Appreciating T.L.E.

No, this is not a food write up but I just got inspired to write something good about the K-12 program.

I have a friend, sir Dan from Pampanga. He's like the head teacher of the TLE - oh, Technology and Livelihood Education - if you dont know what it means (kasi malamang me makakabasa na THE pa ang naabutan - or maybe Practical Arts pa!) Department of a public high school.  Oh yeah, 1st impression perhaps is that - heck ya, public high school. Aminin naman natin there are certain biases sa public educational institution (pwera na malamang sa UP System).

In any case, he send me pics of the successes of his students and co-teachers in competitions in their division.  He sometimes sends pictures of their school projects, and I must say, they are doing a really good job.

Sadly most students perhaps would opt for the other tracks for Grades 11 and 12 - the track that perhaps would prepare them for higher education - sorry di ko alam anong tawag. Malay ko ba dahil di ko naabutan yan... swerte not swerte.  Maybe a few would opt for the "hard stuff" that requires them to toil and cook and cut hair and do electrical stuff coz they are sooo baduy and "nakakababa" ng tingin.  Afterall, this country seems to favor more of diploma rather than skills. Sad but true.

In any case, sir Dan showed me pics of students doing electrical job and baking and preparing food and doinf table arrangements and all - they are good stuff! Pretty impressive skills!  

If you look at the pics below, Im pretty sure some of you may say you cant do it - and these students are really doing a good job at it.

One of the students doing installation... and the finished product!

Learning these skills are great weapons to a better life - even if they do not practically go to college - that is, if people will support them.  No I am not saying it is enough to learn it - of course there is still a lot of room for their skills to improve should they pursue higher learning - but, looking at things objectively, they can very well sustain daily living of there would be job opportunities for them that can alleviate higher education expenses.  They can make use of the skills their learned from Grades 11 and 12 to perhaps start a sideline of pangugupit ng buhok or baking pan de sal or electrical troubleshooting.  Isnt it amazing?!

Sir Dan's school, as I have mentioned, is a public school - which we are well aware, may lack funds to support the skills development of these kids.  I have another friend, Emily, a head teacher as well in a high school in Cagayan de Oro, who said that they use the teacher's personal baking equipment and utensils becuase their school doesnt have the funds to buy those things.  They also rely on donations and ask for help from politicians and all for support.

Students working so hard. Food preservation i assume.

The implementation of the K-12 program was kinda abrupt and personally I think the entire education system wasnt fully prepared to implement such change.  But I guess the resourceful nature of the Pinoy teachers made things possible - especially the teachers in the provinces. 

There is really no need to look down upon those who opt for the Practical Arts track of the K-12 program.  Certainly these students have acquired and developed skills that we never have.  I envy them.  I hope there will be more students to would opt for these trades - and more people will support their projects.  Maybe businessmen can tie up with schools to sell their products, or professional chefs and restaurant owners welcome the idea of having a 1-day lesson on cooking techniques.  Engineers can have a talk and share tips on proper handling of projects.  And hey, sana for free.  These students and teachers will surely appreciate the time and effort - and your name immortalized in their minds.

Not everyone can bake tasty breads! They are on it!

And the pulic of course - patronize school fairs and change the mindset - and be more realistic - that not everyone will get a diploma - and that the skills they have acquired can be developed of we patrinize these students' work.

And the teachers - a salute and thank you for the resilience and patience in teaching the students new skills even if resources are limited. Bayani talaga sila.

If you are a Pro in any field who wants to reach out and give a talk or spend time teaching sir Dan's students - just hit the comment below or email me. .... or you can simply inquire from the nearest high school innyour area and asknfor the TLE department, im sure they will be glad to accommodate you. :)


All photos used in this article is sir Dan's and I asked permission to use them.  Thank you sir!

Finished products - waiting for taste test!

Aaaah...looks delish - baked by students.

Sir Dan and two of his students!

Instant Udon Tantanmen

All the while akala ko yung Udon Miso lang ang nabibili sa grocery... aba me ibang variant pa pala - ang Udon Tantanmen.  

Buy agad ako. Same price at Php 69 lang.

Niluto. Kinain.

Masarap din. Lasang Japanese din. 

Kung ang miso at mejo distinct na miso taste - ito naman iba. Dko naman alam ang ang difference at first pero nung natikman ko - iba nga. Lasa  niya... parang sabaw ng gulay. 

Masarap din naman. Japanese food cravings satisfied.

Check out the pics.

Packaging. Nice. Mamahalin tingnan.

Eto ang nasa loob ng packaging.

Mga condiments sa loob.

Isa sa mga nasa loob. Bilog na flavoring na may mga gulay bits.

The gulay bits ilalagay lang sa ibabaw ng udon noodles.

The rest of the flavoring. May corn bits at meat bits and yung pampalasa ng sabaw.  Ready na lagyan ng hot water - or - yung "normal" na tubig para i microwave.

Nilagyan ko lang ng mineral water tapos pinasok sa microwave ng mga 3 to 4 mins... eto na siya. Ready to eat!

Instant Udon

Hindi ako fan ng mga noodles like the Japanese Ramen or kahit pansit Lomi.  Hindi ko nga ano ang difference ng mga noodles...basta alam ko noodles sila. Pero alam ko naman na madami ang klase ng noodles jan.

Habang naggrocery sa SM Hypermarket sa Makati, napunta kami sa instant noodles section at nakatihan ko damputin ang bowl ng Udon Miso ng Lucky Me.  Gusto ko kasi ang lasa ng miso soup... very Japanese ang dating.  Sa isip ko, baka lasang Japanese ito.

Sa halagang less than Php80, (Php 69 pala siya) pwede na.  Feeling Japanese na.

So eto na nga.... last weekend, hinusgahan ko na. 

2 ways to cook:

1.  Buhusan ng kumukulong tubig at takpan.

2.  Buhusan ng tubig, i-microwave ng mga 2 to 3 mins.

Pinili ko ang mag microwave.  Binuksan lahat tapos binuhos ang mga seasoning at ibang mga sahog, then nilagyan ko ng tubig, pinasok sa microwave.

Pagkakuha...mainit init pa. Mabango. Nagulat ako may ground meat, may daikon (aka radish). Ang ganda!

Kumuha ako ng chopsticks para feel na feel ang Japanese vibe.

Masarap ang sabaw. Lasang Japanese nga (if you know what I mean)! Lasang sabaw ng miso.  Lasang Ramen.   Pero ano nga ba ang Udon?

Sa tagalog pa, pansit lang din naman siya na mejo mataba konti.  Very firm ang noodles, tipong hindi nagbbreaknor napuputol pag kinukuha mo sa bowl. Masarap ang noodles.  Hindi matamis or maalat ang noodles per se, plain lang... parang kanin... pero paghinigop mo siya kasama ang sabaw, yummy! So yun pala ang udon.

Ang nakakatuwa pa, yung meat bits na kasama, lasang karne talaga.  Masarap. Parang ground pork or beef (i dunno the difference) - pero more likely pork.  Hindi alanganin ang lasa para sa akin.

Pinatikim ko siya sa partner kong pihikan sa pagkain. By pihikan, yung tipong tao na ayaw tumikim ng bagong pagkain.  Aba, nagustuhan niya at sabi bibili daw isa pa next time.

Overall naman, sulit na sa less than 80 pesos. Kesa kumain ako sa Japanese resto... pwedeng pwede na siya pang daily doze of Japanese food...pwede na siya pangtanggal ng cravings.

I am not sure lang if mabibili din to sa ibang grocery store - pero sure ako meron sa SM Hypermarket. Try nyo.

Yan ang actual price sa SM Hypermarket.

Sa malapitan.

Ang layo sa picture!

Ito yung sinasabi kong meat bits. Lasang karne talaga!

5 Things na Di Kinakahiya pag Nagtravel

Exciting ang mag out of the country travel, lalo na pag 1st time mo. Kahit naman batikan ka na sa pag travel, exciting pa rin. Pero mapa-veteran man o baguhan sa pagttravel, may mga bagay na feeling eh di bagay at nakakahiyang gawin o aminin sa mga friends na kasama mo sa biyahe or mga babalitaan mo pag uwi galing travel.

Pero may iilang bagay na hindi dapat ikahiya pag nagtravel.

1. Mag stay sa budget accommodation.

Hindi naman lahat ng nagttravel eh milyunaryo na kaya ang mag stay sa 4 or 5 star hotels.  Anong masama at nakakahiya sa pag stay sa isang 500 to 1000 pesos per night na accommodation?  Ang point ng pagttravel ay maka exper0ience ng bagong kultura, makakita ng mga tanawing sa libro or tv lang nakikita, makakilala ng mga baging kaibigan.

Ang accommodation ay parang - tulugan, pagiiwanan ng gamit, pahingahan, paliguan.  Syempre, bilang traveller, kelangan kumportable - and that is kanya kanyang preference naman kung ano ang kumportable o hindi.  I personally use BOOKING.COM sa paghahanap ng hotels na mura. Pag minsan, sa AirBNB.  Again, hi di nakakahiyang sabihing sa mura ka lang nag stay.  

2. Bumili ng pagkain sa convenience store para sa baon sa biyahe or kakainin bilang meal.

Balik tayo sa point ng budget travelling. Hindi naman contest ito ng pasarapan ng pagkain, but ang pagtravel ay ang pag experience ng kultura ng ibang bansa.  Take note na maaaring pareho lang ang itsura o pangalan ng convenience stores dito or sa ibang bansa pero iba ang lasa, iba ang texture at iba ang timpla.  Yan ay culture! 

3.  Kumain sa fast food.

Maybe ang pinaka common na advice na maririnig mo pag nag out of the country trip ka ay ang magtry ng local cuisine or delicacies. True naman. Pero wala rin naman masama kumain sa fast food like McaDonalds or KFC dahil chances are, merong nasa menu nila na wala sa menu natin na worth it matikman. Magandang idea din kaya ang gawing fastfood tour ang trip para makita ang difference ng sineserve sa atin. Prices naman ay halos pareho lang sa atin.  Trust me, it is worth it kumain sa fastfood sa ibang bansa. It's tipid pa.

4. Magselfie at magpose and magpicture kahit saan.

May mga lugar na hindi masyado "tourist infested" na maraming nagpipicture so mejo mahihiya ka na magselfie.  But, don't be ashamed na ipaalam sa mga local na isa kang turista dahil ang turista ay mahalaga sa bawat lugar! Besides, isa sa mga objectives ng pag travel mo ay ang pag collect ng experiences at moments and wala naman ibang effective memorabilia at proof na nakarating ka sa lugar na yun but pictures. Ang mga nabibiling memorabilia madaling masira, manakaw or mawala - pero ang pictures na makukunan mo ay magmamarka talaga.

5.  Wag mahiyang nagtanong.

Hindi lang sa Ritemed ang linyang yan. Kahit sa travel.  Sabihin na nating may language barrier at hindi naman sila sanay o marunong ng perfect English - pero meron tayong tinatawag na mobile apps na pwede gamitin pagtranslate.  Besides, wapakels na pag barok ang English mo, dahil barok din naman ang English nila. It's a tie! Marerealize mo na hindi kelangan perpekto ang grammar at tenses mo pag kausap mo ay mga banyagang di naman din umi-English.  Sabi nga, it's the thought that counts - thought ng sentence! 

May iba sigurong bagay ang di dapat ikahiya, pero yan lang ang top 5 para sa akin... maybe may idadagdag ka pa.... comment below.

7Eleven Pancake

Surprisingly, this is yummy!

Mura pa.

59 pesos ang pancake na may kapiranggot na scrambled eggs and 3 pcs ng bilog na hotdog + isang maliit na pack ng syrup.

Not bad really para sa isang quick brekkie.

Ang pancake itself is tama sa tamis at malambot. Fluffy ba ang dapat na term?

Ang hotdog - lasang Purefoods na masarap. Hindi cheap ang lasa.

Ang itlog - again, kapiranggot lang kaya mejo neglible na. 

Masarap siya ipares sa hot choco nila - brekki na brekkie lang ang dating.  Sa pagka alala ko, pancake + yung large na hot choco ng 7Eleven nasa 99 pesos.

Pwede rin naman tubig na lang ang panulak. Tipid pa. Inarte lang kasi ako nung araw na bumili ako nun.

Anyway, try niyo. Nakakabusog naman siya.

Hindi po ito sponsored... gusto ko lang ishare ang nadiscover ko.  Judgmental ako sa convenience store packed foods kasi... di ko inakala na masarap ang pancake nila.

Push! 

Check out the pics below.

3 pcs pancakes, 3 pcs of round hotdogs and scrambled eggs.

Fluffy pancakes. They are yummy!

I guess they're Purefoods hotdogs. Small but tastes good.

And it comes with a small pack of syrup.