Showing posts with label ralph maligro. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ralph maligro. Show all posts

Sunday, June 12, 2016

What will Glee will sing for you

Barely a week after the finalists in the Sandugo song festival were selected from many participants, the finalists are now getting ready for festival on July 21.

Unlike the previous song festival, the organizers have decided to include something new- original novelty, upbeat and love songs.

Fifteen original Boholano compositions have already been selected as finalists: (Novelty)-Nalingaw ko sa Bohol by Raul Saletrero; Dear Tatay by Rudy Tutor; Kaniadto ug Karun by John Rey Fuertes; Naay Forever by Marvin Russel Elaba and Ang Gusto Ko by Maria Luza Brua; (Love)-Barotong Papel by Dr. Nandie Maniwan; Dili Na by Humprey Mark Nicasio; Balik na Pinangga Ko by Sergie Peter Balaba, Hagit by Engr. Soc Saletrero; and Bahandi O Kadungganan- by Analiza (Glee) Orcullo;  and (Upbeat)- Pahimangno by Nice Tumulak; Bagyo ug Linog by Arnel MascariƱas; Kupido by Charlven Remolador; Tambayan by Clyde Ebojo and Ikaw ug Ako by Ralph Maligro.

The Dagohoy Marker in barangay 
Magtangtang in Danao town, Bohol, 
reminds us that the life of Francisco Dagohoy
 (Sendrijas) is one of the timeless treasures 
of the Philippines, whose gallantry 
and heroism must never be relegated 
to the dustbin of history. Leo Udtohan/Bohol Chronicle
Not only will they be competing for a chance to have their song be the signature song for this year’s song festival, but also for the P50,000 prize (one winner in each category; P5,000 for the best interpreter and P10,000 for consolation prize).
 “I’m really happy that I’m a finalist,” gushed Glee.

Glee recalled that it was a case of self-discovery as to how she got into singing.

“It was more of an informal training. I’d love to sing at home during family gathering,” she said.

She said she was nervous when she performed her entry in last year’s Sandugo song festival.

“Although I didn’t win but still I performed and did my best,” she reminisced.

She said her Bahandi o Kadungganan is based on her personal struggle on life and love.

Glee tried tempering her much-vaunted belting prowess to achieve an easy-listening vibe, and to make the song more “singable.” But, as it turned out, it’s still the blistering high notes that her listeners crave.

“I tried hard not to cry when I’m singing,” said Glee. “I will sing it in all sincerity and honesty.”

A newsreader of dyRD’s 7 o’ clock News, Glee said she will write more songs.

I guess Glee is also busy for an upcoming album in collaboration with another singer Feby Ingking. Better still, they love to sing together. The Curls!


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Keep your kidneys healthy

Ask not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee. — John Donne from Meditation 17 (better known as No Man Is An Island)

Yes, Mary Anne Michelle Porticos and I had “chika” moments when we bumped into each other somewhere in Tagbilaran City.

Our chika covered many things- from beauty pageant (she was the committee chairman of Miss Tagbilaran for many years), to travel (she was an Oceanjet loyalist), food, business and health.

Yes, health. Many times she advised me to take care of my kidneys.

She said high blood pressure, diabetes or a family history of kidney failure put one in three Filipinos at an increased risk of developing kidney disease (when the kidneys can’t properly do their job of cleaning toxins and wastes from the  blood).

But even if you don’t fit in any of those risk categories, it’s important to take care of these critically important organs.

“Kidney diseases are silent killers, which will largely affect our quality of life,” she reminded me.

She shared the eight golden rules on how to take care of our kidneys: Keep fit and active, keep regular control of your blood sugar level, monitor your blood pressure, eat healthy and keep your weight in check, maintain a healthy fluid intake, do not smoke  and do not take over-the-counter pills on a regular basis.

As Michelle said, “The most important thing you can do to keep your kidneys safe is to take care of your body to reduce your chances of developing diseases that put a strain on your kidneys. Healthy kidneys like a healthy body.”

And last week, Michelle’s friends got what may be one of the saddest text messages ever — Michelle has joined the Lord — followed a day later by another one — Michelle’s remains will be cremated today (June 12).

That fast. How fleeting life is, how ephemeral, how temporary!

Thank you Ma’am Michelle…you are “safely home.”

***
Who’s rich, who’s poor?

Here’s a great story about a rich dad who wants to show his son the difference between rich people and poor people. But in the end, it’s the rich dad who learns the lesson. Read on and see how lucky we all are, rich or poor.

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.
They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.
When they returned home, the father asked the son, “How was the trip?”
“It was great, Dad.”
“Did you see how poor people live?” the father asked.
“Oh yeah,” said the son.
“So, tell me,” the father added. “What did you learn from the trip?”
The son answered:
“I saw that we have one dog and they have four.
“We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.
“We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.
“Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.
“We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.
“We have servants who serve us but they serve others.
“We buy our food but they grow theirs.
“We have walls around our property to protect us and they have friends to protect them.”
The father was speechless.
Then the son added, “Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are.”

Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your family and friends.

***

Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Ubi jam, the best dessert at Ubi fest

Wake-uppers:
Seen: Dominic Villafuerte is the newly-appointed councilor of Candijay town who replaced former councilor Sergio Amora Jr who died last year.

Seen: Spotted in Bohol last week were Michael V, Tom Taus and Katherine de Castro. Also spotted in Panglao town were LP standard-bearer Mar Roxas and his wife Korina Sanchez and Isabelle Daza who attended a VIP wedding.

AWARD-WINNING composer 
and lyricist Ralph Maligro. 
Contributed Photo 
Scene: During the 36th Cebu Popular Music Festival, Ralph Maligro's “Awit Ning Gugma,” arranged by Ralph Joey Cabusas and interpreted by Philip Mancol, emerged as the winning piece in the Love Song category. Maligro is from Tubigon town.

Scene: The "UNLIMITEXT" exhibit of  multi-awarded Boholano visual and performance artist Sam Penaso at Galleria Quattrocento,  2nd Floor Serendra, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig on Jan. 20 to Feb. 2.  For info, text/call (02)-8230935; 0917-8911322. Penaso is a multi-disciplinary artist that dabbles in painting, sculpture and performance art. He has held 23 solo exhibitions, five of which were held in Japan, Thailand, Austria, Germany, Singapore, New York and Abu Dhabi. He has also been a recipient of several Art grants including Asian Cultural Council (ACC) and the International Studio and Curatorial Program in New York and the Thailand-Philippines Art Exchange Program in Bangkok, Thailand.

Scene:  The United States Agency for International Development (USAid) General Counsel John Simpkins was here in the province on  January 26-27 to renew the U.S. government’s commitment to the province’s inclusive and sustainable development.  Simpkins joined other Bohol officials to launch the Stakeholders’ Forum, which was organized by the U.S. Embassy Manila’s USAid through its Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (Surge) Project. Simpkins visited Tagbilaran City Elementary School, where he handed out learning materials to Grade 2 students on behalf of the American people and led a reading activity for the children. In his interaction with school administrators and faculty, he reiterated the U.S. government’s commitment to help improve the reading skills of students through its basic education program, Basa Pilipinas.  Surge is the flagship activity of USAid’s Cities Development Initiative (CDI), which aims to transform secondary cities into engines of growth. Tagbilaran is one of the CDI partner cities.

*   *   *
Couple Cipriano and Marcela Curay had to wake-up early last Wednesday.  They had to travel at least 100 kms from Alicia town to Tagbilaran, Bohol’s capital, to attend the 16th Ubi Festival.  The Curays brought 20 bukags (baskets), inside were ubi (yam) they would sell during the three-day festivity.

 Ubi (Dioscorea alata) growers and supporters have gathered last week for the Ubi Festival to honor the crop as a major agricultural product.

Ubi Festival 2016 on National New. Courtesy: GMA News
Curay, 53, started planting ubi in 2010. He said he found ubi a great potential for livelihood.

He planted 50 kilos of ubi tubers in July and harvested 650 kilos of ubi in his 200 sq meters farmland last December.

For the Curays, the rootcrop has helped their family needs.

“It is a great help for our family. Like now we could not plant rice and ubi could help us,” he said.

For  Dely Niluag, 68, the Ubi festival was an opportunity for her to make special desserts-- ubi jam/halaya and sorbetes (ice-cream).  Niluag took advantage to choose different varieties of ubi --- kabus-ok, kinlot, balagon-on, binanag, tam-isan, apale, iniling, lima-lima, kot, bot and kinampay, the most aromatic ubi in the world --- at low prices.

“I am happy if there is ubi festival,” she said, “I can ask for a discount unlike in malls.”

She said there would be enough ubi desserts this month.

Ubi is an important rootcrop in Bohol province, the country’s ubi capital.

The crop is heavily planted in the towns of Alburqueque, Alicia, Antequera, Baclayon, Corella, Cortes, Dauis, Dimiao, Garcia-Hernandez, Lila, Loay, Loon, Mabini, Maribojoc, Panglao, Sikatuna, and Ubay.

It is traditionally planted in May or June and harvested from December to January.

According to Zenaida Darunday, a plant pathologist and keynote organizer of Ubi festival, ubi is a healthy energy source with important nutritional benefits.

 "Ubi is an excellent source of vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene), a very good source of vitamin C and manganese, and a good source of copper, dietary fiber, vitamin B6, potassium and iron. When you take ubi, you won't be constipated," said Darunday.

The kinampay, the queen of all ubi varieties, is a good source of anthocyanin, a strong anti-oxidant, she added.

"Of course, it's a good alternative for rice especially now that we are trying to cut on rice consumption, ubi is a substitute. You can eat ubi without eating rice. Compared to potato, it has more nutritional element."

Ubi is also good for people who have hormonal imbalance and women who suffer menstrual cramps.

"It has dioscorin and it is good for women with dysmenorrhea," said Darunday.

For almost half a millennium, the ubi tuber has been venerated by the Boholanos.

Boholanos considered ubi a "sacred" crop. In fact, ubi is the only staple food included in the Bohol hymn.

“Yes, ubi is sacred in Bohol,” confirmed Darunday.

“Boholanos kiss the ubi when it falls on the ground,” she added.  She said that ubi culture is authentic because it started from the earth.

“It's our culture because according to a legend there was a famine in Bohol. Boholanos were able to stay alive because they found ubi when they were scratching the ground because ubi survives during drought and famine. And when they saw ubi, ‘praise the Lord' because it saved them from starvation.  If ubi tuber falls, you have to kiss it," said Darunday.


UBI GROWER Cipriano Curay
 proudly shows his ubi kinampay,
 the queen of all ubi varieties.  Leo Udtohan/Chronicle
For the past years, the production of ubi has declined.

Darunday said that people who are planting ubi are aging.

Ireneo Gabato, municipal agricultural officer of Sikatuna town, said that only few farmers plant ubi. He said, only three out of 10 barangays joined this year's festival.

To encourage farmers to plant ubi, his office provided materials (tuber) to farmers.

"It's plant now, pay later. If they plant 20 kilos of ubi tuber, they would return 20 kilos of ubi to our office," he said.

The Ubi festival was also a venue for educational forum to increase farm production.

“I hope this is an avenue to invite farmers and attract young people to plant more ubi in Bohol,” she said, “Young people should be familiar with the importance of ubi.”

She also noted that climate change also affected the ubi production.

“One of the reasons why the harvest of ubi in the province now is low is due to the impact of climate change,” she said.

With that we hope we can innovate technologies that ubi can still survive even with the change of the climate, added Darunday.

Anyway, the most popular way of cooking ubi is to make it into ubi jam (halaya).  It is a sweet sticky jam-like concoction that may be eaten by itself or as an ingredient in other deserts like halo-halo.

Ubi Jam (Halaya) Recipe

Ingredients:

MORE USEFUL THAN RICE, Boholanos find time
 to honor ubi (yam), the province's most important crop, 
during the Ubi Festival 2016.  Leo Udtohan/Chronicle
1 kilo ubi  (kinampay, baligonhon, etc) mashed or 2 packs purple yam
2 cans condensed milk
1 can evaporated milk
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar (amount optional)
1/4 cup grated cheese

Cooking Instructions:

1) Cook ubi in boiling water until soft. Peel and mash ubi until smooth in texture. A blender can be used for a better result.

2) In a big wok, melt butter or margarine. Place in the mashed ubi; pour the condensed milk and sugar over it. Keep  stirring on low heat for at least 30 minutes or the until mixture is well blended.

3) Add evaporated milk and continue mixing until well blended and thick. Stir constantly to prevent sticking to the pan. Let cool and transfer into a large greased tray or pans Sprinkle with grated cheese for extra flavor. Chill and serve.

Yam! Yam! Yam!

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.