I got PR One

Yesterday, I just found out that my wife’s photo-blog got PR2. So I try to check my blog’s PR and I’m happy cause after 8 months I got my first ever PR. I wish got higher PR this year!



Bonding Time

It’s been more than a month since my wife gave birth for our baby Zoe. She spent most of her time taking care of our baby and she is really enjoying and loving it. Yesterday, I take a chance to take care of my baby alone. This is one of the unforgettable bonding moments of my baby since he was born. My wife went to Mid Valley to go for shopping as there is a baby exhibit going on there during the weekend. This is also her first time to do shopping alone for our baby after she gave birth.

I thought it will be hard for me as my first time to taking care of him alone. But instead he is much behaved at the whole time. I keep talking, singing and dance with him until his mom come.

How to Cook Adobong Kangkong (Water Spinach)?

Yesterday my wife asks me to cook her favorite kangkong. It is hard for me since she always cook this menu every time she wants to eat kangkong. So I end up asking her how to do it the way she likes.
She gives me every detail but I’m not comfortable with it. Now, I do my own style the way. I am surprise when she tells that she likes it.


Ingredients for Adobong Kangkong (Water Spinach)
Kangkong (Water Spinach)
Garlic – Half a head and minced
Onion – 1 big and sliced finely
Ground Black Pepper
Dark Soy Sauce – 2 tablespoon
Cooking Oil – 2 tablespoon
Salt – to taste

How I do it
Heat the pan and put the cooking oil. Add the minced garlic and then the sliced onions until it smell fragrant and little brown. Put the kangkong stalks first before the leaves. (Kangkong should prepare separating the leaves and the stalks from the leaves.)  Stir it while pouring the soy sauce. Put some water if you want a lot sauce. Put some black pepper and salt to taste (usually dark sauce here in KL is not salty). Cover and simmer for 5 minutes.

Serve it with love.

Sa Tagalog
Initin ang kawali at ilagay ang mantika. Idagdag ang tinadtad na bawang at pagkatapos ay ang hiniwang sibuyas hanggang mag-amoy mabango ito at maging kulay kayumanggi. Ilagay ang tangkay ng kangkong bago ang mga dahon. (Ang kangkong ay dapat ihanda na magkakahiwalay ang mga dahon at mga tangkay mula sa mga dahon.) Haluin ito habang ibinubuhos ang toyo. Maglagay ng unting tubig kung nais mong may madaming sabaw. Maglagay ng paminta at asin sa iyong panglasa. Takpan at hayaan kumulo ng 5 minuto.

Ihain ito nang may pagmamahal.

Estimated Time to Cook
Preparation time is 15 minutes.
Cooking time is 15 minutes.
Ready in 30 minutes time.

3 Days Trip to KL

It's a great week since my brother came here to visit us here in KL. He enjoy every place we been visiting. In his first day right after he came to the apartment we don't waste time and we start our trip. First we have been to Putrajaya. We take KLIA Transit from KL sentral Station to Putrajaya Station. Then we take a cab which is a 2 hours package tour which cost us 75RM. We roam around the Putrajaya and my brother started to amaze to what the Malaysia did to this place. It looks like you are not in Malaysia though.

at Putrajaya and Cyberjaya Station

Putrajaya Bridge

Putrajaya View from Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC)
Then go back to KL Sentral and we head to Petronas Twin Tower after we had a dinner at Kenny Rogers. When we are there at KLCC, my brother is keep posing to take him some picture to this tallest twin tower in the world. He really wants to see this tower. After that we went back home to get some rest as my brother is tired from a three and half air travel from Philippines to KL.

Petronas at nigth with moon

In the next day, we went to Zoo Negara (National Zoo). I can’t compare the zoo here in KL to Manila zoo or Wild life in Philippines. The zoo here in Malaysia is more interesting and quite good as we have in the Philippines. It is sad to say that but it’s true.


Zoo Negara/ National Zoo
After that we go back again to KL Sentral to take a bus going to Genting Highlands. We ride at the cable car and before we reach the top, the fog is getting stronger as the visibility becomes zero. We did not take longer as just want to ride the cable car, which my brother really enjoy this ride. He takes videos from his cellphone from the start to end which takes about 15minutes.

Bus Going to Genting Highlands
Cable car at Genting

We go back to KL sentral and take train going to Pasar Seni Station and went to Sentral Market and China Town to go on shopping and buy some souvenirs.
Shopping at Sentral Market

Shopping at China town

The next day, he went to Mid Valley megamall alone, as I need to go to office in that day. I just pick him up to go back to the apartment. The time is so fast and he needs to go back in Philippines in the next day. I hope he will come back again with a little bit longer.

My big brother and baby Zoe

How to cook Pork or chicken adobo without soy sauce (Adobong Puti)?

Yes, you heard it right. We can cook adobo without a soy sauce. This style is still popular is some part of our country in the Philippines. The procedure is almost the same with the regular pork or chicken adobo. Since we will not use some soy sauce we just need to add more vinegar and salt. The taste of adobong puti is quite different from the real adobo and it taste sourer.

Ingredients for Adobong Puti
Pork belly – half kilo – cut in medium cube
Chicken – half kilo – cut in medium size
Garlic – 1/2 head – crushed
Vinegar – 1 cup
 Black pepper – to taste
Bay leaf – 2-3 pieces
Salt – to taste
Water

How I do it
In a sauce pan with a 1/2 cup of water, put the pork. Add the garlic, vinegar, black pepper, bay leaf and salt to taste. Cover and bring it to boil for 15 minutes, add some water if necessary. Add the chicken and continue simmer for 10 minutes. Add some salt to taste. Let the heat in low level for 5 to 10 minutes. Stir and observe if it is already dry and the pork is already enough to eat.

Serve it with love.

Sa Tagalog
Sa isang kasirolang may isang 1/2 tasa ng tubig, ilagay ang baboy. Idagdag ang bawang, suka, paminta, bay leaf at asin. Takpan at hayaang kumulo ng 15 minuto, magdagdag ng unting tubig kung kinakailangan. Idagdag ang manok at patuloy pakuluin ng 10 minuto. Magdagdag ng asin sa iyong panlasa. Hayaan ang init sa mababang antas ng 5-10 minuto. Halu-haluin at obserbahan kung ito ay tuyo na at ang baboy ay sapat na upang kainin.

Ihain nang may pagmamahal.

Estimated time to cook:
Preparation time is 30 minutes.
Cooking time is 45 minutes.
Ready in 75 minutes or in 1 hour and 15minutes.

Big Brother Iterinary

This weekends my big brother will come to visit us and in the same time travel here in KL. I'm still thinking where he is the best place for him. Since he is working in Qatar maybe he will love to visit some forest place here in Malaysia. Ofcourse the twin towers and the Genting Highlands. He said he wants to ride in the longest cable car in the world.

Now I planned for his iterinary for this trip.
Saturday - Visit Petronas Tower, Menara KL,
Sunday - Genting Highlands and Putrajaya
Monday - China town (Petaling Street), Sentral Market
Tuesday - Bukit Bintang, Time Square

How to cook Pinakbet (Mixed Vegetables with shrimp paste)?

How to cook Pinakbet (Mixed Vegetables with shrimp paste)?
Pinakbet is one of my favorite dish to cook and of course to eat also. Even the preparation for this is too long I really love to serve it every week. This is the only food I will never escape once a week. This is very popular in Philippines as one of their traditional food served.
Pinakbet can serve with pork, chicken, fish or even shrimp. But this is only an option; still you can cook it without it. Shrimp paste is also optional if you are allergic with the shrimp. But the taste is different without eat. You can also cooked it even your vegetable list is not complete. For better taste prepare it with fresh vegetables.

Ingredients for Pinakbet

Onion – 1 piece chopped
Garlic – 3 cloves, minced
Tomato – 1 piece, chopped
Pork - 1/4 kg. chopped in cube
Eggplant – 2 medium size, cut in bite size
Okra – 10 to 12 pcs. ends trimmed
Long beans – trimmed
Bitter Melon – 2 pcs. cut in bite size
Pumpkin – 1/4 size, cut in bite size
Salt to taste
Black Pepper to taste
Shrimp Paste (optional)
Cooking oil – 3 tablespoons

How I do it

Heat the large pot and put the cooking oil in a medium heat. Put the garlic then the onion and stir until it is tender. Add the pork, season with salt and pepper and cook until completely browned. Add the tomato, stir and cover for 5 minutes. Put the sliced pumpkin and cover for 5 minutes. Now, add the beans, eggplant and bitter melon and mixed. Put the shrimp paste, stir and cook. Cover until the vegetable is soft and ready to eat.
Serve it with love.

Sa Tagalog
Initin ang malaking kawali at ilagay ang mantika sa katamtamang init. Ilagay ang bawang at pagkatapos ang sibuyas at haluin hanggang sa ito ay lumabot. Idagdag ang baboy, lagyan ng panlasa na asin at paminta at hayaang malutong ganap. Magdagdag ng kamatis, haluin at takpan ng 5 minuto. Ilagay ang hiniwang kalabasa at takpan ng 5 minutong muli. Ngayon, idagdag ang sitaw, talong at ampalaya at haluin. Ilagay ang bagoong at tikman kung tama na ang lasa. Takpan at lutuin hanggang ang gulay ay lumambot at handa ng kainin.

Ihain nang my pagmamahal.
Estimated time to cook
Preparation time is 30 minutes.
Cooking time is 30 minutes.
Ready in 60 minutes or in 1 hour.

Passport for Baby

We are going to apply for our baby's passport. After taking his birth certificate, passport is very important for my baby since we are not in our home country. It is  for his security and anytime we want to go on vacation this could not be a problem anymore.
Hoping that everything will be fine in Philippine Embassy here in Malaysia. My family in Philippines are so excited to see my baby. So better to get it as soon as possible.

Baby Zoe's First Month

Here's our baby Zoe's pictureon his first month. He is getting bigger at 4.30kg.
Happy 1st month baby! We love you!


I Miss Baby Zoe

I miss my baby Zoe everytime I am going to work and leave him. I always think of him while working. Praying that the time will come fast so I can go home and see my baby again. I just want stare at him even he is asleep. I really got a good time yesterday, taking care of my child alone, while his mother is on her check up.

PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT WEBSITE

After browsing at Philippine Embassy in KL-Malaysia's official website, I found this helpful links to our Philippine Government website. This is very helpful especially for us OFW who relay on the information we get in internet.

Just want to share this to my fellow Kababayan.

Office of the President - http://www.ops.gov.ph/
Office of the Vice President - http://www.ovp.gov.ph/
Philippine House of Representatives - http://www.congress.gov.ph/
Department of Agrarian Reform - http://www.dar.gov.ph/
Department of Agriculture - http://www.da.gov.ph/welcome.html
Department of Budget and Management - - http://www.dbm.gov.ph/
Department of Education - http://www.deped.gov.ph/
Department of Energy - http://www.pdx.rpnet.com/doe/index
Department of Environment Natural Resources - http://www.denr.gov.ph/
Department of Finance - http://www.dof.gov.ph/
Department of Foreign Affairs - http://www.dfa.gov.ph/
Department of Justice - http://www.asti.doj.gov.ph/
Department of Health - http://www.doh.gov.ph/
Department of the Interior and Local Government - http://www.dilg.gov.ph/
Department of Labor and Employment - http://www.dole.gov.ph/
Department of National Defense - http://www.dnd.gov.ph/
Department of Public Works and Highways - http://www.geocities.com/dpwh_cn
Department of Science of Technology - http://www.dost.gov.ph/
Department of Social Welfare and Development - http://www.dswd.gov.ph/
Department of Tourism - http://www.tourism.gov.ph/
Department of Trade and Industry - http://www.dti.gov.ph/
Department of Transportation and Communication - http://www.dtc.gov.ph/

Agencies
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas - http://www.bsp.gov.ph//
Board of Investments - http://www.dti.gov.ph/boi
Bureau of Customs - http://www.boc.gov.ph/uboc/index2.htm
Bureau of Internal Revenue - http://www.bir.gov.ph/
Civil Service Commission - http://www.csc.gov.ph/
Commission on Audit - http://www.coa.gov.ph/
Commission on Elections - http://www.comelec.gov.ph/
Commission on Human Rights - http://www.chr.gov.ph/
Government Service Insurance System - http://www.gsis.gov.ph/
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority - http://www.mmda.gov.ph/
National Commission for Culture and Arts - http://www.ncca.gov.ph/
National Computer Center - http://www.ncc.gov.ph/
National Economic and Development Authority - http://www.neda.gov.ph/
National Food Authority - http://www.nfa.gov.ph/
National Statistics Office - http://www.census.gov.ph/
Other Executive Offices - http://www.oeo.gov.ph/
Office of the Press Secretary - http://www.news.ops.gov.ph/
Philippine Charity Sweeptakes Office - http://www.sweepstakes.gov.ph/
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysicaland Astronomical Services Administration - http://www.pagasa.dyndns.org/
Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management - http://www.procurementservice.org/
Social Security System - http://www.sss.gov.ph/
Supreme Court of The Philippines - http://www.supremecourt.gov.ph/
Securities and Exchange Commission - http://www.sec.gov.ph/
United Nations Development Program - UNDP - http://www.undp.org//
MAJOR PHILIPPINE NEWSPAPERS

MANILA BULLETIN
Manila Bulletin Building, Muralla cor. Recoletos, Intramuros, Manila
Tel. (632) 527-8121
Fax 527-7510
Website: http://www.mb.com.ph/

The Manila Times
371 A. Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila
Tel: (602) 524 5664 up to 67
(602) 527 9653 up to 54
Fax: (602) 521 6897
(602) 521 6872
Website : http://www.manilatimes.net/

PHILIPPINE STAR
13th & Railroad Sts., Port Area, Manila
Tel. (632) 527-7901 to 15
Website : http://www.philstar.com/.

PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER
PDI Bldg., 1098 Don Chino Roces Avenue,
Corner Yague St., Makati City
Tel. (632) 897-4805
Website: http://www.inq7.net/

BUSINESS WORLD
P.O. Box 122
95 Balete Drive Extension,
Cubao, Quezon City
Tel. (632) 411-0294/711-0091
Website: http://www.bworld.com.ph/

2011 PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

Happy New Year to All. Welcome 2011!!
Here's the Malaysian and Philippine Public Holiday.

MALAYSIAN PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 2011

 **Subject to change
Note: Whenever a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the next day shall be a public holiday.

PHILIPPINE PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 2011


Philippine Eid'l Fitr and Eidul Adha to be proclaimed once approximate dates have been determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar (Hijra) or the lunar calendar or upon Islamic astronomical calculations, whichever is possible or convenient.

Baby Z's Miss You

Yesterday is the lastday of my mom here in KL and going back to the Philippines. We are very thankful that she's here for us, to help us to take care of my newborn baby. I surely baby Z's we will miss his Grandmom! I Love you mom.