Flabbergasting Lugaw, Tokwa't Baboy, et. al.

Reddish porridge, anyone?

My mom and I strolled this afternoon with growling stomachs. Looking for snacks here in our barangay was an easy task after all. We saw a gotohan where men were eating with vigor (could be an understatement and we should use gormandizing instead). We were curious so we observed closer. At first, the cook wasn't PAYing attention so mommy whispered, "I won't PAY him also." She ordered and while waiting I noticed that mom was astounded with the color of the congee, the way they served the steaming bowls and cut the tofu. We began to doubt the cleanliness of the water they use, with the chopping board left in the open. Nevertheless, we got tokwa't baboy and plain lugaw.

One moment please...

Man... wasn't that delicious! We devoured our steaming lugaw and started wondering. Earlier, not a single female was in sight. Where have all the females gone? I hypothesized that men have a higher level of tolerance and the women who happened to eat there became sick. My mom was so worried thinking that they're already in the cemetery. Yumyum. No matter what they say about street foods, the temptation's so strong. What could be the secret ingredient that made the lugaw delicious and... reddish?
***
Notes from Ivan Picasso's speech:
Ø Many of us complain that they can't see the hands of Jesus. They fail to realize that WE are the hands of Jesus, the hands that will build this nation.
Ø Keywords:
Power. We've got power in our hands.
Hope. There's hope for the Philippines.
Love. It's like a rosary, full of mysteries. (Strike one.) Like Kodak, you have to develop it. (Strike two, Ivan.)
Ø What the youth can do:
1. Be excellent in studies. Grades matter a lot though we say:
"I'm more than my grades. Academics do not define me!"
Read. When you do, you get to talk with anyone... and impress them.
2. Involve yourself in a socio-civic group.
3. Shout out! Live by the Sunshine Principle: Expose everything to the light.
Story: What Happens In The Darkness.
Sa isang kubo, katabi ng matanda ang anak. Isang magandang dalaga. Kaharap nila ang isang sundalo at ang opisyal nito. Biglang namatay ang ilaw. Narinig ang tunog ng isang halik at isang sampal.
Ang inisip ng matanda: Aba'y tarantado ang sundalong ito at hinalikan ang anak ko. Mabuti na lang at sinampal siya.
Ang inisip ng opisyal: 'Di ko naman masisisi ang sundalo na hinalikan niya ang magandang babae. Pero kawawa naman ako, napagkamalan ni lola na siyang humalik sa kanyang anak. Ako tuloy ang nasampal.
Ang inisip ng babae: Kawawa naman 'yung sundalo at nasampal. Ok lang naman na humalik siya sa 'kin.
Ang inisip ng sundalo: Wahaha... nahalikan ko na ang magandang babae, nasampal ko pa ang opisyal ko.
4. Pray and act for the nation.
Ø Kahit maliit na bagay lang 'yan, 'wag mong maliitin ang maitutulong mo. Hindi naman lahat gumagawa ng maliliit na bagay.

Ivan told us not to google his name. Makes me wonder why... So let me end this blog entry and I'll go googling it.