Ju.D's Fruitcake

   This December, while on vacation leave. I had the chance to meet Ms. Ju D. Lao, known as the fruitcake queen of the Philippines. She has been making fruitcakes for over 25 years. She started baking fruitcakes since 1975. The fruitcake recipe that she developed is her original, she wanted to make fruitcakes that would suit the taste of the Filipino palate. I noticed that not everyone likes fruitcake. I guess this is one of the Christmas gifts that some people don't really look forward to.

    I saw the fruitcake queen being interviewed on tv (a feature show in GMA ch.11), and it has been a long time since I last tasted a fruitcake so I've decided to order from her. Before we used to receive a lot of these, but now were fortunate enough if we received one. I ordered by phone, and in the afternoon I was able to pick-up my orders at her place in Greenmeadows Subdivision. You wouldn't miss the house because there's a large banner of Ju.D's fruitcake in front. Lovely place that she got there. Her helper was the one who took my payment, and the one who gave my orders. I really wanted to meet Ms. Ju.D so I asked if I can meet her. I was really glad that the queen of fruitcakes graciously met with me. I had the chance to took a photo of hers. I found out also that she has been interviewed by CNN Philippines. All her cookies were sold out, but I was fortunate enough to get the last pack of her New York Peppermint cookies, I also ordered her Classic fruitcake, and her Golden fruitcake. I also ordered her fruitcake sampler. The box contains 4 flavors (2 pcs. each of her classic fruitcake, golden fruitcake, Ju'D Blue, and Prune, both coffee flavored fruitcake). I have yet to try her Chewy chewkies (fruitcake cookies, no liquor but I heard they're very good), a recipe that she made especially for kids. I also love the packaging of her goodies. You don't need to gift wrap the fruitcakes because the packaging is already beautiful and very presentable. So if you want to order even if it's not the holidays, you can go to #50 Greenmeadows Ave. White Plains, Quezon City. Contact no. is  633-1188.  And truly, like the song of the Eraserheads goes, 'There's a fruitcake for everybody!'

Movie Review: Mano Po 7 'Chinoy'

   Yesterday, since I was on leave from work. My friend and I watched Mano Po 7, Chinoy. When I first saw the trailer I immediately wanted to watch the movie since Richard Yap was the main protagonist in the film. He became one of my favorite actor when I first watched a local drama (Please Be Careful With My Heart), starring him, together with another actress Jodi Santamaria. The cinema was a bit packed when we watched it. I thought that there will be lesser people already since, some days have passed since the initial showing of the movie.

   The film centers around a Filipino-Chinese family again. What made the movie different from the other Mano Po films, is that this film centers on the male character. What I like about the movie is that they really showed some traditions of a typical Chinese family, like during the engagement (ting hun) the soon to be bride is seen walking backwards. According to what I've read the meaning of the bride walking backwards symbolizes avoiding the negative energies in the room, and also so that she will not be able to see her groom. Also, in a huge Chinese banquet it is normal to see a lot of people wearing red. The color red symbolizes good luck, joy and happiness. It is considered an auspicious color for the Chinese people. Another thing that I have liked about the movie is the cinematography, you will be able to see some scenes shot in Taiwan. For me, the story line is a bit predictable. Still, this is a movie worth-watching. We should support our local films, and kudos to Mother Lily Monteverde for making another Filipino-Chinese movie wherein fellow Filipinos can appreaciate, and learn a bit more about the beauty of the Filipino-Chinese culture. Mano Po 7, Chinoy is still showing in cinemas nationwide.

Chinese Herbal Medicine Seminar

 

Last month I signed up for a seminar in Ateneo's Chinese Studies Program entitled, 'Understanding Chinese Herbal Medicine'. The guest speaker was a medical doctor from St. Luke's Medical Center, Dr. Francisco V. Navarro, M.D. He also studied, and trained in medical acupuncture from various schools, and universities abroad including Xiamen University Hospital in Fujian ,China. This course was a 2 part. The first course is about acupuncture. I chose the latter because I'm more interested in plants. Chinese traditional medicine is an ancient practice. I remember watching a good Chinese drama starring Cecilia Liu Shi Shi, 'The Imperial Doctress', it is based from a true historical figure Tan Yun Xian, a woman who is adept in the medical field during the Ming dynasty. If you have not seen the drama I suggest you try watching it. You will be able to understand a thing or two about Chinese traditional medicine.

   Sadly, I was unable to attend because the schedule of the seminar was in conflict with my work schedule. I asked my former classmate and college and friend to attend for me. I did not get any certificate even if I'm the one who paid and registered for the course because the participant, or the one who will attend (proxy) will be the one who will be awarded with a certificate. Anyway, I was able to get the handouts from my friend. Included in the handouts are some important notes, for example, the Principle of Chinese Herbs, the 5 flavors in Chinese, etc. In the handouts, vocabulary words connected with Chinese traditional medicine were written in Chinese characters, together with the English meaning. I have already read something about Chinese traditional medicine since I own a book about it.Thinking about this seminar, this evokes memories wayback when we went to a Chinese drugstore, wherein you can see growth balls, dried animals like seahorse, etc. I hope next year I'll be able to attend another Chinese related event, one that is not in conflict with my work schedule. I'll continue updating this blog from time to time. Thanks for visiting!

Movie Review: Just One Smile Is Very Alluring aka (Love 020)

                                                        ## 不巧 我在等你 ##
                                            # It's Not a Coincidence, I'm waiting For You #


     Yesterday, I chanced upon this Chinese film entitled, Just One Smile Is Alluring starring Angelababy and Jing Boran, the Chinese title  微微一笑很倾城 (Wei wei yixiao hen qingcheng). 
Multi-player game is very popular nowadays who hasn't heard of Ragnarok a popular Korean RPG, and other RPG games. An RPG game is about a game wherein an individual can choose his or her own avatar, customize it (the appearance of the avatar), and they can do battles with gamers from their country or from other countries, and they earn points by collection coins, trading things (like potions, gems, treasures that they collect in the game) and they journey in a surreal world. I'm sure that every gaming fan who has experienced playing online in multi-player games will be able to relate in this movie. The storyline, it alternates from the reel world, to the real world.

The story is about a sort of tomboyish girl who is into RPG online gaming, and how she came to like the most popular character/avatar in the game. In short its about 2 people who are both online gamers, who fell in love with each other. How? Just watch the movie. I won't tell the whole story here because I don't want to be a movie spoiler. This movie, has also a drama version. I have checked it out, and I think its also good to watch. The cinematic effect in this movie was superb, and the story line. The lead actor and actress were good, and of course they're fit for their role. I really enjoyed watching this movie. so far this is my latest favorite Chinese movie.

The Reading Room: Bai Ren's Lagalag sa Nanyang (Salin ni Joaquin Sy)

I have a few Filipino-Chinese related books. I got them wayback from Kaisa Heritage Center in Intramuros Manila. I am also fortunate to have known and met a few Chinese studies scholars and experts along the way. One of them was the translator of Bai Ren’s work, Adrift in the Southern Ocean, Mr. Joaquin Sy. This novel has a former title in English but I just chose to mention here the latter. I was supposed to do a book review, but since I’m just in the middle part of the book, it would be unfair. So I just titled this entry, ‘The Reading Room’. There are a bit of spoilers here.

This is the true to life story account of Bai Ren, and his experiences here in the Philippines, as a huankhe in Hokkien or huaqiao in Mandarin, it means an overseas Chinese worker. I’m sure that Filipinos will also hold this story close to their heart because we have a similar plight with the Chinese people back then. Most of the head of the family of many Filipinos today go abroad, in order to provide for their family, especially in terms of financial.

I have never read a book before written in our own native tongue (with the exception of short romance novels when I was a teenager, and other books that I got from KAISA). I have heard a lot of good reviews about this book in a social networking page, and how it was translated very well by Mr. Joaquin Sy. I've decided to buy one for myself when I went to a local bookstore, National Bookstore at Trinoma mall. As fate would have it, I found one! It is the lone copy at that time, so even if the book is not in a very good condition, I bought it. I've just put a clear plastic cover on it. (see the attached photo).

Reading the book, I can picture the scenes slowly unfolding in my mind. As if I’m watching a mini-series, or a movie. I like how Li Xin/A Song, in the story narrates  his every experiences. From their packed sweet snack, called hopia (usually a small round pastry snack, with sweetend mung beans filling, nowadays it has a variety of flavors), to the double decker bus, the swarm of mosquitoes, and the ‘vampires’ at night, the deadly bloodsuckers. I am now halfway, and I have met a lot of characters along the way. The Buddha-like owner of Asia Bazaar, Ang Taoke (Boss Ang), the three co-workers of Li Xing. Mr. Dy, the right hand man of their boss, a workaholic person – rarely takes a vacation leave, Mr. Lim, the cook a short and chubby fellow, and a distant relative of their boss, and lastly the big, burly man, Mr. Tan. (I've just decided to put a honorary title in front of their surname). I am saddened with the heartbreaking love story of Isha (a mestiza – half Caucasian, daughter of a white man, but her mom basing from what I read is Filipina), and Tan Sua. I also read, and learned a lot of Hokkien word, like apeh, achiak, huanpo, ahia, amah, koyi, huanna, huankhe, tsutyiya. I also stumbled upon good quotable quotes, “Ang luwad na hindi hinubog, hindi naghuhugis mangkok.” By Ang Taoke. This translates in English as, the clay that was not properly formed, will never become the shape of a bowl. I guess, he likened it to a person not properly reared by their parents, the child will soon be may be a wayward or a prodigal child. I highly recommend this book, especially to Chinese or Filipino-Chinese studies enthusiast like me, lovers of Filipino literature, or for those who just want to read a good Tagalog translated Chinese novel. This book is for you. Two thumbs up!  

女医明妃传The Imperial Doctress

   This is another memorable Chinese tv series for me. Again, it stars Cecilia Liu Shi Shi of the popular Scarlet Heart tv series (I and II). This is another period drama. This is not in the Qing era, but in the Ming dynasty. This drama was based upon the life story of Tan Yun Xian. She was born to a family who practiced medicine. Although this series is not that faithful to the real life story, they added a twist and a sort of love-triangle plot. It is still enjoyable to watch. I am also amazed when it comes to naturopathy, herbal medicines. I have a late aunt who's a doctor and she doesn't rely or believe in these herbal or traditional medicines. But I know some doctors now combine these two beliefs.

Nowadays, some people don't rely on synthetic medicines, and instead turn to natural, or herbal medicines. It's also interesting to hear the explanation why Chinese herbalist, or a Chinese traditional medicine prescribe a certain medicine, like for example to balance our body. I remember a doctor that I visited before. He's a graduate of medicine, but still combines what he learned with traditional medicine. There was a time when I would get mouth sores, and he adviced me not to eat 'hot' food. But instead eat 'cold' or 'cool' foods. Like for example he compared apples from Japan and in the U.S. I just forgot which one he recommended me to eat. Maybe I mentioned it in one of my posts here before. Also, he told me I shouldn't eat food that makes my body hot, like pizza aggravated my mouth sores. He also recommended that I eat pears because it has a cooling effect on the body. Now isn't that interesting?

I really like the character of Prince Qi Yu later on became the emperor it was played by Huang Xuan. He also resembles someone that I saw, some weeks ago that really left an impression on me. Huang Xuan has cute eyes, and I do have a weakness for a person with chinky eyes, I do find Filipino-Chinese and Chinese people attractive.

Anyway, I want to share with you the OST of this drama. The English translation of the title is, 'Until That Day,' sung by Sara Liu. Very heartfelt song. The song is about waiting for someone, even if it takes a long time, even if one will grow old. I guess you can really wait for someone especially if your truly love that person.

sources: dramafever.com

步步惊心 Bu Bu Jing Xin (aka Scarlet Heart): My Favorite Period TV Drama

    I'm really impatient when it comes to watching TV series. If I have a dvd copy of that drama, I usually skip episodes, until I get to the ending. This is the only drama that I've finished watching from the first episode until the last. It was by chance that I came to know  Bu Bu Jing Xin, also known as Scarlet Heart drama. It stars real life couple Chinese actress Cecilia Liu Shi Shi, and Taiwanese actor Nicky Wu. What I like about this drama, is that I can relate to the character of the female protagonist. The female lead here wears glasses which I can also relate to since I also wear one because I'm nearsighted. The storyline is unique, it involves time travel. I think it would be cool if we can go back in time, and experience life the way it was before. Well, Einstein believes that time travel (Special Relativity)  is possible.

    The female character travels back in time in the period of Qing Dynasty, and there her story revolves, and her relationship with the princes, as well as with the emperor himself. If you haven't seen this. I recommend that you do. The series has a nice soundtrack too. I like the songs, One Persistent Thought, and Seasons of Waiting, which are really match for the series. I have included the YouTube video of the song, One Persistent Thought (Yi Nian Zhi Zhou), a beautiful duet by Alan and Hu Ge.