Last year we did this from our own pocket. We bought a shirt, candy and a little toy for 25 kids. First, we bought them a lunch of Pancit, bread and cokes at the Eatery area next to the market. The kids prayed before the meal and after eating, they sang Christmas carols for us. Then we gave out a gift bag to each child. You can read more about the party and see a slide show and a video of last year’s party here. (click here to go to the article)

This year we will keep the amount of kids to 25 but want to do more. First, we will hold it at Jollibee’s across from the market. At Jollibee’s we can have the upstairs area for the party. In addition, this will be a treat for the kids since they probably have never eaten at Jollibee’s due to the poverty level their families live.  For those who do not know what Jollibee is, it is like a McDonalds but is cheaper.

Christmas for these kids is a day for family but not much else. Their families are so poor they never have money for gifts or a better Christmas meal. It is a joyous day in a religious aspect but a sad day since they see others having a Christmas dinner and gifts shared.

What we would like to do this year, with the help of our readers and friends, is to give each child, besides the shirt, candy and toy, is to give them some money. With this money, we will tell the kids to buy some lechon (traditional roast pig) and other treats to bring Christmas home to their families.

I will try to get donations from the taxi drivers I have gotten to know here. Many are Filipino and know about the poverty in their country. Elena is talking to her friends in Davao and I am asking my readers to help.

The conversion from US dollar to peso is in the area of 43 peso to the dollar. We would like to give each child 500 to 1,000 pesos to have a wonderful and joyous Christmas for their families. 500 pesos is only $12 US.  $12 is such a small amount to most of us, but 1,000 Pesos would give each child the ability to bring home some Lechon, fruits and some small gifts for their families.

Let us show these children We Care. They go to school all week and then are at the market all day on weekends just to earn some money just to eat lunch at school. They are not beggars or thieves. They are wonderful and loving kids that never experience the type of childhood we experienced.

Elena could also use some assistance with the party. I know there are many of our friends in Davao who read this site. It is a lot of work shopping and setting up the gift bags. Elena will need help at the party to keep things under control. Unfortunately, I will not be there to help and enjoy the love from these kids.

Again, I ask, please open your hearts and wallets and help us give these kids a wonderful Christmas. For our friends in Davao, we would like someone that can keep the tradition going after Elena moves here to the US. I hope we can get a few who will continue this loving and caring gesture.

Use the PayPal donate button. All proceeds go to the kids.

Calamansi is available year round and is usually seen in its unripened state as a dark green fruit, but if left to ripen it turns a tangerine orange color.

It is used to make beverages, flavoring fish (particularly kinilaw), and used as an added flavoring in cakes, pies, preserves, sauces, and marmalades. It can also be used in soups and teas.

Because of its citrus acid, it is used with tuna to make a ceviche type of entre called kinilaw. The tuna, onions and sliced cucumbers are cured with vinegar, ginger and of course calamansi for that sweet sour citrus taste.

For a cool refreshing drink, calamansi juice makes a great beverage. Mixed with sugar and water it is very good when you’re hot, throat is dry and you do not want a soda and more flavor than just water.

Calamansi is also used to flavor cakes, pies and cookies. It’s is similar to using lemon or lime to add that little extra flavor.

For such a little fruit, it has many other uses. The juice can be used to remove ink stains from cloth and it can be used as a deodorant too.

For medicinal purposes it can be applied to the scalp to reduce dandruff. Crushing it, it can be used as a shampoo or the juice applied after shower to reduce itching. For bug mites just rub the fruit on the affected area to reduce swelling and itching.

For nausea and fainting, squeeze the rind and hold to the nose as an inhalant. For coughs and sore throats, warm calamansi tea is a good home remedy. Calamansi juice boiled with water is a good remedy for constipation too.

It is easy to grow at your home or is available at all markets and fruit stands. At the Palengke you will see many children carrying bags of calamansi for sale walking through the market.

Ampalaya is a vegetable widely eaten here in the Philippines. The leaves and fruit – used as vegetables – are excellent sources of Vit B, iron, calcium, and phosphorus. It has twice the amount of beta carotene in broccoli and twice the calcium content of spinach.

It can be bitter if not prepared and cooked correctly. The first time I tasted it I did not mind the bitter taste but the aftertaste lingered too long. Once I tasted the way Elena makes it, I found there is a better way to prepare and I look forward to find it on the dinner table.

Here is the recipes from Elena’s Kitchen

Gisadong Ampalaya

Ingredients:
2 Ampalaya
4 eggs
2 cloves diced garlic
½ cup diced white onion
1 cup diced red tomatoes (remove seeds)
½ tsp salt
3 tbsp vegetable oil
½ tsp ground black pepper
1 ½ tbsp butter
¼ tsp Marjoram (optional)
¼ tsb Thyme (optional)

Preparation:

1 tbsp salt
Boiling water

Slice Ampalaya lengthwise and remove seeds, then slice into very thin pieces.
Place slices into bowl and sprinkle with salt to absorb moisture.
Squeeze sliced Ampalaya to remove liquid and rinse and drain.
Cover with boiling water and let sit for approx 10-15 minutes.
Drain water and squeeze to remove remaining water.
Put aside to rest for 5 minutes.

Cooking Directions:

Heat oil and butter in medium to large skillet over medium heat until hot
Add garlic and onions and cook until translucent
Add tomatoes and stir until hot
Add sliced Ampalaya, salt, pepper, thyme and marjoram and stir for about 10 minutes
Beat eggs and pour over mixture and stir until cooked.

If you have any recipes, please email them to me with any photos and I will try to post them and give you credit.

Eat and Enjoy

Every Sunday morning we get up early and go to Agdao Public Market. There as at a lot of  open parking areas there is a “parking attendant.” At Agdao there is a man that will show you where to park, will watch so you do not bump the curb and helps you when you back out. For this, when we leave we give him 15 pesos (.30 USD).

Today I had to wait for a spot, so Elena got out and started her shopping. After about 10 minutes a car pulled out and after I parked I started looking for Elena. We have a routine so I just had to follow her path. I first went to the pork stall when Elena usually buys. The manager  Myrna saw me, smiled and pointed that Elena had moved on. I next went to the stall we buy our chicken. Again as I was noticed I got smiles and good mornings, we asked each other how we were and then they pointed in the direction Elena went. Then to the root vegetable section where again I was greeted with loud “Hello Sir, how are you today.” They then pointed to Elena’s path but then joked and called out “Sir, your wife is here.” When I returned wondering how I missed her they pointed to a girl at the stall across the way, which they always joke with about me. Finally I found Elena at the vegetable stand Elena get the rest. With her was our little friend BeBe.

Bebe is a 12 year girl that will find us to help us carry our bags. She is a cute girl with a sweet smile. During the week she goes to school, but Sundays goes to the market to make a little money to help out her family. Then a few others we know came over to share the burden. Today we had Bebe, JoyJoy, Roxanne and a little boy that I did not get his name. We were like a parade as we moved around the market to finish our shopping and would talk and joke with me while we waited for Elena to purchase something. Then off to the car to load the trunk. Bebe knows to put the fish and meats on the plastic and orders the other kids where to put their bags. For this Elena gives them each 10 pesos. Bebe carried so much, Elena gave her 20 pesos and the increased smile was so sweet.

Why this long story? I have learned to enjoy going to the market, and enjoy the recognition from the vendors as I feel the friendship. There have been times as we arrive to an area one of the stall workers would be eating and they always offer a plate of rice and whatever item they are having for breakfast. Also if I take my camera out, the vendors and their customers will move together, smile and ask their photo taken. I know some will say they are not “friends” but to me, someone who is nice I will use that word. Maybe they are contacts or acquaintances but I use friend.

Some Foreigners complain about how they are treated by Filipinos. They complain how in many places foreigners are charged a higher price than locals, looked at like a stranger or even insulted. I have experienced some of these problems too, but I try not to dwell on them.
We need to realize there are many cultural differences, life differences and most of all, language differences. But if we walk around angry or better then the locals, we keep these feelings. For me, I enjoy meeting and greeting people in all walks of life. With this, in the mall or out somewhere, these people will see me and come over to say hello.

I hope someday to learn Bisaya and to have better conversations and get to know everyone better, but for now I enjoy the friendship they offer.