…..best resembles the character of Ilocano

If there is a plant that best resembles the character of Ilocano, it is the saluyot (jute leaves). Why not? This green and leafy vegetable popular among Ilocanos can thrive anywhere and at any time of the year with little of no care! Kas iti maysa nga Ilocano, nalangto no panagtutudo ngem natured latta uray kalgaw. Agbiag uray sadino a lugar.

Saluyot is rich in; beta carotene for good eyesight, iron for healthy red blood cells, calcium for strong bones and teeth, and vitamin C for smooth, clear skin, strong immune cells, and fast wound healing.

And do you know that the popular Ilocano vegetable, saluyot, originated in Egypt, and was the source of health and beauty of the Egyptian royalties including Cleopatra? You might as well decide to eat it too, if you want to look young, healthy, and beautiful.
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We best served this with freshly picked bamboo shoot and mushroom back home. It is totally a local menu but freshly invigorating and abundant in vitamins.

As far as here we also cooked it though sometimes we do it in other way. So every time we go shopping for food in a Chinese supermarket, saluyot is always in the basket, it is never missed. And that’s make us always feel at home.
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Ti tao a manakem, dina makita ti panagdisso ti sakana iti daga. Kitaenna ketdi ti sumaruno a baddekna.

A wise man doesn’t see his foot on the ground, he watches his next step.

( ilocano proverb)
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source: taliba-ca

….for mothers

Salutes, thumbs up, high-five, raise the floor, hats off to all mothers! Young mother, single mother, irresponsible mother, and all mother of any kind. To my mother most especially.. with all respect and love, have a wonderful and happy mother’s day!

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavour by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.
-Washington Irving (1783-1859)

I have been on XYZ

There is a time when I am not most occupied mind voluntarily goes freely and tend to land either on silly thought, suicidal acts, wicked emotions, and funny memories including embarrassing moments. However it usually concludes to one thing which I am really tired of.

For a while of change the wave of neurons takes another route and ends to funny memory lane.

Would you forget one embarrassing moment when your immediate superior utters your name and at the same time pointing down your open zipper? I felt my cheeks automatically turn hot red at that very point of time. I didn’t respond right away, because I don’t know if sorry or thanks would I going to say first or rather pull up the zipper first. It takes time before I got back to composure and resume the day. Shameful it was. (I put the blame on the zipper, ha-ha) But one good thing was my superior happens to be a lady.

This one keeps on flashing back which is really funny to remember. To think, not even in my wildest imagination that I would fall in an e-Xamine Your Zipper occurrence.

It might….

Pertaining to whom, what or how I have plenty of this….

For all sad words of tongue or pen,

The saddest are these: “It might have been!”

-John Greenleaf Whittier

I have won millions ??

Most of the time when I checked the status of my email the figure that pop out excites my idle mode just to find out that most of it are threatening chain messages. Or like one below with lots of different subject. That I should - take it urgent and serious, because I am a winner of this obviously deceiving pakulo; you won electronic lottery, won yahoo lottery, UK national lottery board, lottery international programs-automated computer ballot, benefactor annual grant award, email sweepstakes program, proposition: business transfer of a huge amount of deceased account and stand as next kin – that even grandparents on a guerilla time setting could not believe and buy it.

PAYMENT NOTIFICATION OF YOUR FUNDS:

Attn: Beneficiary,

I am informing you of an attempt by some men who came to collect your payment on your behalf. I had to ask them why they came to see me in person and they said that they came to collect your inheritance/contract funds payment which rightfully belongs to you as shown in your file with us, on your behalf and by your authorization.

Note that they actually tendered some vital documents which proved that you actually sent them to collect these funds. Below is the list of documents which they presented.

We picked up your file because it was handling in a terrible way and I have been given the mandate to contact you by the Nigerian Government and conclude your payment through Nigeria Account.

Kindly direct your response to this office for immediate releasing of your fund to (you) the beneficiary below for quicker deliberation and response from him on the release of your funds to you.

OFFICE ADDRESS: Central Bank of Nigeria,

Central Business District,

Cadastral Zone, Abuja, Federal

Capital Territory, Nigeria.

Email: info_cbncommitteonfinance.nig@fromru.com

financecommittee@live.com

You are advised to reconfirm your details as required below information to enable the final release of your funds to you.

(1). your full names:

(2). Contact address:

(3). Phone:

(4). Fax:

(5). Age:

As soon as the above are provided, the CBN Governor will order one of our paying bank for immediate releasing of your funds.

Yours faithfully,

Mr. John Owen.

Secretary to the Governor (CBN).

(note: unedited letter)

How could I be a winner when I don’t have any connection, engaged nor applied into such lotteries? One thing even a Super 7 or 649 lotto fanatic I knew never had a chance to win the million, the more that I am not. Unless I’m that lucky in billion probabilities.

Another mail states that I inherited millions of dollars/pounds in Africa and Europe continents. Which should be really amazing but hahu not in a million dollar people will do that.

Somehow they made me a winner but not appreciable because they’re just mess in my Inbox.

Hello Spring!

Spring is at hand and the weather turns better than previous which excites the most of us here. We can now wear our crocs or flip-flops outside. And I bet it lessens homesickness from staying all week long inside the house.

But while we are happy to the sight of the rapid growth of grasses and lovely blossoms, snow continues flowing on some part of northern America and Europe. Tornadoes and earthquake as well hit Texas and Georgia recently adding shadow to the so long dollar rate-down Clinton-Obama primary race.

Meanwhile as gas price hits all time high, we are keeping our fingers crossed to the coming of the so called tax refunds to get even with it. It may not be too huge but I think enough to enjoy the awaited refreshing spring.

A beautiful spring!

Pope Benedict XVI first visit to America

His holiness arrived in the United States on Tuesday afternoon at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland for his six-day, two-city journey. The pontiff was greeted by cheers and applause from thousands of crowds since landing and anywhere where he is present including the first family.

The visit is to address concerning issues within the church and to let American Catholics or the whole America know him more. His presence though in the land creates many reactions from different organizations, parties and individuals all through out America.

His visit will end with a public mass at 2:30 PM (Eastern Daylight Time) on April 20 at New York's Yankee Stadium with thousands of expected delegates. (photo credits: christopher)

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