Living in the City

Typhoon Pedring as seen from our veranda Local Time is September 27, 2011 at about 11:00 A.M. Marikina River is at Level 17 expected to breach Level 18 this afternoon possibly because  of Monsoon rains plus effects of Typhoon Pedring. Nothing but rain clouds Roof of our neighbor's house.. the only thing visible at the moment Trees swaying in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions

Will Try Virgin Coconut Oil Again I have just scanned through Dr Vermen Verallo's book on coconut oil. And if not for it's steep tag price at National Book Store, I would have bought myself a copy. Tsk.. tsk.. I have a personal anecdotal experience with extra virgin coconut oil . In 2003, someone from the mall convinced us to try it for my hypertensive condition.. it was quite expensive Php110 for 120ml I think;  which ran out after a week with two of us taking it one tablespoon everyday. I used extra virgin for almost everything. Aside from the daily dose, I used it for oil burns, insect bites, for massaging back and shoulder aches;  I even tried to use it to  dissipate the effects of my sinusitis.   It  was the perfect solution for almost every thing.   For about a year I  continued taking it. Alas,   my  doctor found out and she ordered  that  I immediately stop because according to her, the oil  will do me more harm than good.. ouch! But after re-reading snipp

I quote a beautiful poem from the Web about Mothers like my Mama.. and here goes:                          "The Best mother that I LOVE" "When God set the world in place, when He hung the stars up in space, when He made the land and the sea, then He made you and me. My mother, taken in 2009 He sat back and saw all that was good, He saw things to be as they should. Just one more blessing He had in store; He created a mother, but whatever for? He knew a mother would have a special place to shine His reflection on her child's face. A mother will walk the extra mile just to see her children smile. She'll work her fingers to the bone to make a house into a home. A mother is there to teach and guide, a mother will stay right by your side. She'll be there through your pain and strife, she'll stay constant in your life. A mother will lend a helping hand until you have the strength to stand. She'll pick you up when you are down, when you ne

Noynoy's Labor Day "gift"  to housewives and home keepers Effective today, May 2, 2011, Shellane LPG gas will cost an additional Php3.00 a kilo increase; effectively Php33.00 per 11kilogram tank. HOMAYGAD! As what my future daughter-in-law jokingly says in her fb posts. How do we solve a problem like increasing cooking gas prices, Maria? One time cooking.. prepare what you can in bulk.. rice and viands can be cooked both for lunch and dinner. It's big meals like dinner and lunch that consumes a lot of energy. Out with hot steaming rice and settle for re-heats. That's what we have been doing for the last year or  so.. so  our  gas tank makes good for 2 months. But did I forget to mention, there's only two of us?

My backaches I can barely stand This morning I was washing two foot rugs, not really heavy stuff.  I think I strained my back because something is causing this stinging pain on my lower back. When I tried to google "sudden back pain" this was what I found: "As people age, bone strength and muscle elasticity and tone tend to decrease. The discs begin to lose fluid and flexibility, which decreases their ability to cushion the vertebrae. Pain can occur when, for example, someone lifts something too heavy or overstretches, causing a sprain, strain, or spasm in one of the muscles or ligaments in the back. If the spine becomes overly strained or compressed, a disc may rupture or bulge outward. This rupture may put pressure on one of the more than 50 nerves rooted to the spinal cord that control body movements and transm

Yet another view of  Rizal province, from where I sit taking my ginger brew  every morning.. something that  makes my day, a day to always remember.. A wee bit of information on Rizal: the towns in Rizal include, Antipolo, Taytay, Cainta, Morong and Tanay, Angono, Rodrguez, Pillila, Jalajala, Cardona, Baras, San Mateo, Binangonan and Teresa. These towns are accessible via jeepneys plying from different centers in Metro Manila.  See more of the Rizal province here .

Everyday, I   see the MRT Santolan Pasig Station from our  veranda.  As I get my daily dose of Vitamin D here every morning , I see these trains  come,  and I see them go.  The thought that this pretty landscape can be erased  at any moment because of the West Valley Fault System is unbearable. If Nature so decides who are we humans to question. But still I pray for God's mercy.