Marc Vincent P.

Noro Grade 12 -
Charity

Savoring the Flavors of the Philippines

It is inherent in us Filipinos to have a fondness for food. Especially with the

abundance of eateries found in every corner of our country. Each place and province
boasts of dishes they take pride in. Every occasion has its particular dish or food
prepared and served on our dining tables. There are also times when just hearing the
phrase "Filipino food" immediately brings to mind the various dishes that can be seen in
Filipino dining tables. Some of these dishes include "Adobo, Sinigang, Nilaga, Kare-kare,
Lechon," and other favorites of ours.

As some would say, "EATING. MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES," hence many
Filipinos abroad miss eating here because they say nothing beats the FILIPINO
COOKING. Food here is not only delicious but can also be considered beneficial to our
health because each particular dish contains various vitamins and nutrients essential
for our bodies. Below are some of the most delicious Filipino dishes that Filipinos find
impossible to resist when served on the table.

Sinigang is one of the favorite dishes of us Filipinos. It can be cooked with Pork,
Shrimp, Milkfish, Beef, and other meats and fish that can be added to Sinigang. It is
cooked with a sour broth made using various souring agents depending on the desired
taste. It is also mixed with various vegetables such as Water Spinach, String Beans,
Winged Bean, Okra, Taro, and sliced Eggplant. This dish is perfect for those who love
sour and nutritious food.

The word "adobo" comes from the Spanish word "Adobar." Adobo is one of the
most delicious Filipino dishes that is easy to cook and delicious to pair with rice. It can
be made with Chicken Adobo or Pork Adobo. You just need to cook it with soy sauce,
garlic, vinegar, bay leaves, and whole peppercorns. Some people add other ingredients
like pineapple and coconut milk to make it more flavorful and delicious.

Lechon baboy (Roast Pig) is one of the most famous foods, not only in the
Philippines but also in other countries. We often see it prepared at gatherings and
occasions such as birthdays, baptisms, weddings, and festivals in our country. Before
cooking, it is thoroughly cleaned and the insides of the pig are removed, then seasoned
and sewn shut. While cooking, it is rotated to ensure even cooking. Barangay La Loma in
Quezon City is known as the Lechon Capital of the Philippines because of the various
sellers of Lechon in this area, which even foreigners visit to taste the unique
deliciousness of Lechon made here.

Many Filipinos consider "kare-kare" as their favorite food. It is a dish with meat
and various kinds of vegetables, making it nutritious. The meat is boiled until tender
and then mixed with ingredients that enhance its flavor. It's even more delicious when
paired with its partner, fermented shrimp paste.

"Nilaga" means boiled, because in cooking this dish, beef or pork is boiled until
tender. Once the meat is tender, other ingredients such as cabbage, potatoes, bok choy,
plantains, and other vegetables are added. These ingredients, along with the meat, give
flavor to the broth. It also has a delicious aroma that enhances the taste of this dish.

Tinola is also one of the favorite dishes of us Filipinos to eat with rice. It is also a
nutritious dish often served to children to keep them healthy because it includes
vegetables. It has basic ingredients like chicken, unripe papaya, chili leaves, ginger,
onion, and fish sauce. Through these, you can create a flavorful Tinola.

These are just a few of the delicious dishes that we Filipinos often cook. There
are still many favorite foods of ours that I haven't mentioned here. With the foods shown
above, you'll realize how difficult it is to resist eating, especially when such delicious
dishes are on your kitchen table. Filipinos are indeed unique when it comes to food,
using only simple ingredients and cooking with love. Through this, you can create
delicious food for yourself and the special people you cook for.

“You don’t have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces just good food from
fresh ingredients.”- Julia Child

I can say that this is true because you don't need to make your cooking
complicated. You just need to make it nutritious and with love. Just like us Filipinos,
when we cook, we only use simple ingredients and seasonings in our dishes, but they
taste uniquely delicious because of the fresh ingredients we use and the love we put into
cooking. Through this, you can create delicious food for yourself and the special people
you cook for.

In this blog, I showed various Filipino dishes served on Filipino dining tables, on
normal days and on special occasions. With these dishes alone, I can truly say that
"Eating is more fun in the Philippines".
Marc Vincent P. Noro Grade 12 -
Charity

YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO BE CHAMPIONS!

LIBERALISTA STRIPPED ALCHEMISTA'S RIGHT TO BE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS

The HUMSS Liberalista team couldn't contain their smiles after triumphing over
their rival STEM Alchemist, 43-38, to claim the championship in the 2023 Seniors
Basketball Category on October 20, 2023, at the IHMA Activity Center. Both teams
displayed an intense and breathtaking game in their Championship showdown, which
culminated in cheers and laughter as the Intramurals 2023 came to a close.

The Alchemists took an early lead after some heated shots from Adam Senora
and Janmer Mohammad, but the Liberals remained undeterred and pushed back. With a
joint effort from Dave Aguilon and Dexter Tilacan, the Liberals reclaimed the advantage
in the final minute of the first half, 17-8.

The Liberals continued to widen their lead, reaching a 13-point advantage.

However, the Alchemists did not lose hope. With Julian Floremonte's help, they scored 8
points in the second half to prevent the Liberals from pulling too far ahead, ending the
first half at 24-17.

As the third quarter began, the momentum shifted, with the Alchemists
launching an 8-0 run, narrowing the Liberal's lead to just two points, 34-32.

But in the final quarter, the Liberals' fiery hands ignited once again as they
extended their lead with a 7-2 run. Although the Alchemists tried to keep up, their shots
faltered. The game ended with a score of 43-38, favoring the Liberals.

"We didn't want our strand to be embarrassed; we were supposed to be the

champions in basketball," Tilacan said after the intense game.
SPORTS WRITING ATTACHMENT
Marc Vincent P. Noro Grade 12 -
Charity

The Flow of Aliwagwag

With every drop of water from the Aliwagwag Falls, it seems to be one of the
places I would love to revisit the most. In 2020, my aunt came home from Canada. Upon
her return, she immediately planned the places she wanted to visit while vacationing in
the Philippines. A week after she arrived, her plan to go as a family to the Aliwagwag
Falls was realized. Our journey to our destination in Cateel, Davao Oriental, where the
falls are located, took more than five exhausting hours, and we arrived at noon. The trip
was worth it, and I felt the momentary stop was worthwhile. I was impressed by the
unique beauty of the Aliwagwag Falls. Its waters drizzled lightly and flowed over basalt
rocks. The water cascaded downward, creating a huge splash.

Since this was my first visit to this place, I was completely captivated by the
scenery. I could liken the falls to Niagara Falls where the water flow is strong. According
to a poster I saw there, the Aliwagwag Falls, also known as "curtain falls" because of the
series of over 130 cascading waterfalls. It is also considered the highest waterfall in the
Philippines according to hydraulic engineers. Despite the damage caused by Typhoon
Pablo, its beauty still remains. Currently, it is considered one of the prominent tourist
destinations in Davao Oriental. We traveled together in the area, and the most exciting
part was the activities waiting for us. We first tried the zip line because the attendant
would not allow us to zip line if our bodies were wet to avoid inconvenience for us.
Although the zip line was not very long or high, we still had a wonderful time because of
the beautiful scenery. Furthermore, our excitement was aroused knowing that we
needed to take a boat to the other side of the river, where its tip was, and walk ten
minutes back to the falls. We didn't mind the heat of the sun.

From a distance, the falls were very calm and quiet, seemingly falling on top of
the rocks. As we approached, the silence gradually turned into the sound inside until we
reached it. We could hear the roar of the cascading water that was deafening. After the
walks, we reached the falls. It was very cold, and we were surprised by the coldness. We
didn't waste any moment of our stop. We traveled, swam, jumped, and massaged
ourselves using the cascading water from the waves. The water fell from the side of the
hill in a series of small waterfalls. The rocks were somewhat slippery, so we were careful
with our movements. Because we had limited time, we went straight to the top of the
falls and tried the amazing monkey bridge. It was an unforgettable experience because
as you crossed the monkey bridge, you could see the high view of the Aliwagwag Falls
and you would be amazed by the beauty of God's creation. So what are you waiting for
this summer? Include the Aliwagwag Falls on your list of places to visit!

TRAVEL BLOG