Travel: Caramoan ( check on the abundant seafood)

CARAMOAN: The Mayor’s Inn


Discover these questions asked about places for vacation:

“Is the place really beautiful?”

“Would I/we have fun?”

“Is it exciting? Is there something special about the place?”

Travel is binding some time with parts of the earth, learning life, and having fun. It renews connections to where man couldn’t be alienated to water, wind and soil.

Whether travel is vacation, work, education or binding time with special people; it paves ways sowing seeds of life’s precious moments.

Paul Theroux claims, “It’s the journey, not the arrival that matters, and creates anew the adventures of getting there, via the Orient express, the old Patagonians Railway, and other memorable means of locomotion.”

Let’s visit the Philippines. The island is composed of 7,107 islands. It is a rich niche of natural beauty and resources.

The latest vacation favorites are nearby places to Metro Manila like Tagaytay, Laguna, Batangas, Bulacan, and Pangasinan.

Tagaytay has a cool weather abundant in tropical fruits and vegetables.

Bulacan has spilling food delicacies.

Pangasinan has large quantities of seafood.

Laguna and Batangas have falls, hot springs, and churches.


Away from Manila, aside from Palawan, and Davao, one popular place today is Camarines Sur.

The latest sites of the “Survivor” film series (France “Koh Lanta” 2008, Israel 2009, Bulgaria 2009, Serbia 2009, Israel 2010) is Caramoan in Bicol.

Caramoan waters is very rich and virgin. It is free of impediments brought about by busy cities. Swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, rock climbing, mountain climbing, fishing will surely give the zeal of your vacation spree.

Way back, I remember one teacher told me, “It’s a forbidden Island,” because typhoon always inhabits that island; but then, “She forgot that it’s a haven of virginity and beauty. Something pure can never be forbidden.” All throughout history – no traveling casualties were reported on the waters of Caramoan (The Virgin Mary is queen of the waters and she is the patron saint of the Bicolanos).

Climb a mountain; see an image of “Mahal na Ina” on top, walk through St. Michael Parish (angel that defeated the devil) and feast on seafood!

Check on “Mayor’s Inn” if you want to trace “Firsts” of history:

The Mayors Inn is an Ancestral home named in honor of Glicerio O. Alarkon, first elected Town Mayor since the Philippines independence (first election campaign center of the Liberal Party). It was first visited by nation’s ex-President Diosdado Macapagal. The house is the base of the first “Botica” of the mayor’s wife Luz (first licensed pharmacist), medical clinic of first municipal physician (Dr. Nilo Roa), optical clinic of first town optometrist (Asela), first dental clinic of another mayor’s daughter and her husband (Celeste and Edmundo), “all” serving the community for many years.

Caramoan is the oasis of my grandparents. Two sons Glicerio,Waldemar, and daughters Lydia, Gracia plus other six siblings ( all10 professionals) worked hard to take care of a modest heritage to share in “Tawog’s” splendid history of culture and beauty.

Truly, nature and firsts can never be altered. Visit now!

Rose Flores- Martinez
RoseVoc2

Love Notes and Candies

September 26, 2010

Love Notes and Candies

“Writing love notes,” some say “…are for high school students.” Way back in time, inside candy wrappers were love and caring notes: “Kiss me, I miss you, I love you… and a lot more.” They’re chocolates, hard candies, mints, sour balls and mallows everyone loves to eat.

But did you know that even adults are fascinated with these love-note craze? It’s the same attending a wedding reception and everyone in the party becomes excited from the notes in the cake flowers, like “You’ll soon meet your prince charming,” or “ Next week prepare for a romantic dinner.”

Some teenagers use candy wrappers to make scribbles and give to friend, designed with stickers and with real candies and chocolates.

Loot bags come filled with messages and notes of specialized posters given during parties both for the young kids and the Mommy’s. These are packages that culminate a gathering and occasions.

How to write love notes and make candies/chocolates:

1. Love Notes

Be creative.
Write from your heart’s desire.
Get inspired with people, books, and life.
You can print from a computer, or write long hand.
Tuck notes with candies/container safely.
Be sure to make surprising effects.

2. Candies

You can roll powdered milk with some amount of condensed milk, then sugar. Mould in a tray, cut and wrap.

You can also make into small balls, then roll into sugar.

Or:

Make “Yema” balls. Boil a can of condensed milk around an hour (estimate till condensed milk turns brown)

Form balls. This is ready to eat. Or if you want, dip into newly cooked caramelized sugar. Wait till candy hardens.

3. Chocolates

Bars can be cooked in low heat or microwave (as directed in the chocolate bar baking time). Quickly pour chocolate into molder. Wait till chocolate hardens.

Or: you can have marshmallows, cornflakes, cookies, strawberries, nuts in your chocolates before putting it to molder.

These are your personalized candies and foodie treats that could go with the love-note you’ve created.

However, if you are busy and cannot cook and prepare the candies and chocolates; varied sweets are around supermarkets and stores. Just take your pick of M&M’s, LifeSavers, sour balls, Hersheys, marshmallows, chocolate pies, cookies, gummies - and attach the note that you’ve written for your friend on a card or gift tag.

What more? Halloween is coming, Christmas is coming, New Year and Valentine. Sweets never go unwanted they’re sought and will make special gifts for friends, families, and everyone special. Please don’t forget the orphans and the needy kids!

Rose flores martinez
IShalleatandcook
RoseVoc2

For Mama Mary

For Mama Mary

Net Scribbles

Net Scribbles

You Are Beautiful

You Are Beautiful