Marc Vincent P.
Noro March 31, 2024
Grade 12 – Charity Food Writing
Savoring the Flavors of the Philippines
It is inherent in us Filipinos to have a fondness for food. Especially with the
abundance of eateries found in every corner of our country. Each place and
province boasts of dishes they take pride in. Every occasion has its particular
dish or food prepared and served on our dining tables. There are also times when
just hearing the phrase "Filipino food" immediately brings to mind the various
dishes that can be seen in Filipino dining tables. Some of these dishes include
"Adobo, Sinigang, Nilaga, Kare-kare, Lechon," and other favorites of ours.
As some would say, "EATING. MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES," hence many
Filipinos abroad miss eating here because they say nothing beats the FILIPINO
COOKING. Food here is not only delicious but can also be considered beneficial to
our health because each particular dish contains various vitamins and nutrients
essential for our bodies. Below are some of the most delicious Filipino dishes that
Filipinos find impossible to resist when served on the table.
Sinigang is one of the favorite dishes of us Filipinos. It can be cooked with
Pork, Shrimp, Milkfish, Beef, and other meats and fish that can be added to
Sinigang. It is cooked with a sour broth made using various souring agents
depending on the desired taste. It is also mixed with various vegetables such as
Water Spinach, String Beans, Winged Bean, Okra, Taro, and sliced Eggplant. This
dish is perfect for those who love sour and nutritious food.
The word "adobo" comes from the Spanish word "Adobar." Adobo is one of
the most delicious Filipino dishes that is easy to cook and delicious to pair with
rice. It can be made with Chicken Adobo or Pork Adobo. You just need to cook it
with soy sauce, garlic, vinegar, bay leaves, and whole peppercorns. Some people
add other ingredients like pineapple and coconut milk to make it more flavorful
and delicious.
Lechon baboy (Roast Pig) is one of the most famous foods, not only in the
Philippines but also in other countries. We often see it prepared at gatherings
and occasions such as birthdays, baptisms, weddings, and festivals in our
country. Before cooking, it is thoroughly cleaned and the insides of the pig are
removed, then seasoned and sewn shut. While cooking, it is rotated to ensure
even cooking. Barangay La Loma in Quezon City is known as the Lechon Capital
of the Philippines because of the various sellers of Lechon in this area, which
even foreigners visit to taste the unique deliciousness of Lechon made here.
Many Filipinos consider "kare-kare" as their favorite food. It is a dish with
meat and various kinds of vegetables, making it nutritious. The meat is boiled
until tender and then mixed with ingredients that enhance its flavor. It's even
more delicious when paired with its partner, fermented shrimp paste.
"Nilaga" means boiled, because in cooking this dish, beef or pork is boiled
until tender. Once the meat is tender, other ingredients such as cabbage,
potatoes, bok choy, plantains, and other vegetables are added. These
ingredients, along with the meat, give flavor to the broth. It also has a delicious
aroma that enhances the taste of this dish.
Tinola is also one of the favorite dishes of us Filipinos to eat with rice. It is
also a nutritious dish often served to children to keep them healthy because it
includes vegetables. It has basic ingredients like chicken, unripe papaya, chili
leaves, ginger, onion, and fish sauce. Through these, you can create a flavorful
Tinola.
These are just a few of the delicious dishes that we Filipinos often cook.
There are still many favorite foods of ours that I haven't mentioned here. With
the foods shown above, you'll realize how difficult it is to resist eating, especially
when such delicious dishes are on your kitchen table. Filipinos are indeed unique
when it comes to food, using only simple ingredients and cooking with love.
Through this, you can create delicious food for yourself and the special people
you cook for.
“You don’t have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces just good food
from fresh ingredients.”- Julia Child
I can say that this is true because you don't need to make your cooking
complicated. You just need to make it nutritious and with love. Just like us
Filipinos, when we cook, we only use simple ingredients and seasonings in our
dishes, but they taste uniquely delicious because of the fresh ingredients we use
and the love we put into cooking. Through this, you can create delicious food for
yourself and the special people you cook for.
In this blog, I showed various Filipino dishes served on Filipino dining
tables, on normal days and on special occasions. With these dishes alone, I can
truly say that "Eating is more fun in the Philippines".
Marc Vincent P. Noro March 31, 2024
Grade 12 – Charity Sports Writing
YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO BE CHAMPIONS!
LIBERALISTA STRIPPED ALCHEMISTA'S RIGHT TO BE BASKETBALL
CHAMPIONS
The HUMSS Liberalista team couldn't contain their smiles after triumphing
over their rival STEM Alchemist, 43-38, to claim the championship in the 2023
Seniors Basketball Category on October 20, 2023, at the IHMA Activity Center.
Both teams displayed an intense and breathtaking game in their Championship
showdown, which culminated in cheers and laughter as the Intramurals 2023
came to a close.
The Alchemists took an early lead after some heated shots from Adam
Senora and Janmer Mohammad, but the Liberals remained undeterred and
pushed back. With a joint effort from Dave Aguilon and Dexter Tilacan, the
Liberals reclaimed the advantage in the final minute of the first half, 17-8.
The Liberalist continued to widen their lead, reaching a 13-point
advantage. However, the Alchemists did not lose hope. With Julian Floremonte's
help, they scored 8 points in the second half to prevent the Liberals from pulling
too far ahead, ending the first half at 24-17.
As the third quarter began, the momentum shifted, with the Alchemists
launching an 8-0 run, narrowing the Liberal's lead to just two points, 34-32.
But in the final quarter, the Liberals' fiery hands ignited once again as they
extended their lead with a 7-2 run. Although the Alchemists tried to keep up,
their shots faltered. The game ended with a score of 43-38, favoring the Liberals.
"We didn't want our strand to be embarrassed; we were supposed to be
the champions in basketball," Tilacan said after the intense game.
Marc Vincent P. Noro March 31, 2024
Grade 12 – Charity Travelgoue
The Flow of Aliwagwag
With every drop of water from the Aliwagwag
Falls, it seems to be one of the places I would love to
revisit the most. In 2020, my aunt came home from
Canada. Upon her return, she immediately planned
the places she wanted to visit while vacationing in the
Philippines. A week after she arrived, her plan to go
as a family to the Aliwagwag Falls was realized. Our
journey to our destination in Cateel, Davao Oriental,
where the falls are located, took more than five
exhausting hours, and we arrived at noon. The trip
was worth it, and I felt the momentary stop was
worthwhile. I was impressed by the unique beauty of the Aliwagwag Falls. Its
waters drizzled lightly and flowed over basalt rocks. The water cascaded
downward, creating a huge splash.
Since this was my first visit to this place, I was completely captivated by
the scenery. I could liken the falls to Niagara Falls where the water flow is strong.
According to a poster I saw there, the Aliwagwag Falls, also known as "curtain
falls" because of the series of over 130 cascading waterfalls. It is also considered
the highest waterfall in the Philippines according to hydraulic engineers. Despite
the damage caused by Typhoon Pablo, its beauty still remains. Currently, it is
considered one of the prominent tourist destinations in Davao Oriental. We
traveled together in the area, and the most exciting part was the activities
waiting for us. We first tried the zip line because the attendant would not allow
us to zip line if our bodies were wet to avoid inconvenience for us. Although the
zip line was not very long or high, we still had a wonderful time because of the
beautiful scenery. Furthermore, our excitement was aroused knowing that we
needed to take a boat to the other side of the river, where its tip was, and walk
ten minutes back to the falls. We didn't mind the heat of the sun.
From a distance, the falls were very calm and quiet, seemingly falling on
top of the rocks. As we approached, the silence gradually turned into the sound
inside until we reached it. We could hear the roar of the cascading water that
was deafening. After the walks, we reached the falls. It was very cold, and we
were surprised by the coldness. We didn't waste any moment of our stop. We
traveled, swam, jumped, and massaged ourselves using the cascading water
from the waves. The water fell from the side of the hill in a series of small
waterfalls. The rocks were somewhat slippery, so we were careful with our
movements. Because we had limited time, we went straight to the top of the falls
and tried the amazing monkey bridge. It was an unforgettable experience
because as you crossed the monkey bridge, you could see the high view of the
Aliwagwag Falls and you would be amazed by the beauty of God's creation. So
what are you waiting for this summer? Include the Aliwagwag Falls on your list of
places to visit!
