REVAMPING..

AND SHE DECIDES TO DIE

She's tired of crying. Her tears have all been cried out and she feels as though blood could come out in its place any moment. Her eyes, swollen and throbbing with hot pain, are now nothing but two red slits. She's been crying since yesterday morning, cried herself to sleep last night, and now she's crying herself to sleep once more. She thinks, 'God, can I just cry myself to death?'

She feels her head spinning as she tries her best to get up from her makeshift bed on the floor. She reaches out for the nearest wall and tries her best to steady herself, all but in agony. Too much pain in her head and too much memories make her sick and she's ready to just bang her head on the wall  to lose them all. She wishes she can just hit her head hard enough to die.

She hears soft breathing from somewhere inside the room and looks over to where her daughter is. There's her baby, sleeping in peace in a soft bed, innocent face subtly illuminated by the light seeping through the window cracks from the light post outside. She chooses not to sleep beside her child because she doesn't want her bothered by her incessant crying.

She's so overcome by emotions as she lumbers herself toward her direction. She sits on the bed, careful to not wake her up with her movement. She touches her cheeks and she feels herself welling up again. She loves her daughter so much. She has always saved her from herself. But this time, she is way beyond tired and she can't be saved anymore.

'Your daddy has found you someone else, baby. Your daddy found you a better mommy. I always decided not to leave because I thought you will need me most. But seeing that your dad has found you someone so much better than I am, I think I'm useless here now. I am a fucking useless bitch, he said so himself, and maybe, he's fucking damn right.'

She feels so used and beaten up. He didn't hit her this time, unlike all the other times they ever had a fight. She's got no cuts, no bruises, yet she feels like her whole body is bruised just the same. She's aching, too much aching, and delirious because of the pain shooting through her like thunderbolts. This life is such a torture and her body is now caving in to the pressure of all this fuckedupness she's going through.

She gives up. She doesn't want this shitty life anymore. She doesn't want to continue fighting for something that's too impossible to get. One chance is all she wanted, but he could never give her just that. One try to make things better for her daughter. One shot in reinventing herself and having a great family life, but that dream has finally crashed around her when he has denied her for the nth time. He would rather waste it all by choosing somebody else over her and discarding her like she's just some used tissue full of shit. All six years of physical pain and emotional torture finally got to her, this time.

As much as her breathing is being such a painstaking task right now, her heart is so fucking broken that she doesn't think it will survive anymore. She has tried to mend it over and over in the past years and maybe, finally, it's just better for it to stay broken this time. Maybe her heart is too overworked, too battered and tired and maybe she just wants it to stop beating for fuck's sake.

She's drafted her will and has been thinking of her timeline since last night. She wants to leave as soon as possible. She doesn't want to be here anymore than she wants to be anywhere else. Maybe she will be stuck in oblivion and that would be a whole lot better than being in this shithole.

She's coming home, wherever the fuck home is. Maybe she's really as bad as he said she is, and maybe that will get her to hell. She doesn't think her fuckedupness will get her to heaven. Perhaps, she just doesn't care where she goes at all.

She's done. Finally full of this crap they call life. She doesn't want to be here anymore. She just wants out.

The day she decides to die, she does.

AND SHE DECIDES TO DIE:

A MEMOIR

I'M A MOM, TOO. I DON'T GET YOU!

This is probably not something I'd normally write about. Seriously. But I just can't help myself from being upset. I just can't keep my mouth shut and turn a blind eye, you know. So if a lady ranting about a mother selling her child is not your cup of tea, well, you can skip this.


I saw the news about this lady Misty Vanhorn selling her kids on Facebook, and I literally threw up. Who the hell has the right to sell her children? What kind of mother sells her children just so she can bail her boyfriend out of jail? Darn it.

Wonder mom and the 10 month old baby she tried selling on Facebook

I ain't a perfect mother and I'm far from being one, but it's sickening to know that other people can do this to their children. This is so friggin' disturbing. I never knew I could ever feel so strongly about people I don't know personally, but this definitely shook me.


I'm a mother, too. I know how hard it is to be away from my kid. I get hurt if my girl gets hurt. I'd wage war and kill if someone tries to violate my daughter's rights. I'd die if my child is taken away from me. I don't know how I'd be without my daughter. My child is my life and I am her fortress!


That's why I just don't get it why a parent can do this to her own flesh and blood! She's willing to sacrifice her children for the sake of her boyfriend?! What is up with the universe?!


Like seriously, MOM?!

REDIRECTION TO SOPHIA'S JAR

Hi!

The post you are trying to check has been moved to a new home.

All posts about my Extraordinary Sophia will now be posted on her own blog site.

Kindly click on this link and you'll be redirected to SOPHIA'S JAR:

sophiadoesawesome.blogspot.com

♥

WHO YOU CALLIN' A DIGIPERM VIRGIN?

I have been planning to get a perm for a year now, but wasn't really able to get to it due to a busy schedule.

Came the opportunity to get myself a perm, I lunged at it. To top it all off, I ain't paying for it myself. Yep, this chick's got a perm that somebody else's paid for! Hah! Talk about lucky!

I got an assignment to try the services of a really chic salon in the Metro. Yep, talking about ENVY ME Salon & Spa. I'm usually very picky when it comes to trying out services, especially if I'm getting paid to write reviews for it. But when I heard of my latest task, I said yes without even thinking anymore.

I have been reading reviews for this really chic salon and I really wanted to try it out, hoping that I could be instantly transformed into a beautiful princess. Okay, so that's really wishful thinking. But really. I'm somewhat addicted to the idea of getting soft curls to somewhat improve my relatively boring look.

All ready for perming

Envy Me Salon is a brain-child of the Congson Family. They first started out with a brand called Hairs and Nails in Davao, and later on decided to venture into the Metro's beauty industry. Hairs and Nails currently has 14 branches in Mindanao. Seeing the success and warm acceptance of clients, they brought the brand Envy Me Salon & Spa to Metro Manila with the intention of providing quality services at affordable prices. They currently have two branches in Luzon, one of which is in Dasma, Cavite. The other branch is strategically located in Robinson's Galleria, a spot very much accessible to anyone from anywhere in Metro Manila, given the convenience of Edsa buses and the MRT.

I was able to locate the salon right away. It's on the third level, west wing of the Galleria. (Just behind Gene Testa's Tattoo shop, if you're familiar with it.) Peering from the outside, through the clear glass door, I was able to see how the interior looks like; very spacious and elegant looking, well-lit and has a relaxing ambiance, open to the public but with a considerably great attempt at making sure not to compromise a customer's privacy. I immediately liked the place. Score!

So I came in to inquire whether or not I can get a traditional perm. The people inside were very much lively and all smiles. Great! (Tip: Nobody likes cranky crews, nobody likes services from cranky crews. Really.) The pretty receptionist called the stylist named Toto to assess my hair. Toto expertly checked my hair and advised me that my hair would benefit more if I'd get a Digiperm. He pointed out something that I've known all along, my hair is really dry and brittle, thus cold wave perming will only worsen the condition.

Since I was kinda expecting that diagnosis, (and considering that the prices are nearly the same, and I'm not even shelling out for it), I eagerly went on with the Digiperm. You can't blame me if I felt a little bit scared about the procedure, I'm kinda a virgin at it, you know. 

Ate Joy and the big Perming machine

Surprisingly, I was at ease during the process. Joy, the salon assistant, was very accommodating and friendly. She gladly answered my questions and even proactively educated me on how to keep my hair protected and beautiful. She took her time checking on me and explaining the procedure step by step so that I knew exactly what's going on. She also advised me on what product to get to maintain my hair's curls. I'd really recommend her, she's a real darling! I really felt pampered by her and would definitely be asking for her during my next visits.

Toto applying neutralizer

The owner of the salon, Buddy, was also very accommodating. He's very warm to his customers and that really means a lot in this industry. Build friendships with your customers and they will come back, definitely.

Oh, by the way. I've got their price list/s here. You might wanna check their chic and affordable services. They also have promos every now and then, you can visit their Facebook site to know more. (You might wanna click this link: www.facebook.com/EnvyMeSalon .)

Pricelist

Pricelist

Did I say they have free Wi-Fi, too? You just have to ask them for the password. They also offer complimentary drinks, although I didn't opt for one since I had a cup of Gongcha with me.

Just ask for the password

And here are the reminders and what-nots.

Post-Digiperm care

After 3 hours of waiting in vain, I was really happy about the outcome. Very satisfied about the service. Definitely enjoyed the experience.

Curly hair... Awesome!

Let's just see how my hair will look like in the days to come. Will keep you posted. 

For now, this salon goes on top of my list. <3





















(Photos were taken using my old iPhone.)

Another New Year With And Without You

Another year, another chance to be better.

Aside from saying my prayers and thanking God for the new chance He has graciously given me and the world, I mentally ticked the entries on my new year resolutions list, one by one. Among them, of course, is none other than deactivating my Facebook account. Why? Because I just don't see how I can't live without it. Good grief, I had enough of the crazy stuff people share on Facebook, thank you.

Okay, moving on. New year's eve was of course celebrated at home. No crazy antics for me. Just took pictures of Sophia holding a cardboard with a greeting that goes out to her dad. Spur of the moment idea. Good thing I have tons of art stuff that I can make do with. I just wrote the message and gave Sophia the honor of coloring the hearts I drew. (Sophia never complained. She loves art. :D)

Happy New Year, Tatang

When Sophia fell asleep, I had nothing else to do. I just sat in a corner, ignoring the noise of the firecrackers and the sound of the neighbor's forever-playing videoke machine, while mucking around with my laptop. I'm not a KJ, okay? I just don't like smoke and noise that much, I'd leave them to people who don't mind getting stiff necks from watching fireworks in the sky.

Media Noche was simple yet happily shared with special people. I had a plate of Carbonara and toast, a spoonful of fruit salad and a healthy serving of salad greens.

Three hours after Media Noche, I was on my way to work. Talk about sleep deprivation.

The first day of my new year was partly spent at the office. It's not that bad. Free lunch was served at the pantry. Fewer callers meant fewer issues to deal with. I was even permitted to leave work early.

The highlight of January 1? We went to Star City! I had long been planning to take Sophia there because I've read lots of good reviews about Snow World and I so wanted her to try it out. Fortunately, the opportunity presented itself.

 Sophia's grandparents and nanny went with us

Okay, so this might seem like not a good idea considering today is a holiday and there could be a lot of people in Star City, and if you have that in mind, you're absolutely right! "A lot of people" would be an understatement. There were, like, millions of people there. (Okay, I'm exaggerating. But still..)

I wasn't really able to document Sophia's experience in the Snow World. The staff advised to put mobile phones and cameras inside plastic wraps to prevent them from getting moisture/water damage. Still, I wouldn't be able to take videos even if I could use my phone, because I was holding Sophia's hand and was too busy making sure that she's comfortable. Fortunately, there were two photographers inside the attraction, we paid one to take our photo. (Photo cannot be posted due to privacy reasons.)

Lots of people falling in line

As an attraction which boasts of bringing the winter experience to the Philippines, I'd give Snow World four stars out of five. Sophia was very happy about the experience and that's good enough to me. My only not-so positive observation was that the area is so small and that it could really get uninteresting after the first ten minutes inside. I have also heard comments that the jackets they let people use for the tour smelled like they have not been washed for a long time. (Good thing I brought my own jacket. I had Sophia use her own jacket, too!) My take is that the management should look into the areas of improvement in order to make Snow World something people would really enjoy and consider going back to.

Exploring Star City with Lolo

Sadly, we were not able to try other rides. Each attraction had a really long line of people wanting to get a piece of the action. Sigh. We 'll probably try them some other time. At least we got what we came for today.. Sophia really enjoyed her Snow World adventure.

It would have been really great if her daddy's with us. His presence is the only thing that could have made this new year celebration happier. It's another new year with and without him.

Day's done. Tomorrow's another day.

#AMALAYER

There's nothing special about what I'll be writing about today. I just want to share my views regarding a very "trending" topic-- the "Amalayer" incident.

The woman in the video apparently humiliated a Lady Guard at an LRT Station, which was caught on cam by a bystander. The incident purportedly happened last Tuesday and the video has gone viral since Wednesday morning. I wasn't able to watch the news nor visit the net this past few days so I never had the chance to be "updated" about it. While I was too busy minding my own business, the video already hit worldwide popularity and has been getting tons of reviews since.

I was able to watch the video only this morning and my initial reaction was that of shock. Nothing prepared me for that. It was like a scene straight out of a badly made Teleserye. It bothered me so much that somebody could have the guts to humiliate somebody else in public and not even feel any shame at all-- in real life. What happened to the morals and ethics painstakingly instilled in us by our guardians? But then again, who was I to judge? I was not there.

News about the "Amalayer" incident has been spreading really quickly, thanks to the media and the cyber world. The Amalayer Video which had been taken and uploaded by a commuter named GPL, circulated the net through likes and shares. Innumerable Facebook Pages and Twitter accounts dedicated to PJS were created over the past two days. Parody videos of the Amalayer incident also flooded Youtube, each of them earning as many as a hundred views by the minute. Even celebrities and people from other countries tweeted about the incident, saying that PJS had been very disrepectful and showed no breeding although she purposely mentioned that she is an educated person.


 


Here's what PJS said, as heard on the video clip:

"Noooo...
So now you're making me look like a liar? So I'm a liar?
So you're telling me I'm a liar? I'm a liar? I'm a liar? Answer me! I'm a liar?
Sorry po, sorry. That's how you say sorry? If I say to you, sorry ate, sorry. Tanggap mo 'yon?
You really shouted , ate. Ate! May pinag-aralan akong tao. Ginanon mo ako. I'm just returning the favor!
No, no, no... Alam mo kung paano mo ako tinanong? Pano mo ko tinanong?
Sabi mo, 'Ate, anong problema mo?' Ay, Oh my God, Kuya, she's a liar. Oh my God, you're a frigging liar, miss!
Anong sabi mo, "Anong problema mo?..."

The phrase "I'm a liar" sounded like "Amalayer". Thus the term stuck and catapulted PJS and her video to stardom-- but not in a good sense. Yes, I have been hearing this word all day and it wasn't because of her good manners. A morning at the office introduced me to the Amalayer video. I went to eat at a fastfood, I heard people talking about it. I went to buy something at CD-R King, the salesladies were gossiping about the "ugaling-eskwater" lady. I entered the Ladies' Room, the girls were all laughing at the "girl without breeding" while powdering their noses. On my way home, the driver of the FX and some of the passengers were chatting about the "disgraceful" video.

Oh my-- please stop.

So what was she screaming about? According to several news reports about the incident, investigation showed that PJS failed to follow security procedures. The LRTA-OIC mentioned that PJS did not put her bag on the conveyor of the X-ray machine for security check, thus causing a breach. It was said that the Lady Guard reprimanded JPS, and did so because she was only fulfilling her duty. Other people, however, tweeted that the guard could have done something that offended the passenger.

PJS said, in an interview after the incident, that "the matter should have been resolved privately" and that "because of what happened, her aunt has been rushed to the hospital and her parents have also become worried." PJS now cries foul, saying that she's become a victim of cyber-bullying. While it was true that the Lady Guard SMC already offered her apologies on the same time PJS was lashing out at her, PJS did not feel that the Lady Guard was sincere. The Lady Guard, SMC, said sorry again a day after the incident took place.

I don't support PJS for what she did, because I felt that she was really very disrespectful and insensitive to what the Lady Guard was feeling. I also felt that she was also showing her superiority, thus speaking in a loud voice and using the English Language at times, when she knew that the Lady Guard would not be able to reciprocate. I think it wasn't really proper for an educated person to do just what she did. I feel for the Lady Guard and commend her for the calm and composure she exhibited even when she was publicly humiliated by PJS.

PJS's mistake, in my opinion, was that she was too consumed by pride during the reproach. She felt humiliated that the Lady Guard admonished her about not having her bag scanned, she felt wronged and thus, resulted in her being angry. I cannot explain the reason why she had to do that, but at the same time, I recognize the fact that many factors could be contributing to her outburst.

BUT I WASN'T THERE AND I DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO JUDGE HER-- MORE THAN MY OPINION OF WHAT I SAW HER DO IN THE VIDEO.

Having said that, I also recognize the fact that she must have been taking too many heavy blows by now. People have been relentlessly criticizing her, mocking her and making her the epitome of stupidity and rudeness. Do we think about how much pain and stress this must have been causing her and her family? The incident has already happened, perhaps, it would be better to leave it at that and just let the concerned parties settle what they would need to settle.

We are appalled by how PJS acted toward the Lady Guard, but do we not see that how we react to her now is also appalling? Come on. We all disapprove of what she did, but let us be bigger persons by not judging her more than we already did. It would be better if we would lay off from the name-calling and the cursing. That girl is suffering enough.

Let's admit it-- don't we all have these bad sides of us? Don't we all have the tendency to not listen to what is right and to choose to act with selfish intentions? We all have that "bitch" days, right? The times when we just hate the world just because. The times when we snarl at every person who accidentally bumps into us. The times when we feel the urge to bite somebody's head off. These times prove how imperfect we are-- to judge others for something that we also do. Yep, we also do bad things-- we are just lucky that we haven't been caught on camera.

In this digital age, nobody can "safely" do anything wrong, anymore. One wrong move and you can have your very life scrutinized and criticized by people who don't even know you. You can get popular, sure.. but the question is, is it gonna be worth it?

Moral of the story? Be on your feet even when you think that you are right. Just remember: if you really are a good person, you will do good not only when someone is looking, but even when nobody is around to see it.

Spread love, People. Hate is a bad thing. 

TAHOOOOOOOOO!

These past few days, I haven't done anything cool enough to talk about. That's sad, right?

Anyway, let me just talk about something I've done this morning. It's nothing death-defying, okay. I just ate TAHO. Period.

You might be thinking to yourself now, "who cares about you eating taho, anyway?". Well I care. You care too, that's obviously the reason why you're still reading this blogpost.

Okay. Let me begin..

During my break earlier, I went to the pantry to buy coffee. Then I saw Manong, the lolo who sells Taho. He was standing in a corner and was looking at every person who comes in, hopeful that they will buy from him. So I felt myself feeling the same feeling everytime I see him in that corner, I decided to forget coffee and buy Taho instead. Well, here I am-- you have one customer here.

As I walk toward Manong, he was staring straight at me. I smiled as a confirmation that I'm buying, then said to him, Yung dati pa din, Manong. He immediately ducked to scoop some of the white stuff (soft tofu with the texture of silky custard). Tanghali ka na Manong, ah, I said as he added the arnibal to the cup using a thin metal laddle. He shyly replied, Oo, nanakit kasi ang likod ko kanina. I watched him add the tapioca pearls on top, while unintentionally picturing him carrying his taho container/buckets.

I was surprised to realize that I have been thinking too much again- and getting teary-eyed. Manong was already handing me the clear plastic cup brimming with the succulent dessert. I accepted the large cup and paid him P20 for it. After thanking him, I slowly made my way out of the pantry. Before I was able to stop myself, I looked back at him, and at the same time, felt the same strong emotion which always prompted me to buy from him everytime he's around.

It's just plain and simple; I have a soft spot for the elderly. When I see elderly people toiling in spite of their age, my heart breaks. When I see old people eating and traveling alone, I feel lonely for them. When I pass by peasants, I can't stop myself from feeling bad about their family not being able to provide for them anymore. Yes, I am that soft, the mere thought of a lola walking alone crushes me.

I was once able to talk to an elderly gentleman who lives in a retirement home in Australia. As I listen to him talk about his family, I was able to grasp how lonely he is. He said he wanted his telephone line transferred beside his bed so that it wouldn't take him a while to answer when his family called. He said he usually misses the calls because he can't get to the phone immediately, and his relatives are usually too busy to ring more than once. I spent several minutes inside the ladies room after talking to him-- I couldn't keep myself from crying.

On several occasions I think of my grandparents whenever I see old people. I guess that's one of the reasons why I'm easily affected. I miss my grandparents. I wasn't the best granddaughter in the world and I have broken their hearts more than once, but I love them. I wouldn't want for them to be subjected to any difficulties, because they're old and very fragile now. I would definitely give everything just to be able to support and protect them. They were my fortress when I was a young child, I would like to be one of their strongholds now that I am older.

Taho, you want?

Great, I'm getting dramatic here. Going back to Manong and his taho. I don't really like taho that much. Infact, the only reason why I'm buying is because I want to be able to help him. That P20 can mean a lot to him more than it can ever mean to me.

Everybody gets old. Sure. But I don't think people my age can imagine themselves forty-five years from now. If only they can, then they would probably have soft spots for the elderly as well, and a lot of my colleagues would be buying Taho from Manong. Come to think of it-- have you imagined how you'd be when you're old and arthritic?


As for me, I don't want to grow old alone. I would love to grow old beside someone who will love me 'til our last breath. I want someone to hold my hand during my last minutes on earth. (Great, I'm really getting dramatic here. This paragraph isn't even supposed to be here.)

NO ONE BUT..

It's not everyday that you would meet someone who will make you feel something profound. Most of the time, we tend to want to prolong their stay in our lives. But as much as we don't want to, some things are meant to end. And when they end, there won't be anything left but the memories. Memories, therefore, should be preserved.

Today I had my third ink. It's a very simple design for a tattoo; it's really small and inked in black, but I wanted it that way. I initially wanted it way smaller, but the resident artist said it would be better to adjust the size, for the sake of bringing out the minute details.

I had my tats done at Cadence Tattoo Studio. The facade of the shop is painted pink and is full of graffiti- you're not going to miss it if you happen to be on a lookout. It's pretty small and somewhat cramped inside but that didn't even bother me at all. I have read great reviews for Jeffrey's works- in fact, some people I personally know wear his art as well. It's the quality of work that matters to me and not how extravagant the shop should be. Besides, he offered me a good deal.

It took less than 30 minutes to finish the job- from design transfer to the actual inking. I didn't even feel any pain at all, even when the needle repeatedly passed over a bony part. He works with the speed and precision of a professional. It's really true that how you'll feel during the process depends on your pain tolerance level, how detailed the tattoo is, how gentle the artist is, and how big the tattoo is. I was even surprised when he informed me that it's already finished. He kept asking me what the design meant, but I just smiled and replied "secret" everytime he did.

I marveled at the awesome tattoo on my shoulder, glad that I didn't have it placed on my upper arm since it wouldn't probably look as good if I did. My tattoo has a very special meaning. It signifies something profound that I have found a long time ago.. and eventually lost just recently. It pertains to something I wanted so badly, but had to let go. Half a decade worth of memories written down in one small phrase, and the part where I had it placed was just as significant as the tattoo itself.

I don't need a tattoo to make me remember everything; it's primarily there to always remind me of a turning point in my life.

CREAMY TOMATO PASTA

Since it was my rest day, I decided to cook something really special for my family. It's not everyday that I could spend time in the kitchen but I make sure to do so everytime I get a day off.

Like most Saturdays, my daughter was taken by her grandma to the Mall. They left in the afternoon and were due to be home in less than half an hour. I had nothing to do so I volunteered to do the cooking. One quick look inside the cupboards made me decide what to cook. I wanted something fast and easy to prepare yet delicious and satisfying at the same time. My daughter is pretty picky when it comes to food so I chose one of her favorites.
I cooked Creamy Tomato Pasta for dinner.

Turn that radio on, rev up the stove and let's start cooking! 

1) Cook spaghetti noodles as per package instructions. Of course, drizzle water with oil and add a pinch of salt. I used 250g of noodles for this dish.

2) Dice one medium-sized onion and mince four cloves of garlic. Chop the ham.

3) Once the skillet is hot enough, put one tablespoon of butter and one teaspoon olive oil. Stir until butter is melted. Add the onions. Add the garlic once onions are translucent.

4) Time to put in the ham. (This step can be omitted or you can use any other "sahog" that you want, i.e hotdog, chicken bits) Stir around.

5) Pour in the tomato sauce. (Now's the time to add seasonings/spices; I added a pinch of salt, a dash of ground black pepper, a pinch of ground red chili, and a dash of sugar.) Stir around. Let it cook until the sauce turns into a lovely dark red.

6) Remove from heat. Add a cup of cream. Stir around.

7) Throw in the spaghetti noodles. Toss gently. Make sure each noodle is thoroughly covered with the creamy sauce.

8) Serve. You can sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top and some chopped basil leaves.

Yep. There you go folks. All done in less than 25 minutes.

Right about the time I finished cooking, my daughter and her grandmother arrived from their trip to the mall. Just in time! We ate this dish together with a serving of fried chicken marinated in lime juice and fish sauce. Perfect!

Why don't you try cooking this dish? It's definitely worth it.





The Verdict:

Deliciousness: 5 / 5
Quickness: 5 / 5
Easiness: 5 / 5
Budget-friendliness: 5 / 5




Want another Pasta Recipe? Try checking SPICY TUNA PASTA.

SPICY TUNA PASTA

Just got home from a very tiring day at work and I was famished.

I've spent a full minute looking inside a pot and wishing that it's something I could eat. But I could only see Paksiw, and sad to say, I couldn't eat it.  (I don't eat Paksiw for two reasons; one is that I couldn't tolerate the smell, (the smell of the vinegar irritates my nose). The other reason, probably a stronger point than the first, is that eating Paksiw makes me very itchy; red patches would be appearing on my skin and would be bothering me for 24 hours. You're probably thinking "ang arte naman nito!", and I'd gladly accept your opinion if only you are in my shoes everytime the itching is too much to bear.)

I had no choice but to come up with something to eat. I scoured the cupboards and pondered on which food item can go with which. I could see a bottle of olive oil, some eggs, and all kinds of spices in one of the cupboards, and in another one there were two cans of spicy tuna, a pack of spaghetti noodles, and some cans of... oh wait, wait... did I say Spaghetti noodles? Eureka!

I was starving and I needed to fix myself some grub, so I had to move fast. Right there and then I decided to make tuna pasta. I have cooked that dish three times before and I'm pretty much familiar with it now. Unlike those times though, today I had to settle with what the cupboards contain. I had to stick to the basics.

Without further hoopla, here are the steps for my simplified version of SPICY TUNA PASTA:

1) Of course, cook the spaghetti noodles as per package instructions. Boil in water drizzled with a little oil and some salt. The oil will prevent the noodles from sticking to each other. The salt will add taste to the noodles. I used olive oil instead of regular cooking oil and salt. By the way, I used 250g of noodles for this.

2) Pop the tuna cans open and dice the onions and tomatoes. As you can see in the picture, I used a regular can of Century Tuna and a small can of San Marino Corned Tuna, both in spicy variants. (Those two were the only cans of Spicy Tuna I've found.) As for the tomatoes and onions, I used two medium ones of each.

3) The tomatoes go in first. Let sit until an "almost-dry" look is achieved. Add the onions. Stir. I wanted some garlic in there but I wasn't able to find some. If you want some garlicky taste you can definitely use some garlic in your version. You can add vegetables too, some bellpeppers and some greens would be great. They will also add color to the dish.

4) Once the onions are translucent, add the spicy tuna. Stir around. Let sit for atleast 5 minutes. Now's the time to add spices/seasoning if you want your tuna pasta to come out according to your desired taste. I didn't use any seasoning for this version, though.

5) Throw in the spaghetti noodles. Toss gently. Make sure each noodle is thoroughly covered by the sauce.

6) Serve. This dish goes well with Parmesan cheese. Lucky for me I've found some Parmesan (and a can of Pepsi) inside the refrigerator.

Well, there you go. That's how I survived this afternoon of starvation. Haha..

Well, seriously, I can't cook. I have tried to cook several dishes in the past, but they were, of course, cooked by an amateur trying to imitate recipes from a cookbook. My version of the dishes were good and they satisfied me. They were delicious enough, although I couldn't speak for people with discriminating tastes. Maybe I'm just lucky enough that I have the motivation to cook and the hunger to be better at it. Besides, I also make sure to pour in the two main ingredients in every dish while cooking for other people (and myself)...  yes, I'm talking about love and happiness. No  kidding!

Having said that, then it's not impossible for you to whip this up yourself (and ace it). If you need to come up with a quick but delicious dish; say for instance you have unexpected visitors, or you want a welcome dish to bring to the new neighbor, when you want to give your hubby (and the kids) an impromptu romantic dinner, or even when you just need something to eat other than Paksiw, then you can surely try this.

You can definitely ace this. Believe me, it's just childplay.


The Verdict:

Deliciousness: 5 / 5
Quickness: 5 / 5
Easiness: 5 / 5
Budget-friendliness: 5 / 5

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