This was after all a historic moment in my life that officially marks the beginning of my three-year service as a member of our community's council. The district councilors as well as our very own honorable Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte and beloved City Mayor Herbert Bautista was present.

Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte's inspirational talk conveyed a message about us newly elected officials of Quezon City as being half-part politicians and half-part heroes emphasizing the latter ego as something that must be dominant in our role throwing out the other as an image that has tainted our field of service with a negative connotation. She even pressed our accountability to the people and to our God who gave us this chance of service at the first place. I was delighted by that last line of course, knowing that He truly have surrounded me with public servant superiors whom I share a similar objective - nothing more but for the greater good of our constituents.

But my personal favorite, of course, was City Mayor Herbert Bautista's albeit comedic address (I was stunned at first but then gradually accepted his rather informal public address as preferable compared to previous boring speeches I've been to) peppered not only with hilarious farce regarding known personalities of District 4 (who was present in that event) but as well as exciting news regarding a short course training program for Barangay Officials about public administration. Notable (here comes the exciting bit!) are studies on urban and regional planning as well as environmental planning set to be taken from a University in Singapore! I squirmed uncontrollably in my seat from containing my excitement regarding what I heard (at biglang nahiya sa katabing SK Chairman na nagwaring tinatawag ng kalikasan ang kanyang katabi).

I felt like a handsome groom long-waiting for his bride when I wore my new barong :) It is the first time I had worn anything quite as manly as this.

Suddenly there came another opportunity I am itching to have my hands on.  It was like a last-song syndrome that kept ringing in my head for too long. And as if a shooting star came by waiting for some soul to avail of its wish-granting powers, I began hoping. I mean, really really hoping I could avail of this rare chance to be on a foreign land and learn about a beloved subject all at the same time :)