Senseless

Killjoys, crackpots, mean-spirited and unhappy people are just everywhere. That’s one of the things that I’ve learned from my everyday exposure to the internet and other technological medium. Some people can not wait to make other people’s lives as miserable as theirs. No wonder why you would come across blogs that full of anger, frustration and hate. And there are some who would even employ propagandas to demolish a person or institution. They would sow seeds of doubts on other people’s minds no matter how far-fetched their stories are to perpetuate their own selfish motives.

One clear example of this is the text messages proliferating in the Philippines about what a giant TV network is doing with the million peso donations that the public has entrusted them in light of the recent devastation of two consecutive typhoons in the country. I will not write the exact text messages here as it came in many forms and versions but the messages were insinuating that the TV station has received millions of pesos worth of donations in cash and in kind but they only released about a hundred thousands relief bags amounting to not even half of what they’ve received. It even adds that they are waiting for their stars to distribute the relief goods.

Before I give my two cents on this, let me just make it clear that I don’t work for ABS-CBN and I don’t even know anyone who works there although I have to admit that I’m a regular follower of their news and TV programs. Obviously, this is a cheap shot from whoever is behind all of this. And the timing is very bad. Not at a time when people are devastated and focused on getting help from whatever source. These are all suspicions without basis since the foundation has been very transparent with the amount of donations that they were receiving and the number of families that they’ve served. I don’t know where this is coming from. What will be achieved in putting down an institution which is taking a leading role in the relief efforts for the victims of the typhoons and flooding?

ABS-CBN has a proven track record in helping the Filipino people. It accomplished feats that the government has failed to do. It established the Bantay Bata Foundation to ensure child protection. It also espoused the Bantay Kalikasan program which spearheaded the campaign to save the La Mesa watershed in Quezon City . The foundation has also taken the impossible task of cleaning the Pasig River and its efforts look promising as to date they have resettled squatters from Estero de Paco to a site in Calauan, Laguna.

Certainly, this is not the right time to entertain suspicions and speculations. Let us use our energy in helping the victims and not on fueling more frustration and anger of the people. Sowing seeds of doubts will not make things better. It does not inspire nor give hope.

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The Big Fat Duck Cookbook

Everybody loves to eat. So this makes us all interested in cooking and new cuisine. All of us may not have the gift in cooking but we can certainly appreciate good food. However, there are people who are real genius when it comes to cooking. One of them is Heston Blumenthal who is the restaurant The Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire, England. He was self-taught and it was said that the success of his restaurant has broken every rule in the book. Borne out of endless invention and curiosity coupled with pure obsession, he had stirred the restaurant to great success and it was even voted twice as the Best Restaurant in the world by a peer group of top chefs. The restaurant is famous for its menu of unusual dishes, created following the principles of molecular gastronomy: examples include "snail porridge", "sardine on toast sorbet", "bacon and egg ice cream", and "salmon poached with liquorice".

The story of Heston Blumenthal and The Fat duck can be read on a beautiful cookbook that is currently available. In the first section of the big fat duck cookbook , it featured the history of the restaurant, from its humble beginnings to its third Michelin star . It will also introduce 50 of Heston Blumenthal’s signature recipes - sardine on toast sorbet, salmon poached with liquorice, hot and iced tea, chocolate wine - which, while challenging for anyone not equipped with ice baths, dehydrators, vacuum pumps and nitrogen on tap, will inspire home cooks and chefs alike. Finally, we will also hear from the experts whose scientific know-how has contributed to Heston's topsy-turvy world, on subjects as diverse as synaesthesia, creaminess and flavour expectation.

This cookbook is a must-have for those who are interested in cooking. It even has incredible colour photographs throughout, illustrations, multiple ribbons, real cloth binding and a gorgeous slip case. The Big Fat Duck Cookbook is not only an autobiography from the world's most fascinating chef, but also a beautiful work of art.



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MYX Daily Top 10 (October 14th, 2009)

Top Ten

10.Jonas Brothers - Fly With Me
09.Paramore - Ignorance
08.Hale - Bahay Kubo
07.2NE1 - I Don't Care
06.Taylor Swift - You Belong With Me


05.Pedicab - Simulan Mo Na
04.Super Junior - It's You
03.6Cyclemind f/ Gloc-9 & Wendell Garcia - Kasalanan
02.ChicoSci - Diamond Shotgun
01.Justin Bieber - One Time



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'Kinatay' won 2 awards in Spain filmfest.

After winning the Best Director plum in the recent Cannes Film Festival, Filipino director Brillante Mendoza’s film “Kinatay” (The Execution of P) again bagged 2 awards at the recently-concluded 42nd Sitges International Film Festival held in Spain.

Mendoza won Best Director, while Teresa Barrozo, also for "Kinatay" was awarded the Best Original Soundtrack award.

The festival, which prides itself as "the number one fantasy film festival in the world, is held at the Spanish region of Catalonia, in the city of Sitges.

"With a solid experience, the Sitges Festival is a stimulating universe of encounters, exhibitions, presentations and screenings of fantasy films from all over the world," the festival web site (sitgesfilmfestival.com) said.

According to the festival website (sitgesfilmfestival.com): "Born in 1968 as the 1st International Week of Fantasy and Horror Movies, today the Festival is an essential rendezvous for movie lovers and audiences eager to come into contact with new tendencies and technologies applied to film and the audiovisual world."



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MYX Daily Top 10 (October 13, 2009)

Top Ten

10. Christian Bautista - Tell Me Your Name
09. Paramore - Ignorance
08. Jonas Brothers - Fly With Me
07. 2NE1 - I Don't Care
06. Taylor Swift - You Belong With Me


05. Super Junior - It's You
04. Pedicab - Simulan Mo Na
03. 6Cyclemind f/ Gloc-9 & Wendell Garcia - Kasalanan
02. ChicoSci - Diamond Shotgun
01. Justin Bieber - One Time




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MYX Daily Top 10 (October 12, 2009)

Top Ten

10.Hale - Bahay Kubo
09. Paramore - Ignorance
08. Jonas Brothers - Fly With Me
07. 2NE1 - I Don't Care
06. Taylor Swift - You Belong With Me

05. Pedicab - Simulan Mo Na
04. 6cyclemind f/ Gloc-9 & Wendell Garcia - Kasalanan
03. ChicoSci - Diamond Shotgun
02.Super Junior - It's You
01. Justin Bieber - One Time



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Fun Friday – B is for "Bayanihan"

Bayanihan is a Filipino word derived from the word “bayan” which means town, nation or community. In general, Bayanihan refers to a spirit of communal unity and cooperation to achieve a common objective. Its origin can be traced from the old Filipino tradition of neighbors and community folks volunteering to help a family move to a new location. What they were doing was literally carrying the house by placing long bamboo poles forming a strong frame so they can lift the stilts from the ground using the frame with each man positioned at the ends of the bamboo poles. All this is done on a jolly and festive mood. After which the moving family will host a small fiesta to thank the volunteers.

We now rarely see this old tradition being practiced but Bayanihan has evolved and can now manifest in many forms. One recent display of this indomitable Filipino trait was during the onslaught of tropical depression Ondoy, typhoon Pepeng and subsequent flooding in some areas in the country. Like everyone else, I have been touched by the amazing tales of heroism and bravery in the face of disaster that are being told. There’s the story of a teenager who braved rampaging floods to save more than 30 people, but ended up sacrificing his life in another rescue attempt. There’s the story of a father who drowned after ensuring his family’s safety and the stories of other nameless soldiers and civilians who charge into flood waters to rescue civilians. The remarkable thing is, these stories of bravery have become ordinary in these trying times. People from all walks of life are generously lending a helping hand to the less fortunate victims of this calamity. Those who lived in higher areas opened their doors to their neighbors whose homes were flooded. There are even those who offered their roofs as temporary shelter for their neighbors as floodwaters devoured their houses. Those who were on safer grounds helped by sending text messages and calling media networks to report stranded people requiring immediate rescue. Foods were offered to neighbors and even complete strangers, sharing whatever little they had.

Even big business corporations and ordinary citizens have joined the bayahihan spirit. Filipinos continue to help their fellowmen in whatever way they can. These are hard times for everyone but they expressed support, donate money and whatever services that they can offer. Yes, there’s always something to give although there’s very little that they’ve got.

I never doubted the Bayanihan spirit of the Filipino. We may be divided as a nation but in the midst of disaster, we band together to help each other. Indeed, this is a time for us to put aside whatever differences we have and work towards helping those in need.

Indeed, crisis brings out the best in people. For Filipinos, it showed our best qualities. Generosity, courageous empathy, selflessness and heroism all these can be summed up in one word: Bayanihan. I have never been prouder to be a Filipino.

Photo credit.
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