A New Beginning: A Filipino Mom's Journal

• This is Green Frog. Green Frog lives near the pond.

• Green Frog likes to play. Green Frog has no one to play with. All he does is to eat and sleep all day.

• One day, Green Frog goes to the pond. Green Frog leaps into the pond.

• A green leaf drops from a tree. The leaf drops into the pond. Green Frog leaps onto the green leaf.

• Green Frog wants to play. He peeps into the pond. Green Frog sees an eel. The eel is three feet long.

• ”Play with me,” says Green Frog to the eel. But the eel is asleep. It cannot play with Green Frog.

• Green Frog feels sad. There is no one to play with him.

• Green Frog sees two fleas. The fleas are near the tree. The fleas are near the tree by the pond.

• ”Play with me,” says Green Frog to the two fleas. “We will not play with you,” the fleas say.

• Green Frog says, “Wait for me – I want to play with you!”

• The fleas see the sheep. The sheep sees the fleas.

• The sheep runs away from the fleas. The fleas go after the sheep. Green Frog hops after the fleas.

• Here comes a bee. Here comes a big bee! But Green Frog does not see the big bee.

• Green Frog hears a noise. Buzz...buzz...buzz... Green Frog sees the bee.

• ”Play with me,” says Green Frog to the bee. “I will not play with you,” says the bee. “But I will bite you!”

• “Bee wants to bite me!” screams Green Frog. “Help! Help! Help!” Green Frog flees from the big bee!

1. The child shouldn't be forced into learning.
   Learning should be fun.
2. We, the parents, should look at every opportunity where our children could learn, and with proper timing, try to teach them as best as we can in a fun, loving way.
3. We should believe in their abilities and should not put a limit to what they can or can't do, but at the same time be sensitive enough to know when to stop.
4. We should be generous with praise and appreciation.

1. Ask him gently and sweetly what he did or what happened.
2. Listen to him and wait patiently for him to finish speaking.
3. Hug and kiss him and thank him for telling the truth.
4. (It's time to ...) Tell him that what he did wasn't right, again, in a very gentle and sweet manner, but not dwelling on it or making a long sermon.
5. Remind him some other time not to do it again.

• Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano - an early backer of Mr. Obama's campaign signed into law and implemented some of the nation's toughest sanctions against businesses that employ undocumented migrants.

• Washington lawyer Eric Holder (a former Deputy Attorney General under the Clinton administration and senior legal advisor to Obama's campaign)

• former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle - helped line up support for Obama in the Senate

• Retired Marine Gen. James Jones - former top operational commander of NATO, widely respected by both Democrats and Republicans but has avoided being associated with either party and a strong critic of the Bush administration's handling of the Iraq war
• James Steinberg - deputy national security adviser in Bill Clinton's administration

• Current Defense Secretary Robert Gates
• former Navy Secretary Richard Danzig
• Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel
• Democratic Sen. Jack Reed

• Lawrence Summers - former Clinton Treasury secretary and top adviser to Obama
• Timothy Geithner - president of the New York Federal Reserve Bank
• Paul Volcker - former Federal Reserve chairman and adviser to Obama on his call for an overhaul of U.S. financial regulations

• Tom Vilsack - attorney and former governor of Iowa specializing in energy conservation, renewable energy and agribusiness development
• Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius - a strong Obama supporter and had been considered a potential running mate for Obama
• Charles Stenholm - a former Democratic congressman from Texas who followed agricultural issues closely.

• New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson - also a rival of Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination but dropped out after the early contests and eventually supported Obama

1. Marinate beef in vinegar, peppercorns, and garlic for at least 30 minutes. Drain well.
2. In 2 tablespoons oil, fry beef in batches until browned on all sides. Remove, set aside.
3. Add onion and more oil if necessary.
4. Saute on moderate heat, about 5 minutes, until soft but not brown (the shiny stage, I call it).
5. Add beef, broth, tomato sauce & bay leaf. Bring to a boil.
6. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 1-1/2 hours.
7. Add potatoes & red and green pepper.
8. Continue cooking until potato is soft (but not overcooked!!)
9. Add optional liver sausage and hot pepper sauce. Simmer another 2 minutes or so.
10. Season to taste with salt, if desired. Put in serving dish, garnish with sliced boiled eggs and sliced stuffed olives.
11. Serve with rice.

1. Mama, why is the ocean salty?
2. Why do volcanoes erupt?
3. Why is there lightning?
4. What is war? Why is there war?

1. Use the 10 cups water to boil the meat. Let it boil until meat is tender. (Water evaporates – just continue replenishing until meat is soft & right for serving. For the last replenishment, add the 2 cups rice water.)
2. Add the gabi, labanos, tomatoes, sili & onion. Let boil until gabi is tender.
3. Get 2 pieces of the boiled gabi & crush. Return the crushed gabi & mix with the soup .
4. Add the string beans.
5. Add the tamarind powder. Season with patis, salt, knorr pork cube, pepper. Continue boiling.
6. Add a little sugar. (optional – depending on your taste)
7. Taste & add seasoning – whichever is still needed.
8. When taste is ok, add the kangkong leaves. Let boil for 2 more minutes.

Heavenly Father ...

I call on You right now in a special way. It is through your power that I was created. Every breath I take, every morning I wake and every moment of every hour, I live under your power.

Father, I ask you now to touch me with that same power. For if you created me from nothing, you can certainly recreate me. Fill me with the healing power of your spirit. Cast out anything that should not be in me. Mend what is broken. Root out any unproductive cells. Open any blocked arteries or veins and rebuild any damaged areas. Remove all inflammation and cleanse any infection. Let the warmth of your healing love pass through my body to make new any unhealthy areas so that my body will function the way you created it to function.

And Father, restore me to full health in mind and body so that I may serve you the rest of my life.

I ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

1. Fry the garlic in hot cooking oil until brown using medium or low fire.
2. Add the ginger and chopped onions. Cook until soft or brownish.
3. Drop in the pieces of chicken and sliced green papaya
4. Season with patis.
5. Cover and let simmer until chicken is cooked (Use medium or high fire). (Mix once in a while)
6. Add the rice water, simmer until chicken and papaya are tender. (Use high fire)
7. Season with salt. Taste and check which seasoning needs to be added. (Note : I usually add sugar when I cook any dish – just be careful not to put too much)
8. Add the sili leaves. Just let it boil for 2 more minutes.. Then remove from fire.

1. Always watch while cooking … because soup may overflow while boiling… or garlic or chicken may burn while being cooked in hot oil.
2. The measurement for the seasonings should depend on your taste .. so always do taste tests when adding seasonings.

1. Mix pork, liver, water, vinegar/kalamansi, soy sauce, pepper (whole kernels), laurel leaves & boil till pork & liver are tender. Replenish water when it subsides while pork & liver are not yet tender. Don’t let it become dry – make sure enough sauce is left till cooked. Set aside.
2. On another cooking pan or casserole, fry the potatoes in cooking oil. Cook till slightly brown. Remove from pan, set aside. Then fry the carrots and also set aside when cooked. Next fry the hotdogs & set aside when cooked. Note : just add cooking oil as needed.
3. Fry the garlic until brownish.
4. Add the onion … then tomatoes. Cook till soft.
5. Get the boiled pork & liver & add to the sauté. (Note : don’t throw the sauce of boiled meat. You will use it later). Stir & mix while cooking. Add patis & continue to sauté. Add the bell pepper.
6. Pour tomato sauce & let it boil for a few minutes.
7. Add the sauce of the boiled meat (including the pepper kernels & laurel leaves) & wait till it boils. (Note : if sauce seems too few just add a little amount of water. If it is too much just don’t pour all)
8. Add the seasonings… salt, black pepper powder, sugar. Taste & add whichever of the seasonings are still needed. (It could taste a little sour because of the tomato sauce & vinegar/kalamansi.. You can neutralize this by adding a little more sugar. Also, since I don't use MSG or vetsin, sugar is the best substitute for adding to a more pleasant/delicious flavor.)
9. Add the fried potatoes, carrots and hotdogs. Boil for a few more minutes. Then remove from fire.

1. Boil mongo until soft. Mash boiled mongo. Set aside.
2. Fry garlic in cooking oil until brownish. Saute with onion and tomatoes.
3. Add the marinated pork & cook for 2-3 mins. Drop the shrimps & tinapa. Add patis. Continue to saute until shrimps and tinapa are cooked.
4. Add the soft & mashed mongo. Mix well. Cook for a few minutes.
5. Pour the water or chicken broth and simmer until boiling. Season with salt and sugar*.
6. Taste and add seasoning as needed.
7. Add the chicharon and sili leaves and continue simmering for another minute.
8. Remove from fire.